Deary Deery me....

As promised, I am sharing my process for decorating

the papier-mache Deer in the photo for my 

Crafyhazelnut's DT post :D

 I wanted to decoupage him, but didn't have the right paper...

(I know, hard to believe with the size of my stash!)

I wanted him to look grungy and old, but like he had been 

shiny and new once upon a time...

I took a piece of red dotty paper and grunged it up,

using TH Oxide inks and gesso...

 which I then tore into tiny bits...

 before gluing randomly onto the deer.

 Once covered I gessoed his antlers

and face...

 and covered him with a wash of burnt umber

to "age" him.

 His hooves and antlers are painted with metallic copper 

craft paint, and his face and antlers have a subtle coating

of glitter paint (both Martha Stewart).

I love how he turned out...

he looks and feels like that ancient Christmas

 decoration that your Gran let you play with as

a special treat . All grubby and dented but smothered

in Love :D

Hope your Yuletide/Christmas is filled with Love...

even if it is looking a bit old and shabby these days XXX

I am sharing him in the following challenges;

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge# 414

Crafting With Attitude # 45 Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore # 58 December Anything Goes

Through The Craft Room Door # wk 4th December Anything Goes

Double D Challenge # Run Run Rudolph

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge # 409 Anything Goes

Rustic "Advent"ure....

CRAFTYHAZELNUT'S DECEMBER CHALLENGE

(always using patterned papers)

couldn't really be anything else but Christmassy :D

 I have grown up boys so wanted an Advent calendar

that was more suitable than "Spongebob" or "Unicorns".

I found this mdf  25 draw set in "The Works".

£15 might seem a bit pricey, but it is going to last many years.

 I used matt emulsion tester pots for neutral/earthy colours...

 painting all the draws and main frame. I also used a paler

shade to edge everything(though it doesn't show up well on here)

I chose a "log pile" patterned paper from DoCrafts/Papermania's

Festive Flora and Fauna collection to face the draws.

 Adding discs of subtle coloured pattern papers  where the 

numbers would go.

 I originally stamped the numbers onto each disc...

but they seemed a bit "flat"...

 even with distressing and inking...

 Then I found these fabulous lazer cut wooden numbers...

 and they really added to the "woodpile" feel :D

Each disc also got a coating of Martha Stewart glitter paint

to give a frosted feel.

And then of course...

Choccies!!!! Because they are never too

grown up for chocolate :D

*I will be posting about the paper covered Deer soon*

Enjoy :D and have a wonderful Holiday Season XXX

I would like to share in the following challenges;

Through The Craft Room Door # wk 27th November AG

Try It On Tuesday # Winter Wonderland

Artistic Inspiration Challenge # 210 JFF

Crafting From the Heart # 230 Anything Goes

Always Fun Challenges # 86 Anything Goes

Crafty Creations # 379 Anything Goes

Back to the very beginning...

Gosh...it has literally been months since I 

have done a DT post for 

CRAFTING WITH FRIENDS
challenge #76 JFF

and as there is no sponsor I am free to play :D

I decided, as it will be my last post for CWF,

it would be nice to re visit the sponsor of my very

first CWF dt challenge

KJ ARTING

(Sleeping Beauty)

I started by printing the image onto vellum(tissue would have been better
but I couldn't find it)

 I prepped my journal page by spritzing paint, then gluing
the image over the top.
Once dry I added white gesso to the "skin" areas.

 Addd skintones with acrylic paint
and colour washes with Zig watersoluble pens.

 Time for a few doodles and darkening around
the edges to focus the image.

 Highlighted with white poska pen,
stamped sentiment and lightbulb from
"Visible Image"
and washi word "Shine" I made myself
from used masking tape.

I am really enjoying getting back into art journalling.

It's great for "messy" art when time is short :)

Enjoy XXX

Entering for the following Challenges;

Through The Craft Room Door # wk 20th November Anything Goes

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge # 407 Anything Goes

Little Red Wagon # 473 No cards allowed
Double "D" Challenges # Snuggle up Buttercup
Crafty Creations Challenge # 378 Anything Goes

Scary Faeries make helpful friends.

EDIT: 27th Nov 2018 WINNER KATHYCRABBLE

Just Perfectly Snarky

Hi everyone, my name is Rommy. Major thanks to Gina for allowing me to guest blog here today. I’m a fan of how she combines delicately sweet arts and crafts with a strong side of sass. She has an amazing eye for taking random bits, putting them together with her own spin on them to create clever, cute things.
When writing stories I also like to take some tried and true ideas to create something completely new. I’ve gathered seven such short stories in my new collection, The Trouble with Wanting and Other Not-Quite Faery Tales. One of these stories, “Just Perfect”, takes the trope of the kindly, old fairy godmother and stands it on its head. These fairy godmothers might mean well, but that doesn’t stop them from being fiercely competitive mistresses of snark.

Here is a poem I wrote with the protagonist, Matilda, in mind

GLITTER

I wasn't born in silk ruffles.
Sparkles didn't spring
from my first steps.

But I learned,
even when you didn't expect me to,
especially when you didn't want me to.

I ground up your leftover gems,
and pressed the remains
to create my own rebirth stone.

It glitters from the center
of the reclaimed crown
I earned- though you tried your worst
to keep it from me.


Have you ever created something fabulous and new from left over bits? Tell me about it for a chance to win the e-book. The contest closes on November 25th midnight EST. The winner will be selected by me and announced on the 26th back on my blog. Gina will also add the name of the winner to this post. Good luck!

The Trouble with Wanting and Other Not-Quite Faerie Tales is available for purchase on Amazon (AmazonUK) and Barnes & Noble.

Cover art by Michelle Kennedy. Find her on her BLOG and INSTAGRAM

Hope you enjoyed Rommy's post :D She is an awesome story teller and well worth a read.
Couldn't  leave without sharing an old photo of myself  that Rommy's poem brought to mind
Mwahahahhaha....

the scariest Faerie Godmother/Aunty on the planet hahahahaha :D
Enjoy XXX