Just Because ...

 Hi Everyone 

It's another Thursday, another blog post from myself over on That's Crafty blog. 
For today I've created a mixed media panel that I've used to make a handmade card. 
The panel could also be used as a journal entry, a book cover, a piece of wall art, maybe set within a larger surround and framed so lots of options.

If you would like to see more pics and read about my creativity then please feel free to join me over on the blog. 

If you just click HERE you will be redirected and I'll be there waiting to welcome you 😊
Hope to see you soon 
Amanda 
x

Its Always the Small Pieces......

 Hi Everyone, 

Today I'm over on That's Crafty's blog sharing a mixed media tag thats grungy and rusty but also a touch vintage thanks to a young chap called Samuel Everston who worked as a Trainee Manager in a mechanics workshop and was known to be a bit of a 'thinker'. 

 I've worked with a 'mash up' of products from various companies and designers including That's Crafty!, Stamperia, PaperArtsy, Ranger, DecoArt, Tim Holtz and Seth Apter. 

Heres a quick look at my tag.... 

.....and as its Easter  I'll also share a couple of closeups of the rusty grunginess 

Of course as always there's more to see and read on the blog so please feel free to pop by 

For a quick redirection click HERE 

Hope to see you soon 

Amanda 

x

'What Time Is Love?"

 Hi Everyone 

Hope you are all doing good and keeping safe and well? 

Today, Im over on That's Crafty's blog in my regular DT spot sharing a mixed media Art Panel that I've created using That's Crafty! Tim Holtz and DecoArt products. 

Here's the story.... 

 ....A good friend of mine recently reminded me of the band 'KLF', who hit the music scene in the late 80's and apparently were the biggest selling singles band in the world in 1991! Well, one of their tracks "What Time is Love' has been playing on a loop in my head ever since! 

 

So, I thought I'd let it be the spark for my creativity and this is the result....

I'd love for you to come join me over on the blog where  there's more to see and read so if you fancy popping by just click HERE to be redirected.

Hope to see you soon 

Amanda 

x

Grungy Rusty Cogs

Hi Guys 

If you like a bit of grunge and rust in your art then be sure to pop by That's Crafty's blog today where I am sharing a piece of 'Art on the Round' that features a grungy rusty focal feature that I've designed and created using That's Crafty! greyboard cogs, gears and bits and pieces! 

Tempted by what you see to join me on the blog?

Then just click  HERE to be redirected.
Hope to see you soon! 

Amanda

x

Be Thankful' -mid month inspiration for That's Crafty 'Forever Autumn' Challenge

Hi Everyone and Welcome 

Hope you are all doing good and having a great week so far. Over at That's Crafty the challenge theme this month is 'Forever Autumn'. As we are half way through the challenge the Design Team and Guest Designers get to share another piece of creativity inspired by the theme. 

Here's my autumnal 'Be thankful' Plaque 

I love working on the round or using circles within my work so for this piece I used That's Crafty MDF rounds . They are fabulous surfaces to work on great quality and are available in a variety of sizes . As you can see I used 2 of the sizes. 

I don't have any process shots to share (sorry) so I will take you on a narrated tour around the plaque. 

Lets start with the larger round. This was primed with gesso and crackled with Deco Art crackle paste. Once the paste was thoroughly dry and cracks had formed colour was added using a selection of DecoArt Media Fluids and a couple of Tim Holtz distress paints continuing the process of adding paint, working it into the cracks, wiping it back until happy. This was almost there ....

The smaller round is covered with an actual autumnal leaf from my garden that I had gathered late Sept/ Oct time last year and pressed. With its own natural beauty and richness in colour it needed little else other than a touch of subtle stamping and a very light touch of gilding wax to accentuate its veins . Oh and maybe a few splatters - you will notice they run throughout the design! 

Brown string /jute was wrapped around the leaf covered round 

The focal leaf (kinda looks like a tree too don't you think?) is a That's Crafty Greyboard leaf shape altered in the same way as the leaf that features on my first 'Forever Autumn' project which you can see here. 

It's embellished with Tim Holtz clock hands to symbolise turning back the clocks and the changing of the season. The leaf/ tree sits on a small piece of pine cone branch 

The finishing touch come in the way of 'words and numbers' and Tim Holtz clipping stickers provided these...

 'Be thankful'

and the 'no 24'

Be thankful for each and every 24! 

I hope I have offered some mid challenge inspiration with my autumnal 'Be thankful' Round. Full Challenge details can be found over at That's Crafty along with a gallery of fabulous projects created by the talented Design Team.

I would like to enter my 'Be Thankful' plaque into the following challenges
Stamps And Stencils: 'Its been a While' 
Creative Artiste #42 Challenge: 'Anything Mixed Media Goes 

I'm back tomorrow with a sneak peak of my weekly project so hopefully I will see you then and be able to tempt you over to That's Crafty 's blog to see the project in full. 

Thank you so much for stopping by today . I really do appreciate you taking the time to visit , follow and comment . 

Have a lovely day Everyone 

Take Care 

Amanda 

x

Rust It! - A Vintage Journey April 2018 Challenge

Hello Everyone and Welcome

Its good to be here again to introduce our new challenge that starts today over at A Vintage Journey. Lovely Autumn is our host this time and her chosen challenge is

'Rusty and Crusty!'

'Many of us love rust and enjoy looking for new ways to get tat authentic look of crusty peeling metal. For this challenge include some rust in your vintage, shabby, mixed media, art journaling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk project, whether it be the real thing, a faux technique or just a rust colour on your project.'

I have been in my 'happy place' using texture paste, paints and those fabulous baked textures to create an 'art panel' rich in texture, dimension, colour and rusty tones. 

Much like my last project I neglected the camera during the creativity so not many process shots to share but quite a few close ups.

  The background panel is a wooden plaque primed with gesso and roughly covered with the dregs of a pot of crackle paste. For the colour I used Tim Holtz distress stains and distress paints along with some DecoArt media fluids-- mainly rich warm tones. I couldn't resist sprinkling a few of Seth Apter/Emerald Creeks Baked Texture EP's around either. Patina Oxide, Ancient Amber, Deep Sea. Dirty Sand and of course Chunky Rust were all part of the creativity recipe.

The cracks from the paste aren't that visible probably due to all the layers of paint and stains

but it does create some great texture which the baked texture EP's loved melting into and on top of .

To create the rusty edges I used Rust it' paint by Pinflair .

along with a couple of DecoArt Media fluids

and yes you guessed it some Chunky Rust Baked Texture EP

which adds lighter rusty tones to the darker 'Rust It' paint aswell as some texture. 

The smaller panel is mdf covered with Sand paste /Grunge paste and painted with 'Rust it'.

I 'baked' again too using the same blend of flavours I had used so far - just look at them -whats not to love and that's even before they have seen heat!!! 

And when they have....

You can't fail to be impressed.

They really are so unique unlike any other EP's I have used previously

just what the creative world has been waiting for. To find out more about them be sure to click here, 

The centre circle is covered with an image from an old technical drawing book, lightly inked with distress ink and then triple embossed with Vintage Beeswax which gives a fabulous encaustic appearance. There are also sprinkles of Patina Oxide, Chunky Rust and Ancient Amber embedded into the melted beeswax.

For the finishing touch I added a few pieces of Metal hardware painted with rust it to embellish .

I hope I have offered some creative inspiration with my 'Rusty Crusty' project. If you haven't already be sure to stop by A Vintage Journey to view my fellow Creative guides inspirational projects.

We really hope you will be able to join in with this challenge as we always look forward to seeing your creativity and we appreciate that you share it with us .

Who knows you could be chosen as one of our 3 Pinworthy winners who receive a Pinworthy badge to display on their blog and have your art pinned to our Pinterest Pinworthy Board.

I would like to enter this into the following challenge:
Creative Artiste #37th Challenge : Anything Mixed Media Goes 

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today and stay with me till the end , for all your kind words and support and for all the follows . All are very much appreciated .

See you again soon

Take care

and 

keep on the happy side

Amanda

x