Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #109

Inside:

Welcome to Sketch #109 at Atlantic Hearts!

I've been wanting to use the birdcage on the CTMH Artfully Sent cartridge for a while, but knew I didn't want to use it as it is... why would I ever make things easy for myself?  I love birds.  I had one when I was a child for a short while, but as an adult, it makes me sad to see a bird in a cage.  I feel like birds are meant to fly free.  I knew my "bird" wouldn't be inside the cage.

I used my reject gold embossed owl that I cut out when I was creating my mixed media canvases that I posted previously (he's no longer a reject!).  The owl is not from CTMH, it's a set I purchased long ago at CKC and the brand name is Darcie's.  Not all clear stamps are as good quality as CTMH and I rarely buy other brands, but when I saw this one I had to have it and I was pleased with the quality of this one.

CTMH products that I used: The paper is Jackson, the flowers were stamped from Happy to Be Friends (embossed with holographic powder and cut out), the sentiment I cut from a PML card from the Jackson set, some gold sequins.  I felt the Jackson sentiment was perfect for my escaped owl.

Stop on over at Atlantic Hearts to see all of the great artwork!

A Self Portrait-Dabbling in Mixed Media

 

For the last couple weeks I've been working on this project.  I was inspired by a post on one of my favorite blogs to visit http://trace-elementz.blogspot.com/.  Tracey is so talented and a while ago she posted a canvas and it got my wheels turning.  So I pulled out three small canvases I picked up somewhere along the way with intentions of doing something with them... lol... my drawers are full of stuff like that.  I purchased a few items, like some texture paste, a couple stencils and some gesso.  I picked up a few paints in the colors I thought I wanted to use; pink, turquoise and gold.   One great tip I got from Tracey was that it was easy to use chipboard letters of all kinds together on a project like this.  Even if they were in varying colors and sizes.  I'll try to tell you some of the things I  learned along the way.

 

I knew I wanted to add some texture to my piece, so I used a grid stencil and swiped some texture paste over it, lifted the stencil and let it dry and then it sat... for days.  I had some heart stencils so I decided to add a few hearts with texture paste as well and let that dry... for a few more days.  Not that it takes days for the stuff to dry... but I was having a hard time deciding what words I wanted to use.  In the end, my two favorite words would do.  I went through my chipboard drawers to find the letters I needed and I didn't worry about patterns, colors or sizes.  I adhered my letters to the canvas using liquid glass.  I did have to hold them down for a little bit, but once they took hold I was good.  After that was dry, I painted over the whole thing with Gesso (which is a primer and allowed me to not have to worry about what chipboard letters I was using).  Then.... the piece sat while I tried to figure out what colors I wanted to use... for days... lol...

I finally kind of decided on color and one of the supplies I bought were some little Heidi Swapp sprays I found on clearance (the green and the turquoise) so I sprayed them on.  Then I was digging through some old acrylic paints I had and threw most of them out because they had dried up and I came across some pearl.  I got out a paint brush and liked the look of the pearl and so I started brushing it over the whole thing which worked out great because I really didn't like the spatter I had created so I started blending the blue and green and loved the look of it much better.  Then I added the pink to the hearts and dry brushed some gold on the letters and here and there.  While I let that dry, I knew what owl stamp I wanted to use.  I stamped it on some paper and embossed it in gold and cut it out... but alas, it was not "right".  So I set that aside to possibly use on a card and decided to stamp the owl directly on my piece in black.  That was scary... but what I've learned is if you don't like it; paint over it and do something else!  Then I pulled out these old definition stamps from CTMH and placed them in various places as well.  More days of sitting.  Finally today I decided I was going to finish.  I used a music background stamp and embossed the images very deliberately imperfectly onto the letters.  The blue flowers were painted gold and then embossed with a light turquoise embossing powder.  The reddish pink flowers were painted with the pink paint I put on the hearts and then when that dried I dry brushed some gold paint on them.  The butterflies were inked on the edges with Lagoon ink, lightly painted with the gold paint and then while it was wet I sprinkled holographic embossing powder all over it and heated.  The ribbon is Lagoon dyed seam binding ribbon which I sponged some Pear on after it dried.  I added embellishments and used some gold Wink of Stella in various areas... the best part was I didn't have to be neat!  Lastly I will spray the whole thing to protect it... but I haven't done that yet.

 

 

 

So... sorry for all the words, but some wanted to know how I did it... and there you go.  It was a long process but what I learned is.... if you're not sure how it will look... try it!  You can always change it!  Use STRONG adhesive.  My new favorite product... Texture Paste!  Look at everything you own in a different way.   Use what you love and don't be afraid... there are no rules.  Thanks to Tracey for the inspiration and bearing with my silly beginner questions.  So much fun... definitely going to do this again!

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #108

 

Welcome to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #108!  I used another card from Artfully Sent for this one and backed the cutouts with colorful glitter paper from CTMH.  I used Brushed again with a black accent... just love the way the softer colors play alongside the black.

 

Thanks for stopping and be sure to check out all of the great artwork at Atlantic Hearts!

 

Oooh La La!

 

So when I started this card I was going to focus on the hedgehog and then while I was sifting through the Artfully Sent cartridge images, I found this one... the card is for my niece who loves the Paris theme lately (and she loves hedgehogs).. so I got off track for awhile and was focusing on the Paris theme and when I got done I realized I'd completely forgotten about the hedgehog.  So I decided this cute little hedgehog would be the perfect addition to the card if I just added a cute little glittery pink bow....lol!  You may or may not agree... but I love it!  The paper is brushed; the flowers were cut from Art Philosophy in varying sizes and embossed with gold.  It was definitely a fun card to make and it was perfect because here is her gift:

 

 

 

I was shopping at the Brass Armadillo here in the Phoenix area... one of my favorite places to browse when I have time ... hundreds of vendors with vintage and not so vintage used as well as created finds and collectibles.  I stumbled upon the lamp base which had no shade.  She wants a chandelier in her room.. 9!... but in this part of the country we need our ceiling fans, so I thought maybe a good substitute would be an Eiffel Tower lamp with a blinged up lamp shade.  I got this plain white lamp shade and added a few baubles.  The frame I did not make, I stumbled upon this at another vintage shopping faire and loved it and bought it.  I think they go together nicely!

 

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to come by tomorrow to check out my version of the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge for next week!

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #107

Welcome to Sketch #107 for the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  I am having a lot of fun playing with the Taste of Summer special paper packet and stamp set (only available through the end of May).  The sentiments are so cute and really play nicely off of the papers whether you're making a fun card or layout.  Next week I'll be working on a layout believe it or not!  But let's not get ahead of ourselves.... stop over at the AHSC Blog and check out all of last week's artwork.  The top 3 will be posted on Wednesday.  And play along this week!  It's one decision you will not regret...

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 



My mom is Beary Special!

Made this for my best friend!  This bear would not be upstaged by a few Berries!.... Thanks for stopping!  Check back Tuesday for the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge!

Operation Smile 10 Card Workshop

When: Saturday, June 6th, 12:30pm to 4:00pm

Where: My home in Buckeye

 

Join me in my home for an afternoon of fun.  Create, Snack, Chat, and Shop if you wish.  We will make 10 fun cards using Blossom papers, the Operation Smile stamp set, Happy Everything, the May stamp of the month, Just Sayin', and Doodled Designs along with some fun embellishments.

 

Cost is $25 for the card kits (you will have a some leftovers to use as you wish)

 

Or you can purchase the card kits, plus the Operation Smile stamp set for $45

 

Or purchase the card kits, plus all three stamp sets for $55

 

With each card kit purchase, $2 will go to Operation Smile.

In addition, CTMH donates $3 for the purchase of each Operation Smile stamp set to Operation Smile.

 

Contact me at bzscrapper66@gmail.com to sign up by Saturday, May 23rd to allow time for ordering supplies and putting together the kits. 

 

 

 

 

 



Happy Everything

Just Sayin



Doodled Designs

 

Atlantic Hearts Sketch #106

 

Check out this week's Atlantic Heart's Sketch Challenge.. everyone is catching on that these are fun and inspiring sketches.. come and join the fun!

 

My project is another card using the Taste of Summer special paper pack.

 

Hop on over to Atlantic Hearts and check out all of the great artwork and let this be the week you give us a go!

 

 

Three Amigos Blog Hop May

 

 

Welcome to the Three Amigos Blog Hop!  We are three friends and fellow Close to My Heart consultants who challenge each other each month to create something.  This month our challenge was to use with the Operation Smile stamp set, "Happy Everything",  available in the new Seasonal Expressions Idea Book.  Not much of a challenge, I say!  This stamp set is so much fun and you will get so much use out of it.  Plus as a bonus, $3 of your purchase goes to Operation Smile.  There is no down side to this stamp set!  Operation smile has performed over 220,000 surgical procedures to correct facial deformities in children since 1982.

 

In addition to these cards being my blog hop project, they are also four of the 10 cards you can make at my Operation Smile card workshop May 23rd.  I will post again within the next couple days with more information, but save the date!  It will be a fun afternoon of chatting, creating, and snacking, shopping if you wish and part of your workshop fee as well as a % of anything you purchase that day will go to Operation Smile.

 

In addition to the Operation Smile stamp set for these cards I used: the May Stamp of the Month, Just Saying and Doodled Designs; Blossom paper pack, Silver Shimmer Trim and Sequins and a few other embellishments.

 

Now hop on over to Donna's and Susan's blogs to see what they've created this time around for your eyes' pleasure!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

A Taste of Summer

 

So... when I first saw this paper packet it for sure wasn't something I had been wishing for.  And then they announced the coordinating stamp set and ... hmmm... I think I need them!  The two together are so darn cute!  I have seen so many adorable creations both scrapbook pages and cards alike that have made me a fan.  I went thru my old Atlantic Hearts sketches for some inspiration and decided on the triple time stamping sketch from a couple weeks ago.  I used papers instead of stamping for the layers.  The paper, sentiment and frame, and orange slices are from the paper packet and stamp set.  The white sentiment frame, leaves and flourishes were cut from my Cricut.  Not sure what cartridge the leaves are from, but the flourish is from Art Philosophy and the label is from Artiste.  Such a fun special for this month!  Get yours before May 31st!