Friday 30 October 2015

Ode to Coffee Layout - Studio 75 - Yummy Collection






Hello everyone!  I'm back today with a new layout for Studio 75, 
using their Yummy Collection.  These papers are naturally BRIGHT!
But they have some lovely neutrals within the collection & as you can 
see I muted down the bright reds & yellows using gesso, paste & inks.


You can view this post up on the Studio 75 blog HERE, where I link
 up to all the specific products I used from the Studio 75 store.  


I used many of the papers & elements, that I fussy-cut out, from the Yummy Collection,
as my background & layers behind my photos as well as for embellishments


I uploaded the image below to my Instagram account HERE to show how 
my page began & how it was transformed through mixed media techniques!


It's a technique I use a lot - cutting various thicknesses of pattern paper, layering & adhering
the pieces over teach other then stencilling over, followed by misting, followed by gesso
applied with an old gift card - the PERFECT tool to spread in different thicknesses


I absolutely LOVED creating this page over the weekend - just relaxing in my studio
for several hours, throwing paint at paper & watching things evolve.  Bliss...


As well as Studio 75 products I added some texture through twine & holey ribbon as 
well as staples, crochet doilies & a gold metal coffee cup pin, plus a few flairs.  


Of course I also added plenty of mixed media too - modeling paste, a few different
 coloured mists & some heavy gesso, as well as my home-made white mist &
a couple of ink colours together with some background stamps.


The Yummy Collection is sooo beautiful & so easy to subdue through the use of mediums.
Please remember to play along in my GOLD & SEQUINS challenge HERE.


You still have one week left to play along!


If you enjoy reading my articles I would really appreciate you helping me reach
my goal of 1 000 Followers by the end of this year by checking that you are
a follower via Google Friend Connect in my top right side bar HERE. 

You can find my Facebook Artist Page HERE (where have a GIVEAWAY 
going on RIGHT NOW!! {it's easy to find as it's pinned to the top of my 
page but you can also read about it HERE} & I'm on Instagram HERE.  



Thursday 29 October 2015

Prima Off-the-Page Fall Home Decor Project
Full Step-by-step Photo Tutorial
Upcycling Old Mobile Phone Boxes!






Hi!  It's me again - as promised - bringing you something fun & creative to think about
 or actually MAKE this weekend {which will it be huh?!}.  As I said yesterday I
 created this Printer's Tray/Shadow Box Configuration out of 
old mobile phone boxes, which I thought was a stroke of genius! 

 Hubby was "konmari"ing his cupboards & these were on the way 
to the bin when I yelled "Woah, hold up there buddy!!" 
 as a creative vision flashed through my mind!!  
And hence this project was born!


Yeah TWO photos because I was completely indecisive
 on this one & couldn't come to terms with which one was better.  
Off-the-Page projects are notoriously difficult to photograph!

You can view this up on the Prima blog HERE, where my tutorial has been turned into a
Snapguide project for space saving reasons, but here on my own blog I'm just going
to post ALL the photos one under the other to make it easier for y'all to keep my
 page open if you decide to take on anything similar & need to keep referencing.  



















If you want to see more CLOSE-UP PHOTOS please scroll down to Mondays post, 
where there is also a PRIMA BLOG HOP & SMALL PERSONAL GIVEAWAY
 that closes Saturday!  Get to that by clicking HERE & go leave a comment :)

If you enjoyed this post please HELP ME REACH MY GOAL OF 1 000 FOLLOWERS
BY THE END OF THE YEAR by checking that you are subscribed to my
blog via Google Friend Connect in my top right hand sidebar HERE
I would also love a follow on my Facebook Artist Page HERE,
especially as I have a GIVEAWAY going on right now that 
you can read all about HERE.  You can find me on 
Instagram HERE.  




Wednesday 28 October 2015

Prima Off-the-Page Fall Home Decor Project
Upcycling some old Mobile Phone Boxes!






Hello everyone!  HAAAAAPY Hump Day!!  

I hope you are all having a wonderful week.  
Today I have an interesting project to share with you. 
 My spec was to create something "Fall Home Decor"Related featuring
 Iron Orchid Designs Prima collaborative products & this is what I came up with!  

YOU CAN SEE IT ON THE PRIMA BLOG HERE...


Tomorrow I will be sharing a full step-by-step photo tutorial with you so you can see
 that putting this piece together is really not quite as intimidating as it looks! 
I have to say that having "Prima On Tap"is rather glorious indeed!!


This project features plenty of their Summer 2015 New Releases - as well as some
tried &  trusted ''old faves" & "holy grail'' products.  The flowers, butterflies, leaves
& berries all come from IOD & A Victorian Christmas Collections &I've used some of 
their new Paintables Papers as well as quite a few of their new metal embellishments.


Their Color Bloom Sprays & Art Mediums (the Soft Gloss Gel especially)
 are total holy grail products for me.  You can't NOT have them in your bag
 of tricks, & the microbeads & lace & weave trims are definitely old favourites.


Do pop in again soonif you like the look of this project & want
 to see how easy it is to make something similar yourself!  

Please HELP ME REACH 1 000 followers by the end of this year 
by checking that you are subscribed to my blog via Google
 Friend Connect in my top right hand sidebar HERE

I would also love a follow on my Facebook Artist Page HERE,
especially as I have a GIVEAWAY going on right now that 
you can read all about HERE.  Find me on INSTAGRAM HERE.  




Tuesday 27 October 2015

Always Believe in Yourself Layout for 7 Dots Studio






Hi again everyone!  I'm back again today with a new layout for 7 Dots Studio, 
up on their blog today HERE.  I had an absolute blast creating this layout 
using the Illumination Collection.  I love how it turned out with the
 black & white photos & the black & white ink splashes!  


I love that all the 7 Dots Studio Collections have such great words of wisdom
to go along with them.  The papers, stickers & die-cuts are full of sayings
& sentiments that make these collections so versatile!


It makes creating SO simple because everything you need comes with
 the collection & creating then becomes a breeze!  All you need is to 
add some mixed media  products & texture & you are done!!


I love to add thread to my projects as it adds just the right amount of texture
& movement without creating a lot of bulk.  I'm also a great believer in
 adding hand journaling as a finishing touch to your work, to personalise it.


As well as the ink splashes I added some light stenciling, some inking & also
some tearing, which is another technique that never goes out of fashion.


I layered up several patterned papers, distressing & inking up the edges 
as I went along, whilst tucking in some die-cuts & adding some
 as embellishments on top too.


Using staples is a good way to keep the thread in place whilst
 also adding a funky, modern look to your page at the same time.


7 Dots Studio Products used on this page are :-

Illumination Patterned Paper - Tolerance
Illumination Patterned Paper - Acceptance
Illumination Patterned Paper - Diversity
Illumination Elements 6 x 12 – Die-cuts
Wood Grain Paper & Stencil – Nature Walk

Other supplies are - 13arts Splash inks in black & white,
 black metallic thread, staples, Tsukineko bronze ink, white journaling pen.






Monday 26 October 2015

Announcing my Prima Blog Hop Giveaway Winner!
And a Reminder about my Facebook Giveaway!!






Hello everyone!  Welcome new followers!!  I do hope you will hang around long
after this give-away is over!!!  This giveaway was advertised a week ago HERE,
as my personal prize for the Prima blog hop that was held last Saturday.


Since then I have shared an Off-the-Page project for the 7 Dots Studio Woodgrain 
Challenge HERE as well as a new article called "10 Things to Consider when 
creating Home Decor Projects! Otherwise known as OTPs, which stands
 for Off-the-Page!" HERE & another Guest Designer post on the same topic
HERE as I am busy with a series called "Trade Secrets" - focusing on
each genre of the papercrafting world, finding specialists in each
area & interviewing them before compiling an article sharing 
their projects, favourites & their process.  

SHOULD BE UBER INTERESTING!!
Even I'm excited!!!

So I hope you there is something useful for you here now that
the prize is drawn!  Congratulations to JEAN BULLOCK for
winning these mini paper packs!  Jean please send me
a Facebook message with your address so I can get
these papers in the post to you asap!


If you missed out on the giveaway I have ANOTHER one running 
on my Facebook Artist Page HERE & it closes on Saturday 
so you still have a few days to enter that one!



Saturday 24 October 2015

Home Decor Projects "Trade Secrets"Guest Post
Meet the First of 3 Altered Art Specialists!
And Learn how to create "Off-the-Page"!!





***Please note this is the personal intellectual property
 of Helen Tilbury & Ingrid Gooyer.  Sharing is caring 
but please credit me & link back to my blog if you do ***

Hello again you all!!  How are you all today?!  
I am really excited about today's post because I have some someone special sharing it 
with me today!!  Isn't that exciting?!  Well I sure think it is & I hope you do too!!
If you enjoy it please let me know by leaving a comment, in which case I will
continue this series of Trade Secrets posts from the best of the best!!

This post is a sequel to my original post about Home Decor/Off-the-Page projects
from a couple of days ago HERE.  If you missed it do go & check it out as I give
you my own Top 10 "Things to Consider" when venturing into making OTP
projects, that I know can seem a little scary if they are new to you!

Today I welcome & introduce to those of you who may not already know her :-

Ingrid Gooyer {Netherlands}


"Hi there!  I'm Ingrid & I live in Zaandam, a small place near Amsterdam,
 in the Netherlands.  I'm married to Rob & proud mom to 2 daughters, 
Tessa, 24 & Yiscka, 21.  I just love to be creative & play with all kinds of media
 & paints. I'm always looking for something I can alter & I can't live without gesso!"

Check out Ingrid's AHMAZING creations on her blog HERE & remember to
sign up as her official follower if you LOVE her content (see her followers'
gadget in her left hand side sidebar!}  I know she would really appreciate it!!

Now let's take a look at each ladies work & learn from them!!  
Here are some of Ingrid's brilliant OTP/Home Decor Projects...


What can we learn from Ingrid?  

1)  That every day items, & things that are used up/expended can be 
used to make amazing & interesting "talking point" pieces to decorate
 our homes or give as gifts to our friends!  

2)  This is not only environmentally friendly, but also a great way to save
 money, upcycle & jump off the consumer band wagon, 
using things we already own. 

3)  It's also a great example to our kids, not to be wasteful
 & also, how to be resourceful & creative!  


4)  Get yourself some interesting art mediums to get started!  Gesso is a firm
 favourite with Ingrid for her OTP/Home Decor projects, as is Crackle Paste!
Both of these mediums will be invaluable additions to your crafty shelves!  

5)  Not only is it great creative therapy making Home Decor/OTP projects,
but it also gives you the opportunity to create unique, original, 
statement pieces to match your home, your friend's home or
 even a client's home if you are an interior designer!  
Custom made art!!

Priming everything with gesso  before you start to decorate means that it is possible
 for you to then start with a "clean slate" & create personalised items that 
match your home decor colour scheme or in a friend's favourite colours,
 if you are making a gift.  Here Ingrid has changed a simple letter holder
 into a real talking point & work of art for her daughter's bedroom.


How "knock your socks off"gorgeous is this altered pumpkin?!  

WOW, WOW,WOW, I think it's just incredible! And to think it started out
 as an ugly orange PLASTIC pumpkin, uuuugh - now look at it!!  

6)  Often Ingrid adhere's paper "kitchen"towel onto her project before starting
 to gesso, like she has done here, to add some beautiful texture.  

7)  Another tip she has for us is to use gesso at the END of every project 
as well as at the beginning.  Lightly dabbing your attached elements
with gesso really subdues the colours to create beautifully
subtle pieces that are both classy & classic.  

Did you enjoy that?  Learn anything new??  Let me know in the comments
& don't forget to pop on over to Ingrid & join her blog if you love her work!!

IT'S ALSO THE LAST DAY OF MY GIVEAWAY HERE TODAY SO CLICK
IN TO LEAVE A COMMENT ON THE PRIMA BLOG HOP POST HERE
AS I WILL BE ANNOUNCING THE WINNER ON MONDAY!



If you enjoy reading my articles I would really appreciate you helping me reach
my goal of 1 000 Followers by the end of this year by checking that you are
a follower via Google Friend Connect in my top right side bar HERE. 


You can find my Facebook Artist Page HERE (where have a GIVEAWAY 
going on RIGHT NOW!! {it's easy to find as it's pinned to the top of my 
page but you can also read about it HERE} & I'm on Instagram HERE.