On The Block...

...It would seem that I have become a smidge addicted to this paper blocking technique that I found HERE a couple of weeks ago. Yep, totally addicted. Mainly because it is collage, it uses my patterned papers that have been very neglected of late... and it just appeals to my inner control freak and I can add loads of layers and grungyness too.


This here piece is a 5" x 7" canvas board and I used some papers that have been nestling quietly amongst my paper stash... the Graphic 45 Hallowe'en in Wonderland pad. I have only used these a couple of times because I hated the thought of cutting into them... but time has come to be ruthless. I know I can't be the only person who buys papers and then is reluctant to cut into them... can I? Then I thinks "what's the point of having a stack of papers that I never use and will eventually be so old that I won't want to use them?" So. I cut them up! I used Cosmic Shimmer glue to stick the layers of paper to the board (tis the BEST glue) and then gave the whole thing a wash with watered down Traditional Tan paint (the BEST paint!) The darker lines around the edges of the blocks are done with a Stabilo All pencil (the BEST pencil!!) and I used a babywipe and my fingernail to smudge the lines up, you could use a charcoal pencil just the same though. Adding some texture to the piece is my fave bit, mixing DecoArt Texture Paste with Trad Tan paint and then smooshing through a Crafters Workshop stencil... love the effects that gives.




Another neglected crafty item in the Room of Stash is my Stampotique collection. I haven't had chance to play with these for a yonk and a half, so I inked up Heart Throb and coloured him with a waterbrush and some Distress Stains. The little Bat is from the Hallowe'en Cube, he is coloured with Pumice Stone and Bundled Sage DS. The sentiment, makes me LAUGH everytime.. makes me think about me in the morning, I am soooo not a morning person. Anyways... I you can see I didn't embellish the piece, not a single smidge of Idea-ology/metal/charms/beads etc... I am forcing myself to be "clean" and not layer so much stuff on.. not sure how long that will last but I will try... a bit lol All of the goodies used on this project are available at The Stamp Attic... take a trip over there to see the mahooosive range of Stampotique stamps that Wendy has in stock... HERE are the deets :O)) Ooh, and while I think of it... Wendy has been playing and has made an amazing tag... tis on her blog HERE... go and take a peek, tis LUSH!!!





I am feeling icky today so I shalln't stop and waffle (a tad of gastric flu has come to stay)... that there pic is (nabbed from Grim) the Olympic Torch passing by yesterday. Oh yes, two hours, in the pouring down rain... but it was worth it for the atmosphere alone.. all the schools in the area (ok, both schools lol) had all the little ones lining the route too and they were all cheering and making a racket which just added to the specialness of the occasion - oh and, we got a free bottle of Coke too from the sponsors vans that passed by just before the Torch (freebies... mmm hahaaha) Anyways, I should get a move on... as ever, thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x