Magenta Warm Gelli Duo

A sunny hello to you! I am up on the Magenta blog today with this gelli print card duo done in warm colours.

I used a small amount of Rosebud and Golden Yellow Nuance mixed with water and brushed onto the round 4" gelli plate. I added 2 drops of clear gesso and rolled it out before taking a print pull on a 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" white cardstock cardbase. I deepened the colour by adding more powder-to-water ratio on the second one.

On this one, I stamped the Birdsong Duet - Branches with Black Soot Archival ink multiple times using a stamp repositioning tool. Next, I used a black pen to doodle circles around the edge of the gelli print. Then, I stamped the Thinking of You sentiment with the Archival ink and clear heat embossed it. Next, I added white pen details and splattered white Copic Opaque to finish it off.

On the next card, I stamped with the Curved Branch leaves in two orientations, again with the use of a stamp positioning tool. Then, I stamped and clear heat embossed the Sending Hugs sentiment. Next, I heat emboss stamped the Butterfly onto vellum, watercoloured it with the Rosebud Nuance powder prior to fussy cutting it and adhered it over the leaves.

TTFN,

*****
Magenta products used:

  

Birdsong Duet - Branches

Curved Branch

Butterfly

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Wandering Watercolour Wonder

Hi makers! Today's ICAD was born out of a session in using yet-to-be used products purchased months ago and trying out a combination watercolouring experimentation all with challenge parameters in mind. Keeping up with my participation in  Kathy Raccosin's the Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge & ICAD2020, I once again incorporated them both. Wanting a vintage theme with watercolours to play along with A Vintage Journey's Watercolour Wonders proved to be an interesting challenge. I have done the shabby thing with my 'Find Joy' ICAD so trying something simply vintage had me thinking of Tim Holtz products. This reminded me that I had yet to use the new Tim's products that I had ordered from Simon Says Stamp in March due to the nuttiness that became online teaching. I had ordered the Botanical Collage Tissue Paper and the World Traveler stamp set. As I looked at each product, an idea began to form.

I started with an index card that had been used to clean up an excess of Broken China Distress Spray Stain from my craft mat during some previous crafting session. I try not to waste medium, so whenever possible, I transfer excess either on to index cards (knowing that I will use then each year during Daisy Yellow's 60 Day ICAD) or on an art journal page. I had used the 'drag through and then pat it down' technique letting it dry a bit before patting it in some more until all the ink was sopped up into the card. The Broken China blue would provide a sky background feel for the botanical elements to come.

Next, I stamped the World Traveler definition text along the right side border to match up the border distress pattern in the stamp design using Jet Black Archival ink and a stamp positioning tool. After wetting the area around my desired images on the botanical tissue image areas with a water brush, they were easy to tear away from the whole piece. I used Tim Holtz Collage Medium to adhere them to the card and then used clear gesso over top so to provide tooth for watercolouring to come. Once that was dry, I coloured the berries with Seedless Preserves and the leaves with Peeled Paint by smooching ink onto my craft mat and then using a waterbrush to add the colour. I added some splatters of each colour and then set it a side to dry. While it was drying, I fussy cut out the robin from Tim Holtz patterned paper. After hitting the card with a heat tool just to ensure the watercolour was dry, I used the collage medium to adhere the bird rightside down to image transfer it. Once it was thoroughly dry, I spritzed the bir back with water and began rubbing the paper away. Once the image transfer was revealed, I felt it was too translucent and that even with adding watercolour, it would not pop enough. Then, I remembered that I was intrigued by Kathy Raccossin watercolouring with Distress Oxides and thought that might work. And it did! It turned out that painting with Oxides has a gauche like coverage. Only thing I found was that the painting looked too flat and I am limited in Oxide colours so I took out my Inktense watercolour pencilcrayons and added outlining and details with them which really worked. I am so pleased with how the bird turned out.

While it was drying, I stamped the 'NOT ALL WHO WONDER ARE LOST' in Archival ink and then heat embossed it with clear emboss powder. Deciding it was too long, I cut the quote apart. Once the bird was dry, I distress blended the border edges of the card with Brushed Corduroy Distress ink, knowing that Opaque Crackle Paste takes on the distress colour that it is placed over. And, it didn't disappoint, as I stenciled the crackle paste on with the Blossoms stencil in three areas creating a visual triangle and then scraped on more with a palette knife to edge the entire card. Once it at over night and did its crackle thing, I adhered the quote to complete it.

Supplies: index card (Staples), Tim Holtz Broken China Distress Spray Stain, Tim Holtz Peeled Paint, Seedless Preserves & Brushed Corduroy Distress Inks, Tim Holtz Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain & Fired Brick Distress Oxide Ink, Distress Collage Medium, Jet Black Archival ink, Opaque Crackle Paste (Ranger), Tim Holtz World Traveler stamp set & Blossoms Stencil (Stampers Anonymous), Tim Holtz Idea-ology Botanical Tissue Paper & patterned paper (Advantus), Tan, Baked Earth, Bark & Chilli Red Inktense watercolour pencil crayons (Derwent), Clear emboss powder (Simon Says Stamp), Clear gesso (Liquitex)

I think it has an old style illustration feel to it. I am really pleased with how it all turned out plus I learnt some new ways in which to use the Distress Oxides so all in all a successful crafting experience.


TTFN,

Inspired by Scraps

Hello Crafty Friends! When I was rummaging through my scraps to make the ‘find Joy’ ICAD, I came across this Tim Holtz large tissue butterfly and thought it was perfect for a 4” by 6” index card. Along with that I had a leftover ‘be kind’ stamped onto muslin for the last card that I found was too big and too bold for that one but thought it was just right sizing wise when paired with the big butterfly. 

I started by stamping the Kaisercraft Flutter Moroccan design on the index card. Next, I adhered the tissue butterfly with multi-medium matte and then clear gessoed over top of it. Once that was dry, I carefully applied Clear Rock Candy Distress crackle paint around the butterfly image covering the entire index card. Once that had set up and done its crackle thing, I then painted over top of it using Finnabair’s Tiger Orange liquid acrylic adding water as I went allowing it to seep into the cracks. Next, I used the Finnabair metallic Mermaid Teal watered-down with water to paint the lighter parts of the butterfly and then splattered the whole card with some.

Once all was dry, I used a black Stabillo All pencil to outline the butterfly and add detail. Then, I used a brush and water to activate the All pencil. Using DecoFoil adhesive pen, I put some on my craft mat and then used a toothpick to apply it to the very thin design lines of the Moroccan pattern in some places. Then, I used the adhesive pen along the edge of the card and applied the gold foil there too. Next, I distressed the edges by running a scissor blade along them and added splatters of Gold Sheer Shimmer Spritz. Lastly, I adhered the pre-stamped Simon Says Stamp Big Words ‘be KIND’ and called it done.

Supplies: Big Words stamp set (Simon Says Stamp), Flutter stamp (KaiserCraft), Tim Holtz Tissue Paper (Advantus), Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint, Multi Medium Matte, Jet Black and Black Soot Archival ink (Ranger), Finnabair Tiger Orange Liquid Acrylic and Mermaid Teal Metallique acrylic (Prima), clear gesso (Liquitex), Decofoil gold foil and adhesive pen (Thermoweb), black All pencil (Stabillo), Gold Sheer Shimmer Spritz (Imagine Crafts), muslin (Misc.)

I have to laugh at myself because I went from delicate and shabby to bold and grungy. I really am an eclectic maker. I just like it all!

Once again I am joining in ICAD2020, Kathy Raccosin's the Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge, and SSS Flickr Challenge #154 Crazy for Coloring.


TTFN,

Find Joy

Hello Fellow Creatives! Today, I have a watercoloured mixed media index card towards my quest of participating in Kathy Raccosin's the Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge, World Watercolour Month, and ICAD2020. The vintage style for this one was inspired by A Vintage Journey's Watercolour Wonders Challenge and my inspiration for stamp choices comes from the SSS Flickr Challenge #153 Crazy for Coloring.

I started by using up scrap bits from creations that I had in my scraps bin on my table... vintage book page text, beige tissue paper, Tim Holtz tissue paper, stamped off bits from cleaning stamps, and vintage style patterned papers. After collaging them with Multi Medium Matte, I scraped on white gesso. Once dry, I covered the entire card with clear gesso so that it would have some tooth for the watercolours. Once that was dry, I used a flower from the SSS Spring Flowers set and stamped it with Jet Black archival ink. Next, I inked up only a portion of the stamp to create the smaller flower and then decided the first bloom needed to be bigger so added an inked up portion to it too.

Instead of masking off the flowers, I decided to add in the leaves and stems but using a watercolor ink. At first I tried my go-to no-line Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress ink but due to the background colour, that didn't work so I used one of the leaf springs stamps and inked it with Tim Holtz Peeled Paint. Next, I used water and a paint brush to move and remove the part that I didn't want; providing some colour to the back of the image. While that was drying, I began to paint the flowers and then the leaves and stems with Mijello Mission Gold watercolour paints. Once the paint had dried, I used a black Micron pen to doodle with the lines on the flowers and added lines for the leaves and stems. I splattered around the flower with green paint and then with Copic Opaque white after it had dried. Next, I arranged and stamped the sentiment using the SSS Big Words stamp set with Black Soot Archival ink and then finished the card off by sewing around the edges and adding white highlight to the sentiment with a Signo White pen.

Supplies: Spring Flowers and Big Words stamps (Simon Says Stamp), Mission Gold watercolours (Mijello), Jet Black and Black Soot Archival ink,  Multi Medium Matte, Shabby Shutters Distress Ink (Ranger), white and clear gesso (Liquitex), Pigma Micron (Sakura), Uniball Signo White pen (Mitsubishi Pencil Co.), Opaque White Ink (Copic), embroidery thread (Aurifil Mako'Ne), Tim Holtz Tissue (Advantus), index card (Staples), book text, patterned paper and beige tissue paper (Misc.)

You can check out the A Vintage Journey's Watercolour Wonders DT creations by heading to their blog here and all the other amazing colouring, watercolour and ICADs by using the hashtags #thedailymarker30day, #WorldWatercolorMonth, #dyicad2020 on social media or SSSFlickrchallenge#153 in Flickr.

TTFN,

Bleeding Art July Challenge - Fleur

Hi crafty friends! Today starts a new challenge month at the Bleeding Art Challenge Blog. As always it is an Anything Goes mixed media challenge. My Design Team inspiration creation for this month is a home decor canvas. I have a love of vintage things and even better if they are French inspired. This piece checks both boxes.

The background canvas was created with a layered resist technique using micro glaze and fluid acrylic paint. I started by covering the canvas with vintage collage medium. Next, I stenciled micro glaze through the Harlequin stencil and then sponged the whole canvas with slightly watered-down Emerald Fluid Acrylic. Once that was dry, I stenciled micro glaze through the Gothic stencil and sponged on watered-down Umber Fluid acrylic.

Once that was dry, I wiped off any residual micro glaze. I decided that the canvas needed some colour framing so I sponged on umber along the sides and edges and wiped some away as I went to keep with the distressed look.

Supplies: Canvas and metal letters (Dollarama), Tim Holtz Harlequin and Gothic Stencils (Stampers Anonymous), Vintage Distress Collage Medium, Distress Micro Glaze, Gold Alcohol ink Mixative (Ranger), Finnabair Emerald and Umber Fluid Acrylic (Prima), fleur de lyse ornament (RAZ imports)

While that was drying, I brushed on some Gold Mixative Alcohol ink onto parts of the metal letters so as to match the touches of gold on the fleur de lyse. Once all was dry, I adhered the fleur de lyse and metal letters to the canvas and called it done.

Here's another look at the completed canvas:

Head on over to the Bleeding Art Challenge Blog here to see my fellow DTs' inspirational pieces and get details on entering the challenge.

TTFN,

Colourific Creation

Howdy crafty friends! Today, I am sharing am ICAD creation inspired by Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog's Play with Paint challenge featuring Dina Wakley products, July Ranger/Dina Wakley #ShowUsYourMEdia Grateful for Color challenge and Kathy Raccosin's Coloring Challenge.

I pulled out my gellli plate for this and created backgrounds on a variety of 4x6" index cards and several 8.5x11" paper too. I used Dina Wakley Heavy body Acrylics in Turquoise, Peacock, Sky, Lime, Tangerine, Magenta, White. I used the Mini Favourites stencil, Text and Scribbles stamp, bubble wrap, and a small spray lid.

I chose one of the more colourful ones as it fit the theme and then an idea formulated from there based on the Dina Wakley stamps that I have. I stamped the flower from the Abstract Blooms 3 times with Black Soot Archival ink and then filled them in with Black Stabillo All pencil and a water brush. Once it was dry, I splattered it with watered-down black paint. Once it was dry, I white heat emboss stamped the paint, bloom and grow script words from the set in the middle of each flower. Next, I added polka dots to the leaves with a White Sharpie marker and then some white splatters with it too. Once that was dry, I sewed around the outside area two times.

As you see, I now have a ready supply of Dina product inspired gelli prints for future use so don't be surprised if a few more ICAD's get made from these over the rest of the month.

TTFN,

Dina Wakley Product Play

Today was a rainy one which was ideal for spending the afternoon following along with Dina Wakley's Scribble Sticks Live class. I was neat to watch Dina's process and to paint some subjects that I wouldn't have likely painted otherwise. Once I finish adding details and binding my efforts, I'll be sure to share.

After that class, I felt energized and decided to finish off this card that I was working on and join in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Play with Paint challenge.

The kraft cardstock background was scrapped with gesso and then painted with Scribble sticks. I put down the leaves stencil and lifted off some of the colour using a baby wipe and then I splattered and edged it with watered-down Night. I stamped the sentiment and sewed it to the card with zig zag stitching. The flowers were stamped on Canson XL with Archival ink and coloured with Lime, Turquoise, and Night and fussy cut.


The bird was initially stamped with Coffee Archival ink on book text page but then I decided the text needed to be pushed back so I covered it with gesso before colouring it with Sky, Night, and Umber. I went back in with a black pen to define the lines.

Supplies: Dina Wakley Scribbly Bird Cousins, stencil from Little Birdies set, Lime, Sky, Turquoise, Night and Umber Scribble Sticks, Jet & Coffee Archival inks (Ranger), XL watercolour (Canson), kraft cardstock (CTMH), gesso (Golden & Liquitex), Fine Vision Black pen (Uniball), book page and branch (Misc.)

You can check out the SSS DT's great inspiration using Dina Wakley products here.


If you follow me on Instagram, you might notice that it is a companion card to this one that I posted there earlier this month but had yet to post it here. The stamps and stencils used are the same but as you can see there are variations in materials and design.

TTFN,

Cattywampus

Oh my goodness, how fun is that word?! Say it with me... catty-wampus![ kat-ee-wom-puh s, kat-uh- ] LOL! Love it!

I had never heard of the word until Sara Emily posted it as a challenge on The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog. Sarah quoted it as meaning..."appearing off center, diagonal from, crooked or not level, appearing askew, tilted or lopsided". She mentioned that it is something she hears around her home area in the Southern States.

It made me think of kitty-corner or catty-corner. I had the urge to look it up discern the origin... waywordradio.org had this, "We do know the word has been around for more than a century and is spelled many different ways, such as catawampus and caddywampus. It may derive from the Scots word wampish, meaning to “wriggle,” “twist,” or “swerve.”

This definition example from yourdictionary.com made me laugh because of the true to life picture it created in  my mind... "An example of something cattywampus are the positions of the items on the top of a coffee table after a two year old has been playing with them and moving them around."

Oh words are so much fun! Anyhow, I digress... on to the task at hand, sharing my Cattywampus creation!

I created an ICAD with my mind on using up one of my little bitty bobs baggies that I had curated a while back. Using multi medium matte, I collaged the index card with a dictionary page from the 'C' section where cattywampus would have been if it wasn't a simple affordable home dictionary from 1977 that I found for crafting use. Then, I applied scrapings of white gesso and once dry a little touch of clear gesso knowing that I was going to add watercolour on top. On my craft mat, I scribbled a good amount of Chocolate gelato and mixed it with glass bead glitter gel. I stenciled with it through the Crafter's Workshop Mini Damask stencil. I use the excess on another sized index card and what was left of the dictionary page. Once the gel was dry, I scrapped a bit of gesso to add some white bits to the damask. Once that was dry, I added on Vintage Pink Glimmer Mist with the nozzle tube end around the damask areas. Then, spritzed it with water and angled the card to get the colour to run. After it set up a bit, using the nozzle tube again, I added some splatters. While that was drying, I scraped some gesso onto the play word, edged it with a brown sharpie and distress inked it a bit. 

Next, I glued down the cheese cloth, lace, and old athletic tape all a bit cattywampus. I added the Create transparency and secured it with a mini brad and a few drops of Glossy Accents behind the 'A', 'T', and 'E'. I used a scrap bit of uneven dyed muslin to mat the corrugated play word and added the die cut butterfly slightly a skewed. Lastly, I added a second mini brad and a meandering brown craft wire for the final cattywampus touch.

Supplies: index card (Staples), glass bead glitter gel, Chocolate gelato (Faber-Castell), Vintage Pink Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels), Mini Damask stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), Multi Medium Matte, Glossy Accents, Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress ink (Ranger), White and Clear Gesso (Liquitex), NoName cheesecloth (Loblaw's), circa 1977 dictionary page (Webster's Dictionary), brown marker (Sharpie), athletic tape, lace, Create transparency, corrugated Play word, die cut butterfly, craft wire (Misc.)

I had so much fun making this ICAD, that I decided to use up some other scrap bits and the pieces that I had used the leftover glass bead glitter glue on to make two ATCs for trading.

On this one, I added cheesecloth, spritzed kraft cardstock and old athletic tape and sewing it with a zig zag stitch with embroidery thread. I used a fussy cut Prima Apricot and Honey butterfly and pink craft wire for embellishments. The Magenta Make Time to Play was stamped with Black Soot Archival ink.

On this one, I first stamped the background with Finnabair Messy Writing stamp with Jet Black Archival ink. I added tan tissue, the spritzed kraft cardstock and lace. I fussy cut another Prima butterfly but it was too pale against the background so I watercoloured it with Bubblegum and Guava pink gelatos and added highlights and shading details with a Staedtler brown and white pencil  crayons and then outlined it all with a Stardust Gelly Roll pen for some sparkle.

Again, I added the pink wire and this time the Create title is a Tim Holtz rub on.

If you are interested in trading one of these ATCs, just let me know in the comments below.


TTFN,

Time to Create

Vacation time for me equals crafty time but that doesn't just mean creating. It's funny because I am bursting with ideas having spent the past couple of days catching up on crafty sites, checking out the challenges out there and doing a little retail therapy (not that I needed a nudge but a holiday ale helped out). Now, all I want to do is immerse myself and create, create, create.

Today's share for Kathy Raccosin's the Daily Marker 30 Day Color challenge and World Watercolour Month is a watercolour card inspired by the Color Throwdown #600 colour combo and Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge #153 Crazy For Coloring. 

Supplies: XL watercolour paper (Canson), Zig Gansai Tambi watercolours (Kuretake), Wonky Rectangles die and Fine Clear Embossing Powder (Simon Says Stamp), Merci stamp (Magenta), IO Beauty Text Cover a Card Stamp (Impression Obsession), Black Soot Archival ink (Ranger), black cardstock (Bazzill), pencil crayons (Staedtler), jewels (Offray)

I haven't painted loose floral roses in a bit and thought to give it a go with my Gansai Tambi watercolours on Canson XL. I did some experimenting with 2nd layer wet on dry painting. I wasn't thrilled with the results but thought... waste not, want not... how can I salvage it and use it for a card? Simon Says Stamp Wonky Rectangle die to the rescue. It was the perfect size to capture a part of my freestyle painting and give it a finishing detailed look. After heat emboss stamping the Merci sentiment, I thought it still needed something. Thinking of Kathy's recommendation of adding depth and details with pencil crayon, hand me taking out my pencil crayons. I went to work adding in some shading, defining some of the buds details, increasing the colour on the leaf veins, and adding a white halo outline to the Merci. Once I was pleased with the look, I matted the die cut panel onto black cardstock and then popped it up with cereal box board pieces onto a cardbase stamped with IO's Beauty Text background stamp using Black Soot Archival Ink. Lastly, I added some small jewels and called it done.

Here is the colour inspiration image:

If you are on Flickr, check out the other Simon Says Stamp Challenge #153 Crazy for Coloring cards.

TTFN,

A Good Reminder

Now that I have started my vacation time, being mindful is what I need right now as I attempt to unwind. Today's index card for ICAD2020 is a reminder that the first step is to... just breathe. That slow deep breath does wonders to calm a tense body and spinning mind.

Creating helps me be mindful. I am a slow crafter. I like to take my time as I create. I find the process relaxing and a sense of joy and fulfillment when I create something that didn't exist until I created it. 

For this mixed media index card, my colour medium as I join in Kathy Raccosin's the Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge is both watercolour and acrylic. As to the colours, I was inspired by the rich emerald gem tones of the Mixed Media Place's June Moodboard. When I saw the colours it reminded me of a pretty baby wipe that I had saved after creating an ICAD with those colours from a previous year. When you think of watercolouring, upcyling a baby wipe used in cleaning up watercolour splattering likely doesn't come to mind but I thought that it would make a great base for what I had in mind and keep me on track for World Watercolour Month. Think of the background like a watercolour abstract painting. The watercolours came from the lots of splatters using Prima Watercolour Confections from the Classics and Tropicals sets when I created this previous background.

To start, the index card base was stamped with a Prima background stamp, blended with a blend of Tim Holtz Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress ink along distressing the edges and then edging it with Distress Ink. After adhering the baby wipe with Matte Multimedium Gell and letting it dry, I used a Brown Stabilo All watercolour pencil dipped in water to draw my leaf sprig. Once that was dry, I took it to my sewing machine and used embroidery thread to outline the sprig. Next, I switched up the thread to a more common standard weight brown multipurpose thread and stitched around the outside adding in some zigzag stitches for rule of 3 and framing interest.

Once back at my craft table, I stamped the Finnabair Messy Writing onto it with Coffee Archival Ink. Initially I thought I would be done at that point, but looking at it, I felt the leaves needed to stand out more so I painted the lower part with Finnabair Mermaid Teal Metallique paint and dabbing it off as I went to lighten and blend it. Next, I painted the top portions as highlighted areas with water-downed Finnabair Gesso. Again, dabbing off as I went to lighten and blend. I completed the painting part by added some tiny splatters of the gesso. Lastly, I distress inked the sentiment strip before adhering it with some cut pieces of cereal box board to pop it up for a little added dimension.

Here's a look at the ICAD again:

Supplies: Index card (Staples), IOD Text background stamp, Finnabair Messy Script stamp, Finnabair Mermaid Teal Metallique paint, gesso, Finnabair Sentiment sticker (Prima), Tim Holtz Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress ink, Coffee Archival ink, Multi Medium Matte (Ranger), Brown All pencil (Stabilo), brown embroidery thread (Aurifil Mako'Ne), brown thread and baby wipe (misc.)

Here is the Mixed Media Place moodboard. Oh, so pretty!

I am also playing along with:

Mix It Up Challenge - #39 Anything Goes + Open Technique

Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge - #62

A Bit More Time To Craft Challenge #119

TTFN,