Thursday, October 30, 2014

Bountiful Harvest at A Vintage Journey

Hi everyone,

It's my turn to host the challenge this time over at A Vintage Journey and I chose Bountiful Harvest as the theme for this fortnight.  The Creative Guides have provided some spectacular inspiration - a feast for the eyes - hope you will come by for a look by clicking here.
 
Halloween will soon be a fond memory, I hope you have lots of cute and scary Trick or Treaters at you door.  It is now time to think about the Bountiful Harvest that comes in November and how we celebrate it.   I would love for you to join in and show us your creativity.  Simply let your mind wander off to those crisp fall days.

For my project I choose to use the colors and images of fall. I made a shadow box using a canvas, just used the reverse side. I invite you to come along with me to the "Paper Pumpkin Patch".  Fall is also the current topic over at Frilly and Funkie so I will share my pumpkins over there as well. 


I started out simply enough by gathering all my pumpkin dies and found that I had lots more than I realized.  I'm sure I have mentioned in the past that orange is my favorite color and there is something about a pumpkin that attracts me every time.


Now I thought I would cut all my pumpkins from grunge paper so they are sturdy.  I got all of them cut out and then decided that I would add Gesso so the color stayed true.  Well, that was a great plan until I started to add ink.  I inked my first one with Distress Ink - the ink never dried, well dahhhh!! By adding Gesso I made the surface non porous which means that water based inks will not work.  This discovery lead to many experiments and I have to say there were many "Happy Accidents".  I got out all sorts of inks, Archival, Alcohol and Staz-On.  I even edged with Sharpies.  They all worked great so then of course I had to get out my Distress Paints, also great for this project.  The only trouble with this is that soon my work table looked like this.  OMG, I had to stop and clean up.

 
Who knew that so many shades of orange could be made?  Sorry I don't have a photo of all the pumpkins before I added them to the shadow box but I guess I got caught up in the moment.  For the one shown below, I used a stencil and molding paste.  I ended up cutting off the stem to make it look as though you were looking at it from the top.
 

Lets just say that I did lots of experimenting and inking.  Sometimes I would paint over the entire pumpkin and start over to get what I wanted.  I used lots of stencils from Tim's collection and used molding paste on some.


I have to say that this was rather fun.  I used dry embossing on some and embossing powder on others.  There are no two alike in this Paper Pumpkin Patch.


 
Next I lined the inside of the shadow box with a soft blue paper and then added a piece of resin paper that I made for  Destination Inspiration - Ice Resin.  You can see the complete tutorial by clicking here.  The resin makes the paper transparent and lets the blue show through.
 

  Next came the frame which I cut out of strong cardstock, embossed with Tim's Letterpress Embossing Folders - I used, together, happiness, grateful and celebrate.
After mitering the corners, the edges were inked with DI and put on the canvas.

After my frame was ready- I got the pumpkins and I have to say I rearranged them several time before coming to the final decision.

When my pumpkins were just the way I wanted them I had to go looking for leaves and such.  Once again I was amazed at how many dies I had with leaves.  I cut leaves and flourishes and arranged them among the pumpkins until I was happy.

When it came time for the photo I went in my stash of holiday décor and found some more paper pumpkins that I made in previous years and added them.  I'm pretty happy with the result and hope you like them. 


This post turned out to be much longer than I planned but I hope you enjoyed it and will stop over at A Vintage Journey to see all the fabulous work done by my wonderful team mates.

Have a wonderful and creative weekend,

S@ndy

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Compendium of Curiosities - Book of Spells

Hi Everyone,

I've had this project in the works since the challenge was first posted over at Studio L3 but somehow other things got in the way of the completion.  So here I am on the last day and I have finally finished it.  I like that challenge #13 happened to fall in October just before Halloween. I'm hoping to snag the wonderful prize offered by the sponsor of this fun challenge - Inspiration Emporium or perhaps some goodies from Tim and Mario.




I had the Worn Cover in my stash so got that going by tearing some of Tim's Tissue Wrap and gluing it on in random places. I didn't want to cover the entire thing so that some of the design of the cover showed through.  I did some spraying using Lindy's Stamp Gang Sprays.


When the sprays were dry I used some molding paste and some of Tim's great stencils to add texture to the panels.  I used some Distress Paint with stencils too.  Then I sprayed some more.  I finally added the face which I made of Ice Resin.  You can see a complete tutorial on Ice Resin by clicking here.


I had some Grunge Board letters and parts so started laying them out.  At the end I  moved the hinges.  I colored my letters and then added Glossy Accents over the top to add shine and demention.


I decided on red so the cover would have color balance and it also looked like blood.



Next I ran some Linen Ribbon through the holes in the side and tied a knot.  Then I added a Chain Clasp so I could hang some things later.  I was going to hang the Monocle with the eye at the end of the clasp but then I thought that it would look funny as a real  monocle!  Sometimes I just don't know what happens to my brain when I'm working on a project.


I wanted the face to be that of a 'mad scientist' so needed to add a few elements that looked like a laboratory.  I cut out the small bottle from the Apothecary Die and trimmed it down a little.  I then colored it with DI and covered it with Glossy Accents.
I filled some Corked Vials with stuff I had hanging around.  Some micro beads and some glitter.  I used rub-ons on the vials then glued them on top of the head.  I had some space left on the left side so added a light bulb - what a bright idea! I feel like the mad scientist.


Ok folks, that it for this challenge - I hope you have enjoyed my science experiment and will try one of your own.

Have a crafty weekend,
S@ndy


Thursday, October 16, 2014

Halloween - to die for @ A Vintage Journey

 
Hi All,
 
Today I get to share a card made with one of  my favorite Graphic 45 papers, "Steampunk Spells".  
 
When our lovely host, Anne, over at A Vintage Journey told us her theme for this fortnight is - " Halloween - to die for" -  I was excited to get started.  In addition to some fussy cutting I used lots of dies for this one.  Tim's influence is clear with all the great dies I used from his collection.  


Shown below is the inside of the card with lots of real estate to write your message.


I haven't made a cascade card for awhile so thought this would be a good time to revisit this great style.  Shown below is the base of the card.  You can see a complete tutorial on the construction of this card by clicking here.


As in all projects, some changes have been made along the way, in the end, I changed the color of the front panel to a kraft color. 

I began to gather my elements using the Steampunk Girl from Steampunk Spells and the moon from the Happy Haunting Collection. 


No Halloween Card would be complete without a skeleton so used this one from Tim's collection with the stamp and die to match.


After I cut out my steampunk girl, I thought she faded into the background too much so placed her on some manila cardstock and then cut her out again.  Then added some Vintage Photo DI around the edge.



After cutting out all the elements that I wanted for my card I started adding them.  I have provided you with a complete list of the dies I used at the end of the post.
 
 
For the clock I cut the mini pocket watch, cut a gear from black and added the cobweb clock from the paper and then added an epoxy dot that had already turned yellow from sitting in my stash for so long.  I added a charm that I found of a hand. 
 
 
Well, there you have it - hope you've enjoyed my card and you will have a "Halloween - to die for".  Have a great weekend.
 
 
 
From Sizzix and Tim Holtz
 
Circle Framelits
Branch Tree
Mini Pocket Watch
Candlelight Fright
Mini Gears
Stamp & Die Set
Mini Bat & Skeleton Set
Weathered Clock
Heart Wings
 
From Spellbinders
 
Springly Sprockets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Monday, October 13, 2014

"Make it Manly" - Karen Burniston's October Challenge

Hi -

Making a card or project for a man is always a challenge but with Karen's new Clock and Gears accessory die set I was able to breeze right through this one. 
Thank you Karen!

I used the Spiral Circle Pull Card for the base of the card, it's so fast and easy to get a great effect.  I just love the built in tabs to keep the card closed, all made with one pass through the die cutting machine.



Here's how I did it!
 
I selected my paper - I only needed four different ones for this card.  I used black for the base and clock hands and a couple of gears, a pattered piece for the side panels and some beautiful copper for the clock and gears. 


I cut out the card body by placing the alignment nibs on the center fold and then ran it through my machine.  I wanted my finished card to measure 6 X 6 so cut my black paper 6 X 9.


From the patterned paper I cut 2 side panels, the size can very according to what you wish to do.  I like to edge my panels so used some Vintage Photo DI.


I attached the panels to the card and then rounded the corners.  I used my electronic cutter to make the panels, one that says "Happy Birthday" and the other that says "You're not old - You're Vintage".  For this I used some manila paper.
 
 
After cutting the clock face, I decided to scatter the numbers all around the card for some added interest.  I then cut out a few gears and began to assemble.  I used my Xyron X machine to add the adhesive to the numbers.
 
 
 
At this point I decided that I could use a couple more gears so cut two more for the inside of the card.
 
Such a fast and fun way to make a card that looks harder than it is to make.
 
Have a great week.
 

Friday, October 10, 2014

Happy Haunting

Hi Everyone,

Just a fly by to wish all of you a crafty weekend.


Get out all of those Halloween things and make something fun!
 

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Destination Inspiration @ A Vintage Journey, Ice Resin

Hi all my blogger friends,

I would love for you to join me over at A Vintage Journey today,  I am sharing some tips and a tutorial on how to use Ice Resin.
 
Here is a little "Sneak Peek"
 
              
 
              
 
Hope you will come by for a look, see you there.

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Heavy Metal

Hi Everyone,

When our host, Terry, told us her theme for our current challenge is "Heavy Metal", over at A Vintage Journey, I was so excited because I have something different to share with you.  I hope you enjoy my "Heavy Metal".

Here is my take on an idea I first saw from Susan Morse in Cloth, Paper, Scissors Magazine - July/August 2010.


As a paper crafter I like to use my supplies in as many different ways as possible.  I'm sure you will recognize many items on this necklace.  Definitely Tim's influence with the gears and clock.  
 
I like to shop at the hardware store and use my finds in my art, using washers in addition to the gears. The base of this piece is a painted "Striker Plate", also from the hardware store.  If you aren't familiar with what a Striker Plate is, it is part of a door frame where the latch from the door goes into the frame to keep it closed.  Shown below-


OK, I admit that I am very lucky to have my own "In House" glass artist, Mac.  I go to his workshop and pick out pieces of glass that I like to use in my projects.  That's just what I've done in the examples below.  I have also used a lite weight copper sheeting that has been embossed with Texture Fades.
 

A painted striker plate,  hand picked glass, embossed copper, copper wire and some beads - you're good to go.


On this one I used even more paper crafting supplies.  The red and gold is embossing powder.  I really like the texture that it gives.  Since the striker plate is metal, I put it in the Melting Pot using a parchment paper liner (big enough that I can use the liner as a handle to lift it out) and let it get hot.  Sprinkled the embossing powder over it,  when the powder was nearly melted, I say nearly because the metal is hot and the powder will continue to melt after you remove it from the Melting Pot, carefully remove it and place unto a non stick craft mat. This is very hot and stays hot for awhile so if you did not use parchment, use a spatula to remove it.  In the center opening I used drywall mesh, also from the hardware store, and then embossed it as well.  Just add a dragonfly and a few rhinestones.

Below is a photo of another necklace I made for a challenge a couple years ago.  I still love it and wear it.
 

I hope you are inspired to think of your crafting supplies differently and you have enjoyed my take on "Heavy Metal".

S@ndy