create magic

Hello, I was just having a play yesterday.

I've decided to create some artwork using different techniques, so that I can hang the finished pieces on my 7gypsies photo carousel. Then I can have them on display in my craft room and also flick through them to inspire me, as needed!

I recently discovered my carousel, still in its original box, in a recent craft room clear out. I bought it four years ago and remember having to hunt it down at the time, so not sure if it is still available to buy.

So this is the first piece that I have made for the carousel, and appropriately entitled 'create magic' to begin my journey.

I started off by pulling a page from my Strathmore Mixed Media Journal. I have literally tons (well six!) of these journals in various sizes and different paper formats. This one is from the 5.5" x 8" journal. A perfect size for practicing techniques and also I thought a perfect size for sneaking away with me on my next holiday ;)

I first of all covered the page with gesso and let it dry.

I then covered the page with a Liquitex Matte Medium and smoothed down some book paper over the top of it, ensuring it was firmly pressed down.(Secret: I use old Mills & Boon books for my book papers!).

I waited for a few minutes, and then peeled the book paper off. The exact time is an art to master, as too short and the whole lot will come off and too long and your page will be firmly stuck down!

I was left with a mixture of some words going forwards and some going backwards and some gappy bits. Perfect!

I stamped a Stampers Anonymous stamp down the left hand side. I then drew a line all around the edge with a Faber-Castell Gelato - Metallic Blueberry. I then used a wet paint brush to drag the colour in towards the centre, but not completely. 

This completed the base upon which I would create my girl.

I've coloured the skin with PanPastels. I've added detail with various types of pencils and pens.

For the hair, I've mixed Liquitex ink! with modelling paste and applied it through the Tim Holtz ~ Burlap Layering Stencil. I've then reversed the stencil and applied it to the foot of the page, to bring in some co-ordinating colour to balance the page out.

And that is it! Fun!

Thank you for looking.

Keeley 

she mailed a lettter the other day

 

It's Monday, which means a new challenge at Cupcake Craft Challenges. The challenge is to use something recycled.

I have recycled a hessian sack, which previously contained bird nuts and an art canvas. 

I saw this idea somewhere on the internet. The idea is to decorate the back of the canvas. I have gone for a Valentine's theme with the idea that little love letters can be tucked inside.

I decorated the sides and the top of the frame with papers from the 7gypsies ~ Avignon and Barcelona lines. Strips of ribbon line the aperture.

The inside is covered with more of the 7gypsies papers. Then I've layered it with lace doilies and a brad.

I made three little tags to go inside and decorated them.

Here are the fronts ...

... and here are the backs.

 

I decorated a Kaisercraft wooden padlock with words stamped from a PaperArtsy stamp and hung it from a 7gypsies ~ loop & hook display trim.

I stapled the hessian sack to the frame.

 

I decorated the sack with ribbons and buttons. I made the postcard using a Papermania stamp, added a red vintage postage stamp and tied a Tim Holtz ~ corked vial and pen nib to the postcard with some baker's twine.

 

I am going to enter this into the following challenges:

• To the one I love ~ Anything goes challenge 
• Buttons & bows ~ Crafty Calendar challenge
• Anything goes ~ Simon Says Stamp Challenge
• Lovely lace ~ Paperplay Challenges
• Frames ~ Creative Belli Challenge
• P for polka dots ~ Created by ATDML
• Pearls & lace ~ Totally Papercrafts
• Ribbons ~ Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge
• Lots of layers and embellies ~ Crazy 4 Challenges
• 3D Valentine ~ Just Us Girls 
• One or more hearts ~ Allsorts
• Diamonds or pearls ~ Stamptacular Sunday
• Polka dots ~ Fussy & Fancy Friday

Thank you for looking.


Keeley

remember this

Today I am using this fabulous sketch over at Glitz Design.

I am also entering the following challenges:

'anything goes': Sir Stampalot

'vintage': Craft Your days Away

'free & easy':Allsorts Challenge

'tag you're it': One Stop Craft Challenge

Here is my finished piece.

Papers: Glitz Design ~ Love Nest.

Image: La Blanche ~ Romantic - Kissing Lovers.

I made the elaborate metal corner with a Nellie Snellen die. I dabbed it with a bit of paint, as I did the hinge.

The 'remember this' tag is from 7gypsies.

A 'love you' charm.

And some doilies with a Bo Bunny butterfly brad.

I twisted the roses together to make the stem.

Thank you for looking.

keeley

celebration

 

Today we have a fab sketch at Crafts 4 Eternity.

I am also entering this into the following challenges:

'no kids allowed birthday': Stamptacular Sunday.
'celebrate good times': City Crafter.
'black, red, cream, yellow': Color Throwdown.

Here is my finished piece.

I've used Cosmo Cricket ~ Circa 1934 papers which are just fabulous all on their own.

The tag is  7gypsies and is just tucked behind so that it can be pulled out and written on. I added a button to it.

The image is Elisabeth Bell ~ Willow Dressing Up. I coloured her with copics and added some stickles.

Well I woke up to a stonking migraine this morning which completely scuppered my day, so I am going to try and salvage what's left of it by getting some crafty time in.

Thank you for looking.

keeley

 

be still my beating heart ... WOYWW

 

The other day I caught the 7gypsies bug and had to go shopping for these yummy items. They are now all piled up on my desk and every time I walk past I just think .... oh the possibilities ....

So, to have a closer look, this is what I bought: 

A 7gypsies letterblock printer tray ...

The little squares on this are a lot smaller than I was expecting them to be. Not sure what I'm going to do with this yet, I just liked the idea of it.

Four 7gypsies library drawers ...

Why four you ask? Because I can think of at least four different uses for them! I am really excited about these drawers and love the quality and feel of them. They are a nice decent size and come with a set of 12 calendar index cards, although I'll probably scrap these and make my own. So many possibilities ... yum!

Next up, the 7gypsies vintage receipt holder ...

Woah, woah, woah!!! I just had to have this! It has 10 panels to decorate. I have no idea what I am going to do with it,  but know that when it's finished I will have it hanging in my craft room, ready to inspire and delight. So I am going to alter it with that in mind. I think. Love the fab clunky hanging chain it comes with.

And last but by no means least, the 7gypsies photo carousel ...

Yum. Yum. Yum. I have GREAT plans for this. I intend to create a personal scrapbook album and create mini layouts using my favourite photos stored on my computer which never see the light of day. I can't wait to get started on this. I may even share some with you. 

It comes with 10 plastic sleeves, which I doubt I will use as I want it to be more exciting than that. 

Oh, I almost forgot. To enable me to make my own pages to attach to the carousel, I bought a 7gypsies atc punch which also makes holes to fit the photo carousel. 

Well, as it's Wednesday and this is my workdesk, I am going to link it up to What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday and will now go and check out what everyone else is up to.

If you missed my Steampunk Paper Bag Album, just scroll down to the next post or click this link.

Thank you for looking.

keeley