Happy!

Greetings!  This is a late night post for me as days are busy, but it is a happy one!

First off I must share I've joined the Let's Scrap DT - Woot!

This is super exciting as back in the day it was one of my very first teams and now to be back with them is a joy.  There are oodles of changes as well.  Gone are the days of the Ning site.  While this is a bit sad, I think ultimately it is pretty cool the challenge site is now blog based - it makes it a lot easier for all of YOU to play along!  There is also a Facebook page for anyone on that social network so be sure to check us out there too!  This is where the chattiness happens. ;)

My first sketch reveal was with this team thos past Wednesday and here is what I came up with:

I've been working diligently on using my stash and I love this October Afternoon line with the Campbell Soup kid-like images so much.  I couldn't resist using them on this card.  The background here is a heat embossed resist using some of the new ScrapFX cloud stamps and NeoColors II, can you guess how much I love these stamps??! ahahaha!!

What I love about this technique is how it allowed the details of each stamp to still shine through.  Here you can see the word happy much better than in the first picture.  You'll also notice the little confetti speckles in the upper right hand cloud.  The color seeped into these areas yet resisted the clouds - love that.

Here is the sketch I based my design off:

And now it's turn.  Create a card, or LO if you choose, and link it up to the Let's Scrap site for your chance to win a prize from this week's sponsor.  Hope to see you playing along! :)

Until next time, take care!!

1st Car

Hey Sweetie Peeps!  Here today to share up a LO I recently created for ScrapFX featuring my oldest and his new to him car. ;)  Yes, we roll like that.  There are no brand spankin' hot rods round here, but to say he was thrilled with getting my car, as I got a new to me car to fit my goatees and hay in, would be an understatement.

This page started off with a sheet of the new Basic Grey Highline (well I guess it's not that new anymore - ha!) and some gesso.  From there I splashed on some mist with a paintbrush and added my texture with paste using the Tyre Track Stencil (2014177) from ScrapFX.  While I waited for that to dry I layered up my photos with some others papers from the collection's 6x6 pad, outline my title chippie, and cut out my transparency piece (a new item to ScrapFX).

Once my paste was dry I went over it some mist in metallic colors to add a bit of color and then sprinkled that randomly with silver embossing powder while still wet.  A little blast with the heat gun and some additional funky texture was created.

To finish off the page I added in some stamping.  I'm totally hooked on it these days and can't seem to complete a project without it.  Here I used the ScrapFX Gear (2014176) and Hash (2014137) Stamps.  The Hash stamps were used first as a background stamp providing a little interest and breakup to the misted background.  I love these little stamps and know I'll be using them a lot on my mixed media creations.  The Gear stamps were stamped using VersaMark, sprinkled with silver embossing powder, and heat set.  The last touch on the page some outlining with Liquitex fluid ink around the edges of the photo layers and the page itself.  

When I got done with this page I looked at it and thought of the Blues Brothers, LOL.  Don't know why, just did. I was ultimately just glad to have scrapped a page though.  This was the first one done in a long stretch of time.  I'll be back to full mojo soon I think. ;)

Until then thanks for hanging in there with me. :)

Joy Tags - Tutorial

Its hard to believe we're already on major countdown to Christmas!!  I so love this time of year and have been delighting in less hustle, bustle and more peace, comfort, and joy.  Part of the fun for me is taking time to create some beautiful things to adorn presents.  

Tags are such a quick and easy way to do this and with the right string attached who knows they may just wind up on someones tree as a keepsake.  

Here is how you can recreate these cute little Joy tags to deck out your packages in style:

Step One: Cut watercolor paper down to tag size of choice (3x3 shown).  Ink up stamp (ScrapFX Moroccan Tile - 2013351) with VersaMark, sprinkle with embossing powder, and heat set.

Step Two: Spray background generously with mist.  Allow this to dry for a couple seconds then use a baby wipe to pounce away color from embossed areas.

Step Three: Layer some stenciling (ScrapFX Random Dots 2013172 used above) over the embossed background in the upper left and bottom right corners using paste.  Set this aside to dry completely. 

Step Four: Once paste is completely dry, highlight some circles using NeoColors or whatever coloring medium you have on hand.  Sprinkle some gold splats of mist across the tag.  *My apologies for not having a picture of these materials in this step.

Add some washi tape across a strip of burlap and adhere this piece diagonally across the tag.  I used fabric glue to ensure it would stick and hold up to being jostled around.

 

Step Five: Add some modeling paste to a Mini Christmas Tree (2007384) and set aside to dry.  Diecut some letters (or use stickers/chippies/etc.) in black and outline them with a white gel pen.  Adhere the letters 'J' and 'Y' to your washi tape strip.  Brush green mist onto dry tree and adhere to the washi tape strip in place of the letter 'O'.

Step Six: Outline tag with a black pen and add some random dash lines along the edges.

Step Seven: Cut patterned paper to 3x3 (or whatever size you have made you tag).  Stamp a to/from image onto the paper. No worries if you don't have one - just doodle it.  Sprinkle some splats of gold mist across paper.  Outline paper with a black pen and add some little dash lines along the edges.  Adhere this piece to the back of your tag.

*Note I didn't add the patterned paper prior to doing the messy work in order to keep the patterned paper clean from oozes and to cover up anything that may have leaked on back.

Step Eight: Punch a hole in the upper right corner of tag.  Add twine to create a loop and tie.  Your tag is now ready for gifting!

Here is a look at the front:

The back:

And a different angle to check out the fun texture created in some quick and easy steps:

I hope this quickie tutorial inspires you to gear up for some do-it-yourself wrapping worthy of being hung on a tree after.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Have great starts to the weekend and

Take care.

Project Life Inserts

Happy Friday Peeps!  Its been a bit since I've shared any Project Life haps here since I took a kind of hiatus from blogging over the summer.  Life still happens though - funny how that works huh?  I've kept on and my album and ways of doing things is ever evolving.

Card created using ScrapFX Seed Stem and Field of Flowers stamps

 In this post I shared a bunch of sneaks of projects relating to my recent obsession with stamping and need for finding making time to create everyday.  A lot of them were actually bits from Project Life inserts I created.  You see I've found what actually makes me the happiest about Project Life is truly bringing my own art/spin to it and treating it more as an art journal of sorts.

 

ScrapFX Feather Stamp

 

Not only do I get to have a customized look by doing this, but I find that the quotes, imagery, and colors are all more suited for what I want to express.  Rather than trying to fit my family in to a kit, I'm creating a kit that fits my family and there is truly something magical about that! 

Card created using ScrapFX Feather Stamp and Random Dots Stencil

Plus there is the added bonus of artful play time!  I get to take 15-20 minutes and play with goops to create some inserts I think will suit photos I know I've taken - and yes I admit not all the inserts I create are made with certain shots in mind and that is okay too.  I have fun creating them and know that at some point I'm sure I'll use them - if not well at least I created art I enjoy for the day.  The main thing here is I'm doing something I feel is meaningful and that is what I want my album to really express - meaning.  I want the stories to be told through my pictures, journaling, and I want the 'filler' cards to be meaningful little expressions created by me too.  

I'm not saying I won't ever use a store bought journal cards intended for Project Life - I have indeed purchased some - for now though they have found life on regular cards and I love the addition they add there.  I'm not knocking on people who use them either because I adore a lot of various Project Lifers styles out there believe that!  This is just me sharing what works for me and makes me happy. 

 

To see some pages I actually photoed of September haps around here you can head on over to ScrapFX here where myself and fellow DT member Michelle have some pages posted.

 

If you're doing the Project Life thing I'd love for you to leave me a link so I can check out how you do your thing - like I said I admire and enjoy anyone takes on this task.  Its a true labor of love.

 

Until next time, take good care!!  

 

More Fun with Stamping - A Mixed Media Birdhouse

Happy Friday Peeps!  I've continued on with my stamping frenzy and I must say I'm kind of hooked on these feather stamps from ScrapFX:

If you noticed in my last post I used them on just about every project.  I just can't get enough of them and have oodles of ideas flowing.  In keeping with my play/create everyday theme I decided I'd bust out some fabric and stamp on that.  

I have heaps of muslin cloth in my stash and that seemed like a great place to start.  I began by stiffening the fabric with some spray stiffener only I didn't spray it on I brushed it.  Once that was dry - yes I used my handy dandy heat gun to help it some ;) - I pondered how I was going to stamp on it.  My first thought was to use paint, but then I decided I'd try out embossing.  So I mixed up some Lindy's Magical Micas with clear embossing powder, sprinkled it on my VersaMark stamped image, and heated it up.

Booyah!  A beautiful fabric feather.  The material is super stiff now and ready for whatever my heart desires to do with it.  It also blended right into the fabric making it appear as though it actually was printed on it - kind of neat effect I think.  

I played on and made some glittery feathers too!  These were stamped on the stiffened fabric (I stiffened a bunch right away so I could play a lot) with gel medium on fabric and while the medium was still wet I sprinkled it with glitter.  I set them aside to dry and after what you see above is what I got.  I must say it was a little tricky to stamp with the gel.  Definitely had to do a couple test runs to get the image to come out right.

So now what to do with these pretties?? 

One with a little birdie in a bucket and some other little tidbits is rather cute.  The stiffened fabric really worked to my advantage here allowing the feather to stand up nice and tall on its own.

A cluster of two more looks pretty along with a ScrapFX chipboard flourish and some of the floral pieces I had in my stash from when I got ambitious and thought I'd go on a wreath making frenzy a while back - yeah didn't happen, but hey at least the items were on clearance - ha!

All coming together to create a whimsical mixed media altered birdhouse.  Typically I'm not a birdhouse altering person but I had this in my stash (I actually have a lot of these wooden type things in my stash) and felt inspired to give it some life by the current Moodboard Challenge up on the ScrapFX blog.  Do take some time to check it out and join us in playing along!

I used Liquitex Coarse Texture paste on the base, after it was primed with gesso (white), and then coated it with a variety of paints - both store bought and self mixed with Lindy's Magical Micas.  Then it went back and highlighted the areas I wanted black with some more paint.  This took patience I tell you what.  After it was dry I went in with my white pen and added the doodles and started attaching all my embellishments.  Oh and the roof!  The roof is done with burlap, some glitter, and gold mica flakes.  All sides are altered with paint the same as the front.

Since I stamped on some fabric I'm going to link this up to Simon Says Stamp's Monday Challenge Blog where the current challenge is to stamp on something other than paper or cardstock - check!

Thanks for joining me on this adventure today.  Don't forget to head on over to ScrapFX, check out the Moodboard and what my fellow DT members made, and play along for your chance to win a guesting spot!!

Take good care!

Smitten with Stamping

Hi Sweetie Peeps!  Hope this middle of the week is bringing you joy.  In my world we're experiencing chilly temps, bouts of sunshine in between some cloudy days, and pretty much falling back in to the schedule of school/sports/etc..  There is much work to do getting stuff done around here but I was inspired by Ronda Palazzari, through Instagram, and by the new release of foam stamps by ScrapFX to make time for myself and create something every day.

As this close up says - do something.... no matter how much or how little.  Just do something.  It isn't easy to get in this habit but I'm trying my best.  I can think of a zillion other things I could/should be doing but when it comes down to it after I create I'm a better person.  I'm calmer, more grounded, and ready to tackle those zillion things.  So I guess I'm taking the time to say I'm worth it and allowing myself the sanity.  What about you?  Have you noticed this about yourself after creating?  Do you think you're worth it?  I do.  The housework will always be there, but your state of mind and being is something to care for peeps.  Real talk. 

 

 

Some days I just play and art journal.  These are the new foam ScrapFX Feather Stamps - can we say smitten?  I think so.  All I did on this day was stamp, stamp, and prep a journal background.  No clue what I was going to do - just playing - and it was FUN! 

And from my playtime spurs ideas - this is what I'm finding so neat - because I'm not pushing myself so hard to come up with the next big thing my brain is freely open.  I'll be honest in sharing its been a bit since I've felt this loose and carefree in my creating.  Its easy to get caught up in what might be eye catching and I felt like I was losing myself - it was almost uncomfortable to create - a struggle!  Am I the only one who has felt this?

You cannot grow without practicing.  Some things will turn out lovely, others not so much, but practicing is key to growth - making time for that practice beyond the DT pages, or challenge entries, or, or, or is even more key.  I've A LOT of disasters in a baggie that I use to hack up in to bits - haha - they are hideous as whole pieces but sometimes when cut down, punched out, they can work. ;)

A huge thing I desire to grow in and am practicing is my lettering.  I adore letters, being a former early childhood teacher and all how could I not, right? and my printing is something I'm proud of.  I worked on perfecting it for years, thanks to my third grade teacher who had the best printing eva'!!  Shout out to Mrs. Vinton wherever you are, thank you for instilling the love of outstanding printing in me.  But when it comes to other fonts and such I lack.  So I bought the book Creative Lettering - it is marvelous - and I dove in to practice.  This piece is totally inspired by Lori Vliegen of Elvie Studio.  I've longed admired her lettering and work so it was a natural draw to try my hand at her way of doing things.  I know as I go along I'll gain more of my own style and spin on things but for now I practice.  What are you wanting to learn/practicing?

Whatever it may be I say let go of your fears & soar!  You have nothing to lose but everything to gain!!

And that my dear readers is my post for you today.  Some of the above closeups are up in full on the ScrapFX blog right now and if you'd like to see them I'd love to have you visit and let me know what you think.

Thanks so very much for stopping by today, take good care!

A Beautiful Mess - Skissedilla #224

Hello, hello!  Happy Monday to you!  Its that time of week when Skissedilla has just put out a new sketch for you to join us in playing along with.  I've been dying to share my page because I was so thankful to finally have some LO mojo back!!  Do you ever get in those slumps?  Where it just seems like no matter what you put together it just doesn't seem to flow right?  Yeah I was there.  Anyhoo, the following sketch helped me get over the hump - YAY!

The lovely Linda created this sketch and whether you're in need of getting over a scrappy slump like I was or just love to use sketches as your starting point ( this is me too!  love me some Skissedilla sketches :D ) I do hope you take some time to hop on over, be inspired by the fantabulous creations from the other DT gals, and join on in!

My page started with some background play to create a rainy day effect.  I had some fun with mists and watercolors over the top of the stenciling I did with my ScrapFX Clouds and Raindrops stencil (after it dried completely - ahh the agony of waiting!).  In my head I had envisioned something bolder turning out but in the end I really like how subtle the effects actually are.  Up close and personal they are a tad more vibrant.

This is the entire top portion of the 'rainy' background.

I then moved on to playing with the new ScrapFX stamps!!  Oh me, oh my they are fantabulous.  More on this soon as I have my reveal coming up for this release, but gosh I'm having a ton of fun with these.  I used a variety of mediums to stamp and emboss with and varied the materials I stamped on also to create a little scene.  What I love is this is very much what the fields around our house look like!

Finally all of it came together with my picture and some paper layers, my ScrapFX chippies, and some additional embellishments to create my page - A Beautiful Mess.  Indeed she was - LOL.  After so many rainy days here throughout June our fields were flooded badly.  My baby girl decided when it was finally a clear day she'd go exploring and check them out.  Well when she walked out in what she thought was a safe area she discovered the mud wasn't so forgiving.  She got stuck and had to really work herself out of it and this is what she came back looking like! O.o  Totally funny.

So there you have it - after the rain, comes a beautiful mess so always weather the storm. 

Have a really terrific Monday friends!

Confetti Card

Monday has blown in around here - literally!!  I've been chasing things around the yard throughout the morning - even trying to anticipate what may be next and loading it down with weight - not really helping but that's okay.

I've got a card to share today - I know, I know - a card??  Yep - its been a while - other than my tape card challenge here - card mojo was hanging out elsewhere - but I found it - being under the pressure of needing a birthday card in about 30 minutes or less had nothing to do with - promise. ;0)

I added some stars to the background grid paper using VersaColor and a Crafter's Workshop stencil - these inks are really juicy and colorful - then I layered on stickers and paper.

Confetti is all over the place right now - I liked what I saw some people doing - didn't really think it was my thing though - Suzann's Confetti card challenge at MSW put me over the edge however.  I had to play along since I'd been collecting a bucket of punched out circles long before confetti was considered cool - no seriously - I was - I'll even admit I wasn't the brains behind saving it all - my hubbie was!!! - He's so great - love him to pieces!

Here I used a ScrapFX frame (Decorative Frame C Classic 2012046) to hold my sentiment and confetti - I stamped the frame with VersaMark, sprinkled silver Zing! embossing powder on it, and heated away - then I used an ink pad to color the rest of the frame - a baby wipe was used to wipe away ink from the embossed areas - frame was backed with stamped journal block - then sprayed with adhesive - confetti sprinkled on - I was able to move the confetti a bit to my liking before it dried - once it did - it was stuck for real!

If you have a fun project using confetti or any great tips I'd love to see/read them!!  Link me up - I'll stop by and let you know I saw it! 

Have a really fantabulous day and thanks so much for stopping by!