SO INSPIRED!

Today I want to share a layout I created last night for the sketch and mood board challenge for the upcoming holiday issue of the online publication 'Let's Get Inspired!'

Here is the sketch which I rotated 1/4 turn clockwise:

and the wonderful holiday mood board:



and here is my layout:

 

 

I also did another holiday layout using the Flying Unicorn challenge Flying Unicorn Gives Back Sketch by Alda and Shona. 

 

Here is the sketch which I rotated 1/4 turn clockwise:

 

and here is my layout:

As soon as I found this paper in my stash I knew it would be perfect for this photo!

I have also entered these layouts in the Create for Less Holiday Contest.

I wish the photos would be clearer but I am still stuck using the phone for photos and the library computer with IE so nothing else is compatible.

A BIT OF ART JOURNALING, QUOTES AND A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE GREAT ROBIN WILLIAMS

Over the last few weeks I have created a few art journal pages.  2 of them I had done the backgrounds and wasn't sure what I was going to do with them but now they are completed and ready to share...

The first uses this great diecut eye that was an advertisement I picked up at a museum I went to last summer. The background was started with coloring my page randomly with acrylic paints which I dripped on, spread with a credit card and smeared with my fingers.  I added some Glitter Mists which gave it some nice sparkle. I then took my favorite choice for molding paste - DryDex spackle and a few different templates and went around the page randomly with those.  It worked out great as some of it remained white and some picked up some of the color from the inks.  Then for more added texture I added dry wall tape.  

I added the diecut and then a thought with chipboard letters which I traced around with my favorite black Pitt pen to really have them jump off the page.

My next page was done with several Adirondack Spray Color Washes.  I also sprayed with water and lifted the journal upright and upside down to get some interesting drips.  The other day I finally found a quote I wanted to add to it which I did with my favorite black Pitt Pen.

And finally, the last one I am sharing was done with a variety of acrylic paints spread around with a credit card.  Then I splattered two other colors randomly on top.  I really liked the color combo and didn't know what I was going to do with it. This week the world was rocked with the news of Robin Williams suicide.  He was such an amazing performer - he could do comedy, he could do drama, he could do it all.  I don't think I saw anything with him in it, from the television series Mork and Mindy, to the films Mrs. Doubtfire, Good Morning Vietnam, Dead Poets Society and of course Hook (which I saw almost daily for several months when my youngest son was really young) that I didn't love.  I also suffer from Major Depressive Disorder and have often had suicidal ideation.  It is a very hard place to be.  Even when you realize how much you have to live for - your loving family, children, friends, and in this case a large public following and lots of fans that demon called depression is a powerful one. The pain is devastating, often far greater than physical pain as it hits you mentally and spiritually and then it adds physical dimensions of fatigue, migraines and more. Often you see no way out. Or worse - you see death as the only way out.  I found a quote on humor by Langston Hughes and added this to my page in memory of a man that made me laugh and made me cry on several occasions who shared that demon of depression that I too suffer with.  I pray for his family who are certainly the most gravely affected by this.  He will surely be missed for a long long time and will live on through his films, tapes of his stand up comedy, quotes and more.  This demon stole a great man from this world.  If you or anyone you know begins to exhibit any of the signs of depression please do something to try and get them help. Whether they will admit they are depressed or not, when it's someone you are close too you will surely recognize those subtle signs if you truly listen...and that is what we need to do for our loved ones...REALLY listen.  

I am submitting these pages for Anything Goes challenge #145 at Word Art Wednesday, Outlaw Women Artists Art Journaling, 4 Crafty Chicks challenge #207 Pink, Turquoise and Lime and Flying Unicorn Mid Month Mixed Media challenge.

Thank you for stopping by.  Let me know you stopped by and leave a short comment.  All comments are greatly appreciated.

HAVING FUN WITH JULIE NUTTING/PRIMA DOLLS!

I've been working on a mixed media canvas for the past week or so.  I started it in the usual way - with a coat of gesso.  Then I took my favorite texture medium - DryDex spackling and some of my Crafters Workshop templates.  

On top of this I added strips of dry wall tape.  This is the first time I've used that and I'm sure I will be playing with it again soon.

Next I took some Gelatos and a wet brush and added color.

The colors were a bit more vibrant than what I had envisioned so I took some watered down gesso and covered it.

Ok...now I'm ready...

There was a quote challenge on Soul Scrappers and I knew exactly how I wanted to use it.

Here is the quote:

"Be a girl with a mind,

A woman with an attitude

And a lady with class."

-Author Unknown

I had recently purchased 3 of the Julie Nutting/Prima Doll stamps and they were just perfect!  I took some StazOn Jet Black ink and stamped them on an off white cardstock and then fussy cut them out.  I stamped them again on various patterned papers and fussy cut their clothes, shoes and hair. I took a flesh colored Spectrum Noir pen and added a bit of color to the skin. I printed the quote on a peachy-pink patterned paper in separate lines and I cut them out with a ragged edged tearing ruler.  

I laid the dolls and the quote out and moved them around until I got them where I wanted them and then I glued them down.  I covered it all with a coat of ModPodge Matte Medium.

I have also entered this in Flying Unicorn June Valley of the Paper Dolls challenge, A2Z Scraplets June challenge for an Off-the-Page Project, a Blog Named Hero challenge #45 It's not in the Cards calling for anything but a card, 4 Crafty Chicks Crazy Egg challenge #196 Anything Goes and Pinque Peacock challenge #6 Anything Goes.  

Now all that's left to do is finish it up with some embellishing...

So come back tomorrow and see what I've opted for...

TIME FOR A TAG!

Tonite I tried out another of my new Prima doll stamps.  I had fun with this one as she looks like my eldest son's girlfriend so I used their prom photo as some extra inspiration.  

Here is a photo of Robert & Kathryn at their prom back in 2011.  The prom was actually the event that started their dating.  They are still together today (and I love her and would be very happy if she becomes his forever choice!)

I am entering my tag in the following challenges:

Divas by Design - Anything but a card

Pinque Peacock - Challenge #5 - Altered Tag

Dragons Dream - Challenge TIO#166 The Letter "Q" and Gold

Flying Unicorn - May Parade of the Paper Dolls

Word Art Wednesday - Challenge #132 Anything Goes

Craft Hoarders Anonymous - challenge #7 Ribbon, Lace and Twine Oh My!

Alphabet Challenge - G is for Gorgeous Gowns

And now without further ado...here is my tag -

And now I need to get to bed.  Church and Sunday School early tomorrow!

A NIGHT OF FIRSTS...

Tonite I created a layout with my very first Prima doll stamp. I chose one that I thought looked elegant and then went through my Winterthur photos and found the beautiful winding staircase.  I also used sketch #2 from Soul Scrappers - my first entry for that site. That challenge is all about negative space...this is about as much negative space as I ever do.   I used a beautiful color combo from Sketches4All.

Here is the sketch (which I rotated 1/4 turn clockwise):

Here is the beautiful color palette:

and here is my layout:

 

I am also entering this over at Flying Unicorn May Paper Doll Challenge, and at My Mum's Craft Shop challenge #17 - Lots of Layers, and Divas by Design current challenge - Anything But a Card.  

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Hope to see you again tomorrow (hint - it's Colorful Creations Team B sketch reveal!)

MAKIN' IT WITH MOD PODGE

Welcome to the final hop of 

the Krazy Crafting Crew!  

Today's creations will be all things ModPodge! 

We are an independent hop team that enjoys sharing our work with everyone and hope to inspire you with new ideas for your own creativity. We are a team who loves to do all different themes, such as cards, layouts, 3D projects and so much more. We do all the paper crafting from traditional to digital. Mostly traditional, every now and then there may be a little mixed media too! 

Now on to some fun. 

Here is the project I have made for today’s hop-

I started off with this - 

Next I took masking tape and closed up the open spots on the bottom and reinforced the seams.  Then I took black cardstock and lined the inside and covered the bottom.

I decided to use the Couture Collection by SEI.  I chose two papers - a floral and a stripe.  I cut the first one a bit larger than the sides so that it would wrap around.

I added the other pattern to the other two sides as well as to the carrier top.  

Next I took washi tape and went around all the edges so that they would be smooth.

I covered the inside and outside with a layer of Mod Podge Gloss-Lustre to seal it.

I thought this would be it but when I went back to my 'art' area I happen to notice a bag of ribbons and lace that had a trim that matched perfect so I decided to dress it up a bit...

And I just realized that I never told you the purpose.  It is a pen caddy!  There are four sections so I can keep my pens separated by type!

Our hostess for today is Jerise Havenga. Please make sure you stop by her blog and take a peek. She has a neat little give away going on and you can find out all the details on how to sign up for it.

Here is the total line-up!

Jearise Havenga : http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com/

Lori Johnson Apgar:

http://www.scrappinmystressaway.blogspot.com/

Paula McLane Jennings: 

http://www.preciouspagesbypaula.blogspot.com/

Liz Sternal Cline: http://www.tryin2craft.blogspot.com/

Christina Bartels: http://cema1cema.blogspot.com/

Nana's Scrap Spot: http://www.nanasscrapspot.com/

Robin Lane: http://create-a-latte.blogspot.com/

Lissa Marie: http://www.somanycrafts.com/

Thanks so much for coming by and for all your support on our previous hops.

I am also going to enter this project in the Crafty Creations Anything But a Card challenge and Flying Unicorn Anything Goes challenge.

WITH WINGS

I have two cards to share with you that I created yesterday.  They were both done with fussy cut butterflies.

The first started with Turtle Soup NSD Sketch #1-

My Card - 

I am also entering this card in Fussy & Fancy challenge #113 Spring Colors.

The next is also from Turtle Soup.  It's the NSD Sketch #2

My Card -

I am also entering this one at Party Time Tuesday challenge #170 Fussy Cutting.

I've entered both of these at Flying Unicorn in the inspiration challenge using this inspiration 

(obviously I chose the butterfly for my inspiration!)

Thanks for stopping by.  All comments greatly appreciated.

MORE FROM NSD

Here's a layout I did for the NSD Pick an Element Challenge over at A Cherry on Top.  The challenge was to pick three elements from this layout.

The elements I chose were the color red, arrows, border punches (and I have a bit of corrugated paper on it too!)

I used the April 15th sketch from over at Boys Rule.

and here is my first layout:

My next layout is for the Flying Unicorn Song Lyric/Poem Layout challenge.  I had several photos of the map collection at Winterthur so I looked for a poem about maps.

Here is the poem I chose:

A Map and a Dream

by Karen O'Donnell Taylor

Maps are more

than tiny lines

intersection

lace designs...

More than names

and colored dots,

rivers, mountains,

tourist spots.

Map are keys

to secret places

vast new world

and unknown faces.

I can trace each

graceful line...

Close my eyes

and in my mind

I can travel

anywhere...

A map, a dream

can take me there!

And here is the layout:

I am also entering this in Crafty Creations challenge #262 Anything but a Card.

I wasn't able to get as much done as I had hoped to today but most of the challenges are still open for most of tomorrow so hopefully I will be able to get a few more completed.

Sweet dreams!

THE LAST THREE!

I was able to complete my last three cards for the Scrapping Everyday Miracles 2nd Birthday Celebration Cards for Soldiers challenge.  

Challenge #3 was to Design a Veteran's Day, Labor Day, July 4th, Memorial Day, etc. type card.   I also entered this card in The Pink Elephant TPE210 challenge for something Masculine, The Crazy Challenge #150 Summertime and My Creative Time Designer challenge Amy for anything Summertime.

Challenge #4 was Create a Thanksgiving or Christmas card using this sketch.  I decided to do a Chrsitmas card.  I also entered this in Christmas in July at Flying Unicorn and Always Playing with Paper Anything Goes Merry Monday July challenge, Get Inky Christmas in July and CraftyHazelnut Christmas Challenge July extra!

The Sketch:

My card:

And my last card was to Create a card featuring a Rainbow of colors! Doesnt have to have a rainbow of course just feature lots of bright colors. Pick one of the following themes... Hello, Love you, Happy Day or Miss you.

My card:

I hope you have enjoyed your visit.  And now it's time for me to get off to bed!  Sweet dreams!

NEW CANVAS

This morning I opted to work on a 5x7 canvas.  I started with some liquid watercolors which I spread with my wet finger.  I used this week's colors for Twinkle Twinkle Summer of Color orange and hot pink.

Next I took a word art scripture from Word Art Wednesday challenge #85.  I ripped it and added pink and orange chalk to it and edged it with Raspberry Distress ink.

I added the scripture, a piece of transparency and some flowers to the canvas.

Next I took Distress Crackle Paint.  THIS was a huge mistake.  It did not crackle at all and gave it a flourescent glow.  Definitely NOT what I was hoping for.  To tone that down I used some Snow Cap Distress Stain.

I added some bling and a coat of semi gloss regular gel.

In person it's still a bit bright so I tried toning it down a bit with some Distress Ink Walnut Stain.

Not exactly how I envisioned it but...I can't think of any other way to change or add to it so at least for now it's done.  What I was really envisioning was closer to Step 3 before the Crackle Paint.  I have only used it twice and neither time did it crackle and neither time did I like it. 

I am also entering this in this month's Flying Unicorn Mixed Media Inspired challenge.

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope that you are enjoying your weekend!

WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY

It seems today I've got the blues - I used sketch #298 from Mojo Monday and a Monochromatic Color scheme for Random Wednesdays at Colorful Creations to make a birthday card.  The Flying Unicorn is also having a Use Your Stash challenge.  To create the card I used all paper scraps, a chipboard star from a box of chipboard I've had probably 4 years, tiny tags that I've had for at least 2 years, and paper ribbon that I've had for over 10 years.

The sketch:

My Card:

And I just joined Daisy Yellow Index Card a Day Challenge and for my first index card I used the theme stitching and the prompts polka dots and stencil.  I colored my card with Distress Stain Broken China then used Distress Ink Salty Ocean and a Crafters Workshop template for the dots.  I used a Bazzil Stitch template and pricked in the word LAUGH which I then stitched in navy blue embroidery thread.

Here's my first Index Card:

It's getting late so I am heading off to bed.  Thanks for stopping by.  Sweet Dreams.

YOU ARE NOT STUCK

WHERE YOU ARE
UNLESS YOU DECIDE TO BE.

                                                                                Dr. Wayne Dyer


Tonight I decided to work on another art journal page.  I started with a technique I saw today called glue stick resist.  I used my glue stick and a few different Crafters Workshop Templates.  I then used Denim and Eggplant Color Wash and misted the page.  I wiped them off and some of the resist worked - some didn't.

Step 1

Next I took Wild Plum Color Wash and a variety of Crafters Workshop Templates and sprayed them at various angles until I had covered the page.  There was a lot of mist so I then rolled over it with a roll of paper towels.

Step 2

I then took some bright pink acrylic paint and rubbed it over Crafters Workshop Templates with a credit card.  I was not very happy with the turn out.

Step 3

I took some light pink acrylic paint and some smaller design Crafters Workshop Templates and used a sea sponge to add the paint.  This worked out much better.

Step 4

Now it's time to add my quote.  I chose several different fonts in complimenting colors and added them to the page.  I wrote the authors name in the corner with silver gel pen.

Step 5

Finally it is time to embellish.  I am not sure what I am going to use so this may take some time...

And time it did...it is now 2 days later.  I opted for some chipboard buttons and a chipboard ribbon slide and some ribbon.  Here is the finished page!

Thanks so much for stopping by!