Song of the Sea

Morning Friends and Crafters, My Dolphins are making another appearance for my project this morning. This time I have used them alongside ;The Funky Tree' from Leonie along with some other stamps to create this double scrapbook or Journal page. The Amsterdam Acrylics, brought to us by Lou are superb for creating the textured background and layers. Like she often says they go such a long way,as soon as you use them the quality is clear.

You will Need:

Craftascope A5 Media Dolphin Stamp Set 1 (Also available in a set with discount)

Craftascope A5 Media Profile Stamp Set 2  (Also available in a bundle with additional Discounts)

Funky Tree Stamp By Leonie Pujol

Leonie Pujol Typography Alphabet Dies

Rose Leaf Stamps

PaperArtsy Stencil or your chosen Design

Medium/Large Bubble Wrap

Selection of Gel Pens

Amsterdam Acrylics

Personal Photos

Extra Stamps of your Choice

Versafine Ink Pad Black

Black Fine Liner Pen

Black Card for Mounting your Photos

Yellow and Orange Brusho.

White Stamping card

Step 1: Use a selection of the Amsterdam Acrylics to create a textured background, here i have used a selection of blues and greens. Don't worry they go a long way, so you use very little. Use cross swipes to create as much texture and depth as you can overlaying the colours. Next paint the same colours onto your bubble wrap and stamp with it, either scrunch it up or mount it on a block with Tack n Peel.Stamp the first of the tree bases with Versafine Black ink.

Step 2: Create a mask for the tree base on copier paper. Stamp a couple more tree bases. Next I added a staircase which was printed onto rice paper, this was to coordinate with one of the photos I used. I then added the tops of the trees, these give a lot of texture, depth and dimension, especially hen you colour them with your gel pens. Next stamp a flurry of rose leaves around the top left of the first page, this will keep drawing your eye into the page.

Step 3: Use a block stencil around your page, this will add more depth and interest to your page, I have used a lighter colour here but you can stick to a background colour if preferred. Mount your photos onto black card, before securing them gut the centre with a basic die, the middles can then be used to mount any other photos, it saves an awful lot of card and keeps the bulk down in your journal or scrapbook.

Step 4: Repeat the stenciling on the second page. Cut out the word required with the alphabet and colour with the Brusho. Stamp your Dolphins and chosen words. Use the acrylics again to colour them, Lastly mount and secure your photos. Whatever photos you decide to use, you will create a wonderful page to display your photos and so much nicer than leaving them in a box or on the phone.

Just a little extra here: If you have not shopped with Hochanda before, here is a voucher code giving you 30% off your first purchase (FEY5JBP7) it can be used for any purchase, feel free to share it.

As you know I love writing my blog and helping as much as I can, well I would really love for you to add you support by adding me as a favourite blog. All you need to do in that section is choose other and add my blog address nickinbarnsley.blogspot It would be great to get a mention even if I dont come anywhere.

Here is the link to add your support for all of the categories. 

https://www.britishcraftawards.com/

Thank you ever so much for joining me today, I hope you have enjoyed the tutorial along with the finished project. Please stop by again to see what else I have to share with you. Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Printers Plate

Welcome back, Today I am sharing the method I used to make this Printers Plate look. It was one of the cards I made for the Typography Collection that Leonie launched on Hochanda.

To begin with, I cut a bunch of letters from white card using the dies in the collection. For this project I decided to use the two larger fonts in the set. This is a wonderful way to use up all that card you have in your scrap box. I made sure I had 5 of each letter to get a lot of depth once they were glued together. When they were dry I coloured them using Distress inks, Black Soot, Hickory Smoke and Old Photo.

I then used some basic square and rectangle dies to cut a base for the individual letters or pairs. This was all cut from scraps of black card that I had, all the letters were stuck to the bases using Collall Tacky Glue.

Around the plates and letters I added Sand Texture paste from DecoArt and set aside. Once dry I coloured over the paste with black gesso, while keeping the letters original distress colour.When these were dry I used a mixture of gilding wax, Empire Gold, Renaissance Gold and Silver, all from Pebeo. This added highlights to the letters as well as texture and age.

I took my base card which I had already treated with the sand texture paste and gesso. The letters were then carefully arranged to fit before securing to the base card. I then added the gilding waxes to ensure the pieces blended together seamlessly.

The embossing folder 'Just Be' was used for my sentiment, I ran it through my machine with versamark so I could added the burgundy embossing powder to highlight the words. Next I stamped the Typography frame and used the same powder for this. Finally I layered the piece onto burgundy/red mirror card to contrast with the main letters.

Thank you so much for joining me today, I hope you have enjoyed the step by step along with the project I have shared. I have to say a huge thank you for all of your messages and support, this is something I just would continue if I knew you weren't enjoying the things I share. Take care and Happy Crafting.xxx

Dragonfly Dance

You might have seen the card I am sharing today on Leonie's Typography show on Wednesday. If you missed the shows, please take a look on 'Rewind' via the Hochanda website. There were some excellent demos from Leonie as always.

The main card was cut to 7 1/2 x 6 1/2''. The first step was to cut out the 'Weathered Window' die from Sara's Shabby Chic Collection.

Using Metro Grey Nuvo ink by 'Tonic' I inked up the brickwork 'Textures' embossing folder and ran it through my machine to give it an aged and weathered look to the card.

The trellis was made from the Weathered Window die, using just the lower panes. These were then tinted with a light swipe over with Gathered Twigs distress ink before attaching them with Collall Tacky Glue.

To make the window protrude past the wall, I layered 3 of them together. Then taking the  top of the window i made a planter. These pieces were left over after making the trellis, after all we dont like to waste anything.

Next I stamped a selection of stamps from Leonie's Typography Collection onto shrink plastic, using black Stayzon ink. They were all coloured with Spectrum Noir pencils, before shrinking.

Gathered Twigs, Distress ink was swiped over the window frame to colour. I then chose a piece of patterned paper to act as wallpaper for the interior, this was stuck using 3 mm foam tape to give more depth.

I layered the card onto black card, giving a narrow border, then onto silver/grey Centura Pearl giving a 1/2 border. For the sentiment I used one of the Typography frames, manipulating it into the shape i wanted, then added the sentiment.I added colour to this using Twisted Citron Distress ink. Lastly I arranged the flowers and foliage using 3D glue gel.

Finally I added Leonie's little bee to the window.

Thanks for joining me today. Hope you have enjoyed your visit. Take care and Happy Crafting.xxx