Love is in the Air at Sketches4All!!!

Hello again all!!!  It's the beginning of a new month and new week, and that means lots of new challenges and inspiration projects!!!

For the month of February, Sketches4All is having a "Love is in the air" mini-crop in their forum!!!  Stop by and check it out... There are tons of different challenges, prizes, and inspiration to be seen!!!

My challenge is "anything but a card or a layout" for Valentine's day!!!  This can be ANY TYPE of project, so long as it's not a page or card.  Easy enough, right?!?  

I made an altered tag using various techniques.  

Here's a look:

I started with a standard #8 tag and applied a thick coat of gesso on top.  After drying, I misted several Lindy's Stamp Gand "Starburst" mists to add some color and shimmer!  I used black StazOn ink and a cursive print stamp to create the effect on the left side of the tag.  Then, I cut a stencil on my Cricut Expression 2 using the "Edge to Edge" cartridge and applied a thin layer of molding paste over it.  I went over the design with various Luminarte Silks Acrylic Glazes for a bit more color.

I also added a chipboard birdcage by Blue Fern Studios that was stamped with Versamark, then clear embossed.  I sprayed it with white "Dylusions" mist and let it dry.

I finished the tag with a couple of rub-ons and various flowers by Kaisercraft, Heidi Swapp, and Petaloo.  I topped several of the flowers with mist, then a thin coat of gesso for a more distressed look!  I added liquid pearls around the edges and a double bow with a black pearl to to the top!

Well gang... Thanks soooo much for stopping in and have a LUCKY day :-)

"Inspired" Magazine Cover Girl!!!!

Hello all!!! I hope you are enjoying your weekend!!! It's actually turned out to be a beautiful day here... Finally!!!

I wanted to share with you something I've been keeping a secret...  I made COVER for the LGS "Inspired" Magazine!!!!  Yay!!!!  

All entrants were to submit a layout based on the following sketch:

I LOVED working this sketch and knew I wanted to make something "pretty" with it!!!!

Here is my take:

Nothing says pretty like a whole lot of pink!!! Hahahaha!!!!

I used the Pink Paislee "Colorwash" and Prima "Delight" collections to make the page.  They actually flowed together quite nicely!

I started by cutting some hearts into the background paper using my Cricut Expression 2, then outlining those hearts with a pink gelato.  I also took the gelato around the edges of the paper to add more pink!!!  The tags were cut from Jillibean Soup "flashcards" that were included in the January Kit over at Frosted Designs!!! I also added some "colorwash" tags that were colored with the same pink gelato.

I used a heart stencil (also in the January kit) and some molding paste colored with the gelato to add a little texture to the page.  I also sprinkled some Tim Holtz distress glitter in Rock Candy for some glitz!

The chipboard word "Happy" by Blue Fern Studios was coated with gesso that was also colored with the pink gelato, and sprinkled with the distress glitter.

The tickets are from the Prima collection and I added a little hand stitching for detail.  I used a Prima "Paquita" flower in the corner, also adding a bit of the gesso mixture for color :-)

Well gang... Thanks so much for stopping in and have a LUCKY day :-)

I Will Catch You... If You Fall!

Happy Monday all!!! Hope you had a wonderful weekend and a fabulous week ahead!!!

"I Will Catch You" Handmade Altered Mixed Media Tag

Just a quick stop in today to share with you a mixed media tag I made for the DT November Color Challenge over at Sketches4All.  Here is the color palette you get to work with  (AMAZING colors!!!!):

And here is an Altered Tag I made:

I had TONS of fun making this!!!!  

I started with a "clean" manilla tag, and added gesso with various stencils for texture.  Then I used my Luminarte Paints (soooo vibrant and shimmery!!!) and began my coloring.  Then I started to embellish.  

I printed my quote on my computer on creme colored cardstock, then cut out the words, distressed them, and inked them to match the color "theme".  I inked various wood pieces by Studio Calico and added them between the flowers.  I inked, misted, and added a coat of perfect pearls atop some grungeboard pieces by Tim Holtz.  I topped it off with homemade bling, flowers by Recollections and Heidi Swapp, and various metal knick knacks from Tim Holtz, and Momenta.  

Here are some close-ups:

This is some chipboard from Blue Fern Studios that I stamped an image on, clear embossed, then inked and misted for desired effect:

Well gang.... Thanks soooo much for stopping in and have a LUCKY day :-)

2 Broke Girls Overhaul... Great New Look and Prize Giveaway!!!

Well hello and happy August everyone!!!  

This is My Story with Maggie Holmes

Okay... Now this next one is a page I've been wanting to make for quite some time.  This is for my Creative Monthly Project Challenge over at Colorful Creations.  The challenge this month is to explore the world of "paper tearing".  

I, myself, am a "colorful" person of sorts.  I'm outspoken, extremely personable (from many years in the hospitality industry), and sometimes down right obnoxious!!!!  I'm also good-hearted, I give when I can, and help others as much as possible :-)

One way I express myself is through my tattoos.  Yes, I have several of them, and they all provide a glimpse into who I am.  I wanted to make a page that reflects me as an individual.  A page that gives you an idea of "who I am".  And this is it:

This page turned out better than I expected!!!!  I LOVE IT!!!!  I used papers by Crate Paper Maggie Holmes collection to start things off.  I distressed and tore edges, and created the big tear down the center.  I used a MS paper punch to punch the edges of the torn area, then layered punched edges of different paper, ribbon, and a little Liquid Pearls.  I created the flower cluster using various flowers by Recollections and Paper House Studio.  The chipboard pieces are from Blue Fern Studio and were heat embossed, inked,  misted and then topped off with Perfect Pearls and Liquid Pearls.  I used my Spectrum Noir Black Alcohol Marker to go over some teal glittered Thickers so that the chipboard color was black, but the glitter would remain teal to match the page.  This page is easy on the eyes, full of sparkle, and a little rough around the edges.  Pretty much sums me up!!!!!  

"Summertime" Anything Goes at Sketches4All

Sketches4All is hosting a "Summertime" Sketch Challenge where ANYTHING GOES!!!!  That's right... Make what you want as long as you follow the sketch:

I decided on a layout using pics from my trip to Cozumel in 2011.  Here's a look:

I've had these papers by The Girls Paperie sitting for quite some time and thought I would finally put them to good use!!!!  They went well with the photos anyhow!!!  

Instead of using three photos, I cut one into two and then added one of me and my husband on shore.  The embellies and ribbon are all from the same paperline, aside from the K&Company tag (bottom right) and the metal balloon by Recollections.  Looking at these pics make me want to revisit this tropical paradise!!!!!   

Handmade Baby Girl Card using Crate Paper "Little Bo Peep"

This is a card that I made for SketchNScrap's July 20th Card Sketch Challenge and FORGOT to post as we were in Fort Lauderdale!!!!!!  Browsing all my sites last night, I realized I hadn't even posted it yet... Better late than never I suppose!!! Hahahaha!!!

Any who... Here is the sketch:

My husband needed a baby girl card for his boss and this was the perfect sketch to get it done!!!  Here's a look at what I came up with:

I had this Crate Paper that I also TOTALLY forgot about and finally pulled it out to use!!!  Seems like a trend around here!!!!  I followed the sketch quite literally, adding only minor changes.  I hand cut the tag, hand-colored the elephant with my Spectrum Noir markers,  and heat embossed "Congratulations"  using pink powder.   I finished it with ribbon, buttons, and a couple of flowers!!!!  That's it!!!  Easy Baby Girl card out the door :-)

Well gang... that's all for today!!! Stay tuned for some more exciting projects coming in the next few days!!!  Have a LUCKY day :-)