She was a good egg

Hi Everyone,
I'm up on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts blog today with this altered tin.

My crafty mojo has been on a major hiatus the past couple of weeks.  You know when you sit down and everything you make is just blah? Or you just sit there and stare at all of your supplies and you've got no ideas? That's been me.  I decided to just play.
I started by taking the Feathers and some PaperArtsy Infusions to colorize them.  I gave each feather a layer of gesso.  Once the gesso is dry I made a puddle of white paint and sprinkled in some infusions.  The infusions will react with the paint, but if you lightly spritz it with water they really come to life.  I dipped and dragged the feathers through the paint.  On a few of them I sprinkled some extra infusions on top of the first layer and spritzed with water. I inked the edges(on the feather I used on this project I used Peacock Feathers) and added a bit of gold using a paint pen. Now I have a whole bunch of feathers in different colors and shades for future projects. 

A while back I got a blank tin from Gina(Ms. Gypsy Soul) and I decided it was time to use it.  I painted the tin using a layer of clear gesso.  I added a crackle glaze from Deco Art.  It's a super fine crackle and I ended up covering most of it up with my paint job, but in certain areas the crackle peeks through.  

The main color is Dina Wakley Turquoise mixed with a hint of Umber.  The speckles were added using Distress Oxide Sprays in Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain.   I wanted the tin to look like a robin egg.  

For the inside of the tin I added Tim Holtz Collage paper to the shallow side. I used collage medium to adhere the paper to the tin.  Using water on my finger I ran it around the edge of the tin to rip the paper.  I didn't want it to be exact in the tin.  If you peek there are little spaces where the silver of the tin can be seen.  The frayed and wrinkled edges make me happy.  You all know by now that perfection is not my thing!I added some clipping stickers and edged the paper with a gold paint pen. I love how it looks like loose gold leaf on the ragged edges.  

On the deep side of the tin I cut a piece of paper to fit the back and glued it in using collage medium.  I took one of the Scalloped Tin Inserts and ran it though my 3d Kaleidoscope embossing folder.  Using my finger I ran a thin layer of white paint over the surface.  Before it was dry I rub it to expose the raw chipboard underneath.  I ran my Hickory Smoke Oxide pad over the top to age it too.  The inside edge was inked gold using the paint pen. 

The good egg fairy is sitting on a small plastic egg that I smushed so it was dented on either side.  This gave me a flat surface to glue to the bottom of the tin and a concave side to sit a second egg in.  She is propped forward by placing a small wooden die behind her.

The fairy is a tiny Tim Holtz paper doll that was coated in clear gesso and colored using distress markers.  She has tiny shrink plastic wings and a crown.  The "good egg" was trimmed out of a dictionary and glued to her dress using collage medium. 

To finish the outside of the tin I layered up three washi tapes and glued them to the tin. I used a rub on word in the bottom corner and used foam tape to attach the feather.

I feel like I am back in the groove and hope to start making more projects! 

Can you tell I am ready for Spring? What do you do to break out of a creative funk?

Jess

Simon Says Stamp Whatever the Weather

Try it on Tuesdays- Powder It

Snarky New Year!

Happy New Year from this party animal!
If you made it until midnight, then you stayed up later than me.  I never make it until midnight.  I have a little project for you today that shows you that I really know how to party.

I used the Tiny Matchbox Theatre from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts to make my party animal box. 

 I covered the box with old book paper.

I used Dina Wakley Paints to add some pops of color.  The edges have some Distress Crayon in Hickory Smoke and Black Soot. 

The image inside is from Lisa's Altered Art and it is popped up using foam tape.  I added the little party hat and book.  There's some fun washi tape behind her just for visual interest.  

I hope you have an amazing 2018! 

Jess

Butterfly Dreams

This month our theme at Emerald Creek is Anything Goes.

Do you ever get an idea and just run with it? I was playing with the Butterfly Stamp and it happened to fall on her head.  I just kind of ran with it.   

I used a ton of embossing powders to make all of the butterflies.  Here's the rundown of colors: 

Salted Shamrock Embossing Powder

Salted Navy Embossing Powder

Thanksgiving Embossing Powder

Candy Orange Embossing Powder

Candy Blue Embossing Powder

Sweet Valentine Embossing Powder

Chinese New Year Embossing Powder

Hanukkah Embossing Powder

I colored the butterflies using Distress Markers, Distress Crayons, and Dina Wakley Scribble Sticks.  

I used one of Tim Holtz's Etc Tags.  These are a super thick board and come in three sizes.  This is the smallest tag.  I started with a thin layer of gesso that I smeared on with my fingers.  I added some paper using my Distress Collage Medium. 

I covered the board with Dina Wakley Media Paints and Distress Paints. 

Once the paint was dry I stamped my Kimilese 3 Stamp in Jet Black Archival ink. I added another couple pieces of paper on top since my original layer was pretty well covered.  I also splattered paint all over the tag. 

Once this was done I just piled on the embellishments.  I placed my girl on first and then decorated around her.  I love her necklace made out of Amethyst Gemstones and a teeny Tim Holtz butterfly. 

I love the little butterflies I made out of Shrink Plastic.  

Don't forget to pop over to the Emerald Creek Blog for your chance to enter this month's dare and win $50 to the store.  

Jess

Salted Shamrock Embossing Powder

Salted Navy Embossing Powder

Thanksgiving Embossing Powder

Candy Orange Embossing Powder

Candy Blue Embossing Powder

Sweet Valentine Embossing Powder

Chinese New Year Embossing Powder

Hanukkah Embossing Powder

Butterfly Stamp

Kimilese 3 Stamp

Amethyst Gemstones

Distress Crayon Collage Tutorial

I've been having a lot of fun using paper napkins.  I have never used them for crafting, but a group I trade with opened my eyes to this awesome medium.  I have been asked to put together a tutorial, so here it goes. I am making bookmarks here, so they will look smaller than the image above, but I did everything exactly the same.

For the first layer you will need your Distress Collage Medium, one of the underlayers of the printed napkins, and cardstock(I am just using the cheap stuff from the craft store).  Spread a thin layer of the Collage Medium all over your paper and cover it with the napkin.  I squish it on there so I get wrinkles and bumps.  Add a second layer of Collage Medium on top of the napkin.  You can let it air dry or use your heat tool to dry it.  

Scribble on several colors of Distress Crayon and blend with your fingers.  The crayon moves so smoothly over the collage medium. 

You can see I didn't worry about getting it all the way to the edges.  I am going to keep layering, so I am not worried about patches of blank space. 

Use a stencil to add on texture paste.  You can let it air dry or dry it with your heat tool.  Don't forget to clean your stencil right away.  

The texture paste on the left has been scribble on with Distress Crayons.  The image on the right has a paper napkin burnished onto the texture paste using my finger ans a bit of collage medium.  So there are two ways you can do this step.

I added my image and then stamped around it using Jet Black Archival and Hydrangea.  

I added a Small Talk sentiment and used the Black Soot Crayon around the edges. 

To complete the bookmark I used a black and white pen in a random fashion all over the piece.

Here's the one with the napkin.  Same techniques, but it has a totally different esthetic.

Here are some of the others pieces I have made using this technique.

I am entering these into a few challenges:

Try it On Tuesdays- Vintage Photo

Frilly and Funkie- It isn't Easy Being Green(paper napkin layers)

A Vintage Journey- Spring is in the Air

Anything But Cute-Earth Day(recycled napkins and used earthy tones)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and try it for yourself!

Jess

Don't go breaking her heart

Stop by Altered Pages to meet the Queen of Hearts.  I have a full step by step tutorial up today.  

Jess

Tim Tag for December

Ok, so my last post wasn't the last for the year! I managed to get my Tim tag done for the month.  I still have to play catch up on a couple that I missed.  I think my resolution will be to get each tag done next year.

I love how sparkly it is! Perfect for ringing in the New Year!

Jess

In addition to Tim's challenge I am entering this into a couple others as well.
Mixed Media Monthly Silver and Gold

Frilly and Funkie Holiday Hues

I don't color inside the lines

Yes, it's true, sometimes I don't color inside the lines.  Art is supposed to be freeing.  When I saw this quote I knew I had to create something using it.  Stop by the Robin's Nest to see the wood panel I made.

Mechanical Heart

 Stop by Altered Pages and see my steampunk mechanical heart card.

What have you been crafting?

Jess

He's got your number

I've got an art journal page up on the Altered Pages blog today.  Come over and check it out!

What have you been crafting?

Jess

Tweet bags

My first tutorial for Altered Pages is up today!

Here is a peek at the bag I show you how to make step by step.

Here's another I made using basically the same technique, but it's a smaller bag.

And a teeny tiny bag too.  

These bird images from Altered Pages are just fantastic.  You probably spied some Dew Drops from The Robin's Nest too.  

On a side note, I know I have been pretty quiet on here lately.  I have been working hard to get all my design team projects ready and I am starting a new job.  I have taken a big leap and left the company I was with for 15 years.  I am looking forward to more time with my family and my craft room.  

I cannot wait to show you all the fun things I have been working on!

What have you been crafting?

Jess