Ink Effects

This morning I posted on Facebook this sweatshirt that the lovely Lyndsay Mason decorated with her Doo Lally Pip designs using a combination of Decoart Ink Effects and So soft fabric paints.

Last night I put together an image on the computer to transfer onto a T-Shirt, please be sure if attempting this with Ink Effects that your image is mirrored as shown below.

It was printed onto plain copy paper and I painted over the image print with Red and Black Ink Effects and allowed it to dry for 45 minutes

If the item you are transferring contains less than 40% synthetic fibers it needs to be sprayed with the Ink Effects Basecoat pictured below first.

The Image was placed ink side down on the fabric and simply ironed on for approximately 30 - 45 seconds and hey presto...... I Love it!
The ink transferes deep into the fabric rather than sitting on top so you are left with this wonderful soft feel.

For more information on this product please visit the Ink Effects website where you can find videos and a FAQ  Decoart Ink Effects Site


Next up is a canvas bag that I stenciled using my Usual Suspects stencil with Decoart So Soft fabric paint..... no heat setting and a soft feel..... Simples!

Thanks for reading,

Andy

Weekend Workshops!

Still trying to catch up since returning from Decoart but it has been proving impossible, I returned on Thursday 2nd and this is my suitcase, still mostly unpacked!!

The first weekend back I was at the Craft Barn, here is one of the projects we were working on, these are book boxes.

While I remember I did promise a more detailed picture of the Canvas I painted while at Decoart so here goes, lots of Modelling Paste, Traditions, Americana, stencilling and a lush new Dazzling Metallic colour called Peacock pearl.

Not only have I been running more Decoart workshops but have been busy in the background and all I can say at the moment is that there is some very exciting news coming so keep tuned!!

Ok this weekend I was at The Craft Den on Friday holding a Gelli plate workshop and then on Saturday it was time for the Tando Clock, this is a new revised version using som new colours.... here are some of the brilliant finished clocks, a big hello to Lynne and everyone attending, I had a great time.

Finally on Sunday I was at The Stamp Pad, Thanks Gwen for your wonderful hospitality and again a big hello to everyone attending, you made some amazing boxes!

Thanks for reading,

Andy

Coming to America.. Oh..and a Confession!

It's been a while so time to catch up and share what I have been up to and what I have in store the next few weeks.
Today I am going to be running a Decoart mixed media workshop at Barjan b Crafts in Leicester so really looking forward to that and on Sunday I will be travelling up to a new venue for me, The Craft Den in South Yorkshire to hold another workshop, by my calculations that's 554 miles driving this weekend so why I am writing this post at 3am this morning I have no idea lol!

I am flying out to the US in just over a week for 11 days to visit Decoart in Stanford Kentucky and boy am I excited, can't wait to meet everyone and take a look around.
I fly into Detroit first which is approx 8 hrs, then fly from Detroit to Lexington Blue Grass airport in Kentucky, luckily for me flying tends to send me asleep and to be honest I am normally catching Z's before the flight even takes off!
I am determined to post regular to facebook on my visit so I promise to keep you all updated.

Ok before I continue it's confession time....  I know some of you are aware of my past and my involvement with glitter, for those of you unaware here goes!
I used to own a creative studio that also held Children's birthday parties, one of the party options were Glitz parties where children would make bath bombs, glitter body gels and so on, needless to say cosmetic glitter was involved and that stuff gets everywhere,  I eventually earned the name of Twinkle in the local drinking hole because I was always covered in the stuff.
Now my housemate at the time was the main instigator of this nickname and delighted in calling me it, my revenge was imminent! I secretly poured half a bottle of Decoart's very fine sprinkle-on glitter Glamour dust into his shampoo and mixed this thoroughly, lets just say...... he twinkled for weeks lol!  (sorry Clive) :)

So here goes... (warning this may shock) a couple of projects combining Decoart glamour dust and Decoart glass stains on glazed white ceramics.

Heart Plaque



4x4" white tile

6x6" white tile using just the glass stains and an Americana Gold writer.



Drizzling the glass stains looks very cool.

Next up is Decoart So Soft fabric paint Painted onto a tshirt  using a brush, stamped and painted through stencils! They are soft, like fabric dyes, but do not require the addition of a medium or heat setting.

If you would like more frequent updates please visit my Facebook page and hit the like button.

Bye for now,

Twinkle!

How to crackle without the waiting!

This is going to be a picture heavy long blog so go and grab a coffee as this may take some time lol.

First thing I need to share is the announcement yesterday that I have joined Decoart Inc, STANFORD, KY as executive creative consultant.
I will be assisting with product development, support of DecoArt’s Helping Artist Program, and technique video production as well as serving as DecoArt brand ambassador at trade shows and conferences.

I will continue my role with Country Love Crafts while serving as DecoArt’s executive creative consultant.

The collaboration is something I am very excited about, my head is absolutely buzzing with ideas at the moment and can't wait to get started, especially with a company who's products I believe in both for quality and their exceptional value for money, this is very important to me.

A link to the Press release showing all the details can be found  HERE  on my Facebook page.

Last Sunday I was at the Stamp Attic holding what was to be the last day of the 5 day techniques workshop, we kind off ran out of time so a new date will be added.

We had end of term cakes pictured below,... they know me to well!! :)

Next to share is a Gelli plate printed tag with dandelions painted on using a Posca white pen and a fine brush with American Titanium white, once dry subtle washes of acrylic colour were painted over the flowers.
I even had a go at making my own rub-ons for the words to some success, it was allot of faffing about though I have to admit.

Right, on to experiments with crackle paint, I have been wanting a reliable crackle paint where I can control the intensity of the cracks and to be able to dry it immediately.

The great Michael de meng blogged recently to say that he found by putting a layer of glue beneath Kroma crackle allowed him to dry it instantly, this gave a different type of crackle but one that was instant allowing it to be used in a one day workshop.

I had a go with painting a base-coat of Americana Cadmium orange and a little gold, once dry I added a generous coat of Americana Decoupage gloss glue and dried being careful not to blister it.

Finally Distress Crackle paint was applied and dried with a heat gun, within seconds the cracks started to appear as you can see below.

I was very happy with the result and will use this technique but I was still in search of larger cracks and yesterday I managed it with a concoction of different products, I was able to vary the effect from small to very large!! Going to keep this one to myself just for the time being until it's perfected but as you can see below, the cracks are very much chunkier and larger.




Have a great Easter weekend,

Andy

Coming up for air!

It's the end of what has been a very fun but busy few days and I'm coming up for air!
On Saturday I was at the Artistic Stamper in Faversham  running the second Tando gothic clock workshop using Decoart paints and mediums. I again was looked after very well and it was lovely to meet everyone in the class, I had a great day and I am sure you will agree they all did a fantastic job with there clocks.

On Sunday I was at the Craft Barn, holding the first Gelli Plate workshop.
We used a mixture of both Decoart Americana and Traditions acrylic paint and took prints on both paper and acetate.
Unfortunately I forgot to take photo's but here are a few examples I made during the day.

Then onto Monday and I spent the day bespoke training on baby hand and foot keepsakes  and yesterday we held a Decoart product training day at Country love crafts in Oxfordshire.

So today I am trying to catch up with emails and everything else, apologies to anyone awaiting a reply from me, I will get there in the end.

A quick message to those who attended my book of ruination workshop at The Craft Barn a few weeks back, I lost the paper with your email addresses on :( could you email me for the pdf files?

Thanks for reading.

Andy

Work in Progress

A quick post to share a couple of canvases I am painting for a new live workshop at the Craft Barn on the 19th May

The first has been grunged up a little while the second is more calming I think.

A quick reminder that The Book of Ruination lifetime online workshop goes live 10am GMT this Friday, the introductory offer then ceases and the price will be £29.99

Thanks for reading,

Andy

More Gelli plate playing

This was fun!

Andy