Freedom......with The Crafter's Workshop

 Hi everyone

I've popped in today to share my latest for The Crafter's Workshop.

Another colourful art journal page with a touch of grunge!

If you'd like to see step by steps......head to the TCW BLOG HERE

Here's a few more pics to inspire you...

See you again soon

Much love and colour

Tam

xx

Scrap Matrix and TCW....what a combo

Hi there creatives

Today I've popped in to share another c reation for Scrap Matrix for our TCW month!

I thought I'd share one of the gorgeous Art Journal pages that I've been creating, playing with an image by the amazing Michelle Grant.

I'm still learning to create faces, and am really not confident with them, and I find capturing emotions and expressions so difficult, and sometimes I get bogged down in that part of the creating and my play time kinda loses it's shine.

So.... using these images frees me up to really focus on the freedom of creating.

It means I get to have fun with the background, focusing on TCW stencils!

Let's dive straight in and see how this came together.

Begin by adding a layer of gesso to your page.

Then cut out the image you wish to use.

I used one from the 'Silent' Pack.

Adhere with TCW Gel Medium, adding a layer to the top of the image too. 

This protects the paper when adding paints etc.

I tend to place the face on one side of the background, giving more space to play.

Now it's time to add some colour.

I grabbed a few PaperArtsy Paints that appealed to me.

I went with:

Cherry Red

Peach Nectar

Slimed

Twilight

Cerulean 

Jade

I began with the darker colour, Twilight.

I added that around the image, and a touch on the right hand side to balance the page.

I then placed down NEW stencil TCW Floral Spectacle in 12x12 size and working quickly while still wet, I removed some of the paint with a wet baby wipe.

I then added a touch of 'Jade' and repeated the above step.

I then added some of the 'Slimed' over the space inbetween the two colours.

This time I used TCW Deco Leaves Stencil in 12x12.

Once the background is done, I began to focus on the image.

Firstly I added some flowers using TCW Floral Spectacle in 6x6.

This time I used a sponge and paint through the stencil.

I used 'Cherry Red' and 'Peach Nectar'

It's important to have some variegation with this part for it to be more natural.

I also added some to the right hand edge, again some lighter, and some deeper in colour.

I then added some vine work using TCW Jungle Vines Stencil 6x6.

I used a variety of paint colours for this part,mainly in blues, greens and white.

Now I needed to ensure the image looked part of the page, and not just plonked on top.

I added shadows and depth around some of the edges and then added colour to her face and hair.

I find this step really important.

I actually enjoy it, as it's the moment the magic happens...

her face comes forward and it all ties together.

I also grabbed the Tracy Scott stamp ETS43- and stamped a few feathers onto PaperArtsy Smooth Cardstock using black archival ink.

I then added colour and cut them out.

I adhered these with TCW Gel Medium to look like they were hanging down from the flowers in her hair.

I also chose this Paper Artsy Stamp EEG23 to add the title and a quote.

Add a few scribbles and flicks of paint.....

That's it from me today....

I love seeing what you're creating with your TCW goodies.

Don't forget when sharing them on Instagram, add the hashtag #tcwstencillove and then TCW can see them too.

Much love and creative play...

Tam

xx

Colourful kitties.....

Hi Creative Souls

I'm back again to share some more colourful characters for the challenge over at Scrap Matrix this month.

Colourful kitties this time.

Yep it had to happen!! 
Many of you know how much my kitties mean to me, so I just HAD to create an ode to them.

A trio of Colourful Kitties!

Purrrfect!

Let's take a look at how this came together....

I began by selecting my paint colours.

I chose Paper Artsy Paints in:

Cerise

Slimed

Banana

Cerulean

Twilight

Electric Violet

Southern Skies

I applied them pretty randomly to my page, adding in torn strips of paper from Art by Marlene Collage Paper and leftover bits from a Gel Printing Session.

I adhered these with TCW Matte Gel Medium.

Then fill in all the gaps...

Now I added some stenciling...

I went for one of the NEW TCW stencils.... TCW882 Fantasy Tile in 12x12.

I placed it down and then added paint through different sections using a sponge.

I constantly moved the stencil around, changing paint colours as I went.

I love that this stencil gives you 2 or 3 different looks.

I then added in some Dina Wakley white paint using TCW Brick Poetry Stencil....

the white really helps brighten it up.

I also added in some mark making - random brush marks.

As the paints are a mixture of translucents and opaques and semi-opaques you get some gorgeously interesting layers....

I then added more white paint using another new stencil TCW889 Dash 12x12.

This one does the mark making for you!

Love love love, know this will get a lot of use in future projects.

I then added in some stamping marks using Black Archival Ink.

I'd recently purchased this Art by Marlene stamp - Little Ladies and love the background stamps that are in this.

Ok, that's the background done....

Now time to create those kitties.

I roughly sketched them onto the page and then using the Twilight Paper Artsy paint, I painted around the edges....

Now that you've done the background, keep building up those colours.....adding extra shadows around the kitties.

This pushes the background back and brings the kitties to the forefront.

I added some markers to add details around the edges and to add in face, collars etc.

I also added a few touches of fluro paint using the Dylusions Tropical Sangria and Lemon Drop.

Eventually this happens....

For the quote, I used one from the Dylusions Bigger Back Chat Sticker pack. 

There were a few in there that suited cats, but this one summed it up perfectly....

Yep my cats to a tee.

(this is actually one of the things I love about them, their sense of independence, their air of not giving a hoot)

Finally, some flicks of white paint and a scribbly border....

So what colourful and quirky characters are you creating this month for the Scrap Matrix challenge?

Here's our moodboard for extra inspiration, thanks to these amazing artists and their work on Pinterest....

See you over on the Facebook Scrap Matrix Shares Page where you can enter your project.

Much love 

Tam

xxx

Colourful creatures for Scrap Matrix....

Hey there creatives!

I've popped in to share my first take on the 'Colourful Characters Challenge' for Scrap Matrix.

Cute, quirky little birdies....

So let's take a look at how this page came together....

I began by adding gesso to a page in my large Dylusions Art Journal.

I knew I wanted to create some birdies so I painted some blues onto the background.

I used Dina Wakley's 'Sky' and 'Turquoise'.

I then used a new TCW stencil called 'Lush Petals' and rubbed off some of the paint through the stencil.

It kinda made clouds....

Of course I just had to use some stencils by The Crafters Workshop!!!

Now that I've made the Design Team (ummm they featured on all my work before hand anyway!)

I stamped some of my new Tracy Scott stamps ETS45 onto PaperArtsy smooth cardstock using archival waterproof ink.

I've been busting to play with these, and as soon as I looked at them I saw feathers and birdy wings and bodies.

I love doing that with stamps, finding alternate uses.

I then cut them out and added colour.

Whilst drying I sketched a branch and some bird shapes.

I began by painting in the bodies.

I used Dylusions 'Lemon Zest' and 'Funky Fuschia' and Dina Wakley's 'Tangerine'.

I then added the branch using Dina Wakley's 'Penny' and 'Umber'.

I then added in leaves using TCW Stencil called 'Herbarium'.

I simply rubbed paint through the stencil with a dry wipe using a combo of Dylusions 'Cut Grass' 'Fresh Lime' and 'After Midnight'.

I then added pen marks to these leaves...

Next I added the bodies and leaves onto the birdies using the stamped images and some TCW Gel Medium.....

Next I went to town adding in some dots and details to the birdies....

Finally I added a quote....

Love that little upside down birdy.....

I hope he never grows up!!

Or actually learns how to act in public!! 

Just be you little birdy.

There you have it!!

So much fun to create.

What colourful creatures can you create for this challenge??

Be inspired by the amazing art and artists found on Pinterest...

Add your entry to the 'Colourful Characters Album' over in our Facebook Scrap Matrix Shares group and let us know in the comments what Scrap Matrix products you used.

yep it's that simple, and you could win a shopping voucher to the store!!

Can't wait to meet your colourful characters....

Wishing you colour and joy.

xx