Countdown to Christmas

The countdown has well and truly begun. December is just around the corner, hubbys birthday has passed by which means I am officially allowed to put the Christmas decorations up, should never have started that rule! It has been an amazing few weeks, firstly our family cow has been unveiled and has been put in place, not quite outside the front of the shop but close to it. Alysha was the main painter, Rick drew the hard stuff like the clock, and my niece helped her.  Her name is FaMOOily, she is one of 40 cows dotted around the town, and worth checking out if you come for a visit. The 2nd major thing that has happened is the project that I headed the Spirit of Christmas.  A group of 20 business built a Christmas display for the town. in the Wallace art gallery.  It was an awesome experience, everyone was so into the idea, and the kids that have seen it love it.  This is a sneak peek at my stand. That all happened in the past two weeks, as well as normal classes, a class at Paperzone, and two kids birthday parties! whew.  I am very ready for a holiday. Important notice: Our new website has had some major glitches, mainly I am not happy with it, so it has not gone live! Professionals! Hmmm.  However we are getting there, it seems their idea of arty and mine are not quite the same thing.  So our old website is not up to date, as we have been working on the new site.  If it says out of stock, it may not be, so please email me with any questions.    MY INNER PRINCESSES DREAM CASTLE! These sparkly pink beauties were made for a Baby Shower for lovely lady called Chloe and we are stoked with how gorgeous they turned out, she was pretty excited too! We have also created a few other colour options for a baby boy, a more simple girl version with a little less pink, as well as a gender neutral version in case you don't know if you are having a boy or girl! Come and talk to us if you would like some special invitations created.  We do have the new colour in stock, however due to the new website not going live, and the old website not being up dated please contact us by email if you would like anything.

We are very excited with the new Kasiercraft releases called DIY https://www.kaisercraft.com.au/newsite/products.php?subcat=158 including a burlap stack, and cork, and flags, and chalkboard sheets.  Again not on the old website, so check out the link and then if you want something we can send you prices through.   December 5th Mixed Media Canvas (NEW Class) I have been asked to put on another mixed media class.  The cost is $50.00 plus you need to supply a picture and a canvas. This is a (new time) 10am - 3pm class.  It can be any theme, canvas needs to be A3.  I have some fairy pictures, if you get stuck. December 10th Private Christmas party booked. December 24th closed until January 26th (probably)   For any inquiries please email me on imagineif@xtra.co.nz or text or phone 0274991485 work hours would be preferred. Stay safe Jo

Hi everyone,
well we are counting down 48 days until Christmas. 
 

Can you believe another year is coming to a close so very quickly, and yet so much planning for next year is going on already. We have had to book our stand at Senz already, I feel like we have only just recovered from the last one.  Customs and I are still at loggerheads, I cannot seem to get my orders clear, after the antlers
episode now Prima wire nests are my undoing! I think maybe I should just stick to the basics, whew talk about forms.  Love filling those in. NOT!.

Classes have been really busy, as well as the invitation business and manufacturing, and the new website.  Aly has released a few more designs on the Facebook page...

we have a new range of Washi tapes in stock, this santa belt tape has been very popular.  http://www.imagineif.co.nz/washi-tape/

We have a new range of Green Tara flowers in stock http://www.imagineif.co.nz/floral-embellishments/ these are stunning flowers for all your scrap booking and card making from $7.00 per packet.

Here is Cheryls design team project, some amazing tags, check out all 12 by clicking on the photo.

Sharon has a design team project on the blog, check out this book she made.  Click on the picture to go to the blog.

We have two gingerbread house kits left, they are $45.00 each, and really easy to put together.  E for mo Other Classes. Thursday 12th & 19th November Christmas village wreath.  6 Houses on a wreath with street lights and trees. $50.00. FULL Class. 14th November Saturday - 10am - 3pm Christmas card and tag class $50.00 Very excited this project is completed and looking so very good.  There are 8 cards, one tag and a gift bag.  21st November - Joint venture Christmas day with Paperzone in Hamilton.  $100 for all 3 projects, bookings to me or Paperzone.  As Christmas is approaching fast it is time to get inspired and create some gorgeous Christmas gifts.  We have a day packed full of creativity in store for you.  Loads of fun, three wonderful classes, lunch and excitement all for only $100..... I will be helping you to create a fabulous Christmas Journal, perfect as a gift for someone special or as a treasure to keep for yourself.  This gorgeous book uses the new Prima ‘A Victorian Christmas’ paper range.  It measures 18cmx22cm and incorporates tags, diary calendar with plenty of space for photos, recipes, traditions etc. Tracey Jane will get those creative juices flowing with her beautiful framed Christmas Tree.  Using a stunning frame, black velvet, buttons, beads & charms you will create this gorgeous gift that will be treasured for many years to come. Sharon will finish off the day of creativity with her quick & easy Christmas Mini book. and Sharon is making a small book.   9am - 4pm.  Three projects, lunch and tea and coffee supplied. November 28th Private Birthday Party December 5th Mixed Media Canvas (NEW Class) I have been asked to put on another mixed media class.  The cost is $50.00 plus you need to supply a picture and a canvas. This is a 9am - 3pm class.  It can be any theme, canvas needs to be A3.  I have some fairy picture if needed. December 10th Private Christmas party booked. December 24th closed until January 26th (probably)   For any inquiries please email me on imagineif@xtra.co.nz or text or phone 0274991485 work hours would be preferred. Stay safe Jo

Imagine If DT Project - Journal Pages - Ngaere

This project for Imagine If is a bit different to the others I have done recently.  I am not sure if many of you know that in addition to her wonderful chipboard products Jo also sells stencils.  So I decided to complete a project using some of these gorgeous stencils.  I am currently taking part in an art journal swap.  This is the first time I have really tried art journaling and I must say I am loving the creativity of it all.  Here is the finished page.

The theme for this page was a song or video. I chose the theme song from Disney's Pocahontas.

To begin I used the bleeding tissue technique on the background.  This entails wetting the pages and then laying down pieces of tissue paper and then wetting them again.  The dye in the tissue remains on the page when the tissue paper is removed. It has given a pretty soft colourful effect which is what I was trying to achieve.  I also coloured another piece of watercolour paper using the same technique. 

I then took a large Faces stencil from Jo's collection and using textured paste coloured with black paint I stencilled the face on to a calendar page. 

 In the movie when Pocahontas is singing the song her hair blows back and becomes intermingled with leaves and other bits and pieces.  This is the look I was striving for.

In the background I used a piece of textured paper to stamp "mountains" and then I used another stencil of Jo's which has a variety of trees and branches on it to stencil fir trees onto the background.

Once the background was done I glued the face down to the page and then I ripped up the extra watercolour paper into strips and began gluing them around the face. 

Then using the Tree stencil I stencilled some branches into her hair.  I stamped some leaves and some swirls and added the line from the song, coloured her lips and eyes and I was done.

Pop over to the Imagine If website and check out the wide variety of stencils that Jo has to offer.  They are so versatile and can be used for so many projects. 

Cheryl loves tags

Cheryl is a tag girl, and with that in mind I gave her a set of our acrylic tags.  They are for making your own tags, a set of 6 made from tough acrylic.  They are like a stencils but really strong and they give you the advantage of not having to pay for ready made tags all the time.    

The detail in these tags is so amazing, so much detail. 

This is what she made with them.

                                 6 sized tags, here are the first three and below is the smaller of the three. 

then she made this set 

 

Didn't she do a great job.  

A Trio of Tags with Ngaere

Today I have a project to share using the fabulous chipboard products from Imagine If .
I have made three tags using pieces from different sets of chipboard which can be found on the Imagine If website or in the store.

Here are the tags:

And here is how I made them:

Halloween Tag

Imagine If Chipboard Products Used:

Imagine If Set of cats
Imagine If Halloween Set
Imagine If Bats and the Moon
Imagine If Chipboard Tag
Imagine If Fence
Imagine If Quote Sheet

I began by painting all of the pieces including the tag with black gesso.  I then covered the tag, the cat, the bats, and the gravestones with tissue paper and then painted them again with black gesso.  This gives a bit of texture to the pieces.  Whole they were drying I painted the pumpkin. I painted a piece of book paper with yellow paint and put it behind the pumpkin to give a lighted effect for the eyes, mouth and nose. 

 I painted the gravestones with grey paint and a little green to simulate moss on the stones.

The fence I sponged with brown paint.  The tag I painted with blue paint on the top and green on the bottom.  The fancy piece at the top of the tag I painted with gold paint.  Using my Gelli plate I made a print and cut out a circle for the moon.

Once everything was painted I put it all together with the quote.

I added a piece of bush left over from a die cut I used on the Castle tag, gave the cat a lighter chest and belly and some eyes and added some stars and it was done.

Mushroom Tag

Imagine If Chipboard Products Used:

Imagine If Large Mushroom with grass

Imagine If Ladybird

Imagine If quote sheet

Imagine If Chipboard Tag

  

For this tag I painted all of the pieces except for the ladybug bodies with white gesso.  The ladybug bodies I painted with black gesso. I used tissue paper on the body of the tag, the mushroom and the mushroom cap to give texture to the pieces.  I then painted the pieces.

I used some coarse texture gel and paint mixed together for the flowers on the top of the tag and added some crackle texture paste and book paper to the tag.

I then used Brushos to colour the tag.  I sprinkled Lemon, Leaf Green and Orange on to the tag and then I sprayed it with water. I did the same with the quote.

Then I assembled all of the pieces.

Castle Tag

Imagine If Chipboard Products Used:

Imagine If Castle

Imagine If Dragon

Imagine If Flying Unicorn

Imagine If Chipboard Tag

Imagine If Quote Sheet

  

 

To begin I painted all of the pieces except the Pegasus with black gesso. The Pegasus was painted white. As with the other tags I covered everything except the Pegasus with tissue paper.

I then painted all of the pieces.

I added a die cut tree to the wall of the castle and paper behind the windows.  I painted the background dark blue and added a circle for the moon.  I used an Imagine If stencil for the cloud and added some stars to the sky. I coloured the quote and put it all together.

I am not sure if I will put these on frames or make them into magnets, but either way they are lovely little keepsakes. I hope you enjoyed this project and I hope it inspires you to create your own projects. 

Journal page with Tracy

Hi Tracy here, today I wanted to show you an Art Journal background that I have had made up for a little while but was unsure on what I wanted to do with it until Jo sent me some wonderful Imagine If product.

The background was made up from using Tim Holtz music tissue, acrylic paint and a circle stencil. Then I highlighted areas with my gelatos.

Next out of my DT pack I picked out an Imagine word and painted it black then went over it with my white gel pen to make the word pop out when on the page. As a nice contrast on the opposite page I used the two black Photo frames.
Next I sponged four chipboard butterflies starting with yellow, the blue and red. I used my chocolate gelato to darken the outside to give them a grungy look. Then I placed and glued them down. There was a spot that I felt needed something else so I had some sayings sent to me also, I picked out "Believe in yourself", grunged them up a bit and placed them on Art journal page. Hope you enjoyed my first project. I certainly enjoyed creating it.