Always Fab!!

I've been itching to do another layout!!! So, I went looking for inspiration.....I had seen a sketch at Creative Imaginations....so I headed back there again! It is the August Sketch....I know....a bit late but this sketch is timeless and I have just gotten around to it!!

I pulled out my "BELOVED" collection by IOD/Creative Imaginations. Don't you just love this paper!! I SURE DO!!

Of course, I had to add my twist to it....that's the beauty of sketches....a great place to get the creative juices going and to spur your imagination. Instead of the paint splots....I used flowers and paper twirls. I adhered the strips to the page by sewing them down. I just love using textiles so I pulled out a doilie I had kicking around and used it.

PS....did you notice I didn't use any DISTRESS INK??? Now, that's a TWIST!!

The photos are self portraits of my lovely daughter Melysa. The journaling reads..."You are...loving, kind, conscientious & thoughtful. You make me proud to be your mom!" (and she does!!!)

come meet Jack!!

The challenge this week is "SOMETHING SPOOKY" over at Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge Blog.

.....I'm not much for Halloween or spooky things so this challenge was definitely a stretch for me. Off I went to try and find something. While in Southern NH, I came across this wooden Jack-O-lantern and thought...I can work with this!

While on this road trip I stopped by a store I've always seen but never gone to....I decided, "What the Heck" it's as good of a day as ever to stop...and stop I did. Come to find out, they are the New England distributor for Hero Arts. I found this MOST AMAZING Fabulous Flourish stamp!! Isn't it just the most FABULOUS stamp ever??? I am totally in love with it!!

For accents on "Jack", I used Distress Stickles to create the ribbing. For a little added texture....I used some Crackle Accents. That stuff is way to fun also!! After I squirted it onto "Jack", I used a paint brush to spread it around.

Surprise.....Surprise.....Surprise.....I used my Tattered Floral and Tattered Leaves Dies.....(I wonder if one can wear a die out....I HOPE NOT!!)

Do you see those poofy string flowers??? They are way fun too!!! I used some vintage crochet thread, wrapped it around my fingers, tied in the center, cut at loops and then colored them.

What a wonderful way to bring it all together....A cardboard stem.....I know...I know...not very "SPOOKY" but it is what it is.... ;)

So.....put your "SPOOK" on (the Design Team sure did).......and link your creations to the Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge Blog.....can't wait to see your creations!!!

Anything but a Card........

Anything but a card (the new challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show)......I thought....how bout a decorative frame???!?!

Got a bag of goodies from Simon Says Stamp and I couldn't wait to play with them....and play I did! Did you know they have free shipping on all order over $70???


Where oh where to start....the whole frame began with a Prima Mask and some Gesso and the creative process began! I placed the mask onto the frame and carefully dabbed on the Gesso. 

When the Gesso was dry I created an acrylic paint wash and painted it on the wood. For additional color, I added Broken China Distress Ink 

and Sepia Archival Ink.

 

I think my favorite element is the Grungeboard letters. I colored the Alphas with 

Sepia Archival Ink, dabbed on some

Tarnished Brass Crackle paint.  When dry, I wrapped each letter with some vintage crochet thread. 

Did you see the Tissue Tape that I wrapped around one of the sides??? That stuff is just sooo much fun!

I got my hot little hand on  Wendy Vecchi Art Parts Modeling Film!  It's really hard to see in the flower cluster but if you look close....it's there. Oh....I am loving Tim's new Tattered Leaves Die...what a wonderful accent to the Tattered Floral Die.....my FAVORITE!!! Everything was adhered using Multi Medium.


SO.....head on over to Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge blog.....check out the Design Teamies "out of the world" creations!!! Then pull out your favorite goodies and CREATE.....who know you could win a FABULOUS prize or a Top 3 Blinkie......

Can't wait to see your creations!!!

while I was away......

What a FABULOUS weekend!!! Went out to Iowa to hang with the owners of Reminisce and the DT gals....what a WONDERFUL TIME was had....I have so much to share about that I will save it for another post!!

So.........Saturday night, after spending a, pretty much, internet free 3 days....I decided to hope on over to one of the fan pages and low and behold...there was an announcement....I read it and squealed!!!

The announcement for IOD ~ Iron Orchid Designs....Design Team

Suzy West
Lynne Forsythe
Karen Wilson
Amy Teets
Wendy Pope Lawrence

Now how cool is that!!! Am so looking forward to working this team and the girls at IOD!!!

This ssssssooooo ROCKS!!

and they say........METAL!!

Yes.......Simon Says.......METAL!!

I will be delivering this card to a sweet friend who lost her father unexpectedly. I know the depth of this loss and wanted to create something special...

I went to my trusty Tattered Floral Die as I had not used it with metal. Surprise, Surprise...I wanted to try something different, kinda mix things up....I decided to use Alcohol Inks on the fabric and Dimensional Pearls on the metal and I loved the end result.

I also created some inchies from Ten Seconds Studio Metal, which I placed in the background. If you look closely...you can see them. I ran them through various Texture Fades. Some were colored with Alcohol Ink others...NOT!

The edges of the paper were run through the Distrezz-It-All for the finishing look!!





I originally created this as a 4x6 card but found that because it was a bit bulky...it wouldn't fit in the envelope...so I mounted it on a 5x7 distressed piece of paper.....Hope she likes it!!

So, make sure you pop on over to the

Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge blog

and check out the rest of the the Teamies FABULOUS, BEYOND AMAZING creations....

they never cease to amaze me!!

Look forward to seeing your AMAZING creations!!

PS....DAD...I miss you and ALWAYS will!!!

Mist-ified Card Class....

Do you like some of the techniques I use on my creations......I am teaching two classes!

 

MIST-IFIED CARD CLASS

Do you want to learn more about Ranger products?
We will be coloring papers using a "Distress Reinker Mixture"
(Mini-Mister, Distress Reinker, Perfect Pearls and Water) to create 3 Fall themed cards. 

  Join us for this fun filled, inky class!!
You will go home with a Distress Reinker Mister Mixture of your own.

 

 

stop by and PRE-REGISTER for the classes at........

 

OCTOBER 19th - 6:00 pm - $20.00 per person

Call Scrappin Soul Sisters - Concord, NH - (603) 717-7136

REGISTRATION DEADLINE......October 16th

OCTOBER 21th - 6:00 pm - $20.00 per person
Call Generations of Memories - Littleton, NH at (603) 444-7333
REGISTRATION DEADLINE......October 18th

 

CLASS SIZES ARE LIMITED.......so REGISTER early!!!

I look forward to meeting you crafty ladies and gents!!!

Numbers....

Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge Blog is at it again!!! Real simple challenge....

NUMBERS

Well now, you wouldn't think it would be an issue...rather a NO BRAINER but I was stumped...maybe cause my "crafting" space is in flux...but that's for another time!!

A while back, I came across this ugly colored "crackled" desktop storage box (I wish I had taken a picture!!) so LET THE CREATIN' BEGIN!!

The process began with spritzing the box with Black Soot and Broken China Reinker Mixtures 

(Mini Mister with a dropper full of Reinker Ink, a dash of Perfect Pearls and water). As it was a "nonporus" surface, I dried the wetness quickly. When the box was covered, I sealed it with Super Seal by Creative Imaginations.

I then gobbed on Fiber Paste by Golden....OH LOVE THIS STUFF!! As it was drying, I spritzed it again with the above Reinker Mixtures. I hastened the drying process with my Heat Tool. When it was almost dry, I brushed on some Perfect Pearls. 

Now....remember NUMBERS is the challenge. So I decided I would put 2011 on the box therefore I could keep it for myself and put receipts in it or give it to my daughter as a keepsakes box as she graduates in 2011. I envisioned a large 2 but didn't have one so I made my own from GrungeBoard. Inked it with Black Soot, texturized it using Tim Holtz Collage Texture Fade.

I have been waiting for what seems like FOREVER for the release of Tattered Leaves die. I got a look at it upon release and I knew.....I JUST HAD TO HAVE IT. Yesterday, I FINALLY got my hands on it!!! Oh, I was in heaven.

What a wonderful addition to my Tattered Floral die!! My favorite medium to use with these dies is linen. You can stamp on it or color it with any Inky mixture. After it has been saturated with color, I ball it up and rub it around the palm of my hand. When the fabric is dry, I paint on Multi Medium and dry it with my Heat Tool. The Multi Medium allows you to form the petals and leaves. THE AWESOMENESS!

 

For the leaves, I spritzed on Bundled Sage and then dipped the edges of the leaves in a puddle of Peeled Paint. The end result was PERFECT.

I chose a ribbon that I wanted to put behind the flowers but once it was not exactly the color I wanted. So, I spritzed it with Shabby Shutters Reinker Mixture and dried it quickly. It was perfect.

The finishing touch to the box was the addition of Foundations Box Feet. The finish color did not match the Perfect Pearls or the Hardware I had used. There was a really easy fix to this problem, I pulled out my Applicator, Felt and Gold Metallic Alcohol Ink and dabbed it onto the feet. It was just what what they needed!!

So Ladies and Gents....put on your thinkin' caps, pull out your creative goodies and let the juices flow!! I can't wait to see your AMAZING creations!!!

Be sure to link your goodness to the Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge Blog to win a Fab prize and your chance at the coveted "BLINKIE"