Happy New Year!

A little sparkle and shine makes me happy.

Wishing you much health and happiness in 2022.

TTFN,

Magenta Products Used:

Holly

TM180 Stars

Extra Large

Cheery Geometric Birthday Card

Hello All! Today I am sharing a cheery watercoloured rainbow geometric patterned birthday card that is up on the Magenta blog.

(Supplies: Triangles stencil, Find your Happy Place & Happy Birthday Stamps, Hot Pink, Orange, Bright Yellow, Grass Green, Turquoise Nuance powders (Magenta), watercolour panel (Ranger), VersaMark and Black StazOn (Tsukeniko), Black Baker's Twine (The Twinery), clear emboss powder & Assorted Moonshine Sequins (Simon Says Stamp)

I started this one with a panel of Ranger's watercolour paper and applied VersaMark and clear emboss powder through the Triangles stencil before heat setting it. Next, I used a rainbow assortment of Nuance powders (Hot Pink, Orange, Bright Yellow, Grass Green, Turquoise) and applied them with a one inch flat brush. Once the colours were set but not dry, I added corresponding splatter to each colour section. Once it was completely dry, I heat removed the clear emboss powder with a hot iron. This allows you to get a clear image when stamping on top and to heat emboss without fear of the emboss colours mixing and gives a no-line watercolouring look to it. Next, I heat emboss stamped the Happy from Find Your Happy Place and the Birthday from the Happy Birthday stamps. Then, I mounted the panel to a cardstock card base and finished it off by tying on some black baker's twine and added a few sequins.

A pretty simple card that is sure to brighten any birthday recipients day. Hope I have inspired you to give the card or technique a try.

TTFN,

Magenta Products Used:

(click on an image to view details)

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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,

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,

Cheers! ~ You Are Awesome

Hello Crafty Friends! Summer is here and it's time to cheer. I am up on the Magenta blog today sharing a celebratory shaker card. This sparkly one works for birthdays, graduations, retirements, job promotions, etc. Any occasion where you would say... Cheers!

Supplies: Cheers stamp, You are Awesome stamp, Rose Window Stencil, patterned paper (Magenta), Super Stock cardstock (Creative Scrapbooker Magazine), Tim Holtz Distress Inks, Black Soot Archival ink, Glossy Accents (Ranger), VersaMark ink (Tsukineko), Midnight Black emboss powder (Emerald Creek), black glitter (Doodlebug), Assorted Moonshine Sequins (Simon Says Stamp), orange Baker's Twine (Maya Road), round shell packaging (Misc.)

I blended a selection of Tim Holtz Distress inks through the Rose Window stencil for the background and heat emboss stamped the Magenta Cheers with a combo of black glitter mixed with black emboss powder. I up-cycled a circular shell packaging piece with Simon Says Stamps Assorted Moonshine Sequins for the shaker part. The top layer is the "B" side of the Victorian Beauty patterned paper wrapped with orange Maya Road Baker's Twine and tied with a You Are Awesome stamped tag made from Peacock Blue patterned paper with distressed edges.

TTFN,

*****
Magenta products used:

Rose Window Stencil

Victorian Beauty Patterned Paper

Peacock Blue Patterned Paper

*****

Mindset Matters - ICAD

Hello Crafty Peeps! I didn't think that I would get to start making an index card for ICAD2020 until I was finished school later this week as my life has been consumed with online learning but with having finished my last lesson planning for this week and faced with sweltering heat and patches of rain today, I thought to heck with it, I want to create. And so I did. So here is my creation inspired by Simon Says Stamps Monday Sprays and Splashes Challenge.

I have a ready stash of gessoed index cards so I started with that as the base and then scribbled on some Cheddar with a Dina Wakley Scribble Stick and activated it with a water brush. Then I sprayed it with water and let it run and also splatter it. Once that was dry, I did the same with a Peacock Scribble Stick but to a less extent so it was more of an accent colour. Once that was dry, I drew the branch in with a Stabilo All pencil and cut and collaged leaves from Dina Wakley printed tissue drawing around them also with the black pencil. Then I activated it with a brush and water smudging the lines and added design colour details to the centre of the branch.

Supplies: index card (Staples), Dina Wakley Cheddar and Peacock Scribble Sticks, Scribbly Small Birdies stamp, Collage Paper, Collage Words, Washi Tape, Mini Favourites stencil, Tim Holtz Black Soot Archival ink, Multi Medium Matte (Ranger), gesso (Liquitex), Black  All pencil (Stabilo), thread and dictionary page (Misc.)

While that was drying, I stamped the bird with Black Archival ink on a piece of dictionary paper and fussy cut it out. I added some left over bits of Dina Wakley washi tape to add balance and to cover where I had pressed too firmly with the Scribble Sticks and had left some scribble lines that hadn't dissolved. In trying out the bird placement, I decided it needed some more textural interests so I sewed the branch and leaves outline leaving lots of loose thread to create a nest for the bird and added gesso through a Mini Elements stencil to the background. Now that I was happy with that, I adhered the bird. Lastly, I cut and collaged the Dina collage words quote and splattered it with some of the black Stibilo scribbled on a mat with water to complete it.

One ICAD down, many more to come. :)

Be sure to check out the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge DT's Sprays and Splashes inspirational takes on the challenge along with all the participants' creative eye candy here.


TTFN,

Steampunk Blog Hop

***UPDATED July 5th: Bookmark and ATC giveaway is closed.

Winners are Penny -Bookmark & Elle - ATC. Congrats ladies! Please send me your mailing info so I can get these out to each of you.***

***UPDATE June 23rd: Commenting for Blog Hop prizes has ended. Commenting for my bookmark and ATC giveaway is open until Saturday, July 4th at 11:59 PM.***

Welcome, crafty enthusiasts! It's blog hop time with a spectacular array of steampunk creations with sixteen sponsored prizes up for grabs. My contribution to this sojourn is themed Sea, Land, & Air as I join in with a steampunk inspired bookmark and ATC.

The bookmark base is made from water spritzed and crinkled kraft cardstock topped with Stamperia Mechanical Sea World patterned papers including the glossy accent embellished fussy cut seahorse.

Some distressing with Tim Holtz Distress inks, chipboard gears from Creative Embellishments and cut out letters/words from the Mechanical Sea Worlds packaging completes the main part of the "Free to be Me" bookmark in order for it to maintain its functionality as an actual bookmark. Where I had more freedom to add dimensional pieces was with the "ribbon & charm" part that hangs outside of a book.

Supplies: Mechanical Sea World patterned papers (Stamperia), kraft carstock (CTMH), Glossy Accents, Walnut Stain Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Distress Collage Medium (Ranger), mini gear chipboards (Creative Embellishments), Cerith Seashell Stamp, Ancient Anchor Charm (Emerald Creek Craft Supplies), Timber Brown StazOn inks (Tsukineko), Shrink-It (Aleene's), Natural Hemp Cord (Darice), Tim Holtz Idea-ology Jump Rings (Advantus), glass beads (Misc.)

For that, I used hemp cord tied with glassbeads, a shrink plastic seashell stamped with the Emerald Creek Cerith Seashell stamp and an alcohol ink coloured anchor embellishment. I am so pleased with how this came together and that it is perfect for a steampunk enthusiast's use in a practical way.

Up next is this little up-cycled gem of an ATC. I like to reuse/repurpose what I can in art pieces and this one incorporates corrugated cardboard and shell plastic packaging as key elements in its design. It was an add-on item to my initial intention of just having the bookmark as a stand alone piece for this hop. As I waited for the hop day I wanted to make something that expressed the current world wide reflection of the status quo situation and came up with this. 

The "Unlock the Spirit of Change" ATC starts with a base piece of corrugated expose cardboard topped with a distressed piece of the Stamperia Mechanical Sea World patterned paper. After splattering it with Broken China Distress ink and Vintage Photo Distress inking the edges, I applied Tim Holtz Grit Paste mixed with Burnt Sienna Finnabair Fluid Acrylics through the Crafter's Workshop Mini Specimens stencil.

Supplies: Mechanical Sea World pattern paper (Stamperia), Mini Specimens stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), Finnabair Burnt Sienna Liquid acrylic, Mermaid Teal acrylic paint, Lucky Emerald Antique Brilliance, Ingvild Blome Stamp-N-Add Butterfly Wings (Prima), Tim Holtz Distress Grit Paste, Distress Collage Medium, Broken China, Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso Distress ink, Patina, Pool and Express Alcohol ink, Gold Mixative, Glossy Accents (Rangers), mini gears chipboard (Creative Embellishments), Mod Podge Industrial molds (Plaid), VersaMark ink (Tsukineko), Vega Gold emboss powder (Emerald Creek), Spirit metal tag (Dollarama), Tim Holtz Ideaology Hex Fasteners (Advantus), metal washer (Home Depot), cardboard and plastic packaging (Misc.)

On top of that is a collection of Creative Embellishments Mini Gears chipboard, Industrial Mod Podge molded gears, lock and key coloured with a combination of alcohol inks and Finnabair paint and wax. The butterfly was created from left over plastic shell packaging coloured with Patina and Pool alcohol inks and then heat embossed stamped with a Prima butterfly using Emerald Creeks Vegas Gold Emboss powder. The butterfly is mechanized with an alcohol ink coloured Prima metal wing screw embellishment hopefully giving the illusion that it is wound to fly as it is set free. There is much symbolism in this piece with elements purposely chosen that marry themselves well to express the message through a steampunk theme.

Now onto the give away part...

As for my blog's giveaway... it is both of these creations. Yes, you can become the owner of one of these crafty creations and yes, I am willing to snail mail them internationally so two lucky people can enjoy them. To be entered into my blog's Sea, Land and Air giveaway draw, you simply have to complete these two steps:

1. Be a follower of my blog or my IG account here or become a follower of either and 
2. Leave a comment below on this post stating which you would like to win e.g. ATC, bookmark, or either one.

My blog giveaway ends Saturday, July 4th at 11:59 PM. Please note that this is a different timeline than the Steampunk blog hop sponsored prizes which ends Monday, June 22nd.

As for a chance to win one of the 16 sponsored prizes for our Steampunk Hop - we're proud to say these are small businesses run by artists. Let's show them some love!

1) A Vintage Girl - $20 prize package

2) Angel Dream Crafts - $20 gift certificate (shipping not included)

3) Linda Israel Art - $50 gift certificate (shipping not included)

4) A Matter of Crafts - $20 gift certificate (shipping not included)

5) Expressions Craft - $25 gift certificate (shipping not included)

6) Nellys Artistic Creations - original artwork (see link for examples of her work)

7) Gecko Galz - $25 in digital products

8) Creative Embellishments - $50 (shipping not included)

9) Emerald Creek - $25 gift certificate

10) Electric Pandemonium - choose a $45 original artwork piece (shipping not included)

11) Thompson's Craft Supplies £20 (approx $25) (shipping not included)

12) It's Oddly Appealing - original artwork (see link for examples of her work)

13) The Funkie Junkie Boutique - $25 gift certificate

14) Hobbilicious - £15 (approx $19) (UK shipping free)

15) ITD - prize package worth £25

16) Stamperia - a pizza box prize pack

To have a chance of winning one of the 16 coveted prizes, leave a comment on this post, along with your email address or social media contact (IG, FB, etc) and what country you're from, from now through Monday, June 22nd. Sixteen winners will be picked randomly from all comments left from all of the artist's participating! The winners will be contacted via email/social media so it's important you leave your address/social media contact! Good luck and enjoy the hop!

For your next stop on the Steampunk hop, please head on over to Monica Longard's MonDo Creations.

If you are just beginning the Steampunk Blog Hop with your visit here on my blog, below is the full list of all the inspirational talented makers:

It's Oddly Appealing

Roni - Ink Stained

Krystal Overby - Electric Pandemonium

Crafts From The Fairy Den

Chaitali Dekhtawala 

Nellys Artistic Creations

Jane Austin

Priya Mishra

Archana Sehgal

Bhavani Balaji 

 You Are Here ➽➽➽➽➽ Cassandra - Scrap Savvy Creations

Monica Longard - MonDo Creations

Shraddha

Amy Love's Designs

Kanika Jain

Empire of the Cat

Shwetha's Art

Sonika Agarwal

In Search of my Creative Side

The Journey is the Start

Ina Grehan

Crea-Red
Kim Slade-Fuller 

Orquide'art

Juli Loves Paper

Leslie Lineberry

Linda Simpson

Jessica Larios

Riddhi Jani

Lynne Joncas

Zoe Bateman

Pooja Sharma

Nicole Palos
A Vintage Girl 

A big thank you goes out to Cathy Frailey (owner of Bleeding Art challenge blog and the coming in September Steampunk Challenge blog) for organizing this hop. Be sure to visit all the hop stops for some fun mixed media steampunk creations and be sure to leave some love!

TTFN,