Fashion With Stampendous And DecoArt. . . . . .

Hello everyone. Day two of the blog hop with Stampendous, DecoArt and the Princeton Brush Co.

Stampendous continue their weeklong blog collaboration with DecoArt Paints, Princeton Artist Brushes, and inspired by Willow Wolfe. If you missed Monday's excitement, here's the LINK.

DecoArt creates so many fantastic paint products, our team was excited to try so many! We know you'll be stunned when you see what these great products add to your stamping! When you combine them with Princeton Artist Brushes and Catalyst Wedges used on the Stampendous Creative Palette, well WOW!

To take part all you have to do is:

• Visit each blog and leave a comment
• Like Stampendous, DecoArt, Princeton Artist Brushes and inspired by Willow Wolfe on Facebook!
• Repin our projects onto your Pinterest boards and tag us when you do (#Stampendous, #DecoArt, #PrincetonArtistBrushes, #byWillowWolfe) we'll be tracking!

What's in it for you: 

• Stampendous will choose three blog posts from all the designer posts this week and then choose a winner from each to receive a prize package - Princeton Artist Brushes, through Willow Wolfe, is sending a Select 3750 Brush Set and a Catalyst Wedge, and we'll be adding a Stampendous Creative Palette so you can use all the new techniques you'll learn here this week.  (America and Canada only)
• Bonus goodies are on offer for some lucky people who SHARE our Facebook posts and Pinterest Pins.
• For International commenters: DecoArt has agreed to mail out three fab Media Paint sample packages to international bloggers as well. YAY! 

                     Ready for your trip around the world??? Let's get Hoppin!

Here's the artists who are taking part today:

Louise Crosbie (Scotland, UK)

Iliane de Fockert (Elly) (Niedersachsen, Germany)

Julia Stratford-Wright (Suffolk, UK)

Julie Robertson (UK)

Leadonna Kimmel (North Carolina, USA)

Angelica Stark (Hudiksvall, Sweden)

Debbie Cole (California, USA)

If you find one of the links doesn't work, simply click on the blog header or look for 'Home'. Broken links will be mended as soon as possible throughout the day.

The Official Rules are here.

For my second project, I've used this Frantage encrusted Jewel Kit in Teal along with the stamp and stencil set shown here - both are by Stampendous:

I know I made a tag yesterday, but I couldn't resist making another with that lovely dress form stamp! I was listening to some old music whilst creating and a few David Bowie tracks came on - you'll see how one of these inspired me when you scroll down:

Tag and lower section given two coats of DecoArt gesso (old style!)

Stencil some numbers randomly on the tag using DecoArt Media Modelling Paste (not shown). Leave to dry. Colour the tag using the shades shown in a random but blended fashion.

Die cut the edge of the lower tag piece. Add pieces of Washi tape randomly to the project.

Using the stencil supplied free in the Stampendous set, add DecoArt titanium white fluid acrylic with a stippling action. Keep the stencil in place and stamp one of the fabric texture images over the white area using chosen shades of DecoArt fluid acrylic paints. Scroll down for method:

Add stamped texture to lower edge.

I used the DecoArt Tinting Base with my chosen colours to ensure that the custom colour I created was permanent. Always use a brush to create a thin layer of paint on your craft mat. Tap the stamp lightly onto the paint a few times then apply to your project. Clean stamp immediately to avoid dry paint clogging the stamp.

Colour the naked edges of the die cut edge with chosen colour.

Die cut a label plate and create desired finish using the products shown.

Prepare a painted scrap of card for the label plate and add label made using label maker - I've done mine on clear tape so the background shows through.Add painted brads before attaching the label plate to the tag extension. Apply some mica flakes from the Stampendous set.

Loving those mica flakes from Stampendous!
The tag extension is held in place with some pieces of cotton tape which have been coloured with the DecoArt Media fluid acrylic colours.

DecoArt Media Interference paint has been added here and there to add a wonderfully subtle sheen - I LOVE this range of interference colours! Anybody recognised the Bowie track from my little labels yet??

Detailed image showing use of Stampendous Frantage encrusted jewel kit products. DecoArt Media Interference paint has been used on some of the embossed areas to subtly change their look. A stencil from another Stampendous stamp set was used to create the embossed circles.

Stamping detail showing paint effects underneath. The blue / green background was given a light coat of DecoArt Media Quinacridone Gold fluid acrylic - this changes the appearance of the colours in such a fab way!

The edges of the tag were sponged with some Prussian Blue fluid acrylic to frame the piece. Don't you just love how that Stampendous Frantage powder works? Another product I LOVE!

Some curled rusty wire and more coloured cotton tape finish the top of the tag.

Want to know which David Bowie track inspired me? Click HERE to have a listen!

Don't forget that Andy Skinner is also giving this gorgeous piece of work to one lucky blogger who comments on our blogs this week:

Could you find a home for this little beauty? If you want it, you'll have to visit everyone in the hop and leave a comment!

Thanks so much to everyone who left such wonderful comments for my project yesterday - it's much appreciated!

Hearts For Stampendous And DecoArt

 Hello everyone. Today I am honoured to take part in a blog hop with Stampendous, DecoArt and Princeton Artist  Brushes. There is lots of information to absorb so you may need to make a coffee/tea before you start!

Here's the introduction to the hop:

'Our great friends at DecoArt , Princeton Brushes, and inspired by Willow Wolfe are joining with us this week to show you what you can do with stamps and acrylic paint! You'll be amazed how these simple craft items make amazing things! Artists from all over the world will be playing with Stampendous, DecoArt, and Princeton. Prepare to be amazed!

Of course, there are prizes! DecoArt is sending three sets of their Media Fluid Acrylics, Princeton Artist Brushes, through Willow Wolfe, is supplying a Select Brush Set and a Catalyst Wedge, and we'll be adding a Stampendous Creative Palette so you can practice all the great techniques you'll learn this week!'

There is also another treat for all you blog hoppers. The amazingly talented Andy Skinner (Creative Director for DecoArt amongst other totally creative things!) has produced  a piece of art which will go to one lucky person who comments on the blogs this week. The name will be drawn on Thursday and announced on Friday - wish I could comment too! Here's the gorgeous prize:

A mixed media piece using DecoArt Media Products.

For today's hop, I decided to alter a wooden heart tag using products from Stampendous and DecoArt:

I made a print using the Stampendous Creative Palette and three of their wonderful rubber stamps and DecoArt Media acrylic paint. I used an interference colour to subtly change the appearance of the print. I love the interference gold from DecoArt! 

I decided to use a wooden heart shape so prepared it first with several coats of DecoArt gesso.

The print was glued onto card and the heart was used to cut out the exact shape required. This piece was then glued onto the wooden heart.

DecoArt have brought out a wonderful new Media range and one of my favourites is this translucent white paint. I used it to tone down the magenta on the print. Note how the design still shows through clearly.

The remainder of the print was used to die cut some flower pieces. The piece at the bottom right is the scrap from the cutting process. I cut this down to a small margin to use behind the flower. The edges of the die cuts were edged with dark ink. Some DecoArt crackle glaze was added when the flower pieces were dry. Burnt umber was applied once the glaze was dry.

The flower was constructed and applied to the tag. 

The centre of the flower was created from a rusty bell and some twine. The bell was first flattened with a hammer!

The scrap from the die cut was coated with a further layer of DecoArt Interference paint followed by some Crackle glaze.

Some die cut 'trellis' was cut from card painted with warm cream Traditions by DecoArt. This was followed my more crackle glaze. A black pencil was used to shade some areas of the print and tone the colour down.

Rusty wire was curled and used here there to complete the heart.

I made a heart from Fimo clay. This was stamped whilst still soft and allowed to dry. When dry, the heart was painted with DecoArt Metallic paint, followed by a wash with carbon black Traditions paint, then finally it was crackle glazed.

The word Heart was made on a little old label making machine.

Hope you like my first blog hop piece! For more details of the hop, scroll down for all the information. Remember, there are prizes to be won even for those in UK so why not click on those links and get started?

Visit each blog, leave a comment! • Like Stampendous, DecoArt, Princeton Artist Brushes and inspired by Willow Wolfe on Facebook! • We've also got a Pinterest Board started!

Please repin our projects onto your boards and be sure to tag us when you do (#Stampendous, #DecoArt, #PrincetonArtistBrushes, #byWillowWolfe) - we'll be tracking. Your comments on the designers' blogs are your entry into the drawing! We'll randomly choose three blog posts from all the designer posts this week and then choose a winner from each to receive a prize package. BUT I have a few bonus goodies hanging around my office for some lucky people who SHARE our Facebook posts and Pinterest Pins! We'll draw three winners with U.S. Mailing Addresses. BUT because we have so many international players this time, DecoArt has agreed to mail out three nice sample packages to international commenters as well. YAY! Ready for your trip around the world??? Let's get Hoppin!

Claudia Neubacher (Vienna, Austria)

Kristine Reynolds (California, USA)

Iliane de Fockert (Elly) (Niedersachsen, Germany)

Julia Stratford-Wright (Suffolk, UK)

Julie Robertson (UK)

Asia King (Oxford, England)

Jessa Plant (Arizona, USA)

Kathi Rerek (New Jersey, USA)

A few of the bloggers this week are new to hopping, so if you have an issue with any of the links, here's a little tip! If you get a page that says "Sorry that Page is not here" or something similar, try clicking on the header of the blog, or look for something that says Home. The hop page should be near the top of the day's posts. We will fix broken links as the day goes on, as well, so check back here if you are really lost.

The Official Rules are here.

Summer Lovin' At Anything But A Card. . . . . . .

Hello everyone. What a busy few days I've had! seven hours travelling to see my daughter's degree show in Plymouth, Devon and of course, another seven hours back again - totally worn out but I was so proud of her! Here's one of her pencil drawings before it was mounted and framed:

Hard to believe it's done in pencil isn't it? 

Just had to share that but let's get back on track now. I am showing my DT work for Anything But A Card today in the third week of their challenge entitled Summer Lovin'. If you haven't already joined in there, click here and see the inspiration provided by the rest of the ladies for you. You won't be disappointed I promise you!

This is how Susan, our lovely leader, describes the challenge for you:

A celebration of all things summer! Think summer weather, vacations, sunflowers, beach parties, cold drinks and Barbeques... bright colors and wide open sky. Pool parties all day, then sitting in lawn chairs sipping drinks and watching the night sky. 

I've made the image large because the details are very subtle on this tag and could be missed in a smaller image.

The base of the tag is watercolour paper which was coloured with Dylusion ink sprays and Perfect Pearls spray. Images were then stamped using a variety of distress ink colours. Each fish was then enhanced using a watercolour pencil but no water. I love these pencils because they give such rich tones to the work - wet or dry.

The fine textured yarn was coloured with the remains of the Dylusions spray from the craft mat. I included the yarn to convey the idea of waves and motion.

You can see quite clearly here how the watercolour pencil was used to enhance the fish outline - I love adding these pencils to distress inks.

The bathing beauty was stamped onto smooth card in archival ink and then coloured with distress inks hopefully achieving an ombre effect in the background.

The edges of the tag were finished with some prussian blue ink which is a gorgeous colour.

The crinkle ribbon was coloured using a mixture of Dylusion ink and Distress ink. It was then scrunched into a ball and dried with a heat gun.

The end of a paintbrush protector was used to stamp 'air bubbles' on the background using Distress ink.

The fish at the bottom was stamped onto some scraps of the watercolour paper coloured with the Dylusion inks. The paper was stuck onto some Tando inchies and then they were laid close together on the craft mat. Once in position, the fish was stamped onto the inchies.

The inchies were joined to the main tag using some cotton seam binding which was also coloured with Dylusions inks, Distress inks and some Perfect Pearls spray.
Quote was made using a label maker and clear tape. This was glued to a coloured paper scrap, applied to card and attached to the cotton tape above the inchies.

I have added some images with no caption. I hope they give you some idea of the amount of shimmer and depth that has been achieved in the background.

Hopefully we'll see you at Anything But A Card with your interpretation of our June theme: Summer Lovin'.

Can't wait to see what you come up with for this great challenge. Please remember to read the small number of rules which you'll find on the blog.

Thank you for joining me and pease do have a look at Anything But A CArd such inspiration awaits you!

Tando Sponsor Spotlight At Our Creative Corner. . . . .

I've got a new post up today at Our Creative Corner using some wonderful Tando chipboard flower shapes. Here's a little sneak peek of my project:

I'd really love it if you popped over to Our Creative Corner and had a look at the full project. Don't forget we have a new challenge running called 'Flaming June' and the design team have come up with some wonderful inspiration for you.