Happy Halloween: Altered Mini Coffin and Steampunk Card!!!

Hello everyone and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!  This is big day here in the states and one of my favorite holidays of the year!!!!  I'm just popping in to share some projects I created this month for this splendid day :-)

This is a card I created for WCM over at Sketch N Scrap!  The challenge here was to create a Halloween card or card made using primarily orange (something I barely have at all in my stash!!!).  Here's a look:

Frosted Designs is also showing off some fabulous Halloween projects on the blog today!  I created an altered mini-coffin using the Graphic 45 Steampunk Spells collections!  Here's a look:

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

G45 Steampunk Spells with Creative Embellishments!!!

Hey there crafters!!!  Today is my first post with my new DT over at Creative Embellishments!!!

Here's a look at this month's inspiration photo:

Your challenge is to ALSO DISTRESS (any number of ways to accomplish this technique!  Feel free to use one, or all of them!

 And here is my project:

This is one of my all time favorite collection from Graphic 45!!!  Halloween is absolutely my most favorite holiday to decorate for so this challenge was "right up my alley"!!!

I started by layering up all my papers, distressing them with black ink along the way.  I added a fancy oval frame that was inked, misted, and coated with distress crackle paint in rock candy!  I added liquid pearls for accents :-)

I finished the card with a steampunk corner that was inked with Iced Spruce and Black Soot distress inks, as well as other embellishments from this collection!

My first Halloween card of the year!!!  You'll be seeing a lot more in just the next few days ;-)

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

Graphic 45 "Birdsong" with Sketch N Scrap #21!!!

Hello again everyone and Happy Friday!!!!!  It was a bit cold and gloomy here today but it's looking like great weather for the weekend!!!  

"Joy Luck" Handmade Thank You Card

Today I'm here because Sketch N Scrap has another FABULOUS card sketch up and running!!!!  Here's a look at Card Sketch #21:

And here's a Thank You card I made for my mother-in-law:

Yes, I am in LOVE with this collection!!!  I purchased it recently for my husband's Valentine's gift and just can't stop using it!!!  

I used black cardstock as my base and also matted the papers with black or outlined them with a black sharpie marker.  I fussy cut the lanterns from the pattern paper then went over the lines with a Black Sakura Gelly Roll pen.  I topped them off with Enamel accents for shine and dimension.  

I LOVE how this collection can be used for masculine type projects or feminine cards...  It's very versatile!!!  I added a doily to the background to really make it girlie :-)

I finished the card with coordinating chipboard pieces from the collection and some gold ribbon!!!  

"Asian Screen" Altered Tag~ Asian Style

Another project I created using the Birdsong collection is a tag for my husband.  I saw an altered project on Pinterest with a "faux screen" and knew I wanted to replicate the style!  

I cut out a bunch of squares from some pattern paper and added vellum behind it.  I set it aside and created my tag.  There are tons of fussy cut items in the background and several layers underneath as well!  

I finished the tag by adding the "screen" piece on and a metal dragon trinket that was colored using liquid gold and black distress stain.  

Altered Jewelry Box

Okay... I FINALLY had time to upload pictures of the jewelry box I made for my husband on Valentine's day!!!  This was the sole purpose for getting this AMAZING collection in the first place!!!!  And without further ado...  Here it is!!!!! 

Isn't it AWESOME?!?!?  I truly love how this project came out!!!  And I had soooo much fun making it :-)

I picked up the actual box at Joanns.  I knew what kind of finish I wanted on it, but I had to figure out how to create it!!!  I started by coating the box with Liquid Gold and allowing it to dry.  Then I applied a thin layer of black acrylic paint, making sure to show the brush strokes.  This allowed the gold underneath to show through as I wanted!  After it was dry, I applied two coats of Glossy Mod Podge spray to give it a shiny finish!!!!  Some of the black came off before drying, and I decided to keep it that way to give the box personality :-)

I used mat mod podge to adhere the paper to the box in the desired sections.  There are so many amazing papers in this set that it made it very hard to choose!!!

I used the coordinating chipboard pieces to make a very simple,  but decorative lid!  As this will be used everyday, I didn't want too much on the top that would get messed up in the future!

 I added a small "door knocker" plastic piece by Jolees to the center of the box.  It fit perfectly bewteen the top and the drawers!!!  I used a standard black and gold dragon paper to wrap around the backside of the box.  I finished the box with an additional coat of glossy mod-podge for durability!!!  

Well gang...  Thanks soooo much for stopping in!  Have a LUCKY day :-)

Happy Valentine's Day with Graphic 45!!!

Hello all and Happy Valentine's Day!!!  I hope your day is filled with lots of love... And candy!!!  Lots of candy!!! 

"Tranquility and Love" Handmade Card using Graphic 45 "Birdsong" Collection

I recently purchased the "Bird Song" Collection from Graphic 45 to make an altered project for my husband.  He just loves asian themed things and this collection is perfect for that!!!  Since I had it handy, I decided to also make his Valentine's card with it as well!!!  I'll have photos of the finished altered piece after the weekend :-)

Any who, here is the card I made:

Isn't this collection GORGEOUS?!?  I absolutely LOVE the style, colors, and well, everything about it!!!!

I started with a black base and just started adding pattern papers.  I fussy cut several elements from the paper pad and added them for detail.  I happened to have some metal cherry blossoms from a past project for the hubby and I added them as well (they went quite nicely with the theme!). 

I also added some tiny flowers and leaves by Petaloo, as well as a chipboard element from the coordinating tags (tranquility).

For the inside, I looked over various Chinese Proverbs until I found one that was perfect for mine and my husband's relationship!!!  It says:

"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance.  The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break."

The one on the bottom reads:

"The heart that loves is always young"

I am also sharing this with Crafty Creations, where you can upload your most recent paper craft projects, at The Memory Nest!

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

Forver Love with Pink Paislee and Vintage Voyages with Graphic 45 "Steampunk Spells" Paper Collections!!!

I am posting this a little early since tonight is Halloween and I will be busy Trick or Treating with my two beautiful "fairies"!!!! 

Happy November everyone!!! Can you believe it's November already?!?  Fall is officially in full swing and the temperature is FINALLY getting a little "cooler" around here (In Florida, that means anything below 90 degrees!!!).  

"Forever Love" with Pink Paislee "Secret Crush" Paper Collection

I'm here today to share a wonderful layout I made for my November Creative Monthly Project Challenge over at Colorful Creations.  Your challenge this month is to create any type of project using BLING!!!  That's it!!! You may use as much, or as little as you like.... As long as I can see it, You're in it to win it!!!  

Here's a layout I made using various types of bling:

I used papers and embellies from the "Secret Crush" paper collection, as well as trim by Petaloo and a doily die-cut which I misted using pink Glimmer Mist!  Flowers are from Heidi Swapp and Recollections.  Most were also misted to my desired color.  The butterflies are also by Recollections and again, misted (seems to be a theme here!!!).  I added bling under the flower cluster by the photo and "my homemade bling" under the butterfly, as well as the bling on the butterflies themselves!  Isn't she too stinkin cute?!?  

Here are some close-ups:

"Vintage Voyages" with Graphic 45 "Steampunk Spells" Paper Collection

Another project I've put together is called "Vintage Voyages" which was made for my "Once Upon A Theme" Challenge over at Sketches4All.  This month, your challenge is to create a project (of any type) using the theme "Adventure".  
Here's a look at what I came up with:

I used the Graphic 45 "Steampunk Spells" Paper Collection and embellies, as well as chipboard by 7 Gypsies, and various flowers by Petaloo, Heidi Swapp, and Recollections.  I did a LOT of fussy cutting here... All the pattern flowers that match the coordinating paper behind the background die-cut were fussy cut from a piece of coordinating paper.  I fussy cut ALL the balloons as well.  I also used metal by Tim Holtz, bling by Prima, and of course my favorite, liquid pearls!!!  

For the chipboard word "remember", I started by heat embossing black powder in certain portions of the word.  Then I sanded most of it down and spritzed it with Glimmer Mist.  I finished by adding a light coat of Perfect Pearls and topping it with Liquid Pearls.  Here's a close-up:

Just an FYI... I will be posting WINNERS for my "Enabler" Giveaway tomorrow and have more exciting news to share in just a few days so stay tuned!!!  

And don't forget the Holiday Hop going on at Sketch N Scrap!!! Every day is a Holiday for the hop and there are TONS of prizes to be won!!!! Stop in and check it out if you haven't already :-)

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