Live Your Art Tags by Tracy Jackson

Morning Bee Arty fans...

Today I am sharing my monthly project - 3 tags

Before i start any project, I always pick out my paper, not only does this give me a colour scheme to go off, it also tends to give me ideas depending how much of it I have.
I had left overs from Arty Farty paper range that I couldn't bear throwing out, which gave me the idea to make tags.

After cutting out a tag shape and gluing a strip down the side and picking out a stencil called Bricked,  I then mixed in some Shimmer Dust - Velvet into some Gesso and put a layer over the stencil on 2 tags and a Shimmer Dust - Paris/Gesso mix onto the last tag.

I then set aside to dry, which didn't take that long while I gathered up what I needed for next stage.

So for Tag 1 - I picked matching flowers that were 2 different sizes. Stamped each a couple times each with Archival Ink onto watercolour paper so the black outline wouldn't run when I coloured them with Shimmer Dust - Duke

Stamp set I used for this is called Floral Delights 2. ( I actually used the flowers from this set for all 3 tags), I also stamped on the tag to cover in some spaces one of the stamps from Meridian

Got to love fussy cutting!

I repeated the process for Tag 2,  but also added the paint brushes and words from Live Your Art stamp set. Shimmer Dust colours used for these flowers are Peacock and Lollipop

Lastly Tag 3 - I stamped on background one of the stamps from Geo Grunge

Shimmer Dust colours used were Duke and Velvet

I also used for the first time in center of flowers... Shimmer Pen... OMGeeee... squeal ... this pen is so cool and leaves such a shimmer!!

..

And so, after assembling them all together, free hand drawing lines around the edges, hole punching and adding twine, I have ended up with 3 bright and fun tags

Hope you have enjoyed this and I have given you some inspiration to not throw out any leftover paper.

Happy Crafting

So Handsome by Kristy Abela

Hi Everyone

I am back on the blog today after a whirlwind trip to Phoenix Arizona for Creativation!! 

What an experience that was... 

I am fresh fill of ideas and inspiration for you all in 2019.. 

 

This was my youngest at his Y6 Farewell.. last in the nest and growing waaayyy to quickly!

  For this one I wanted to create a grungy look considering he was wearing pink... I was challenged recently by another DT member to try this one out so here we go - Challenge accepted!

I started by spilling some Colour Artist Ink in Slipper on the page and drying it while it pooled to create the layers of rings around the edge. I then grabbed some stamps and created a frame for where the photo will sit.

I had made some misters earlier for my Colour Shimmer Dust so had some on the go at any time..

I used velvet for this one and used the spray to colour my Chipboard from Dusty Attic. Once finished I used my Colour Blast Gesso White to dry brush over the top to add a weathered look to the harlequin discs. Once done with that I Embossed my title in Stormy Weather with Colour Embossing Powder.

 Here is a close up of the effect I created.

To finish off I added some string with brads and some textured paper to build up the background. Then I dusted on some microbeads... and voila... Too easy!

Thanks for looking! Make sure if you try out these techniques to pop your project onto our Facebook Colour Blast Creative Corner.

Kristy Abela

Not Bovvered by DT Michelle Henderson

Happy New Year everyone!

For my first page this year I tried something I hadn't previously - using alcohol with the Colour Shimmer Dust - here's how it turned out...

I used Colour Shimmer Dust in Passion, Velvet, Lollipop and Midnight, plus a little Colour Artist Ink in Cider. I randomly painted these on to some Yupo paper.

                 

                 

I then sprayed alcohol over the the paint and watched the magic begin! I couldn't take a photo as I had to work quickly, blotting if needed with a paper towel, re-applying and spraying again.

Once it was dry, I diecut it into hexagons.

While I was waiting, I painted some chipboard with Black Heavy Gesso (I didn't end up using the circles)

For my background, I thinned the Colour Shimmer Dust in Passion down a bit more and used the packaging technique to apply it to the page. I laid out my hexes, and stamped and splattered to grunge it up a bit.

Time to add the photo and embellies!

 That's it for now - back again soon!

Mama by Suzy Loudon

Hi all. I hope everyone has survived the Christmas festivities & now taking the time to relax. What better time to get some crafting in.

Today's page is special to me. This was a candid shot of my mother & our oldest son just before he left to live in Europe for ten months. 

To begin my layout I arranged some patterned papers to form the background. I then gave it a bit of a white wash with Heavy White Gesso.

I have a spray that I made up of water and Navy Colour  Shimmer Dust. I used this to splatter around some colour on my page.

I sprayed some water dispersing the colour.

I used my Navy Colour Shimmer Dust spray to give my white flowers colour.

I then used my made up Velvet Colour Shimmer Dust Spray to colour some more white flowers.

I painted my chipboard with Heavy White Gesso. Then used my Silver Shimmer Brush Marker along the top. And Velvet Shimmer Dust on the bottom heart.

I painted another chipboard with Heavy Black Gesso.

I mixed Navy Shimmer Dust with the Heavy White Gesso until I got the shade of colour I wanted. Then painted my letters. Once dry I went over them with my Clear Shimmer Brush Marker. 

I gave some tiny chipboard hearts a spray with Navy Shimmer Dust.

To finish off my layout I added some ribbon, chipboard word tabs and a sprinkling of beads, micro beads & art stones.

Thanks for looking. I hope you all continue to have a happy and safe Christmas season.

xxx Suzy

"Galaxy" - Watercolour Painting using Colour Shimmer Dusts by Sue Plumb

Hi everyone!

Sue Plumb here to share my latest design team project with you. Today I am sharing a galaxy themed painting I created using Colour Shimmer Dusts and black and white heavy gesso. I cannot claim that this piece was my own idea, as I was inspired by several videos I saw on YouTube (search galaxy painting tutorials if you want to see some yourself).

To prepare for this project, begin with a sheet of watercolour paper. It is important to use watercolour paper, as you need a surface that will allow the paint to move and blend freely. To keep the paper flat, I used washi tape to secure it to my craft mat. I then mixed up the Colour Shimmer Dusts I was going to use with a little water in my paint palette, and set them aside.

(Also ensure you have on hand - a cup with clean water and paper towel.)

To begin, I brushed the surface of the paper all over with water (not too much), as this piece uses the "wet on wet" watercolour technique.

I started by applying the lightest blue colour I had chosen, which was Duke, using a wavy motion with my brush. You will see the colour start to wick out onto the wet paper. The colour will pool more heavily in some areas than others - this is completely fine. (There are lots more layers to go yet!) Be sure to leave a little spot or two of white space in the centre area of the page.

Once the first colour is in place, you can repeat the process with the next colour (working from lightest to darkest). I actually opted to leave out the 'Cobalt' Colour Shimmer Dust at this point and moved straight to 'Navy' instead.

I followed some of the natural lines already formed by the previous colour and used more of a dabbing motion to apply the colour this time. 

Here's a quick look at what I mean...

As you work, if you find an area is getting too wet or the colour runs where you don't want it, simply blot away with paper towel. Remember that you want the piece to be darker the closer you get to the edges.

Once you are happy with the 'Navy', repeat the process with the 'Midnight' Colour Shimmer Dust, keeping this darkest tone more concentrated to the edges of the piece

Once you have all these colours in place, allow the piece to dry a bit so you can assess it (you can use a heat gun to speed it up a bit if you wish). If you find some areas are a little dark, go back in with a brush loaded with clean water and reactivate the paint where you want to strip the colour away and simply blot some off with paper towel.

You can then go ahead and add some purple into your piece in these using either 'Passion' or 'Velvet' Colour Shimmer Dust. (Just remember not too much, and keep to the lighter areas in the centre of the page intact.) You can go back as many times as you want to with any of the colours until you get the desired effect. Once you are happy, allow it to dry completely until moving onto the next step. 

Using the white Heavy Gesso and a wooden skewer (you could also use the flat end of a small paintbrush or pencil), add some dots to represent stars around the page. Then, using the pointed end, drag the tip outwards from the centre of a couple of them to imitate the light shining from them.

For the remaining stars in the galaxy, mix a small amount of gesso and a few drops of water to make a thinner consistency. Take a small, stiff brush and use a tapping motion to add small splatters randomly all over the page and allow to dry.

To finish off, take some black Heavy Gesso and paint some tree silhouettes along the bottom edge of the page. (Don't try to be precise with these, you are not looking for perfection!)

And there you have it - painting complete! Here's a little video of the finished project close up so you can check out the details and shimmer...

Thanks for stopping by so I could share this with you. I hope I have inspired you to try one of these yourself. If you do, please share it in the Colour Blast Creative Corner so I can see it!

Until next time, happy creating!