Category: Friday in the Studio

Spring Inspiration!

Happy Friday and hello spring? The end of February was glorious where we are, warm, sunny and dry. I think we got a little carried away with ourselves and started to imagine outdoor activities and ice-cream! I know, I’m guilty of pushing the woolly pullies to the back of the wardrobe.

However, March came in and whoops!! Stormy, wet and cold weather was back. My wardrobe is a mess, as the woollies have been dragged over the spring garments and scarves pulled out from under thin tops. Ah well, it was a bit bonkers to be honest not to mention worrying.

My morning walks with Cooper are a good opportunity to watch the season change however and gather some inspiration along the way.  The pine branch above will find its way into my sketch book and may even be used next Christmas.  The fern will be used in a print I think and already I’ve added a small piece in my Simple Stories planner layout. I touched it with a brayer and a little white ink to tone it down and help it blend into the page better.

It fitted perfectly with my spring like theme for March and the Simple Stories Spring Farmhouse collection ephemera from Paper Pen and Plan.

I also used a little on my WOW! Embossing Powder Facebook challenge piece. This month the challenge is all about foils and I was desparate to use mine in an abstract way. I love abstract backgrounds and using them this way over a smooshed ink layer was so much fun.

I’m declaring March Nature Inspiration month just because I can! Why not try including a little nature in your work?

Have a good weekend

Jaine x


About Post Author

blogmanager

webadmin@basementstudio.lu

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells…

Wow, December 1st has arrived and it’s time to start bombarding social media with Christmas makes!!  My work table looks like a bomb has exploded in my studio, seriously!! I have to vacuum the floor every day to pick up the glitter before the animals tread it through the house on their paws!

Last weekend I hosted a workshop for the Mozaik ladies where we made a Winter themed canvas. We had a wonderful day and I have to say it’s the first time everyone actually finished a project from start to finish so I’m hugely proud of all of them. 

I’ve been promising the ladies for quite some time now a mixed media canvas project and for one reason or another we’ve never quite taken it on. So I was determined this time to go for it and throw all sorts of materials and techniques at them and they really embraced the theme. Every one of them produced something wonderful which made me very happy.

As it’s the first of the month, that means a new WOW! Embossing Powders Facebook Challenge and the final theme of the year is Silver and Gold.

I brought out my favourite stamps, which I use every year without fail (everyone has their favourites), the script stamp is from IndigoBlu and the star is a wood mounted one from Stampers Anonymous and paired them with Metallic Silver and Atlantic Seaspray Embossing Powder from WOW!. 

Right now I’m crafting myself silly preparing for a Christmas Market where I’ll have a small stand.

Have a good weekend and I’ll be back soon.

Jaine x

About Post Author

blogmanager

webadmin@basementstudio.lu

An Update From The Studio

Good morning from a the sunny Dutch coast where we’re taking a few days break to recharge and rest. It’s the first time taking the dog too so his reaction to the sea will be priceless.

This week it was my turn to post on the WOW blog and the theme for the month is Embossing Glitter. I’m really embracing my glittery side and find myself adding some to almost everything these days. I never thought I’d say that.

I have this awsome stamp set from Jane Davenport which I used on this card and thought it reminded me of Asian art which inspired me to go for this Asian design.

Continue reading An Update From The Studio

About Post Author


blogmanager


webadmin@basementstudio.lu

Friday In The Studio – Tissue Paper Flower Clip

Look at this little clip, isn’t it cute? Even if I do say so myself I think I had a flash of  real inspiration here.

The clip came as part of the June Sweet Treat box from Paper Pen and Plan and Clare set us a challenge to create something using it so that’s just what we did.  The idea hit me when I saw the jumbo sized tissue paper circle confetti which Clare has started putting in the boxes as part of the packaging. I had the thought to make tissue paper flowers and glue them all onto the clip but sadly the confetti was just a bit too small. However the box packaging was full of lovely tissue paper which I could cut circles from as much as I wanted.

The process couldn’t be simpler. You just need a hole making tool, a brad to hold the layers of tissue together, a circle of card a bit smaller than the tissue and a little felt bobbly ball for the centre which conveniently came in the Sweet Treat box too.

With about 8 or 9 layers of tissue, I made a hole and pushed the brad through to just hold them together while I snipped all the way around not quite into the centre.

Taking each layer individually I scrunched them up into the centre to create the ruffled effect. I glued the card circle onto the back along with the top of the clip and a second card circle.

I ended up making two and thought it would look much better if I glued them back to back to make a pompom flower.

Much better. If you want to see what the other designers did with their clips you can go to the Paperpenandplan facebook group

To buy a Sweet Treat Box of your own or a subscription go to Paper Pen and Plan.

Stay around as later on there’s a very special post coming up.

Jaine x

About Post Author


blogmanager


webadmin@basementstudio.lu