Blooming Field #2 for AALL & Create

Hello Friends

I am back with my Guest Design project for AALL & Create.  I have created a mixed media piece, using Olga Heldwein's Blooming Field stamp set again, along with stencil #38, also by Olga.

I had a piece of cardboard from a recent delivery that I thought was too good to throw away.

I removed some of the top layer and then covered the whole piece with gesso.

I added some blue paint over the gesso and then applied crackle paste both directly here and there and also through stencil #38 (a gift from my lovely friend Jo Rice).  I applied the same blue paint to the edges of a further piece of board.  The cardboard itself is not strong enough on its own to provide a sturdy base.

To add some further texture I stamped #125 by Aida Domisiewicz randomly over the base. 

I wanted a frame for the flowers, this one was in my stash, with some texture already, so I painted over with blue paint.

I stamped the flowers onto watercolour cardstock and coloured them with watercolour pencils, then fussy cut each one (there is now a set of dies available to do this but I did not have this at the time of making this project).

 I assembled the flowers onto the frame.  The largest flower was layered up to give some extra dimension.  Finally, I added the sentiment to complete my project.

All of the stamps and stencils I used are available from AALL & Create HERE, where you will also find a list of worldwide stockists.  AALL & Create do encourage you to buy from your local stockist wherever possible.

Designer Spotlight - Simon Says Stamp

Hello Friends

I feel hugely honoured and thrilled to have been asked back by Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge to be in their Designer Spotlight for the month of September!

As many of you know, there is a new challenge every Monday and the challenge theme this week is 'Use A Clear Element'.

After scratching my head for a while I got out my acetate, my new Tim Holtz fireplace die and some glass vials and of course, my mind went straight to Halloween, not that it takes very much for my thoughts to head there!  

I pondered on what Dr Bones' front parlour might look around Halloween time.  I call this Found Relative Dr Bones, he has such a sinister look about him.

I used many Tim Holtz Idea-ology pieces in this creation, all of which are listed at the foot of this post.  I also used Ranger Multi Matte Medium as glue throughout the whole project.

First, I gathered together some of the items I wanted to use in my project.

I covered the whole tag with some of the Tim Holtz worn wallpaper, sanding the edges and then finishing the edges with Black Soot Distress Ink.

Apart from the fireplace, the picture of Dr Bones was important.  I prepared a couple of Tim Holtz's baseboard frames, in the end I just used the black one.  I cut a piece of acetate to size and painted Matte Medium on the back of the acetate to give it an aged feel.  I stamped the cobweb from Tim's new Life of the Party stamp set, using archival ink.  Once dry I assembled the picture and frame.

Next, I prepared the fireplace using Tim's new fireplace die.  After die cutting some black card, I used the 3D Texture Fades Woodgrain embossing folder to add some texture before dry brushing lightly with white gesso.  I built up the fireplace in layers to give it 3D appearance  and then added a mantlepiece to the top so that I could display some items.

For the fire itself, I due cut two pieces from acetate and one piece from Metallic Jewels Kraft cardstock.  I coloured the acetate with Alcohol Inks and then layered all three pieces in the grate of the fireplace.  I think the coloured acetate makes the fire look quite realistic as it gives it some 'movement'.  The swag is part of the fireplace die.

I added an old Idea-ology piece to the top of the frame.  Next I added some gauze to the mantle piece before adding a couple of Idea-ology bottles, a skull, some bones and a thimble decorated with a rolled rose (an early Tim Holtz die).

Here is another close up view of the mantlepiece and also the hearth.

So, we hope you will join in the 'Use A Clear Element' challenge this week at:


One lucky person will be chosen to receive:

The products I used are listed below and available from:

As always, thanks so much for your visit, I hope to see you again soon.

Hugs, Anne xx

Simon Says Products Used:

Tim Holtz Etcetera Small Tag Thickboard

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Halloween Worn Wallpaper
Tim Holtz Sizzix Fireside Thinlits
Tim Holtz Cling Rubber Stamps 2019 Life of the Party
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Skull Fragments
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Boneyard Findings
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Broomsticks
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Pumpkins Pieces
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Metallic Jewels Kraft Cardstock
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Found Relatives
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Thimbles
Tim Holtz Etcetera Bracket Trims
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Baseboard Frames
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Corked Vials
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tiny Vials Corked Glass Bottles
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Wicked Metal Ornaments
Hero Arts Acetate Sheets 5 x 6
Tim Holtz Distress Ink Black Soot Ranger
Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink Flamingo Ranger
Tim Holtz Distress Paint Picket Fence Ranger
Ranger Multi Matte Medium 4 oz

Celebrate Your Style at Anything But Cute

Hello Friends!

At Anything But Cute it is time to celebrate!!  The whole of the DT are hosting the challenge this month, which is Celebrate Your Style.

As we celebrate our 1st Anniversary, we want you to celebrate what you do best..... mixed media!  This is your chance to do it your way, in your favourite style... so pull out those inks and paints and show us what you're made of.  You can make anything you want, just as long as it has some mixed media products on it.  HAVE FUN!!

We have some special treats too this month.  Along with our DT projects, we have invited some Favourite Artsts from last year, to come and celebrate with us - they have created some wonderful projects to inspire you!  We also have a wonderful line up of PRIZES from some amazing Sponsors (details HERE).  Please do join us for a chance to win some wonderful goodies!

I wanted to celebrate my style by creating a sea themed project.  Seahorses are my favourite sea creatures so I used three beautiful Seahorse knobs to adorn a mini cabinet, which I altered, Andy Skinner style and I used some clay from my stash to make an Octopus ....

This is how the cabinet started, I can't remember where it came from but it is made from several different kinds of wood and was a bit tatty looking.  It measure approx 12" x 5".   I was given one of these beautiful Seahorse knobs by my friend Carole and I scoured the world trying to find some more - thank goodness for Etsy!

I started by giving the cabinet a good coat of DecoArt Gesso.

Once dry, I painted the cabinet with DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic in Cobalt Teal Hue.  When this was dry I applied a layer of Weathered Wood Crackle Medium.

Next, I painted the pieces with DecoArt Crackle Paint and left it to dry.  This is Andy Skinner's Mega Crackle Technique.  It really does create wonderfully large crackles.

 The whole cabinet was then painted with a layer of DecoArt  Ultra-Matte Varnish.  This will seal the work and help prevent the crackles from coming loose. It is best to leave this to dry naturally.

I made two 'washes', one in Quinacridone Gold and one in Cobalt Teal Hue and washed over the whole of the cabinet and left it to dry.  Here is a close up of the Teal wash.

It was a bit too pale for my liking so I painted the pieces with a good coat of DecoArt Media Antiquing Cream in Patina Green.  I left this to dry (it dries but does not cure) and then I wiped over with a damp baby wipe to reveal some of the underneath.

I moved on to the Octopus next.  I had some Sculpey Clay in my stash and after watching a couple of YouTube videos, I formed the clay into the shape of an Octopus.  Once I was happy with the shape, I used seed beads to form the suckers on his tentacles (Tip:  if you make an octopus, put the suckers on before you attach the tentacles, it is very fiddly otherwise!).

After shaping him I baked him in a cool oven (130F) and let him cool down.  I painted him with DecoArt Media Fluid in a mix of Quinacridone Gold and Pyrole Red (just a dot of the red).

To give the seahorses a bit of a lift, I mixed some Mica powder in a sea blue tone in a little water and randomly applied it, giving them a lovely blue hue.

I cannot decide whether I like the Octopus on top of the cabinet but it took me so long to make, I think I will leave him there and decide later!  Sadly I had to remove a couple of his legs so he would fit in the top....apparently there is a species of six-legged octopus, so I don't feel too bad!

So, I hope you like how I celebrated my style!  

We would love to have you join in with us at Anything But Cute, to help us celebrate our 1st Anniversary.

Thanks so much for looking!  Hope to see you again soon, well tomorrow in fact!

Hugs, Anne xx