New beginnings!

After an unproductive few months last year, I'm finally getting back into crafting!

Our Facebook group has a challenge each month - for February it's "New Beginnings", using new (or not used) products and/or a new technique.

Just over a week ago, I went up to Leicester with a friend from the group to Neil's Studio in Leicester to a workshop run by Hels Sheridan. (Neil is also a member of the group; I first met him last year at his newly opened studio in his back garden - a great creative space - Neil is also now on several craft Creative Teams - well worth checking our his blog here).  Anyway, had a great time & managed to complete a 9" x 12" canvas...

 

 

I loved doing this! 

A couple of days later I found out from my friend that Sizzix UK had cut the prices of lots of Tim Holtz dies... Now Hels provided a piece of the Harlequin border to use in class; loved this one, so versatile, & yes, it was on sale!  And as I checked the website, I saw several more reduced that were on my 'wish list'!  So, an order to Sizzix, and a couple of days later, these arrived!

 

I also sent my first order from Fernli Designs, who produce wooden / MDF laser-cut embellishment & other pieces.  I was ready to produce a Hel's type canvas with Tim Holtz dies & some Fernli cogs!  And I also bought some Dreamweaver Embossing Paste that we used at the class - love this through stencils; it has an almost 'velvety' finish, rather than molding paste, which is more glossy.

Comparison of Dreamweaver embossing paste (diamonds) & molding paste heart

 

 

 

This canvas is much smaller, 6" x 4" & the canvas itself is 'chunkier', less fine-grained.  So I think it has a different feel to it.  (I think I prefer the 'original', has a much more 'open' feel to it - I think my next one will be on a larger canvas - more space to play with!).

 

I used the Harlequin & Washer Borders - both the die cuts themselves & the pieces that were left.  And I used the Old Jalopy Mover & Shaper. All the wooden bits are Fernli Designs, apart from the tiny hearts, which I picked up from ArtCuts at Alexandra Palace Stamping & Scrapbooking Show last year.  And the embossing paste is through Tim's Latticework stencil.

 

detail of the cogs

texture detail; die cuts, embossing paste etc

 

(hope this counts for the challenge!)

 

Back soon!     Kay