A Little Birdie House- Fiona Randall

 Happy Coronation Monday everyone.

 I am stopping by to bring you a little quick and easy project using a little wooden Bird House

This is the completed project.

The Tiny Birdhouse in it's undecorated state.

I started by giving the birdhouse a coat of DecoArt Media Tinting Base and dried with a heat tool.

I then gave the roof, base and the peg for the bird to sit on a coat of DecoArt Chalky Finish in Honour.

This is a wonderful dark Navy Blue Colour. 

I then gave the roof a coat of DecoArt Crackle for chalky finish paints. 

I then dried with a heat tool keeping it moving until the crackle had dried clear.

 I then applied with a sponge DecoArt Chalky finish in Everlasting. By dabbing the paint on with a sponge you will not over work and remove the crackle medium as you would with a brush.

 I find this method more forgiving and gives a much more even finish with the added bonus of no brushstrokes. I then dried with a heat tool until the cracks appeared.

I then applied washi tape from my stash which just happened to be the right width all around the walls of the birdhouse as shown. 

also washi tape was applied to the edge of the base as shown. I had a little pedestal to display the bird house on  which was already painted painted white.

To finish I fussy cut a little bird from my stash of Ephemera and attached to the birdhouse using 3d foam tape.

 I also stamped a little chocolate Baroque butterfly and glued at a jaunty angle to the roof.

A Fun, Quick and easy little project that has a vintage feel to it.

Products Used.

Tiny Wooden Birdhouse

DecoArt Chalky Finish- Everlasting

DecoArt Chalky Finish- Honour

DecoArt Crackle Medium for Chalky Finish

DecoArt Media Line White Tinting Base

Chocolate Baroque Stamps- Just Butterflies

Washi Tape and Bird Ephemera from my own stash

Colour Inspiration - January 23

 

Happy new year, folks!

Here's a quick and easy tag using our Inspiration colours for January. I don't have the exact colours so I used:

Jo Sonja's Aqua for #14A098

DecoArt's Media Fluid Acrylic Medium Grey Value 6 for #CCCCCC

DecoArt's Americana Carousel Pink with a touch of True Red for #CB2D6F

DecoArt's Americana Dioxazine Purple with a touch of Primary Blue for #501F3A

DecoArt's Americana Lamp Black for #0F292F

(I also snuck in tiny strokes of Titanium White for highlights.)

I used a 74x138 Tando Creative Mixed Media Board, with a couple of coats of white gesso to keep the colours bright.

I applied a good layer of pink to the lower end of the tag then, while it was wet, applied Aqua to the upper end and blended the two in the middle section. 

Once it was dry the colours on my pallet were starting to dry, too, so I used a firm bristle brush to dab the thick pink along the lower part of the tag. I did the same with the Aqua to the upper part, but dated with my finger. This gave a textured look.

When dry I used the scroll stencil from the Tando Creative Background and Flourish Stencils set and sponged the purple over the background. I used a fine liner brush to add the grey flourishes (with a little white as highlights!)

I edged the tag in black, added some rustic string - and finished.

You could use a flower stencil, or may be stamp a sentiment across the background.

Book binder cover A6 - 451F by Kim

Book paper ignites at 451 degrees Fahrenheit - apparently. 

This A6 was designed as a cover for a purchased notebook.

I reached for my ultra sharp X-acto craft knife - I was going to do some serious damage this time! 

I took the A6 front cover, and with the craft knife cut grooves and notches in the surface and top edge. These were the bits that will end up as charred wood. Make sure the design is random and varied - no two pieces should be the same. Once I was happy with the shapes I base coated the front and back covers with DecoArt Lamp Black, inside and out.

To get the wood effect I first dry brushed Burnt Umber, halfway up the front, and all over the back - don't divide into planks yet, cover the whole area.

On top of that I dry brushed Burnt Orange to add texture and vary the surface, with a light dust of Oyster Beige in places, and to highlight the 'charred' bit at the top. I dry brushed some Lamp Black from the top to make sure it was really dark.

To add the 'planks' I painted in the detail with DecoArt Media Paynes Grey, adding splits, nail holes, and the gaps.

I wanted the spine to look like an old leather-bound book, so I found one (we have all sorts of stuff in our house!) and scanned the spine. I measured the binding spine in the kit and reduced the scanned image to fit, then printed it, and stuck it on.

 

The back, front, and spine were joined together with a hessian strip. When finished the cover fits perfectly an A6 notebook, which is how this one will be used.

As a nod to the book that influenced me, Ray Bradbury's 1953 novel, Fahrenheit 451, I added a wooden plaque to the front cover.

Thanks for visiting - where do you find your inspiration?

(Take extra care when using sharp craft knives)

Products:

Tando Creative Book Binding Cover (A6)

DecoArt Americana Colour

DecoArt Media Colour

Product Focus - Door hangers - by Kim

 How about these door hanging 'dog tags' for a quick Christmas (or any other time) present?

I've used Tando Creative's Door Hangers Style A, they are tough MDF hangers so should take any close attention the recipients should give them - well, for a while anyway.

I chose colours as near to the dogs' coats as I could remember. The background was a slip-slap combination of those colours. I checked on the internet for dog noses and used them as guides. Basecoated in black then added shiny highlights, first in grey then in white. Peggy's nose looked a little odd on its own so I added her tongue as well.

Lettering is in Burnt Umber and the hangers are edged in sponged on black.

And there we have a couple of quick presents for our furry friends. How about cat tags, or kids tags?

Kit Week - Large Whimsical Birds - by Kim

It's party season and Tando Creative's new Large Whimsical Birds are all dressed up and ready for a night in the barn!

I ventured in to unknown territory this time - no, not parties in a barn - decoupage! I rummaged through some old garden magazines and tore out lots pages with bright colours. I chose them for the colours, not necessarily the flowers. I stuck bits and pieces on the bird bodies to make pleasing combinations. Any magazine will do - just tear out colours and textures not whole pictures.

The legs got black and white stripy socks for contrast. I used DecoArt Fawn and Burnt Orange together on the wings to look a bit feathery.

I base coated the faces with Fawn, the large areas of the eyes with white, the centres with black. The eyelids are Fawn, the eyelashes are Black. 'Cheeky Bird' got a little blusher in a pale pink (Coral Shell with a dab of Calico Red) for her cheeks, and some Burnt Umber speckles. I also stuck the extra beak section on a bit skew-if so it looks like she is singing along to the music.

The feet and beaks are Primary Yellow. I lightly sponged some Burnt Orange on the feet to 'dirty them up'. For the shading on the beaks I used DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics, slightly watered down, first Diarylide Yellow then Cadmium Orange Hue. 

The background is Titanium White with Zinc blended up from the bottom in wispy strokes to give the impression of feathers laying on the barn floor - all being kicked up as they dance the night away! Some pastel coloured 'strobe lights' are sponged through the bubbles from the new Background and Flourish Stencils.

I glued the wings and legs to the back of the body. Stick your Party Birds on the background and they are ready to display. Make sure you pose them in their dancing actions!

    

Products: 

Tando Creative Large Whimsical Birds Kit

DecoArt Americana Colours

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics

New Background and Flourish Stencils (Bubbles)

The World in a Matchbox - by Kim

Ever thought it would be nice to carry your whole world in a matchbox? Well, I’ve sort of done it by putting all the Oriental astrological elements in one box; fire, earth, metal, water, wood.

I’ve used, from Tando Creative, their Matchbox, Medium with inserts. It arrives flat packed but assembly is easy and straightforward. I used ordinary PVA to stick it together.

I decided that I would use four inserts and the cover would be the fifth element, and that would be a dramatic ‘metal’ finish. 

For the individual 'metal' plates I used pieces from Tando Offcuts. I chopped the edges randomly to to make them less than perfect, and more interesting, then glued them to the surface of the cover. (Be careful when using sharp blades!)

Base coat the entire cover - except the plates - with Lamp Black, including going inside by a brush width incase it is visible on the finished piece.

I painted two coats of DecoArt Venetian Gold on the plates so that it was well covered. Next I aged the edges by blending Quinacridone Gold Media Fluid Acrylic. Finally, I blended Paynes Grey Media Fluid Acrylic around the outside, to give more depth to the ageing.

Now to the inserts. I printed four pictures*, one for each of the remaining elements, and glued them on. I cut them slightly larger than the insert so that I could use coarse sandpaper to ‘blend’ the edges to fit.

To embellish the pictures I printed the Chinese characters and words. For the back of each card I used the element’s associated colour; earth - yellow, wood - green, fire - red, water - black,(metal is white) and a slip-slap graduated blend of DecoArt colours. A little gold wax rub-on round the edges finished it off.

Back to the cover. I added characters, words. and title to the outer. The inner tray was painted black outside and white inside. I stamped ‘I paint what I like’, added characters, and finished with ‘long life’.

(*Make sure you have permission to use the pictures)

Products used:

Tando Creative : Matchbox Medium with inserts

Tando Creative : Off cuts 50g

DecoArt Colours:

Venetian Gold Metalic acrylic paint

Lamp Black

Titanium White 

Media Acrylics:

Quinacridone Gold and Paynes Grey

Various colours of your choice for the backs

Also:

Gold rub-on wax

Pictures as appropriate 

Rubber stamps with Chinese characters

Deep Book in a Box - by Kim

The Book of Shadows

This is an interesting shape, and I instantly imagined it as a wooden box, wrapped in antique leather to look like a mysterious old book.

First, assemble and glue the box ensuring a good fit with the pieces. Allow to dry thoroughly.

The curly trim is small butterflies cut in half lengthways and glued. Any decorative trim will do. The title rectangles on the book spine are Tando off cuts.

Faux Leather outside

I only added ‘leather’ to the flaps and spines and avoided the expanded hinges. You will need thin tissue paper, I used the sort that is used for wrapping, and ordinary PVA.

Cut a piece of tissue slightly bigger that the panel you are covering. Use a brush to spread a good coat of PVA over the panel - avoiding the hinge. 

While the PVA is wet lay on the tissue - make sure it is wrinkled by moving it slightly with your fingers before the glue dries. With the glue brush make sure it is stuck down all round the edges, and tucked up to the curly trim.

Repeat for each panel. Don’t worry if you make little tears in the tissue, they won’t show when it is finished.

Let it dry - overnight is good.

Trim the excess tissue with a sharp knife and tidy the edges.

Base coat the entire outside with Lamp Black. Let dry.

Mix True Red with a little Lamp Black to get a dark maroony-red. Start with 5:1 and adjust to taste. The black is stronger so add the black to the red little by little. With the mix, using a fairly dry brush, paint over the black but leave random spaces so that you get a textured/weathered look. Let dry.

To bring out the texture I used Duncan Iced Espresso and Champagne Ice Metallic Lustres. The lustre is on the trim, too.

Base coat the inside of the cover with black.

Faux Wood box

I tried to match my ‘planks’ with a pine table at home. Start with a yellowish-beige base. I mixed Yellow Ochre with some Burnt Umber. It doesn’t matter if it goes on a bit patchy because natural wood isn’t perfect.

When you are happy with the base coat - and it is dry - use Burnt Umber to paint on the wood grain. Add some small black marks to the grain for added realism.

Copy what you see on a piece of wood you have - a table, worktop, or chair. Practice on a spare surface to get the look you want. If you don’t like what you see, paint over it and start again.

Book covers

I found some super hand made Gelli plate printed background papers, by Julie. I cut them larger than the size needed and glued them on with PVA. When dry I used a flexible sanding block to remove the excess - by sanding the edge to give a ‘blended’ feel. I finished the edges with Metallic Lustres. The expanded hinges were not covered, but I did wipe on some lustre. On the spines of the small covers I painted black, and when dry used gold ink and a dip pen to write the titles. I did the same on offcuts glued to the larger covers. Inside the book covers are painted black.

I opened only two of the holes on the outer flap after covering with tissue, and use a length of gold leather decorative thonging to hold it closed.

Items Used:

Tando offcuts

Two small butterflies or similar for trim

Tissue paper

Background papers of your choice

DecoArt Metalic Lustre - Iced Espresso/ Champagne Ice

DecoArt acrylic colours as described 

Woo! Halloween - by Kim

 Well, what a time to be creating my first piece for Tando Creative! Halloween!

The Gothic Arch with all its natural spookiness was an ideal place to start. I removed all the cut out panels and set them aside. To enhance its 3D-ness I staggered the layers to give it that down-in-the-dungeons look. Each layer was about 5mm higher than the one before. (My first idea was to make stones around the arch - hence the lines - they were not used)

I decided that every decent dungeon has a door, so I used one of the cutouts. To make the planks of the door I started from the centre line and measured 10mm spaces and marked pencil lines. Using the edge of a ruler I ran a small embossing stylus along the pencil line until I was happy with the line.

This was the time that I marked and cut out the coffin shaped window using a sharp craft knife - BE CAREFUL if you intend to do a window as the greyboard is tough and not easy to cut and craft knives are very sharp - this bit is not important and can be left out if you are not confident.

Next, I painted everything black and let it dry while I prepared the bits for inside.

From the Minis Halloween Mix pack I used the eyes from the pumpkins. while they were still in the frame (because they are easier to hold) I painted them with yellow then added a little Scarlet red to make them a little fierce. 

From the same pack I took the spider webs and painted them white. One I cut to fit the curve of the arch and the other was glued across the window in the door.

One of the small bats was painted black and lightly edged in white, with dotty eyes in Scarlet.

From Tando Creative Spiders Grab Bag I took the small spider, base coated in black, a little Burnt Orange over the top and some dots to make her pretty. 

 Before I glued the pieces in I painted the inside of the arches by lightly dry brushing, first Burnt Umber, then Burnt Orange.

The spooky mist is from a cotton face pad.

I then turned my attention to the outside. I needed to add a hinge to the door, this had to be done before the finishings. I used a strip of brown packing tape, but painters masking tape would work.

To hide the tape I applied Texture Sand Paste to the door frame (which is why I didn’t need the lines from earlier). This made a super, rocky surround. Make sure it is thoroughly dry before you carry on.

I re-basecoated the frame and hinge on the door with black before lightly brushing the frame texture with Burnt Umber, Burnt Orange, then very lightly with True Ochre.

I added nails to the door with Liquid Glass - these take quite a while to dry, too. But make sure they are properly cured before you continue.

I found a small key in my ephemera stash, drilled a tiny hole and glued it in. Then using True Ochre and Black Plum lightly dry brushed to texture the door, allowing the True Ochre to highlight the nails. 

I used a pumpkin from the Halloween Mix, painted in Tangerine with Scarlet stripes to finish the door.

Note: Before you glue on the door hinge, make sure the door fits the hole and opens easily because after it has been painted it might need adjusting! And don’t get bogged down with colours - whichever you have that is similar will do.)

I hope you are inspired to be spooky for Halloween!

I used these products:

Tando Creative:

    Gothic Arch

    Minis Halloween Mix

    Spiders Grab Bag

DecoArt Media:

    Texture Sand Paste

    Liquid Glass

DecoArt Colours as in the text

February Colour Week- Twinchie Plaque- Fiona Randall

Morning all Fiona here with a Twinchie Plaque for this months Colour Theme. 

I created a Mini Plaque from Tando Twinchies with a Tando Grey Board base to attach them too.

i used DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paints to base coat the Twinchie Squares choosing colours that tied in with the this months colour scheme. Stamping was then added  and inking around the edges.

A 6x6  base was the cut from a sheet of Tando Grey Board. The twinchie squares were then adhered into place on the base to create a tiled effect. I kept the layered Butterfly simple in monochromatic black and white with a bit of stamping for the focal point.

A quick and easy project which came together in no time at all.

Thanks for stopping by today

Stay Safe

Hugs Fiona.

Products Used.

Tando Twinchies

Tando Grey Board Sheets

Butterfly Panel

DecoArt Americana Acrylics in

Spiced Pumpkin, Tangerine, Citron Green, Hauser Medium Green, Snow (Titanium White) and Lamp ( ebony) black.

Other Products

Paper Artsy Stamps by

 Tracy Scott sets:- 034, 044 and 045

Anything Goes- Wall Art- Fiona Randall

 

 

 

 

Morning Fiona here with my contribution for this weeks theme- ANYTHING GOES-

 

I have had this kit in my stash for awhile now and thought it was about time to finally complete it to hang in my Kitchen. As many who know me all know, I have a bit of a thing for Butterflies and use them in my projects at every opportunity LOL..

So these new Butterflies that Di showcased on her Hochanda show yesterday have also made an appearance here too.

 

 

 

I love how this project turned out.

Do stop by the rest of the week to see what the other DT members have in store for you.

Thanks for stopping by today

Stay Safe

Fiona.

 

Products Used.

 

 

Kitchen Wall Art Kit. ( Discontinued)

 

Butterfly Panel.

 

Andy Skinner Rice Paper- Vintage by Creative Expressions.

 

 

 

 

DecoArt Chalky Finish- Relic and Everlasting

 

DecoArt Crackle Medium for Chalk Paint

 

DecoArt Premium Acrylic- Gold

 

DecoArt Media Antiquing Cream- Patina

 

Other Products

 

Word Chips

 

Twine

 

 

 

 

 



 



Texture Week - by Nikki K

Morning all,

It's Texture week this week, and my turn to make a project today.  I hope you've enjoyed the rest of the team's posts this week, and if you haven't seen them, please check them out on the blog, we really appreciate your visit. x

I started by taking one of the fab layered Tags by Fiona for Tando, and putting a thin coat of Texture Sand paste on the bottom layer.  I wanted this to create texture later.

I glued the tags together, and painted the whole tag in black.  Then colours were sponged on to give a galaxy effect, I used Cobalt Blue, Magenta, Cobalt Teal, Dioxazine Purple and White.  For both of these processes I used a sponge to give the paint effect more texture.

The whole tag was then splattered, with white, to give the appearance of stars.

For the aperture's, I mixed Triple Thick Glaze, with a little transparent yellow iron oxide, and put a thin layer in each aperture, so that the texture still showed as lumpy through it.  I didn't want a flat glazed look.

The little bits of black in the moon and stars are from the sponge painting, I like that they show through and give depth.

I love the glazed effect, and you can add any colour paint in a tiny amount to Triple Thick Glaze for it to take on a whole different look.

Hope you enjoyed this today.

Best Wishes,

Nikki

Products Used:
Tando Creative
Layered Tags Bundle 2

DecoArt Paints:
Media Line: Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide, Cobalt Blue, Cobalt Teal Hue, Titanium White, Dioxazine Purple, Primary Magenta.
Texture Sand Paste
Triple Thick Glaze

Other products:
Andy Skinner's Quick Grab Glue

Texture Week- Fiona Randall

 

 

Morning All'

 

It's the start of a new week here on the Tando Blog and this week it's all about the Texture.

 

So to Kick things off here is a little something from me.

 

 

I created a layered textured panel using my go to Tando Grey Board sheets and my Layered Tags from Tando and of course lots of lovely texture to boot.

I added the moths from the new Pink Ink stamps and Dies sets, the texture on the tag from DecoArt Modelling paste through a Tando Mini Brick Stencil. The base panel had texture from DecoArt Texture Sand paste. All bought together with DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics to add a pop of colour. To finish Journaling words were added.

 

Do check back this week to see what the other team members have in store for you.

we really appreciate you stopping by.

 

Fiona.

 

 

Products used.

 

 

 

Tando Grey Board Sheets

 

Layered Tags Set 1 by Fiona Randall

 

Tando Mini Stencil- Brick

 

 

 

DecoArt Media Modelling Paste- White

 

DecoArt Media Texture Sand Paste

 

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics- Primary Magenta, Primary Yellow, Carbon Black, Titanium White, Medium Grey Value 3.

 

Other supplies.

 

Pin Ink Designs- Moth Stamp and Die Set.

Ranger Archival Ink Pad- Black.

 







Paints, Inks and Sprays with Lisa

Hello lovelies, Lisa here and welcome to the Tando blog!! This is my first Tando post of 2020!!! 

This weeks theme is "paints, inks and sprays". These are great base products for creating mixed media pieces.

Products I used...

Tando: tag; extra thins - rectangles

DecoArt Premium Acrylic paints: Cobalt Teal; Titan Buff;

DecoArt Media: white gesso

DecoArt Media Misters: white shimmer; turquoise shimmer

Stamp/s: Imperial Rover Bike - Andy Skinner 

Thanks for popping by...

My Blog... www.thecraftaragestudio.blogspot.co.uk