Peace and Love around the World

Hello!  I am back with my take on Linda's  week # 10 tag.  Linda is creating 12 tags before Christmas and sharing them every Monday on her blog The Funkie Junkie.   The challenge is sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique and there are prizes for randomly selected participants.

I was inspired by Linda's tag to create a card using her colors of kraft, white and instead of black I used brown.  I also loved the burlap, twine and cardboard across the front of her tag and used that as my background for the main images.

I have a pile of die cut images left from various projects and decided to pull them out and use a mix of them on the front of my card.  I already had a gold tree leftover and thought it was a lovely touch to the card along with the handsome deer.

As I was working on this card I thought of the Anything But Cute Challenge this month which is rustic glam.  I think the burlap gives it the rustic and the gold the glam.

Well that is all for me today.  Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Joy, Hope and Wonder

I am back on the tags again to catch up in Linda's wonderful 12 Tags of Christmas... Seems I lag behind 3 weeks at a time and  have to catch up. Linda's challenge is hosted by The Funkie Junkie Boutique and there are prizes to go along with her challenge.  I truly don't do much online shopping but I do shop at  The Funkie Junkie Boutique regularly online.  The shop has great prices all the time and the customer service is wonderful.

Onto my tag for Linda's Week #9 tag.

 I am in love with what happened when I started playing around with the technique Linda did on her tag.  She painted the background with a hint of silver and then sprayed the Ranger Distress Stain Sprays over the surface.  I painted my whole tag with the paint making sure there was a thick coat of the paint. (Ranger Pewter)

 Then I sprayed a mix of greens, and blues and it looks so cool as it looks like alcohol inks on the surface after it dries. I used a heat gun and tilting the tag to get the pooling as the spray sits on the surface of the paint. 

 I thought that was so pretty I almost didn't stamp the branches over the surface but that got even cooler as I used a versafine ink which was very liquid on the surface and I had to heat set it.  To make sure it dried completely I then inked up the entire surface with versamark watermark ink and encased it in clear embossing powder.   What a beautiful effect all around and I can't wait to try this again with another metal paint and different spray colors!

The next tag from Linda used blue, silver and white!  Week #7 Tag had so many different pieces of it that I loved and I had fun trying to replicate some of the effects she put together. There was this yummy snowflake and accents at the bottom of the tag.  A little of everything all so lush and beautiful!

And then there were beautiful touches of snowflakes in white against a painted blue background. (I sprayed my background over painted white snowflakes and then added the deer stamped with silver and a silver snowflake behind him. 

The last tag for Week #8 tag from Linda went way off the beaten path and took me the longest to come up with an idea.  Linda's beautiful tag had all these lovely elements of which I had none!  So I decided to use the ideas of the sprayed background and the design and turn it into something very different. :O 

 Here is a close up of the main image. I love this Hero Arts stamp and always look forward to pulling it out for the holidays.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Suzz

Friday Focus at The Funkie Junkie Boutique

Hi! Happy Black Friday!  In the spirit of sales today I wanted to mention that I am sharing a Grateful Mini-Book over on the Funkie Junkie Blog.  It is Friday Focus which means that a group of products (this time the Yvonne Blair stamps by Impression Obsession)  have an extra discount for the next two weeks.  Hop over to the Frilly and Funkie blog for all the details.  In addition The Funkie Junkie Boutique is having a Black Friday Sale as well and everything in the store is on sale.  

You will have to head over to the blog to see all the pages inside the journal.  Have a lovely Friday! 

Suzz

Bountiful Harvest

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!  I am here to share my card for the challenge at Frilly and Funkie which is "Bountiful Harvest".  The challenge is  hosted by Nancy, and the funkie side of the team is sharing our projects today.   Simply create any vintage or shabby chic project celebrating the bounty of the season in the rich hues of autumn.

At the end of the challenge the team will choose their top four picks. Our first place winner will be invited to join us in a Guest DT spot here at Frilly and Funkie. Three additional talented participants will receive badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and adheres to the challenge guidelines will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique!

I spent quite awhile trying to decide what to create.  I kept thinking of the expression "you reap what you sow". I think my bountiful harvest is my family and am very thankful for them. 

I decided to create a card celebrating our blessing this thanksgiving.  Lately I have been a little obsessed with the crackle paste, gold shimmery stuff and lovel rich hues of brown. I think it is because of the leaves and how they start to crackle and turn brown as they finish their beautiful color display and we transition into the cold weather.

I started with some tissue paper provided by Tim Holtz when I was lucky enough to win one of his monthly draws for the Tags of the Month.  Every time Mario and him send off their lovely prizes they wrap it in the tissue paper. 

I used the lovely leaves stencil with crackle paste to emboss a section of the tissue papers.  I cut them to fit the front of the card and tore them to create a rough edge.

I originally had put this on a card base which I tried to pull in the same colors onto the background. It was a flop and ended up too muddy.  Not to worry I just tore off my tissue paper pieces leaving the edge of the original background exposed.  I applied my embossed leaves to a new background.

Then I created a mix of gold acorn tops and leaves died in browns and gold and a lovely piece of seam binding died to coordinate.

I finished with a sprinkle of gold glitter and a sweet sentiment.  Now I have a beautiful fall card to give the hostess at Thanksgiving.

Remember to hop over to the Frilly and Funkie blog to check out all the beautiful designs by my team members!

 Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Ranger Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber - Metallic Gold	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Tarnished Brass	Tim Holtz Distress Glitter Dust - Vintage Platinum	Ranger Tim Holtz Ground Espresso Distress Spray Stain	Ranger Tim Holtz Ground Espresso Distress Ink Pad
Tim Holtz idea-ology Tissue Wrap - Postale	Wendy Vecchi Crackle Texture Paste	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Mini Layering Stencils - Set 22	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Chit Chat Stickers - Seasonal	Rayon Seam Binding
Sizzix® Thinlits Die Set 14PK - Fall Foliage by Tim Holtz	Wallflower Paper Stash

A Rustic Christmas

Hi! I am starting to ramp up on Christmas card production and wanted to share a card made recently for Darkroom Door. I had visions of an rustic Christmas with Wood Grain, Snowflakes and a rusty old truck. 

This was a simple process for the background. I stamped with a wood grain stamp in brown ink.  To make it darker for the snowflakes to really pop, I dragged the brown dye ink down the paper.  I then inked up the snowflake background with white acrylic paint. I stamped it and repeated until it was covered in snowflakes.

I stamped the truck and cut it out. I colored with a touch of watercolor.  I then stamped the sentiments and the circle postage stamp.  Behind the truck is a little gold twine, stars and burlap.

Products:  Darkroom Door - Snowflakes Background, Old Truck, Christmas Reindeer

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Snowflakes

Well the weather finally decided to turn today. :)  We are seeing our first set of snowflakes and bursts of cold gusts of wind.  I figured why not share my snowflake ornament created for Darkroom Door using their new Snowflake background.  I even have a few step by step shots for you.

 This all started with a series of white snowflakes cut using the Sizzix Snowflake die. The bigger the die cut the easier to put them together.  Also you need an image that is symmetric for this to work.

Then I stamped each snowflake with the snowflake background using the Versamark embossing ink.

 After I stamped the snowflake with the ink I sprinkled a shimmery clear embossing powder. (I used Stampendous Kaleidoscope embossing powder one of my favorites.   You could also use clear embossing powder and sprinkle ultra fine crystal glitter onto it while it was still warm to get a shimmer.

 I then played with different dye inks to see what color I wanted my snowflakes to be.  I chose a gray dye ink, but I have to say the coral was really pretty!

 I did make a mistake because I didn't sponge the back side of the snowflakes in the same color. If you do this when you put together your ornament and if you don't line it up perfectly you won't be able to tell. :)  If you do sponge the dye ink on the back side.  Do this first before you stamp the other side and heat set the dye ink so when you assemble them the tape/glue will stick. I find that the dye ink has so much moisture that sometimes tape won't stick unless I dry (heat set) the ink.

Now to start the folding process...

 You will need to crease the snowflake down the center. I used my bone folder and my cutting board to line up the center. It is tough on those small ends to get it folded but work on the main crease and you can then work on the ends individually. 

You need to fold all your snowflakes.  I used five snowflakes on mine but you can decide how many you want and how full your snowflake is.

Once they are all scored you can now attach them to each other.  I used tape on mine but work with whatever medium you like. I used a stronger tape and my tape gun to get them to stick together. 

 Keep attaching them together until you have one left.  Then you are going to put your hanging device in the center with any charms you want dangling below the ornament.

I just used some thread and created a loop on one end and left the pieces hanging out the other end to tie my pearl charm to the bottom. 

 I really had to lighten the photo up for you to see the snowflake shape.  This makes me appreciate the cold weather as the snowflakes are beautiful!

Keep warm,

Suzz

Dream

Happy weekend everyone.... I am back to share another one of the tags I was working on previously. This tag is inspired from Tim's November Tag.

 I feel like all I have been creating is tags but there have been cards I have created but not shared. :) I have had a few sent out to friends which were very cute and CAS. 

 I also have a few projects in work for upcoming challenges that will not be a tag, I promise. :)

This tag started with using gold rub-ons as you can see here:

I decided to do peppermint colors of a softer pink and lighter green colors.  I got stuck and decided to switch back to the original technique with the resist showing the white spaces.

I pulled out warm colors and inked up the surface with the fossilized amber and aged mahogany.  
Then I needed a large stamp to color and try to raise the surfaces using Tim's techniques. I ended up with the butterfly as it was the largest stamp which worked with my background.  I loved using up the bits and pieces form the rub-ons on the background. 

Well that is it for me today!  I hope you enjoy your Sunday!

Suzz

Christmas Tags

Hello.  I have been in and out of my craft room with a big mess on my desk. In addition to my stars that I was working on I had 3 different tags in process.  I finished two of them and stopped to share them with you.  These are inspired by Linda The Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas Challenge.  She has an annual challenge sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique and you have opportunities to win a gift certificate at her store.

For Week #6 Linda used the beautiful white offset by the kraft and layered in wonderful die cut branches and trees.  I loved the whole effect and emulated what she had done with a different mix of dies but tried to achieve the same effect. 

For Week #4 Linda created a beautiful poinsettia card. Her flowers are always gorgeous.  I loved the colors and design and tried to case the layout.  I unfortunately had not a poinsettia flower on hand either in die cuts or paper flowers so I improvised.

I did follow Linda's tag by die cutting the holly leaves in the shape of a poinsettia on the top two flowers.  I then took the pieces that were die cut in the top two flowers to create my bottom two flowers.  I added a nice sprinkling of gold and aged mahogany ink spray to the front. I sponged the background and the flowers with aged mahogany. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Golden Stars

Hi!  Time for the Funkie side of the DT of the Frilly and Funkie Challenge to share their projects.  Pamellia is hosting the current  challenge with a theme of What a Mesh.  She would like you to create a vintage or shabby chic project using  any type of mesh (crinoline, cheesecloth, tulle, burlap, canvas etc).

The team will choose their top four picks with the winner being invited to join as a Guest DT spot  at Frilly and Funkie and the next three will receive badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and follows the rules will be entered into the draw to have the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

My project started from a little bit of leftover drywall tape.

We were having a bit of drywall work done and the contractor left a few pieces of drywall tap hanging off of spare piece of plastic.  Of course after he left for the day I had to go and investigate it and happen to take those pieces back to my craft room.

I left them hanging off of my shelf out of the way until I saw the challenge was mesh and then I was thinking of how to use that tape on a project.

Here is he evolution of my drywall tape:

1. Sticky drywall tape. (Hard to see but basically a white/clear color and sticky on one side.)
2. Lay said tape on paper and paint it up with gold paint.
3. Pull up tape and consider the possibilities. (Keep paper with grid painted on for future projects)   
    Place tape on acetate and line up tape pieces to make wider tape pieces.
4. Decide that gold mesh stars would be cool for Christmas card and cut out mesh stars.  Ink up
    edges of stars with gold paint.

Once I had the gold stars I wanted to give depth between them when I overlapped them and decided to place them on pins.  I took a few older button topped pins and broke off the buttons and used the base for my stars. I painted the pins to turn them gold.  I then just used glue dots to attach the stars to the pins.

After that I used gold embossing paste and the music stencil to stencil a background onto white cardstock.

I then painted some tulle to turn it gold and created a tulle pom pom to place in the center of my starburst.  I stuck the various stars into the tulle and layered in white die cut leaves and branches to make the gold pop.

I inked up the sentiment with gold and stamped it onto a tag shaped piece of cardstock.

Don't forget to play along with us in the "What a Mesh" challenge! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste - Gold	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencil - Concerto	Sizzix Alterations Tim Holtz Stacked Stars Bigz Die	Ranger Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber - Metallic Gold	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Scribble Woodland CMS282
May Arts 1.5 inch White Tulle Ribbon	Sizzix Alternations Tim Holtz Thinlits Dies - Holiday Greens	Sizzix Holiday Greens Die Leaves