Something completely different!

Hello Everyone
I feel as if I have deserted my blog of late, but to those who follow me you will know that I have been struggling with my artistic abilities of late, in reality it has been an absolute nightmare and even I am getting tired of listening to myself bemoaning my lack of imagination and enthusiasm, it is boring and uninspiring.
So I am focusing on what I can do and not what I can't, and participating in a little private challenge is the beginning to better outcomes.
I have a wonderful  bloggy friend, whom some of you may know, I refer to her as Quirks but her name is Lisa (You Made Me Ink) she creates amazing objects as well as cards, and along with her humorous posts she inspires me to constantly think out of the box. As you know I love Shabby Chic, it is my preferred genre,  but it has not been challenging enough of late, I am always wanting to push myself, to see where it takes me, (of course it has taken me nowhere of late.)

When Q came up with the brilliant idea of setting ourselves a challenge, as we are both going through a low period creatively, I jumped on it like a wild animal in heat!!!!

Below is a creation that has been inspired by the Challenge.

The theme is:
"Colours, more than three;  the quirky bit it must have a fork!"(Lisas Choice).
And is must not be a card!
 Now you will understand why I call her Quirks,  she certainly makes you extend yourself beyond what is comfortable, but I am always up for a challenge and I think it is what I need at this time.

I had an abundance of hand made painted backgrounds lying all over the desk, so it was a simple decision for me to use these for the colour aspect. I cut them up in strips and weaved them together, making three different size tiles, mounted them on white card-stock then framed them up as you can see.
Now you are asking where is the fork????
A  bit of a dilemma, as I did not want it to look like the element was just placed for the sake of it and not look part of the design.


TILE ONE

 

You may need your glasses!!! It is sitting on the bottom left hand strip.
Knowing Q as I do, you will not need glasses to see her fork, I have no idea what she has made as she did not give me any clues.

In hindsight I could have made it larger, but I could not lose the fear of being wrong, my worst enemy is self doubt, when it was complete I realised I should have just contemplated less and placed the larger fork that I had cut.
How surprising is this?  Me, a person  who adds and adds to cards, had a fear of placing a little fork on this almost CAS like project.... So atypical.

TILE TWO

TILE THREE
 I added a spoon.

This was great fun to make and I am delighted with it.
I have used Acrylic paints, Inks, and  White and Black pen for the doodles.
 It is a tangled mess but it holds great colour and movement ;the symbolism is so relevant to where I sit creatively at the moment.

Now pop over to see how Lisa interpreted our challenge here.
I know it is going to be quirky, but also amazing as her creative mind is distinctively unique as she holds no fears.
We will do another, so call in again next Sunday for our next challenge to each other.
 It may inspire you to think outside of the box.

Have a great week
Smiles:)
Sue

Out of the Darkness.

Hello Everyone,
It is generally known that if you face your fears, take a risk and accept what is, you will discover who you really are.
As you all know I have had a few weeks of no motivation, what one would commonly call a total block.  All I have been able to do each day is play with my paper and paints, most of which in the end were discarded.....frustration on my part was getting the better of me I can tell you, I spent hours on the computer, searching for a bit of magic to inspire me, I was beginning to despair when I found "Ëvery Life Has a Story!"  This Blog actually got my salivary glands working,  Robin-Marie is an amazing Artist. (I am no Artist). But I found her so inspiring.
 After my weeks of failure in this media I was so ready to make something happen.

Here is a selection of papers I painted up, on the left hand side is the first stage and to the right is the process of adding designs by using a mix of Acrylics, Inks, watercolours, White Pen and pieces of written paper.

I was now playing with purpose.
My first card.

 

I really tried to take a new direction, tearing myself away from lace and stitching, by changing the medium I work with.

Card Two.

And I also made two Tags, from my warm-up pieces, I had to first gain the confidence to face my fears.

Not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a great start, and I can only go beyond and improve, I learnt something about myself in the process.... I compartmentalise to my detriment, how I ever make anything that is not structured is surprising in itself.

So I think I am on my way back, I did wake up this morning eager to paint some more.
You will agree that this is so different for me but I enjoyed not thinking too much on how the finished piece would look, I also loved getting my hands dirty!!!!!

Have a great day, and if I have not told you of late, thanks so much for all your positive comments, it all helps.
Smiles:)
Sue

Back to basics....

Hello Everyone
I am still playing in my craft room, and still not much is being created that I am very happy with, I am all over the place, so I thought I would return to what I enjoy doing on a card instead of trying to do something unique....which is not working at all.

I stamped up the Hero Arts Hydrangea  in distress inks and heat embossed, but unfortunately being distress inks it does not show up too well.

My next favourite step is to sew, distress, and layer up.
Then adding some fluffy ribbon, lace and Bumblebee as the elements to give it a Shabby look, and at the same time adding the texture.

One of my favourite Challenge Blog is Stamping Sensations and this month the theme is:
Embossing and Texture


I hope you all have a great week.
Smiles:)
Sue

Play-Time for me!!!!!

Hello Everyone.
I am in the land of lost souls, wallowing with many of you (it seems) searching for inspiration and the re-awakening of the creativity gene, that has certainly done a runner on me BIG TIME.

The picture above is the result of me playing with my paints, inks, pens and other media, it can certainly be classed as mixed as it has a bit of everything. I maybe trying too hard to kick start this comatose gene that is stubbornly resisting my attempts of allurement, but I need to do something!

 

The Bg  was so much fun to make, I made two cards. I cut around the vine leaves on this one.

I found a new Challenge Blog  -{PIN}spirational,  whilst I was perusing for stimulus, and their little pic with the strong luscious Pink and Turquoise headband certainly got me started.

So I will enter this card into their Challenge.

 

 The second card is slightly different, but both have elements of flight..the symbolism to my absent mojo is eerie.
And this one I want to enter into 'Country View Crafts'-How does your garden grow?
My answer to this question would be not too well, but it has one Flower!

I am lingering in anticipation that my gene will be aggrieved, and put me out of my despondency sooner rather than later, as I am really struggling.
A thank-you must go to {PIN}inspirational Challenge Blog for at least getting me to pick up a paint brush!
Please forgive me if I have not visited you, it is only temporary.

Smiles:)
Sue

A little bit of magic...

Hello Everyone
I am back from a wonderful 10days on the Gold Coast Australia, the break from the usual routine has certainly rejuvenated and revitalised my thoughts and body.
Spending relaxing days with dearest one by the pool at the Sheraton Mirage and using the plastic for therapy has been rather pleasant to say the least.
Sometimes it is beneficial to step back and stop, walk away from the paints, brushes, papers and scissors, and change the routine for a spell.

So I suggest you sit back and scroll down to enjoy the tutorial I have for you today.
The transformation that takes place with this technique is magical and always brings a smile to my face. I hope it does the same for you.

First choose colours of Twinkling H20's and some stitched paper, this one as you can see is a yucky Brown  (there is obviously a name for this type of paper but I do not know what it is.)

 Using the water brush proceed to paint the paper.

 Mixing up your paints on the paper until it is covered.

Just like this.

Add some Gold paint.

And blend.

Add additional stitching.

Choose your embellishments and alter, this is Kwik Mesh.

 

I just used the same hues with my oil pastels. 

 

Dry emboss and ink (distress stains) up the corded frame.

 

Add a dyed ribbon, cut up some card stock in strips and glue in a row for some dimension and interest.

 

And here is the completed card.

You would never imagine it could look so different.

I would like to enter this card into

 Rhedd and Rosie Challenge Stitching (Real or Faux).

I hope to catch up with you this week and see what you have been creating in my absence. 

Smiles:)

Sue