Monday 1 June 2009

Wheeee! Did I Have a Good Time Last Week

I had an absolutely wonderful two days attending a couple of workshops with the very talented Lynn Robinson-Hunter at Graphicus in Barnard Castle, Teesdale.


On Wednesday it was a Tag Book workshop and we used lots of the Distress Inks with a few other things thrown in. I've also done some more stamping to mine since I got home because, as usual, I was too slow to finish mine at the workshop (I spent too much time between tags tidying my workspace!) so I've used a few of my own items too. The idea was to build up a selection of tags showing different techniques ('how to' notes written on the back of each tag) so we had a great time blending, stamping, spritzing, spraying, emboss resisting, masking, using napkins for pretty images and image transfers using acrylic paint dabbers. I've also done a bit of masking on one of my tags here at home.
I shared the workshop with four other lovely ladies and we had a great time with quite a few laughs and giggles throughout the day. These are my favourite tags so far, but I intend to do some more on my own when I have the time (famous last words, Lol)



The second workshop on Thursday was Stampbord Creations. I can honestly say I have thoroughly enjoyed every workshop I've been to at Graphicus but this one blew me away. I have never been more pleased with anything I've made than my lovely Stampbord Mirror. I am totally thrilled with it (can you tell?). I have played with Stampbord before but Lynn certainly has a way of bringing out the best of my abilities and she showed us some beautiful pieces of Stampbord that use techniques that are taught in the other Stampbord workshop they do at Graphicus. We really should have done that first but never mind, I am still totally happy with my finished piece of artwork and I would still love to do the other workshop next time they run it.

I used Distress Inks exclusively for colouring my backgrounds and for the background stamping. I just used Stazon for the main top images. As the other ladies on the workshop asked what colours I had used I will explain here that I covered the whole of each piece of Stampbord with Tea Dye DI and then used 2 other colours blended carefully on top of that in combinations of Fired Brick, Shabby Shutters, and Spiced Marmalade. I built up the colours very slowly and carefully so that the blends were quite subtle and had different depths to them. On a few of the pieces I used a piece of mesh and others a piece of sequin waste and dabbed Pine Needles DI very gently to create a bit more depth. I then began layering my stamped images and for the background stamps I used Vintage Photo DI, stamped off once onto scrap paper, and finally a dark brown (can't remember proper colour name) Stazon for the main images.

I'm now going to go to town with my photos, even at the risk of boring you.






And here's the full piece in all it's glory!


I'm sorry if I sound a bit OTT about my mirror but I really didn't expect to come home with a piece I'm so proud of and it's all down to Lynn. She is an exceptional tutor and gets my head in just the right place to pull all this together. Had I tried to do it at home I would have ended up with a hodge podge of bits and no idea at all what to do with them so thank you very much Lynn. I can't wait for another workshop now! Thankyou also to my fellow crafters for your company, especially my internet friend Phree. We all had some really good fun and a great day altogether.

Everything I used can obviously be bought from Graphicus, except for the corner embellishments (from my own stash) and the dangly bit over the mirror which is made up of an old pair of cheap earings and a bit off an old necklace.








14 comments:

Jules said...

Wow Lesley.

What fantastic creations - and if I had made that mirror I would have wrote even more. It is brilliant.

Each little tile is a work of art in itself. No wonder you are so proud of it.

My stampbord hasn't come out of its packet yet for fear of wasting it!!! Silly aren't I.

You have inspired me to be brave and give it a go - but I just know I won't be able to create anything as wonderful as any one of your pieces.

All the colours and images blend together so well. I keep trying to choose my favourite - but can't. I love them all!!

Love Jules xx

P.S. Your tags are wonderful too by the way!!!

Moira said...

Gosh Lesley this is truly wonderous, it looks stunning you have every right to be as proud as a peacock with it. I am so envious now that I didn't make that workshop. I was up on Saturday with Judith for beading and wires and finally bought my TSS stuff so hope to get on with that soon. I don't have the words really to convey how fab I think this is. Treasure it or else I might have to sneak down there and nick it.

Beryl said...

What an amazing collection of art work. Thank you for sharing it. It must have been a brilliant experience going to Graphicus. Do I sound envious? Well, just a bit.OK a lot.
Beryl xx

Jo said...

OTT? Not a bit of it! I'd be pleased as punch to come home with treasures like these! What a great two days you've had.

veronica said...

Lesley, these are gorgeous! I love the mirror - glad you showed us the details - and the tags. Am green with envy - will just have to save my pennies for workshops and not buy new stamps in future

lisa said...

You lucky, lucky thing, going to a Graphicus workshop, I am seriously jealous. I love your tags, especially the Parisian red rose, that is lovely. Your stampboard mirror is out of this world. I love stampboard and have been dabbling lately, but this has inspired me to have another go. It's fantastic!!

Lisax

InkyArtitude said...

Hi Lesley, thank you so much for the glowing recommendation, I really appreciate it but I have to say that the quality of your finished piece is all down to YOU! You have made a wonderful job of both the mirror and your technique tags and you have every right to be proud of your results... I would be too. I can't believe this is your first big project with the Stampbord... amazing! I didn't want to steel anyones thunder so to speak, so now that you've finished and posted your 'stunner' I will get some pics on the blog of works in progress. Look forward to seeing you again soon.
Lynn

Rosietoes said...

Stunning work Lesley. How I envy you getting to such a brilliant workshop! :)

Isabelle Norris said...

fantastic work ! truly stunning
isa xx

Shirley said...

Wow! Where to start, Lesley! You really got your moneies worth and what a wonderful pretty bunch of cards, tags, etc. You are so talented!

Chris Olsen, Glowbug said...

Wow Lesley!! Looks like a really fun workshop!! your mirror and tags are fantastic!! A lot of great techniques!!

Theresa Momber said...

Wow! These are amazing, Leslie! Each one is a work of art!

Maggie Stearn said...

Lesley, I love the tags and mirror.
I may just have to have a go at one myself. I think Ikea have a similar mirror and I have stampboard that I haven't know what to do with it - now I do!
I'm so envious of those who manage to get to the workshops. I hope to get to an open day this year but there are non on the calender after July, at the moment.

Beryl said...

Thank for your lovely comment Lesley. Just thought I'd mention that I think Tilda got the dirty face after the photo shoot. (Not like kids then).
Glad I came back - gave me another chance to drool over your lovely stambord pieces.
Beryl xx