Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of 2015 Week 3...

Hi Everyone!

Hope you all had a terrific weekend!  I got crazy busy in the craft room, and got a ton of things done, including this week's version of the 12 Tags of Christmas Funkie Junkie Style Challenge. Click the link to learn all about this challenge.  You still have plenty of time to join the fun.  If you are short on crafting time, you should at least take a few minutes each week to check out all of the entries.  There are some amazing artists taking part this year! 

The challenge is sponsored by the marvelous Funkie Junkie Boutique.  Be sure to click on over to see all the yummy supplies available!

This is Linda's week three inspiration tag.  I'm a knitter, so I of course I love anything with a knitwear theme.  My daughters both knit, too, so I knew as soon as I saw this which element I would be featuring!  I have a bit of glitter fear, but I decided to get over it, at least for this week.

I chose to work with a small space in the printer's trays again this week, so unless you are looking at this on a smart phone, it is way bigger on your screen than it is in real life!  The deer is less than an inch long!  I chose to copy Linda's glittered background for my knitwear cut out, which I cut with my Silver Bullet Cutter.  To keep the glitter in check, I ran my background cardstock through my Xyron, and then used a method I learned from Tim Holtz, placing the piece on one half of a piece of copy paper, sprinkling on the glitter, and folding the paper over and pressing the glitter into the adhesive with it.  It makes it really easy to pour the glitter back into the jar, and I didn't end up with glitter and glue all over my fingers.  Win!

To add some extra interest to the knitwear cutout, I stamped it with Wendy Vecchi Watering Can Archival and a grid like stamp from the Tim Holtz Mixed Media set.  I finished it off by sponging it with Aged Mahogany Distress. 

I used my all time favorite Christmas Stamp, the simple but beautiful "Merry Christmas" by Tim Holtz ( it's part of the Christmas Time set.)  to make a banner, which I curled before adhering to my background.  I used Wendy Vecchi Red Geranium Archival Ink, and added some Vintage Photo Distress Ink to the edges. 

I loved the stamped and inked leaves on Linda's project, but wanted to add a deer as well.  Rather than making an impossible choice between the two, I combined them!  I cut my tiny deer, using my Silver Bullet,  stamped it in WV Tree Branch Archival with a Tim Holtz text stamp from one of the Christmas collections, inked it with soft green Distress Inks with touch of Vintage Photo Distress on the edges.   I thought it was fun to pop it onto the banner, so it looks like it is flying!

And here is how my week three project fits into the printer's tray.  My two projects are identical this week, so I didn't take photos of both. 

I'm starting to get really excited about this project!  I can't wait to give them to the girls! 

I spent a lot of time in my craft room this weekend, watching a Harry Potter marathon and making Christmas cards.  Two of my very favorite activities!  I hope to be able to share some of them with you later this week.  The cards that is, you're on your own for Harry Potter!

Thanks for stopping by!

Elizabeth

Feeling Bravely Experimental.... (Updated with a 'before the experiment photo")

Hi Everyone,

Happy Sunday to you!  It is a beautiful sunny day here, and I should really be outside planting, but before I go out and get my hands dirty, I am going to take a moment to share a recent project.

The current challenge over at  Frilly and Funkie blog is Snap, Crackle, Crackle.   It was just the push I needed to get out my Wendy Vecchi crackle paste and do some playing around.

This product creates the most amazing crackling in the simplest way of any of the crackle mediums I have tried.  I find the chalky finish to work very well with my vintage projects, and I love the way it takes paint and inks.  For this piece, I combined it with bead gel for a super texture-y background.

I found this sweet little tray at the thrift store. I painted over the dated brown and white polka dots with matte white spray paint.  Next, I randomly scraped bead gel and Wendy Vecchi Crackle Paste onto the tray with an old gift card.   I made sure to get some of each product on the edges of the tray.  After letting this dry over night, I added Frayed Burlap Distress Ink to the cracks and beads to highlight the texture. 

I cut all of my paper flowers and leaves with my Silver Bullet Professional digital cutter.  The flower files are all from Penny Duncan Creations.  She makes and shares the most beautiful SVG cut files on her blog,  I like to cut all of my paper elements from white paper, and use Distress Inks and Stains to add custom color. I  As you may know, I love using vintage text, and added some curls of book paper to "fluff out" the floral.  I added a printed garden quote, and a custom dyed seam binding bow, and thought I was finished.  After a couple of days of looking at the project, though, I just wasn't completely satisfied with it.

I guess I was feeling bravely experimental, because I took the project outside and sprayed the whole thing pretty liberally with the same matte white paint I had started with.  Voila!  It was the perfect way to tone down all of the bright colors from the flowers, and blend them into a much more vintage appearance.  I added just a touch of brown Distress Inks and Sprays, and stamped a Tim Holtz stamp in Tree Branch Archival over the previously  printed tag. 

Big thanks to the Frilly and Funkie gang for keeping me hopping with fun challenges this year!  And in case you didn't know, Linda is having a big sale over at the Funkie Junkie Boutique.  Almost all of her terrific products are at an additional 10% off her already discounted prices!  Thanks to a gift card from my hubby and recently being chosen as a random challenge winner, I have been able to fill my "shopping cart" with new goodies to use in future challenges. 

Now I'm off to plant those flowers!  Hope you have a wonderful rest of your day!

Elizabeth

While editing photos of another project, I found this photo:

Here you can see the original brighter colors of the project.  Of course the Distress colors are all beautiful, but I like my choice to shabby the project up by toning them down with the spray of white. 

The 12 Trees of Christmas 2014: the finale....

Hello Friends!

Thanks for stopping by!  I am finally able to post my final three trees.  I probably don't need to say that making and posting my 12 trees for this year did not go this way in my head!  I'm not sure why I am still surprised when that happens.  I should rather be surprised when things do go the way they do in my head!

Anyway, I am happy with these trees, even if they did come about a bit later than planned:

Tree number ten:

This tree is much more elegant than most of my projects.  I cut six of the Swirly Tree free file by Bird of Bird's Cards.  My Silver Bullet Pro made quick work of the cutting.  I added score lines down the center of each tree, to make folding them in half easier.   After folding, each tree was glued to the next, to form a dimensional tree.  I used spray glue to add glitter, and hot glued my tree into a vintage crystal drawer knob base.  A red ribbon bow adds a touch of color.

Tree number eleven:

This tree was fashioned after some Tim Holtz style trees that kept turning up on Pinterest.  I used my new favorite rosette file from My Scrap Chick to cut five rosette strips in graduated sizes.  After threading them with baker's twine I cinched them up into a cone shape, rather than the traditional flat rosette.  I added a bit of Tarnished Brass Distress paint to highlight the ribs of the tree. 

I rescued the puffy star from a former Fourth of July decoration.  It was red and faded so I painted it up with some Scattered Straw and Mustard Seed Distress Paints.  After they were dry, I applied some Tarnished Brass Distress Paint and hit it hard with my heat gun to bubble it up.  I love the effect!

And now for my final tree of 2014, number twelve:

What? You can't see the tree?  No you can't, because this is just a close up of the background.  I used my Wendy Vecchi Crackle paste, and I had to share a close up of the effect.  The base is a journal cover from 7 Gypsies, coated with Mod Podge and layered with tissue paper and gesso for texture and to lighten the color from the very dark brown original. 

After the Crackle paste had dried, I randomly stamped the background with a flourish stamp and Frayed Burlap Distress Ink.

Well, that's not the tree either!  Its the star on top.  It is the shabby Distress Inked star on top. 

Ok, so that's the tree!  I embossed a piece of kraft cardstock with a ruler embossing folder (from Darice, I think.) I cut apart the individual ruler pieces, added Distress Stain Picket Fence, Distress Inks in various wood tones, and black Archival ink to highlight the numbers.  I cut them to various lengths, and adhered them to chipboard to give them some them definition.  I used thick quick dry glue to adhere the strips and trunk to the background. 

I am really pleased with my tree stand.  I cut a rectangle of brown cardstock, and angled the edges.  after distressing and inking the edges with Barn Door Distress Ink, I added dimension to the stand by curling it with the edge of my scissors.  A touch of glue on the edges is just enough to adhere it to the background over the tree trunk. 

I wish you all a Happy and Crafty New Year!

Elizabeth

The Documented Life Project week 36 Black and White

Hello Everyone!

I am back on schedule with the Documented Life Project.  This week's challenge was to work in black and white.  I felt a bit constrained by this, because I knew that over mixing paints and inks would give me a very blah grey page.  So I went with my card making comfort zone for this page.  Since I used a new-to-me technique that will be fun for both cards and art journal pages, I count this as a good week in my journal. 

I pressure embossed lots of white scrap strips with my Sizzix Big Kick and various embossing folders.  I used a brayer to add  Wendy Vecchi's Watering Can Archival ink to the raised areas, and mounted them on a piece of black cardstock.  The "journaling" is some extra card sentiments that I printed and cut during a recent card making session.  I couldn't resist adding a tiny splash of color, and these coral scraps just made me happy. 

This page is much more evocative of my structured card making style than the loosey-goosey- anything-goes art journal style that I have been attempting this year.  It was a super busy week, so working with a familiar style was an effective way to accomplish a page.  Sort of the artistic version of comfort food!

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!

Elizabeth

'Tis the season.... to get a jump start on Christmas cards!

Hi All,

It's been a while since I have shared Christmas cards.  For this batch I used the My Scrap Chick Card Essentials Collection 2 SVG set and my Silver Bullet digital cutter:

This vintage Santa stamp makes me happy, especially in Red Geranium Archival ink!

This is two views of the same card front.  I made a pocket to hold a tag that I cut from some Holiday designer paper. 

Simple gold and green, with a beautiful vintage holly stamp from Tim Holtz, in Fern Green Archival Ink.  I love, love, love my Wendy Vecchi collection of colors!

 

I made a frame element for this card, from the Card Essentials 1 set, because I thought it looked like a wreath.  I added some glitter (!) and a pretty bow to give it some glitz.  

I adore this Tim Holtz evergreen stamp! 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  I appreciate your visits!

Elizabeth

The Documented Life Project - My week 24 entry

Hi Everyone,

Here is my belated week 24 DLP journal page.  I was away for the weekend, and didn't have a chance to post yesterday.

The challenge was to use book pages or text paper.  Right up my alley!  You may have noticed how much I love vintage book pages.

So here is my page:

I stated with a photocopy of some vintage ledger paper from my stash.  I wanted to play around with my new Wendy Vecchi Archival re-inkers, so I swirled some hand sanitizer gel on the page, and dropped on various colors.  I blended and spread this mixture with the handle of a paintbrush and then dried it with my heat gun.  Next, I stamped a flower with a text background in various places, and colored it with colored pencils.  I inked the edges of with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. 

The next layer is a torn, inked and distressed dictionary page copy.  I thought a black and white photo would be a terrific final layer, and I found this one featuring my mother (fourth from the left), her parents, and sister in my collection.  I matted it with one more piece of vintage book paper. 

The lettering was done with my trusty Sharpie pen and my Pitt Artist pen.  Finally, I attached the flap to my planner page with Washi Tape.  When I saw how well it coordinated with the other elements of my page, I had to add a few extra randomly placed pieces. 

These two close ups show some of the layers of this page.

Oh, I forgot to mention that I stamped Distress Stain in Picket Fence over the Archival Ink with a text stamp.  and splattered on some watered down Distress Paint. 

I'm pretty sure that at the end of the year, this will still be one of my very favorite pages. 

Have a great today!

Elizabeth

Mixed media card

Hello, Folks!

Today, I am sharing a mixed media card with a classic color combo.

I pulled the red acrylic and gesso background paper, and the blue and red gelli print from my mixed media box and layered them together.  I stamped a tiny glassine envelope with the ladybug stamp using Archival Ink in Wendy Vecchi's red geranium color.  I put a square of blue polka dot designer paper in the envelope, and backed it with another red geranium stamped image.  The letters were cut using my Black Cat Cougar digital die cutter.  (one of the last projects before my upgrade to the Silver Bullet Pro) 

For the inside of the card, I layered some of the papers from the front under a printed and cut sentiment.  

Alternate front view:

I like how the familiar red/white/blue color scheme seems to tame the wilder aspects of the mixed media papers.  I think my youngest teenaged daughter is going to love it.  I made it specifically with her in mind after finding the ladybug stamp in the sale bin a few weeks ago.

Happy Wednesday!

Elizabeth

Supplies and Tools used to create this project include:
Black Cat Cougar digital die cutter
Georgia Pacific and Recollections cardstock
Acrylic paints
Gesso
Gelli Plate
Archival Ink, Red Geranium
Corner Chomper
Scotch ATG adhesive
Scotch quick dry glue

Valentine

Happy Good Morning, Everyone!

Hope your week is starting off well.  I have a Valentine's card to share today. 

 The front features a stamp from the craft store bargain bin.  First I used the love stamp and Watering Can Archival to create a background, using second and even third generation stamping to give me some variation in tone.  I used Geranium Archival to stamp the ladybug.  I sure am enjoying the Wendy Vecchi Archival colors.   The black and grey rivet paper is an oldie from DCWV.  I added a red layer behind the focal stamp, and a narrow red satin bow. 

I kept the inside simple, with a sentiment printed and cut with my Silver Bullet Digital Die Cutter, layered over a red background. 

Hope you are still enjoying the season of ice and snow! 

Elizabeth

Documented Life Project Week Five and some BIG news from my craft room

Happy Big Game Sunday, Everyone!

Are you looking forward to watching the game: or will you be doing some Sunday Evening crafting instead?  I'll be watching the game! 

I am sharing my Week Five Documented Life Project page today.  I'm not too jazzed about the final results, but the process was both fun and relaxing, which I am learning is the joy of developing a regular art journal practice. 

The challenge this week was to add a doodled border.  You will have to look really closely to see mine:

So it's really kind of  a hot mess of inks and sprays over gesso over bright die cuts, with an embossed and inked frame slapped on.  I really like the texture of the brayered gesso, which you can see better here:

That's Wendy Vecchi Orange Blossom Archival and Black Archival (finally time to reink the pad).  Here is where you can see my original doodled border under several other layers. 

Enough of that, and on to my BIG news!

I have a new Electronic Die Cutter!!!!! 

Fed Ex delivered my 24" Silver Bullet Professional model that I purchased from Sherri Jensen of  That's Scrap, Inc. on Thursday!  I tell you, opening that package was almost better than Christmas! 
The care that Sherri takes in the packaging of these machines is a wonderful hint of the attention that has been paid to every detail of its design and construction. 

Inside  this lovely box was everything I needed to set up and run my new best cutting friend, and also some special little surprises that I won't share, because then they wouldn't be surprises.  Let me just say that I am absolutely loving the little extras that were tucked in with the cables, blades. and manuals. 

 

My excitement built as I set up my Silver Bullet Pro and started cutting!  I truly was amazed!  This machine is everything I had read and more.  It is truly deserving of being named the best electronic die cutter by Top Ten Reviews!  I have owned two Black Cat Cougars, which I also purchased from Sherri, and couldn't really imagine anything better.  I am so glad I listened to my crafting friends who had the good sense to buy Silver Bullet Pros before me, when they told me about the amazing differences.  This machine is incredibly smooth and powerful!  And the speed!  I am amazed by how fast I can cut.  (I feel like grunting like Tim the Tool Man Taylor from Home Improvement, LOL!  More Power!!!)

 

Because my friends were just as enthusiastic about the tables that are available for the Silver Bullet, I went ahead and ordered them as well, even though I really hadn't thought I needed them, as I had my Cougar sandwiched between two pub tables.  Oh, how wrong I was!!!!  These tables make a world of difference.  For one, they are pretty!  With my table set up, I had pieces of cardstock taped to the machine and my work tables to keep my mats from dipping down and catching on the table edges.  I wish I had taken a photo to show you how unattractive this was!  You'll just have to take my word for it.  More importantly, the movement of my mats on my gerry rigged set up would wear out the tape, and it would curl and stick to my mats, causing some uneven cuts.  And did I mention how ugly it was? 

 

Here is a photo of my new Silver Bullet Pro and tables:

 



 Isn't that beautiful?  The acrylic supports my mat perfectly as it moves smoothly in and out during cutting.  And the machine itself is lovely, with it's curvy lines and silver lettering on the silver base.  I am especially enjoying the raised button panel.  It is very easy for my middle aged eyes to view my settings, and the command buttons work effortlessly! 

I love experimenting and discovering in minute detail how force and velocity work with different materials, so I have been in heaven all weekend, doing lots and lots of test cutting. (That's why I had so many die cuts to stick in my journal!)  I am also spending time getting to know the ins and outs of Sure Cuts a Lot, the software that comes with the Silver Bullet Pro.  It has features that I am really enjoying, including an amazingly simple and accurate print and cut process, and user friendly interface.   I really appreciate being able to set my force and velocity from the SCAL software, rather than having to use the buttons on my cutter.  (Please note that this isn't recommended for new users.)

Ok, that might be more than you wanted to read about my new cutting BFF, but I just can't hide my enthusiasm.  Thanks for sticking with me this far.  (see I'm assuming someone is reading all the way down here.  Yup, I'm an unabashed optimist! or narcissistic, take your pick!)

I'll be back soon with more projects, cut with my Silver Bullet Professional.

Elizabeth

Christmas Corner and a Tim tag

Hi Everyone!

Today I have another Christmas card to share:

 

I tried out a new stamping technique for this card.  I dabbed Distress Stains in various colors directly on my stamp and then stamped onto my paper.  Easy Peasy!  I love the result.  I simply added a text stamp with Archival Ink in coffee, and some Distress ink on the distressed edges.  I finished this card off by adding some Ideology rick- rack trim and mounting it on a card. 

 

 

Here is the inside:

 



Just some simple layering and a sentiment. 

And now for my version of the Tim Holtz January Tag:

 

  I followed Tim's tutorial, using supplies that I have on hand. 

 

Here is my background:

 

 



I used Brushed Pewter Distress Stain as a base, and stenciled a layer of snowflakes with Pumice Stone Distress ink.  I thought my tag needed another layer, so I stamped the blueprint snowflake with Watering Can Archival.  That made me happy.  I stamped my numbers with black Archival.  I sanded them a bit, as I did the "time" text, which is a Remnant Rub. 

For my main focal piece, I used foil and Black Soot Distress Paint.  This photo is from my "attic treasures" collection.  I think these fellows are perfect for a January tag.  They certainly look ready for the Polar Vortex!   I cut a piece of mica to highlight the photo, and attached it to the foil piece with brads. 

I added a type charm and a Philosophy tag to my grosgrain and floss trim.  I used Distress paint to highlight the text on the tag. 

As final detail I added this snowflake brad.  I wanted some extra texture, so I heated it up with my heat gun and dipped it into a pile of UTEE until it was covered to my liking.  When the final layer of UTEE had cooled a bit, I dipped one more time, hoping to attach some un-melted crystals.  I kind of like the results.  It looks like a snowflake embedded in ice. 

I really had a blast making this tag!  Can't wait to see what's up for February. 

Thanks for stopping by to check out my projects today!

Elizabeth

Supplies and Tools used for these projects include:

Distress Stain
Distress Ink
Distress Paint
Archival Ink
Tim Holtz Stamps Blue Print Snowflake and Little Labels
Remnant Rubs
Sizzix Alterations by TH Sunburst Embossing folder
Sizzix Big Kick
Digital Die Cutter
UTEE
Tonic Paper Distresser
Tiny Attacher

Stampendous Christmas Truck stamp

Christmas Corner

Hi Everyone!

First off, I would like to share a quick little Christmas project that I have made.  I just love having some extra special packaging made ahead for little Christmas treats during December.

I made this hot cocoa packet with SVG files from the Cup of Cocoa and Tea set from My Scrap Chick.  I didn't do much to alter the original files, just cut them from scrap paper and embossed the snowflake and whipped cream.  A standard sized hot cocoa packet slips right in behind the removable cocoa insert, which you can use to add your greeting. 

I also completed another Christmas Card for my stash, using the same concept as the rest of my cards for the week.  (I don't know about you, but I am already bored with posting the same style of card five days in a row.  I am going to start mixing it up!  It's hard enough to stay awake during the long cold winter months with out being bored by our hobbies, right?) 

I used foam to mount the embossed panels, and the holly.  The text was printed prior to embossing and cutting the panels.  I colored the holly using Distress Inks, and added the berries with Distress Stickles. 

Here is the inside:

I used a Tim Holtz stamp, and added a border of the same Hot Off the Press designer paper that I used on front.

I'll be back soon with more cards to share.  (and more variety, too!)

Elizabeth

Supplies and tools used for this project include:
Georgia Pacific cardstock (white)
Hot Off the Press Designer paper
Tim Holtz Stamp
Ranger Archival Ink (Wendy Vecchi's Red Geranium)
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder
Sizzix Big Kick
Scotch ATG tape runner
Foam dots
Distress Stickles
Distress Ink (Shabby Shutters and Forest Moss)
Digital Die Cutter

And here we go again....

Hello folks!

I am sharing the last of my easel card series today, and the first of what I hope will be a weekly Christmas card.  I have decided to create individual Christmas cards this year, rather than making 50 or so of the same card. 

 

The papers are recent additions to my stash, that I picked up at ridiculous discounts just before Christmas.  I stamped the car and tree with Ranger Archival ink, which is quickly becoming my favorite ink for stamping.  As much as I love Distress Inks, I prefer the crisp images that I get with the Archival. 

The Christmas do-dads have been hanging out in my stash for some time.  It was certainly time to put them to use. 

I'll be back soon with a new series of cards for you.  I hope you'll find time to stop by to see them.

Elizabeth

Supplies and tools used for this project include:
Papers from my stash
Provo Craft embossing folder
Sizzix Big Kick embosser
Glitz Design Stamp
Ranger Archival ink (Wendy Vecchi's Fern Green)
Distress Ink
Foam mounting squares
My Scrap Chick easel card SVG

The one with the Thanksgiving Mantel....

Happy Day, Everyone!

Today I am sharing photos of my Thanksgiving mantel which was inspired by lots of blog-hopping and Pinterest perusing.  It is the first time in ages that I have decorated  my mantel for Thanksgiving, because I am usually in a big rush to get Christmas crafting done.  This  year, I decided to make some time for Thanksgiving.

 

I was inspired to use a monochrome palette and vintage items for this display.  It gives me a nice visual break between the bright colors of Halloween, and the rich colors of Christmas.  I pulled from my collection of ironstone and creamware pitchers, my recently growing tinware stash and put the brass candlesticks from my Halloween display to use, as well.  The frames were pulled from the basement dusted off and put to use.  Pretty thrifty, eh? 

 

 

This ironstone pitcher was a gift from a dear friend.   The wooden box is a fairly recent antique store find.  I love that some of the type is still there.  It is from an optometrist shop, and has dovetail joinery and a working slide lid. 

 

 

I made this banner with paper from my stash and my digital cutter.  I added stamping from a Bo Bunny harvest set that I purchased on clearance over the summer, and vintage book page scraps leftover from another project.  I love using my scraps, especially when the vintage ones.  As usual, I used lots of Distress Inks here. 

 

 

You may recall seeing these tins mixed in with my skulls on my Halloween sideboard display.  I simply moved them over to the mantel, brass candlesticks and all.  The creamware pitcher was lifted from my bathroom, and the antique books were a terrific find at the recycle center.  (yes, I occasionally "pick the dump", much to my mother's dismay! At least I don't gift it to you, Mum!  LOL!) 

 

And finally, my favorite piece of the season:

 

 

I absolutely love this piece so much that I may have to decorate a room around it after Christmas.  The board, the newspaper and the bent hat pin are "attic treasures".  (This is when I comb my parents' attic for useless junk that I can turn into "art".)  I found the Thornton Wilder quote earlier this fall, and love it so much that I have already used it twice.  The calendar page and tag are also attic finds, but I photocopied them onto cardstock, so that I can use them over and over.  I have a hard time gluing original ephemera onto my pieces.  (the newspaper here is the exception.  I have a pretty large source of it, and don't mind using it once in a while, especially if I have already scanned it.)  The feather was given to me by a bird hunting friend.  The book spine layer a the bottom peeled off when I removed the covers from the books at the other side of the mantel.  It was still sitting in my scrap bowl, and was perfect for this piece. The bottle cap is not vintage, but I bet I could find some like it in the attic!  It is from a bottle of vanilla.  I stamped it with a number 4 from the Tim Holtz Little Labels stamp set, using Distress Paint.  The word "bountiful" was stamped with a cool alphabet set I found at a discount store.  I have no idea who the manufacturer is. The ink is Archival, either Coffee, or Wendy Vecchi's Potting Soil. 

 

If you're still here, thanks for sticking with me through what is, for me, a very long post!  I hope you enjoy the rest of your day.

 

Elizabeth