Good Tuesday morning!  I hope you had a great weekend and your week has started off good!  I spent Saturday with my mom, aunt and sister.  We went to Hodgenville to visit my uncle and check on things there.  After lunch we were going back through the town square and there was a little shop that I had never been in before.  We stopped and oh my gosh . . . what a great place.  No, I don’t remember the name BUT we are planning on going back this coming Saturday and I’ll find out then.  I might even remember to take my camera and get some pictures!

My project today is a sample for the class I’ll be teaching next month and is a work in progress.  We’ll be seeing this change over the next few days and I thought it would be fun to watch the transformation.

I’m not too sure about the round flower on the bottom and that’s probably going to be the first thing that goes.  I’m still looking at it trying to decide.  I’m also not too sure about the colors, but they do happen to be my favorite combination.   What do you think . . . is this something you would like to make in a class?

Happy Monday!  WOW I can’t believe that I finished this project today.  I’ve had this vision in my head for some time . . . months and months . . . if not longer.  I might have jumped the gun here too, because I don’t know that this project will ever truly be complete.  I think it’s one of those things that will be added to on a continual basis, particularly if I find just that perfect piece of memorabilia.

So are you ready to see what I’ve spent the last 4 days working on?  I’ll even tell you what that green goop is in the jar too!  You have to keep in mind that this piece is for me . . . my inspiration!  It’s hanging in the studio right now and as I look straight ahead from the computer I can see it.  I think I’ll leave it right where it is . . . I am so excited with the way it turned out.  Why I’m almost breaking my arm trying to pat myself on the back!

My Inspiration Canvas!

A closer look.

I’ve had this canvas stored in the closet for probably a year or more.  When they have them at Big Lots for a couple of bucks I always pick up a couple just to have around.  To start off, I covered the canvas with 3 coats of gesso.  The last coat was mixed with Peeled Paint Distress Ink . . . the green goop in the jar!  I needed water quickly, grabbed the first jar nearby and poured in some water.  There you have it . . . green goop!  I used one of the Tim Holtz masks and a stencil from Tattered Angels and laid them across the canvas.  Using Copic Markers, I airbrushed over the mask/stencils until I was satisfied with the color of the canvas.  Aged Mahogany Distress Ink was sponged around the edges.    The letters are Grunge Board that were painted black and then covered with Rock Candy Distress Stickles.

The flowers are Grunge Paper covered with Graphic 45 paper and then die cut with Spellbinders Blossom Nestabilities and Flower Creations 3.  The edges of each individual layer were sponged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

I added some Tim Holtz idea-ology embellishments through out the flowers for more inspiration.  I also had some clock keys and a pocket watch from things of the grandfather’s.  They were added just because!  I left chains long so that I could add more to them eventually.

The word Believe and the leaf stems are the only stamps I used.

• Stamps:  From the Garden by Fancy Pants Designs and Vendy Vechi Studio 490 - Ticket to Art from Stampers Anonymous
• Paper:  Botanicabella Collection from Graphic 45
• Ink:  Ranger Vintage Photo, Aged Mahogany, Old Paper, Peeled Paint and Black Soot Distress Ink
• Accessories:  Spellbinders S4-192 Blossom Nestabilities and S4-109HL Flower Creations 3; Tim Holtz idea-ology Swivel Clasps, Hitch Fastener, Jump Rings, Trinket Pins, Muse Tokens, Game Spinners, Safety Pin, Sprocket Gears, Philosophy Tags, Word Keys, Grunge Paper, Grunge Board elements and mixed minis, Book Plates; Ranger Snow Cap and Pitch Black Acrylic Paint Dabbers, Matte Accents, Picket Fence Distress Crackle Paint, Rock Candy Distress Stickles, Claudine Hellmuth Studio multi-medium matte; Tsukineko Sponge Daubers; Gesso; Upholstery Tacks; Glue Gun, Vintage Buttons; Papertrey Rustic Cream Button Twine

Well, that’s all folks!  Have a fabulous day and thanks for stopping by!

Day 3 of the Process!

More mess

I don’t normally work like this

Can’t find my desk

At least the floor is clean now

Good Monday morning!  I hope you all had a fabulous weekend and got outside and enjoyed the weather.  It was great here in Southern Indiana, 70’s and cool at night.  Perfect weather to get out and enjoy walks with the little shitzes!  When I wasn’t outside, I was buried deep in the recesses of the basement working away in my studio.  More playtime!  I could hardly stand it.  I’ve had some ideas running through my head for months now.  I was only waiting for a little time when I didn’t have pressing commitments and time limitations.

Remember this beeswax frame I did for my mother as a Mother’s Day gift?  Ever since I worked on that piece, I’ve been wanting to do another one; and since I’m still on a learning curve, this weekend was perfect! 

One day at CHA all us girls were sitting at a table resting, and someone from the Graphic 45 Booth walked up to our table.  Because a couple of us had on their buttons, we each received a free packet of Graphic 45 paper.  I couldn’t have been more delighted since I had been longing for the Botanicabella Collection.  I knew deep down that I had a special project for this paper  . . . more beeswax art!

This is what I came up with on Saturday . . . a canvas that was covered with Garden Suite and beeswax.

There’s lots of dimension going on here.  I kept adding layers of cardboard to building up bases as I went, finally ending at the top with another diamond panel.  I lost count of how many layers of beeswax I ended up adding.  I sat the canvas up in my sitting room when I was done so that I could keep looking at it and decide if it was done or not.  At first I thought about adding a bow at the top that would hang down the back and let me hang it on the wall.  I also thought about adding some more panels below the canvas, but it was just too thick to punch with my crop-o-dile. 

This morning I went out to my spare cabinet in the garage and found the perfect idea for finishing the canvas . . . an 8×10 black frame!  I went back into the studio, picked a piece of coordinating Graphic 45 paper and when to work. 

Here is the finished project, ready hang in my sitting room!

Here’s a close-up so that you can see all the different tiers and panels.

And don’t forget to look at that butterfly.  It was part of the paper that I trimmed out, covered with beeswax and then found some old gold beads to add as the body.  I recently purchased some gold wire that was perfect for the antennae. 

I know I need more practice with this technique and will keep working on projects as time allows!  This is such an addicting form of art.

So, that’s all I have for today!  I hope you have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

SPELLBINDERS INTRODUCES:

 SNEAK PEEKS ON CHA SUMMER TRADE SHOW RELEASE DIES!

JULY 9 – JULY 22, 2009

PLEASE NOTE:  Commenting on this post is welcome but does not enter you into the contest. This contest is sponsored directly by Spellbinders Paper Arts. Please read the post to find directions for entering. If you have any questions, please e-mail: ContestQuestions@Spellbinders.us.

Welcome to the ninth day of Spellbinders CHA Sneak Peek Blog Frenzy!

Spellbinders is revealing 17 new die templates to be released at the Craft and Hobby Trade Show on July 28, 2009, with some of their greatest fans…YOU!  From July 9 – 22, 2009, you will have the opportunity to be a part of these world wide sneak peeks through visiting the Spellbinders designer blogs listed below and trying your luck at winning spectacular die templates!  You will have a chance to win the die I’m introducing AND the dies previously revealed in this CHA Blog Frenzy by entering the contest at the end of this post.  This is a progressive prize, each day the daily prize grows!  Be sure to read all the rules before entering! You still have until July 17^th, 11:59 pm EST to enter Julie Overby’s blog at Mini Moments and until July 18th, 11:59 pm EST to enter mine.

To see previous reveals, or to go to any of the blogs of future reveals, feel free to visit the following:

7/9       Debbie Olson

7/10     Michelle Wooderson

7/11     Karen Hunsaker

7//12    Kazan Clark

7/13     Linda Duke

7/14     Heidi Blankenship

7/15     Kimberly Crawford

7/16     Julie Overby

7/17     Sherry Cheever

7/18     Debbie Seyer

7/19     Lesa Rapp

7/20     Becca Feeken

7/21     Jennifer Davis

7/22     Keri Lee Sereika

After the entry deadline is reached, Spellbinders will randomly pick one entry from each Blog Frenzy reveal as stated in the “Rules”. Winner will be contacted by e-mail within 24 hours of the contest deadline. Winner will have 72 hours to reply to that e-mail to claim the prize.  If Winner fails to respond within 72 hours, a new name will be drawn for said prize.   Winner will receive the new die templates being revealed on the specific daily blog post they are entering.

Entrants visiting all 14 Spellbinders CHA Blog Frenzy Reveals and correctly entering their information into the separate drawings, as described below, will automatically be entered into a GRAND PRIZE give away of a full set of the CHA Summer 2009 die templates and Impressabilities releases, 29 products, with a retail value of $561.71.

The projects I have made to share with you today are a Christmas card and a matching wall hanging.  We’ll talk about the card first!

The border at the top of the card was made by using the largest of the S4-224 Snowflake Borderabilities Petite.  Starting at the edge of the paper, I cut/embossed the border.  Before removing the paper from the S4-224 Snowflake Borderabilities Petite die template, the embossed areas were sponged with Old Paper Distress Ink.  The snowflake areas of the S4-224 Snowflake Borderabilities Petite die template were then removed and set aside for later use.  The edges of the background papers were also sponged with Old Paper Distress Ink and then sewn to a layer of white paper.  The sentiment was stamped on white paper and then cut/embossed with Spellbinders S4-138 Petite Ovals, Large.  The scalloped background layer was cut/embossed with Spellbinders S4-139 Petite Scalloped Ovals, Large.  The small snowflakes that I set aside were embellished (shown below) and then applied back in the border with foam mounting tape.  The snowflake was made using the S4-222 Create A Flake 1.  Later in this post, I give step-by-step instructions on how to create the snowflake.

Now, here’s the wall hanging!

I used the same paper, die templates and ink for this project as I did for the card.  I did however start with a rectangle chipboard coaster that the background paper was glued down on.  I sanded the excess paper from the edges and then sponged them with Old Paper Distress Ink.  The sentiment was made the same as the card.  Behind the sentiment I used the smaller of the S4-224 Snowflake Borderabilities Petite.  Once again, the embossed areas were sponged with ink prior to taking them out of the die template.

I’ve saved the best for last . . . the snowflakes!  I love making these layered snowflakes and want to show you with step-by-step instructions how I make them!

I prefer to layer two different colors of paper

The S4-222 Create A Flake 1 die templates are cut and embossed.

While the paper is still in the S4-222 Create A Flake 1 die template, the exposed areas are sponged with ink.

This is how the snowflakes will look when removed from the S4-222 Create A Flake 1 die templates.

A layer of Ranger Glossy Accents is applied to the sponged areas.

Then Art Institute Vintage Shards Glass Glitter is sprinkled over the Glossy Accents.  The snowflakes are set aside to dry.

When the Glossy Accents have dried, excess glitter is removed and assembly begins.

Using a vintage button (with the thread still attached), wire is inserted through the button holes and down through each layer of the snowflake.

A button is used on the back to hold the layers in place and to tie off the wire.

The curly cues are made by wrapping the wire around the point of a piercing tool

The wire is then wrapped around the button on the back to secure the wire.

The finished snowflake is now ready to be used as an embellishment.

• Stamps:  Holiday Script from Lizzie Anne Designs
• Paper:  BasicGrey Wassail; Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Prism Vanilla Cream
• Ink:  Ranger Archival Coffee and Old Paper Distress Ink
• Accessories:    Spellbinders S4-222 Create A Flake 1, S4-224 Snowflake Borderabilities Petite, S4-138 Petite Ovals, Large, and S4-139 Petite Scalloped Ovals, Large; May Arts Ribbon; Sanding Tools; Ranger Matte and Glossy Accents; Tsukineko Sponge Dauber; Venture Foam Tape; Clear and Vintage Buttons; Chipboard Rectangle Coaster and Accent Piece; Making Memories Wire; Sewing Machine; Art Institute Vintage Shards Glass Glitter #901 Krystallos

Don’t forget to read the rules below and click on the link to enter the contest.  Photos of the die templates I have used in today’s post are:

S4-222 Create A Flake 1

MSRP - $19.99

Dimensions:  Largest Flake 2-5/8ths; Smallest Flake 1/2”

S4-224 Snowflake Borderabilities Petite

MSRP - $19.99

Dimensions:  Smallest Border 5-1/2”x1-1/4”; Largest Border 5-1/2”x1-1/2”

Rules
Any participant wishing to be included in the daily drawing for the Spellbinders CHA Blog Frenzy give-away must adhere to all of the following rules. We are happy to welcome US and international blog guests for this Frenzy.

To enter each drawing on sneak peeks between July 9 and July 22, visit the reveal blog and click on the contest link to reveal an e-mail window. In the subject line of the e-mail, enter the die template name being revealed. Each blog reveal will remain open for 48 hours. Only 1 entry per blog is allowed and participant must use the same email address daily to be considered for grand prize entry, no exceptions.  Please consider whether you will have access to the same e-mail address from July 9^th through July 22^nd and plan accordingly.

Spellbinders Design Team members and employees are not eligible for drawings.

Any participant wishing to be automatically entered into the drawing for the CHA Blog Frenzy Grand Prize must enter all 17 blog reveals and follow all the above rules.

Please note:

*Spellbinders will only use email information to contact the winner.

*Spellbinders will not share this email address with any other parties.

*Spellbinders will not use this email information for advertisements or communications other than to contact the winner.

*If you wish to be included in further communications from Spellbinders, please go to their homepage SpellbindersPaperArts.com and sign up for their newsletter.

Spellbinders CHA Blog Frenzy drawing

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

(If you use an e-mail client that does not work with this pop-up box, you may copy and paste this address to send your entry to:  ContestDay9@spellbinders.us)

For more Spellbinders new product release information go to:   http://www.spellbinderspaperarts.com/new

If you have any questions regarding the contest, send an e-mail to: ContestQuestions@spellbinders.us

I hope you’ve been enjoying the Spellbinders CHA Blog Frenzy over the last few weeks and that you’ve entered at all the blogs for the Grand Prize.  Don’t forget to enter mine today in order to win the template dies that I’ve previewed today.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day!