Colouring: LOTV Bunny Stocking

I love all the freebies being given away as part of Advent Calendars this December! This freebie came via a group called Kit and Clowder on Facebook. Behind the door of their Advent Calendar yesterday was this gorgeous stamp by Lily of the Valley (who you may have noticed I have been slightly obsessed with lately!) and I just had to colour it in right away. I used my ancient WHSmith pencils because they've got much softer leads than their newer pencils. I used white acrylic paint to add some fluff to the stocking and pom poms, as well as Liquid Pearls White Opal on the stocking trim and a Stickles glitter glue on the pom poms! They look so cute :)

Festive February: Bauble Gift Tags

When I thought about making gift tags, I decided I wanted to stick with my Christmas card theme of baubles - made much easier with a large circle punch! I took a large sheet of textured cream card, and painted stripes of white and metallic gold across it in different widths. I then punched out the circles I needed, and added extra details to them with Liquid Pearls, before attaching them to presents with sparkly gold thread. I thought they also looked a bit like planets! Maybe that will be a future project...

Hearts Card with White Embossing and Watercolours

It's been a while since I did any white embossing, but this post from Paper Mill Direct reminded me of it's existence and I had to get back to it. I love that the outline is more subtle but that it encloses the watercolour, and it allows for a much softer finish.

The hearts stamp (from See-D's Love Collection, 50509) and the ivory hammered card came from the wonderful stash I inherited last year, and everything else was from my own stock, a lot of which has come from Alexander Paper Supplies. I used a water filled brush to apply the paint, as I love how easy it is to pick up and go. And yes, my watercolour palette is always this messy!

Christmas 2015 - Fircones

I seem to have developed quite a collection of fircones over the years, and decided that is was about time I had a go at doing something with them for Christmas! 

I tried two different techniques. The first, above, I glued glitter on the inside "branches" of the fircone. I like that it is subtle but definitely sparkles when hanging from the tree.

The second, below, I painted the tips of the fircone white, before adding a very fine white glitter. Whilst it is certainly striking, I find the white a bit overpowering for my liking.

I have two giant fircones still sat on the side, as I cannot quite decide how to decorate them... Any ideas? :)

Abstract Painted Pumpkin

I am regularly inspired by Alisa Burke's wonderful creations, and I was intrigued by her concept of decorating pumpkins in non-traditional ways. I decided that I wanted to apply my current abstract style of painting to a pumpkin, and I really enjoyed working colour, pattern and detail on to a 3D surface.

I used regular acrylic paints and my "normal" techniques for applying paint. However, I ended up drawing the patterns on with a biro, as my permanent markers were just not making clear enough marks! I think I've learnt not to be afraid to use non traditional items as a canvas for art, and it felt good to be applying paint to something so natural and organic, and working with it's natural colour scheme.

Mixed Media || Dandelion Clocks

Yeh, so I basically winged this piece of art, but I love it!! It is so very unique... If you follow me over on Facebook, you will have seen this come together, I hope you enjoy seeing bits of the process :)

This idea started out when I was creating some abstract paintings, and I wondered how it would look if I applied paint in the same way to aida fabric - turns out, it looks great! I also painted an embroidery hoop, and wrapped some appropriate threads around a section of it, secured with double sided sticky tape - just to add some extra interest and texture.

After securing the aida to the embroidery hoop, I started working into it, freestyle, with a needle and thread. I started with some half cross stitches, using scraps of thread I had left over from other projects. I stitched some zigzags over the top - it's a technique I've used in a kit before, and I really like the effect. I also stitched some dandelion clocks on with some feature beads, before applying felt to the back for support, and tying the top with a ribbon. I think the combination of colours and textures is unique and exciting, I really love it!

A Peek Inside My Sketchbook XI

You will find a lot of insight into my current canvasses in these pages... I find it helpful to have my sketchbook open as I paint. To look at techniques I have used previously, and to test new ones. It's also useful for making sure I have the right colour combinations, and just a lot of fun with leftover paint too!

A Peek Inside My Sketchbook VIII

I adore this background! I created it by brushing acrylic paint onto a plastic bag, then printing that paint onto the paper using my heavy weight roller. I built it up in layers, and some of the white paint was also added with my fingers for extra texture.

I created this background using acrylic paint and a sponge roller from my childhood - a lovely quick way to add loads of texture to a page! [If you're trying to get hold of one, they're often marketed for children, and actually come in various designs and sizes!]

Playing with coloured inks, and dabbing them with tissues on a fairly wet background.

If you follow me on Facebook you will already know how I painted this page. If you don't, then I bet you can't guess!! Hint: I used a vegetable.

Yup.

I had a partial head of cauliflower going off in the fridge, and put it to good use in my sketchbook! It crumbled fairly quickly, but it produced such a unique texture.

A piece of wooden dowling and acrylic paints. What I love about this is that each dot it slightly raised, so running your hand over it is super therapeutic!

I had my sketchbook open whilst painting some canvasses the other day. I was using blue paints, and adding brown for depth. I enjoyed using my sketchbook to wipe excess paint from my sponge, and I also experimented with various oddments I had lying around. The little wooden corner pieces from canvsses are great for printing with and making short chunky lines. I also printed with beads, and even rolled them through paint and along the page, before adding final doodles with a bronze gel pen.

Click here to see previous sketchbook posts, and like me on Facebook for sneak peeks and inspiration as they happen!