Almost Invisable

Morning Friends and Crafters, This will be my last blog post for a little while, I am having a little break and hope to join you again very soon. If I do have the opportunity to share any crafty news then of course I will. Today I am going to share a journal page I made for the launch of my Collection last month. It's a great page as it is but also gives you a wonderful opportunity to add to it later, with embellishments, journalling or decorating any way you choose.

You will Need:

Craftascope 'Trent' A5 Media Stencil

Craftascope 'Profile' A5 Media Stamp Set 1

Old Dictionary Pages

Creative Expressions Mat n Seal Decoupage Glue

Indigoblu Townhouse Teal Acrylic Paint

Indigoblu Bonfire Acrylic Paint

Clear Texture Paste

White Card for the Sentiment

Distress Ink Pad Black Soot

Pink Pig Journal 11 x 11 (White Paper)

Brayer

Step 1: Select some old dictionary pages, all the better is they have images on them as well as these add so much interest and depth to your page. Use the decoupage glue to secure them to your journal page. If they have aged and yellowing pages all the better and try to keep some of this.

Step 2:  Use a brush, a very small amount of white Gesso and a touch of water. You dont want to obliterate all of the colour and detail, just build layers.

Step 3: Use your Brayer to add the first light layer of Bonfire, it really doesn't take long to dry, then repeat with the Townhouse Teal, which really contrasts well. Build up a couple of layers like this, again dont be too heavy with it, You might want to add a little white if you do happen to add too much colour. Finish with a layer of the bonfire, but use very little paint. This all adds to the depth and texture of your project.

Step 4: With a palette knife to mix a little Townhouse Teal into your clear texture paste. You want the stenciled image to show but not jump off the page at you. Using the same colour in your paste blends it while adding more texture to your page.

Step 5: As the paste dries you will see the image shows much more.

Step 6: On some separate card add a little of the same colours, you can apply it with some scrunched copier paper or similar to give you some texture and tie it in with your page. When dry, stamp your sentiment in place with Versafine Black Ink, Then add a little Black Soot Distress Ink around the edges to make it stand off the page. Secure the sentiment to your page with some Tacky glue or for a little more dimension use the 3D glue gel.

Thank you ever so much for joining me today, and for following my recent Hochanda Journey, which I never thought would ever happen. It's been an amazing experience for me. I would like to thank each and every one of you, who bought the collection. I really hope you are having fun with them. I really would love to see your creations, so pleased o share them in the 'Craftascope Facebook group and pleased leave a review on Hochanda so others can see what you think.

If you would like to get your hands of the last few of my collection they are only available at Hochanda or via my Etsy site, a link is at the top of my blog (CRAFTSCOPE ETSY SHOP).

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.

I hope you all have the most amazing Christmas with Family or Friends, however you will be spending it. Thats all from me now unless by some chance I do have the opportunity to share something with you. So for now Take care and Happy Crafting. Have fun!!!!

Faces

Morning Friends and Crafters, late again. So sorry got that much on at the moment and sadly the back up blogs I did before I came to the UK are all published now, so it's one at a time for a while, so do bear with me. Today I am sharing a Journal/Scrapbook page, again this could easily be resized for a smaller card or even scaled down to make a really nice ATC. Like I always say, it's all about having fun.

You will Need:

Craftascope A5 Media Stencil 'Trent'

Craftascope A5 Media Stencil 'Xander'

Craftascope A5 Media Stencil 'Bailey'

Craftascope A5 Profile Media Stamp Set 2

Rice Paper, Printed and Stamped (Totally your Choice or a mix)

Selection of Stamps- Here I have used Paper artsy, Indigo Blu, Sheena (again your selection)

Selection of stencils (Your Choice)

Funky Foam

Indigo Blue Townhouse Teal, Pantry White,

Eco Paints Cranberry & White mixed Your Glass Mat

Black Gesso

Old Stiff Brush

Creative Expressions Glue n Seal or Similar

Step 1: On your journal page use the face stencils to add some part faces, Trace through with a HB pencil, go over this with a 6B,blend and shade with the Pergamano blender from Clarity. (Video coming soon)

Step 2: Next use section of your chosen rice paper to add more interest, depth and layers. I have used some printed and some stamped for this project. Use Glue N Seal or similar to add them.

Step 3: Stamp your profile stamp in the top left hand corner to overlook the page and bring your eye in to the centre. Start to build up more layers with your chosen stamps.

Step 4: Next start adding some of your acrylics to really bring everything together. You can always re stamp if you cover up something you want to be seen, it all adds more dimension to the finished project.

Step 5: Continue building up the layers, using the acrylics, stamps and stencils. I always find 3 colours are best to bring things together. To make the '3' I drew it onto Funky Foam and cut out with scissors. I then mixed some Cranberry and white together on a mat, spread out with a Brayer, Stamp the 3 then use the same colour to add some more stenciled design. Once again, if you cover something you want to be prominent, you can re stamp. Finally using the old brush and black Gesso, I swiped back and forth around the edges to give a frame to the project, This brings everything together and highlights the black stamped designs.

Another thing, here is a 30% off voucher to use on your first order (anything) from Hochanda, use code FEY5JBP7.

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 so much for joining me again today, I hope you have enjoyed the tutorial and the finished project. I hope you will pop by again very soon to see what else I have to share. For now Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Fridge Magnet Fun

Morning. A little bit of a fun project to share with you today. I had stamped out the words from Leonie's New Collection, playing around with phrases and the idea came along. It reminds me of the magnetic words you can buy for the freezer, so I thought it might make a fun wall hanging.

Firstly I drew a fridge Freezer. It's actually fairly simple, just straight lines with a ruler and a few rounded corners. I did it on to copier paper first to get it right and then transferred it to my card. I needed to keep the rough copy as it would act as a mask later on.

I backed my project onto greyboard and cut out the rough shape of the freezer, so I could recess the magnetic sheet behind the image. I then added a ribbon hanger to the back before adding some plain cardstock to cover up the back, I secured this with Cosmic Shimmer Glue from Creative Expressions.

I shaded the freezer with a selection of grey alcohol markers. Then covered it up with my copier paper mask, securing it with Stick n Spray from Crafters Companion. To colour the background I used Colour Chemistry Inks from Oak House Studios, French Lavender and French Wine which I had mixed with water and applied through a spritzer bottle.

I stamped the words fairly close together (so not to waste the magnetic sheet) on a piece of card in black ink. I stuck the piece to the magnetic sheet with Cosmic Shimmer Glue, allowed to dry and cut out. Then I arranged them on the freezer some of them in a phrase. They can all be rearranged.

To complete the design, I stamped one of the flowers onto the background to look like wallpaper. Then using a waterbrush I pulled out the colour from the background to colour the flowers.

Thank you so much for joining me today. I hope you have enjoyed this fun piece and will visit again very soon. There's more coming up tomorrow. Take care and bye for now xxx

Oscar Owl

Morning. When I first got Leonie's new Dies, I cut them all out to look at what I could make that would be a little different. I always look to see if there is anything unusual that springs to mind. This little project sprung to mind as soon as I saw the die cut's and how they were arranged. Please do take a look at the Launch shows on Hochanda, you can find them via the TV Schedule and they are available for a couple of weeks, you might just catch them if you hurry.

For this project, I started by making my background. I took a piece of Watercolour Board and sprinkled some Paperartsy Infusions onto my piece. I used Blacknight and Violet Storms. The Infusions are pigment powders and give some wonderful effects, they are brilliant for backgrounds. I then spritzed with plenty of water to get the effect I was looking for.

Taking a sheet of double sided pearl black card, I die cut the Folk Heart 'Sensational Swirl'. The die cut formed the main body of 'Oscar' and I used the waste to create the eyes, eyebrows and talons. I used Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Paste from Creative Expressions to add colour to these extra pieces, Ocean Teal for the eyes and Purple Twilight for the eyebrows.

I found a really aged piece of twig to form the branch for him to sit on. I added some extra texture to it using some white gesso mixed with a little sand and glued it to my background board with Cosmic Shimmer Glue. Then I assembled my finished piece also using Cosmic Shimmer from Creative Expressions.

Another fun piece made with Leonie's wonderful Dies. I really hope you have enjoyed today's project and the step by step I have shared. Thank you so much for visiting today and I hope that you will be back again soon. Take care and have a good day.xxx

Metallic Roses

Morning, I am sharing an easel card today. I used  Leonie's beautiful Die collection to create this project. Please take the time to watch the launch shows via Hochanda's website before they go. You can find the shows via the TV Schedule and picking the date (8th & 9th June).

I cut out the Funky Heart Base in red silk art card and secured it to my backing card using Cosmic Shimmer Glue from Creative Expressions. Then trimmed around the heart. This is double sided as the top will show from both sides once assembled.

Then in black card, I cut out the Big Heart 'Floral Cascade', three times as I wanted the sections of flowers to build up my design.

I then gilded these using Renaissance gold, Empire Gold and Silver gilding wax by Pebeo from Crafters Companion.

Using 3D glue gel, I decoupaged the extra pieces onto the heart.

I edged the base and top of my easel base with Black Nuvo Embellishment Mousse from Tonic. It gives a much softer look that black. It also gives a lovely metallic sheen and also save the lack cardstock.

I cut my matching backing card to layer on to my base and front leaving a 5 mm border.

I added a strip of ribbon across the backing card before securing it to my base. I secured it with Red Liner Tape. Then adhered to the base using Cosmic Shimmer Glue.

I made some ribbon roses to match my project. I have a tutorial video which I added to the blog last week. I hope you will take a look if you haven't already seen it.

From Black card I cut out the Big Heart 'Entwining Branches'' to act as the foliage for my base.

I gilded the black roses and the foliage using the same three gilding waxes as before. I cut out the word 'Love' from the collection in Black card and gilded this in the same way.

I then assembled the card as shown in the photo, using 3D Glue Gel to secure the embellishments.

Thank you so much for taking a look today, I hope you have enjoyed the step by step I have shared. Take care and I hope you will be back soon.

Love Hearts

Morning, The project I am sharing with you today is actually using the waste from  one of my other projects, along with the Stamp Collection from Leonie Pujol launched On Hochanda. I had been looking at the waste from the Funky Heart ''Lovely Bubbles'' and that's when the idea struck me.

I glued four of the 'Lovely Bubbles' inside die cuts to give me a nice thick piece.

Then I triple embossed with clear UTEE before adding interest using some other embossing powders. Here I used Lilac Black Cosmic Shimmer from Creative Expressions, Brass, Gold and Copper from Sheena's Wow and lastly Aged Mahogany Distress Embossing Powder. While it was still molten, I stamped using the flowers stamp and the word 'Dream' both from Leonie's New Collection.

I cut my card base to 7'' Square, drew a 5 mm Deckled frame around my card and masked with Pebeo Drawing Gum. I stamped the narrow heart stamp onto my card and added a swirl stamp to act as a hanger. Then I took a sentiment strip, shaped it on my block and stamped it around the heart. I painted this with Cosmic Shimmer Iridescent Watercolours from Creative Expressions, so it matched my embossed heart. 

I cut out a mask for the heart and sprayed with Colour Chemistry ink from Oak House Studios, I used French Lavender, which I mixed in a spritzer bottle with water.

I removed the drawing Gum and paper mask. Attached some two tone colour ribbon to the back of my embossed heart and secured with 3D Glue Gel. To finish off this piece I cut 'Love' from Satin Gold Cardstock and secured using Cosmic Shimmer glue. I then backed my project with purple Centura Pearl from the brights collection at Crafters Companion.

Thank you so much for coming to see today's project and the step by step that I have included. I hope you like what I have shared so far and will come and see the next project I am sharing tomorrow. I really apriciate your comments and always enjoy reading them. Take care and see you soon. xxx

Autumn Sunshine

Morning. I have called this card, Autumn Sunshine. It's made using the Big Heart, Entwining Branches from Leonies' Collection of dies. I have also used the leaf stamps from her new stamp collection launched on Hochanda on June 8th.

To start with I cut the die into copier paper to act as a mask and also cut four of them from Cream,Satin Gold,Satin Bronze and Burgundy cardstock.

I cut some cream card to a 7'' square and cut the die out of it. I placed it slightly off centre towards the top left hand corner to allow for the embellishments I was adding later. I took a smaller sheet of velvet white card large enough to fill the mask and still allow for securing to the back of my die cut sheet.

I started creating my landscape with hills and mountains. I used Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, and Aged Mahogany to achieve this.

I then added some tress, using stamps from Sheena Douglas with Black Archival.

I then placed a circle in the sky, slightly overlapping the mask I had made and blended the sky colour using mostly Scattered Straw Distress Ink, With a little Wild Honey around the edges.

I then peeled off the circle mask and slightly shaded the sun using the smallest amount of Scattered Straw so it wasn't stark white. I secured my die cut aperture to the landscape using Cosmic Shimmer glue. Then layered up my die cuts, each slightly twisted from the last to add dimension, using 3D Glue Gel. I then set these aside.

Next I stamped a selection of leaves and added autumn colours randomly blending to make them more natural looking once cut out. I used Scattered Staw, Wild Honey and Aged Mahogany.

Then cut out the leaves.

I then arranged the leaves around the bottom right hand corner and secured them with 3D Glue Gel.

Lastly I stamped the banner stamp and added the word ''Wonderful'' with black Archival ink. I blended this using the same selection of Distress Inks, keeping it lighter in the centre to give a curved 3D look.

I used 3D Glue Gel to secure the sentiment and finished the card by adding Glossy Accents to the Leaves and sentiment Banner.

Thank you so much for joining me today and seeing the step by step I have included for how I made this card. I hope you have enjoyed it and will visit again soon. Take care and hope to see you tomorrow. xxx

I just found out that they are now taking nominations for the International Craft awards and they have a category for best blog. If you think I deserve a nomination I would be over the moon and extremely chuffed. If you could take a minute or two to nominate, the link is: crafts-beautiful.com/award You could also win a nice prize in the draw. Thank you ever so much xxx