Try it in reverse.........

Good afternoon everyone.

Today's idea comes from one of those "what if" moments. I came across a piece of

foam material in the bottom of the drawer which, when heated, would remember the

impression of any textured material pressed into it, making a printing block (think it

was from City and Guilds days).

I used a PaperArtsy Eclectica stamp by Darcy

which normally prints like this

to make a reverse or negative print

in Fresco Finish Acrylic, and added a bit of painting

Of course this is a reverse image so I couldn't just stamp on top of it! But I went ahead

anyway :/ and got a sort of bouquet.......

with a bit of black pen doodling, a few die cut petals and leaves and a small script.....

Sometimes it is good to just mess about....... hope you don't mind Darcy!

Bye for now, P.

A Bit Like Zentangle.........

Hello All on a lovely sunny day!

My project today is the result of a bit of "wonder if" experimentation. It fits in with the

CMC blog really well.

I own quite a few paper cutting dies......... I think they are really clever, plus there is

something really... pleasing... about them in themselves (weird again!). They are like

little metal works of art :).

I have recently been trying a bit of Zentangle. I like the theory that it is relaxing and

absorbing.....a kind of meditation. In more practical terms, it is compact art and requires

few materials.

I am not very good at Zentangle.....or relaxing!

Anyway......

I decided at the weekend to get out a few dies and just cut them with nothing

particularly in mind, and see what happened.

It looks a bit like Zentangle!

Just black cut outs on white paper and a bit of pen drawing.

It helps to have two beautiful daughters to model when I need them.

I will do more of this, It's very relaxing.

Bye for now, P.

The random number generator.......

Good evening all,

With the help of my very sophisticated random number generator......

and an independent adjudicator............

The winners are
                                Deborah Wainwright..............Shadowbox
                                Craftimamma.......................Hanging mobile
                                Sarah B.................................Canvas
Please "comment" your postal address ( I will delete at moderation).

Thank you soooooo much to all who kindly commented.

I will post the goodies on Monday (no post leaves the Island at the weekend).

Will post again soon, Penny.

New product feature on PaperArtsy.......

Hello all,

              on today's PaperArtsy blog you will find three projects I made

using the new stamps designed by Elizabeth Borer. These are quite a departure

form my usual style (if I have one!) but it's good to stretch oneself occasionally.

These stamp sets are intricate and detailed and have a lot of possibilities.

I started with this layered diorama or shadow box

with a Christmassy feel followed by something dangly, which was almost impossible

to photograph because it wouldn't stay still and the dangly bits kept turning the wrong

way!

The third is a wintery canvas in a different colour scheme that turned out really

well. I took a few extra "in progress" photos

Take a look HERE to see what the other designers have come up with. But before you

do...... if you would like to have the canvas or the shadowbox, just leave a comment

below, and this time next week (Sat. 6th September) I will draw two winners out of a hat.

(Three if I can work out how to post the danglies :)  ).

Bye for now,  P.

                                                                                          

Digging deep.......

Hi everyone, welcome.

Now that I have finished my design team assignment I am faced with that terrible

thing.......choice! How many of us when limited creating time is available find

ourselves getting nothing done because the number of ideas in our heads is

overwhelming?

That's why the two dogs have smart haircuts and the hallway is newly painted.

For a long time I have been wanting to get back to some actual drawing and painting. I

used to paint a lot many years ago, even managing to sell some of my efforts! The paper

and several kinds of paint are still there, so now is the time. And it fits with the CMC

principal of using what I've got.

But I'm SO out of practice.

And I do strongly believe that anybody can draw if they practice........ there is no right and

wrong in art, but there is correct technique and that can be learned.

So.......lets learn together.

I want to start with the most difficult...... watercolour. Difficult because if you make a

mistake it is virtually impossible to put right. And you have to be patient, build up in layers

and try to avoid "muddy".

Easier said than done, as you will see.

Next problem....... what to paint?  I tell myself first, this will not be a finished masterpiece,

I have to learn the skills again. If it doesn't work, it's only a piece of paper, start again. I

would say though, don't throw it away just put it somewhere out of sight. It will be great

later to look back and see how much (hopefully) I have improved.

I took a book off the shelf, opened a page at random, and started.

A light pencil sketch...... not very good but I've actually made the first step!

I chose a big-ish brush to try and loosen up.

I remembered.....leave the white of the paper.....once it's gone you can't get it back!

Now for the good and the bad.

This is the better bit....... quite pleased.

This part is overworked. I tried to get in too close and lost the clarity :(

Never mind its only an exercise.  So lets try a bit of greenery

At last I've taken the plunge, and I want to do more, and you can just about tell what it is!

Thank you for listening,  P.

Ps.  Its quite scary sharing the learning process......