About Me

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Hi I'm Clare, I live in the South West of England in the seaside town of Torquay. I adore playing with inks, paints and generally getting messy. It is the calm place which fits in between my hectic life whilst working as an outreach support worker, looking after my son, daughter, foster son and hubby. Not forgetting our gorgeous springer spaniel, Suzi.

Saturday 29 August 2015

Clare DT - Maple Leaves

Good morning to you all and what a lovely sunny one it is too! After the weather this week has been very dull and gloomy the sun is a welcome sight. Well it's my turn at Bee Crafty today to share my blog. Remember to get youself over to the website with a super 20% this weekend it certainly is worth a visit.

My card seems to reflect the rather autumnal feel of the weather this week.

 


 

For this card I used:

Beautanicals - Maple outline

Beautanical - Maple solid

Wordage - Family Masterpiece

Distress inks

Embossing powders

 

I started by stamping my Maple outline and heat embossing, some with white embossing powder some with clear embossing powder. With stormy sky and tumbled glass I blended on to the corner of the card. With the same distress inks I stamped using the solid Maple stamp.

 

 

 

Don't forget to head over to Bee Crafty and bag yourselves a bargain. Thank you for visiting me today. Wishing you all a fantastic weekend whatever you may be up to x x x

 

Happy crafting,

 

Clare x x x

 

Wednesday 26 August 2015

It's a wrap!

Good afternoon folks. I'm back today with a little blog about what I've been up to in the craft room. As a crafter, like yourselves, I'm always on the lookout for new projects or things that I can upcycle. As I have just finished painting my dresser with Annie Sloan paint I decided that the empty paint can was going to get a makeover of it's own!

 

 

I started off by painting my empty can with gesso, once dry I coated it with antique white crafters acrylic and then some paperartsy guacamole fresco paint for my grass.

 

Onto some white tissue paper I stamped my images, from Lavinia Stamps, and coloured in with pencils.

 

 

I glued the wrap onto the can using mod podge matt glue and applied a glaze over the whole thing to seal it.

To the top and bottom rim of the can I rubbed on some treasured gold (oringinal). To pick out the tissue texture and create a sky I used some aquamarine treasured gold.

 

 

Finally I added some pearly dots and some stickles for a little more dimension.

I would like to enter this project into the following challenge: Challenge # 8 Anything but a card

So here it is, my very own upcylced paint can, already accomodating my evergrowing paintbrush collection.

Thank you for popping over to look at my blog. I look forward to hearing your comments.

 

Happy crafting,

Clare x x x

 

Saturday 22 August 2015

Clare DT - Banksy Boi and Dylusion Paints

Happy weekend everyone. What a week it's been with our wet summer weather! It does mean you can get some guilt free crafting in when the weather is so nasty. I'm here today blogging for Bee Crafty using a stamp from the Inspired by Bansky range and one of the new Wordage stamps.

 

For this project I used:

Ranger tags

Dylusion paints

Inkables mask - brick wall

Inkables mask - Metal alpha

Inspired by Banksy - Banksy boy

Wordage - Definition Boy

Clear gesso

 

 

To start this project I scraped some clear gesso through the brick wall stencil and waited for it to dry. Once dried I was able to paint.

With a dry brush I painted random areas with Fresh lime and Vibrant Turquoise. Before the paint was too dry I used the metalwork alpha stencil and rubbed through the stencil with a wet wipe.

When the paint was dry I was able to stamp using Banksy Boy and the Wordage definition stamp.

That's it from me today folks. I hope to be here a little more often next week the children are away which will mean I have oodles of crafting time available.

 

Happy crafting,

 

Clare x x x

 

Saturday 15 August 2015

Clare DT - Skull background and Brushos

Good morning bloggers, I'm here with my Bee Crafty hat on today and sharing a make that is a little out of my comfort zone. Male cards! It always scares me a little when trying to create something for a male. This card was for my son who was 16 yesterday.

I decided to turn to my Bee Crafty stamps and stencils. Alot of you already know that I love using bright vibrant colours and due to the fact I am making a card for a teenager, I decided that this card was going to be quite grungy!

 

For this card I used:

All hallows - skeleton background

Inkables template - metalwork alpha

Brushos - Turquoise/Brown/yellow

Backdrop - Bubble wrap negative

Backdrop - Crackle paint

Da Vinci script

Texture spray from my stash

Bleach

I began my card by staming the skull onto the card and heat embossing with clear embossing powder. Using the metalwork alpha stencil I sprayed some texture spray through the sencil and set aside for it to dry.

 

Once the spray had dried I sprinkled my card with brushos, spritzed with water and moved the inky puddles around the card. Using the bleach and an old paint brush I gently painted the skeleton to lift off some of the colour so that the skeleton would appear more highlighted in it's dark surroundings.

More drying time and then I inked on my tags through a mask and stamped the bubblewrap/script/crackled paint through as well.

I know this is not quite my usual thing and sharing something out of your comfort zone is quite a scary thing to do. So if you have popped over to visit me today thank you for taking the time. I love to hear your thoughts and comments, you can do this below or if you would like to follow my blog you can do so by clicking on one of the above links.

 

Happy Crafting,

Clare x x x

Tuesday 11 August 2015

Dallying with Dylusions


Good evening bloggers.  Like it says on the tin I have been dwindling the day away in my craft room and mainly covered in paint!

For this project I have been inspired by Tracey Scott.  Her artwork is very colourful and there is always plenty to keep you eyes busy.  You can look at Tracey's fascinating art by clicking on the link 

http://heartistryatstudio7.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/nature-knows-best.html?m=1


For this project I have used:
Dylusion paints
Inktense pencils
White posca pen
Tim Holtz handwritten thoughts stamp
Tim Holtz splotches stencil


I started off by building up different layers of paints not worrying too much about blending at this stage.  I added some definate marks such as squares, circles and stripes (a lot of this can't be seen as it is in the background) and I also used my white pen and wrote myself a positive message to remind me of all the good things in my life.

I  pencilled on my flower and leaves and then started to blend on my next layer of paint carefully around the flower. 


I added some outline using the black inktense pencil and a hint of colour to the flower head and the leaves along with a little white paint to the petals.

I finished off with the sentiment stamp and some stencilled circles along with some very therapeutic doodling. 

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I really look forward to hearing your comments.  I you have enjoyed your visit please hit the join/follow links above to see what I get up to next.

Crafty Hugs,

Clare x x x 

Sunday 9 August 2015

Home Alone


Good afternoon bloggers. What is a girl to do when faced with being home alone. The chores are done and it can only mean one thing! Craft o'clock.

I decided to have a go at an altered book cover. This is something I have never tried before, I haven't attended any workshops so go easy on me! I was a little apprehensive as I am a rather impatient crafter and looming in the back of my mind was the fact that this could all turn into a rather gooey mess.


 

For this project I used:

Diamonds mask

Tim Holtz visual artistry stamps

Tim Holtz hand written thoughts

TCW Art is stencil

Dylusions ink - Crushed grape

Paperartsy Fresco paint

Grunge paste

Bits of broken jewellery

Treasured gold guilding wax

Various die cut cogs and flourishes

 

 


I don't have a huge collection of embellishments so I raided my jewellery box to find out any broken necklaces and bracelets and took them apart to put on my project. I do have a little box which I fill up with beer caps and other little treasures thay may come in handy. It's nice to say that I have finally put them to some use.

 

 

I would like to enter this into the following challenges: The Craft Barn Weekly Challenge Diamonds and

That's Crafty Challenge Purple Passion

 

Thanks for stopping by to look at my blog today. I love hearing your comments and feedback. If you have enjoyed your visit today remember to hit the follow button above.

 

Happy crafting,

Hugs,

Clare x x x

 

Saturday 8 August 2015

Clare DT - Banksy Inspired Greatness Girl

Good morning fellow bloggers. It's my turn at Bee Crafty to blog today. As I am on holiday I have been dipping in and out of my journal recently and decided to create a Bee Crafty page.

 

For this project I used:

Greatness girl

Shoot for the moon

Inkables alternative circles

Inkables metalwork alpha

Inkables Harlequin

Inkables Easy frame circle

Inkables easy frame star

Dylusion paints

Dylusion journal

 

I started off by blending the paints on the page and then knocking back certain areas using white paint. Using the inkable metal alpha and alternative circles I blended some of the melted chocolate paint through the stencil in random areas. In the lower corner of the page I added some purple diamonds using the harlequin stencil.

With the masks from the easy frames (star &circle) I carefully blacked out the page. I stamped greatness girl in black ink and the shoot for the moon sentiment I stamped with clear ink and embossed with white powder.

 

Back to the alternative circles stencil i used a white pen and doodled through the stencil and added some doodling to the the background.

 

Thank you for stopping by today. If you have enjoyed reading my blog today you can leave a comment below. If you would like to see what crafty mayhem I get up to next follow the blog by clicking on one of the links above.

Happy crafting,

 

Hugs,

Clare x x x x

Thursday 6 August 2015

Flower Power

Good evening bloggers. It's been another busy day today. I have found the bottom of the wash basket, caught up with one of my work pals for a coffee and a chat and had a crafty afternoon! Having just finished a shabby chic project, my dining room dresser, I decided that the shelves were looking a little empty and a little something was required for the shelf.

 

I bought some card craft frames at the NEC earlier this year and thought it was about time I used one of them. I painted some crackle effect in random places before coating the frame with a coat of Nougat Fresco paint. The stamps were next, I stamped my Jofy stamps in black ink.

Using the bloom stencil I dabbed on some Toad Hall paint and then bumped the stencil along and applied some grunge paste. I also did some background stenciling with old paper distress ink.

I stamped the flowers onto separate card and fussy cut them out. All of the images were painted with distress inks. The flowers were applied using matt modge podge. I added some mowed lawn distress ink to the edges of the frame. To finish off I added some liquid pearls and a coat of clear spray varnish.

 

 

I would like to enter this into the following challenge: Paperartsy Topic 14: Flowers

http://blog.paperartsy.co.uk/2015/07/2015-topic14-flowerschallenge.html

Just thought I would give you a sneeky peek of my dining room. We are waiting patiently for our new dining room furniture to arrive. It's hard to believe that in a matter of months we have acheived a craft room (for me) and a new dining room. Especially as this room was once crammed with all my crafty stash with the shelves all being full and piles of boxes growing out of the floor!

Thank you for stopping by for a visit. I always look forward to reading your comments and if you have enjoyed your visit remember to use one of the follow/join links above.

 

Happy crafting,

 

Clare x x x

Tuesday 4 August 2015

Summer journal entry

Good afternoon bloggers, and a sunny one it is! It is however a bit blustery here but for now the sun is shining and that certainly puts a smile on my face.

 

Today I decided to do an summer entry into my journal. I have used Dylusion paints for the background, I shall list the stamps and stencils below.



 


I would like to enter the above into the following challenge: http://countryviewchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/brrrrr-its-august.html

For this project i used:

Dina Wakely - Scribbly Birds

Dina Wakely - plastic canvas stencil

Dina Wakely - Spinners

Tim Holtz - layering stencil splotches

TCW - Tiny Circles stencil

 

Just a quick blog from me today, I'm hoping to get out and enjoy some of that lovely sunshine this afternoon. Thank you for coming and taking the time to visit. I love to hear your thoughts and comments, it really makes my day. If you have enjoyed your visit today remember to click one of the follow buttons above.

 

Happy crafting,

 

Clare x x x

Saturday 1 August 2015

Clare DT - Glad I Did It with Dylusion paints

Good morning to you all. It's that Bee Crafty time of the week and today I would like to share with you a little wooden heart that I have painted.

 



For this project I used:

MDF wooden heart (from stash)

Wordage - Glad I did it

Dylusions paint - Crushed grape & White linen

Inkables -Damask

Winged things - Doodlebirds crowned

Winged things - Doodlebirds Floralie

Crackle Glaze from my stash

 

I started of by coating my heart with crushed grape paint. Once dry I painted on some crackle glaze and dried off with my heat gun. With the white linen paint, using a dry brush I went over the heart making sure i caught the crackly areas.

Using the Damask inkable stencil I went back to the crushed Grape paint and went through the stencil. Once this had dried I bumped the stencil over a small fraction and then applied white linen over the top.

When the paint was dry it was time to stamp. I stamped our winged friends and the sentiment with black ink, applied embossing powder and set with the heat gun.

I painted the birdies with some mica powders from my stash.

 

That's it from me today. My arm is on the mend although I am still unable to drive. This has given me extra time in the craft room. Although I will be glad when I can get back behind the wheel as everything takes so much longer when you have to walk.

If you have enjoyed looking at the blog today you can follow or subscribe from the links above. I really do enjoy reading everyone's comments, you can leave those below.

 

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

Crafty hugs,

Clare x x x