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Sunday, September 21, 2014

My #Cre8time Soars to New Heights with STEAMPUNKtember at Anything But a Card Challenges



Good Morning Everyone! Welcome to week three of Anything But a Card Challenges No. 39... STEAMPUNKtember! Yes it's time for to get your Steampunk fix for today. CLICK HERE to jump over to ABAC and see what the rest of our design team has created.


The current Challenge... is one that is near and dear to most of our creative heARTs so we have brought this one back again. For Anything But a Card Challenges No. 39 - welcome to "STEAMPUNKtember"!!! YES... Steampunk!!! Anything Goes within this ever popular genre!

Popular Collage Stamp from Darkroom Door

Victorian, Airships, Industrial and Mechanical – need we say more!!! The theme is full of so many possibilities. Just remember create anything except a card... get GEARED up for all things Steampunk!!!

Please share any current project you have created and JUST REMEMBER... create anything EXCEPT a card for this challenge. ALSO - Please new projects only {no-backlinking}. Please do us the favor to mention Anything But a Card Challenges, Challenge Name and Number, and LINK BACK to this challenge using this PERMALINK: http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.com/2014/09/welcome-to-steampunktember-anything-but.html :)

**A REMINDER** This Challenge will go through midnight September 27th giving you 1 more week to play along and ENJOY the creative process! We will share more of our Design Team's creations each Sunday to keep you inspired.


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For this challenge I have created an new art journal page with the newest addition to my rubber stash - the Steampunk set of Darkroom Door Stamps which has a variety of words and images which go together nicely with the collection of steampunk stamps that never seem to leave my work table.


I love combining stamps together into interesting scenes... for any kind on all kinds of projects - from tags and A.T.C.'s to cards and altered projects. Many times the image itself strikes the idea and sends me off and running... for all the tools in the craft room ESPECIALLY a fistful of stamps and some ink! This set has my gears spinning instantly.


I always have scrap paper handy to doodle on when I get an idea, and for this project I had the visual before the end result. I've created a scene stamped upon a background of gessoed scrapbook patterned paper and go from there - featuring the words, gears, lightbulb, top hat and the hot air balloon that I've combined with a whimsical scene accented with pops of color using Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pens and a waterbrush.


My background paper is a 12 x 12 patterned scrapbook paper. It has the feel of book paper, with some whimsical doodle flowers and a bit of color. I painted a drybrushed layer of watered down gesso to mute the detail, while still being a bit translucent.


Using some 3M Spray Adhesive, I adhered some torn sections of rectangluar paper doilies and the torn section of my gesso'd paper. Using double-sided adhesive tape, I began taping torn scraps of faux leathered brown paper to the base of my journal page.


I layered several torn strips to create a faux wall effect. This paper has a muted metallic finish which will go wonderful with the vintage "Steampunk" scene I will be stamping.


On a slightly larger acrylic block, I assembled all the word stamps from the Steampunk set in a staggered brickwork fashion. I inked up with StazOn Timber Brown Ink and stamped repeatedly over the brown paper border.


I let the stamping overlap onto the black base page which gives a nice contrast. I also went back and added some gears and the compass images for some added interest.


I began stamping my scene using the gears, airship, steam car, hat and lightbulb image. I toned down the intensity of the ink by swiping over with Ranger Picket Fence Distress Stain and make it seem like there are light whispy clouds.


Using a stencil I misted some subtle yellow rays to add color – and a base for my words to be bursting from the top hat. For this journal page I've stamped in layers. Some items are stamped fully inked and then repeated using the second and third image before re-inking to create depth.


My art journal page before I add the final stamped images, words and a bit of hand coloring. I smudged a little more Picket Fence Distress Stain in areas to create some fluffy clouds. I really love the little doodle flowers that peek through the background that add a little whimsy to these vintage steampunk images that tend to be a bit masculine.


On some scrap painted and patterned paper I inked the words that will be bursting from my idea hat. Instead of trimming letters from words – I only inked the part of the words I wanted. "Invent" from inventor; "Explore" from explorer... etc. For the word "DREAM" I will handwrite using a letter stencil.


For the final stamped elements I stamped onto deli paper, {this is a trick I learned from Julie Fei-Fan Balzer}, tore around images and adhered to my collage using a matte gel medium. The deli paper justs melts away into the background – while keeping the clarity in the stamped image. It's total stamping MAGIC... and looks like I stamped them in place. After the gel medium dried, I adhered my words and then some pops of color by scribbling with Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pens on my craft mat and applying with a waterbrush to get a watercolor effect. I added a little doodling for finishing touches.


Thanks for visiting. I hope you are inspired to get your Steampunk on and will play along with the challenge. Have a fantastic Sunday! :) Sb

Friday, September 19, 2014

#Cre8time in a DASH... Quick Makes and My Take on CAS


Happy Friday everyone! It's that time again... time for another one of my "Thoughtful Abstractions" columns at Unruly PaperArts. This month's GOTTA DASH ISSUE at Unruly PaperArts... dedicated to quick and easy makes and Clean and Simple Designs to inspire your Cre8time. This was a particularly interesting challenge for me as my creations usually take on a life of their own {and not usually quick or simple} but I found the CAS style refreshing and inspiring! In looking back at some of my creations, a style I'm quite fond of and visit often.


Please CLICK HERE to view my Thoughtful Abstractions column in the Unruly PaperArts GOTTA DASH ISSUE. I'm just buzzing with tips and ideas for making your Cre8time quick, easy and fun! Below I have rounded up some other CAS makes that I'm quite fond of that have some interesting twists - Enjoy! 


This card features a mosaic pattern of inchie stamps layered with a dimensional butterfly embellishment. These were 6 separate stamps {Inkadinkado} that I grouped on my acrylic block before stamping. You could get the same effect by cutting up a patterned paper, photo or stamped image into squares and spacing in a mosaic fashion.


Recognize these cute little gifts??? They are from a large sheet of patterned paper with these all over the page. Use those busy papers by cutting out the images and making fun and FLAT card embellishments. The center gift is topped with a ribbon bow for that perfect finishing touch!


How about stamp a border to set off that perfect stamped sentiment? I've transformed solid cardstock into my own patterned paper by just lining up and repeating one stamp with my feature image set off with a co-ordinating matte {all stamps from VLVS!}.


The feature of this card is the lovely clutch of hand-colored bunnies {stamp from VLVS!}. I made this card special by adding some pops of color with the flower embellishments and a hand cut fringed/coiled grass matte for a little whimsy.


These quick and easy makes don't keep me limited to just cards... I can apply the same techniques in customizing a plain wicker box into something a little more "PERSONAL" {all stamps from VLVS!}. Even when you are short on time, your imagination can still be front and center!

I hope you are inspired and are ready to go run and make something!


Are you a NITE OWL who loves "The DARK of NIGHT"??? That's the theme for this month's Reader's Art Quest at Unruly PaperArts. This is a perfect prompt for Halloween and blustery fall creations. One lucky creation linked up via inLinkz will be randomly chosen to win a fabulous prize package from our sponsor this month Eyelet Outlet and Brads!. CLICK HERE for the details!

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Thanks for visiting. Have a fabulously creative day :) Sb

Sunday, September 7, 2014

#Cre8time goes on Safari for the Designer Crafts Connection Home Décor Challenge



Welcome to another special Designer Crafts Connection Bloghop - this time it's a Home Décor Challenge. Upon receipt of my challenge materials provided by Kunin Felt, Beacon Adhesives and Buttons Galore and More, it was a bit of a challenge to decide what I wanted to create. I had a "lightbulb" moment and decided upon a greencrafting project - one that goes along with the decor in my bedroom and take my muse to the serengeti.


Join us today September 7th through 14th for this special Home Décor Challenge by the Designers Craft Connection where we are challenged to create an amazing home decor project utilizing Kunin Felt, Beacon Adhesives and Buttons from Buttons Galore and More! For this event there is a fabulous giveaway too {please scroll down for Rafflecopter entry info}.


I was sent an assortment of gorgeous felt, buttons and Beacon Felt Glue and Fabri-Tac Adhesives. I've planned on altering a recycled tequila box into a fashionable lamp, so these adhesives and the pre-cut felt squares will make my work "NO SEW". I will alter some of the buttons to make them a uniform color that will coordinate with the felt and painted wooden shapes to be used for feet.


An extra added bonus to this "GREEN" project... all of the Kunin Felt I received is ECO-FI Polyester made from post-consumer plastic bottles. I totally dig that! I'm all for utilizing GREEN products.


My husband likes a certain brand of tequila which to my delight comes with a gorgeous sturdy linen paper box that I get to use for my Cre8time purposes. I removed the lid and gently disassembled to gain access to the interior where I will mount one of two puck lights. There is a handy hole already cut here that just happens to be the same size as the LED portion of the light. I will mount the other in the bottom where there is a larger circle from securing the bottle.


The paper of the box is black, but my felt are in a variety of browns so I took the extra step to paint the edges of the box that will be exposed with an Expresso Adirondack acrylic paint dauber by Ranger. These dauber tops make painting quick and easy!


A little discovery that also made my project easier is that I was able to cut the felt on my 12" X-ACTO guillotine cutter. I'm still doing a happy dance about this! Since I was cutting rectangles and squares to cover parts of my recycled box, precision cutting was going to be important. I couldn't have cut them better by hand, unless I measured and marked each piece first.

 


I started out with the Cheetah print and made this the lining of the light, so I could utilize the contrasting beautiful brocade textured felt on the outside.




The Beacon Felt Glue tacks up quickly, and dries clear. I did find out that it's not so great for felt-to-felt adhesion - so for that I used the Fabri-Tac. I continued around adding felt panels around the entire box, and on the lid. For the edging at top and bottom, I doubled up the layer of brown felt to give more dimension and a nice curved finished edge {this is where I needed to adhere felt to felt}. I added a decorative ribbon trim around the edging using tiny dabs of Fabric-Tac in a few places on each side.



The bottom of the box I brushed with a combination of gold, bronze and the espresso acrylic paint to match some wooden pieces I had painted already leftover from another project. I finished off the feet with altered buttons painted first overall with black, then a combination of metallic Ranger Alcohol inks.


I repeated the alcohol ink process to create a layered button accent for the top of my lamp. I recolor my buttons often when I don't have one or enough in the color that I need {this certainly helps in using all the buttons in my stash}.



The feature of the lamp is the two battery powered LED tap lights installed. The light is not too bright, gives a nice glow, and makes for a great accent nightlight. I picked these up at my grocery store - they come in a 2 pack for about $6 {the dollar store version aren't quite powerful enough}.



So from what began as this assortment of supplies... 


Has been transformed into a stunning LED touch lamp that matches perfectly with the Asian/Safari decor in my bedroom {the one room that we have really actually decorated}. The cheetah print felt lining glows nicely in the light and fits in with my wooden carved safari accent pieces and the embossed felt blends in beautifully with the light and dark wood furniture, wicker pieces and the handmade banana paper wall in the backdrop. This is simply beautiful!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting! Continue on the Designer Crafts Connection "Home Décor Challenge" Bloghop by selecting hop back/forward on the logo below to enjoy all of the wonderful Home Décor inspiration. Sb :)