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Welcome everyone, I hope to inspire you and share some of my papercraft work. You can find out where I teach and what I am up to, what inspires me and what I am working on next. I love to share new ideas and neat ways of adding creativity to your pages or cards etc

my blog

Friday, December 21, 2018

December cheer


Christmas Cheer Journal and
keepsake box 


I love a good journal, and use them all the time, so earlier in 
the year I created this one for Christmas in July. I have 
also taught it around Australia, but now 
will share with you a quick tutorial on how I created it.



I just love to team turquoise and teal together, for me, just add in 
some white snow and it shouts of Christmas 


And of course some glitter and shine, here I have 
used the red beaded trim you can buy at Christmas
simply snip it up it to individual balls. I buy
them in all colours and use them 
year round.



One of the last things I do to my flower cluster is add some faux snow
a mix of gesso and white glitter. I like to add it with a soft 
small brush.


My magnificent jewel is actually an earring that I bought 
really cheaply at $4.00 a pair, it makes a fabulous element to my book.
Always look outside the square for materials.


So first I have added texture, this time with just 
gesso and a stencil as I did not want the texture 
to be too deep and I wanted a softer look than texture paste.


When dry, I spritzed with a little turquoise glimmer mist
and dried it again, then with a fan brush and water
I painted the surface with turquoise inka gold.
Remember they are actually water soluble and a valuable 
paint medium, as well as a rub.


Then I have added some platinum inka gold, just rubbing
in with fingertips. Then to add sparkle
I have painted with a glitter medium.


I have die cut branches and painted with white 
gesso, dry off..



Cover with dimensional magic and sprinkle with micro beads.
When dry I have painted with white gesso again.
This looks like coral or a textured winter branch.



Paint the window arch with white gesso.


Mix up a batch of faux snow, 1 teaspoon of white gesso
and 1 teaspoon of white glitter, then smear all over the window
with a large wooden stick.


The snow flakes, I have painted with white gesso and dried, then
I have painted with platinum inka gold for a neat shine.


Start the layering process, by adhering patterned 
paper into the window (this is Highland Christmas my new paper range 
here)


Add the snowflakes and window frames.


Snip up the branches to include in the cluster at the 
base of the window.



Add poinsettia and metal flower 


Fill out the cluster with some red pip branches cut up
and some green chipboard holly leaves and muslin.


When you are happy with the cluster add
some faux snow to the flowers and branches, and 
add the red earring to the centre of the window.


Keepsake box 



Over the years I have collected a few vintage 
Christmas decorations and they are very precious to me, and 
it occurred to me that to pass them on to my children
they needed to be kept safe in a sturdy box.



So I have used chipboard to decorate an old tin box 
using lots of gel medium to adhere in place.


I wanted to keep it pretty simple in comparison to my 
books and canvases as this has a practical use and I don't 
need things catching or making it hard to store.



Once all the chipboard is in place,  have painted the box with black
gesso and then with graphite inka gold.


Then I have added lots of rhinestones and decoration, which
I have covered with Art Alchemy White gold wax for a pewter
look.


To give it an aged look I have stained it with rust 
alcohol ink, blot off the excess for a vintage rusty look.


Just the ticket to store my vintage ornaments in.
The sweet blown glass mushrooms I purchased at 
an old antique shop in South Australia
when I visited our lovely Jane Tragenza, 
she recommended the store and was right, it had 
everything  !!!





Happy Crafting 
and Merry Christmas to all
See you next year !!


Wednesday, November 21, 2018

November loveliness



Mad Hatters Tea Chest 
and 
Catcher of Dreams Layout 
By Sue Smyth 


This month I am sharing two projects I have taught around Australia this 
year, first is a small box for holding tea with an Alice in Wonderland 
theme. Second is a layout using my Artsy treasures and ID chipboard to 
Create a Dream catcher style layout.



I have cut down one of the borders to create a frame on the lid 
of a Graphic 45 kraft box 


I added feet (wooden beads) to give the box some height and 
definition.


The spine is decorated with a playing card and resin bracket.


Inside I have used torn up text to cover the kraft surface, (and the outside)



And I have decorated the tags that came with the box 
with Alice in Wonderland Artsy Treasures.


To top the box is a resin Mad Hatter, he is painted with Inka 
Gold colours and placed over the ID frame.


Next is my layout.............


I love doing a mixed media layout and intend to do more, I create 
my own background to suit the photo.


The ID feathers are painted with gesso first, then I give 
them a second stippled coat, and dry off 
to bubble and blister.
Then I have coloured them with Scribble sticks and water.


I have used the scribble sticks to colour the flowers too, and to colour
the compass ID chipboard.


I have snipped the compass/clock chipboard, around the 
centre to create 2 pieces, and threaded cotton 
around the larger one to make a dream catcher.


Here are some close ups.




Oh and I used the same elements (except the photo)
to make a journal cover. Which I secretly like 
even better lol.






Here are some close ups of the prills and 
feathers etc.




I hope you are inspired by my projects and bonus
book, and 


some of the chipboard used 



Happy Crafting