Sugar Skull Jewellery - by Nikki K

 Morning everyone, 

It's been a while since I posted, but wanted to share these fun necklaces with you using Andy's fab Sugar Skull stamp, which is a great size for cards and art, but also for jewellery, it makes a large necklace easily.  It's also great for coming Halloween, to make your own decorations!

I used some of Andy's Rice Papers, and stamped the skull out in different places.  This is fun as you can use any of the rice papers and get a fab different pattern on each skull.

The next bit is tricky, you need to leave the skulls on the paper, and wind some wire, probably 18 to 20 guage (it's slightly more pliable), around the skull.  I cut a long piece, then start at the bottom of the skull, and work my way up both sides.  Keep it flat on the paper, and glue with strong glue as you go.  You will need to hold this for longer than you think, and get sticky fingers.. lol.  Don't hold it down with anything other than your fingers as the paper has a chance of sticking and ripping.

When you get to the top, bend one piece of wire straight (90%) and make a large loop (like making an earring).  I would cut the wire a bit shorter for this step, but not so short that it can't be hidden.  Take the other end of the wire, and wrap around the loop to hold and secure.  Only when this has completely dried, did I cut out close to the wire on the outside.

Once you have this done, cover the whole of the front of the pendant with glue (pva) is fine.  Do this 2 or 3 times, making sure there are no gaps between the edges of the wire and the paper.  You are making a bezel to hold resin.  If you don't have resin, you could use melted UTEE, or another 3d Glaze.

When completely dry from the glue, you can add your resin or glaze, according to manufacturer's instructions.

You don't need to coat the back of the necklace, it has a rough texture but is sealed from the layers of glue anyway.  I like it this way as it shows it is handmade.

Hope you like them, 

Have fun making. xx

Nikki K.

xx

Products Used:
Andy Skinner Creative Expressions Sugar Skull Stamp
Andy Skinner Creative Expressions Rice Papers,
Andy Skinner Quick Grab Glue.

Other items: Versafine, Resin, jewellery wire & findings.

'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.

Andy's new Products - by Nikki Killinger

Morning everyone,
.
If you saw Andy on Create & Craft on Thursday, you will know all about his fantastic new products.  And if you didn't, I'm sharing a couple of them here on my project.  I have to say they are pretty cool!

I opted to do a small canvas panel that 'jumped out' at me when I was tidying up, or attempting to find a space to work in more like.

I wanted to play with the new Lava paste, and decided just to palette knife it all over the panel, with no particular pattern.  When you heat this stuff it does it's own amazing thing, depending on how thick or thin you apply it, it gives an amazing texture as you heat dry it.  I gave the whole panel a wash of paint with a bit of Paynes grey media fluid acrylic and water.  Next I painted White Antiquing cream all over, and when dry, rubbed back leaving the white between the texture.  This was followed by some Ultra matte varnish, to seal the Antiquing cream, before giving a 'dirty wash'.

I wanted to add Andy's new transfers, and try them over the texture, which they were made for.  I actually couldn't believe how easy they were to apply, and how well they go over texture.  No more stamping on tissue on uneven surfaces for me.

I built up a background with the transfers, overlapping some of them as well, which works perfectly.  Some neat Quinacridone gold was added to the panel as rust drips, and I darkened the edges.

I stamped and fussy cut the new 'Gypsie Queen' Moth stamp, and added Triple Thick Glaze before curling the wings and adding to the panel.

This was more like a play day than 'making a sample' day, it was great fun seeing what the new products can do.

I also made a quick pair of shrink plastic earrings some of you may have seen already, but thought I'd add them here.  Simply stamped with the Gypsie Queen stamp.

Thanks for stopping by, we appreciate it. x

Best Wishes,

Nikki K.
xxx

Products Used:

Lava Paste - Creative Expressions
'Gypsie Queen' stamp - Creative Expressions
Poe Diversity Transfers - Creative Expressions
Alchemy Plus Transfers - Creative Expressions

DecoArt Media Line: Quinacridone Gold, Paynes Grey, White Antiquing Cream, Ultra Matte Varnish.

Triple Thick Glaze.

Industrial style box by Monika Maksym

Hi !
It's Monika here with my newest project. 

This time I will show you how to create quick and easy industrial box.  For my project I’m using 16x 16 x7cm wooden box.

First step was to apply modeling paste through stencils on the lid and on the front. Then, using strong craft glue I’ve added bolt heads and washer on each corner of the box and small cogs on the front. Make sure the glued elements and modeling paste are fully dry before applying black chalky finish or acrylic paint, then rub on a candle stick over the stencilled areas.

  Before adding  a coat of grey chalky paint I’ve used weathered wood medium in random places on each side of the box.

 Next, using medium grade sanding paper I’ve lightly sanded bolts and stencilled areas revealing black paint underneath.

 Washes of Fluid Acrylics in Paynes Grey ,Quinacridone Gold and Red Oxide helped me achive rusty look around the edges and bolts.

Then I’ve stamped the background using waterproof ink pad and my favourite collection of Tech Trauma and Steampunk stamps.

 As a last step I’ve used matt varnish for ultimate vintage look.

Thank You for stopping by, I hope You like my project.

Monika, x

 Products used:

 
Tech Trauma Stamp Set by Illusionary Artists

 

Andy Skinner Stencil - INDUSTRIAL ELEMENTS

 

Andy Skinner Stencil - MADE TO MEASURE 

 

 

Andy Skinner Industrial Elements Bolts/Washers sheet

Decoart Media Fluid Acrylics -  Paynes Grey, English Red Oxide, Quinacridone Gold

Decoart weathered wood medium

Decoart Chalky Finish Paint - Carbon, Revive

Decoart Media Modeling Paste 
Ultra-Matte Varnish

Website: www.ilovecreations.co.uk

Facebook page:  Love Creations

Instagram: Love Creations

Tech Trauma Wall Art

For this project I combined Andy's gorgeous Tech Trauma stamps with Stampendous

Embossing powders on a brayered background and made myself a little bit of wall art!

Below is a pic of the framed piece, another close up where I've tried to show the bling,

and a brief description of how it came together! 

 The finished artwork I've popped into an Ikea box frame.

I made my own mount as theirs was too small, full details and a few more pics here!

It's a bit moody but still sparkles!!! 

 First brayer a nice thick layer of DecoArt White Gesso - love this gesso as it is a fabulously

thick consistency so that gives all the layers to come a great, textured base. After the Gesso

I layered up all the paints listed below, going back in with more layers

until I was happy with the coverage and colours.

Once all the paint was dry I then did some random background stamping with my

'feature stamp' which I did upside down.

I can get away with it being that way up because this is such a textured piece;

the detailed writing part of the stamp kinda gets lost in the background and is not defined enough for you to see the text is upside down, (though the writing shows beautifully on less lumpy surfaces).

 I triple embossed with 3 types of powders from the Stampendous Encrusted Jewel set.

On the final layer I have my inked stamp ready and quickly press it into the melted

powders really firmly while they are still molten.

I hadn't let the paper fully dry when I heated the embossing powder, so

it buckled a bit. but once all the embossing powders were fully cooled

I just stuck it under some heavy books and it was fine!

That's it! Thanks for looking. Suz x

Products used:
Illusionary Artist Tech Trauma Stamp Set IAAS1004 by Andy Skinner
DecoArt Media paints:
White Gesso, and fluid acrylics: Primary Cyan, Prussian Blue Hue, Intrference Blue, Carbon Black and Titanium White
Stampendous Enamels from the Frantage Encrusted Jewel Blue Kit (colours used were Shabby Blue, Royal Blue and Silver Halo)
Other products used: Versamark and Archival ink pads, a mini brayer, card for the base and pearlised card for the mount

Mixed Media Revolution Class Project

Morning all, Mark here and today I am sharing a wall hanging I made that will be one of the classes taught at the Mixed Media Revolution Retreats that Andy Skinner and I will be teaching at later this year in Holland and California. Full details at the bottom of the post.

I have used elements from Andy's new stamps Textures and Fossils available from Stampendous to accent my shabby frame and add detail to some of the panels.

The Revolution Begins this May in Holland on 

  11/12 May at  Art Chicks Studio contact Esther for details 

and continues in California on 

2/3 June at Its All About The Scrapbook Dixon Ca, contact Andrea for details.

Hopefully some of you will be able to join Andy and myself and take part in the start of the Revolution. 

xx. 

List of Products:

Stamps, And Skinner Textures, Fossils from Stampendous

Paints, Decoart Media

            Decoart Chalky Finish Paints.