Pics from Saturdays Class and an ATC for a Swap

Morning all, I hope you are all keeping well, Sorry it has been so quiet here but I am still mid move and the craft room has pretty much been boxed up so I am in a bit of a crafty limbo.

I can however share this ATC I made, this was done for a swap hosted by That Craft Place's Face Book Group Natter and Chatter and after a little delay due to the move I know Erin has received it ;) The theme was Turquoise and Brown or use a non traditional crafty item.

Now this may not look to Turquoise but they did allow some leeway ;) but under all the colour washes and dry brushing this did start out a very nice Turquoise. My brown came in the way of the little picture frame that I gave a rusty finish to.I also decided to use a non crafty item which was the fuse.

At the trade show earlier this year I was lucky enough to be given a few bottles and products from the new Media line and they are what I have used on this ATC, I have used the fluid acrylics (love these) modelling paste, texture sand, interference paint and satin glaze.

The only thing I am not keen on now is the size of the portrait in the frame, It's just that little bit to small, I used one of Tim Holtz's rub ons but thinking back maybe I should have printed an image or found something different.

Saturday also had me teaching my second class at That Craft Place in Eastbourne here are some pics from the day and the projects that were made. It was the chalk memo board class. Their image transfers came out so well and its always good to see so much variation in finishes.

Thank you ladies for making the class so much fun, I can not wait for the next class x

De Stempelwinkel - Altered Bird House

Morning all, I hope your all keeping well and enjoying your Easter Holls?

I am mid move at the moment but I have just about had time for my make over at De Stempelwinkel.If you have time it would be great to see you over there to see what I have been playing around with ;)

I also have a post up on my new Shabby blog Spesh-Chic with a little make I made at the big craft show last week in Ally Pally.xx

Thanks for stopping by xx

De Stempelwinkel - Oriental ATC

Good morning, Hopefully this post appears when it should as I am scheduling, ( I hate Technology ) as I will already have left for the big craft show at Ally Pally,  If you make it to the show come and say Hi.

Over at De Stempelwinkel and I have made an Oriental themed ATC.

If you have time it would be great to see you over there. xx

My New Shabby Blog 'Spesh-Chic'

A very quick post from me this eve, I have just started a new blog, Spesh-Chic, I will be using the new blog for all my Shabby makes using the Decoart Chalk piants. I would love for you all to join me over there as well xx

Thanks for stopping by xxxx

De Stampelwinkel - Envelope mini album

Happy Monday all, I hope you are all keeping well?

I am up first this week over at De Stempelwinkel to share a new make.

I am sharing this mini album that I made in a class with Kathy Byrne.

There are lots more pics over at De Stempelwinkel and it would be great if you have time to see you over there xxxx

Thanks as always, xxxx

De Stempelwinkel - Caught In A Dream Tag

Morning, Thanks for stopping by, A quick post this morning, I am sharing over at De Stempelwinkel and I thought I would try a different look to my normal style.It would be great if you have time to see you over there xx.

Also if you have time, I would love for you to pop by my new blog Spesh-Chic this is where I will be keeping all the Shabby chic and vintage makes where I will mainly be using the Decoart Chalk Paints.So if you like that sort of thing I would love to see you over there ;) xx

Decoart Retro Grungy Americana Sign Box Tutorial.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you are all keeping well? Today I am sharing part 1 of this Retro Americana inspired cupboard box as part of the Decoart International Design Team. Warning, this may be a little photo heavy but I hope you stick with me.

All products used are from the Decoart Range of paints and mediums.

For Part 1 I will be going over how I painted the box, In Part 2 I will go over the techniques for the rusty tin insert.

Here is what you will need.

                                                                                                                                                                             

Gesso

Americana, Baby Blue, Berry Red, Slate Grey, Silver,White, Heritage Brick(not shown)

Traditions, Quinacridone Gold, Quinacridone Burnt Orange, Carbon Black

Satin Glaze

Sand Paper

Tape for masking

The box started out like this...

There was a plain wood and  perspex insert so you could add some photo's or a scrap book page layout, the box its self is about 13" square with a hinged lid.

After dismantling the box, The lid and main box were first given two coats of Gesso (sanding between coats)

they were then painted silver and then a coat of  Heritage Brick Americna, As my end result was to look like an aged metal box I wanted to use a base colour that is often used as a Primer in spraying cars.

I also wanted to go for an Americana style feel for the finished piece so wanted my colour scheme to be the Red, White and Blue

I used some masking tape to mask off the different sections, The white was painted first and the Red and Blue after, the same process was carried out on the lid as well.

Some sanding back was done on the box to reveal the different layers and to add to the aged look.

The inside of the box was painted first Gray and then Silver.

To age the inside of the box I mixed up several washes of Decoart's Traditions paints. I used Quinacridone Gold and Quinacridone Burnt Orange.These colours combined give a nice burnished and tarnished colour to the silver.

I have used the Traditions paints for washes as the pigment quality is a lot higher than with the Americana line of paints.When the new Media line hits the shelves I will be using them, they will be packed with even more pigment and will be ideal for using in mixed media projects.

When working with washes I always have my mister bottle close at hand just in case i want the wash to be thinner after I have applied it, The washes have been mixed to   a 60% - 40% Water/paint mix. The washes were added randomly but at the same time and then some water was spritzed to thin the washes out where needed to get the nice runs and to get the colours to bleed together.

On the bottom surface of the box and on the shelf I used a couple of different Jars, using Raw Umber spread thin on my craft mat I stamped with the rims of the jars to give the effect of old stains left behind by jars and tins of paint etc.

The out side of the box was also given several washes, This time I used Carbon Black and Quinacridone Gold Traditions to give a real grubby look to the box.Finally I gave the box two coats, inside and out of The Satin Glaze, this will help protect the surfaces but it also gives a really nice sheen and helps bring ot the colours that little bit more.

The box is now ready to be hung in my man cave ;) Ok, Garage.

Thanks as always for stopping by. Ill be back soon with how to create the rusty tin sign to go in the middle.

I would like ot enter this over at Simon Says Stamp where they are having an Anything Goes Challenge.