Mini Notes of Thanks

Those that follow me might have noticed that I tend to make a lot of thank you cards as I am a believer in showing kindness and appreciation and that I tend to not make standard sized cards. I create for the sized area that I need to based on my idea or the scale size of the products used. This leads to a copious amount of various sized widths of cardstock strips. So I like to find ways to use up this stash and other various odds and sods from previous projects. Besides making ATCs, another way I have found that works well is to make cheery little mini cards of thanks. I have found that these mini gems always illicit a surprised delightful reaction from the receipt both for their novel size and cuteness factor.

Supplies: Apple Blosson Bouquet stamp, Mango Tango and Grass Green Nuance (Magenta), Tim Holtz script stamp (Stampers Anonymous), Vegas Gold and Irridecent embossing powder (Emerald Creek Craft Supplies), Thanks Script Die (Simon Says Stamp), black cardstock (Bazzill), vellum (The Paper Company), white cardstock and coffee filter (misc.)

The background was heat embossed stamped with Emerald Creek Vegas Gold emboss powder using a Tim Holt script stamp and splattered with Magenta Mango Tango Nuance. The sentiment is a multi layered die cut from Simon Says Stamp Script Thanks.

The flowers were created by iridecent heat emboss stamping on a coffee filter. To make the flowers, you will need a coffee filter and flower image stamp. On this card, I used the Magenta Apple Blossom Bouquet stamp. Load the stamp with VersaMark ink and stamp it onto the coffee filter. Here, I stamped the image four times prior to adding fine Iridescent glitter embossing powder. This will give you lots of extras for future projects. Once it is heat set, the emboss powder saturates the filter fibres and creates a perfect barrier for watercolouring.

Next, place the filter on a craft mat and spritz it with water so that it is fully saturated. Then, carefully pop the lid off the colour of Nuance that you wish to use (I used Magenta Mango Tango Nuance). Wet your paint brush and then pick up just a little bit of Nuance powder on the tip of the brush.

The colours are extremely concentrated and a little goes a long way. Start in the centre of the flower and dab the colour on, letting the water carry it to the edges. Add more spritzes of water and dab colour as needed to help move it and get the colour intensity that you want. Then, let it dry... either naturally or you could use a either a heat tool at a distance or a blow dryer on warm & low setting. Fussy cut the coloured flowers and use as you wish. They can be used singlely, like I did on this card, or you could even layer them up for a more dimensional flower. I added leaves which were free hand painted with Grass Green Nuance on vellum and then fussy cut when dry.

I am entering this card into Simon Say Stamp Monday Bright and Cheerful Challenge and Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge #128 - Anything Goes.

I don't always blog about smaller fast makes here on my blog. I did share these next two earlier this month on my IG account as part of Kathy Rac's 30 Days of Colouring and World Watercolouring Month. These are also 3 x 3" cards made from left over cardstock and watercolour paper (hence the different whites).

They are clear heat embossed stamped with a Close to My Heart mini stamp and painted with Kuretake Zig Gansai Tambi watercolours.

I hope you have been inspired to use up some scraps in make bright cheery cards to bring a smile to someone's day. Be sure to share in the comment or tag me on social media if you do.


TTFN,

Explore - Mixed Media ICAD

Today's creation has me keeping up my participation in Daisy Yellow's ICAD 2019 and World Watercolor Month by incorporating both in it. This 4 x 6" mixed media ICAD was inspired by the Our Mixed Media Moods June moodboard and Creative Embellishments July Color Challenge with a Twist - Clouds or Waves (I went with waves). I included the graphics at the end of the post.

I went with a fairly literal interpretation of the inspiration boards choosing elements directly from the images. My colour medium of choice for this project was Dina Wakley Scribble Sticks and Heavy Body Acrylic paint.

I chose a piece of Studio Light Denim Saturdays pattern paper just for this project as it went with the grey boards from the centre bottom of the moodboard. It reminds me of an aged cedar dock. I cut it to the 4x6" size and adhered it to the index card with Multi Medium Matte and then did a layer of the gel on the front also. Once it was dry, I covered the card with clear gesso, creating a texture with a brush to start the look of waves. Once dry, I then took a piece of white oil pastel and drew on waves. Next, I scribbled the Dina Wakley Scrbble sticks onto the craft mat and then used the water brush to blend and paint with the colours. Once I had the base colour, I then used a smooshing technique by picking up colour of the mat with the index card. This gives a splashy motled effect. After it was dry, I buffed directly over and following the the pastel lines to bring back the whiteness and contrast of the wave lines. I darkened the edges first with Night acrylic paint but found it was a tad on the purple side against the wave's colour so added Marine to bring up the blue tone.

Next, I turned my attention to the cardboard piece. The base of this was pre-made while I was making my Live Gently Upon This Earth ATC (You can see it here). Thus, the cardboard already had the dictionary page adhered to it and it was covered with gesso and left over Clear Rock Candy Crackle paint. I just needed to give it colour which I did using the Marine Scribble Stick and a waterbrush. While it was drying, I used my finger to add some Texture Paste to the Creative Embellishments Nautical Compass chipboard and then sponged on the Night acrylic paint to it and the N. I chose solely the N as Canada is the north, cottaging is north, and north is where I most spend time by a lake. Once they were dry, I adhered them to the cardboard piece.

Next, I created the the blueberries. Blueberries grow along the rocky shore areas at the cottage in Muskoka so I went with a handrawn watercoloured sprig of them. I have to say that I am quite proud of myself for how the sprig turned out. I watercolour layered the leaves starting with a wash of Evergreen, giving them a blueish colour with Marine and Night, and then darking them with Brown. The branches went through the same layering but I included the addition of Black as the final layer. The berries were painted with two layers of Marine and once I was happy with each one, I added a tich of black to darken the released spent flower area. Once they were dry, I fussy cut them. Then, I was ready to assemble the project.

To assemble the piece, I wrapped the cardboard with navy wire (for the bottom right image on the OMMM moodboard) and then used gel medium to adhere it off centre, more to the left, on the index card base. Then, I tucked in the blueberry sprig and glued it with with the gel. Next, I stamped the CTMH Explore (from their Adventure stamp set) onto a piece of transparency with Black StazOn ink. After trimming it down, I tried it out on the cardboard but it was getting lost as that area was rather dark so I backed it with a small piece of gessoed and Marine coloured dictionary paper prior to adhering it to the cardboard. 

I included some detailed close ups of the top and bottom sections.

With this one, you can better see the crackle paste on the dictionary text areas as well as the texture on the compass rose.

With this one, you can better see the splattery splotches of colour on the index card background, the wire, and the Explore transparency.


Here's a last look at the entire finished ICAD.

Supplies: index card and transparency (Staples), patterned paper (StudioLight), Marine, Night, Evergreen, Brown and Black Dina Wakley Scribble Sticks, Night and Marine Dina Wakley Acrylic Paint, Multi Medium Matte gel, Tim Holtz Clear Rock Candy Crackle Paint, Texture Paste (Ranger), Nautical Compass chipboard (Creative Embellishments), clear and white gesso (Liquitex), XL watercolour paper (Canson), Explore stamp (CTMH), Black StazOn (Tsukineko), white oil pastel and wire (Dollarama), cardboard and dictionary page (misc.)

I hope I have inspired you to give one of the many different techniques that I used a try. As mentioned at the top of the post, here are the mood board and color board that were my inspiration for this project. You can read more about each challenge and see their inspirational creations by clicking on the images below.

   

As today's creation is a mixed media piece, I am also joining in over at Bleeding Art July Anything Goes Challenge.

TTFN,

This Smile

It has been a bit since I have made a scrapbook layout. This mixed media one was one that I had started last year and finally got to finishing at Crop and Create Torinto this year.

I started with the Creative Scrapbooker's Superstock base covered with clear gesso prior to watercolouring with Tim Holtz Cracked Pistachio and Stampin' Up's Pretty in Pink, stamping with the CTMH My life is so blessed sentiment stamp and splattering with Tattered Angels Vintage Pink and Tim Holtz Picked Raspberry to match the Maggie Holmes Crate Paper collection. I added lots of textures with a variety of trims, mesh, film strip and wood veneer. I added a hand cut and blanket stiched felt heart too.

It felt really good to make a layout. I really have to get into the habit again of making them on a regular basis.


TTFN,

Supplies: Crate Paper Maggie Holmes patterned paper and overlay, Royal Dear Lizzy Thickers, velvet rickrack (American Crafts), cardstock (Creative Scrapbooker Superstock), clear gesso (Liquitex), inks [Tim Holtz Cracked Pistachio and Picked Raspberry (Ramger), Vintage Pink (Tattered Angels), Pretty in Pink (Stampin' Up)], sentiment stamp and white cardstock (CTMH), Tim Holtz Idea-ology Film Strip (Advantus), mesh (Magenta), crochet trim (Maya Road), wood veneer (Prima), butterfly punch (Martha Stewart), embroidery floss (Loops & Thread), pen (Staedtler), and doily, staples, felt and pink ribbon (Misc). 

Adventure Awaits

Another Get Messy season of Adventure art journal page to share. This one was made with the washi tape scraps from my season of Love "Love Unconditionally" page (can be seen here). At the time of that page's creation, I had adhered the scraps and gessoed over them being sure to leave some washi showing for a future page.

When the Adventure season came along, I was inspired to turn that page into a sort of envelope front. The colour is from Magenta's Nuance powder water soluble dyes in Orange, Bright Yellow and Hot Pink. While the inks were wet, I used them to stamp the postal marks at the top.

Supplies: 6x9 watercolor journal (Strathmore), washi tapes (Scotch 3M), gesso (Golden), Orange, Hot Pink and Bright yellow Nuance powders and grid stencil (Magenta), Distress Glaze (Ranger), stamps (CTMH), StazOn ink (Tsukineko), Stamper's Big Brush (Faber-Castell), blk acrylic paint (DecoArt), pen (Signo)

Once all was dry, I removed some of the colour through a grid stencil. Next, to hold down the colour so that it would not rub off or mix with the acrylic paint, I used the new Distress Micro Glaze. This stuff worked awesome. As there was a slight sheen even after buffing, I just ran my corn starch sack over it that I use for anti-static with heat embossing. I wiped any residual starch away and it was sealed perfectly for the next layer.

I photographed the journal on a Muskoka rock which if you are not familiar with this type of distinctive pinkish granite, it is what makes up the Canadian Shield and is one of the sight-seeing things to see when traveling in northern Ontario. You can see how the rock was my inspiration for colouring... but of a brighter summer variety.

TTFN,

Be Bold with Gel, Gesso and Gelatos - Get Messy Art Journaling

I have a how-to mixed media tutorial up on the Get Messy Art Journaling blog. We are currently in the Season of Brave thus I made a simpler version of this double page spread based on the Brave prompt in the hopes of inspiring people to give some mixed media a try and be brave with gel, gesso and gelatos.

If you are into art journaling and want some fun prompts, a great supportive community, and learn new techniques or about different styles, come join us over at Get Messy!

New to art journaling or just curious, there is lots on the site for beginners too. Also Caylee and Lauren, the creative minds behind Get Messy, are doing an Art Journaling 101 class over at Big Picture Classes if you want to check it out.


TTFN,

I {Heart} this Page!

The art journal page that I am sharing today is a little different than my usual pages in that it is really bold and bright. I LOVE it and I am thrilled that what I had envisioned in my head translated so well onto the page.

Supplies: 400 Series Watercolor Hardbound 11" Art Journal  (Strathmore), Tim Holtz tissue paper and stencil, Archival ink, glue n' seal (Ranger), stamps (CTMH), gelatos and Stamper's Big Brush (Faber-Castell), gesso (Golden), word strip stickers (Cosmo Cricket), beige tissue paper (misc.)

The inspiration for this page was Get Messy Art Journal Love prompt set 2 number 1 - I Love Things.  For me, that means happiness and how to achieve it by doing things that you love.

TTFN,

Bees Do Matter

I had a go at the blackout newspaper/magazine prompt from Get Messy Art Journaling.

Supplies: patterned paper (MME), newspaper article (Toronto Star), gesso (Golden), Tim Holtz Distress Paint and Glue n' seal (Ranger), Hexagon stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), foliage stencil (Magenta), B6 pencil (Faber-Castell), stamp (CTMH), ink (Tsukineko), Inktense watercolour pencil crayons (Derwent)

Some close ups...

My take is not so simplified but I am really pleased with how it turned out. It conveys how I feel about the current bee debate. If you are interested in reading the full article, it is "What's the real story behind bee deaths?" by Catherine Porter.

TTFN,

Happy 2015 to All

It has been a relaxing first few days of the New Year for me and I hope like wise can be said for you. I wanted to make a card to commemorate the New Year and wish all my creative peeps out there... that's you... a Happy 2015.:)

Colour inspiration for this card came from this week's Close To My Heart's Instagram (@ctmhcorp) Color Crush creative prompt of Gold and Silver.  I do not often mix those colours. I am more of a one or the other type of gal, but in the spirit of stretching my creativity, I gave it a go.  I dug into my copious CTMH stash and got my sparkle and shine on.

Supplies:  cardstock, text font [A Typeface], star boarder [You are...], med. and lrg. stars [Shining Star] stamps, houndstooth Irresistibles chipboard (CTMH), Delicata Golden Glitz and Silver Shimmer ink (Tsukineko), Stickles and gel medium (Ranger), metallic thread, vellum and glass seed beads (Dollarama), thread (Aurifil Mako'ne), wht pen (Signo Uniball)

For design inspiration, I used this Cardabilities sketch and joined in their bi-weekly challenge. There is lots of eye candy and inspiration not to mention time left to enter the challenge so go check it out.

Wishing you all the best for 2015.


TTFN,

Slowly but Surely

It has taken a while to finally get this art journal page finished. I started it at the end of the summer and then life got in the way. Just happy to be starting to get back to normal. Can't wait to be fully healed and have my energy back. Turns out this growth mindset quote was just what I needed at the time that I was initially making it.;

Supplies: 400 Series Watercolor Hardbound 11" Art Journal  (Strathmore), Peacock, Mowed lawn and Shaded Lilac Distress Inks, and Archival Ink (Ranger), Stamper's Big Brush (Faber-Castell), StazOn (Tsukineko), stitch stamp (CTMH), letter jumble stencil (Dylusions by Ranger), Distressed Quatre Foil stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), paint (Art Deco), gesso (Liquitex), letter stickers (Creative Memories), foam numbers used as stamps, lined paper pad page, and letter rub-ons (Dollarama)

In creating the background, I was solely in the mood to play with circles and watercolours and see where they took me. I then added in the stencils and splatters. I knew I wanted lots of layers but without bulk. I even used up some really old rub ons and stickers too which was a bonus. The quote was inspired by a quote in Flow Magazine's International number 5. It really suits my personality... I am very persistent and try, try, try again until I get it. That and the whole alphabet thing speaks to the kindergarten teacher in me. I tailored the quote down to fit the letters that I had and even then I had to hand draw a few using the sticker backing as a template.

This art journal page makes me feel good and brings a smile to my face. Love when that happens.

TTFN,

Wonderfully White with Simon Says Stamp

I am loving my summer break and have been creating up a storm the last two days.  Today, I was tidying up when I had to decide what to do with a trial gesso stamped Magenta silhouette Bird & Branch from a previous Magenta project. I considered just putting it into my paper recycling bin when I put it against my craft mat and a card idea formed based on the colour combo that would fit wonderfully for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Blog Challenge for this week's challenge of using white.

Supplies: cardstock (Canadian Scrapbooker Super Stock), Bird and Branch stamp (Magenta), gesso (Golden), distress ink and gel medium (Ranger), flowers (Prima, Michaels), hello wood veneer (Studio Calico), flower wood veneers and mini pearls (CTMH), Silhouette cut quatrefoil stencil (Silhouette America), whipped spackle (Faber-Castell), tissue paper, cheesecloth, vellum, burlap (miscellaneous)

This card just flowed and it came together quickly. Love when that happens.

I used up some other scraps too. The background mat has white wrapping tissue added with gel medium for texture.  The top left flower is actually a distress inked piece of circular cut vellum from an experiment.  I scrunched it up, shaped it into a flower shape and adhered it. Then I used wood veneer flowers with super mini pearls as centres.  The burlap ribbon was part of a small scrap piece left from a previous cut and of course the cardboard was destined for recycling.  I reclaimed it from the bin just for this card.

This is what it looked like when I photographed it and decided I wanted to add to it.

I ended up topping the whole thing off with touches of gesso to bring it together.  Check out the other wonderful white concoctions others created on the blog here.


TTFN,

Nook Virtual Crop Challenge

I am not a fast scrapper and thus having limited time to scrap this past weekend, I got this layout done after the end of the crop.  For me the scrapping is an expercise in speed or getting layouts and cards done, it is for creative process and art.  I will slowly pick away at a few of the other great challenges over the next bit that I readily had ideas and photos for.

Here is LG's Challenge #1. She chose to make a sketch the inspiration.



Here is my take on it:

Supplies: cardstock, patterned papers, cardstock stickers, liquid glass, stamp, ink, liquid glass (CTMH), pen (Signo), jewels (SandyLion)

The photo is of Hadley... the newest addition to the extended family.  Thanks Carol for letting me scrap your cutie!

TTFN,

Get Picky #5

When I saw this new CTMH paper, I knew right away that I wanted to use it for the Get Picky Sketch #5 and I knew which photos that I wanted to scrap. The hard part was finding the photos.  I knew the photos were from when my DD was 1 or 2 and it took some searching through old printed photos.  Oh, those 35 mm days! It was neat to look at those photos from my prescrapbooking days. So much material to work with there.  It turns out they were from 2002.

Here is the sketch:

Here is my take:

Supplies: patterned paper, cardstock, ink, letter stickers, chipboard letters, font (CTMH), paint (Plaid), punch (Fiskars)

I totally love how it turned out and I used up some old CTMH cardstock and sticker stash too.

Be sure to go check out the other amazing takes on this sketch at the Get Picky Blog.  Even better, give it a try for the prize is so worth it... the entire awesome new Pink Paislee Sweetness Collection!


TTFN,

Seasonal Double Page Layout

This was my seasonal retreat double page layout.

Supplies:  patterned paper (DCVW), cardstock, ink, stamps (CTMH), pen (Creative Memories)

Journaling reads:
In the morning and at night, sharing the magic of gift giving with Grandma.  It is fun seeing all your eyes light up with excitement as you each unveil a new treasure.

If you have ever ventured down my blog's sidebar you would see that I do some DT work for my friend Deanna's Queen of the Crop Country Retreats.  Each retreat, she gives the retreat ladies a complimentary make n' take double page layout.  Deanna supplies me with 2 pieces of co-ordinating patterned paper and 1 piece of coloured textured cardstock plus either black, white or colonial white cardstock.  I can use any CTMH stamps for titling and further embellishing.  From there it is up to my imagination.  I always have to keep in mind the difficulty level and ease of replicating it with minimal guidance as well as the adaptability of changing up picture sizes when I am putting retreat layouts together.  There are two other women on the team and the neat thing is we each have our own style thus allowing participants a variety of layouts for their albums over time.

TTFN,

Yippee!

Today I got a happy email!  I love when they are scrappy in nature and say "Congratulations!!"  A card that I had submitted to ScrapStreet.com magazine's November call got accepted for publication.  It is a fun card that I made for my sister-in-law's 40th birthday from My Scrapbook Nook's awesome March kit featuring Pink Paislee's Bayberry Cottage collection.  Now I have a dilemma, but a great one to have... I need an 'Out for Publication" badge. (**scroll down for updated with photo after publication)

So since I can't share that card until after it is published,  I will share some other scrappy goodness that I made over the Labour Day weekend.

I started this layout ages ago, left it, went back to it during the summer only to have a runaway sewing machine mishap, got the machine repaired and finally got it finished. Whew! All that for a playing around with sewing and distressing paper edges layout.  It is pretty simple because the pictures are really busy and I wanted them to be the focus.  I got to scrap some older photos and use up some of my stash.  Everything is CTMH except the title lettering which is BasicGrey chipboard letters and American Craft's Thickers fabric letters. A full list of supplies can be found here.

** updated post publication with card photo

TTFN!