Row House Altered Art Project

 I cut this little row house from matboard and tried to do a full fledged mixed media project, but generally I try to resist the urge to add everything but the kitchen sink to my projects, so I will let you decide if this is really a MM project...  Nevertheless I tried to create a balanced composition and clever design.  My sixth grade graduation was some big day for me and our class rehearsed the song, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," performing a delightful rendition.   My Grandmother bought me a new dress and shoes to match, which was rare for me, and I was so proud to stand on that state and receive the Presidential Academic Award - signed by George W. Bush!  What a fond memory...

 I printed out this sweet vintage girl image and lots of little lemons to recreate this wonderful memory.  This was me, curly hair and ragged clothes, but that song made me feel like a million dollars...

 I printed the text and inked it watered down inks.  I added a piece of costume jewelry from my Grandma's stash and some hand dyed silk ribbon.  I felt like these pretty papers were pattern and "texture" enough so I ended with that.  This is such a special piece to me, even though there was no stamping involved!  :)

I'm linking up to A Vintage Journey for their Home Sweet Home challenge HERE, and to Frilly and Funkie for their Stamps be Gone challenge HERE.  Thanks for popping in!

Sometimes I Make Ugly Things Pretty Journal Page

 Today I am sharing this rather raw journal page, which I created because I was struggling with ruining my art as I try to build layers and layers.  I often regret covering up the best parts, especially when it was prettier before I added more...  I know you can relate people!  Anyway, I decided that sometimes my work will end up better because of it trying to add dimension, and other times worse, but it's all part of the process.  For me, I am learning when to quit while I'm ahead and when to recognize that I don't have to add more just because.

 I did some doodle lettering and filled in the spaces with a Sakura gelli roll pen - FUN!  Added some great dimension to my flat painted background.

 You can see how shiny it is here.

 Here's a closeup of some stencil work with ink spray.  I mix Dr. PH Martin's liquid acrylic watercolor with water and use a mini mister.  This stuff is AMAZING and dries permanent!!!  No smudging when you try to build over it.  This stencil was store bought, though I usually make my own from file folders and scissors.

Here you can see some etching I did in the wet paint layers.  Love doing this!  The dots were made by stamping with the end of my paintbrush.  I'm linking up to Balzar Designs for the Journal Every Day linky party HERE and to Mixed Media Monthly Challenge HERE, where I used the inspiration colors and repetition in the leaves.  Hope you enjoyed this peek, let me know what you think.  :)

Embossed Fall Flower Card with Penny Black Stamps

 I combined two of my favorite things right now - Penny Black stamps and this Powder Keg pumpkin embossing powder to create this collage style card.  I cut a piece of text paper to size and dipped it in watered down Distress Inks.  I used Dried Marigold and Antique Linen.  I heated it to dry it, then embossed my all time favorite stamp EVER, this Penny Black border, in the pumpkin EP.

 I seriously love this powder!!!

 I decided to stamp the flower in black and watercolor it with Distress Inks.  I really need one of those water reservoir brushes...

 I added one my favorite little text stickers by Heidi Swapp, which I inked a bit and some patterned paper at the bottom to fill the card.  Then decided to make a loopy bow with vintage seam binding and some twine and a button.

I'm linking up to Penny Black Allsorts HERE, to Craft-Dee BowZ HERE, to Craft Stamper Magazine HERE, and to Word Art Wednesday #201 HERE, all for their Anything Goes Challenges.  Thanks for the look!

Grateful Moments Fall Card

I guess you can tell I have been on an embossing powder kick with my cards!   This week I played with several different powders, but this is my FAVORITE EVER!  I picked up this sweet heart stamp on clearance at Michael's for 50 cents.  I used Powder Keg's pumpkin custom blended embossing powder with clear Versamark ink for Retro Sketches challenge #181.

 

Look at the color variation this powder creates!  I fussy cut the embossed image and layered with some Authentique paper and a Tim Holtz border die.

 This is one of my favorite dies and I have several in this line.  Next up, I want to emboss the die with this powder!

 I added some gold twine for soft detail and distressed the edges of my card, curling up the corners.  I decided to sponge the edges of the card base and used Really Rust by SU!

I'm linking up to Retro Sketches for sketch #181 HERE and to Simom Says Stamp Wednesday for their Die Crazy challenge HERE.  Thanks for visiting!

Tim Holtz September 2015 Tag

My take on the Tim Holtz September 2015 tag.  I was unable to reproduce the alcohol background that Tim demonstrated this month, so I dug out some Distress Inks and went to work.

I chose the new Blueprint Sketch, Seedless Preserves, and Peacock Feather Distress Inks to create my background.  No, I still don't have a craft mat, so I use sheets of wax paper.

I found a great pack of text paper at Tuesday Morning last week, 25 sheets for $3 and thought it would be perfect to use for inking backgrounds, so I adhered it to my tag.

The colors soaked into the paper beautifully, but I wanted to tone it down a bit.

So I added some white Distress paint in areas.

At the half way point in most of my projects I just get going and forget to take photos...  My Staz On ink pad had dried up so I couldn't do the acetate technique.  I had recently been cleaning and organizing my 8.5 x 11" paper file and came across some Sheer Heaven vellum like material.  I decided I would try it for the first time.  I have had it for 8 or more years and never once used it, don't know why...  So I stamped my butterfly and dragonflies (Hero Arts) onto the material.  I then heat set it and let me tell you it did not curl or wrinkle in any way.  That was the selling point for the product in the first place.  I then inked the backs of each critter with distress ink and cut them out.

I did not have any clear texture paste, so I decided to use clear embossing.  I picked up an old background image on red rubber and inked it with Versamark.  The stamp had black ink on it so in some places that came through, which I really liked!

I decided that the images were small on this big tag and a border would help fill the empty space, so I took my new Wow! Embossing powders and inked the edges of the tag and embossed.  The color really went well with the Distress inks.

I layered an inky piece of book page across the top for variation and added some silver string.  I finished the tag with

I really love the subtle embossing over the inked background.  The butterfly wings had to be creased to pop out because the Sheer Heaven does not want to be manipulated, but in the end I was pleased with the material.

I added some tacks at the bottom corners for detail and stamped Always (Penny Black) to go with the word Friends in the charm.  I made this tag for our month RAK at the local group, where we shower one person with a handmade item of their choosing.  Jean wanted bling and butterflies.  This is a little grungy, but I tried to add the bling just for her.  :)  Thanks for visiting!  I'm linking up to Tim's September lineup HERE and to WOW! Embossing Powder for their September challenge HERE.