Set the World on Fire

Did you see the gorgeous July Mood Board over at Sassy Scrappers? It was the perfect theme for my daughter's grad night selfie with one of her close pals.

Supplies: white cardstock (Canadian Scrapbooker Super Stock), damask stencil, feather stickers and ornamental scroll sticker (Magenta), gelatos and whipped spackle (Faber-Castell), flowers (Flourish with a Bling and Petaloo), word stickers (Chic Tags), black paint (Plaid), black cardstock (Bazzill), Digital cutter (Silhouette), black glitter glue (Hampton Arts), diamond Stickles and gel medium (Ranger), toile, gold chunky glitter and sequins (Misc.)

Here is what the mood board looks like.

My interpretation is a literal take on it with the textures, fabric, glam and glitter. I even have triangles of sorts with the rays. Used my Silhouette Cameo to scan and cut the script title. Amazing what technology makes possible.

I wasn't sure that I wanted journaling on this one but thought to give it a try. 

Still not sure which way I like it best.
TTFN,

First Docs

These boots are made for walking (like that song too)... these are my daughter's kick butt patent leather boots.  She was so proud of her purchase. I shake my head and laugh at the patent leather part but smile at the Docs part. I do love Docs too and I love her evolving sense of style. I am calling this one my glam-grunge layout.  Nothing like using gold leaf and glitter with patent leather... LOL! Love it!
A whole lot of LESSology Challenge 38 (Sew Lovely) and Society 52 challenge 4 (No Patterned Paper) and a little bit of inspiration from Louise Nelson.  If you have not seen Louise's use of gold leafing and glitter, you really have to check out her work. Awe inspiring!

Supplies: cardstock (Bazzill), masking fluid/liquid fisquet (Pebeo), gel medium and black ink (Ranger), stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), gold leaf flakes (Michaels), glimmer mist (Tattered Angels), chipboard letters (Lil' Davis Designs), foam number, glitter chipboard letters and date stamp (AC), cardstock sticker letters (Pink Paislee), wht pen (Sakura), blk pen (CTMH), embroidery thread (Loops and Threads), vellum (misc.), box packaging and tissue (Dr. Martens)

I upcycled the Dr. Martens packaging. Used both the inside and outside of the box plus the tissue protection wrapping and added the classic yellow stitching. I even used some really old letters from my stash. Remember Lil' Davis Designs. Definitely a case of getting more with less on this one. Love finding inspiration from fellow crafters and challenges. It all makes me smile.


TTFN,

Find Your Song Card, Canvas & Technique Video Tutorial

I am up on the Magenta blog today and I am super excited about this project.  Besides that I am really pleased with both projects turned out, you will see the reason for my excitement further down in the post.

When I was envisioning this card idea, I wanted to try something a little outside the box with the Bird and Branch Silhouette stamp image and have it be raised with added texture.

Supplies: stamps, stencil and patterned paper (Magenta), cardstock (Super Stock - Canadian Scrapbooker), Tim Holtz tissue paper, gel medium and ink (Ranger), white gesso (Golden), clear gesso (Liquitex), gelatos, Stamper's Big Brushes and Whipped Spackle (Faber-Castell) 

Well as you can see, I was able to come up with a neat way to make this happen.  I even added sections of the branch area to build up the foliage area.  Love it when an idea comes together in such a beautiful manner.

Today, I am sharing the technique that I created as the solution for my design quandary. In order to show the technique, I made a small canvas using the same elements as my card.  Again, I am trying out something new to me... I made a video tutorial to share it with you.

(Supplies list can be found underneath the video in the information section when watched on YouTube.)

Hope you enjoyed this mixed media tutorial. 

TTFN,

Magenta products used:

Bird & Branch Silhouette Stamp / Oiseau sur branche en silhouette 

Stamp / anglais seulement

Chicken Wire Stencil / Pouchoir de cage à poule

Peace paper / Papier de paix

Having the Freedom to Choose - Art Journal Page

After the heaviness of my Stress journal page, I needed to come out of the darkness and lighten things up a bit. To do that I created this page...

Supplies: 400 Series Watercolor Hardbound 11" Art Journal  (Strathmore), gesso (Golden), distressed brick stamp, distressed chicken wire stencil and damask stencil (Magenta), star stencil (Studio Calico), mini birds of a feather stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), gelatos (Faber-Castell), cardstock (Staples), font (Scrap Casual), pen (Creative Memories), Inkssentials Glue N seal (Ranger)

The new series Summer Music Challenge Volume 1 over at the Mixed Media Place is based on George Michael's song Freedom. I was drawn to the aspect of having the freedom to choose how we feel and approach each day plus a couple of times in the song it mentions being happy. Thus Today I Choose Happy!


Love, LOVE, L.O.V.E. it!!! Totally just played with textures and colours. I used cool colours with the blues and purples and added in a touch of greens.

Started from the darker shades with more solid image symbolism...

 and graduated to prettier mid shades...

and then on to a lighter natural side area.

The background is all coloured with a plethora of Faber-Castell Gelatos (Black Licorice, Boysenberry, Blueberry, Cotton Candy, Snow Cone, Acqua Dolce, Black Cherry, Grape, Raspberry, Lavender, Lime and Margarita Mix) which I smudged and rubbed into the Whipped Spackle stencilled and stamped on the pre-gessoed watercolour paper base. I love how the colours blend so beautifully and the look that they create.

I sealed it all in using Ranger Inkssentials Matte Glue N Seal. This is my first time using this product. I was almost out of the Ranger Mixed Media Gel that I have been using and this was the only comparable Ranger product available at the craft store on the way to the cottage. Oh, I think I found a matter and thinner alternative for sealing and creating a non-porous base with this product. Very pleased indeed!

TTFN,

By Request ATCs

It was super neat to have two ladies (Lorena and Katja) ask me to do mystery ATC swaps after I posted my ATC cards made for Magenta's Spring Swap 2014 on my Instagram.

I tried to use some of the elements from the ATCs they originally inquired about and made these little lovelies.

Supplies: photo paper(Staples), hello, bonjour and hola stamps (Magenta), friend stamp (Winnie and Walter), distress ink and blk ink (Ranger), pink StazOn ink (Tsukineko), pen (Creative Memories), flower sequin (Dollarama), glitter (Recollections)

Supplies: photo paper (Staples), sentiment stamp (Magenta), heart background cut file (Silhouette), distress inks and blk ink (Ranger), vellum (misc.)

Both are made on photo paper using Magenta Stamps and Distress inks / StazOn.

I made this one as the partner to the above one. The first one focused on the love-heart part of the sentiment. Here the grow-flower part of the sentiment was the focus.

Supplies: stamps (Magenta), watercolour cardstock, distress ink, and blk ink (Ranger), wht Stamper's Big Brush (Faber-Castell)

The last one was just because I was on a roll and had little pieces of leftover watercolour scraps from this card still on my desk. I had punched a vellum version of the bird and branch which I decided to colour with distress inks and paired it this fabulous Magenta sentiment stamp. I mix media gelled it all to a scrap distress inked and glimmer misted piece of watercolour paper, and then added black glitter glue as a final touch.

Supplies: watercolour paper (Canson), sentiment stamp (Magenta), distress inks, blk ink and gel medium (Ranger), glimmer mist (Tattered Angels), punch (Stampin' Up), glitter glue (Hampton Arts)

I had fun making these ATCs.  I especially like when I can use up scrap bits. Yeah for upcycling! Thanks to Lorena and Katja for the push.

TTFN,

You are Awesome - Hers and His Cards of Appreciation

Sometimes people just need a reminder that their efforts do not go unnoticed and they need a little boost of support and encouragement to keep doing what they do.  Teaching is becoming a more and more challenging profession and many a times those involved in the profession find themselves more often in no-win-situations.

I made these cards for two colleagues as thank yous and encouragement for this past year as well as encouragement for the one to come. 

Trying out some more techniques from the Watercolor for Card Makers class, I created this cheery card.

Supplies: watercolour paper (Canson), floral stamp (Magenta), sentiment stamps (Winnie and Walter), fence die cut (Sizzix), markers (Fibracolor), Tim Holtz Distress ink and blk ink (Ranger), watercolour paints (Artist's Loft), burlap (DCWV), wood veneer butterfly (CTMH)

I diecut embossed the fence, masked it off and then multi stamped the cute new little Lily of the Valley Magenta stamp.  Then I quickly used a water brush to fill in the image colour. I watercoloured the background and then stamped the sentiment using the lovely Winnie & Walter The Big, the Bold and You stamps. A little CTMH wood veneer butterfly and We R memory Keepers coloured burlap were just the right finishing touches.


Next, if you saw my Magenta Father's Day Card, you will recognize my background design on this next card.

Supplies: stencil, stamp, metal embossed sticker (Magenta), gelatos and whipped spackle (Faber-Castell), Tim Holtz Distress paint and blk ink (Ranger), liquid glass and pen (CTMH)

Often when I am trying out techniques for the first time, I double up as to be able to choose the best one to take to the end of a project.  This design fits a masculine card so well.  I changed it up by turning it sideways which incidentally fit the Magenta Gentleman Metal Sticker's rectangular size better and as to not cover up my tile like grid background.  I like the way this one turned out even more than the Dad card.

I really made this one look even more like tiles by darkening up the colours with metallic gelatos and adding in the pop of blue.  I gave them a glazed finish with liquid glass and increased their definition and dimension by adding black shadowing on two sides.

I masked off the second part of the Magenta stamp sentiment to fit my design, distress painted the embossed metal sticker and used pop squares to add another layer.

Very pleased with the way both of these cards turned out.  I find I tend to love the results when I craft cards specifically with people in mind. They hold that special little something that comes from my heart.

TTFN,

Rare for Certain

I create art not only to memory keep and as an artistic expression but partly as a stress reliever thus you will rarely see me make a scrapbook page or create other projects that have to do with the negative sides of life. This project had me venture there. I wanted to join into the Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft's Take the Challenge with Mou which was to create something you don't usually create. I took the prompt from July's Emotional challenge over at the Mixed Media Place.  This is their last in the Emotional Challenges and it was a dewsy... STRESS.

Supplies: Gelatos [Coconut, Earl Grey, Squid Ink, and Black Licorice], Stamper's Big Brushes [Black, Warm Grey IV], whipped spackle, stipple brush (Faber-Castell), gesso (Liquitex), alpha stamp [Dyan Reaveley - Dylusions] and gel medium (Ranger), arrow stamps (Kelly Panacci - SandyLion), lrg arrow stencil (Heidi Swapp), clocks stencil (Prima), bricks stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), acrylic paint (blk- Artist's Loft and wine- Plaid), light canvas fabric (misc.), stencil font stencil (Silhouette Cameo), female image (funonline.in wallpapers)

Yep, sort of all over the place chaos in this art journal page.  I really think I captured how it makes me feel when I am overwhelmed by stress.  I do not mind stress in a controlled manner.  In fact, it makes me very productive and my day to day job is stressful for the most part on a regular basis.  The problem comes when there is too much and for too long without a reprieve or an end in sight... when the balls start to drop as the number of stressors gets out of hand... my mind starts to reel, my body starts to feel it and I start to shut down from the weight of it all.

I used a variety of different stressor images/symbols.

Wow... see... too heavy. I would much rather create the brighter side and bring a smile and beauty into my life.  Oh well, it was a challenging endeavour that took me out of my comfort zone, I tried some new techniques, and I have an interesting art journal page to show for it. Not too shabby.

TTFN,

Card Catch Up

Today, I am sharing a few cards that I made in the spring but just had not gotten to posting.  Hope you enjoy them.

Using Simple Stories Daily Grind Collection from a My Creative Scrapbook kit, I made this masculine birthday card.

Supplies: patterned papers, die cuts, stickers (Simple Stories), celebrate stamp (American Crafts), today stamp (CTMH), inks (Tsukineko), wood veneer stars (Studio Calico)

I had a good time giving it some dimension and playing with the stickers for reading flow.

I was so stoked that Simple Stories reposted it when I put it up on my Instagram account.


I dug into it my stash and made a card for a friend's birthday.  I used an old Kate collection from Making Memories to create this card.

Supplies: patterned paper (Making Memories), cardstock (Paper Reflections), digi stamp bird (Bugaboo Digi Stamps), sentiment stamp (Imaginisce), border punch (Fiskars), gelatos (Faber-Castell), ink and multi medium (Ranger Ink), funky purple trim (Dollarama), stardust glitter pen (Gelly Roll by Sakura), pen (CTMH), silver packaging ribbon (Misc.)

I used Bugaboo Digi Stamps' bird that I coloured with gelatos and tucked it into a neat nest made from some funky dollar store ribbon. I also used their Stella Says Sketch #208 for inspiration.

Yeah for using my stash!

Lastly, a quick and simple card that I made for my Magenta ATC swap partner to tuck them in on their travels when I sent them off to the Netherlands. Love the big script font in the Winnie & Walter Hello stamp.

Supplies: pre-printed floral card base(Laura Ashley), ribbon and wood veneer flowers(CTMH), "Hello" stamp(Winnie & Walter), ink(Tsukineko), glitter glue (Studio G-Hampton Arts), jewels and fabric flower(Dollarama)

Until next time.


TTFN,

Creative Freedom - Art Journaling

I am really enjoying the freedom of playing in my art journal.  I am starting to jot down ideas and techniques that I would like to try plus getting inspiration from challenges.

It was two challenges that inspired my most recent page.  First, by the MME July Challenge topic "Let Freedom Ring".  That determined the use of products from MME and boy, do I have a stash of their wonderful products to choose from. It is safe to say that I have loved their collections since I first discovered scrapbooking many moons ago. Secondly, I used the July colour board from Off the Rails Scrapbooking which fit so well with the MME topic.

Here's what I came up with...

Supplies: 400 Series Watercolor Hardbound 11" Art Journal (Strathmore), patterned papers, letter stickers and stamp (My Mind's Eye), gesso (Golden), gel medium, crackle accents medium, and Tim Holtz Distress ink (Ranger), gelatos and Stamper's Big Brushes (Faber-Castell), white paint (DecoArt), marker (Sharpie)

The textures on this in real life are awesome.  This was the first time that I have freely torn up paper and covered it with only parts showing.  I have to be honest... it was really hard tearing into it at first but once I started layering it, it got easier as my idea took shape.

I used pieces from The Sweetest Thing: Honey - One of a Kind, Bella Bella -Bellezo, and Frosted Signature Christmas collections for the base background.

Then after gessoing, I added turquoise and aqua blue colours with Faber-Castell gelatos (Snow Cone, Metallic Mint, Aqua Dolce, and Cotton Candy).  After sealing it in with gel medium, I hand drew and cut out the wings from a scrap section of script printed Lost and Found: Portobello Road- Family Collection paper and added crackle finish to them.  While they dried, I wove the heart from So Sophie Collection patterned papers (Savvy: In Love - petite red floral and Clever: Pretty Girls - heavenly houndstooth b-side) and adhered it to a hand drawn heart shape base. While the heart was drying, I went back to the wings and rubbed in distress ink into the cracks. 

I also stamped with a doubled up polka-dot MME border stamp from the Miss Caroline -Adventures stamp set with white acrylic paint. After all the sections were ready, I gel mediumed them onto the page, along with pre-distress inked and Sharpie colour-altered Lost and Found: Market Street - Happy Birthday glittered letter stickers, sealing them all.  Once the page was dry, I used Faber-Castell Stamper's Big Brushes (Deep Scarlett Red, Warm Grey 4, and Black) to add colour, shading and definition.  Lastly, I freehand drew my font quote to finish it off.

Some close up photos:

Here is the gorgeous mood palette from Off the Rails Scrapbooking:

Are those shoes outstanding or what?!?

TTFN,

Grace x 2

You know you are addicted to scrapping when you go to drive 17 km in search of a wifi connection to post for a challenge. Yes, sad but true.  The worst part... said wifi I drove in search of was actually not working this weekend, so all was in vain (I missed the KK Colour Challenge 26 deadline... sigh). I am now posting that I am home from vacation.

This selfie photo layout was inspired by the Colour Challenge 26 at Kreative Koncepts and the July sketch challenge over at Once Upon a Sketch.  I really played with this one, using oodles of techniques and media.

Supplies: cardstock (Canadian Scrapbooker Super Stock), Gesso (Golden), Glimmer Mists (Tattered Angels), Tim Holtz Distress ink, stickles, & Archival ink (Ranger), whipped spackle, gelatos, and PITT Artist Stamper's Big Brush (Faber-Castell), stencils (Tim Holtz and Prima), stamps (KaiserCraft and MME), patterned paper (Crate Paper), flowers (Prima, Petaloo, Recollections, and Michaels), letter stickers (Recollections and Prima), pen (CTMH), trim (Webster's Pages), vellum and sequins (miscellaneous)

Cluster detail photos:

The wonderful selfie photo was taken using an ipad with stunning results and resolution. With it's touches of green and the flowers in the grass that she is laying down upon, it was an ideal fit photo for the colour challenge.  The sketch and theme worked beautifully to show it off.

Journal Theme: Numbers

             

On the upside of being away... lots of creative time!  I made several projects which I will share over the next weeks.

Have you ever found yourself going out of your way or doing something nutty for "scrap" sake? Please share your stories, I would love to know that I am not alone.:)

TTFN,