That's Crafty!: November 2016

Hi Everyone! It's Alison here today, with Frosty! When we were making samples for last week's Hochanda TV show, I had a lot of fun turning a That's Crafty! Surfaces Lightbulb Upright into a festive snowman.

Here's what I used...

That's Crafty! Surfaces - MDF Uprights - Light Bulb - Pack of 5

PaperArtsy Grunge Paste

That's Crafty! Dinky Stencils - Bubble Wrap

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Acrylic Paint - Snowflake

Stampendous! Frantage Embossing Enamel - Shabby White

Ranger Multi Medium - Matte

Heat Gun

Buttons

Yarn & Knitting Needles (if you're not a knitter, you could create a hat from card, and a scarf with ribbon)

What I did...

1. I began by stencilling the front and base of the light bulb upright with Grunge Paste and the Bubble Wrap Dinky Stencil. I did it a section at a time, drying it off with a heat gun as I went. Make sure that you don't put any on the tab that goes into the base though!

2. Next, I painted the whole thing with a couple of coats of Snowflake Fresco Finish Acrylic. Before the second coats of paint were dry, I sprinkled the front and base all over with the Shabby White embossing enamel, then melted it with a heat gun. There are bits of silver glitter and chunky gold embossing enamel in the Shabby White, which makes for a gorgeous effect.

3. In my stash, I found some black buttons for the eyes and 'buttons', some tiny red buttons for the mouth, and an orange folky heart for the nose. I glued these on with matte medium, adding a few buttons to the base also.

4. Finally, I found some simple scarf and hat knitting patterns on the internet (search for knitted snowman decorations), and created a little bobble hat and scarf for Mr. Frosty.

I hope I've inspired you to look at the light bulb in a different way.

Have a very creative week,

Alison x

Hi everyone

I would like to share with you this Tuesday one of the samples that I made for last Thursdays, That’s Crafty!, shows on Hochanda TV on which That’s Crafty! launched some new fabulous designs in both acrylic and MDF shapes for you to alter and decorate. If you missed the shows you can still catch them HERE, show times were 5pm & 9pm just click watch the show to watch these shows.

I have used the fabulous, and my new found favourite, acrylic Splat and stand.

Here’s What I Did:-

The first thing is to remove the white protective cover that protects the acrylic.

I first stencilled black texture paste through the Donna Downey stencil and allowed that to dry fully overnight. On the reverse of the acrylic I then stencilled Dina Wakley paints through one of Tim Holtz stencils, I used Cut & Dry Foam to apply the paint. To ensure that I got a really sharp stencil I taped the stencil down and built the layers of paint up slowly allowing each layer to dry fully before adding the next colour so that moving the stencil into a different position didn’t smudge the previous stencilling. So much so I built these up over a couple of evenings. I also added some stencilling to the base.

I finish off by adding the same colour paints to an old paintbrush and added it to the stand. The fact that I have added to the front and the back of the splat the piece is given some depth.

What I Used:-

That’s Crafty! Surfaces Acrylic Splat Upright from either a pack of 3 or the Mixed Acrylic Pack of 3 Uprights

Donna Downey Stencil – Artist

Black Texture Paste or any other texture paste

Dina Wakley Acrylic Paints – asstd colours

Cut & Dry Foam

Masking Tape

Tim Holtz Stencil – Splatters

Old Paint Brush

Hope you like it and I’ll see you next Tuesday

Love

Amanda X

That’s Crafty! Surfaces MDF Light Bulb Clock

Prima Art Alchemy Paints – Lime Peel, Light Patina, Rich Turquoise

Black Posca Pen

Prima Foil Gold

Tim Holtz Faucet Knob

DecoArt - White Tinting Base, Gesso, Satin Varnish, Metallic Lustre in Gold, Media Fluid Acrylics Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna and White

Other items - Hessian, Cord, Bead, Foil Adhesive

As soon as I saw the light bulb shape I wanted to turn it upside down and make a hot air balloon.

I started with a coat of Gesso all over and drew around a saucer to create a curved bottom of the balloon. Next I added a coat of the Prima Lime Peel paint to the balloon area. When dry I laid the Harlequin stencil over the top of the balloon and dabbed lightly with the Tinting Base. When that was dry I went over it with the Rich Turquoise.

Next I used a ruler and black Posca pen to draw lines between the harlequin diamonds. In order to shabby it up a little I gave the whole a wash with watery white paint. Then I added dabs of foil adhesive and Prima gold foil in random areas.

For the sky in the space between the balloon and the basket I used the Prima Light Patina.

I gave the sky and balloon areas two coats of varnish.

For the basket I stuck a piece of hessian onto the base of the bulb added some dabs of Modelling paste and painted with the two brown paints.

When the varnish was dry I went over all the drawn lines on the balloon with Glossy Accents, sticking down a fine cord, it needs to be fairly thin so the hands can still move. Next I wrapped cord all around the balloon and connecting the balloon to the basket.

A final addition was the Tim Holtz Faucet Knob treated with the Metallic Lustre.

Moira

There are not many steps for this project but it is time intensive due to the paperclay elements.

Have to say that the Uprights are the perfect substrate to create a relic style piece of art.

Supplies

Sandra Evertson Relics and Artifacts Facia Familiaris

That’s Crafty! Clear Stamps The Quirky Girls Collection – Beki

PrimaI OD Vintage Art Décor Mould – Baroque 5

That's Crafty! Dinky Stencil Star Shower

That’s Crafty! Surfaces MDF Upright Arch

That’s Crafty! Surfaces MDF Heart

Staz-on Jet Black

Gesso

Clear Texture Paste (I worked with Ranger)

Crackle Paste (I worked with Golden)

Gel Medium

Creative Paperclay Modeling Material

Fresco Finish Paints:- White Fire, Pewter

Palette Knife

Extras:- Cotton style fabric, sari ribbon, rhinestones

Instructions

Begin by preparing paperclay elements. Working with paperclay and Prima moulds, create scrolls, border and wings. Leave to dry. Once they are dry, apply paint.

Apply Gesso to upright followed by applying clear texture paste to Star Shower. Once dry, apply Frescos. For the base, apply paint only.

Apply Gesso to MDF heart, followed by Crackle Paste.

Onto the paperclay elements and R&A, apply Frescos. Begin to layer up the elements onto the upright, including the prepared heart.

Adhere paperclay border to front of base.

Stamp wish onto cotton scrap, layering with sari ribbon before adhering to upright. Embellish with rhinestones.

It is now ready to be displayed.

Until next week,

Wishes

Lynne

Hi everyone,

Donna here today with a moth drawn to the light made with scraps of paper.

What to do:

I’m currently getting my living room completely over hauled so part of this is getting wallpaper samples. After you’ve chosen your wallpaper what do you do with all the samples……use that in your art of course!! So the background for the card is exactly that, part of a wallpaper sample.

The moth and light bulb are newly arrived in the shop from Visible Image (aren’t they fab) these were stamped with black Archival ink on Gelli printed paper using Decoart media fluid paints.

Fussy cut out both images, stamp the moth directly onto the background first as well though as you don’t want to try and fussy cut out the legs etc!

Adhere to the background and then go around the light bulb with a yellow Distress marker to give a warm glow, draw a little hanging cord from the top of it too.

Lastly add a sentiment, this one’s my own but That’s Crafty! have lots of lovely sentiment stamps you can use too.

So a card for you using up those scraps of paper that we all keep but never know what to do with ;)

Supplies Used:

Visible Image Stamp Set - Glimmer of Light

Sentiment Stamps

DecoArt Media Fluid Paints

Distress Markers

Gelli Plate 6x6

Black Archival Ink

Black Card

White Cardstock

Hope you like it

Donna x

Hi there, I hope you managed to catch the shows on Hochanda yesterday with the lovely Neil demoing some fab new goodies. If you did, you might have spotted my top hat upright, which as soon as I saw the blank, the cat in the hat popped into my head and Bentley came out to play. This is the first side.

Ingredients:

That’s Crafty! Surfaces – Top Hat Upright

That’s Crafty! Clear Stamp Sets – Bentley, Fleur

That’s Crafty! Dinky Stencil – Chevrons Background

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics – Cobalt Blue Hue, Primary Cyan, Ultramarine Blue, Quinacridone Violet

White Gesso

Ranger Archival Ink – Jet Black

Coloured Pencils

Black Sharpie Pen

White Stamping Card

Red Promarker

Red Grosgrain Ribbon

Brayer

Recipe:

First coat the hat and the base with a thin layer of gesso. When this is dry, add drops of the shades of blue paint on one side only and use the brayer to spread the paint over the hat shape.

When the paint has dried, use the chevron stencil to apply a pattern to the surface. I used dark blue paint to add horizontal stripes up the sides and the violet paint to apply a vertical stripe up the centre.

Stamp Bentley on white card together with the tiny flower from the Fleur set using the black ink. Colour the images with pencils and blend the colours around the edges. Cut them both out.

I made Bentley’s hat by drawing round the hat shape on a piece of copy paper. I then scanned the image to my computer and resized it in a photo programme. I cut the printed image out and drew round it on white card. I went over the image with a black Sharpie pen and drew on stripes. I then coloured some of the stripes red. I cut the hat out.

I added Bentley to the hat upright and gave him the hat over one ear – I think this makes him look a little rakish. I gave the hat a floral decoration.

I finished off with a scrap of red grosgrain ribbon to add a touch of elegance.

We have a new challenge for you today over a That’s Crafty! Challenge Blog so don’t forget to check it out at 8am to see how you can win a fab prize.

Have a great weekend and see you next week.

Fliss x

We'd like to thank Wendy very much for guesting for us in November. Its been an absolute pleasure seeing Wendy’s fabulous projects each week.

Hello all. Well this is my last blogpost as Guest DT for That's Crafty and I've enjoyed my time here massively. Thanks for all of your lovely comments. It's good to see that some of my projects have inspired some of you to try something new.

After making lots of Christmas cards this week, I was desperate to plunge my fingers into some gorgeous paints and just play. "So, basically, you were winging it?" I hear you ask. Well, yes I was, but sometimes that's where the happy accidents happen. It's important to forget being an adult and just play.

I started with an 8x8 MDF panel from That's Crafty. I had received some scraps of sheet music and book pages from an ATC swap so this was the perfect time to utilise them. I glued the sheet music all over the panel using gel medium and applied it over the top to seal it. When that had dried (with the help of my heat tool) I set to with a selection of Dylusions paints. Starting with White Linen, I began applying with my fingers. While it was still wet, I added Bubblegum Pink, making sure to only swipe in horizontal or vertical directions. I must add that using your fingers to paint is optional. I like to feel the paint on the substrate and anyway, I'm forever chucking away ruined brushes that I'd forgotten about.

I digress. Again. I continued painting, adding smears of Lemon Zest and Cherry Pie. When I was happy with the overall colours, I doodled into the wet paint with the end of a paint brush (the end that doesn't need cleaning!) There was no particular uniformity. I just drew whatever popped into my head. Circles, obviously, and hearts, swirls, patterns and even a house. I then used some of my handmade stamps, cut from Speedycarve, and stamped several colours and yet more shapes and patterns onto the paint with Archival ink. Then I stamped over it with bits of junk, like pen tops and loo roll inners, dipped in white paint. When that had dried, I even added the odd squiggle with a black Fude Ball pen and a white Uni-ball Signo pen. I think that was enough background.

Now what I needed was a good focal image and perhaps a quote. There was a large stamp of a face in the Stamper's Anonymous Classic #5 set and also a very fitting quote - "We Don't Stop Playing Because We Grow Old; We Grow Old Because We Stop Playing" - I had played all day and I wasn't ready to stop. I stamped the image onto tissue paper so that I could position it in the best place, then 'drew' around it with a wet paint brush. Only wet with water though, nothing that needed cleaning. Using this method, the excess tissue can be gently pulled away from the image leaving only a feathery border and no straight lines. Then when it is glued into place, the tissue appears to vanish leaving just the image behind. Magic! I printed the quote onto card and chopped it all up so that I could play with it some more, finally settling on a spiral pattern which I glued into place and sealed.

After everything was firmly stuck down, I decided that it wasn't the right image for the background after all. It wasn't playfully whimsical enough and today was all about that. The best way to deal with it was to paint over the top. So I did. Out came my trusty PaperArtsy Fresco Acrylics and with my selection of Blush, Cheesecake, Dusty Teal, Snowflake, Very Berry and French Roast, a brand new character was born. I hasten to add that I had to relent and use a paintbrush, only wiping in between colours with a paper towel. I also had the odd panicky moment, especially when I seemed to have created a scary, orange-eyed monster! But I persevered and I finished off the fine details of the new girl with Prismacolor pencils, then a final frenzy with Gelatos (Lemon, Blood Orange, Red Cherry, Licorice).