Hello gorgeous people, today I'm going to grab some beautiful paints, a stamp and stencil and of course my signature sparkles, and show you how to create this bright and bold art journal page! It's pretty, filled with simple techniques and really packs a punch of colour! Now as with most things it's easier to show to the process for this page rather than tell you about it - so I've made a short video to walk you through it... Read more →

Welcome to the Stamperia Hop! We want to celebrate Stamperia and their range of art supplies, so Stamperia sent some awesome products to every corner of the planet and we’ve created 13 fabulous projects with them. Hop along and you have a chance to win one of the 10 mystery boxes Stamperia is giving away (more details at the end of this post). I feel very honored to be a part of the super awesome international Stamperia Hop and I... Read more →

Hi there – thank you for joining me again to learn a little more about the stunningly versatile ColorSticks from Jane Davenport and Spellbinders. Today I'm going to show you a few different techniques that you can use to make a bright and beautiful card just like this one. For those who don’t know me, I’m Kate Palmer, Aussie artist and devoted Davenpeep, though I’m better known as Sparkle Tart online because I love all things sparkly! You can find... Read more →

Want to make a beautiful background that practically leaps off the paper? Then let me show you how amazing Jane Davenport's INKredible inks look on Yupo paper and you will be racing to the store to grab the supplies and try this yourself. No seriously, I mean RUNNING, sprinting - it's so amazing! Create your own Yupo Background Step-by-Step Spray Yupo with water and drip on a little of each colour of Incredible ink Spritz with water from a height... Read more →

Today I'm going to play with something new, Dina Wakley Pouring Medium - it's fun and a little scary and my friend Kylie thinks I'm about to make a huge mess, she might just be right (though I hope not)! My entire project today will be an experiment! An experiment with products, colors and mediums - not all of them recommended for use with the Dina Wakley Pouring Medium PLUS I've never done an acrylic pour before so I'm learning... Read more →

Today I have a fun little journal page that took me waaaay down the rabbit hole, with one of the new Fowler Face stencils from Artist Cellar! Now for those who find drawing faces from scratch a bit intimidating, face stencils are the perfect way to get started! They give you a wonderful framework that you can play with and make your own. For this page, I decided to use the 1/4 turned face stencil called 'Joy'. To start, trace... Read more →

Can you all tell I've been having a complete blast making Christmas projects lately! It seems everywhere I turn there is another idea for a new project - must be the Christmas sparkles inspiring me. Today I've created a simple Christmas card with a water coloured background, a little stamping and a foiled Christmas sentiment. You can grab the yummy goodies I've used from Lulu Art of course! The steps are fairly simple, so let me show you how to... Read more →

OK how could I resist making an art journal page using Jane Davenport and Kylie Fowler supplies, especially now that Kylie is carrying Jane Davenport supplies in store I kinda HAD to make this page. I was inspired by the riot of colours in the new collage papers and felt like I needed to make an equally riotous and wild page. From there it was a short hop to Frida Kahlo, as it's Frida I think of when I think... Read more →

Today I'm going to share all my best secrets for making a simple Shaker Card, no fussing about just quick, simple and reliable! If that's not enough I've made this card using the beautiful Prima Rose Quartz collection and shimmering Starburst sprays from Lindy's as part of a very special Christmas YouTube Hop with some amazing artists - I can't wait for you to see what Tiffany, Bona, Anita, Lanette and Tantalya have created! SUPPLIES To make a card like... Read more →

Today we are going to check out 5 simple techniques for decorating notebook covers. So why do you need special techniques for notebook covers? Well most of us are actually using the notebook, so the cover needs to be sturdy, and easy to slip into a bag or a bookshelf with other items. If you have 3d flowers or embellishments that protrude too far these can become ripped off, snagged, damaged or at worst damage other items! So it's best... Read more →

Today and I'm being brave and stepping out of my comfort zone a little, to share a bold and vibrant page inspired by the art of Tracy Verdugo. My art journal spread was created using an array of my favourite products from sprays to paints - available from the Lulu Art online store! The basic idea for this page is lots of layers, LOTS of LAYERS, each one different to the last, using different products for each layer, though I... Read more →

Today I felt like creating something with a photo of my cat taken over Christmas - who can resist a holiday snap! I decided to use this as an opportunity to have a little play and experiment with a few new techniques and ideas in my art journal. I think the key to this one was the mixed media layered background using washi and deco tape, light molding paste, watercolor paint and sprays, to add soft and subtle color. Let... Read more →

I'm back with another Mixed Media project for Lulu Art! Today we are going to create a mixed media card from vintage papers, scraps and the fabulous pastes and paints from Prima and Finnabair! There are a few steps involved in creating this card - but each step is so simple you will easily be able to follow along and create your own version, plus it helps that there is a start to finish video at the bottom of each... Read more →

Today we are looking at a simple way to use some of those beautiful paper scraps we all collect. You know you have them, stashed in a draw, bucket or folder, all those pretty pieces you couldn't throw away because they were too lovely, the paper was expensive or you might use that one day... Well, that day is today - so go and grab those fabulous paper scraps and join me in making a paper Bargello card - Sparkle... Read more →

In keeping with this month's theme of RECYCLING we are going to use a few unloved supplies and left-over scraps in today's post, which is a little bit of fun and a cool way to use all those odd flowers you have collected over the years! You guessed it - we are going to alter and Up-cycle some paper flowers, because no-one likes to have random flowers hanging about that you can't use! Keep reading and we will take a... Read more →

Today I'm going to let loose my slightly WEIRD side with a cool idea for using some of that gorgeous packaging that you get on your art supplies! I hope I'm not alone when I buy a new art supply and spend a minute or two marvelling over the beautiful packaging. I mean that's not so weird right - they MAKE the packaging to be attractive, eye-catching and pretty so we want to buy the product! Well, my latest purchase... Read more →

Today I'm creating a page with Masks. If you saw my last post you'll know that this month I'm playing with Masks and Stencils, and throwing in a few Magical Powder Paints for a little touch of sparkle! I can't wait to show you how I've created my own blue wren mask and then used this as negative space in my art to create a simple, but eye-catching art journal page. Gathered together some favourite supplies: I used my journal,... Read more →

To kick off the K.I.S.S.ing Class (that's Keep It Simple Sparkly) I thought we would take a quick look at Masks and Stencils and find out what's the difference between the two. For something that many of us use so often, it can be a little bit challenging to wrap our heads around what is a mask and what is a stencil. Masks and stencils are amazingly fabulous art tools that help you reproduce a particular pattern, image, design or... Read more →

Sparkly hello!!! This week I've had my first look and spent time playing with the new Magical Shakers from Lindy's, released at Creativation 2017 (CHA). There are 10 new colours, and they are a fabulous rainbow of yumminess! Now they are the same formula as normal Magicals (which are a powdered watercolor dye), so you can do all the same things you would normally do, but they are in a fancy new bottle making them easier to use and a... Read more →

Want to create a simple black and white scrapbook layout, that's heavy on the texture and draws attention to your photo? Well, that's what I'm going to create today - so join me in having a play, whip out those sprays, reach for your embossing powders and have your embellishments at the ready. Today I'm creating a layout using minimal color, Black, White and a touch of Gold (vintage, bright and matt) and the sparkle for this project (because you... Read more →

Ever wondered what the simplest way to create a killer dark watercolor image is and still keep it interesting and vibrant? Well for today's project I needed to do exactly that - create a dark image, full of interest and pattern using watercolors! Why - well I'm on a bit of a mission - Karl Urban (one of my Top 10 favourite actors of all time) is going to be at Comic-Con in Sydney 2016 and so am I (insert... Read more →

I don't know about all of you out there but I ADORE Tim Holtz, I've even been lucky enough to attend 2 of his live, in person classes and meet him - yes there is a little hero worship happening - how could I resist an amazing artist and a really genuinely nice guy!! Tim creates THE MOST divine grungy backgrounds and projects and I love following along and creating with him. My problem begins when I've finished creating my... Read more →

Today I'm conducting a little experiment and testing 3 Minc mediums produced by Heidi Swapp - the Minc Reactive Screen Ink, Minc Reactive Mist & Metallic Texture Paste, over 3 popular brands of spray - both sparkly and not sparkly. For my test, I decided to use the extremely sparkly Time Travel Teal - Starburst from Lindy's Stamp Gang, Teal Color Shine from Heidi Swapp and the Cracked Pistachio Distress Spray Stain from Ranger and Tim Holtz. Between these 3... Read more →

Just a quick little clip today, I thought I'd share how I change the colour of paper flowers that aren't quite right for the project I want to use them on. This technique is wonderful, as not only is the colour coverage excellent but it also makes the flower more durable - so it's great for projects that may get a bit of wear! Now there isn't a whole lot to this technique so I won't fuss about creating photo... Read more →

Today I'm going to look at 3 different ways to create vintage or grunge effects using your Lindy's Stamp Gang products. Now there are WAY more than 3 ways to do this, but I thought I'd share my 'go to' techniques, the ones that always work, are practically fool-proof and are all quick to do - the result, instant vintage grungy goodness for any project. 1. Vintage / Grunge Background Begin by glueing scraps of paper onto a tag (or... Read more →