LOC #80 upcycle/recylcle

Hello

Sadly this is our last LOC lay out for a while as other personal commitments have meant we're leaving them, but that doesn't mean you can't still play with them on their weekly challenge site.

with it being scifi month I went with this image  from Oddball art company she's a cute little believer that wants to be taken away.

The recycle bit comes from using cardboard from a beer box which I painted roughly in silver,  I then splatted some drawing gum on it and painted over it again with a mixture of violet and paynes grey (currently my favourite colour of all time) once its all dry, just rub over with a soft cloth and all the tiny splatters come away to give a very busy galaxy effect - helped a little bit with some teeny tiny stars.

I upcycled some metal self adhesive tape from the DIY store (thank you Chris!) and turned it into the Moon and Earth by dry embossing (using an tiny embossing tool) the design from the back and front to make the craters stand out,  then colouring with some black posca, I did the same with the earth but used glass paint to make the colours shine.. I also cut out a flying saucer but for the life of me can't find it, so that will have to be added later.

The lady herself I coloured with my usual watered down crayola pens, added the odd hint of metallic pen to give her boots and goggles a space feel.

finally stencilled the wording with silver paint and ran around the letters with a pen to make them seem more joined up.

Don't forget, there is only a day to share your sci-fi/geeky/fantasy creations here or on our facebook group for a chance to win crafty vouchers worth real money.

jaz x 

Loc #79 Lacy sunshine

Hello

Well this little sweetie was just too good to miss with it being sci-fi month, he's from Lacy sunshine and he's called Sleepytime Danni. Part of the challenge was to only use black white and one other colour, so purple it is.

I used the gesso technique I highlighted during my last 'thats still no moon' scifi post. added a cute dragonish comment. coloured with my usual crayola pens and added glitter.

Don't forget there's still time to participate in our craft vouchers giveaway - we've extended the deadline an extra week and have finally had some entries.. there is a fb thread where you can post your entries or you can add a link to your work here

its still scifi May month and I can't wait to see what Rebecca has up her sleeve for us this weekend

Have a good one

Jas x

Left of Centre Challenge # 78

This week at Left of Centre Challenges (LOC) its all about 'Distress It' and the sponsor is Bugaboo.

Would you go into the Woods to play with such sad looking skulls?

Instructions
1. Using chalk pastels create a background with yellows and oranges.
2. Print image onto background and attach lots of google eyes.
3. Knock back/distress the colour by applying 'Antique Linen' distress ink across the whole piece.
4. Repeat with blues and purples to create a 'frame', then crinkle frame to distress further.
5. Distress the edges with scissors, highlight with 'Vintage Photo' distress ink.
6. Mount main image onto frame.
7. Print out word banner into white paper, distress with 'Antique Linen', crumple and highlight with 'Vintage Photo', attach to piece to finish.

TFL Lou x

Remember we would love to see any of your sci-fi/fantasy/geeky creations and there is a chance to win craft store vouchers if you share your work either on our FB page or you can use this linkup tool

LOC That craft place

Hi All

Emergency creation of this lovely lady from the craft place... the challenge title was bling it up, and although she doesn't have copious amounts of glitter or gems, she does a have more than a little sparkle and a whole lot of shine. and comes alive under a flash !!

the background was painted with gold acrylic, and then was sponged through a stencil with a mixture of copper and paynes grey.

I then drew the very rough panelling and studs on the background with a copper posca. she was coloured in with my trusty crayola pens and a little bit of water. and lots of metallic gel pens.

no one on LOC quite knows who was supposed to be doing her, but i had fun and glad to have her in my collection.

join us again tomorrow for more fun with scifi. and don't forget to upload your makes for a chance to win vouchers - with non yet uploaded you have a decent chance of winning.  You can now use this link up tool to participate.

stay shiny

jas x

They're HERE....

The first post to welcome you to the start of scifi month. oooooweeeeooooo.

Where we are celebrating a host of things scifi related in some (possibly vague) way.

This month I've been making some bleached t-shirts - using some very cheap cotton tees.

This is my favourite of the bunch, a silhouette of serenity from firefly sailing?!? into the universe. and away from the word 'shiny' in circular Gallifreyan. Total geek overload, but I like it.

So grab your sticky backed plastic, a spray bottle of diluted Milton *other bleach products are available, a smidge of imagination. and join me while I have an absolute ball.

Firstly get an idea of the design you want to create (game of thrones vs starwars design for example) - or use someone elses (with permission) in my case from my brother.  Adjust the contrast so you just end up with a stark version and print it out in mirror image.  Stick your image loosely to the paper side of your sticky back plastic *this means when you cut it out to stick on its the right way around. and start cutting.

As this had wording, and I wanted to keep it correctly spaced, I laid some scruffed up masking tape (so its not very sticky) on the image and put my lettering down on top of it... then peeled away the paper backing and stuck it to my t shirt. I used a sheet of cardboard from a box down the middle so it lies flat, and so I didn't accidentally bleach all the way through.

Once I'm happy with the positioning, and everything is well stuck down, I very carefully unpeeled the masking tape leaving the plastic firmly stuck in place.  filling a mini spray bottle with clean water *mines about 40 mls, and dropped in some bleach, for my black tops I ended up using a full tablet of milton per the 40mls, but for the other coloured tops below it was around 3/4 of a tablet, you really just have to spray and leave it for a bit to see if you have it strong enough, however if you're using a strong liquid bleach no more than 50/50 mix. will do the trick.

when spraying use some kitchen towel to dab away any access puddling on the plastic, then wait, and wait and wait a little more and finally:  Ta dah..

as soon as you are happy with the colouring, remove the plastic and the cardboard and drop it in some cold water to deactivate the bleach. rinse it through and put it in the washer on its own or only with other bleached items for the first wash. then dry and wear.

I've also made these harry potter esq tshirts

 the mischief managed design is in the bottom right corner on the back of the I solemnly swear tee.

and as I was careful in cutting out the letters for the above design, I was able to line them back up again using the masking tape trick and transferred the whole negative image of the design onto a second tshirt. 2 different looks for the same amount of work.

Finally I have a Dr who weeping angel design ready to stick. but I can't for the life of me find the tshirt its going on... if you've any idea where it's hiding drop us a line either here or on facebook. 

Also remember to show us your project* for a chance to win real life craft vouchers. (*see previous posts or facebook for terms)  You can now use this link up tool to participate.

Stay shiny

Jas x 

Left of Center and Kenny K

Another Friday challenge at Left of Center, this time using Lady Victoria from Kenny K. I know it kind of looks like a card,but it's actually a cover for one of my many plain black spiral bound journals. I love this image - I think she looks pretty sassy - and I found a quote from my bag o' quotes that seemed to fit. Actually, it was my second choice, but an unfortunate accident with some red ink rendered my first choice unuseable! Sometimes the best things come out of these happy accidents.

I coloured her with my new copics as I had to have a play with them. Love having some darker colours new and only wish I could afford the whole set! Need to win the lottery (need to play the lottery first perhaps). Matted onto a few sheets of DCWV Once Upon a Time paper and added a few bits and bats that I had lying around and bob's your uncle. 

I'm glad I made the effort and it certainly has livened up my rather plain journal. Off to do some more soon, but first I'll be finishing off a few projects for sci fi May, so stay tuned.

Also remember to show us your project* for a chance to win real life craft vouchers. (*see previous posts or facebook for terms)  You can now use this link up tool to participate.

Bex

Left of Centre 75 with A Day for Daisies

Another week, and another new challenge over at Left of Center. This time the challenge is Fun Frights and is sponsored by A Day for Daisies. Now, I had something completely different planned which would have suited the challenge better, but sadly it just didn't pan out, so on to plan b. I used the holding fireflies image which is a freebie at the time of writing. I also used a sheet of paper from the DCWV Once Upon a Time series, wich had this great window scene. I printed her in sepia sized to fit so that she looks like she's sitting on the window sill. I coloured her with copics, although only having a few colours means that it's a little off IYKWIM, but hey ho - you get the idea.

Now for the fun part. I cut a little hole in the paper slightly smaller than the jar of fireflies then stuck the jar on to cover the hole. I then put a small batter operated tea light behind the jar and put the whole lot in a shadow frame. When you turn the tea light on you get the effect of the fireflies glowing, and because th DCWV paper is so thick, the light only shines through the jar and not the rest of the scene. Looks cool in real life, but sadly my camera thinks otherwise and this was, believe it or not, the best picture I could get! You get the idea hopefully.

Anyway, have fun and hope to see you again soon.

Don't forget, next month is sci fi month over here with the chance to win some real prizes. Also remember to show us your project* for a chance to win real life craft vouchers. (*see previous posts or facebook for terms)  You can now use this link up tool to participate.

Bex.

Left of Centre Challenge #74

Left of Centre Challenge this week is to create a TAG or an ATC. The sponsor is Smeared Ink.  I love the Toxic Ballerina range.

Instructions

1. Cut tag from a piece of old card.

2. Paint yellow.

3. Stencil with deeper yellow paint and  damask stencil.

4. Cut a strip if blue card and punch border and attach, using same blue card punch out some blue diamonds and attach.

5. Stencil with blue ink and a splatter stencil.

6. I printed out the image and used chalk pastels for colouring.  Cut out and attach with foam dots.

7. Ink the edges in blue.

8. Print out and attach the quotes ( I made this one up).

TFL  Lou x

Left of Center 73 - a little something different

Over at Left of Center this week we have a challenge to use spots and/or stripes. I must admit I cheated a little as I only used the stripes on the image I used, which is Grimm Doll 2 from Limited Runs.

I was wondering what to do with this lovely image (I also have Grimm Doll 1 which is equally fab) when, in a rare moment of actually trying to tidy my craft space, I found my last sheet of printable fabric. Not I have only used this once before but I'm going to order some more now. I printed the doll twice onto the fabric, one image reversed, coloured with my copic pens and cut about a 2cm border all round. I pinned them together inside out and sewed around, leaving a small (about 0.5cm) border of plain white around the edge and a small gap at the top of his head. I then turned it inside out and stuffed it through the small hole, added a little ribbon to the top to hang him from, and sewed up hole.

Now, I am no seamstress and this is my first attempt at doing something like this. When I get my new supply of printable paper I will do it again and probably not leave so much border around the edge. Also, copic pens need a much lighter touch on fabric so the colouring is a bit off, but hey ho, you learn from your mistakes right? Anyway, he seems a bit lonely so I can't wait for my new fabric to arrive so I can make Grimm Doll 1 to keep him company.

Thanks for looking, and see you again soon I hope.

Bex

Left of Centre Challenge #72

Left of Centre Challenge this week is MONOCHROME and the sponsor is IKES ART.

The WIND

Instructions for my journal page

1. Cover card stock with old book pages

2. Stencil (Brocade) in dark blue ink (this is my stencil of the moment!)

3. Using chalk pastels blend several shades of blue to cover the page to your liking. Spray with a fixative ( I use hairspray).

4. Stencil the swirls in a powder blue paint.

5. EMBOSSED IMAGE: Print out the image onto light blue flecked card. I used a non permanent pen to draw over the lines and then embossed with a pearlised blue embossing powder.   I did this in several stages as I wasn't sure how long the ink would stay sticky. (I've lost my embossing pen!). Cut out and attach to page with sticky foam pads.

6. Print out the words and attach to page.

TFL Lou x

Mermaids - Left of Center 71

Another Freaky Friday and another Left of Center challenge for you all.

 The theme this week is mermaids. I know I did a mermaid last week too but hey ho! I chose this Jayna stamp from Nikki Burnette and used it on a couple of things. First was an art journal page, and the second was some six word story ATCs for a swap I am running on UKScrappers. I wanted a watery type background for both, so out came the trusty distress inks/waterbrush combi, then coloured the images with my oh so few copic pens. My I need more of those!

I covered the ATCs with glossy accents and now I'm not so sure about that effect so I may redo them so that they are less fuzzy looking!

Love the image though, and even though my colouring skills are nowhere near those of the artist herself, I do like how they have turned out.

Thanks for looking, and see you soon I hope.

Bex.

Dark Dreams - Left of Center Challenge 70

It's time for another challenge over at the very lovely Left of Center and this time the theme is dark dreams (although anything out there is always welcome). For some reason I instantly thought of the story of the little mermaid , and how she dreamt of changing her tail for legs and being with the one she loved, and how that didn't exactly work out well for her.

I used this fabulous stamp from Rebecca Sinz at Sweet Pea Stamps which I thought was so appropriate. 

The card is very simple - a bit of sequin waste (sorry, just don't like the word punchinella!), a small bird charm and a little light stamping with some matting and layering - as I really wanted to focus on the image. I have just treated myself to some neutral markers so I decided to have a play with them and overall I'm pleased with the effect (although the example from the other Rebecca is better). A little crackle accents to the tail and job done. The quote is from the Disney film of the little mermaid, but I think it works well with the darker theme.

Well, that's me for now, and have a lovely day.

Bex

LOC good/bad luck #69

This week at Left of Centre Challenge blog the digital stamp sponsor is meljens designs, I picked bad-spell to go in with a good luck/bad luck theme. you should check out the designs as shes having a closing down sale..

Its and 8x8 card base, and is made using caught in crystal effect using floor polish, mica paints/powders against acetate and a tissue - i had great fun playing. 

shes coloured using waterbased childrens pens and a water brush, topped with glitter glue.

we're also making 6 word story ATC, this is my version of the frog prince, with the same background, I chopped off the wizard hat and replaced with a crown charm.

the above image is the same ATC photographed without and with a flash, this shows the depth of colour and shine/sparkle hidden in the mica.

its a really fun technique although i would definitely open a window or too..

The theme over at LOC is good or bad luck, why not have a play and enter one of your pieces, you don't have to use a stamp from the sponsor, in fact, you don't need to use a stamp at all, check out the other entries for inspiration and have fun.

thanks for looking, 

jas x 

Left of Centre (LOC) #68

This week at Left of Centre Challenge blog the digital stamp sponsor is Dilly Beans. My DT entry uses digital stamp no. 566 Jenn's Heart Framed.  She looked so lost and lonely so I've tried to create a lost and forgotten scrapbook page of a now long forgotten love, I think I'm in a valentines day time warp!

You said you'd love me forever!

The background:  I've used a selection of old scrapbook pages and aged them with distress ink; Vintage Photo and Walnut Ink.  I glued down someold grey embroidery thread for the circle and distressed a chipboard heart from a Heidi Swapp kit. The chipboard letter 'u' was inked with black stazon. LO SIZE 8X8.

The digital stamp: I've coloured the hearts, hair and dress with highlighters and then smooched Walnut distress ink over the whole piece. Attached a button, google eye and an old popper over the eye areas and finally redefined the frame with a permanent pen marker.

Once the piece was assembled I splattered on some brown ink.

I'm really starting to enjoy my experimenting with digital stamps, you play you learn.

The theme over at LOC is Big Eyes, why not have a play and enter one of your pieces, you don't have to use a stamp from the sponsor, in fact, you don't need to use a stamp at all, check out the other entries for inspiration and have fun.

Have a great weekend, happy crafting Lou x

Spiders - Love the Unloveable

Well it's Friday so that means another challenge over at Left of Center. This time I've used a great image from Sami Stamps called Spider Hugs. I love spiders but I must be one of the few people who do (many of my friends are arachnophobes). So, I decided to make a little tag to show how loveable they really are. I used distress inks splodged around with some water for the background, then ambossed it with a spider web embossing folder and highlighted parts of the web with black ink. I added some black pompom ribbon to the bottom, coloured the image using whatever I could find (having a bit of a clear up at the moment!) and stuck it on. Now, his little spindly legs got a bit lost amongst the black of her dress and the web, so I made some in the same style from green wire. Finally, I so wanted to add googly eyes but I can't find mine, so I used some glossy accents and little pearls instead, added a wee spider charm to her hair, and job done.

I hope you enjoyed it, and do pop over to Left of Center if, like me, you appreciate our little eight legged friends, as the theme this week is spiders so there should be lots of inspiration for you.

Left of Centre (LOC) Challenge #66

This week at the Left of Centre Challenge blog, I had the opportunity to play with a digital stamp from The East Wind, this weeks sponsor.  I selected one from the Twisted Venus range.  She is such a cheeky rascal.

The Temptress Tarot Card

1. The words are cut out using the sizzix spooktacular alphabet die..

2. Pan Pastels were used to colour the background.

3. BIC Mark-it pens and chalk pastels were used to colour the stamp.

Its simple but I think effective.

Then the idea of a WANTED poster came to mind, I just couldn't resist doing a second project!

1. I took a piece of beige card and coloured it with some Antique Linen Distressed Ink.

2. Using paint and powerpoint software I played around with the design and the text underneath the image.

3. I cut out the title using the sizzix spooktacular alphabet die.

4. Once printed I scrunched up the paper and applied more Antique Linen Distress Ink and then lightlyhighlighted with Walnut Ink Distress Ink.

I'm still learning how to play with digital stamps, so projects are more successful than others, but if you don't try you don't learn.

TFL  Lou x

Left of Center - Valentines #64

Just a quick post from me before the fun of Valentine's day begins tomorrow.

I made a wee card using this fab image from Simply Betty stamps. I see a lot of Valentine cards from women but not so many from men, so I thought I'd make something quick and easy that would be suitable from a bloke. Now, I have to be honest, my organisation of my digi stamps is not so hot and I really can't remember what this one is called. Anyway, I just coloured him with promarkers and used some old K & Co papers (urban rhapsody?) as the background as the "number one fan" writing was already on it. I loved the little hearts with bat wings that came with the stamp, so I made a larger one of my own, and bob's our uncle!

Well, that's it from me, but be back for our Valentine weekend.

Bex

Left of Center weekly challenge #63

And another couple from Jas for the lovely Left of Center using stamps from Lacy Sunshine.  I love them both but I am particularly digging the barbed wire one. The quote and what she's done with the skirt are a perfect marriage.

the backgrounds were created using Tim Holtz layed stencil gothic, and modeling paste, one all over in a uniform way, pattern matching as she went, painted with watered black acrylic and then rubbed over with bronze. secondly the stencil was used in patches, painted with emulsion paint in dusky plum, dry brushed in grey, sanded over then again rubbed over with bronze acrylic.

both images were painted with watered down crayola pens.

Well, that's all for now but we will be back soon with some Valentine's specials.

Take care.

Bex

LOC Weekly challenge

Hi

Just a quick post from me, as I'm a last minute substitute for Rebecca.

This week is sponsored by www.Bugaboostamps.com with the theme for kids.  This stamp is called Skelekinz cupcake stroller, although in my defence I didn't know that when I printed it, and I thought they looked more like ice creams oops.

Background paper is an old basic grey in bubblegum pink, I lightly painted some glitter paste on to some bubble wrap to 'print' a spotty sparkly background, and brushed some grey emulsion around the edges.

Next I printed the image in different sizes and flipped a couple so that I could have extra ice creams dotted about,

and I found the quote on my pc from a previous etsy purchase here.

thank you for looking and bye for now.

Jas x

LOC Weekly Challenge

This week the Left of Centre (LOC) Challenge blog is sponored by That Crafty Place (Etsy) and has a 3 layers theme if you just want to go LOC!

Here's my DT contributions for this week and you all know I love my eyeballs!!

3 Layers

Materials Used:

Sizzix Tattered Flowers Die

Sizzix Garden Greens

red paint for splattering

glitter for the petals

a spare plastic eyeball for the flower centre

and a sentiment.

Saucy Sally

Materials Used

Digital stamp from ThatCraft Place coloured with Bic Mark-It Pens and Chalk Pastels (skin tone)

Navy Card

White Card coloured with Pan Pastels

White card frame coloured with Bic Mark-It pen (Navy)

Clear Sticky back plastic & glitter for the glitter window

Quote printed from word document.

NOTE: I really struggle to get the skin tone right, it usually looks like a really bad fake tan, 

so this time around I've used my chalk pastels in a rose pink and a taupe brown

and once applied I use a rubber to remove the intensity of colour until I'm happy with it.

Its fair to say I need more practice but I'll get there!!

Not sure this more CAS (clean and simple) look really works for me but its good to try

new styles, isn't it?

Thanks for popping by

Lou x