Peace Card

For those of you that frequent here often you know I'm all about the boingin' colors.  Each of my projects are usually bursting with color combos galore so when I saw the 12th Day of Christmas Challenge at Turtle Soup to create an all white card I thought to myself ruh-roh!  Funny how the brain works though because out of all the challenges I chose to take this one!

I set myself in motion by gathering a plethora of white supplies: cardstock, vellum, paste, glitter, sequins, doilies, cheesecloth, and some sprigs with sequins already attached.  Then I grabbed some other materials: dies, stencils, punches, and embossing folders that I thought perhaps might work to pull together a wintery scene fitting for an all white theme.  Once those things were all out my mind was able to function as I played with the bits - punching this, adding paste to that, die-cutting out shapes (numerous times I might add LOL).

When all my pieces were cut, punch, and dried I began to play with the arrangement and the above Peace card was my final result.  The background was stenciled with modeling paste sprinkled with glitter.  Over that is some embossed vellum, then cheesecloth, and finally I piled on my layers of dies and embellies.

 I posted this photo on Instagram (@kndr2tch) and shared I think I have a new favorite style of Christmas card - its so very different from what I would normally gravitate toward creating and I think that is why I love it so much.  I'll also be honest in sharing I think this one is staying right here with me and going in my December album - I can create some more to give away - this one is special. 

So happy I can share this card for a couple challenges out there right now too!

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Snow

Country View Challenges - Bah, Humbug!

Thanks for stopping by today, hope you're having a delightful one!

Joy Tags - Tutorial

Its hard to believe we're already on major countdown to Christmas!!  I so love this time of year and have been delighting in less hustle, bustle and more peace, comfort, and joy.  Part of the fun for me is taking time to create some beautiful things to adorn presents.  

Tags are such a quick and easy way to do this and with the right string attached who knows they may just wind up on someones tree as a keepsake.  

Here is how you can recreate these cute little Joy tags to deck out your packages in style:

Step One: Cut watercolor paper down to tag size of choice (3x3 shown).  Ink up stamp (ScrapFX Moroccan Tile - 2013351) with VersaMark, sprinkle with embossing powder, and heat set.

Step Two: Spray background generously with mist.  Allow this to dry for a couple seconds then use a baby wipe to pounce away color from embossed areas.

Step Three: Layer some stenciling (ScrapFX Random Dots 2013172 used above) over the embossed background in the upper left and bottom right corners using paste.  Set this aside to dry completely. 

Step Four: Once paste is completely dry, highlight some circles using NeoColors or whatever coloring medium you have on hand.  Sprinkle some gold splats of mist across the tag.  *My apologies for not having a picture of these materials in this step.

Add some washi tape across a strip of burlap and adhere this piece diagonally across the tag.  I used fabric glue to ensure it would stick and hold up to being jostled around.

 

Step Five: Add some modeling paste to a Mini Christmas Tree (2007384) and set aside to dry.  Diecut some letters (or use stickers/chippies/etc.) in black and outline them with a white gel pen.  Adhere the letters 'J' and 'Y' to your washi tape strip.  Brush green mist onto dry tree and adhere to the washi tape strip in place of the letter 'O'.

Step Six: Outline tag with a black pen and add some random dash lines along the edges.

Step Seven: Cut patterned paper to 3x3 (or whatever size you have made you tag).  Stamp a to/from image onto the paper. No worries if you don't have one - just doodle it.  Sprinkle some splats of gold mist across paper.  Outline paper with a black pen and add some little dash lines along the edges.  Adhere this piece to the back of your tag.

*Note I didn't add the patterned paper prior to doing the messy work in order to keep the patterned paper clean from oozes and to cover up anything that may have leaked on back.

Step Eight: Punch a hole in the upper right corner of tag.  Add twine to create a loop and tie.  Your tag is now ready for gifting!

Here is a look at the front:

The back:

And a different angle to check out the fun texture created in some quick and easy steps:

I hope this quickie tutorial inspires you to gear up for some do-it-yourself wrapping worthy of being hung on a tree after.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Have great starts to the weekend and

Take care.

Christmas Blog Hop!! ScrapFX & Scrapbook Creations

Hi There!  If this is your first time to my blog, welcome so glad to have you and of course I'm always elated to have my friends stopping by!!  I'm very excited to be participating in this special Christmas Blog Hop with Scrapbook Creations Magazine and ScrapFX so on with the show.

Another month, another blog hop! This time Scrap FX and Scrapbook Creations have partnered up to bring you this very special chipboard Christmas celebration! But before we get onto the actual hop, let me show you this! 

What is this, you ask? THIS is the prize you could win (a pack of delicious ScrapFX goodies and a digital SC subscription), if you join in and play along. It's easy enough to be in with a chance to win-- simply comment on my post, click on the next blog in the list, comment on their blog hop post, and repeat until you've completed the entire list! (Make sure you do check out the inspiration--it's all brilliant!) (The blog hop ends next Wednesday, 11 December, at midday Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time. For my US friends this is actually a Tuesday, December 10th end date so be aware of that.) 

Here is my inspiration for you:

Reindeer Ornaments

These little ornaments were created on mini canvas panels.  I used the ScrapFX Random Dots Stencils (2013172) to add texture to the painted background.  While the paste was wet I sprinkled it with glitter and sealed this with a fixative to ensure this sparkle will last throughout the years.  The little Reindeer (2009349) were the perfect embellishment to add on top with some glitzy antlers and bling nose for simple touches.

Here you can see the texture and detail a bit better.  This is such a quick and easy project and would look great attached to a gift.

Peace On Earth

 

Another 6x6 mixed media canvas using the Moroccan Tile Stencil (2013352) to build the background and featuring some of the cute mini chippies ScrapFX now offers!  The Mini Flying Wings (2013232) worked wonderfully for this Peace on Earth message using the Itty Bitty Bets - Typewriter font (2005103) letters.  The flourish with the holly (Holly Flourish - 2012257) as the backdrop added an elegant touch and was altered with paint, mist for the holly leaves with a brush, and glitter glue for the berries.

Merry Christmas Tag

This tag will be going in my December album and I adore the fun touches I was able to add by using up bits from my stash and some fun little ScrapFX Christmas pieces.  The Christmas Stars (2007387) and Mini Christmas Trees (2007384) will surely be getting a workout in my projects this season but what is truly fabulous is they really can be used all year long!  

And with that I wish you all a Happy start to the Christmas season!!  I do hope you've been inspired to get going on some fun projects of your own.  Below you will find where to head off to next!

The list: 

 Scrapbook Creations blog 

 Adrienne F 

 Michelle L 

 Misty R 

 Scarlett S (You are Here!!!)

 Jasmine S 

 Claire B 

 Anita B 

 Geli D 

 Elisabeth B 

 Cindy P 

 Angella P 

 Renata M 

 Maria S  

Kylie C 

 Scrap FX blog

Happy Hopping!

Skissedilla 230 - A Dad and His Girl

Its a new month and that means a new sketch up at Skissedilla for December.  This month the lovely Laetitia gave us a cool sketch to use, check it out:

Really rather cool and funky, right?

I wasn't quite sure what I'd do with my take at first but once I slapped some paste down through my new Circles and Squares ScrapFX stencil and had my picture it all just kind of came together through some picking over of bits my stash.  

I've been waiting to scrap this photo for a couple years now and I'm so glad its finally done.  This ScrapFX wordlet was perfect for it and adding some Amy Tangerine vellum stickers as a subtitle was a fun addition to lead in to some simple and quick journaling about the day. 

I do hope you take a quick time out from your festivities this month and join us at Skissedilla to play along with the sketch.  You could get some of those Christmas past memories scrapped while you're feeling festive or get a jump start on the present ones being captured - or like me just scrap the everyday.  Regardless I'd love to see you there!!

Give Thanks Canvas

I'm ever thankful for the many blessings in life and with Thanksgiving soon upon us here in America I thought it would be fitting to share how thankful I am for each and every one of you, my creative friends, that come here and visit.  

For you I.....

for all the encouraging words, sweet notes, laughs, and hugs sent through cyberspace.  For cards, packages, tags, and happy mail sent.  For friendships built and prayers uplifted, I give thanks to you.  These are things I cherish and could have never expected when I dived on in to the online world of scrapbooking/blogging some years ago.  It never ceases to amaze the kind hearts of papercrafters near and far.  

As you head in to Thanksgiving I wish you a blessed day with your family, and the same even if you won't be celebrating this feast.  May you be reminded what a treasure you truly are.

May you have time to just be still and thankful for all the wonderful blessings you have right here, right now.

Take good care and Happy Thanksgiving!

ScrapFX Product Used:

Random Dots Stencil (2013172)

Leaves, mixed (2008106)

Leaf Buttons, mini (2010007)

Flourish 05 Curl Border (2013204)

Tutorial for Thursday - Project Life Insert Card

One of my favorite things about Project Life is how you can truly customize it.  I've been getting more and more in to this aspect as I've plugged along and ScrapFX has really helped my journey with all the fabulous mini chippies they've come out with, their fun stencils and stamps, and the best part - the offering of super durable project life size cards that hold up to mediums fantabulously!!

This is the insert I'll be showing you how to create today.  I was prompted to create this after seeing the wonderful shots of my son from his senior photo session.  We have so many great photos I know I'll be adding some to my album and I want to be prepared with some inserts for when I do!  Of course this can really be suited for so many things though, don't you think?  Lets get started.

 

 

Step One: Begin by covering the Kraft Card, large (2013335 KL) with gesso.  Once that is dry completely, color the card with mists.  I used two colors and added some water to allow for the colors to run and blend a bit.  Note: If you are going to use water to blend colors make sure they will not turn in to a muddy mess.  For this background I wasn’t overly concerned with darker colors occurring as I wanted a grungy look, but for other projects I’d take a bit more caution. 

 

Set this aside to dry or you can use your heat gun. Note: If you use your heat gun, some warping of the card will occur.  It can be straightened out but less will happen if you let it air dry.

 

 

Step Two: Take a background stamp and randomly apply it to the dried background.  Use your judgement on what looks good and try to create some balance to this.  You don’t want to over do it though, leave some space open.

 

 

Step Three: Use some gesso and water on your fingertip to lighten up the area you are going to get ready to stamp on.  Do this by gently smudging the gesso around.  It will pick up the colors of mist and create the smoky effect you see underneath the stamped area in the above image.

Ink up the Cogs Stamp (2013284) with VersaMark ink and stamp in across the corner of the card.  Pour gold embossing powder over it.  Heat set.  Note: Don’t be bothered if some embossing powder gets on other areas of the card.  This will only add to the texture and grungy overall look.

 

 

Step Four: Apply Rub n’ Buff over the stamped area to tone down the brightness of the embossing and give it a more aged, grungy look.  If you don’t have Rub n’ Buff you could use inks.  Apply this randomly on a few other sections of the card also.

 

 

Step Five:  Color cheesecloth (you can use gauze) with some mist and apply to card.  Alter up a Vintage Plane (2013288) by outlining it with pen and adding some Distress Stickles to it.  Adhere over top of cheesecloth with twine underneath.  Draw a line of glue in pattern you desire twine to be in.  Adhere twine to glue line. Add text and outline with a pen.

This card would look great as is in a journal, as the cover of a mini, or just by itself as a tag of sorts don’t you think?

Here are a couple pages from my album where I've created custom inserts or portions of pockets to make my PL album more my own.  Like I've said in the past I love what I see in kits but I don't really have the budget to get in to them.  I have bought some actual journal inserts and what not, but I find myself reaching for them more for my cards and LOs than for my PL album.  

 Here you can see one of the inserts actually looks somewhat similar to the one created above.  Its so simple to use quick techniques and make something that looks unique, not to mention it matched my photo. ;)

Here the long portion of the insert was created by me.  I used stencils, paste, misting, NeoColors, and then added embellishments and a stamped sentiment over the top.  The photos were spruced up with phone apps and then printed out - such fun this adds I think.  

Stay tuned to the ScrapFX toward the end of the month where I'll be sharing my PL type take on a December album and how I'm gearing up!!  I will make it this year since I'm actually planning - ha! I'm also looking forward to the New Year and starting a 2014 book - what about you??  Any plans to join in this year?

A Work in Progress Canvas & a New ScrapFX Challenge for You!

Its been a lot of fun (and work ;) ) creating things I hope people will find delight in looking at and perhaps purchasing for market.  The super thing is I can do this while knocking out some assignments at the same time - bonus!!

This month we have another Mood Board Challenge going at ScrapFX for fans to join in on.  There isn't a need to have ScrapFX product to participate - super cool if you do though!!  The Designers all partake in the challenge as well and post their take on the board as well as the twist given by the board creator - gotta have a twist to make it more interesting, right?  This month's twist is to use stencils, easy peasy except there are so many splendid ScrapFX stencils its hard to narrow down which to choose. 

For my take I was inspired by the rainbow colors, of course, I mean how could I not be??!!  This blog oozes color - ha!  Then I was also inspired by the eye on the board and that spun in to the creation of the girlie on this canvas - from there I let my imagination go wild giving her a little scene.   Since I don't live near the ocean, like the board image shows I went with the country life instead. :D

* I will share this piece isn't fully finished.  Its about 95% done and there are still some finishing details I want to fuss around with to complete it.  Not wanting to force and be unhappy with the finished result I left it as it was for now and will have it complete by the end of the month when I post my personal reveal.

I created my girlie's afro by using the ScrapFX Cogs Stamp with some colored heavy gesso and stamping it onto the canvas.  I then went back in with watercolor once this was completely dry to fill in the rest of the color.  In the background I used the Random Dots stencil to give the sky some texture and I went around the girl's head with some glitter glue to help it stand out against it.  I wish this showed up better....arrrgghh!!

Here you can see the Crosswords Stencil in action.  This was the first time I'd used it and I really am diggin' the effect it gave and the ease of use - I thought perhaps I'd have a struggle controlling where I put the paste, but nope.  Maybe my circle obsession will be shared with squares now - teehee!!  I adore those little chippie apples and kind of wish they were sold on their own....hmmm... maybe I shall suggest that. Some stamping and lots of paint layers make up the grassy areas along with some pen work.  

And that is where I've left off.  Still not exactly sure what details I'm going to add but have been playing with a few things here and there.  Any suggestions of what you think miht just absolutely make this?  I'm thinking I may want to add text or a quote or a ScrapFX wordlet - just can't decide what will fit yet.  The grassy areas need to be broken up more......sky too..... so holla' if you have ideas I'd love to hear them.  :)  I'd also love to see you playing along with the challenge!!!  This is the last one we'll be having for a couple months as we head in to the Christmas and holiday season so get in while you can for your chance to win some great goodies!!!

Until next time, take good care and thanks so much for stopping by!

The Magic of Bubbles - Skissedilla #229

Hello There!  It has been a flurry of activity around my house as I prepared, set up, and participated in the first of a few markets for the season yesterday.  It was a blast as I had my baby girl with me helping and I'll be sure to share photos soon.  

In the meantime there is a new sketch out at Skissedilla for you to play along with during the month of November:

The lovely Brit created this one and you have oodles of time to join on in with the new adjustments to our posting - one sketch per month now instead of weekly sketches.

My page started off looking like this:

I had a vision of where I was going to go with my page and began playing with some watercolors along with my NeoColors.  I'm really smitten with circles these days in my projects.  I've always had a thing for them when I doodled and that dates back to when I was a youngster in school - zentangles of circles could be found all over my notes. ;)

I continued to layer up the circles using a variety of stencils to help out this time.  I used a few bits from the Studio Calico Sundrifter Mask and then of course I had to use my all time favorite stencil now - Random Dots from ScrapFX.  Each of these were used with some modeling paste and once dried they were highlighted with different mediums - the Sundrifter circles with more NeoColors to blend in and certain Random Dots with a Stabilo pencil.

With some very simple layers, ScrapFX chipboard, a couple wood veneers, letter stickers, and some stamping my final page came together quite quickly.  I really wanted to create a string of bubbles that seemingly continued on from the ones my niece was blowing in the picture.  Since the picture is more of a silhouette I didn't want too much going on around it - the background was busy enough - and so simple layering with the cheesecloth under seemed to work best. 

As you can tell I continued the circle theme throughout the entire page by using a Hambly transparency with circles, a graphic chippie from ScrapFX with circular elements, and of course the stamping is all about the circles.  I worried it might be overkill but in the end I liked the flow it created.  The chippie here was altered up with some black paint, decked out with a little touch of sparkle, and then highlighted with just hints of white gel pen. The words and letters are from Cosmo Cricket, Amy Tangerine, and ScrapFX.  I love, love the new vellum letters/words from Amy Tangerine - wish I would have picked up two packs of each!!

So there you have it the Magic of Bubbles and Mittens because yes my niece is in fact wearing mittens while she is blowing bubbles in the middle of some of the hottest days we had this past summer - that is just how she rolls - ha!  She found them on the porch from when I'd been pulling weeds since I couldn't find my proper gloves to do it with and thought they'd be the perfect addition to blow bubbles with - I think so too!!

I do hope you join us over at Skissedilla - check out what the other DT have been up to and we have a magnificent Selected Scrapper joining us this month as well!!

Take good care and enjoy your Sunday!

 

 

Mood Board Challenge ScrapFX - Spread Your Wings & Fly Mini Canvas

Happy Friday and November Sweetie Peeps!  Its been a bustling flow of craft activity around my house as I prepare for an upcoming Christmas market.  I've been having oodles of fun creating little delights I hope others will find joy in.  In the meantime though there has also been a wonderful flow of activity on the ScrapFX blog and YOU have the chance to get involved!

From now until Nov. 15 the above Moodboard is being used as inspiration for our current Fan challenge.  All you have to do is create a project based on it and you'll be entered in the running for some ScrapFX goodies and a Guest Spot on the blog.  Of course there is a slight twist - I mean what is a challenge without a little twist, right?

This sketch must also be used in the creation of your project.  Isn't it a fantabulous sketch?  You can use it as a launching pad for your design or follow it straight away - just as long as you share how you used it.  And before you ask, you don't have to use ScrapFX goodies in the creation of your projects.  We understand it may be tough yet for our fans to get their hands on the goods, so create away with what you do have and best of luck!!

 

Now for my 2nd project this month using this board.  I already posted my first here.

 

 

 I went with a cutie lil' mini canvas this time around.  I was highly inspired by the colors of the board and all the textures of the fabrics and the nest.  I also pulled a bit of inspiration for the background from the organic patterns found on those fabrics.  I did indeed use the sketch for my design but in this case I used it as more of a launching pad since my canvas was so small.  I pulled certain elements from the sketch and translated them to where the main items I used on the canvas would be placed.   

 

The background is made up of paint, mist rubbed on, stamping, stenciling with some paste and my fav ScrapFX stencil (Random Dots), a bit of pastels for highlighting certain circles, and gold mica flakes.

 

 

 I left the butterfly bare since there was so much color going on everywhere else and just coated it with some glitter glue.  When the glitter glue was added it actually deepened the color of the bare chipboard a tad and I really like the effect it gave.  The words were painted with some acrylic paint and highlighted with a white pen.  Doilies, sequins, and a rhinestone flower finished everything off.

 

This piece came together really quickly with the longest part being the dry time for the gold mica flakes - which actually don't take too long in the grand scheme of dry times - and yet it packs a punch.  Power to the mini canvases!!  So glad I have a bunch of these stashed away - can't wait to play some more with them.  What do you have stashed away that could be a hidden gem to play with this weekend?  Perhaps you could use it for your entry in to the challenge at ScrapFX.  Hope to see you there!!

 

 

Piecing Together a Stamped Image

Happy Wednesday!  You know its funny, I walked around all day yesterday thinking it was Wednesday so I'm feeling a bit like I'm in the movie Groundhog Day - ha! Anyhoo, I thought I share another card I have going toward my daughter's team fundraiser basket.  This time a totally different design, but still along the line of giving thanks.

This card features a Little Darlings stamp  - isn't it cute?  I stamped the image on a paper bag, yep a paper bag, then again on patterned paper, and finally on some old jeans from my daughter.  I cut out the shirt piece and adhered it to the paper bag image, then cut out the overalls from the jeans.  This required some patience for sure (and sharp scissors) but was totally worth it!  I adhered the jeans to the piece then went to town adding some color.  The hair is colored with some Lindy's Stamp Gang Magical Micas and my waterbrush - two different shades to get a little bit of shading going on - and the butterfly colored with sparkly gel pens.  I really love how the piecing of the stamped image really gives it some life.  

My punches got a workout on this card as well!  In fact the large tree is pieced together from a border punch - gotta love when you can get more bang for your buck, right?

Well, off to work I go lots more to create!  Hope you're having a creative day as well!!

Thankful for You

Hello!  Stopping in quick to share the first of a few cards I'm making for my daughter's softball team fundraiser basket.  They are having a raffle coming up soon and her team was assigned the basket for cooking.  To say we weren't exactly excited in understatement considering some of the other team's basket topics, but we're making the best of it!

One other mom and I decided to take over being in charge of the task and while brainstorming how to approach it I thought of the idea of making our basket Thanksgiving themed since the fundraiser will happen in the beginning of November.  My contribution will be some handmade cards and hopefully a canvas as well.  We shall see how well and quickly the creative juices flow. ;)

 This is the first card I've created and I'm pretty sure I'll be sticking with a design similar to this for at least a few more.  Not sure how many total I'll make yet.  I used a ScrapFX leaf chippie that I altered with my String Gel technique and added it on top of a watercolored base that has a bit of stenciling done with some paste.  The rest is just layers of textiles, embellishments, and paper along with a stamped sentiment.  This came together rather quickly and so I'm totally digging that.  Plus I think having something crafty in our basket will add a unique touch which I hope will draw peeps to wanting to place their tickets in the raffle for it.

Well wish me luck on creating some more and I'm thankful for you, my sweet readers for stopping by to this.  Take care!