Gears Turning in My Head

 

Hello lovelies, this is Natassa Blazaki and today I am sharing one of my projects for the Spooktober Challenge run by Creative Expressions UK. If there is one team that’s always inspired by Skulls, Apothecary elements, Spells, Witchcraft and all sort of Dead Man Themes, that’s definitely Andy Skinner’s Creative Team. All the members will be sharing amazing spooky projects here in the blog but also over at Creative Expressions Facebook page. So, stay tuned for the whole month October and head over to Creative Expressions’ page to play along at the Spooktober Challenge.

For the “Skull Week”, I chose to alter a plastic skull, that I had bought from a toy store.

I wanted to give a grunge, industrial look to the skull, so I chose to embellish it with gears from Andy Skinner’s Industrial Elements greyboard kit by Tando Creative.

I started by applying a first coat of black gesso. I glued the cutouts on the skull with Quick Grab Glue. The tricky part was to fit the gears onto the skull’s rounded surface, because the greyboard is thick and does not bend. So, I spritzed the pieces with water and let them relax for a few minutes. Then, I split them in half and glued them on the skull while still damp and flexible. I added some crackle paste to create more texture.

Next, I mixed Andy’s Chalk Paints with Artist Pigments, creating a dark reddish-brown color and applied a coat. I did not mix the paints completely, to achieve a variation in tones and left some of the black to peek through. I let dry and then I continued only with Quinacridone Gold in random areas, but mostly around the gears. I let that layer dry well and then with a piece of natural sponge I dabbed a very thinned layer of white acrylic paint. I let it dry naturally and then I with an old brush I applied a wash of Cobalt Teal and Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide.

I did some dry brushing with white acrylic paint and continued with one more layer of Cobalt Teal and Quinacridone Gold, this time concentrating on the gears. I also used some  Cosmic Shimmer Mixed Media Embossing Powder Crystal Glaze to add to the gears’ texture. 

As finishing touches, I added one of my favorite rub on designs, the one with the pile of skulls from Andy’s Mixed Media Transfers “Curiosities” and did some partial stamping with one of the new stamps, the “Circuitree”.

I really hope you enjoy this project and get some inspiration for your Halloween projects. Enter your projects to the Spooktober Challenge and use the #CEspooktober tag. You may be a lucky winner!

I will soon be back with another spooky project.

Hope you have fun!

Natassa

👻🎃💀

Andy Skinner Creative Expressions

Artist Pigments 

Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide, Cobalt Teal Hue, Quinacridone Gold, Raw Umber

Chalk paints

London Brick, Mustard Seed, Chestnut

Rubber Stamps - "Circuitree"

Quick Grab Glue

Cosmic Shimmer Mixed Media Embossing Powders  - "Crystal Glaze"

Mixed Media Transfers - "Curiosities"

Tando Creative - Industrial Elements Kit

Miniature Retro Mirrors, by Natassa Blazaki

Hello my dears and welcome back to Andy’s Blog. Hope you got the chance to have some nice time with family during Easter. I also hope you’re all well and safe. Hang on there and craft craft craft 😊

Today I’m back with a cute project, that I had for a long time in my mind and particularly, since I first saw Andy’s Mixed Media Transfers “Retrology”.

So, I decided to try and replicate those retro advertising mirrors, I’m sure you’ve all seen them in diners or pubs, hanging on the walls.

I absolutely loved those transfers and I used all the designs to make a bunch of miniature mirrors. Then, I took a large piece of grey board, to make a wall panel for them.

Below, you can see a photo step by step for the mirrors and the background. 
Click on the images to enlarge and read the captions.

Miniature Retro Mirrors

Wall Background

Here are some close ups and you'll find a list of materials at the end of this post.

I really hope you enjoy this one and get some inspiration on how to use Andy Skinner's Mixed Media Transfers.

You all stay healthy and creative😘

Andy Skinner Matt Chalk Paint

Chestnut, Mustard Seed, Ocean Breeze

Olive Grove, London Brick

Cosmic Shimmer Andy Skinner Artist Pigment Paint

Payne's Grey, Quinacridone Gold, Raw Umber, Primary Magenta

Andy Skinner Mixed Media Transfers

Retrology

Andy Skinner Stencils

Inspire

Cosmic Shimmer Andy Skinner Structure Paste

'Dark' - Featuring Andy's new Creative Expressions Releases

Morning everyone,

I don't know if you have seen Andy's new releases yet, but they are really worth checking out.  I have been fortunate to try the new Structure Paste, the Stamps and new Chalk Paints, and they don't disappoint.

I made this arch with quite a few of the new products.  I started with the new Structure Paste, all over the front of the frame, in a thin layer.  It went on beautifully, spreads easily and dried nice and quickly.

The whole frame was then given a coat of sponged Chalk paints, in several colours, mixed in places.  The back plate was also given the same treatment with one less colour, as was the media board.

The book plate, Circle, flourishes & cog were painted, then crackle medium added.  I found that the Creative Expressions Crackle medium works with the Chalk paints, which was brilliant.

I stamped 'Cracked Up', all over the frame, 'Eye Spy' in the circle, and 'Distressed Mandala' in two different colours on the backplate and media board.  'Vanitas' was stamped in black ink and clear embossed, then varnished with Super Matte Varnish.

I stencilled the word Dark to put in the book plate, then used the Crackle Medium as a clear varnish, over the eye and the word.  As I wasn't putting a paint on top, it just gives a clear protective coat.

I hope you have had time to check out the rest of the team's work, and Andy's new products.  I'm sure you will have as much fun playing with them as I have. x

Best Wishes,

Nikki
xxx

Products Used:

Andy Skinner/Creative Expressions:
Stamps: Eye Spy, Vanitas, Cracked Up, Distressed Mandala.
Paints:
Matt Chalk in Olive Grove, Mustard Seed & Grey Haze.
Artist Pigment in Quinacridone Gold & Paynes Grey.
Mediums:
Structure Paste
Super Matte Varnish
CE Crackle Glaze
Andy Skinner Tando Creative Resurrection Arch Kit.

'Rice Bike' on Fabric - featuring the new Andy Skinner releases

Morning all.

I've made a little 5 x 7 canvas created using lots of Andy's fab new releases!

The base is made using rice paper onto the canvas board, 

then structure paste (which is the best I've ever used) through the Cog stencils.

 Layers of watered down chalk paint and dry brushing.

 Rice bike' stamped onto calico, vintage book page, fabric, a bit more stamping with 'cracked up' and lots of embellishments.

I loved making this and using all the new products! For a more detailed look at how I made the project, have a look at the full tutorial on my blog HERE.

Thanks for looking.

Suz

x

Products used:

Rice Bike Stamp, Cracked Up Stamp, Cogged Up stencil, Structure Paste, Rice papers, Chestnut and Warm White Chalk Paints.

Beauty attracts the eye Journal Panel

I love creating panels that can be put into journals and here is one I made using lots of Andy's new products.

This stamp is called 'Eye Spy' and look at the amazing detail on it.

It has been combined with a mixed media background using some of the chalk paints and pigment paints that Andy now has in his range and in the background you just catch a glimpse of the stamp called 'Distressed Mandala' which is great for adding depth and interest to the layers.

I added some of my own wooden hearts altered with paints and combined them with a lovely quote I found on the internet.

If you would like more details about how I put this panel together please pop over to
Bumblebees and Butterflies.

Thanks for stopping by.

hugs Brenda xxcx

Products

Chalk paints - Ocean Breeze, Mustard Seed, Chestnut and Olive Grove

Artist Pigment Paint - Prussian Blue

Stamps - Distressed Mandala, Eye Spy

Click the links to be taken to each product.