Ribbons and Lace Collection

Hi Everybody,

This pretty card is created with the new Ribbons & Lace Border and the finished card is a 5x7. This is my favourite size card to make and is the one I mostly use whenever I am in my craft room creating.

For this I have used the border di along one side and I have embossed the other side in the Simply Dots embossing folder from the same collection. 

The fold has been kept to the side for this card which is unusual for me as I like a op folded design better. 

For the flowers I have cut them out but kept the fallout pieces in the die. I have used Arteza Colouring Pencils to add the shading to the petal and then backed them onto their corresponding panel 

These pencils blend really easily and are an excellent alternative if you are not comfortable with paints. Perfect if you are new to colouring and need to build up your confidence. 

The flowers have been added with foam tape to give some dimension, along one side of the front panel and the word added at the bottom. onto a die cut oval. 

Perfect for any occasion 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Old Images

Hi Everybody,

So over the weekend I have been doing some spring cleaning of my computer  and I found lots of old images that I bought or downloaded for free years ago … and I mean absolute years ago. 

I used them at the time of purchase and then, as you do with everything, I forgot all about them.

But is this not something that we are all guilty of doing and then when you have a clean up it comes as a nice  surprise to find things again.

This first one is called Bath tub and I bought this image, and many many others, from the wonderful childrens author and illustrator Maurie Manning 

Her images are delightful and available from the website ...  Mo's Digital Pencil  and of course once you have them they are yours forever. And should you forget about them over the years,  then it will be a lovely surprise for you to when you rediscover them on your PC.

This second image is called Tug Of War and this was a freebie from Kenny K again many years ago.  

His website has developed so much that I don't know if he still does digital images, and many of them are now under license. 

So just in case I am breaking some rule that I am not aware of I will not add any more KennK images to my pages.

The words on both of these cards are from different sets from Card Making Magic and I have mixed and matched them to suit the designs.

Both images have been coloured with Arteza Coloured Pencils 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Water Colouring with Arteza

Hi Everybody,

This very pretty floral card has ben created with some of the older pieces from my collections and the dies match the stamps for you to cut out and add to the card.

For the flowers and leaves I used the Spring-Summer Stamp and Die Set and they are all decoupaged onto the card and around the sentiment with foam pads underneath to raise them up

For the sentiment and panels I have used the Sentiments Stamp and Die Set and I have layered the matching panels in two different colours.

The flowers and leaves have been water coloured with  the Arteza Half Pan Paint set and this has very vibrant colours in it and is a pleasure to use

Just to sit and paint with water colours is very relaxing and I end up losing hours once I start to let it flow. It is a way to relieve any stress and just enjoy your self in the moment.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Matching Dies & Stamps

Hi Everybody,

In the new collection you will find these  beautiful flowers for you to stamp out and colour with your favourite medium,.

And then use the matching dies to give you the flowers that you need for your project.

These are named Christmas Roses but can be used all year round as you can see from the sentiment on this card.

I have used water colours on water colour paper to make my flowers and then shaped the petals with the shaping tool.

The inside of the card is decorated the same and for that I have used the new Inserts and a Verse from the Birthday Verses  A5 stamp set.

These will give you a complete co-ordinated look for your cards and of course adding them to a matching box will also make them extra special too.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Paint Pouring with Arteza

Hi Everybody

The painting is finished and today my eldest daughter came to collect it.

She is going to put it in her dining room and she is thrilled to bits with it.

You can see from her holding it just how big it is but I am really pleased with the way it turned out.

So covering up the Audrey Hepburn painting underneath has worked out well in the end and Mandi now has a more modern painting to add to her home

I should have signed it for when I get to be a famous artist  !!

There is a lot of Arteza Metallic Colours in there as well as the gold but I have also added the Gold Leaf which shines brightly in the picture.

I used a really thin brush to create what look like gold veins in the colours.

And then it has had two coats of varnish to seal it all.

Oh well I am pleased that Mandi is pleased with it and it has now gone to its new home.

I have another one on the go at present which is for Griffs eldest daughter Nicola and that has also got gold leaf on it.

Its not as big as this one and I will show you that next week once the varnish is dry

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

#1 Paint Pour with Arteza

Hi Everybody,

So this is my first attempt at paint pouring with acrylic paints where I have actually filmed all the steps I took

I have had little practises before with small canvases but for this one I took my courage by the hand and filmed it.

It is such a lovely and easy way to paint and you don't need to be able to draw.

Arteza offered me the paints and canvases and a discount code for all you lovely people who may also want to give this a try.

In the video I show what extras I bought mostly to keep things as clean as possible but I have to warn you that it is a messy process

There are lots of different ways to do the pours ... flip cup, pour and drag, colander pours, swipe pours but if you try the Dutch Pour with a hairdryer then one of the things I must tell you about is test the force of your own hairdryer first.

With my own it was so strong that I ended up with paint all over the craft room wall as I blew the paint out.

 It took me ages to get it all off again and I ended up buying a smaller, cheaper hairdryer and it is much better for this technique

So here is the video of my very first public attempt at Paint Pouring

My inspiration has come from these Artists on YouTube namely ...

                       Rinske Douna   my favourite 

Tammy Anderson

Ann Osborne

Kanella Ciraco

Gilly Kube

Lori McDonald

Molly

And if you like Abstract Art then check out ... 

Elsa Weiss

Oliver Maass

And if you want to purchase Arteza with 10% off

 add the code ChristinaGriffiths2 valid until the 14th February

Arteza UK

Arteza USA

Black Fingers ....

Hi Everybody,

In several videos lately I have had to apologise for black fingers, and this is why they where black.

I have been creating some painted bottles and the base layer was black paint and it would not wash off.

It was just an ordinary matt black wall paint that I used and it as not expensive.

I made some of these for my daughter as she really loved the look of them and three of them now sit on her shelves in her lounge.

I get my unusual shaped empty bottle from my grandsons restaurant  and then once they are washed and any label soaked off them I start.

I cover them with items of old clothing and glue and leave them to dry. So these are covered in old tights that is ruched around the bottle in random areas

Then I add the bits and pieces to them, anything I have in my stash, and once the glue is dry again I paint them black all over.

These have pearls, keys, gemstones, glass pebbles and metal pieces all stuck in place

Then comes the fun part and I have used

  Arteza Metallic Acrylic Paint 

and a dry brush to add the iridescent look

This is my favourite one and I have kept this one for myself.

I used a mould to create the faces for this and surrounded them with flowers.

It has been painted in Arteza Metallic Pearl Green,

Pearl Electric Blue, Pearl White for the highlights and Gold to catch the tops of the beads

The flowers have been skimmed with Pearl Royal Purple and a little glitter and then I dotted gemstones around the bottle.

They look super effective and are an inexpensive way to decorate your home and recycle at the same time.

If you would like me to do some videos of some of my new projects then let me know.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Arteza Coloured Tilda & Edwin

Hi Everybody,

Something a little more elaborate today but still using Arteza Water Colours in the 36 Half Pan set.

The stamp is very old and I have masked it to place the trees around the couple.

I have tried to find a link to this stamp from Magnolia Stamps without success so it has probably been discontinued by now.

I used a white gel pen to add pattern to their clothes ... spots for her and stripes for him.

The tiny snowballs have been added with dots of  Dries Clear Glue and they are from AnnaMarie Designs

They are very tiny and fly away  and there are loads in a pot, so use a tray to catch them all if you use them, and they will last you a long time.

The sentiment is snipped from the new die from Card Making Magic and added to a snowflake covered with silver gilding flakes.

I have edged it all with a black Arteza fine liner to make them black stand out again, as it became a bit lost in the process of colouring

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Arteza 36 Half Pan Set Water Colours

Hi Everybody,

Today I am adding a video to share with you the beautiful water colours from Arteza that I have so been enjoying over the last few days.

This card I have created using the Spring/Summer Stamp & Die Set from

 Card Making Magic

With the card to the right I have created a background that is bright and vibrant and for the other I show you how in the video

I am adding the links at the bottom of the post so that you can see what I have used.

 Arteza are offering you a 10% discount when you add ChristinaGriffiths 1. at the checkout

My collections are available at Craft Stash and they are offering you a 20% discount on your first order with them ... so savings all round.

Both companies are affiliate links which means a small payment for me, at no extra cost to you if you use the links

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Sketched Elephants with Arteza

Hi Everybody,

Here is another card coloured with Arteza Water Colours using the Sketched Elephants from Whimsy Stamps

The water colours are so easy to work with. They blend really well and the colours are beautiful.

I used the lid as my palette to mix some of my own shades and I am more than happy with the result.

I fell in love with these really cute little characters the first time I saw them  and they have other images in the set to decorate your card, as well as sentiments too.

I have so many stamps in my personal collection that I sometimes forget what I do have and so it is time to start going through them and putting them to good use again ... especially for children's cards

Don't forget that Arteza are offering you a 10% discount if you add the code Christina Griffiths1. at the checkout  until the 25th September. They are affiliate links which means I get paid a small commission if you buy through the links at no extra cost to you 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Arteza Water Colours

Hi Everybody,

A little while ago I was asked if I would like to try some new products from Arteza and of course I readily accepted.

I have heard only good things about the quality of these pencils that made me want to try them for myself.

So as soon as the box arrived I wanted to share it with you and start using them straight away.

The pretty rose card is the one made in the video using the water colour pencils and they are lovely to work with.

I will be using the real Brush Pens in another video coming soon and the links at the bottom of the page will take you to Artezas website 

Happy colouring 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx