Blog Hop Around the World (part 2)

Today is part two of the Blog Hop. I am answering the four questions and revealing my links for the next two blogs.

1. What am I working on:
A Disney themed hidden hinge swap, Kathy Orta's R365 kit and a holiday gift for my step mom.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre:
I feel that my graphic design and digital art experience make my scrapbooking/papercrafting style different. I tend to look at my layouts in terms of shapes, positive and negative space and balance.

3. Why do I create what I do:
I create because it brings me joy. Both to make things with my hands and to give the results to friends and family.

4. How does my creating process work:
My creative process tends to be messy and disorganized. No matter how hard I try to preplan I always end up with stuff scattered across my work space.

Now for the next two blogs. These are two really awesome ladies I am proud to know.

Kelly Hudson is the owner of Scrap Diva Retreats- a vacation resort frequented by a community of scrapbookers and mixed media artists who enjoy spending time with their friends. Kelly is a passionate scrapbooker, mixed media artist, blogger and creative entrepreneur. She is a Close to My Heart consultant who has been scrapbooking for over 15 years. Please feel free to connect with her.
http://scrapdivaretreats.com/blogs/

Noelle Martin creates some beautiful art. She is amazing at coloring stamps using many different methods and styles like the no line method and Copics. She also owns her own online store, Quick Creations (see link on right) which sells many different stamp brands and other scrapbooking supplies.
http://www.papercraftycreations.blogspot.com/?m=1

Thank you for visiting my blog and enjoy the rest of the blog hop!

Blog Hop Around the World (part 1)

I am really honored and touched that my buddy and talented multimedia artist, Blacque Diamond, has chosen me as one of her two picks for the Blog Hop Around the World. 

Thank you for visiting!

If you are here for the first time, please come in, pull up a chair and look around and feel free to hang out for awhile.

If you are an old friend of the blog, welcome back, I am glad you are here.

And don't forget to come back next Monday when I announce the next two creative blogs to hop on over to and answer the 4 questions.

“Creativity is contagious. Pass it on.” — Albert Einstein

My Three ATCs for November

I created three ATCs for November, one for the Custom Impressions trade and two for the mail trade I joined last month. I used Twinkling H2O paints on all three cards. I haven't used these much and am starting to feel like ATCs are a fun opportunity to play and learn about my less used products.

For the CI group the theme was Gratitude. I decided to make two similar cards, representing two November holidays- Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving. 

For both versions, I used a stamp from The Greeting Farm Cheeky collection, one a soldier and one with a pie. The images were stamped in Stazon and colored with the H2Os. Most of the painting/coloring went well. I used two yellowy shades for the hair (Sunburst & Yellow Roses) on both images. For Cheeky Pie, I painted the dress blue (Bashful Blue) with accents of pink (Playful Peony) on her shoes and scarf. The pie was painted in Bronze, Pearl Gold and Copper for the pan.

 I had trouble at first with the green for the soldier since I didn't have a khaki or olive color. I eventually diluted a darker green (Emerald) with lots of water to create a wash of a lighter more transparent green and I think it looks good. I could even layer the color with the wash and create shadows and tone. (Yay learning.) I then added Bronze for the piping and bow.

 

 

 I also was unhappy with the skin tone for both. I used Baby's Breath and it was very pink until dry and the level of shimmer seemed some how wrong for skin.
 

The background coloring is a Viva Decor paint called Maya Gold in the shade Petrol. Due to accidental spillage, I applied the paint with my fingers. I added the words "thank you" along the edge. I cut these out with my Cricut from G45 Steampunk Spells paper. And added a few glitter paper punch outs to finish  the cards.
 
The ATC trade is the last Sunday of the Month at Custom Impressions. Please call ((562) 430-8100) for details and themes. Hope to see you next month!

 

The theme I choose for the seven mail in  ATCs was things with stripes or dots. I decided to use some stamps of moths and butterflies as my striped and dotted things. I once again used Stazon, because it works well with wet mediums like the H2Os. Instead of using any of the bright colors of paints, I decided to try out the set of pearl colors I had. These all look almost white and have an iridescent quality to them. I painted the stamps in Pearl Green, Pearl Violet and Pearl Gold. What was really cool and unexpected to me was that these paints changed the color of the ink not the paper. (More learning!) And it looks so different and interesting from different angles, with I thought looked just right on my winged buggies. 

For the background of the dot ATCs I painted the whole cards in a copper metallic paint. Once thst dried I added some Viva Decor Ferro in a dark gold shade thru a circle pattern mask. I finished off the cards with a few rhinestones.

The final card for November is my mail in bonus card. I only need to make three- two to trade and one to keep. And it is a free theme.

I used another TGF stamp, this time from the Magical collection. I stamped with Stazon and painted in the H2O.  I think I did WAY better with the painting this go round. (The learning paid off, yay!) I played more with the wash method of diluting the colors to create shading on the hair (Sugar Plum & Heavenly) and clothes (Lemongrass & Kiwi) And also to make the skin tone not only less pink, but slightly less sparkly by creating a light wash with the Baby's Breath pink. I added some pinkish (Playful Peony) and teal (Mystique) to the stats in her hair and the stamp was all colored in.

For the card background I used Primary Pigment powders in a few shades (Twilight, Bronze and Kiwi) and blended/rubbed them onto black chipboard. I then spritzed the cards with two coats of Goosebumps. This not only set the powder, but created a texture and sheen to the background. 

I used a Dyan Reavley phrase stamp-"a life without dreams would just be a life"- on the right corner in Pastel Violet Prima chalk and added dome multicolor bling gems to finish up the card.

Which card is your favorite? I think I like the bonus card best, my technique was getting pretty good by then. Have you tried Sparkling H20 paints? How do you use them? I would love to hear any new tips or techniques for next time.

Coming in 2015: Layout class fearuring G45's A Time to Celebrate

After the holidays I will be teaching a class featuring Graphic 45's A Time to Celebrate. In the class we will be making 3 two page layouts. One to celebrate a birthday, one to celebrate a wedding or anniversary and one with a general celebration theme.

Along with G45's paper, which has lovely greens and coral pinks, the layouts include Prima flowers, paper doilies and cling.  The images have a lovely, nostalgic look that will bring a bit of vintage flair to your album,  Would look lovely for a tea party, afternoon wedding or just about anything!

 

The class will be a Custom Impressions in Los Alimitos, California. (562-430-8100) I will update the time and date as soon as I have that information. (Along with some better pictures)

 

Hope to see you there!

 

A Card for My Guy While He's Away

I have been seriously missing my guy while his is gone for work. So, I decided to make him a care package with some candy and a card to let him know how much I missed him. 

For the care package I was sent him some Japanese Kit Kats in green tea and vanilla flavors. And I also sent him some Aero bars in green tea. I also added some treats from a dog that is near where he worked.
 

For the card I used some Just Rite stamps I already had. The background stamp is called Time Flies and was designed by Amy Tedder. It features a pocket watch with the banner across that you can add a sentiment to. I added a sentiment (sending my love), also by Just Rite, that was curved to fit in banners like this.

 

To create the card I first did a stamp with brown Memento ink of the whole background. I colored it in lightly with soft E Copics, aiming for a washed look. Next, I stamped the wings, watch and "tail" sections and fussy cut them out. I colored the with Copics (BG 00 & 02 for wings, G22 & G00 for "tail"). I added a touch of stickles to the wings. Then, with Versamark ink,  I stamped just the watch and embossed it with Stampendous bronze powder. I then fussy cut out the embossed pocket watch. Finally, I stamped the image so it was justvthe banner, again with Momento. Inside the banner I stamped my sentiment. (I was originally planning to use a glue stamp pad and fine glitter for the sentiment, but that method did not seem legible.) I once again used embosssing powder, this time in blue. The banner itself was coloered with pale R Copics.

To assemble the card I first put down the large backgrounds now then I added pop dots to the back of all the fussy cut pieces.  Then, starting with the largest piece, I lined the up with the main image and attached. This created a layered, 3D card. The whole image was attached to card base and was ready to mail to my sweetie.