'LOVE for YOU' wall art

Hi there!  Today see the start of the Colour Theme week over at *TANDO*  ;-D  Its a really pretty one too! Lots of girly colours to choose from!  I have decorated the lovely *LOVE WALL ART* hanging...which is a fairly new addition to the Tando collection.  It measures 19x19cm and you get all the elements shown in either MDF or chipboard.  I just love the 'retro' feel of this.
 

 
I used every colour from the colour pallet below.  The smaller MDF boards have also been covered with scrunched up printed tissue paper to add some texture.
 

 
The wings and hearts have been stamped with a lacy stamp and gold embossed to add more texture.  I have also gone around the plain hearts with an embossing pen and gold embossing powder.
 
If you would like to have a play with these pretty colours at all throughout the month then please enter our monthly challenge where we pick a winner at random....lots of goodies can be won!!!  Just look at the page at the top of our blog for the links.
 
Thank you for looking today, hugs xxx

Swirling with Friends!

Hellooooo!  This week we are using SWIRLS on our projects over at the TANDO CREATIVE BLOG.  I have been a bit nostalgic with mine and gone back to my earliest Stampotique stamps to create a 'friends' picture using a Tando Creative 6x6 inch  FRAME for my base as well as the BLOCK FLOURISH (you get 2 in a pack)

The block flourish has been painted in the same way as the frame using Americana Bahama Blue and then some accent dots stamped over in Orange VersaMagic.  The flourish was then glued to the top to become a part of the frame.  The background is patterened paper which has been gessoed and the same accent dots stamped randomly.  The dotty stamp is actually some waste packaging :-D  Always worth looking at plastic bottoms hahaha!

The figures have been stamped and coloured with Alcohol Markers and the sentiment is PC generated.  Here are the TANDO pieces that I used...

*6x6 inch FRAME with STAND*

*BLOCK FLOURISH* is now reduced

Remember that you can now buy your Tando goodies DIRECT!!!  Thank you so much for taking a look today, HUGS

Tando February Challenge!

Hi...are you feeling the lurve???? For this months Challenge over at the Tando Creative Blog we want you to all to be PASSIONATE!!!!!  I thought long and heard about this one hahaha!  I could have done a scrapbook layout but I knew at least one other would do that.  As hubby and I don't 'do' cards that was out of the question too.  Then my eyes landed on a JOFY stamp that I love so Lovebirds it was haha!!!!  Like a lot of birds, they mate for life.

I used the Tando Triple Arch Layered Frame as a base.  There are lots of layers in the kit but I had already used most of them plus the backing on another project.  No problem...I just used a stiff card to make another backing, covered it with patterned paper and stamped on it...

When the frame was painted I glued it to the background and then cut out.  The birds were stamped, embossed and coloured with copic pens. The branches come from one of my favourite packs - Mini Birds and Branches and painted with Fresco paint.  The big heart is from a grab bag and has been painted then embossed in blue with the same background stamp Kaisercraft) as before with a smaller painted heart attached.  Then it was just a case of glueing it all together...tada!

Here is the nekkidness as it comes to you...

Thank you for popping by today, take care out there and remember to be passionate :-D . HUGS xxx

Tando BLACK & RED!

Valentine's week is on its way and even though hubby and I don't do cards there is always that teensy bit of me that would love one :D    Do you remember the excitement of the day when we were teenagers?  For me that was quickly followed by disappointment that the 'boy of the moment' hadn't bothered....probably never even noticed I existed  hahaha!!!!!  Ahh the joys!!!!

For this special week Tando are using Black and Red as their theme.  As there is no point in making a card I have decorated a pack of hanging hearts...

Each heart is around 8cm long to give you an idea of the overall hanging length.  I have added some texture paste through Tando's Heart Mask and then painted them with DecoArt Metallic Festive Red (fabulous sheen on this).  Instead of using the letter from the kit I have covered some hearts from a Tando Grab Bag with some script paper and gone around the edges with Brilliance Graphite Black.  Here is a close up of the hearts...

A few gems, ribbon and beads finish it all off!  Here they are naked...

The pretty mask..

Do pop over and see what my teamies have done...we blog nearly every day....the link is on my sidebar.  Many thanks for popping by and I hope that you get a card from the someone special in your life, HUGS xxx

Women Don't Fart!!!!!

No...we don't...we glow don't we??? hahahaha!!!!!  I couldn't resist that quote and have used it on this project for *The Craft Barn* :-D  Not that they are all about bodily functions this week hahahaha!  They are looking at Windows & Doors!

For my Windows/Door theme I have used a gorgeous Lavinia Stamp, Mushroom Dwelling. It has such a cute little door! For the base I used a piece of 4x4inch chipboard which I had in my stash and punched 2 holes in the top. A layer of Gesso was followed by some Gelatos (Tropical) which were blended with a wet finger. When that was dry I over stamped in Brilliance Ink (Moonlight White) and a Crackle Stamp.

The Mushroom House has been stamped onto white card and coloured with Derwent Inktense Watercolour Pencils. I also coloured a piece of scrap card and when dry stamped a Lavinia Fairy onto it to go behind the open door. The house was fussy cut and the door cut out so that it opened. I attached the house using foam pads and added the computer generated quote around the edge. Wire and beads made the hanging complete. Here is the door open.

If you have been to *The Craft Barn Blog* recently you will already know that most of the projects on there now have a FREE downloadable PDF for anyone wishing to have a go too!  Its all looking really different over there too!

Thank you for having a nosy today, I know you are all really busy at the moment, Take care xxx

Lavinia Stamps - Mushroom Dwelling

Lavinia Stamps - Three small Dancing Fairies

Faber-Castell Gelatos - Tropical

Derwent Inktense Watercolour Pencils

Dewdrop Brilliance Ink - Moonlight White

Craft Wire and beads

Orange, Green and Pink!

Oh it was lovely to be working with such bright colours after the Christmas and Halloween stuff!!!!  Tando Creative's November Challenge is all about ORANGE, GREEN AND PINK, such summery colours for this time of the year!  I wonder if anyone will be using those colours for Christmas cards!

I have done and 8x8inch canvas and used some Tando flowers from one of their grab bags to decorate it.  For the background I used Andy Skinners masks, one along the bottom and a corner one at the top.  Oh...meant to say that I pushed some dimension paste through them hahaa!  When they were dry I replaced the masks and dabbed with paint!  I used the iridescent Pebeo Studio Acrylics - the have the most fabulous sheen to them :-D

Sorry that the pic is a bit wonky but if you lean your head it will look alright hahaha!!!!!

Do pop over to our Challenge Blog and have a go, especially if you want a 'lift' by working with these pretty colours :-D  There are some lovely prizes on offer too!!!!!

Thank you for taking a look today, HUGS xxx

I Believe!

Yes, I really do believe in Faeries!!!!  There I said it :D  No doubt there are those out there who would say that I am as mad as a box of frogs but never mind.  *The Craft Barn* have started to sell the gorgeous and exquisite  Lavinia stamps which I love and we are all playing with them this week :D  I have made up a little hanging with my selection.  I didn't turn out anywhere near what I wanted though but I hope you like it.  My favourite part is the wings which are drying on the line haha!  This picture really doesn't do the piece justice as it just about glows, sorry!!!

For the background I made coloured 'waves' but using a piece of copy paper cut with a wiggly ine as a guide, adding the different Kaleidacolor Inks with a sponge. Then I add some colour through some sequin waste (Fresco Guacamole). Taking Archival Ink in Cobalt I stamped the Acorn House and Wings onto some card and the Wings, Fairies and 'Believe' onto tissue paper. These were gently torn out and attached to the canvas with Multi-Medium. I then went over the whole board with the multi medium.  The tissue paper itself won't show then.  The Acorn House was coloured with Inktense pencils and then the house and the wings (on the card) were covered with clear glitter. I cut out the house & wings and glued in place before adding some Treasure Gold around the edges and on the house. Some wire was attached to hang the picture by.

Thank you for popping by xxxxx

Lavinia Stamps - Three Small Dancing Fairies, Acorn Dwelling, Wet Wings and Believe

Kaleidacolor Rainbow Ink Pad - Berry Blaze

Winsor and Newton Canvas Board - 178x127mm

Treasure Gold - Classic

Inktense Watercolour Pencils

Claudine Hellmuth Studio Medium - Matte

Archival Ink - Cobalt

Tando - Larger Than Life Week!

We are all going larger this week over at Tando where we are using some of the larger pieces in the range.  I have chosen to use large Love Frame with a Stand, although I haven't used the stand :D 

A couple of weeks ago I went with my pesky little sister, *Dawn* and her tiddlies to a little animal rescue place near us...*Porfell Wildlife Park*.  We love it there as its very chilled and a good time is guaranteed, especially as the children can feed so many animals :D  There are not many places that you and find a lemur coming for a walk on her own with you is there?  Anyway, I took loads of pics and have used one for my project.  I know its not my usual choice of colours but I went with what the children were wearing hahaha!

Poor Max!  He really didn't want to 'show the love' did he? The frame comes in 3 layers and has been painted and the glitter added.  I also added some embossed dots on the hearts and frame to give a bit of texture.  Here it is in all its nekkid glory...

Thank you for popping by and thank you Dawn for letting me use the photograph!  See you soon, HUGS xxx

Silver Elephants

Hello lovely people!  Its been an age since I had a play with a metal sheet so  really enjoyed making up these elephants :D

Using Crafty Individuals stamp - Sweet Elephants and Swirl - I stamped the elephant part onto a metal sheet using Archival Jet Black Ink and dried it with a heat gun.  Put the sheet onto some foam and go around the lines with a pointed tool.  Turn the sheet over and go around the inside of the lines with a paper stump.  Turn again (right side) and go around the outside edges with the paper stamp.  You should now have a raised elephant.  Turn over and fill in the indentations with Glossy Accents and cover with a scrap piece of paper/card. (you can see that the one on the right should have been filled higher)  Leave to dry, preferably overnight.

Meanwhile, using PaperArtsy Fresco Paints, colour the canvas using fingers and brushes till you are happy.  Stamp a script stamp randomly.  Stencil some Squid Ink through the Tando Creative Dotted Star in some areas and thread rub some Treasure Gold Silver roughly around the edges.  Cut around the elephants and attach.  I also added a die cut strip of metal.

This is certainly a different way to use your stamps.  Here is an altered tin that I did way back in 2010.  The heart and lettering were stamped and embossed before having the 'treatment' like above.

Thank you for popping by, take care XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Woodware Metal Sheet - Silver

Walnut Hollow Metal Tools and Paper Stumps

Crafty Individuals Stamp - 351 - Sweet Elephants and Swirl

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Paints - Squid Ink, Beach Hut, Pumpkin Soup and Very Berry

Tando Mask: Dotted Star

Shapeabilities Lace Doily Accents

Treasure Gold - Silver

Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black

Windsor and Newton Canvas Board 178x127mm

Tando September Challenge!

Hellooooooo!  So hard to believe that its September already isn't it?  At least this year we can't grumble about our summer here in the U.K. can we?  So with summer nearly out of the way its time for me to start thinking about Christmas stuff.  I know that a lot of people have already started but I can't think about it too early :D 

For our September Challenge over at Tando Creative we have the theme...

LETS LEAF IT!

I have used a pretty Holly Flourish and a piece from the Arabian Arch set for my project this month...

I cut a wavy line through some copier paper to use as a mask and painted the background in white & blues.  Oh and I used a die cut circle for the moon...nearly forgot that hahaha!  The snowflakes are stamped & embossed in white, the tree stamped, painted and embossed then cut out.  Wording stamped & embossed in red.  The holly flourish has been painted with acrylics also and then clear embossed

 

 

To see our stockists list and also other Christmas items then make yourself a cuppa and have a browse over *HERE*.  Don't forget to check out our gallery for inspiration .

If you want to join in with this challenge then pop over *HERE* to be in with a chance of winning some lovely Tando goodies :D  Have fun!!! 

Thank you for looking today, HUGS xxx

'Slugs and Snails........

....and Puppy Dogs Tails...'  :D  Who remembers that???  Who remembers the rest? 

'That's what little boys are made of.

Sugar & Spice and all things Nice,

 that's what little girls are made of'

I reckon we got off lightly ladies hahahaha!  Over at The Craft Barn this week we are looking at 'VINTAGE CUTE'.  I don't mind the vintage but 'cute' is just not me is it?  Saying that though I am quite pleased with how this turned out...

For my project this week I have recycled a 10x10cm beer mat which I sneaked from my local :D.  I painted it first with  Fresco paint in Chocolate Pudding, added the PaperArtsy Crackle Glaze then Snowflake paint on top, drying well between layers.  Then I rubbed some Distress Ink in Chipped Sapphire over the top to add 'depth'.  The images were stamped in Memento Black and coloured with Copics.  They were then clear embossed before cutting out.  The wording was stamped and embossed straight onto my base.  The images were then glued in place.  I punched two holes at the top and tied red string for a hanger.

Thank you for popping in and having a look.  Please leave a message...I love to read them!  Take care, HUGS xxx

Crafters Companion S.W.A.L.K stamp range -'Slugs and Snails'

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Paints - Chocolate Pudding, Snowflake and Crackle Glaze

Copic Ciao Pens - 100, YG100, B45, R46, E35, E37, E08 and E00

Memento Ink - Tuxedo Black

Stamp and Stuff Clear Embossing Powder

Busy Buzzy Bees!

Buzz buzz buzz...hahaha!  I am in bee mode today...not that I have a sting in my tail at all but I have been cutting out these fiddly little critters for this project!!!!  Its Hexagon Week over at he Craft Barn Blog and I have been playing with both hats on and used some lovely Tando pieces.

Here in Callington we have an annual Honey Fair which dates back a couple of hundred years.  There is lots going on and lots of honey to sample...YUM!  We are obviously very proud of this event :D  I have used the hexagon theme to incorporate honey (being a country girl)

The pretty hexagonal frame, beehive and flower are chippie by Tando and have been painted using PaperArtsy Fresco Paints.  The bees are a free download from The Graphic Artist (see link in my sidebar) and the words are computer generated.  Thank you for popping by, HUGS xxx

Tando Creative Hexagon Frame with Stand

Tando Creative Bee Set Small

Tando Creative Mini Range - flowers

PaperArtsy Fresco Paints - Pumpkin Soup, Ice Blue, Vanilla, Stone, Chocolate Pudding

Impression Obsession Cover a Card Stamp - Craquelure

Brilliance Dewdrop Ink - Galaxy Gold

Craft Wire - Blue

August Challenge for Tando

Hellooooo!!!!  Its been a tad warm here in the U.K. lately hasn't it?  A minor understatement I think eh haha!  That's the prompt for our new Challenge over at our Tando Creative Challenge Blog

FEEL THE HEAT!

I had a hard time trying to think of something for this.  Remember the elephants from a couple of posts back?  They were inspired by this one which I had already made :D  In the end I used some pieces that came with the 3D Tando Boat that I made up a while back.  Although these pieces are waste really Di still puts them in the pack as they are a lovely shape and size.  Its been a bit tricky to photograph though as its pretty shiny, sorry x

I first painted some gesso on so that my Fresco paint would run smoother (this is a personal preference in this case and I don't always need to do this).  I tore some paper to use as a mask for the skyline and punched out a circle for the sun.  With these in place I dry brushed the paint on in sweeps, using different colours, blending as I went.  The masks were 'reversed' so that I could do the ground in the same way.  I found an old stamp with an African scene & stamped in green Adirondack.  This blurs a little which was what I wanted.  The gorgeous giraffe is a stamp by Crafty Individuals which I stamped onto pre painted card and clear embossed.  The background has been clear embossed too then Treasure Gold added.  Some string finished it all off.

Do pop over to check out the challenge...if you are a lucky winner you gat to choose your own prize too!  Thank you so much for joining me today, HUGS XXXXXXX

Day and Night?

Hellooooo!  Its all about opposites over at *The Craft Barn Blog* this week and I have chosen to go with 'Day & Night'.  My 'day' hanging did turn out a little darker than I would have liked but I am hoping that you get the gist of what I was trying to achieve.

When you buy Tando chipboard you often get the 'waste' put in the bag as well.  I have used the 'waste' from the Arabian Style Layered Arch Frame.  They are a lovely shape & size to work on. I  gesso'd them first then painted a scene with lots of Fresco Paints, mixing colours as I needed to. (they mix and blend beautifully).  The gorgeous elephants are from a Craft Individuals stamp...I painted some thin card first then stamped in black. When dry they were clear embossed before cutting out.  The painted chipboard has also been clear embossed.  Some Treasure Gold Classic was rubbed around before I added the string around the bottom.  The elephants and sentiment have been attached with foam pads.  I threaded string through a hole at the top to hang.  Here is a pic of the Arabian Arch pack...

Tando Creative Arabian Style Layered Arch Frame

Crafty Individuals - On Safari - CI-390

PaperArtsy Fresco Paints: Sage, Guacamole, Cheesecake, Claret, Pumpkin Soup, Stone, Little Black Dress, Ice Blue and Inky Pool

Treasure Gold - Classic

Clear Embossing Powder

 

New Tando Wall Art

Hello lovely bloggers!  If you are a fan of Tando Creative chipboard kits then you are going to love this one :D   Its a large piece of wall art, measuring approx. 15x15inches when done!  It is in 3 sections and has a large tree which you attach and can decorate with the flowers & butterflies that are provided..

I have painted the 3 boards in blue and acrylic paints then gesso'd over to tone it down. The tree sections are painted white and the add-ons (butterflies, flowers and the birds)  have been painted in neutral colours.  NOTE:  the birds do not come with the kit.  Using lids & stiff cards I added some more interest by dabbing them in paint and adding them randomly.  This kit has so many possibilities I think.  Would look fantastic turned into a family tree with photographs.

Thank you for popping by today, HUGS xxx

At the Seaside

Helloooooo, we are dipping our toes in the water over at *The Craft Barn Blog* this week :D

For my 'At the Seaside' themed piece I have chosen to play with the new medium size Tando Creative Fan. These are sooo versatile!

I painted the base with Fresco Paint in Ice Blue and overstamped with a Crackle stamp and Versafine in Smokey Gray. Unfortunately this blurred a bit but as I was trying to keep the colours soft I didn't mind!  So be warned...don't use Versafine over Fresco paints!!!!! 

N.B. When you are decorating one of the Tando Creative Fans please be aware that all the segments are slightly different.

Using the upper section as a template I drew and cut 2 pieces of paper from the Crafty Individuals Book 6 (The Seaside), then cut three more segments from plain white card. (Always a good idea to number the backs) Using Crafty Individuals Stamp Set CI272 I stamped onto the white card in the Smokey Gray. I stamped again onto scrap card and coloured the shells and seahorses with Derwent Inktense Pencils. Then I clear embossed the coloured pieces before cutting them out. I rubbed a little Distress Ink in Broken China around the edges of the segments before glueing the shells on.

Using a mix of PaperArtsy Fresco Paint in Cheesecake and Pumpkin Soup I painted the top section. Glossy Accents were applied and while it was still a little sticky I attached the rough string (esier said than done as your fingers also get sticky hahaha) and when dry I glued the top section to the bottom. The card segments were glued in place and the seahorses added. To finish off I used more string to attach two shells and then glued another stamped shell over the top.

Thank you so much for popping by, please leave a comment, I love the feedback whether its good or bad!!! HUGS xxxx

Tando Creative Oriental Fans - Small and Medium

Crafty Individuals CI272 - Seaside Treasures

Crafty Individuals Book 6 - Seaside

Derwent Inktense Watercolour Pencils

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Paints - Pumpkin Soup, Cheesecake, Ice Blue

Ranger Distress Ink - Broken China

The Dawn Chorus!

Helloooo....I just love listening to the Dawn Chorus...even the crows :D  Its Music week over at *The Craft Barn Blog* and I thought to do something a little different and have the chorus as my theme.

The background has been painted with PaperArtsy Fresco in Pumpkin Soup.  (If you haven't tried these paints then go get some...they are beautifully creamy and last for ages!)  When that was dry  used the Tando Music Mask & Pebeo acrylic in Red Ochre and stencilled over the top. (I love this paint too haha)  It was a bit too bright for what I wanted so I brayered a light layer of gesso over it.

This is a brilliant way to tone down any paint or patterned paper!  The top sections were glued together then painted with Pumpkin Soup and Crackle Accents added.  How cute are those birdies from JOFY's new collection???  They have been black embossed and coloured with Promarkers.  The quote is PC generated.  And...yes...even after a late night I love to hear the birds early in the morning hahaha!  Thanks for popping in!  HUGS xxxx

Tando Creative Printer Tray Octagonal

Tando Creative Mask - Music

PaperArtsy JOFY - Mini 20

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Acrylic Paint - Pumpkin Soup

Pebeo Studio Acrylic Paint - Red Ochre

Ranger Crackle Accents

Letraset Promarkers - Buttercup, Amethyst, Aegean

DecoArt Gesso

Chinese Fan

Hellooooo lovely bloggers!!!

Once a month over at the Tando Creative blog we are now going to have a 'Free For All' week where we can showcase anything Tando that we may have done that doesn't fit into any particular theme.  Its a brilliant way to show you what we may have done for other DT's or made just for the fun of it :D

I was demonstrating at the Craft Barn Extravaganza a couple of weeks ago using the NEW RELEASES and so I shall be showcasing  them here.  First up is the LARGE FAN.  This one measures 31cm x 21cm so a decent size for some wall art.  Its layered so you can add all sorts of ephemera if you choose.  I went for the obvious Chinese theme for this haha...

I used red acrylic paint on the background and then a crackle stamp in black. 

Please note...the segments in the fan are all slightly different so use the upper section as a template if you are going to add paper/card sections as I did.

The stamp for 4 of the segments is by Lynn Perella at PaperArtsy.  This has been stamped onto red painted card them clear embossed.  The top section has been painted black and A applied.  I made a tassel and attached a Chinese coin with a brad.  Here it is naked...

As you see it comes complete with the 'waste'...I am still thinking about how to use those :D  There is also another Fan Pack containing a small and a medium fan.

HUGS xxxxxxx

June Tando Challenge

Hi peeps!  It challenge time over at the *Tando Challenge Blog* and this month its all about NUMBERS!  The great thing with this challenge is that you don't have to use Tando Creative goodies to enter but if you do you get an extra chance of winning some of our lovely chipboard, which you get to choose (how good is that!)

For my entry I have used a Tando Arabian Arch frame and the waste from a set of Advent numbers.

For the background I stencilled Fresco Sand paint through the waste from the Advent Numbers that I had saved from Christmas and then added a little crackle stamp.  I smeared on some moulding paste to the frame and when dry sponged Fresco Vintage Lace and then a bit of Treasure Gold in Royal Amethyst with my finger.  Not sure who the Mona stamp is by but there are lots of companies that can provide her. A bit of lace, ribbon and gems finished her off, along with the sentiment.  Here is the nekkid chippie...

Funny/weird story.....when I took the photograph my camera informed me that she blinked!!!!!!!  That's Mona for you...cheeky girl hahaha!

Do take a look at our challenge over *here* and have a go.....its really easy to enter.

Thank you for visiting and I will be back soon!  HUGS xxx