I Love Playing and GETTING MESSY with Mists - Anything But a Card Challenges #22 - Week 2

Good Morning! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. Today I'm sharing this art journal page that's featured today for week 2 of Challenge #22 "Getting Messy" at  Anything But a Card Challenges. Anything But a Card Challenges is a bi-weekly challenge and today, the other half of our amazing Design Team showcases more Challenge 22 "GETTING MESSY" inspired projects today {CLICK HERE to jump over to ABAC}.

Are you ready to CREATE and play along??? Please click here to link up your creations! You still have a whole week to link up your creations before a new challenge begins on July 7th. REMEMBER this challenge blog is ANYTHING and EVERYTHING... except for Cards. ATC's aren't cards...so please link up your ATC's too!!!

Anything But a Card Challenge 22 is "GETTING MESSY": Anything Goes here - use modeling paste, paint, ink, sprays, Papier-mâché, alcohol inks, etc. Get it all out and just dive in and have FUN! The possibilites are endless and the theme is open.

For this challenge - I got out all of my sprays and started playing - boy are they messy. I had some chipboard pieces I was coloring black and silver metallic mists on top of some freezer paper to protect my counter and get glittery swirly goodness everywhere. I didn't want the beautiful inky swirls to go to waste so I mopped up the glittery goodness with some blank white cardstock. Nothing goes to waste here! This resulted in several interesting graphic black and white backgrounds. I've got about a dozen painted papers to use later.

One in particular had this negative square area left in the center and it was like a large version of one of the banner chipboard shapes I was planning to use. This became the background. I had a scrap piece of blue/green patterned paper {make unknown} that I misted the top edge and printed one of my stash of quotes onto it with my laser printer. Then I set to work on the banner shapes decorating them with various colors and patterns of washi tape {yep, I'm a washi junkie, too}. I ran some stripes of black and white washi tapes across the top to have a place for my banners to hang, and fashioned a faux clothesline out of Mizuhiki paper cord adhered with Diamond Glaze {holding this down to dry was pretty messy also}. I mounted this into my black paper base art quote journal using miracle tape and pearly photo corners.

Supplies: UmWowStudio Layered Banners; white cardstock; patterned paper scrap; photo corners; Mizuhiki paper cord; Washi Tape - K and Company and others; Tim Holtz Ideology Tissue Tapes; Stuart Superior Memories Metallic Mist; Ditto Black Mist; Diamond Glaze; and Miracle Tape from Viva Las VegaStamps!.

Hope your Sunday is fun and creative! I'm visiting my sister and we are headed to StampFest today... should be some inky and messy fun!  Sb :) 

Ready to Celebrate and Party with Unscripted Skethes #217

Welcome to the weekend... I'm still in party mode and trying to use up my leftovers paired up with today's new Unscripted Sketches #217. My "one touch rule" took over for this project and I challenged myself to use just ten embellishments {it IS truly a challenge - I encourage you to try it}.

I had a few leftover stamped images from other projects using stamps from Viva Las VegaStamps! so I double matted them with coordinating colors dictated by the "PARTY" embroidered sticker. I'm so happy with this card and I have another fun and festive birthday greeting for the card box!

My Miracle Tape makes assembly with scraps super easy and it holds paper, ribbon and even textured things wonderfully. All the elements came together beautifully - the hard part here was only sticking to TEN embellishments... can you find them all?

What is Sketch it Saturdays at Unscripted Sketches? Every Saturday morning a new sketch is posted for the week. Flip the sketch, rotate it… create a card, a scrapbook page, a wall hanging, digital, paper, fabric, paint, anything your imagination comes up with! There is no right or wrong way, as long as you are using the Unscripted sketch as the inspiration for your creation! And everyone is invited to join in the fun... and post your creation on their page via inlinkz for all the world to see!

Now that I have my new tire... no more limping around looking for an air hose... I'm off for a little crafty road trip. Have a fantastic weekend! :) Sb

Having Fun "GETTING MESSY" with Anything But a Card Challenges No. 22

Hello! Happy Sunday everyone! I'm so excited to for this new Anything But a Card Challenge... Number 22 is "GETTING MESSY". This challenge is right up my alley - my hands are always inky, gluey and full of paint. Today I'm sharing a page in my Art Quote Journal made using some DIY mists using mica powders.

There's two weeks to play along and link up via inlinkz froggy. Anything But a Card Challenges is a bi-weekly challenge and today, begins a new challenge. Our wonderful Design Team showcases Challenge 22 "GETTING MESSY" inspired projects today. Please click here to head on over to ABAC and see all the fantastic projects shared by the design team AND submissions by all of you. I will have another project featured next Sunday for week two of the challenge.

REMEMBER this challenge blog is ANYTHING and EVERYTHING... except for Cards. ATC's aren't greeting cards...so please link up your ATC's!!!

Anything But a Card Challenge 22 is "GETTING MESSY": Anything Goes here - use modeling paste, paint, ink, sprays, Papier-mâché, alcohol inks, etc. Get it all out and just dive in and have FUN! The possibilites are endless and the theme is open.

I rummaged my house and reclaimed every spray bottle I could get my hands on. I have here an assortment of recycled travel size hair/body sprays, some Ranger Mini Misters, and some small mini sprayers I purchased from Sky Blue Pink. I labeled each with the color/combinations. I am so excited to play with my DIY mists. I got out my stencils and punchinella and started getting messy and just let the ink fly! I sprayed several colors on first layer then let dry and then heat set to make sure it was entirely dry.

On second layer I added some squares

and this gear detail - I love it!

The background is wonderful and goes perfectly with my favorite quote from one of the Masters...Edgar Degas!

Degas is referred to as one of the founders of Impressionism, though he rejected this and wanted to be called a REALIST. He studied the traditional methods of classical painters and he applied his masterful technical skill to his colorful paintings best known for capturing movement and private moments; exemplified in his works of bathers, ballet dancers and horse racing.

The Dance Class (La Classe de Danse),1873–1876,

oil on canvas, by Edgar Degas

Here's a few more of my favorite quotes by Degas - I think you might like these and have a little chuckle, too.

"In painting you must give the idea of the true by means of the false."

"Painting is easy when you don't know how, but very difficult when you do."

"Everyone has talent at twenty-five. The difficulty is to have it at fifty."

If you would like to know more about Edgar Degas, CLICK HERE to read his wikipedia entry.

I hope you are inspired to run to your studio, get out some supplies, "GET MESSY" and play along... I can't see what you create!!! Have a creative DAY!!! :) Sb

This Hippo is Ready to P-A-R-T-Y!!! Sketch-it Saturday with Unscripted Sketches #216

Welcome to the weekend... and there's always a reason to celebrate, right? Well this party girl is all dolled up bringing birthday wishes using Unscripted Sketches #216. When I visited Viva Las VegaStamps! back in April, I fell in love with this stamp and had to have her... "Hippo with Party Hat" #1454.

I made my own tissue tape with Miracle Tape and Miracle Sheets {a full letter-size sheet of Miracle Tape}. The colored tissue comes with a tissue wrap with the printed "happy birthday" on it; as you see above... except for the yellow. The yellow tissue section I created by stamping the "Happy Happy Birthday" #10479 stamp repeatedly in Milled Lavender Ranger Distress Ink. The green confetti tissue at the top is recycled from a gift I received {I've been having fun using this craftily}. I fussy cut and hand colored my party girl with my Ranger Distress Markers; then grounded her on a strip of grey spotted washi tape. The bright colored tissue really makes the party girl pop. I finished her off with some eyelash googlie eyes.

No card is complete until

you add some GOOGLIE eyes!

What is Sketch it Saturdays at Unscripted Sketches? Every Saturday morning a new sketch is posted for the week. Flip the sketch, rotate it… create a card, a scrapbook page, a wall hanging, digital, paper, fabric, paint, anything your imagination comes up with! There is no right or wrong way, as long as you are using the Unscripted sketch as the inspiration for your creation! And everyone is invited to join in the fun... and post your creation on their page via inlinkz for all the world to see!

•••••••••••

Supplies used: STAMPS - "Happy Happy Birthday" #10479 and "Hippo with Party Hat" #1454. Other supplies: cardstock; tissue paper wrapper; green confetti and yellow tissue; Staz-On Black ink; Miracle Tape; googlie eyes, photo corners; Ranger Distress Markers; Milled Lavendar Distress Ink; washi tape; Clearsnap Colorbox Khaki Green Dye Ink; Gelly Stardust Pen and a water brush.

I'm off for some creative play and tomorrow I have my monthly A.R.T. Club meet-up. Have a fantastic weekend! :) Sb

Crazy for Chippies, Washi Tape and Unscripted Sketches #212... and I'm Featured Designer at UmWowStudios!!!

Happy Thursday!!! I just wanted to share another project created using Unscripted Sketches #212. I saved this art journal page until it was shared over at UmWowStudios because it features DeeDee's amazing chipboard shapes.

Have you seen chippies in the past couple of projects I've posted??? It's because for this month {june 2013}, I'm a Guest Designer for UmWowStudio's Creative Team...

I'm so thrilled to be selected to represent UmWowStudios and design using their fabulous HANDMADE products. CLICK HERE to jump over to the post.

Please CLICK HERE to check it out all the details on this art journal page. 

What is Sketch it Saturdays at Unscripted Sketches? Every Saturday morning a new sketch is posted for the week. Flip the sketch, rotate it… create a card, a scrapbook page, a wall hanging, digital, paper, fabric, paint, anything your imagination comes up with! There is no right or wrong way, as long as you are using the Unscripted sketch as the inspiration for your creation! And everyone is invited to join in the fun... and post your creation on their page via inlinkz for all the world to see!

What creative goodness are you working on today??? I'm working on some new techniques that I'm testing out for a book review that I'll be posting tomorrow. Thanks so much for dropping by. Have a great day! :) Sb

Freaky Birthday Greetings with Unscripted Sketches #205

Happy Wednesday! How about another fun stamped card using Viva Las VegaStamps! and Unscripted Sketches #205??? This card is just so fun and festive! I totally fell in love with this stamp and made me laugh out loud.

This card began with Viva Las VegaStamps! "Alligator Present" #9129. It has a blank little tag in the image and the "Don't Freak Me Out" #18327 fit perfectly in it's place. I stamped both in black on white cardstock painted yellow using Mustard Seed Ranger Distress Ink and a brayer; then hand colored image with my markers and waterbrush. I added some shimmery details and polka dots with my Gelly Roll Stardust pen. I cropped to an oval shape and matted with a contrasting blue cardstock. The border is the "Happy Happy Birthday" #10479 stamped about 10 times to create a pattern stripe using Clearsnap Colorbox Khaki Green Dye ink.

**TIP FOR THE DAY** Try out different themed stamps for different occasions. Play around and have fun! Cut your images apart to use just a section, or stamp a repeating pattern. This gives you endless possibilities with your stash of rubber stamps.

A fun cards using just a few stamps!

•••••••••••

Supplies used: STAMPS - "Alligator Present" #9129, "Don't Freak Me Out" #18327, and "Hippo with Party Hat" #1454. Other supplies: varied solid color cardstocks; Staz-On Black ink; Miracle Tape; photo corners; Ranger Distress Markers; Mustard Seed Ranger Distress Inks; Clearsnap Colorbox Khaki Green Dye Ink; Gelly Stardust Pen and a water brush.

What is Sketch it Saturdays at Unscripted Sketches? Every Saturday morning a new sketch is posted for the week. Flip the sketch, rotate it… create a card, a scrapbook page, a wall hanging, digital, paper, fabric, paint, anything your imagination comes up with! There is no right or wrong way, as long as you are using the Unscripted sketch as the inspiration for your creation! And everyone is invited to join in the fun... and post your creation on their page via inlinkz for all the world to see!

What are you working on today??? I'm reading a book and trying some new techniques for a book review that I'm working on. Also, I'm a Guest Designer for UmWowStudio's Creative Team today... please CLICK HERE to check it out! Hope you are having a great day.  :) Sb

Bluebells Bring Best Wishes for Unscripted Sketches #215

Hello everyone! My new schedule is finally getting into a rhythm and I'm getting back to creating. Today I'm sharing a "Best Wishes" card I made for this week's Unscripted Sketches sketch #215. You know how I'm all about using up every little scrap I can, even the overspray from misting, too! My "ONE-TOUCH" rule won out for this project... and came together really quickly as a bunch of coordinating items were all within reach. I just love the minimal look of the reversed floral stem with the contrasting black, white and silver.

Remember my art journal page I shared the other day??? CLICK HERE for a refresher. It featured a bluebell chipboard embellishment from UmWowStudio that I sprayed with black and silver metallic mists. Well, in the process of painting the chippies... I got some really nice background silhouettes in the overspray from spraying the chipboard. AND I got several because I didn't leave it sitting in a pool of liquid, I let the color set a minute, then pressed off the excess on a blank sheet, then repeated, building up layers.

At the top of the card, I added these two decorative ring buttons {that's what it says on the packaging} - but they are individual mini wedding rings and NOT buttons. Totally perfect for accenting this silver shimmery card. The sentiment "Best Wishes #826" from Viva Las VegaStamps! is stamped on a scrap of the misted cardstock in black dye ink.

This card came together really quickly with some layering and matting and adding ribbon trim for the details, all topped of with my mini rings with bling! This card is a bit larger than normal, but the next wedding I go to, I'll be all set and has room for a special personalized greeting and a gift certificate, too.

What is Sketch it Saturdays at Unscripted Sketches? Every Saturday morning a new sketch is posted for the week. Flip the sketch, rotate it… create a card, a scrapbook page, a wall hanging, digital, paper, fabric, paint, anything your imagination comes up with! There is no right or wrong way, as long as you are using the Unscripted sketch as the inspiration for your creation! And everyone is invited to join in the fun... and post your creation on their page via inlinkz for all the world to see!

Thanks for stopping by!!! Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday evening and come and play along with this week's sketch.

: ) Sb

Remembering the Men in My Life... Week two of Anything But a Card Challenges No. 21

Happy Father's Day!!! Since it is Father's Day today, I have created a page in my Art Journal to commemorate my father and my grandfather. Both are no longer with us, but they are always near and dear to my heart.

This project is for Anything But a Card Challenge 21 "Masculine or Dear Ol' Dad". This is week two of the challenge. Please click here to head on over to ABAC and see what the second half of our amazing design team has created.

Are you ready to CREATE and play along??? Please click here to link up your creations! You still have a whole week to link up your creations before a new challenge begins on June 23rd. REMEMBER this challenge blog is ANYTHING and EVERYTHING... except for Cards. ATC's aren't cards...so please link up your ATC's too!!!

Challenge 21 is "MASCULINE - or Remembering Dear Ol' Dad". Father's Day is upon us, so we thought we would inspire you to change gears and make things on the manly side. Make something for DAD or in honor of Dad; use masculine colors; things grungy; manly stuff with cars, tools, or sports; boys will be boys - you could go on and on.... have fun with this challenge... just remember please create anything except a card!

I created a special art journal page remembering my father and grandfather with a few of my favorite photos of each.

I began with Altered Pages Histoire AP-517 Collage Sheet. This is image as it was printed. It is so artistic and made me think of family. I printed it out on regular white paper and tore the edges. I glued into my journal using glue stick. Glue stick is my preferred method of adhering papers into my altered books/journals and I use it liberally.

The pages of my art journal are black so I added a gesso/acrylic glaze mixture over entire image which muted it back slightly and added paint around all sides to build up color for a distressed wood border. All of the detail was added with markers and blended out with my finger {my favorite blending tool}. I inked the edges of the photos with walnut ink, set some eyelets in the tops of each photos and tied some twine. A couple metal embellishments, and a gold embossed sprockets chips die cut finish off this sentimental Art Journal page.

"Family Historé"

Photo descriptions: On left - this is a photo of me at age 1 with my Grandfather and my first dog "Putzel", a weiner dog; below a photo of my Grandfather and I at my wedding reception. On the right: top photo is of my Dad and I, when I surprised him for his birthday {he was spitting mad}; and below a photo of my Dad with my dog "Putzel" when he was a puppy. I am happy I made this page. It is making me smile proudly since my grandfather was a fantastic amateur photographer and my Father was an artist as well... traits from both that have been passed down to me. I need to create a page now as a tribute to my grandmother and mother who are equally artistic and creative.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you have had a wonderful Father's Day spent with your loved ones. Sb :)

Embracing New Challenges, Dreams... and New INKY Techniques, too!

Happy Thursday! I have some wonderful news on a project I'm working on that will soon be available for the masses. I've been working up some original designs for stencils and the first being "silhouetted hands" like those in my art journal pages that were featured yesterday on the Viva Las VegaStamps! Blog. I'm so excited that after all these years, my experience in the printing industry is finally merging with my creative fantasies. I finally inked up MY dandelion stamp {one of three I've illustrated to become stamps} and it went perfectly in the Fresh Lime Dylusions splat.

Working on illustrations for stamps led me to another guilty pleasure "STENCILS". I love working on altered books and journals and since I have my established handmade shoppes, I can produce and share my designs with all of you at my shoppe SMBdesign. Stay tuned for more details.

This is the stamped portion of my journal pages - just the beginning. CLICK HERE to see how I got to this point. The finishing touches are my favorite part... and I just let my muse run wild. 

I'm "embracing my fear" and going HEADSTRONG after my dreams.

•••••••••••

Supplies used: STAMPS - "Blowing Dandelion and Extra Seed" #19045, "Hatch Mark Background" #10896, and "Early in Morning Swahilis" #1692. Other supplies: Dylusions - "THE" Dylusions Journal; black metallic cardstock; Staz-On Black ink; Miracle Tape; Diamond Glaze; Ranger Distress Markers; Pumice Stone Ranger Distress Inks; Bluebell Chipboard floral stem from UmWowStudio; Fresh Lime & After Midnight Dylusions Ink Sprays; and Lightning Black Tsukineko - Brilliance Dew Drops Pigment Ink; sticker letters - American Crafts and WeR Memory Keepers; some magazine clippings inked black; White Sharpie Pen; and BoBunny rub-ons.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit. I hope you have a great evening! Sb

Ode to Mother...Just Because for Unscripted Sketches #214

I know I've been behind on posting my Sketch-It Saturday with Unscripted Sketches projects and I really appreciate your patience. I won't bombard you by posting all of them at once.

I'm catching up on things so here's this weeks card for Unscripted Sketches #214. I've been trying to finish up some projects laying around on the table and the leftovers, too. This card is using Basic Grey Papers and rub-on, with a section of lace trim. Beautiful card ready to go in the "not a Hallmark - even better" box. 

Will you be playing along???

What is Sketch it Saturdays at Unscripted Sketches? Every Saturday morning a new sketch is posted for the week. Flip the sketch, rotate it… create a card, a scrapbook page, a wall hanging, digital, paper, fabric, paint, anything your imagination comes up with! There is no right or wrong way, as long as you are using the Unscripted sketch as the inspiration for your creation! And everyone is invited to join in the fun... and post your creation on their page via inlinkz for all the world to see!

Thanks for stopping by!!! I hope you have wonderful day. I have a project featured over at Viva Las VegaStamps! blog today - a must see! CLICK HERE to check it out.

: ) Sb

May Arts Ribbon Design Team Call - Round One

I'm throwing my hat into the ring to try out to be selected to the premier team of May Arts Ribbonistas. The wide selection of May Arts Ribbons and Trims are unparalleled - and also as rich and luscious as they look... which is wonderful because...

Ribbon is a Staple of my Mixed-Media Toolkit!!!

I love to create...and I love to use ribbons and fibers in my projects! I consider ribbon not only an embellishment...but also a media in my toolbox. Ribbons and fibers have a multitude of uses and applications - when used in a utilitarian fashion, like bows and handles...or as a paint to add color and an alternative to adhesives. It can be used to add dimension and texture and also bring personality and whimsy to your creations. I find that it is the icing on my creations and the stash of which I can never have enough. And who doesn't love a little cake when you're creating?

This handmade paper cake is made of recycled ribbon spools; collaged with paper, inked, stamped and all tied up with delicious ribbon, lace and decorative trims - several of which were hand-colored, too. Too see more on this project, please click here.

I just love versatile May Arts Ribbon and trims are -

and their durability in stamping and inking them - SUPERB!

Too see full project, please click here.

Now for today's project!

Today I'm sharing with you a how-to on transforming a $1 paper LED lantern from the Dollar Tree using these gorgeous May Arts ribbons and trims: 393-25-01 sheer organza flowers, 419-09 mini pom-poms, 44-58-66 canvas, and EM02 net ribbon.

     

   

This started out as just a plain white paper LED lantern from the Dollar Tree. Depending on the season, they have these in plain colors that are a great base to transform to match your home/patio decor. This lantern will be an Indian Summer / Fall Color palette, that will be lovely pretty much most of the year, plus it could make a nice gift for my Mom {her favorite color is orange}.

I gathered from my stash a variety of paints, mists, inks and DIY sprays and prepared my ribbons and trims, for some inky fun. I measured the ribbons to create stripes and cut them to size {leaving a couple inches over for shrinkage}.

I popped up the lantern and hung it to prepare for painting. **A TIP** You can spray the paper lanterns with mists and drybrush acrylic onto them - BUT - only in light applications; letting them FULLY and COMPLETELY dry between applications. To get my variegated color, I sprayed about 6 finely misted layers of the same colors I used on the ribbons below. Then when completely dry, I dry brushed Golden iridescent gold acrylic paint very gently to not tear the paper.

First step: I rubbed each with Ranger Antique Linen Distress Stain.

Next I followed with some gold, copper and orange DIY mists, and also some Maya Road Mist in Bronze. Then it was time to get in there and rub the colors around with my hands to fully coat the bare white areas.

Finally, to add some additional shimmer and contrast, I rubbed some Tsukineko Pearlesent Beige Dew Drop pigment ink and Golden Iridescent Gold {Fine} acrylic paint.

I started first with the flowers, then I moved it aside to dry and then repeated the same steps for coloring the netting, canvas and mini pom-pom trim.

It's quite interesting how the different materials take the color, which made for nice color contrasts when the lamp was complete. The colors did dry back considerably lighter than as seen here when wet.

Now for the MAGIC!!! The final assembly. Using Helmar 450 adhesive, I made vertical stripes, alternating between netting and canvas. The Helmar 450 is perfect for gluing ribbon as it tacks quickly and it doesn't seep through or discolor the ribbon, like some white craft glues do. Then I wrapped the floral horizontally around the center. A the mini pom-pom was the little bit of whimsy along the bottom. I ran two sections meeting in the center with pom-pom at the bottom edge of lantern and leaving pom-poms to hang off the bottom edge. I went over the center with a section of the inked canvas ribbon to cover the binding edges. 

May Arts Burlap Ribbons and Trim

The finishing touch was a leftover section of a shimmery woven May Arts burlap trim around the top edge. This gave a nice contrast to the natural woven texture of the netting.

I just love the shimmer and the variegated color. It's especially beautiful when it's lit up!

VOILA! The finished project... 
from Dollar Tree - to PIER ONE knock-off!

I hope this project inspires you to create something with ribbons and fiber! Feel free to cut it, ink it, and knot or glue it! The possibilities and uses are endless...and only limited by your imagination. 

Wish me luck in my application to be a May Arts Ribbonista. I'm crossing my fingers. Have a great Monday!!!  : ) Sb

Can you believe it's JUNE already??? Have you started your Christmas crafting yet???