Romantic Rose

Hello!

Last week was a busy one as I worked on projects for future blog posts and finally today was able to work on something "just because."  I'm going to lose several days this week to an upcoming exciting trip to Houston for a Gecko Galz crafting retreat and was so anxious to get something made and posted, so here 'tis, my latest art journal pread.

The background was colored with various shades and tints of Neocolors which alone right there is a whole bucket of fun.  I do love spreading the colors around with a wet paintbrush.  

There is stamping with black archival ink, decoupage (butterflies from my favorite paper guest towel  which I've been using a lot lately), and some 3-D copper metallic molding paste put through a stencil.  There's even a bit of doodling around the edges, though it's clear that there's work to be done there.  I'm such a beginner...

Isn't she pretty?  I can see I'm going to be using this stamp set (Stamper's Anonymous "Classic Favorites") quite a bit as the images are all so wonderfully romantic.  I first stamped her onto gift wrap tissue paper then decoupaged her onto the page.  The tissue paper disappears and all that's left is the image.  It's the foolproof way to stamp on paper that isn't perfectly smooth, and I'm giving all the credit for this technique to my mother who recently shared it with me.  There is no risk anymore of smudging stamps onto these journal pages!  Her swirly "hair" was stamped directly onto the page as were the stars.

The butterfly is a bit of the top layer of a fancy paper guest towel.

This rose was torn from the box that contained my favorite hand cream, Tokyo Milk.  The image was just too pretty to discard.  Actually, the whole box is gorgeous and you will no doubt be seeing other parts of it in upcoming projects.

The butterfly is another from the paper guest towel.

A little more stamping.  Not sure why it appears a bit blurry, but the sentiment is crystal clear on the actual page.  That's because I stamped it onto tissue paper and decoupaged it to the page, just like the face image.  No chance for smudging!  The light pink swirls are archival ink put through a stencil.

You can see the bottom edge of the metallic molding paste that I applied through a stencil.

And that's it for today's project.  Thanks so much for joining me and I wish you a day full of beauty and lovely moments, big or small.

Happy crafting!

On The Second Day of Christmas...

Hello!

It's time for another challenge (using any of her images) over at Heather Hudson's new challenge blog at My Artistic Adventures!  As it is the mid-month challenge, we are continuing the Christmas theme "12 Days of Christmas," and this time it's "Two Turtledoves."  What that means is that she would like to see two of anything, doesn't have to be bird-related.  So two bows, two kinds of glitter, two candy canes, two of whatever you like.  Easy peasy! 

For my side step card (which I cut on my Silhouette Cameo) I chose to use her Vintage Bluebirds collage sheet which includes various sizes of the blue bird image as well as various sizes of the music paper tag.  I then proceeded to layer this card with all kinds of goodies.

The grungeboard Tim Holtz Holiday Lamppost was painted black and then decorated with a bit of silver paint to add a bit of detail, then topped with a layer of clear crackle glaze for texture.  The holly leaves and berries were embellished with a bit of glitter glue, and the "glass" is vellum, the back of which I colored with Copics.  It is layered onto a piece of rustic netting with gold threads shot through.

The little Merry Christmas sign is from Heather's Vintage Candy Cane collage sheet and actually dangles from a gold jump ring and has been embellished with a wee bit of red glitter glue.  The grungeboard holly leaves and berries are glitter glued, too.  It adds so much to the final look!

This is a chipboard (cookie box) poinsettia that I've painted and embellished with more glitter and glitter glue.  I've put die cut leaves behind it and added a few teensy pine cones.

The banner is from the Victorian Vintage Banners sheet and the words are from the Vintage Angels Peace On Earth  sheet.  These are so incredibly useful.

Another look at the lovely blue bird image that I've embellished with a bit of green and red glitter glue.  I made the nest from bits of the same netting that I put behind the lamp, having first taken all the threads apart.  Colored it with a bit of distress ink then added three tiny jingle bells as "eggs."  A few more leaves and another pine cone finish the look.

Here's a candy cane from the aforementioned Vintage Candy Cane sheet.  Of course it, too, has glitter glue added, plus a red rhinestone for the center holly berry.  The snippet of blue lace is a scrap that I had hand dyed some time ago.  I added Perfect Pearls along the top.

I've added a small strip of white seam binding to help the card stay upright as it tends to want to slide and flatten because of all the embellishments. There's still plenty of room to write a short greeting inside.  Sort of.  This kind of card doesn't lend itself to long, wordy messages.

Thank you so much for joining me today, and do head over to Heather's blog to check out what she and the other very talented design team members have created for you.  And then feel free to play along!

Happy crafting!

 

Challenges:

 Craft Hoarder's Anonymous #1 - What's Your Style? (Vintage with lots of embellishments and STUFF!  I used the netting ribbon from my stash - it's so old I have no idea where it came from. <smile>)

Paper Napkin Designer Paper

Hello and Happy Valentine's Day!

Today I'm sharing a fun tutorial over on StampNation about how to make designer paper out of beautiful paper napkins!

I hope you'll join me!  If you're not a member, you owe it to yourself to give it a try.  There's nothing to lose and everything, including 350+ video tutorials, to gain!  Go here if you'd like to try it out!

Happy crafting!

This card will be for sale in my Etsy shop.

In Sympathy

Hello.

Today I'm sharing with you the card that nobody wants to make, and that is a sympathy card.  A friend's grown child suddenly passed away over the weekend and I was informed about it yesterday.  I will be going to the memorial service tomorrow, and I will be sending this card to the family today.

As it is for such a somber occasion, I've kept it extremely simple.  The image is from Flourishes ("Calla Lilies," but I think it might have been discontinued) and I've colored it with Copics.

I've inked the edges of the base layer with light green ink and raised it up along with the flourish die cut window so there would be some dimension on an otherwise rather flat card.  Both layers of the sentiment have also been raised.  

Pearls on the four corners complete this card.

That's it for today, dear readers, and please offer up a prayer for the family.  To bury one's child is an unthinkable situation.

Hugs,

Shea

No challenges today.

Vintage Valentine No. 4

Hello!

I do believe this makes my last vintage Valentine card for the family!  I still can't say who's getting which so that those who view my blog won't know until Valentine's Day itself!

I think this one might be my favorite, but the one with the napkin background (found here) runs a close second.  OK, I like them all. But this one's still my fave.  Warning:  there are lots of pictures in this post!

As with the other cards, this one uses the darling collage sheets that my lovely and talented friend, Heather Hudson, sells in her Etsy shop.  The Bingo card, the little cupid, the "Love" letters and the curvy banner have all come from there.  And all have been printed and cut with my Silhouette Cameo.  I'd probably still be fussy cutting if I'd had to do it by hand...

After I first prepared the base layers by inking all of their edges, I embossed the top base layer and inked the raised areas then lightly swiped a bit of shimmer paint on them with my finger.  VERY lightly.  It just adds a bit to the overall texture of the background.

This cute little number is from Heather's Cute Cupid Cherubs collage sheet and I've added a bit of coordinating glitter glue to the little shorts, roses, wings and banner.  I didn't fussy cut her (him?), I used my Silhouette Cameo for all of my cutting needs.  I just don't have that much patience.

He (she?) is floating above one of Heather's Vintage Bingo Cards, which I've edged with bronze mica chips for a bit of frantage effect.  I love frantage.  I love saying the word.  Fran-taaaahge...

Once again I've used letters from the Vintage Ivory Alphabet Text boxes, only this time I edged them with gold glitter glue.  My apologies, I couldn't wait for it to dry completely before snapping the picture.  Patience.  Remember?  Not my biggest virtue.

The banner is from the Romantic Banner set.  I snipped off one end (you'll see it later) and inked the edges.

I took a play directly from Heather's play book and inserted a little surprise tag behind the Bingo card.  I've used a tag from her Vintage Medium Tag Bases as, well, the base of the tag, then topped it with one of the oval elements from that same set.

The tiny little tickets are from her Victorian Shabby Tickets collage sheet. There are 35 tickets with various images and sentiments on them in this set - truly a versatile and oh so cute set!

Here are two of them up close, edged with clear glitter glue.  A free hug to the recipient!

Then there's the big, fat, crinkly, silky bow made with the wonderful ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon. (The pink seam binding is from there too.)  Don't you just love double loop bows?  I attached a little handmade charm to it...

...as well as an even tinier metal rose charm.  OK, you've probably guessed this card is going to a female member of the family.  Shhh...

And that about wraps up my card except to show that I finished the inside with the rest of the curvy banner that I snipped off from the front, a cute little heart from the Conversation Hearts Images and Bases set, and some more letters. Trust the camera to point out that even wearing TWO pairs of glasses, I can't see to put them in a straight line.

That's it for today, and I thank you for joining me.  This has been a fun few days playing with Heather's wonderful collage sheets.  They go together beautifully whether they're holiday-related or not, and I urge you to go over to her Etsy shop and have a look around.  Then go check out her blog to view her beautiful creations and don't forget to visit her new challenge website and join in the fun!  This fortnight's challenge is Anything Goes, and she even offers a freebie (go here )!

Happy crafting!!

Challenges:

Crafty Ribbons #75 - Anything Goes w/Ribbon
Fussy and Fancy #106 - Vintage
Sugar Creek Hollow #79 - Love and Adore
Pile It On #5 - Add Ribbon
Eclectic Ellapu - Add Texture
Craft-Dee BowZ - Anything Goes + Handmade Bow
Simon Says Monday Challenge - Love Notes
Creative Cutting Challenge #27 - Love
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Have a Heart (on the tag and inside the card)
Craft Hoarder's Anonymous #1 - Show Your Style (mine is vintage, bling, and bows)

Vintage Valentine Number 3

Hello!

Today features my next Valentine for a family member (this one is probably easy to figure out and I hope he's not peeking at my blog!), and once again, I'm using images from Heather Hudson's fantastic Valentine collection, which you can find in her Etsy shop.

This collage sheet is her Victorian frame and centerpiece, which you can find here.  The images are so gorgeous and ornate that you really don't have to do much to embellish them, though of course I did.  Of course.  But you don't HAVE to.





First up I embossed all four edges of the base with gold embossing powder for a little pizzazz, then I inked the edge of the circular image with black distress ink and popped it up on the frame layer.  But first I smeared gold glitter glue all over that layer to deposit subtle sparkles all over the surface and then edged it with a line of more glitter glue.

A couple of gold grommets hold the black satin ribbon.  See?  No bows (not that guys don't get bows, this piece just didn't need them).  Very subtle, yet still shimmery and sparkly.

I tried to take a picture at an angle where you can see the glitter on the surface of the frame image.  If you click on the image you'll get a much larger one and then you can see it better.  It really does sparkle beautifully in real life.  

Thank you so much for joining me, and here's wishing you a lovely day full of sparkly goodness too!  Don't forget to hop on over to Heather's blog to take part in her latest challenge, "Anything Goes!"  

Happy crafting!

Challenges entered:
Sugar Creek Hollow #79 - Love and Adore
Fussy and Fancy #106 - Vintage
Eclectic Ellapu - Texture
613 Ave. Create #57 - Anything Goes (optional: use felt)
Pile It On #5 - Add Ribbon

More vintage Valentine goodness

Hello!

Today is another fun challenge over at Heather Hudson's new challenge blog at My Artistic Adventures!  The theme this time is "Anything Goes," and since we still have a couple of weeks until Valentine's Day, and since I still have several more cards to make, that is what I've done for this challenge!

I've used several of Heather's collage sheets from her Etsy shop, but first I'll start with the background layer for this card.  I wanted just the right background for the darling image (Vintage Valentine Postcard set) and postage stamp layer (Vintage Pink Stamp Base set), and regular card stock just wasn't working for me, nor were any of the various printed papers I had on hand.   So...I used a napkin.  I used the tissue paper technique and decoupaged a crumpled piece of a bright, colorful napkin to a layer of kraft card stock, covered it with a layer of white gesso, rubbed most of it off with a damp cloth and then ever so lightly rubbed on a bit of gold Rub 'N' Buff over that.  Just enough to highlight the highest points. I finished off the layer with a bit of gold glitter glue around the edges.

This is the napkin, very tropical and colorful and just perfect for the technique.  (I first separated the colorful top layer of the napkin from the rest of the layers so it would be easier to work with.)

Here is a close up of the two layers mentioned above, plus the cute curvy banner (Victorian Vintage Banners) and the letters for the greeting (Vintage Alphabet Text Boxes), all found in Heather's shop.  Talk about versatile sets.  

I made the double bows on my little homemade bow maker and topped them with a little heart made from real tree bark and a snippet of hemp twine.  I edged the heart with a bit more of the gold Rub 'N' Buff just because.

And here's the inside.  The "pie!!" is so that the recipient will know that I want him or her to be my "Sweetie Pie."  I also used one of the smaller images from the aforementioned postcard set (see?  Very versatile!) and a piece of ribbon left over from the bow on the front.

And that is my challenge card for today.  Thank you for joining me and do stop by Heather's blog to see what the other designers have created for you.  And don't forget to play along!  Anything Goes!!

Happy crafting!!

Challenges:

Sugar Creek Hollow #79 - Love and Adore
Fussy and Fancy #106 - Vintage
Eclectic Ellapu - Texture
613 Ave. Create #57 - Anything Goes (optional: use felt)
Pile It On #5 - Add Ribbon
Craft-Dee Bowz - Handmade bow

Vintage Valentine

Hello!

Valentine's Day will be here soon and I have several cards to make for members of my family.  As some of them check my blog, it will have to remain a surprise which one is for whom, and they shouldn't assume that the ones without tons of ribbon are for the guys and the ones with tons of ribbons are for the girls.  Nosiree, equal ribbon opportunity is afforded everyone in MY family.  Heh.

This is a rather understated little card, not in keeping with my usual overblown fashion, but I wanted the trim on the darling postcard image to stand out.  It is true vintage hand tatted lace and I only have a snippet of it left.  So dainty and adorable with its little flaws and such.

The image is from Heather Hudson's Vintage Valentine Full Size Postcards set and can be found here.  Sooo sweet. 

 Here's a close up of the hand tatted lace.  And of the stitching I added to the background.

 The little banner is from Heather's Victorian Vintage Curvy Banner set.  That set is FULL of darling curvy banners in all colors and patterns.  The letters are from her Vintage Shabby Alphabet Text Boxes, and the little hearts are faux buttons.

I've left the inside blank for now except for the little tiny heart "booklet" which will hold a special little message.  It's from Heather's Conversation Images Hearts and Bases (this is one of the bases).

And that's that.  Thank you for joining me and I wish you a lovely weekend full of whatever makes you happy.  My daughter and I will be doing some "junking" today in a local thrift and antiques shop, then tomorrow I'll be cooking all sorts of football food and watching the Superbowl with my husband.

Happy crafting!