imaginarium designs

Paint brush and folder of love

By Sue Smyth 

Earlier in the year I taught a class on an altered paint brush. Paint brushes

have been "done" before but this is my take on it.

A nice close up of the cluster of metal trinkets 

And  I wanted to include a photo in my version

Here are a few more close ups

My Next project is a folder 

I wanted to make a folder that I could store either flat items in (in plastic folders)

or mixed media A4 panels, see below. 

Here are a few close ups 

I used one of my favourite techniques, adhering the negatives of chipboard to the folder, then painting with black gesso.

Then layer over the colours you like ending with inka gold.

A panel is great for backing a fragile phrase, it then looks like a sturdy plaque.

Paint all of your elements with black gesso too.

For my layers of colour this time I have used

a wash of inka gold turquoise 

Then rubbed in some copper inka gold. and added a few

spots of colour

And a few more spots of matt colour over top.

Rub Vintage gold alchemy wax over the black items to pick 

up glorious details. And adhere onto cover with gel medium

I use gel medium as it has a lot of "flex" when it dries

so items do not "pop" off as much. And it holds things well

while working. Start the drying process with a heat gun

and let the rest happen naturally.

I have added a resin face in my frame, but you could easily do a photo

or a cluster of metal elements.

I have not listed the chipboard I used this time 

as there are so many.

Happy Crafting all

quick projects

A Quick Make and Take 

with Artsy Treasures 

Make two sweet vintage projects, a card and tag, using Artsy Treasures by Sue Smyth, a range of hand selected elements perfect for mixing and matching with any paper range. Suitable for cardmakers, art journalers and Scrapbookers alike, and in a never ending variety of themes for all to enjoy.

Tag 

Card 

 Materials

Tag, patterned paper and ephemera sheets

Ribbon, trinket, paper flowers, muslin, rhinestones, dimensional magic

Inka gold platinum, scribble sticks or gelatos. Dimensional tape.

Trim tag to fit patterned paper panel. Trim out corset lady tag and paint with gelatos or scribble sticks. Punch hole in tag and tie off ribbon.

Roughly cut out butterflies, frame and key. Colour in the butterflies with gelatos or scribble sticks and fussy cut key. Cut centre out of frame with fine scissors. Apply dimensional magic over frame, smear out with fingertip and allow to dry.

Adhere lace to bottom of tag. Cover butterfly with dimensional magic too and allow to dry.

Adhere panel to tag with 3 d foam tape and tuck key into the left side. Layer frame onto left side, adhere muslin over top and cluster flowers and small sequins. Add trinket and gem. And then adhere both butterflies to finish. Add a small pearl to centre of key

Next is a simple card

Materials

White a5 card, patterned paper, ephemera sheets

Butterfly trinket, ribbon, and dimensional magic and white glitter, foam tape

Adhere patterned paper panel to front of card. Cut out lilac panel with deckle scissors and adhere to side of card with 3d foam tape. tuck ornate frame underneath on the right side. Fussy cut floral element, take of the finer flowers as pictured.

Fussy cut bee, smear dimensional magic over top and sprinkle with a little white glitter. Trim out part of the bee panel as pictured. Adhere floral element to right of card with 3d foam tape. Tuck bee frame piece under the bottom and another to the top as pictured.

Tuck piece of ribbon to the left of card. Adhere bee over raised flowers, add metal trinket butterfly to finish. 

Happy Crafting