Saturday, February 26, 2011

ACEO ~ Sunset Over The Sea ~ Papier Mache

 

Original artwork in Papier Mache by Karen Clark

Layered effect using blue and pink palate to form sea and sunset sky

Signed dated and titled on the rear of the card. presented in a celephane sleeve.

Size 2.5 x 3.5 inches collectable artwork , quality card base.


Available to purchase HERE

Friday, February 25, 2011

Celebration time and time for a giveaway too!

You may notice on my side bar a button for the "One A Day Challenge" run through the craft forum.  I have completely missed my year end (should have been Feb 5th).
Every day since 5th Feb I have created something, jewellery, paintings, bags, crafts etc.  I have not missed a single day until yesterday when I was simply too busy doing a massive spring clean.  (but as I'd already passed the year end it now doesn't count)  I am so proud of myself.
As from Today, I am going to start a new year of making one a day!


In celebration of this I am offering a Bespoke Necklace and Earring Set to someone.  All you need to do is make sure you are following me and then leave a comment saying:

Colour
length (upto 22")
Style (with or without drop)
earring fitment (hook, stud, clip)
length of earring.

The winner will be drawn at random on Friday 4th March at 12 Noon. (Open to international followers too)

Papier Mache Bangle ~ Monochrome

 
Formally womens glossy magazines have been given a recycled life in the form of these papier Mache bangles.

Black and white fabric design prints combined together with some of natures best designs (zebra print)

The cavity measures 2.75" ~ 7cm
Each Bangle is sealed with a varnish to make it hard wearing.

The bangle will be presented in a gift bag with tag explaining how it was made.

This is a unique piece of jewellery
Available to purchase HERE

Papier Mache Bangle ~ Summer

 
Formally womens glossy magazines have been given a recycled life in the form of these papier Mache bangles.

Summer~ Picnic blankets, flower meadows and floral frocks.

The cavity measures 2.75" ~ 7cm
Each Bangle is sealed with a varnish to make it hard wearing.

The bangle will be presented in a gift bag with tag explaining how it was made.

This is a unique piece of jewellery
Available to purchase HERE

Shakles

ACEO ~ Fiesta

 
ACEO

Original artwork in acrylic and ink by Karen Clark

Floral fiesta using bright carnival like colours.

Signed dated and titled on the rear of the card. presented in a celephane sleeve.

Size 2.5 x 3.5 inches collectable artwork
Rounded corners, quality card base.
Available to purchase HERE

ACEO ~ Fish ~ Koi

 
ACEO

Original artwork in acrylic and ink by Karen Clark

Fish~ A myriad of colours dancing on the scales of this koi

Signed dated and titled on the rear of the card. presented in a celephane sleeve.

Size 2.5 x 3.5 inches collectable artwork
Rounded corners, quality card base.
Available to purchase HERE

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Bespoke Earring Service ~ Choose your colours

Have you been looking and looking for a pair of earrings to complete your outfit? Not found what you are looking for? Well, this could be the answer.
You name the colours, supply me with photos, send me a swatch, or just suggest the colour tones you want and I will choose the beads and create you a bespoke pair of earrings in the colours of your choice. You can also specify the length.
You can select gold or silver plated metal work


The Earrings are created with a hook fastening, stud top or clip on.

The earrings will be supplied in a gift bag.

Please allow up to 14 days for this service. although should you need it sooner please contact me as it is usually possible to get it done faster.

Earrings order HERE

also available custom necklace and earring service HERE

Bespoke Necklace and Earring Service ~ Choose your colours




Have you been looking and looking for a necklace and earrings to complete your outfit? Not found what you are looking for? Well, this could be the answer.

You name the colours, supply me with photos, send me a swatch, or just suggest the colour tones you want and I will create you a bespoke necklace in the colours of your choice. You can also specify the length and whether you want a drop or not.

Each bead will be wired individually and then connected to the next one. You can select gold or silver fastening and also the fastening style.

I can adjust the length should it be required. This service is for upto 22".



The Earrings are created with matching beads and can be made on a hook fastening, stud top or clip on.


The necklace and earrings will be supplied in a gift bag.

Please allow up to 14 days for this service. although should you need it sooner please contact me as it is usually possible to get it done faster.

This service can be purchased HERE

Monday, February 21, 2011

Asda ~ Vouchers

Over the past few weeks, I have been checking my Asda receipts online on http://www.asdapriceguarantee.co.uk/.  I can't quite work out how it works, but basically it compares the goods on your receipt with those bought at other supermarkets and then allows you to print off vouchers for the difference (if your shopping would have been cheeper elsewhere) Over the last three weeks, I received 37p, £5.27 and £1.89.  That's quite a bit of money back and so well worth the two minutes it takes to put the details in to the computer.

Be Thou My Vision

ACEO ~ Let's go fly a kite

 
Available to purchase HERE

ACEO ~ Sunset on the Beach

 
 Available to purchase HERE

Friday, February 18, 2011

ACEO ~ The Journey

Original artwork in acrylic and ink by Karen Clark

The Journey ~ Start at the very beginning. A paved path spiraling into the distance with all the souroundings becoming faint and blurred. In muted browns and greens. Mosaic like finish

Signed dated and titled on the rear of the card. presented in a celephane sleeve.

Size 2.5 x 3.5 inches collectable artwork
Rounded corners, quality card base.
Free UK delivery 
Available to purchase HERE

ACEO ~ Music Makes The World Go Around

Original artwork in acrylic and ink by Karen Clark 

Music makes the world go around ~ Gilded treble cleffwith spirals escaping from it in sea green palate 

Signed dated and titled on the rear of the card. presented in a celephane sleeve. 

Size 2.5 x 3.5 inches collectable artwork 
Art Card. 
Free UK delivery 

Available to purchase HERE

ACEO ~ Bar Code

Original artwork in acrylic and ink by Karen Clark 

Bar Code : Rust, reds and greens highlight this barcode design 

Signed dated and titled on the rear of the card. presented in a celephane sleeve. 

Size 2.5 x 3.5 inches collectable artwork 
Rounded corners, quality card base. 
Free UK delivery 

Available to purchase HERE


ACEO ~ Psychodelic


Original artwork in acrylic and ink by Karen Clark 

Psychodelic swairls in rich red and orange tones with blue background 

Signed dated and titled on the rear of the card. presented in a celephane sleeve. 

Size 2.5 x 3.5 inches collectable artwork 
Rounded corners, quality card base. 
Free UK delivery

Available to purchase Here

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Papier Mache Bangles

 Bangle created from Glossy womens magazines.  Papier mache layers have been used to create these bangles.  They are coated with a glossy hardwearing varnish topcoat.
This one is called Ocean and is created with blue toned papers.
For Sale HERE

Music Makes The World Go Around

Music is a gift. 
The city of Hull is, like many cities in the uk poorly funded. The threat has now come to the Hull music service. It’s a fantastic service that encourages children and adults to learn and enjoy music. A few years ago thy built a new centre to house the service (previously they were based in a derelict school) the service is now under threat of cuts. This will leave tallented and aspiring musicians with no base, subsidised teaching etc.Hull City Council are proposing to withdraw funding from Hull Music Service.
What this means is there would be increased charges to schools for lesson costs. Also the costs involved in the upkeep of the Albemarle and the 19 ensembles that meet there would be threatened. This could result in the closure of the Albemarle.
 We cannot allow this to happen without a fight.
Please sign this petition and it will be used, if needed, to strengthen the case for keeping Music Service funding.
 
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savehullmusicservice/

Amethyst Bracelet

  
This wrap around, memory wire bracelet is created with stunning pieces of deep purple amethyst. The texture of the Amethyst is broken up with the use of Bali beads featuring a Macintosh style rose.
It's a stunning bracelet and it can fit all wrist sizes, has no clasp or tricky fastenings. Will look great as a formal or casual accessory.
The bracelet will be supplied in an organza bag.

For sale HERE

In HIs Time

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Valentines Swap

 I was lucky to receive this lovely apple cosy. perfect for taking your lunch time apple with you, and this cute heart keyring as part of the Valentines swap on Folksy.  They were made for me by  Creative Knits who has loads of other beautiful handknitted goodies in her shop.
Thank you!

Running A Craft Business ~ Photography

Your Photographs are the first thing that will catch a perspective clients eye and real them in to look at your item on your website. There are lots of examples around and I am sure you have seen them, where blurred, badly coloured, out of focus or confusing images are pasted onto the site.  It's just really bad.  Personally I'd rather not list a product if my photo's are not up to the mark.
I am in no way trained to use a camera and I have no state of the art equipment, only a very old digital camera (Nikon coolpix 3100), but with trial & error and an awful lot of patience and a little IT interference! I have been able to produce clear photos.  It can be done.
I'm personally a fan of the all white background.  There is nothing to draw the eye away from your product, the product stands out and it all looks clean and professional. 
My method is not fool proof, I sometimes take several pictures before I get the image I want.
  • I take several sheets of white printer paper and lay them flat
  • Lay out the product making sure that the componants are all facing the right way, 
  • Ensure there is enough space around the item.
  • Set the camera onto the macro setting (Looks like a small tuplip) and the flash to Auto.
  • Put elbows onto the table.  Tilt camera  so it is directly over the item at forearms length.  Take photo.
  • Load photo to computer
  • go to photo processing software (I use paint shop pro 6)  
  • open photo
  • Crop image leaving equal area all around photo (or square if using Folksy)
  • Adjust brightness if required (but remember to makesure you are not changing the colour as it needs to be a true representation of your item,)
  • Whiten background using colour flood tool.
  • clean any grey areas with the spray can 
  • Save photo. 
 Before
 After
The little bit of time and concern shows a professional image and will look so much better.

Examples of use of the white background.

(all these product look fantastic and give a very professional image)



I'll look at other backgrounds another time.

Hay Wain ACEO challenge



After I enjoyed the seascape challenge last week, I was filled with horror at the site of the water in this weeks folksy ACEO challenge.  The subject "Willy Lotts Cottage" was a mass of green and water reflections.  I have not painted still water before and although I have tried and tried, I have failed. 

 I am seriously hoping that next weeks challenge floats my boat, unlike my disterous water!

Inspiration ~ Purples

The Language Of Colour

I am actually a qulaified interior designer and one of my specialisms is the use of colour. Colour can seem quite a daunting thing to use, but with just a few rules, you'll be able to use it well and confidently.

Looking at the colourwheel above, you'll be able to see the three primary colours (yellow, blue and red) They are called primary as they can not be created from other colours. All other colours come from them.

If you mix equal measures of red and yellow you get orange.

If you use more red than yellow, your orange will be reddy orange.

If you use more yellow than red the orange will be more yellowy orange or golden.


If you mix equal quantities of blue and yellow you get green.

If you use more blue than yellow your green will be teal toned
If you use more yellow than blue, the green will become more citrusy lime

If you mix equal measures of red and blue you get purple.
If you use more blue then red you get rich purple.

If you mix more red than blue you get magenta.

By adding white to any colour you get lighter pastel tones as in the wheel below the half wheel)

By adding more white you become neutral (barely any colour tone) as in the half wheel below.
 

Black through to grey are not colours. They are tones and are neutral.

Colour can be used in any way depending upon the look you want, but the general rule of thumb are:

Keep your colour choices with in families. Families denote the depth of colour.


By using a mix of coloura all on the outer ring, the tonal quality contains the same amount of white. The colours are all pastel and sit well together. (see the picture below from the Celtic Women christmas album. All the girls are wearing different pastel solours and that's what ties them together.)
If you take the inner circle, then the colours are all deep and jewell like. Again they all sit nicely together. (the photo below is of the Celtic Women Journey Concert they are all wearing deep jewell tones)




You can also take colour from section of the wheel and they'll sit beautifully together. my personal favourite is to slice blue, purple and green together. (again the celtic women offer a look at this option because the palate is limited, they can combine depths and tones)


Muted colours are also a family: muted colours are a little harder to understand, A good word to describe it is dusky. The colours are dulled down by adding the contasting colour (ie the colour that lies between opposite it on the colour wheel. To mute green you add red. Dusky tones sit well together they have a gentleness and antique look and cannot be described as pastel as the white content is not as great. 
The final family is the complimenty colours: This is quite a brave colour scheming decision and will often work well for caribean and boliwood style. The idea is to think of the three primary colours. Add two together and then us the third as the contrast so :

Red + blue = purple with yellow

blue + yellow = green with red

red + yellow = orange with blue

Craft Juice Tuesday ~ Owls

A wise old owl lived in an oak
The more he saw the less he spoke
The less he spoke the more he heard.
Why can't we all be like that wise old bird?





Buttercup Boutique has created this felt brooch which has beautiful detailing

A Baggie Aggie creation of a phone sleeve in beautiful lime fabric with owl detail.


Dottery Pottery has created a ceramic owl brooch in really stunning colours


Monday, February 14, 2011

Running A Craft Business ~ Publicity Materials

So often on Forums, you see the question asked "Should I use business cards or flyers?"
There are some really great deals to be had on business cards.
 example of a vista print card

Vista Print is probably the most popular option.  They frequently have offers on meaning that 250 business cards will cost only the price of postage.  There are many artwork opptions to choose from and you can upload your own artwork for a small fee.

example of Moo cards
Moo cards are also very popular and I am not surprised.  They are smaller than the standard business card, but are printed on beautiful quality card.  You add your own photos onto the front and they look stunning.

Flyers are single page (normally A5) designs and don't have much about them to cause the client to hold on to them.
My original leaflet

I have personally found that producing my own leaflets has had the best result.  Initially I prepared a tri fold leaflet using Microsoft publisher and I used a 120g paper for printing.  This achieved a quality feel to it. I was able to add my contact details (as you would on a business card), but also an overview of my work and skills.  The leaflet can be produced in short runs, be updated often and have photos, explanations etc about you and your products.  This has to be an improvement on a business card which only contains your contact details and puts the emphasis on the client to go and look you up to see what you do etc.




Recently I began to use A6 card blanks as the basis and this style has gone down very well.  The product looks quality, gives an overview of your services and the client is more likely to keep your card or pass it on.  I have had an awful lot of feedback through the cards.  Because they say things such as "Karen gives talks to local interest groups" I've been contacted by people who have had the card passed on to them.  I have had people give my card to friends who are planning weddings, People who want beading lessons etc. It's been the best publicity method I've tried.

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