Happy Christmas

I just wanted to wish everyone in blog land a

Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Be still my beating heart

I cant help it i love this guy young handsome and talented this is one of my all time favourite songs that he sings. Got the new album the other day fantastic is all i can say.

Been to B&Q

Hubbie and I went to B&Q yesterday and I bought a large piece of MDF, which hubbie cut into 6x6 pieces and 2 18x12 pieces for me, I want to try and paint on something different well different for me that is . I have seen lots of peoples work on boards and wood and its turned out fab so fingers crossed.

But first I will have to give the edges a sand over and then paint the edges back and give the fronts a few coats of Gesso first .

Aw look at that mess in the background i really must tidy up don't ya think lol

Acrylic painting on canvas (lillies)

How long has it been since I bloged? been on the missing list in blog land for aaaaages, well I have a little bit of time on my hands so I though I would show you my latest painting it's a 16x20 canvas I used acrylic paint and charcoal for this one.

There's lots of layers to the background which I started without thinking what I was going to have as an image (eek) this made it really hard to decide what to add but in the end I went for flowers. Lillies are my favourite flower there's so many different types and there all so beautiful.

As you can see my drawing skills are still lacking the Lilly's are a bit iffy LOL but i tried and that's the main thing aint it i:-)

Right hand side

whole painting

Top half

Left hand side

Bad Blogger

I cant believe what a bad blogger I have been lately I have been so busy with real life I just havent had time to blog but im still alive and kicking and have stuff to show you so will be back soon I hope, I guess we all get our busy moment's in life when we have to put our cyber lives to the side for a bit.

How to make your own stamps video

This is a video of how i make quick easy and cheap stamps, great for art journals and mixed media work.The video is a bit rough around the edges but hey thats me LOL

Abstract painting

This might sound a bit weird but i had to paint this, I was watching the TV in bed with the light off and I caught a glimps of the tv in the door and Iwas hit with lots of colours and vague images on the door this image was stuck in my head all night. see I told you it sounded weird.

I used Acrylic paint and charcoal for this one im hoping to do more of these T.V refelection inspired paintings oh that sounds posh dont it tv reflection paintings LOL. so inspiration is everywhere even in the most unexpected places,

12x12 canvas mixed media painting

This is a 12x12 deep edged canvas mixed media painting using acrylic paint, foils, tissue paper,molding paste, and hot foils the photo does not do it any justice at all it really comes to life when the day light and the sun catches it



some close up's

Nude sketch 2

Second nude sketch she still has a manly face but if you look real closley theres something that slightly resembles a hand LOL, why are hands feet and even faces so difficult?. and urm arm and legs LOL

All changed sunflowers

Going back a few blog post's HERE i did a mixed media Van Gogh inspired sunflower painting that i was still working on well i didnt like it so i Gesso'd over the top and did this it's much looser and and i think its better as in not so uniformed this is what i was aiming for

Altered imagery and video

Another altered image as i said befor a few posts back i love to alter magazine images i did this vidoe a while back of me doing this one, its a bit rough round the edges LOL



Here's the video

My New Header

Do you like my new header? I love it so much, I thought I would share with you where I got it from just incase you ever want a new sig, avatar or some kind of graphics.

I got it from here It's just magic's sigs the banner is in my side bar, I just gave them an idea of what I wanted and they went from there. I even have my favourite quote embedded in there ;

Nude sketch 1

nude lady sketch this is another practice sketch still no hands or feet yet but she does have a face even if its a bit manly looking LOL

Altered Imagery

This is something i love to do, take magzine images(black and white are best) and repaint them and recreat the backgrounds

Klimt inspired nude

Ok i freely admit im not the best drawer in the world so have decided that practice makes perfect as they say, so in my case im going to practice practice practice everyday and try to draw at least one thing.

This nude drawing was inspired by klimt you can find out a little more about this wonderful Artist HERE .

I created my drawing with oil pastles

Cocoons

I have been playing at making a cocoon these are great fun to make i used a metal coat hanger for my center rod and old clothes to wrap around the rod to form the cocoon, in the first few layers i used string to hold my material in place and on the outer layers i used beads and wire.

This is the cocoon when i had finished wrapping the rod with cloth string wire and beads

These photos are of the cocoon after i set the heat gun on it to melt the material (if your going to try this do it out side) after you have heated the material it melts and goes hard ready for painting.





These are the photos of the cocoon after i painted it

My finished cocoon is now hanging in the corner of my craft room i don't suppose this would be everyone's idea of fun, but it is mine LOL i really enjoyed making it as its something a little different.

The End.................of Arty Girlz challenge blog

Today see's the end of the Arty Girlz challenge blog its still going to remain active as there still lots of inspiration to be had in the samplers and challenges we just wont be posting any more challenges on a Tuesday. Also the ongoing recycling challenge is still going to remain ongoing so you can still join in with that :-) and share all your recycled creations.

so this meens i will fingers crossed that is be posting more things on this blog, i have been so lazy and only been posting the Arty Girlz challenges.

I'll be back later with my cocoon ;

Last Arty Girlz challenge ~ Stamping

The very first Arty Girlz challenge was 'Stamping' so we have chosen that as our theme to end on

This will be the last challenge on Arty Girlz for the time being, we have both LOVED setting the challenges on Tuesday's but at the moment we are very busy with real life so Julie and I decided to call it a day.

The blog will not be deleted it will remain active as there's lots of inspiration still to be had from the samplers and challenges, who knows one day we might surprise you all and start it up again.

so i just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has join in with the challenges and a special thank you to the lovely peeps who have been there since the begining which was way back in 07. we are still going to be around on our own blogs so hopeful we can still vist and see what everyones up to.

Heres My ATC

Textural Painting

Another textural painting i used the 1 hour caulk again for the texture this painting is called

In between and is 8x8

Arty Girlz Blue and Yellow challenge

This weeks challenge on Arty Girlz is to use the colour combo Blue and yellow.

I created this textural painting called what lies Beneath using 1 hour caulk and eggs shells and different shades of blue and yellow.

I love how this area on the bottom right turned out.

Arty Girlz challenge #74 BUTTERFLIES

This weeks challenge on Arty Girlz is BUTTERFLIES

Heres my ATC i used pastles for the background the stamp is cherry pie and i hand painted the flowers with acrylic paint

wire

The challenge this week on Arty Girlz is wire

I have been playing with tissue paper

I used molding paste for texture when dry i used charcoal over the top to get it in the little nooks then painted the background. this is when i started playing with the tissue paper i tried to make flowers lol they kinda look flowerish but i think i need lots more practice LOL. I added wire in the stems when I was done

Arty Girlz weekly challenge #72 ~ FLOWERS

The challenge this week on Arty Girlz is Flowers

As usual the challenge is open into interpretation and you can choose your own format be it a card, layout, altered art,mixed mediad it up to you

A WORK IN PROGRESS

This is mine its a work in progress i started this about 2 weeks ago, I have never actually painted an image before i usually cut them out and glue them where i want them LOL so its a big thing for me to have actually painted it all,

I used molding paste for the texture and acrylic paint .. i have the basic structure down now i want to start adding some different elements to it like tissue paper tetro seal and also get the oil pastel's out and maybe some more layers ? I'm not sure where I'm actually going with it so I'm hoping it will get finished eventually.

some close ups

Arty Girlz weekly challenge #71 ~ Red and white colour combo

The challenge for this week over Arty Girlz challenge blog is to use a red & white colour combo
You can choose your own format this time so you may choose to do a scrapbook layout, atc, inchie, altered art etc or this could be a good time to get started on those valentine cards .



I made a card which i'm not keen on at all it is red and white but looks pink in the pic oh hum it is very red honest .....

I'll tell you why i dont like it my craft stuff is in the shed at the bottom of the garden and its been freezing down there even with the heater on so i threw the card together so i could come back in the warm so rushed is the word for it . LOL



I used red and white paint for my background applied with a roller cut and glued it to the card. painted my letters white and sanded them and added red text with a stamp. i sprinkled red glitter glue over the background the glued the letter's in place

Arty Girlz weekly challenge #70 Make an ATC

This weeks challenge over at Arty Girlz challenge blog is to make an ATC ~ ATC's measure 2.5" x 3.5" in size



"You could add your atc to a card to make a topper or add it to something you have created or you can simply make an ATC as we have done."



I had a go at making an Encaustic art ATC

Im Guest designer for the Object D'Art challenge blog

I was thrilled to bits when Jennie asked if i wanted to Guest Designer on the Object D'Art challenge blog,

From the list Jennie gave i choose to do the Altered book. This is what i came up with nothing like i first intended but that's always seems to be how it goes for me LOL.

painted pages on inside ready for journaling

This is what i did to alter the book its quite long winded so you may need to go make a cuppa first and get some bickies if your going to read it. oh and may be sit in a comfy chair LOL

I got my book from a sale at the Library for 50p can't grumble at that can you.

Firstly I found an old photo frame and used the glass as a template to cut the front of the book out, then i covered the front of the book with Golden molding paste, to this i added crushed egg shells and let it dry.when dry i used red yellow and gold acrylic paints on the cover over the shells and also on the back of the book.




when it was dry i covered the whole front of the book with a mixture of Tetrolseal car paint (its the black tarie stuff you use on the underneath of cars to stop it rusting) and turps then used a rag to wipe it back to the paint, it gives a lovely rich colour and depth to the texture. (you can also use a cotton bud with some turps on to wipe some of the paint back on random bits of the shells for more effect if you like) oh and don't panic when you see your work has turned black LOL it will be ok .




I used the card that was in the old frame to create my picture i used the same colours for the background as the book then cut out the image and glued it in place, i used a water colour crayon in black and smudged it around the image and edges I also did that around the cut opening. I then glued the picture to the front page of the book, then glued the glass in to the opening that was cut out previously just ran glue around the edge.



I used an old earring for a charm,(just made a hole and used wire) and glued the charm words around the book and added an ivy rub on. Then i screwed 4 screws in to each corner which kind of binds the first inch or so of the book together.
on the inside of the book i covered the first pages with paint ready for when i use the book as a journal to keep techniques in the first is going to be how i made the book.

where's it gone

Has anyone seen my mojo i spent 2 hours yesterday infront of my art supplies trying to think of something to do and nothing, do this happen to anyone else, my head is swimming with stuff but is stuck in there LOL.

I want to do so much that im doing nothing "sigh"

Arty Girlz challenge "Button it"

This weeks challenge on Arty Girlz is yep you got it BUTTONS just use buttons on your creations, as usual our challenges are open to all formats and interpretation, create what ever you like but it must have at least 1 button on it.





Heres mine, A 4x7 post card






Materials:


Acrylic paint, Red yellow and gold

brayer,

black watercolour crayon

Image is from Heather

Buttons.

Arty Girlz challenge

The Arty Girlz challenge this week is to create anything But a card.

so I made an ATC.


Materials used:

Acrylic paint , green blue ,gold

stickles

stazon ink

stamps

smoked glass chips.

Happy New Year

Happy new year everyone

I haven't made and resolutions because I'm no good at keeping them so what's the point of putting pressure on myself over something i wont stick to LOL well that my excuse anyway.

Have you made any?