PEP tangles - my Zentangle Inspired Art blog

Sunday 5 December 2010

My Creative Classroom - Terriffic Techniques Wk 5

The final set of “homework” for My Creative Classroom – Terrific Techniques (with the theme of texture) proved to be somewhat of an eye-opener. I wasn’t going to do the Funky Foam exercise as I’ve tried this once before & didn’t like it at all. However, that was almost two years ago, & experience has taught me that  I sometimes have to rethink an attitude. I managed to find some craft foam available to purchase in single sheets though the cleanest piece (I don’t think this stock sells very fast) was pink! Suffice to say that I loved the Funky Foam – I wonder if Santa might bring me the pack  of foam I’ve seen in WH Smith’s which contains a whole rainbow of colours.

Owing to the severe weather conditions the planned Open Days at Graphicus this weekend were cancelled. Instead there was a series of posts on the Graphicus Blog with competitions, a crossword, special deals & some free downloads which people were asked to use should they wish to enter one of the competitions.  Somehow the homework pieces & these free downloads matched themselves up.

Polymer Clay
Stamp: Elusive Images
Image stamped into clay & coloured with Perfect Pearls (Interference Blue & Violet) prior to baking

close-up to show the sparkle of the glitter & Perfect Pearls
I made a Christmas ornament from my stamped clay: inking the punched cardstock edges (Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue & Pearlescent Purple), glittering (Ice Stickles Grape Ice) & adding a length of ribbon. The back is another punched & inked piece of pale blue cardstock (thus sandwiching the ribbon) left plain for writing a personal message to make it equally suitable as a gift tag for someone special.


Funky Foam
Stamp: Elusive Images
Ink: Brilliance Starlite Black (image), Brilliance Pearlescent Purple (paper & cardstock edges)
Image stamped into heated foam, layered onto free backing paper plus cardstock & embellished with pearls


UTEE
Stamp: Creative Expressions
Inks: Dusty Concord Distress Ink (Stampbord), Pastel Kaleidacolor (random brayered background), 
Brilliance Pearlescent Purple (paper & cardstock edges)
Stampbord inked & coated with clear UTEE into which image was stamped & the sides coloured (Sakura Stardust Pen); mounted onto randomly brayered background, cardstock & free backing paper; embellished with pearls

close-up highlighting heart motif on Stampbord 
& patterned paper
This came together when I spotted how the heart motif found in the stamped image is echoed in one of the snowflakes (which I embellished with a pearl).



Shrink Plastic
Stamp: Elusive Images
Embossing Powder: Stampendous Twilight
Heated shrink plastic stamped into, cooled & layered onto stamped heat embossed cardstock, matching the pattern of the texture in the stamped shrink plastic to the heat embossed image

close-up showing texture of shrink plastic
 matched with embossed pattern

Stamp: Crafty Individuals
Inks: Brilliance  Pearlescent Olive (stamping), Brilliance Pearlescent Purple (paper & cardstock edges)
Heated shrink plastic stamped into, cooled & layered onto free backing paper designed by Lesley plus stamped cardstock
This is the only one of the samples where I used the technique that I learned in the course to create a piece of artwork inspired by one of the motifs in the  backing paper – in this case stamping the crackle motif to make a piece of textured shrink plastic with which to embellish & coordinating stamped cardstock for matting onto.

7 comments:

Aquarius said...

Some interesting techniques here and you've used the lovely freebie backgrounds too.

Lorraine said...

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW you are so talented so many techniques you have been so busy i just love your work its so beautiful and thanks for the links the papers are lush i shall email you for a chat very soon
much love
Lorraine xx

Annie said...

you have been having fun Paula! I love the clay pieces - the last time I played with the clay was a couple of years ago with my granddaughter! the interference PP add a beautiful shimmer - all gorgeous pieces!
hugs, annie x

Elaine said...

It looks like you've been having so much fun Paula with My Creative Craftroom. I've thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the different techniques you've worked through. Most of these techniques I've never tried but you've inspired me to step outside my 'stamping/colouring' box and try something new and different.
Thanks for sharing all your projects with us.
Love Elaine xx

Heather said...

Hi Paula, thanks for the links and for looking after me - I'm thinking of offering you a job as my manager (lol) - unpaid of course - what do you think??
Love all the projects you been doing at My Creative Classroom and would love to try them - need a little information first though - I will email you soon and bombard you with questions.
hugs Heather xx

sallysbitz2 said...

You have been very busy xx
Lovely pieces x

Wendy Ramlakhan said...

I'm so glad you share all of your "homework". I'm learning all sorts of new things and techniques from reading your blog. It just tickles me how you will try all of the techniques regardless if you think you will like it or not. I'm not like that at all, but you've inspired me broaden my horizons.