Tuesday 31 May 2016

Creative Expressions Tuesday


Floral Bag

Hello , I hope you have had a good bank holiday . I'm back today with a project made with a plain little bag that has been lurking in my craft stash for quite a long time waiting for me to make it pretty !



This bag is made of white fabric with a plastic lining . The same technique could be used on any fabric bag or item such as an apron . If you have an item that doesn't have a plastic lining then cover a piece of card with plastic to put inside the bag ( or behind the fabric ) to protect the other side of the bag . I sealed the fabric with a coat of clear gesso but realised afterwards that I could have used any matte medium such as Ranger Matte Medium or Cosmic Shimmer Clear Matt Finish Glaze .

I used watercolours to add colour to this project but any other paint or ink could be used . I mixed the paint with the matte medium to create a glaze which I applied to the bag in random patches . I then used a little water to blend the colour out and into the other colours that I used . On this project I used a combination of pinks and lilacs .


Next I added some stencilled swirls using a paint made by mixing the matte medium with mica 
powders that toned with the base colours ( in fact I could just have used more watercolours because 
the sparkle in the mica was lost under  the matte medium ) .




As the bag has two sides  and they are not the same I'll show pictures of both sides .

It would be possible to stamp on a flat piece of fabric but because this bag is not flat I decided it would be easier to stamp onto tissue paper and attach this to the bag . To do this , tear around the image on the tissue paper and paint a layer of matte medium onto the bag . Carefully place the image onto the bag and paint another layer of medium over the paper to adhere it to the bag and smooth out any creases .


I used Watering Can Ranger Archival Ink because I felt that black ink would be too harsh. The advantage to using images stamped onto tissue paper is that once the main images have been attached to the bag I could use smaller parts of the image to add extra flowers where I wanted them to fill spaces .

Once the matte medium was dry I painted the flowers using the same mixture of watercolour and matte medium as before . I used the same colours but much stronger than before so that the flowers stood out from the background.




To finish the bag and keep the decorative finish safe I recommend using two or three thin coats of varnish ( Matt or gloss depending on preference ) . This creates a very tough surface .
As I have said this technique can be applied to other fabric projects , so I hope you might be inspired to use your favourite stamped images to create something wonderful !

Creative Expressions items that I have used to make this project :--- 
Creative Expressions Stamps --- Sweet Peas .
Creative Expressions Mini Stencil ---- Splash .
Ranger Multi Medium Matte .

If you would like to find out what other members of the DT have been doing please look here 




Tuesday 24 May 2016

Creative Expressions Tuesday

Song Bird Art .
Hi there , today I am going to create a project that could be used as a Card topperor a Wallhanging  depending on what you want to use it for. Most of the main design is made using stencils , but not always how you might expect!


I made this on a piece of greyboard , because I wanted it to be fairly robust , which I painted with Cosmic Shimmer White Gesso . I love colour cloud inks ( and distress inks ) but I wanted to try to create the background with archival inks because they are permanent once dry . So I decided to try an experiment. I made a mask with copier paper by tearing around a circular plate , by tearing the paper  I had a circle with slightly rough edges instead of perfect edges which is what I wanted . I used this to mask the white background and then blended archival inks all over the rest of the background . I used a mixture of colours --- Blue Violet , Cornflower Blue and Aquamarine . I then filled a small spray bottle with alcohol blending solution and sprayed it over the blended inks  . I hoped that the archival inks would behave in the same way as distress inks do when sprayed with water and they did !
I must admit that the background had to be dried with a heat gun and that it took a little time but it was worth it because the background was now permanent .




Next I masked the background and blended colour cloud inks over the exposed white circle . I used Baked Peach and Yellow Meringue .


Finally I blended a little of the Blue Violet ink over a torn piece of paper to look like clouds . To add a darker colour to the edges of the background I added a little Watering Can archival ink .


I used black Cosmic Shimmer gesso through the Flower and Butterfly mask , and moved the mask around to add extra images . When that was dry I used Watering Can ink to add extra images that look like shadows .


To make the flowers and birds I drew around the images on both the masks I was using ( Flowers and Butterflies and Song Bird )  onto black card and cut them out . Remember to leave the centre of the flowers or all the petals will fall apart ! Using embossing ink  I added detail to the flowers using the Tulip Damask background stamp and Cosmic Shimmer Aqua Blush Blaze embossing powder . I added detail to the birds using the script stamp from the Spirit stamp set and various embossing 
powders . I did have to cut a wing shape out for the birds so I cut it out of gold mirror card and added 
embossing to this as well .


I embossed gold mirror card using the Song Bird mask and then cut out the birdcage and flourishes . I decided that the gold was too bright and didn't fit in with the rest of the design so I tapped  embossing ink randomly over them and used a greenish powder to add colour over the gold .


The birdcage and flourish were attached so that it looked like the cage was hanging . Finally I added the flowers and birds . I bent and shaped the flowers and birds and used dimensional glue to attach them as shown .

The quote , from the Spirit stamp set was stamped and embossed onto black card , mounted on gold card and added to the project.


I have used various cosmic shimmer embossing powders but  the only one that I have named is the one I used for the flowers because the colour fitted so well ! 
I experimented with the ink background because I have ' a thing ' about permanent colours which I suspect goes back to my painting . The same effect could be created with distress inks and water ! Anyway I hope this has given you some ideas about different ways of using stencils and inks .
Creative Expressions Items used to create this project include :
That Special Touch Masks -- Flowers and Butterfly and Song Bird.
Creative Expressions Stamp set -- Spirit .
Just Rite Clear Stamps -- Tulip Damask Background  . 

If you would like toseewhat other members of the DT are doing please look here 


Tuesday 17 May 2016

Creative Expressions Tuesday


You Make me Laugh .

Hi there , thank you for joining me for today's post , which is about some Just Rite stamps . I have used the following items to create this card :
     Just Rite Clear Stamps, Floral Fan Elements, Pinwheel Daisies and ( for the quote ) Botanical Swirls Labels.
     Colour Cloud Inks , Pretty in Pink and Decadent Oak.
     Foundations card and Archival Ink , Wateringcan.




To create the first layer , using cream coloured card , I stamped the lacey border around the edges of a square ( I used Watering Can ink instead of black ink because it creates a softer image ).  I measured the length of the stamp and drew the square very lightly on the card . I used low tack tape to mask the corners so that I could mitre the corners of the stamped image . Once the ink was dry I rubbed the pink colour cloud ink onto the card and then added a little of the oak colour around the edges .


For the next layer I stamped the individual flowers randomly onto the buff coloured card and then added the same two colour cloud inks all over the card . By using a slightly darker base card the whole layer is darker than the other two layers .


I used cream card for the final layer and stamped the main image as shown . I then stamped extra individual flowers to add to the design . I also stamped the main image several times on separate card so that I could cut out the flowers . I used watercolour paint to colour the design and the extra flowers.


The base layer of the card was mounted onto a black card blank and the other two layers were mounted onto black card . I stuck the second layer onto the card at a jaunty angle and then added some lace . The top layer was attached using foam pads . I then curled the petals of the extra flowers and attached them using dimensional glue . One of  the flowers was kept flat so it could be tucked under the top layer . I added flat back pearls to the centers of the flowers and a few pearl swirls .
  The quote was stamped onto a small square of cream card , rubbed with a little pink ink and mounted on black card . It was stuck onto the card with a foam pad .


I don't know why I arranged the square layers at angles instead of neatly lined up with the edges of the card  , but I feel that it looks more 'relaxed ' this way and therefore more interesting. I hope this inspires you to try different arrangements.

If you would like to see what other members of the CE design team have been doing please look here

creativeexpressionscraft.blogspot.co.uk





Tuesday 10 May 2016

Creative Expressions Tuesday

Lovely Lilacs

Good Morning, l'm back here again with another design for a card using Creative Expressions products . Today the card has a rather vintage feel to it , probably due to the colours I have used .


I have used a Just Rite stamp set to create the lilac design and because this is the focal point of the card I have kept the other colours subtle. The design is stamped on heavy watercolour paper to increase the vintage effect . Although the colours of the lace and ribbon look different in the photo, in  fact they are very similar . I picked the lace from my stash simply because it toned with the ribbon I used for the bow .


I stamped the larger lilac spray with archival ink onto the watercolour paper and also onto copy paper . I then cut out the copy paper image to make a mask which I then placed over the main image so that I could stamp the smaller lilac spray to finish the design. I have included this picture for anyone who has not used masks before. The mask goes over the image so that the second stamp only shows where there is no mask . This means that the second image looks as though it is behind the first. Therefore always stamp the image that you want to be in front first .




Before colouring the lilacs I washed some ochre watercolour onto the paper to 'ground ' the lilacs . At the same time I washed some of the same colour over some old sheet music . I dotted some yellow paint into the centre of the flowers and then started painting the flowers with Irridescent Watercolour paint . I started with a pale silvery blue onto the petals that are at the ' front ' of the spray and then added a slightly darker blue. I also painted the leaves .


I then added some pink again nearer the front of the spray.


I added darker purples as shown so that the lilacs looked dimensional. I then washed some  irridescent yellow to the centres of the flowers . I have shown these step by step photos to give an idea of how I painted the lilacs.  Instead of cutting out the image I tore the paper and then tore a slightly larger piece of black card to put behind the main image . I stamped the quote in brown ink onto some of the watercolour paper and tore it out and mounted it in the same way . Using the music paper I covered the card blank .


To finish the card I curled the edges of the watercolour paper and attached it to the black card. I added the lace and then stuck the lilac design onto the card .  The quote was added using foam pads and the bow and flower were attached with glue .there are a few pearls which I coloured to tone in with the design using alcohol pens .
I feel that the vintage background provides a good contrast to the irridescent paints so that they really stand out .
Items used , Just Rite Clear Stamp set -- Lilac Blossoms.
Irridescent Shimmering Watercolour Paints  --  Chic and Frosted .
Silky Crush Ribbon-- Champagne.


If you want to see what other members of the DT have been doing please go to 

Tuesday 3 May 2016

Creative Expressions Tuesday

Floral Shrine.


This little floral shrine started life as a simple MDF shrine from Creative Expressions which I stuck together and then decided that it needed a little embellishing ! So before I did anything else I attached some little wooden beads as feet and some more wooden pieces to add interest to the top of the shrine  . The central pieces are beads on a wire stuck into the wooden bead .


Once all the glue was dry and solid I painted the whole piece with white gesso. I then used the Splash mini stencil to add texture to the front of the shrine with texture paste . I painted over this with another coat of gesso.


Next I painted some card with the white gesso so that the backgrounds would match . Using the Shabby Harlequin mini stencil and Mushroom pigment ink l added the pattern randomly to the paper .
 At the same time I added the same random design to the front of the shrine . I used one of the corner stamps from the Ornate Corner set to add more pattern randomly over the card and shrine ( Eggplant pigment ink ). I cut a piece of card to fit in the back of the shrine, and two strips of card to fit the sides of the shrine . I stamped some flourishes on these pieces with Wateringcan Archival ink . These pieces were attached to the shrine .



Finally I rubbed both Golden Lilac and Enchanted Gold gilding waxes over the raised texture paste, along the edges and over the feet and top pieces of the shrine. Adding both these colours created an interesting mix of colour.

I stamped the large frame with violets from the Violet Elements stamp set  several times using Wateringcan ink again and also several of the individual violets in different sizes onto some white card . I used watercolour paints to colour the images and then cut out the flowers. I used three layers of the main design to create the dimensional area at the bottom of the shrine. I cut off more of the design for each layer to create my own decoupage and used dimensional glue to fix the pieces in place . I've used other flowers as shown both inside and outside the aperture. Finally I added the quote .


I've got to go now , so here is a list of the Creative Expressions items I used : -
Stamps--- Just Rite-- Ornate Corners.
CE Clear Stamps by John Lockwood --- Violet Elements .
Mini Stencils --- Shabby Harlequin and Splash.
Gilding Wax --- Enchanted Gold and Golden Lilac.


If you would like to find out what other members of the design team have been doing go to