At Home With Nature

Hello
As part of the That’s Crafty D.T., we were provided with the fabulous MDF Art House Shrine, each of us altering it any which way, with our finished house shrines appearing as a 3D Challenge in Craft Stamper magazine.  They appeared in the March issue so I thought I would now share my house, which has a theme of nature.
It is always special to be part of a collective, showing the diversity of a team but also the versatility of the product, namely this time the art shrine.

I shared a video of the project over at FB, for some reason, my Blog will not allow me to upload the video here but it can be viewed at my facebook page.  https://www.facebook.com/lynne.moncrieff/videos/857281537794840/  The video showing different angles of the house shrine, including stencilled side panels, etc.
Thank you always for your visit.
Wishes
Lynne

 

Be Brave (Somerset Apprentice)

Hello
When That’s Crafty! released their Uprights, I knew I had found a substrate I would return to time and again, especially with the various designs and available in Dinky size.
This project appears in Stampington & Co’s Somerset Apprentice, Spring 2018.
The stamps, PaperArtsy EEA feature on this assemblage.
In the intro, for the feature, I give my thoughts behind this assemblage. I also wanted to capture the essence of torn and tattered,
layering the stamped focal, with the ragged edges, as though they might flutter off.trying to capture that there can be strength within what appears fragile. More tattered elements: painted re-cycled corrugated cardboard, Infusions scrap of mop-up kitchen paper, stamped scraps.Resting on the base of the Dinky Upright, a piece of driftwood (from Dorthe!) which I stamped onto.Thank you for your lovely visit today.
Wishes
Lynne

Finding My Way (Somerset Studio Gallery)

Hello
When I was an Ambassador for RELICS & ARTIFACTS, Cat Kerr who was a previous Ambassador, came up with the idea that each Ambassador create a project featuring an R&As oyster shell and incorporate her stamps, other than those specifications, we could create any project working on any substrate, I chose a piece of driftwood.
The oyster shell obviously brought to mind the ocean which made me ponder messages in bottles, tossed into the ocean.  This set my mind thinking of how no matter the stage we are in life, there are times when we are finding our way.  I used Cat’s stamp “Finding My Way” to bring this element to my assemblage.  It could be that the message is written and tucked inside the bottle, a plea to finding the way in life or it could be viewed that the person writing the message has found contentment in that they are at peace knowing they are finding their way, a sense of wisdom washing over them as represented by the addition of the pearls, a flow of pearls of wisdom.  Another of Cat’s stamps was incorporated, a compass which I stamped onto a That’s Crafty acrylic shape.  I also used ICE Resin throughout and Tints which brought the exact notes of colour I wanted to achieve.
We each, separately mailed our projects to Cat, who would mail them to Stampington & Co. We didn’t know in what format the projects would take or which magazine would want to publish them, either as a group or individually.  It was a lovely surprise when the editor of Somerset Studio Gallery contacted me for my assemblage to appear as a Spotlight within Somerset Studio Gallery Winter issue.

• RELICS & ARTIFACTS Coquille  (which includes the oyster shell and more) is available from That’s Crafty.

The ICE Resin simplified adhering the elements, aside from providing the appearance I wanted on all the elements.The bottle actually has contents but it didn’t trouble me that they are obscured by the treatment I gave to the outside of the bottle and by the resin paper (stamped tissue paper).It was important that this assemblage had a tactile quality to it just as the ocean does with the juxtaposition of smooth against rough, which is also symbolic of life.Fragments of vintage lace reminded me of netting and the Tints used for ICE Resin enabled me to bring colour to the oyster shell as did a dash of PaperArtsy Infusions.
This was a unique project to be part of and even though our projects did not appear side by side, it was still special to work on this project and subsequently for it to appear within Somerset Studio Gallery, a publication which I hold in high esteem.
Wishes
Lynne

Nature Study (Somerset Studio)

Hello
This project is another article in the Jan/Feb issue of Somerset Studio, it was in answer to an art call for the colour Olive which isn’t a colour which I would normally reach for but I knew I had PaperArtsy olive Fresco so I had no excuse to dive in. It was packaging which inspired me, cardboard packaging from Amazon (I always have to battle with my conscience when I say their name!!!) which has almost a folder appearance to it.

I wanted it to become a Nature Study portfolio with not only green to transform the cardboard packaging but also a Green ethos to the items I reached for throughout.

The folder opens to reveal a panel of tree bark, embellished with a piece of found paper, stamped and layered with a beautiful feather and for the right side, where a book or other item would normally be packaged, this is the area where the art panels are stored.

The jute twine ties this element to close it,

A cluster of stamped tags, it was probably walnut ink (I keep a large jar which I top up when required and so far, no sign of mould appearing) I used to stain the found paper/cardstock.  All of those stamps are from Character Constructions.  That is one of the many reasons I adore Character Constructions, not only for the stunning paper dolls stamps but there are also so many detail stamps included on the plates.

The rear which was stamped with a script stamp (PaperArtsy ESN) and a beautiful fern stamp).

Inside the portfolio there are four panels which are all substrates of birch tree bark which I have randomly painted. There are layers and layers and texture upon texture, all items from around the home and garden. Some items again stained with walnut ink and I was so pleased, without going out of my way, I discovered that piece of book text.

Tree bark, burlap, muslin, brown packing paper, cardboard paper and a wooden button/bead from a piece of clothing.

Loose fibres gives the impression of nesting material within the stamped nest, which was stamped onto birch tree bark

I peeled back a layer of the tree bark to place this stamped image of the nest behind it.

Panel Two which features another Red Lead bird stamp

which was stamped onto resin paper or maybe the ICE Resin was applied after stamping…I think I should have referred to the instructions in my article! I know he rests on a MDF heart from That’s Crafty.
Thank you to Dorthe for the driftwood and the sweet wee cone.

Within the folder, other than the two panels featuring birds, there were two other panels, featuring leaves.

The leaves were stamped onto deli paper which had the PaperArtsy Freco paint, diluted and applied to create a textural appearance.

Red Lead have an extensive range of nature themed stamps and they do some of the very best bird stamps you could ever hope to source.
I appreciate, this was a very long blog post with lots of photos so huge thanks if you managed to stay until the end!
Wishes
Lynne

A Day At The Beach (Willow And Sage)

Hello
Last year, I was given the unexpected opportunity to come up with a packaging idea for Willow and Sage magazine and since then, I have found myself enjoying, thinking up ideas to submit to them. If it hadn’t been for that opportunity I would never have thought to submit to this publication.
I stumbled across some cute baskets, easy to assemble, I could see so many possibilities for their use. Armed with two of those baskets and a bundle of Red Lead stamps, two of their wooden word charms and PaperArtsy Fresco chalk paint and a few other supplies, I set about making this gift packaging idea for bath/beauty products.
If you read Willow and Sage, I provide ideas for what I could imagine contained within the baskets.

The shell, which has been stamped onto directly, is a scoop for bath crystals.

Red Lead wooden word charms are so useful, for all types of projects and easy to paint.  By painting them, the engraved words are highlighted.

Each side of both baskets stamped with Red Lead stamps.

The muslin bags, again stamped with Red Lead sentiments, stamped onto fabric scraps.


The baskets are sold with horrible ribbon, really quite nasty (!) but that is okay because I like being able to make handles that are more suited to the theme of the baskets.  For this one, a piece of driftwood from my lovely friend Dorthe – a piece of driftwood from Denmark.

It certainly isn’t weather for days at the beach here in Scotland, unless wrapped up in the coziest of clothes!
Wishes
Lynne

Don’t Doubt The Strength

Hello
A peek at the project I am sharing over at That’s Crafty this week, a project that features some of their most recent launches.  The full post can be seen HERE.

Thank you for taking the time to visit this post. I am all but absent from on-line at the time of scheduling this post but desperately hope to be able to dip in again soon.
Wishes
Lynne

She Hath Wings (Somerset Studio)

Hello
To start this new week I thought I’d share something which I made last year, submitted to Somerset Studio’s colour challenge, the colour they stipulated was Olive.  I was so thrilled to see this published in Somerset Studio Jan/Feb 2017.
Although I also submitted other projects, this was the first project made because I knew I wanted to use the stunning Character Constructions stamp, Inner Child No. 7 , a great favourite of mine.
Is she a friend to the birds, who are content with her sitting amongst them, or is it possible that she is one of them.  Some say she has the voice of the sweetest nightingale.

(That’s Crafty is stocking a selected range but Laura Holland is willing to accept any enquiries for Character Constructions stamps which do not appear on the That’s Crafty website.   If you are interested in placing a Special Order, then feel free to contact Laura)

A canvas board was the main substrate for this piece, with That’s Crafty MDF hearts.
The Character Constructions stamp is the focal, stamped onto a piece of leftover paper, painted with PaperArtsy Fresco and one of their glazes providing a sheen.  You can just about see the sentiment “she hath wings”,  a beautiful stamp, available from Redlead Paperworks.
All of those branches are fussy cut, yes, my hands were not so happy with me!  You can find this branch on Character Constructions Queen of Tarts Plate 1

I allowed them to overhang, to give them impression that she really is nestled in the branches of the tree.
In all honesty, I am not sure I achieved the faux bark effect which I was aiming for on the That’s Crafty mdf hearts.  Each has a stamped egg layered onto it, the stamped image has a thin layer of ICE Resin.

Scraps of resin paper also appear layered behind the heart and again on this piece of drifwood, layered with the Home Sweet Nest sentiment.  Such a sweet sentiment from Character Constructions.

Thank you for your visit.  I am trying to draft as many posts as possible, there seems to be so much catching-up to do!
Wishes
Lynne

Nature Girl (3D Challenge – Craft Stamper)

Hello
In the new issue of Craft Stamper, the RELICS & ARTIFACTS Ambassadors are thrilled to be making an appearance for the 3D challenge.
Working with a specific R&A, Imperial Egg and with a Cat Kerr stamp of our choice, we each set about to make our submission. I selected the She Flies stamp, a stamp which can be used as one whole stamp or as three individual elements: girl’s face, sentiment and wings.  I was keen to use all the stamped elements but working with them individually (if that makes sense!).  The wings are stamped into paperclay, to allow the Nature Girl to fly amongst her woodland friends.
Sharing this sneaky peek, provided by Trish Latimer

A copy of the magazine can be purchased from www.craftstamper.com or www.mags-uk.com, digital copies from www.pocketmags.co.uk

Have a lovely week and thank you for your visit.
Wishes
Lynne

The Heart of Childhood (for Calico Craft Parts GD)

Hello
A scheduled post to share my second and final project as a GD for  Calico Craft Parts blog.
All the details can be found at the Calico Craft Parts blog, along with the inspiration for this piece, HERE, the way the Character Constructions stamp inspired my selection of Calico Craft Parts.

Stamps:- Character Constructions Inner Child No. 4
PaperArtsy Infusions – staining the Calico Craft Parts heart, sari ribbon, trims and more.
Thank you to Calico Craft Parts for having me as a GD.  It is always a privilege to be involved with a company, even if only for the shortest of time, working with products I genuinely admire.
It has been a busy week with lots of scheduled posts, so thank you to any of you who have taken the time to stop by, it is genuinely appreciated by me.
Wishes
Lynne

Leaf

Hello Everyone
Lin Brown’s latest stamp sets for PaperArtsy are just so beautiful and the perfect focal for a canvas panel I had prepared some time ago.
This is my DT project for That’s Crafty. All details can be viewed HERE.
Many thanks for stopping by today.
Wishes
Lynne