WOYWW 274 (long-ish, best with a cuppa)

This might be a bit wordy but it is just information and I am not asking you to read it all.  It's just there in case someone wants a bit of information about the product I am going on about because it really blew us all away at weekend.  I am not selling either, just want to show you Brusho Paints and share the magic.

All in the name of "good fun' and boy did I have some FUN.  Have you tried Brusho's yet?  Why not? They are appearing in blogs everywhere, in fact I mentioned this a few weeks ago before I knew that Oyster Stamps was selling them.  Well, this weekend I was at the Leigh Show and for two days I was using this amazing product.

These were made using Memory Box stencils - unfortunately I have not a clue as to which colours I used on each of the three pieces.  It was fast and furious demonstrating I can tell you.  The card samples just kept mounting up on the floor by my side.  Don't know who had the most fun, Tracey or me.

Centre one below is where I just flipped the stencil off the paper and onto another sheet.  ie mopped up the colour from the stencil.  BTW these were done with the wetting of card and then sprinkling (or the other way around) see below*

this was leaf green which I used with a resist technique

these are ones where I just used the colour to paint with

this, again, is a stencil but with wax candle around the edges to soften them before colour was added.

So what is this Brusho?  It's paint, but a different paint.  It comes in little pots of crystals and I like to pierce a hole in the top of the pot (stops you spilling a lot if it gets knocked over and is easy to sprinkle a little out when using) and put the colour on with a marker pen. Available in a box of 24 plus one of 8 which gives you the whole range; a box of 12 and a box of five with a pack of thickener in.  Also available as single pots

This shows the colours in each pack, Oyster Stamps prices
(list I typed out for weekend)

You sprinkle a little into a palette, add water and you have your watercolour paint - vary the strength with the amount of water you use.  It can be mixed to different shades, ideal for watercolour work, add cellulose paste granules and it will adhere to glossy surfaces and it is safe for children to use like this.

Use with wax candles/crayons, add lustre powders for sparkle - bleach areas out, use with meths on wood (two latter techniques not suitable for children).  Paint on Pelmet Vilene and stitch into it, use on canvas for book covers etc but remember it will wash out so keep to items not requiring washing.

*BUT ... my favourite thing is to either

a) wet the paper and sprinkle the crystals on (it's magic, honestly - this is what blew people away), or

b) sprinkle the crystals on the paper and then spritz with water

the bottom one below with all the blue in it is BLACK!!

Both give slightly different effects.  You will never get two exactly the same.  Each time it is !Magic! right before your eyes.  Anyone can do it.  The colours that go to make up any one colour are included in each little pot.  When it is sprinkled on the paper and then 'wetted' these colours are all evident - try using different amounts, and intensities of sprays, of water and see the differences.  The crystals, when wet, 'wick' out and make gorgeous patterns, no two are the same.

Can you see a face in this one?
Is it a calf, what do you see?

Remember that red, blue and yellow are the primary colours and cannot be mixed.  These form the basis of most colours.  Red and Blue make Purple; Red and Yellow make Orange; Blue and Yellow make Green - these are your secondary colours.  Mix the Primary colours and you get mud.  So be careful when mixing colours but you hardly need mix these when sprinkling on paper as they 'burst' into their own spectacular colours.  I will be making a set of tags showing each of the 32 colours before my next show (Harrogate folks - 4th/5th October) and when I have them finished I will put them on here in stages.

And I am going to try all kinds of things, using just the tiniest amount of crystals because of their intensity - mixing with acrylic paint, using with various spray inks, using with Mica powders, using with glue - and, of course, finding all the uses for the Thickener which is sold along with the 5 colour sets.

This was my desk yesterday and later today I am going to use the various pieces to use dies on them so I will have lots of diecut flowers etc with those wonderful colours in them.

Sorry I have gone on Julia, I hold my hand out for a smack, but I just wanted to enable people so they can try these wonderful paints out. (I left some pictures out, honestly).  Now pop over to Julia and see other desks that don't woffle on like I have done.

Brusho's, Heartfelt Creations Dies and stencils from Oyster Stamps

Clear stamps for images from Inkylicious

Cardstock from Anne Marie

Look up Joanne Boon Thomas on You Tube and watch her work with these paints

WOYWW 270

May I first of all thank Helen and Anne for linking me last week whilst I was away and for Julia and Annie for trying/intending.  (and anyone else who thought of doing it for me)  It is appreciated, so much - I just didn't want to miss a single WOYWW after doing it for so long.  I am sure there is no-one here who does not know what WOYWW is but just in case follow this link and you will soon find out.

Before I show you my desk I will finish off showing my Heartfelt Creations Cards made with the delightful Emma Lou at the Oyster Stamps Retreat.  Just three left to show - if any of you want to buy the dies for these flowers, lace pieces etc they and the papers are available from Oyster Stamps.

Now what you really came here for was to see my desk in all its glory.  Well, there is nothing much to show as we have been away for a few days and since coming back Chas has had a cold (last one was in the Millenium ie 2000) and been in bed for the past few days as it went on his chest.  He is up and about now but I still have to be nursemaid.  Men and colds!

Just managed to play a bit with some Brusho yesterday and I think I know what I am going to do with these backgrounds.  Brusho seems to be enjoying a revival at the moment as I see it appearing in blogs and on various websites.  The last time I used it was for a book cover painted on Vilene but on my desk it is done on watercolour paper and cardstock.

TTFN

Back, Happy and Tired

Well, I am now back from my trip with girl friends.  Tired but with a head full of memories of a happy time spent in Worcester with ... me ... sewing!!"  Shock Horror!  Not quite as bad as it seems as I used to make my own clothes and also am well known for making my son a suit when he was tiny.  'Well known' because to this day he still tells people I left a pin in the short pants which pricked his leg and that his mum would not believe him.  Talk about bearing grudges - must be something he inherited from me as I remember things like that if someone hurts me.  I also made the swags and tails in our lounge (two pairs - back and front) from very very expensive material which we bought from the company who made our suite.   Took me a while to put scissors to the material I can tell you.  Anyway, this is the sewing we did, not straight up and down which I could manage but going round and wiggly and all over the place - loved it.

the back of my book cover made with Wendy

the front (spot the butterfly and flowers)

Still need to bead the butterfly - oops!

I so enjoyed this session as it was my first journey into sewing 'haphazardly' and catching lots of bits and bobs (snippets) onto the background.

Then we made silk paper with Annie and this cover feels so good

I just love the stamping on it

My sample book (when I get a machine)

Wednesday morning saw us working with Mary.  This is when I did something I have always wanted to do - burn holes in fabric.  This is the front of my book with my fabulous cord I made from Vilene and threads.

Increasing my stash I am now on the lookout for lots of bits and bobs to call "my snippets" so that I too can have colour co-ordinated packs of fabric and fibres.  Now which room can I take over in our bungalow?

Next we did etching with Adrienne but I am afraid mine did not work out as we first used Stazon and it did not etch.   You can see some peel off ones that Liz made because they came out really really good on her blog.

Then it was my session on Thursday morning when we made beads from Polymer Clay.  I taught them a Skinner blend and Mica Shift but Liz took to it so much that she produced some lovely canes as well.  You can see them on the next photographs.  I was so busy I never thought to take photographs.

Finally we made little Friendly Plastic Books with Liz.  I only finished one because I so wanted to make a particular fastening but I did bring covers home for a second (green this time) one ready to make another corner for.

sorry about the glare on the glaze

Here's the happy bunch

L to R Annie, Liz, Me, Wendy, Mary and Adrienne

This is a photo of our essential supplies

Lots went back home, honestly

Adrienne, Wendy and Liz contemplating sewing

Adrienne could always be found in this little corner

Now what is Wendy thinking?

Mary busy sewing away

and some lovely work

Showcasing Liz's lovely caning which she had off to a T - note the Mica Shift Buttons

Mary made buttons with her Mica Shift

All in all a great time and most of us will meet up again soon for another few days of laughter and play.

Today was also my birthday so here is a bird's eye view of my birthday cards sitting in the window sill (family ones are on the tv so not shown)

I'll try to upload them one by one at a later date but for now I am going to bed.  Thank you to all the wonderful family and friends who sent me cards today and made it so special for me.