Let it Snow ~ Creative Embellishments December Challenge

It's December 1st, which means a new challenge is up on the Creative Embellishments Blog. Here is this month's inspiration photo and the twist for this challenge is to use a border on your project.

I just loved this month's inspiration photo and have taken my inspiration from the colours and the glistening snowflakes to create this layout.

I've used an older Bo Bunny collection for this layout (Midnight Frost) because the colours were just perfect for the inspiration image and I promised myself that I would start using up my stash! I started off by whitewashing the dark blue background with some watered down gesso and layering some torn pieces to look like snow hills. I've used the CE Snowflake Stencil along with some white modelling paste on the blue background paper - and once the modelling paste was dry, I added some silver stickles to the snowflakes for a bit of sparkle. I also used the larger of the Snowflake Borders, the Falling Snow Set, and the Let it Snow title - I primed all these pieces with White Gesso and then embossed them with Stampendous Winter Wonderland Embossing Powder. I also added some Silver Stickles to the chipboard snowflakes. The embellishing for this layout was finished off with some tattered cheesecloth and silver sequins. 

I hope you will play along with this month's challenge and that you have a wonderful holiday season!

Challenge Rules:

• Create a NEW project (i.e., layout, mini album, tag, card, canvas, etc…) as of December 1st 2017.
• Please no back linking (meaning projects from previous months that may fit the challenge requirements). Please link only NEW projects.
• Combining the CE Challenge with other challenges is permitted.
• Please add your entry to the InLinkz box on the Challenge Post on the Creative Embellishments Blog to be eligible for the prize. You have until the last day of each month 11:55 pm eastern time to enter.
• It is required that you mention in your blog post that you are playing along at Creative Embellishments together with a link back to our blog. Please make sure to reference our challenge. 
• We would love to see you USE AT LEAST 1 OF CE products on your projects but it isn’t required to play along; however, everyone who does use CE product will get and extra chance at winning.
• WINNERS will have 2 weeks to claim their prize. The winner will be announced on the CE blog post the day after the challenge ends.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! 

"Canada's Wonderland" Layout ~ Creative Embellishments and CSI Case File #212

This month the Design Team at Creative Embellishments is playing along with the CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration Challenge! This is such a fun challenge site with loads of prizes each month! I've created a layout based on Case File No. 212.

To "solve" the case, I started with a solid white background that I misted with Dylusions Ink Spray in Ground Coffee, along with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Marshmallow - this gave it the spilled coffee with cream look I wanted! I also added some stamping of 'spills' and 'coffee rings' using Bo Bunny Stamps and Memento Ink in Rich Cocoa. I went into my stash and pulled out some papers from Bo Bunny's Weekend Market collection. I fussy cut some elements and used my spiral punch on the edges of some of the papers. The papers already had staples on them, but I added real staples too. I used a Creative Embellishments Grunge Circle Frame and pieces cut from the Circles panel. I painted the chipboard elements with shiny gold paint - Prima's Art Alchemy Metallique Acrylic Paint in Ancient Coin. I also painted the brad holding my journalling with the gold paint. The journalling was about our first trip to Canada's Wonderland, which happened the week I made the layout and trust me. . . I needed LOTS of coffee to get through that long day!

Here are some close-ups and different angles so you can see all the details!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! I hope you'll pop over to CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration and play along with one of this month's challenges! Happy Scrapping!

Vintage Steampunk Dress - Mixed Media Canvas ~ Scraps of Darkness

I have a mixed media canvas to share with you today that I had so much fun making with papers, embellishments and media from the June Perfectly Stunning Kit from Scraps of Darkness. One of my favourite 'paper artists' is Gabrielle Pollacco - and my canvas was inspired by this tutorial on her youtube channel. So, here is my 'darker' interpretation of her tutorial - a Vintage Steampunk Dress Mixed Media Canvas.

I started off by adding some bits of drywall tape to the canvas and then priming it with the Art Anthology Gesso included in the Creativity Add-on. Then I misted the canvas with three Lindy's Stamp Gang Mists (from my stash) - Midnight Rendezvous Raven and Cocoa Bean Copper Starbursts and Steel Shimmer Glitz Spritz. I added torn bits of the "Chrononaut" paper from the Bo Bunny Somewhere in Time collection which I distressed and inked with Distress Ink in Vintage Photo. I added the torn papers to the canvas with matte Mod Podge - I love how they look like old leather! I then did some masking with a mask from my stash and a mix of two of the Art Anthology paints from the Colour Add-on - the Stone Effects Dimensional Medium in Sandstone mixed with the Velvet Dimensional Paint in Kona. Here are some different angles of the full canvas.

Now we come to the dress! I fussy-cut the corset from the "Elegance" Bo Bunny paper and inked it with the Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  I added some dimension to the bodice by flipping it over and rubbing 'appropriate' areas with a ball tool. I created the skirt using a section of a sewing pattern and some black lace from a previous SOD Kit (Oct. '13) and splattered it with the black and copper mists. I added the chain from the Creativity Add-on to the watch fob from the Embellishment Add-on and used it as a belt for the dress. To embellish the canvas, I added the small black wings (Embellishment Add-on) and Prima flowers (Main Kit & Flower Add-on). The letters for the title (inked with distress ink and painted with black/copper mist mixture) are from my stash and the bling is from a previous SOD Kit. I also added in parts of a Dusty Attic Chickenwire panel that are embossed with Distress Embossing Powder in Black Soot. Here are some close-ups of the dress and embellishments on the canvas.

I hope you liked my Vintage Steampunk Dress Mixed Media Canvas - I had such a blast creating it! I definitely want to create more canvases like this!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! Happy Scrapping!

Mixed Media Gift Tag and a Tutorial ~ Scraps of Darkness & Imaginarium Designs

I am back with a second project for you this month combining the Scraps of Darkness December 2012 Kit with Imaginarium Designs Chipboard! Today, I am sharing a mixed media gift tag and a tutorial! I had lots of fun making this cute winter tag using the Bo Bunny "Woodland Winter" collection and Luminarte Silks Acrylic Glaze from the SOD kit, along with an Imaginarium Designs chipboard tree and sentiment!

First, I painted a white #8 shipping tag with the Silks Glaze in Bolivian Blue. I then masked some "snow" on the bottom of the tag using a Prima 12 x 12 stencil and some Light Molding Paste mixed with DecoArt SnowTex. I fussy cut the snowman from the Bo Bunny paper and added some of the Molding Paste/SnowTex mixture to the bottom of the snowman. I cut the snowflake circles from one of the Bo Bunny cardstock stickers (they were originally part of a border sticker) and added them randomly around the tag. I also used the awesome fur trim from the kit at the top of the tag - I threaded it through the tag's hole and glued the trim together and, once dry, I cut it into strips.

For the "Just for You" sentiment, I simply painted the chipboard with two coats of Luminarte Silks Acrylic Glaze in Silver Bells.

I used a couple of different techniques to create this snowy tree - so I thought I would share the process with you!

Snowy Tree Tutorial

Supplies:

• Imaginarium Designs Christmas Tree
• Luminarte Silks Acrylic Glaze - Silver Bells, Ice
• Golden Light Molding Paste
• DecoArt SnowTex
• Luminarte Primary Elements Pigments -
  Forest Green and Bolivian Blue
• Palette Knife
• Needle
• White Gesso

Mediums:

Before starting to alter the chipboard Christmas tree, you'll need to prepare your mediums:

• First, mix together equal parts of the Molding Paste and SnowTex (the SnowTex is quite coarse and adding the molding paste makes it easier to spread)
• Second, separate half of molding paste/SnowTex mixture into a second container - add Luminarte Primary Elements pigments to colour the medium. I wanted a green colour with a hint of blue, so I have used Forest Green and Bolivian Blue. (Add a little bit of each medium at a time until you achieve the colour you want.)

Altering the Chipboard Tree

Now you're ready to create your snowy tree! I've provided a step-by-step photo tutorial below!

Imaginarium Designs Chipboard Used

 Christmas Tree Board

IDS0008

"Just For You" Phrase

IDP0074

Other Products Used

Scraps of Darkness - December 2013 Winter Wonderland Kit - Patterened Paper - Bo Bunny "Woodland Winter" collection - Scarf and Cardstock Stickers; Luminarte Silks Acrylic Glaze - Ice, Silver Bells and Bolivian Blue; Wrights 1" Fur Trim.

Personal Stash - White #8 Shipping Tag; Prima 12 x 12 Stencil ; Golden Light Molding Paste; DecoArt SnowTex; Luminarte Primary Elements Pigments - Forest Green and Bolivian Blue; Claudine Hellmuth Studio Gesso; Aleene's Tacky Glue; Beacon 3-in-1 Glue; 3D Foam Adhesive.

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Don't forget that Imaginarium Designs is looking for new Designers - check out the DESIGN TEAM CALL for more information.

That's it for me today! I hope you liked my tag and found my tutorial helpful! Don't forget to leave a comment on my post on the Imaginarium Designs blog for a chance to win some Imaginarium Designs Chipboard Products!

Bittersweet 2013 ~ Scraps of Darkness & Imaginarium Designs

Today, I am sharing a personal layout based on the January Sketch at Once Upon a Sketch. The journalling theme at OUAS is "Lessons Learned" and I've chosen to add private journalling to the back of my layout about my personal journey in 2013. I've used the Bo Bunny Winter Woodland paper and stickers, as well as the Prima Flowers included in the Scraps of Darkness December 2013 "Winter Wonderland" Kit to create this layout! I chose a picture of some Bittersweet from my garden that was covered in ice and snow following  an ice storm we had just before Christmas. I decided to go with a monochromatic theme so that the only colour on the layout is the pop of orange of the bittersweet berries in the picture.

Here is a close-up of the layering/photo-cluster. I started off by doing some masking with a Crafter's Workshop mask and Light Molding paste. I cut squares/rectangles from the Journal sheet of the Bo Bunny paper and also added squares of burlap from my stash to the layering under the photo. I brushed the Prima flowers with white gesso to coordinate them with the chipboards.

I love how the Imaginarium Designs Chipboard Branches and Leaves with holes sort of looked like the Bittersweet brances - they were the perfect complement to the photo on this layout. I wanted to keep the branches fairly plain to go with the monochromatic colour scheme, so I simply dry-brushed the chipboards with gesso and then added some thick gesso to the top edges of the chipboards to look like snow.

Imaginarium Designs Chipboard Used

 Branch and Leaves with Holes

IDDN0013

Branch and Leaves with Holes Balanced

IDDN0014

Other Products Used

Scraps of Darkness - December 2013 Winter Wonderland Kit - Patterened Paper - Bo Bunny "Woodland Winter" collection - Journal and Cardstock Stickers; Prima Flowers - La Tela.

Personal Stash - Cardboard, The Crafter's Workshop 6 x 6 Mask - Mini Cell Theory; Golden Light Molding Paste; Burlap,;Claudine Hellmuth Studio Gesso; White Floral Wire.

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Don't forget that Imaginarium Designs is looking for new Designers - check out the DESIGN TEAM CALL for more information.

That's it for me today! I hope you liked my simple, monochromatic layout! Don't forget to leave a comment on my post on the Imaginarium Designs blog for a chance to win some Imaginarium Designs Chipboard Products!

Imaginarium Designs - There's No Place Like Home

I have a "challenging" layout to share with you today. I love playing along with challenges and haven't been doing it as much as I used to - so this month I have created a layout to play along with the November Sketch at Once Upon a . . . Sketch and CSI - Color, Stories Inspiration Challenge #96. These two challenges actually intersected quite nicely for me as my "happy" place is my home - I'm a total homebody and love just cozying up at home with my family and my pets. My home is also a century home - so I've documented a bit of its history through photos and talk about the struggles/joys of owning such an old home in my journalling. I had fun searching through our County's Archives for some vintage photos and have to credit Google Earth for the most recent photo - I hope you enjoy a little peek into the history of my home!

Here is the OUAS sketch, which I rotated 90 degrees clockwise for my layout design!

I used Bo Bunny's "The Avenues" collection for this layout - the colours were perfect for the CSI colour palette and the door motif was so appropriate for documenting a layout about my home. I distressed the papers quite heavily as I thought it suited the theme of the layout. I used the Imaginarium Designs 8x8 Honeycombe as a layering element and the There's No Place Like Home phrase for my title. Both of these chipboard pieces were primed with black gesso and then painted with Luminarte Silks Acrylic Glaze in Carmen to give them a deep black/red colour.

 

I fussy cut the windows from the door and added a piece of velum so that it looked like frosted glass. I used a variety of Prima and Kaisercraft flowers to create the flower cluster and added in some Imaginarium Designs chipboard 'greenery' to complete the cluster. I simply sponged the greenery with acrylic paint in a colour to match the leaves on my flowers.

Finally, in case you're wondering what the journalling says, here is a little close-up of the tag tucked into the velum envelope behind the door. I wrote the journalling on my computer using a typeset font to fulfill one of the 'testimony' requirements for the CSI Challenge and then printed it on a nice, textured tag.

Here is a quick summary of how I solved the CSI Case File:

The Scheme: I incorporated all the colours.

Evidence: I have used clocks, flowers, a vintage photo, velum (something transparent) and paint (white gesso). 

Testimony: I have used a typewriter font, tucked my journalling behind a door and used the inspirational words message and remember for my journalling.

Imaginarium Designs Chipboard Used

8x8 Honeycombe - IDS0053

 There's No Place Like Home - Phrase - IDP0061

Kerri Flourish Tiny - IDT0026

Other Materials Used:  

Patterned Paper - Bo Bunny "The Avenues" - Treasures, Clocks, Doors, The Avenues; Pro Art Gesso - White; Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Red; White Cardstock; QuicKutz Die - Paint Chip; Black Soot Reinker; Velum, DecoArt Acrylic Paint - Leaf Green;  Prima Mini Roses - Red, Grey;  Aleene's Tacky Glue; 3D Foam Adhesive

Bits & Pieces from Scraps of Darkness Kits - Mini Clothespins - Red; Velum Envelope; Quilled Creations Textured Gift Tag; Red Gingham Ribbon; Prima Flower - Clara; Kaisercraft Paper Blooms - Black.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today - don't forget to leave a comment on my post on the Imaginarium Designs Blog for a chance to win some fantastic Imaginarium Designs Chipboard! 

A Mixed Media Canvas, a Tutorial and a Card ~~~Imaginarium Designs~~~

Today, I'm sharing two projects I created for Imaginarium Designs in June - a mixed-media mini-canvas and a card.

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Amelia

First up is a mixed-media mini-canvas that I created for a dear friend who just had a gorgeous baby girl! It also happens to be the first canvas I've ever done and I am pretty happy with how it turned out! I used the Bo Bunny Little Miss collection for the background paper and to make all the paper flowers on the canvas. First, I mod-podged the base paper to the canvas and then sanded the edges to soften them. I then did some masking with light molding paste in the corners. I sponged on some watered-down gesso with a sea sponge. over the entire surface of the canvas and then used watercolours around the edges and on the masked areas to tie in with the colours of the papers. I fussy cut the photo (stolen from my friend's Facebook page!) and put it on a cheesecloth 'blanket' resting on top of the sweet baby's name.  The paper flowers were created with a combination of Spellbinders Shapeabilities Bitty Blossoms and Bo Bunny Little Miss Petals. In addition to the chipboard, some Bo Bunny trinkets and buttons were added to embellish the canvas.

For the chipboards on this canvas, I used a watercolour method that I am calling "marbled watercolouring" and I've put together a little photo-tutorial for you on how I accomplished the treatment on the letters.

Here are a few more close-ups of the chipboard pieces on the canvas!

Imaginarium Designs Chipboard Used

Capital Letters - IDAUC0001

Jessica Flourish - IDFL0014

Other Materials Used: Patterned Paper - Bo Bunny "Little Miss" Collection - Little Miss, Little Miss Alice, Little Miss Jamayka; Bo Bunny Little Miss Cardstock Stickers; Bo Bunny Little Miss Petals; Bo Bunny Little Miss Buttons; Bo Bunny Vicky B. Trinket; The Crafter's Workshop 6x6 Template - Mini Chicken Wire Reversed; Golden Light Molding Paste; Mod Podge (Matte); Claudine Hellmuth Studio Gesso; Artist's Loft Watercolour Pan Paints; Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents; Spellbinders Shapeabilities - Bitty Blossoms; Darice Glass Pearls;  Cheesecloth; Aleene's Tacky Glue; 3D Foam Adhesive; Glue Dots.

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New Baby Card

For my second project, I made a card for my friend to go along with the mini-canvas (above). Now, I am usually not a card maker. . . as in I never, ever make them - but she is a very special friend and I wanted to create something special for her, so here it is! I used Bo Bunny's Little Miss collection again and added in some Bo Bunny doilies. The flowers are a combination of Recollections mulberry paper flowers and some other flowers from my stash. The brads, sticker frame and flower petals (lower right corner) are also from Bo Bunny's Little Miss collection.

I used the ID "New Baby" sentiment and treated it with a mixture of two colours of Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Powder (Tattered Rose and Worn Lipstick). 

I also used the ID Mini-Birdcage and treated it with Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Powder in Vintage Photo.

 

Imaginarium Designs Chipboard Used

New Baby - IDW0016

Bird Cage - Small - IDT0019

Other Materials Used: Patterned Paper - Bo Bunny "Little Miss" Collection - Cut-Outs, Little Miss Alice; Bo Bunny Little Miss Brads; Bo Bunny Little Miss Cardstock Stickers; Bo Bunny Doilies - Medium and Small; Recollections Mulberry Paper Flowers; Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Pearl White; Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Ink; Tim Holtz Distess Embossing Powders - Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick, Vintage Photo; Aleene's Tacky Glue; 3D Foam Adhesive; Glue Dots.

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That is it for me today - I hope you enjoyed my projects and tutorial.