Series: Artful Academy 2020 journal #4 The theme for March was home and it was time to get the stencils out again. I'm following the themes and the basic techniques used, but varying some of the elements and ideas in each lesson: there is no point (for me) in just recreating what the instructor demonstrates,… Continue reading Artful Academy journal – March
Series: Artful Academy 2020 journal #3 The prompt for February was "music" and, for this one, the instructor used sprays to build up the background with some printed lyrics providing the focal point. This provided me with two challenges. I am not a huge fan of sprays. Most of the craft sprays are either not… Continue reading Artful Academy journal – February
In a way, I have coronavirus to thank for the existence of this piece. I've been wanting to make something like this for absolutely ages, but finding suitable bits of fabric and digging out my rarely used sewing machine from behind my drawers always seemed like a lot of effort when there were plenty of… Continue reading Fabric landscape
Series: Artful Academy 2020 journal #2 After creating the cover for my Artful Academy class journal, I was determined to do my best to keep up with the monthly challenge. Each month has a prompt word — January's was "list" — and a video of one of the tutors making their journal page as inspiration.… Continue reading Artful Academy journal – January
Series: Artful Academy 2020 journal #1 I keep looking at online courses and being really tempted by them, but then I remember that I still have half of the Wanderlust 2019 projects left to do, not to mention all the other card-making, Copic colouring, and mixed media classes I've signed up for over the years.… Continue reading Artful Academy journal cover
How long do you keep working on a piece before admitting defeat? Before accepting that it's not going to work out how you want. Or do you never give up, do you think that's pretty much anything — as long as you haven't spilled a tin of paint over it — is redeemable? There are… Continue reading Hummingbird
A quick and easy art card to finish off the mini class. Wrap a piece of cardboard in aluminium foil, then draw lines and punch holes to create an effect like riveted metal panels. Add a coat of black acrylic paint, let it dry a little and then run most of it off, leaving shading… Continue reading Supply Savvy ATC day 5
Another technique that I've previously only tried with watercolour paints: using rock salt to add texture. And, like the cling film technique, it didn't turn out as well as it might have. At least this time I'm pretty sure I know what went wrong, I simply didn't use enough water, so the effect is more… Continue reading Supply Savvy ATC day 4
Another simple process that gives an interesting result. The background is essentially finger-painting: add blobs of paint to the card and smoosh it around until you are happy with how it looks. Add a few marks and splatters and, once it's dried, you're ready to add the background text. This is not a stamp, it… Continue reading Supply Savvy ATC day 3
The main technique for the second day of the Artful Academy Supply Savvy challenge was using cling film with acrylic paint to create a textured background. I've done this with watercolour paint before and it turned out really nicely, but for some reason it just didn't work that well here — I must give it… Continue reading Supply Savvy ATC day 2
Last November — yes, this is how far I am behind on writing up projects — Artful Academy (or Mixed Up Creative Academy as they were called then) ran a five-day teaser challenge for their Savvy Supply School class. I didn't go on to do the full class at the time, but I did complete… Continue reading Supply Savvy ATC day 1
Series: Little House Portraits #001 Anyone who has followed this blog for any length of time will be well aware of my enjoyment of trying different things... different crafts, different mediums, different styles. I love my Copic markers and will always come back to them, but I would be bored senseless if they were my… Continue reading Little house: Rookery Lane
Series: The Daily Marker Art Card #30 And finally, we reach the last of the art cards I coloured for the last Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge. Probably just in time for the next one to start. It's really satisfying ending up with a neat stack of finished artworks about the size of a… Continue reading Bunnies with heart
The guest instructor for week three of the Wanderlust "inspired by another artist" theme was Tanyalee Kahler (website, Instagram). A severe lack of energy means that I have done very little creative work over the last couple of months; if it didn't have to be done (like the two birthday cards), then it didn't get done.… Continue reading Delaunay-Holdsworth
Series: The Daily Marker Art Card #29 There was so much bright colour in the last card that I just had to calm it down for this one. I wanted to go monochrome but I'd already done the raccoon in greys, so I went for a more sepia tone instead. And I love how it… Continue reading Sepia star
Crafty Rat 