Mr 'Hex Bones'

 Hi Everyone,

Just a quick post here today to invite you to join me over on That's Crafty's blog where I'm sharing a fun colourful card / invitation for halloween. 

It features one of Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Halloween stamps from last year, 'Mr Bones' along with one of AALL and Creates recent released stamps 'Lined Hexagons' designed by Bipasha BK. 

If you fancy stopping by to meet 'Mr Hex Bones', as he became known during the making of the card theres no need to RSVP  just click HERE 

We hope to see you soon

💀 

Amanda

x

Canvas- A Vintage Journey June 2017 Challenge

Hi Everyone

Hope you are all doing good and have had a great week - the last one in May - this year sure is passing by quickly!  So, as we head into June we have a new Challenge starting today over at A Vintage Journey. It's our lovely Nikki hosting this month and she has chosen the Challenge theme
'Canvas'
"Let's work with canvas this month in our vintage; shabby; mixed media, art journalling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk style. It doesn't matter how as long as some canvas is a dominant feature of your project. Perhaps you may use a canvas in the traditional way or use the reverse to create a shadow box? Canvas boards are fabulous to work on or perhaps you have some canvas sheets which can be cut and adhered to another surface."

Despite having a large collection of canvases in a whole range of sizes amidst my art stash (I'm Amanda and I'm a canvas collector haha) I decided not to disturb the "pack" so to speak and instead used canvas sheet on my 'Broken Maze, Hidden Gem' project.
It was Seth Apters a'MAZE'ing die that provided the inspiration for this project and one that no doubt you will see again in my work as I already have a couple prepped in various guises all 'good to go'.
 I'll start from the base up with the detail, sharing some close ups, mainly of the finished project as I got so involved in the creativity that I forgot to 'point the lens' during the process.
The base
  A 15x15 cm wooden box frame I found in my large stash of alterables (yes,I collect them too haha) primed with gesso and painted with black acrylic paint. For this project I worked on the back of the box frame.The sides are decorated with designer tape by Tim Holtz (Chatter)


and the top, a piece of textured wallpaper cut to size, lightly coloured using Distress inks (Iced Spruce, Tumbled glass, Faded Jeans) with some paint splatters too.

The larger Circle panel . 
 An MDF circular panel covered with Canvas sheet, primed with gesso and then painted with Distress paints (Iced spruce, Bundled Sage, Broken China, Mermaid Lagoon, Black Soot) and a few Deco Art media fluid acrylics (Prussian Blue, Paynes Gray) using brushes and brayers. As per my usual - no set rules just layering up the paint, going with the flow and enjoying the process.

Love how the paint picks up the texture of the canvas, creating instant detail which I added to using stamps (Seth Apter's Dot Matrix, Tattered Screen) as well as textured paper.

The smaller Circle
An old CD (and dare I say it - I seem to have alot of these lying around too) altered with acrylic paint and gesso. Love the subtle detail picked up from the pattern on the paper towel I used to remove some of my over zealous application of gesso .

Further detail again came in the way of stamps (Seth Apters Word Chain, Dot Matrix) with Shadow grey and Jet black Archival ink .

The Broken Maze
created from Seth Apters Broken Maze die. This was die cut about 4 times from greyboard and then layered and adhered one on top of the other to give some dimension and rigidity but only enough to still be able to manipulate the Broken Maze into a dome shape once altered.

The Maze was altered using Tim Holtz Grit paste and then painted (Prussian Blue Media Fluid and Distress paints as already mentioned) using a dry brush with silver gilding wax used to help enhance the texture of the painted grit paste.
 

I die cut and adhered together a second batch of the Broken Maze using black card stock to act as a drop shadow when assembled. .

I adhered an Ideology faucet knob to the centre of the maze

topped with a black gem bead

underneath which lies a hidden gem (a glass bead altered with alcohol inks)

that can be seen glistening in the light

  but only found

once you have worked your way through the Broken Maze

I hope my Broken Maze Hidden Gem creation has offered some inspiration to at least some of you stopping by today and that you will join us in our Canvas challenge.
As always at the end of the challenge there will be one lucky winner chosen by Random Org who will receive our Sponsors prize which this month is a $25 gift card kindly donated by Shimmerz Paints

The Creative Guides will also choose 3 Pinworthy winners who will not only win a Pinworthy badge to display on their blog but will also be invited to join us as a Guest Designer for a future challenge .
Don't forget to stop by A Vintage Journey to see the gallery of fabulous canvas projects created by my very talented fellow Creative Guides.

Before I sign out for today I would like to say  "big thanks to Seth Apter for designing so many fabulous products, (yes, I am very happily collecting Seth products now too) for inspiring my creativity with not only your products but with your blog The Altered Page and your own creativity and amazing art! 

Many thanks to all of you too for stopping by today .
Your visits, comments and follows are very much appreciated .
Wishing you all a lovely weekend
Take care and  keep on the happy side
Amanda 

(the collector😉)
xxx 
I would like to enter this into the following challenges: 
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge- 'We're Going Around in Circles  
Creative Artiste Challenge #27 - 'Anything Mixed Media Goes'  
The Craft Stamper TIMI Challenge - June 'Anything Goes Stamping Challenge '

All Aboard- A Vintage Journey March 2017 Challenge

Hi Everyone and Welcome

Hope you've all doing good and have had a great week.
Today we launch our new Challenge over at A Vintage Journey. Lovely Brenda is our host this month and her chosen challenge is
ALL ABOARD-HAPPY BIRTHDAY AVJ !

and here's what Brenda has to say

'Come join in our All Aboard Challenge where you can choose what you want to step on board with and although we still need to see you working with the styles and genres listed in the banner at the top of the page you can choose whether you share a card, some altered art, a journal page, a painting. infact whatever you fancy but with no theme to follow . Lets have some fun , share our current creations and enjoy the informal feel of our birthday celebrations.'

To celebrate our birthday and the passing of time since A Vintage Journey began 3 years ago I have created a fully functional faux metal clock.

The body of the clock is created using Eileen Hull Box Square (ATB) die with mountboard. Once die cut, all pieces were primed with gesso and painted with Tim Holtz Distress paint.

The Mirror board panels were cut to fit each of the sides (including top and bottom) of the ATB. The panels were then altered using one of Tim Holtz new release Texture fade - Numeric and Tim's painted industrial technique. 3 of the panels were placed in one area of the embossing folder, 3 in a different area to achieve a variation in pattern .

A close up of the emboss -Just love the result!

The embossed panels were adhered to the ATB pieces and before assembling the ATB a hole was punched out of the centre of what would be the face of the clock. This would allow for the clock mechanism to be fitted securely.

The 'lid' of the ATB was left so it would open and close to allow for easy access to fit and replace the battery when needed. The internal area could also be used to store spare batteries or any other 'bits' you may want to keep safe.

The clock face was created using Tim Holtz Gadget Gears Bigz die, greyboard, mirror board , distress paint and Texture fade emboss folder - Numeric .

Chunky Inconal hex nuts were used for feet

and one of Tim Holtz Ideology Faucet knobs was adhered to a Iconal hex nut to create a knob/ handle

which would enable the 'lid' of the clock to be opened and closed with greater ease.

(see the video- but please excuse the lack of video professionalism - I'm still in training!!)

Then it was just a case of cutting the hands down to size, fitting them in place and of course making sure the clock works......
Is there a low pitched tick tock? Does the second hand move?
Yay! There is and it does .

(apologies again for the lack of video professionalism)

I really enjoyed making this clock

and I hope I have some inspiration for you to go and have fun with your creativity and join us in our birthday challenge. We always love seeing what you create and appreciate your entries.

At the end of the challenge there will be one lucky winner chosen by Random Org who will receive our Sponsors prize which this month is a £20 voucher to spend at Country View Crafts.

The Creative Guides will also choose 3 Pinworthy winners who will not only win a Pinworthy badge to display on their blog but will also be invited to join us as a Guest Designer for a future challenge

If you haven't already be sure to pop by A Vintage Journey to view some of my fellow Creative Guides projects . There really are some fabulous -not to be missed -creations to be seen! 

Thank you so much for stopping by today .

Your visits, comments and follows are very much appreciated .
Wishing you all a lovely weekend

Take care
Amanda
xxx

'Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination: never put off till tomorrow what you can do today- TIME is Precious!'

Winter Magic- A Vintage Journey, December 2016 Challenge

HI Everyone and Welcome
Hope you've all doing good and have had a great week. With Winter now upon us I hope you will be able to join us in our new Challenge over at A Vintage Journey which is just perfect for the season. Debs is our host this time and she has chosen
Winter Magic
'For us in the Northern Hemisphere December brings the start of Winter is so much more than that and so we ask , how would you interpret the magic of Winter? Snow, Icicles, colours of blue, silver and white, the festivities of Christmas, misty winter landscapes: show us what your magical focus is for this season .As always we ask that you follow our travelling instructions and that your project be created in a vintage, shabby, mixed media, art journaling,industrial or steampunk style .'

As always there will be one lucky winner who will receive our sponsors prize which this month is a £20 voucher to spend at Country View Crafts.
The Creative Guides will also choose 3 pinworthy winners who will not only win a pinworthy badge to display on their blog but will also be invited to join us as a Guest Designer for a future Challenge.

Snow always comes to mind when I think of 'Winter Magic' so I have a canvas to share with a snowy feel created with an arty, wintry spirit.

Having come across a 5x7 canvas I started painting earlier this year I decided to build on the grey wash I'd already laid down way back when by adding tones of blue, grey and white using Tim holtz distress paints ( broken china, tumbled glass, hickory smoke, picket fence) and gesso for the white. All applied very freestyle and with the finger , just going with the flow

continuing the process until it looked ok. I love how the paint and especially the gesso pick up the texture of the canvas.
Unfortunately that's the only process photo I have so I hope you will now enjoy a descriptive tour around the canvas
Detail was created using stamps (Tim Holtz snowflakes, Birch , Half tone, a script stamp) with Archival ink(cornflower, watering can,cobalt) and Tm Holtz layering stencils (Snowflakes,Dot fade) with Tim Holtz Grit paste and gesso .

The snow is a mix of both DecoArt Snowtex and Tim Holtz Grit paste . It was given a touch of sparkle using Tim Holtz distress glitter (rock candy) and in some lights it really does gently glisten. A spritz of perfect pearls also added a touch of shimmer.

With the crackle sneaking in on the photos so far its time for the focal feature . This was created using Seth Apters Drip drop die - multiple die cuts adhered together , painted in silver and crackled using DecoArt crackle paste,the cracks being highlighted with gilding wax .

This was adhered to a painted and lightly sparkled mdf pocket watch which provides an ideal base for the snow dusted Tim Holtz dimensional Silver star.

And a few snowed up embellishments helped finish off my arty spirited canvas

with a snowy feel

I hope I have offered some inspiration and that you will be able to join us in our 'Winter Magic' . If you haven't already be sure to pop by A Vintage Journey to view some of my fellow Creative Guides projects. There are some fabulous creations to be seen and lots of inspiration to be had. 
I really did enjoy being back in my 'happy' place doing what I love, for a design team that I feel so lucky and proud to be apart of.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges : 
The Craft Stamper TIMI December Challenge: Take a Theme: Snow and Ice  
Frilly and Funkie : Home for the Holidays 

 Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today and big thanks too for always leaving me such lovely comments. 

Both are so very much appreciated.

Have a lovely weekend Everyone

Take care and keep on the happy side

Amanda

xxx