Tim tag for July

Dang! This is the closest I've ever cut it to the wire! Truth be told I have had a hard time finding my craft mojo this month.  I have been reading like crazy instead.  I read 12 books this month.  12! Sheesh.
But you're not here to hear about what I read, you're here to see my tag.

My tag is a bit different than Tim's.  I really wanted to use these images from Dina Wakley.  I'm taking a class with her tonight and thought it would inspire me a bit.  

They are watercolored using watercolors and a few distress markers.  The backgrounds are colored with distress inks using my water brush.  I like the resin flowers they have too.  It's a pretty girly tag.  

There ya go! My tag for July.  

What have you been crafting?

Jess

The best way to spread Christmas cheer

How can you not love this altered coaster?! 

Altered coastes are so fun and easy to make.  This little photo booth girl was so giggly I knew she would make a great elf.  A scrap of paper, a pompom, and a bit of trim makes the perfect elf hat.  I colored her sweater in using my Distress Marker in Mowed Lawn.  

Usually I cover my entire coaster, but the green stripes worked with my theme.   I just popped on a scrap of Christmas paper and some vintage sheet music for layers.  A quote and a sprig of holly complete her.  

Easy christmas gift is done!

What have you been crafting?

Jess

Christmas in July Blog Hop

Welcome hoppers! Today I have a delicious peppermint ornament for you.

I started by cutting a 4 inch circle of Smoothfoam.  Once I had my circle cut I had to figure out the size I needed to cut my peppermint swirls(right now they look like blingy shark fins).   I used my template to cut the swirls out of the Iridescent Glitter Cardstock and the Candy Apple Red Glitter Cardstock.

When I had all of my swirls I glued them to the front and back of the Smoothfoam circle.  

Don't worry about the bit of overlap in the middle, we are going to cover that up.  I used a Snowflake and Heart Dew Drop on both sides. 

The sides were covered with a red frilly ribbon.  

Here's a better peek at the side.  It covers the raw edge of the Smoothfoam.  You could paint it or cover it with more paper too.  

Nobody wants to eat a mint that is out of the wrapper.  I made this wrapper out of a cellophane bag.

I cinched the ends with a bit of wire to hold them tight and covered the wire with Rusty Rose Ribbon. 

I added a bit of The Robin's Nest straw to make the hanger and my delicious mint is ready for the tree.  

I hope you enjoyed seeing how I made my peppermint and feel inspired to create your own.

Merry Christmas in July!

Jess

The Robin's Nest

ATC tryptic

I am up at the The Robin's Nest today with a set of whimsical ATCs.

I hope you come over.  I have a step by step tutorial for you.  

Jess

Photobooth ATCs

I have a thing for ATCs as of late.  I like how quickly I can work them up.  In a short amount of time you can have a tiny work of art!

I created these three for a swap on Art Joy Stuff.   

The backgrounds are a mish mash of papers, ink, and even gesso smears.  

The photos are all raised up with foam tape for dimension and so I could tuck extra stuff under there, like the tulle on this one.  

The tiny tattered florals are the perfect size for ATCs.

I will show you what I received in return soon. 

Frilly and Funkie Raise it up Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes

What have you been crafting?

Jess

CC3 Challenge 32- Hello Possibility

I love plugging my way through the Compendium of Curiosities book with Linda Ledbetter and her curiosity crew.  This go around Linda had us try the Frosted Film technique.  I have never tried Frosted Film before.  I have had it sitting in my Tim treasure box for quite some time now.  I have to tell you my first try was a dud, but then I came up with this little beauty.  

I can't tell you the Frosted Film technique(that's part of the challenge), but I can tell you I will definitely be using this technique again.  Look at the dimension on the wings!

The background is made with several shades of green distress ink: Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, and Crushed Olive.  I added Fossilized Amber and Vintage Photo on the edges to warm it up.  Then I flicked a bit of water to break the color up.  A few spritzes of Vintage Photo marker added the speckles.  I used the trellis die to cut paper from the Wallflower collection.  The inside bits are from The Robin's Nest.   I love the tiny tattered flower in the corner too.  That is a must own die set.  The crinkle ribbon is dyed using Fossilized Amber and a bit of Tea Dye.  

Here are a couple closeups of her wings.

I love that they are see through.  In case you haven't noticed I have a thing for wings! 

The Funkie Junkie  is the sponsor for the CC3 Challenge this go round.  I am also submitting this to the Frilly and Funkie Say Something Challenge(that's the Funkie Junkie's challenge blog).  

I hope you enjoyed stopping by today!

What have you been crafting?

Jess

Fun can be a breeze

I am making some throwback fun on The Robin's Nest today.  I hope you stop by to learn how to make these pinwheels.
Jess

Keep room in your heart for the unimaginable

This little girl, from Tammy Tutterow, was smiling at me and I knew I had to use her on a project.  I fussy cut her and gave her a bit of color using Fossilized Amber.  While she dried I worked on something to put her on. 

I took a 5x7 canvas panel and covered it with tissue paper.  I put a layer of matte gel on the canvas and put the paper on top.  I then applied another layer of matte gel.  I squished the paper around to get some wrinkles on there.  Wrinkles add great texture; and if you goof and make wrinkles when it was intended you can say you meant to do it! I dried the whole thing with my heat gun.  

 I smeared on some Distress paint in Broken China and Bundled Sage.  I used my finger to move the paint around.  I sprayed the canvas with water to move it around even more.  I dried it with my  heat gun, between each layer I blast with my heat gun.

Next I grabbed my Tattered Angels Simply Sheer in Cozy Yellow and randomly spritzed. I mixed some Jacquard Pearl Ex in Copper and water to spritz on too.   

After this was dry I used Distress Spray in Tea Dye.  I squeezed my fingers around the sprayer to give more droplets than a fine mist.  

Now it is time to start layering.  I knew I wanted to use the little girl and I found this fantastic saying.  The saying led to me giving her giant wings.  I used my trellis die and added that to the side.  I didn't use any of the internal pieces so the tissue could still show through.  At this point none of this is glued down.  I don't usually glue until I have everything set in case I change my mind.  

Here is why I don't glue.  Here are a couple things I tried before settling on my final layout.  At one point I had a key, a compass, and an arrow on here too! 

The wooden bits are old game pieces.  I have no idea what the metal number is from, but I bought a bunch at a junk show. 

I love how her wings are so big they hang off the canvas.  She is popped up using foam tape.  The wings are popped with a double layer of tape for extra height.   You can see I added some rub ons to draw your eye around the piece.   

Here she is all finished. She looks pretty pleased with herself. 

Frilly and Funkie Something to Say Challenge

I am submitting this to Colour Arte for review.

What have you been crafting?

Jess