The Octopode Factory Challenge, De Stempelwinkel and Tando Mixed Media Boards.

So how is everyone's Sunday going?  it is miserable here, it has been raining pretty much non stop all day.
Ok so on with the post. I am combining a couple of posts today to make life simple and because they have a common element. The Mixed Media Boards.More about them in a mo.
 I am starting of with The Octopode Factory, we have just started our new challenge, the theme this time is 'Witches', we want to see any type of crafty project all you need to do is have a witch in there somewhere.
Lily has several great Witch designs in here Etsy shop HERE. You do not need to use an Octopode image for the challenge but if you do your name will go into the prize draw twice for some of Lily's designs.
 I have used one of Tando's new mixed media boards for the base of my little over sized ATC/Tag.
I printed the Witch from the Gloomsville set along with her cat onto some 300gsm card and coloured her with Copics. I then used some Decoart Faux Faux Finish Medium and painted over my image carefully making sure I covered her and the cat completely.This allowed me to go in and use my Distress inks to add colour to the back ground and stamp the web and Witch Hazel label also using my distress inks.The Faux finish acts as a resist and I was able to just wipe clean the Witch carefully with a baby wipe and some kitchen towl. To finish off I used Decoart's Triple Thick Gloss Glaze, I normally use Embossing powder and add 2 - 3 layers to get a nice smooth finish. With the triple thick its just a case of apply in a layer with a paint brush fairly thickly, it self levels so you don't need to worry to much and you will not be left with any brush marks. just a very rich glossy look to your work. I am loving it, it's like glossy accents just more versatile, better and most of all cheaper whilst still maintaining quality.
Please stop by and if you have time join in the fun. it's worth stopping by to see what the rest of the DT have created.

Now onto the Second Post. It is also my turn over at De Stempelwinkel so here is my little teaser. we are in a Halloween mood this month and I have used my favourite stamp on a painty back ground again using a Mixed Media Board from Tando-Creative

Finally onto these Mixed Media Boards. Tando have just released these and I am loving them. there are two sizes available. These are the 74mm x 138mm chip board boards so bigger than an ATC but smaller then the normal Tag size whist still being big enough to be made into small tags.

I have found these boards to be a great way of trying new techniques out as they will stand up to pretty much anything unlike normal card that warps and wrinkles if you want to use paint.

They can also be embossed.

The first tag I am very pleased to say has been used on the packaging for the packs of boards (well chuffed)

and has been embossed. More on the technique another time. Ill be doing a tutorial soon.

The Second board has been coated with Decoart Gesso and then painted with several washes of colour using the Decoart Traditions acrylic Paints.I used one of Andy Skinners Masks and applied some modelling paste through the stencil.When dry I used the Decoart Metallic Lustres to add some shine. The lustres are a water based rub n buff product. when dry you can get quite a nice shine from them.

Finally I made this tag. I used a couple of embossing folders for the skull and web.Every thing was coated in Gesso and left to dry. I used Voodoo Stencil that comes on the same stencil as the candy skull above and  used the Lustres through the stencil and buffed to get a nice shine.A little was also rubbed onto the lower portion of the tag. A couple of washes of translucent acrylic Traditions paint were applied to add some colour and dried. Using the translucent colours allowed the Lustres to shine through. It has the light effect where it is more visible at certain angles depending on how the light hits it.I also used the Lustres on the web and skull. A little bit of script stamp was added using black archival ink and then the whole piece was coated with the triple thick gloss glaze.

Thanks for stopping by. as always it really does mean a lot to have you drop in. Also a big welcome to the new followers. thanks for taking the time to become a follower and I hope to see you back here in the future xxx

I would like to enter the bottom tag into the challenge over at Our Creative Corner. The theme is a Hallowen Tag with Some Texture.