The washi tape obsession

So two years ago, I started my MT tape "collection" after a trip to Taiwan. Now I never took to washi tape prior to that because the ones I had [read: made in China] didn't stick very well and I had to add adhesive! 

But the obsession wasn't that bad....I think maybe 60 rolls? *LOL* I bought acrylic drawers for them and promised myself that ALL my washi tape had to fit into them. Which meant the only way to add to the collection was to use up my existing MT tape. 

Guess what? With the drop in Yen and the readjustment in MT tape prices [about 30% less], I'm doing less hoarding and more using! Can you tell from this layout on the niece and nephews with their great grandma?

Okay okay, so I cheated and bought a new set of acrylic drawers for my new MT tapes...*winks*

Playing along with Let's Get Sketchy.

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Happy birthday to me! :)

Hello friends! It's my birthday today! Yay to another year of being alive! *high fives all around*

A 4x4 mixed media canvas using my current obsession - ColourArte Radiant Rain shimmering sprays. They are a unique blend of watercolours and acrylic with mica. Totally yum. [Oh well, you know about my long-standing affair with mica...*winks*]

The background of the canvas was created with medical gauze and Golden fiber paste applied with The Crafter's Workshop stencil.

P/s: I have a mystery box of goodies to give away to a lucky commenter. I'll pick a winner next week! :)

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Using leftover letter stickers on my mixed media canvas....

So my letter sticker collection is driving me crazy because the ones I have left are random numbers and alphas...which take up a LOT of space but they don't help with the title works on my projects. *grunts*

*Lightbulb moment* Since they have a bit dimension, I thought I could treat them like chipboard and add some textured interest on my mixed media canvas background.

I adhered them to the canvas with matte gel medium, added a layer of gesso, then played with Ranger Patinas. Even though they are paints for metals, I love the thick consistency and they dry with a semi-glossy slightly raised finish. *yum*

I also added some light modeling paste with The Crafter's Workshop stencil for more texture and interest.

The photos [my mum & niece] were matted on white cardstock with a MT tape border. I finished with some Maya Road chipboard and vintage trim, buttons and outlining with a white gel pen. 

If you are located in Singapore, you can get all the supplies from Made With Love. :)

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A mixed media canvas for ColourArte

Hello there friends! I'm sharing this mixed media canvas over at the ColourArte blog with a step-by-step tutorial. I would love for you to stop by and take a look! :)

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Using existing stash....

Ahhh...it feels good to use up existing stash...like the SET cardstock stickers I used on this page as "patterned paper"...

and my MT tape [which I mostly hoard...*LOL*].

The machine stitching was to keep everything flat....I don't know if it's the humidity in Singapore or the poor quality of the adhesive used but those cardstock stickers don't stick at all and drive me crazy!

I was happy that I had matching Sharpie colours for my chipboard pieces....why yes, I have Sharpies in every colour, don't you? *winks*

Playing along with Let's Get Sketchy.

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Someone has a crush....

So when we were celebrating Chinese New Year last month, someone was totally enamored with his aunt Vanessa...a little boy's crush...*LOL*

Yes. My nephew J was perfectly content to sit next to her and hold her hand. All afternoon long.

See how he is beaming in this photo because she's holding his hand? *winks*

I cut out the words "watch" and "boy" from a rubber wrist band...and coloured some Maya Road chipboard letters with a blue Sharpie [yes...my fave way of colouring chipboard because it dries instantly...]. 

Playing along with Stuck?! Sketches.

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Black and white mixed media canvas for LESSology

This was one of those canvases that started well, got really ugly mid-point and conveniently went into the half-done projects pile. *LOL*

One fine day, I decided that instead of "redoing" the piece with white gesso, I went with black gesso. Then I had a lightbulb moment...to work with just black and white. *winks*

It was fun rummaging through my supplies to find black and white embellishments, including little bits of ribbon tucked amongst the PC cables and some handmade ribbon blooms, for LESSology Challenge #45: Ribbon Fantasy.

Happy weekend friends! :)

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Doodling in my art journal....

After a couple of failed attempts at keeping an art journal, I am totally embracing the process now. Err... I have like 5 journals. *winks*

Some nights I only create backgrounds with colorants...other nights I make more progress and actually complete pages. Like this one.:)

After applying gesso on my pages, I played with some Derwent Inktense blocks, blending the colours with a bit of water. Then I applied Liquitex Super Heavy Gesso with The Crafter's Workshop stencil. 

After that, I doodled with Daler Rowney gesso and added some splatters with Tattered Angels Gimmer Glam. I varied the intensity of the gesso with water as the effect I wanted to achieve was a semi-opaque black. 

Then I added some Tim Holtz rub-ons.

I went over my doodles with a white pen to really bring out the funky background design.

What do you think?

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Let's have fun with a chalkboard....a short tutorial

I'm currently obsessed with this blue chalkboard paint from Martha Stewart. If you follow my Facebook Fan Page, you would have seen the chair and box I painted... [yes, I share some of my home decor projects on my Facebook Fan Page...]. I also made this cute little chalkboard for my desk. :)

I started out with a piece of wood from the art store.  Then I applied a coat of gesso.

When that dried, I applied two coats of Martha Stewart chalkboard paint, allowing one hour between coats according to the instructions on the bottle.

Then I prepped the surface by running a chalk over it.

Next I used The Crafter's Workshop stencil with some Faber Castell Pitt Pastels. You can use chalk here but I find the pencils much easier to use. Once you are happy with your design, you can spray a fixative over the surface. 

Super fun and easy project! 

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Wefies with the niece and nephew....*winks*

So the other day, I attempted to take some "wefies" with the niece and nephew....

Obviously they had a lot of fun while I struggled to get my face in the frame! *LOL*

Playing along with Sketchabilities and The Studio Challenges. I used mists, the colour yellow, brads and thread, :)

Happy week ahead friends!

*Edited* This layout was a favourite over at The Studio Challenges.

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