Take a Technique ....... add a bit of Texture

Happy Friday folks,

Things are gearing up for a nice busy weekend over here ...... the TT Race Week starts tomorrow, my brother arrives on the island on Sunday, and we're off to a birthday bash BBQ ..... weekend sorted!
Before all that though there's still a list of crafty stuff to be done.

It's the first Friday of the month ..... a brand new Craft Stamper magazine hits the shelves (have you got your copy yet ..... you'll love the projects in this months issue!)

That means there's also a brand new Take It Make It Challenge ........ and this month it's the turn of Take a Technique .......

We want to see some Texture on your projects

There's lots of ways to add texture .... it could be texture paste or embossing paste, or use a technique such as embossing either with an embossing folder or use embossing powder.  Use textured card or paper, add stitching or fabric (lace, ribbon etc.) ...... basically anything to give your project that 'touchy feely' style.  Don't forget to include some stamping on there too!!

My texture is on a wall plaque.
I've used Grunge Paste through a stencil and also some paper flowers covered in Gesso, and then the whole thing has been painted over ..... creating lots of gorgeous, different textures. I was inspired by a project I did on a recent workshop run by a friend of mine ..... thanks Jill!  This is what I was playing around with last weekend on our crafty get together ..... and I couldn't share it earlier.  I told you you wouldn't have to wait long!!

It started out as a plain paper mache hanging board from PaperArtsy.  I arranged a few paper flowers on there and added in some punched foliage.  You don't need to worry too much about the colour of your flowers or whether they all co-ordinate ..... what you're really looking for is the shape and the texture of them.  I layered some on top of each other to add a bit more more depth too.
Once I was happy with them I then stuck them into place using a wet glue.

Next came the texture paste ..... I filled in more space around the edges using a brick wall stencil and the Grunge Paste. Once all this was dry I covered the whole thing with Black Gesso, making sure to cover the flowers completely ..... I told you you didn't need to worry about the colours!  Once the Gesso was dry I painted over the top using Paper Artsy Fresco Finish Acrylic paints ..... I love these, they cover so well.

My final colour was Inky Pool .... but I've also used some purple shades and a touch of turquoise on there too.  Just keep painting over the top until you're happy with the colour.
Some of my gesso wasn't quite dry when I started with the paint, especially around the flowers, so there's also a touch of the black in there too

Once the paint was dry (it doesn't take that long .... you could use a heat tool if you can't wait), I rubbed over the textured bits using a touch of White Fire Treasure Gold to bring out some of the detail

See the depth created by layering up the paper flowers ...... nice!

The splatters are from some watered down silver paint and just a touch of white (everything is getting the splatter treatment at the moment .... I love it!!! It's great for covering up mistakes too!)

I then stamped my words onto a piece of white card, embossed using a clear powder (more texture) and then added some colour using Distress inks

You can see there's a little bit more stamping in the background .... the pretty little Wendy Vecchi flower, to add a bit more detail .....

I attached this onto the handing board and finished off  with a pretty painted wooden button

I hope you like it, and feel inspired to give the challenge a go.

Here's where the idea came from ...... it doesn't have to be a wall plaque this technique works fab on cards to ..... this is what I made on the workshop

Now it's your turn ..... remember there's fab prizes up for grabs.
This month our sponsor is Rubber Dance Art Stamps 

And the prize is ......

And there's the Design Winner ..... chosen by the DT.  They get their project published in the Craft Stamper magazine (a two-page spread no less!), they get a Guest Designer spot on a future challenge and a Winner's Profile on the Blog ..... fancy all that ..... then have fun and get stamping!!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy your Friday and have a fab weekend!

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

Bottles (part 2) ...... the latest Craft Stamper Take It, Make It Challenge

Good morning everyone,

Happy Friday ...... it's time for a quick reminder that the current Take It, Make It Challenge over on the Craft Stamper Blog is up and running.  Have you got your entry in yet?  Need a bit more inspiration?  Well .... hopefully I can help.

The theme for this month is all about ...... Bottles.  It could be anything from an altered bottle, to a card made using a bottle rubber stamp.  Design your own label for a bottle or make a bottle tag.  Use small bottles/vials as the focal point on your project, or you could even make your own bottles from acetate ..... the choice is up to you.

Here's my second inspiration piece for you .......

A cute little wall hanging using one of my favourite Lavinia stamps ...... the beautiful Tree Goddess 'Luna'.  Have you spotted the Bottle?

I started with a plain grungeboard page from a mini book.  I covered one side using a patterned paper, then did a touch of stamping around the edge using the Lavinia Vine stamp .....

For the other side I took some white card stock and printed those famous words from Peter Pan using the computer.  I then attached this to the grungeboard, and cut around the edge.

Using Distress Inks I added some colour and then stamped around the edge using the Vine stamp again.

On a seperate piece of white card, using a mask to create the moon, and Distress Inks to add the colour, I created the backdrop for the fairy.

She was then stamped using Black Versafine ink, and I added the leaves again around the edges, using first and second generation stamping.
I also added a touch of 'fairy dust' in there too.

Her wings have been stamped again onto acetate, cut out, fine glitter added to the underside and then attached over the stamped image to give a bit of dimension.

The edge of the card has had the IndigoBlu Flitter Glu and flake treatment .... one of my favourite techniques for adding the look of an extra layer without using another piece of card  .......... I've just run my phat foam, with Flitter Glu on, around the edge of the card then dipped them into the Mega Flakes - I've used Manchester Tart for this particular project.  Dust of the excess then finish with the scoochy in the usual way. Cool eh! It frames the stamped scene beautifully I think.
It was then mat onto a piece of black cardstock and attached to the front of the covered grungeboard.  Everything was finished off by adding the all important little bottle full of fairy dust.

I added some wire to the top to hang it by, and thread on a few crystal beads for a touch of sparkle.

And there you have it .... another idea for using bottles on your craft projects.   Check out today's post over on the Craft Stamper blog for more fabulous inspiration from the rest of the Design Team.

Are you feeling inspired to enter the challenge yet?  Go on, give it a go ..... you could be our next winner and get your hands on this month's fabulous prize - 4 pots of Luminarte Silks Acrylic Glaze! from this months sponsors Artist Trading Post.  You get to choose which colours you want too ...... which could prove a little difficult - there's 72 delicious shades to choose from.
Not only that ....... the winning entry will be published in the Craft Stamper Magazine, AND the Challenge winner will also be offered a Guest spot on a future challenge! Sounds good to me!
You have until midnight on Wednesday 23rd April to get your entries ...... don't forget to follow the rules though ...... you can find these on the Challenge post

Good luck!

Thanks for looking.  Enjoy the rest of your Friday and have a lovely weekend.

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx