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,

Love to Create

Hi crafty friends! 

Today, I have an art journal page to share with you. The theme was inspired by this month's Dina Wakley Media Tribe's All About Love challenge and the product technique use by Simon Says Stamp Monday Crack it Up Challenge.

After using emboss ink through a Donna Downey script stencil and heat embossing with Tim Holtz Faded Jeans and Broken China Distress emboss powders, I coloured the Strathmore 400 Series mix media paper with both Picked Raspberry Distress Stain and Dina Wakley Blackberry Violet Acrylic paint. Once dry, I added the Distress Clear Rock Candy Crackle paint to some areas of my background and set it aside to do its crackle thing. While that was setting up, I covered a rectangular piece of cardstock with Dina Wakley washi tape and then freehand cut out a heart. Next, I adhered the fabric trim and then ran it through the sewing machine to give it a messy stitched look. When the crackle paint was dry, I used a black Stabilo All pencil along the edge and activated it with a waterbrush adding more All pencil to the crackle areas to make them stand out. 

Once that was dry, I glued down the heart, stapled the transparent Tim Holtz letters and adhered the computer generated "to create" cardstock strips.

Head on over to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog here to check out the DT's inspirational pieces along with other participant's takes on this week's challenge. 

TTFN,

Adventure Awaits You

I have a mixed media index card creation to share with you today. The theme was inspired by this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Vacation.  The base is an index card for ICAD (Index Card A Day) 2019. I went with a 3" x 5" sized card as I was using that size of small gelli plate. My colouring for today comes from Dina Wakley's Magenta Heavy Body Acrylic Paint and Grey Magenta Nuance Powder for the butterfly for Day 2 of Kathy Rac's The Daily Marker 30 Day Challenge.

I brayed the gelli plate with some Magenta Dina Wakley acrylic paint and then added some texture by stamping with a piece of bubble wrap into it in a variety of places. Then, I placed the index card on and pulled off the print. There were some mini paint bits from a previous session that provided some interesting grunge which helped me decide on the rest of my colour combo for today. I went with adding more goldish glitter by using a Stardust Gelly Roll pen by using the pen on the Tim Holtz washi that was added to the bottom and the top corners. After stenciling the leaves part of the Magenta Small Stylized Holly with texture paste, I again used the gelly pen to add some glittery goldish details by drawing the rounded circle sections of the stencil.

I also added some mini marks with the pen and used the pen to add some sparkle colour to the cheesecloth prior to adhereing the "adventure await you" Tim Holtz Idea-ology sticker to it and the card front. I had a coffee filter white heat embossed Magenta Butterfly from a previous crafting session that was coloured with Grey Nuance powder and fussy cut out. After popping it up on the leaves, I decided the card needed a little something more so I decided to hand stitch some Xs in the washi tape corners using pink embroidery floss.

There you have it! A butterfly journing off on an adventure, whom I will be joining in two weeks time as my summer vacation kicks off. To check out the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge head over here.

To learn more about the Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring challenge stop by here 

and for ICAD 2019 head this way here.

TTFN,

U Rock - Ode to Tim Holtz - ICAD Day 2

Tim Holtz... U Rock! Yes, you really do. And I mean that in a totally good way. One only has to look at the influence and following (worshipping fans) not to mention the product sales that you generate (which I happily contribute to ;)) to know that this is true. You just have that way about you... your sense of style, creative genius, your friendly relatable personality, teaching ability... you inspire and influence people to create.  Thus, I dedicated my Day 2 ICAD (index card-a-day) to you.

Supplies: Tim Holtz Distress inks, Distress Paints, Collage Medium (Ranger), stencil (Stampers Anonymous), Tim Holtz Idea-ology washi tape, grunge board, chipboard alpha tiles, metal crown (Advantus), index card (Staples)

I made this card using Tim Holtz products with both new and old stash. Plus, what a perfect way to try out some more of the techniques from Summer of Creative Chemistry - Creative Chemistry 101 Week 1 - Wrinkle Free Distress Background.Inspired by my main Tim's supplier... Simon Says Stamp... I went for a row plus one more from the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Tic-Tac-Toe Board.

This is what the ICAD started as and then I built layers up from there.

I used blue, a stencil, and grunge board for cardboard plus washi.

TTFN,

Readers' Gallery

As I mentioned in a previous post, I was fortunate to have a layout published in the May issue of Create Magazine based on the previous issue (March)'s 12x12 page sketch.

Supplies: cardstock (Bazzill), patterned papers, gold foil Royal letter stickers, and die cuts - Dear Lizzy Serendipity (American Crafts), tags and star wood veneers and Baker's Twine (Maya Road), sunburst wood veneer and pen(CTMH), pink burlap (DCWV), washi tape (MME), rub-on letters, transparent arrows, and notebook banner die cut (Heidi Swapp), Stardust Jelly Roll pen (Sakura)

For my take, I turned the single photo sketch into a multi-photo version using a variety of photo sizes and I used the lovely Dear Lizzy Serendipity collection. A few cluster close ups...

Be sure to check out this free magazine over at Scrapbook Generations for 319 pages of creative inspiration.

TTFN,

This Little Light of Mine

Today I am sharing a journal page that I finished up at Crop and Create Markham.

I made this one with washi tape inspired by a Get Messy Art Journaling prompt set 1 - #5 and Ann-Mari Reigstad's use of filling a page with washi bits. I also added in lyrics from a previous pre-class prompt.

A few close ups... here I hand drew the star and lettering.

I was able to use eleven different washi tapes in three different widths.

Supplies: 12x9 mixed media journal (Strathmore), washi tapes (MME, Webster's Pages, Stampin' Up, Freckled Fawn), paint (Plaid), glue n' seal and Tim Holtz distress Paint (Ranger), marker (Sharpie), glitter (Doodlebug Designs)

TTFN,

One down... umpteen to go!

Just scrap it.  Simply that is it in a nutshell.  I want to get all the pre-prepared layouts that I have waiting to be scrapped.  I literally have a bunch of layouts, where I have the photos and the product and the layout design already sketched.  They are even in paper holders or large baggies as I would prep them for vacation time at the cottage or for the occasional crop.  Inevitably, I would do more than I would get completed but leave the rest for other projects that were time sensitive given my little time I have had for scrapping this past year and half.  My goal is to change this.  I want to get all those layouts scrapped. I know that it will make me feel better, a way to de-clutter, use up stash and feel productive.

In my quest, I got a few layouts done at Crop and Create Markham.  The best part was, it literally only took me minutes to pack for the crop.  Like I mentioned, everything was pre-prepped and even better still, it was already in a crate that I tote to the cottage, ready to go.

Here is one that brings a smile to my face every time I look at it.  From the photo to the colours, it was fun to see it all come together.

Supplies: cardstock (Canadian Scrapbooker Super Stock), gelatos (Faber-Castell), chipboard sunglasses (Magenta), stamps [negative frame (MME), Duck (October Afternoon), crowns (Heidi Swapp), duck print (Basic Grey), loopy doodle stamp (Dear Lizzy American Crafts), polka dot washi tapes (Doodlebug Design), Cameras and labels washi tapes (Allison Kreft Webster's Pages), embossing powder (Stampendous), versamark and black ink (Tsukinenko), liquid glass (CTMH), glimmer glaze (Tattered Angels), chipboard letters (K and Company), glitter foam letters (American Crafts), glitter (Recollections), marker (Sharpie), jewels (SandyLion)

This selfie cracks me up.  Last summer, my daughter and niece embraced their first  selfies. I learned what a duck face selfie looked like.  More funny than flattering and I love how the photo depicts a typical teenage moment.  No matter the generation,  what hasn't changed is the young teen wanting to look fashionable and way older than they are.  I think the title just sums it all up.

These Magenta chipboard sunglasses are too cool.  I coloured them to match my daughter's using gelatos for the frames and Glimmer Glaze for the glass.  I sealed the frame with liquid glass to give the look of plastic like the real deal.

From the process photos below, you will see that the green glittered letters did not start out that way.  In fact they were a blue but I wanted then to match the green in the photo so I covered them with gesso, added the glitter and finished them off by outlining them with a marker.

This one is a total multi-manufacturer layout as I combined lots of stamps, mediums and washi tapes together to get the details and embellishments that I had in my mind.

Here are some photos showing the process as I was deciding how I wanted to place items as the layout came to life.

Sorry about the poor photo lighting but the crop hotel ballroom lighting was typical and I took these with my phone but they give you an idea of the process.

After the gelato coloured background has dried, I was deciding on a rough idea for placement.

Washi tapes all down. Just checking to figure out where to put stamping and doodling.

Some stamping completed at this point as well as a little bit of doodling. The journaling line has been added in and I am figuring final placement of all the pieces in relation to which washi sections I want to show.

The finished page - it was all just ducky, don't you think?! LOL! :)(Pun intended.)


TTFN,

Crop and Create fun

I had a scraptastic scrappy weekend a few weeks ago after a new job assignment imposed break from creating. Spent two days at Scrapbook and Cards Today's Crop & Create Markham.  Loved, loved, loved it!

Loved catching up with familiar faces and friends.  Of course there is great shopping from The Memory Keeper and The Scrapping Turtle and Catherine ensures that there are plenty of other scrap goodies to buy at the registration table from the various workshop instructors.

I had fun and lots of laughs cropping with Lisa and Stacey, who I had met last year, and made many new friends this year as our table was larger.

I took Vicki Boutin's Shadow Box Techniques class and created a funky shadowbox for my sister-in-law's birthday. Her b-day is in April, so I can't show it here until then.

I can, however, show you the cards that I made with the left over Pink Paislee Heritage patterned paper scraps.

Inspired by some of the elements on the shadow box, I created this:

The bordered punch trim is actually washi tape.  That took a bit of time to figure out a technique to make it work so it looked like fabric trim.

It was adhered to the end of an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper, border punched and then inked in sections as I slowly removed it from the paper.  Then using two pointed instruments, I styled it do add dimension.  Lastly, I cue-tipped some corn starch onto the back of the raised segments so that they would not stick down in future if pressed upon.

The butterflies were stamped using one of my favourite Magenta stamps on vellum packaging liner and fussy cut.


Next up was this beauty:

The flower inspiration for this one came from Sheila's Petaloo Flower Sale Bin. When I saw these babies, an idea formed and I was off.  With the flowers and a specific card worthy friend in need of a pick-you-up in mind, this card came together really easily and quickly.

Lots of textures and dimension on this one.

Once that well of creativeness was sprung, I was raring to go and created two other layouts which I will share at another time.


TTFN,