Oct 8, 2016

Dark and Moody and Steampunk with PaperArtsy


Happy Saturday to you!  My wee one is taking his green belt testing today - how fun!  I have another dark and moody card to share with you.  The PaperArtsy topic for these two weeks is Die Cuts. To further build up my collage, I added a gear die (mailed to me from my lovely friend Anne (Redanne) - thank you!)  I used Cloisonne embossing powder over the gear and rather loved the result!  I added in some stamped clock faces and this amazing PaperArtsy image by Lynne Perrella.  The flowers were made with the Tattered Florals die using crinoline and colored with inks.  They are simply layered and secured with a brad.  The material crinkles well and holds its shape.  Super easy and lots of inky fun!


 You can find the tutorial of how I made this background over at Stamps & Stencils HERE.  


I'm sharing with:
PaperArtsy - Use Die Cuts
SanDee&amelie: Anything Goes Steampunk/Industrial
Vintage Cafe Card Challenges: Steampunk
Scrappy Land: Anything Goes (gear, clock & honeycomb all by Sizzix)
Through the Craft Room Door: Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks: Die Cuts
Chocolate Baroque: Color Challenge

28 comments:
Labels: , , , , ,

Oct 6, 2016

Hello Autumn Mixed Media Owl Canvas

*  This is my second post today - please keep scrolling or click "older posts" for an exciting announcement and giveaway.  *  


We have a new challenge at Stamps and Stencils and I will be this month's hostess.  Our challenge theme for October is Elements of Nature.  Here's how I've described the theme, "Whether you are inspired by the glorious world around us with the changing seasons, or tempted to use elements of nature in your art work, this month we'd love to see your nature inspired entries.  Anything goes as long as you include a natural element in your art which can be either either stamped or an actual item! As always you need to include stamping or stenciling."


I recently purchased a digital plaid background bundle from the company Creative Market.  As a result, they sent me free weekly downloads and I got this fall watercolor leaf package for free.  You can get this download through 10/9/16 HERE.  I can't wait to see what freebies they offer next week!  These leaves are amazing and yes, I printed and fussy cut every last one!  But it was fun to do because they are such glorious and vibrant eye candy.

Sadly, I forgot to take a pic of my background.  I used a Finnabair dots stencil and crackle stamp and Lindy's Stamp Gang Sprays.


My main idea was to use a square tea tin lid to build a nest for my sweet owl.  I have a very nostalgic and sweet story of me and my grandmother seeing an owl in the wood near our home and this piece brings back all of those precious memories...


Here you can see the tin a little better.  It is a beautiful copper.  I cut a piece of wood grain paper to go inside and layered with basket filler.  I added in several of those lovely tiny pine cones from a girl scout trip to the eastern most elevated area of the US, in North Carolina.  Man, I love those itty bitties!  I built up my layers by using twigs underneath.


I just had to add this banner, one of the beautiful free downloads from a different set.  Of course, to me it is a pun.  I love the idea of this owl looking back to me from his autumnal setting saying hello!  But then, I'm a silly and imaginative girl...  Happy autumn to you my friends!


I'm also sharing with:
I used the following sprays from the Go Greased Lightening Set:
Rizzo's Rowdy Red, Sandra Dee Sepia, Tears on My Pillow Tangerine
STAMPlorations: Anything Goes Mixed Media w/Stencil
30 comments:
Labels: , , , ,

Distress and Dies for DIY Designer Paper Layers


I'm starting out on a new journey as a Tutti Designs Design Team member and am sharing my first post today!!!  I'm over the moon to get to work with these amazing, intricate dies.  Click HERE to view my first post with all the details of making your own designer paper layers to coordinate with your die cuts.  I'll be sharing a new inspirational card each Thursday - how fun!


I'm even more excited to share with you the chance to win the entire September new release.  Just like the Tutti Designs Facebook page and comment that you did so.  Add an additional entry for sharing on FB or your blog & comment that you did so.  Visit the page HERE today and please comment that you came from my blog.  Best of luck!

I'm sharing my card with:
19 comments:
Labels: , , , ,

Oct 5, 2016

An Autumn Day Nature Inspired Mixed Media Canvas


It's my turn to host a challenge at Anything But Cute and I've chosen the theme An Autumn Day.  Here's how I describe the challenge, "I could not help but chose October as my month to hostess here at Anything But Cute. This month, we want to see your creations inspired by An Autumn Day.  Anything goes mixed media with an fall color palette, or Autumnal elements.  Be inspired by nature with the sights, smells, and sounds of this beautiful season.  We cannot wait to see the amazing artwork you turn out!"  



My project had a quite unusual start...  My friend Bonnie shared this amazing place mat with me and I decided to use it as a stencil, though it is quite thick.  I used DecoArt crackle paste because I thought the thickness would result in some cool crackling.  It did!


I used Lindy's sprays over my dried crackled board.  I adhered a Prima frame over a remnant of lace.


I layered oodles of Prima flowers with crocheted flowers, string, resin flowers, and Art Stones.


The squirrel came from THIS pin, a Graphics Fairy free printable.  I wanted to use it in honor of our lovely leader Pamellia's birthday today.  Please stop by her blog today to wish her a happy Autumn Day/Birthday!  She and I are both squirrel lovers and I just had to create a project with this sweet image in her honor.  :)  Thanks so much for all that you do for our team!  I hope you will be inspired by this challenge theme and our design team's inspirational projects.  Thanks so much for visiting today and Happy Autumn!


I'm also sharing with:
35 comments:
Labels: , , , , ,

Tom Sawyer Autumn Journal Cover


I am truly on top of the world today!  I am joining the frilly side of the Frilly and Funkie Design Team as a guest for their Author Author challenge.  Sue Czosek is our host.  Here is how she describes the challenge:  "There are so many wonderful books that inspire the mind to imagine the worlds created within them.  Think fairy tales, mysteries, romances or even science fiction and use that to inspire your art.  Provide an explanation of how the book and author inspired your project.”

I chose to do a tribute to Mark Twain because of my love for his books Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  As a child, I truly wanted to be just like Tom Sawyer and was always scheming up a runaway plan that involved living off the river!  Oh boy, my poor mama!  I found this image from a movie through Wikipedia.


I have a few purchased journals that were in desperate need for a facelift.  I started by covering the cover with book pages, a tribute to the theme.  While my adhesive was drying, I added some IndigoBlu Megaflake in chocolate box randomly.  Next, I used Tim's layering stencil with Prima's Art Basics Modeling Paste over the pages.


After my background was dry, I sprayed a variety of Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays and let them muddle.

I used Rusty Hinge, Dried Marigold, and Vintage Photo Distress Inks to color my die cut leaves.  The Fall Foliage Thinlet Dies work perfectly with manilla card to create sturdy dies.  I usually ink my paper first then sponge additional ink if necessary after they are cut.


I built up a group of torn book pages and layered my image bundle over some broken twigs.  I decided to add the leaves as though they had just fallen on the page, rather than in an arrangement.  I curled each one and used hot glue to adhere.


I added some at the opposite corner and adhered burlap ribbon to create a closure.


I just love those pooling inks peeking out!


I adhered one of the dies from the Friendship Words thinlet set.  We can't always be perfect, but we can try our best, live our our grand dreams, and most importantly be genuine and transparent.


As you can see this cover is quite bulky, but I think it will work well as a journal because of the spiral binding and hard covers.  I can still open it and let the pages lay flat.





I used these LSG sprays:
(Sandra Dee Sepia, Tears on My Pillow Tangerine)
(Cafe au Lait)

I'm also sharing with:
29 comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Popular Posts