More Mistletoe Magic

     Mistletoe has featured quite a lot in my cards this year, all because Lavinia Stamps have a gorgeous stamp that is also available in a stencil and die from Sweet Poppy.

      The stamp is smaller than the stencil and die so makes for some easy batch making of A6 cards. When cards are batch made by hand they will always come out a little different so I don't feel it's cheating atall.
      Using watercolour card I stamped and embossed in white, then spritzed the card with water before lightly sprinkling Brusho over the card. Once dry I felt the edges needed a little definition, so I used Distress ink to add a touch of darker green all the way around.
      For the Brusho panels I used some gold paper and a little dark green card to mat and layer them.

     The panels looked a little odd on a plain white card so i used the stamp and some gold ink to stamp all around the edge before adding the panel.
      To finish off I added some tiny half pearls as berries and a small gold organza bow, after watching some YouTube videos I bought a nice fork in a charity shop that I now use just for tiny bow making.
      For the other two cards I stamped the same image on to white card and embossed with a dark green powder. I used the same card and paper as before but switched it around so the green was first and then the gold.
      Again I used the stamp to decorate the white card blank but this time using a very pale green. They also have tiny pearls and a little bow.
      Both card styles have the same greeting, just embossed with different colours and die cut with a small oval die, then mounted on thin foam pads.
      This is one stamp that won't be put away in the Christmas stash, upside down it looks like seaweed so I can use it all year round. I've really enjoyed making these cards so the Christmas stash will probably stay out for a while longer so I can get a head start on next year!

I would like to enter these cards in the following challenges:

ABC Christmas - Y~ Your Favourite Thing   (a stamp with multiple use)

      Christmas At Sweet Stampin' - Anything Christmas

The Holly and Ivy - Anything Christmas 

The 12 Months of Christmas - Anything Christmas

Scrabble Fairy

     Apologies for the late arrival of my project for Altered Eclectics, lots of things have been happening here, some good and some not so good, but that's life. Thank goodness for crafting, sometimes it's the only thing to do!

      This project is for a local charity shop, a way of showing how all the odd bits and bobs can be used to make a mixed media item.
     It all started with some scrabble tiles and a few buttons, then a good rummage through all my odds and ends.
     The frame is plastic, also found in a charity shop, it had a back but no glass. I cut a piece of mount board to fit in place of a canvas to work on.

      With the board in the frame I drew around the inside edge, so I knew not to put any embellishments beyond that line.
     With my trusty hot glue gun I began to add buttons, broken bits of jewelry and shapes made with hot glue in a silicone mould. Once these items are painted they take on a whole new look whilst adding lots of great texture to the project.

     I drew around the fairy so I knew where she would be going, that way I could avoid putting anything that would be underneath her. Using some stencils and a tube of filler I added some more texture to the board.
     Once all the filler was dry I painted a layer of gesso over the whole board, then a couple of layers of acrylic pink paint. A spritz with a pink mica spray added some subtle sparkle.

     With all the paint dry it was time to add colour to the texture with some gilding wax.
     Before I started glueing bits on I had taken a photo of where I planned to put all the bits, so with to hand I started to add the finishing touches. A hot glue gun in hand I stuck the letters, flower, fairy and her wings to the board, along with a glitter covered flower in the top corner. It wasn't exactly as the starter picture but close, slight adjustments along the way which added interest.
     All that remained was to pop it in the frame, it was at this point that I was SO glad I had left that small border around the board, but the fairy could have been a little lower so she stood on the frame instead of floating a bit above it.
     The board bowed slightly, probably due to the paint, so I used hot glue on the back to seal it to the frame in the corners and along the edges. All that was left was to pop the back on and move the hanging points for a horizontal picture.
     Most of the items have come from charity shops, with the exception of the hot glue gun, waxes, spray and mount board, and they were already in my stash. To make something pink and girly was a little out of my comfort zone but I'm not too unhappy with the result.
     There is still a fortnight left to enter your project with Altered Eclectics, anything but a card or an ATC, we look forward to seeing you work.

I would like to enter this project in the following challenges:

An Inky Mess - Anything Mixed Media   (M)

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Anything Mixed Media   (M)

Eclectic Ellapu - Anything Goes   (M)

Decadent Love

     This is my last project this month using Phill Martin's Decadent Damask stamps and Decadent Wine colours. I shall be coming back to these though as I have fallen in love with them completely. You can buy these at your local craft shop, they are distributed by Creative Expressions.

     I began with a mount board tag that I had lurking on my desk, it was cream already so I didn't have to paint a base colour. I die cut a shape similar to Phill's motif and stuck it on with Cosmic Shimmer PVA, then I sprayed it with Decadent Wine Spray Mist. Once that was dry I rubbed some gilding wax over it, I don't have the wine (yet!) so I used Vintage Plum. If you don't have texture paste but do have a die cut machine this is a way of achieving the raised look of paste, the wax gives it the gorgeous shine that the paste has.

     The gold swirl is made with the same mask but using one of the other shapes along with Royal Gold Texture Paste.
     The word 'love' is from a set called Winter Greetings, they're mostly Christmas words but I liked the shape of this type face. Both on the word and all around the tag I have used Inca Flakes gilding flakes.
     In the bottom corner I have used made three little dots with the Wine PVA, some flakes stuck to it, I should have used the flakes and then done the dots last but it doesn't look too bad, it's antiqued!

       Using one of the Corners and Icons stamps with Distress Ink Seedless Preserve I stamped a few images in the top corner.
     The glittery motif was done using Phill's Sparkle Texture Paste and a Special Touch mask called ornate frame. I taped off the areas I didn't want so the paste only went through the shape I did want.

     To finish it off I have used some ribbon that I've had for some time, I think it's an iridescent ribbon that Creative Expressions had a few years ago, they do have quite a range of gorgeous ribbons to choose from.

Materials used

Phill Martin stamps - Decadent Damask Corners and Icons

Phill Martin Decadent Wine colour range - Sparkle Texture Paste / PVA Glue / Ink Spray Mist

CE Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Wax - Vintage plum

CE Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Flakes - Inca Flakes

CE Cosmic Shimmer Glues - Dries Clear PVA / Flake and glitter Glue

CE Cosmic Shimmer Texture Paste - Royal Gold

CE Stamp Set - Winter Greetings

Distress Ink - Seedless Preserve

I would like to enter this tag in the following challenges:

Inkspirational - Purple / and love or wedding
Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Stencil It
Love To Create - Anything Creative / Mixed Media

Bless You Couture Creations

     Here is my final creation this month for Creative Expressions using Couture creations. A very generous friend cut out a tissue box cover for me using her Silhouette machine and I thought it would be perfect with the Vintage Rose Garden paper pad.

    I have cut four panels from two different designs and edged them with Distress Ink Victorian Velvet.
    The panels are stuck on alternately around the box. I chose to stick the lid on, as there is no base it doesn't need to come off. The top was covered with two pieces of left over paper, there was a gap down the middle, but that was covered with a small strip of the pink base card making it look like part of the design. This meant I could make the top match two of the sides and not have to cut another sheet up.

     The top needed a little something to make it look special so I cut greenery from one of the leftover side scraps, it was green on the back, using the Couture Creations Die Classic Vine.
     The roses are a six petal flower cut, coloured with Victorian Velvet and assembled using Cosmic Shimmer PVA glue. There are three roses all different sizes and finished off with a spray of Cosmic Shimmer Mica Spray Pearl Mist.

Materials used
Couture Creations Paper Pad - Vintage Rose Garden
Couture Creations Die - Classic Vine
Cosmic Shimmer - PVA Dries Clear
Cosmic Shimmer - Mica Spray Pearl Mist
Distress Ink - Victorian Velvet

Couture Creations For A Special Birthday

     This weeks project for Creative Expressions is also a card for my Mother-In-Law, it's her birthday tomorrow, a special one but I'm not allowed to say which one!
     I have been using Couture Creations Vintage Rose Garden papers this month and thought they would be just right for this occasion, then my friend Mynn Kitchen used a technique I had forgotten about and sparked the whole idea, thanks Mynn.

   


 I began by using Distress Ink Victorian Velvet to colour the edge of a white card blank, there is no need to colour the middle as it will be covered by the design.
      I do this with most of my cards as I've found it very difficult to get perfect matches with coloured card, it usually works out cheaper too!

 

  I have used one sheet of the paper pad and folded the corners into the middle. While they are folded in I have used Distress Ink Peeled Paint to colour the folded edges.
     Under each flap I have put a strip of double sided tape to hold down about 1/2 inch, this way when the flaps are curled out they will all sit neatly.

    The points of the flaps are held down with some red line tape as it's very strong.
     On each point there is a tiny pink gem and on three green corners there is a larger pink gem.

     There is a cascade of flowers on the bottom corner because I wanted them to tumble out of the centre and also to hide where the edges didn't meet perfectly. Three out of four corners were fine but one was a little untidy so that's the one that got covered up. That's the beauty of using a random patterned paper, who knows which way up it should be?
     The flowers are coloured with Cosmic Shimmer Mica Spray Antique Rose and left to dry on a paper towel on the radiator. Once dry they have green gems in the middle to match the flowers on the paper.
     The large flower is mounted on a double layer of foam pads, the next two on one layer and the bottom flower is stuck directly on to the card, cascade complete.
     With the addition of a die cut Happy Birthday in gold card the design is finished. A special card for a special lady, let's hope she likes it.


Materials used:
Couture Creations - Paper Pad Vintage Rose Garden
Distess Inks - Victorian Velvet / Peeled Paint
Cosmic Shimmer - Mica Spray Antique Rose

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

2015 Open Design Team Challenge - DT Members Only

Creative Moments - Anything Goes for A Special Lady
Frosted Designs - Think Pink
Jo's Scrap Shack - Special Birthday
Sister Act - Anything Goes
Brown Sugar - Anything Goes

It's Snowing!

     This is perfect timing, it's snowing outside as I'm typing this.  It's another week of inspiration from CASE-ing Christmas and our last week of candy so come and join us for a chance to win.
     I bought some Brusho ink powders before Christmas but have only had time for a little play until now, I really would like some more colours, this coupled with a new Tim Holtz Sizzix Snowflake die worked out well.
     I cut the snowflake from the centre of the white pearl card and set it aside while I painted the background. There are many things you can do with Brushos but I chose to sprinkle Ultramarine on to damp card. The component colours split and give blue, turquoise and purple as it hits the wet card, I could watch this happen all day. I used the plain side of the card so I could save the pearl side for the snowflake. To add sparkle I spritzed with a clear mica spray.
     This snowflake is not symmetrical, as I discovered when I flipped it over to the pearl side and tried to put it back in the hole. No problem, just cut another one the other way up, that way my snowflake is plain and my background is pearl. I'll just have to make another card later with the spare bits.
   

     The Sizzix die comes with an embossing folder so you can add texture to your flake. Once embossed on the pearl side it looked good but not quite good enough, so I added some clear glitter to the ridges to make it sparkle.
     I put the snowflake back in the hole it came out of once the paint was dry and stuck it down. The corners looked as though they needed a little something but nothing to take away from the main flake, so I added some tiny clear gems.
     It's not exactly a one layer card, I had to put the decorated layer on to a card blank to finish off. If I had tried to colour a card blank this way I think it would be everywhere inside and on the back as it's a slightly messy, but great, process. The die cut is inlaid so the only height is the tiny gem. There is no greeting on the outside as I want to keep the background effect clear.
     Mynn's original card has a snowflake and some blue on it so that was my starting point but I must admit I really wanted to play with the die and the Brushos, I hope you like it.
     Come and join us at CASE-ing Christmas this week, you might be one of our lucky candy winners.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Inlaid Die Cut Technique

One Layer Christmas Cards - Anything Goes optional Snowflakes

Christmas Cards All Year Round - Anything Goes for Christmas

Christmas Card Challenges - Anything Goes

Marble and Cream

      This months challenge at Technique Time Tuesday is to use Shaving Foam Marbling on your creation. There is a photo tutorial on the blog to help you through the process, yes it's a bit messy but it's a lot of fun!
     Whenever I have demonstrated this technique it has been a hit with young and old, my son loves doing this although I'm not sure if it's for the finished article or the fun of playing with shaving foam.
     I thought I would play around with some die cut shapes and use them as masks but the results were not that good, but at least the shapes were useful. I found that small shapes tended to ooze over the edges, larger worked better. These flowers were first generation print, the butterfly was second and the background was fourth generation. As you can see it gets paler each time and if you're using mica sprays the shimmer is only on the first print.
   

     The butterfly has been silver embossed with a fancy swirl stamp, flower stamens added to make his antenna and foam pads under his wings to make them stand up a little.
     The flowers are die cut with a Spellbinder die Aster Flower Topper, the outer petal edge is stuck down but I've left the middles free to stand up (they will flatten for posting). To finish them off there is a clear gem in the middle of each flower.
     I used Cosmic Shimmer Misters to marble with, then used the purple one to sponge the edge of the white card blank so that it matched. The pink layer is white card coloured around the edge with a Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid ink pad, much cheaper than buying lots of pearl card. There is also a small layer of silver mirri card to add some shine and tone in with the butterfly.
   
    This technique is one of my favourites, it's so much fun to do. Every print is different and the benefit of using foam over water is the image you make doesn't carry on moving while you reach for the card. Pop over to Technique time Tuesday and have a look at the tutorial and the amazing DT samples.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks - Anything Goes

Dream Valley Challenges - NO Designer Paper

Suzy Bee - Flowers

Cosmic clingfilm

    A strange title you may think but that just about describes the way I made my background for Make My Monday's challenge - create a background.
    I began with a white piece of thick card which I put in the bottom of a shallow box and then sprayed with Cosmic Shimmer Mica Misters in Antique Rose and Patina. I use a shallow box as the spray can escape a little and I've already been in trouble for redecorating the kitchen worktops before!! My usual spray booth is the greenhouse but it was wet and cold today so I used lots of newspaper under my box just in case.
     When the spray was still very wet I put scrunched up clingfilm (food wrap) on top and left it there until dry. This makes a great pattern as the mica gathers along all the fold lines, you can't hurry it up with a heatgun though, you just have to wait!
    With such a patterned background I chose to use silhouette type stamps from Chocolate Baroque's Wild Meadow embossed in dark blue, black was to harsh.

    The mica pattern shines well when the card is at an angle but face on you can see the sprays paint colours clearly. This technique works very well on the paler colours as the mica seems to show a little more than on dark colours.  
    I have added a dark blue butterfly cut with a Joy Craft die and while still in the die I have used Perfect Medium to ink up the wings. Once removed from the die I have added some silver mica powder which is sealed with hairspray.
    The card blank has been coloured with a pale green chalk before adding the picture which is matted with dark blue.
    I have not put a greeting on my card as I felt it didn't need one on the front, I shall add that inside when I've decided what to use it for.
    If you have any brand mica sprays have a go at this, it's fun because the outcome is always different. Just make sure you have a wet surface to lay your clingfilm on to and don't forget to scrunch it up, layed flat it will not do much atall.

Inkspired March Tag

   This is my tag for Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2013 - March. It is not quite the same as Tim's tag but after I'd made the background I didn't want to cover it up much.
   As the background was created with mica sprays I think it will also fit nicely into this weeks Inkspirational challenge which has a photo to inspire. As some of you will know including a rabbit is not easy for me, they are NOT my favourite garden visitor!
   I began by spraying a white tag with Cosmic Shimmer mica sprays in gold and blue. Once I had a very wet covering I sprinkled coarse rock salt on the tag and left it to dry naturally. The salt sucks up the moisture and pools the paint giving a terrific effect.
   I cut a butterfly hole in the tag with a Sizzix Mover and Shaper die and backed it with gold glitter paper. I kept the cut out butterfly and stamped on top of it, coloured the underside of the wings gold and added a flower stamen for the antennae before gluing it back in place down the body and bending the wings up.
   Spring is die cut in yellow, the grass is die cut in pearl green and the flowers are die cut from purple card using  the Tattered Garland long plate, with little yellow gems in the centres. There is a small wispy plant stamped underneath the flowers, that doesn't show up too well in the photo, using Archival Coffee.
   The rabbit is from a Penny Black stamp of rabbits in flower pots cut out and tucked into the grass. I have used some green gingham ribbon at the top to maintain the spring like feel of the tag. Let's just hope the weather takes the hint!!

  Sorry, this little fellow should be at the top I think. Thanks for the prompt Mynn. It really does go against the grain to have a rabbit on my blog, even if he is cute, you should see what they've done to my apple trees!!!!

Marbling with shaving foam

This tag was made using the 'Butterfly Kiss' stamp plate from Creative Expressions. The main image was stamped in Archival Coffee, clear embossed and then painted with Cosmic Shimmer Drawing Inks. The verse was also stamped in Archival Coffee. The little butterfly at the top was stamped on a scrap piece of card in Coffee and clear embossed, he was then coloured with drawing inks and cut out. For the butterfly body I used a stick on embellishment from the same pack as used in the previous post, they are just the right size for this stamp.
The background for the tag was made using the following technique, shaving foam marbling with Cosmic Shimmer misters. A little messy but great fun!

Fill a plastic container with about an inch of shaving foam. I used the lid from an A5 storage box and the cheapest shaving foam I could find. Don't worry about the fragrance as it doesn't last very long but it is nice to work with something that smells good!
Smooth the foam out a little with the end of a ruler or something similar to give you a flatish work surface.




Agitate your misters to get them ready, then spray at random on to the foam. This on it's own will produce a nice effect but I have always loved the swirly patterns you get inside old books so I mix mine up a little.






Make your swirls with the end of a paintbrush, a skewer or anything else that can be wiped clean easily. Fingers tend to be a little too big for this, though that has never stopped my son from trying it!
The beauty of using shaving foam is that unlike water (used with oil based paints) your swirls will not continue to move while you turn around to reach for your cardstock.


Place your cardstock on top of the foam, press down gently to make sure you have contact with all the paint. Cardstock is best for this technique as paper tends to be a little too weak.
Lift your cardstock out of the foam.

The excess foam can be removed by running your ruler gently along the card. Return the excess foam to the container. You can get several images from the foam, each one will be a little paler than the last. The mica will show clearly on the first copy but may not be apparent after that. This can always be rectified afterwards by spritzing a little clear 'Pearl Mist' over the card.

This colour choice was quite light but produced a spring like colouring which was ideal for my tag.

Experiment with different colours and see the wonderful patterns you can get.
I often do this at home with my seven year old son, he's very creative of his own free will, which means we get to craft together quite a lot. He often has some very good suggestions, I guess it's because he still sees everything as possible.

Bold colours are great. This tag was made with Purple Haze and Aqua Lagoon. I try to keep a little tag book (made using scraps of card) to remind me of favourite colour combinations, write the colours used on the back, punch a hole in the corner and hang them on a big clip ring. I always think I will remember....but I don't!

I hope this has explained it well enough, if not then please drop me a comment and tell me. This is for Pat, Wendy, Mona, Angie and Linda who I met at Capture The Magic...have fun girls!!

Cosmic Shimmer Misters

Shimmer mist is suitable for use on any porous surface such as : Card, Paper, Papier Mache, Canvas, Wood, Fabric - will NOT be washable.



Tips:
* The mica does settle so shake well before use.
* Bottles are best stored on their side, this helps keep the tube to the nozzle clear of mica reducing the risk of clogging. Less shaking needed too.
* If the pump clogs remove it and rinse in warm water, do this before long term storage.
* Use a small shallow box as a spray booth to prevent any stray squirts escaping.
* Use a craft mat under your project so you can mop up any overspray on spare card, it may come in handy for another project, waste nothing.
* Mica's are very effective on dark backgrounds so experiment with coloured bases to your projects.
* Colours co-ordinate with other Cosmic Shimmer products to help you mix and match.
* Wear gloves if scrunching your card, some colours can stain a little.


Ideas:
* Stamp an image using Perfect Medium, then clear emboss before spraying. Lightly dab off excess spray from stamped areas as it will stick to the embossing a little. This will retain the base colour on your card. Alternatively you could stamp and emboss using coloured powders after spraying. These two tags were sprayed with the same colours, one onto white card and the other onto black card.
* Create dramatic backgrounds by using several colours. Seascapes, stormy skies, sunsets, galaxies - on black card, enchanted forests, the list is endless, let your imagination run free.
* Spay thin card, then while still wet scrunch it up and smooth it out again. To get it quite smooth again you can iron it. If you then rub gently over the card with an ink pad only the raised areas will pick up the ink.
* You can spray fabric but it will NOT be washable.
* Use masks to spray over, there are some really gorgeous ones available.

I hope this has given you some idea about Cosmic Shimmer misters. Choose a couple of colours you like together and have a play, if you like what you see, and I'm sure you will, then invest in a few more and have fun. I love all the Shimmer mists but I would have to say the Pearl Mist is my favourite, it has a clear carrier colour so it can be used to add a subtle shimmer to almost anything from wedding cards to christmas decorations.
There is also a range of Chalk Misters available now. These are very similar to use but they have no shimmer, they are a chalk effect that have many uses of their own.