Workshop Worship Part 1 - Andy Skinner

Hello all, and a warm welcome on this chilly January day.  Thank you for all your lovely comments on my illuminated book at PaperArtsy.  I promise I will get around to returning some visits very soon!

For now, I'm finally getting around to sharing some of what I made at the November workshop with Andy Skinner that I was lucky enough to go to.  We were at It's Crafting Time in Shepreth - a great space, and we had a fantastic time, Saturday and Sunday.

I won't let you in on the techniques - they're Andy's to share - but here are some photos of what we created.  Some of them I added my favourite rusty wire to after I got home!

We were working with the DecoArt Media Line both days.  On the Saturday, we created what Andy calls "Antiquated Appliques", layered panels made of foamboard.  Having given us the basic techniques for these panels, we were basically free to play and create what we wanted, with Andy offering expert tips and advice as we played.

I made two separate "Appliques" with the materials we were given...

... working in my favourite blues and browns.  Every time I did try to go in another colour direction, I ended up coming back again!





We were creating rusty effects...










 ... and crackle...













... and weathered looks.












Those are real nails, rusted up with some more DecoArt.

But the flat nail heads are just cardboard, as you've seen before.











I love all the textures and crackle on both pieces, with that lovely sheen from the colours.













And I love the layering of the elements to create loads of dimension.












I was rather pleased with the finish on this heart - and it got a word of praise from the master himself!














And the weathered edges to the crackle really make me happy, as do those "iron girders".





On the Sunday, we altered this wooden book box using different techniques on each of the mosaic panels.

Again, we played with a wealth of different techniques, but this time Andy took us all through it panel by panel.  Obviously we still had a free colour choice... hmmm, what should I choose?!

Love this silvery "metal" panel...  (Now there's a stamp I'll be buying as soon as it's available - watch out for Andy's new releases, they're amazing!)

Love this really cool scratched look - done (surprise, surprise) by scratching the panel!!














Such brilliant weathering and decay - Andy is a paint magician!













You've seen the rusty nail heads putting in an appearance on several projects here at Words and Pictures (like my Merry Little Christmas ATCs).











Best use of tissue tape ever!













You'll recognise techniques from both days - I used some of them on my Secret Santa offering for A Vintage Journey.












And on the back we used the same technique we used for our altered notebooks earlier in the year.  (That's where you also saw the rusty compass if it's bugging you!)












We got a chance to use some of the new stencils and stamps which are part of Andy's release at this CHA...









Let's just say I've been saving up to get hold of some of them as soon as I can!

Well, as you can see, I had the most fantastic weekend.  I think Andy's work is fabulous, his techniques are beyond brilliant, and the workshops were such fun.  A huge thank you to him for the inspiration, and to Nina at It's Crafting Time for the organisation.  Now all I need is more time to play...

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend.





The mediocre teacher tells.  The good teacher explains.  The superior teacher demonstrates.  The great teacher inspires.
William Arthur Ward