Intersecting Brick Circles

I finally found a day to spend in my craft room - and one of the things I wanted to get done was a card for the August CAS Mix Up Challenge!

I used water for my 'spray' - inking my Intersecting Brick Circles from Stencil Girls with Distress Mermaid Lagoon Ink, spritzing the stencil with water - and laying it over a white panel.  I pressed over the stencil with a paper towel - and then removed the stencil.

I cut my panel in half and made two cards!  One is a 'Well Wishes' card for a friend recovering from a recent surgery.

and I made the 2nd a Birthday card.  I think using this stencil in blue - the card would work for a guy or a girl.

I used Loll's technique of white embossing the sentiment on a black sentiment strip - it really gives a punch on the mostly white card.  I layered my stenciled panels to a slightly larger black panel as well - and adhered it to the card base with foam dots. 

I'm also linking my card to:

 Seize the Birthday

Happy Little Stampers

 It was in the 90's here yesterday - so I was more than happy to stay inside in the airconditioning and play in my craft room!

Stamps:  Better Get Better/Pure Innocence - MFT, Keep It Simple Birthday II - PTI

Ink:  Ranger Distress Mermaid Lagoon, Versamark

Paper:  White, True Black - PTI

Accessories:  Sentiment Strip Dies - MFT, Intersecting Brick Circles - Stencil Girls, white embossing powder, Mini Mister - Ranger, foam dots.

Don't Grow Up Too Quickly

A co-worker asked me to make a 1st Birthday card for her daughter Alanna who LOVES the beach - and she supplied me with this photo of her to use on the card.

I went to the internet to get some beach inspiration and found this photo that I thought would work well as a background.

Here is the card I created -  It's actually a little stand up frame that I made using Eileen Hull's Mailable Frame die from Sizzix.

Here's how I created this Birthday Frame Card.  I die cut the frame out of Little Sizzles Matboard from Sizzix.  Then I laid the beach photo over the die in the frame opening area so I could use a piece of the photo on the frame as well as the inside.  I fussy cut Alanna's photo as well as her beach toys.

Since the beach photo didn't cover the whole frame, I masked at the folds with some Post It Notes, sponged the frame and the inside of the frame with Distress Mermaid Lagoon.  Then I flicked water over the inking to make water spots to add to the watery feel of the card.

I added her name using Idea-ology Label Letters.  I stamped a sand dollar on a piece of white card stock using Distress Brushed Corduroy, stamped the sentiment over it in Archival Jet Black and sponged the edges with Distress Antique Linen.
 (The stamps are from a set called Gifts from the Sea from Gina K Designs - but it seems this set is no longer available - they have similar set here but it doesn't have this sentiment in it)
I adhered it to the frame with foam dots.  I stamped the 3 little seagulls in the sky.

I adhered the photo of Alanna and her beach toys with foam dots.  You can see how the frame stands up in the photo below - it can be folded right up and mailed in an envelope just like a regular card!

Here's a close up of the inside -  I glued the piece of the photo over the matboard piece, sponged the edges with Distress Mermaid Lagoon and adhered it on the inside of the frame being sure it matched the opening in the front.  I added Big Chat, Chit Chat and Small Talk/Occasions stickers for this sentiment.  I stamped the date of her birthday in the corner using some Karen Foster number stamps (no longer available)

My card design was inspired by the Featured Stamper Challenge over on Splitcoast today - I saw this card by Amy and the window on her card immediately made me think of using my frame die! 

The design part is often the most difficult when creating a special card - I had all the pieces but wasn't quite sure how to put them all together - so seeing Amy's card was SO helpful!

I'm also linking my card to:
Seize the Birthday

 

Stamps: Gifts From the Sea - Gina K Designs
Paper: Little Sizzles White Matboard - Sizzix

Ink: Archival Jet Black, Ranger Distress Mermaid Lagoon, Brushed Corduroy, Antique Linen
Accessories: Mailable frame Die - Eileen Hull/Sizzix, beach photo from internet, baby photo, water for flicking, Idea-ology Label Letters, Big Chat, Chit Chat, Small Talk/Occasions, foam dots.

Twisted Wire for Halloween

Hello everyone, for the month of August, Eileen Hull's Inspiration Team will be introducing you to her new Twist and Style Tool.  This new tool allows you to add a creative twist to any of your projects.  If you're tired of sore fingers from hand twisting wire, ribbon and the like this is the tool for you!  Eileen's new Twist and Style tool allows you to create a perfectly even twist with just a few turns.  

If you are wondering how the Twist and Style Tool can help you create beautiful projects the Inspiration Team is here to show you all the wonderful ways you can use her new tool for your creative endeavors.  The Twist and Style Tool will be available soon so check your local stores and the Eileen Hull Sizzix Page for updates. 

For my very first project using Eileen's Twist and Style tool I've jumped right out of summer into one of my favorite seasons for decorating -  Halloween!  

I used the tool to twist a long piece of 22 gauge silver wire, adding the skeleton hand charm before I twisted the wire - and gluing the bat on the other end after twisting the wire around the bottle of 'brew'!

Here are a few photos of the process.  I folded my length of wire in half, slipped the charm on and moved it to the center fold (this one is a camera charm) and placed the loop over the Twist and Style base which is suctioned to my Corian countertop nice and snug!

You twist the two wires at the other end together and loop it through the hook on the double handle (shown here on the right - sorry no close up of the process) and then you just wind the handles (holding one still and the other rotates) and you get a wonderfully twisted wire - you can see 3 I made below.

Here's a close up of the pieces I made with 3 different charms.  I'll be using the bird and camera ones for other projects!

I started with this little 4 1/2" high corked bottle that I got at my local Christmas Tree Shop for $1.00 last year.  I added some Haunted Rub Ons from Cosmo Cricket that I've had for years.

(so glad to finally use

It says "something's brewing"

I twisted the wire around the bottle neck so the skeleton hand from Funkie Junkie would hang half way down.

I embossed the cork on the top and a little bit down on the sides with Frantage Aged Gold Embossing Powder from Stampendous. I had these sparkly foam bat stickers in my stash and glued two together (front and back) over the end of the twisted wire - adding rhinestone eyes!

I dropped some Latte Adirondack Alcohol Ink onto the Idea-ology Crossbones adding tiny rhinestones to his eye sockets and glued him to the top of the cork.

The wire is loosely wrapped around the jar and can be lifted right off if desired.  The twisted wire holds it's shape pretty well - so Mr. Bat just keeps flying above the jar! 

Oh, and I filled the bottle with water mixed with red food coloring in case you were wondering!

I hope you have enjoyed my 'wired' Halloween project - and please remember to check over at Eileen Hull's blog for more inspiration using this fun new tool - Twist and Style - it should be available for purchase soon from Sizzix!  I'll be back next Tuesday with another project.

Ink:  Versamark

Accessories:  corked jar - The Christmas Tree Shops, Haunted Rub Ons - Cosmo Cricket, foam bats - Michaels, Twist and Style Tool - Eileen Hull/Sizzix,22 gauge floral wire - Joanns,  skeleton hand charm - Funkie Junkie Boutique, Idea-ology Adornments/Cross Bones, Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Latte, Frantage Aged Gold Embossing Powder - Stampendous, water and red food coloring.

The Beauty of New England

Once again - I've been neglecting the blog -  seems like life has taken me away from creating for a bit.  I'm actually on vacation this week and Kent and I have been taking mini trips visiting relatives and friends and I thought I'd share some photos.

Over the weekend, we went to visit Kent's brother and his wife in Killington, VT where they have built a beautiful post and beam home - just down the street from Killington Mountain - as Chad is an avid skier.  And it just so happened that the last concert of the Killington Music Festival was held at the summit of the mountain when we visited and they got tickets for us all to go.   

We rode to the top of Killington on the gondolas.

Here is the view around 6 pm that night

Kent and Chad standing by the Catwalk trail sign that would have snow up to the middle of it in the winter.

then the sun began to set and mountains changed to shades of blue. This is taken from inside the room where the concert was.

and then brilliant oranges and reds -  the reflected sparkles are the strings of lights inside the hall.
(I took the photo with my cell phone through the window!)

Here, mostly in silhouette, are two of the three musicians, one on violin, one on viola - the music was magical with the gorgeous views all around us.

This is the view on our gondola ride down the mountain around 9 pm after the concert

I always bring some sort of gift to Carol and Chad to thank them for letting us stay with them.  

This year I made a succulent garden in a glass vase and put it inside this little metal and wood truck that I had picked up at Joann's last year half price!   (It's supposed to be a bird feeder)

All I added it to it were some little wooden stars on the hood, doors and rear and two Idea-ology Occasions Stickers. 

Carol has made beautiful gardens all around their lovely home - both inside and out - and she said my gift was perfect!

Our next mini adventure was to visit our friends, Flo and Rob, at their families cottage on Lake Winnipesaukee, NH.
We got to stay in a separate 1 room cottage called the Caboose, we had our own half bathroom, a sink, mini fridge, microwave and coffee maker!  How comfy cozy is this!

  And right outside our door we see this! (the main cottage is up the stairs on the right)

We had a great boat ride around part of the lake,  swam in the lake, laid in the sun, had great conversation with our friends, delicious fried clams for and breathed in the wonderful mountain air!

A Vintage Journey - August Challenge - Stencil It!

Today is the day the August challenge is posted over at A Vintage Journey.  Amanda is our hostess this month and her challenge is "Stencil It"

Here is the challenge description:

There are so many fantastic stencils available to us right now and so many ways in which to use them so we would like you to include stenciling in whatever it is you choose to create for this challenge. Don’t forget all the ways in which they can be used – inks , sprays , paints, texture/embossing pastes and gesso are all stencil friendly. So be sure to have fun and embrace your stencils in your vintage; shabby; mixed-media; art journaling; industrial or steampunk projects.

I got out a bunch of my Wendy Vecchi supplies to create my stencil project.

First I used Wendy's technique for creating a fun background panel.  I dropped two colors of WV Archival re-inkers (Sunflower and Garden Patina) onto my craft mat, added Rubbing Alcohol (Mineral Spirits) and swirled them together with a pallet knife.

Then I dragged some panels of Ranger Specialty Paper through the mix, letting it drip down, hitting it with my heat tool, rubbing it back in the inks - until I was happy with how each piece looked.  Here are the panels I ended up with.

 My intention was to use one of the larger panels - but after several false starts - I ended up using the smaller piece!  I used 3 WV stencils on this little 2 3/4" x 4" panel.  First I sponged WV Archival Cornflower Blue ink through a portion of the Check Mate Stencil.  Then I sponged WV Archival Watering Can through the Repeating Quilt Stencil.  I finished my design with Archival Jet Black ink sponged over the stripes part of the Dots and Stripes Stencil.

 Then I needed a larger panel to layer this to - so I cut another piece of Specialty Paper 4" x 5 1/4".  First I did some partial stampings - using Cornflower Blue Ink on the Ornate Dots Background stamp and Watering Can Ink on the Script Background stamp.  Then I randomly stenciled with Garden Patina Ink over the Check Mate Stencil.  I sponged the edges with Sunflower Ink to tie it into the front panel.

I added a piece of Commute Tissue Tape behind the smaller panel and stapled a piece of Film Strip Ribbon across the top of the panel. 

I layered the small panel over the larger panel with foam dots to add a little dimension.  To finish it off, I adhered a Small Talk sticker to the panel.

I even added stenciling on the inside of my card!  I sponged WV Archival Garden Patina ink through the HAPPY BIRTHDAY on the WV All Occasions Sentiments stencil - I masked around the words I wanted so it was easier to sponge cleanly without worrying about sponging over onto another word!

I added another Small Talk Sticker above the stenciling "a party without cake is just a meeting'.

 So get out your stencils (we KNOW you have them!!) and link up your creation over at A Vintage Journey!  We can't wait to see how you will inspire us!!  

 Our sponsor this month is the very generous Country View Crafts and the random winner will receive a £20 voucher to spend in store.There will also be three pinworthy winners chosen by the Creative Guides who will receive a pinworthy badge for their blog and an invite to be a Guest Designer here at A Vintage Journey for a future challenge.   Check out all the details over at AVJ!

Stamps:  Wendy Vecchi Studio 490/Stampers Anonymous Background Ornate Dots, Background Script.

Paper: Specialty Paper - Ranger, True Black, White - PTI

Ink:  Wendy Vecchi Archival Sunflower, Garden Patina, Watering Can, Cornflower Blue, Reinkers SunFlower and Garden Patina,  Archival Jet Black.

Accessories:  Wendy Vecchi Studio 490/Stampers Anonymous Stencils Dots & Stripes, Check Mate, Repeating Quilt, All Occasion Sentiments, Idea-ology Film Strip Ribbon, Tissue Tape/Commute, Small Talk Stickers, foam dots, Mini Attacher - Ranger.