Sunday 21 June 2015

June's Guest Designer - Alison Bomber.

Hello our creative friends! Today we have a bunch of inspiration from one amazing artist - our June Guest Designer. Her original and colourfull projects are eye catching and inspiring. She knows how to work with media, how to create stunning texture and how to perfectly balance colours. Our Guest Designer this month is...


Here is Alison to introduce herself:
My creativity was never really on the visual side - I was more the words, music,
books, theatre type. When I became a freelancer in Spring 2012 after eight years at
the Royal Shakespeare Company as a Text and Voice Coach, it was supposed to give
me more time for friends and family. I had no idea that within weeks I would be in
thrall to a whole new creative passion - stamps/inks/paints/texture/stencils - you
name it, I want to play with it!  There's so much to learn, discover and explore.
Now I have to balance the two worlds - hence the name of my blog, Words and Pictures. So much for friends and family...
Now it's time for some beautiful inspiration from our Guest Designer. Sit comfortably because Alison prepared a real treat for you:

Hello, Alison here from Words and Pictures.  I was thrilled to be asked to be a guest here at Artist Trading Post, especially to play with stencils - one of my absolute crafting must-haves.  I enjoyed myself so much that I ended up with a trio of projects, and I'm delighted to share the first of them with you today.


 Believe it or not, this altered trinket box started life as a humble plastic container (cotton buds!) saved from the recycling bin. 


 I coated it with gesso, smeared on various gel mediums and crackle mediums so that there was lots of random texture, and then spritzed it with some DecoArt Media Sprays.  Once it was all dry I applied some texture paste through the fabulous Herbarium stencil by Kasia Krzyminska... with all those blues and greens, the botanical look seemed the perfect way to go. 

 I painted the textured leaves using various Fresco paints, and decided I wanted even more crackle, so I put a coat of Rock Candy Crackle Paint over large areas of the whole box. 


While that was drying and crackling, I started playing with adding co-ordinating paint colours to an oval bezel charm, using a toothpick to marble them. 


 That needed a long time to dry, but once it had I added some ChitChat stickers and a coat of Glossy Accents to seal it all in. 

 The final touch was to add some shimmer using various Treasure Gold colours.  The gilding really helps all the texture to pop. 



 I hope you like my Herbarium Trinket Box, perfect for collecting beautiful moments, and I'm happy to say that I'll see you again soon with another Crafter's Workshop Stencils creation.
Alison xxx




























Isn't it gorgeous transformation? Thank you Alison for preparing such an inspiring piece for us and also I must say that I feel very honoured that you used my stencil. :)

Here are some of products that Alison worked with:



Please remember that our new ATP Exchange Challenge has just started. And for all of you who need more TCW stencils we have a special offer: we are running a promotion which enables you to buy any amount of 6"x6" TCW stencils and receive free shipping.  

Simply place an order containing only 6"x6" Crafter's Workshop stencils and select "TCW 6"x6" free postage" from the shipping menu. This offer runs till July 12th. (UK customers only)

Please note, orders combined with any other products are subject to our normal postage rates, and are not part of this promotion.

Have a beautiful Sunday!

29 comments:

  1. What wonderful up-cycling in those favourite colours of yours Alison!

    Sally

    ReplyDelete
  2. Fabulous colors and gorgeous alteration, Alison!! Love that charm a lot :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautifully altered Alison. Love the colours and the texture is amazing.xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Who would have guessed that this started out as a humble plastic box! You really have worked your magic Alison and transformed it into the most stunning Herbarium Trinket Box, the stencilling brings it all to life and the colours are glorious. The crowning glory of the bezel is so cleverly done - a genius idea! Anne xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. It's delicious and delightful Alison! Love how you built up the textures and the swirls in the oval are genius! Fabulous playing! Fabulous art! X

    ReplyDelete
  6. Well, a plastic box, - who could possibly have guessed.... A wonderful transformation with all those gorgeous textures. Love the effects in the bezel, - one to remember for sure, - and of course the colours are beautiful like always!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow, another stunner Alison in your trademark beautiful blues and greens ;)
    I've just got that stencil and I must say it's seriously wonderful!
    Big hugs
    Donna xxx

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is a total stunner Alison. Congrats on your guest design spot. Love how you marbled the paint in the bezel. Enjoy your Sunday. Nicola x

    ReplyDelete
  9. Absolutely fabulous Alison! The colours are just wonderful and I love the little cabochon you made! Congrats on your guest spot! hugs :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. It is astonishing what a plastic box can become in your hands, dear Alison.It is a wonderful piece, and the marbled bezel gorgeous, too.
    I would never have guessed the history .
    Dorthe, xo

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow that is lovely, the colours are divine and its so different and strangely creative!! Cxxx

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great texture and I love those colours !
    Corrie x

    ReplyDelete
  13. Lovely way to transform a boring plastic container into fabulous art. Love your texture and colors. Waw !! Thank you for sharing.
    Hugs from Monica...Spain

    ReplyDelete
  14. Woow, what a fantastic transformation! It's hard to believe that you've created this stunner out of a plastic container! Wonderful colours, great textures and I adore your marble effect in the oval! Brilliant!
    Branka xxx

    ReplyDelete
  15. this is amazing Alison - what a transformation - and that oval is just wow - brilliant xx

    ReplyDelete
  16. Glorious upcycling! Just my kind of project, the colours, textures & using metal embellishments... All the favourite things for me. Knock out results! Tfs. C

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great alteration - you'd never know how it started life! it looks fantastic.

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a fantastic makeover to a plastic Bix. ..totally unrecognisable. The colors and textures are fab and so is that marbled bezel.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Well you would certainly never guess it was once a humble plastic ear bud box would you. What a transformation! It looks fabulous. Lx

    ReplyDelete
  20. A beautiful transformation from plain plastic to wonderfully artistic! Love the colors and even the wonderful swirled paint in the bezel - even the curve of the lid! Thanks for inspiring us Alison! Julia xx

    ReplyDelete
  21. An amazing transformation Alison! I would never have thought that a plastic box would be transformed into such a beautiful item! Your a genius Alison ! Toni xx

    ReplyDelete
  22. Absolutely incredible! Alison!! When I saw this was a plastic container,my jaw hit the keyboard! heehee You are amazing,sweet lady! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wow! and Wow! again - a stunning transformation - love the colours (of course!) Chrisx

    ReplyDelete
  24. Beautiful project Alison! Love the vibrant color palette and all the texture!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Fabulous new trinket box, Alison!! Just a wonderful and creative transformation to this otherwise utilitarian and simple plastic box--Now it's magical and ready to hold those special mementos of beautiful moments :) :) XOXO-Shari

    ReplyDelete
  26. Wow, fabulous box!!!! Love the vibrant colours and the leaves and textured parts, the wooden embellishments with paint inside is fabulous too!!... Congratulations for this guest DT spot, so well deserved! Coco xx

    ReplyDelete
  27. This is glorious, what a transformation!

    Lucy x

    ReplyDelete
  28. I seriously cannot believe that work of art started out as a cotton buds plastic bin. REally?!?!! Love the charm -- what a great background the marbled paint made! And then there is the crackle over the stencils ... wow!! I always go for grunge to bring out the crackles. I may have to just "lighten up" and go for the gold!! Love this. More inspriration. -- Mary Elizabeth

    ReplyDelete