well perhaps not...I have a challenge on my yahoo group where we are altering children's shoes, here is my first effort. the original shoe is a little girl's shiny black dress shoe, I have then covered it in liquid nails for texture, before it had a chance to harden I made swirls with my palette knife. Once dry I then painted with pthalo green, did a dabbled wash over with a sea sponge and copper and gold, the next step was using my heat gun...not to dry the paint but to bubble it and make it even more textured. I smeared a little antique gold Rub 'n Buff over the raised areas and then attached adornments, etc.

See one of my previous posts to see how I altered the German Scrap pieces.



The red shoe is not finished yet but I just love the colour so far.

http://inchingartists.blogspot.com/



theme #5 is now up

There are a few things I love and one of those things is German Scrap, I really like that I can change it's appearance so very easily too...very very easily!

I have tried a few things on the gold coloured pieces earlier in the year (these ones shown are available from Scraptivate in Western Australia), I tried vinegar....don't ask why because I do these things when I'm having a "moment" lol....anyway the vinegar stripped the colour right out and left it smelling like fish and chips, so I moved onto "Silvo" silverware polish, it stripped the colour out too and left the piece quite fragile.

Soooo I went back to my trusty fave. and as always it leaves the pieces fabtacular and devine.

Rub n' Buff is the way to go, it strips out the gold and leaves a nice trace colour behind, every colour is different, so it really pays to play...Spanish Copper is the one I use the most, followed closely by black and turquoise. We stock some colours at FTN, you can also purchase from places like Bunnings and Spotlight.



Now go play!...and get your hands dirty!

here is a step by step for my resist and leafing samples

I went to Ikea and look at this cute little light I got there

aren't I just so nice to the girls at FTN, I was asked by a couple of the ladies if I would make them a name tag...I hope they like them :)

on my Yahoo group I run (ATC Secret Society for Altered Artists) we have a little bi monthly game called Target Artist where we send art to the TA for the moment, well I was so pleased with this little thing I have made for our current TA (Barb), that I just had to share :)

I have used resist stamping again and gold leafing

I have made these ATCs and magnetic puzzle piece for a couple of swaps, I have used the resist stamping technique simply because it is fun and it is one of the classes I am currently teacing at Fred the Needle

sheesh I thought I had posted this...you still have till Tuesday for this challenge...my scan sucks but here is my contribution



http://inchingartists.blogspot.com/

I know I'm running late but I have a few things going on with art, chasing money and family life...but here it is my contribution to the golden theme on Gothic Arche challenges

http://gothicarches.wordpress.com/

#2 theme is "UNDER THE SEA"



http://inchingartists.blogspot.com/

well I had a lovely break, we stayed at a really nice B&B about half an hour away from where I was teaching, the scenery was beautiful, so the trip to and fro was not wasted.

The class went well and the ladies all seemed to enjoy themselves, they were super friendly and very down to earth which made teaching a pleasure. I wish I had remembered to put the memory card into my camera because I would have loved to have taken some photos of the devine pages that were made by the ladies for their books. Some decided to not use the original chubby house design and instead opted for "skinnies" and flip books. It was a long day but I think they would have been happy to go on a bit longer....I know I would have :)

according to the date on the back of this cabinet card I have altered it was taken in 1883 and the young man was just 19 years old....I wonder if he is related to Tom Hanks???

here are some ATCs for a couple of swaps I am in, the boy with the wings is for the Target Artist on my Yahoo group, the girl with the butterfly wings is for an arty challenge (use stockings in your art), and the lady with the german scrap wings is for a monthly image swap challenge

The new theme on "Gothic Arches" challenge site is MOON, I have created the arty moon by building over the stamped image with clock pieces that I have been collecting

http://gothicarches.blogspot.com/

I have just started an Inchie challenge site...the very first them is...SWIRLS













http://inchingartists.blogspot.com/

let's get creating!

http://gothicarches.blogspot.com/

I found a fabtacular new challenge site and have just made my first contribution...the current them is "SCHOOL"

ok I think I missed the boat on this one and am a little late...but none the less here is my "BUTTONS" card

http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com/





I have used velvet paper...it is devine!!!

The current theme for the Wednesday Stamper is "BLUE"...my fave colour, so I just had to make something...and what better than fusible film :)

http://tmta.wordpress.com/

What a great thing to do each Monday....think ATCs...sounds good to me and so here is my contribution for the current theme "METAL"

I really need to work out the settings on my new camera, that would I would most likely take a better pic :)

I made this CD for future classes I will hold at FTN, the butterflies are stickers on transparency sheets...simple simple simple and of course I have used fusible film, embossing and alch. inks



go get ya hands dirty!

I have been asked to run a stampbord class next month, it will be on the 28th (Friday) September...for those not ready to think ahead just yet :)

The class is from 6:30pm until 8:30pm...although I have found that my students don't seem to want to leave or even pack up by then...not that I can blame them, we do have fun!

Again I'll just mention that you may want to prepurchase the Stampbord tool for the class....I will have scratchy tools for class use but it will work very primitively.



Phone FTN to book...see you there :)





P.S this class will be in the AM too, same day 10:30-12:30

last night was the last ATC class for the month, I hope that all those who have attended my classes this month had a great time and learnt alot...or atleast one thing. We played with shaving cream, masking, fusible film and all the fabo. stuff that goes with that. It was super cool to see I had a repeat student (Judy), happily playing again.

Sooooo onto the next round of techniques.....drum roll.....



Resist stamping, shellac and an intro to stambord

Friday 14th sept 10.30am to 12.30 and Friday night 21st sept from 6.30pm to 8.30



ring FTN or walk in.

I suggest you pick up the stampbord tool before class to make sure you have one, we will of course provide the class with small stampbord pieces that can go on ATCs/cards, etc and there will be more to purchase at the conclusion of class.



In October we will be playing with larger pieces, including 6x6 frames (my art is available to view on the front counter of FTN) Don't be afraid...be inspired!



If you are interested in being in a monthly altered book club please leave your details at FTN...if you include an email I can keep you up to date :)



I hope to see you there...classes are filling fast!