Some very sad news

Hello dear friends and followers.
Many of you will have heard already through Facebook and other blogs, about the sad news that the lovely Calico Craft shop went up in flames and all stock was lost just last week. HERE is a link to the official announcement.

My project was due to appear on the Calico blog on the day after the fire destroyed everything and the online shop and blog were taken down, so it was never shown. Therefore I thought I would show it here now.

I created a hanger using some of their wonderful paints and mediums, as well as their beer mats and paper serviettes. They stocked so many unusual things that were hard to come by else where, so I for one will miss them so much.

I'll do a quick step by step of how I created my project:

I started my background with a piece of mount board, covered it with Gesso using a pallet knife, while it was still wet I added some old book pages, left them to dry for a couple of minutes and then ripped them off. Here is a link to a video that shows you how to do this, even though in the video it lands up being a very different project..

Next I created some sprays using a dark brown Acrylic paint mixed with water. I love making sprays like that, because once they are dry they are water proof. Here's a close up of how the paints puddled around the gesso, leaving some great texture:

Next, I took three beer mats, coated them in Gesso and added the same colour of acrylic paint around the edges, blending with a baby wipe and my fingers.

In the case of the central tile/panel, I used a pinkish colour instead, to blend with the scrap of serviette I was going to use for that one.

Below you can see what it looked like after I had adhered the paper serviette scraps with Modge Podge.

Once everything had totally dried I sanded the edges and then sealed them with Decoart Traditions multi surface sealer. When that had dried I added Decoart One Step Crackle.

More of my own made acrylic spray was sprayed on the tiles when the crackle glaze had dried, to seep into the cracks and make them more visible. Below is a close up. I wiped the excess spray away with a baby wipe as soon as it had gone into the cracks. This is essential, as of course this kind of spray, unlike Dylusions or any of the others, is permanent!!

Here you can see how I put a chain at the top so I can hang this piece:

Because on this tile I had applied the crackle glaze somewhat too thick, the cracks became rather too big, - you live and learn....

The one good thing about this tragedy is, that at least no one got hurt, and I for one desperately hope that in time to come they will perhaps start trading again in one form or another. I have loved designing for them and want to thank both Helen and Steve for all the trust they had in us their team and for their generosity. I loved all their wonderful products, including the latest addition to their business, the beautiful Calico Craft parts.

Thank you for visiting and see you next time

Travel mini out of one piece of 12 x 12

Hello everyone, just a sneak peek today, as it's my turn to post over on the Calico Crafts blog.

I am showing you how to put a mini together out of 1 piece of 12 by 12 and then how I decorated it with the help of some fab Kaisercraft papers. Calico is one of the few places where you can buy these papers by the sheet. That way you don't land up with some of those inevitable papers in a collection that you don't like.

Anyway, for all the details, just click HERE. Some of you have told me that when you do so you can't see my post. Trust me it will be there, all you need to do is refresh your page.

Anyway, thanks so much for your time like always!!! Weekend is nearly here, so enjoy!!

Garden Hanger for Calico Crafts

Hello everyone and thanks for dropping by here.
My turn to post on the Calico Crafts Blog, so just a little pre-view here I'm sorry to say.

I have been having fun playing with different mediums and crackle effects, if you want to find out more, all you have to do is click here.

Hope you'll take the time to look and let me know what you think.

Thanks for visiting like always and see you next time!

Memories, altered notebook for Calico Crafts.

Hello everyone and thanks for dropping by!
Today is just a sneak peek day I'm afraid to say

To see the full project and a step by step of how I made it, please head over to the Calico Craft Blog. If you have been there lately, you will need to refresh the page to see the latest project. It's a Wordpress blog and that seems to be the case with Wordpress.... Anyway, I would love it of course if you took the time to have a look and tell me what you think. Hope you are having a creative week and I will be back tomorrow with another project for the latest challenge of A Vintage Journey.

Wooden Plaque Steampunk style for Calico Crafts

Hello everyone, lovely to see you! Can you believe it's nearly the end of June? Time flies when you are having fun, and I had loads of fun making this project! Another sneak peek day today though,  I'm afraid,  for Calico Crafts.

Really hope you'll take the time to look and I would love it of course if you leave me a comment there.
You'll need to refresh the page once you have clicked HERE.
Nearly the weekend, so enjoy and thanks so much for visiting!!

Mixed media fun for Calico Crafts

Hello everyone, - hope your week is going well.
Just a quick sneak peek from me today, as I am sharing a new project over on the Calico Crafts blog.

I had super fun creating this project and have done a step by step with loads of photos. Hope you'll take the time to look, all you need to do is click HERE

Thanks for visiting and see you next time

Calico Wall Plaque

Hi everyone and sorry, today is just a preview post. But if you want to see the rest (and I would of course love it if you took the time to do so), all you need to do is click HERE
So here is the sneak peek:

Thanks for dropping in and happy crafting!

Double Trouble..... and some news

Hello everyone, lovely to have you visiting! I am going to start with my news, as I am very excited....
This morning I became a granny again, another beautiful girl! Her name is Arielle Isla, sister to Lucia. Both mum and baby are doing well.

Alright, now to the normal business of the day:
It's my turn to share a project on the Calico Craft blog

Double something in there.... to see more, you'll have to hop over by clicking HERE

Now today is also the day that the Auction for #Bringbackourgirls will start. You may have seen an announcement I made about this HERE
Here are the details again and the two canvasses I am donating:

Hope you will check out the auction and see all the amazing art work offered there, you could pick up a bargain!!

Below is a list of all participating artists with their URLs:

Jessica Sporn   http://jessicasporn.blogspot.com

Linda Kittmer  http://lindakittmer.blogspot.ca

Ronda Palazzari  http://rondapalazzari.typepad.com

Marjie Kemper   http://www.marjiekemper.com

Judy Shea   http://thekeytomyart.wordpress.com

Glenda Hogland   http://pilgrimsthoughts.blogspot.com

Astrid Maclean  http://astridsartisticefforts.blogspot.com

Lisa Pace   http://lisapace.com

Jackie Neal   http://creatingwithoutcrayons-jackiepneal.com

Claudine Criner   http://claudinesartcorner.blogspot.com

France Papillon   http://www.france-papillon.com

Kristin Van Valkenburgh  http://TwinkleTwinkleLikeAStar.blogspot.com

Marcia Beckett  http://marciabeckett.blogspot.com

Ruth Levy   http://lerusho.wordpress.com/

Sally Lynn MacDonald   http://www.SallyLynnMacDonald.com

Renee Zarate   http://renee-boltonhouse.blogspot.com

Natasha May   http://natashamay.blogspot.com/

Carmen Whitehead   http://www.serendipitystudiobycw.blogspot.com/

Seth Apter   http://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/

Marybeth Shaw   http://mbshaw.blogspot.com/

Amy Ingardia-Walker  http://creativelyquirkyathome.blogspot.com/

Kelly Warren  http://happyshackdesigns.blogspot.com

Julie Bernier http://juliebernierphotography.zenfolio.com/

Adrienne Hoban  http://www.allure-decor.com/

Krista van Tol   http://craftylittlepigtails.blogspot.com

Cheryl Grigsby http://cherylspaperartz.blogspot.com

Have a day full of sunshine, and thank you so much for visiting!

Studio Sign

Hello everyone and lovely to have you drop by. This is a project I created for Calico Crafts a few days ago, but it has been so busy here that there has not been time to post a preview. The full thing can be seen on the Calico Crafts blog

I have been using the new Decoarts Americana Chalky Finish paints, hope you will take the time to look.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you are having a creative weekend!

Mixed Media Triptych

Hello everyone, thanks for dropping in.

Today is just a sneak peek post here I'm afraid to say.... The full project can be seen on the Calico Crafts blog. Here are a couple of photos to try and tempt you to have a look at the full project....

Of course I would love it if you went to have a look and tell me what you think. All you need to do is click HERE. You may have to refresh your page to see this project.

Anyway, thanks for visiting  and have a wonderful Easter weekend when it comes!!

Springtime Hanger

Hello everyone, thanks for dropping in here. Tomorrow Spring is meant to start, so I thought I would make a Springtime hanger for my project for Calico Crafts. Here is a sneak peek:

If you want to see more, please click HERE.
If you have been there recently, you will have to refresh the page to see my project.

Thanks so much for visiting today and I hope you are having a good and creative week!

Playing with texture

Hello everyone and thanks so much for taking the time to visit.
Today is my day to show a project over on the Calico Crafts blog.
I had great fun playing with some of the yummy products available from Calico and I created an altered box for my 52 pickup altered playing cards.

 If you want to see more and how I altered my box, please click HERE.

I just created a new set of 4 cards, numbers 9, 10 11 and 12.
They are created in pretty much the same way. You can find a description and a link HERE

And here are some details of the individual cards:

 Heart cut free hand from old book papers, issue tape,a Tim Holtz journaling ticket and computer generated words.

 Same sort of thing, another part of the same ticket, a little vial label and some remnant rubs.

 And more of the same, though this heart was cut with a Sizzix die

 This one is a bit different. I fussycut a small part of one of the yummy new Tim Holtz Wallflower papers and collaged it on to the card that had been covered with tissue wrap and Gesso. I also used one of the Wendy Vecchi Love to make Art stamps for the background. I then blended it all together with some Bundled Sage Distress paint etc.Here is a little close up still.

 The box I made for it hold all of my cards just perfectly, - I really hope you will take the time to have a look at it and maybe also check out the shop. They have just added some fabulous new wood flourishes etc.

Well, that is it for now, don't forget to come back tomorrow, because that is when the new challenge blog A Vintage Journey will be starting!!!
Thank you so much for visiting and I hope you are having a day full of creativity and hopefully some sunshine too!!

A different kind of love...

Hello everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit here today.

It's my turn to share a project over on the Calico Crafts Blog.
I created a vintage heritage mini album, to honour the wonderful women that have shaped my life.

Here's a little corner of the cover:

To see the rest and some of the inside pages please click HERE.
To see the latest project, you will have to refresh the page, and of course I would love it if you leave me a comment to let me know what you think.
Thanks for taking the time to visit I hope you are having a creative day!

Exciting News

Hello everyone and welcome! Lovely to have you drop by here.
Today I am very happy to announce that I have been invited to become a part of the Calico Crafts Design Team
After having done several guest design posts for them I was delighted to be asked to become part of their permanent team. If you don't know Calico Crafts, do check them out. They are like a paradise for the mixed media and altered artist, as well as paper crafters and other creative folks. They stock loads of products that are hard to come by elsewhere, including the very popular Decoart and Andy Skinner products.

Anyway, enough of that, and onto my project, here is a little sneak peek:

If you want to see more and a description, all you need to do is click HERE. If you have been there recently, you will need to refresh the page to see the latest project. Hope I have whetted your appetite.... :)

Thank you for visiting like always and have a creative day!

Mini for Calico

Hello lovely visitors, thank you for dropping by here and welcome.
Today I am showing a second project as guest designer For Calico Crafts. I designed a mini using some of their wonderful products.

To get a full tutorial on how I made this, please head over to their blog HERE. The project has been there for a while, but I forgot to post it here, - how silly is that. If you have a minute, head over there, Calico Crafts is a great site that sell wonderful products!

Thank you for visiting and have a wonderful day full of sunshine and laughter.