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,

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,

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,

A Mother's Love - Guest for the Funkie Junkie Challenge

Hi crafty friends! Today, I am delighted to be sharing a shabby chic card as a Guest Designer over at the Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog for their newest challenge.

I was excited when I learnt that Sarah Emily's theme for this challenge was a Mother's Love.... perfect for a shabby play with Prima pretties using the Apricot Honey collection. I started with a 6" x 4 3/4" piece of the B side of "Tiny Blossoms" patterned paper applied Ranger Opaque Crackle Paste through the Finnabair Tapestry stencil. I then turned to the Prima mold created lock embellishment by brushing on Finnabair heavy white gesso. 

I love up-cycling - finding ways to reuse or re-purpose things in my creations. You might be surprised to learn that I created the lock embellishment from a fiber drink cup holder tray. You can find out how I did that in this post here. 

While both pieces were drying, I began fussy cutting flowers from the "Tiny Blossoms" & "Apricot Honey" patterned paper. Once the paste had dried and done its crackle thing, I added Rose Prima Pastel Confections watercolour paint. When I was happy with the colour density and look, I finished the panel with paint splatters. Using my finger, I dipped it into my watercolouring water, and then picked up some of the Lemonade watercolour paint and dabbed it onto select parts of the gessoed lock embellishment giving it a pretty shabby distressed look. Then, I once again turned my attention back to more fussy cutting along with cutting out a mini card from the "Happiness looks good on you" paper and distressing its edges.

With everything dry, I was ready to start assembling. First, I distressed the edges of the panel and them adhered it to a 6 1/4" x 5" white card base.

Next, I used scrap pieces of cereal box board and glued them down in the centre. Then, on top of that, I arranged and adhered the a layer of the fussy cut flowers along the edges to pop them up a bit for added dimension.

Next, I adhered two more layers of box board to the back of the distressed Love card and glued it into the centre. I filled in any areas with scrap pieces of flowers and leaves. Then, I adhered the lock embellishment, the AC Thickers "Be Kind" rose gold foam glitter letters, the bitty butterfly and added pink tiny glass beads along the edges of the Love card and called it done.

I was so happy with the results! It was such a pleasure to make this card and I want to thank the design team for having me join in. I hope you all enjoyed my take on the challenge and that it inspires you to get messy and create. Here's another look at my completed card.

You can head on over and leave some love on my Guest Designer post here and you can get the challenge details and link up an entry here.

Stay safe and happy crafting!


TTFN,

Card of the Month - Creative Scrapbooker Magazine

*** UPDATE: Yeah! I made it onto Round 2. Voting ends April 12th. ***

Hello fellow crafty friends! Some of you might remember this card that I shared after it came back from being published in the Winter 2018 issue of Creative Scrapbooker Magazine. Well,  Creative Scrapbooker Magazine combed through their past publications and picked cards for their new Card of the Month People's Choice contest. To my surprise, they picked my foiled alcohol ink card as one of the entrants. 

I am so grateful and excited to be chosen for the inaugural match up. There are 5 rounds of voting during the month of April and each round is time sensitive. This contest if just for fun. There is no prize other than the honour of being crowned Card of the Month. It would be so awesome to make it to the top so I am asking if you would please be so kind to go and vote for my card. You will find it in bracket 14 down near the bottom. You can head to their site for voting here.

You can vote in one, a few, or all the brackets. It's up to you. Your email address is used to vote and so you can log on to vote in subsequent rounds. 1st round voting ends April 5th at 11:59 PM EDT. Your vote would be greatly appreciated.

Here is a close up of the card that shows the foil accents and texture details.

Supplies: Silhouette Spring Flowers stamp and alphabet chipboard (Magenta), Yupo paper (Yupo), Tim Holtz Citrus, Pool, Turquoise Alcohol Inks and Blending Solution, Black Soot Archival Ink, Picket Fence Distress Paint, Multi Medium Gel (Ranger), Bora Bora Green foil (Prima), stones (Emerald Creek), cardstock (CTMH)

To make this card, I started with a 3 1/2" x 5" piece of yupo paper which I covered with alcohol blending solution and added drops of Citrus, Pool, and Turquoise alcohol inks in three rows from bottom to the top tilting the card to move the colours around. Once dry, I placed a green foiling sheet over top and burnished it onto the yupo background. Once peeled away, it sticks bits of foil to some of the tacky areas on the background.

From there, I stamped the Magenta Spring Silhouette Flowers with Black Soot Archival ink. Next, I adhered the panel to a white card base. Then, I added the white acrylic painted "You Rock" chipboard sentiment using the Mini Alphabet chipboard letters and added some green foiling to them. Lastly, to complete the card, I glued on some tiny stones along the bottom of the panel.

If you give this technique or silhouette stamp a try, be sure to share it with me. And thanks for voting!

TTFN,

Music

Hi crafty friends! I have wanted to join in Finnabair's Art Daily Cafe monthly challenge the last couple of months but I was swamped at work and not able to at that point. Now with much time on hand, I used the February moodboard/prompt to create this Music art journal page. The theme was Haiga- visual poetry and the colour was Deep Red.

I started out by collaging cream colour tissue paper onto a double page spread in my Moleskin art journal. I added musical notation pieces from the Finnabair Musica decorative tissue. Once that was dry, I used Finnabair white gesso to blend and push that layer back. When that was dry, I stamped with the Finnabair Script stamp and black archival ink. Then, I covered the entire page with Finnabair clear gesso so that it would give it some tooth for the watercolours to stick.

Next, I applied texture paste through the Finnabair Tapestry stencil. While that was drying, I picked through my Prima patterned paper stash to decide what papers would work for what I had in mind. Then, I used a mix of Prima Red Parrot 19 and Cacao 24 watercolours from the Tropicals Confections set to get the desired red colour. I used a brown Stabilo All pencil to add a brown boarder before adding splatters in both the red and black acrylic once set. While that was drying, I cut a journal card from the Printery Collection Page Four patterned paper, distressing the edges and fussy cut out a bunch of roses from the Tales of You & Me A4 Collection Kit patterned paper. I found the perfect Prima felt sticker from my stash to create a ground strip area on which I created the focal point with the journal card for the haiku and the fussy cut florals.

I cut out to butterflies and added them along with the Prima fabric letter stickers to complete the page.

You can check out what others have created on Finnabair's blog here or use the hashtag #dailyartcafe on Instagram or Facebook. Now I look forward to tackling January's- Maps and March's - Moonlight moodboards too.

TTFN,

With a Little Luck

Today's artsy share is a little gem of good luck. I created this ATC inspired by spring and the March birthstone of aquamarine which is the challenge prompt over at the Funkie Junkie Boutique.

I started with piece of watercolour paper which I had experimented with some shades of Tim Holtz Distress ink greens. I cut it to ATC size and then stenciled some wild flowers with black acrylic paint through a Prima mini stencil. Next, stamped with the Finnabair script stamp and Archival black ink. Then, I used the Prima mini lace stencil and applied Ranger Opaque Crackle Texture Paste. Once dry and crackled, I added in some more greens with Prima Apple Green 06 confections watercolour and Tim Holtz Peeled Paint distress ink. Once that was dry, I added splatters of Gold Sheer Shimmer Spritz and Finnabair Metallique Mermaid Teal acrylic paint.

While that was drying, I turned my attention to colouring the chipboard and flowers. I used Finnabair Avocado Green, Emerald Liquid Acrylic paints and Mermaid Teal Metallique paint. This all dried super fast so I was able to add little touches of White Gold wax right away. Then, I added some touches of the Mermaid Teal watered down onto the mini flowers and twisted the flower stems to add some further embellishment interest.

After distressing the edges of the ATC base, I glued down the chipboard pieces, added some gold thread, the flowers, a die cut butterfly and aqua Prima Pebbles. To finish the ATC off, I white heat emboss stamped the Good Luck sentiment onto a strip of black cardstock and adhered some scrap pieces of cereal board to the back to pop it up.

Head on over to the Funkie Junkie Boutique here to see their DTs inspiration and other participants take on the Aquamarine challenge.

TTFN,

Prima Pretties

I had some floral fussy cutting fun with the Prima Apricot Honey patterned papers. Paired with their matching glittery paper blinged out centre flowers results in a layered floral frenzy card.

Supplies: Apricot Honey pattern papers, ephemera pack, flowers (Prima Marketing), Tim Holtz Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Spun Sugar and Worn Lipstick Distress inks (Ranger), Vintage Pink Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels)

For the first layer, I cut a piece of the Tiny Blossoms pattern paper, spritzed it with water, crinkled it and then unfurled it to dry. Then, I distressed and inked the edges and added splatters of Vintage Pink Glimmer Mist before gluing it down to my card base. From there, I built up layers of fussy cut flowers and foliage from the Tiny Blossoms and Apricot Honey patterned papers along with the floral card from the Happiness Looks Good on You pattern paper which I also distressed and splattered. Next, I cut and distressed the words from the Deep Love paper and adhered them with some cereal box board for added dimension. Lastly, I added two Apricot Honey flowers and a fussy cut butterfly from the collection's ephemera pack.

I am entering this beauty in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Floral Frenzy challenge. Check out their design team's inspirational creations as well as all the other floral entries.


TTFN,

Creepy Caravan Halloween Blog Crawl

Welcome to the next stop on the Creepy Caravan Blog Hop! Crafty mixed media mavens have been busy fashioning Halloween creations for your seasonal enjoyment and inspiration. Sit back, relax and crawl along with the Creepy Caravan.

Cassandra here, joining in the hop with this "Spells" altered book... great for a seasonal home decor display or a prop for Halloween costumes.

I started by applying black gesso with a paint brush to the jacket of an old hardcover book.

Next, I created patches for some of the really torn areas of the cover using cheesecloth and tissue paper and then applying Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint to those areas. Once they were dry and crackled, I used Texture Paste through the Constellation stencil from Magenta to add the background stars and constellations. Then, I adhered the stacked cardstock cut outs that I had created using a Silhouette Cameo.

After painting everything with black acrylic paint, I started to apply Prima Finnabair's Art Alchemy waxes with a small brush and at times with my finger to smear it in some spots. I used White Gold Metallic Wax over all the raised areas and then added some Lucky Emerald Antique Brilliance to the tree and Mystic Turquoise Antique Brilliance to the birds.

I replaced the jacket cover onto the book and took a photo with the book laying open in the middle so that the jacket can be seen in its entirety.

Supplies: Black Gesso, Matte Texture Paste, Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paste and Multi Media Matte (Ranger), cheesecloth, tissue paper (misc.), Constellations stencil (Magenta), tree, crows, sun, creseent moon amd letters cut files (Silhouette), cardstock (Staples), Fawndementals Glue (Lawn Fawn), black acrylic paint (DecoArt), Finnabair White Gold Metalique Wax, Lucky Emerald and Mystic Turquoise Antique Brillance Wax (Prima) 

Here is an angled view as part of a Halloween display on my mantle. I hope you enjoyed my altered creation and that I have inspired you to create your own book of spells.

For your next stop on the Creepy Caravan Blog Hop, please head on over to Life in a Snapshot.

If you are just beginning on the Creepy Caravan Blog Hop with your visit here on my blog, below is the full list of all the inspirational talented artists in hop order:

It's Oddly Appealing

 Whimsy Chic Paper Crafts

Kelly Parker Designs

Scrap Savvy Creations (you are here)

Life in a Snapshot

Karla Yungwirth Designs

Scrapstorian- Brande Davison

Stephanie Eaton

Roni Johnson a.k.a. Ink Stained Roni

Matter of Crafts - Jessica Larios

Jennifer Gagne (KaezMum)

Nelly’s Artistic Creations

A big thank you goes out to Cathy Frailey (owner of Bleeding Art challenge blog) for organizing this hop. Be sure to visit all the hop stops for some awesome Halloween themed mixed media creations and be sure to leave some love!

*****

I am entering my altered book into the Simon Says Stamp Monday Spooky Challenge. Challenge details and DT creations can be found here.

Happy Halloween!