Mermaid dreams

Did you play with paper dolls when you were a kid? I can remember my Mum cutting them out for me.  She has always loved to cut.  I made some lovely mermaids for a more grown up version of paper dolls.

Try it on Tuesdays Feminine and Fancy

Our Creative Corner Return of the Challenge- I was inspired by the May 2014 Love those Leftovers Challenge.  All of the paper used here is all from my scrap box.  Most of the ribbon and bling were just little bits and pieces I had hanging around too.  

Mixed Media Monthly Challenge

Look at how yummy these colors are! I think the perfect pearls I used on the tails mimic the colors and shimmer.  Plus these girls are all about the pastels.   

Shine like the whole universe is yours

I love dancing.  I should say I love to watch people dance.  I took dancing lessons for many, many years but you would never know it.  I am just not meant to dance.  My sister was a beautiful dancer.  She danced right up until she had her first child.  I think sometimes she forgets what a gift she gave us when she danced.  I wanted to make her a little something special for Christmas.  Check it out over on The Robin's Nest, but don't tell her! It's a Christmas gift.

I don't color inside the lines

Yes, it's true, sometimes I don't color inside the lines.  Art is supposed to be freeing.  When I saw this quote I knew I had to create something using it.  Stop by the Robin's Nest to see the wood panel I made.

Define Good

Sometimes you have to ask Santa to define good.  Pop over to The Robin's Nest today to see what I mean.

Jess

All wrapped up with a bow!

I know, I know it was Halloween last night and here I am shoving Christmas down your throat.  Just think I was putting this post together back in September.  In Arizona.  In 100 degree heat.  Nothing says Christmas like the a/c on blast! This project is so stinking cute and easy that I think you will forgive me.  Head over to The Robin's Nest to see just how quickly you can make these to wow your friends and family.

What have you been crafting?

Jess

Thankful Place Card

With so many family gatherings right around the corner it is the perfect time to start making place cards for your holiday table.  Pop over to the Robin's Nest today to see my place card that can double as a tiny treat holder.

What have you been crafting?
Jess

Pumpkin Rosettes

Hey everyone,
I am on the Robin's Nest today showing you how to make this adorable pumpkin.

It is such a quick and easy project you can make a ton in an afternoon.

What have you been crafting?

Jess

Masquerade Ball Wallhanging

You know when you start creating and things just start to come together and then you realize you didn't take any photos? Yeah, that happened with my project today.  If you hop over to the Robin's Nest I still give you a step by step tutorial.  

What have you been crafting?

Jess

Wicked Witchy Hats

Be sure to stop by the Robin's Nest Blog today for a full tutorial on how to make these guys.  I show you how to make them big

And small!  I loved using my tiny tattered floral die to make the flowers on this one.  Can't you see a bunch of these being used for place card holders.  

What have you been crafting?

Jess

Be Brave art journal page

I have an art journal page for you to check out on the Robin's Nest blog today.  The project is perfect for using up scraps. I hope you pop by to take a look.

Jess

Don't forget to Fly project reveal

It's no secret that I love anything with wings- butterflies, fairies, birds, you name it.  I decided it was time to make my own feathers and here is the result.  

Ok. Here comes the tutorial.  There are a ton of pictures today.  

 Take your chipboard base and cover it with a couple layers of gesso.  Once the gesso is dry I sanded it a bit to remove the tooth.  I then used white paint and a stencil in random patches all over the chipboard.  While the paint was drying I placed bits of washi tape on the base. 

 When the paint was dry I used several brown distress inks to color the gesso.  The paint acts like a resist and you can easily see the pattern.  

I then used watered down black acrylic paint and flicked it all over using a paint brush.  

I used flower rub ons to finish the base of the background.

To make my feather I used a paper wrapped wire stem typically used for floral design.

 I trimmed the wire to about 13 inches and then folded it almost in half.  I twisted the ends together and then glued it on my Wedding Cut Out Cardstock from the Robin's Nest. 

I cut the paper into 4 even pieces.  I used one piece for the bottom of the feather and the second for the top.  I tried this a couple different ways.  The first time i glued the paper and put the wire on top.  The glue spread too much and made it too difficult to cut correctly(it didn't have he feathery look I was going for).  The second time I put a bit of glue on my fingers and just rubbed it all over the wire.  This kept the glue where I needed it and kept the two pieces of paper together.  I set the feather aside to dry for about an hour. 
Once the feather was dry I traced a rough feather shape out. 

I trimmed the paper and then snipped all the way around the edges right into the center where the wire is. 

I colored the feather using various Distress ink sprays and Perfect Pearl shimmers. 

The bottom exposed wire is wrapped in the same washi tape I used on the chipboard base. 
The feather is topped off with some green jute and a smidgen of Leafy Green Straw.
I printed a quote from JM Barrie, the author of Peter Pan, on plain ivory cardstock. 

I inked and smudged the print a tad.  A tiny Tinkerbell from the Funkie Junkie boutique charm adds a bit of whimsy to the piece. 
Three Forest Brown Mini Dew Drops help draw your eye around the piece. 
A big fluffy bow made out of silk sari ribbon completes the wall hanging. 

I hope you try to make your own feathers.  I made a brightly colored one too using the same technique and it is awesome! 

Frilly and Funkie Things with Wings

Try it on Tuesdays Stencil Challenge

Simon Says Stamp- Tie it Up

What have you been crafting?

Jess

Don't forget to fly sneak peek

I have a cool project up on the Robin's Nest for you to check out today.   Here's a little peek for you.

Do you believe you can fly? The stop by to check it out!

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

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

Believe you can Fly

Fly on over to The Robin's Nest to see the necklace I made.

Enchanted Fairy Box Sneak Peek

This bossy little fairy wants you to go over and see what all the fuss is about over on 

The Robin's Nest

What have you been crafting?

Jess

April showers

Living in Arizona we don't get much rain.  When we do it is time to celebrate! My project today on
The Robin's Nest reminds you what to do when it rains.

Hope you pop over!

Jess

Adventurous Bird Wallhanging

Hi everyone,

I made an altered canvas panel for you today.  

This is the first time I have used my Tattered Pine cone die.  Holy moly! These roses were so easy to make.  I used several shades of The Robin's Nest glitter card stock to make these.  

Once I made my roses I cut some greenery and just put everything on my canvas to see how I wanted to arrange it.  I used some of Gina's Designs laser cut birds on here too.  

I added color to the canvas using Heidi Swapp Sprays, Distress Spray Stains, and Distress Inks.  I also used Tim Holtz's Rays Stencil and a random chicken wire stencil for added layers.  

I dyed my seam binding ribbon using the above Distress Stains.  I wet the seam binding and then run it through the color I have smudged on my craft mat. 

To add my saying I used my clear alphabet clings and Archival ink in Potting Soil.  

Stamping this out took a long time, but I think it was worth it! You can see the birds got a little stamping on them too.  

Here's a close up of the flowers.  The edges are inked with Pumice Stone distress ink.  In addition to the roses I made some random curly flowers using my Tapered Fringe die.  The back of these were sprayed with Tattered Angels.  

I hope you enjoyed seeing my canvas today!

Stop by the Robin's Nest to check out their great product and sometimes I am featured on the blog too.

Try it on Tuesdays New Beginnings

Our Creative Corner- Color your World

Frilly and Funkie Spring time Die Cuts

Simon Says Stamp In the Middle

Simon Says Stamp Make Your Own Background

Rhedd's Creative Spirit April Challenge

What have you been crafting?

Jess