Steampunked

Just a quick post tonight as it’s nearly time to go home.
It has been a very busy week writing projects for magazine articles but I did manage to escape for a couple of hours this evening and have a play with this  birch ply door hanger from Calico Crafts. I decided to give it a steampunk theme.
Can you spot the party popper, plastic paintbrush handle, Perfect Pearls lid, cotton bud, lolly stick and googly eyes?
The good new this week is that my stamps are finally here and should be with retailers within the next couple of days! So to celebrate I will be launching a brand new competition with lots of sponsors!  There really are some fantastic prizes!!
Watch this space over the next couple of days!

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGER VIEW

Andy

Free craft projects availiable at http://www.andyskinner.org

So Soft!

I have never been a great lover of fabric paint, either the colour pigment has been poor, they tend to dry very quickly, which does not allow you to blend and work with the colours and they often set hard to the touch even after washing. Oh and then there is the whole heat setting thing to be done afterwards!
So when I was given a set of the new Decoart So Soft fabric acrylic I was not overly excited to get started with them but I have bitten the bullet and have to say they really are top notch!

Before I continue I would just like to make clear that I am not paid by Decoart to review their products but I am lucky enough to get samples from their range to experiment with. If I feel that a product is in anyway inferior or problematic whether it be from Decoart or any other manufacturer it will not appear on this blog and I would definitely not recommend it.

Glad we have got that sorted! lol   Anyway as I was saying they are great to work with, colour range and pigment is impressive and blending is a breeze. They are perfect for stamping and wash off the stamps with ease.  As the name states they do dry so soft and the best bit…..they need no heat setting!

Click Images For A Larger View

The first T-Shirt has So Soft fabric paint applied loosely with a flat brush. I then brushed a thin coat onto a glazed tile and picked this up with rubber stamps from my Word Up set and stamped onto the fabric.
Sorry, I was forced into doing the cupcake!

Andy

STEAMPUNK GOODIES

Look what the postman bought!

Whilst browsing the Calico Crafts website last week I came across their steampunk section and had to have these embellishments!
All of the antique brass steampunk metal pieces, charms, pendants etc in this range are nickel free and have a lovely, solid weight to them and these are just but a few of their selection! What do you think?


I also got the watch parts, sooo many of them in the pack!

All I need to do now is come up with a project to use them in.
You can Check out the full range here,
http://www.calicocrafts.co.uk
Andy

Free Decoart Workshops!

A reason for Absence

Here is the reason for the lack of blog updates over the last couple of days. Her name is Faith, 7lb 2oz and my second grandchild!…I know.. I know  I do look far too young before you all say it!! ......Well?... say it then! :)



Andy

A Time to Shrine

Hello all,

Had a go with the distressed wall effect on this 15cm x 22cm wooden Icon from the Craft Barn to see if it would give a worn and aged weathered wood effect and was really pleased with the results, its so quick and easy to do. I have also added a little frayed burlap Distress Ink to this project to add even more distress.


This was fun to do. I also used Decoart Perfect Crackle on the picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe to antique it.

Time to Pray!

Lots of planning and phone calls to make today for something very exciting!!!I I will reveal all when everything is in place but your going to love it!!

Have a great day,

Andy

Acrylic Blistering Alien Skin

Here is the last tutorial for the weekend.

A PDF version of this can be found in the tutorials section of this blog located on the tabs at the top of this page.

Materials
    300 GSM Cardstock
    Americana Acrylic Paint
    Heat Gun
    Treasure Gold Gilt Wax

1. Paint a base coat of acrylic onto the cardstock to seal it. I have just used leftover paint for this.


2. Once the base coat is dry apply a thick top coat, the thicker the paint the larger the blisters.This card has been painted with Americana  Burnt Orange.



3. With the top coat still wet start heating with a heat gun until the paint starts to blister, continue until happy with the effect.


4. Dilute a deeper colour with 50%  water and wash over the surface to give the blistering more depth. I have used Americana Deep Burgundy.


5. Load a flat brush with a lighter shade of acrylic and wipe most of the paint off onto a paper towel.Gently start dry brushing the surface on the raised areas until happy with the effect.


6. I like to finish of with a touch of Treasure Gold Gilt Wax and apply it with my finger highlighting some of the raised areas.


7. There are many ways of using this, one of which is to punch out shapes from the blistered cardstock to be used within your artwork.

Acrylic Salt Glaze Effect

Hello all,
A quick note on the last tutorial, Judi has commented that Blending solution should not be sprayed as it contains a resin so I have changed it to Isoclene or surgical spirit.
Here is the Faux salt glaze tutorial, This technique can be used with a variety of colours and is an ideal background for stamping or to use in a mixed media project.
Click on pictures for larger view


A PDF version of this can be found in the tutorials section of this blog located on the tabs at the top of this page.

    Substrate of your choice
    Americana Acrylic Paint
    Mini Mister
    Rubbing Alcohol or Isoclene
    Inks of your choice

1. For this quick method I am using the distressed wall canvas made in a previous  tutorial.
You can find it here


2. Water down a little Americana Buttermilk acrylic paint. I normally mix at 50/50.Apply this mix quickly over the surface of your piece.


3. With a Mini Mister filled with Isoclene or Surgical Spirit, spray the surface of the wet paint.


4. If you have your paint at the right consistency it should disperse immediately as pictured. You will notice I have brush lines on this piece which I don’t mind, but to avoid this happening use a large flat brush to apply the paint.


5. When the paint is nearly dry gently dab the surface with some paper towel.


6. Repeat steps 2, 3 and 5.


7. It should now look a little like this.



8. Load a blending tool with ink of your choice, here I am using a brilliance pad.


9. Start applying ink onto the acrylic surface gently blending.
I can’t resist putting a little distress ink on there too!


Please Note: Decoart Americana Acrylics have been used for this tutorial, if you are using a different manufacturer then drying times and reaction to the alcohol may differ.

Distressed Wall Effect Tutorial

Here is the first of the weekend tutorials, if you would like a pdf version you can find it in the tutorials section of this blog located on the tabs at the top of this page.
This is a simple technique that can be used as a background or it can be used in altered art to give an aged and weathered wall effect.
The next tutorial which will be posted later will show how to turn this into a Faux Salt Glaze background.
Click on pictures to enlarge

Materials used
    Any Substrate of your choice.
    Americana Acrylic Paint
    Isoclene or Rubbing Alcohol
    Sponge
    Mini Mister

1. Choose your acrylic base colours.The colours used here are Americana Copper, Burnt Orange and Deep Burgundy.



2. Load colours randomly onto a flat brush and cover the substrate without over blending them.Try to avoid colours that muddy.


3. Fill a Mini Mister with Isoclene or Surgical Spirit.


4. Now choose your top coat colours, I have used Americana True Blue and Light Buttermilk.
Repeat step 2.


5. Whilst paint is still wet spray the surface with the Isoclene solution and allow to dry for approximately 5 minutes.


6. Take a sponge and gently start wiping the surface revealing some of the colour beneath. Keep doing this until you get your desired effect.



7. Please Note: Decoart Americana Acrylics have been used for this tutorial, if you are using a different manufacturer then drying times and reaction to the alcohol may differ.

Like altered art? here is a trailer for one of my online workshops!

http://www.andyskinnercrafts.com/online-workshops.html

Time to concentrate

Hello,
I have been promising to do some tutorials over the past couple of weeks but have been busy painting samples and running workshops so apologies for that.  I have slapped myself firmly on the wrist and am going to concentrate all my efforts over the next 3 days in producing some tutorials and maybe even a video! The ones that come to mind are Acrylic Blistering and Faux Salt Glaze.
If anyone has another suggestion then please let me know as the 3 day tutorial marathon starts at 3pm tomorrow!

I will leave you with this wooden shelf from country love crafts which I painted this morning for display.


Have a great day,
Andy

Wooden it be lovely!

Hi everyone,
I have made a start on a couple of the wooden pieces and also a new chipboard item.
Below is a small key Chest from the Craft Barn which has been painted with Americana acrylic, a little bit of alcohol sprayed on and some Distress Ink. It was then finished with Decoart’s two part Perfect Crackle medium, I love this stuff as it is so controllable and you get great results every time.
Click on pictures for a larger view.


Next is a tin roof bird house, this again has been painted with Americana acrylic which is waterproof, a little Distress ink, Alcohol Ink for the tin roof and finally sprayed with some Perfect Pearls Mists.


And finally I just received this today, its a chipboard suitcase! It comes in two sizes, the smallest being 25cm x 20cm x 8cm and the next size up is 27.5cm x 22.5cm x 9.5cm.
It would make a lovely memory box. I have decorated this one Vagabond style to keep old postcards in!


Andy

 

The Goodies Have Arrived!

Hello,
I have spent most of today spring cleaning the training room, it’s unbelievable how much clutter builds up, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and throw stuff away knowing that you will probably have a need for it the following week!
This afternoon a few goodies arrived that I have been waiting for, all in wood and awaiting decoration!
Here is a peek!

Can’t wait to get started tomorrow.. Will keep you up to date on my progress.

Before I sign off I will leave you with this quick mixed media project on a 6” tile which was going to be thrown away today. mediums used are acrylic, inks, copper, image transfer, watercolour sticks and texture paste.


Andy