Sunday 22 October 2017

Mosaic frame at PaperArtsy

Hi everyone, I have a post over on the PaperArtsy blog tonight. I've been exploring all things pearlescent making a faux mother of pearl effect frame and combined it with a lovely Lin Perella stamped image.


Hop across for all the details. R x

Thursday 5 October 2017

The Season of Autumn on a Tag...at Stamps and Stencils

Hi everyone, it's time for the October challenge at Stamps and Stencils and Toni is our talented host this month...I'm so pleased with her choice which is based on a wonderful line from a poem by Keats. Here's what she wants us to do.

Autumn:' The Season of  Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness' I'd love to see your projects that are inspired by this beautiful season. You may love the rich, warm colours or the shapes of fallen leaves and natural forms. Let us celebrate the wonders to be found around us. The only catch, is that I'd like you to use a tag or several tags, as your substrate. Your tag can be any size or shape and made of any material but it must be a tag. It must also feature some stamping, stenciling or preferably both. I'm looking forward to seeing your creations!


As if I wasn't inspired enough, Alison Bomber's latest stamp releases from PaperArtsy include an autumnal plate which has a quote from Anne of Green Gables. All the quotes are wonderful but this one sold it to me. I was and still am very fond of this series of books and this quote just evokes such images and memories for me....Autumn yes it may be cold, wet and windy at times but oh what a riot of colour!

Forget summer when flowers are big and blousy and fighting for your attention, this is when leaves come into their own....


Even one brown leaf  holds such warmth and depth...you may have guessed that I love Autumn ....but if I'm honest I'm so glad I live in a country that has seasons. I will look forward to the frosts of Winter, the acid bright colours that herald Spring and the 'warm' perfumed long days of Summer too, but for now I will enjoy Autumn!


I chose to alter a size 10 tag. A little stencilling in white before a wash of pumpkin soup paint and crackle paste.


Adding further layers of translucent paint, smoked paprika, london bus and yellow submarine, stamping in orange blossom and squid ink around the edges. I've used Lin Brown stamp sets for this.




Instead of card for the leaves I've used off cuts of cartridge paper, I find it holds the paint well whilst giving flexibilty. Fresco paints in browns, yellows, oranges, red, purple and deep chocolate tones too. Stamped and clear embossed and surprise, surprise...touches of  metallic foil and treasure gold.


Assembled with 3D gel


I had 2 choices at this stage, nestle the quote in the leaves or the option I went with which meant I needed something for the centre. Seeds I had from a previous project but I wanted some hawthorn berries. Paperclay and some very easy modelling worked quite well, finished off with gloss glaze.




Splashes of red and white paint to carry the colours through the tag and add contrast.


Sari silk ribbon perfectly matched the tag.


Final close up.


For more autumnal delights and inspiration, hop across and see what the wonderful DT have created. I hope you'll be tempted to join in...can't wait to see your tags! R x