Rice Papers & Rust - by Nikki K

Morning everyone,

Today I thought I would share a tag I have made with Andy's new Rice Papers, and fab Strata Paste.

I started with the Vintage pack of papers, and took the wood effect paper and glued to an mdf tag with matt medium.  On top of that I took a piece with a vintage lable on, and wet the edges to tear the paper easily.  This was glued on top of the first.

I gave the tag a wash of very watered down Raw Umber paint, to blend the colours of the rice papers better, and then added a little quinacridone gold in a wash.  It just toned it all down.

With a palette knife, I added Strata Paste roughly around the edges of the tag, more in some places than others.  This was then given a wash of  Raw Umber, and some Quinacridone Gold in places. 

The mdf butterfly and scroll were first painted in neat Raw Umber, then I used the new Stonewash Stamp to give the background some detail.  Over that I painted Quinacridone Gold to add the rust effect.  The top layer of the butterfly was also given the rust treatment.

A piece of wire was threaded through the Tag, and curled round a paintbrush on each side to finish.

Have fun crafting, 

Nikki

xx

Products Used:

Stonewash Stamp

Artists Acrylics, Raw Umber, Quinacridone Gold.

Vintage & Floral Grunge Rice Papers

Strata Paste

MDF Tag

Sugar Skull Jewellery - by Nikki K

 Morning everyone, 

It's been a while since I posted, but wanted to share these fun necklaces with you using Andy's fab Sugar Skull stamp, which is a great size for cards and art, but also for jewellery, it makes a large necklace easily.  It's also great for coming Halloween, to make your own decorations!

I used some of Andy's Rice Papers, and stamped the skull out in different places.  This is fun as you can use any of the rice papers and get a fab different pattern on each skull.

The next bit is tricky, you need to leave the skulls on the paper, and wind some wire, probably 18 to 20 guage (it's slightly more pliable), around the skull.  I cut a long piece, then start at the bottom of the skull, and work my way up both sides.  Keep it flat on the paper, and glue with strong glue as you go.  You will need to hold this for longer than you think, and get sticky fingers.. lol.  Don't hold it down with anything other than your fingers as the paper has a chance of sticking and ripping.

When you get to the top, bend one piece of wire straight (90%) and make a large loop (like making an earring).  I would cut the wire a bit shorter for this step, but not so short that it can't be hidden.  Take the other end of the wire, and wrap around the loop to hold and secure.  Only when this has completely dried, did I cut out close to the wire on the outside.

Once you have this done, cover the whole of the front of the pendant with glue (pva) is fine.  Do this 2 or 3 times, making sure there are no gaps between the edges of the wire and the paper.  You are making a bezel to hold resin.  If you don't have resin, you could use melted UTEE, or another 3d Glaze.

When completely dry from the glue, you can add your resin or glaze, according to manufacturer's instructions.

You don't need to coat the back of the necklace, it has a rough texture but is sealed from the layers of glue anyway.  I like it this way as it shows it is handmade.

Hope you like them, 

Have fun making. xx

Nikki K.

xx

Products Used:
Andy Skinner Creative Expressions Sugar Skull Stamp
Andy Skinner Creative Expressions Rice Papers,
Andy Skinner Quick Grab Glue.

Other items: Versafine, Resin, jewellery wire & findings.

'Dark' - Featuring Andy's new Creative Expressions Releases

Morning everyone,

I don't know if you have seen Andy's new releases yet, but they are really worth checking out.  I have been fortunate to try the new Structure Paste, the Stamps and new Chalk Paints, and they don't disappoint.

I made this arch with quite a few of the new products.  I started with the new Structure Paste, all over the front of the frame, in a thin layer.  It went on beautifully, spreads easily and dried nice and quickly.

The whole frame was then given a coat of sponged Chalk paints, in several colours, mixed in places.  The back plate was also given the same treatment with one less colour, as was the media board.

The book plate, Circle, flourishes & cog were painted, then crackle medium added.  I found that the Creative Expressions Crackle medium works with the Chalk paints, which was brilliant.

I stamped 'Cracked Up', all over the frame, 'Eye Spy' in the circle, and 'Distressed Mandala' in two different colours on the backplate and media board.  'Vanitas' was stamped in black ink and clear embossed, then varnished with Super Matte Varnish.

I stencilled the word Dark to put in the book plate, then used the Crackle Medium as a clear varnish, over the eye and the word.  As I wasn't putting a paint on top, it just gives a clear protective coat.

I hope you have had time to check out the rest of the team's work, and Andy's new products.  I'm sure you will have as much fun playing with them as I have. x

Best Wishes,

Nikki
xxx

Products Used:

Andy Skinner/Creative Expressions:
Stamps: Eye Spy, Vanitas, Cracked Up, Distressed Mandala.
Paints:
Matt Chalk in Olive Grove, Mustard Seed & Grey Haze.
Artist Pigment in Quinacridone Gold & Paynes Grey.
Mediums:
Structure Paste
Super Matte Varnish
CE Crackle Glaze
Andy Skinner Tando Creative Resurrection Arch Kit.

Andy's New Release Day!

Hi everyone,

It's release day for Andy's new products with Creative Expressions.  I thought I'd share one of the things I've made.  I've loved using them, they are really versatile and all super easy to use.

I used a large media board, and painted white with gesso.  A wash of Cobalt Teal was added.  I stamped the new (and rather gorgeous) Botanic Grunge background stamp in Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide in places, and spattered the board with Raw Umber paint to give a more vintage feel.  The grid was also painted in the yellow.

Andy's new Velocipede Bicycle was stamped in turquoise ink, and the Elephant and First Class onto card.  I gave those a wash of yellow in places.

I added Mixed Media Transfers from the new Ephemera Emporium set, these are so easy to use and even go over textured surfaces.

To finish I punched two holes in the top of the board, and added a rusty wire hanger, with two skull beads from my stash.

There are lot's more new products today, and don't forget to check back here to see the Team's inspiration!

Best Wishes,

Nikki K
xxx

Products Used:

Creative Expressions:
Artist Pigment Paints: Cobalt Teal Hue, Transparent Yellow Oxide, Raw Umber.
Mixed Media Transfers: Ephemera Emporium
New Stamps: Elephant, Botanic Grunge, Velocipede.

Vintage Bicycle Tag by Suz

Hi all

Here's a vintagy little tag inspired by Andy's new bicycle stamp.

A layer of music paper and some vintage paper from an old accounting book 

that belonged to my darling Betty who passed away in recently aged 102.  

Then layers of stamping, stencilling, some embossing powder and 

die inks all added to create the background.

Plus a little gold (I had to eat a chocolate to be able to reuse that gold wrapper, such sacrifice!). 

Then a grungy rose made from the bicycle wheels, 

and some bandage (cheesecloth) and stamped text. 

A pearl in the flower and a few smaller ones on the verticle gold strip, a bit of ribbon and it's finished.

Thanks so much for looking. If you'd like a more detailed step, by step, have a look at my blog here.

And here are all the gorgeous products I used:

Andy Skinner Range:

Stamps:
Imperial Rover Cycles
Grunge Wallpaper
Create
Embossing powders:
Raspberry Ice Cream
Supernova
Stencil: Cogged Up
Cosmic Shimmer Quick Grab Glue

Other products used: Inks:
Distress inks; Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain, Antique Linin, Bundled Sage
Versamark clear, Versafine Onyx Black

Carnival Tag by Nikki K

Morning all,

Today I have a quick and simple tag to share with you, using Andy's new Lava Paste, Embossing Powder and Mixed Media Transfers.  I absolutely love all of these products, and they are super easy to use.

I started by painting a tag with a cream chalk paint, and then a light covering of Dioxazine Purple, making it darker in places to look 'dragged' down the tag.  I took a background stamp, and stamped over with embossing ink, and embossed with clear embossing powder to keep the colour of the tag but give texture.

I added some of Andy's fab transfers in places on the tag, not using all of the transfer but taking it over the edges.  It stood out a bit as my background was quite glossy, and the transfers have a more matte background, so I added some purple ink across the top of the tag to blend the transfers in.  You can still see them perfectly through it.

I had a wooden skull from Halloween last year, so decided to use it, and applied a layer of Lava Paste and heated.  It gave fantastic texture!  To make it stand out even more, I pushed the skull into my embossing ink pad, and embossed with Super Nova embossing powder.
The edge of the tag got the same treatment.  I also added a wash of Dioxazine Purple to the skull so it sank into the crevices of the texture.

Andy's transfers work equally well straight onto Cardstock, so I used the word Carnival, and cut out and inked with a little purple ink, and mounted on the tag.  A dark purple ribbon was added to finish.

Hope it gives you some inspiration. x

Best Wishes,

Nikki K
xxx

If you would like to know

more about my work

You can find me at:

www.nikkikart.blogspot.com

www.instagram.com/NikkiKArtist

www.facebook.com/NikkiKArtist

Products Used:

Lava Paste
Embossing Powder - Super Nova
Mixed Media Transfers - Poe Diversity/Alchemy Plus

DecoArt Media - Dioxazine Purple.
Americana Decor - Lace Chalk Paint.

Stampendous - Andy Skinner Texture Stamp.

Other Supplies:
Versamark Embossing Ink.
Versafine Imperial Purple Ink.

Andy's new Products - by Nikki Killinger

Morning everyone,
.
If you saw Andy on Create & Craft on Thursday, you will know all about his fantastic new products.  And if you didn't, I'm sharing a couple of them here on my project.  I have to say they are pretty cool!

I opted to do a small canvas panel that 'jumped out' at me when I was tidying up, or attempting to find a space to work in more like.

I wanted to play with the new Lava paste, and decided just to palette knife it all over the panel, with no particular pattern.  When you heat this stuff it does it's own amazing thing, depending on how thick or thin you apply it, it gives an amazing texture as you heat dry it.  I gave the whole panel a wash of paint with a bit of Paynes grey media fluid acrylic and water.  Next I painted White Antiquing cream all over, and when dry, rubbed back leaving the white between the texture.  This was followed by some Ultra matte varnish, to seal the Antiquing cream, before giving a 'dirty wash'.

I wanted to add Andy's new transfers, and try them over the texture, which they were made for.  I actually couldn't believe how easy they were to apply, and how well they go over texture.  No more stamping on tissue on uneven surfaces for me.

I built up a background with the transfers, overlapping some of them as well, which works perfectly.  Some neat Quinacridone gold was added to the panel as rust drips, and I darkened the edges.

I stamped and fussy cut the new 'Gypsie Queen' Moth stamp, and added Triple Thick Glaze before curling the wings and adding to the panel.

This was more like a play day than 'making a sample' day, it was great fun seeing what the new products can do.

I also made a quick pair of shrink plastic earrings some of you may have seen already, but thought I'd add them here.  Simply stamped with the Gypsie Queen stamp.

Thanks for stopping by, we appreciate it. x

Best Wishes,

Nikki K.
xxx

Products Used:

Lava Paste - Creative Expressions
'Gypsie Queen' stamp - Creative Expressions
Poe Diversity Transfers - Creative Expressions
Alchemy Plus Transfers - Creative Expressions

DecoArt Media Line: Quinacridone Gold, Paynes Grey, White Antiquing Cream, Ultra Matte Varnish.

Triple Thick Glaze.

'Tagtastic' Eternal Tag by Nikki K.

Good Morning all,

I'm really happy to be on Andy's blog today sharing a tag I made in blues and greens, with just a touch of Rust.  The tag is from Andy's Tagtastic Kit, and I wanted to give it a different look.

I embossed the tag with a script embossing folder firstly, then painted it white.  On top of this I added several colours of blue-greens, in layers and washes, to build up the background.  Some Patina Antiquing Cream was splashed over to give a matt aspect.

I used one of Andy's stamps, Texture, to stamp the background with, and also some script.

The Heart was given a similar treatment to the background, layering colours and stamping, and then each piece was edged in white to give definition.

The bolts, screws and book plate were given a rust treatment, and then antiqued.  I ran some white round the edge of the tag with my finger.  A bit of rusty wire was added as a little hanger, which I kind of bent into the top of a heart shape.  The label was stamped and aged with a wash of colour.

I hope you like it, don't forget to check out the rest of Andy's team's work on the blog.

Best Wishes,

Nikki K.
xxx

Products Used:

Texture Stamp Set
TagTastic 2 Tando Tags set.
Andy Skinner Industrial Elements (bolts/washers, bookplate)

Andy Skinner DecoArt Media Line:
Pthalo Green Blue
Pthalo Turquoise
Quinacridone Gold
Antiquing Cream - Patina
Tinting Base
Raw Umber
Yellow Iron Oxide

Other Products:
Archival Black Ink
Rusty Wire.

Do you want to play a game? Playing cards box by Monika Maksym

Hi!

I hope you are well :)

Today I wanted to share with you this project. Something I had in mind for a while and finally had time to make :) I hope you like it!

 I have started my project with painting a wooden box with dark grey chalky finish paint mixed with water (2:1) inside and out.

Next, I have applied light grey chalky paint and metallic fluid acrylic paint randomly using brayer.

I have scraped texture sand paste through stencils on top and sides of the box. Once dry I have added  few washes of Paynes Grey and Quinacridone Gold fluid acrylics to add a bit of colour and shading all over the box.

To accent the texture I have drybrushed the sides with white chalky paint.

Little greyboard book plate was painted with Raw Umber and Titan Buff then word 'SCARED?' was stamped on it and fixed on the front of the box

 I have included few playing cards as well...  :)

I hope you have enjoyed my inspiration

products used:

Americana Decor Chalky Finish paint in Relic,Primitive and Everlasting
Decoart Media Texture Sand Paste

Decoart Media Heavy Gel Medium

Decoart Media Modeling Paste
Media Fluid Acrylics in Paynes Grey, Titan Buff, Quinacridone Gold, Metallic Silver, Burnt Umber

A Skinner Stencil - SKULLDUGGERY 

 A Skinner Stencil - TIME WARP

Andy Skinner SKULDOGGERY rubber stamp set 

A5 Word Up & Numbers Stamp Set by Illusionary Artists

Website: www.ilovecreations.co.uk

Facebook page:  Love Creations

Instagram: Love Creations