Wrap yourself in love & friendship

With the fifteen weeks of giveaways all done I really wanted 0ne final one to be a HUGE thank  you to all of those who "went through it together" with me

The whole project gave me structure and purpose amidst the utter fear and chaos of those early days of the virus - I most certainly would have been floundering and struggling without it to occupy myself and I really do wish I could have carried on for longer

I hoped one of my bobble blankets might be a suitable thank you but choice of yarn during a lockdown pandemic was hard!  Suddenly everywhere was out of stock and choice was very limited. This was the best I could find but it ended up being a favourite ... was not able to get my usual fifteen balls so it is one ball short but, hey, what's a few bobbles & a couple of inches between friends?!?!?!?

*** Winner was Bev Garfiled ***

Giveaway #15 - Time Flies

This one sees the end of the giveaways so to represent the time spent, lived & lost during this dreadful period in our lives  I though a clock might be appropriate

Loosely based on a design I stumbled across so not my own original idea

Rich reds, golds & coppers on a brown background with just a hint of sparkle

Several original watch parts - which have to be some of my most favourite items to use

PRODUCTS USED:

Gerstaecker 20cm (8") canvas board

Tim Holtz  (Stampers Anonymous) Stencil : Clockwork THS013

Finnabair (Prima Marketing) 

Art Extravagance Texture Paste : White Crackle

Art Basics : Soft Gloss Gel / Clear Gesso / Heavy Body Gel

Art Alchemy Impasto Paint : Dark Chocolate

Art Alchemy Metallique Wax : 

Vintage Gold / White Gold / Aged Brass

Rich Copper

Art Alchemy Antique Brilliance Wax : Red Amber

Art Ingredients Micro Beads : Bronze / Gold

Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Spray : 

Bayou Boogie Gold / Cowabunga Copper / Cajun Carnelian Red

Autumn Maple Crimson

***Winner was Cindy Ashplant***

Giveaway #14 - Debbie Does The Dragonfly Blues

Why the Dragonfly Blues?
Because this is another of those very rare species ...
first there was the Tatteredrocks Poppy
followed by the Tatteredrocks Butterfly
and now the Tatteredrocks Dragonfly

And yes, I totally realise my mistake ... hence it being a very rare species!
Dragonfly wings are, of course, transparent and shimmery
but, hey-ho, it is pretty nonetheless!

Another Powertex project this week ... a shimmering blue dragonfly with shades of green & lilac too & suitable for your garden

PRODUCTS USED :

Powertex Universal Medium - Ivory

Cheesecloth / gauze

Paper Decoration

Powertex Powercolor - Dark Blue

Finnabair (Prima Marketing) 

Art Alchemy Metallique Acrylic Paint :

Emerald Green / Royal Blue / Deep Waters

Art Alchemy Opal Magic Acrylic Paint : Violet Green

***Winner was Sandra Mitchell***

Finnabair Patreon Ocean Mood Board

Recently became part of Finnabair's Patreon group

There are several levels at which you can join - just pick the one that appeals to you

It's quite wonderful giving you access (depending on the level you pick) to many live video demonstrations - loads of workshop based type ones as well as general questions & answers where we just hang out

Suits me very well indeed!

One particular demo has been how to interpret a mood board

Now I have always scrolled on right past any mood boards as they did not call out to me and I really had no idea what they were all about

As one of the higher level Patreons I was able to join in with the picking of the theme, colours & techniques for a mood board which was then opened up to all the Patreon levels

We picked Ocean, Purple & Turquoise and Texture as the theme

The choice to participate is entirely down to you, of course, and I really was not going to join in as everyone's work is so wonderful and those of you who know me will understand my reluctance

However, whilst on holiday in Scotland last year I was unable to watch one of Finn's live FB videos as we had no Wi-Fi

I messaged her to apologise and added, "but I am in paradise"

her immediate reply was, "Paradise doesn't need Wi-Fi"

How true!!!!!

I wrote down her words always intending to use them on a canvas or something

but the theme of this mood board and the fact we had collected shells from that very beach seemed to be a sign that now was the time to not only do my first ever mood board, but to join in the challenge too

I knew what I wanted to do ... variation on a large shell I have done before but I now wanted driftwood

Am as far from the ocean as you can get here in dear old England and lockdown means no day trips anyway so a quick call to nephew, Alfie, who had collected driftwood for his wedding a couple of years ago, with a plea to see if he had any left

He did!

But it was a close call as he had very nearly burnt it all only a few days previously

He sent me all he had - his wife socially distancing leaving it in our porch - & the one piece was exactly what I wanted ... it was as if I had nipped to the beach and found it myself

So a couple of days to put this together and I have my mood board piece done

Hate the purple but am happy with the rest

It looks lovely when the sunlight hits it and it sparkles

and it is a lovely reminder of shells collected from one of our favourite places and to keep stuff like the internet & Wi-Fi in perspective

PRODUCTS USED:

Finnabair (Prima Marketing)

Art Basics :

White Gesso 

Soft Gloss Gel / Heavy Body Gel 

Art Ingredients :

Art Stones / Mini Art Stones

Glass Glitter : Midnight Blue

Art Alchemy Metallique Acrylic Paint :

Crocus Fields / French Lavender / Stormy Ocean / White Pearl

Art Alchemy Opal Magic Acrylic Paint :

Blue Violet

Art Extravagance :

Glitter Set - Carribean Seas

Deco Media Shimmer Mist - White

Lindy's Starburst Spray - Frozen Jack Frost

Giveaway #13 - Heartfelt

Thought I'd go back to basics with the offering for this week

just a simple little A5 canvas panel but with a ton of stuff used on it

Hopefully the sentiment says it all this week

PRODUCTS USED:

A5 Canvas Board

10cm (4") MDF Heart

Finnabair (Prima Marketing) -

Art Extravagance Texture Paste - White Crackle

Art Basics Heavy Gesso - Black

Art Basics Heavy Body Gel / Soft Gloss Gel

Art Alchemy Antique Brilliance Wax - Amethyst Magic

Art Alchemy Opal Magic Wax - Royal Robes

Art Ingredients Glass Glitter - Pitch Black / Violet

Art Ingredients Micro Beads - Berry

Art Ingredients Mica Flakes - Granite

Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Spray - Gag Me With A Spoon Grey / Mountain Lavendar Gold

Sweet Poppy Acrylic Mist - Shimmering Silver

Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stain - Hickory Smoke / Black Soot

Tim Holtz Distress Resist Spray

Tim Holtz Stencil - THS032 (Flourish)

Tim Holtz Stamp Set - Classics #7 SCF007

Stampendous Frantage - Chunky Clear Deep Impression Embossing Enamel

Encore Ultimate Metallic Ink Pad - Silver

Versamark Pad

Scraps - Wire, cheesecloth or gauze

***Winner was Tracey Lowther***

Giveaway # 12 - Time is a Companion

And, indeed, time does pass

and, hopefully, this will all soon be over and we can return to normal

whatever the new normal will be

for I feel sure it will never quite be the same as before

This is very much a copy of a piece I did a few years ago and has been the only ever piece I was happy with

I had longed to do it again but have no need for two so was very pleased to reproduce it as a giveaway 

Another project done on an old piece of tongue & groove from the rummage box

I do so moan at hubby for keeping al these offcuts

but they do come in useful so ought to cut him some slack

Most of the metal embellishments are genuine old watch parts

There is the odd random cog thrown in and the flourishes are made using one of Finnabair's moulds and resin

PRODUCTS USED:

Wooden panel

Finnabair (Prima Marketing)

Art Basics Heavy Gesso : Black

Art Basics Modelling Paste

Art Basics Heavy Body Gel

Art Alchemy Metallique Acrylic Paint :

Golden Moss / Emerald Green / Dark Forest / Deep Waters / Royal Blue

Midnight Sky

Art Alchemy Opal Magic Wax : 

Green Brocade / Turquoise Satin / Blue Velvet

Art Alchemy Metallique Wax :

Vintage Gold / White Gold / Old Silver

Art Alchemy Antique Brilliance Wax : Mystic Turquoise

Flourish mould

Resin

Clarity Stamp : Clockwork Stencil

Tim Holtz (Stampers Anonymous) Stamp : TH006

Tim Holtz (Ranger) Distress Crackle Paint : Clear Rock Candy

Tim Holtz Archival Mini Ink Pad : Black Soot

***Winner was Julie Rose***

Giveaway #11 - Hanging Heart

Week number 11 already ... can you believe that?

It is most odd that, on one hand, time seems to have stood still

yet on the other it is simply flying by

There is a lot going on in my mind right now

just when I thought I had calmed down a little and was getting to grips with

all that is going on along comes a whole new wave of emotions

utter sadness for the now more than 41,000 people who have died

FORTY ONE THOUSAND 

just can't get my head around it

anger & rage at the utter idiots who think it ok to congregate with no 

thought to social distancing - isn't that a horrible, horrible phrase?!?

anger & rage that this is happening in the first place

despair that it will ever go away and I will get to hug and kiss my family

again ... all of us crammed around the dining table sitting kneee-to-knee and

elbow to elbow as we share roast dinners or pizza

& grief for all that is lost and for what now never will be

But I know it's not just me feeling like that

even the most strong people I know feel the same

So, for now, I shall continue with my little giveaway project

for it surely has helped me enormously

giving me something on which to focus & be motivated

& a routine to the week

Just a little hanging heart this week

PRODUCTS USED :

 12cm (4" polystyrene heart)

Metal butterfly

Scraps : Lace / Cheesecloth / Beads

Powertex Universal Medium - Black

Anna Marie - Crushed Ice Crystals

FINNABAIR (Prima Marketing) :

Art Basics : 3D Gloss Gel / Heavy Body Gel / Heavy Gesso - Black

Art Alchemy Metallique Paint :

Deep Waters / Emerald Green / Soft Satin / Crocus Fields

Art Alchemy Opal Magic Acrylic Paint :

Violet Green / Yellow Blue / Green Gold

Art Alchemy metallique Wax :

Aged Brass / Vintage Gold / Rich Copper / Electric Violet / Peacock

Old Denim 

Antique Brilliance Wax : Amethyst Magic

Opal Magic Wax : Blue Velvet

Art Ingredients Mica Powder : Purple / Copper

LINDY'S STAMP GANG SPRAYS :

Prima Donna Purple / Mountain Lavendar Gold

Milk Chocolate Brown / Bayou Boogie Copper / Cowabunga Copper

***Winner was Linda Lueck***

Giveaway #10 - Collect Beautiful Moments

Well I am certainly longing for the sea so figured some of you might be too

so this weeks offering is a little shell

The small shells were gathered from one of our favourite beaches in Scotland when we did, indeed, collect beautiful moments -  but are now given away with much pleasure and love

I have one of these that just hangs on the wall as it is but if this does not appeal to the winner then I am sure we can mount it in some way but it’s too deep for a frame.

PRODUCTS USED:

Finnabair (Prima Marketing) -

Art Basics Heavy Body Gel

Art Ingredients Art Stones & Mini Art Stones

Art Ingredients Mica Flakes - Gold Leaf

Art Extravagance Glitter Set - Caribbean Seas

Art Alchemy Metallique wax - Blue Lagoon / White Gold

Art Alchemy Opal Magic wax - Turquoise Satin

Art Alchemy Antique Brilliance Wax - Mystic Turquoise

Ayeeda 13arts Mist - Chalk Yellow / Amber / Pastel Cinnamon

Pearl Old Gold

Decoart Media Shimmer Mist - White

Lindy's Stamp Gang Moon Shadow Mist -  Treasure Island Aqua 

Silhouette Silver

***Winner was Barbara Lancaster***

Giveaway #9 - Through This Together - Butterfly Block

See, any excuse to work of more wood rummaged from the box of wood for rummaging purposes

here's another one

Again a project I have done a few times in the past but NEVER using such vibrant colours

and, yes, there is PINK again

I fear I am losing the plot now

I hope the sentiment kinda sums it all up right now ...

that we will get through this simply horrible time ...

together

PRODUCTS USED:

Wood block, hessian, lace & string

Finnabair (Prima Marketing)

Art Basics : Heavy Body Gel / 3D Matte Gel / Soft Gloss Gel

Art Alchemy Metallique Acrylic Paint :  

Light Patina / Vintage Rose / Romance Pink

Art Alchemy Sparks Acrylic Paint : Magical Pond

Art Alchemy Metallique Wax : Sweet Rose / Electric Violet / Mint Sparkle

Blue Lagoon / Heather Hills

Art Ingredients Micro Beads : Berry / Silver

Art Extravagance Glitter Set : Carribean Seas

Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburt Spray :

Sassy Sapphire / Shabby Turbine Teal / Prima Donna Purple 

Azalea Tea Rose

Tim Holtz (Ranger) Distress Crackle Paint : Clear Rock Candy

Tim Holtz (Idea-ology) Word Stickers : Small Talk

*** Winner was Bev Garfield ***

Giveaway #8 - Live Laugh Love

A touch of the momochromatic called to me this week

Didn't fancy black & white so chose tones of silver

Have to say it hasn't photographed awfully well and does look better in real life

Really enjoyed making this one

probably because I knew I was not going to Do Battle with colours

PRODUCTS USED:

A5 Canvas Board

Old CD

Finnabair (Prima Marketing)

Stencil - Iris Tapestry

Art Basics - Modelling Paste / Soft Gloss Gel / Heavy Body Gel

Art Basics - Heavy Gesso : Black

Art Alchemy Metallique Wax - Old Silver / Brushed Iron

Art Alchemy Metallique Acrylic Paint : White Pearl

Art Alchemy Sparks Acrylic Paint : Raven Black

Art Ingredients Glass Glitter : Pitch Black

Art Ingredients Art Sugar : Black / White

Seth Apter (Emerald Creek) Baked Texture Embossing Powder : Rocky Road

*** Winner was Tracy Fox ***

Love for the lost

I had not heard about the yellow hearts until my friend lost her mommy to this dreadful virus last week and came across the Love for the Lost hearts

I made this yellow heart to hang in my window in memory of not only my friend's mommy but for all the others lost ... to show they are not just a statistic mentioned as a number in the news each evening but that they are real people leaving behind families for whom life will never be the same 

The small butterfly is for my friend - who loves butterflies

PRODUCTS USED:

6" heart

Finnabair (Prima Marketing)

Art Basics Heavy Gesso : White

Art Basics Modelling Paste

Art Ingredients Mica Powder : Sunny Yellow

Art Alchemy Liquid Acrylic Paint - True Yellow / White Pearl

Art Ingredients Glass Glitter - Gold Rush

Art Alchemy Metallique Wax - Vintage Silk / Vintage Gold

Tim Holtz (Stampers Anonymous) Stencil :  Gingham THS034

Perfect Pearls Mists : Sunflower Sparkle / Sunny Yellow / Biscotti / Kiwi

Giveaway #7 - Just Bobbin Along

The pink (yes, pink!) bobbin I did for myself seemed to go down quite well so I thought I'd do another one as this week's giveaway

I did say the heart on the front of my bobbin was the last I would be doing as I have already done it quite a few times before - totally inspired by a FB live that Finnabair did a while ago

but it seems I lied because no matter how I messed round with various other options for this bobbin that heart kept calling to me

So, this is almost certainly quite definitely the last time I shall do

 this heart composition

maybe

PRODUCTS USED:

Antique bobbin

Finnabair (Prima Marketing) 

Art Basics Heavy Body Gel / 3D Gloss Gel

Script Stamp

Mechanicals - Woodland Farns / Rustic Washers / Machine Parts
Art Extravagance Glitter Set - Luminous

Paper roses

Scrapinec Decorative Chipboards - small lattice heart

Stamp Set - Wild & Free

Tim Holtz (Ranger) Mini Archival Stamp - Hickory Smoke

Distress Spray Stain - Old Paper / Antique Linen

Versafine Clair Ink Pad - Noir

Clear embossing powder

Perfect Pearls Mists - Kiwi / Forever Green

Scraps : Paper / Lace / Cheesecloth or gauze

***Winner was Lynne Bishop***

Giveaway #6 - Shine Like the Universe

Not often it happens but it did with this piece

I reached the "I think it's done" stage and pushed it away from me and fell off my chair in shock as I realised I actually quite liked it ... was pleased with something for once!

Alas, it was short lived as he whom will remain nameless announced it "just like everything else you do ... same-old-same-old" and "why don't you do something different"

Needless to say the day took a downward turn from there and words were had

But, apart from the odd grumble, we soon kinda, sorta got over it

although I do still mutter "same-old-same-old" as I am working on new pieces 

just to make a point you understand

I hope to do another of these to keep for myself

yes, I was THAT happy with it!!!!

PRODUCTS USED:

Stretched Canvas (approx 12cm x 25cm /5"x10" )

Finnabair (Prima Marketing) :-

Art Basics Heavy Gesso - Black

Art Alchemy Impasto Paint - Cobalt

Art Basics Heavy Body Gel / 3D Gloss Gel / Soft Gloss Gel

Moons Mould

Mica Powder - Deep Water / Frozen Lake / Purple

Art Alchemy Metallique Wax - Old Denim / Peacock / Electric Violet / Blue Lagoon

Mint Sparkle / Old Silver

Art Ingredients Glass Glitter - Midnight Blue

Tim Holtz Die (used to cut stars stencil)

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Wooden Frame

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Small Talk words

Lindy's Stamp Gang Sprays - Afternoon Delight Denim / Ocean Breeze Blue / French Lilac Violet

***Winner was Catriona Mason & she very kindly gifted it 
to Carolyn Staton***

Giveaway #5 - Ancient Ammonites

Except they are not ancient at all, of course, but freshly dug up, er, made this week!  But I won't tell anyone if you won't!

PRODUCTS USED:

20cm x 20cm (8"x8") Gerstaecker Studio 2 Stretched Canvas

15.5cm x 15..5cm (6"x6") canvas board

Ammonite stencil (not sure of brand)

Powertex :

Ivory Universal Medium 

Stone Art

Ammonite Moulds

Mini Art Stones

Art Stones

Mega Art Stones

3D Sand

Easy Varnish

Colortricx - Clear Gold / Terragreen / Brons Gold

Bister Sprays - Green / Mahogany / Yellow

*** Winner was Tracey Lowther ***