Tag cards

Just a quick update on some cards I made recently.

I used some tags to mop up some inks I was using and left them to the side until inspiration hit me!  Well, a few weeks later I suddenly remembered I had some purple flowers so decided to add them with a sentiment to the tags.  They then sat there for a few more days until inspiration struck again and managed to get 3 cards out of one sheet of backing paper so happy with that.

Slowly but surely I am getting through some of my older stash, seriously, it always amazes me how much I have!

kyla

Page Park Tag

 I decided to explore a different area of Bristol recently, Staple Hill is an area I drive through but don't often stop so decided to hop on the bus and explore.  

Lots of local independent shops and charity shops and a great library too.

There is also a great park with a cafe in the middle, which to my surprise did a good selection of vegan food, as it was lunch time I thought it was a perfect time to stop and sample their wares, and very nice too.

Whilst I was sat there I decided to sketch a tag.  I often have a couple tags and pens in my pocket so it seemed like a perfect opportunity.

I only had a white posca and a grey pen so thought I would doodle some leaves and the word "Respect"

I left it on the table for someone else to find it.

Happy crafting

Kyla

Abandoned Tag

For a couple of years now I have been taking part in Art Abandonment and Free Art Friday. 

 The idea is you make some art and abandon it somewhere, leaving your details on the back so they can contact to register a find (if they wish), usually via the Art Abandonment or Free Art Friday facebook groups

Some people leave sculptures, painting, pebbles, canvass, jewelry all different things. 

I like to travel light so have a few tags and a couple pens in my bag or coat pocket so tend to sketch on the fly.  This is my tag I left in my favourite cafe in Cardiff the other week, Atma, a Buddhist Cafe that makes lovely food and a great atmosphere.

No idea if anyone has found it, hopefully if they did they will contact the group on FB as it is always nice to hear from someone who found them.

I like the idea of this as it forces me to take 10 mins out of the daily grind to sketch, which tends to be totally self absorbing whilst you are doing it and if it brings a smile to someone else then even better.

Happy crafting 

Kyla

Inktober 2018 part 5

My last and final update for Inktober 2018.

This is the 2nd year I have used tags as the surface and I think I will use them again.  

They work really well as I can slip one in my phone case and a pen in my pocket and travel nice and light and sketch on the go.

I am pleased I managed to do the whole month (just took me ages to upload the photos!) and looking forward to next years.  Now just to decide what to do for my next challenge!

Happy crafting

Kyla

Inktober 2018 Part 4

 Hello peeps, this is my next Inktober 2018 update.  I used the theme of "Nature" for the whole month and the prompts from artist and founder Jake Parker. 

 For full details and future Inktobers see here

One more update for the final few tags to follow shortly

Kyla

Inktober 2018 part 2

 This is the next part of my Inktober 2018 update.  I am still trying to stick to my theme of nature and using the prompts from the Inktober website.

 I thought de-forestation would be appropriate for the prompt "cruel"

 Self explanatory!

 I have always thought of Owls as guardians of the countryside for some reason, maybe because of the wise old owl thought.

 Wasn't too impressed with my dandelion clock.  But I decided to not re-draw any as they are meant to be quick (only a few minutes a day) sketches and give me space to learn new techniques and skills.

 For weak I looked to my garden and the small weak seedlings that become strong with the right conditions-much like ourselves!

 Angular made me think of the monkey puzzle tree I used to walk past when I was about 5 years old in a neighbours garden-always amused me by its shape (and of course at that age the belief that monkeys really did live in there!)

and a puffer fish seemed like the obvious choice for this prompt!

I have made a few more since these but I need to upload the next lot of photos and I hope to blog them in the next week or so.

I love Inktober, it is such a great idea and takes me only 5-10 mins a day MAX and I end up learning so much more about my style and technical ability as well as what does and does NOT work for me!

Happy inking

Kyla

 

Malta Art abandonment

This was a Free Art Friday and Art Abandonment tag I sketched whilst having a drink in a new local bar (LVB, great new place) in Valletta, Malta recently.

Only had one of my black ink pens with me during the evening and a blank tag but it seemed a perfect opportunity to have a doodle whilst having a drink.

I left it on the table (there is a brief explanation about it on the back of the tag, explaining they can take it, leave it or pass it on or even register a find on the facebook group) for someone to find.

Just in case your interested the drink was a fabulous non alcoholic mocktail that LVB make, a plum and rosemary "lemonade"-delicious.

This was another tag I sketched, in another bar (Gugar, a fabulous vegan/alternative late night bar where they play a great selection of music off the internet, including when we were there a mate from the UK's band!!).

When we went back a couple days later we spotted it had been pegged to the wall along with other art people have sketched whilst there (its that sort of place-LOVE it there).

Kyla

Abandoned Art

So the pay the bills job has been somewhat hectic the past few months meaning that there has been very little time for me, friends or crafting.  

Crafting for me (since I discovered it when I was about 7 years old) allows me some 'down time' mentally and physically and is crucial to my well being (it is as important to me as exercise and meditation).  This has meant I have had to learn how to snatch little pleasures where I can and art abandonment fits this perfectly.

I recently spent 10 mins during a break making a quick sketch on a tag that I used to mop up some paint from a previous project then abandon it for someone else to find.

This watercolour and ink was a quick sketch of some tulips and I abandoned it at the park in Sidmouth, Devon opposite the Sir John Betjemen plaque.

I always leave the details of the Art Abandonment group of Facebook but have never heard from anyone who has found one of my pieces (which is fine as the point is to set them free and not expect a response) but I do hope that they bring a smile to someones face.

Happy crafting

Kyla

Art Abandonment and Free Art Friday

There are a group of artists I belong to (search groups on FB for details) 'Art Abandonment' and 'Free Art Friday'.  Both groups abandon art (one of Fridays the other whenever you fancy) across the globe for no reason other that the love of it.

Last weekend I did a quick sketch of a robot on a tag (it helps fill the time when I am on a train) and decided to abandon it in London between Carnaby Street and Soho.

I have abandoned many items over the past few years, from postcards, drawings, paintings, painted rocks and tags, I have never heard back from anyone who has found one (the artabandonment group have a contact I attach to them) but I hope those who found them and chose to pick them up like them and enjoyed the small random act of kindness.

Have you taken part in these before, I'd love to hear about it if you have. 

Happy crafting

Kyla

 

Christmas tags abandoned

Hello, just a quick update (I will do a full update later in the week).

I have still be doing my art abandonment and free art friday drops whilst I have been offline.

This is a tag I quickly sketched on a recent walk and tea break at a local cafe (they have a tardis as a toilet where I set my tag free!).

 Then on another walk (and another cuppa-do you see the theme!) I sketched some Krampus tags!

and abandoned them around town!

That's it from me, just a quick update.  I hope you all had a great festive period.

Kyla

Routine and Inktober

On boxing day I decided to try to do a daily walk.  Each day I walk, sometimes only short (I have Rheumatoid Arthritis so if I am in flare then movement is difficult) other days longer.  Sometimes it is at lunchtimes, others after work or even around the hospital grounds during my appointments.  I have managed one most days this year and I feel it has done me the world of good.  Routine based around something for ME is a new concept so I decided to add to this by taking part in Inktober. 

Inktober was started in 2009 by Jake Parker.

The idea is that you draw, in ink, every day for the month of October.

Full details can be found on his website here

I decided that I would do a quick sketch (no longer than two minutes-that way I had a chance to do one everyday) of a robot on a tag (they are all held together on a ring so take up very little room in my handbag).

There is a published list of prompts in case you run out of ideas and I have decided to use these prompts to make my life easier.

These are some of my tags that I have already drawn. 

 Each day I post my latest one on my instagram page here

Very simple but a daily sketch has forced my hand to do something I haven't tried before and I am enjoying doing it.

Do you have any routines you enjoy doing, just for the sake of it?

Kyla

WOYWW

Hello peeps, it is Wednesday again so time to share our Workdesks.

On mine this week I am preparing more small pieces for Free Art Friday and Art Abandonment.

I am making some tags with my carved face and "Good Times" stamped underneath and yet more of my devil stamp with "Smile" stamped on the side.

I am also in the process of making some more watercolour postcards with my Dignity and Tolerance 'country'.

So, why not show us yours?  Pop over to the Queen of Desks, the lovely Julia (link over on the right) and link up.

Happy crafting

Kyla

Free art around Bristol

 As part of the "Art Abandonment" project (search for it on Facebook if you fancy finding out more) I have abandoned some more pieces, this time across my home city of Bristol.

Bristol is an amazing city.  I have lived here for about 14 years and it is a vibrant city full of art (we have many galleries, art schools, the largest street art festival in Europe) and social enterprise (from an old police station turned into art studios through to state of the art digital centre and start ups, Aardmen Animation studio and we are also a cycling city) so I am hoping my abandonments go down well.

 This piece was one of my watercolour postcards, as shown in a previous post, based on a country/state with words such as "Respect", "Hope" and "Tolerance" which I abandoned at the Folk House cafe,  A fabulous cafe and centre that runs art and music courses.

 This tag (also mentioned previously, is made from a stamp I carved) with the words "Imperfection is Beauty" was left outside Forbidden Plant (a graphic novel store-which I may have popped into a made a new graphic novel purchase!)

 This one was on the bridge in the harbour-lots of lovers walk over the bridge and place padlocks on the sides so I thought it would be a great place to leave a piece.

and the final one was on Park Street on the approach to the museum just outside Cass Art and down from the Design Guild.

I hope if someone finds them they will contact the facebook group (there is also a generic gmail address on the labels) but I haven't had any reports to date of any 'finds' for any of the drops I have made over the summer, so I don't expect I will-but the art of creating and releasing is fun and something I think I will continue to do.

Happy crafting

Kyla

 

WOYWW

Another What's on Your Work Desk Wednesday where we bare all (desks that it). Some messy, some tidy (they freak me out a bit!) and some with gorgeous storage (can you guess which one I fit into?).

 So on my messy desk this week: In the middle (slightly hidden) is a box I am doing up as a present for my friend and fellow crafting coven member.  Bex and her hubby are leaving the UK to live in France, we will all miss them but the Coven will especially miss Bex.  On top of the box is the card I am making for her (all will be revealed when I am sure they have opened them!).

The rest are supplies for a few Halloween tags for the WOYWW crop at the end of the month (I only plan on making about 4 or so as I know my time is limited over the coming weeks).

My "Man Bites Dog" cards are 'Actor Weds Fake Priest'.....ooh, I wonder if this will be in the headlines this week?

Happy crafting

Kyla

 

Twofer

A twofer, two cards for the price of one (well sort of).

The backing paper was a 12x12 sheet that I no longer needed so decided to use it for cards.

The card on the left has bakers twine, a couple of tags that I stamped Mr and Mrs on and added a small gemstone on each.

I added some lace to the bottom of the card, and there you have it a wedding card!

The card on the right has a repurposed black felt coaster cut up and a stamped sentiment which I matted and layered.  Sympathy cards are difficult to make so I was pleased I was able to make this one.  It was also timely as not only did we find out fellow WOYWWers Janet sadly died recently but also my cousin, only  2 yrs older than me died suddenly 2 weeks ago so I was able to send this to my Uncle.

Kyla

 

Crash, bang, whallop and a fairy appeared

The other day a box fell off a shelf in my craft room (I say fell, to be honest it was more of a case of me being impatient and trying to reach for something underneath the box rather than lifting it up and safely retrieving I just pulled it out and hoped the box would stay put!  It didn't!).

The box revealed some old papers and embellishments that I forgot I had!  Now, surely I cannot be the only one who has forgotten more craft stash than I can remember?

I think these Flower Fairy tags came free with a magazine many years ago (more years than I would like to remember or own up to!) and every now and again I chance upon them and use a few before putting them away for  another year or so!

As the gardens are bursting with Spring colour at the moment I felt it was time to use the lilac flower fairy.

I added some green stickles to the backing paper to just add a small amount of bling.  I like stickles as they are not TOO glittery and tend to be self levelling so I don't need to be too neat.

I put the rest of the stash away, safe in the knowledge that although I have used a very small amount up, I have used up some old stash so that can only be a good thing.

 Happy crafting

Kyla

 

Knitting needles and brag books

Hello peeps, so here we go again with another roundup of some of the Christmas presents I made this year (looking back I didn't realise I had made SO many!).

This photo isn't brilliant, but its a knitting needle roll that I made my mum.  Its made out of quite heavy upholstery fabric so that it should withstand needles being poked in and hopefully stand up to quite a bit of abuse.

 This is a brag tag book for my Nan in NZ.  Its a chipboard tag mini photo album that my Nan can keep in her handbag and contains recent photos of me, my hubby, brother and his wife too.  The fern leaves are made out of air drying lightweight clay with a Martha Stewart (I think) mould and coloured with Dylusion sprays.

The letters are cut from a cereal box, coloured, glittered and then glossy accents to finish them and make them shine.

 

For family I also made a few more fabric covered notebooks

 

 and another quilted one (these really are a pain to make though as they take me SO long!)

I have more books to cover during 2015 but at the moment I cannot bring myself to make any more as, I think I need to concentrate on another craft for a while!

Happy crafting

Kyla

 

A fabulous tag book from Felix the crafty cat

 Hello, I just had to blog about what the postie brought me, no not bills (well there were, but they don't count) but this rather marvellous creation.

As part of a blogaversy Angela over at Felix the crafty cat was doing a giveaway of one of her tag books...and I won!!

 Look at how lovely it is....I think the basis is made with cardboard tubes (kitchen roll or loo roll inners maybe?) and tons of lovely stamping and embellishments.

 Even a vellum page for some added texture

 I think this is my favourite saying

It's lovely isn't it?  I have been toying over the past two or three years with buying a wire bind it all machine and this may have just tipped me over the edge!!

Thanks Angela, its lovely.  

Kyla

 

Left over metal, ribbon and paper and viola!

Hello everyone I hope you are all well.  

Its getting really chilly here in the UK, proper scraping of the car windscreen time!!

When its chilly outside I don't feel as guilty about squirrelling myself away in my craft room (the smallest room in the house and therefore the warmest!!).

A friend is 50 in a couple of weeks so I thought I would make her a special card. 

The card is stamped in versamark to create the watermark effect and I used similar pieces from my scraps box (seriously...HOW does that box hold this much?!) to stamp the saying and mount it.  I used fabric dyes to dye a tag and then using my tiny attacher to staple some leftover ribbon (it was really thick ribbon, but only a couple of inches long, so I cut in half along the length so it fitted through the hole in the tag easier).  

Ferreting around in my box I also found a third of a metal tube (I know, I literally chuck everything in this box, leftover fabric scraps, off cuts of paper...basically anything too small to put away...but as we know a lot of us crafters are hoarders, so I CANNOT chuck out something that can be used again....those of you who know me from WOYWW crops will know I am the one who actually went through the bins on everyones desk...well, other peoples rubbish is SO much more interesting!!).

With this tube I flattened it out and dyed it with alcohol inks before die cutting leaves out of it.

There you have it, a card for next to nothing (shh...don't tell the recipient it was so cheap!!).

I am entering this in the playground at the snippets challenge here

Why don't you pop over and see some of the fabulous creations, all made using up some snippets-genius.

Happy crafting

Kyla

Bargain Mix Media books and inspiration stikes

 Hello peeps.  I hope you have all been keeping well?

Last weekend I had a free weekend (which is rare) and in Bristol we have a book shop where all the books are £2 each! Well imagine my surprise when hubby found a box of American mixed media books hidden under one of the tables!

Now, lets be honest I could have bought most, if not all of them....but I decided to show restraint (yes I did!) and bought these 2 fabulous books-what a bargain.

I haven't had time to browse them properly (I am saving that for my next ultra long bubble bath!!) but it did inspire me to mess up the Room of Shame (odd.....every time I type that I hear it spoken in a deep booming voice!!) and have a go.

This card has a patterned background, toned down slightly with some corduroy DI.  The tag is Dylusions and DI with some water flicked over then some script over stamped with pink DI.

The heart was a piece of watercolour paper which I added ephemera to then scraped acrylic paints over with an old store card and then wiped some gesso over to mute the tones a little.

I then die cut it, stitched round it and added it to the tag with some more stitching and ribbon.

The best part?  I cleared up the Room of Shame (ooh, there's that voice again!!) straight after so its still tidy!

Right, I think I need to have a lie down after all that tidying!

Happy Crafting

Kyla