Perfectly Paintable

My post for this week over on Bubbly Scrumptious is all about using the Paintables range of stamps from Prima, plus their craftable flowers. Check out all the details HERE.

Week 4, Fabric ATCs

It' s week 4 over on "Fun with Fabric" with Donna Downey and this week it's supposed to be ATCs (Artist Trading Cards). As usual I haven't done what I'm told and I've created a scrapbook page with a divided page protector. I used the techniques Donna showed us and made my ATCs 4 x 6 instead to fit into the pockets. I've been meaning to use these pictures to make a photo quilt wallhanging and so this is a smaller version that I've actualy been able to complete.

I wanted to photograph the pieces in the page protector, but I haven't quite perfected this technique. I've included some close-ups to show the details.

The front...

The back...


Lessons learned from this project -

• I wet the canvas before I cut out my 6 x 4 s to pre-shrink it, but I scrunched it up in a sink instead of spraying it. Those creases are never coming out.
• I printed the photos on linen printable fabric. The image isn't as clear as the printable cotton for small images. Fabrics from Crafty Computer Paper
• I enjoyed finding appropriate words to tear out from a book to add details.
• The canvas shapes I cut out and painted worked really well.
  

I'm really looking forward to this week's lesson. I'm loving this class :)

Starting something big

Last week I embarked on a new project - another big quilt. As the evenings are getting darker I love to have a sewing project on the go. Last winter is was knitting, but I got a bit knitted out and the girls' jumpers are still too big for them so I've started a long overdue quilt for some lovely friends of mine. It has a green theme and it's a pattern called "St Marks" from Kaffe Fassett's new book "Simple Shapes, Spectacular Quilts". I going to be making green diamonds for quite a while.

A couple of years ago we went to see an exhibition called "Blue and White" in Bath which principally featured the work of Kaffe Fassett and Candace Bahouth. I walked in and said "This is what I want to do!" I'm still a LONG way off.

Kaffe is a huge inspiration for me . I love how he works with knitting, patchwork, painting, tapestry and mosaic. I went to hear him talk a few years ago and I remember what he said about colours "If you are in doubt about the colours you're using, add five more". Here's someone I can relate to!

I can't work in only one medium - scrapbooking OR patchwork OR knitting OR Fimo OR stained glass OR mosaic. I'm only happy when those ORs become ANDs.

Check back in a couple of years and I'll have a finished quilt to show you - don't worry I will be working and posting on other things before then :)

Thinking about photography

I've been browsing Big Picture Scrapbooking at the other classes available as I am loving Donna's class. There's a class coming up called "Picture the Holidays" by Tracey Clark which is a 30 day photography class about recording Christmas. I'm very tempted to sign up as I love Christmas, but my photos look the same every year, and they aren't very exciting either.

Tracey runs a photo blog and "thriving community of female photo enthusiasts" called Shutter Sisters. Check out the great photos. I'm particularly inspired by this post here where she wrote a word using a torch and a long exposure. At this time of year I'm wondering if I can get experimenting with a sparkler!

Summer Swirls

Here's my layout for Donna Downey's "Fun with Fabric" class this week. I've doubled up as it's also my Saturday post for Bubbly Scrumptious. To see more of the details click here.

I've had lots of lovely comments over on the class gallery, particularly about my swirls as I made them using a Paper Pen from Viva Decor, rather than using a large (expensive) stud swirl sticker.

Clear card

This week's post from me over on Bubbly Scrumptious is an acetate card. To see more about it, click here.

Sleepy Girl

It's Week two at "Fun with Fabric" with Donna Downey and we've been working on 12 x 12 pages using Donna's screen printed canvas. This is my version of it, with the addition of a chipboard bird instead of a canvas one and an improvised crystal swirl made up from individual gems, rather than an (expensive) ready-made one.

I added some acrylic paint behind the photo to help it work with the background. I also sanded the edge of the photo, which is something I haven't done for a few years! I altered the original photo using the Picnik website as the colours weren't very exciting. I used the sepia tone and added a vignette.

The poem down the right hand side of the page was something I found online here. I don't usually go for a vintage style, but I really like this page. Maybe I should try it out more.