Mother Love

The new challenge starts today at Frilly and Funkie and this time I am the hostess and I have chosen a theme called Thing With Wings. Use anything with wings as the focal point on your vintage or shabby chic projects this time. Be it of the animal, fantasy or mechanical variety we want your creativity to take flight!

I have had a couple weeks of Camp Grandma (the July edition - another week to come in August) so my creating time has been limited and I must admit that I wimped out and created a little more simple project for this challenge.  I wanted to colour for a change and since I had this sweet image from A Day for Daisies I decided to use it as a focal point for a baby card.  The images was coloured with Prismacolors and blended with Gottrick OMS.  Some Stardust Stickles were added to the wings.

I used white card stock from Recollections for the blank and then started layering on papers from Maja Designs.  The top of two layers were cut on one edge with a Martha Stewart edge punch.

I created the banner and used the punched stars as additional embellishments.  The banner pieces are hanging from some burlap string and the whole banner is attached by a couple of mini clothespins that I painted white.  I added a strip of lace and a computer generated sentiment that has been inked with Scattered Straw Distress Ink.

I also created some word art in Photoshop and made it into a hidden tag that was inked with Scattered Straw DI and has a little piece of satin ribbon at the top.

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

Aurora Wings - Anything with Wings
Crafty Sentiments - Baby
Top Tip Tuesday - Bingo - I used Sparkle (on wings), Sentiment, Ribbon or Twine
Come And Get It - Fairies
Di's Digi Designs - Hand Colored Image
Fussy and Fancy - Things with Wings
Polkadoodles - 2 or More Patterned Papers
Moving Along With The Times - Baby, Baby

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

Spotlight Post at Anything But Cute

Today I am doing the Spotlight Post at Anything But Cute and am showing how to create with metal foil tape so pop over and see how it is done. Among other things you will see how I turned this;

into this .....

The Tide Came In

This is one of those projects that started out as one thing in my head but for some reason did not translate well to the finished creation.  I had envisioned this lady relaxing on a beach on her summer holiday but it looks like she wasn't paying attention or her hat was obstructing her view and the tide came in leaving her sitting among the flotsam and jetsam.

I started with a flat 8" x 10" canvas that I picked up at the dollar store and gave it a coat of Gesso (Liquitex).  Then I painted it from the top down with acrylic paint - French Blue  (Folk Art), Clear Blue (Accent) and Aqua (Craft smart).

Next I took a sea sponge and some Titanium (Snow) White acrylic paint (Deco Art) to create surf. and then I made a stencil of clouds on some mylar that I expropriated from my husband's workshop (he won't miss it because there is a roll of 50' left from his electronics business).  I used some Titanium (Snow) White acrylic paint with the sea sponge to dab the clouds on layering them over one another.

To make the sand I mixed Course Pumice Gel (Golden) with Country Twill acrylic paint (Folk Art) and spread it on with a palette knife.

The sun stencil was cut on my Cameo but it is just rays so after I dabbed some Metallic Gold Embossing Paste (Wendy Vecchi) on, I removed the stencil added a circle of paste so it would look like the sun.  The sea gulls are just clip art that I fussy cut.

The lady on the beach is an image from Isabella's Sketchbook and I printed her twice and fussy cut her out of one print and just her sun suit out of the second print.  She was coloured with Prismacolors that were blended with OMS (Gottrick).  After I coloured her sun suit I took some Fern Green Archival Ink (Wendy Vecchi) and a section from the Large Collage Stamp (Wendy Vecchi) and gave her suit some polka dots.  The stamp is a patchwork and I have cut it apart so I can use the sections for different applications - Wendy made me do it :)

The shells are made from crafter's clay (Martha Stewart) and a silicon mold (Wilton).  They were coloured with a variety of distress inks - Frayed Burlap, Vintage Photo, Tea Dye, Pumice Stone and Antique Linen.  The net is some burlap that I removed some of the threads from.

The life ring was made from crafter's clay and painted with a red Copic marker and scuffed up a bit with some Frayed Burlap DI.  It is hanging from a pole made from a popsicle stick that was inked with Frayed Burlap DI.

The flowers were cut from tulle and buckram using the Tattered Florals die (Tim Holtz) and then painted with acrylic paint - Peacock Pearl (Deco Art) and Clear Bue (Accent).  Some beads from the dollar store were added for centres.  Finally I added some driftwood (OK so they really are wood chips I grabbed from the playground), glass bits and some feathers from those darn sea gulls.

I realize this vignette is a little odd but I certainly had fun creating it so I hope you like it.

I am going to enter this in the following challenges:

The Mirror Crack'd - Canvas
Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes (must be mixed media)
Mixed Media World - Stencils
Stamps and Stencils - Happy Holidays
Mixed Media Monthly - Summer Days

Vintage Wedding

It is time for a new challenge at Frilly and Funkie.  Pamellia is the hostess for this one and she is calling it Raise It Up.  She wants to see lots of layers, lots of panels and/or lots of elements on your shabby chic or vintage project, BUT they must be raised up! Whether you choose to use pop dots, foam squares, silicone glue or another means of support make sure they stand proud.

I started with some Recollections card stock for the blank and then added a background paper from Graphic 45 Time to Flourish pad (the June papers) that had the edges distressed and some foam dots to raise it up.

The doily was inked with some Antique Linen Distress Ink and the lace was dyed with Abandoned Coral DI and they were added next along with the little floral tag, which is cut from the Graphic 45 pad. Then I created the blue panel by embossing a scrap of watercolour card with a stencil from Heidi Swapp.  I inked it with Tumbled Glass DI and added a bit of Blue Hawaiian Blue from the Lindy's Magicals Drink Me Silly set that I mixed with Gum Arabic.  It also has foam dots to raise it up.  The vintage wedding image came next and it is from Victoriana.com.

Next I cut the roses with leaves from the Graphic 45 paper and since I wanted to pop them up and there were no duplicates I traced the outline on scraps of card stock which were then inked with Abandoned Coral, Peeled Paint and Faded Jeans DI.  They were then popped up over the buds, which were fussy cut from the paper.

The rosette was made with some Melissa Frances pleated ribbon glued to a circle of card stock and topped with a coordinating die cut element from Graphic 45.  Finally I added a little sentiment, postage stamp and butterfly all cut from the paper pad.

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

Fantastic Tuesday - Anything Goes with a twist - use lace
Scrap & Craft Inspiration - Celebrations
Nordsalten Hobbyklubb - Wedding Cards and Creations

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

Summer Romance

It is time for a new challenge at Anything But Cute Mixed Media Challenge and Samra is our hostess this time.  She is calling the challenge Summer Romance and would love to see projects with a romantic theme, a beach/sea theme or both, BUT they must be strongly inspired by the colors of the mood board. For this challenge you MUST display our graphics badge in your post along with our blog name and challenge link.

I decided to go for the romantic theme and created a Tussie Mussie in the colours from the mood board.  A Tussie Mussie would have been carried by brides in Victorian times but in this case I gave it a modern and shabby twist.

I started by making a cone from paintable wallpaper and gave it a coat of Robin's Egg Blue acrylic paint by Folk Art.  Once dry I very carefully painted all the raised areas with Folk Art Ice Blue Metallic Paint.  Then I mixed some Blue Hawaiian Blue from the Lindy's Magicals Drink Me Silly set with water and painted the ridges of all the raised areas (just click on the photo to get a closer view).  I punched small holes on either side at the top and added a length of organza ribbon that I picked up for a song at a bead supply store.

Next I made some fabric flowers from a variety of materials from my sewing closet - blue shimmer organza (from a 25 cent table cloth that I bought at a fabric warehouse in Fancy Gap, Virginia), white organza, white tulle, lace trim, lace fabric and sheer drapery fabric.  I added a pearl to the centre of the blue flower and a pearl button to the centre of the lace trim flower.

I embossed some white card stock with an Elizabeth Crafts feather embossing folder and then fussy cut the largest feathers.  They were lightly inked with Tim Holtz Frayed Burlap Distress Ink and then I mixed some Snow White LA Colors eye shadow from the dollar store with Gum Arabic and painted it on each feather to give it some shimmer.

I added a row of lace around the top and then inserted a styrofoam ball that I carved into an egg shape so that it would fit down inside with only a small dome on the top.  All the flowers and feathers were added to the styrofoam with small straight pins.

Next I took a metal lock and key and coated it with Liquitex Clear Gesso to give it some tooth and then added Tim Holtz Picket Fence Distress Crackle.  Once the lock and key were dry I knotted them onto another length of organza ribbon.  This was layered with some Hug Snug seam binding dyed with Tumbled Glass and Broken China DI, a strip of lace, a couple strips of the blue organza and a couple lengths of the drapery fabric and the whole lot was added to one side.

Finally I painted a bead cap with white acrylic paint, inserted a stick pin from my stash to which I added some other beads and glued it into the bottom.

I hope you follow the mood board to create something that reminds you of summer romance and then share it with us at Anything But Cute.

Make Friends

The new challenge at Frilly and Funkie begins today and Jenny, our hostess for this one is calling it Something To Say.  She wants to see vintage or shabby chic projects with a sentiment taking centre stage, whether you stamp it, print it, write it or die cut it.

I dug out some Maja Design papers to create this card with and the two background panels are from the Vintage Spring Basics pad.  The flower was created from a pad called NYHAVN using the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die and inked with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink.  The leaves were die cuts given to me by my friend and teammate Pamellia and they were inked with Bundled Sage DI.

The clock was cut from Grunge Paper using a Tim Holtz die.  It was coated with Gesso and then I added some Golden Course Pumice Gel to the ring portion.  Once that was dry I covered it with Clear Gesso.  Next I sprayed it with Lindy's Buccaneer Bronze Moonshine Mist and then the legs, handle and knob were rubbed with Treasure Pewter wax paste.  The clock face was a freebie I found online.

The sentiment is word art that I created and has been inked with Spiced Marmalade DI and topped with a teeny butterfly.

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

Crafty Cardmakers - Sentiment
Simply Create Too - Old, Vintage, Shabby Chic
Sparkles Forum Challenges - Vintage/Shabby Chic

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

Altered Playing Card

When I got up this morning I decided I wanted to create something just for fun and not for any of my design teams even though I probably should have been working on that - or the weeding and I didn't want to do that either.  Then I decided I wanted to enter the Stamps and Stencils challenge, which is to make something small so I  made an altered playing card.

My In-Laws used to take organized bus trips from their home in Alberta to a casino in Saskatchewan and they were always bringing back decks of cards for themselves and for us.  Usually the cards had a hole drilled through them so when I went into my games cupboard I was surprised to find a deck that was brand new.  I only used one and decided to start with one of the Jokers to make my creation.

I gave each side a coat of Gesso and then glued an old book page to it.  Then I gave it another light coat of Gesso.  Next I used a baby wipe and my finger to add some paint - watered down Craft Smart Robin's Egg Blue and Fresco Finish Hey Pesto, Smoked Paprika and Pumpkin Soup.

Once the paint was dry I worked on one side and added some stenciling with Jet Black and Watering Can Archival Inks through a couple stencils, Polka Dotty from Wendy Vecchi and Mini Chicken Wire Reversed from TCW.

I hand cut a heart out of card stock and used it to draw the heart shape.  Then I painted the heart with Red Oxide paint from Golden and when it was dry I added more polka dot stenciling and an outline with a Prismacolor pencil crayon blended with OMS.

I stamped the eye, which is from a Tim Holtz set called Random Thoughts and made the word ART on my computer and inked it with Antique Linen and Black Soot Distress Ink.  Finally I edged the card with Black Soot DI.

Next I altered the other side because I didn't think it should be left with just paint on it.  This time I used the Watering Can Archival Ink though the chicken wire stencil and a criss cross one I made myself.  I added some circles with Jet Black Archival Ink using the top of a small spray bottle.  I also added some Tim Holtz tissue tape.

Next I took my heart pattern and inked it with some Red Geranium Archival Ink and then heat embossed it with Red Geranium Embossing Powder.  It didn't heat uniformly but I loved the look so I kept it and added some checks with one of the stamps from the Tim Holtz Ultimate Grunge set and Jet Black Archival Ink.  The edge of the heart and the card was inked with Black Soot DI.  Finally I added some computer generated text that was inked with Antique Linen and Black Soot DI.

I had so much fun making this altered playing card and the best thing was that it only took me 3 hours from start to studio clean up, which might be some kind of record for me.  I can see a few things I could have done differently or added so I think the playing cards are staying in my studio.

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

Stamps and Stencils  - Small is Beautiful
Tuesday Throwdown - Stenciling
Allsorts Challenge - Use a Stamp
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Mixed Media Monthly  - A Year of Choices (New to You)

Saturday Step X Step at Frilly and Funkie

It is my turn to present the Saturday Step X Step feature at Frilly and Funkie and this is a sneak peek of what I have created.  Click here to go to the post and get all the details.

Summer Dream

It is time for a new challenge at Frilly and Funkie and Nancy chose the theme and is calling this one It's Summer.  She wants everyone to let us know what you love about summer. Do you enjoy traveling, growing a garden, or laying on the beach? Create a vintage or shabby chic project, card, or layout showcasing what you enjoy most about this wonderful season.

I love to travel but this summer we are sticking pretty close to home because the exchange rates are through the roof.  That makes me sad so I decided to make a vintage travel-themed tag to cheer me up.  I remembered one I had seen here and thought I would CASE it although I don't speak French and there was no translator on her blog so I had to figure out how to re-create it on my own and then knowing me I had to give it a few extras.  Since it has a nautical spin to it, there is lots of blue involved.  I also think this would be great for a guy and think I will give it to my husband as a nudge to get him to change his mind about not traveling this year.  Stay tuned to see if it works :)

I started with one of the large manilla tags that Linda sells in the shop and added Broken China Distress Ink over a criss cross mask (the sections that were left when I made a stencil with my Cameo recently) and through a swirls stencil.  Next I took my natural sea sponge and dabbed Stormy Sky DI all over.  Finally I used Walnut Stain DI with a TCW called Mini Ledger to add some vintage text.

Next I cut the anchor and ship wheel from Grunge Paper with my Cameo.  I painted the wheel with Folk Art Coffee Bean acrylic paint and then scratched on some Deco Art Honey Brown with the tines of a fork.  I painted the anchor with Deco Art Rich Espresso Metallic paint and went over the chain with Folk Art Antique Gold acrylic paint.  I added some jute cord to the top of the anchor.

The map is from The Graphics Fairy and I converted it to sepia on my computer, lightly inked it with Broken China DI and then inked the edges with Walnut Stain.  The compass was a black and white freebie I found online and I converted the black to brown, printed it, fussy cut it and then inked it with Antique Linen DI and took Walnut Stain to the edges.

The sailboat is also from The Graphics Fairy and I fussy cut it and inked it with Antique Linen DI.  I realized after it was on the tag that I should have converted it to sepia - oops.  The text is computer generated and has been inked with Antique Linen DI and edged with Walnut Stain DI.  Finally I dyed some seam binding with Broken China and Stormy Sky DI.

I am going to enter my tag in the following challenges:

Monday-Mood-Board - Photo Inspiration
A Gem of a Challenge - Something Blue
Kreativeinkauf-challenge - Travel
Sparkles Forum - Vintage/Shabby Chic
Cheerful Stamp Pad - Travel to Faraway Places
Get Creative Challenges - For the Boys or Father's Day

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

Mixed Media Masculine

It is time for the second monthly challenge at Anything But Cute challenges and I am the hostess for this one.  I decided to call the challenge Make It Masculine and I would like you to make a mixed media card or other project for a fellow in your life. It could be for Father's Day, a birthday, an anniversary or just because you want him to know how special he is.

I decided to make this Steampunk inspired card for my husband for Father's Day and while the cards are easy enough to make, it sure is difficult finding an appropriate verse for inside the card when he is not your father and your child is grown up and married with kids of her own.  In hindsight, I think I should have made it as a surprise card for no special occasion.  I can see another card on my agenda in the not too distant future.

I started with some Recollections kraft card stock for the blank.  Then I took another piece of the same card stock to make the background panel.  I used Golden Molding Paste through a TCW stencil called Mini Time Travel to create all the clocks and numbers and once dry I sprayed it with Lindy's Stamp Gang Burnished Brass Moonshadow Mist.

The next layer is just another piece of card stock to which I added some plaster casting material (Gauze mixed with Plaster of Paris) that I found at the local art supply store.  I didn't try to smooth it out so it would have some bumps and lumps when it dried.  Once it was dry, it too got a spray of Burnished Brass.

The top layer is some paper from a Prima paper pad called Printery and I added some stenciling with a TCW stencil called Mini Harlequin and Vintage Photo DI.

To make the hot air balloon, I started by grabbing a freebie image from The Graphics Fairy, erased the basket in Photoshop and then printed the remaining image.  I cut it out and then traced the outer edge on a piece of card stock and a piece of copy paper.  I cut both of those out and then cut pieces out of the copy paper version to replicate a balloon.  This became a pattern that I placed over some Tim Holtz Grunge Paper so I could draw and then cut around all the edges.

I covered the grunge paper balloon with a layer of Gesso and then I painted it with black acrylic paint and once dry spritzed it lightly with the Burnished Brass.  To put the balloon together, I inked the card stock version with Vintage Photo DI, added some pop dots, then added the original printed balloon, which was also inked, added more pop dots and finally the grunge paper balloon.

The basket was made by weaving some twine leftover from my macrame days and wrapping it around a piece of card stock.  I attached the balloon and the basket with some pieces of wire from Artistic Wire.  A gear and some clock hands from Bead Landing were added to finish it off.

To finish off the card, I added a few more gears, a clock from Jolee's Boutique and an arrow from The Paper Studio.  The clock edge and arrow were rubbed with Renaissance wax paste from Treasure Gold to change their colour to match the gears.  The final step was some text that I made on the computer using a font called Impact Label.

Once the card was finished I stood it up to admire my handiwork and it fell flat on its face.  It turns out the plaster panel with all the other added bits and pieces made it way too front heavy so I added a verse panel inside with some of the same stenciling to stabilize it.  I would not recommend the plaster for a card but it would be great on a canvas or other altered item.

I hope you will create a mixed media project and share it with us at Anything But Cute.  All of us on the Design Team will be choosing our favourites and mine will have the opportunity to be a Guest Designer.

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

Simon Says Stamp  - Make It Masculine
Card Mania - Metal Embellishment
The Kraft Journal - Father's Day

Pop of Purple

 The new challenge starts today at Frilly and Funkie and I am the hostess for this one.  It is called Monochromatic and I would like to see a shabby chic or vintage project that uses basically one colour and its various hues and tones - a little white or cream can be added but unless that is the main colour, it needs to be just an accent.

I decided to use purple as my main colour, especially after I found some lovely purple papers in the Maja Designs paper pack called Vintage Spring Basics.  I started with some Recollections card stock for my blank and added the distressed striped paper first, tucking some seed beads I picked up at the dollar store into a couple of torn areas.

The damask layer came next and I mounted it on some purple tulle from my fabric stash (hard to see in the photo but it is there).  I used Wendy Vecchi's Polka Dotty stencil and Dusty Concord DI to add a few dots and then distressed it too.

Next I used the Wendy Vecchi Three Flourishes stencil with some texture paste on the top purple paper.  I distressed it as well and tucked a doily inked with Dusty Concord DI behind it before I added it.

The lace has been dyed with a combination of Crushed Grape and White Linen Dylusions spray and the seam binding to make the loopy bow was dyed with Dusty Concord DI.  The leaves started out as bronze metal but I gave them a coat of Gesso and then inked them with Purple Twilight Alcohol Ink blended with Snow Cap Mixative.  The corset on the dress form was "painted" with Dusty Concord DI and then I added a coat of Mod Podge to it.

By the way, when I am working with inks and paints I try to use some latex gloves but more often than not I forget and end up with stained fingers but since I picked up one of the scrubbies that Linda carries in her shop, it is easy peasy to remove those stains. And the bonus is that I now have a solution when my Grandchildren decide to use marker and paint on their hands instead of paper - forget the milk, bleach cleaner, toothpaste and every other thing we tried in the past.

I am on a mission to use some of my stash so all the flowers came from there (some are from Wild Orchid Crafts or Excelsior Wholesale) and if they weren't already purple, I coloured them with different Bic, Promarker and Copic markers.  Finally I added a fun button from my stash and some dollar store pearl stickers.

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

The Crazy Challenge - Use Ribbon or Lace
One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes with Flowers
That Craft Place - Shabby Chic
A Gem of a Challenge - Flowers
Inkspirational - Purple

The following products used in the creation of this card can be found at The Funkie Junkie Boutique:

Feeling Happy

The new challenge at Frilly and Funkie is hosted by Georgie and she wants to see shabby chic or vintage projects that make us Happy, Happy, Happy.   This could be a project that you love doing, a product you love using, or something that makes you so happy it gives you inspiration to make something beautiful! Just make sure you have fun!!

I love crafting in a vintage style and I am loving Graphic 45 papers since they are vintage inspired so I decided to combine this with another of my loves, cooking, and make a recipe book.  Of course I had to use the Home Sweet Home collection for this.

I started by cutting four 8" squares of heavy chipboard and had my husband drill three holes along ones side.  Then I painted them black with Americana Chalky Finish paint by DecoArt.  Once they were dry, I sealed them with a coat of Matte Mod Podge.

The next step was to create expandable recipe card pockets from black card stock using inspiration I found here.  After each pocket was formed, I added a panel of paper to the front and then added a label that was computer generated and then die cut with the Spellbinders Labels Ten die.  The labels and all the papers and elements were inked with Black Soot Distress Ink.  The pockets were set aside as they were the last thing to be added to the pages.

Next I cut strips of paper with a scalloped edge to add to the top and bottom of each of the inside pages.  Then I covered the front and back with a full sheet of paper and proceeded to embellish the
front.  The back just has my watermark added to it.

I started by added a paper panel mounted on black card stock and then started cutting elements from the paper and punching out some of the tags.  Then I stamped the woman carrying the pie twice and coloured her with some Copic markers and then used some dimensionals to add one image to the other.  The apples were cut from a large sheet from the Time to Flourish collection.

I printed multiples of the flowers in a couple of sizes using a digital stamp I got as a freebie from Beccy's Place a couple of years ago.  I coloured them with Copic markers and then went over them with Spiced Marmalade DI.  I used more dimensionals to adhere them and then I added black seed beads to the centres.

The label was made in the same manner as the pocket labels and I added some pearl stickers from the dollar store.  Finally a couple of chipboard elements from the collection and a button from my stash were added.

Then it was time to add the pockets with some blank recipe cards and put the pages together with binder rings adorned with some grosgrain ribbon.

This is something that would make a great gift at a bridal shower with a few favourite recipes added.

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

Altered Clipboard

It is time for a new challenge at Frilly and Funkie and this time Pamellis is our hostess and is calling it Snap, Crackle, Crackle and she described the theme this way:

Let's see some cracks on your creations! You can use crackle paint, crackle paste, crackle glaze, crackle accents, an old cracked image, a piece of cracked UTEE, a cracked pattern from a stencil or stamp, you can even doodle on your crackle design! Anything goes, as long as is cracks me up!!

I decided to alter a clipboard this time but wanted a small one so I started shopping on my way to get my hair cut.  I thought I could find one at the dollar store - not.  Then I thought I would find one at the office supply store - not.  I got to the hairdresser's and was moaning about how all I could find were letter-sized clipboards and she said she had one they weren't using anymore and gave it to me.  So this ended up being a recycling project.

I started by giving it a coat of Gesso.  Then I painted it with some Americana Buttermilk Acrylic Paint by DecoArt.  When that was dry I gave it a coat of Folk Art Crackle Medium and then followed that with a coat of Folk Art Butter Pecan Acrylic Paint.

Once the paint had cracked and dried I mixed some texture paste with Tea Rose Reinker and put it through the Wendy Vecchi 3 Flourishes stencil.  I am not sure why but the colour changed and looks more beige but it works with the crackle.

Then I took some Mountain Rose Alcohol Ink and blended it with some Copper Mixative to change the colour of the clip. 

I took a scrap of paper leftover from the Graphic 45 mini album I made and punched both sides with a Martha Stewart punch, inked it with some Tea Dye Distress Ink and then wrapped some black organza ribbon around it.

Next came the flowers.  The leaves were a die cut inked with Frayed Burlap DI.  Next I stamped the flower from the Wendy Vecchi Build a Blossom Stamp It Stencil It set on Specialty Stamping Paper and on Clearly for Art and then cut both out.  I coloured the paper one with Tea Rose Archival Ink and the other one with a mixture of Mountain Rose and Copper Mixative Alcohol Inks.  I used the alcohol ink mixture to change the colour of a gumdrop for the centre.

The two little paper flower were punched from a Prima paper pad called Printery and I added some brads from Making Memories for centres.  The other small flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and were inked with Tea Dye and Frayed Burlap DI.  The large rose was sprayed with Buccaneer Bronze Moonshine Mist from Lindy's Stamp Gang and then rubbed with Rose Quartz wax paste from Treasure Gold on the edges.

The little butterfly was made from crafter's clay and a silicone mold, inked with Tea Dye DI and then painted with Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint.  I inked it again after it was dry with some Frayed Burlap DI.

The frame is a resin piece that I painted with acrylic paint and then rubbed with the Rose Quartz wax paste.  The crown is a charm and I just added a brad to fill the hole at the top.

Finally, I added a pearl flourish, some individual pearls, a square dollar store brad and a couple of buttons.  And there you have it - an altered clipboard.  It won't hold paper anymore but I think it would make a nice decor item.

I am going to enter this in the following challenges:

All Crafts Challenge - Anything Goes (No Cards)
That Craft Place  - No Cards
Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes (Must be Altered or Mixed Media)
Avenue 613 - Anything Goes (Option Feminine)
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Anything Goes (Altered Art or Mixed Media Only)

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

Vintage Garden for Anything But Cute

The day has finally arrived for the first challenge at the Anything But Cute Mixed Media Challenge Blog.  Branka is our hostess this month and she is calling it Vintage Garden.  Here is how she described it:

What do you think of when you hear the word Garden? Is it flowers, birds, butterflies, dragonflies, bees, lattice, vines, fences? Whatever garden vision you have, we want to see it. But make sure it's in a vintage style.

I decided to make a canvas  - you can click on it to get a larger view.  If you have followed me for a while you know how much I love vintage images so I went searching for something to use as my starting point and found this sweet image of a Mother and her children strolling in the garden at The Graphics Fairy.  It was coloured and I started to work with one of the colours in the photo but in the end changed it to sepia and then set it aside as it was the last element to be added.  Of course I had to add flowers to my project because it is supposed to remind you of a garden.

I started by giving the canvas a coat of Gesso.  Next I added some strips of torn paper, drywall tape and strips of washi tape.  Next I added some Golden Light Molding Paste through a TCW stencil called Mini ledger and a Wendy Vecchi stencil called Checkmate.  The drywall tape and stenciling was done on the sides as well.  The final texture on the base was achieved by gluing some cheesecloth across the middle of the canvas.

I used my Cameo to cut a wreath "mat" for my image from Tim Holtz Grunge Paper and coated it with Gesso.  Then I grabbed all sorts of lace, flowers, wood and chipboard embellishments, buttons, beads, cogs and metal pieces and glued them in various places on the canvas.  Some were already in colours that were not very complimentary or were in raw form so I gave them a coat of Gesso before they were glued down.

Once everything was in place I dry brushed everything with Deco Art Americana Peach Silk Acrylic Paint.  Then went over it with a light dry brushed coat of Gesso.

I wanted to add some spray inks and here is where I discovered I have a love/hate relationship with them.  I really like the look of them on a project but the spray bottles do not like me and constantly want to clog.  I am not one to be stopped though and when running everything under hot water to try to clear the clog didn't work, I found a work-around that gave the same result.  I just poured a little of the spray in a tiny container, stirred it well and dipped a natural sea sponge in it and sponged the ink on where I wanted it.

The sprays I used were a homemade one of rubbing alcohol, Glossy Accents, dollar store powder eye shadow with mica called Honey Suckle and Mountain Rose Alcohol Ink along with a Lindy's Stamp Gang spray called Burnished Brass.

Next I rubbed Rose Quartz wax paste by Treasure Gold over many of the high spots on the bits and pieces and finally added the vintage image.

I hope you will join us for the first challenge and show us your Vintage Garden mixed media project.  You have until June 4th to share your project with us.  The Design Team will be choosing their top picks and one deserving crafter will be invited to join us as a Featured Artist.

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

Mixed Media Monthly - May Flowers
Mixed Media Mojo - Tic Tac Toe (I used Gesso, Stencil, Chipboard - the starburst and fleur de lis are chipboard)
Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes (mixed media)
Nordsalten Hobbyklubb - Monochromatic
Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Anything Goes (mixed media)

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.

Cherry Blossoms and Ribbon

The new challenge at Frilly and Funkie is hosted by Linda and she is calling it Put A Ribbon On It.  She wants to see vintage or shabby chic projects that feature ribbon.

I decided to cover all the bases and make a shabby card with a vintage image and a big bow.  I started with some Recollections card stock for my blank and then added three layers of paper from the Maja Designs Vintage Spring pad that I distressed with my scissors.  I dyed some cheesecloth with Antique Linen Distress Ink and tucked it between a couple of the layers and used the DI to ink up the edges of the paper layers.

The vintage image is from Antique Images and is one of a series of four depicting the seasons.  While the bow is hiding it, this one has the text "Spring" on the bottom.  I covered a filigree corner with Tapioca Acrylic paint from Folk Art and then embossed it with some clear embossing powder.  The butterfly was created with some Martha Stewart Crafter's Clay and a Mod Podge silicone mold.  I painted it with some of the Tapioca paint and then added some Stardust Stickles to it and to the corner.

The cherry blossoms along with the branches and leaves were all cut on my Cameo out of scrap white card stock.  The branches were inked with Walnut Stain DI and the leaves were painted with some Light Yellow Green acrylic paint from Accent and then inked with some Peeled Paint DI once they were dry.

The blossoms were inked with Spun Sugar DI and then the edges were inked with some Victorian Velvet DI.  I used an old Laurentian pencil crayon called Cerise the add some centre shading and then added some Recollection pearls.  A couple of the blossoms were turned into buds.

Finally I created a big bow from the gorgeous May Arts ribbon that Linda sent me.  This is wired ribbon so it is easy to shape, although looking at it now I see that next time I need to do a better job folding the ribbon in the centre.

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

Top Tip Tuesday - Buttons or Bows
Card Mania - Spring
Craft-Dee Bowz - Anything Goes with a Bow
Crafty Cardmakers - Spring Has Sprung
Card and Scrap - Use Layers
Robyn's Fetish  - Add a Bow
Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes with Ribbon

These products used in the creation of this card came from The Funkie Junkie Boutique where you will find lots of great new products, super prices and wonderful customer service: