Faith Can Move Mountains - CAS Mix Up card

Today, I have another card for the CAS Mix Up Challenge.  For June - the challenge is to use stamps, die cuts and another media of choice.

 I used Royal Velvet purple ink on the mountain range stamp from Alpine Christmas by Waltzingmouse which I stamped and die cut and layered over the white card. I stamped the sentiment from Inspired - Faith from PTI below the mountains.  I die cut the Faith out of black cardstock and adhered that above the mountains.

As my additional media - I added 3 silver stars from Nautical Sparkle sequin pack.  They really sparkle IRL!

Here's the link to this month long challenge - hope to see your CAS Mix UP card there!

Stamps:  Alpine Christmas - Waltzingmouse, Inspired - Faith - Papertrey Ink.
Paper:  White, True Black - PTI
Ink:  Royal Velvet - PTI
Accessories:  Dies - Alpine Christmas - WMS, Inspired Faith - PTI, Nautical Sparkle Sequin Mix - Lucy Cards

Savvy Succulents

I was inspired by the colors and spiky succulents in  this pinterest photo

Here's my  rather abstract interpretation using watercolor paints.

I took a panel of Arches watercolor paper - spritzed it with water - and then painted watercolors over it - drying it with my heat tool and adding water and paints until I was happy with the color and design.  Then I dried it thoroughly with my heat tool and stamped this wonderful sentiment from the One With Nature set by Simon Says Stamp.

I just love this quote sentiment - and how it looks like it was typed on an old manual typewriter with dirty keys.

Stamps:  One with Nature - Simon Says Stamp

Paper:  Arches Watercolor Paper, Vintage Cream and Canyon Clay - PTI

Ink:  True Black - PTI

Accessories:  watercolor paints, paint brush, Mini Mister - Ranger, heat tool.

Earth Without Art

I'm so happy with how this card design came out!  I made it for Loll and Bonnie's CAS Mix Up June Challenge - Stamping plus Die-Cuts plus Your Choice.

I used Tim's wonderful Alterations Globe die. 

I cut it out of Arches Watercolor paper and colored it by sprinkling Leaf Green Brushos on the continent areas and spritzing with water.

I spritzed water onto a 4"x5 1/4" panel of Arches Watercolor paper and brushed blue water color paint over the water - this became the oceans behind the globe.  I layered the globe over the watercolored area using a thick foam dot under Africa and glued the right and left edges to the panel to give it a global curve.

Then I glued on this wonderful laser cut chipboard sentiment that my lovely, thoughtful and generous  friend Anne gifted me all the way from England!  (thank  you Anne!) It is absolutely perfect with this globe die.

and since I didn't stamp my sentiment - I needed to stamp SOMETHING so I found a little star stamp and scattered stamped stars over the panel using Ranger Distress Vintage Photo ink so they were soft and subtle.

So- Stamping (stars) - Die cuts (globe) - Your choice (watercolor background, Brusho coloring on globe)

I hope you'll come along and join us in the CAS Mix Up challenge for June!  

I'm also linking my card to:

Frilly and Funkie - Let the Words do the Talking 

Mixed Media Monthly Challenge - #15 Get Texty

Stamps:  Yonder Star - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  White - PTI, Arches Watercolor Paper
Ink:  Ranger Distress Vintage Photo
Accessories:  Glob Die - Tim Holtz/Alterations/Sizzix, foam dots, Leaf Green Brushos, Fine Tip Glue Pen - SU, Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive, sentiment - Scrapiniec Decorative Chipboard, water mister, blue water color paint, paint brush.

James - the Force of Five

Grandnephew James is celebrating his 5th birthday today (his actual b'day was 5/27).  And I just had to make him a personalized card!  I always try to find a current photo that someone in the family has taken of the birthday child - and figure out a design that either goes along with the party theme - or with some sport or activity that the birthday child is involved in at the time.

So -  James party invitation was a Star Wars character and James loves doing the little Lego kits (he's really good at putting them together all by himself) - and so this card was born!  The photo of James is one that his mum took on the actual day of his birthday last week.

I cut a piece of chipboard 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" as my card base and added a layer of black and white stars DP.  I found the Star Wars images on line just by 'googling' Star Wars.  The little Lego Darth Vada was perfect - I love how stumpy he is (!) and the ships on the background photo are actually made out of Legos too!

I used a Vial Label to frame the Label Letters spelling JAMES. I added a little red gem to Darth Vada's laser sword and to James name panel.  I typed out The Force of FIVE sentiment on Microsoft Word and printed it  - as a play on words of the Star Wars title Force for Change.  

(get it?  James is FIVE and a force to be reckoned with?!!!)

 Here you can see how I've popped everything up on foam dots so it has a great dimensional look to it.

I made the card a stand up piece by adding my favorite thing to the back - an easel - die cut with Tim Holtz Small Easel Die - so this card can be displayed on shelf or mantel.

 So we're off to the party -  Pizza and Cake from 2 - 4 pm!  May the Force be with you!!

I'm linking my card to:

Seize the Birthday

 

Paper:  White card, DP Text Style Bitty Star Basics - PTI, Natural Medium Weight Chipboard - Funkie Junkie.
Accessories:  Star Wars Images from Web, photo of James, Small Easel Die - Tim Holtz/Alterations/Sizzix, foam dots, red rhinestones - Michaels, Idea-Ology - Vial Labels, Label Letters, Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive.

A Vintage Journey - June Challenge - Texture and Embossing Pastes

The new June Challenge is up over at A Vintage Journey and I am happy to be one of the Creative Guides playing along this month!  Astrid is our hostess and she wants us to create a lot of texture using embossing pastes!

Here is her challenge description:  Use any kind of texture paste (home made, crackle, coloured or plain) on your projects. There is an endless variety available, so play, have fun and apply it to your heart's content. Use it through stencils, randomly or in whatever way you want, but remember it should be in one of the vintage; shabby; mixed media; art journaling; industrial or steampunk styles that we favour. Put on your mixed media hat and create some magic! 

I added texture to a coffee mug that I made using Eileen Hull's Sizzix Mug and Spoon Die. I used Eileen's Box - Make It 3D die to add sides and a bottom to make the coffee mug into a gift box!

I'll show you how I put this together and then show you all the finished sides!  I cut out two mugs and one spoon (not shown here) and one of the box sides pieces from the Box Make It 3D die (there are 3 different shaped side dies.)  I first rubbed the WV Archival Tree Branch Ink pad directly over all the pieces then sponged some WV Archival Red Geranium ink over it - trying to achieve the look of fired pottery.

I added texture by adding WV Crackled Texture paste through Tim Holtz' Blossom Stencil.  I colored the white crackle paste by adding a few drops of WV Cornflower Blue Re-inker into the paste and stirring it well to blend.  I put it on pretty thick.

I silver embossed the spoon that is part of the Mug die.

I wanted it to look like a piece of Sterling Silver with a design on the handle -  so after looking through my stamps - I used this  pretty arch frame one from Tim's Classics #6 set.  I masked the bowl of the spoon and then just pressed the stamp over the spoon - trying to line up the center of the arch with the handle of the spoon -  it came out just like I hoped it would!

When the Crackled Texture Paste dried - I realized I needed to cover it with something so it wouldn't all just flake off.  So I got out my recently purchased Distress Collage Medium/Crazing, read the instructions, and thought that would be just the ticket!  and brushed it on.  This gave the added benefit of a little more subtle crackle as well as sealing it!

I decided I wanted to add a rim to the mug - so I cut just the top part of two more mugs - inked it the same as the mug pieces and added the Distress Collage Medium

When everything dried (overnight) I assembled all the pieces!   I sponged the edges with Distress Ground Espresso.

And adhered the sides to the two mug pieces to form the box using Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive.

Then I added splatter (a little too much! but once it's done - it's done! live and learn) with my splatter brush and some white acrylic paint.  Here's a close up of the front showing the Small Talk sticker and all the crackle and texture from the paste.

I tied the spoon to the handle with a piece of wrinkled seam tape - I just LOVE how the stamping came out on the spoon!

here's the back

Close up

and from the top - there's plenty of room inside to add some small single serve coffee pouches like those at Star Bucks or a gift card.  The mug measures ~2 1/2" wide  x 4" high  x 1 1/4" deep.

We hope you will join us this month and link up your textured creation over at A Vintage Journey - and please take a look at what the rest of the Creative Guides have put together for our inspiration!!

I'm also linking my crackled/textured mug to:
Country View June Challenge - Crackle

Mixed Media Monthly Challenge 2nd Anniversary - I went with challenge  #18 Texture

Frilly and Funkie - Let the Words do the talking

Stamps:  Classics #16 - Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous

Paper:  Little Sizzles white Matboard - Sizzix

Ink:  Archival Jet Black, Wendy Vecchi Archival Red Geranium and Tree Branch, and Cornflower Blue Reinker, Ranger Distress Ground Espresso.

Accessories:  Dies - Mug and Spoon, Box/Make It 3D - Eileen Hull/Sizzix, Wency Vecchi Crackled Texture Paste, Silver embossing Powder, heat tool, white acrylic paint, Ranger Splatter brush, Blossom Stencil - Tim Holtz/SA, Idea-ology Small Talk Sticker, Distress Collage Medium/Crazing - Ranger, Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive, Wrinkled Seam Tape - Prairie Bird Boutique Etsy Shop.

Paper Flowers in a Vase = LOVE

Today I have another project to share as the newest Design Team Member on Eileen Hull's Sizzix DT. 

For the May Design Team projects -  our instructions are to "Create a project tutorial using the new Paper Flower Party Dies or Re-released dies (suitcase, square box, tea cup, bag caddy, 3-D Vase or Candy Drawer"

This time I was able to use three of Eileen's new Sizzix products - Thinlets Die Flower, Rolled, Bigz Die Leaves of Spring and her Honeycomb embossing folder!

Here are a few photos of how I put the flowers together.  I die cut the flowers out of Funky Town DP from PTI and rolled them according to the instructions.  I die cut the stamens and calax of the flower from Summer Sunrise cardstock.

I decided I wanted to have wire stems on my flowers - so I took a piece of Floral Wire 18 gauge that was already wrapped with floral tape, pushed it through the bottom of the flower and glued it to the stamen.  I glued small white Prima Art Stones to the center of each flower.

 Here they are all done, just waiting for their leaves.

I die cut one of the leaves from Eileen's Leaves,Spring Bigz die and then embossed them using Eileen's new Honeycomb Embossing Folder.  This just gave them a little added texture.  I debated as to whether I wanted to sponge all the edges of flowers and leaves with a Distress Ink - but decided to leave them clean and bright!

The wire on the blooms allows me to make each stem longer or shorter and I can bend them forward or back or to the side depending on how I want them to look.

I bought this sweet antiqued vase at Michaels over the weekend -  it was 60% off and I also had a coupon for 20% off everything I purchased so this just cost $3.59!  I added a punched butterfly to one of the bottles and tied a bow of wrinkled seam tape on another.

I'm really happy with how my pretty spring/summer flowers look in these bright colors sitting in this sweet little bottle vase.  The vase measures 6" w x 4" h

Please check out Eileen's blog to see what other DT members have posted there for your inspiration!

I'm linking my project to the following challenges:

Anything But Cute -  Celebrate your style.

The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge - Butterflies and Blooms

Paper:  Summer Sunrise, Simply Chartreuse, white, DP Text Style Funky Town - PTI
Accessories:  Eileen Hull Dies - Sizzix Thinlets die Flower/Rolled, Sizzix Bigz Die Leaves, Spring, Eileen Hull Sizzix Honeycomb Embossing Folder.  Wrinkled Seam Tape - Prairie Bird Boutique Etsy Shop, hot glue gun, Floral Wire 18 Gauge, Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch, White Small Artstones - Prima/Finnabair, Vase - Michaels, Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive.