Techniques, testing, reviews. Basically everything that isn’t a finished piece or me rambling on.
It's a weird time, creatively and generally. I'm not short of things to do and my mojo, surprisingly, hasn't deserted me, but actually getting up and starting work on something? That's the tricky part. I have managed to do a few bits, but I have to almost catch myself unawares and just start doing something… Continue reading Hand-carved stamps
As so often happens, something passed by in the daily stream of blogs and YouTube and caught my imagination. On this occasion, it was bottle caps. I can't remember the context and I had absolutely no idea what I would do with them — other than "something mixed media" — but I didn't have any… Continue reading Guide: Bottle caps
A while ago, my other half signed up for ScrawlrBox — an art supplies subscription box. Normally there's a selection of pens and pencils and some paper and other odds and ends, but in August we hit the jackpot. In August's box, there was a Derwent Inktense paint pan travel set. Rather than put it… Continue reading Test: Inktense travel set
I like foil and I like stencils, so how could I not pick up a pot of Deco Foil Transfer Gel when I saw one of my regular shops had it in stock. Rather than just grab a random stencil and quickly try it out, I thought I'd do a more thorough test with a… Continue reading Test: Deco Foil Transfer Gel
I recently watched a review on YouTube comparing blending tools and I was so appalled at the results they were getting with the Ranger blending tool and Distress Oxides that I had to stop and go have a try — I have some oxides, but I hadn’t tried blending them yet… I am by no… Continue reading Test: Blending Distress Oxides
This is a simple way to create a patterned sheet that can be used as a background panel or for die-cutting sentiments or flowers or butterflies or whatever takes your fancy... All you need is some kitchen roll, a water spritzer and one or more pigment powders (Brusho, Ken Oliver Colour Burst, PaperArtsy Infusions etc),… Continue reading Technique: Kitchen roll and Brusho
I like heat embossing and I like Copic colouring, but they don’t get on too well together. With the possible exception of clear embossing powder, the usual advice is that colouring over embossing powder will damage your nibs. But I wanted to be able to use the two together, so it was time for an… Continue reading Technique: Feather leaves
It’s nice to go back to basics sometimes and that’s just where we’ve started in the Copic Jumpstart class run by Sandy Allnock: colour wheels. Not just the usual “here’s a colour wheel, this is how you use it”, but “here’s a colour wheel, now go make your own”. It’s a process that makes you… Continue reading Copic colour wheels
Crafting is not all creating and shopping, there is also a certain amount of organising and maintenance to be done. I signed up for Sandy Allnock's Copic Jumpstart class next month, so I figured it was time to freshen up my colour charts and, at the same time, check over my markers and do a… Continue reading Copic marker maintenance
What: Testing out a new technique for creating backgrounds with Distress ink, Perfect Pearls and an embossing folder. (Note to self: remember to actually post things and not just leave them in my drafts folder.) Inspired by: Jennifer McGuire’s faux textured metal paper tutorial. How: This is a surprisingly straightforward technique. Mask off around the… Continue reading Technique: Faux textured metal backgrounds
Crafty Rat 