Steampunk Costume Accessory - Altered Toy Pop Gun ~ Creative Embellishments

Happy Halloween Crafty Friends! Today I'm sharing an Altered Toy Pop Gun that would be the perfect accessory to a Steampunk-Inspired Halloween Costume! I started off with a cheap plastic foam-dart gun from the dollar store - it was originally fluorescent orange and green - and added several different sizes of Creative Embellishments Gears, a glass bottle as a scope and some metal embellishments from Prima Marketing. Once I was happy with the arrangement of the chipboard and embellishments, I painted everything with Prima Art Basics Black Gesso and then dry-brushed on Prima Art Basics White Gesso to bring out the details. Next, I dry-brushed the gun with Prima Art Alchemy Metallique Paint in Steampunk Copper. I added some additional colour with Prima Art Alchemy Waxes - Antique Brilliance Lucky Emerald and Mystic Turquoise and Metallique Bronze Age. Finally, I finished off the project by adding two clear Prima Melange Art Pebbles to either end of the glass bottle 'scope'.

"Bird of Paradise" - Mixed Media Altered Mask ~ Creative Embellishments

Hi There crafty friends! Today I'm sharing a new mixed media project with you - what I'm calling my "Bird of Paradise" Altered Mask. I started out with a (very) cheap mask from the dollar store. Then, I started layering lots of Creative Embellishments chipboard elements on the mask, including:

• Wing Set 2,
• Door Knockers,
• Flourish 4,
• Mini Frames (some full, as well as pieces cut from some), and
• Lace Border 3 (cut into individual pieces).

Once I was happy with the design, I primed everything with Prima Art Basics Black Gesso and then dry-brushed Prima Art Basics White Gesso to bring out the details. I added colour using Prima Art Alchemy Paints - Sparks in Mermaid Sparkle, Magical Pond, Fairy Wings, and Unicorn's Hair; and Metallique in White Pearl and Silver Spoon. I finished off the colour with Prima Art Alchemy Waxes - Antique Brilliance in Lucky Emerald and Mystic Turquoise; Opal Magic in Turquoise Satin; and Metallique in Old Silver. Finally, I added a few silver-toned half-pearls around the eyes for a bit of bling.

"Autumnus" Altered Mask ~ Creative Embellishments November Challenge

Happy November Crafty Friends! As always, the first of the month brings a new challenge over on the Creative Embellishments Blog. This month's inspiration picture is just gorgeous and the twist for this challenge is to use a flourish on your project!

Autumnus is the Roman goddess of Autumn/the harvest - and the inspiration image made me think of a nature goddess, so I was inspired to create this "Autumnus" Altered Mask.

I had a second-hand mask in my stash waiting to be altered - so I started off by painting it with black gesso and then started adding CE chipboard pieces, including Autumn Leaves, Branch and Leaves, and Flourish 26 (for this month's twist to use a flourish). Once I was happy with the chipboard arrangement, I painted everything with black gesso and then dry brushed on some white gesso to help bring out the details. I misted the mask with two colours of Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Mists (Opal Sea Oats and Ponderosa Pines Olive) and then used Prima Metallique Acrylic Paints in Autumn colours to bring out the details of the chipboard pieces. When I was done adding colour, I added some Prima Metal Flowers, and a metal butterfly and pearls from mys stash and then added some Prima Art Ingredients Glass Glitter in Gold Rush and Mica Flakes in Gold Leaf. I finished off the altered mask by adding some moss green trim I had in my stash around the outside edge of the mask.

I hope you like my interpretation of this month's challenge - I can't wait to see what you create! Remember to follow the Rules for the Challenge so that you're eligible to win!

Challenge Rules:

• Create a NEW project (i.e., layout, mini album, tag, card, canvas, etc…) as of November 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! 

Dia de Los Muertos Altered Doll ~ Creative Embellishments October Challenge

I can't believe its October already! My favourite time of year - beautiful Autumn weather and Halloween! The first of the month means a new challenge is up on the Creative Embellishments Blog. Here is October's inspiration photo and the twist for this month is to make a black & white project!

I was inspired by this month's challenge photo to create this Dia de Los Muertos Altered Doll. The project is mostly black & white (for this month's twist) - but I cheated a little with some neutral for the dress and, of course, the red roses on the Sugar Skull and in her hair.

I started off with a Barbie that I picked up from a local second hand store - I painted her white and braided and put her hair up in a style reminiscent of Frida Kahlo - I used Prima Art Extravagance Clear Sculpture Medium on her hair so that it would stay permanently styled. I made the dress in a flamenco style using tissue paper and patterned papers from Graphic 45's Curtain Call collection. All the papers are inked with Distress Ink in Black Soot. To complete the outfit, I added some handmade paper flowers, a black lace shawl and a white veil.

Nicolle (the owner of Creative Embellishments) is so awesome and cut me a smaller version of the Sugar Skulls just so I could do this project! I primed the small Sugar Skull with white gesso and used Fine Tip Sharpie to outline the details; next, I smudged the mouth with some Distress Ink in Black Soot and I used a thick black Sharpie to outline the outside of the skull and the eye/nose holes. Finally, I coated the sugar skull with a generous coat of Ranger Crackle Accents.

For the shadowbox component of the project, I used the Crackled Brick Stencil with some Liquitex Resin Sand Texture Gel - then painted the box with black gesso and sponged white gesso on to highlight the texture. I added the CE chipboard Wrought Iron Fence 4 and the hanging lamp from the Lamp Post Set. I wanted these two chipboard pieces to look light white-painted wrought iron, so I primed them with white gesso and then sponged on a mixture of White Gesso, Prima Art Alchemy Metallique Acrylic Paint in White Pearl and Prima Art Ingredients Texture Powder. Finally, I added a piece of vellum to the back of the street lamp.

The posters on the fence and wall are cut from the Curtain Call paper. I found the Dia de los Muertos poster online, converted it to black and white, printed it, and matted it on some of he Curtain Call paper.

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

I hope you like my interpretation of this month's challenge - I can't wait to see what you create! Remember to follow the Rules for the Challenge so that you're eligible to win!

Challenge Rules:

• Create a NEW project (i.e., layout, mini album, tag, card, canvas, etc…) as of October 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! 

Steampunk Dress Form ~ Creative Embellishments

Hi There, today I'm sharing an altered dress form with you! I started out with a plain kraft dress form, painted it with some Heavy Black Gesso and dressed it up with papers from Graphic 45's Steampunk Debutante and Steampunk Spells Collections (all the papers are inked with Distress Ink in Black Soot). Add in some awesome Gears and Tracks from the CE Create Your Own Cluster set as embellishments and the Steampunk Dress Form is fully outfitted! 

For the gears around the waist of the Dress Form and on the Top Hat , I used Stampendous Aged Copper Embossing Enamel. I also used two feathers from the CE Masquerade Masks set to decorate the hat - I painted these with Prima Art Extravagance Metallique Paints in Royal Red and Rich Turquoise - and then dry brushed them with Metallique Paint in Steampunk Copper. I painted the goggles from the Steampunk Hat Set with the Steampunk Copper paint and then added glossy accents to the screw details around the goggles. (The Top Hat was made using an .svg by Snapdragon Snippets cut on my Silhouette Cameo.)

To decorate the base of the dress form, I used some different sized chipboard gears and a chain border. I painted these pieces with Prima Art Extravagance Metallique Paint in Steampunk Copper. Then, I mixed some of the Metallique Light Patina paint with Prima Texture Powder and added that to the gears and chain. Finally, I finished the gears off by dry brushing them with some Metallique Paints in Emerald Green and Dark Velvet.  

I finished off the dressform with a chain and pocket watch around the waist and an old knob (painted Steampunk Copper) on the top. There are lots of pictures below so you can see all the details!

Six Impossible Things - Alice in Wonderland Art Journal Page ~ Creative Embellishments September Challenge

Happy September! It's my favourite time of year - the weather is crisp and cooling off and the kids are going back to school - a time full of possibilities! It's also time for a new challenge at Creative Embellishments! All the numbers on the inspiration photo were the perfect inspiration for this Six Impossible Things page for my Alice in Wonderland Art Journal. The quote reads:

Alice laughed. “There’s no use trying,” she said: “one can’t believe impossible things.”
“I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. . . “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

I started the background by using the CE Distressed Checkers Stencil - I used a sponge and some Black Archival Ink and randomly added stencilling across the page. I also used the Black Archival Ink with one of the CE Halftone Circle Stamps to do some background stamping (for this challenge's twist). I added some stencilled clocks using a Prima 12x12 stencil and Prima Art Extravagance Copper Crackle Paste. I cut the image of Alice and the White Queen from an Alice in Wonderland Puzzle Book I found and then used Lindy's Stamp Gang Mists (Rusty Lantern Lime, Edelweiss Moss Green, Ponderosa Pines Olive, Caribbean Blue, and Breakfast Club Blue) and charcoal pencil to blend the scene from the image into the page. I painted the I-VI (for the 6 Impossible Things) of the Grunge Roman Numerals chipboard using Prima Art Alchemy Metallique in Acrylic Paint in Brass Hardware. Finally, I inked the edges of the pages using Prima Art Alchemy Metallique Wax in Aged Brass. Here are a few more photos!

I hope you like my interpretation of this month's challenge - I can't wait to see what you create! Remember to follow the Rules for the Challenge so that you're eligible to win!

Challenge Rules:

• Create a NEW project (i.e., layout, mini album, tag, card, canvas, etc…) as of September 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! 

Earthy ATCs ~ Creative Embellishments

Today I'm sharing a set of four "Earthy" ATCs created for the Creative Embellishments Design Team. I love making ATCs to try out new products/techniques and use up bits and pieces from my stash. I started out with some heavy black cardstock and used mod podge to cover it with scrunched up Tim Holtz Melange Tissue Wrap. Once that had dried, I used four colours of Distress Oxide Inks in Earth-tones to colour the ATC backgrounds (i.e. Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo, Iced Spruce and Peeled Paint). Next I added some Tim Holtz Remnant Rubs to each of the ATCs and then wrapped them with black thread attached with tiny staples. Next - time for the CE chipboard/wood veneer elements!

On the first ATC, "FOUND", I used a Nautical Compass Chipboard piece that I trimmed the right side off of - don't be afraid to cut up your chipboard pieces! I embossed the compass with Ranger Black Embossing Powder and then rubbed some of the Iced Spruce Distress Oxide into the star section of the compass.

On the second ATC, "FRAGILE", I used one of the wood veneer Hearts - I actually used the reverse side of the broken/band-aid heart and embossed it with Distress Embossing Powder in Tattered Rose. I inked the edges of the two heart pieces with the Vintage Photo Distress Oxide Ink.

On the third ATC, "discover", I used one of the chipboard Globes, which I trimmed the left side off of and then embossed it with Distress Embossing Powder in Old Paper and then rubbed the continents of the globe with the Peeled Paint Distress Oxide Ink.

On the fourth ATC, "be still", I had used a rub-on of a bird and wanted a bird-cage over it - but I didn't have any in my stash! So I used one of the chipboard Open Arched Windows and added a piece leftover from the Moroccan Lattice Panel to the back of it - you can layer your chipboard elements and remnants to create new designs! Next, I embossed the 'bird-cage' with Stampendous Shabby White Embossing Enamel and rubbed sections of it with the Walnut Stain Distress Oxide Ink.

I finished off the ATCs by adding some Prima/Finnabair Art Ingredients, including Frosted Mica Flakes, Granite Mica Flakes and Sterling Glass Glitter.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today - I hope you enjoyed seeing my ATCs!

Summer Fun - Mixed Media & Watercolour Layout ~ Creative Embellishments August Challenge

Happy August! I hope you're enjoying a fantastic summer! It is the first of the month, which means a new challenge is up on the Creative Embellishments Blog! Here is this month's inspiration picture - and the challenge twist for August is to use hashtag(s) on your project!

The crazy-fun picture for this month's challenge inspired me to create a FUN layout using the CE Chipboard hashtags #SUMMER and #FUN from the Social Hashtags set. I painted the title with three shades of Prima Metallique paints (Deep Waters, Rich Turquoise and Mermaid Teal) to create an Ombré effect. For an extra fun touch, I added one of the Wood Veneer Geek Chic Glasses, which I painted with Prima Metallique Paint in Steampunk Copper.

I created lots of texture on the layout using Prima Mediums - including White Sand Texture Paste, Modelling Paste and 3 sizes of Art Stones; then, I coloured the scene using ColourArte Twinkling H2O Watercolours. Here are some close-ups and angles so you can see all the texture.

I hope you like my interpretation of this month's challenge - I can't wait to see what you create! Remember to follow the Rules for the Challenge so that you're eligible to win!

Challenge Rules:

• Create a NEW project (i.e., layout, mini album, tag, card, canvas, etc…) as of August 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! 

"Adorable" - Large Mixed Media Photo Tag ~ Creative Embellishments

Today I'm sharing another project made with one of the fantastic Creative Embellishments Large Tags! I have created this "Adorable" Mixed Media Photo Tag featuring a picture of our new kitten, Anna!

I layered lace on the Large Tag an then some CE chipboard elements including: a piece from the Door Knockers, the Flourish Circle Frame, and one of the pieces from the Filigree Corner Set 1. I painted the entire piece with Prima Art Basics Heavy Black Gesso and Heavy White Gesso and then misted it with Lindy's Stamp Gang Starbursts in Opal Sea Oats and Red Hot Poker Orange and Lindy's Stamp Gang Flat Fabio in Tears on My Pillow Tangerine. I used Prima Art Alchemy Metallique Waxes in Rich Copper and White Gold to highlight the textures. I used the "Adorable" title from the Boy Word Set, which I inked with Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink and then rubbed with the Metallique Waxes. Finally, I added some cheesecloth as a 'bed' for the fussy-cut kitten picture and some white flowers that I highlighted with some of the Metallique Waxes. Here are some angles and a close-up so you can see all the details!

Rusty Steampunk Altered Game Controller ~ Creative Embellishments

Hi there! Today, I'm sharing a Rusty Steampunk Altered Game Controller created with lots of products by Creative Embellishments! When this controller got wrecked by our dogs - I HAD to save it and create a fun project for my son's room!

I started by using the CE Metal Stencil along with some Prima Art Basics Modeling Paste for the background of the canvas. Then I added the game controller and started to add the CE chipboard and wood veneer embellishments. I've used lots of different pieces to alter the controller, including:

• Various sizes of Gears,
• Part of a Chain Border,
• Clock Hands,
• Pieces from the Steampunk Corner Set,
• A Propeller,
• A turnkey from Wind Me Up, and
• Wood Veneer Typewriter Keys.

Once I had all the CE chipboard and wood veneers in place, I added a few metal embellishments by Prima and a few things from my stash (i.e., oven fuse, buttons, etc.). I painted everything with a coat of Heavy Black Gesso and then dry brushed on some Heavy White Gesso. Then, I started adding colour using Prima Art Alchemy Metallique Paint in Steampunk Copper. Once I was happy with the colour base, I used both the Prima Art Extravagance Rust and Patina Effects Paste sets to create the grungy/rusty look on the project. I finished off by using Prima Art Extravagance Metallique Wax in Old Silver to highlight details of the stencilled background and I used Rich Copper wax to highlight a few areas on the altered controller. Here are some different angles and close-ups!