I'm Seeing Stars

Hi!  I am back to share a post highlighting the new Darkroom Door Star Small Stencil!

 I had some linen material on my desk from my last project and reached out to that first.  I applied gesso to the linen and  had to wait until that dried.  While that was drying I spent some time making stars with the stencil on paper with embossing paste.   After the painted linen dried I created stars on the painted linen with embossing paste. 

I waited for a few to dry and stamped on the star by placing the stencil back in place and stamping over the stencil with script.

I added a hint of stamping in the background with a gold ink and a music stamp.   I stamped the believe stamp onto a piece of leftover linen and embossed with gold embossing powder.  It is a little difficult to see on this angle but looks beautiful IRL.

I sewed the golden star onto the center of the embossed star.  It actually worked really well with the embossing paste. It was like sewing through a soft batting. :)

I added a stamped No. 25 from the Merry Mail stamp set.

On my next linen background I used a few different sprays to add some color to the background and star.

While the embossed star is wet I sprayed a variety of brown, ivory and gold inky sprays.  After it dried the script was stamped over the star.  Then I stamped the Believe onto a scrap of painted linen with Versamark.  I heat embossed using gold embossing powder.  I then inked up the edges with the brown inky spray.

The rest were fun embellishments that were painted with gold metallic paint and attached to the linen background.

While everything was drying at different times I spent some time using the stencil with distress inks.

I started with yellow stars sponged on a white background.  I then pulled out the cobalt blue ink and started to add accents to the background.

Then I accented with some splatters in the background and some stars and accents from different sets.
 

My final card mixed the sunshine stencil with the star mask/stencil.  I placed the star mask under the sunshine stencil on a piece of white cardstock. 

I sponged over the entire layered stencils with a yellow die ink.  I then removed both stencils and placed the star stencil over the white star and sponged in the ink. It leaves a little white line around the star which I highlighted with white gel pen to accent. 

I added a few coordinating stars and sentiment in a soft orange ink.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Products: (Links to Darkroom Door)
Darkroom Door Small Stencil Star
Darkroom Door Small Stencil Sunshine 
Darkroom Door Rubber Stamp Set Merry Mail 
Darkroom Door Rubber Stamp Set Christmas Reindeer
Darkroom Door Rubber Stamp Set New York Vol 1
Darkroom Door Rubber Stamp Set Stars 
Darkroom Door Rubber Stamp Set Simple Sayings Vol 1
Ranger Distress Inks - Fossilized Amber, Ground Espresso, Wild Honey
Ranger Archival Ink - Cobalt
Dylusions Shimmer Spray - Melted Chocolate
Ranger Distress Stain Sprays - Antique Linen, Ground Espresso, Fossilized Amber, Tarnished Brass
Versamark Watermark Ink
Ranger Wendy Vecchi - Embossing Paste
Tsukeniko Delicata Gold Ink
Ranger Gold Embossing Powder 
Dina Wakely White Gesso
Prima Alchemy Gold Metallique Paint

It Looks Real

Hi... I'm back.... In time for the new Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge "It Looks Real" hosted by the talented Cec!

Here is how she describes the challenge:

"There are so many ways to make something look real when it isn't.  For this challenge, make a vintage or shabby chic project with one or more faux elements.  Those elements could be faux rust, leather, stitching - to name a few.  Make sure you tell us what the faux element is and how you made it because it will look real."

You may remember my post from a few weeks ago where I was playing the Decayed stencil, some texture paste and salt.   That immediately came to mind when I saw the challenge.  We have this bench in our yard that we don't use except for decor. 

The moss on here reminds me of the decayed pattern and ended up being my inspiration for my faux lichen.

I started by trying to replicate the colors on the mossy bench:

Unfortunately I realized when I sat down to work on my post that my Hickory Smoke Distress Stain Spray was empty.   I decided to mix up a bunch of different colors to get this:

I took a mix of greens, black, brown, white, to get a variagated color.  I ended up with two backgrounds.  This is the partial decayed stenciled background.  I used the other on my card.

Here are the steps to get to this point:

1.  Spread texture crackle embossing paste over a mixed media cardstock with the decayed stencil.
2.  While it is still wet spray distress inks and oxide sprays over the surface mixing the colors as desired.
3.  While the ink is still wet pour the salt over the surface.  I moved up to sea salt from regular salt. :)
4.  Now the hard part you have to wait until everything dries.  You can speed up the process by using a heat gun but it will still take awhile.  Best to let it dry overnight.
5.  When it is completely dry you shake off the salt and rub it off.  Normally I use my plastic ruler to scrap off the salt.  With the textured paste it might pull off your paste.  (I put my paste on unevenly and didn't scrape off the excess while the stencil was on which left a very cool surface but limited my scraping.)  I used my fingures to rub off the salt bits. 
6.  After that your surface is ready.  I had a few chunks of my embossing paste break off of my background.  I just added a few drops of inks into those areas and they blended beautifully.

When you are done you can choose to leave it muted or you can cover the entire surface with clear embossing powders to give it a geode effect.

My tag was embossed with clear embossing powder which makes the colors really shine.

For this base I splattered with white paint at the end to highlight areas. 

A close up of the clear embossed background and the texture:

Next I painted linen cloth with gesso.  After it dried I cut a series of leaves from the painted cloth.

After that I sprayed with a mist of yellow, orange and red distress inks.  After they dried I stamped some script onto the leaves.  I then versamarked the surface of the leaves and embossed with Frosted Antiquities.

The leaves were cut form cardstock and sponged with brown dye inks.  Then they were also embossed with the Frosted Antiquities.  I finished the forest scene with a mix of tiny toadstools.

I hope this has you inspired to come play along in the It looks Real Challenge at the Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge.

The winner will earn a chance to be a Guest Designer at a future date here at The Funkie Junkie Boutique blog, and everyone who enters and follows the rules will go into the draw for the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique. There are also Top 3 Badges for three additional outstanding entries, chosen by the Design Team.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz


Products: (The Funkie Junkie Boutique)
Sizzix Thinlits Fall Foliage
Stampers Anonymous - Tiny Toadstools
Tim Holtz Layering Stencil - Decayed
Ranger Distress Stain Sprays - Fired Brick, Spiced Marmalade, Ground Espresso, Crushed Olive, Black Soot, Hickory Smoke, Peacock Feathers, Iced Spruce, Pumice Stone
Ranger Distress Oxide Sprays - Fossilized Amber, Ground Espresso
Ranger Distress Oxide Ink - Ground Espresso
Ranger Distress Inks - Crushed Olive
Prima Art Basics - White Gesso
Wendy Vecchi Texture Crackle Paste
Frosted Crystal Antiquities Embossing Powder
Versamark Watermark Ink Pad
Sizzix Funky Foliage
Sizzix Funky Floral 3 Die 
Salt
Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Word Bands

Festive Ornaments

Hi!  I am sharing today a card made with the new Darkroom Door Festive Ornament Rubber Stamp set.

Steps:

1.  Stamp ornaments using plum colored ink.  Stagger on background.
2.  Stamp the sentiments on white cardstock. Cut out and edge with silver ink.
3. Edge card and background with silver ink.
4. Draw hanging lines to ornaments with versamark ink and emboss with silver tinsel embossing powder.
5. Dye ribbon with silver ink and add as accents to ornaments.
6. Splatter silver inky spray over background.

My next card was a mix of the ornaments in a softer archival ink.

I used a mix of the of the ornaments stamped in blue violet and highlighted in a shimmery gold ink.

For the final card I used the sentiment in a repeated pattern in the background. 

I stamped the words repeatedly using a distress oxide ink. I then stamped the reindeer over the top and embossed with a nice rich grey embossing powder.

These ornaments bring back visions of vintage Christmas.  Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Products: 
Darkroom Door - Festive Ornaments
Darkroom Door - Christmas Reindeer
Ranger Archival Ink - Thistle, Blue Violet
Ranger Embossing Powder - Watering Can 
Jingle Bells
Krylon Silver Pen
Ranger Distress Stain Sprays -Tarnished Brass, Silver
Prima Art Alchemy - Unicorn Sparks Gold
Seam Binding

Christmas Baubles

Hi!  Happy Sunday to you!  I have been busy playing with a new stencil from Darkroom Door called Bauble Set.

I had different ideas percolating for a series of Christmas cards in Silver and Gold.  I started from the simplest idea and kept adding more textures or details. 

 For the first card it was a very simple design but could be replicated easily and in large quantities. :)

Steps:

  1.  Sponge gold ink through stencil in center of card base.
  2.  Heat set the ink to make sure it is completely dry.
  3.  Place stencil over bauble and stamp script multiple times with gold ink.
  4.  Sprinkle gold tinsel embossing powder over script.  Shake off excess and heat until melted.
  5.  Place stencil over bauble background and use versamark marker and trace around edges.
  6.  Sprinkle gold tinsel embossing powder over bauble.  Shake off excess and heat until melted.
  7.  On another scrap of cardstock, sponge bow with versamark.
  8.  Sprinkle gold tinsel embossing powder over bow.   Shake off excess and  heat until melted.
  9.   Cut out bow. 
10.  Sponge versamark on white cardstock.  Cover with embossing powder.  Shake off excess and  
       heat.   Cut out a square and pop dot onto bow.
11. Stamp sentiment below bauble using versamark ink. 
12. Sprinkle with embossing powder.  Shake off excess and heat until melted.

For the next card I added a splatter background with a touch of ribbon.

This card used the same steps as above but I splattered a gold inky spray at the end to add a touch of color.  I also used a darker yellow ink along with the gold ink when sponging the center.

This card had two additional touches.  I stamped the fun streamers randomly over the background and embossed with the gold embossing powder.  I also took the versamark marker and tried to make confetti sized shapes in the background and then embossed with gold embossing powder.

After the first set of single baubles I decided to stagger three baubles on a card and move over to silver embossing  powder.

For the first card I laid the stencil on the background three times and sponged with Versamark ink over the stencil. 

I embossed with Silver Tinsel Embossing Powder.  I did this twice to give a solid embossed bauble.  I accented with red tinsel ties and sentiment.

For the final card I used the mask and the reverse mask. 

I sponged, stamped and embossed the first three baubles.  After that I laid the mask stencil over each bauble and stamped the script in the background. 

The baubles were accented with some leftover ribbon from the scrap pile.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Products: (Links to the Darkroom Door site)
Darkroom Door - Small Stencil Bauble Set
Darkroom Door - Christmas Reindeer 
Darkroom Door - Festive Ornaments
Darkroom Door - Background Stamp - Snowflakes 
Darkroom Door - Brushed Christmas Vol 1 
Ranger Tinsel Silver Embossing Powder 
Ranger Tinsel Gold Embossing Powder 
Versamark Watermark Ink
Versamark Watermark Ink Marker
Tsukineko Delicata Gold Ink
Tsukineko Delicata Silver Ink

Halloween Fun!

Time for a new challenge at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge!  The talented Sara Emily has challenged us this time with It's Halloween!

Here is how she described the challenge:

"I love Halloween! With Halloween just a few weeks away, I challenge you to create a vintage or shabby chic project with a Halloween theme. Your project can be as silly or creepy as you like, but just have fun!"

I started working on tags and cards with the intent of making a spooky card.  But instead I went shopping. :) 

I like browsing at home decor stores because I get inspiration that I want to go home and try to create. :)  This time it was a beautiful pumpkin covered in corn husk textured flowers.  It was all neutral but I couldn't get over the texture on the pumpkin. 

 I hurried home to try to create many many roses. :)  I cut about 30 pine cones from some scrap paper used to wrap up items from the store.  It is like a heavy newsprint.  I wanted something with some texture. 

 After I cut all the flowers and leaves I laid them out on my craft mat and gave them a coat of gesso.  I was hoping it would help give more firmness to the flowers / leaves and soften the effect of the sprays. 

Next was to let them dry and clean up the paint. After they dried I sprayed all the flowers with a mix of Fired Brick and Fossilized Amber. 

I let them all dry again and stamped them with black ink using the Glorious Bouquet stamp.  The stamping was imperfect and partial in places which works fine because of the shaping of the flowers.

Next I got the glue gun out and made the roses. 

I sprayed the leaves with a mix of ground espresso and peeled paint. 

The pumpkin I purchased was a white pumpkin.  I gave it a coat of gesso and then sprayed it with abandoned coral distress spray ink. 

I used hot glue to apply the roses along the side  and sprinkled in a mix of the leaves.  In doing so it left the glue strings all over the roses.  I decided to leave it to give it the webby effect from my spider. 

I added a coat of frosted crystal embossing powder over the surface of the roses and the pumpkin.  I took the versamark embossing powder and sponged it all over everything and then coated the entire project with the embossing powder.  I heat set it. 

To finish off the project a little black bird, spider and charm.

Come join in the fun and share your Halloween inspired art!   The winner will earn a chance to be a Guest Designer at a future date here at The Funkie Junkie Boutique blog, and everyone who enters and follows the rules will go into the draw for the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique. There are also Top 3 Badges for three additional outstanding entries, chosen by the Design Team.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Products (Linked to the Funkie Junkie Boutique)
Sizzix Tattered Pine Cone Die
Ranger Distress Oxide Sprays - Peeled Paint, Fired Brick, Fossilized Amber 
Ranger Distress Spray - Ground Espresso, Abandoned Coral 
Ranger - Embossing Antiquities - Frosted Crystal Embossing Powder 
Idea-Ology - Tim Holtz Adornments Halloween Words
Silvertone Spider Charms
Stampers Anonymous - Glorious Bouquet 
Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black
Dina Wakely Mediums - White Gesso