Evening

I've been dabbling with green again. Feeling reassured after my panel I decided to go all the way and finish my Journal cover.

I begun by painting the MDF with the green paint, adding a little lighter colour to the middle. Once dry, I used my old favourite Tim Holtz distressed dotty stamp to add Ranger Distress

Paint in vintage photo. I worked on one edge at a time as I then sprinkled Ranger's Distress Embossing Powder (distress paint can be used for embossing along with many other uses). The texture is fantastic, especially when adding paint to give a rusty, vintage effect. This was repeated on all four sides  before adding Distress Paint in tarnished brass. With a little Decoart Media Paint from the rust collection, I tweaked the colour until satisfied it resembled the panel. To finish, I added gilding wax. This was repeated on the back and spine of the Journal.

The greyboard panel was then attached with permanent adhesive and a small name plate added, coloured with distress paint and more gilding wax.

I hope you like it. Why don't you challenge yourself to work with a colour you would usually shy away from? You may be surprised with the results, I was.

Have a good weekend, fingers crossed the sun shines.

Hugs

Julie xx

Happy Birthday Anne

Just a quick post.

My lovely neighbour and friend Anne, has had a very special birthday this week and is sooo giddy. She won't mind me sharing her age as she's so excited. Anne you certainly don't look 70 and in the best possible way, you don't act it either. I chose to make a panel she could keep rather than a card, inspired by the MDF panel made for my MDF journal a few days ago.

Giving it her I explained it wasn't a conventional card to which she replied "you're not a conventional lady". I wasn't sure how to take that but she assures me that it's a compliment? Anyhow, a quick picture of her non-conventional card...

Enjoy the rest of your birthday week special lady, love and hugs

J xx

A personal challenge...

Hello all

I've felt rubbish this week so I've been in my craft room to keep my mind occupied. I have so many items waiting to be altered and a stash of goodies I've collected to use in my own work but just never got around to it. So, I set about a cover for an MDF journal I purchased from the MDF Man a few years ago

After sorting my blog gallery this week, I noticed my lack of colour in previous projects so decided to set myself a challenge and opted to use the colour green! As I'm feeling rubbish today (that usually means I'm not happy with what I create) I chose to work on a panel of heavy weight greyboard so if I didn't get it right I could bin it without feeling guilty!

I have a several chunky papier-mache hearts and wanted to use one in some way. Firstly, I decided to use some texture paste with my favourite 'Stripes' mask by Tim Holtz to provide some vertical direction (sorry it doesn't show very well in this picture).

Using some chipboard gears and a few odd die cuts I had hanging around I started to try various layouts. After much procrastinating, a decision had to be made or I'd be sat staring at it all day! So... I glued everything in place and painted it all green, arghhh.

Still not sure about the colour, I applied MORE green to the ensemble, albeit a shade lighter. At this point I must admit, I had no definite idea of where this was going but I was content to play on and see what happened. After all, its only card, paint and a few bits and bobs.

I wanted to add texture to the heart and decided to layer the paint a little thicker and applied direct heat to create raised bubbles of paint. You can carefully manipulate and pop these with the point of your brush. The thicker the paint, the bigger reaction you will get. NOTE: the heat tool needs to be approximately 1- 2 inches from your project to get the desired effect - take care as the paint will be hot and therefore a little sticky until it cools.

"Take a step back from your work and contemplate what is

missing"... the words of my old college tutor. A coffee (and a contemplative step back) and I feel the project is the perfect colour for rust - or rust coloured paint. Using Decoart's Media Paints - Rust Collection, I used a dry brush to stipple the various shades of brown, orange, red and umber to recreate the effect of rust. Finally, happy the colour contrast, I watered down the remaining paint and  enjoyed a good old flick to create the odd splatter (if you've attended my workshops you will know how I enjoy flicking paint around a room - the messier the better).

Following another contemplative coffee break and a sneaky biscuit I felt it needed a little gilding wax to brighten the mood. A few watch spares later and I think I'm happy for today. (the wings are even but this picture makes them look odd, I had my specks on honestly!)

If I still like the piece tomorrow I will look at painting the MDF Journal cover in yet more green and attach the panel. I will post a picture so you can see how it looks.

Hope you've enjoyed some creative play time today.

Hugs

Julie xx

Feeling blue

Two post in one day!

I am trundling through my stored photos and can't believe how much I've missed evidencing. I've taught at a number of shops in the locality and provided samples for TV and magazines for the last 10 years and have hardly any pictures of my work!

Worse still, when teaching classes you have many restrictions, number 1 being budget. A good example is the Tim Holtz embellishments... I love anything Tim, anything Ranger but you can't provide a class of 15 people with loads of stuff or you never cover your cost. BUT, when making cards for family and friends it's no holding back and guess what... I don't have pictures of these either. Not happy is an understatement!

Is it possible to set a New Years Resolution half way through the year? Well if so mine is to start and photograph everything.

Rant to self over. Hopefully I will have more look finding pictures of the projects.

J xx

Good morning all...

Morning, morning....

Well after 24 hours of dusting the far reaches of my brain I have finally managed to drag out enough html to create a drop down menu for my gallery and have begun to add some images of the many projects and classes I've taught.

Please feel free to take inspiration from them but should you recreate anything could you please be kind and add a link back to my blog?

We had the pleasure of our gorgeous grand children yesterday. We had a barbecue (not the worlds biggest fan) and lots of cake for our daughter's partner's birthday. He has been working silly hours in a new job and we're all so proud of him so decided on a little get together. The children had lots of fun running around the garden and promptly fell asleep in the car home. Fast forward a few hours and a slightly distraught daughter rings to show us what their little power nap has led to...

After I had stopped laughing I explained these are the moments to treasure and remember as they grow. I'm biased but aren't they just adorable?

We will have to buy mummy a new lipstick when we go shopping this week... and new nail polish after Ava decided to paint her leg in every colour polish she could find in her mummy's top drawer (she was supposed to be sleeping and the safety gate was closed)!

We all remember nicking Mum's makeup when we were in our early teens, right? I certainly remember Lauren stealing mine and it was always the best stuff. I think a lock on mummy's door maybe necessary as this little diva is starting early.

Right, I am going to check on my son who is resting in bed (playing x-box) after he badly sprained his ankle in PE on Friday and then I'm going to carry on putting pictures into the blog as promised.

Have a good day and enjoy the sunshine.

Julie xx

The journey begins...

Morning All

Well the sun is still shining here in Yorkshire. The heat is less oppressive today but the forecast is for high temperatures later this morning so I think I may stay in the shade and continue trying to get the gallery section of my blog up to date.

I've had to rack my poor brain to try and recall some html from years ago (you wouldn't believe I used to manage/ customise website for a job)! I'm hoping to manage to add a sub section as there's far too many images to just plonk into a gallery but we will see. Give me Dreamweaver any day of the week... I'm so new to blogger and since my adrenal crisis the old brain cells are refusing to wake up and work with me.

I'm also hoping to post some tutorials and projects from my teaching days. I had hoped to do this whilst teaching full time but never had enough hours in the week. One of the lovely ladies I used to teach got in touch and reminded me of the fun we had in classes and this has spurred me on to doing something. So Amy, in homage to you and all the crafty crew, this is for you.

Hope you are enjoying your creative journey.

Hugs for now,

Julie x