2020 Christmas Tree Card

      Hello! I hope you had a wonderful holiday! Unfortunately I wasn't able to get as many Christmas cards done this year as I would've liked, but did manage to duplicate this one a few times. 

     The background started with some Lindy's Gang Sprays and Magicals to create a light golden shimmer, which is hard to see in the photos. Then I used a stamp with Distress Inks (Aged Mahogany and Barn Door), and spritzed it with water before stamping for a more vintage look. 

     To make the tree, I applied a heavy layer of white gesso to the Tree's Stencil from Creative Embellishments, using a palette knife to create texture. Once dry, I reapplied the stencil and used a stencil brush with Art Alchemy Metallique Paints (Green Olive and Dark Forest). Then I highlighted all of that texture with Finnabair Wax (Vintage Gold), along with the card edges. 

     Red and gold sequins made the perfect ornaments, and the star was embossed onto black cardstock with Ranger (Gold Tinsel) Embossing Powder. 

     The same embossing powder was also used for the sentiment, stamped onto red cardstock, and backed with a strip of ribbon. 

     Thanks for looking, and have a Happy New Year!

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Challenges Entered:

Creative Embellishments ~ December Challenge

Simon Says Monday ~ Celebrate

Simon Says Wednesday ~ Sparkle and Shine

Allsorts ~ Week 603/4 Sparkle and Shine

Make My Monday ~ #138 Make Your Own Background

Childhood Memories Art Journal

      Hello and, hope you're all doing well and staying healthy/safe! I rarely add photos to my art journal pages, but this one brings me right back to my childhood, reminding me of vacations from Southern California to Lake Tahoe and my late Great Grandma's cabin in Verdi, NV. I was always collecting pine cones and rocks whenever I was there, so I had to include them on this page, adding micro beads to represent the rocks. And I never left home without my Pooh Bear! Lol!

     The bottom layer was made with crumpled up pieces of kraft paper, and painted with Dylusions Paints (Melted Chocolate and Ground Coffee) to create a faux leather. Then I used my finger to apply Finnabair (Vintage Gold) Metallique Wax to the cracks and wrinkles, along with the torn edges of the beautiful Mintay Papers, including the fussy cut suitcases, feathers, camera, and birds, from the Harmony Collection, which I was lucky enough to win from a previous challenge at More Than Words. I also used the wax on the chipboard Pinecone Cluster from Creative Embellishments after embossing it with Distress Embossing Powder (Vintage Photo).

     The circles were handstitched with embroidery threads and a gold rayon, which doesn't really show in these photos because it's so thin, and the torn circle was colored with Lindy's Gang Metallic Magical Shakers (Glittering Gold, Antique Gold and Antique Bronze), and inked around the edges with Ranger Archival Ink (Potting Soil). A very old sticker sheet was finally used for the pine cones in between the feathers, and also happened to have the perfect quote.

     My favorite part of this page is the craft feathers that started out the color of the shirt that I'm wearing in this photo! I wet them with water first and used a paintbrush to apply LG (Blue Banff) Squirt along the feather lines. After a few coats, and letting them dry in between, I adhered them onto my page with Ranger Multi Medium (Gloss). Then I painted the feather lines with Art Alchemy Sparks Paint (Dragon's Eye), splattered some on the background, and finished the rest of the page with more Ranger Multi Medium (Gloss). 

     Strips of lace were used to create belts, and were also adhered with Ranger Multi Medium (Gloss). The buckles started out silver, and were painted with Dylusions (Ground Coffee) Paint, and finished with Art Alchemy Metallique (Vintage Gold) Wax. 

     The strip of lace in the middle was the same light blue as the top one, but got dyed with a few coats of Lindy's (Banff Blue) Squirt.

     Thanks for looking, and take care! 

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Challenges Entered:

More Than Words ~ December Main Challenge

Art Sandbox ~ KoloroTon #30

Art Journal Journey ~ The Meaning Of (Childhood Memories)

Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge ~ #67 Anything Mixed Media Goes

Moving Along With The Times ~ #125 Summer or Winter Vacation

Mini Milk Carton Houses

      Don't throw out your milk cartons! Just give them a good wash, and they'll be ready to recycle into houses. I used the small cartons on this trio, taking my inspiration from the colorful Victorian houses found in San Francisco, California. 

     I started by cutting 1/2" strips of white cardstock, and used a stiffer brush to apply a coat of clear gesso. Once dry, I colored them with Distress Crayons (Peacock Feathers, Chipped Sapphire, Picked Raspberry, Seedless Preserves, Shaded Lilac, and Wilted Violet), smudged them with my fingers, and added (Black Soot) around the edges. After cutting out the doors, I layered and glued them around the carton like siding on a house. The windows were stamped and embossed with Emerald Creek Boho Blends (Wrought Iron) Embossing Powder. Then I colored them with the same Distress Crayons using a brush and water for a softer effect.

     I used my leftover scraps from the siding, to make the bottom halves of the doors, by cutting the width of the 1/2" strips in half, and piecing them back together. Small brads were used for the knobs, and the doors framed with pieces from a cereal box. The framing, window sills, (cut with the Cricut Expression using the George and Basic Shapes cartridge), and scallop stamping along the eaves, were embossed with Ranger Mixed Media Powder (Bone). 

     The roof shingles are actually the centers of a flower stamp, that reminded me of a peacock feather, and were embossed with Emerald Creek (Black Cherry) Aroma Embossing Powder. 

     Thanks so much for stopping by!

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Challenges Entered:

Mixed Media Academy ~ November Challenge (I've been in the mood to create little houses lately, and wanted to make haunted ones for Halloween, but instead went Victorian, which was perfect for this color combo)

The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog ~ Home is Where the Heart is

Try it on Tuesday ~ Embossed

Bleeding Art ~ October Challenge

A Vintage Journey ~ Pairs, Trios, and Sets

Country View Challenges ~ November Anything But a Card

Creative Artiste ~ #66 Anything Mixed Media Goes

Fall Fairy Art Journal Page

      Fall is my favorite season, so it felt good to finally play with some leaves in my art journal! 

     I started by adhering torn dictionary pages, a crossword puzzle, and textured cream papers to my page, along with touches of white gesso. Then I applied black gesso to the birch Tim Holtz Mini Stencil (Set #21). Once it all dried, I colored it with Lindy's Gang Sprays (My Mojito Green and Autumn Maple Crimson) and Magicals (Tears on my Pillow Tangerine, Bratwurst Brown, and Aged Copper). I didn't like the colored trees, so I went over them with Lindy's Gang Sprays (Sidewalk Chalk and Cafe Au Lait).  The branch was a leftover die cut that I embossed with Lindy's Gang (Midnight Copper) Embossing Powder. Then I stamped the leaves with Palette Inks, which are permanent, and did the edges with (Black Soot) Distress Ink. To mimic fairy dust, they were finished with a coat of (Copper) Stickles.

     To add more texture, I colored some cheesecloth/gauze with Lindy's Gang Sprays (My Mojito Green and Sea Mint Green) and (Bratwurst Brown) Magical Shaker. I also added small pieces of copper to resemble dirt, adhered with Ranger Multi Medium Gloss. The foliage on the bottom was stamped and embossed with Lindy's Gang (Midnight Pewter Obsidian) Embossing Powder.

     I printed the quote onto cream cardstock and colored it with some of the same Lindy's Sprays and Magicals. Then I backed the strips with black cardstock and embossed the edges with Lindy's (Midnight Copper) Embossing Powder. 

     
     I think the quote is perfect for this chipboard Sitting Fairy from Creative Embellishments! After a coat of black gesso, I embossed the trunk with Lindy's Gang (Midnight Copper) EP, and the fairy with (Midnight Pewter Obsidian) EP, adding (Copper) Stickles to her wings. 

     Thanks for looking!

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Challenges Entered:

Creative Embellishments ~ November Challenge (Inspired by the trees and colors)

Try it on Tuesday ~ Embossed

Art Sandbox ~ Gauze/Bandage

More Mixed Media Challenge ~ October Anything Goes with optional Orange

Bleeding Art ~ October Challenge

International Art & Soul ~ #95 Fairies and/or Elves

Once in a blue moon Tag

      Did you know that this Halloween also happens to be a blue moon? Not surprising for 2020, which inspired this tag.

     The background started as a collage of torn pieces of a crossword puzzle, a Bingo card, and a stamped calendar for October, using an older clear Prima stamp. Then I covered it all with white gesso, and colored it with Distress Spray Stains (Blueprint Sketch, Broken China, and Wilted Violet) and Lindy's Gang Spray (Freaky FrankenLime) on the bottom. After splattering with water, I also did some splatters with Lindy's Gang (Sidewalk Chalk) Spray. The moon was done with the technique seen here on Youtube, and the title using old alpha stickers covered with (Black Diamond) Stickles. 

     The chipboard date was covered with black gesso and embossed with Emerald Creek (Mirror Platinum) Embossing Powder. Behind the 3, I stamped a ghost with Lindy's Gang (Sidewalk Chalk) Spray. The tombstones got a marbled look by combining white and grey gesso together with a palette knife.

     The gate, branch, and tombstones were all cut with the Cricut Expression using the October 31st cartridge. After coating the gate and branch with black gesso, I embossed them with Emerald Creek (Onyx Frost) Embossing Powder. 

     Colorful fibers were added to the top and bottom, with (Black Soot) Distress Ink finishing the edges.

     Thanks for stopping by, and take care! 

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Challenges Entered:

More Than Words ~ October Mini Challenge - Moon

Tag Tuesday ~ All Hallow's Eve

Try it on Tuesday ~ Halloween Time

A Vintage Journey ~ October Numbers

Always Fun Challenges ~ #186 Halloween Fun

Country View Challenges ~ Halloween (Make a Scene)

TGIF Challenges ~ #TGIFC287 Theme Challenge

Unicorn Challenge ~ #59 Spooky and/or Cute

Halloween ATC's

      My love for Halloween and bright colors finally kick started my mojo with this set of ATC's!  

     They were made from playing cards that started with a coat of white gesso. Then I applied some of the newer and brighter Dylusions Paints, added some script stamping, and embossed the trees, house, and bats with Emerald Creek (Onyx Frost) Embossing Powder. 

   The bats and label are from the Funkie Junkie Boutique, pre -Coronavirus, when they would include a little goodie bag with your purchase. I have lots set aside for future ATC's or tags. Lol! 

     The chipboard pumpkin is from Creative Embellishments, and was also painted with Dylusions Paints after a coat of white gesso. 

     Thanks for looking, and take care!

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Challenges Entered:

The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog ~ Purple, Orange, Green! Eek! It's Halloween!

Try it on Tuesday ~ Halloween

Country View Challenges ~ Halloween (Make A Scene)

Crafty Creations Challenges ~ October #414 Anything Goes

My Time To Craft ~ #443 Halloween or Cats

Unicorn Challenge ~ #59 Spooky and/or Cute

Lindy's Gang October Color Birthday Card

      Hi everybody! I hope you're staying safe and healthy! I'm here to share a mixed media card made for a Winter Birthday.

     The colors are inspired by the October Color Challenge at Lindy's Gang.

      

     The design is based on Sketch #247 at Feeling Sketchy.

     I started with white gesso applied to one of the Tim Holtz Mini Layered Stencil's from Set #47. Then I applied the gesso to a diecut flourish directly onto the background, and set it aside to dry. The next step was coloring the flourish with Lindy's Gang (Stormy Silver) Magical Shaker, and embossing it with LG (Queen Sheba's Silver) Embossing Powder, also used on the edges.

     The background colors started with LG Sprays (Ocean Breeze Blue and Bougainvillea Fuchsia). Once dry, I added the next layer using LG Magicals (Hi Maintenance Magenta and Guten Tag Teal) mixed with water. Snow was splattered with LG (Sidewalk Chalk) Spray, and the details of the stencil work picked up with Finnabair Metallique Wax (Brushed Iron).

     To create snow on the flowers, I added touches of white gesso, embossed with LG (Purely White) Embossing Powder, also done around the sentiment.

     Thanks for looking, and take care!

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Challenges Entered:

Lindy's Gang ~ October Color Challenge

Lindy's Gang Products Used:

Sprays ~ (Ocean Breeze Blue, Bougainvillea Fuchsia, and Sidewalk Chalk)

Magicals ~ (Hi Maintenance Magenta, Guten Tag Teal, and Stormy Silver)

Embossing Powders ~ (Purely White and Queen Sheba's Silver)

Feeling Sketchy ~ Sketch #247 

Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge ~ #65

The Creative Crafters Challenge ~ #33 Always Anything Goes

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge ~ WWC293 All About Occasions