Crop Chocolate On-line Challenge: Altered Item

Ok, this CropChocolate.com challenge sent me running; all over the house that is. The greatest challenge for me on this one was finding something to alter. I went through every room in the house trying to find something. Finally, in my bedroom I stumbled upon a container one of my students gave to me years ago. I thought it was time for a facelift. What do you think?

 

My frugal nature would not let me set aside the unused pieces of Fancy Pants paper from the stepper card and I thought I could give them a new look. After cutting the pieces ( Key Lime Pie and Sweet Spring) to size, I inked them using Tim Holtz Shabby Shutters and Worn Lipstick.

I then added adhesive and randomly stamped using Versafine and the Me and My Big Ideas Sassy-icons stamp.

Love that one. It is currently on loan to me through a stamp swap. Might have to purchase that set.


I then adhered all of the pieces to the box including the top. I used my Crop-a-dile to cut a notch into both pieces (see inked photo above). For a final touch I added a variety of Dew Drops/Skittles using Glossy Accents.

I really think it looks much more inviting and definitely in line with this decade. Of course it was helped along with a bit of ink, in the name of love.

Until then.

Cuttlebug Holiday Folders: Ornaments

Welcome back. This post was to have gone up mid December. Life does not always go as planned. Santa did not bring a new camera for me so I will have to get my own. Until then no photos, sorry.


So let me begin by saying Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and Happy New Year. This is going to be your best year yet.


 I know you thought I had forgotten about the remaining holiday folders. NO WAY. I have just been having a great time playing with a lot of my tools and ordering new stuff like crazy. In this post I would like to share some of the things which resulted from the ornaments Cuttlebug folder.


There is much talk about using glossy cardstock and so I tried it with this folder and here are the results. (at some point a photo will appear here)




I wanted to create a resist technique but the angel nor the greeting showed as well as I had hoped, so I resorted to stamping, embossing, and cutting her out. I then mounted her to the card front using foam pads. The green paper background is a floral swirl that I overstamped with a red swirl. It turned out darker than I wanted, but again it is part of why I do the Learning Lab Vee-dios...to learn. I added the Christmas Skittles collection to the hanger of each ornament.


I played with a lot of my Sakura pens to test how each would perform on the card. Although the opague pens were different, the stardust pens gave the sparkly glitter results befitting the season. At Christmas everything needs to sparkle and shine. I cut a larger ornament from acetate using the Cricut Very Merry Tags mini cart and decorated it using the same Sakura stardust pen and stamped my greeting in the center with StazOn black.


From my playing around, I realized that I liked the black and white look from the sample card and decided to use my brayer to cover an entire card and make it black/white, with a silver accent.


Finally, I cut apart the ornament strips to use them as borders on a scrapbook page.




These folders are extremely versatile once you start looking at them as tools. When deciding on a purchase I have to immediately think of at least three different ways to use it or I do not buy it. This allows for a lot of variety in my crafting. 


My main staple is pure white cardstock. I can turn it into whatever I desire. I have thought up hundreds of ways to use it and pick up some whenever I am out.


I know that sometimes looking at that large blank canvass can be overwhelming, but for me it is a challenge to think outside of the box.


Thanks again for visiting my blog and if you have not checked out the latest Vee-dio it is the first one at the top of the Videos list.


As you get ready to prepare your Christmas cards, tags, or place settings, throw on a bit of ink and your guest will praise your handiwork. Why? Because it will be in the name of love.


Until then.

Shimmerz: Blingz It On

Happy Fall Y'all!!! Hello everyone. I hope this day finds you healthy and wise(r). It is a beautiful summer-like day here in Northern Virginia, but I know that fall is on the way. If you're here because you saw the  Shimmerz Vee-dio on YouTube, welcome. If not, it is the first video to the left.

Let me apologize in advance for the picture quality. I have not replaced my point and shoot camera. I will take new photos once I get it and repost them to this blog. Now, on to the Shimmerz.

I did not use any Sakura stardust or metallic pens on these projects--as a collective gasp is heard around the globe. This Shimmerz is shimmery enough and did not require further enhancement. Shimmerz comes in three ways--as a shimmering spritz (mist--now available in a mini bottle), Shimmerz paints which is more viscous than the mist, and the Blingz which is a thicker paint with lots of chunky mica. Both paints come in a pot. All three are water soluble for easy clean up and are non-toxic.

These products are highly irridescent and quick drying. I really like the versatility they provide.

One thing I discovered that was most helpful was using my paint brush to clean the ridges of the lid and the jar's neck. I returned the product to the jar. If you find bits of dried flakes on your jars, just remove them and return them back to the jar. It will reconstitute itself.

My favorite was by far the Fall scene using that incredible Autumn Flower Soft with the Spiced Cider Blingz (all of which are available at http://www.cutterscreek.com/. You will have to go back to my previous Flower Soft blog to find out how to get a freebie with your purchase.

Now to what most of you are seeking. The code to use when shopping for your Shimmerz Productz at http://www.cutterscreek.com/. Just enter Shimmerz Skittles and you will receive this beautiful mixed bag of flat back plastic gems. You will wonder how you ever lived without them.

Remember to keep inking, spritzing and blinging in the Name of Love.

Until then.