Happy Birthday!

I’m on the Love My Tapes blog today with this adorable card … check it out!

Do dies get you crowing?

It’s June 1st and that means it is time for another challenge at Scrap It Girl.

This month, the theme is dies. I used an old Cottage Cutz die to create this adorable card …

 

I started by cutting the die multiple times with different colors of cardstock:

Then, I inked the edges with Distress Ink to give it a bit of depth. I completely covered the comb so it would be a different color red than the tail feathers. I then added a bit of color to the cuts in the dies with a gray pen. For the eyes, I attached a piece of brown cardstock to the back. Then I assembled the rooster Next, I assembled the card using cardstock and Best Creations paper. Glittered paper is sometimes hard to adhere to. So I used Art Glitter Designer Dries Clear Adhesive when attaching the pieces to the glittered portion of the paper. Then I thought the rooster needed a bit more definition, so I made country stitch marks with a black pen.

Finally, I added a stamp from Darcie’s. Didn’t it turn out cute?!

Now it is your turn.

Create something — a card, layout, mini album, altered art — using dies and post them on the Scrap It Girl website. The best entry will win an amazing prize package that includes Spellbinders dies!

You have until the end of June to enter … get cropping!

 

 

Happy Holidays!

I apologize for being MIA over the past week or so. It seems I got busy making holiday gifts and CHA samples, and neglected my blog!

One of the things I have been working on are special ornaments using products from Globecraft & Piccolo. I have had a few “issues” and so none of them are finished quite yet, but I thought I could share some that are already done and hanging on the tree.

I have been making these ornaments for several months now, but this is the first time I have them hanging on the tree. I put these up randomly, but look at how beautiful they are with the light shining behind them!

This one was made by a friend and given to me the other day. When I noticed how it glowed with the light behind it, I had to photograph it. It is just beautiful!

 

I also have a sneak peek of a new product Globecraft & Piccolo is bringing to CHA in January …

If I don’t get back here before Christmas, have a happy holiday!

Butterfly Mornings

This project was inspired by the stamp by Darcie’s “Wishing you Butterfly Mornings and Wildflower Afternoons.” I thought it was so beautiful, I wanted to do something really special with it. So, I framed it in Globecraft Memories new card globes. These are made of cardstock and are about the size of a card, but come with an easel for propping them up, as well.

I added Authentique papers and some Art Glitter Champagne Glitz. Then, I coated each of the Piccolo chipboard pieces with enamel powder from Globecraft Memories. I love the way it turned it out.

Here’s a closer look:

I love the depth you can get from heaping the enamel powder on the chipboard pieces. I start with my heat gun up high enough that none of the powder blows and slowly move it closer to the piece until powder starts to blow and then back off again. After a bit, the powder melts enough that I can get close to the object without any powder blowing and then I can heat it until it is smooth.

It is important to let these cool completely before touching them. Some of the powders have large particles that will come off on your finger if you touch them too soon.

Thanks for looking and enjoy your own butterfly morning!

Art Glitter Design Team 2012 Audition

I am excited over two things today …

The first is that I am applying for a position on Art Glitter’s design team. You probably know how much I love Art Glitter and Designer Dries Clear Adhesive and that I have served as a guest designer for them twice. Now I am applying for a DT position that will last an entire year. How exciting is that!

Secondly, I am excited to share this project, which I have been creating for a few weeks and I love how it turned out. It’s one of those things that you have in your head and then you jump in with both feet and try it and then it works and, well, you know the satisfaction and excitement I am feeling right now.

First, a little background … I have been wanting to make something to hang in the window that would reflect sunlight and make little rainbows in my house (just like in the movie, “Pollyanna.”) I think the cats will enjoy it. While I was milling that over in my mind, my husband brought home some pieces of acrylic that he planned to use for windows in the chicken coop he was building. Well, as soon as I saw them, I knew they would make a great piece of window art so I started asking questions — if he could cut it, if he could drill holes in it (it’s very thick) and if he really needed four windows in the coop. He agreed three would be plenty, cut down one of the pieces, added holes at the top for a hanger and holes at the bottom for hangings and presented it to me.

With the base obtained, I discovered a bit more inspiration in the Little Yellow Bicycle Saturdays collection. With that piece of paper in hand, I sat down to work and created this: (click on the photo for a larger view)

I hung it on a white wall to photograph it, but it will soon be hanging in a window.

I used a lot of products from a lot of different companies on this piece. That’s one thing I love about art like this — you can mix and match and use up little leftover parts. I also used quite a few techniques. So, if there is something I don’t explain here, please let me know and I’ll give you the directions. Otherwise, I am afraid this may be the world’s longest blog post ever!

First, I used a Crafter’s Workshop stencil and Alcohol Ink to create the background. Alcohol Ink will fade in the sunlight unless you spray it with a UV protector. But, I want to see the process, so I left mine uncoated.

Then, I added papers by Little Yellow Bicycle and BBP, each aged a bit with Distress Ink.

I used ColorWash to color the large blue flower (Prima) and the ribbon (Tim Holtz) and used Designer Dries Clear Adhesive to attach everything. Notice how it dries so clear you can use it to attach clear buttons (BBP).

I used a stamp set from Darcie’s to stamp the saying and the little birds. Then, I went back with Designer Dries Clear Adhesive and added Vintage Glass Glitter to the branch the birds were sitting on.

The candelabra is a wood cut from KaiserCraft. I painted it and then decided it needed a bit more something, so I covered it in three different colors of Microfine Glitter. (You will definitely want to use the fine metal tip for this) I left a couple of spots that weren’t covered completely with glitter just to add a bit of interest.

I added some transparent glitter to the edges of the flower for additional interest and some Vintage Glass Shards to the ribbon and around the clock face (Tim Holtz) to spice things up a bit. As a side point, the Vintage Glass Shards will change color in the sunlight as well … can’t wait to see that result!

I also added a hint of glitter to this little clipboard I made.

A friend gave me this little bird cage to go on my art piece. We all agreed it needed a bird, but no one had one, so I made one. I used the same stamp (the birds on the limb) and stamped them on cardstock. Then, I cut the bird out and covered both sides with glitter. Finally, I added a tiny bead from my jar of black Gala Glitz (Art Glitter) as an eye. Then I used Designer Dries Clear to adhere him to the cage and to keep the cage door open.

And, with the addition of some charms, beads, hardware pieces and ribbon, I can call it done. Naturally it’s been cloudy since I finished the piece, but I cannot wait to see how it reacts in the sun!

Remember to post any questions here and I’ll answer them shortly.

Thanks for looking!