Puzzled? - by Kim

 I had plans for Tando's Jigsaw Puzzle kit - I was going to use photographs and ephemera and antiquing techniques ... but it didn't happen as I hoped, so I did this instead.

First, I wanted to have some 3D effects in the jigsaw for added interest. I put the puzzle together then separated it in to four sections of five pieces. I glued the sections to thick cardboard to get varying thicknesses. One had no extra cardboard, the next 1 layer, the next 2 layers, and the last 3 layers.

The backboard would normally frame the puzzle, but I spread the sections out to the corners leaving a space in the middle. I marked this space on the backboard. 

My idea was to be looking through the puzzle to a dark forest scene behind, so I painted the visible area (no point painting the rest) with Lamp Black, Burnt Orange, and White in a scumbled, blended manner. Then I painted on the bare tree branches in Lamp Black, highlighted with Zinc grey where the light catches them.

The puzzle sections are painted to look like falling autumnal leaves. I set out Lamp Black, Burnt Orange, Tangerine, and Primary Yellow on my pallet and used a slip-slop technique to create the effect. I started with the lighter colours near the centre, getting darker towards the corners.

Before I stuck the sections to the backboard I painted the edges black, and accentuated the joins in the puzzle pieces with black, too.

As a super contrast I used a set of Tando's Leaf Branch, Cut Out Leaves. I cut each leaf from the branch with a craft knife (very carefully!). 

I painted the front with Indian Turquoise, and the edges with black. I arranged them on the project and when I was pleased with the layout I stuck them on.

A great autumnal and Halloween picture to get you started on spooky season. I hope you enjoyed the project. Let us know how you get on.

Thanks for dropping by!

Products:

Tando Creative Jigsaw Puzzle Kit

Tando Creative Cut Out Leaves

DecoArt Americana various colours

September colour theme - Brenda

Welcome. As the days grow shorter and the hot, sultry temperatures we've had this summer fade we start to see the signs of autumn appear. Our colour palette reminded me of those soft grey mornings with the dew on the grass and perhaps some light fog or low cloud. It was not only the colours but the depth and layers in the picture that caught my eye too .......

 ..... and this is what appeared.

For this project I used a Tando mdf tag,  Tando Thins Textures 1 and Mini Leaves 3 embellishments. I also used leaf and foliage stamps from my supplies. The colour is mostly DecoArt media acrylics with some archival and distress inks added in.

I also grunged up and added some natural elements to give a focal point.

If you'd like to see how this came about please pop over to Bumblebees and Butterflies where you will find the process steps and more photos.

I hope you enjoy our colour theme this week. 

Keep your eyes open for more fabulous projects being posted over the next few days.

hugs Brenda xxx

Anything Goes - Vintage Autumn

Hi, it's Brenda here today joining in with the 'Anything Goes' week with an autumn make using one of the long tags as the base and bits from other packs to embellish it. I used DecoArt products that sell in the shop too as they are my favorite 'go-to' paints and mediums, particularly the media line.

I have layered several elements and used different techniques on them, starting with the tag where I have dipped and dried watery washes of colours and stamped in paint.

The media board with the hole was painted with paint and white crackle paint then given a wash of cobalt turquoise.

I decided to use texture sand paste on the gasket and grunged it up to give it a more timeworn and aged look.

The leaves have been painted and dipped and dried....

.... and I used all the reds and orange to paint the brick grid.

I love the vintage style and added a photo booth picture to bring that look to the whole piece.

You'll see from the product list all the Tando elements I used and if you click on any of them you will be transported to the shop to see their details. Can you see the one I ended up not using?

Thanks for popping by and if you'd like to see the process steps in further detail and with more photos please join me at Bumblebees and Butterflies.

hugs Brenda xxx

Products

Long Tag

Rectangle Grids

Minis - Leaves 3

Camera Grab Bag

Mammoth Mechanical substrates kit

Leaf Flourish

Industrial Elements bolts/washers sheet

Autumn Colors Canvas

Hey there Tando Fans!!!  It's Kerri here with a great little project share using some great Tando goodies!!! 

This is a 5"x7" canvas board.  I used my Shimmerz Texturez, Meri-Gold Digger and Artie-Choked, to create the background along with the Tando Mask - Oblong Square Long.  The Owl was colored with Faber-Castell Big Brush Markers and then I put two layers of clear UTEE over it.  The green leaf at the bottom was colored with two layers of spruce green UTEE, the other leaf was colored with copper Viva Decor Ink Gold.  The chipboard letters are from The Paper Studio and I painted them with red acrylic paint and then coated them with red poppy UTEE.  (Painting them before coating them with UTEE definitely makes a difference.)

If you have any questions or want to see any techniques just ask and I can do a tutorial for you :)

Here are pictures of and links to the Tando Products that I used:

Tando Mask - Oblong Square Long

Tando Mini's - Leaves 1

Tando Mini's - Owls

I hope you enjoyed my project and that I have inspired you all to buy some awesome Tando Goodies over at their retail store :)

Happy Crafting!!

Autumn Colours - Little Canvas

I've had a little pack of hardboard canvases forever and a day and I finally cracked open the packaging and worked with one!

Apples are from my tree!

To tie in with this weeks theme of Autumn Colours I thought Kaz Boughton's mask - Tree and Leaves  would create the ideal scene for showcasing those glorious autumnal colours.

Tree and Leaves

I used Distress Ink to colour the main parts of the design and then used some Viva Decor 3D Glitter Gel to create some 3d effects for the leaves and apples.

 

Autumn is my very favourite season, I love all the colours in nature at this time of year, don't you?!

Caroline ♥

Autumn Colours: Animal Attraction by Katy Leitch

Autumnal colours are my absolute favourite to work with - I love natural shades and kraft card, which is perfect for this time of year!

After stamping a woodgrain background onto my tag, I used the Tall Leaves chipboard shapes as a mask and sprayed over them with various ink sprays in warm tones. After spritzing I worked some Distress Ink in Scattered Straw over the leaf shapes to blend them in a little.

I painted the squirrels (from Squirrel Woodland) with Frayed Burlap Distress Paint and edged them with a little touch of darker ink. The card is finished with a die cut heart, letter stickers and twine.

I hope you like my quirky card!
Katy x

Products used:

Squirrel Woodland

Tall Leaves

Autumn - Tea Bag Tags

 

Hi Tando fans!  Dana here today sharing a fun autumn-themed project.  I'm looking forward to the cooler weather and drinking more tea.  I have quite a few tea bags without tags and I always burn my fingers trying to pull them out of my cup.  I thought I would try to remedy that problem and create some tea bag tags.  These leaves were a great size for this project and the design was perfect for looping some thread through the chipboard to attach to my tea bags.

 



I colored the leaves with embossing power and topped them with a coat of crackle paint.  These tea bag tags were quick and easy to assemble and would make a great gift for your favorite tea lover.  If you'd like to pick up a set of these leaves, you can find them HERE.

Thanks for stopping by today!