Guest Designer at A Vintage Journey

Well I am amongst some prestigious company today! Absolutely delighed that Brenda asked me to be a guest at the A Vintage Journey challenge blog today.

The theme is 'Texture/Embossing Paste' and I've used several different mediums to add texture to my piece. There's an introduction to my project on the AVJ site and here are the full step outs of how I made it.

1) Paint a 6x4" canvas with DecoArt Cobalt Turquoise Hue paint diluted with Tinting Base. Use a scrunched up baby wipe to add patches of neat Cobalt Turquoise Hue, Cerulean Blue and white gesso here and there.

2) Stamp the Rubber Dance girl stamp onto white card (from my very own Take the Plunge set!). Stamp the sun (Tim Holtz) behind in two colours of Archival Ink. Stamp the girl a second time and colour with alcohol markers (mine are Graph It). Stamp the sun again in darker Archival colours. Cut out as shown.

3) Use a stencil (this one is Tando) and matte heavy gel to add some 'water' texture to the canvas towards the bottom.

4) Glue the sun rays and lady in place. Add scraps of cheesecloth to add more texture.

5) Mix embossing paste or modelling paste with paint to tint it - I used Yellow Oxide and Raw Umber DecoArt paints. Use the paste through a stencil (TCW) to make embellishments.

6) Add extra stencilling around the edges (TCW) - you can get texture with a heavy gesso by pouncing it through your stencil with a sponge.

7) Add a 'beach' using Texture Sand Paste from DecoArt. While still wet, add some Art Stones from Prima. When dry, tint with Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide paint.

8) Add a collage of pebbles and shells on the left. Glue the shell embellishment and stamped words to a piece of driftwood and add on the right to finish.

I really enjoyed creating this retro-themed piece, I hope you've enjoyed my adventures with texture today and hope to see you soon.

Katy x

Mixed Media Panel for ColourArte

My turn to do a tutorial for you on the ColourArte blog today. I've been inspired by Marta Lapcowska to create some 'small art' using chipboard pieces. It's coloured using Silks over black gesso - the black surface makes the iridescent colours I chose really stand out! Continuing my mission to expand my colour use, I went with purple which I never, ever use! I think it turned out OK!

That lovely stamp is from a new set at Rubber Dance Art Stamps called Fly with me, by the way. She's rather lovely I think!

Hope you enjoy the tutorial!

Katy x

Faux Paint Tubes for Rubber Dance

It's my tutorial today over on the Rubber Dance blog. I used metal sheet to create faux paint tubes for this cute mini canvas. For a full step out just follow the link :).

Katy x

Vacation Time

Yes, it's January and with Christmas gone and forgotten I'm already longing for a holiday! So I decided to dig out one of my oldest but best loved Rubber Dance sets and create a card with a travel theme.

I turned to my favourite ever colour scheme - blue and brown again! - and created in a vintage style which I think really suits this particular stamp set.

Here's how I made it:

1) Stamp the Venetian image, 'carte postale' and the postcard onto white card. Watercolour them with Distress Inks and a water brush. I used these colours: Tumbled Glass, Faded Jeans, Blueprint Sketch, Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke, Vintage Photo. Crumble the Venetian scene and postcard to age them and ink the edges.

2) Splatter a cream A6 card with Tumbled Glass Distress Spray. Stamp the card with various images in Sepia and Jet Black Archival Inks. Ink the edges with Vintage Photo.

3) Layer the cut pout images onto the card blank with 3D foam for dimension - and you're done. Not a difficult card to create this one :).

Katy x

I used these lovely Rubber Dance stamps;

Travel

Postcard

Envelope Stamps

Art with Mona

Today I am combining two of my fave Rubber Dance stamp sets - my brand new Artist set and an old favourite, the beautiful Da Vinci set. I've created a multi-layered tag celebrating all things art.

For those amongst you as a pedantic as I... yes, I am aware that paint didn't come in tubes in Da Vinci's day - but neither is this tag an original old master, so that's my excuse and I am sticking with it!

I used my beloved kraft card as the base (in case you were wondering - which you probably weren't but I am going to tell you anyway - I love the kraft card from docrafts and it's the only one I buy).

Here's how I made it:
1) I started by cutting three kraft tags. I stamped the largest tag with the paintbrushes from my Artist set in Potting Soil Archival. I stamped the smaller tags in the same ink with other images from the set and added torn book pages to all the tags.

2) I then used black Archival to stamp splatters (part of one of the heart stamps), the art definition stamp and the coffee ring stamp here and there on all the tags. I edged all the tags with Ground Espresso Distress Ink (which, incidentally, may be my new fave).

3) Stamp Mona Lisa onto white card and colour her with watered down Distress Inks (Tattered Rose is the perfect tone for Caucasian skin). Stamp the paint tubes and brushes and 'Art' word and colour them too,

4) Layer up all the bits and bobs as shown - I used foam tape on the tags and Mona, and Pinflair Glue Gel (a bit like silicone glue) for the cut out embellies to make the tag really 3D!

I am not sure I've done the great master justice, but I love my tag anyway! Any celebration of the joy of art makes me happy.

Katy x

I used these awesome Rubber Dance stamps:

Artist

Round in Circles

Da Vinci

Collage Mix (I just used the Art stamp off this one)

I Heart Art (I used the stamp bottom left to create the splatters)

Wishing...

So delighted to have been asked back again to guest design for A Sprinkle of Imagination, this time as part of their 12 Designers of Christmas series - I am in fact last to go but it's well worth a look back through a month of fabby art from lots of talented peeps.

I used stamps from A Sprinkle of Imagination - Stampotique Great Moon and the hare by Crafty Individuals. I also used my own Believe set from Rubber Dance for the sentiment.

I decided to combine the stamps with the opportunity to get more familiar with my DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics. I've actually used these paints a LOT but not usually in a very 'painterly' way, more for adding colour to mixed media pieces. Here I've attempted a form of painting with them ('proper' painters look away now!!!) to create my evening scene.

1) I used two colours of blue for my background - Phthalo Blue and Cerulean Blue (always makes me think of The X-Files that colour!). Blob the paint randomly onto the gessoed canvas then mix with brush then use your fingers to smooth it out.

2) To create the moon, I added a tiny blob of Titanium White to the canvas and smoothed it into a circle shape working from the centre outwards so the white fades out. I added a touch of Hansa Yellow Light over the top of the white while it was still wet and blended it in with my fingers. The snowflakes are simply spots of Titanium White added randomly with the end of a paintbrush.

4) To create the snow add a thick layer of modelling paste textured using a palette knife. Add some Glamour Dust while the paste is still wet. When dry, lightly add washes of Cobolt Turquoise Hue and Silver Metallic paints, just adding the paint here and there. When dry, mute down with a little Transparent White.

5) You can just see I created a 'halo' effect on the snow - as snow reflects the light back up. This is just a wash of Transluscent White applied close to the top edge of the snow and blended upwards.

6) Finally I also painted my stamped images with paints - Hansa Yellow Light for the moon and Raw Sienna for the bunny. I also added Glamour Dust to the moon here and there to give it more shine!

I loved making my canvas - hope you like my moon gazing hare!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year!

Katy xxx

Snowman ATB for Rubber Dance

I am a bit obsessed at the moment with putting things on top of ATB boxes! So following on from my Stampotique witch and my dress form here's another thing on a box - this time a snowman for Christmas! Also a bit obsessed with modelling paste, which is making an appearance here again!

Full details and a step-out are over on the Rubber Dance blog today.

Katy x

I used these lurvely stamps available from Rubber Dance:

USE CODE KATY2015 TO GET 15% OFF YOUR ORDER AT RUBBER DANCE.COM!!!

Frosty Friends

Winter Wonderland (designed by moi!), available from my etsy store.

New Stamps Out Today!!!

I've got a new stamp plate out today over at Rubber Dance - called The Artist. I personally love this plate - perfect for all arty types! I especially love the brushes, they are a nice BIG stamp.

My card is a really quick and simple one today, just to show you one idea with the set. I stamped the brushes in black then roughly masked them off, not masking the bristles part of the image. I then sprinkled three colours of Brushos lightly and sprayed with water. Once heat set that's the card more or less done - I just added the Make Art sentiment on foam pads to finish.

See you soon!

Katy x

Sewing Box for Rubber Dance

Sneak peek of my latest project - full tutorial over on the RD blog today.

Sorry it's short and sweet today!

Katy

Decking the Halls with ColourArte

Yep, it's my ColourArte day again and this time I'm feeling festive with a step-by-step tutorial for a pretty, wintry Christmas bauble using Silks.

Here's the link you need!

I also used Rubber Dance stamps (my very own design don't ya know) and DecoArt gesso. matte medium and Glamour Dust products, as well as chipboard from Tando Creative.

Katy x

Wish Canvas for Rubber Dance

Here's a sneak peek for you of my tiny canvas - the full tutorial can be found over on the Rubber Dance blog today.

I used a range of media including ColourArte Silks and Gelatos, and of course Rubber Dance stamps including my Affirmations set.

Readers of my blog can use code katy15 on the Rubber Dance website to get 15% of your entire order!

See you soon,

Katy x

Affirmations set, designed by moi!

Bird on the Block

Today I am sharing a wee little Christmas decoration with a vintage feel. I love the vintage look at Christmas!

I used Rubber Dance stamps (of course) for this creation - including one of my own sets called Christmas Cheer and Tags.

If you'd like to make this little birdie he's available as a kit from my etsy shop for just £5 plus P&P.

Katy xxx

I used these Rubber Dance stamps:

Christmas Cheer

Cozy Christmas

Christmas Planner for Rubber Dance

Plan your Christmas in style with my step-by-step mini planner tutorial over on the Rubber Dance blog today!

Katy xxx

Sew Sweet

Been playing with my new Rubber Dance Sew Sweet stamp set today - I made an teeny weeny ATB (artist trading block) with a mannequin perched on top.

It's simply made. The die cut box was inked with Wild Honey and Victorian Velvet Distress Inks (one of my fave colour combos) and over-stamped with the buttons image in Coffee Archival. Two dress forms back-to-back are glued to a piece of strong wire and then into a mini cotton reel (I use a big fat blog of Pinflair Glue Gel to fix it into the hole). I then just embellished with lots of elements from the stamp set and few sewing bits like buttons and press studs.

It's so dinky - it's really cute!!!

Thanks for visiting me today,
Katy x

I used these (MY!) Rubber Dance stamps:

Sew Sweet set

Giveaway!!!!

Giveaway of this set of my Rubber Dance stamps over on my Facebook page Katy Leitch Crafts!!!!! Check it out.

Treasure Box for Rubber Dance

My make today is a little trinket box - I got the bare box very cheaply but with a little time and effort it looks good enough to give a special gift.

I  made the red flower on the top using Rubber Dance's Bold and Beautiful stamps - I made this at a crop and people kept asking me what die I had used! You don't need a die cutter to make gorgeous flowers - just stamps, ink and a pair of scissors. This stamp set is perfect for layering because many of the flowers come in multiple sizes - how fab is that?

Here's how I made it:

1 Stamp and cut out three large, one medium and one small matching flower from the Rubber Dance Bold and Beautiful set. I stamped them with Red Geranium Archival Ink. Ink the flowers with Barn Door Distress Ink - this gives you a two-tone red bloom. Ink the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

2 Cut one petal in a V shape (i.e. going to the middle) out of some flowers as follows: one of the large, the medium and the small. Stick the two petals either side of the cut together - the flower will form a kind of cone shape, Push the base of the 'cone' inwards to the flower will sit flat when layered.

3 Shape the petals on all the layers - I cut into the petals down to the centre to get better shape, rather than just cutting out around the images. Start layering with the two uncut flowers, then add the cut ones in size order. My flower centre uses a Sizzix die cut but you can create the same effect by cutting a fringe into a piece of card and curling it up. Finish with a pearl centre.

4 Stamp the box with Rubber Dance's Flourishes stamp in embossing ink - to stamp the sides place the inked stamp onto the desk face up and roll the box over it in sections, holding in on the inside by spreading out your fingers to fill the space. The lid can be stamped in the normal way. Heat emboss with off-white powder (I used Vanilla White from WOW!). Ink the box edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

5 Embellish as you wish - I used some inked leaves, some die cut cogs, a metal shape and a padlock button which I painted with black paint to age it. Around the edge of the box lid is some lace which I dyed using Distress Spray Stains in Barn Door and Walnut Stain.

Isn't that a nice way to make a gift feel extra special? And for very little cost.

See you soon,

Katy x

I used these awesome Rubber Dance stamps:

Bold and Beautiful

Flourishes