Spring is here! Happy Bird Shadowbox

Spring is one of the best seasons in Arizona.  The weather is perfect and everything is in bloom.  We have a little sparrow that decided to build her nest on our porch.  We can't wait to meet her teeny family.  To celebrate spring and our little mommy I made this shadow box.

I love birds.  They show up all the time in my work. This shadow box will make a great addition to my collection of bird related creations I have in my bedroom.

I started with a basic pine box that I picked up at Goodwill.  I painted it with a Cornflower blue acrylic paint and then applied a light tan wash.  When the paint was dry I speckled with walnut ink, black and cream colored paints.  It looks just like a bird egg.  

Sorry about this terrible picture.  It was late and the light was really bad.  I wanted you to be able to see the paper I added to the back.  It's from BoBunny Press.  I added some Tumbled Glass and Pumice Stone Distress Ink to grunge it up a bit.  

Now time to add in the fun bits!

This is the smaller niche.  The three little birds are remnant rubs.  The ephemera bits are from an old K & Company line.  Of course they are made to look grungy using Distress Inks.  

The larger niche has moss from the Dollar Store on the bottom.  The bird(the nest and eggs) is from my stash.  All of the paper ephemera on the left side are front the same K & Company kit.  The ticket, the bird cage, the remnant rub, and the saying are from Tim Holtz.  The pen nib I got on clearance at work(I work in a bookstore).  The little brass bird in the cage was purchased at a sewing expo.  

The sides have Industrious Stickers on them.  I rubbed Weathered Wood Distress Paint on them. I let it dry a bit and then rubbed it off with a cloth.  I used the same technique for the feet. 

There you have it.  A happy shadowbox to welcome spring.  

Did you know I usually post pictures of projects I am working on on my Facebook page and Instagram?  You can find me on both by looking for TwoMadDahlias.  

I am entering this shadowbox into A Vintage Journey's Say it with Words Challenge.

Rhedd and Rosies is having a wood challenge this week too.

What have you been crafting?

Jess

Found Relative Canvas

If you follow Tim Holtz on Facebook or Instagram you can get sneak peeks at what he is working on for upcoming classes.  He recently shared some burlap canvases that featured Found Relatives.  They are stunning, as per usual.  I had to make one of my own.  I didn't have all the same dies and ephemera so I used what I had on hand.

I adore this photo.  It might be because of the frizzy hair, the giant bow, or just the shy smile.  I knew this was the girl I needed to use.  

The canvas is 8x10, but she is mounted on a piece of paper I cut to 5x7.  I mounted the paper onto a piece of mat board and used Vintage Photo Distress Ink on the edges.  She is placed slightly off center.  I then started adding little bits and pieces.  

There are Remnant Rubs, Industrious Stickers, Word Bands,  and an Ideaology Heart Charm all from Tim Holtz.  Vintage lace, an old key, a watch face, a game piece, an old train ticket, a postage stamp, some brads,and a brass key tag round out the decor surrounding the found relative.  

For the main canvas I rubbed Distress Stain in Gathered Twigs and Evergreen Bough.  I took a paint brush dipped in water and "painted" all over to blend away any lines.  I added some paper to the corners to add visual interest.  I glued them down and then sanded the edges so they would blend into the canvas.  I rubbed Vintage Photo Distress Ink on the edges to age the paper.   I added some washi tape to one corner and colored it using Distress Markers and Inks.  Next, I went in with my Distress Inks in Mowed Lawn and Antique Linen.  I used the Faded Dot Stencil randomly on the canvas.  I then used Distress Paint in Weathered Wood and Bundled Sage to add more layers.  I needed more blue to tie in with the background paper she was on.  I used Broken China Distress Paint and the Heart Stencil in a couple spots.  

I used the same quote Tim used on one of his canvases.  

I used the Black Soot Distress Marker to outline the words and smeared it with water.  Being a total bonehead I forgot that distress reacts with water... every time.  So I ended up washing away my background around the words.  I used a dry paint brush and the Distress Stains to repair my booboo.  

I decided where I wanted to mount the photo and cut through the canvas so I could attach the clipboard clip.  She is just held on by the clip.  I did not glue her down to the canvas.  

There you have it.  The cutest little girl I have never met.  

I am entering her into A Vintage Journey's Say it with Words Challenge.  I am also entering her into The Artful Times Game Piece Challenge.  

Crafting By Design has any Anything Goes Challenge.

Rhedd and Rosies is having an aged and distressed challenge.  

What have you been crafting?

Jess

Pink, Black, and Bling Artist Trading Cards

I have not made ATC's in at least five years.  I decided to jump back into the game doing a small swap with Kimberly of ArtJoyStuff.  The theme is pink, black, and bling.  Here are my three.  I can't wait to see what comes back to me!  I will be sure to post them for you to see.
Here are my ballerina cards...

The ballerina images are from Mon Bonbon.  The background paper is from Lisa's Altered Art.  If you haven't ordered from Patty at Lisa's Altered Art you should! She has awesome images and a great sense of humor.  She responds so quickly too.  

I can't wait to pop these ladies in the mail.  

I will enter these into Craft Hoarders Anonymous' Sparkle, Glitz, and Glam Challenge.

Do you participate in any swaps? Which ones are your favorite?

Jess

Vintage Fairy Canvas Panels

A couple weeks ago Tammy Tutterow had a free online tutorial and created a gorgeous canvas panel.  This is my take on the panel.  Tammy did her panels using vintage photos and ephemera.  I decided to put this super cute fairy from Lisa's Altered Art.

The fairy was originally a little witch sitting on a moon or a pumpkin.  I trimmed her out, cut off the halloween wings, and witch hat.  I added the butterfly wings(also from Lisa's Altered Art) and the hat from a scrap of Graphic 45 Secret Garden paper.  The fairy is on a piece of paper from Marion Smith Designs Mad Tea Party collection.  The saying is also from that collection.
The main panel is colored with Dylusions, Distress Inks, Distress Paints, and walnut ink.  The next layer is a book page that I aged using Antique Linen and Vintage Photo Distress Inks and Stains.  I glued it right to the panel using Zip Dry.
The next layer is cardstock that was run through the Sizzix in an embossing folder.  I aged it using Distress Ink in Vintage Photo.  This was raised up using foam dots.
The fairy panel is mounted on mat board and glued with Zip Dry to the embossed panel.  The fairy is raised with foam too.

I used Victorian Velvet and Antique Linen Distress Inks to stain the Tim Holtz ribbon.  I added some vintage velvet flowers to complete the panel. 

I loved this so much I made two more.  

I am entering these into the Simon Says Stamp Monday Distress Challenge.  I am also entering it into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.  You might look at the Wednesday Challenge and say what the heck do these fairies have to do with Moms? I made the bottom fairy for my Mom, she came up with the saying :) 

Craft Hoarders Anonymous is having a vintage themed challenge this week too.

I hope you like these as much as I do!

What have you been crafting?

Jess

Distressed and funky flower mirror

I have had this boring mirror from IKEA hanging around for awhile now.  I finally decided to make it pretty.  I painted the base with a cream colored paint and then added some hints of pink, green, and brown to add interest.  My sanding block came out to distress all over.  Still pretty boring.  The Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die was just what I needed.  I cut flowers out of cardstock, grungepaper, tissue paper, and tulle.  Once I had a bunch cut I just started to play with arrangements.  I added ink to some, paint to others, and perfect pearls mists to others.  Some I crumpled up and others I just put them on just they way they came out of the die.  The different brad and button centers added another layer of interest.  The final piece was the "Gorgeous girl" kraft tag.  It's not from a scrapbooking company, but a gift company called East of India.  They have beautiful items that work perfectly for papercrafting.
Now it is finished and ready to grace the wall of my gorgeous girl.
P.S. Do you know how hard it is to take a picture of a mirror and not get your camera, or your messy craft room in the shot.  Sheesh. :)

I am entering this mirror into A Vintage Journey's TIm Holtz challenge and Inspiration Emporium's  Splash of Color  challenge.  

What have you been crafting?
Jess

Eiffel Tower make over

If you read my last post you know I struggled with making my tag for this months Tim Holtz 12 tag challenge.  I made a few tags I really didn't like, but didn't want to throw them away.  I covered them with gesso and created something new.
This is the second tag I made out of my mistakes.

I gessoed the back and then layered on Distress Inks.  I ran it through the Sizzix in the French Script embossing folder.  I used Vintage Photo and Black Soot Distress Inks on the raised areas.  I felt the background needed more, so I added Perfect Pearls to make it pop.  Next I cut the Eiffel Tower out and used Sticky Embossing Powder to get the Martha Stewart glitter to stick.

I have no idea where the travels tag came from, it has been in my stash forever.  The ornate plate and rub ons are both Tim Holtz.  The ribbon is old sari ribbon that was hand dyed.

I am entering this into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.  This week they are showcasing tags.  I am also entering it into the Stampotique Desginer Challenge highlighting textured backgrounds.  I would say this tag is no longer a mistake!

Thank you to all of the new visitors to the blog.  I love to read your comments.  Let me know what you think.
What have you been crafting?
Jess

Tim Holtz's 12 tags of 2014 March Smudge Stamping

Back with another Tim tag! I really enjoyed learning this technique when I took Creative Chemistry.  I really struggled with it today.  When I did it during Creative Chemistry I used a Halloween stamp set, so everything went together.  Most of my stamps aren't sets.  I started off thinking I would do a sewing theme.  Scrapped it.  Then a travel theme.  Scrapped it.  I finally settled on using a music stamp, a dress, and a bird.  They have nothing in common, but I love the result!

I really like the subtlety of the entire thing.  It's so girly.  

The ribbon is a vintage strap.  I can picture it being on this dress.  I stuck pretty close to how Tim completed his tag.  I stamped my first generation on a tag and then used the second generation for the final result.  I added distress marker to my craft sheet and used the watercolor pen to add highlights to the dress. 

I don't have a spritzer so I used a mini mister that I filled with a couple drops of alcohol ink and water to mist some faded dots to the top and the bottom of the tag.  A little washi tape completed the basic tag.  

I smudged the entire tag with pumice stone to finish. 

Elegant and gorgeous.  

Want to know what I did with the ones I passed over?

I gessoed over the entire thing.  The images from the sewing themed tag I tried still peeked through but I liked the effect.  I rubbed distress stain in Squeezed Lemonade over the entire surface.  I then layered with a crack pattern stencil to add dimension.  I cut flowers out of cardstock using the Tattered Florals die.  I put Pickled Raspberry, Broken China, and Spiced Marmalade Distress Stain on the craft sheet and spritzed with water.  I ran the largest and the second smallest through the stain once.  I dried them and ran them through again.  I then sprayed them with Perfect Pearls and crumpled them.  I dried again and used Scattered Straw Distress Ink to highlight the wrinkles.  The blue flowers are a mixture of Broken China and Peacock Fathers Distress Ink.  I put the flowers together using brads with a pearl center. I used the negative from the die cut to make embossing paste (colored with Alcohol Ink)flowers.  I put a tiny bit of translucent glitter on them before they dried.   I used Pickled Raspberry Ink on the edges.  The tiny text was colored with the blue that was on the ink dauber.  I attached it to the tag using the tiny attacher.  

 

 

They are having a pearl challenge on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog that I will enter this tag into.  It also works for the Frilly and Funkie stencils and texture challenge.  Over at the Artful Times they are having an Anything Goes challenge.  This is anything, so I will add it onto that challenge too!

Remember I said I tried a couple different tags before I settled on the dress tag.  I will be back later in the week to show you what I did with the other one I passed over.  

What have you been crafting?

Jess

Prima Fairy Belle Album

I love this Prima Fairy Belle paper.  It's not available from them, but you can track it down on line.  This post is very picture heavy.  Very.  You've been warned....

Whew! You made it to the end.  I hope you like this album as much as I do.  

What have you been crafting?

Jess