Which way do I turn?

Hi Everyone,

Are you directionally challenged like I am? I seriously can get lost in a paper bag. 

Check out my tutorial on how to create this card over on the Blank Page Muse Blog today.
Jess

Try to Cooperate

Hi Everyone,

Back with my second post of the month for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts. 

The base of this project is a small Tim Holtz Etcetera tag and the Botanical Journaling Blocks fit on them perfectly! 

 They make a great background piece and really create a nice focal point.  This is the medium sized block and there are three in the set.  

I knew I wanted to use this image and I put a Mini Petal Corner crown on her head.  The crown has been embossed using Seth Apter's Baked Texture powder in Ancient Amber.  I added a brad to the center for her jewel.   

The base tag was covered with Tim Holtz Wallflower paper and then splattered with various Distress paints and inks. 

The journaling block was covered with gesso and then painted using various shades of green and brown Distress Paint.  The spaces between the stitches were inked using a gold gel pen.  

The edge of the frame was inked using Distress Ink in Peeled Paint and then Distress Crayon in Black Soot was used to darken the edge and draw your eye in toward the center. 

The Layered Frame Bella Oval was placed on top of the journaling block.  This frame has a front and a back, but for this project I just used the top piece.  This piece was left completely raw.  I really liked how it picked up the browns in the background paper.  

You can see I played around with the placement quite a bit on this piece.  Things got moved up, down, and all around  

This is what I landed on for final placement.  I used foam tape to attach her since the chipboard frame is directly behind her.  I didn't want her to wind up with a big bump in the middle of her body. 

Flowers were added to the top.

The snarky chit chat sentiment was placed in her lap and a vintage brass token was added to the bottom corner to balance the piece.  

Happy Crafting!

Jess

Spring in Paris

Hi Everyone,

I am so honored to be a Guest Designer for the Frilly and Funkie blog today. 

The current theme is "Knock on Wood."  I was asked to incorporate some type of wood into my art.  I decided to start with a medium size Etcetera tag from Tim Holtz.

I covered the tag in a piece of paper from the Tim Holtz Wallflower paper pack, using Distress Collage Medium to adhere it to the tag.  

I flicked on Distress Paint in Black Soot, Tarnished Brass, and Picket Fence.

My next step was to tint this image I had of the Eiffel Tower.  I used Distress Markers in Broken China and Mowed Lawn to give it a hand tinted look.    

My first wood element is this mini framed panel from Tim Holtz.  This is one of the small frames that comes in the two pack. 

I painted the frame using Picket Fence Distress Paint and then spritzed it with Walnut Stain Distress Spray Stain.  I used a very tiny paint brush to add Tarnished Brass Paint to the edges.  I rubbed Distress Crayon in Walnut Stain on the frame to darken it up just a bit.  

My second wood element is a Tim Holtz Vignette box.  I whitewashed the box using Picket Fence and then used industrious stickers on the front.  I used alcohol ink in gold and mushroom to color the 

stickers. 

 The outside edge has a wrap of decorative tape from the Tim Holtz Rose pack. 

I filled the box with flowers and Tim Holtz beaded berries that were colored using gold alcohol ink. 

My third wooden element is a Tim Holtz ruler.  I sprayed the ruler with Tea Dye and Walnut Stain Spray Inks.  

Here's another yummy shot of the flowers.

I added Tim Holtz Typography letters that were colored using Distress Paint in Tarnished Brass.  Once the paint was dry I added alcohol ink in Mushroom and Distress Crayon in Black Soot to give them some patina.  

The Tim Holtz paper dolls  were given a pop of color with Distress Markers. 

I added them to the edge of the frame and gave them some flowers.  

For finishing touches I added Prima flowers and leaves.  They were given a spritz of Distress Spray Stain in Walnut Stain. A large strip of vintage Dresden was added to the side too.  

The top corner and bottom corner got a little stencil treatment.  I used a Crafters Workshop stencil and Ranger Texture paste for some dimension.  The color was added using Distress Crayons in Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo, and Black Soot.  

Sari ribbon and a Tim Holtz loop pin add interest to this corner.  

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and are inspired to enter the challenge.  

Jess

Snarky ATCs

Hi everyone, 

The theme this month over on the Blank Page Muse blog is ATCs. 

The technique I am using to create my background has been around for a while now, but I recently saw a tutorial from Jenny Marples and she reminded me how fun this can be. 

I started by stamping my Flower Stamps from the Flower and Bird Sketches set on to a blank piece of tissue wrap.  If you are going to try this technique be sure to use a permanent ink when stamping this bit. 

Once the ink was dry I flipped my tissue over and painted the flowers using very bright colors.  I dried the paint and then stamped the Flowers and Leaves Border using a brown permanent ink. 

This is what the correct side of the tissue looks like.  Isn't that cool?!

I covered my ATC in dictionary paper.  

I glued down my tissue and then stitched around the edges.  

I added my paper doll, sentiment, and flower charm.  To complete the card I added some ink to the edges and around the paper doll. 

The second card was done basically the same way, but I didn't stitch the edges.  

 Don't forget to enter into the challenge that can be found on the Blank Page Muse blog! 

Happy Crafting,

Jess

Cherished

Hi Everyone,

I am super excited to be a guest on the Try It on Tuesday blog.  Their current theme is "Mum's the Word." 

I chose to make this vignette tray featuring the cutest little boy and his mum. 

I started by covering my journal block using a light layer of gesso. I'm pretty ok with the natural chipboard color showing through on a lot of my projects(sometimes I just use the raw chipboard).  If you want a really solid color on top you can just add a bit more gesso.  I also use a foam makeup applicator to apply the gesso.  I find I can pounce the gesso on and it doesn't clog up the little detailed bits.

I lined my vignette tray with a piece of paper from the Tim Holtz wallflower collection and lined the edge with decorative tape from the Rose set. 

The inside edges were whitewashed using thinned out white acrylic paint.  

I splattered the inside using Distress Paint in Black Soot, Picket Fence, and Sterling.

Using Archival ink in Jet Black, I stamped the middle of the journal block using the Tim Holtz Papillon set. I painted all of the flower bits using Dina Wakley Media Paints(Turquoise, Sky, Blushing, and Lemon) and Tim Holtz Distress Paints(Forest Moss and Twisted Citron).  To color the center of the block I smooshed Distress ink(Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Walnut Stain, and Pumice Stone) on my craft mat and spritzed it with water.  Make sure to dry between layers to prevent mud! The edges were antiqued using Distress Crayons(Black Soot and Vintage Photo).     

I placed my journal block in the tray and fiddled with cheesecloth behind.  You might notice in my finished piece I flipped the journal block.  Don't glue anything down until you're positive that's where it's going to stay!

 

I cut one of the Tim Holtz rulers using my scissors to fit the tray and then colored it using Tea Dye and Walnut Stain Distress Stains. 

I colored my image using Distress Markers and Oxide Inks.  

This is why I flipped my journal block.  I liked my sentiment better on the larger flowers.  I mounted the jornal block on foam tape to give extra height and dimension.  The sentiment and paper doll were also mounted using foam tape. 

I added the Typography letters and made sure the word I wanted to use fit before gluing it down(hence the super crooked letters).  Mum got a bouquet of vintage flowers.  

I added a metal photo corner and colored it using Distress Paint and Crayons.  

The letters got a very light wash of Oxide Ink and Paint mixed together.  

I hope you enjoyed! 

Jess

I am also entering this into  A Vintage Journey's Treasure challenge- my treasure on here are the vintage flowers the mum is holding.  

Mix it up Challenge- Create your own Background

Steampunk Goddess

Hi Everyone,

Jess here today with my first post of the month for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.  

I am not a steampunk girl.  It's not really in my wheelhouse.  I dabble here and there, but when I saw this Steampunk Cage Dressform I knew I had to make something with it.  Honestly, it was super easy to make, so today's tutorial will be super short.

Cover your base using Seth Apter's new Baked Texture Embossing Powders.  The base layer here is Rocky Road.  The different patches of color are from Dirty Sand, Chunky Rust, and Patina Oxide. 

Here's another shot.

It's gorgeous and you don't have to prep the chipboard before applying the powder.  I just slapped on the embossing ink and went to town.  The secret to the layering is really just heating up the base layer(in this case the Rocky Road) and sprinkling on the color you want to add.

The dress form was covered with a thin layer of gesso and then I added Distress Oxide Ink in Cracked Pistachio. 

I covered that with Ancient Amber Embossing powder and added gears.   The wings are covered with the same ink and then embossed using Vintage Beeswax and sprinkled with Patina Oxide and Deep Sea embossing powders.  

Her back has a key to wind her up.  

I colored a vintage chandelier crystal using Alcohol Ink in Mushroom and hung it from the center of the gear to complete the piece.  

Where the pieces joined together I used black paint to hide the raw chipboard. 

I hope you like her! 

Jess

SanDee &amelies Steampunk Anything goes challenge