Time... For Something Totally Different...

...So... I have been looking at those Octopode Factory designs, digi-stamps and rubber stamps for a while now and have gazed longingly at them... but... I haven't taken the plunge because, to be totally honest, I really didn't think that "my style" would suit them. And then... Lily Chilvers, who is the so very clever and incredibly talented lass that lives in the Octopode Factory and draws her Octopode friends, contacted me and said... "would you like to be a Guest Designer on my Friday challenge?"


So... after thinking about this for a few seconds I thought to myself... why not! And why not indeedily because I am incredibly honoured and ever so chuffed to have been asked to be part of Lily's world. So... I went onto The Octopode Factory Etsy shop and gathered a few digi-stamps and armed with the challenge theme which is TIME, I got stuck right in to making this canvas, which is loaded with Colorwash Sprays and paint and other goodies! I will say this though... I want it to be known that I have found inspiration in Kate Crane and Sue Roddis's work... and have used this inspiration on this canvas. Credit where it is due and all of that :O))



Right, the canvas is 8" square and after priming with Gesso I gave it a quick coat of watered down Trad Tan paint, being rough with the brush strokes so there is a bit of texture in there too. I used a variety of Colorwash Sprays to achieve the background... namely Sail Boat Blue, Wild Plum, Lettuce and Meadow and then mixed Sunset Orange with some Gesso and splodged this along the top of the canvas to create some streaky bits... because I knew I was using the Melting Clock and thought that they would blend well together.



The words are created in Word and printed onto copy paper which was lightly coloured with Pumice Stone DI and then stuck to the canvas and drawn around with a soft pencil... which I then roughly went over with a Ranger White Pen to lighten up the lines a bit. The lines and circles on the canvas are made from Black Dabber and Gesso with bottle tops and a paint scraper.



I printed off the Digi-stamps... hey, this is a first because I have never used a digi-stamp before and I admit to being a bit of a wuss because I am rubbish at computerly doings... but I managed!!! The images were all cut out and then coloured with either Distress Ink or Stains and a waterbrush. I used some old watch bits to decorate the canvas and also the eyes of the Octopodes and popped a cool Optical Lens that Annette kindly sent to me. Finally, I didn't like the messy look on the sides of the canvas, so it had two coats of Gesso and then I painted black lines onto it so it is a black 'n white stripey look... which I have to say... I lurve... black and white, my fave colour combo lol


So, there you go... a first for me that I used digi-stamps (and yes, I LOVE them!!!) and also using the inkyness direct onto canvas, normally I would do it onto paper and then stick the paper to the canvas... am getting daring in my old age... Please do hop on over to see Lily and her Octopode pals... all the deets are HERE. Thanks for looking... TTFN Hels x