Welcome to the land of Shiny


The home of exuberant amateurism.

Wednesday 27 April 2011

Alter It monthly: April - spring into Easter. Spanky does The National Portrait Gallery

Over at Alter It Monthly we can either use cogs and sprockets (I have no idea what these are) for a Steampunk make or use spring colours.
So I went for the spring colours - yay sunshiny!

The curators of the National Portrait Gallery thought the decor was looking a bit tired so they asked Spanky if she could perk it up a bit.
I was able to get some photo's of the most famous faces there after Spanky's devine facelift.
Click on any image to make it bigger.







This started out as one half of a chocolate box.

I'll leave you with a lovely lovely thought.
Can you imagine what Spanky could do with our green and pleasant land if she was given free artistic reign for a little bit of shiny revamping of all our National Treasures?
(Actually I think Spanky is a national treasure.)
It's a wonder that she wasn't asked to dress the bride for Friday (Kate and William).

Happy creating!
Gini
xx

Friday 22 April 2011

Opus Gluei Challenge #98 - It's in the bag. Tarzan and Jane were swinging on a vine.

The funny ladies over at Opus Gluei this week have challenged us all to get inspiration from the contents of our handbag and make something gorgeous.

My handbag is very small and boring (more of that later) but Spanky's is not.
It is outrageously shiny and beautiful.
So I asked if I could have a look inside.
Well; it's like the tardis in there, I had to do a double take but I think I could see a good part of the Brazilian Rainforest.
Now who did I spot but Tarzan and Jane.
Click on any picture to make it bigger.


I tried to get a shinier shot, but you know how they don't work out very well for me...


Now I showed real restraint in what they were saying because I originally thought Tarzan might be saying "Mind the goolies pet" but thought I'd better behave myself seeing as I'm not Spanky.

The actors are Toby and Minky Girl, Stampotique Originals and the art work of Daniel Torrente.
I've also used a Magnolia Doohicky die cutter for the leaves of the vine coloured with metallic acrylics and stickles in the wonderful shade of lime green. The netting was glued on with Golden gel medium in regular matt finish with some parts painted with metallic green. I put loads of pale green jewels in between the netting but they don't show up very well in the photo. Tarzan and Jane were coloured with Derwent Inktense pencils.

On to my handbag, which is very boring and hardly used because my back has been too bad to carry one on the rare occasion I was able to get out over the last month, no don't feel sorry for me, it is loads better now.
Well, I focused on the word "inside" because I was struggling, and seeing as you find Russian dolls inside each other and there was a card template for them in a recent edition of Quick Cards, I made some Russian doll cards, only I used inks instead of designer papers. They were fiddle faffy and involved copious maths sums and I don't plan on making them again any time soon.




I used Andirondack dye inks in Citrus, Clover, Red Pepper, Sailboat blue and Wild Plum. Lovely bright shades that I brayered onto white card to get the solid colours and I used a pretty but small background stamp by Penny Black called Paisley swirls.
The girls themselves are on pale pink card and from biggest doll to smallest doll are Two Barrettes, Girl with Lunchbox, Minky Girl, Stitch and Gooseneck. Again more Daniel Torrente stamps by Stampotique Originals.

Happy creating!
Gini
xx

Tuesday 19 April 2011

Stampotique Designers Challenge 28:Newsprint/Old Book Pages

So, long time no see - I have unintentionally done something as yet unknown but horrible to my back on top of everything else... just call me limpalong or maybe just limpy but I am not laid up in bed anymore.
Gotta love pain meds.
So if I haven't visited you or replied to your comments here or your emails I apologise profusely. I am trying to catch up :-)

The lovely Jo Capper Sandon has set the challenge this fortnight to use newsprint or old book pages in our projects. (So many amazing Triptych cards were made for the last challenge did you see them all?)

These two are 12" by 12'' and use Tim Holtz paper pads; Lost and found; Crowded Attic and Retro Grunge.
The die cut Tim Holtz tree is a book page from Peter Pan. The bunting string is made of black bugle beads.
All stamps are Stampotique Originals.
I thought I'd do a little Easter love with the new Stampotique, Daniel Torrente stamp called Hare as the Easter Bunny.
Happy Easter to you all!
Click on any picture to make it bigger.


In case "up the duff" means nothing to you, it means pregnant.
The speakers are Muffin on the left and Clover on the right.
Did you notice the black sheep hare? He is sooo gothic, bless him.



I coloured him with a Sakura stardust gellyroll pen in black and then blended with water. The black is based on a purple dye which looks great.
Do you think he'll catch on as the new Easter Bunny? I do hope so.

Then I was on a roll, an egg roll, and made another.



Come on let's open the eggs and see what's inside!


Are you hoping for a Daniel Torrente Easter Egg now?
The boys from the left; Mort has a Pin Curl, Heart Throb and Smile are standing on a base of chocolate so you don't have to choose between the two, here in the land of Shiny you get everything your heart desires...even if everything blows chunks in real life.

Then I thought of this one, so I made a card.
The old ones are often the best.
(I keep telling myself this.)


This is Stampotique's Hunk and Hare. 
Additional stamps are Punk Plaid background by Artistic Stamper and the lettering is a set of individual letter stamps by Studio G, 'cos I love to do it wonky.

A very Happy Creative Easter to you all!
Gini
xx