Brazen Bee

When I'm not making anything for a DT post I like to play...

and lately I've been using die cuts to make embellishments.

This "brassy" Bee was the result of a happy accident

 and will be using it on a future dt project :D

I have this awesome "bee" die and decided to layer it

up and heat emboss it...

 which meant putting all the bits back in the bottom layer lol.

 *was playing and forgot to take inprog shots*

I coloured the bottom layer with promarkers,

heat embossed the top layer with crusty gold embossing powder

(mixture of metallics and black from previous playtimes),

sandwiched the plain layer between the two for added depth,

 then poured clear glazing medium over the whole piece.

The intention was to create a shiny/enamelled brooch effect...

BUT I have a messy desk...

and 3 tiny pieces of charcoal got into the mix

(you can barely see them)

 as the gel dried the black spots grew and ruined 

the whole effect.

Undeterred I changed things up, too interesting a piece to waste.

 Added lumpy orange/red/yellow acrylic paints...

and got a rusty looking metal finish instead :D

 Now what to mount it on?

3 inch square chipboard...

 black gesso through netting...

 rollered on white gesso...

 trusty "Golden" Bronze paint

 which when you add water separates to give you

verdigris...

added to bee too...

 and I have a yummy, shiny..

 texture full panel for my bee to crawl on :D

long post but hope you enjoyed the experiments :D

XXX

Bling's the Thing!

Welcome to 

Dream Valley Challenge

 181 # Add Some Bling!

sponsored by

DIES TO DIE FOR

For this challenge the DT had free range to use any

image they wanted...so I chose one of my all time

favourite rubber stamps.

I had been trawling craft channels, and caught a demo on

 "Hochanda TV" and the lady said she was pleased to let

people copy her demo as that was what they were all about.

(Very rudely I did not catch her name or remember the company

she was demoing for)

The base for the "topper" is a piece of patterned paper

with a gesso wash and slightly distressed,

onto which I stamped and heat embossed my image.

I wasn't too bothered about it being a perfect stamp as 

I think it adds to the "distressed" look.

I then used watercolour pencils and 

a water brush to colour the image, using the 

stamp block as inspiration.

(yes it is a huge wooden block stamp that cost me £15

way back when lol)

Next a little "overstamping" to add more

detail to the backgound.

For the base card the lady created her own scene

using co-ordinating cad stock and more stamping.

Then I started thinking about the "bling" aspect of the challenge...

firstly adding holographic embossing powder to the 

background, and faux pearls to the flowers.

I then mounted on "pearlescent" cardstock...

you can see here how shimmery it is getting :)

Because the sponsor is a Die company I thought it

only right that some die cutting be involved. This Die 

from Tattered Lace mirrored the image nicely, so

I cut it from glitter card.

The base card looked a bit flat now, so I used

 Stardust Stickles on the tiny butterflies...

before making a paper flower with a huge faux gem 

as a centre :D

a few close-ups o the detail...

I don't use bling very often, but I hope this project

has given you plenty of options lol

Enjoy XXX

I would like to share this card in the following challenges;

Colour Crazy Craft Challenge # wk 23 Anything Goes

Take a Word # Shades of Purple

Crafty Creations Challenge # 367 Anything Goes

Polkadoodles Crafting Challenge # wk 23 Anything Goes

Spreading the love...

BLOOBEL digi store is closing!!!

So had to go and snag some of Lisa's funky

images before they disappear...

and they are on sale, with an addition 30%

off if you spend over $5!!!

 So here is a tag I made using 

"Flower Power"

I started with a messy background I had made

using up excess paint from other projects.

 Next I used white gesso through

the waste from some die-cut flowers as a stencil.

 Love the effect this gave :D

 I used the paper to cover a tag...

 before blending around the edges with 

distress inks.

 Matching this multi coloured paper with

Promarkers was a doddle.

 Coloured and cut out my image...

 glued it directly onto the tag...

 then added words,

 Pearl drops, pearls

and a hessian strip*to cover a join* :D

There's nothing more fun about Summer

than dancing bare-foot in the grass :D

Enjoy XXX

I would like to enter this tag for the following challenges;

I Heart ProMarkers # Anything Goes

Passion For ProMakers #447 Summer Fun

Country View Challenges # June - Written Word

A Vintage Journey # June - Stencil It!

Sweet Dreams are made of this...

The latest challenge is up and running over

at 

CRAFTING WITH FRIENDS

Sponsored by Kj Arting

The theme ,as always, is 

# 69 Anything Goes...

and this is my first post as a DT member.

I chose to make a tag shaped wall hanger,

using "Cheeky Greek Chibi"

I started by cutting 2 tags, 1 from watercolour card

and 1 from regular 250gsm card stock...

 I used the watercolour card to create a grungy

background using gesso and letraset alcohol inks...

and more gesso.

 I had seen a video by Tim Holtz where he used

3D embossing folders to create deep texture...

So I got out some embossing folders...

 inked them with TH distress inks...

 and ran the damp tag through my cuttlebug.

 Thrilled with the outcome. I was trying for 

a look that said "ancient ruins" so that this

little cutie would feel at home :D

The image is *of course* coloured with 

ProMarkers.

I finished off with eyelets, silk cord and

words from my paper stash :D

Enjoy :D XXX

I would like to share this in the following challenges;

Country View Challenge # JUNE written word,add text

The Fairy and the Unicorn Challenge # JUNE Mythical/Mystical

Inspiration Destination # 152 Anything Goes

Shopping Our Stash # 357 My Favourite Things

(grunge/texture/ProMakers/inks/Gesso)

Though The Craft Room Door # wk 5th June Anything Goes