8x8 jiggy swap

After the 12x12 jigsaw swap I took part in on UKS earlier this year, I was eager to join in with the 8x8 swap. I've just finished my pieces, and can't wait to receive back my complete jigsaw. I feel that I used more techniques on this jigsaw, and played a lot more with ink/ paint.

The themes were

1. Musicals. I found this really difficult, as I'm not a big musicals fan, but I like how it turned out. I found some show programme images on the web and used them to create a background, then added a couple of painted acetate notes and a flower which I stamped with a text stamp.

2. Christmas. This was the first piece I completed, I painted the piece, then embossed silver snowflakes. I then stamped christmas trees, cut them out and added them, mounted on foam pads. I completed the piece with a metal embellie and a small piece of ribbon.

3. Vintage Love. I enjoyed doing this piece. I used patterned paper for the background, and added a strip of lace across the middle. I stamped the roses, and wrapped some mulberry paper round them, then used that paper also to make a couple of hearts.

4. Butterflies. This was my theme. I created a digi background using supplies from Designer Digitals, then stamped 2 butterflies on acetate. I painted one with Staz-on ink (using a cut n' dry nib) and gold acrylic paint, and added Stickles to the other.

5. Celtic. I loved the sound of this theme, but for some reason I had great trouble creating the piece that was in my head. I'm pleased with the final outcome though. I printed a celtic seal, then added leaf beads to artist wire to create a look of a slightly hidden celtic stone.

6. Fashion through the ages. I stamped on the background of this piece with Paperartsy stamps, then added cut out stamps of shoes. I then added the quote, and created a hanger from artist wire. I stamped a bag, cut it out and made the strap from beads, which I then hung on the hanger.

7. Faeries. It took me a while to decide what to do with this piece as it's not a theme I have any supplies for. I drew on a wing, then coloured it with Stickles, paint, ink and liquid pearls. I had a lot of fun mixing those all together to see the effects. I then added a stamped fairyland ticket.

8. News Headlines. I decided to go with the moon landing for this one as I am an astronomer at heart. I painted the jigsaw piece with a mix of black and blue acrylic paint, stirred together with silver stickles. I then added a chipboard moon, painted with liquid pearls, and a teeny American flag on it. I found a picture of the moon lander, and the front page of a newspaper from that date. I printed this image out, added some distress ink to yellow it, and folded it with some blank paper so it would look more like a full newspaper.

9. Mythical creatures. I chose the phoenix as the creature for this piece. I printed out an image, and blinged it up with sparkly pens and stickles. I added some stickles dots on the background too to look like stars. I then printed out the phrase, and burned the edges with a match.