Christmas hanger

Morning everyone, just a quick post with details about my workshop at Samuel Taylor's in Leeds on Saturday 18th July. We'll be making a card and triple hanger with a Christmassy theme.....

.....something like the ones shown here....

We'll be using my gilded layering technique and a range of lovely products.
If you would like to join in with the creative fun, the cost is £30.00 for the day.You can book directly by clicking the link to Samuel Taylor's workshop page here.

Winging it!

I have another step by step project on the DecoArt Mixed Media blog....this time a winged goblet. I'd had a rather nicely shaped glass sitting on my shelf for a while and knew that I wanted to give it a makeover. It was after watching a Harry Potter film on TV that this idea came to me!

Hope you like it....you can find full instructions and a materials list here.

Colour therapy

After feeling rather glum, I felt in need of some colour therapy and created a very simple journal page last night to cheer myself up a bit! I was given the kick start I needed by Mel who created  these pieces ...they just shouted at me to go bold and bright!

I stuck some book paper into my Moleskine journal before applying white gesso over the two pages. Once   dry I brushed on DecoArt Media Line Fluid Acrylics in Quiacridone Magenta, Cobalt Teal Hue and Diarylide Yellow, just allowing the colours to merge and create whatever fresh shades they would!

I quickly added some Titanium White circles (the old bottle lid trick) and quickly flicked water over the surface before dabbing with a paper towel which removed some of the colour intensity in certain areas. The Fluid Acrylics are waterproof when dry, so you can't hang about!

I added some handwritten words and lines in black and some extra detail around the page edges with my white pen. I use my dictionary pages quite a lot....

So, just a very simple journal spread but one that gave me a much needed lift.

A little different to the page that I created a few days ago, which was full of crackles, more muted shades and allusions to pressure and depression. I feel I may go back to this page yet, but am leaving it for a while to see where it decides to take me!

On Saturday 25th July I'll be teaching a full days workshop at Craft Range in Burnley, where we'll be creating two Mixed Media projects, concentrating on using Deco Art Media Line products. We'll be creating some aged and distressed finishes and here are some sneaky peeks of what we'll be up to....

 ....not giving too much away! Various mediums and paints will be involved though....

.....to create two different projects....

If you fancy coming along, the cost is £25 for the day, including materials and lunch. Please contact the shop directly to book - 2, Boran Court, Network 65 Business Park, Burnley BB11 5TH tel: 01282 833091.

A Brief Encounter with creativity!

If you have a romantic nature, along with a love of creating, then you might enjoy my workshop next Saturday which is being hosted by Rowan Tree Crafts at the Heritage Centre in Carnforth Railway station....setting of course, to some of the scenes in Brief Encounter....arguably the most romantic film ever made!

We'll be making a triple hanging plaque something like this.....

 ....using my Gilded Layering Technique. The cost of this workshop is £35 which includes lunch. If you fancy joining me, please contact the shop directly to book at Rowan Tree Crafts, 3, Ashtrees Way , Carnforth, Lancashire or telephone 07590605078. Hope to see you there!

Meanwhile, I'm busy with various projects and watching the odd Wimbledon game here and there when I can - I don't think I've managed to see a full match yet! I shall be glued to the men's final a week on Sunday though!

I guess almost everyone enjoyed, or endured (depending on how you feel about it) the thunderstorms over the last few nights. I've enjoyed them but Tara has most definitely endured them....running under a very low cupboard that she can hardly squeeze beneath every time the rumbles start - bless her.

 I had to lie on the floor beside the cupboard so I could try and keep her calm. Thomas isn't bothered by it all really, in fact,he was pestering to go out in at last night....silly thing!

Here are a couple of shots that I managed of the storms - much better with the sound effects though! All viewed through the safety of my conservatory windows!

This was when the whole sky lit up last night...quite eerie considering it was about half past midnight!

Well, I am hoping that the crackle paste I have been using will now be dry, so I shall carry on with my creating!