Expand Your Horizons...

Happy Thursday!! I hope you are having a wonderful week...it's almost Friday :) I have a mixed media canvas to share with you today. I wanted to create the look of a magical, mysterious forest.

Because my time is limited in my craft room, it literally takes me a month to complete a canvas. I do a little bit, set it aside to dry and then add more the next time I'm in there. So I'll try to remember all the steps I took to create this. I started out with crumpled tissue paper and adhered it to the canvas with Claudine Hellmuth Multi-Medium. Once it was dry I used a The Crafter's Workshop Brick stencil and applied Wendy Vecchi Crackle medium.

I then cut a few Memory Box Yorkshire Tree dies in foam and adhered them to the canvas, wrapping them around the sides and top as well.

Next, I adhered a Poppystamps Weeping Willow Branches die to the top, and Poppystams Grassland Border to the bottom of the canvas. Once all of the dies were in place, I covered the entire canvas in black gesso (which made it hard to see the cracks in the bricks). I then used Twinkling H2O's in Pearl Green and a touch of Mustard Green to cover the canvas. Once that dried, I brushed on Perfect Pearls in Spring Green and Duo Green Yellow. Finally, I spritzed the canvas with Perfect Pearl Perfect Pearls Mist and then Glimmer Mist in Iridescent Gold. The magical little bubbles are Skittles from Doubleclick AKA A Busy Bee in Meadow.

The fairy is a Spellbinders Ariana die. She was covered with Sparkle N Sprinkle Moonrise Glitter. Viva Inka Gold Metallic Rub was then rubbed over her and finally, she was covered in Glossy Accents. Her wand was embossed with Sparkle N Sprinkle Frosted Juniper. You can see a bit of the crackle in the bricks, but not like before I added the black gesso.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1) Anything But Cute - Making Magic (see inspiration pic below)
2) DL.ART - August Linky
3) Little Scrap Pieces - Show it Off Saturday
4) Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
5) 2 Creative Chicks - Anything Goes
6) Dies R Us Challenge - The Great Outdoors

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Stenciled Day 3 - Part 2

And here is the second post from Stenciled Day 3. Please scroll down for the first post.

For this card, I started with a subtle spritz of Heidi Swapp Primrose Color Shine and then a spritz of Valentine Pink Glimmer Mist. Wendy Vecchi White Embossing Paste was then applied through a Crafter's Workshop Reversed Chicken Wire stencil. The leaves are a Dylusions Around the Edge stamp, stamped on vellum, cut out and then heat embossed with white embossing powder. It was attached with foam tape. The butterfly is a Spellbinders Grand Wonderful Wings die. It was sprayed with the Heidi Swapp Primrose Color Shine. When it dried, it was popped up with foam tape and pearls were added for the body. The sentiment is from My Creative Time's Many Greetings stamp set. It was heat embossed with white embossing powder.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. DL.Art - January Linky
2. Just B Creative Crazy - January Linky
3. Little Scrap Pieces - Anything Goes
4. 2 Creative Chicks - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by!! I hope to have more projects throughout the week using the stencil techniques!!

Little Scrap Pieces - Use a Flower

Happy Friday everyone!! Wow, another weekend is upon us!! I hope you have fun plans :)

It's time for another Fun Friday challenge at Little Scrap Pieces!! The challenge this week is to use a flower on your project.

The paper is from My Mind's Eye Reunion paper stack. The base is a Spellbinders Grand Labels 1. The next two layers are Spellbinders Marvelous Squares dies. The butterfly is a Spellbinders Les Papillions die, inked with Tim Holtz Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink and adorned with crystals from Recollections. It was popped up with foam tape for dimension. The banner is a Spellbinders Ribbon Banner Die, inked with TH Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink. Congratulations is from Just Rite Stamps Thank You Labels 20 stamp set, stamped in Versafine Onyx ink.

The flower was created with a Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms Die and Rose Creations die. I discovered  how gorgeous these two flower dies together are from my incredibly talented friend Tracey of Garden of Grace!! The flowers were cut in heavyweight white cardstock from Canvas Corp. Tim Holtz Spiced Marmalade, Aged Mahogany, Fired Brick and Antique Bronze Distress Stains were dabbed on a craft mat, spritzed with water and then the layers were inked and dried with a heat gun. The layers were attached with hot glue. Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Iridescent Gold was spritzed on the flower for shimmer. The leaves were inked with TH Forest Moss Distress Ink.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. DL.ART Thankful Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes
2. Sunday Funday #5 - Anything Goes 
3. Red Carpet Studios Challenge #19 - The Butterfly Effect (use a butterfly)

Now it's your turn!! Head on over to Little Scrap Pieces to see the amazing projects my talented design team sisters have created for today's challenge. Then link up your project using a flower...I can't wait to see what you create :)

PRODUCTS USED:

Getting Cricky Design Team Post - Thankful

Happy Friday!! Another weekend is upon us, and another week where I have no idea where the days went...they are flying by!! It's my turn to post a design team project at Getting Cricky, and I have a Thanksgiving card to share with you.

For my Thankful card, I used a couple of different inking techniques. The base of the card is kraft stock, followed by Canvas Corp heavyweight white cardstock. Another piece of heavyweight white cardstock was cut with a Spellbinders Grand Rectangle. It was sprayed with Mister Huey's Color Mists in Overdue, Pumpkin Spice and Estate Green. It was then misted with water to merge the colors together, and then dried with a heat gun. Tattered Angles Glimmer Mist in Iridescent Gold was spritzed on next to give it a sparkly sheen. The edges were inked with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

I tried to get a close-up of the Glimmer Mist shimmer. It is really pretty in person.

A Spellbinders Deckled Rectangle was cut from heavyweight white cardstock and then inked with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Fired Brick, Spiced Marmalade and Peeled Paint while it was still in the die so that the edges stayed white. It was then misted with Tattered Angles Glimmer Mist in Peach Delight. The leaf is a Spellbinders Foliage die, inked with the same Distress Inks and spritzed with Glimmer Mist in Iridescent Gold. It was attached with foam tape for dimension. The burlap is from Joann Fabric, the twine and button from my stash. "Thankful" is from K Andrew Designs Fall-O-Ween stamp set. I just checked, and unfortunately this set is sold out, but there are still a few sets left that are on clearance at 60%...click HERE to get yours before they are gone forever!!

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. Simon Says Stamp - Thanksgiving/Thank You
2. Little Scrap Pieces Fun Friday - Happy Thanksgiving
   
3. DL.Art Thankful Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes
4. Sunday Funday #3 - Linky Party
5. Tuesday Alchemy #40 - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by today!! Have a fabulous weekend :)

Products Used:

Decorate to Celebrate #32 - Baby Shower!!

TO ENTER MY 1,000 FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY, CLICK HERE!!

Happy Wednesday!! I hope the first part of the week was great for you :) It's time for another challenge at Decorate to Celebrate!! For challenge #32, we are asking you to create any project to be used as a party decoration or party supply for a BABY SHOWER. Let's celebrate everything wonderful about those little bundles of joy with your table decorations, party banners, pennants, yard signs, cupcakes, party favors and more :)

For my shower decorations, I made tissue paper flower centerpieces :)

I started with eight stacked sheets of white tissue paper, about 6 1/2 by 6 1/2. Then I folded over one end about a half an inch and continued accordion folding the rest of the paper. The middle was secured with floral wire and the ends were rounded. Then I fanned out one side and started pulling up each layer for the flower effect. You can also make these into hanging balls, which I will do for a later project :) After both sides were pulled apart, the flower was spritzed with Glimmer Mist in Viva Pink. The pennant is a Spellbinders Nested Lacy Pennant and then a Nested Pennant, inked with Victorian Velvet Distress Ink. "Baby" is from K Andrew Designs All About Family stamp set. Click HERE to purchase this set or to see the entire line.

Now it's your turn!! Head on over to Decorate to Celebrate to see the amazing projects my Design Team sisters have created for today's challenge. Then link up your Baby Shower projects!! I can't wait to see what you create :)

Getting Cricky Cabin Fever Blog Hop!!

For my Love To Crop! guest designer project and giveaway, click HERE!

 
Welcome to the "Cabin Fever" Getting Cricky Blog Hop!!

We're so happy you could join us for this month's Getting Cricky Design Team Blog Hop!! We have an EXTRA SPECIAL hop for you this month -- All week long, the Design Team has been featuring many of Kristal's stamp sets as well as an array of Cricut Cartridges, SVG cuts, and more in anticipation of the hop... If you've missed out on any of the week, be sure to check out our previous posts for MORE THAN 100 CREATIVE IDEAS and PROJECTS as well as giveaways, promotions, tips, and tutorials!!

If you've hopped along from our fabulous leader Kristal, then you are in the right place!! If you are just joining me from your dashboard, or reading this via email, please be sure to CLICK HERE to start at the beginning with Kristal's blog (you'll want to catch up on all the FUN!!)...

Each of Kristal's stamp sets benefit charity. At least $1 per stamp set goes to benefit the charity noted on the stamp set package. Kristal is donating to the following charities: Cancer Angels, Storefront Shelter for Homeless Children, Intrepid & Fallen Heroes, E. Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Doorways Shelter for Women & Children (Domestic Violence), Wayside House for Women, Camp Good Days & Special Times, Adopt a Classroom, and Autism Research Institute. Kristal will donate $1 for every stamp set sold, retail or wholesale to the charity noted; and over time believes this will add up to some wonderful miracles for these special people. So you can feel good that each time you purchase a K Andrew Designs art stamp set, someone around the country is receiving some good help!

K Andrew's stamps are all made and assembled here in the USA, which is very important to Kristal. This ensures all product materials are safe and that jobs are being provided and maintained here in America. You can learn even more about Kristal's stamps (and pick some up for yourself) by visiting her online store: K Andrew Designs:

Kristal's stamp sets are perfect for cards, layouts, and so much more...

For my project, I'm featuring the Coffee & Tea For You & Me and Fashionable Friends stamp sets:

Ever since I watched the Splitcoast Stampers tutorial found HERE, I have wanted to make these bracelets. Our Cabin Fever Blog Hop was the perfect opportunity!

We are featuring projects that kids can make to pass the time during the last few weeks of winter. Now I know little boys don't want to wear bracelets, so I decided to make the boy one a "watch".

I cut the bands from grunge board and used a corner rounder punch on the edges. The boy's band was embossed with the Tim Holtz Retro Cirles embossing folder. I used Electric Blue, Black Magic and Iridescent Gold Glimmer mists to color the band. I cut the watch face from my Promo week cartridge, Wall Decor and More. I used grunge board for the backing to make it sturdy. The paper is from Tim Holtz Idea-ology. "Have a good time" is from Coffee & Tea For You & Me. The watch face is attached to the band with a brushed metal brad. I added a metal snap and presto, one boy's watch :)

I embossed the girls bracelet with an embossing folder that I have no idea what it is called...hibiscus, maybe?? It came free with a Christmas Sizzix die and I just love it!! The band was painted with bubble gum craft paint and when it dried, I sanded the color off the raised parts. I used Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Candy Apple Red, Viva Pink and Silver Sugar, and touched it up with Fired Brick and Barn Door Distress Ink, and rhinestones to the centers. The flower was cut from Wall Decor and More in grunge board first and then paper from DCWV Tres Chic stack. I cut the leaves off, popped it up with foam tape for dimension and attached it to the band with a button brad. Another snap and the bracelet is finished!!

There are so many ways kids could decorate these bands!! And have lots of fun doing it!!

I have BLOG CANDY!! I am giving away one of the newest K Andrew Designs stamp sets, All In The Family!!

All you have to do to be eligible to win this awesome K Andrew Designs stamp set is:

1. Be a follower
2. Leave a comment with a way to contact you

That's it!! I will choose a winner on Thursday, February 23rd. If you visit each day of my Promo Week projects and leave a comment, plus one for today's Blog Hop, that would be SIX entries into the drawing!! So please be sure to visit all this week's projects :)

Click HERE for my Promo Week Day 5 project!
Click HERE for my Promo Week Day 4 project!
Click HERE for my Promo Week Day 3 project!
Click HERE for my Promo Week Day 2 project!
Click HERE for my Promo Week Day 1 project!

Now you can hop on over to your next stop, my dear friend, the super-fabulous, amazing, creative AMY of Love to Crop!!
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