Second set of pages with Finnabair

I posted my projects from the amazing Finnabair workshops last week, which you can find Here, but I only got one set of the journal pages completed at the time but I have now finished the second set (and the third set will be on their way soon).

Based on strips and splatters this one was great fun, very simple, but oh so effective to get fabulous colours into a layout.

I think there is a story behind this photo and thanks to Jools for bringing it to the workshop. This young man is part of consortium of local builders, being a carriage and sleigh maker ……

… it looks as though he may be thinking of changing direction to become a stair maker.

I wonder if that is just a pipedream?

Can you see I just loved playing with bright colours for a change?

I hope you are having a good weekend. I am at the Stamp Attic for a couple of days with Jo Firth Young playing with her stamps and fresco finish paints.

Take care.

Hugs {brenda} x0x

ICAD swap–receiving beautiful art

Back when the summer days were hot and balmy (yes I remember we did actually have a summer this year lol), the very talented Astrid, at Astrid's Artistic Efforts, made some ICADs (this stands for Index Card A Day – which are aka Skinny's and are 3 x 5 ins in size), she offered to organise a swap and I jumped on board straight away. (Why do I do these things when I am up to my eyes in stuff?) But after my holiday I made a start which then got interrupted by my workshops with Tim and Finnabair, but eventually I got the ICADs and an envelope made for them and sent them out to my swap partners Elly and Maryann. I have kept them to post later for my DT contribution to Country View Crafts’ Challenge where the theme this month is layers.

But here are the fabulous ICADs and folders I received in the post.

Firstly from Sue at Stamping Sue Style.

Sue knows me so well, she chose one of my most favourite themes and made this little beauty.

And here is the fabulous folder it came in.

Also from the lovely Astrid herself I got two beautiful cards -

Aren’t they gorgeous?

And this wonderful folder.

Decorated beautifully inside….

…. and out.

THANK YOU SO MUCH both of you.

This is the first time I have entered a proper swap like this and I am so happy to have received these perfect little treasures. They will sit in my craft room to bring me additional inspiration each day. I am soooo lucky to have such wonderful blogging friends.

It’s Thursday night and off to banquet night at the local curry house.

See you all soon.

Stay inspired.

hugs {Brenda} x0x

Envelope designing and give-away

I am taking part in Astrid’s great idea of an ICAD (Index Card A Day aka a Skinny) swap and have made two of them with an envelope holder ready to go out to their recipients (more photos when they have been received). But before I made the envelopes for the swap I thought I would be sensible and design one to make sure they fitted ok.

Still in Finnabair mode I used gesso, inks, tea, stamps, leftover scraps and embellishments.

The front ……

with a small vintage image included.

The back with the flap up and you can see I used paper from a Tim Holtz paper stash so the inside looks good too.

A simple brad and thread closure.

And another little vintage image with lace, frame and collage pieces.

Skinny’s are made 3 x 5 inches and this pocket envelope is 12 x 13 cms.

If anyone would like this little decorated envelope then please leave me a comment and add your link and  I will pick the winner next Monday the 16th September after 12.00 pm. I might even make an ICAD to go in it lol.

Have an inspirational and crafty week.

hugs {brenda} x0x

Please leave your link here.

Texture – C2CU Week 1

We start a new challenge at Crafts-Too Challenge You and this month the focus is on texture and especially using embossing folders. The twist for the first two weeks is to use your own style.

My card is less grungy than normal and almost into the shabby chic range.

I have used a Crafts-Too embossing folder with the type keys on and I have used it with the Tim Holtz vintage typewriter die. To obtain the textured mount I first embossed a white piece of card then painted it with victorian velvet distress paint. When it was dry I sanded over the top of the letters and then inked with walnut stain distress ink. You can see why I linked this EF with the die!!

The typewriter was cut in white card and again in shiny black card. Again I painted over the top of it with antiqued bronze and brushed pewter DPs, heating the paint till it was very hot and blistering to achieve some of the pitted texture on it. I adhered some black shiny card to the back of the keys and transferred the black pieces from the other die-cut.

Some ribbon and small embellishments, all from the ideaology range and two computer generated words/sentiment. To finish off I added some of Tim’s remnant rubs.

It would be lovely to see you over at Crafts-Too for the challenge this month.

Take care

hugs {brenda} x0x

Challenges to have fun with -
It's all about the Vintage - Use metal embellishments
Sugar Creek Hollow - Back to School  (Does a typewriter count here? lol)

Finnabair Workshop

It’s taken me a couple of days to get time to post again after getting back from my crafty travels (and beware this is photo heavy). Having blogged about my Tim Holtz adventure last week, this last weekend saw me travelling to Swindon to take part in a two day amazing workshop with Anna Dabrowska also known as Finnabair and OMG what an incredibly creative two days we had with this extraordinarily talented and charming lady. Anna is the epitome of all things artsy and is a fabulous teacher. We explored mixed media Finnabair style over four workshops creating a layout. canvas, journal cover and journal pages and what an exciting, refreshing and inspiring journey it was. I thought I would share these projects over at Frilly and Funkie as their new challenge is Anything Goes.

My layout…….

My Canvas

My journal and one of the double page spreads. (I have some things to finish yet!!)

Starting with a prima canvas journal with resist covers.

If you have already been lucky enough to spend time with Anna, you will know what I am talking about and if you have a workshop already booked you are in for a most amazing treat and if you haven’t then what are you waiting for? I came away with so many techniques to use, so many ideas and so much new enthusiasm to create. I am raring to go and just need to find some time. (I think Anna must have brought Mr Mojo back from Ireland for me and in the most amazing mood that I want to be at my desk for the next week).

Saturday’s group

Lesley, Alison (Butterfly), Me, Emma, Astrid, Tracey, Alison (CraftyTrog), Anna, Nicky, Gillian.

Alison, Me and Astrid.

Anna teaching.

Anna

Alison, Anna. Astrid, Me, Jools and Alison.

Intensely working away.

Thanks Anna, I loved each and every second and enjoyed your company over dinner.

I hope to do this again one day.

Hope everyone is having a brilliant week especially as the sun is shining.

Stay creative.

hugs {brenda} x0x

Finding Mr Mojo–Tag 5

I will have to admit to a bit of cheating making this tag, it is actually one of six I prepared earlier in the year but only two got finished and they were given to very dear blogging friends. So what I did was play with making new backgrounds but then finished all four of the other tags, the backgrounds will be used for something else later on.

This is my re-take on Tim’s June tag of 2012. I used the marbleised background, stamped over it and then used a vintage image I had downloaded.

I followed the same steps but improvised along the way with colours and supplies.

Along with my DT makes and these tags, I think Mr Mojo is finding his way back home but I will continue and finish the 12 tags just for fun.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look and a huge thank you if you leave me a comment. I really appreciate the time you give as I know how long it can take.

I will be back tomorrow with some photos of the weekend.

Have a great day.

hugs {brenda} x0x

Using wood for UPA

The new Unruly PaperArts blogozine is published today and it is all about using wood in your crafting projects. There are the usual Reader’s Art Quests (RAQs) and columnist articles over the month. But sadly this will be the last month for UPA as Shar the creator and editor can no longer find the time to keep it going. It is such a shame.

This is my RAQ sample using a flat wooden birdhouse and a couple of wooden embellishments.

These birdhouses can be picked up quite cheaply and I got mine from the Range in the UK.

I had seen a video made by Leandra at PaperArtsy and decided to use her techniques to colour up and get some texture going. You can find the video tutorial HERE, where the process is described in detail and is very easy to follow.

I also painted the back using Fresco Finish paints and a piece of foam.

I gathered some wooden embellishments together, not sure which ones I was going to use at the time and I painted them all with white acrylic paint.

I decided to use the large bird and small dragonfly and painted them again with FF paints, then over-stamped the bird with a Tim Holtz stamp.

Using a small piece of twig also painted up I glued in a perch..

You can see the textures and layers of paint here.

Have fun working with wooden pieces this month and please enter your projects into the two RAQs which are 1. To use wooden accents and 2. Make a 3D wooden project. I think I have covered both with my birdhouse lol.

Thanks for joining me today, have fun.

hugs {brenda} x0x