Learning Something New

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 Jeanette House. 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.

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 this link to join in the fun!

Antique Tag Tutorial

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.

Hope you enjoy it!

Neon Psycho-delia

A strange confluence of things going on here. I'm still battling with labyrinthitis which is affecting my balance quite badly and making me dizzy-woozy so I haven't got a lot of new stuff to show you. The doc gave me medication for it which helps but hasn't got rid of it. 

However, when I got round to reading the leaflet that comes with the pills I discovered that as well as being a treatment for seasickness and inner ear problems they're also an anti-psychotic used to treat schizophrenia and anxiety! Now I have suffered from anxiety for many years but not, as far as I'm aware, schizophrenia. So maybe if they don't fix my ears they'll stop the panic attacks huh?

Anyway, I digress slightly. I got meself a cool new stencil from Crafters' Workshop. Reminds me somewhat of a Bridget Riley painting. I tried it out on top of a background of neon pink and orange combined with some chalky lilac and baby pink craft paints. I think I'm on a mission to make things which once looked at will burn themselves onto your retinas in perpetuity!

I partnered it with a little tag which has a somewhat quieter feel and uses the negative imprint of the stencil, this time in distress inks. And bees - love this little bee stamp and I think the whole thing fairly buzzes so it seems quite appropriate.

Things I Almost Need

I'm sure I've explained this before but some of my sisters-in-artiness and I have this habit of being drawn to art supplies which we feel just have to be purchased because we 'almost need them'. So, I was in the art store the other day and, as always, perusing the paint aisles when what should I see but tubes of fluorescent acrylic paint! 

Normally I wouldn't go for such a thing, imagining these could only really be useful for posters or other in-yer-face kind of advertising projects, but I felt like a bit of experimenting so I picked up a fluorescent pink and orange and took them home with me. And you know what, it was a good call. They add a nice punch of unexpected traffic stopping colour on this tag and I'll be experimenting further to see what else I can do with them!

Tag Fun

Well, the beginning of another year and I hope it's going well for you all so far, yes? I have lots of stuff to show you but... I can't, not yet. I made a whole lot of little mixed media pieces over Christmas and New Year but they're all swappies for my fab girlies in Studio33 so until they've received them I have to keep the pics under wraps!

So instead I'll show you these: a tiny part of my ever growing tag collection. I recently got a 50-pack of large manilla tags which has revived my love affair with these babies. Tags are great tiny canvases for trying out products and techniques before you commit to a 'proper' project. If you don't already have some get down to Staples forthwith and buy a pack. Seriously, they're too much fun not to play with!

Too Soon?

Yes, it's only October but please don't hate me! I always end up rushing around a week before Christmas having done zero preparation so I challenged myself this year to acquire at least some semblance of organisation. So, having just purchased a few odds and ends from Hobbycraft I thought I'd try out some seasonal tags.

Favourite find was this Confetti Glitter Glue which has stars and snowflakes in it (how cool is that?!) and the Naughty or Nice stamp. I had to play with them right away and tags are brilliant for this; they're ideal little blank canvases and you don't have to stress about making a mess of them.

I rounded up some watered down re-inkers in mist bottles, washi tape, ribbon, the confetti glue and rubber stamp. Spread the confetti glue on the tag with a palette knife or something similar as it's quite thick and let it dry - this took several hours but the room wasn't very warm - then spritz with misters, add the stamp and washi tape fragments and finish with a ribbon bow. Super quick, apart from all the drying time, and easy, and I think it will make a nice addition to my Christmas gift wrapping!

Grow

So here we are: the first rose of summer. This is Ispahan, an old Persian damask which is always the first to bloom in my garden. Every year it astonishes me with its beauty and overwhelming perfume and really kick-starts my summer garden.

And now it's being joined by more early blooming lovelies. This is a little perennial viola called Etain, purchased at my local market and adding a big shot of sunshine on those grey days we always get in summer here.

Remember the tags I was working on in the post below? Well, inspired by my wee garden I made a bunch of blooms to decorate one of them and this is what I ended up with!

Currently available here

A Cheapskate Idea

I love buying new craft supplies as much as, no probably more than, the next woman but some of the stuff I'd like is a bit spendy and I'm always on the lookout for cheap DIY versions of it. Soooo.. I thought I'd share this little tip with you in case it's of use.

I've recently been playing with Distress Inks a lot and I like the kind of watercolour effect you get when you dab the pads straight onto a non-stick craft sheet and then pick the ink up with your paper.

I'd rather not spend £10 on one though so the other day I came up with this quick alternative. All you need is a piece of mat board or cardboard, some freezer paper and sellotape. You can make it whatever size is most useful for you, just wrap the freezer paper (shiny side up) over the board and stick down at the back. 

Notice how neatly I folded and stuck! OK, it won't last as long as an actual craft sheet but it's practically free and you can just replace the freezer paper as needed. I've been using mine for a few days now and it's bearing up well. Just wipe with kitchen towel when you're done and it's ready to go again!

And here's some I made earlier!

Tagging It

Some of my first ever collages, many years ago, were done on luggage tags. There's something about the quirkiness and informality of repurposed tags which I find irresistible. Add to that their small format and you have a perfect canvas with which to create little decorative objects. 

And what can you do with them? Well, obviously, you can frame them - a box frame is ideal - or use them in your journal, as bookmarks, or even as gift tags for a special present. I recently saw a whole collection of collaged tags which had been turned into a string of bunting for decorating a room, which I think is a fab idea and one I intend to try soon.

As for these two, you can find them in my Etsy shop if you want to start your own collection!