Thursday, January 27, 2011

A Little Thank You

I am really liking this FaceBook "Pay it Forward" thing....it has really got those creative juices in me flowing!


Grace is studying hairdressing and also works in the LSS.  I had an appointment with her today for foils and colour and a haircut, and last time I was there, I noticed she had a plain piece of paper with her name on it at her station.  Soooo



 I used the Tim Holtz Baroque Die and covered it both sides with paper from a pack I got at Costco.
 I used flowers from Wild Orchid crafts and coloured them with my homemade glimmer sprays
 Used a little bit of Prima bling......

 Inked and then sprayed cork letter stickers I got at Joann's....they really look awesome in person...glimmery
  

Grace said she loved it and I am glad!  She immediately hung it up at her station!  But that is what crafting is about right?  Giving to others to make them happy?  It certainly has been for me lately!!!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Pay it Forward 2011..#2

Well....I got my second Pay It Forward gift done, and once I started, it really came together quite quickly!  I think I will make one for myself!!!

 
















The box is covered with Gesso, and then tan acrylic paint.  After it was dried, I rubbed Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain ink pads directly on the surface to give a wooden effect.
I used flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts again, as well as trim from A treasure Box.  the stamp is a Tim Holtz as well as the token.  The papers are from a pack I got from Costco a few years ago.
 I just love these flowers!!  They take the colour so well!!!!

The pearls in the trimming I coloured with Lumiere Paint.

 









 Inside the box is a round mini with half pockets.  The journalling pockets have sentiment stamps that are clear embossed.   
 





And what was this box??  Yup..Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges! :)

Have You Laughed Today??

Thanks for looking!!!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Pay It Forward 2011..#1..

I am participating in Facebooks "Pay It Forward 2011"...and just completed my first project.  It is a paperbag mini and I saw this technique of assembling it online somewhere, but now I can't find the video... The inserts are something I came up with, but I am sure someone else thought of it first!!

The recipient mentioned she liked purple, and loved girlish, frilly things...  So I went with flowers and butterflies.  The paper is all from a big pack I got at Costco a couple of years ago.....

I coloured flowers  from Wild Orchid Crafts with my homemade glimmer mist and again...love the way they grab the colour!!!  The lace is from A Tresure Nest I believe and it too is coloured with my sprays.
Butterflies I made using my Martha Stewart punches that I JUST bought!!!  Coloured them with Studio G ink from Michael's then a coat or two of clear embossing powder.

The pearls are from Close to My Heart as well as from the dollar bin at Michael's...I free-handed the pattern.

 close up of the binding....


 Between each page is a slide out Journalling card I made...room for more pictures and notes...so cute!











Lots of room for pictures and journalling.  I really had fun making this and I hope she enjoys it!!

Monday, January 17, 2011

10 Things That Make me ME

ok...MrsMorris did this on her blog and since I have sooooo many followers, I thought I would do it too!!

#1.  I am ADDICTED to coffee....even though I have been getting heartburn from drinking it!
#2.  I am what you would call "over-emotional".  I cry at EVERYTHING! and I hate it! Makes is hard to be assertive!
#3.  I have a hard time trusting people since my first marriage broke up due to my ex's 3 year affair. And I am angry at myself that after 4 years it still affects me.
#4.  I would love to be a dog trainer, but little dogs scare the CRAP out of me..I do not think they are cute or cuddly. I think thay are a bite waiting to happen.
#5.  I wanted to be a wife and mothe more than any other 'career' out there...which is why I don't have a career now...LOL
#6.  Not only do I talk to myself..I often carry on short conversations with myself!  (I think from being alone too often)
#7.  I SUCK with remembering names and dates and occasions...But I do try!
#8.  I like driving...road trips re fun..unless it is snowing or raining at night....
#9.  I love camping..but would rather have a camper or tent trailer than just  tent, cause bears scare me!
#10.  I HATE HOUSEWORK.  and if i am cleaning like a madwoman..it is because i am really freaking MAD!!  LOL...(my house is usually messy!)

Okay...that took more brain power than I thought it would be!!

Friday, January 14, 2011

Reverse Canvas Hanging

Quite a few months ago, probably even last year, I came across a video on YouTube by an Austrailina artist who used the reverse side of a canvas for her mixed media art.  I remember it was metallic blues and greens and had such a wimsical feel to it.  I was in awe!  I think that was the video that got me into all these other forms of paper crafting, and using different materials and mediums to create with.  I wish I would have wrote her name down so I could give credit where credit is due.  I have seen other artist on YouTube since doing similar projects.

I finally broke down and used my Graphic45 Steampunk paper that I have been hoarding!  It is so gorgeous I was afraid to use it!!




 I used flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and my homemade glimmer sprays.  The pin is from Karen Foster.  Pretty much all the metal used is Tim Holtz and I used gold Rub 'n' Buff on all pieces to give that great aged look!



I used an adage tag in the bookplate and attached a chain from one side to the key...and from the other side, it drops down to the keyhole on the bottom left corner.


Image cut from the paper pack.  The wings are from a T.H. stamp



 Thanks for looking!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

 This is the first project that I have shared on this blog.....   I have seen these type of altered boxes for years, but never gave it a try before...

I made this for my mother-in-law, and I am really happy with the finished results...in fact, I have more boxes in the wings now!!!


I first covered the box with Gesso and then acrylic paint with a bit of metallic bronze mixed in.  I used Weathered Wood Crackling Medium by DecoArt ad then a coat of acrylic paint... Worked really good!!
I found the image in the center on line and thought it was perfect for this project!


 I used flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and coloured them with my homemade glimmer sprays in Tim Holtz Inks.  I have to admit, I am hooked on these flowers!!!  I used Lumiere Metallic Bronze paint on the bottle cap and punched an image from the G45 paper. 
 I had to rebind the album with twine and ribbon because apparently I can't measure and with the rings off, the mini JUST fit.  But I like the ribbon binding better...so it's all good!!




First pages..left side is a three fold journalling card tucked into a small pocket, and the right side is a tag tucked behind a larger pocket.  The flowers were glimmer sprayed and then a couple of coats of Spray Starch for stiffness.

 Next on the left is a large photo mat tucked behind a flap I cut with the TH "On the Edge" die.  The right side has two cards that open for pictures and journalling.  I used Spellbinders for those.
 I think this is my fave page.  I used the TH Baroque die for the two pockets and the Edge die for the tags.  Each side has three double sided tags, so lots of room there!  More bottle caps with images and then Glossy Accents.  I know 'now' not to shake the bottle!!!!
 Very Vintage page.  More Wild Orchid flowers, some adage tags and some G45 Lace (i think)
 In the pocket is a 4 fold card, double sided, so lots more room there, and an image I downloaded.  I made the dangly charm myself.

This was my 'attempt' at making one of those 'vintage tags' I have been seeing everywhere.  I think I need more practice!!!!  I used the Wild Orchid flowers on her hat and I thought it looked pretty cute!
I hope you enjoyed looking....and man was getting these pics where I wanted them a pain!!


Bye