Magenta May Challenge

Anything goes is the theme for this month's Magenta Challenge. After receiving new items from the Magenta Spring 2014 Supplement Catalogue, I was organizing my DT supplies when I rediscover a bunch of Magenta items in my stash that sparked this layout idea.

I cut the title from a Magenta Canvas Fabric sheet using my Silhouette and a Silhouette cut file. Because the fabric is paper backed it cuts beautifully clean and then lifts off the cutting mat with ease. Going to have to do more fabric cuts in the future. It was just too easy.

These heart stickers were some of the first Magenta products that I ever owned.  I decided to go with them on this layout because I liked the watercolour look to them.

The finishing touch was a liberal sprinkling of sequins.  I originally had less on the page, when my daughter came into my scrap room to see what I was working on.  She requested that I try it with more sequins. Once I added them, she said she liked it better that way. Who was I to argue.  The girl is going to end up with these when I am gone anyways! LOL!

You can find details and enter the Magenta May Challenge here.

TTFN,

Watercolouring Bonus Day

Yeah, an extra day of fun at the Online Card Classes Watercolor for Card Makers!

The technique that I wanted to try was the textured background taught by Laura Sterckx.  I used an emboss folder, then the watercolouring technique using distress inks and lastly a misting of glimmer.

The bird and branches were punched from watercolour paper and then watercoloured with a wet brush and distress inks.  They too received a touch of shine with colour corresponding Glimmer Mists. To finish off the card, a fav sentiment stamp from Magenta.

Now to go back into the earlier lessons and to try out a few more techniques.

TTFN,

Watercolouring Play Day!

Watercolor for Card Makers had a day 11 which the called Play Day and boy was it ever.  Tim Holtz brought on the fun with a stencil Distress Ink  technique which was a must try.

I have to say that I love, love, love this fun technique! Bright, cheery, and fun, I had the perfect Magenta sentiment stamp (from the new Spring 2014 Supplement ) to go with the Silhouette cut heart background stencil that I had previously created.

On my first attempt, I did not like the pattern I had created as a full card but saw the potential in cutting it into two smaller pieces.  They really worked out well that way.

The marble background was made from the left over ink left on the craft mat after I made the darker striped background.  I like the softness that it brought to that card.

Love the intensity of colour on this one. Just what I had in my mind.  Love when that happens.

I created a softer version and blinged it up with glitter glue filled hearts and touches of chunky gold glitter.

Love the variety that can be created with variations in pattern and colour intensity along with changing up the embellis.

Lots more card ideas percolating from these technique packed classes. Looking forward to sharing more soon.


TTFN,

Kreative Koncepts Colour Challenge #25 Guest Designer

I am loving the colour challenges over at Kreative Koncepts (formerly Scrap Friends).  I was lucky enough to be a random winner in March/April Challenge #23 with my "The Girls" layout and received an opportunity to Guest Design for the May/June Colour Challenge #25.

Again, it is a colour board that speaks to me and my stash of pretty papers. Such beautiful bright cheery colours and I knew just what collection I wanted to use.

Supplies: patterned papers (Bazzill), stencil (Magenta), Whipped Spackle and gelato (Faber-Castell), wood veneer title (Studio Calico), wood veneer leaves (Recollections), tissue paper and floral pieces (Dollarama), gesso (Golden), pen (Staedtler)

I have had this Margie Romney-Aslett's Bazzill Basics Vintage Marketplace patterned paper since it was first released.  It is so pretty and perfect for this colour challenge.  The roses tied into the inspiration photo too.

I used some pre-prepped tissue that I had made while experimenting with gelatos and tissue paper when I made my "Sister's layout".  I coloured the white tissue paper with Metalic Melon gelato and then saturated it with water to activate the gelato. It had a very shimmery satin/silk feel which totally worked with the colour board inspiration photo of the silk pillow.

I used my favourite Magenta butterfly stencil with Faber-Castell's Whipped Spackle.  Love the consistency of this product which varies from molding paste as it is a whipped gesso. You only need a little as it goes a long way.  It is easy to use and dries quickly.

The florals are from Dollarama but they all were actually parts of two separate candle rings.  I bought them with the intent of taking them apart and using them on a project.  Again, an item that is ideally suited for this challenge as it goes with the branched and floral design in the inspiration photo fabric on the chair.

Check out the other beautiful takes on the challenge and come join in here.

TTFN,

Watercolouring... who knew?

I have been a bit quiet of late.  I have been taking a university course on top of working and it is eating any of the few extra minutes that I had previously to craft. Sometimes when I go for chunks not creating, I just get an overwhelming urge to just pause on everything else and just do it.  Last night was one of those nights where I was sinking in other work items and just had to stop and do something different.  I do have some crafty things to share and will catch up on that in future posts but today I am sharing an unexpected card that I made as a result of my break time last night.  

When I saw the Watercolour for Card Makers Online Class advertised a while back, I was interested but knew it would not fit with my other course.  Then I saw something in regards to it again yesterday and decided what the heck, the classes are available for me to look at in the future so why not.  I signed up on Day 9 of 10. LOL! Watched that day's first video on Simple Freehand Painting using a splatter painting technique and just went for it.

Supplies: Watercolour paper (Carsons), watercolour paint pucks (Artist Loft), sentiment stamp (Winnie and Walter), ink (Archival-Ranger), cardstock (Bazzill)

My card is a slightly different take on the tree technique as shown in the video for I went for a spring cherry/apple blossom look.  I think it is not bad for a first try especially because I have not had the benefit of having taken the other days' classes.  LOL! Nothing like jumpin' in feet first!

I paired my tree with a Winnie & Walter sentiment stamp.  I shortened the tail end of the font script to make it fit my card space by using a post-it. 

Looking forward to going through the other lessons with a school break coming up and sharing my learning creations in the future.

TTFN,

Magenta Spring 2014 Supplement Catalogue

Oh my goodness! Talk about scrumptious stamping and stencil goodness.  Check out the Magenta Spring 2014 Supplemental Catalogue.




These beauties just became available this week.  If your scrappy store carries Magenta, ask them to order your favs.  If not, you can order directly from the online store/boutique here.

Too many items that I loved from this release.  Can't wait to get to play with this collection. 

TTFN,

Kreative Koncepts Colour Challenge #23

 

When I saw the Colour Challenge #23 at Kreative Koncepts (formerly ScrapFriends) I knew I wanted to play along.

Supplies: patterned papers (Heidi Swapp and Pink Paislee), stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), gesso (Golden), foam and chipboard letter (American Crafts), felt flourish (Queen and Company), butterflies (Recollections), twine and glitter (Dollarama), pen (CTMH)

Such pretty colours with the on-trend gold.  I paired them with a past sketch (March 2014 Week #2) from Let's Get Sketchy that I thought would work with my photo and what I had in mind for products and elements.

TTFN,

A Scrappy Weekend Sojourn

This weekend was the spring ScrapFest in Kitchener. A great annual two day event where I get to meet up with scrappy friends, make new ones, shop and create. I was doubly blessed as my daughter came along with me on the adventure for her first time.

I got to play with some Faber-Castell Stamper's Big Brush pens that I picked up in the marketplace area. It was all about mixed media for me as I shopped and created, having wanted to try some new mixed media techniques that go along with my use of Gelatos.

Today, I am sharing a card that I made. I went with a card as it was smaller and easier to try out than a full art journal page when "On the Go" as in Design Memory Craft's April Take the Challenge with Mou, and it worked for the design I had in mind that was inspired by Simon Says Stamp Monday's Challenge Blog theme of "Journey" for this week.

Supplies: cardstock (Canadian Scrapbooker Super Stock), patterned papers and letter stickers (Crate Paper), gelatos and Stamper's Big Brush markers (Faber-Castell), stamps (CTMH, 7 Gypsies, Jillibean Soup), gesso and molding paste (Golden), ink and Multi Media Gel (Ranger), butterfly die (Memory Box), cloud stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), rub on letters (Royal and Langnickel), pen (Sharpie)

I decided on a spring time journey and what better way to portray this than the monarch butterflies' journey back north. I used Crate Paper's StoryTeller collection patterned papers.  The map paper was my background which I gessoed and gelatoed, followed by the addition of the molding paste clouds and stamping of "Spring" and the compass rose using a black Stamper's Big Brush.  The Big Brush was perfect for giving a lighter image, without having to second generation stamp, as it was a mid layer and not the focal sentiment on the card. I die cut some butterflies from the StoryTeller papers, glued them down and sealed the entire surface in preparation for the next layer and ink techniques.

Then I added dimension to the butterflies and edged the card with a variety of Stamper's Big Brush markers, using a quick finger smudging technique to colour areas prior to the ink drying.  Next, I went in with a fine marker to add definition detail.

Lastly, I applied letter stickers, letter rub-ons and word stamping for the sentiment.

There you have it. A journey themed card made while on a journey. LOL! Not too bad for a first try at a new-to-me product and technique.


TTFN,

Hang In There Card

I am loving the Magenta Spring 2014 release.  I have had a great time playing with the new stamps and in this case the wood veneer hanger.

Supplies: patterned papers, brick background stamp and wood veneer hanger (Magenta), ink (Martha Stewart and Ranger), sentiment stamp (Studio G), twine (Iris), brads and jewels (Dollarama), lace (misc.)

I made this double entendre card which appeared in the Magenta Newsletter last week as a step by step how to.  The background is stamped with the new Brick Texture stamp.

This detail photo shows all the layers created using pop dots and distressing.  I braided the floss to make for a thicker swag for the hanger.

TTFN,

Easter Pillow Boxes for Magenta April Challenge

It is an Easter Challenge over at Magenta for April.  My DT take on it was to upcycle a paper towel roll and turn it into pillow boxes.  I cut it in half which made for 2 - 6 inch pillow boxes.  Perfect size for putting jellybeans, chocolate eggs and/or other Easter treats in.

I started by flattening the rolls, thoroughly gessoing them and scoring the end with a semi circle for the end flap.

Supplies: stamp, stencil, patterned paper (Magenta), gesso and molding paste (Golden), gelatos (Faber-Castell), multimedia gel (Ranger), alphabet die cutter (Tim Holtz - Sizzix), glitter (Doodlebug design and Recollections), jewels (Dollarama)

On this one, I then used a flower stencil from the first of the Spring Flowers Trio of stencils with molding paste and once dry, I coloured it with a Snow Cone gelato. I used Lime Gelato on the Tapestry patterned paper, covered it with gel medium and then die cut the letters using a Tim Holtz Alterations Typeset Sizzix die.  Once adhered, I covered the whole box with a thin layer of gel medium to seal it. The bunny was stamped on cardstock, glitter glued for the carrot, ears and tail and, once dry, fussy cut and adhered it to the box. Lastly, a little touch of bling added in the flower centres and it was complete.

Supplies: stencil, "Life is a Beautiful ride" sentiment stamp and "Adventurous Bird" sentiment stamp, chipboard (Magenta), gesso and molding paste (Golden), gelatos (Faber-Castell),  multimedia gel (Ranger), Baker's Twine (Maya Road), marker (Fibracolor)

For this one, I used the butterflies from the Nature's Elements stencil with molding paste.  When dry, I coloured it with Bubble Gum, Tangerine and Lemon gelatos. I blended and lightened the colours using a baby wipe. Then, I replaced the stencil back over top the butterflies and, again using a baby wipe, I removed the colour on the butterflies.  They were not as white as I wanted them so I added a light layer of gesso to whiten them up even more. To seal it all in, I brushed on a thin layer of gel medium.

For the sentiment "Easter Blessing", I actually used the font letters from two sentiment stamps.  Nothing like getting more uses out of your scrappy supplies! For "Easter", I markered up the letters that I needed from "Life is a Beautiful Ride" sentiment stamp.  For "Blessing", I used the "Adventurous Bird" sentiment stamp.  I cut the letters out in rectangular shapes and adhered them to the chipboard tag. Next I dragged the edge of the chipboard through a thin bit of gesso in its lid. Then when dry, I sanded it to distress it up. Lastly, I punched a second hole in the tag, strung it with Maya Road's Pink Lemonade Baker's Twine and tied it on to finish it off.

Fun crafty upcycling with great results. Can't wait to give these as gifts at Easter.

Note: You can use toilet paper rolls instead but they make a smaller 4 inch box.

TTFN,