Easter Greetings

Hi Everyone,
I'm up on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts blog today.

It's almost time for the Easter bunny to hop by and leave us some candy.  We always go to my sister's house for Easter dinner so I thought I would make her a little home decor piece.

I started by using the Build  a Layout Easter Set.  The frame was painted with Deco Art Crackle Paint and then I rubbed Antiquing Cream in the cracks.  I didn't like the sheen on the paint so a layer of Collage Medium made it matte.

The largest bunny was painted with Dina Wakley's Elephant and then sanded so it looks like it's been around for a bit.  The bow tie was painted with Sky Blue and sanded as well.
The small eggs were embossed using the Tim Holtz Impresslits and 3d Embossing folders(Medallion andimpresslit, Kaleidoscope and Botanical 3D folders).  Once they were dry I painted them using Dina Wakley Turquoise and Lemon.  The Lemon Egg was toned down a bit with a layer of ELephant Paint.  The third egg was painted using Victorian Velvet Distress Paint.  Each of the eggs were sanded to reveal the raw chipboard and a layer of Walnut Stain Distress Ink finished them. 

The nest is from the For the Birds set.  The base is painted with Dina Wakley Gilt and the top is painted with Distress Vintage Photo Paint.  I couldn't see much of the gold peeping through as I wanted so I added a tiny bit of gold  foil to the top layer of the nest.   

I measured how how the frame sat on one of the Super X tags and decided to bend the bottom three inches of the tag to create a base.   If you score the chipboard you can gently bend the tag until it makes a 90 degree angle.

 I covered a Super X tag with a patterned paper. Then splattered on Black Soot Distress Paint and Dina Wakley Gilt.  Behind the fame there is a piece of Tim Holtz's Worn wallpaper. The frame and wallpaper were glued directly to the tag base.  The bunny and eggs were glued down next.  The nest was attached using foam tape since the bunny and eggs were rather thick and I didn't want the nest to bend.   Distress Crayon in Hickory smoke added a grungy halo around the bunny.

Moss was glued to the entire base and then the two bunnies that are part of the banner from the Build  a Layout Easter Set. were added.  They were painted and sanded the same way as the large bunny.  Vintage flowers and some old plastic craft eggs were added to complete the base.

A tiny bouquet of vintage flowers were added to the top of the tag.

I hope you have a very Happy Easter!

Jess

Simon Says Stamp Beautiful Blossoms Challenge

Wear it again tomorrow

Hi Guys,
I'm up on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts blog today.

I've been in a bit of a snarky mood lately and when I saw this lady I knew she needed to be used for a project.

I started by taking my Laurel Frame and covering it with a layer of gesso using a foam brush.  Using the same brush I added some Dina Wakley Paint.  I didn't clean the brush between uses so there was still gesso in there creating different shades of blue.

Using the script stamp from the Tim Holtz Entomology Set(CMS328). I stamped across the frame in Hickory Smoke Oxide Ink.  I sealed the ink using Micro Glaze.

This photo was cut to fit inside the frame.

For the back panel I used a 5x7 canvas board and loosely painted it using the paints pictured.  I added some stamped bits from the Time Holtz Mini Media Marks(CMS364).  These were done with Archival Ink in Black Soot and Hydrangea.  Before I finished my project I added in a bit of Victorian Velvet Distress Paint to pick up the pink you see in the background piece.  

To mount the photo I used a piece of humble cardboard.  Peel parts of the top layer to expose the corrugate and then cover with gesso.  I did a couple thin layers to cover all of the brown.  I added some collage paper to the bits that still had the full cardboard using collage medium.  To color the cardboard and collage paper I used Distress Crayon(Victorian Velvet, Cracked Pistachio, Worn Lipstick, and Gathered Twigs) and water to give it a dreamy hazy look. Pearl details were added to the frame and the snarky sentiment. 

To complete the piece I painted a set of  Mini Petal Corners using Dina Wakley Ancient Paint.  

 A couple close ups of the finished details. I ended up going back with Jet Black Archival ink and restamping the script on the frame.  I added a bit of DIstress Crayon in Gathered Twigs to dinge it up.  There is a teeny bit of the Dina paint in Ancient on there too.

I love the grungy look the cardboard gives. 

Layers and details.  

I hope you like her and take her sage advice!

Jess

You altered my heart

Hi Everyone,

I was totally inspired by a class Tim Holtz just taught at the recent Creativation show(and he was inspired by Paula Cheney).  I wanted to create something similar to what I had seen done, but put my own twist on it.


Start by running the solid half of your Steampunk heart through your die cutting machine using a 3d embossing folder.  Spritz the chipboard on both sides before using the embossing folder so the chipboard really gets nice texture.

Using collage medium adhere Floral college paper to the embossed half of the heart.  I did a thin layer on the heart and adhered the collage paper.  I applied another layer on top and really worked the paper in with my fingers so you could see the embossed texture.

Paint the gear side of the heart using Dina Wakley media paint in Umber.  Paint the gears using Dina Wakley Media paint(Gilt and Ancient) and Tim Holtz Distress Paint(Brushed Pewter).  Add metal gears on top of some of chipboard gears for dimension.  Add embossing powder and crackle texture paste randomly on the heart for even more visual interest.  When the crackle paste is dry rub in a bit of Gathered Twigs Distress Crayon.

Take one of your Extra Large Tags and cut about three inches off the bottom.  Cover the entire tag with patterned paper.  Add bits of ephemera and adhere them to your tag.  I used a mix of vintage and reproduction ephemera here.  I love to mix old and new.  The entire tag gets a coat of collage medium. 

Once the collage medium is dry smoosh Distress Oxide inks onto your craft sheet and tap the tag into the ink.  The ink will stay beaded up on the craft sheet and you get neat splotches of color.  When you have a bit of color on your tag spritz with water and allow to air dry. Do this step several times until you achieve the color you like.

   Use the mini gear stencil from Tim Holtz to add a bit of grit paste to the top corner.  

Then add random blobs of grit past on the sides of the tag.  Once the paste is dry, use the same Oxide inks to color the grit paste.  Add Distress Crayon in Black Soot to the edges of the tag.  Splatter the tag with white, black, and gold paint.  

Using foam tape adhere the heart of the tag.  Give the paper doll a layer of clear gesso and color in his suit using Distress Marker in Mowed Lawn. Add a resin flower to his suit.  Glue the ruler to the heart and using foam tape adhere the man so he appears to be sitting on the ruler.  

Use Chit chat stickers to create your sentiment.  

Color in the word token using Distress Crayon in Picket Fence and add a jump ring.  Take an old paint brush and add a jump ring to the top. Add the rings to a vintage laundry pin and stick the pin through the fabric at the top of the tag.  The fabric at the top of the tag is actually a piece of my clean up rag I use in the studio.  I just cut a piece off because I really liked the colors on it.  To complete my tag I took some gel pens and made marks all over the piece.

Happy Monday

Jess

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge- Add some Red

SanDee & amelie's Steampunk Challenge- Anything Goes

Quiet, but not blind

Hi Everyone,

I have a great technique filled card for you today.  Let's jump right in!

Using Distress Heavy stock blend together several shades of Distress Ink (Scattered Straw, Squeezed Lemonade, Fossilized Amber, and Wild Honey).  Spritz with water and dry completely.  Take a tiny bit of Distress Micro Glaze cover most of the background.  Stamp the Floral Lace stamp using Vintage Photo Distress Oxide Ink and spritz with water.  Using the micro glaze on most of the background keeps the top layer of ink from blending into the background.  It also keeps some of the intricate stamp pattern, but not all of it.  The look is wonderfully aged and tattered.

Take clear texture paste and the Latticework stencil to the background.  Don't worry about it looking perfect.  Imperfect looks better! Once the paste is dry use the Forest Moss Distress crayon to scribble over the paste.  Smudge the crayon using your finger and the pattern pops up adding another layer to your background.

Stamp the Large Bird Man on Watercolor cardstock.  Color him in using a waterbrush and Distress Markers.  Once he is dry fussy cut the image.

To finish the background stamp your two sentiments( Oh darling  and I was quiet, but I was not blind) using archival ink.  Back them with black cardstock and play with placement on your background.  Once you're happy with placement you can glue them down.

Run plain black cardstock through your die cutting machine using the Botanical 3d embossing folder.  Take a Distress Crayon in Tarnished Brass and highlight the raised areas.  The slight gilded effect is so gorgeous.  Adhere this piece right under the focal background piece you created.

All that's left to do is layer up your background.  On this card the black is attached to a distressed piece of gold cardstock.  The gold is mounted to a sage green card.  A bit of burgundy ribbon was the finishing touch.

Happy Crafting,

Jess

Does the bell still ring for you?

Hi Everyone,
I have officially started my Christmas crafting!
One of my favorite Christmas stories is The Polar Express.  Today's project is a little nod to the book.

When I started this project I didn't think I wanted a tag as long as the Extra Large Tag (it's 8 inches long and 4 inches wide), so I cut off a big chunk.  Thankfully I saved the piece I cut off because as my project evolved I knew I needed it!
Start by painting the entire tag white and then stamping a line of music notes (from the special Tim Holtz Stamptember Set from Simon Says Stamp) all over the back using Distress Oxide ink in Hickory Smoke.  Then seal the ink using Distress Micro Glaze.  Once the micro glaze is on add Vintage Distress Collage Medium to the entire piece.  The thicker the glaze, the darker the color.

Next paint a piece of  Christmas Distress Collage tissue. The collage tissue is black and white, but it can be colored.  Pick the area you want to show and on the backside apply your paint.  The paint doesn't have to be perfect, but it shouldn't go too far outside the lines(unless that's the look you're going for).   I used Forest Moss, Peeled Paint, Victorian Velvet, and Vintage Photo Distress Paints to color my tissue.  

Once the paint is dry adhere it to the bottom of the tag.  The tissue blends in so well it looks like it was part of the background all along.  

Add a bit of Charred Gold embossing powder from Emerald Creek around the edge of the entire piece.  

Paint the Frame in Tarnished Brass Distress Paint.  Once it is dry add Deco Art's Crackle Glaze.  The glaze makes teeny cracks, like you see on old china.  When the glase is dry rub Distress Crayon in the cracks to make them pop.  Glue the frame to the tag. Using a bit of foam tape, add a piece of patterned paper inside the frame.  Color your paper doll and adhere her to the patterned paper(she's popped up with a bit of foam tape too). Add a tiny bell to her hand.    

The paper doll had a little paper tassel on her hat, but mine ripped off.  So to give her hat a makeover.  Color a baubble using Spun Sugar Distress Paint.  Once the paint is dry add a bit of mushroom alcohol ink to age it a bit.  You can see the tiny cracks in the frame a bit better here too.  

Using the Tim Holtz festive foliage die make a bunch of flowers to adhere to the corner of the frame. 

Now here is the part when I decided I wanted to add more to my tag.  My sentiment wasn't working the way I thought it would and it just needed more.  I took the part I had cut off earlier and glued it to the base creating a little shelf.  Color the fringe using spray ink and alcohol ink and glue it to the base.  

Paint a salvaged santa using Distress Paint and Alcohol inks.  Once the paint is dry rub Hickory Smoke Distress Crayon to pick up the nooks and crannies. Paint the deer using gold alcohol ink.  Glue them all to the base.

One the opposite side glue a bottle brush tree decorated with vintage mercury glass. 

I added the quote token to the top of the tag to finish it off.  

I hope the bell always rings for you. 

Have you started your Christmas crafting?

Jess

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge- Make your own background