I have a soft spot for encaustic work — not only the "painting with wax" style like the little landscape I made, but also the layering of clear wax over images and enclosures — so I was definitely curious when I came across Masterpaste Original, a cold encaustic medium. It is available in a whole… Continue reading Butterfly coaster
Earlier this year I did a Craft Box workshop (now Creative Craft Academy) and made the Wings of Time mixed media panel. After doing it, I said that I didn’t think I’d do another workshop because I found it frustrating simply making someone else's design. Well, I've recently completed the Just Begin workshop by Shawn… Continue reading Believe
I coloured the three astronauts as part of the last Daily Marker colouring challenge. This was another of those sets that I'd picked up because it was really cute (and sci-fi-themed stamps are always good to have to hand), but I hadn't got around to actually using it. Time for it to move from the… Continue reading Space: 1999
When I did my black and gold experiment, I did a couple of quick crackle paste tests. One ended up revealing the sheep within it, but the other one was less interesting and was destined to end up in the bin. Then my other half wandered in and said it looked like a cloud and… Continue reading Cloud on a stick
So I was tidying up my desk and there was this scrap of paper that I’d used to do a quick crackle paste test on a few days before and it was too interesting to just chuck in the bin. So I tore the excess paper off, glued it onto an art card and put… Continue reading Medieval dragon sheep
Sometimes an idea will pop into my head; often triggered by a barely seen something that just whizzed past my eye. It's not fully formed, it's definitely not a thing, but it's the start of an experiment. That vague idea — a golden slash across a black background — along with the need to play… Continue reading Experiment in black and gold
This wasn't so much an unfinished project as a barely started one. In fact, I really had no plan for this at all. When I made my golden ivy piece, I ended up with more coloured texture paste than I needed; not wanting to waste it, I grabbed an art card and covered it with… Continue reading A very wonderful place
YouTube videos are a great source of inspiration, whether it's the finished image that sparks the imagination or just the techniques used. Combine that with your own supplies and a sprinkling of other ideas and you end up with something unique to you. It was the process as much as the end result in this… Continue reading Golden ivy
I was sorting through my box of backgrounds — more to remind myself what I had than to get rid of anything — and I came across this A6 piece of watercolour paper covered in smooshed ink and, unfortunately, some failed stamping. I put it to one side, thinking that it would probably end up… Continue reading Flowers from ink
Another stamp rescued from the unused pile and another play with the Peerless watercolours. I am loving the colours and also the convenience of the Peerless — which reminds me, I really ought to do a quick blog post about how I organised them. This has to be the simplest design I've done recently. I… Continue reading Flutterbye trio
I am loving using ATC-sized paper, card and even MDF to experiment on. It's not that it's easier than making a card — other than not having to think in terms of creating something you would give someone for an occasion — it's just this condensed format that forces you to really focus on what… Continue reading Golden dragon
The things we do for our art. Specifically, emptying, washing and drying used teabags. Ever since I came across Ruby Silvious and her tea bag art, I've wanted to have a play. Now, you can buy unused tea bag paper, but it's hard to find in non-industrial quantities. I did find one art place that… Continue reading Tea bag art cards
Another art journal page — I could get used to making these! It's nice to have a single starting point, a few ideas, and no finished image in mind and then just see where the page takes you. This one started with a bit of spare gesso left over from prepping another experiment: I didn't… Continue reading Inspire
Another art journal page. This one was inspired by the June challenge over at That's Crafty; this month's theme is "a summer's day" and so I got out the bright tropical colours and butterflies. The base layer for this page was made from torn pieces of patterned paper. That was followed by some stencilling: lines… Continue reading Bright
I've been thinking about alternative uses for my colouring – I enjoy making cards but I do have rather a large stash and if I'm not careful it will spill over into a second box. So I've been thinking about making things to be framed instead. My main concern with doing this is that Copic… Continue reading Rainbow fish
Crafty Rat 