tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214358702024-03-14T05:01:13.413+00:00every colour in the boxan arty-crafty lifeFrancescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.comBlogger402125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-35389693082440165592016-02-03T23:05:00.000+00:002016-02-03T23:07:29.722+00:0029 Faces - Day 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Party Hat, today's challenge drawing. More coloured pencils because I'm trying to learn how to use them. Sorry it's not a better photo, the light is rubbish today!</span></div>
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<br />Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-75131120128815805142016-02-01T16:01:00.000+00:002016-02-01T16:01:21.244+00:0029 Faces Challenge<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well hello! I've been off the grid for a while but decided now would be a good time to try getting back into a bit of artiness, and to that end I'm going to have a go at doing the <a href="http://29faces.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">29 Faces</a> challenge this month. I don't do nearly enough drawing and faces are fun! So here is day 1: she's a little coloured pencil illustration on printer paper. Check out the link above to find more information about the month long challenge and sign up if you'd like to.</span></div>
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Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-63973781424598381762014-07-05T13:26:00.000+01:002014-07-05T13:26:34.907+01:00Just a Moment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've belatedly joined <a href="http://instagram.com/francescaburras" target="_blank">Instagram</a> having only recently got a smartphone and been dragged into the 21st century! I'm finding it fun to use and have started doing the <a href="http://100happydays.com/" target="_blank">100 Happy Days</a> project which is enjoyable and (sometimes) quite a challenge. If you haven't tried it, give it a go and let me know what you think.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lots of stuff going on chez Every Colour at the moment and I don't seem to be getting a lot of time to make arty crafty goodies, though I did do a quick video a week or two ago where I muddled my way through a journal page - complete with goofy mistakes!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm currently quite obsessed with making notebooks and journals again. Having just discovered the wonderful world of <a href="http://www.midori-japan.co.jp/tr/" target="_blank">Midori</a> and the 'Fauxdori' idea - basically making your own version of these utterly gorgeous leather journals - I have been doing lots of research and dipping my toe into working with leather, something which is totally new to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here's my first attempt. It's sized to hold Field Notes or A6 notebooks and I'm pretty pleased with how it's turned out. I also plan to make a traveller size and I'll post pictures when I do.</span></div>
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Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-56093957906802559512014-05-22T11:13:00.001+01:002014-05-22T11:13:22.375+01:00Waiting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A long time ago I bought a box of 6"x6" canvases and promptly forgot about them as other stuff got in the way. Well, I found them again a week or two ago and realised it's been ages since I worked on canvas. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Paper or board is often an easier option for the sort of heavily textured and layered pieces I like to make now because it doesn't have that natural give to it that a stretched canvas does and I find it easier to print or stamp or collage on. So a challenge for myself here, to see what I can do!</span></div>
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<br />Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-19981715776200772302014-04-06T11:11:00.000+01:002014-04-06T11:12:05.827+01:00New Video - A Series of Postcards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Finally, I managed to get a new video filmed and edited. I'm working on a series of small postcard sized pieces here. I find that working on several pieces at the same time is helpful for quieting the inner critic and allows me to work more quickly and intuitively so it's something I like to do regularly if I can. Hope you enjoy the video!</span></div>
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<br />Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-71449078023993633532014-03-29T10:09:00.000+00:002014-03-29T10:09:27.389+00:00Blankety Goodness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I feel like I've been in hibernation recently with not a whole lot of anything going on other than curling up by the fire and dreaming of spring. Well, the days are lengthening and slowly, slowly the weather is improving so I intend to dig out the video camera and start recording some arty stuff again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the meantime though, here's what's been occupying me over winter. The blanket above was made for my daughter as a Christmas gift; lots of greys and cream with just a pop or three of neon pink. The blanket below is a present to myself, the idea being to make something bright and cheerful for my bedroom. Well it certainly is, and I love seeing it whenever I go in there! If you'd like to make something similar, I got the idea, and the colour selection, from <a href="http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2010/07/the-granny-stripe-tadah.html" target="_blank">Lucy's Blog</a>. And I love the little edging she dreamed up for it too!</span></div>
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<br />Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-37703752608349544742014-03-07T22:53:00.000+00:002014-03-07T22:59:03.612+00:00Project Life and Journalling Cards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is what I've been playing with this week. I made a whole bunch of cards to fit Project Life folders or just to use for journalling on. They were all printed on my 6" gelli plate and I'm just in the process of adding text to some of them.</span></div>
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Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-72830645224456406552014-02-11T15:42:00.000+00:002014-02-11T15:42:48.792+00:00Organise This<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In another of those pieces of synchronicity which sometimes happen I've been encountering all sorts of things to do with personal organisers lately and I finally went, 'ok, I get it'. I need to work on changing some stuff in my life and (the horror!) getting better organised is part of the process. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So here's my plan: I am old school, in that I'd rather use paper and pen to keep track of things than an electronic gadget, so I found this luvverley Filofax A5 Domino in a sale and snapped it up!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is it when I unpacked it. Nice, huh? But I wanted to make it less 'officey' and more arty so I set about tricking it out with customised bits and bobs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The landing page had to be something which would make me want to use the planner, in fact that is the whole ethos behind what I'm doing here. If I make it a happy, fun place to keep everything in then I will be much more likely to work in it. So, the page is a gelli print I cut to fit and then decorated with washi tape, paper flowers and little letter charms.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the front I have a few business cards, paper clips, shopping lists and a variety of notelets and stickers to decorate my diary pages like so:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This week, being Valentine's, is all about lurve. It was pure fun using stamps, tape and stickers on these pages and just playing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In my next post I'll share some more of this work in progress, and whether it's bringing any order to the chaos, so stay tuned!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-75372672946743647962013-10-09T15:28:00.000+01:002013-10-09T15:28:11.666+01:00Greetings!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Just been playing with my little 6" Gelli plate and a few blank greetings cards. I also added matching borders to the envelopes. The cards were finished off with a bit of stamping and homemade washi tape. Lots of fun!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-68011292084808696882013-09-13T11:42:00.000+01:002013-09-13T11:42:52.825+01:00A Little Bit Of Gesso & Ink<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Making background papers is always fun - and useful too - so I put together a little video tutorial to share with you on these. They're very quick and easy to do, require only a few ingredients and will give you some lovely results!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have been having some time off from creating to nurse my poorly dog who's got pneumonia but he is, thankfully, on the mend now so I thought I'd ease myself back into things with a little play time. Hope you enjoy watching.</span><br />
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Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-76534027562589275832013-07-30T12:18:00.000+01:002013-07-30T22:41:10.978+01:00Playing With Pattern<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Following on from my previous post about texture plates, I decided to make a little video about different (mostly recycled/free) stuff that you can use for creating patterns on your gelli plate. I like commercial stencils and stamps but I have to say it's usually much for satisfying to come up with my own 'tools' for pattern making. Have a look and see what you think.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have you got a favourite tool for printmaking? Do share, I'd love to know!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-2786699966686146792013-07-28T16:00:00.000+01:002013-07-28T23:36:36.349+01:00Hot Work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's been incredibly hot here for the last three weeks or so, too hot really for printing before the paint dries on the plate, but I have finally got round to doing a little something. In a previous post I mentioned that I'd won a Gelli Arts giveaway and had some boards to make texture plates with as well as a 6" gelli plate. So here are my first attempts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The top picture shows a plate made with stencils and modelling paste. The band across the top was done with Golden crackle paste which, as you can see, produces a craquelure finish when it dries. The one in the second picture has stencils and modelling paste again with the addition of glass bead medium across the top.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have to say I had mixed results with these when I used them on the gelli plate. Joan's post <a href="http://gelliarts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/gelli-monoprinting-with-molding-paste.html" target="_blank">here</a> shows some excellent prints using this idea and I was hoping to have something similar to share. However, for whatever reason, I wasn't totally satisfied with my results. The patterns didn't always show up particularly well on paper and that may be to do with the way I constructed the plates - perhaps the modelling paste isn't even enough, or perhaps it was something to do with the heat or my choice of paper, I don't know. I will try again though and report back, and if you fancy having a go yourself I highly recommend the video I linked to above.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anyhoo, here's a card I did make successfully with the texture plates </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">- gelli printed and collaged!</span><br />
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Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-64480254692028515482013-07-06T11:20:00.000+01:002013-07-06T11:20:04.437+01:00Back To Nature<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It looks as though we are finally having a bit of proper summer weather here this weekend and I have all the windows open to let the scent of roses into the house. Someone asked me the other day where I get the ideas for some of the more abstract work I do and the answer has to be, more often than not, nature. In my garden, on walks I take with Sam, I can't help but be fascinated by the songs of the birds, the way grasses move in the breeze, the colours and textures of leaves, trees and the landscape in general.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All this feeds into what I make and makes life so much more enjoyable too. When did you last spend time at rest in your garden or the local park? Do it today if you can, even if only for fifteen minutes or so. Just sit in a chair, lie on the grass, or shelter under a tree if it's raining, and pay attention to the sights, sounds and scents around you. I promise you'll feel all the better for it!</span><br />
<br />Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-73391872646823044352013-07-04T17:18:00.000+01:002013-07-04T17:19:46.962+01:00Good Luck!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Look what arrived today! This is the prize I won in one of the giveaways over on the <a href="http://gelliarts.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Gelli Arts blog</a>. I am really looking forward to having a go at making some texture plates to use in my printing and playing with this cute little 6" gelli plate!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Also, check out the lovely card that Joan sent with my goodies. Yes, it's got metallic gold all over it. Heaven!</span></div>
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<br />Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-65039627113629448452013-06-25T11:03:00.000+01:002013-06-25T11:04:49.663+01:00Gellis Again!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, I have been finding other things to do with my stash of Gelli prints and one thing I decided to do was add paint and collage to an 'unfinished' print. Follow along with me here as I show you what I did!</span><br />
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<br />Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-90910455890994075422013-06-13T16:29:00.000+01:002013-06-13T18:46:50.345+01:00Be Happy Here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just finished another video, this time it's a walk through one of my journals followed by a process piece as I make this page. You might be surprised by how it looked to start with when you see where it finished up, but that's part of the fun of creation. I often don't know where things are going until they get there, and that's ok once I let go of any preconceptions I might have and let things just happen!</span><br />
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<br />Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-87188937669990812822013-06-12T16:59:00.000+01:002013-06-25T10:09:16.813+01:00Coming Up Roses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We are having a very patchy summer so far with more cold winds and dreary days than sunny ones. But despite that my beautiful Abraham Derby rose is in bloom and looking perfect with its huge pink and apricot flowers and fresh tea rose fragrance. I have a pot of pelargonium Apple Blossom nestled next to it which is the perfect complement with its pale pink and white flower heads. Lovely!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-70425877591636182702013-05-30T13:22:00.000+01:002013-05-30T13:22:09.217+01:00Gelli Journal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have been gelli printing a lot this last couple of weeks and decided to go ahead and make my new art journal with a pile of the prints I'd done. I'm really looking forward to working in it too!<br /><br />Check out the video below if you'd like to have a guided tour of how I created it.</span><br />
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Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-61996082644265460802013-05-20T12:05:00.000+01:002013-05-20T12:05:34.354+01:00Telling the Bees<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another video this week, this time of a journal page. I am doing a series of loose pages which I plan to bind together at a later date. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It occurred to me the other day that I have seen virtually no bees so far this year and you may well be aware that bee populations are in decline all over the world. It looks like organo-phosphate insecticides could be playing a big part in this and it has potentially very serious repercussions for us all if numbers of pollinating bees keep falling, so if you have a garden make sure you do everything you can to welcome bees into it by planting the sorts of flowers they love and not using pesticides!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Folklore tidbit: there is an old superstition amongst beekeepers that you must tell the hive of any significant events - births, marriages or deaths for example - or they will swarm and you will lose your bees for good.</span></div>
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Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-65783955083471732452013-05-17T23:17:00.002+01:002013-05-17T23:17:40.748+01:00At Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I forgot to share these earlier so thought I'd do so now. Another couple of 5x7 pieces with my cheery little houses which I made as New year's gifts. </span></div>
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<br />Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-73524078386671757632013-05-16T09:30:00.000+01:002013-05-16T09:30:25.417+01:00Pot Head<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I think I have got to that stage in my life where I start saying, 'If I could have my time over again...'. Well, the more I make pots the more I believe I would love to have devoted a big chunk of my younger life to truly learning this craft. There is so much to understand, practice and explore that it really is quite mind blowing and I wish I had the energy of a much younger me to do it all! Still I am very grateful for the opportunity to go back to it now and remember what a joy it is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here's three general purpose little pots I made a few weeks ago. I don't know the names of the glazes because the class I was at then didn't give that sort of info on them, but they are very pretty and I love the way the colours have mixed and broken.</span></div>
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<br />Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-51754934298111684152013-05-06T11:30:00.000+01:002013-05-06T11:31:42.045+01:00Learning Something New<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is a wonderful new artists' community you may not have come across yet so I thought I'd give you the lowdown on it. It's called One Little House and is the brainchild of my lovely chum <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JHOneLittleHouse" target="_blank">Jeanette House</a>. It has a growing number of video classes - paid and free - with more to come throughout the year, including some by me! They're aimed at all levels of ability and there are discussion groups where you can talk to the tutors and other students in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For starters, you might like my free tutorial on making the cute little tag above. So if you'd like to watch and try this or something else for yourself just follow <a href="http://onelittlehouse.ning.com/?xgi=4FepiWY7Vcbybk" target="_blank">this link</a> to join in the fun!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-46681853313774880662013-05-04T11:13:00.000+01:002013-05-04T13:58:11.846+01:00My New Toy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I finally jumped on the Gelli wagon! I've always loved printmaking so, better late than never, I got myself a Gelli Arts plate and started experimenting with different paints and inks. If you'd like to see the process here's a video:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have to say, it is great fun to play with and I plan to do lots more trying stuff out on it. The prints I pulled will mostly be used as backgrounds and I'll likely add other elements to them such as stamping, drawing and collage. Might even make them into a small journal when I've got enough!</span></div>
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Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-1930510200180534212013-04-19T19:46:00.000+01:002013-04-19T19:46:27.525+01:00Antique Tag Tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here it is then, my very first foray into video making. If you'd like to know how to make a tag like the one in the photos take a look at the tutorial and I'll show you! And if you have any questions or thoughts please leave me a comment.<br /><br />Hope you enjoy it!</span></div>
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Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21435870.post-62740072417091616762013-04-17T15:25:00.000+01:002013-04-17T15:25:08.869+01:00You Know What This Means!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, here is my new video camera, just out of the box and charging up. I am very excited because I've never had a camcorder before and now that I have I can make arty crafty videos! And I got a sweet deal on it at Tesco. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Coolness!</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<br />Francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05431287298058419329noreply@blogger.com0