Hello


Nudging handmade books to the side, for this week anyway, I am sure one will make an appearance again very soon!

For this week, I am sharing a face on one of the fabulous MDF Rounds, using the Lana stencil.  Yes, this is a version of Lana. I worked with a similar process as this project HERE this time, flipping the stencil over to provide an outline for her features on both sides.

Supplies

That's Crafty! 6.5x7.5 inches Stencil Lana TC7009
That's Crafty! Surfaces MDF Rounds 8"
That's Crafty! Light Texture Paste
That's Crafty! Mixed Media Paper/Card Kit (Rice Paper, Teabag Paper)
Distress Crayons: Black Soot, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain
Palette Knife
Old Book Pages
Fluid Acrylic: Golden Titanium White (HERE is a substitute)
Daler-Rowney FW Acrylic Ink Black, White
Dip Pen/Bamboo Pen
Watercolor Brush (Studying the range available at That's Crafty!, I would suggest this brush)
Black Watersoluble Pencil (I worked with Stabilo All Surface)

Instructions

Prepare the MDF Round by adhering torn pieces of book pages, Rice Paper from the Mixed Media Paper/Card Kit and stained TeaBag paper from the same kit. With some areas overlapping, it will create interest on the face but I noticed that during the process of working on the face, especially as I worked with water, layer upon layer, some of the papers began to murl/crumble but I actually liked this - I know, that won't come as a surprise to you!

I only have a few process photos to share. I nearly decided not to share them, only sharing the completed project but it can be interesting to have an insight into a process and also, I wanted to show that I did actually work with the Lana stencil as it might not be instantly obvious.

After loosely outlining features, with the aid of Lana, I also sketched her hair, focusing more on an outline.

Then, dipping a palette knife into Light Texture Paste, I again, very loosely, formed her hair, applying the paste and then using the tip of the palette knife to create the wavy texture.


Allow paste to dry thoroughly before moving on to the next step, enjoying the process of taking the time to discover the face that will appear through the loosely, stencilled outline and texture paste hair.
This was a lovely project to work on, I would work on it, lay aside and return periodically. I enjoyed laying down the Distress Crayons and then pushing back with a baby wipe or for more detailed areas, a wet paintbrush to remove the crayon. Trying to achieve depth to her eyes, I discovered it was the same process as for the overall face/hair, the looser I could be in my approach, it allowed me to get as close as I could, with my limited ability with faces.

You can see that I extended the line of the eyebrows and created a neckline which allowed me to form tendrils, to soften the face/neckline.

To add highlights, I used Acrylic Ink. With the white ink, I applied the almost dry end of the dropper, scraping it onto the panel, using this mostly on the mouth, mere touches on the eye and around the nose.

On the hair, I added definition of a few tendrils by drawing them using the dropper from the black acrylic ink. The more light-handed tendrils and waves were from a dip pen, dipped into the same black acrylic ink.

Why go to the trouble of the layers of papers on the MDF and not simply stencil then paint onto the plain MDF? The papers all react differently to the application of the media and water and this in itself creates an interesting surface to work on, instantly bringing a textural quality and on the completed face there will be areas were those papers, especially the book text, peek through.

I know there are so many flaws in this face and it would be so easy for me not to share this as a D.T. project but by sharing it, this pushes me outwith a comfort zone. Although I worked with media which I am comfortable with and drawing isn't alien to me, I have never been one to embrace faces, they are an Achilles heel to me. Maybe because, unless sketching an actual person's face, I always have the sense that we give something of our inner selves when drawing/painting a face, even a Mixed Media face which incorporates a stencil.

Until next week,
Wishes
Lynne

Hello
This week I have wee collages to share which feature That's Crafty! Greyboard Mushrooms as the focal pieces.  Above is the collection I made but I will only focus on instructions for one as they were essentially made in the same manner.

Supplies

That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Set Lynne's Affirmations Set 9
That's Crafty! Surfaces White/Greyboard Matches - Doodled Shrooms
That's Crafty! Surfaces Mixed Media Paper/Card Kit (Kraft Card and Corrugated Cardboard)
That's Crafty! Light Texture Paste
That's Crafty! Multi-Surface Paint Black 
Gel Medium
Watercolour Brush
Watercolour Paints (Indigo, Grey)
Small Tag
Gesso
Sewing Machine
Sewing Thread - Walnut
Old Book Page - eco dyed
Summer Fruits Teabags (if you want to tea stain small tags and rice paper)

Instructions

The watercolour paper was eco dyed, to show the effects achieved, this is a photo of the rear of the collages, of course, the front of the panels are all but covered up.

Eco dyed old book text was layered to a panel with tea dyed rice paper (a soft blue/grey tone although the teabags were Summer Fruit), I added machine stitching, as a means to adhere but also for texture. You can ever so slightly see the edge of the rice paper behind the book page.

Inking up one of the Affirmations, I stamped it onto tiny fragments of eco dyed rice paper I had kicking around, you can see I only partially used the Affirmation. Before adhering the words, I tore off the bottom edge (saving that piece) adding machine stitching for texture.

The saved piece you will see in the photo above, where the word "courage" was layered. For each collage I repeated the word to layer beneath the mushrooms, such as courage, grounded and strength.

Hello

I asked if Laura and Graham could cut MDF panel to a particular size, 3.5"x8", and although I didn't have any specific project in mind when I made my request, I just like having a variety of sized substrates to hand.

The colours on this project were a continuation of enjoying some playtime with the That's Crafty! Flat Matte Sprays which I used on the MDF panel, watercolour paper, handmade paper and rice paper and also onto the tag...this is what I want from a product, when it is an all rounder!

Supplies

That's Crafty! Light Texture Paste
That's Crafty! Lynne's Wildflowers Set 2
That's Crafty! MDF Panel
That's Crafty! Mini Stencil Fern
That's Crafty! Flat Matte Sprays: Aqua, Bluebell
That's Crafty! Mixed Media Paper/Card Kit 
That's Crafty! Multi-Surface Paint Ivory
Gesso
Gel Medium
Craft Sheet
Archival Ink Potting Soil
Speedball Brayer
Small Buff Tag
Rusted Binder Clip & Rusted Safety Pin
Sewing Machine
Walnut Sewing Thread
Paintbrush (see HERE)
Palette Knife
Handmade Paper Scraps


Instructions

Randomly apply Gesso to panel then brayer Ivory paint onto panel, aiming for distressed appearance.  Mix the Flat Matte Sprays onto craft sheet or into small plastic container, applying with paintbrush then misting with water, allowing colour to drip downwards.

Use the same colours to stain scrap of handmade paper, a small buff tag, rice paper and watercolour paper (both rice and watercolour paper are from the Mixed Media Paper/Card Kit) - the watercolour paper panel had been eco dyed but the colours were insipid.

Once dry, stencil, with Light Texture Paste the stunning Fern stencil. When the paste is dry, apply some more colour onto the stencilled Fern, immediately misting with water, allowing the colour to pool and drip.

Machine stitch pieces of handmade papers (stained and not stained), then layer to left side of panel, attaching rusty safety pin to top, attach ends of tag to this.

Ink up "nature" from one of the sentiments from Wildflowers Set 2, stamping onto fragment of eco dyed rice paper, adhering to the tag.

Onto another piece of stained rice paper, stamp "calming breath" from the same sentiment. Adhering to the panel, I only applied Gel Medium along upper edge of the rice paper.

To complete, attach rusted binder clip to top of panel.

Until next week,
Wishes
Lynne

Hello
Sharing a project, not quite a booklet, yet not quite a card, which was formed from one of the watercolour paper sheets from the Paper/Card Mixed Media pack.


Supplies

That's Crafty! Surfaces Mixed Media Card/Paper Pack (watercolour paper, rice paper, calico)
That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Sets Lynne's Affirmations Set 7
That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Sets Lynne's Wildflowers Stamp Set2
That's Crafty! Flat Matte Sprays: Basil, Aqua, Orange
Memento Ink Tuxedo Black
Mister Bottle (selection HERE)
AquaBrush
Walnut Ink Crystals
Sewing Machine
Black Thread
Bone Folder (or use blunt side of scissors)

Instructions

Prepare watercolour paper (see HERE) as for booklet with pouch project.
Once dry, make folds. I made four folds, no need to measure!

You decide if you prefer to stamp before or after forming the folds.

Stamp Wildflowers onto the panel, including second generation stamping.

Flip the panel over and stamp the tree twice. To create variation and also, it works nicely when stamping a tree to the left and right, for the left side tree, after inking it up, take a baby wipe and remove the ink from the uppermost branch which bends to the left...now stamp. It gives a more pleasing balance for the eye, than having both trees with that branch leaning to the left side.

Onto pieces of rice paper, margin of book text, etc, stamp Affirmation from Set 7 in full. For the others, ink up only selected words from various Affirmations, such as silence,

whispers, find strength, calming breath and also each season of your life.

Machine stitch pieces of dyed calico to the panel, continue machine stitching with the stamped words, choosing to layer some with fragments of other papers prior to stitching.

Layer a few pieces of found papers, placing "each season of your life" along the top edge, topped with dyed calico.  Machine stitch this to middle panel of rear side of watercolour paper. This creates a little journaling area.

When stitching, it helps if the back side of the stitching will also create a nice stitched detail.

Video - shows me adding final touches of colour to completed booklet. Working with Flat Matte Sprays: Basil, Aqua and Orange alongside walnut ink crystals.

Hello

When working on the Journal sample for HOCHANDA, I prepared extra pages, including a sheet of watercolour paper, prepared with Flat Matte Sprays with walnut ink but knowing I had shared two consecutive projects with very similar watercolour bases, I took the step of applying texture paste over the prepared panel.

Supplies

That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Set Lynne's Affirmations Set 7
That's Crafty! Light Texture Paste
That's Crafty! Flat Matte Sprays: Basil and Rose
That's Crafty! Surfaces Mixed Media Paper/Card Kit (Watercolour Paper)
That's Crafty! Feather Dinky Stencil TC098
Palette Knife Waterbrush (visit HERE for brushes)
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad
Scrap of Stained Watercolour Paper
Handmade Paper
Eco Dyed Scraps: Rice Paper, Teabag Paper (from the Mixed Media Paper/Card Kit)
Rusted Copper Washer
Walnut Ink Crystals

Instructions

Apply Flat Matte Spray Basil and walnut ink to watercolour paper (as in my video for staining watercolour paper). Once dry, apply Light Texture Paste, with palette knife, ensuring texture is created as the paste is applied. I applied it quite thickly, leaving to dry overnight but if only applying thin layer, the paste dries very quickly. At the same time, I stencilled the beautiful feather with the Light Texture Paste, onto a piece of handmade paper.


To create the collage, I layered the stencilled feather to pieces of eco dyed rice and teabag papers, with other fragments added for texture and dimension. Keeping towards the left side of the panel.

Down the centre of the panel, a piece was adhered which had been torn from the edge of a prepared watercolour panel (stained with Basil and walnut ink). Moving towards the right side, torn corrugated cardboard was layered with more pieces of eco dyed rice paper.

Silence (Make Friends With Silence) was stamped onto found paper, with a rusted, copper washer placed over the stamp word, creating a focal.

With the full Affirmation stamped onto stained rice paper.

Final touch, I dipped the waterbrush into some of the Basil and Rose (with walnut ink) which had dried in the little plastic pots I had used for staining purposes. The water awakened the colours, which I quickly swiped onto some areas, allowing the colour to enhance the texture of the Light Texture Paste.

Until next week,

Wishes
Lynne