A Vintage Journey - January Challenge - Inside or Outside the Box

Today the January challenge is up over at A Vintage Journey and I am one of the Creative Guides participating this month.  Deb is our inspiring hostess and her challenge is:  Think Inside or Outside of the Box!!

Here is Deb's Description of her challenge:  For our first challenge of 2018 we'd like you to create with a box. Any box of any size will do. It can be one you made yourself or one that you are recycling or even one that you have drawn. We'd like you to make your project either inside the box itself or do something imaginative on the outside or both if that's where your muse takes you. As always we like to see your projects in our preferred styles: vintage, shabby; mixed media; art journaling; industrial, timeworn or steampunk. So put on your thinking caps and re-imagine those boxes both inside and out!

Here is my project but there's a twist about the box.......

  I started out to make a box using Eileen Hull's Trinket Box and Frame die and I wanted to use the wings from Eileen's Bird Die.  So I cut them all out of mat board.

Then my thoughts shifted and I wanted to create a little scene on a slice of birch tree (I've been making several holiday projects on these slices that dear husband cut for me from a fallen branch)  I embossed the tree slice with Ranger Snowflake Tinsel embossing powder (super glittery!)

So I'm imagining just how I can work this into the box theme.   I have this idea of the front of the box with a window in it and wings on the sides. I emboss the frame with Shabby White Frantage Embossing Powder and the wings in Shabby Blue Frantage Embossing Powder.  More wonderful glittery shine!

I pull out a couple of small white bottle brush trees and add Blueberry Ice Stickles (I  have tons of Stickles and haven't used them in ages! never throw out!) to keep them neutral and perhaps look like bits of snow on the trees.

My vision sees winter trees - so I cut some out of Brushed Silver cardstock using Tim's Treeline Thinlit die.

I choose one of Alison's sentiments from her PaperArtsy Set EAB03 - perfect for how I'm feeling about my little boxed scene.  I stamp it on a piece of mat board

I layer some trees across the top of the box frame and adhere the sentiment in front of the trees.

I complete my little forest scene on the slice of birch and attach the box frame on the front.

But I have left the sides and back open on my box. 

I've also attached a button battery light on the top inside of the box front. I got these from Papertrey Ink - but they don't seem to be carrying them anymore.

The trees around the back of the wood slice give an illusion of the back of the box when you look through from the front. 

My Inside or Outside of the box vision is:

Are we looking into a box where we see the lovely deer in his beautiful and serene forest world?   Or is the deer looking into a box where there is a noisy, concrete, sometimes dangerous world? 

Here's a photo of how it looks with the lights out and just the button battery light lit. (hard to get a good photo of it but it is just beautiful!)  I think I want to jump into his side of the box!

So please, check out all of the inspiring Inside or Outside the Box creations over at A Vintage Journey by the other Creative Guides!   We can't wait to see how you interpret this fun challenge! 

Our wonderful sponsor this month is  Funkie Junkie Boutique and the prize is a  $25 shopping coupon!

I also invite you to check out Eileen Hull's blog this month - where the Inspiration Team is posting all kinds of projects using her new Book Club dies!

Stamps:  Alison Bomber EAB03 Eclecctica3 set - PaperArtsy
Ink:  Archival Jet Black, Versamark
Paper:  Cream Matboard - Sizzix, Brushed Silver - Stampin Up
Accessories:  slice of birch tree, Blueberry Ice Stickles,  Bottle brushes - Idea-ology, Thinlits Tree Line Die - Tim Holtz/Alterations, Books and Pages Trinket Box and Frame Die - Eileen Hull/Sizzix, wooden deer - Hobby Lobby, Shabby white and Shabby Blue Frantage Embossing Powder - Stampendous,Quick Dry Tacky Glue - Aleenes, black half pearl, St. Tropex Crystals - Priima, battery button light - PTI

January 2018 CAS Mix Up - Cling Wrap!

Happy New Year everyone!  We hope you have some time today to check out the first of the new year's challenges over at CAS Mix Up!  Loll has created colorful new graphics for us this year as well.

Nancy is our host this month and here is her challenge:

I used cling wrap on watercolor paper with acrylic paints (photos below), die cuts, stamping and enamel dots for my CAS sympathy card.

I used this YouTube video listed over at the CAS Mix Up blog for my technique:

Acrylic Paint and Plastic Wrap Background Painting: 3:15 by StudioSilverCreek.

 

First I brushed 2 colors of Americana Acrylic paints (Mint Julep Green and Milk Chocolate) rather thickly on my sheet of watercolor paper.

I placed a piece of cling wrap larger than the paper (Saran Wrap in the US) over the painted sheet and scrunched it up with my fingers.

Then I lifted the cling wrap off and had this lovely panel of marbleized color.

Here's a 2nd card I made that I cut from a section of the panel with less brown on it.  

I have lots of paper left to make many more cards too!

You'll find several YouTube links showing techniques using cling wrap over at the CAS Mix Up Blog!  So let's learn something new for the New Year and get creative!  Can't wait to see what you make!

Stamps:  Simply Said Sympathy - Jillian Vance Designs
Paper:  Canon Water color paper, Vintage Cream Card Stock - PTI
Ink:  Cocoa Bean - PTI
Accessories:  Cling Wrap (Saran), Americana Acrylic Paint Mint Julep Green and Milk Chocolate, Flat Bottom Circle die - Ali Express, Noted: Scalloped A2 Die - PTI, Say It Crystals/St. Tropez - Prima, foam dots.

Terrarium Birthday

Today I played along with the Inspiration Challenge over at Splitcoaststampers.  My good friend Anne was the hostess and she had us looking at the World Markets web site.   I was inspired by a photo of several potted cactus and created this card:

I stamped the terrarium image onto white Strathmore Bristol Smooth Paper using Hero Arts Black Ink  Then I colored the image using Tombow Markers that I spread around using a Clear Glitter Wink of Stella Brush - which gives it a wonderful sparkle that hopefully you can see in the photo below. 
(if you can't see the glitter click on the photo to make it bigger!) 
I used a strip of washi tape behind the image that is popped up on foam dots.

The Birthday die is from Impression Obsession

My design was inspired by

Freshly Made Sketches #318

 Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy and Crafty New Year!

Stamps: Terrarium - Paper Source
Paper: white Strathmore Bristol Smooth Surface, white, True Black, Hawaiian Shores - PTI
Ink: Black Hero Hues
Accessories: Tombow Markers, Clear Glitter Wink of Stella, Birthday Top Edgers Die - Impression Obsession Stitched Edge Rectangle die - WMS (retired), washi tape, foam dots.

December Tag Friday at A Vintage Journey

Whenever there is a 5th Friday in a month - we have a Tag Friday over at A Vintage Journey where several of the Creative Guides create tags for everyone's inspiration.  This month I'm one of the Creative Guides sharing a tag and here it is.

I started with my background which I created using the cling wrap technique.  I used a 12" x 14" piece of watercolor paper and 2 colors of acrylic paint - I used Americana acrylic paints in Mint Julep Green and Milk Chocolate.  I painted the colors on in broad strokes, brushing in different directions and kept adding watered down paint until the page was covered. (you want it to be a little wet)

Then I laid a piece of cling wrap (Saran Wrap) over the paper and scrunched it up pressing with my fingers.

I removed the cling wrap and let the panel dry, and got this lovely distressed look.

I die cut a piece of my painted panel using Tim's Tag and Bookplate die. I added several strips of washi tapes and stapled on 2 pieces of lace.

I stamped one of Alison's stamps from her EAB05 set by PaperArtsy onto the tag.  I cut a slightly larger piece of black cardstock and layered the tag to it.  I looped a piece of wrinkled seam tape through the hole.

 I colored 3 Mirrored Stars with Adirondack Lettuce Ink and added them to the tag.

I colored the Paperdoll girls using Ranger Distress Markers in Brushed Corduroy, Peeled Paint and Spun Sugar and popped them onto the tag with foam dots.  I added several Metallic Quotations/Quotes stickers.

So please stop by the A Vintage Journey Blog today and be inspired by all the Tag Friday Tags the Creative Guides have created for you! 

Stamps:  Alison Bomber Eclecctica3 set EAB05 - PaperArtsy
Ink:  Archival Jet Black
Paper:  Canon Water Color Paper, True Black - PTI
Accessories:  Tag and Bookplate Die - Tim Holtz/Alterations, wrinkled seam tape, Adirondack Lettuce Alcohol Ink, foam dots, washi tapes, Ranger Distress Markers Brushed Corduroy, Peeled Paint, Spun Sugar, Idea-ology Paper Dolls, Mirrored Hearts, Trimmings/Lace, Metallic Stickers/Quotations, Mini Stapler,  Cling Wrap, brush, water, Americana Acrylic Paints Mint Julep Green and Milk Chocolate.

Bridge Fold Thank You

Splitcoaststampers had a fun Technique Challenge on Monday -  how to make a Bridge Fold Card.

I made two:

One for my niece Christie

and one for my niece Katie, to thank them both for their thoughtful Christmas gifts.

  The front piece is only attached to the left and right panels so it forms a 'bridge' in front of the card.

I cut panels out of patterned paper slightly smaller than each panel of the card.

I used the On the Edge Thank You Die from Simon Says Stamp but added a strip of black behind the letters as they showed up better here.  I added some  real sequins over the printed ones.

They fold flat for mailing  as shown below and fit into a regular size A2 envelope.

(This is also how you fold it to attach the bridge piece - attaching only on the left and right corners.)

A simple to make card that looks very elaborate!

You'll find a YouTube video of how to make it here

 

Sabrina gave us slightly different cutting instructions that makes the bridge piece a bit longer. Either way will work.  On the video, the woman put patterned paper strips over her bridge strip, I put my bridge strip over the patterned paper.

Cut an 8"x 4 1/4" piece for the card base.

Score at 1 1/4", 2 1/2", 5 1/2" and 6 3/4" along the 8" side.

Fan fold on score lines

cut a piece 1 1/4" x 5 1/2" for the bridge piece.

here is Sabrina's lovely card

Here are metric measurements from Sabrina

cut your card base 10.5 cm high by 20cm wide.
Score at 2.5 cm, 5 cm, 15 cm and 17.5 cm.
Cut the long strip 3 cm high by 15 cm long.
Cut your matting layers accordingly. 

I think I'll be making this fun Bridge Fold again!

Stamps: Sending a Big Thank You - PTI (exclusive stamp won for spending way to much money at PTI one year!, Scripture - Print Works
Paper:   white, Shakers and Sprinkles Patterned Paper Collection - PTI
Ink:  Hero Hues Black
Accessories: Sequins - Avery Elle, On the Edge Thank You Die - Simon Says Stamp  

A Year of Incredibleness

My son, Josh,  and his girlfriend, Sunny,  have just come up from Maryland for Christmas and they are coming over to dinner tonight to celebrate Sunny's birthday, which is today.    I wanted to make her a special card.  They have just moved into a beautiful log cabin house on 30 acres of land so I thought it would be nice to use that theme.

I only have one stamp with a log cabin on it (Lakeside Cabin - Stampscapes) so that's what I used!  I stamped it in Archival Jet Black ink and because that ink stays wet a little bit longer, I was able to clear emboss it after stamping it.   

Then I got out some Ranger Distress inks (Salty Ocean, Forest Moss, Gathered Twins, Frayed Burlap) and rubbed each color onto my craft mat.  I dipped my brush in water than brushed it into a color on my mat and watercolored the image.  I just used simple brush strokes, up from the bottom of the trees over each tree and down from the land over each reflection of the trees in the water.  Then I watercolored the cabin.

Hopefully you can see some of the embossed texture in the photo above. It's really glossy IRL!

Inside I stamped "Here's to a Year of Incredibleness" from MFT.

I'm linking my card to:

CAS Watercolor Challenge

CAS Mix Up Challenge

I used stamps, watercoloring and clear embossing.

Stamps:  Lakeside Cabin - Stampscapes, Birthday Basics - PTI, Happy Birthday Hoppy Poppy - MFT.
Paper:  Rustic Cream, Vintage Cream, Hawaiian Shores - PTI
Ink:  Archival Jet Black, True Black - PTI, Ranger Distress Ink Salty Ocean, Forest Moss, Gathered Twigs, Frayed Burlap.
Accessories:  clear embossing powder, brush, water, craft mat, heat tool.

Eileen Hull Passport Book Die - Christmas Photo Album

Today I'm sharing a little Christmas Photo Album that I made using Eileen Hull's Passport Book die.  All this month members of Eileen's Inspiration Team are posting holiday projects using her Sizzix Dies.

I have been making little photo albums for special photos of my adorable grandnephews and nieces (currently ages 7,6,5 and 3!)

So this album is for Christmas photos of them - and so far include photos from 2014, 2015 and 2016 with plenty of pages for the coming years!

Front cover.

Back cover.

Embellishments knotted onto the binding jute strings.

I've got lots of photos showing my steps in creating this album.

First I die cut the covers and binding piece out of matboard.

I stenciled the covers using a double  tree stencil from Stamplorations using Wendy Vecchi White Embossing Paste.

At first I was going to just make this a white book - so I painted the binding with PaperArtsy Nougat Chalk Acrylic Paint.

Then I adhered the binding to the cover panels. 

Given that the binding overlaps onto the covers, I did the stenciling a little off center so not too much would get covered by the binding.  

You have to think about which edge the binding will cover on each panel.

I held the edges with clothespins while the glue was drying and painted over the covers with the same Nougat paint.

Next, I brushed Clear Deco Art One Step Crackle thickly over the covers and binding and let it dry overnight.

Close ups of the lovely crackle

At this point, I decided I wanted to add color -  so I got out  bottles of Patina Effect Paste from Prima in Mint Green, Blue and Brass.  I rubbed green on the tree, blue on the background and brass on the binding and star on the tree using my finger.

Then I added Patina Effect Prima Gold Rust Past - just a bit with my finger - to highlight the trees and binding a bit.

Close up views

I felt the trees needed a little definition after adding all the pastes so I laid the stencils back on and sponged with Ranger Distress Oxide Peeled Paint Ink.

I also sponged over the inside covers with the Peeled Paint.

I die cut the pages out of several hues of blue and green Bazzill papers so they have a little texture on them.  I made 3 signatures of 5 pages each - which gives 10 pages when folded in half and 20 surfaces for pictures in each signature - so I'll be able to have photos for up 15 Christmases if I use 4 pages a year!

I threaded green, blue and orange jute string through each signature and binding - ending up with the knots on the outside of the book binding.

I stenciled one of Tim's Mini Stencils on the inside of both covers using Ranger Distress Forest Moss Ink.

I ask your indulgence as I show the photos that I have put in the book so far -  from 2014, 2015 and 2016 with one photo so far for 2017!

Here you can also see how I stenciled the inside of the front cover and added Idea-ology Holiday Talk stickers.

On Christmas 2014 Madelyn was just 8 months old - look at that toothless smile and spiky blond hair!

Angel Mila was 2 and brother Landon was 4.

Below on left - we see Madelyn's first view of Santa with 3 year old brother James.

And look how Madelyn has grown by 2015 - on the right Madelyn is now 1 yr 8 months and cousin Mila is 3 - in cute little matching outfits!

James 4 and cousin Landon 5 in their matching outfits for Christmas 2015

Visits with Santa for all 4 in 2016 in PJ's!  Landon 6, Mila 4 -    Madelyn 2.5    James 5

On Christmas Day 2016 - in matching outfits -  Mila is ready for her modeling career!

And on the right - the first photo for 2017 -  Landon 7 and Mila 5 in front of their grammies tree that they helped decorate this year!

Please be sure to check out Eileen Hull's blog during December for lots of holiday inspiration using her Sizzix dies!

I'm linking my 3 1/2" x 5" Christmas Photo Album to:

Mini Album Makers Challenge

Paper:  Cream Mat Board - Little Sizzles - Sizzix,  blues and greens Bazzill Papers.
Ink:  Ranger Distress Oxide Ink Peeled Paint,  Ranger Distress Forest Moss.
Accessories:  Passport Book Die - Eileen Hull/Sizzix, Wendy Vecchi White Embossing Paste, Trees Stencil - Stamplorations, Mini Tree Stencil - Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous, Adirondack Butterscotch Alcohol Ink, Idea-ology Metallic Stickers/Holiday Talk, jump rings, mirrored stars, Jute String, Tiny Bells, Adornments-Pine Cones, Ice Skates, Nougat PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paint, Patina Effect Paste Mint Green, Blue, Brass, Gold Rust - Prima.