Christmas Mittens

Hi all

Here is a little step - by step of how I made these two fun, Christmas Mitten cards for recent classes.

Die cut 4 mittens, using this Sizzix Bigz die. Use thick cardstock if painting, like we will be.

Mask off the cuff, and paint using DecoArt Pyrol Red acrylic paint.

Add glue across the base of the mittens.

Die cut the zig-zags (also on the sizzix die) in green and white card. Stick them onto the mitten. I started with the middle zig-zag first.

Cut off the excess zig zag strips to use on the other mitten, which will sit underneath this one.

Do not attach at this stage, but take the second mitten, which will layer behind, marry up the cuffs and then twist the finger sections so they fan slightly out with just a little of the bottom mitten showing. Add glue and used the pieces left from the top mitten to decorate in a similar position.

Only this much of you mitten will show from below. Don't worry about the inside edges of the zig-zag as they will be hidden, but cut off the extra that overhangs on the outside.

Your two mittens will look something like this.....

Add glue to the bottom mitten.

and stick the top one onto it, again ALMOST lining up the cuffs.

Wrap twin around the two cuffs, starting and ending at the front, so you can tie a know and leave enough twine to hang down for your pompoms.

For the faux snow, add a generous amount of strong, dries clear glue (like Cosmic Shimmer) all over the cuffs and two punched circles (I used a 20mm punch) which will be the pom-poms on this one. Sprinkle on the faux snow and press down into the glue.

This is the punch, glue and faux snow I used. 

For the two background layers, I die cut a layer of white and a slightly larger layer of black using Creative Expressions dies. I then embossed the white layer.

This was the very old Sizzix embossing folder I used.

Over the top of the embossed card, I swiped 

Treasure Gold Metallic Gilding Polish from Creative Expressions.

Last step is the layering up. Add the black card, then gold to a 5x7 card blank. 

Then stick down the mittens.

You may prefer to use 3D foam tape as the twine adds depth and will raise the cuffs up on the card.

To make the card with the pom-pom balls, instead of adding faux snow to the cuff, add the three pop-poms (see photo). Then add two more at the end of the twine - you don't need the circles of this one. 

Hi all!

It's been a while, but I thought I'd share a project I've worked on for my next online sewing class. Details under the classes tab.

Please say Hi to 'Happy Hippocampus', my ocean scape and seahorse piece!
 

The kit includes everything needed and an option to have the seahorse plain or painted and a Facebook Live class, which will be in a private group.

Felt in the background, lots of sparkly textures, sea shells and lots of fun stitching.

Hope you like it. Thanks for looking.

Suz

x

Alcohol inks abstract art

 Here's a litte abstract artwork I made on my Create and Craft tv shows on Saturday 8th August.

I used cobalt and mojito inks, then just added a few drops of statue alloy ink, with blending solution.

I then showed how to use the applicator tool to swipe across the Yupo. 

Here's a link to the show, available for 30days.

 

https://www.createandcraft.com/gb/shows/ranger-ultimate-alcohol-ink-kit-2822109?channel=cc

Circle of Thorns Hello Card

Hello lovely people.

Here's a bright and fun card using a gorgeous new stamp Called Circle of Thorns by Andy Skinner. Hopefully you'll see this make an appearance on Create and Craft tv later in June.

Using a versamark ink pad and Andy's Satin Sunset embossing powder, I randomly stamped the image, then heat embossed it.

 I blended in some Bright Sunshine Colour cloud.

 A sentiment stamped out and inked around the edges.

The embossing powder has hints of red, so I used red gems to pick that out. A little bit of ribbon and lace and there you have it. I loved making this quick and simple, but bright and beautiful card.  

I hope you like it too.
Thanks for looking.
Suz

Repurposed canvas and bandage dressing

Hi all
I made this fun canvas to join in with the Creative Expressions Mixed Media Challenge day 1 with the theme of 'Bright'.

I took an old canvas I no longer liked and covered it with vintage book pages then a coat of mixed media paint. 

Then added Intense Pigment Stains in Bluebell, Emerald and Citrus Lime, layering up until I liked the colours.

I then used the same products to colour an old field dressing/ bandage and that had been in my stash for years (not useable as no longer sterile due to damaged packaging) and a piece of hessian fabric. I spritzed water to help the bandage and hessian soak up the colours.

Taking the Smashed Glass Andy Skinner stamp, I used my stamp platform and Versafine Jet Black ink to stamp onto a piece of calico. frayed the edges and stuck it down onto the hessian. I had to use red liner tape as wet glue would have seeped through, activated the colours underneath and stained the stamped calico.

 Glass gems and fabric roses gave a pop of red to the canvas. But it needed something else. So I wrapped wire around my spritzer bottle to form loops, then stuck these underneath the focal point of the layered bandage and fabric.

 You can see some of the text through the colours here and below.

 Love how colourful this is.

Thanks for looking.
Suz
x

Sending Hugs

Hi all

Here's my project for the May Craft Stamper Blog Challenge. A pretty card with a wired heart and paper rose embellishments. To find out about the challenge and the fab prize, click HERE.

I made a mixed media background on Coconut White card using the white paint, Intense Pigment (Rich Crimson) and the Pixie Powders (Scarlet Mist and Mango Blaze). Once dry I dusted with the anti-static pad then used Andy's Smashed Glass stamp, with Versamark Ink and gold detailed embossing powder.

I also used the paint, Intense Pigment and Pixie Powders on a piece of fabric, which I use for the background and as a ribbon across the card. To embellish I added a piece of wire I'd shaped into a heart.

This looked a little bland so I then made a paper heart by rolling up copy paper coloured with the IP ink, and snipped a few black leaves from card I'd cut with the Leafy Frame die, adding some gold treasure Metallic Gilding Polish.

A stamped sentiment from the Big Ideas sentiment stamp set, and mounted them onto a little flag die cut from a Stitched Flag die set by Sue Wilson. Along the stitched detail I drew lines with a sharpie marker. This really makes it look like stitching. A few gems, a piece of lace and a thin strip of paper and it's finished.

Retro Spark Plug Wall hanging for Andy Skinner's Creative Team

A little project today inspired by a spark plug I found!

It started with a kit.....Andy's Gelli Plate 3D canvas kit from Tando Creative, plus lots of Creative Expressions goodies!

Olive Grove and Warm White Chalk paints on the small squares from the kit. 

 A little more chalk paint dry brushed over.

 On the large square backing panel I used black chalk paint. Onced dry I used a 50/50 mix of Strata Paste and Structure Paste.

 I did the same to all the small squares too.

 On the left are all the ones I painted with Mustard Seed - I only used one of those in the end, for the middle.

 All the pastes dried rock hard and I painted each square (large and small) with the Yellow Iron Oxide, then Paynes Grey and Quin Gold, and finally a bit of Raw Umber.

 Did one of Andy's 'Dirty Washes' over the front of the little squares too - you can see the difference it makes below. I had also added the rub on transfers before the wash and it was fine.

 A well washed but rather battered spark plug.

 Painted with the colours above.

Then wrapped with wire to form a hanging section for the art, threaded through holes punched in the back board. Small panels glued on with Quick Grab Glue.

 Middle square, which I'd made to go at an angle, also glued down - this is where the glue comes into it's own, used on top of the uneaven pastes it holds really well.

And that's it! Thanks so much for looking.
Suz

Click here to see the full list of products on my 'quick post' on Andy Skinners blog.