....UNPLUGGED!

I have just returned from the most 

AMAZING, EXHAUSTING, BEAUTIFUL vacation to Alaska, 

one could ever wish for. 

Not only were the sights good but the company was even better as I traveled 

with my Aunt, Mom and Seeeester!!

Not only was I unplugged for almost 2 weeks.....

I didn't create one blessed thing!!

That combination can make for a

rather irritable girl.

Upon return home....there were the mounds of laundry,

house cleaning, computer work....

so this morning, I was about to clean up my work surface

and I decided to have a 

create with what is on your work surface challenge...

so here it is....

my "misfits" tag!

Now....I am only allowed to use what is on my

crafting table....

I did pull out a pair of "Timmy" scissors 

and his Tiny Attacher!!

Now the colors I had to work with...

Radiant Rain ~ Shimmering Mist

Teal Zircon

Butternut

Radiant Rain ~ Color Concentrate

Jasper Red

Probably wouldn't have normally chosen this color combo....

but that's what sooo fun about this challenge!

The twine was a bright pink....

I toned it down with a bit of Butternut Shimmering Mist.

I had some Viva Decor Crackle paint there also...

along with the cardboard tag that already

had a background created 

with Precious Metal Effects Paint.

I randomly applied a layer of Base Coat for Porous Surfaces,

with my palette knife....good and messy like!

When dry....with the same palette knife I applied the 

Viva Colour ~ Crackle Paint....

but decided to try something....

I sprinkled on some Meridian Blue Primary Elements...

spritzed it with a bit of 

Gold Pearl Shimmering Mist.

REALLY like how it came out!!!

I just love the "Words" from Splash of Color....

you can say what you want!!

So I challenge YOU.....

What can you create with your misfits?????

Guesting at Eclectic Paperie!!

Howdy Peeps.....I am guest designing for
Eclectic Paperie again!!!

What a week it has been.....

and I have to admit....this week

my "get up and go".....

got up and LEFT!

I ACTUALLY had to force myself

to create.....YES ME!

So....I just jumped in....

with no plan and NO IDEA

what I was going to create!!

I pulled out the 

G45 ~ Small Matchbook Box,

the "50's Diner" Mix and Match Gelatos,

and just BEGAN!

I randomly colored on the box with the Gelatos...

I then spritzed the "colored" box with water.

With the Stipple brush
I swooshed the water around,
blending the colors.

I then pulled out a package of
Christy Tomlinson's ~ Coffee Filter Words,
and tore a sheet into strips.
I dipped my paintbrush into
 a jug of Claudine Hellmuth's ~ Multi Medium ~ Matte,
and applied it to the box....randomly!!
I squinshed up the torn pieces in the
Multi Medium.

When dry, I then applied a layer of
Viva Colour ~ Crackle Base Coat for Porous Surfaces,
to the blank areas.
When dry I applied a liberal coat of
Viva Colour ~ Black Crackle Paint.
(these supplies will be arriving in the
epShop SOON!!)

I love how the Gelatos show through the cracks!!

(Now this is when the creative juices kicked in
and I forgot to keep taking pictures......SORRY!)

I sliced off a bit of the "Aqua Dolce" Gelato
and mixed it with a puddle of
Claudine Hellmuth's ~ Gesso.
I did have to spritz the mixture with water occasionally.

I then applied the mixture through Dyan's 
Dylusions Stencil ~ Checquered Dots
with the Stipple Brush.

Now if you know anything about my style....
you know there
HAS TO BE a FLOWER involved somewhere!!

I pulled out a package of CMC ~ Darjeeling flowers,
a bottle of Butternut Shimmering Mist,
and sliced of another chunk of the
"Aqua Dolcue" Gelato
which I spritzed with water on my Craft Mat.
I also spritzed a puddle of the Butternut Shimmering Mist
on my Craft Mat.
I then spritzed the flower with water
and let the coloring begin!!

I cut different size leaves from a piece of
Patterned Paper from the
Bo~Bunny Mama~razzi 6x6 paper pad.

I rubbed some Forest Moss Distress Ink on my craft mat,
spritzed it with the mist.
I then painted the mixture onto the leaves.
I then dabbed on some
Shabby Shutters ~ Distress Stickles.

Here is the end result of my
"unmotivated" creative time!!

Hope you've enjoyed my little project!!
Do come back next week for
another creation!!

Hop....Hoppity....Hop!!!

Welcome to Swirlydoos' January Kit Reveal Blog Hop Block Party!!

If you came here from MIRANDA's blog, then you are on the right track. 
If not, go back to Swirlydoos' blog and start from there. 
We have some amazing projects for you to see today !!
Make sure to leave a comment on all of the blogs for a chance to win!!! 
Check out Swirlydoos on Facebook and Like Us!!!

I have to say this is a bit of a sad hop for me as this is my
last month on the Swirlydoos Education Design Team.
There are new things in my future and as much as I would like to say
I can do it all.....I CAN'T!!
I have meet soooo many WONDERFUL SAVAGES
on this journey and I shall miss creating for you!!

MAKE SURE.....you sign up and follow me by email
 and become a subscriber to my YouTube Account
so you can keep abreast with what I'm up to!!

Once again..........THANK YOU for this opportunity!!

Now onto this month's creation!!

Hope you enjoy my tutorial....

PS......I will have one last video Saturday, January 26th
I will show you how I created the flowers for my recipe box!! 

You have until midnight, eastern time, on Thursday, 1/24
to complete the hop. Winners will be announced
on the Swirlydoos Blog on Friday 1/25.  

In order to qualify to win here is what you need to do:

1: Visit all of the blogs and leave a comment on each.
This way we know you were there.
Become a follower if you're not already.
 Take your time. There are REALLY beautiful things to see along the way.

2: Before you leave each blog, look for the “special” words and write it down. 
Once you have visited all the blogs and collected all
the special words, they will create a sentence. 

3: Finally, go back to the Swirlydoos blog
 and leave a comment letting us know how much fun you had,
tell us the sentence that was created with all of the special
words you collected.     Can't wait to hear from you.

My special word is : "I"

The Party continues over at Lisa V's Blog!!

A White Christmas Tree

I wanted to share with you a post that was recently on the Petaloo Blog for the

with

and

Be sure to head on over to the Petaloo Blog

to see new DT creations

and for your chance to win a

basket of gooodies!!!

Tis the season of Gift Giving....
Tis the season to be Merry and Bright!!

So, what can one make....worthy of the above....
with one piece of Canvas Corp ~ White E~Flute Paper,
two packages of Petaloo ~ CMC~Wild Roses,
one Canvas Corp ~ Canvas Fabricpage,
and from my stash......
a jar of Emperor's Gold ~ Silks Acrylic Glaze,
one bottle of Luminarte ~ Radiant Rain Shimmering Mist,
miscellaneous stamps,
and a paper mache cone.

A BEAUTIFUL centerpiece
that can WONDERFULLY adorn any holiday table.

I began by separating the Canvas Fabricpage into two pieces.
I then tore one piece into 2" x 12" strips and
and cut (4) Tattered Leaves from each strip.

With various stamps, covered with Silk Acrylic Glaze,
I randomly stamped the leaves and
the other piece of the Canvas Fabricpage.
 Then, let the pieces dry.

When the leaves were dry,
I spritzed them with water,
and dipped the edges into puddles of mist.
When the leaves dried from this process,
I pinched the large portion of each leaf together
and stapled it together, giving the leaf more dimension. 

  

Next, I took the white e~fluted paper,
and tore it into various size strips
(1"-1.5" wide) then into (4) pieces per strip.
(leaving a 4" x 12" piece leftover)

I sprayed each strip with Emperor's Gold ~
Luminarte Radiant Rain Shimmering Mist,
along with the CMC ~ Wild Roses.

When the strips were dry,
I rolled the ends of each piece
and spritzed the rolled ends. 

I then assembled my tree
beginning at the bottom of the paper mache cone.
I topped off the tree with
(3) CMC ~ Wild Roses. 

With the leftovers, I created a gift tag.
I pulled a bit of vintage lace
and a CMC ~ Canvas Flower
from my stash, along with a memo pin
to embellish the tag. 

And there you have it....
A Heartfelt, Handmade Holiday gift
that can be enjoyed for years to come!

The artist is nothing without the gift, 
but the gift is nothing without work.  ~Emile Zola 

PRODUCTS USED:
PETALOO
CMC ~ Wild Roses
CMC ~ Canvas Flowers

CANVAS CORP
White E~Flute
Canvas Fabricpage 

LUMINARTE
Silks Acrylic Glaze ~ Emperor's Gold
Radiant Rain Shimmering Mist ~ Emperor's Gold

Shimmery, Grungy....

The WONDERFUL family day of Thanksgiving has passed. With the AWESOME smells....GREAT food....and a time to reflect on how BLESSED  we truly are!!!

Now....we have moved onto Black Friday.....
CRAZY crowds...pushing people looking for FABBY deals and a WANT lists.

I want to take one more day to reflect on HOW AMAZING my life is. How BLESSED I am to have  two FANTABULOUS children who have been through "more than the average bear" and are still thoughtful, kind and THANKFUL!!

A sister who is my HERO!! She has a HUGE giving heart and best of all....she CRACKS ME UP!!

My niece who is just my PRIDE and JOY....and my nephew who is quiet but I LOVE HIM TO PIECES!!

My mom.....who started this WHOLE family thing!!! 

Now....that it's fair game to play Christmas Caroles and bring out the Christmas Decorations
to don the house and yard!!

I pulled out LOTS OF Canvas Corp goodies and made a Christmas Card!!!

I began with a piece of Canvas Corp ~ Gold and Kraft ~ Stripe Paper.
I spritzed, front and back, a piece of the paper
with Luminarte ~ Radiant Rain Shimmering Mist ~ Persimmon
mixed with Golden Bamboo Primary Elements.
Using the Tattered Poinsettia Die....
I cut 3 flowers,

crumpled them and finished it off with a vintage button.

I cut the base card from the Gold and Kraft Stripe Paper
ran the edges through the Distrezz it All
and then dipped the edges into puddles of my custom mist.

I tore a piece of Canvas Corp Kraft ~ E Flute,

spritzed it HEAVILY with
Luminarte Radiant Rain Shimmering Mist ~ Egyptian Gold,

crumpled it in my hand,

then dipped the edges in
puddles of my custom mist.

How 'bout the flourish....
cut from Canvas Corp ~ Handmade Paper
and doned with
Luminarte ~ Silk Acrylic Glaze ~ Emperor's Gold.

I then dipped the Kaiser ~ Magic ~ Just Believe paper in the left over puddles.

And there you have it......a shimmmery....grungy

Christmas Card!!!

Be thankful for what you have; 

you'll end up having more. 

If you concentrate on what you don't have, 

you will never, ever have enough.
-- Oprah Winfrey

Poinsettia Wreath

Howdy folks......
So happy to be sharing with you
one of my all time favorite creations....
my paper poinsettias!!

The moment I saw the Rejoice papers by IOD....
I knew I wanted to make a wreath.

I pulled out the Rejoice ~ Paper Pad...
a few dies...
Tattered Leaves and Tattered Pinecone
and got to creating!! 

I wrapped the base with torn canvas.
Then I created 5 poinsettias
and 12 pinecones
along with a sundry sprigs.
Tied a large loopy bow....
and voila!

PRODUCTS USED:
Rejoice ~ Paper Pad
Luminarte
Silks Acrylic Glaze ~ Emperors Gold
Radiant Rain Shimmering Mist ~ Pearl Gold 

Tattered Pinecone
Tattered Leaves

If you are interested in how I made the poinsettias
I created a short tutorial to show you how....