.. 2016, has been an unforgiving year - but on Christmas Day it over-stepped the mark when it claimed George Michael for its list of celebrity passings in this year...
I was so shocked & saddened by this - George Michael has always been in the background of my life - he (as part of Wham!) was on the walls of my teenage bedroom, he's always been on my record player, or on tapes and cd's in my car... and summer has only officially arrived when 'club tropicana' is heard on the radio.. and the same for christmas - its not christmas until 'last christmas' has been heard.. but that tune has a different poignancy now...
x
Mixed-media paper crafter; stamper, freelance craft tutor, designer of PaperArtsy JOFY stamps
27 December 2016
24 December 2016
Day 4 of a FABULOUS blog hop!...
I hope you've all enjoyed the last 3 nights of blog-hopping - its been really inspiring hasn't it!
Tonight's four blogs are listed below and they are fabulous so hop on over and enjoy - don't forget to leave a message!
Live from Dec. 24
Kay Carley
Emma Godfrey
Cindy Gilstrap
Karen Gaunt
23 December 2016
We're halfway through the PaperArtsy / Stencil Girl blog hop and I'm sure you'll agree the projects so far have been fabulous and I'm sure those coming in the next 2 days will not disappoint either, and will be well worth a visit.
Blog Hop Order:
Live from Dec. 21
Darcy Wilkinson
Kim Dellow
Mary C. Nasser
Gwen Lafleur
Live from Dec. 24
Kay Carley
Emma Godfrey
Cindy Gilstrap
Karen Gaunt
Kay Carley
Emma Godfrey
Cindy Gilstrap
Karen Gaunt
Head on over the blogs listed above (on/after the dates shown) for lots of inspiration and a chance to win a prize - remember to leave a comment.
Thanks for all the comments left on my blog - so glad you liked my project, and I hope its inspired you to get busy with the stencils, masks and paints!
x
22 December 2016
A marvelous mash up of a blog hop!
PaperArtsy have teamed up with Stencil Girl Products to bring you a wonderful blog hop featuring work by their product designers and design team members. There are sixteen blogs to visit over the run of the hop, and chances to win prizes!
GIVEAWAY
One lucky winner will receive a $75 Gift Certificate to StencilGirl Products
AND a £50 Gift Certificate for PaperArtsy!!
Visit the fabulous designers from both teams and comment for your chance to win!
The more blogs you comment on, the more chances you have to WIN!
(One comment per blog please.)
(One comment per blog please.)
You have until Friday, December 30th at 11:59PM Central Time to leave your comments.
Winner will be announced onStencilGirl's Facebook page and PaperArtsy's blog on Sunday, January 1.
My plan was to create a masterboard with the intention of turning it into an upcycled book & journaling cards, or greeting cards, but when I finished the masterboard I could hardly bear to cut it up! :o)
But I did! I made several cards and a canvas...
The largest panel (8.5x8.5in) was embellished and mounted onto a 12x12in box canvas.....
To create the masterboard I covered heavyweight cartridge paper with vintage music sheets. To soften the black print I white washed the entire sheet.
I chose masks rather than stencils so I intentionally chose statement colours to cover the background because I knew they would be visible through layers, so I chose Bougainvillea and Coral Fresco Finish paints ('go-to' colours!). I loaded up a Gelli plate and printed over the entire surface - these paints are semi-opaque and translucent which allows the papers to show through. I wanted a bright base colour so pops of colour would pop through the mask's pattern.
Next I brayered on White Fire (pale gold) paint - I chose this because it is a) a gorgeous subtle gold & b) translucent and so allows the deep pink layer to show through. The background's colour/finish is patchy which is what I wanted to achieve.
Next came the stencilling/masking - on the photo below the masks laid in position ready for a layer of Chalk paint to be applied. The mask (deconstructed cluster of lilies mask s297, love collage mask L312) had to be painted and then repositioned elsewhere on the sheet...
The finished masterboard ready to be (eek!) cut up... and you can see all the lovely background colour coming through.
I made 3 cards from the masterboard, each featuring one of my stamps:
This card has mini JM54 stamped onto the solid flowers, the words are from Stencil Girl stencil S261
I doodled onto the flowers on this card, the phrase is from JOFY09.
I never get bored of using this stamp from JOFY38, here I've teamed it with another phrase from stencil S261.
I'm so happy with the finished canvas - I sewed detail on with my sewing machine, and attached it the canvas with matte medium and hand stitching. The gold flowers were created by stenciling embossing ink onto the design and embossing with WOW Metallic Brass Sparkle Embossing Glitter.
I don't often hang my own work in our house but this one is definitely going on the wall!
Enjoy the rest of the blog hop - don't for get to leave comments on each of the blogs for a chance to win.
19 December 2016
6 days left!....
.... I don't mean to worry/panic any of you but there's only SIX shopping days left before christmas!
If you are still looking for the perfect gift for you or the arty/crafty person in your life then I have the a great suggestion for you... (and you don't even need to leave the house to buy it!).
Wanderlust 2017 would make a great gift for a paint/ink covered person in your life - a gift that will keep on giving all through the year - who wouldn't want a gift like that!!
It is an online mixed media workshop experience featuring 26 amazing tutors (including Alena Hennessy, Sandra Everstson, Mindy Lacefield, Dyan Reavely, Kate Crane & me!) and 50 inspirational video classes over the course of the year.
Until the 31 December 2016 there's is an early bird price of £79 which is well worth taking advantage of (will increase to £99 after this date).
Grab yourself a bargain that will be enjoyed all year long - you won't be disappointed
Click on the graphic below to purchase.
I look forward to seeing you there.
x
PS Merry Christmas!!
If you are still looking for the perfect gift for you or the arty/crafty person in your life then I have the a great suggestion for you... (and you don't even need to leave the house to buy it!).
Wanderlust 2017 would make a great gift for a paint/ink covered person in your life - a gift that will keep on giving all through the year - who wouldn't want a gift like that!!
It is an online mixed media workshop experience featuring 26 amazing tutors (including Alena Hennessy, Sandra Everstson, Mindy Lacefield, Dyan Reavely, Kate Crane & me!) and 50 inspirational video classes over the course of the year.
Until the 31 December 2016 there's is an early bird price of £79 which is well worth taking advantage of (will increase to £99 after this date).
Grab yourself a bargain that will be enjoyed all year long - you won't be disappointed
Click on the graphic below to purchase.
I look forward to seeing you there.
x
PS Merry Christmas!!
18 December 2016
Exciting news...
BLOG HOP...coming soon!
Something very exciting is coming this week that I'm thrilled to be part of: a collaborative blog hop between
PaperArtsy and Stencil Girl Products
Visit the PaperArtsy blog each night and follow the links...and if that not exciting enough there's also....
Leave a comment on each blog while hopping and you'll go in the draw to win goodies!
Leave comment's before...
Friday, December 30th at 11:59PM USA Central Time
Winner will be announced on...
StencilGirl's Facebook page and PaperArtsy's blog on Sunday, January 1.
Details of the designers from both companies involved will be revealed on Wednesday Dec 21st
7 December 2016
A Cover Up...
... This class at Birds in the Barn proved popular so another date was booked - this coming Sunday (11th December) - there are a couple of spaces left.
If you fancy spending the day away from the christmas frenzy getting inky, stampy, painty up-cycling an old book into a journal/scrapbook then contact the shop to book your place.
Hope you can join us!
If you fancy spending the day away from the christmas frenzy getting inky, stampy, painty up-cycling an old book into a journal/scrapbook then contact the shop to book your place.
Hope you can join us!
January Craft Stamper...
... is in the shops now - and I have a project in there :o)
I loved making this dimensional project featuring none other than Skid the Robot! Here's a sneak peek but to see the whole project you'll need to buy the magazine....
its another great issue so you won't be disappointed and you get a free stamp!
Enjoy!
I loved making this dimensional project featuring none other than Skid the Robot! Here's a sneak peek but to see the whole project you'll need to buy the magazine....
its another great issue so you won't be disappointed and you get a free stamp!
Enjoy!
3 December 2016
New Products!....
.... oh yes!...more new products - new JOFY products - and this time its stencils. You can see a post detailing the new designs with samples HERE on the PaperArtsy blog...
Go take a look - I hope you like them as much as I do - they're going to be a lovely accompaniment to your JOFY stamps.
x
Go take a look - I hope you like them as much as I do - they're going to be a lovely accompaniment to your JOFY stamps.
x
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JO FIRTH-YOUNG | All rights reserved.