http://sassstudio.blogspot.com/

Monday 28 September 2015

A Longer Project


I did warn you that I was getting stuck in to some longer projects and here is the first one. I am really happy with how this turned out and while its not perfect its not bad either. The pattern is from Six Penny Memories and is called The Crazy Cushion. It is a Victorian design used to use up scraps. It is stitched onto calico to stabilise the different types of fabric, which wasn't strictly needed this time as the scraps were all polycotton from my scrap stash. I would definitely do future projects onto calico as it has a lovely feel to it. Obviously a quilt wouldn't need it but wall hangings and cushions could well benefit from it.

I really hope you like it
Love and Huggles
Sass

Saturday 5 September 2015

I Know You've Seen These Before

 
 
 I love this stamp by Sheena Douglass, I thought I'd something a bit different with it today though. All the card used was Sheena's stamping card so white to start with. The main card was misted and clouded with Tim Holtz's Distress ink and spritz with water and dabbed. The sentiment was stamped and heat embossed with clear powder and then coloured with the distress ink pad. The back ground for the wolf was great fun to do. I painted the backing card with Pebeo DYNA in blue/black and let dry. In the drying time I then had a piece of acetate which I spritzed with Cosmic Shimmers, I let it dry until it was tacky and had an old paint brush and swirled the colours around a bit before letting them dry completely. While that was drying I stamped and cut out the wolf image in Tuxedo Black on white card. I cut the two backgrounds to the same size and secured them together with brads. I put a piece of grey sparkly paper through an embossing folder and trimmed it. I've then just layered it up. The back ground is so shimmery and appears to swirl around as the light catches it from different angles.
 
 
 
So having done that and having been pleased with the effect I had this card to make up. I made the topper the other day, which I showed earlier on this blog. I had a piece of white card stock to make the base and just edged it with a mauvey pink chalk dew drop ink pad. I had another piece of Sheena's stamping card and splashed some water around on the card with a large paintbrush. I then spritzed it with Cosmic Shimmer Mist in a gorgeous purple, and because I was too impatient I dried it with my hot air gun. Photo's don't really do these backgrounds justice, they are sooooooooooooo sparkly and gorgeous.


Wednesday 2 September 2015

Lets Stamp Again

 
 
I am still exploring the possibilities of what the TODO can do. Today I just wanted to do something simple and effective. I love stamping (did I mention that?) and I love Distress Ink Pads too. I love colouring with Distress Inks, either drawing the colour out with a damp brush or picking up colour from my craft mat and using like paint. This image uses both those techniques and worked rather well on Kraft card, although I am showing you the image rather than the finished card as it does take quite a while to dry.
 
 




Tuesday 1 September 2015

Old Friends

New friends are lovely and always welcome but the old friends are comfort and relaxation
 

 
This lovely Sheena Douglass Paint Fusion Pansy for example. It has been a long time since I did this last but it was terrific to just slide back into it and relax and enjoy the wiggling. Following yesterday's debacle with the Stick n Spray and Spray and Shine I haven't given it a spray of anything lol. I did discover that these little desk tidies go into the TODO, removing the central base put the pot in and put the inked up stamp face down on the pot, put on plate D and apply pressure by moving the roller.
 
 
I hope you are enjoying my discovery of the TODO
 
Love and Hugs
Sass
xx


Monday 31 August 2015

Yeayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

My first stamped card in over two years! Am I excited? YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! I have to say that any mistakes you may notice are entirely driver error (too impatient to tape things down). The TODO cut all the squares, embossed and stamped the card. I used Distress Ink pads to stamp the image, I then drew out the colour with a damp paintbrush. I struggled a little bit in trying to remember how to colour with cut and dry foam but it soon came back to me. I am absolutely thrilled to bits with this machine and I'm still trying to find negatives for you
 
Love
Sasster
xxxxx
 

Sunday 30 August 2015

Revisiting Old Friends and Trying New One's

  
 
Following on from my heart box the other day, I decided that my new shiny paintbrushes should have a container all to themselves.
 
I used the lavender stems from Sheena Douglass' Simply Sweet stamps and the Swirls from her new paint fusion stamps. I was feeling rather smug so I blinged it up a bit and the sprayed it with what I thought was Spray and Shine by Crafters Companion!!! HORROR OF HORRORS! What I'd actually used was Stick n Spray!! So gutted I can't tell you, and guess what? I have an empty can of Spray Away so can't salvage it with that.
 
Off to Rock in the Corner
and Suck my thumb
xxxx

Saturday 29 August 2015

Its Here!



Look what has arrived at Sassie Acres! I've played about with it a little bit now. I was going to devote a whole day to playing with it today, but The Goffer has been in and out like a fiddlers elbow today and as it's a weighty beast I need him to move it for me. So I have wasted a day.
 
However, I had a quick play sat on the bed and did some embossing, die cutting and a cheeky bit of stamping with it. I love it! Because of my shakes and hand weakness I find these things difficult to do. It's fair to say that it has that 'new' stiffness about it but I still managed the functions with ease and adjusting the roller was an absolute doddle. I shall be ordering some foils soon to try out the hot foiling function, but so far I've found it to be a very simple piece of kit. With nice crisp embossing and die cutting. By lifting out the plate (easypeasy) the BIG Sissix dies go through and cut out my patchwork dies a dream. It was a very expensive piece of kit but the amount of things that I can do with it is incredible. I can see many opportunities for using TODO in my mixed media crafting, such as cutting out dies and using the negatives for texture paste, applique, cutting chipboard (I struggled with my Big Shot), using empty drinks cans to make shapes to paint and add to canvas. I am really excited with the possibilities it offers along with the opportunity to use my big wood mounted rubber stamps that my hands just can't cope with.
 
I've been trying to find a negative angle to tell you about, but to be perfectly honest with you I haven't yet come across one yet. I suppose the biggest negative for many would be its size as its a bit of a beast.

Thursday 27 August 2015

Paint Fusioned Heart Box

 
 

I painted this little box with Pebeo DYNA paint in blue/green, but didn't really have any idea what I wanted to do with it. Sheena Douglass has just brought out some new paint fusion stamps which are really beautiful and perfect for home décor projects. They are so easy to use and I have to confess to doing a little bit of 'freestyling' with the painting. This is my first major paint job with paint fusion since I began to get tremors in my hands. I'm really pleased with how it turned out.


Wednesday 26 August 2015

Folk Art

 
 
This isn't my bestest piece of work by a country mile. This was a trial to see if I could still do the little roses. While they are the greatest I was very pleased with them and they definitely improved as I went along. Folk Art, One Stroke Painting and Sheena Douglass' Paint Fusion techniques are going to become quite a regular feature on this blog in the weeks and months to come.
 
There is also great excitement at Sassie Acres this week. Over the months as my physical health has deteriorated I have had to give up a lot of my favourite techniques which if I'm honest with you has really upset me a great deal. I gave up stamping because my hands can't manage the stamps to get a crisp image, I've struggled with my faithful Big Shot die cutter/embosser as my hands have become so weak. But chatting with Pals last week one happened to mention the TODO machine. On Sunday there was a demonstration of the machine which held me riveted - it really did look like the answer to my prayers. So Mr Sass has ordered me one. If it doesn't do what I want it to do it can go back, having only lost the postage. If on the other hand my hands fall in love with it, this blog is going to get a whole lot more interesting for you all. Rest assured this machine will be put through it's paces and I will be dishing the dirt on it if it fails to meet my expectations.
 
 
That's about it for now my friends
Love and Huggles
Sasster
xx


Tuesday 25 August 2015

Same But Different

 
 
Another Marion Leys pattern, a little hat and jacket for my cousins great granddaughter. This is delightful to knit and within the capabilities of even beginner knitters. Nip over to Ravelry and search for Babbity Jacket and see the other lovely patterns by Marion, many of which are at our favourite price - FREEEEEEEEEEE!
 
 
It was knitting this that I suddenly really understood that I was climbing rapidly to the top of the family tree and goodness didn't it make me feel old.

Monday 24 August 2015

All IN One

Hello Blog Followers. I've been away for a few days so haven't done anything very much. Just to stop you getting bored of looking at my blank page I thought I would post some of my knits, just to keep you amused. This is a lovely top down knit designed by Marion Leys which is my all time favourite to knit. I used up an odd ball of wool to do this for my Granddaughter.
 
Love and Laughter
Sass
xxx

Saturday 15 August 2015

Clearly A Fun Time

 
 
I've had a crafty friend staying with me for a few days and we have had a really fun time trying something new to both of us.
It has been an interesting learning experience and one we both enjoyed.
We disappeared into The Witches Den with some glasses a roll of masking tape, cheap pan scourers and some Pebeo glass paints and this is what we came out with several hours later.
My efforts are from the left numbers 1, 3, and 5.


Tuesday 4 August 2015

Girly Skull Trinket Box

I love this little trinket box. It was an idea to try out the new Pebeo black gesso that I got yesterday. I have to say that Pebeo gesso is probably the best I've ever used. The coverage is brilliant, suffice to say that I won't be buying any other from now on. So what I did was had an oval trinket box from my stash and painted it black gesso. Because the coverage is so good I then just used a matt sealer on it. I made a skull from red cloud clay which when it was dry I painted with Pebeo Fantsy Moon in carmine. I then used Antique Gold Prismi to fill the eye sockets. I then ran amok (as I do) with Pebeo Gold gilding wax to embellish the red roses from my stash. I then decorated with pearl beads, feathers and a little black satin bow with a pearl on it.
 
 

Monday 3 August 2015

Peacock Grunge

I am thrilled with this, but please don't ask me what I've used because I got so stuck into playing I completely forgot to keep a list. I've also used just about every paint technique ever created using pan scourer's, dried up wet wipes, cling film and string.



The paint used is all from the Pebeo range of paints, I've also used Cosmic Shimmer spray with a paint brush. I forgot that Cosmic Shimmer leaves your handy pandy's all stained!! Never mind I think Peacock quite suits me :-D

Sunday 2 August 2015

Butterfly Fantasy Box


Every now and again I buy something, but don't know what to do with it and even worse don't particularly like it. This is supposed to be a book with a drawer where the spine is, but in reality I don't think it looks anything like a book though. The colours haven't come out in the photo's terribly well. It is what it is and I will leave it to you dear blog followers to decide if it's a hit or a miss

Saturday 1 August 2015

Spooky Booky

 I had a papier mache book from Amazon which I gave a generous coating of white Gesso (might try black next time to see how it changes the look)
 I then used Pebeo modeling paste and a comb to make the book pages, I then painted the pages with Pebeo Fantasy Moon in Pearl. The inside and outside of the book was given 3 coats of Pebeo Studio DYNA in Blue/Black (must always have a spare - my new favourite colour)
 I then ran amok with Pebeo Gilding Wax Empire Gold (love this stuff). I also used it to edge the pages.
 I made some charms from black and white Cloud Clay (can't remember where I got these moulds from ) I was going to paint them but the Gilding Wax was still sat staring at me so I gave it some - what a transformation they now look like metallic charms.
 I made a black Cloud Clay skull and painted it with Pebeo Prismi in Onyx, that really made it shine. I also made a toad and coloured with Promarker moss green, a pumpkin coloured with Pebeo Vitrail Sunshine Yellow and Pebeo Studio in fluorescent orange. I then stuck down some feathers from my stash with Glossy Accents. When all my charms had been made, painted etc I played around until I was happy and stuck them down with Glossy Accents. Finally after much stroking and sighing I parted from some of my Steampunk charms which were also stuck with Glossy Accents.
Side view of finished Item.


I really hope you like this, please don't be shy, leave me a comment

Friday 31 July 2015

Who Knew?


Well who knew?, I certainly didn't! I used Promarkers to colour in these little Cloud Clay Fairies. So much easier than battling with a paint brush on tiny area's.

This is a little desk tidy for my Granddaughters Birthday, the flowers, fairies and leaves are made from white cloud clay and made in a mould ( can't remember where it came from ) and the flowers and leaves are a Sugarbuttons mould from Katy Sue Designs.

There is only so much sugary pink and sweet stuff I can do before I start coming over all Mary Poppinsish.

Tuesday 28 July 2015

Ghoulish Delights

Having a lot of fun at the moment, playing with Halloween as a theme.
I painted a skull from Amazon with Pebeo Fantasy Moon
in Pearl

Two large wooden beads big enough to sit in the eye sockets were then given wiggly
blood vessels

One eye was topped with a large faceted bead  and sat in the eye socket with
Crystal Glaze

I then used Pebeo air dry clay to make 'worms' to get worm like ridges
I rolled the finished worm over a piece of cling film which gave it really good wormy
segments

I then painted the worms when they were completely dry with
Pebeo Fantasy Moon in Rosewood. I really liked this colour for the worms,
as someone said they look all shiny and wormy



 
Now Fred is assembled and sat on an old plate to 'go off'
about 48 hours.
 
I hope you enjoyed my little bit of madness
Lots of Love
Sass
xxxxx

Monday 27 July 2015

Pumpkin Play

 
My son and his children have a big bash for Halloween and they all dress up, and decorate the house. This Pumpkin will be part of a display for on the mantelpiece. I was really pleased with this as it was really an exercise in layering colour and creating textures for me. It turned out so much nicer than I expected and it will catch the light from battery tealights beautifully. As I've said so many times I really am rubbish at taking photo's and I can honestly say that this looks so much better in the flesh.
 
I hope you like it
xx
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Take one papier mache pumpkin from Amazon
Paint it with Pebeo White Gesso
Paint with Pebeo Studio Acrylic in Fluorescent Orange and allow to dry
Sponge over Pebeo Studio Dyna Orange iridescent.
Sponge all over with Pebeo Fantasy Moon in gold
and allow to dry

Paint the stalk of the pumpkin with Pebeo Vitrail in sandalwood.
When the whole thing is dried thoroughly, paint with Pebeo Vitrail in Sun Yellow. 

Sunday 26 July 2015

Something from outer space?

I have a passion for wind chimes and sun catchers. These little beauties tick all my boxes. They are ridiculously expensive to make but are a classic 'you get what you pay for'. They are made in two halves and then fit together. They catch the merest hint of light and bounce it around superbly. I haven't hung them up yet ( to be honest I'm running out of hanging space) and are sat on my bedroom window. They are amazing at night (Yes, really) when they catch just a flicker of a car headlight. No photo can really do justice to these.

Saturday 25 July 2015

Wishy Washy Washer's - Not here!

 
 
Mr Sass has been sorting out his shed (mancave), its long overdue. I 'alf inched some of his washers to play with. What do you make of this?
 
 
 
This is also Pebeo Fantasy Moon with just a dab of Fantasy Prismi.
 
For those of you not in the know about Pebeo, where have you been hiding? I have to admit that I've only just started playing with the Pebeo products after staying with my friend who is a huge fan of them. In the coming weeks there are so many things that I want to try.
 
Take Care my Friends
xx

Friday 24 July 2015

Knitting Again



Just a bit of knitting, that I've been done recently. The top one is for my youngest Granddaughter and the two bottom ones are cardigans and a little hat that I've knitted for my cousins Great Granddaughter. They are from Mariann Leys and are free on Ravelry. 

Thursday 23 July 2015

New Beginnings



Something new and rather addictive. This pendant is made with Pebeo Fantasy Paint. I really can sit and watch paint dry with this, the paint moves and shifts and does all sorts of things you really never know how it is going to turn out. Unfortunately I had a bit of a tidy up around the desk and through the scrap paper that I had written down the colours I'd used away. I will be much more careful in future.

Wednesday 22 July 2015

Hello Again

Thought it was time I dusted off my blog and got going again.

Lots of things have changed since my last posting. My workroom has been packed into boxes and stayed that way for quite some time. But now I have moved into my new work area in the garden and the boxes unpacked. I have had to stop doing quite a few things that I enjoy but on the plus side I have found some new challenges.

The new work Area has been christened The Witches Den and I am extremely pleased with how its doing. Its not quite there yet as my end of things, other things get in the way.

                                My lovely big store room to hide away my crafty stash (above)


Over the coming weeks you will see much more of the new workroom. I also hope that you will enjoy some of my new experiences, and crafting adventures.
 
Love to You
All
 
Sass
xx