CRAZY BIRDS TUTU CANVAS - by KASSA HAYSELDEN - MY HAPPY VERSION

Before I go any further, I just have to tell you - I've finished my version of Karen's canvas albeit, the nearest I could manage following her fabby tutorial. 

To be perfectly honest, I am quite emotional because I just LOVE IT.

For those of you who know me, I am not talented nor professional in paper or mixed media art but I am an avid enthusiastic hobby crafter. I follow those who CAN because I CANT and gain my 'expertise' that way. Karen's tutorial on the Ranger blog was my 'kick' into action for 2016 after a lack of enthusiasm - for many reasons - during 2015.

Thank you to those of you who have encouraged me through this project, least of all Karen herself. 

So, today I had to make tutus. My hat goes off to those who make life-size versions, because working with net is a nightmare. 

I stitched and jabbed my fingers and stitched again, OK! Not Karen's fault, I have a very large arthritic  right thumb joint which annoyed me rotten because I couldn't keep hold of the thread. Haha! You won't beat me. 

That was difficult but I got there in the end.

I decided to complete the little extra touches to my canvas before sticking the crazy birds down as I just knew I would stamp those tutus.

I just can't believe the outcome of this. I know it's mine but I love how it looks. One lesson here is to 'just go for it' but pick your colours first. Having said that, you could always Gesso the whole lot out if it didn't work!!

Well folk, the time arrived. LEGS.  I did consider these

quite a 'cop out' really and a big upset for Karen that I wasn't going the 'full hog' and completing her tutorial. - BUT I can't draw, seriously, I can't draw. How on earth can I free hand draw legs for my ballerina crazy birds??? This is how,

Waste not want not. My Ranger specialist stamping card is just too good to waste.

Every little bit used.

Well, I did it, me who can't draw - DREW

So the assembly is ready. The white bits around the legs have been gone over with my black soot Distress marker. 

I hope you like my finished canvas. 

I make no apologies for 3 photos of it because I am absolutely thrilled to 'little mint balls' with it.

A great big THANK YOU to Karen Haysleden for the amazing tutorial and to Ranger (#rangerink) for publishing it.

I got a revised 'crafty kick' to start off 2016 and am grateful for it - and the BIG smile.

CRAZY BIRD TUTU CANVAS by KASSA HAYSELDEN - DAY 3

I did wonder how I would get on today because my reading glasses broke last night! However, a quick trip out this morning and I managed to buy 2 new pairs. Also, I checked how much coloured netting I had and found a piece of purple and a little piece of red. That meant a trip to Abakhan where I bought this little lot.

Only cost £1.80!! Bargain.

There was nothing much on tv last night so I suffered artificial light, albeit a daylight one, and set to colouring my crazy birds.

I used watercolour pencils blending and drying as I went along. Karen has used some amazing colours in a most ingenious way so that was a learning point for me - how to mix colours. I really enjoyed myself.

Once I got back from the little shopping trip - and after having to do Ho*****rk!!!! - I die cut all the birds and their hats etc.

I just have to tidy the white edges and make their tutus.

I may be a while cutting, sewing and gluing so will pop back tomorrow with what could be the final stages to a finished canvas.

CRAZY BIRDS TUTU CANVAS by KASSA HAYSELDEN

I've completed a bit more of my canvas and have to admit to finding it a bit scary today. 

It looked an awful mess to begin with mainly because I didn't really know if I was applying the paint, gesso and re-inkers properly. I seemed to have a lot of harsh edges so in the end I resorted to softening them with my fingers!

I managed the first bit of painting ok.

and the black gesso seemed to go on just fine. However, here was my scary moment

I really really loved how vibrant the re-inker was, making the paint 'pop' off the canvas. I kept going and adding paint and re-inker until the canvas was covered.

This was the point when I considered starting another blank canvas because mine just didn't look anything like Karen's. But, I didn't and kept going.

Thank goodness I did, because the following steps in the tutorial brought the whole thing together and at the moment I am content with it. I am at the point of using Distress Markers to emphasis various areas. I may be some time so I'll get on with that and hopefully come back with more tomorrow.

CRAZY BIRDS TUTU CANVAS by KASSA HAYSELDEN

I first saw this canvas on Facebook and almost squeezed with glee at it because the colours are so vibrant and those birds are just everyone's favourite. BUT the background is really what caught my eye. If you pop over to www.rangerink.com and have a look at their blog, Karen has generously written a step by step tutorial - with photos - so we can all have a play and make one similar.

I've even spent a couple of days going round every store within 30 miles of my home looking for a deep edge 12" X 6" canvas. Guess what, I found 3 in Southport.

Once I got back home after a gorgeous day out in lovely sunshine - look

I ripped open one of the canvases and made a start.

It's drying at the moment and I plan to leave it for today as its getting late now. 

Thank you Karen for the tut. I'm going to enjoy this little play.

WINTER DOOR WREATH

I started this little project of making door wreaths last year after admiring the gorgeous creations in America. The idea isn't new to them but one we only seem to uphold around Christmas. 

They have houses with verandas or enclosed front doors giving protection from the weather to their wreathes, whereas, most of us cannot admit to that luxury. I certainly can't and unfortunately, my front door faces south west and therefore is susceptible to the rain and wind. We all know how much of that we have endured these past weeks.

With that in mind, my wreaths have to be weather proof or as near as I can make them.

So, this is my first wreath of 2016 - winter.

I really wanted some 'snowball' bush flowers, but not being able to find any I settled for plastic gypsophyllia. The greenery is plastic too. I found 3 pine cones in my stash and sourced the pale willow wreath from Home Sense. 

Despite hanging on a white door, it actually stands out and I'm very happy with it.