Easter Bunny Blog Hop

Hi Everyone

Who’s ready for the Easter Bunny?  Me....yay!

I have created an Easter themed canvas with lots of pretty flowers and of course a Bunny!

 

I’ve used a beautiful mandala stencil on the background using transparent relief paste.  I love texture. I then painted over it with a soft blue paint and added some pops of bright green to it.  Once it was dry I added some white dry brushing with gesso to soften the colours down.

Next I added my birdcage stencil using some chartreuse paint and added black and white details then I just added lots of floral embellishments leaving room for the Easter Bunny of course!..lol  To add lots of texture I added lots of Artsy Stones to fill gaps and build up along the edges of the embellished area.

For a full tutorial on this project  check out my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/craftylass

The Team have made some gorgeous projects for you so please hop along with us:

It's Oddly Appealing

Paper Mache Patch

Psychotic ramblings of a Serial Scrapper  

Kelly Parker Designs:

Georgia Girl In Maine, Amylove

Matter of Crafts

Priya Satish:

LeeAnn McKinney Mimis Crafty Abyss

Life in a Snapshot

Juli Loves Paper

Scrap Savvy Creations

Whimsy Chic Paper Crafts

CMP Designs

Have a wonderful Easter :) xx

Valentine's Day Blog Hop

Hi Everyone

I am so excited to have been asked to join in the Valentine Blog Hop as I have never done one before so it's a real first for me :)  It gives me a chance to play with my Imagination Crafts goodies (not that I need an excuse...lol).

So I decided to create this gorgeous little heart canvas for you.

I used a white primed heart canvas. Firstly, I painted the surface with Imagination Crafts Rusty Patina in Duck Egg, spritzed with water and then added small areas of Rusty Patina in Soot.  I added more water to make the paints move together.  Allowed to dry.

Next I added some stencilling using Imagination Crafts Structure Paste through a Mandala stencil design.  Dry.  Using Starlight Paints in Orange, Banana Yellow and Rusty Patina in Rustique, I added some colour over the dried pasted design. Once dried I added detail script with a stencil.

I took some MDF Cogs from my crafty stash and added the Rusty Patina in Rustique over the entire surface of each.  I then applied more Rusty Patina to build the texture.  Once dry I added some highlight areas using the Starlight Paints in Orange and Banana Yellow and glued the pieces in position.

Finally, I added Structure Paste through a stencil to add detail to the MDF Bird.  Allowed to dry and then I painted the bird with Rusty Patina in Duck Egg and added gold highlights with Imagination Crafts Alchemy Wax in Inca Gold.  To finish the edges I added a little Rusty Patina in Soot.

I hope you like my project and enjoy the other designers creations.  Take a journey through the blog hop :) 

PolymerCreations4U: A Journey into Craftiness 

It's Oddly Appealing

Matter of Crafts

Kelly Parker Designs

Psychotic Ramblings of a Serial Scrapper 

The Joyful Soul Creates 

Paper Mache Patch

Scrappy Squirrel’s Nest

A Fine How Do You Do 

Whimsy Chic Paper Crafts Etc 

Inky Pinky Boo 

ekgorman designs 

Life in a Snapshot  

Juli Loves Paper  

Savvy Handmade Cards

What I Used

Imagination Crafts Rusty Patinas - Duck Egg, Rustique and Soot

Imagination Crafts Structure Paste 

Imagination Crafts Starlight Paints - Orange, Banana Yellow

Imagination Crafts Alchemy Wax - Inca Gold

Imagination Crafts Stencils - selection

Thanks 

for

Popping By

xx

Pearl Lady Hoop with Imagination Crafts

Hi Everyone

It's been an extremely busy few weeks preparing for recent shows on Hochanda for the Imagination Crafts!  It was a fabulous weekend working with Sue Baker :)  So I haven't had a chance to post any projects for you, so today is the day.

I have a version of this project for you that I made for shows using the Imagination Crafts gorgeous products.  So let's get started :)

What I did

• First step is to paint the background of the fabric using the Sky Blue Starlight Textile paint leaving the centre a little paler where the lady figure will sit.  Dry.

• Tape off areas of the 'Pearl Lady' stencil leaving you with just the lady.  Mix a small amount of black and white gesso together to make a pale grey colour.  With stencil brush stipple through the design.  Dry.

• Next paint the body areas with a base of white gesso and dry.  Then take some white gesso on to the mat and mix a very small amount of Rustique Rusty Patina into it and mix.  This will give you your skin tone.  Paint over the body areas adding some shadows using a little more of the rusty patina whilst the paint is still wet.  Dry.

• Paint in the hair detail using the red Starlight Textile paint and the Copper Textile Sparkle Medium.  You can also paint in the dress at this stage using the red paint and black starlight to add shadowing (sorry missed out a photo of this part!).

• Tape off the stencil so that only the outer detail circle is all that is used.  Stipple through with black gesso.  Dry.

• Place the stencil back into position over the black circle and slightly move it across and down to get a small shadow and tape down.  Take the gold texture paste and carefully using a palette knife, spread across stencil.  Dry.  Note:  Please remember to wash the stencil asap to remove any remaining paste.

• Once the texture paste has dried you can then add the floral details you want using the Starlight Textile Paints - red, green and black.  Dry.  Add the black Just Pearls to add finishing touches.  Dry.

• Once the pearls are dry use the embroidery hoop.  Place fabric over the inner part of hoop centrally and slip the larger outer hoop part over and push down.  When happy tighten the screw to fix fabric in position.  You can paint the hoop before adding fabric with the Starlight Paints to give a beautiful finish.

What I Used

Imagination Crafts A4 Stencil - Pearl Lady

Imagination Crafts Black and White Gesso

Imagination Crafts Rusty Patina - Rustique

Imagination Crafts Textile Sparkle Medium - Copper

Imagination Crafts Starlight Textile Paint - Red, Black, Green and Sky Blue

Imagination Crafts Texture Paste - Antique Gold

Imagination Just Pearls - Black

Imagination Crafts domed Stencil Brushes

Wooden Embroidery Hoop 

Crafters Companion - Calico Fabric 1M - ES008GQC

 

I hope you like this project and have been inspired. :)

Thanks

for

Popping By

MJ

xx

Precious Memories Altered Book

Hi Everyone

Yay!  Snow is being melted away by the rain!!  At least if I wanted to go out I could...lol 

So it's been another 'What can I find in the house to play with?'.  My BFF gave me a bag of books so I thought I'd play with one of them this afternoon.......and I did!  Lots of my Imagination Crafts goodies used for this project.  I apologise for the quality of the photos - the light was rubbish today and the paints are far more vibrant than they are showing themselves :(  Let's get going :)

What I Did

• I took an old book and painted it with a couple of coats of white gesso.  Dried it. Then I stencilled some structure paste through my chosen designs.  Dried it and once again painted with gesso.  I also painted all my embellishments with the gesso.

• Using Emerald Starlight Paint cover the book cover and most of the embellishments.  

• Taking the white gesso, dry brush over the cover and embellishments.

• Next add some sweeps of colour with Starlight Sax Blue.

• Continue to add colour this time mixing a little gesso with Starlight Mint to give a soft pearl finish.

• Add some stamped texture.  I used texture stamps with black and cobalt Archival Inks.

• Start arranging the embellishments and gluing in position.

• To colour the lace flowers I mix gesso and Starlight Mint paint together for a matt look.  Paint the flowers and dry.  Glue in position.  Paint the word chipboard with gesso and whilst wet add embossing powder over and heat.  Add highlights with Starlight Mint.

• Use Starlight White Gold paint to lightly dry brush across the areas that need highlighting, building up the layers. Add gold to flower stamen and petal edges.

• Using a small paint brush add some touches of Turquoise Sparkle Medium.  Leave to dry.

• Voila!  C'est Fini :)

What I Used

Imagination Crafts White Gesso

Imagination Crafts Structure Paste

Imagination Crafts Art Stencils - Script and Butterfly

Imagination Crafts Starlight Paints - Emerald, Sax Blue, Mint and White Gold

Imagination Crafts Sparkle Medium - Turquoise

Imagination Crafts Art Stamps - Distress Set 2

Imagination Crafts Fabric Decoupage Glue

I hope you have been inspired.

Thanks

for 

Popping By

MJ

xx

Day Dream Fairy Canvas

Hi Everyone

I felt in the mood for fairies and a canvas today.  As always I am using my favourite paints, stencils and pastes etc from Imagination Crafts.  So let's go!

What I Did

• First, paint the canvas with Black Gesso.  Dry.
• Next take the feather stencil, mask off the area that is not needed, and using the iridescent pastes and a stencil brush, stipple through to create the background. Leave to dry.
• Using the butterfly stencil once again mask off any design that is not needed, with a spatula smooth the green iridescent paste gently through the stencil.  Leave to dry.

• Finish the background by stencilling through small areas of the floral panel stencil using white gesso.
• Take the fairy stencil, structure paste and some black card.  Paste though the whole fairy image twice and then repeat once for the mushroom shape only.  Leave to dry.  Cut out as below.

• Using the Starlight Paints, colour the whole fairy, just the wings on the second plus the mushroom images (but you can add as many layers as you like!).
• Add the painted images to the canvas using 3D glue/foam pads to add depth.

• To finish add stamped word panels.

• Voila!  C'est Fini xx

What I Used

Imagination Crafts A4 Art Stencil - Feathers and Time Goes By AS533

Imagination Crafts Art Panel Stencil - Flower Flip MU42

Imagination Crafts 6" x 6" Stencil - Mushroom Fairy

Imagination Crafts Structure Paste

Imagination Crafts Hi-Lite Metallic Relief Pastes - Green and Lilac

Imagination Crafts White Gesso

Imagination Crafts Starlight Paints - Chestnut, Antique Pink, Pink Blossom

Imagination Crafts Mix Media Sprays - White, Orange and Brown

Imagination Crafts Sparkle Medium - Antique Pink

I hope you have been inspired.

Thanks

for

Popping By

xx

Rusty Patina Laptop Makeover

Hi Everyone

Today, I am sharing with you an easy project using Imagination Crafts Rusty Patinas together with A4 Art Stencil, Panel and 6" x 6" stencils from their huge range.  I am working on the lid of my laptop which started out plain black.  Let's get going!

'What I Did

• Protect the keyboard before starting to add any products.
• Using White Rusty Patina; stipple it on with a domed stencil brush and let it dry.  Repeat this step.  NOTE: I do not recommend using heat tools to speed drying due to electronics in computers.  They may get damaged and null your warranty.  

• Next create the background design using Structure Paste through stencils.  Leave to dry. 

 

• Use the Verdigris Rusty Patina to cover over all the surface area.

• Add the outside edge design with the Rustique Rusty Patina stippled through the stencil.  

• Replace the large Butterfly stencil used, matching the original pasted area.  Once aligned, begin adding the layers of colour.  Starting with the rust colour, then add the Verdigris blending the two together as you go around the design.
• Next add some Gold Shine Sparkle Medium to a few areas to highlight.
• Use the script panel stencil to add some Starlight Wax in White Gold to the background. Also use the wax to blend around the outside edges of the laptop.  

 

• Voila!  C'est Fini :)

What I Used

Imagination Crafts Rusty Patina - Blanc, Rustique and Verdigris

Imagination Crafts Structure Paste

Imagination Crafts Sparkle Medium - Gold Shine

Imagination Crafts Starlight Wax - White Gold

Imagination Crafts A4 Art Stencil - As Time Goes By - AS 533

Imagination Crafts 6" x 6" Stencil - Honeycomb Trellis

Imagination Crafts Panel Stencil - Weather Wash (MU10) and Handwriting (MU04)

Stencil Brush/Spatula

 

I hope you have been inspired.

Thanks

for

Popping By 

MJ

xx

Wearable Art - Making My Own Textile Design for a Dress

Hi Everyone, Mandy-Jane here

Welcome to my new blog 'The Crafty Moussekateer' and don't worry I have spelled it that way on purpose, even my spelling isn't that bad!.......lol  Although my grammar is so I'll apologise now :)

I'm very excited to share my first post with you.  

It's been 25 years since I punished my sewing machine so I thought it was about time that I started it again!  How does the saying go?.. 'Use it or lose it', well it's so very true!  I've forgotten it all so I am starting from the beginning so wish me luck ;)

So for my first project I decided to make a dress with a pattern that came with a sewing magazine; a little tea dress but I wanted to create my own textile with my favourite range of products from Imagination Crafts. 

Firstly I needed some fabric to work on but I didn't like the price of the fabrics that I was seeing for me as a beginner! So off I trotted down to Ikea where I found some cotton fabric at £3.00 per metre.  I purchased 3 metres costing £9.00.  I thought that this was great to experiment with my Imagination Crafts Starlight Textile Paints and Fashion Sprays.  

So I took a deep breath and this is what happened!!!!


Fabulous Products Used

Imagination Crafts Starlight Textile Paints - Sax Blue, Pearl
Imagination Crafts Fashion Spray - White
Imagination Crafts 6" x 6" Flower Stencil
Imagination Crafts Stencil Tape
Imagination Crafts Domed Stencil Brushes and Soft 3/4" Paint Brush
White Cotton Fabric - Ikea
(Plus sewing machine, pattern and notions)

I began by cutting out my fabric pieces as per pattern instructions.

The first thing I did was sew in the darts.  Now this is where I went off-piste from the exact pattern instructions!  I then sewed up the side seams (using seam allowance stated on pattern etc.) leaving the shoulder seams open.  Next I sewed the front skirt piece to the back pieces at the side seams leaving the centre back seam open for now.

This is where the fun begins and I can let my inner artist shine...lol (quite literally really when you see the subtle sheen on the fabric when you have finished).

I started by mixing some of the Starlight Textile Sax Blue and Pearl paints in a small deep container (something like an old yogurt pot) with some of the white Fashion Spray together with a some water until I liked the colour.  Then I sprayed the fabric I was about to about to paint, with water, to dampen so that my colour would be easy to move around on the fabric.  I had baby wipes to hand as well as they work well to lift paint if you think it is too heavy and they can also help in spreading the colour too.

Once my fabric was damp I started painting my pattern pieces until I was happy with the colour of my background then I left them to dry.  If it had been a dry day I would have put them outside to dry whilst grabbing a cuppa and a biscuit :)

When my pieces were dry I used a stencil (or stencils) to create my own textile design. Think of how you want your textile to look.  You may want an all over design so just take a look to see where you want to place your stencils.  I chose quite a simple layout to show how easy it can be to get something that no one else will have in their wardrobe!

I chose this gorgeous flower stencil, together with Sax Blue Textile Paint, and decided to do an all over design on the bodice area and just a border along the bottom edge of the skirt. 

I started at the centre front area and worked out from there until the bodice back and front was covered. 

I then moved onto the skirt working my way around the bottom above the hemline allowance ensuring you could see the whole flower above the finished hemline.  I put aside to dry.

Time for another cuppa.  I left the painted fabric to dry overnight at this stage to let it cure.  Then I had to do that thing I hate the most IRONING!!!  I pressed the dried fabric pieces from the wrong side with a hot iron and no steam.  The heat from the iron fixes the textile paint into the fabric.  All I had left to do was to put the dress together!!!! 

I returned to following the pattern instructions and crossed my fingers hoping that in the end it would look something like a dress.  I think it looks like a dress?  It's nowhere near perfect but I thoroughly enjoyed the painting techniques and the overall look of it.  It's fully machine washable up to 40 degrees - how amazing is this!

I have relearned some old skills (not perfected them yet) and am already planning my next Imagination Crafts fabric project.  I am just waiting for some dry weather and that's the only clue I am leaving you with.....

I hope you will give this technique a go.  It doesn't have to be a dress it could be a bag, curtains, a cushion or tablecloth.  Just let your imagination flow :)

Thanks

for

Popping By

See you soon.

MJ

xx

Imagination Crafts Rice Paper Tablet Cover Upgrade

Hi Everyone

Today I fancied a little bit of a crafty lunchtime whilst waiting for the Italy v England rugby match to start (Six Nations Championship 2018).  I wasn't sure what I was going to do until I looked on my coffee table, as I supped my coffee, and saw my old tablet cover which I was about to throw in the bin.  So I thought okay if it turns out to be hideous I can just throw it in the rubbish and I haven't lost anything really.  So that's the story now let me tell you what I did :) 

I love, love, love, all my Imagination Crafts products but today I decided to use some of the wonderful rice paper together with Starlight Paints and Fabric Decoupage Glue.  I love this glue as it makes the rice papers waterproof!  Yes you read it right....waterproof.  So you can use the rice papers with the glue and once completely dried it is washable.  Imagine the things you can do with clothes, bags, etc!  

Fabulous Stuff I Used

• Imagination Crafts Rice Paper - MA 006
• Imaginations Crafts Fabric Decoupage Glue
• Starlight Paints - Topaz, Rich Gold and Black
• Imagination Crafts Gesso - White
• Paints Brushes and Palette Knife

What I Did

Firstly, I painted the front and back of the tablet case with White Gesso.  I used two thin coats allowing each layer to dry in between.  I carefully dried with a heat tool.

Next I cut two pieces of rice paper to size.  Then using the Rich Gold Starlight Paint and a small paintbrush,  I coloured my chosen details on the rear of the rice paper design.  When this was dry I added a wash over the whole piece with the Topaz watered down, leaving some white areas.  Leave to dry. 

Now it was time to glue the coloured rice paper to the tablet cover.  As I was covering a larger area, I used my pallet knife to spread a thin layer of Fabric Decoupage Glue a small area at a time so that it didn't dry before I got to the next area.  Carefully place the rice paper onto the glued area and smooth it down to remove any bubbles and ensure the edges are glued down.  I worked my way up the covers.  Then using a soft paintbrush I added a coat of the glue to the outside to seal it and left it to dry.

   

The last thing I did to my project was to add colour around the edges.  I took the Starlight Paint in Black together with my domes bristle stencil brush and dabbed it around the edges.  As I was going around I had a baby wipe in my hand so that I could smudge the paint using a damp finger giving a softer looking edge.

So now it is NOT going in the bin.....Yay!  I love it.  I hope you like it too.  

I hope you have been inspired :) 

Thanks

for

Popping By

MJ

xx