Make A Wish

Hi Everyone,

I have a full step by step tutorial for you over on the Blank Page Muses Blog today.  

I would love for you to pop over and check it out. 

Jess

Pulling Double Duty

The theme this month on the Emerald Creek Dare is Double Duty.  We needed to create a project that could have more than one use or use something in an unexpected way.  My tag could be given to a friend that might need a little pick me up or would make a great little gift for Mom, since Mother's Day is coming up.  Can you guess what the skirt is made out of? Read on and you'll find out.  

I started by cutting out my dress form and using an embossing folder on the top portion.

I ran embossing ink over the top and sprinkled it with Charred Gold.  If you wanted the embossing powder to adhere only to the raised areas you can ink your folder and run it through your machine.  I wanted it to look a bit messy.    

I took some used tea bags and emptied them out.  Confession time.  I hate tea.  I am also not a coffee  fan.  The only reason I had these tea bags was because I was wicked sick last winter and my doctor suggested I drink tea.  I bought the tea.  I didn't get used until I made these skirts.  I inked the bottom half with various colors of Distress Ink and then stamped the Fallen Blossom stamp using Hydrangea Archival Ink.  

Accordion fold the bags and then run a quick stitch through the top.  I wrapped it around the waist and tied it.  I then ripped the top un-inked layer of the tea bag so you could see more of the detail underneath.  

A paper flower and the handmade charm finish off the dress form.  

I have no idea where this tag came from, but I thought it really fit the nature of this project.  A little message, some gel pen scribbles and my tag is complete.  

Can you use your supplies in an unexpected way? I'd love to see what you come up with.

Don't forget to pop over and enter the challenge for a chance so win a gift card to the Emerald Creek shop.  

Jess

Tim Tag for October

Here is my take for the October tag.  

The butterfly is layered up. I did the wings really bright on the bottom by just dripping on the alcohol ink.  For the top butterfly I used my applicator and then used black soot distress paint over it.   

Jess

Faux German scrap technique

Hey Everyone,
Sorry for being such a terrible blogger.  I have been crafting.  I promise.  I post on Instagram all the time, I just don't make it on here as often as I should!

A few months ago my Mum and I went to an estate sale and scored the mother lode of German Scrap paper. This is just a snippet of the loot.

I have been using it on some of my recent projects, but I wanted to come up with a technique to make my own so I don't use it too quickly. German scrap is expensive and I wanted something that wouldn't break the bank.  Ideas started to swirl and here is what I came up with.

I started by using a Martha Stewart edge punch on a Manila folder.

 I left about a half an inch border one the side to use my embossing folder.  I found these skinny embossing folders at the thrift store and they are perfect for this technique. I cut the folder in half so I can run it all along the edge of the paper.  

Once I punched and embossed the manila it was time to heat emboss.  I used an ink blending tool to get my embossing powder in all the nooks and crannies. It's best to do this in small sections at a time. This way your embossing ink doesn't dry out when you're making your way down the strip and you don't have to use a trough of embossing powder. I used Emerald Creeks Charred Gold and Hammered Metal. These mixes have multiples colors and give the look that the paper is aged. 

I can't wait to use it on a project!

Jess

Tim tags for June

Tim tag time.  Whew! Just under the wire!

I made two this month.  I am not a coffee girl so I had to think a bit outside of the box on this one.
Since it is so close to the fourth of July I decided my first tag was going to be patriotic.

I used salty ocean, tumbled glass, and faded jeans for my plaid background.  When I first started I was going to use the entire cloche, but I ended up just using the base for my patriotic lady to perch on. 

My second tag is celebrating the supreme court decision from last week.  Love is a language everybody understands. I hope this decision takes everyone one step closer to understanding and acceptance for all.

I hope you enjoy my tags!

What have you been crafting?

Jess

Tim Holtz Tag for November 2014

Rather than doing a tag for this month I did a small holiday wall hanging.  I just got this reindeer die and really wanted to use it.  

The camera didn't catch it well, but the green background has lots of gold sparkles.  The cardboard part has the tarnished brass on it for sparkle too.  

Hope you like my take.

I'm entering this into the TIOT Christmas is Coming challenge

What have you been crafting?

Jess

Hamlet Speaks Tag

Effect powders are the tools of choice this CC3 Challenge. This time around the fantastic Inspiration Emporium is the sponsor.  Tim has donated yet another prize too.  If you haven't joined in there are plenty of techniques left in the Compendium of Curiosities III, so get your craft on!

I wasn't sure what I wanted to do this time around.  Sometimes when the challenge is posted I am running to my craft desk.  I had to mull this one around a bit before I started.  Once inspiration hit I was off and running.  

Here you can see my effect powder.  I can't tell you exactly what I did, but if you get your copy of the Compendium you can see.  The back of the tag is peaking through here.  I used crackle distress paint in Picket Fence and then colored it with Distress Stains and Alcohol Inks to achieve a rusty gritty patina.  

You can see it a bit better here.  The banner is cut from the Tattered Banner die.  I colored it with Distress Inks in Vintage Photo and Pumice Stone.  I used the Ornate Frame die and then ran it through the Sizzix again with the Paris Texture Fade Embossing folder to add the text.  I scuffed it up to expose the core of the paper and then ran Vintage Photo ink on top.  

I am loving the creepy Ophelia arm.  She's holding some forget me nots that I sprayed with Tattered Angels sprays.  

A tiny poison vial completes the tag.

I am also entering this one into the Vintage Journey's The Colors of Autumn Challenge.

What have you been crafting?

Jess

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 7

Time for another CC3 challenge! Linda Ledbetter's hosting another challenge.  This time the focus is painted industrial. Inspiration Emporium is the sponsor this round.
 It's been disgustingly hot here and I felt a bit of autumn would be welcome.

I wish the glitter frame had photographed better.  

I think my favorite part of the frame are the creepy vials in the corner.

This is the last of my vintage brass name plates.  These were an awesome gift from a crafty buddy.

I hope you like my bit of fall.

What have you been crafting?

Jess

12 Tags of 2014 July

Time for July's tag.  I didn't have the ocean inspired die cuts, so I used my trusty birdcage instead.  

I hope you like my take!

What have you been crafting?

Jess

Compendium of Curiosities 3 Challenge Number 6

Time for another CC3 Challenge.  You can see all the details about the challenge on Linda Ledbetter's blog here.  This challenge is being sponsored by The Funkie Junkie. 

I have had these burlap panels for a while now.  I am not sure why it took a challenge to get me to use one.

Here are some detail shots. 

Tons of Tim Holtz used on here including distress paints, tissue wrap, Sizzix die cuts and embossing folders, pen nib, remnant rubs, alcohol inks, and distress inks.   

I hope you like it!

What have you been crafting?

Jess