The Magic Sketchbook Workshop with Sue Carrington

I have just had the the most Super Sunny Saturday, thanks to Sue and 6 wonderful ladies that have kept me entertained all day.

Sue was teaching the class here at Artist Trading Post, and was joined by Sheila, Ruth, Diana, Rose, Lynda and Jill.

All though I wasn't teaching the class or taking part, I enjoyed the banter, the shared knowledge and of course the good company.

The workshop was to create a journal cover, using mainly Paper Artsy Stamps and paints, with stencilling and individually designed metal work.

The Pink Pig book was larger than most ladies thought it was going to be, so there is plenty of scope for journalling, doodling or turning into a scrapbook album, the sky's the limit.

This is Sue's Sample on a large Pink Pig Landscape book, showing how she builds up the background  layers using Paper Artsy paint, stencilling and stamping with Archival Ink. Then adding metal embossed with 10 Second Studio Tools and other embellishments.

Here's Sheila, Ruth and Diana working hard.

Sue happy in her work and doing a wonderful job.

Jill, Lynda and Rose also busy.

Rose's book cover using various Lynne Perrella stamps, Paper Artsy paints and lots of Crafter's Workshop stencils in the background.

Diana's Cover  using some of the Limited Edition Paper Artsy Paints (which we should have in stock next week)

Lynda chose to go purple.

Sheila went a bit different using the New JOFY stamps, which are really super.

Here's Jill's the colours are really vibrant, sorry about the picture being a little blurred.

Last but not least, Ruth's stunning cover, you can see the Treasure gold highlighting the grunge paste which has been applied through the stencil's.

Well done ladies and thanks again to Sue for teaching all the lovely techniques.

Sorry for making you stand out in the cold.

Look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Sharon

Catch up and a Happy New Year

Hello everybody and Happy New Year to you all.

Now that Christmas is over I am trying to get back into the swing of things, and I am sure it's the same for most of you.

Because I have not blogged since November I am going to try and do a short recap, we have had some fantastic workshops and also special guests Sue Carrington and Finnabair to show us how to create some super projects.

Here is the box we made with Sue;

This is Ruth's box the colours were very rich brown's and greens, my photo does not bring out the colours.

This is the sample made by Sue.

Here is Sue and you can just see Pam and Marilyn busy at work.

Sheila and Ruth.

The inside of the box, lined and stamped. Sue did a brilliant job of cutting and scoring the liners for the box's before the workshop and they all fit really well.

Here is my box, I really enjoyed being able to take part in the workshop, thank you again Sue and I am looking forward to the next one...

After that came the biggest workshop we have ever organised but not the last, this year we hope to host a few big ones so keep checking our website for more news.

Anna trying to say goodbye to Jack, but he wanted to play more football.

The start of the weekend was made even more exciting with Leandra from Paper Artsy kindly demonstrating at our shop, here is Ann and Helena watching the process of building up layers with chalk acrylics, stamps and stencils.

Onto the Finnabair workshops and this is the start of my picture before any gesso, paint or sprays. you may wonder why my picture is of Finnabair, well my pictures did not turn out so Anna came to the rescue and let me have one of her photo's, Thank you Anna.

Here's Anna going round the class showing her sample of how it should start to progress.

Here is the start of mine, we had to decide what colours we wanted to use and I choose the same colours as Penny because our base colours were very similar. But the end result was completely different. We used Luminarte Primary Element Pigments and the effect it creates will always be different. 

Here are my completed pictures.

Then we had a Paper Artsy workshop, using as much PA products as possible. So there was 

Electica Chipboard Shapes ES06

Lynne Perrella Stamps no 22

Lin Brown Stamps no 1 and 3

Paper Artsy Paints and Treasure Gold

we also used 

Sizzix Vintage Valise and Sized Arches to make the inner frame.

Route 52 Half Tree Trunks to make the outer Frame along with Kraft Cardboard (greybeard)

The Crafters Workshop Stencils 

TCW280 Blazonry and TCW363 Diamonds.

And here is Jamie enjoying his trifle at Chatsworth House where we had our works christmas meal.

New workshops are being added to the section now, with Sue Carrington coming up first on Saturday 22nd February with a wonderful altered Pink Pig Landscape Sketchbook class called Sketchbook Magic

Thanks all for your patience and hope to see you soon x

Cut N Dry technique

What have we done to deserve this awful weather, oh well we can always get crafting.

I have been having a little play with cut and dry felt. I added the picture just in case you have forgot what it looks like and you know you have some somewhere.

Firstly stamp onto the cut & dry felt using Archival Ink or Versafine. The stamp is Lynne Perrella 012.

Then colour in using Distress Reinkers.....

It does not matter that it blends into the other colours....

Hope you can see the effect you can get...

I also used a different smaller stamp to get a variety of colour on the same cut & dry felt.

Then pop it in a ziploc or similar bag for a rainy day. If it does dry slightly you can use Ink Refresher to  moisten it again.

Next I painted a tag and sponged more paint through a stencil.

Then added the cut out picture I had stamped.

This idea works really nice with flowers and butterflies as well, where you want lots of colour.

Hope you enjoyed this and maybe have a go yourself.

Well it's just about time for our walkies before the rain starts again, so by for now and I shall be back soon.

Sharon

Purple is the Colour

This time last week we were having Fish & Chips in Aberystwyth with Sue & Stuart (Jamie's Mum & Dad). We decided on the Pier Restaurant and I can say they were scrummy. They popped over to see us from Derbyshire.

We had a few wonderful day's and Sue even managed to get a bit of craft shopping in. They left us on Wednesday teatime so Sue was able to go back to work on Friday.

But she still managed to make a beautiful card and get it to us on Saturday morning, fast going......and here it is......

I can remember many years ago standing in Sue's kitchen and getting her to show me how to stamp, I owe a lot of thanks to Sue.

The stamp is Paper Artsy HP1216 the back ground was painted using Fresco Finish Acrylics- Moonlight. Also incorporated into the design is the mini Tim Holtz Dress Form Die. 

Purple seems to be the theme colour this week, so here's a hanging tag I made.

I painted a large piece of card with FFA Pansy and Rose then dabbed Sherbet through a stencil. When it was dry I cut two tags using Sizzix Tag And Bookplates large die.

I cut one of the tags in half to create the bottom tag and connected then using a off cut of card which I stamped with the star design off LPC008 and added a pen nib.

The main stamp and the one at the bottom is off LPC012.

I have used Crackly Tissue paper down the sides cut with a On the Edge die called Ornate and gently coloured it with Dusty Concord Distress Ink.

The Mini Flourish at the top is painted with a Pearl Dabber.

The Embellishment at the very bottom was a gift from Anneliese when she came back from Ranger U.

The sun is shining so I thought I would take some photo's of the flowers in the garden, we haven't had much time to spend in that department.

Here's the Hayrack:

Lillie's:

Chicken's not where they are supposed to be, Brusier And I shall soon have then back in the paddock.

Where are they Bru and Jack?

Back where we would prefer... But not for long I,m sure.

I am going to go and get inky, we have just taken delivery of some New paper's from Kaiser which need a coat of looking at, so by for now and thank you for looking in.

And I always appreciate you comments.

Sharon