Recycle For Christmas At Artist Trading Post Exchange. . . . . . .

Good morning all. Today sees the second challenge at the Artist Trading Post Exchange for November. Our host today is the lovely and talented Yvonne. 

Yvonne's theme is 'Recycle For Christmas' and as we are getting closer to Christmas, this seems like a great idea! (Some of us haven't even made a card yet so at least this will be a start).

We are asking you to recycle an object, some packaging, a box or anything suitable that can be turned into something you can use for the coming Christmas festivities. For example a piece of leftover packaging could be used to make the base for a wall hanging. An empty box could be given a makeover to hold a gift - the ideas are endless. What you make is your choice but we do ask you to remember that we are a mixed media challenge blog and we'd like to see this reflected in your projects. Please add some stamping somewhere too - real stamps only, no digis please.

If you link up a project with us you have the chance of winning a £10 voucher to spend at the fab Artist Trading Post. . . . . you could also be chosen as one of our top three and be featured on the winners day.

Here's what I made for the Yvonne's Recycle For Christmas challenge:

A selection of Christmas gift tags all made in a grungy, mixed media style. 

Here's what I made my tags from:

Outside and inside packaging has been used to die cut ornament/bauble shapes for the tags. I also used some packaging from an embossing folder but forgot to add it to the photo before I cut into it.

These tags have been folder embossed before being transformed using paints and mediums.

These tags have each been developed using either modelling paste or fibre paste prior to the acrylic paints and other mediums.

These two tags were die cut from packaging acetate then colour and design was applied using a stencil, gelli plate and acrylic paints. I haven't finished these yet as I need to find something suitable to hang them with and a way of writing on the back without scratching the paint off.

The card tags have a second shape glued to the back with stamped greetings and space to personalise each tag.

Tim Holtz stamps and archival ink are used for the stamping.

The base of each tag has been given a rust finish using some of the products shown. The oval label and numbers are painted using the acrylic colours shown. In the following close up shots you will see more clearly where the products have been used. To do a tutorial for each tag would take forever but do email me if you need to know any further details.

The 'rivets' on each side of the label are made using DecoArt's Liquid Glass. When dry this product keeps the raised shape rather than collapsing as other similar products do. 

The two tags shown here were folder embossed then finished with the acrylic colours shown followed by the antiquing cream. Crackle glaze is used on the numbers. More close ups follow to show the details.

The light isn't good at the moment for taking photos and the patina finish looks much more blue than it is in real life. Roll on the good weather!

Each tag has been given some twine as a 'hanger'. I'm not really into sparkly stuff so I stick to my preferred painty, grungy finishes!

I've just discovered this 'fiber paste' which gives a finish like handmade paper. The paste was applied to the die cut and left to dry. The next step was to emboss the shape in a folder, apply black gesso and finish it with the acrylic colours shown. 

I love the texture that the fiber paste creates and I think this looks like a rich piece of fabric. I decided against adding anything else as I liked the texture to be the star of the show.

This tag was given a coat of gesso followed by modelling paste through a stencil. When dry, the tag was coloured with the acrylic misters shown. The raised sections are then dry brushed with DecoArt Media acrylic gold but I forgot to add it before taking the photo! The final step was to coat the tag with Triple Thick Gloss Glaze which gives a beautiful rich finish.

It's not easy to capture the beautiful shine and glistening gold raised areas but I hope you get the idea!

The acrylic misters blend together to create areas of different colour depth. Not all areas have been dry brushed with the gold. 

I've gone for a slightly industrial, steampunk look on this tag. It has been created as described previously using a stencil and modelling paste. The raised areas have been dry brushed with a metallic silver paint. The surface has been left quite matte in finish to give a more masculine feel.

A little Quinacridone Gold fluid acrylic has been used to give a slightly rusty appearance to some areas.

For this tag, modelling paste was again used through a stencil. Acrylic misters added colour. Crackle glaze and antiquing cream finished the look.

The acrylic misters have blended beautifully to make a rich red/purple colour. I like the contrast with the white antiquing cream against the dark background.

A touch of Halloween here but I think it makes an interesting gift tag for Christmas!

The two acetate shapes have been coloured using a gelli plate, stencil and the colours shown. I'm not 100% pleased with them but it is a technique that I will explore further and hopefully and improve on. I think they could have a card piece on the back like my other gift tags or they could be used as part of a Christmas card design perhaps?

The back of each tag has been coated using a brayer and titanium white paint.

I do hope you enjoyed seeing what I did with my packaging. I always keep those 'good' pieces of card etc. which can be easily recycled into many different projects.

You need to pop over and see the projects made by the rest of the team - you're in for a treat! Click HERE to be taken to the blog and click on the DT names to go to their blogs for further details  of how to make each project.

It's your turn now to dig out that saved packaging, box, tube etc and turn it into a wonderful Christmas make for Yvonne's challenge. We're really looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

I'm also going to enter my ornaments at the Artistic Stamper. Their challenge this month is 'Christmas Is Coming' so I think these will fit in!

Stencil Mania At Artist Trading Post Exchange. . . . . .

Hi everyone. Today sees the start of a new challenge at Artist Trading Post Exchange. It's my turn to be the host and I've chosen to base the new challenge on the use of stencils:

For my challenge I am asking you to use STENCILS on your project: I love to use stencils for ink, paint, mediums and sprays. I'd really like to see your creations using at least one stencil (the more the better though!). You can use any medium/s you choose through your stencil/s but it must be clearly seen where a stencil has been used. In addition, our rules ask that you include stamping on your project somewhere (no digi images please). We are a mixed media challenge  and your make must reflect this style.

There are some wonderful makes over at ATP Exchange so do pop over and have a look at the inspiration the DT have made for you.

I decided to alter a drawer unit which I bought in the local charity shop. I've used stencils, modelling paste, paints, stamping, powder embossing and dry embossing. Here's what I came up with:

An altered drawer unit - front view. This has been difficult to photograph as a finished piece but I hope the close up images will give you more idea about the details of the construction.

Back view

Stamped and embossed detail on the side of the unit

The unit as it was when I bought it in my local charity shop.

The unit was given two coats of gesso with a little light sanding between coats. Stencils were then used along with modelling paste to add detail to various areas of the unit. This image shows the stencil taped down ready to apply the modelling paste with a spatula.

Modelling paste applied and left to dry.

Drawer fronts with their first layer of modelling paste through a stencil.

The shelf is given a 'tiled' finish so pieces of card are cut to size and roughly arranged.

Tiles are folder embossed then applied to the shelf with matte medium.

After applying the remaining stencilled image, the drawer fronts are painted. The left hand drawer is painted with sap green from the DecoArt media fluid acrylic range. The right hand drawer shows the second coat of paint which is green gold. This gives a more yellow green but still allows some of the darker green to show through. This paint combination is used on all areas of the unit.

The sides of the unit are painted as explained above. They are then given a coat of gold interference from the DecoArt media range. This subtly alters the surface appearance depending on how the light catches it.

Gold paint is added to the stencilled modelling paste. Titan Buff paint is dry brushed onto the open areas of the round stencilled images and layers are built up until the intensity of colour is as required:

Dry brushing and gold paint application is finished.

The tiles are painted with the colours mentioned previously and in addition, they are antiqued by applying archival ink with a piece of cut n dry foam.

Crackle glaze is applied as required.

A Tim Holtz image is stamped on the two side surfaces of the unit. Versamark ink is used followed by some gold detail embossing powder. Paint and coffee archival ink are used to antique the images.

The front narrow edges around the drawers are powder embossed as above then antiqued as described.

Stencilled detail on the back.

Detail image shows crackle glaze antiqued with raw umber DecoArt media acrylic.

Crackle glaze antiqued as before.

This image shows the various layers of colour applied to achieve the look I wanted.

I do hope you've enjoyed reading about how I altered this drawer unit. I was a little worried I'd overdone it with the antiquing but in the end I was pleased with how it turned out.

It's your turn now so why not get out those stencils, choose which medium you want to use with it, select a stamp and some colours and away you go! I'm really looking forward to seeing what you come up with for my challenge at the Artist Trading Post Exchange.