Fiona Paltridge Designs: April 2016

Art Journal page for VLVS

Hello today I'm here to share a little art journal page I made for Viva Las Vegastamps.

I am really enjoying exploring a lot of colour in my creations lately.

I suppose you could say I'm spreading my wings just like my journal page suggests.

All of the colour I've added is with my watercolors. I have a little set of "Brights" that are my absolute favourite.

A lashing of gesso and then a seriously amazing amount of colour!! My fave new recipe.

Thank you for popping by and checking out my latest creation xx

Viva Las Vegastamps used:

Whimsical Border

Whimsical Lady Holding Up Head

Tape X

Pair of Butterfly Wings

She Spread Her Wings

Some Poppies for ANZAC Day

Hello my friends. I'm here with you today to share a painting I created using the gorgeous new 13@rts Rainbow Color Watercolor Powders.

"Poppies"

It is the 25th April and in Australia that marks a very special holiday.

ANZAC.org.au

ANZAC was the name given to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers who landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey early on the morning of 25 April 1915 during the First World War (1914-1918).

As a result, one day in the year has involved the whole of Australia in solemn ceremonies of remembrance, gratitude and national pride for all our men and women who have fought and died in all wars.

That day is ANZAC Day - 25 April.

The red poppy has become a symbol of war remembrance the world over. People in many countries wear the poppy to remember those who died in war or who still serve. In many countries, the poppy is worn around Armistice Day (11 November), but in New Zealand and Australia it is most commonly seen around Anzac Day, 25 April.

The plant was one of the first to grow and bloom in the mud and soil of Flanders. The connection was made, most famously, by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae in his poem 'In Flanders fields'.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

13arts Products used include:

Rainbow Color - Bordeaux

Rainbow Color - Pastachio Green

Rainbow Color - Scarlet

Ink Acrylic SPLASH Black

Ink Acrylic SPLASH White

I practiced first on my A4 watercolor pad and then once I was confident I painted my canvas which is 11.5" x 21" approximately (30cm x 60cm)

I simply added water to the Rainbow Color watercolor powder and added the SPLASH inks while the layers were still a little wet. I just love painting poppies, they would have to be one of my favorite flowers. I find they are so easy to paint and for me, they have a "never fail" style about them.

Thank you so much for popping in and checking out my latest creation. If you want to try and create a watercolor painting yourself with the Rainbow Colors, then you can visit the Store to purchase your goodies.

My April 2Crafty Shares

Hello I'm here with you today to share a couple of creations I have made using the gorgeous 2Crafty Chipboard.

"Art Journal Cover"

I am quickly becoming addicted to art journaling! Because of this, I am starting to collect a selection of different journals. Of course I want them to be pretty! So I am now also decorating the covers of them ....... more addiction LOL

2Crafty Chipboard products used include:

"Messy Square Frames"

"Moroccan Panel"

"Delicate Ornament"

The background is a combination of crackle paint and coloured spray over the top of the "Moroccan Panel".

I've painted the "Messy Square Frames" black and added some gold glitter bars to frame sections of the background.

I love how the colour from the sprays has settled onto the chipboard and made it stand out.

I have created a focus using the "Delicate Ornament" and assisted it to stand out by backing it with a black painted negative piece of chipboard.

My next piece is a layout created on an A4 size.

"Summer Selfie"

2 Crafty Chipboard used:

"Line Words Summer borders"

"Selfies Word Pack"

"Brick Panel"

I am very lucky my children like taking selfies. My daughter in particular and this one created great conversation throughout the house LOL! She had tagged it I am Vogue and her father, who never comments on ANYTHING commented "Are you sure you don't mean Vague?" Many giggles erupted!

Hence the title "Summer Selfie". I love that 2Crafty Chipboard have got all the titles covered. For this title I have combined a couple and it works perfectly.

I enhanced the background with the "Brick Panel" which I used both as a stencil to spray through and then also a dimensional piece in the background. I love the fun size of this layout.

I hope you have enjoyed my pieces today.

7 Dots Studio April Inspiration

Hello. I'm here with you today to share a little art journal page I have created using the "Lost and Found" collection from 7 Dots Studio.

I have had some fun layering the tags and some paper from the collection onto the background and then added some colours to coordinate with the Lost and Found collection.

I began by creating a textured background on my page using the UmWOW Studio stencil "Measuring Tape". I simply mixed some heavy modelling paste and black gesso together to achieve a raised black texture.

I topped the piece off with a little chipboard frame and a gorgeous little flair of inspiration from UmWOW Studio.

Putting together little pages like this fulfills my artistic cravings when I really don't have much time to spare. It also helps me to practice my techniques and lets me explore possibilities!

Thank you for popping by, I hope I have inspired you to explore your creative possibilities xx

7 Dots Studio Products Used:

7 Dots Studio - Lost and Found - Tages 12x12
7 Dots Studio - Lost and Found - Die Cut Elements 6x12
7 Dots Studio - Lost and Found - Sticky Notes

UmWOW Studio Products Used:
UmWOW Studio - Lost and Found - Measuring Tape Stencil
UmWOW Studio - Christmas Polaroid Mash
UmWOW Studio - Lost and Found - Inspired Flair

Other products used:
13arts Chalk sprays
Prima Art Basics - Heavy modelling paste and black gesso

My VLVS Family Portrait

Hello my sweet friends. I'm here with you today to introduce you to the "Whimsical Family" from Las Vegas!

Boy I love having fun with these characters! They all tell a story and I wanted to share that in my depiction of "A Family Portrait".

So first up we have Uncle Owl. His actual name is Alphonso (Asio otus) Benedict Ko'ko (other wise know as the Long Eared Owl) and he comes from a long line of aristocratic owls from Pakistan. He has a degree in Baking Technology Management from the London Southbank University which he puts to great use at family functions such as birthdays and Easter. Uncle Owl is famous for his lavish 4 tier cakes.

Behind Uncle Owl, in the deep dark background of the photo is Michael the keeper of accounts. He's not really an accountant. He forged his degree and now successfully runs an accounting firm that actually serves as a front for an illegal booking club just on the outskirts of the inner city.

Standing next to Uncle Owl is his great nephew (Pete is Owls youngest sisters, first daughters third son) Peterbald. Nicknamed Pete, is the quietest member of the family and most definitely the most politest. It's not Christmas time, this photo wasn't even taken at Christmas time, in fact it was taken last week but Pete, is a lover of all things Merry and Bright and celebrates the festive season all year round. The oddity of Pete's obsession with Christmas is never discussed in fact it is routinely dismissed as not occurring at all. The only time any issues arise from Pete's obsession is at the end of every meal when he insists the family light the desert on fire .... other than that it's not a problem. Unless your Uncle Owl and you've just spent 7 hours building a 4 tier cake.

The girls of the family are, firstly, Ellie who stands in the center of the family portrait. She is the tallest one in the family but also the youngest. Her excessive height is not helped by the fact that she insisted on wearing her favourite pair of Alexander McQueen Blue Alien shoes from the 2010 Spring/Summer release that she purchased on Ebay for only $32 and the fact that she compliments them with her head piece that she wears as part of her membership to the Iran Politics Club which devotes it's time to embracing and worshiping Persian Mythological Goddesses. Ellie prefers to be known as Zam-Armatay and believes she is the divine personification of the earth. She also is an avid scrapbooker and the family always love receiving the hand made cards she creates on their birthdays and other special occasions.

The final member of the family is Ophelia Palomara Alessandra Lux, other wise know as O.P.A.L. Opal was born a red head, the first ever for the family in over 250 years. Members say it is a genetic throw back from her great great great Aunty Josefina Izora Lashonda Lux (J.I.L.L.) but Opal's father Broderick Isidro Leonidas Lux ( B.I.L.L.) has had his doubts. Regardless of these allegations, Opal remains the heir to the Lux fortune and hopes to one day open her own yoga school with her boyfriend Mike.

Viva Las Vegastamps used:

Whimsical Collage

Whimsical Owl in Clothes

Whimsical Lady Walking

Whimsical Christmas Creature

I hope you have enjoyed my little bit of story telling. I certainly enjoyed writing it. Catch you all next time xx

Kraft Plus Guest Designer for April

Hello! I am popping in today to share with you my interpretation of the current Kraft + challenge "Kraft plus ...... black and white". I am representing 2 Crafty Chipboard as a guest designer for the month. I really couldn't pass this one up. It's me all over!!

2 Crafty Chipboard pieces used include:

"Punctuation"

"Family Symbols"

"Live Your Adventure"

And here is the inspiration

Recently, while cleaning out my daughters dressing table, I had come across some old drawings she had done at the end of primary school. They were so adorable. I scanned them and converted them to a more sketch like finish and stored them away for a rainy day project.

When this project for Kraft Plus came up, I knew it was perfect!

I printed out a whole page of little photos of Kaity. A collection in black and white of her over the years.

Then i went to work constructing something ...... I had no idea what it was going to look like, I just knew it was going to be a bit bitsy and like a messy collage. I know Kraft is a bit temperamental when it comes to too many wet mediums so I made sure I limited it to just black and white drawing ink.

I scanned my bits and pieces paper pack for some kraft with plus signs on it. I knew I had some in there somewhere!!! It would lend itself perfectly to the challenge.

A bit of last minute stamping and the added touches of chipboard and my messy, arty, black and white collage was complete!

You really should join in with this one ..... it was so much fun!!! You can find more inspiration on the Kraft Plus Facebook page too.

Thank you for popping in to check my art out.

catch ya later xxx

Scrapki-Wyzwaniowo April Challenge "Tule"

Welcome to April my dears!! It is my brithday month .... so let's make sure we celebrate, just because I can LOL! I'm going to kick the month off with a little bit of Scrapki-Wyzwaniowo. The theme for the challenge this month is "Tulle".

When I think of tulle, I think of tutu's so I created a little bit of 3D frame art with this wire sculpture of a manikin wearing a tulle tutu.

I am so happy with how this turned out. I'm really loving the wire sculpting. I'm teaching some wire sculpting at the PaperArts Expo next weekend. Below are the two projects you can make in the workshop.

Adding little charms and little pieces of chipboard just adds to the creations.

I really love how pretty and rustic they can be all in one.

I think this one is my favourite so far.

I hope you can join me both over at Scrapki-Wyzwaniowo for the "Tulle" challenge or even in Melbourne at the Paperarts Expo.

Until next time xx

My Baby A Project for 13arts

Hello, I'm here with you again to share my latest creation for 13arts using some of the "Starlight" collection. I am especially in love with love hearts at the moment so these papers and the stencil of hearts is perfect for my mood.