Texture - Sparkle

This was my favourite of the cards using the Golden Glass Bead Gel. I used texture paste through a stencil in the background and gave the flowers dimension by using 3D tabs to attach them. I then used the Glass Bead Gel on both the background and the centre of the flowers. I loved the way the gel took on the colour of whatever was behind them. Hard to see here, but it is really quite effective.

This is an entry for the Simon Says Stamps Monday Challenge - Texture.

Texture - Challenge

More experimenting with my new Golden Glass Bead Gel. This evolved using bits and pieces of left overs and a skeleton leave.

This is an entry for the Simon Says Stamps Monday Challenge - Texture.

Texture - Dreams

I finally gave in and bought some Golden Glass Bead Gel and this was my first attempt at using it. I basically saturated the muslin rosette with the gel, which took a very long time to dry. I had also been experimenting with inks and alcohol. More practice (and finding the best paper) needed I think! 

This is an entry for the Simon Says Stamps Monday Challenge - Texture.

Texture - Green Tea

Having decided I had drunk enough coffee for one day, I brewed some green tea. As this is the real thing, bought in Japan and made in the pot I bought there, I decided to use this a the theme for this card. Originally I hadn't planned for the tea leaves to cover the whole card but that's what happened and I think you can still see the images and writing coming through.

This is an entry for the Simon Says Stamps Monday Challenge - Texture.

Texture - Red

This ICAD was based around a final notice from my bank showing that my car loan was paid off. Closing balance $0.00!! Yay!

I had been trying some texture using seed beads after learning of the existence of Golden Glass Bead Gel but even these beads are quite big when trying to spread them out. I used a lot of matt medium coloured with acrylic paint and some homemade number stamps. It took awhile to dry but made and effective look in the end.

This is an entry for the Simon Says Stamps Monday Challenge - Texture.

Mini Tickets

This is my entry for the Crafty Individual Minis Challenge for July. I have used images from Life's Journey 2 to create mini train tickets using a die and stamp. All ready to include in a project.

Moon & Stars - Fly High

Some more challenges before the end of the month. Moon and stars seem to go together so I think this works for Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #26 and Eye Connect Crafts - National Moon Day Challenge.

I has the cardboard circle sitting on my work surface from a roll of wire and knew it would turn into something, so the moon seemed to be the obvious thing. I created a stencil and stenciled on the geese but could decide which background to go with.

I think I will end up going with this background but tried the others below. The simple black gesso, with silver splatter and Posca pen stars, is probably the most effective. Maybe someone will let me know what they think.

I had a couple of existing backgrounds I thought I would try. My first was this one, but I think it's too busy.

So next I tried this one - which would need some more work if I used it.

Friends Are Stars

Another more challenge before the end of the month this time for Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #26. I didn't have much in the way of stars so created a couple of stamps with erasers as well as the 'friends' stencil with my Brother ScanNCut. I stamped on kitchen paper and used an existing background of acrylic and alcohol drips. I like this quote and had been looking at it recently when creating something for a friend who is going though a difficult time.

Reach for the Stars & Moon

Some more challenges before the end of the month. Moon and stars seem to go together so I think this works for Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #26 and Eye Connect Crafts - National Moon Day Challenge. I do remember that first moon landing, so I'm sure that qualifies me for something!

The stars are subtle and the moon is bold in this one which is inspired by Deedee Catron's video lesson. My moon is texture paste, bubbled with the heat tool. I did find doing the trees quite scary - worried I would mess it up - but happy with the outcome.

ICAD 2016

I am very proud of my ICADs for 2016. This is the first time I have taken part in this challenge set by Daisy Yellow Art. As there were 100 cards in the pack, I decided to complete them all. Our school term was going back here in New Zealand, so went for it an had them all finished by 25 July in case I was too busy during the next week.
I have only be working on my personal art for about a year after initially splashing out on a Brother ScanNCut and then a Gelli Plate. Since then I have spent far too much money on pens, paints, paper, Inktense, Gelatos ....... but, this is for me and I am enjoying art and creating.

"Creativity is intelligence having fun" Albert Einstein (I have an image for this which I will insert but it is in a journal at school.)

I have been using this new knowledge and enthusiasm for art to extend the projects I complete with my 10 year old students. I really do believe Albert Einsteins words above and as the kids love art, they forget they are learning at the same time!
My inspiration came from a variety of places (I didn't follow the given prompts at all) - a couple are from other ICADs I saw, some have magazine images or images from the Internet. Many started from random colour, stamping, stenciling, gelli printing or from my own photos. Some incorporated skills or media that allowed them to be included in other challenges or new techniques I was trying out.
So here they are - 100 ICADs - And there was extra for my title card!

This seemed like a positive quote for the completion of a challenge - but still lots more to come!! 

Things With Wings - Seagull

This is for Simon Says Stamps Wednesday Challenge, things with wings. Making use of my ICAD's completed this month.
This is only the second thing I have created using this beachy napkin as a background - happens it did also feature in last weeks nautical theme challenge. I had had it for quite some time and finally got around to using it.
The card sat for a while with just the background. As it is quite busy it needed something which would stand out in the foreground. In the end I really liked this, I think mainly because of the quote, but also liked how the red border finished off.

Things With Wings - 3D Butterfly

This is for Simon Says Stamps Wednesday Challenge, things with wings. Making use of my ICAD's completed this month.
The butterfly was on the printed card but I cut it out and then placed it back in its space using 3D tape.

Things With Wings - Doodle Butterfly

This is for Simon Says Stamps Wednesday Challenge, things with wings. Making use of my ICAD's completed this month.
This one was negative space left from a print that didn't really work out, that I sectioned off and then filled with doodles.

Things With Wngs - Chickens

This is for Simon Says Stamps Wednesday Challenge, things with wings. Making use of my ICAD's completed this month.

Alpha Challenge - N for Nautical

My second 'N' word for this challenge at The Craft Barn.
And just found Simon Says Stamp has a nautical challenge - just a coincidence so might as well link there as well.
I had tried out a background using salt, with no success so used these pages with a sea/nautical themed napkin to create this page.

VLV Stamps July Challenge - Steampunk

Now I'm going to submit this even though I probably don't fill all the criteria - but created the page before I read them properly! I promise, I have an order in for some stamps from Viva Las Vegas Stamps. That's how I found the challenge.
I don't have a lot of steampunk - just self-made cogs stencil - but created some stamps (the goggles looked more like an owl!) and found some images. I quite liked that one of the images I found was of the Steampunk HQ in Oamaru, NZ. Who knew?!
The page had been started using a pack of 50's Diner Gelatos and the packaging they came in. I added my stamps, images and plenty of metallic paint.

Below: Steampunk HQ, Oamaru, New Zealand