PaperArtsy Challenge #2 - Shiny Stuff

Hi Everybody,

It's a bit nippy isn't it and going to get a lot worse over next few days by all accounts but shouldn't grumble as it probably won't be as bad as the poor folk over the pond in the US have it right now (it's being shown on the news as I type).  Stay safe any visitors who drop by that are struggling over there at the moment.

Things are still a bit busy here this week as my brothers & I have to get Mum's bungalow emptied by the weekend so we can hand the keys back next week.  It's a very difficult thing to dispose of someone's home while they are still alive but have no say in the matter :-( and I have to say it's giving me a few sleepless nights but we're getting there and it will be done with soon.  I just hope I've chosen the right treasures to save for her!

Ok, on to the crafting ;-D!  It's the 2nd challenge theme over on the PaperArtsy Blog and this time it's 'Shiny Stuff'! What a fabulous theme as there are so many things you can use to create shine and it can be subtle or 'in your face full on bling' and the inspiration from the Guest Designers is stunning so do hop over and take a look.  I want to have a go at everything, lol!  For my project I used a lot more shiny stuff than I would normally but I'm actually really pleased with the result.  See what you think! .......Er, sorry for the photo overload!

I started with a 6" x 6" wooden frame (from the charity shop again ;D) from which I'd ripped some awful embellies.

I used the products below to layer paint and add shine, plus gilding flakes.

I die cut the butterfly border from White Greyboard (PaperArtsy) and the word Love is a Wendy Vecchi Art Part and I covered both with gilding flakes.  I applied the pale, creamy colours of Fresco Finish to the frame with Cut n Dry foam and then applied patches of the 3 Treasure Gold colours.

Previously I've always applied TG as the last layer but this time I wanted to try using it underneath FF so I applied a mix of Nougat and Dusty Teal FF all over, again with Cut n Dry. Once dry I then sanded back to the TG and buffed it with a soft cloth.  Sorry for the glare in some pics but the 'process' ones were taken at night. 

The flourishes were stamped with a Versamagic ink and all the script with Watering Can Archival.  The butterflies were stamped with Archival onto a scrap of co-ordinating paper I found, cut out and then coated with FF Metallic Glaze.  All the stamps used are from PaperArtsy sets. The random embossing is Frantage with a few mica flakes added.

This pic shows the lovely effect of the TG showing through the FF.  I was really chuffed with it ;-)!

More 'Shiny Stuff', lol!

I deliberately took the photos of the finished project early this morning in a mix of dull daylight & my lamp so that I could capture the shine properly so apologies for the shadows. 

I totally enjoyed making this frame and I think I'm going to take it down to Mum so see if she would like it in her room .........bet she does cos she's always been my biggest fan, bless her!

There is an extra week to make an entry for this particular challenge because next week Leandra and the team are revealing all the new stamps and stuff being released.  The sneak peeks already have me drooling so I can't wait to see and it might give me chance to make a second entry to the challenge!

Righty Ho!  Off to get my 'proper' day underway.  Hope you all have a good one and manage to stay warm and cosy.  See you soon!

Hugs
Lesley  Xx

The new PaperArtsy Challenge to kick off 2015!

Hi Everyone,

I can't believe it's already two weeks since we saw in the New Year and very belatedly I would like to wish everyone a very Happy and Healthy 2015.

The year has started with mixed blessings here as although I could wish that my Mum had gone to her own home fit and well from hospital, unfortunately that is never going to be the case and I am relieved that she has not been sent home to spend many hours alone and unable to move about or not safely at least.  Last week she went into a nursing home and so far seems relaxed and happy especially as she now has her own TV to watch, lol!  I am deciding which of her bits and pieces can go to make her room look as homely as possible and at the same time rescuing lots of lovely old photos before her bungalow is cleared.  It's time consuming but I'm really chuffed to have managed an entry for the first 'new style' PaperArtsy Blog Challenge of 2015!

The format has changed and I really like how it's shaping up so far so if you haven't seen it up to press do stop by and check it out HERE.  There is to be a theme every 2 weeks and the first one is 'Fragile Papers' which Leandra introduced with a lovely post and video to kick start us all.  I can't honestly say I have taken inspiration from any single designer on the blog over the past 2 weeks other than Leandra's talking about fragile papers but Aneke's lovely project using tissue & napkins would have been if I had seen it before I made my project, lol!  There have been some fabulous, exciting posts so far with tons of inspiration and sneak peeks at gorgeous new PaperArtsy stamps coming out in February......... I need to get saving ;D!

Ok, on to my project!  It's a little wooden box which I picked up for 50p in the local charity shop and I decided to turn it into a sort of double shadow box.  So far I have only done the outside (ran out of time) but I will finish it so watch this space, lol!  I have quite a big collection of paper napkins which I have never yet used on any project so when Leandra announced the theme for the challenge I knew immediately that I wanted to use napkins and tissue.  I forgot to take pics of some stages but there are still lots of photos so here goes.

I used the JoFY Limited Edition 2 Fresco Finish paints with Chalk covering the whole of the box inside and out. 

The napkin I wanted to use has beautiful oriental imagery and reminded me of willow pattern plates but in cherry red and white instead of white and blue. 

I almost dry brushed  roughly over with Turquoise FF.  I then tinted some Grunge Paste with the Turquoise FF and applied it in random areas through a stencil (forgot to take a pic).  When it was dry I highlighted with White Fire Treasure Gold (my favourite and 'go to' TG)

Above I adhered some of the top layer and the middle layer of the napkin onto Clearly for Art Whiteout before using PaperArtsy Grungy Flower die to cut out them out.  I also cut some in Tim Holtz Kraft Glassine which I stamped in gold with a Chinese script stamp I've had for years.  The lovely Lucy worked with some plastic and tissue to make flowers for her fragile papers project HERE.  I highlighted  the edges with a beautiful blue limited edition Treasure Gold.

Here I adhered the paler middle napkin layer to some toning tissue but the tissue colour showed through & obliterated the design, lol! Never mind I still liked the result and it made quite a strong material to use for die cutting lots of cherry blossoms.

I used the Kraft Glassine to die cut the branches and then set about playing with the positioning and sticking all the flowers on, 

Here you can see the TG highlights and I hope, the pretty little bird!

I also gave some Chinese coins the TG treatment to use in the flower centres.

I randomly painted watered down Cherry Red and Turquoise FF onto Cream Waxed Tissue from PaperArtsy and then stamped a border from a Lynne Perrella stamp set LPC021 using gold ink.  I tore it into strips and adhered it to the 'spine', top and bottom edges of the box.

So that's the finished outside.  I wonder what to do with the inside ;D!

If you stuck with me through that lot, thanks very much and you now deserve a cup, mug or glass of your favourite beverage.  I'm off for a mug of coffee & to do my linkup to the PaperArtsy Challenge.  See you again soon I hope.

Hugs

Lesley  Xx