Earrings Time Two

I'm back with you again today with a project that's a bit different for me - a couple pair of earrings for a certain teenager.


Both sets of earrings use Basically Bare Basically Embellies Buttons. This first set uses the chipboard pieces. I simply added some ink and paint to the buttons. Once the paint was dry, I just layered one button on top of the other.


Once the ink was dry, I just added some jump rings and a charm. Super simple.


The second set uses the Acrylic buttons, which were inked with alcohol inks. These were also layered, but instead of centering the pieces, I matched them up at the top for a layered look.

Giveaway!

Are you ready for a giveaway? I have three, yes three!, boxes of goodies to hand out. Each is compromised from the items below.


To start with, there are papers from Basic Grey, GCD, 7 Gypsies, Jenni Bowlin, and Colorbok.


Then, there are embellies from Ranger, Maya Road, Jenni Bowlin, Prima, Basic Grey, Fancy Pants, Making Memories, and 7 Gypsies.


There's also stamps and dies from The Cat's Pajamas and Prickely Pear. And lastly, there's a mix of mini-albums, trim, buttons, and eyelets.

The rules are simple:

-you get one entry for just posting a comment to this blog post (only one comment per person will count)
-you'll get a second entry for spreading the word of this giveaway on your blog, website, Facebook page, etc. (only one post per person will count) Just let me know you have done so.
-you'll get a third entry for being a follower of my blog

I will draw for a winner using a random number generator on March 1, 2012 at 8:00 AM EST. Due to the high cost of shipping, I have to limit this giveaway to those with a U.S. mailing address only.

Good luck!

Faux Cloisonne Tutorial

Here's a quick tutorial I created a while ago for Scrapbook News and Review Magazine. I hope you enjoy!


Step One: Using embossing ink and black embossing powder, heat emboss the entire surface of the chipboard heart.


Step Two: Continue adding layers of embossing powder and melting until you have a thick layer of embossing powder built up. I had built up five layers of embossing powder when I was finally happy with the thickness.


Step Three: Allow the heart to cool completely then ink the surface with Perfect Medium and choose a variety of Perfect Pearl colors.


Step Four:Randomly apply the Perfect Pearls to the heart.




Step Five: Ink stamp with gold pigment ink. Reheat the heart until the embossing powder is melted and then stamp firmly into the heart. Hold the stamp on the heart for a few seconds until the embossing powder is cool again. When the stamp is lifted away from the heart there will be a deeply etched image.


Note: Due to the black background, the bright color tone of the Perfect Pearls changed to a beautiful jewel tone. This technique can be done with clear embossing powder and the Perfect Pearls will retain the same color tones. This technique can also be used on a variety of surfaces, glass and Grungeboard just to name two.

Teck-Neek Paluza Album Part 3

As promised, I'm back again today to show you how I created this adorable album page.




Step One: Heat emboss stamped image with clear embossing powder. The embossing will work as a resist when the background colors are added.


Step Two: Choose the colors you want for the background. I have a good mix of colors ranging from light to dark.


Step Three: Randomly apply to the colors to fill the entire page. Using a damp cloth, lightly remove any ink on the embossed areas.


Step Four: Using the Branches Reversed Crafter's Workshop template and White Zig Posterman Extra Fine Tip pen, trace the outline of the tree branches.


Step Five: Color in the trees completely.


Step Six: Mix a tiny amount of shimmer powder into White Opaque Flake Medium. I used roughly about a tablespoon amount of the medium.


Step Seven: Spread the mixture over Punchinella Crafter's Workshop template. Allow to dry, which generally takes 24 hours or so, depending on the humidity.


Step Eight: Randomly stamp images onto the background using your favorite stamps and inks. The stamps used here are Stamper's Anonymous.

The leaves were inked with the same Tattered Angels and Zig inks used on the background. The veins on the leaves were drawn on using a Brown Zig marker.

The owl was full inked with a light brown color. The highlights on the ears and chest were drawn on using the same Zig pen used on the trees. The edging on the wings were made using a very loose blanket stitch and lastly I added the googly eyeballs.

On a side note, I do want to a quick tidbit on using templates and stencils with dimensional mediums. Be sure to wash the template **immediately** to remove the mediums. Once it dries on your templates, it's permanent. And due the lumpy, bumpy nature of the most mixed media gels, your template will not lay flat on the page if this happens. Sadly, this is a lesson I learned the hard way.

Teck-Neek Paluza Album Part 2

Ready to see what I have in store for you today? Let’s get started on the second half of the album.


The background was inked with several colors of water based inks. Then, I simply allowed the inks to run down the page. The right side of the page was created by mixing green re-inker into gel medium and then applying the gel medium to the page over a Mini Circle Grid Crafter’s Workshop Template.

The gears were first inked on one side with alcohol ink and then ran through an embossing machine. Then, on the side that had not been inked, I applied a layer of StazOn to the raised portion. A bit of punchinella and fabric was added to finish the page.


While I was playing with the acrylic pages, I discovered a fun splatter technique using alcohol inks. I squeezed a couple drops of alcohol ink onto my craft mat and then added in a small amount of blending solution. Mix the two together with a paint brush, and then flick the ink mixture onto the page. The blending solution slows the drying time on the alcohol ink, giving just enough time to make a splattered “mess”.


For the background on the next page, apply a thin layer of gesso over a Circle Grid Crafter’s Workshop template and allow the gesso to dry completely. Then apply your favorite colors of ink to the page. Then, using the same template and a Pure Orange Zig Writer, trace circles over the entire page. The dress form was created by covering the bodice with paper and then a layer of Stickles was applied on top of the paper. The skirt was created by layering on a ruffeled trim. The stand was heat embossed with WOW embossing powders.


To start with the canvas page, apply your favorite colors of spray inks to thoroughly saturate the canvas and allow the dry. Then, using a permanent black ink, stencil over a Henna Hands Crafter’s Workshop template. The stars were created using the Punchinella Crafter’s Workshop template and Iridescent Medium. The circles were created using white paint and a dry bruch technique.



The last page is a fun one! But……you’ll just have to come back tomorrow for a full tutorial on how this beauty was created.

Teck-Neek Paluza Album Part 1

Boy do I have a fun album to share with you over the next couple days! This was one of my albums that was at CHA last week.

The Timeless Tabs Album is hands down my favorite album in the Basically Bare line because of the size of the album and because of the different mediums in the album.


The album cover was created by covering the entire page with Ranger’s Tissue Tape and then applying a thin layer of gel medium to ensure it was well adhered to the page. Then, I just randomly applied ink to the page. The top right and bottom left corners were then covered with a layer of Glass Bead Gel Medium, which makes the ink colors underneath pop. Next up, I painted on a thin layer of gesso and then stenciled the title on top once it was dry. Lastly, I used an acrylic button and heat embossed it. The heat embossing caused the acrylic to warp and curl, which is exactly what I wanted it to do.


The first step in creating this next page is to paint the entire page with blue acrylic paint and allow it to dry. Then give it a light spritz with Yellow Daisy Glimmer Mist. Using the Crafter’s Workshop Mini Clouds template and a White Zig Posterman Extra Fine tip pen, trace the shape of the clouds. Next, fill in the cloud shapes with Picket Fence Distress Stain. Give each cloud a spritz of water and watch as your page appears to begin “raining”.

Now, on to the bottom half of the page. Adhere the brick pieces from the Climbing Ivy Set to the page. Then, apply a layer of gesso over the brick pieces, being sure to fill in the spaces between the bricks. While the gesso is still wet, sprinkle embossing powder onto the bricks. I used five different colors to create the brick effect. Once the gesso is dry, melt the embossing powders with a heat tool.

The “egg” was created using the Holiday Ornaments Set. I inked the edges of the felt with a Yellow Zig Fabricolor pen and then added the eyelets for a bit of texture. The bird was heat embossed with two different colors of WOW embossing powders.


Ready for the next page? I started by stamping the front of both pages. The gears were all heat embossed with WOW embossing powders.


I used the Paparazzi Set on the back of the page. Both pieces were also embossed with WOW powders.


This page was started by laying down several colors of water based ink to cover the page (use your favorite brands of ink). Then I stamped the page with a couple of my favorite stamps. Next, lay the Mini Trust Your Heart Crafter’s Workshop template down on the bottom corner of the page and completely cover with a thin layer gesso. Allow the gesso to sit for a minute or two and then scrape it off the page and remove the template. Removing the gesso creates a resist on the page.

Next up, ink a couple of canvas hearts and adhere to the page.

That’s it for today! Join me again tomorrow for another dose of technique heavy pages.

Trio of ATC's

Today I have three ATC's to share. The background on the first two are similar, but after that they are uniquely their own.

The background was made with watercolor paper and watercolor inks. I made a recent discover at Dick Blick Art Supplies - they have a set of watercolor inks that are just eye popping with color! You can see below how intense the colors are. Love, love, love the color!


For the first ATC, I simply stamped the background with Distress Inks and then stamped the foreground with a permanent ink. Super simple.


For the second ATC, I stamped the wing on cardstock, colored the image, and then adhered it to the ATC. Then I stamped the wings in both the top right corner and the bottom left corner. Lastly, I added the sentiment and a bit of Crackle Accents to the heart.


For my last ATC, the background was covered with Ranger's Tissue Tape and then inked with Distress Ink. Then I stamped the corset on a separate piece of cardstock, colored it in, and then cut it out. Then, I punched holes and added the ribbon to mimic a corset lacing. Lastly, I just adhered the corset to the ATC.

Re-purposed Photo Frame

Do you have empty photo frames lying around? Why not put them to good use! I'm back with you once again and today I have a fun way to make use of those empty frames. How about turning them into a memo board? All you need is a dry erase marker and you can make note after note on the glass.


I discovered some old Fancy Pants paper in my stash and decided it was high time it was used. And with keeping with the boy theme of the paper, I used my Basically Bare Basically Embellies chipboard and corrugated gears.


All three gears were heat embossed with multiple colors of powders.


The gear farthest to the right was embossed with a mix of WOW and Lindy's Stamp Gang powders. The middle gear was embossed with WOW and Ranger Distress Embossing Powders. Each gear has three to four layers of powder, with each layers beautifully melding together to give a wonderful texture.


For the largest gear I used Ranger Verdigris powder, WOW powders in Metallic Gold Rich Pale and Metallic Copper, and Lindy's Stamp Gang powders in Midnight Obsidian Emerald.

Red and Black

I absolutely love the color combo of red and black! Red is one of my fave colors, and it looks so bold and striking against black. Add in a bit of distressing with the red/black combo and we have a wonderful wall decor piece.


I covered the entire background with a black polka dot patterned paper then added a strip of red polka dot paper to the bottom. Then I took an emory board and distressed the paper.


Then I layered on a crinkled order ticket, a calendar sticker, and a cute little rose bundle.


Next, I added a locket and key from the Basically Bare Lovely Locket Set. I covered the chipboard heart with Distress Stain in Picket Fence. Once it was dry, I covered it with Liquitex Glass Bead Gel Medium. Once the gel medium was dry, I inked the beads just slightly with Distress Ink. To make the "keyhole", I covered the acrylic piece with alcohol ink and then stamped over the ink. Lastly, the felt piece was inked the Tsukineko Brilliance Ink in Galaxy Gold.


With all the color on this piece, I decided to leave the key white so it would stand out. All of the pieces layer together wonderfully to create lots of texture and dimension.

With All My Heart

Now that the holidays are over...oh wait, there's another big day just right around the corner, Valentine's Day. Today I have a fun project that's just perfect for the occasion.


I was searching through the clearance bin on my last trip to the craft store and found this wonderful metal heart. Of course it had to come home with me.


To start, I covered the background with a plastic mirror from Darice. Plastic - which means that if my butterfingers drops it, there's no chance of the mirror breaking or seven years of bad luck. :) Next, I covered the outside edge with a ruffled ribbon then added a few flowers and crystals.


Then I added a chipboard locket from the Basically Bare Lovely Locket Set. I inked the chipboard with Distress Ink, ran it through my Cuttlebug to add a bit of dimension, then inked the raised portion just slightly with a darker ink. I left the felt keyhole bare since the white was a nice contrast to the pink locket.

Heart Wall Decor

I have to admit that my all-time fave Basically Bare embellie is the canvas heart. Today I have a fun way to use these little gems.


I started by taking a piece of fabric and drawing hearts with my Zig Wink Of Stella in GL. Dark Pink. The Wink of Stella pen gives just a slight hint of glimmer, which was perfect for this project.


Next, I spritzed the pom-pom trim and the canvas heart with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Viva Pink. This will just add another layer of glimmer.


Now, on to the best part. Once the heart was dry, I stamped it with a simple script stamp. Then I simply sewed it onto the fabric using a simple whip stitch. I don't sew much, so I try to keep it simple when I do. Leaving a small opening at the bottom, stuff the heart with fiberfill stuffing. Then finish sewing around the remainder of the heart.


Pretty sure I've said it before, but I'm a huge fan of instant gratification when making projects. So how's this, it only took about an hour to make this project. Wouldn't this make a wonderful gift for that special someone?