Hi again . Wow what a crazy 2 weeks I have had . I went back to work after Christmas to find out the company I worked for was closing its doors so I was made redundant . Then I had an interview and got another job doing similar to what I was doing. It is a pay drop ,but its work and I can work my way up . So I have had a major head spin trying to get my head around everything and deciding what I was going to do .I had 4 days not know what I was going to do and not sure if anyone would put me on as I am due to have surgery on the 21st of this month . I decided it was time to take controll and do some of the things I really wanted to do so I  put in an application to do a Advanced Diploma in Inter Transpersonal Art Therapy . I got accepted and am waiting to here if there is enough people to start the classes . So I have had a bit of time to playas well  . 

When I lived in Sydney I bought a wooden frame that holds a scrapbook protector page . I use it to display my work when teaching and have step by step pages that I flip over . Everyone asks where I got it as they want one . I decided to have a go at making them . Below is my first completed raw pine one on the right . The white on on the left is the original bought one . 

I love this frame but think its a bit plain so I decided to dress it up a bit .

                                                         

Here is a front photo of the dressed up and finished . Yeah doesnt look much does it wait till you see the sides . 

 

This is the first side I did . after I had finished it I thought it needed some micro beads to make it complete .

Here it is with micro beads . What do you think better with micro beads or with out ?? .

This is the  opposite side . I used some chipboard laser cuts from Scrap FX on this side   http://www.scrapfx.com.au/store/index.php  . I had fun making this little fairy . I have always had a fascination for magical creatures . Fairies Mermaids Dragons ,they all appeal to me and make they when every I can.

A close up of the Fairy I think Ill be making another one real soon . I really enjoyed making this frame and have start some more . I may even sell some of them . Thats all for now peeps . Stay safe and keep scrapping . 

Hi again just uploading a set of canvases I finished on Christmas eve . I started out with three blank canvases which I painted with black gesso. I used Monte Mart to see how it went compared to the 

Dina Wakley  and Golden one I had been using . I found on the canvas and over texture paste the coverage was good ,but when I started to paint over metal the coverage wasn't as good .

To get a good coverage I had to do two coats over the metal charms, which take a bit extra time and you can feel there isn't the TOOTH in the gesso as the others have .

As you can see I left a few charms unpainted . The white circle is a mirror . and there is a small clock at the top and a prima zipper which has a word on it and I was worried I would loose the word if I coated it in gesso .

I used mica powder and gel medium to colour the back ground . I used little blue , aquamarine, and maroon .  I found that when painting the mica on because the gesso doesn't have the same kind of thick coat feel to it I used more mica to get the colour effect and coverage I wanted, but not a significant amount .

I used a variety of colours on the charms to have them stand out from the back ground .Once I had finished painting the mica on I glued on a mixture of seed beads, micro beads and glass flakes around the charms . The glass flakes look a bit like snow .

Here are all three canvases finished, awaiting photos . This photo has quite a green look to the black gesso no matter what light i moved it in to I couldn't get it to change . I didn't have this problem with the other project when using other bands of gesso. I do believe it is  from the type of pigment base that is used to make the black gesso. In RL these canvases are a real blue colour .I am not an expert photographer so it may be my skills .Please bare in mind this is only my reality as I perceive it .

I  can see and feel the difference with the products that I have used . So I would advise anyone to try it your self . Monte Mart is really inexpensive product that we can get here in Australia easily  compared to some of the other brands out there that are more expensive and only available in craft shops. I have found a few issues with Monte Mart  to bare in mind when using it. When your just playing these  can be worked around, but if you want a piece that you want  to show case and highlight and will photograph well and show true colours in those photos use a better quality product. I used about a half of a jar of Monte Mart on these canvases where as I would have used at least two of the other brand . So price comparison is $6 for Monte Mart compared to $20 of the Dina Wakley Gesso or Golden gesso  . It would say I spent a couple of dollars more on the mica and gel medium as well when using Monte mart .
 I hope that some of you find this helpful . please let me know what you think , until next time stay safe and keep crafting its cheaper than therapy ....... Sharon

Hi I have been busy all weekend making an album that a friend asked me to make for his sons upcoming wedding . The colours for  the wedding are orange black and white with a Gatsby theme . This was really hard . So this is what  I came up with hope everyone is happy with it .

I have put in about 26 hours of work on this one .  

 Firstly the assembly of the pages it has 12 pages of the inner album all have pockets .

  Next was the cover of the album from chipboard

 Next I had to cut all the tags for the album . there are 44 tags all together . Well it is a wedding album there  will be heaps of pics to fill it . The idea was to have a page for a pic and the other side of tag is for journaling  so each tag has paper one side and white cardstock on the other . They are having deposable cameras on each table lots of pics will be taken .

 Covering the cover and doing the inside of cover as there is pockets on front and back and three little boxes to put memorabilia in .

 Another shot of the many tags I had to cover .

The Album cover. I cut a heart shaped hole in the front cover as a picture frame to put the couples photo in . This was an after thought and I will never do it again when the whole album is pieced together . It was hard , but think it turned out ok . You can clearly see the hole in the next shot .

Inside the front cover , this is where the photo of the couple goes .

                                                     
                                                          Some of the pages with trims

A close up of the album cover ,faux leather binding . I love how this technique  turns out .
Firstly you emboss it ,then spray it with some mists, dry it off, then coat it in PVA glue and let it dry . It becomes very durable and has a leather look to it .

                                   
                                          More pages seemed like they went on for every ' LOL

           
                                                                      More pages ..

 Some of the tags I made them as double flaps . I used 50 sheets of cardstock on this project

It was a big job and I only had a few days to do it in . Well its finished and now to clean up . LOL  the best part .
                                                  Till next time stay safe and keep scrapping . 

I finished this canvas this week . Once again I have used texture paste threw a stencil then when dry painted with black gesso . to add colour mix gel medium and mica powder and dry brush it all over canvas . 

The heart is in a shadow box that is from TwiddleyBitz and  I cut a whole in canvas and stuck it in . I covered the ornate frame with texture paste ,when dry painted it in black gesso and  coloured it by mixing gel medium and mica powders and dry brushing it over . Once it was dry I added seed beads on top . I also added micro beads on top of the woodgrain on the back ground to give it a more bark like effect .

 
This little fairy was a delight to make , to me she is the guardian of the trees heart . Her wings are cut from a Tim Holtz, butterfly die and embossing folder  . Then I painted them with black gesso . once dry I dry brushed on gel medium . I added the little metal doll last of all . I love these little dolls . they are so cute . They are designed to be on necklaces.

You can see in this project just how different you can make your colours appear. You don't have to just use mica powders, there are lots of other products out there that you can use to create the same look , just give them ago . The best part is if you try it and don't like it you can always give it another coat of gesso and start again . I hope you are a little bit inspired to try out some new products and ideas. Remember to stay safe and stay scrapping until next time .

Hi everyone yes Iam on a roll the last 2 weeks . I have lots of time to my self and played . In these photos I have altered a folder . It was craft board so was really easy to cover . I start with texture paste threw a stencil . I have been asked a few times where I got this script stencil . I really cant remember . it was from a site that also sold flowers . In Malaysia some where I think . if Iam wrong and some one figures it out please let me know so I can let others know where to get it . the words are all about friendship . Once it had dried I painted it all in black gesso .and coloured with gel medium and mica powder . 

 Once again I did a lot of clustering with charms and layers of them , then coated them in black gesso .and coloured them with gel medium and mica powders .

Once it had all dried I added micro beads and stick beads . I also added seed beads but forgot to take another photo LOL .this would make a great art journal .

Here is a canvas I did last week . The small frame is for a photo . Lots of my favourite charms . covered in black gesso and coloured with mica powder and gel medium . I love the effect that this technique gives it has to be a favourite  of mine . 

Here are some close ups of the cluster of charms . this is fun building the layers untill your happy with it .I love anything mystical and fairies would have to be on the top of the list . After all they are just tiny  mischievous angels .

A close up of the beads firstly micro beads then sead beads then I added rice beads and larger seed beads .they just enhance the over all texture and feel of the piece .

Hope you enjoy looking . 

Hi everyone life is so busy at times its so nice to be able to unwind and do some crafting 

Here is a canvas I did recently . I bought a mold of a dolls head and torso and my grandson broke its head off so I decided to use it as a dress form for a fairy's dress . Iam very happy with how it came out .

  

This close up shows abit more detail on the back ground . I used modelling paste over some gauze and the used a brick stencil . once it was dry I coloured it with mica sprays and inka gold paste .The wings are heat embossed with extra glitter added .

The bodice is just mica flakes the skirt is tulle and gauze and lace coated with gel medium and glitter and flowers added last . hope you enjoy looking ,till next time stay safe and keep scrapping .