Groovy

I was asked to be a Guest Designer for the challenge starting today at Try It On Tuesday.  The challenge is 1960's Retro and they want to see projects that depict the pop art/fashion/colours of the era.

During the 1960's I was in my late teens and early twenties, living on my own in a big city so I remember that time very well.  I look back at photos of me and wondered what I was thinking when I wore certain clothes so I decided not to go the fashion route with my project.  I decided to make an art journal page that combined the pop art and colour aspects.  I also decided to try my hand at Zentangle. 

I started by gluing two pages together and then painted it completely with Zesty Zing Fresco Finish paint.  Then I took a baby wipe and added some Smoked Paprika Fresco Finish paint in random areas.

I added some stenciling with Wendy Vecchi Orange Blossom Archival Ink and a stencil from The Crafters Workshop called Mini Flower Frenzy.  Then I added a bit of second generation stamping with Wendy Vecchi Red Geranium Archival Ink and some sections from her Large Collage Background Stamp (I have cut my stamp into sections so it is easy to pick and choose which design I want to use).

Next I cut out all sorts of shapes and began to do the Zentangle using a Pigma Micron 01 pen from Sakura.  Confession - the peace sign was printed on the computer and already had some designs on it but I added a background of my own.  I tried doing my own but couldn't get a pattern in the narrow shape that looked decent.  I also printed the blank hand shape from the computer because I can't draw and then I added the Zentangle.  All the colouring was done with Bic markers or Copic markers.

I have to admit that I am a picky person so I destroyed quite a few shapes because the doodling wasn't as precise as I would have liked it.  It was time consuming and I don't know if I will tackle it again any time soon but I did like doing the colouring and considering how much I do in vintage tones, the bright colours were fun to work with.

Next I stamped some flowers with Jet Black Archival Ink using a couple of stamps from a Studio G set that I found in the clearance bin at Michaels, fussy cut them and coloured them with markers.  Finally I created some 1960's themed words on the computer using a font called Hippie Movement.

I am going to enter this project in the following challenge:

Stamps and Stencils - Anything Goes (must stamp and stencil)
 

New Challenge Blog Announcement

I am super excited to announce that I have been invited to be a member of a new challenge Design Team.  This wonderful new challenge blog is the brainchild of the extremely talented Pamellia Johnson of My Little Craft Things.  I am fortunate to live close to Pamellia so I have the opportunity to go and visit her from time to time and try to soak up some of her incredible creativity (when we aren't laughing and chatting).  When she invited me to be part of the team, I almost fell over but am itching to get started and am finally glad I don't have to keep this under my hat anymore - well if I wore hats :)

Here is a description of this fabulous new challenge:

Anything But Cute is a brand new mixed media challenge blog with a new challenge starting on the 5th day of every month at 7:00 am EST.

We welcome all types of crafts. Cards, journal pages, scrapbook pages, 3D crafts, canvas art, altered items and any other handmade paper or mixed media arts. We encourage crafters of all skill levels and styles - shabby chic, grunge, vintage, elegant, stylish, retro, you name it. As our name indicates, the only style we are not showcasing - are all things cute and adorable. There must be at least one mixed media product on your project somewhere, be that paint, ink, stain, spray, paste, clay, crackle glaze...whatever tickles your fancy!

At Anything But Cute, we would love to see all you seasoned and expert mixed media artists, but we also want to encourage those of you who are just getting your feet wet. Our design team will always be on the lookout for these exceptional projects and artists. You just never know when we might be giving out something special to a talented mixed media newcomer. We all have to start somewhere, right! Be sure to mention in your post that you are a newcomer to the mixed media arts.

Our first challenge starts on May 5th, so let's get messy and have some fun!

In the meantime you can see some of my mixed media projects and learn a bit more about me by popping over to the Anything But Cute challenge blog.  Make sure you check back there on April 27th when the next Design Team member will be revealed.

I am certainly honoured to be in the company of an incredible group of very talented ladies.

Wendy Stencils

It is time for the new challenge at Frilly and Funkie.  Sue is our hostess for this one and she is looking for shabby chic or vintage projects with STENCILS.

I decided I was going to try to channel my inner Wendy Vecchi this time and all the while hoping there was some Wendy in me. 

I used some Recollections card stock for my blank and then I started on the background.  First I smooshed some Cornflower and Fern Green Archival Ink on my kraft sheet, spritzed it with some rubbing alcohol and dragged a piece of Specialty Stamping Paper through it to get a marbleized effect.

Once it was dry I did some random stenciling by using Wendy's Dots and Stripes Border stencil with Cornflower Archival Ink and her Checkmate stencil with Fern Green.  Next I used Jet Black Archival Ink to stamp some flourishes from Wendy's Daisy Art set.

I hand cut a heart from a cracker box and covered it with some metal foil tape from the hardware store then I coated it with Red Geranium Archival Ink and Embossing Powder.  Once it was dry, I used the Checkmate stencil and Jet Black Archival Ink to give it some pattern.  I took a black Copic marker to the edges where there was no embossing.

I stamped the flower from Wendy's Build a Blossom Stamp It Stencil It set three times on Specialty Stamping Paper with Jet Black Archival Ink and fussy cut them.  I inked them with Dandelion Archival Ink and used a bit of Orange Blossom Archival Ink to shade the centres.  On one flower, I stamped some script using a Recollections stamp.  All three flowers were shaped and mounted together and a big black button was added for a centre.

I took a piece of Venise Lace and dyed it with some Orange Blossom Archival Ink  and then added some branches cut from Tim Holtz Garden Greens Die and inked with Fern Green Archival Ink and Forest Moss Distress Ink.

Finally I stamped a butterfly from a Hero Arts stamp, coloured it with Dandelion and Cornflower Archival Inks and then added some dollar store gems for a body.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Stamps and Stencils - Anything Goes (must stamp and stencil)
The Mixed Media Card Challenge - Flowers
Mixed Media Mojo - Recycle/Upcycle (Twist - use flowers) - Hardware foil tape is upcycled to make heart

The following items used in the creation of this card came from The Funkie Junkie Boutique:

Springtime with Dies

The new challenge starts today at Frilly and Funkie.  Nicole is our hostess this time and she is calling the challenge Spring Time Die Cuts.  She wants to see vintage or shabby chic projects that include die cuts, especially those that make you think of spring such as flowers, foliage and butterflies.

I don't own many steel dies but I do have a Cameo die cutting machine so I cut all the petals for my flowers and the filigree egg to make an Easter card.  This one will have to be for next year since I didn't finish it in time to give to my family.

I started with some scrap card stock for my blank and then added a background layer of paper from the Maja Design Vintage Spring Basics pad.  The squares are cut from that same pad and the Coffee in the Arbour pad.  All the paper has been distressed with my scissors and then inked with some Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  I then did some faux stitching around each square using my piercing tool and a white Signo pen.

The flowers petals were cut from white card stock in two sizes, spritzed with some water and then inked as follows:

One large and two small - Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint DI
Two large - Scattered Straw DI
Four small - Worn Lipstick DI

 The petals were folded and twisted and allowed to dry slightly before they were opened carefully and shaped.  Once dry they were glued together with some Wilton stamens for centres.

I also hand cut some leaves and inked them with Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint DI.  The flowers and the leaves were then inked on the edges with some Vintage Photo DI.

The filigree egg was cut from some grunge paper and then painted with some Antarctic Fresco Finish paint.  Once dry the flowers and the egg were coated with Perfect Pearl Perfect Pearl (no there is no echo, that is the name - lol).

I cut the sides off a filigree corner and the charm loop off a butterfly charm and painted both with some Folk Art Tapioca acrylic paint before inking them with Worn Lipstick DI and adding a bit of Rose Quartz Treasure Gold wax paste.

The loopy bow is seam binding dyed with Worn Lipstick and Scattered Straw DI.  I also tucked a couple pieces of lace and scattered some pearls around to finish the card off.  The stick pin is made from a dollar store pearl headed pin with some added beads from my stash.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Creative Card Crew - Handmade Flowers
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  - Anything Goes with a twist to use a die or punch
Inky Chicks - Stitching (Real or Faux)
Card Mania - Flowers
The Crazy Challenge - Floral
The Pink Elephant Challenge - Pastels
Pile It On - Die Cuts or Punches
That Craft Place  - Easter/Spring
Suzy Bee's Bloomin Challenge - Anything Goes with a twist to use pastels
Card and Scrap - Easter/Spring Colours

The following products used in the creation of this card came from The Funkie Junkie Boutique:

Friday Focus at Frilly and Funkie

Today, I am presenting the Friday Focus segment over at Frilly and Funkie.  This is a sneak peek at what I have created so pop on over and get all the details.  It is a large project and I hope you will like it as much as I do.