And More Stuff!

I went along to another craft session at the Beetroot Tree Gallery this morning. We made 'papers' using silk and bamboo fibres, linen threads, angelina fibres, hemp and other bits and pieces. It was an interesting technique using J-cloths, water, decorators varnish or PVA watered down and a metal spoon to burnish. My pieces are still wet and look like this.... .....

tomorrow when they are dry I'll peel them off the cloths. They should look a lot better!!

The next step is to add little pieces of metal (bonded on with fuseFX) and some hand or machine embroidery. (You're probably thinking what a mess and who can blame you, lol !!!! Hopefully tomorrow they will be transformed!)

If you like working with metal here's a tip I got today........angelina fibres can be bonded onto metal if you use bondaweb in between. It looks very effective. I took a small piece to show you, unfortunately the photo doesn't show the irridescent effect very well.

Can't wait to have a go at this myself.

I started a new painting on wood yesterday - I'm being brave and showing the first sketch. I'm trying to put a bit of movement into my work. I must try a different colour scheme as well for this one...maybe pink?

This is my latest Soul Journal page. I used pictures and letters cut out from magazines. They are pages I started in Sarah's workshop - you can just about see the silhouette of a face on each page (we cut out images from a magazine and stencilled around the edge).

And finally........I got caught up in Rosie's enthusiasm for a Distress Inks technique that Dan demonstrated on his blog - so I thought I'd have a go and make a tag. Its all about blending the inks and then splattering with water to create the mottled effect. All good fun!

ATCs

I've just completed a couple more ATCs for swaps.

The heart stamp was from the pack Chris sent me for winning the Love Challenge.

I stamped it onto some paper I'd painted with watercolours, then I embossed it.

The backgrounds on both were done with gesso, stamps and tiny flecks of embossing powder.

Printing and stamping on fabric

I've been playing around with my transfer paper today. I also tried stamping some images and sayings on fabric using a black archival pad. Seemed to work ok. Look out for these on future ATCs.
Also went to The Beetroot Tree in Draycott to buy more supplies of Angelina fibres!

Angelina Fibres

Here are some images I stamped onto Angelina fibres. I kept the iron on too long on the first one - but I quite like it!

This is what the fibres look like; they are loose and individual when you buy them. They cost around £2.00 a pack and come in lots of colours.
You have to experiment with stamps; some don't work quite so well.





Pile some fibres on to a stamp.

Place a piece of baking parchment on top and press with an iron.
Thats about it!
You can of course, just lay fibres in between baking parchment and iron on top.You then get a flat piece of glistening fabric.

I buy fibres from a local art centre, but you can get them from http://www.artvango.co.uk/

A few people have asked about this technique, so I hope I've explained it properly.

Have a lovely weekend!

Linda xx

Printing onto Fabric

I'm really pleased with my first attempts at printing images onto fabric. I know they aren't perfect, but with practice will hopefully get better. I used INKJET TRANSFER PAPER from Photo Paper Direct. It cost £12 for 20 sheets incl p&p.

Its so simple to use...just print out an image and iron it onto fabric. The instructions come with the pack.

I've been playing with my sewing machine today - I love machining onto card.

On the first ATC I used gesso and ink pads for the background. The large flower was stamped onto Angelina fibres and machined down, the small flower is the same stamp on shrink plastic. Finally the words were printed on calico and machined down onto the card.

The second ATC has a collaged background. The face and the word were printed on calico and stitched down. You probably can't tell, but I zig-zag stitched the whole thing onto sheer blue fabric and card.

I'm really pleased with these; they are more shimmery in real life.

Click on the pictures for a closer look.

If anyone wants to trade, let me know.

You might not get these...but I'll make more!

Hugs

Linda xx

PS I'll show how to use Angelina fibres tomorrow.

Mermaids

Doing a bit of collage today - and experimenting with another new stamp. Just wish the face didn't keep reminding me of Nicole Kidman.
The one above is for a swap. Hope they like it.

I'm using stamps, angelina fibres, gold net, ribbon and vintage fish clip art from here (thanks for that link Chris).

Oh well...back to the chocolate.....and maybe more mermaids.

'A mermaid found a swimming lad,
Chose him for her own,
Pressed her body to his body,
Laughed, and plunging down
Forgot in cruel happiness
That even lovers drown.'

(Can't remember where I got that from!)

Hugs
Linda

Quotes

I love collecting quotes and this is currently one of my favourites. I've just made a couple of ATCs using it......maybe I should give it a rest for a while now!I used angelina fibres and glitter for the heart, the flowers were hand drawn on shrink plastic. The backround stamp I made myself by cutting thin foam shapes which I glued onto a cube of wood. (I did 6 different ones).
I discovered 'fish tail' flowers on the Scrapperlicious blog. If you want to see them done properly, go and check out Irene's beautiful scrapbook layouts and technique pages.

On the subject of quotes, here's a though provoking one:

If we did the things we were capable of, we would astound ourselves. Thomas Edison

Maybe I'll do 'Quote of the Day' every time I blog!

I recommend you visit Chriss Rollins's blog, she has set a challenge with a great prize (don't know why I'm telling you this because I want to win it!!) You don't even have to make anything....just do a bit of research. At the same time you'll find out about the great products sold by http://www.craftyindividuals.co.uk/

Before I go, I've been having problems getting my pictures to open up in a new window. It worked for me at first, but now I seem to have lost it! Can anyone help me?

Best wishes...Linda x