Configuration Butterfly

Here is my latest DT project for Imagine If using some a configuration box and some of their gorgeous chipboard and I am warning everyone there is not a cog or gear in sight for a change.

I began by painting one of the configuration boxes from Imagine if with black gesso.

Then using a Kaisercraft die I cut out the brickwork which I glued into the individual boxes. I added some texure in random spots and on the edges of the box then I painted everything with the Finnabair Art Alchemy    paint. Then I used gel medium to adhere some red glass glitter from Finnabair and some green micro beads.

I then took the following pieces of chipboard and painted them all with black gesso.

Large Fern

I used Emerald Viva Inka Gold on the leaves.

Framed Fern Set

These two pieces are part of the framed fern set.

Square Frame Ornate

After this was painted black I then painted it with yellow acrylic paint.

The smaller frame was painted black then covered with Viva Inka Gold Orange

Upright Swirl Flourish

I cut off the top piece of the flourish, painted it black then covered it with Viva Inka Gold copper and did the same thing with the top of the butterfly/garden border piece.

I painted some chipboard letters with Old Paper crackle paint and glued the words into the configuration box and then I added in a couple of Prima embellishments to add some interest.

I initially layered the leaves and the frames on the top of the configuration box but it looked a bit bare so I decided to add the words.

I attached everything using gel medium and then I die cut a Tim Holtz butterfly, painted it using a mixture of the colours I had used in the other elements and then attached the butterfly in the middle of the piece.

I love the soft lacy look of the chipboard and the visual depth given by using the configuration box rather than a flat canvas.  I hope this little project inspires you to do something creative with some of the fabulous Imagine If chipboard.

Dina Wakley Scribbly Birds - by Tracy

Hello, today I wanted to share an Art Journal page I have done for a secret Journal swap I am in as it uses a couple stamps and product that Jo has in her shop. And if she hasn't got it ... just ask, she is always so helpful when it comes to sourcing product.

Ok, so I have no step by step pictures for you, but this is an easy layout that anyone could do. First I ripped the two middle pages so that I could paint the black boarder black and splatter with white dots.  The background was coloured with Gelatos. then I sponged ink through a stencil around the edges, stamped Prima Finnabair - Bubbles and used a old credit card with black paint for the lines in background. I also used the caps of various bottles to stamp on circles, which I then coloured in with white Gelato and highlighted with purple.

Next I stamped the birds onto spare card and coloured with copics and then put a layer of Iridescent Medium on them to make them sparkle, then cut them out. I stamped leaves straight onto journal. A few black splatters later and I'm done!

Items used

Dina Wakley - Scribble Birds

Dylusions - Brancing Out

Finnabair stamp - Bubbles

Gesso

Gelatos

Copics

Iridescent Medium

DecoArt Fluid Acrylics - Carbon Black

DecoArt Mister - Carbon Black (great for splatters)

Archival Ink - Black

Dylusions stamps with Tracy

Hello! hope you all had a great Easter with family and friends. I set aside one day to have a play with the new stamp sets that Jo has in her shop. This first one is by Dylusions called Background Love. It comes with 4 stamps which I used two of them on this Art journal layout. (the swirls and the flowers). The words and the butterfly are from some Kaisercraft paper Jo sent me Treasured Moments Collection

The second Art Journal layout I wanted a bit more brighter and fun. I used another background in the corner from Background Love and then 3 out of the 4 flowers from a new set called Doodle Blooms. This was such a fun layout to do, fussing cutting the flowers then adding white gel pen to make the "pop" from the page.

So I hope you liked my two pages I created. Jo has both sets in her shop, I love Dylusions Stamp sets, they are so much fun and have a whimsical look to them. Happy Crafting. Tracy.

Product Used

Dylusions stamp - Doodle Blooms

Dylusions stamp - Background Love

Gesso

Gelatos

Medium Gel Paste

White  Pen

Kaisercraft - Treasured Moments collection

Wish - Ngaere

Here is another quick project for Imagine If. This project uses some Christmas chipboard and a few diecuts to make a textured piece.

For the base of the plaque I used a recycled placemat.

I glued tissue paper to the top of the placemat and then glued the Imagine If chipboard over the top. I added a couple of diecut flourishes to fill the gaps, a couple of the Tim Holtz deer and some  chipboard letters.

It looks pretty rough at this stage but I then gave it a coat of black gesso.  Once the gesso had dried I painted it with  two shades of blue paint and let it dry.  I rubbed Viva  Silver and a little bit of white gesso over the top to complete the project.

Christmas flourish  SKU: 2124

Christmas mini xmas trees SKU: 3047

Christmas Candles and holly SKU: 2106

Viva Ink Gold silver colour

I am not sure if I will use this as an album cover for a Christmas junk journal or if I will put a hanger on it so it can be hung like a canvas, but I am pretty happy with how this turned out and it was so much fun to do I am sure that I will be playing with this technique for a while.

Canvas - Ngaere

Here is my latest project for Imagine If.  This is a couple of canvases that I have put together with some of the gorgeous chipboard pieces from Imagine If.

I began with a rectangular canvas and glued on some tissue paper.

I then added some crackle paste, some string and pieces of chipboard.  I also glued a second smaller canvas to the first canvas.

I glued a Prima Artefacts heart to the bottom of the canvas and added some seed beads mixed with gel medium in places.  I also glued seed beads over the heart.

I then painted everything with white gesso.

Once the gesso had dried I covered the whole thing with a wash of black paint.  After this had dried I gave the piece a wash with Deco Art Quinacridone Gold.  Once this layer had dried I dry brushed the piece with more black paint then dry brushed with Inka Copper.

Now I just need to find a picture of my grandson to put on the small canvas and it is finished.  I hope you enjoyed seeing how this project was put together and please check out Imagine if for some of their gorgeous products to make your own version.

Imagine If - Hinge Plain

Imagine If - Large Cogs Set

Imagine If - Cogs small set

Imagine If - Angel Wings

Imagine If Steampunk Lightbulb - ex Twiddleybitz

Imagine If Corner - ex Twiddleybitz

Imagine If - Prima Artefact Heart

Newsletter for April School holidays

Hello April, Where has March gone?
Easter came and went, and now we are into April and nearly the school holidays already.

Stocktake has been completed, I don't know who invented that job, but I think it would be best if it was scrapped from existence.  It's not bad enough that I have to count everything, then I have to listen as my mother and mother n law try to type up the lists, and basically decipher my scrawl.  I didn't have any problems reading it... well one or two things may have been a little hard to work out.  But the lists have been typed up, so that is awesome.

You know your getting a little predictable when Easter comes around, and the kids come over and Sammy walks in the door with Sean, and the first thing she asks is if she is getting deodorant and shampoo for Easter, cause she didnt buy any this week as she was expecting some from me.  Hmmm may have to change next Easters basket of goodies.  We haven't done Easter eggs for since the girls were little.  I always found them very expensive and gone far to quickly, and I preferred to give them a book, or as may have happened for the last few years nice smelly things.  But I do believe there might be changes next year!

New Stock For all you Owl and birds lovers, check out this awesome stamp from Bobunny. http://www.imagineif.co.nz/product/birds-feather-stamp/ New stamps are in from Finnabair, and Prima marketing, read to me, and music to my ears. ' Click on the link to take you to the page.  Love these new embellishments from Prima, very blingy and very cool for layouts or mini albums and more. Click on the photo to take you to the page.                                A versatile surface especially suited for alcohol ink and mixed media techniques. This heavyweight paper resists buckling and dries quickly. Non-porous and water resistant. It is all the rage with artists at the moment, so check it out by clicking on the photo. Now I got to see this product in action yesterday by a lady by the name of Val Stokes, oh my was I inspired.  Class idea for sure.

This is a new Kit from us, The garden Easel.  The cost is $55.00 and includes everything except your paint. It is a very easy project to do and with Mothers day coming up, it is a great present, you could even put a photo on it. For a better look check out the website by click on the photo.    Colour Blast I am very happy to announce that we have just arrived in the range of Colour Blast from Australia. Colour blast is an amazing product, with Embossing powders, pastes and shimmer sprays. Now I have been playing with mixed media for a while, and I have to say this stuff is great. The sprays are very very shimmery, and the leather one is Wow The embossing powder adds a really cool look to your chipboard and other embossing projects, and as for the paste, I am in heaven.  It is one of the best product I have seen in a long while. I have put the links here for you, however we have sold a lot already, there is more coming, so check them out. all colours come in all three products, embossing powders http://www.imagineif.co.nz/product-category/mixed-media-products/embossing-enamels-and-powders/ Sprays http://www.imagineif.co.nz/product-category/mixed-media-products/sprays-and-mists-stains/colour-blast-shimmer-sprays/ Pastes http://www.imagineif.co.nz/product-category/mixed-media-products/cremes-pastes-rubs/ https://www.facebook.com/Colourblast1/

School Holiday Program for April Tuesday April 19th -   1pm - 3pm $25 Painting class with Alysha, this is not a slap the paint on class, this is a learning class, mixing colours, adding texture, and learn how to blend your paint properly. All done on pallet wood. Wednesday April 20th - Fairy Ring $30 - 10am 12.30pm Everything is cut out, so even little ones can do this.  3 little houses, clothes line, bridge, seat surrounding a pond, lots more to add, but we ran out of time and needed a photo for you. Friday April 22nd  Banner   10am - 12pm  $25.00 We will be making a banner with your name on it, made from Triangle shapes and covered in paper, coloured to suit your room, and then stamped designs on to the project and flowers or something else for the boys, layers and texture to make an interesting piece for your room. Tuesday April 26th - Home sweet home with Alysha $20.00, 1pm - 3pm and you go home with your own stencil.  Maybe make for Mum for mothers day which is coming up soon. Painting, and paper and some chipboard make up this cute a4 sized project. Wednesday April 27th - $25.00 Torso fun, 10am - 12pm Paper lace and a torso.  This is a great project, black and white and very classic design.  Hardly any cutting so easy enough to do. Thursday April 28th  Puppet fun 10am- 12pm $25.00, this little guy is a real cutie and walks and dips and dives around.  Easy to do for little ones. Friday April 29th Cup Cake decorating class $25.00  10am - 12pm Cupcake decorating with Cheryl.  You will decorate 6 cupcakes, two will be piped, two you will learn to use cutters, and the other two will be sculptures.  This class is great for the little cooks who want to learn some good techniques. Don't forget we also do Birthday parties.  Please book soon to guarantee your childs place. We have left spaces to put on double ups of classes if required. But we only have so much of each product. 078897838 for bookings or email us imagineif@xtra.co.nz

Well that's it, we have lots of new classes for term 2, including a shadow box, another 9 pages class, more cake decorating and more.  Next newsletter for all new classes and dates. Have a great week Jo and the team at Imagine If...