Paper Heart on Fabric

So come on, how many of you have crafty items you've never used, and things you've had in your stash for YEARS? I know I do! 

I'm really trying hard to deal with both those 'crafty problems'! So this project made me very happy - and at the same time another birthday card ticked off the list of dozens to make - even better it's for a crafty girl who I know will appreciate each layer!

Finished card....here's how I put this one together.

A crumpled old book page, dyed with out of date coffee granules (thanks Dad!) , dried and brayered over with white paint on the base layer.

Another piece stamped onto. I finally used these two stamps from a magnetic 'making memories' set. I kind of avoid this set as it's a bit of a faf setting it up - but looking at them again there are some fab words so I must remember to use em! 

 Another stamp I've not used - a wooden one with a map on it, I used this archival ink, brayered on the back of the paper to get a better impression, then tore around the edges. Base layer done!

 You guessed it - another stamp I've never used! This time one by Finnabair. I was looking for something to stamp on the little heart I made (watercolour card, painted and cut to a heart shape while travelling on a bus to the Grand Canyon!). 

 The heart in the stamp was a perfect fit for my little shape - bit of a fluke!

 I have sooooo many scraps of material! So I pulled out a few and worked out how I wanted to layer them up. I took a hammered card blank and inked the front to soften the white before I began gluing.

Tape runner and glue stick to adhere 1st layer. Then cosmic shimmer on top for fabrics...

Large, open weave hessian, frayed around the edges, then a scrap of a thinner open weave material....then I found a couple of small scraps of pretty organza so those went on too!

 A torn piece of wallpaper, then my little painted, stamped cut out heart shape.

Torn, stamped sentiments added next.

and finally a tiny flower that I pressed a couple of years ago - I only found these when I got my flower press out to do some others, such a lovely surprise!

I so enjoyed making this, using things I hadn't used and
 also little bits and pieces I didn't want to throw away!
Thanks for looking.
Suz
xxx

Art Dolls Rock for the Craft Stamper Blog DT

My project this month for the Craft Stamper Challenge Blog is an Art Doll. I made quite a lot of changes as I worked on it, but pretty happy with how she turned out, weird and wonderful!

I've never made an Art Doll before.  I was inspired to have a go after seeing a challenge on the 'Junk Journals And Mindful Mixed Media Art's' Facebook group. And I had been looking for a way to use a pebble I've had for ages. I had played about and made an image transfer on the rock to practice for a class I'm teaching soon.  I came up with this phrase which means a lot to me at the moment.  Then once I had done the image transfer, the rock just sat on my desk waiting for a purpose - til I had the Art Doll's Rock idea. Loved finding a use!

I didn't expect it to come to anything though, as just messing about, so didn't take pics.  I just drew and coloured the face using Tonic watercolour pencils and a Micron Pen. Made the headdress by stamping a large and smaller flower from a set by PaperArtsy, cutting then out and layering up behind my doll's face. Then to work out how to add the face to the rock! I waded through my enormous stamp collection and this stamp by Indigo Blue called to me. I thought the bulb thingy on the side would be perfect. Stamped and cut it out. I started taking pics at this stage as thought it might be going somewhere! 

 Coloured in the bulb with Wilted Violet Distress Oxide.

Glued that to the back of the head. Headdress was coloured and outlined with Tombow Pens.

 Stuck the head on, played with the position. To make a stand for the pebble I used air dry clay. I also worked away at the image transfer to remove the scuffy bits of paper you can see in the photo.

Stamped a butterfly - another Indigo Blue stamp. Using a dark grey archival which was really juicy so held the embossing enamel!

Added colour to the clay once dry. Repeated to build the colour.

 Added gems - although I swapped the ones on the bottom for paper roses later as not keen on how they looked.

More roses added to the base, and to the doll's neck.  The ones on the sides are like arms as the roses are on stems. I took the stem off the red neck rose and the lilac ones around the bottom,  I used one of the discarded wire stems to re-shape the butterfly wings as I didn't like them sticking straight out of her neck. I wanted something behind the doll so made a frame from rusty wire (you can get rusty wire from Hanna Oxberry ). 

The wire was a bit harsh so I cut a strip of gauze like material, frayed the edges, then I glued the material to the frame and around the pebble, it just softens the look a bit! Also tucked the wire in so it didn't hide the sentiment.

Hope you like my doll.....and you can see why I called this 'Art Doll's Rock'! And why not have a go at this months Craft Stamper Challenge - there are always prizes to be won!

Thanks for looking

Suz

x