Sparkle, Sparkle

The challenge this week at Simon Says Stamp is "ornaments" and since I also needed to make a few holiday gifts, this is perfect. I enjoyed seeing the great projects the DT came up with, as always, and started to look through my stash for ideas.

I've also been inspired by the Holiday Crafting class with May Flaum which you can join here, and watch the project videos, and start working on your holiday projects! My friend Ashli Oliver aka SoapHOUSEmama is showcasing wrapping paper and a gift topper in the class in her always unique style.

It all started with coasters, distress paint, Prima color bloom spray, and the Balzer mini tri mosaic stencil to create the background. I used snowflake paper on the back later in the process.

I am loving the blues and purples!

Stamped the Tim Holtz blueprint jingle bell on watercolor paper, then used distress stains and water to blend a bit, let dry and cut them out. Also dyed ribbon with the distress stains, and ended up with very inky fingers.

A little distress glitter, let it dry, mod podge the coaster, let it dry...mount the bells on cardboard to make them pop...

More distress glitter around the edge, let it dry...outline in liquid pearls, let it dry...hmmm, can you see all the stages here? Add a couple of gears, and the ribbons, and these ornaments are ready to hang on the tree!

 

12 Tags of 2014 and a Challenge

Finally, coming down to the wire, but I did make my June tag following Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2014 here.

Over at Simon Says, the challenge is "I ought to use this more and how true it is for my blueprint stamps, stencils, and the list goes on. I was inspired by the upcoming holiday for my tag.

Making the tag background with inks and stains, stencils and stamps...

Messy, shrinking work area...I so need to reorganize...Again!!

Something a little different I tried with this tag was stamping on canvas, and then adding ink and flicking with water.

I was going for an old fashioned look with this and found this little metal star to add. Also colored the ribbon to match, and Time, your directions for the bow-perfect!

Wishing you all a great Fourth of July!

Simon Says Anything Goes, so I am Traveling!

I am hosting a swap with my art group, and now that I am finally done with school and it keeps raining and raining, well...it is the perfect time to work on that and the Simon Says challenge. I have challenged my art group to alter 10 playing cards following a travel theme - places around the world, means of travel, traveling through time or imagination...definitely open to interpretation. Since it is anything goes for the SSS challenge, well let's pull out the stops!

Being in a playful mood, I decided to alter mine following all the travel theme ideas - why not? Start with a layer of gesso on the cards to create a base, and I wanted to keep it thin to leave hints of the playing card underneath.

Next I went over the base with distress paints, and discovered a nice surprise! I got this fabulous texture - I think the gesso acted as a resist in some areas. I love it!

Since this was going so well, and I do love color, why stop here? So I tried layering on some distress stains and mists, and started getting effects like this - even better!

A bit of stamping, and then let everything dry through the night...remember that rain, well it's been humid, so everything is taking longer to dry.

Rainy day to play, so I did...stamping, layering, ribbons, gears, anything goes! Here are the altered playing cards that I came up with.

First, traveling through time and my imagination, and of course you can see that steampunk theme I so love.

Next, the great road trip I have to take some time following Route 66 - from Chicago to L.A. Then some inspirations for Italy and France. I certainly could have gone further on my travels.

So, which one is my favorite? I guess it would have to be this one...spirit of adventure, traveling through the imagination, gears, that suitcase he is carrying, and a hot air balloon - what could be better?

Some of the creative aftermath...

Ready for some traveling, be it the good olde regular travel or a voyage through the imagination? I know I am!!