Fusion - Oct 1 - Falling Leaves Bouquet

If you are looking for my Mixed Media Card Post - Click here.

Welcome to the next Fusion Challenge!   We have a lovely fall inspiration photo and an awesome sketch to get your creative juices flowing this week!  

I used both the photo and sketch for my inspiration this week, using a slightly larger square than in the sketch.  I used a lot of Wendy Vecchi products on my creation.  The Mat Minis Flower Pot, the Art Parts Leaves, the Wood Floor background stamp (that I stamped horrizontally and then vertically to give the look of the woven basket in the photo!)  I stenciled the background panel with Tim Holtz Blossom stencil using WV Archival Fern Green Ink.  I sponged the edges of both panels with WV Tree Branch Ink.

I embossed the leaf stem with a mix of Wendy Vecchi Embossing Powders: Orange Blossom, Red Geranium and Buttercup.

I mixed Sky Blue and Fern Green embossing powders for the vase.   The blessings is an

Idea-ology Big Chat Sticker

What will inspire you from this weeks Fusion Challenge?   I look forward to seeing your creation linked up over at the Fusion Challenge -   where you will find all of the challenge information and creations by the Design Team.

Here are the links to the diverse and talented Fusion Design Team!

Deanne Kay

Julia Aston - me!

Katie Brooks

Kimberly Wiener

Lyndal Higgins

Lynn Mangan

Michelle Williams

Michelle Lupton

Sandie Munro

Stephanie Severin

Today we welcome 3 new wonderful designers to our Fusion Team - Please leave them some love on their posts!

Brandi Hall

Shannon Jamarillo

and

Karren Johnson

I'm also linking this to the following challenge:
Color Throwdown

Stamps:  Wood Floor Background - Wendy Vecchi/Stampers Anonymous
Paper:  Vintage Cream - PTI
Ink:  Wendy Vecchi Archival Tree Branch and Fern Green
Accessories:  Wendy Vecchi Embossing Powders - Sky Blue, Fern Green Orange Blossom, Red Geranium, Buttercup, Art Parts Leaves and Mat Minis Flower Pots - Wendy Vecchi/Stampers Anonymous, Idea-ology Big Chat Stickers, Blossom Stencil - Tim Holtz, thick foam dots, Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive, heat tool,

Memories are Magical Moments

Happy Tuesday everyone -  it's the 2nd official day of my vacation - we are having absolutely gorgeous summer weather here - sunny in the 80's.  Today Kent and I went to IKEA to look at tables that might work well in my craft room - I've seen so many bloggers using furniture from IKEA but to get to the closest store to us, we have to drive through Boston and down the South Shore (we live on the North Shore) a drive I hate to do because you never know how bad the city traffic will be.  Luckily, we were traveling during the middle of the day so missed the heavy commuter traffic and only hit a few slow downs.  We got there in about 45 minutes which wasn't too bad.  And, boy - what a place - it was GIANT!!  Kent and I kept walking and walking following the arrows on the floor - after a while I didn't really know where I was and we actually had trouble finding out how to get to the exit when we were exhaustedly ready to leave!!   I didn't purchase anything today but got a lot of ideas - and I did bring home a catalogue ;)

Today I have card art to share that I made using some fun Art Parts - Hearts,Love and Stars.  I embossed the big heart in Sky Blue Embossing Powder, the star in Tiger Lily and the LOVE in Violet.  The little heart is a Tiny Shapes die from TH and I embossed that in Red Geranium - all Wendy Vecchi powders. 

Next I stamped over the shapes - using Spatter background on the blue heart, Ornate Dots on the star and dots from Large Collage on the LOVE.  The sentiment and black lines on the heart are from Wendy's Discover Art set and the flourish is from Say it with Art.

I cut a panel of Vintage Cream Cardstock and stamped the Ornate Dots background (I LOVE this stamp!) on it with Tiger Lily ink. The stamping didn't quite fill the panel so I inked up the Reverse Dots Background stamp and pressed the top and bottom edges of the panel onto the inked stamp. I love how that border looks!

I layered my creation onto an Eileen Hull Sizzix Die called Frame-Mailable.  The die cuts a rectangle out of the center of the front panel where you can place a photo.  I chose to use the die cut as a stand up 'easel' to display my Art Parts creation.  You can fold up the base piece and the frame (5" x 4 1/4") fits in a regular A2 size envelope - although with my Art Parts being thick and going over the top edge - I'd have to use a larger envelope if I wanted to mail this!

To cover the frame opening on the inside - I adhered a stamped panel like the one on the front.

I'm linking my creation to the following challenges:

Wendy Vecchi's Make Art Challenge -  Polka Dots

Frilly and Funkie Challenge - Something to Say (oops, sorry it has to be Vintage or shabby Chic so this doesn't qualify for the challenge!  better read the instructions better!)

Mixed Media Card Challenge - Blue

Stamps:  Ornate Dots, Large Collage, Spatter, Discover Art, Reverse Dots, Say it With Art - Wendy Vecchi/Stampers Anonymous.
Paper:  Vintage Cream - PTI, Little Sizzles Matboard - Sizzix
Ink:  Wendy Vecchi Archival Tree Branch and Tiger Lily, Adirondack Snow Cap
Accessories:  Wendy Vecchi Embossing Powder Tiger Lily, Sky Blue, Violet and Red Garanium, Frame-Mailable die - Eileen Hull/Sizzix, Tiny Shapes Movers and Shapers dies - Tim Holtz, Art Parts Hearts, Love and Stars - Wendy Vecchi.

A Vintage Journey #18 - Bountiful Harvest

I'm excited to be participating in my second A Vintage Journey challenge as one of the newbie Creative Guides on the team. 

Here's the challenge in Host Sandie's words:  With Halloween's passing we step into fall.  For this challenge let's think about the harvest.  It seems that pumpkins, wheat, corn and even the Harvest Moon could be in order. For us in the US -  a Thanksgiving theme could work but not necessary.  

I decided to focus on the Thanksgiving aspect of fall and I used an Art Parts Create a Container to make this lovely box.

 Here are all the pieces that come in the Art Parts Create a Container Kit.  I inked the back piece with Wild Honey Distress Ink and then stamped it with Ornate Dots in Archival Jet Black.  I inked the square with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink and then stamped it with From A-Z background stamp in Archival Watering Can Ink.  Then I stamped the sentiment from Say it With Art in Archival Jet Black.  I sponged the edges of both pieces with Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink.  The stamps are all Wendy Vecchi.

I made some cards stamped with Bible Verses (described below) to tuck inside my container, clipping them together with an embossed Hinge Clip, looping a Swivel Clasp through the hole and attaching a Heart Charm to the end of the chain.  It says 'heart songs' inside the heart.

 I embossed the Keyhole with Tree Branch Embossing Powder - add the brads and glued it over the hole on the back piece of the container.

I embossed the Art Parts Leaf with Fern Green embossing powder - and then stamped it with a linear stamp from Large Collage in black.  I embossed the flower with Tree Branch embossing powder and  stamped over it with a dots stamp from Large Collage with Archival Potting Soil Ink.  I added a Blossom Bucket Button  to the center.  I embossed the scalloped edge with Tree Branch embossing powder and then stamped it with Ornate Dots using Archival Potting Soil Ink.  I drew on the faux stitching with fine black marker.

Although we certainly should be thankful all year long - celebrating the Thanksgiving Holiday in the US - reminds me how much I have to be thankful for in my life - family, friends, a home to live in, a husband to share my life with, and the knowledge that it is God's grace that has given me all these things.   SO....  I filled my little container with cards - made from 2 1/2" x 4" pieces of Paper Stash Wallflower paper that I stamped with Bible Verses from Beautiful Blessings by Papertrey Ink..

 I love how they look stamped on this paper.  I sponged around all the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

 I clipped the cards together with a Hinge Clip that I had embossed in Tree Branch Embossing Powder and slipped them right into the container.

 

 Here's a top view to see the little opening in the container

 And I couldn't let the back go bare-naked!  so I stamped this lovely lacey stamp from Say It With Art by Wendy Vecchi  twice.  The metal pieces come with the Art Parts container - they add strength to the box part.  Looking at this now  - I'm thinking I just might emboss them with Watering Can embossing powder to age them!  Don't know why I didn't think of that when I was putting it together!?!

 So - there it is - my fall/thanksgiving project.

As always, our sponsor is Country View Crafts who is offering one winner, chosen by the Creative Guides, a £10 voucher to spend in their on-line shop.  

 I hope you will be inspired to play along with us -  you have 2 weeks - you will find all the details at the A Vintage Journey Blog - as well as a multitude of glorious projects from my wonderfully talented fellow Creative Guides!

I'm also entering this in the Frilly and Funkie Challenge -  Gratitude

Stamps:  Ornate Dots Background, From A-Z Background, Large Collage Background, Say It with Art - Wendy Vecchi Studio 490; Beautiful Blessings - Papertrey Ink
Paper:  Paper Stash/Wallflower - Tim Holtz
Ink:  Wendy Vecchi Archival Fern Green, Tree Branch, Watering Can and Potting Soil: Ranger Distress Tumbled Glass, Wild Honey and Chipped Sapphire; Archival Jet Black.
Accessories:  Idea-ology - Keyholes, Hinge Clips, Heart Charm, Swivel Clasp; Art Parts Create a Container - Wendy Vecchi; Button - Wendy Vecchi Blossom Bucket; jump ring, Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive, Bic Z4 Black Marker, Wendy Vecchi Embossing Powder Fern Green and Tree Branch.

CC3 Challenge #2 - Distress Glitter Technique

I'm so happy that it's time for the 2nd Compendium of Curiosities 3 challenge.  This time we are using Tim's Distress Glitter Technique that is found on page 56 of A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol #3.  I made a tag for my project - using the Distress Glitter Technique on an Art Parts leaf.  I used Peeled Paint Distress Glitter as it is the only one I have at the present. (but more are winging their way to me at this very moment!)

Let me show you all of the other techniques I used on this tag in addition to the Distress Glitter.  I started with a manilla tag from Ranger that I sponged with Wild Honey and Peeled Paint Distress Inks. Then I stamped the background with Wendy Vecchi's Ornate Dots with Archival Cornflower Blue ink.

I sponged the numbers  1 - 2 - 3 -4 - 5 from the Cargo Stencil along the top

and 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 0 along the bottom with Peeled Paint Distress Ink. (you can just barely see it!)  Then I flicked water over the tag to make some water spots.

I inked the Art Parts Flower with Archival Orange Blossom ink, stamped it with the Ornate Dots using Cornflower blue - and then covered it with Distress Crackle Paint Clear Rock Candy.  After it dried I sponged over it with Orange Blossom Ink and added the Wendy Vecchi Blossom Bucket Gold Berry Flower Centers

I also stenciled the dots from the Splatters stencil along 2 edges with Cornflower Blue ink.  I die cut the Frameworks Border Honeycomb die out of Grunge Paper and inked it with Peeled Paint Distress Ink and then brushed the Archival Orange Blossom over it just a tad.  I applied several Remnant Rubs/Botanicals

I inked a metal sprocket gear with Orange Blossom Ink, adhered it around the circle on the tag and looped a piece of Linen Ribbon through the hole, tying it in a double knot and pulling the ends of the ribbon open.  I layered my tag to a piece of black cardstock.

I love my tag!

Now I can't wait for challenge #3!! Challenge #2 ends on May 23rd.

One lucky person who links their project over at the CC3 blog will win a $25.00 gift certificate to The Funkie Junkie Boutique!

I'm also linking this to the eclectic Paperie ePlay challenge - to use stencils - this challenge is open until the last day of May.

Stamps:  Ornate Dots Background - Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi

Paper:  manila tag and Grunge Paper - Ranger

Ink:  Archival Cornflower Blue and Orange Blossom, Ranger Distress Peeled Paint and Wild Honey.

Accessories:  Remnant Rubs/Botanicals, Frameworks Die, Distress Crackle Paint Clear Rock Candy, Glue N Seal, Linen Ribbon, Splatters Stencil, Cargo Stencil - Ranger,  heat gun, Art Parts - Just Flowers, Gold Berry Blossom Centers - Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi/Blossom Bucket.

eclectic Paperie Post - Art Parts Stencil Book

Today is my day to post over at the eclectic Paperie Blog - I made an Art Parts Stencil Binder to hold all of my new Wendy Vecchi stencils so they are handy and easily accessible.

I posted a step by step tutorial over at the eclectic Paperie blog - I'd love if you'd go take a peak and leave some love there!  It's my first posting as a member of the Design Team!

I'm also linking this up to the Moxie Fab World - Styling with Stencils challenge.
And Virginia's View Challenge - Stencils.

Stamps:  Ornate Dots, Large Collage Stamp, From A-Z Background - Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi
Inks:  Ranger Distress Peacock Feathers, Mustard Seed and Walnut Stain, Archival Watering Can, Cornflower  and Orange Blossom
Accessories: Art Parts Stencil Binder,  Black Embossing Paste, Metalic Gold Embossing Paste, Metalic Silver Embossing Paste, Crackled Texture Paste, Clearly for Art Blackout Modeling Film, Mini Lock and Key, Mini Flourish, Mini Bird and Cage - Tim Holtz Alterations Repositionable Magnetic Dies, Brothers P-Touch Label Maker - Staples, Stabilo Black Pencil, Ranger Ideology Borders, Glue N Seal - Ranger,  Wendy Vecchi Stencils - Create a Wreath, Bar Codes, Dots and Stripes, Checkmake.

eclectic Paperie ePlay Challenge - To Use Wood

Hey everyone - I am just bursting with excitement to announce that I was asked to join the eclectic Paperie Design Team and today is my very first post as I participate in the April ePlay Challenge!

Welcome to the April ePlay Challenge. Our challenges are about encouraging you to explore your creative journey and inspiring you to step outside of your comfort zone - when you submit your artwork, share a unique card, scrapbook or journal page, a canvas, home décor project, or anything that you’re excited to share!  We’re looking forward to crafting with you! One project will be chosen at the end of this month-long challenge and will be awarded a $25 shop voucher for the eclectic Paperie store. It just might be you!

This month the challenge is to use wood -
I am new to the Mixed Media world - and I am mostly a clean and simple card stamper -  so you will see a lot more wild and wonderful from many of the ladies on the design team and not so much from me  - at least for a while until I acclimate!  Perhaps you are like me and feel more comfortable with a quieter approach to Mixed Media??  And that's ok too right?!!  It's still Mixed Media!

So first I made a tag - with the wood being the Art Parts stem - which is a composite that feels and looks like wood - (but it's not really) so then I thought I didn't want to cheat on my very first project  -  so I looked through my plethora of craft supplies and found an itty bitty wooden clothespin I could add to make it legal!
I used stamps, a stencil, ink, paint, sequins, a metal chain and a wooden clothespin on this project.

 

When I found the itty bitty clothespin in a drawer - there were also larger clothespins in there - and that made me think of another project to make -  pretty flowers made from Clearly For Art Whiteout Modeling Film (that you can shape when you heat it!) die cut with a Tim Holtz Tattered Floral die, inked with Alcohol Inks and attached to wooden clothespins with a magnet on the back to use to hang pictures or papers on the fridge or a metal cabinet! (boy, was that a run-on sentence!?!)

For this bloom - I used Stonewashed and Butterscotch Alcohol inks and Alcohol Blending solution.  The center is a button from Blossom Bucket. I only used 2 of the layers of petals for this flower.

 For this pretty flower I used Stonewashed and Wild Plum Alcohol Inks and Alcohol Blending Solution.  I adhered 6 Dew Drops to the center of this one. I used 3 of the layers of petals for this flower. 

Here are some pictures of the coloring process.  It starts out flat and white!  You can see how I curved the petals on the smaller pieces at the top of the picture.

Add a couple of drops of each color to the blending tool with applicator felt on it and dab it onto the flower.

Adding Alcohol Blending solution makes it pattern with spots -  the drops can blend away - so I hit it with my heat gun to stop the process -   you can just keep playing with it adding ink and blending solution until you are happy.  Then to curl it - I heated each petal with my heat gun and quickly formed it on my finger to the shape I wanted -  once again - if you don't like how it's shaped - just place it on your craft mat and heat it and it goes flat - and start the shaping process over!

I painted the clothes pins with Distress paints - Weathered Wood and Seedless Preserves.  Then I sponged them a bit with Ranger Distress Gathered Twigs just to tone down the 'clean-ness' of them!?!

I added strong round magnets to the back and the flowers to the front using Glossy Accents.  I had to double up on the magnets so they were strong enough to hold on the fridge.

 Here's one of my clips holding my tag on the fridge!

Here they are 'hanging' on a little metal box -  aren't they glorious?!

So what will you make that includes wood??   We can't wait to see your project!!   Please check out the rest of the Design Team's projects - and link up your own -  over on the eclectic Paperie Blog!  Be brave, like me, and jump into Mixed Media!

Tag:
Stamps: Ornate Dots Background, sentiment from Sentimental Art Set - Studio 490
Paper: kraft tag - Ranger, Sticky Back Canvas - Claudine Helmuth/Ranger
Ink: Archival Leaf Green and Fern Green, Ranger Distress Iced Spruce
Accessories: Ranger Distress Paint Bundled Sage, Glue N Seal - Ranger, honey Dew Twine - The Twinery, Leaf frond - Leaves Art Parts Studio 490, key chain - Tandy Leather, Dots and Stripes Stencil - Studio 490 

Flower Clothespin Magnets 
Ink:  Ranger Distress Gathered Twigs, Stonewashed, Butterscotch and Wild Plum Alcohol Inks - Adirondack, Alcohol Blending Solution - Adirondack.
Accessories:  Clearly for Art Whiteout Modeling Film - Studio 490, Blossom Bucket Antique Button, Blending tool and Applicator Felt - Ranger, heat gun, Glossy Accents, Tattered Floral Die - Tim Holtz Alterations, wooden clothespin, Ranger Distress Paints Weathered Wood and Seedless Preserves, dew drops.