Up on the Rooftop

Ok, you are probably thinking.... What?????? Christmas already?????  What is she thinking??

Steph Ackerman here to let you know that Christmas is only  76 days away.  I can hardly believe it myself!!!

 

But I will confess, this project did not start out with a Christmas theme.  Actually, it started because I wanted to use The Crafter's Workshop Brick Stencil.

 

I placed the stencil on a canvas panel and added  Art Anthology's Brick Stone Effects paint.  When I removed the stencil, I found I had created a chimney.  So my project morphed from there.

 

I spritzed Art Anthology's Colorations in Lark around the canvas to give a hint of the night sky.

 

Using The Crafter's Workshop Mini North Star stencil with Art Anthology's Sorbet Dazzle paint, I added stars to the canvas.  When dry, I spritzed the canvas again with Art Anthology's Glorious Colorations for a dazzling night sky look.

 

I painted green cardstock with Art Anthology's Velvet Paint in Basil.   Once dry (either wait till it's dry or heat set it), die cut with Spellbinders Holly Wreath die twice. 

 

 

 

Assemble 2 layers of the die cut and embossed wreaths, adding a red bow to the top.  Add to the chimney with foam adhesives for dimension.  Using Art Anthology Dimensional Crystals in Red Corvette, create the berries on the wreath.

  

 

Die cut letters using Cricut Expression from red and black cardstock (or use stickers).  Die cut Santa and his reindeer using the Stamp Doctor die with red and brown cardstock, adding them to the canvas with foam adhesives for dimension.  Using the Inkssentials Blending Tool with  Ranger's Vintage Photo Distress Ink, I added just a touch of color around the edges of the canvas.

So, have I put you in the Christmas mood  yet?

Thanks for stopping by today.

Steph

 

Inspired by.....

Hello, it's Sue Lelli here today to show you how I was inspired by none other than Donna Downey!  I took a class from her not knowing we would be working with faces ~ NOT my thing!  I spent most of the class frustrated because I couldn't even do the first step which was a new technique (for me) called image transferring.  So what did I do?  I followed all of the rest of her steps, learned as much about technique as I could, ended up with something I was sort of pleased with - but only honestly because Donna was kind enough to help me plus give me encouragement.  That might have been the end of the story but I was determined to try it again.  My artist friend, Maria, drew a face for me to keep and use and I tried the image transfer again.

 

Tah!  Dah!  Here is my canvas ~ inspired by Donna Downey!

Isn't she Pretty?!

 

I used words from the TCW mini Art is stencil to create my message.  Wendy Vecchi's black embossing paste did the trick.  "Art is just color and shape, feelings and experiences"

 

 

At the bottom I added "release and surrender" to remind myself to just let go and try new things with my art, even if it's uncomfortable!

 

Some process photos:

This shows the image transfer with the face my friend drew.  You will probably be seeing this face again!

 

Next I used gelatos in several colors and sprayed it with water from a mini Mister, and then mixed it around with my fingers.    I used gelatos to color her face, neck and hair.  I then added definition with Prisma watercolor pencils.  Thanks, Donna, for literally showing me how to on my class piece!  I colored the eyes and lips with the Prisma pencils as well.

 

Next I made a background using my FAV TCW confetti stencil and Tim Holtz Distress paints in shades of pink, orange and yellow.

 

Then I used the Dina Wakely plastic canvas stencil ~ LOVE ~ to add some more color to the background.  I pounced  Tim Holtz distress ink in mustard seed with the mini ink blending tool.

I rubbed golden paint around the outside edges, added a Prima resin butterfly, a little lace, and considered it done!

I hope you like her!

 



Vintage Christmas Gift Card Holders

Hi everyone, Steph Ackerman here today and I'm thinking about Christmas!!!

If you are like me, you have tons to do around the holidays and you run out of time every year.  So, even though it is wicked hot here in New York, I decided to create some gift card holders.  I find I give mostly gift cards these days and that is just so boring (from my perspective).  But, I find if I dress them up somewhat I am much happier giving a gift card!

I started with envelopes - sealed them and then cut off 1/2" from one end.  I have tons of envelopes so this is a great way to use them up.  I inked the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

Since I was going to use ribbon, I decided to ink it up in keeping with my vintage theme.  Just swiped Vintage Photo Distress Ink pads around both sides of the ribbon.

So I ended up with 2 gift card holders, pretty much the same, but I changed up some of the papers, tearing, inking and adhering them to the envelopes.  I chose the Sizzix Victorian Carolers as the focal point - there is something about these silhouettes that really appeals to me.

I also used Sizzix Stars, inking them with Walnut Stain Distress Ink before layering them and adding them to the envelope with a brad.  I punched a half circle in the top of the envelope so you can easily pull out the interior card. 

The interior card is cut slightly smaller than the envelope and Merry Christmas was repeatedly stamped.  Using some left over scraps of pattern paper, I created the panel that would hold the gift card in place.  On this first card, I added another star and placed a sentiment on top.

I didn't use a star on this card.  I wasn't sure which I liked best, so I went with both.

2 gift card holders are done.  Now, I just need to put them somewhere safe so I can find them in December!!!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Steph

July ePlay Challenge - Altered Bottles

 

Hi everyone, Julia here - for my first time hosting the 1st Thursday of the month ePlay Challenge -  and I challenge you to Alter a Bottle!  It can be glass, plastic, big or small -  I just want to see how you will take it from plain to WOW!

I started my project with a triangle shaped, clear glass bottle with a cork stopper in it from Michaels that cost $1.00.  It measures about 2 1/2"x 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" x 4 1/4" high.

And here is how I turned it into 'WOW'!

I learned this crackling technique from Wendy Vecchi, when I took her class at Kim's brick and mortar eclectic Paperie shop in Exeter, NH.  We didn't make one that day - but Wendy had two on display and she explained her technique to me.  You start by covering the bottle with a paste -  I used Wendy's Silver Embossing paste.

After that's dry - you cover it with Wendy's Crackled Texture Paste (if you don't use the embossing paste first - the crackle will peel right off after it drys!)

After the crackle dried - I sponged over the whole bottle with 3 Ranger Distress ink colors - Salty Ocean, Mustard Seed and Gathered Twigs.

I took the floral border from Industrious Stickers/Borders and inked it with 3 Adirondack Alcohol Inks - Stonewashed, Rust and Lettuce.  I dried it with my heat tool and adhered it along the base of the bottle.  I added ScorTape to it even though it already has adhesive just to give it a sticking boost against the inked crackled surface!

I wanted to hang something around the neck of my bottle and I had just purchased some Idea-ology Fragments/Charms.  I thought I remembered that Tim Holtz had a technique for using them in one of his Compendium of Curiosities - and sure enough, I found it on page 55 of his first book.

First you pounce ink on the charm using the felt applicator and some Adirondack Alcohol inks.  I used the same ones I used on my Industrious Border above -  Stonewashed, Rust and Lettuce.

Then you put some Alcohol Blending Solution on a corner of the felt applicator and touch it to the center of the charm - that makes the ink flow away - so you want to blow on it once it clears out just the center area to stop it from clearing all the way to the edges.  You can add more color to the edges if you want after this step.

Next I ran a thin line of Glossy Accents around the edges of the inked side of the charm and laid it over the image I wanted to frame.  Once it was dry I cut around the edges.  The butterfly is on a sheet of paper from the Tim Holtz Ideology Paper Stash 8x8" Collage pad.

Look how beautiful it looks - and it's such a simple technique!  I looped a piece of Linen Ribbon through the hole and tied it around the neck of the bottle.  I knotted a shorter piece of Linen Ribbon just above the charm and spread out the ends - I love the wonderful texture that gives to the ribbon!

I used Glossy Accents to adhere the Charm to the bottle - I didn't want it swinging around or loosening the ribbon.

Here's a close up of the inking on the Border Sticker - and you can see the Silver Embossing paste showing through the cracks of the paste better on the next two photos.

Here's a close up of the lovely Linen Ribbon with it's pulled apart ends.

A side view of the bottle -  I left the two sides plain - wanting to show off the wonderful crackle and also to appreciate the beauty of the charm on the front!

And here is my pretty little bottle in use as a vase -  as soon as I finished my bottle - I rushed out to my front garden and cut a few things that were blooming to see how they would look - here are a few pics!  Here it is filled with a stem from Solomon's Seal and Goldenstar blooms.

Here's my vase with a big orange marigold and a Solomon's Seal stem.

And a final variation of blooms - Goldenstar and Dianthus.

My little flower filled bottle is now proudly sitting on my kitchen windowsill where I can enjoy it each morning before I leave for work!

I can't wait to see what kind of bottle you choose to alter and what techniques you use to take it from plain to WOW! 

If you would like to "Alter a Bottle" we would love to see your creations. There is a generous $25 gift certificate for Kim's fabulous eclectic Paperie Shop, for one lucky winner.  You have the whole month of July to get your project done and add it to Mr. Linky at the end of this post!

Thanks so much for stopping by the eclectic Paperie Blog today -  where every day a member of the Design Team posts something inspirational!

Paper:  Idea-ology Paper Stash 8"x8" Collage
Ink:  Ranger Distress Salty Ocean, Mustard Seed, Gathered Twigs, Adirondack Alcohol Inks Stonewashed, Rust, Lettuce and Alcohol Blending Solution
Accessories:  Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Silver Embossing Paste and Crackle Texture Paste.  Idea-ology Fragments/Charms, Linen Ribbon, Industrious Stickers/Borders; Glossy Accents, ScorTape.

Love You More Than Bacon mixed media card

Hello, everybody!  It's Broni here with you today and I thought I'd show you another mixed media card that I had a lot of fun creating.

I started by stamping my small hearts background stamp from the Catherine Scanlon Random Shapes stamp set using Versamark ink onto my green cardstock.  Then I heat embossed it with clear embossing powder.  You can see that I did a row at a time.

 Next, I stamped the same image in Archival Jet Black ink onto my panel of watercolor paper.  Then I taped off everything around the LOVE word of the Catherine Scanlon Follow Your Heart stamp using some washi tape.  I inked it with the same black ink and peeled the tape away so that I only got the LOVE when I stamped.

I added the "you more than bacon" from an Avery Elle stamp set, then I adhered some pieces of washi tape and sponged some chevrons on using my Mini Chevrons stencil, Distress Worn Lipstick ink, and a large sponge dauber.

In order to do some water coloring, I smooshed my Worn Lipstick ink pad onto my craft sheet, then spritzed it with water.

I used my water brush to color some of the hearts and to lightly color the background.  I also flicked on some of the green and purple inks with my water brush as well.

Here's the finished card again:

There you have it!  Super easy and super fun!  I just love mixed media cards!

Thanks so much for stopping in today!

Happy crafting!

eP Catherine Scanlon Random Shapes	Versamark ink	Clear embossing powder	eP Catherine Scanlon Follow Your Heart	Ranger - Watercolor Paper 8.5"x11"
Archival Jet Black Ink Pad	Mini Chevron 6x6 template	Worn Lipstick Distress ink pad	Jumbo round dauber	Mini Mister 3-Pack
Detailer Water Brush - Tim Holtz	Non-Stick Craft Sheet

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