Inner Child by Betsy Skagen

The weekend is here. When the week has been especially trying, it can feel as if your inner child is a little battered. 

Or maybe, the inner child is still whole, but its protective nook inside the heart sustained some damage, the glass window shattered. 

To be honest, my inner child feels great, but I just liked the concept of this art piece.

To make it, I began with the Little Heart Niche, which as you can see, includes a handy hanger for the back.

I adhered the pieces to the backside of a sheet of scrapbook paper and fussy cut the paper to match the chipboard.

I then reinforced the corners of the niche with some tape--just to give it some extra strength--and glued the niche onto the heart.

Next, I applied Distress Grit Paste, pressed heart stamps into the paste and dried with a heat gun.  I darkened the edges of the heart with black ink and then sprayed everything with purple and black ink sprays. After the ink dried, I applied embossing ink, sprinkled Rocky Road Baked Texture onto the surface and activated with heat gun.

I cut a frame from chipboard, applied embossing ink and covered it with Rocky Road Baked Texture and activated with heat gun. I used the same technique on a heart paperclip.

While the frame and paper clip cooled (be very careful when heating any metal with a heat gun!), I glued thin sheets of broken mica over the top of the niche.

I then shredded and inked some cheese cloth, sprayed a small figurine candle with distress ink and adhered these inside the niche.

After gluing the paper clip and frame in place, I printed, cut out and inked the edges of my words and adhered them to the heart.

Thanks for stopping by to check out the tutorial. I hope you have a lovely weekend. If it is even a little bit as cold as it is here in Minnesota, I hope it gives you an excuse to stay inside and create art all weekend long! -Betsy

Great Stuff

Little Heart Niche
Dress My Craft scrapbook paper
Distress Grit Paste
Heart stamps
Beacon Fabri-Tac
Spray inks
Distress Black Soot ink pad
Distress Vintage Photo ink pad
Seth Apter's Rocky Road Baked Texture
Embossing ink
Grit paste
Chipboard
Paper clip
Mica sheet
Cheese cloth

Shuttered Soul by Betsy Skagen

With holiday crafting put away for the season, I am able to refocus on mixed media art.

I am a classic over-thinker when it comes to art. Okay, truth be told, I might just be a classic over-thinker when it comes to everything--but today we are focusing on art. In creating this piece I pushed myself not to meticulously plan every detail and just go with the flow. 

The driving force behind this piece was Gypsy Soul's Window with Shutters. First I covered the shutters with black ink. Then I applied a coat of embossing ink, added Rocky Road embossing powder and activated with a heat gun. 

Setting that aside, I created my background paper by layer after layer of acrylic paint, spray ink, ink pads, paint pens, washi tape and stamped images to cold press watercolor paper. 

Next I took a collage image from a magazine and layered it behind the window. I then adhered the window shutter to the background paper. 

I then adhered a couple of my favorite rusty found objects to the page. 

To create the frame, I added grit paste to the edge of a piece of chipboard that I cut slightly larger than my background page. After it was dry, I painted it with black acrylic paint and then sealed with a matte polyurethane spray. 

After the frame was dry, I adhered the background page to it and my project was complete. 

That was it! Projects are definitely easier when I don't overthink them! 

My wish for all of you is that you each enjoy a holiday season filled with loved ones, warmth, good food and good feelings. 

Love to all, Betsy

Great Stuff

Window with Shutters

Distressed black soot ink

Embossing ink

Seth Apter's Rocky Road Baked Texture Embossing Powder

Cold press watercolor paper

Acrylic paint

Washi tape

Black ink

Spray inks

Paint pens

Rubber stamps

Found objects

Chipboard

Beacon Adhesive Fabri-Tac

Lock-Tite

Grit paste

Festive Trio

Hello this is Yolie sharing a festive set of cards using the Texture Sheets Fiesta. The festive note card trio are to replenish my card stash.

I used a pair of scissors to cut the banners and a border from the Texture Sheets Fiesta. I gathered paints and fun fiesta pattern paper with bright colors to match.

I trimmed the banners and the border to approximately 4" wide. I used white acrylic paint as primer and painted the pieces in green, blue and pink.

I used a Latina Crafter metal word die "celebra" which means celebrate. I cut the word on both card stock and craft foam.

I assembled the cards adding lots of layers and rhinestone ribbon.

Each finished card measures 4.25" x 5" and are blank inside. They are perfect for any celebration and the fun patterns with bright colors are so festive! I hope you enjoyed my fun trio today. I hope you have a wonderful week and keep it crafty.

Supply List:
Decorative Screen No. D91B
Plaid Crafts paints
Latina Crafter celebra die
Beacon Power-Tac adhesive
Pattern paper
Paint brush
Craft foam
Cardstock
Doilies
Rhinestone ribbon

On Trend ATC Bookcase

Hello this is Yolie sharing my version of the ATC Bookcase. The Bookcase a good size for crafty storage. The assembled measurements are 6-5/8" wide x 6-7/8" deep x 7-7/8" tall with a roomy drawer measuring (2-7/8" tall).

For starters, always remember to use a lightly damp cloth to clean off the laser cut soot on all the pieces. I went with a super trendy paper pad to alter the ATC Bookcase. The complete supply list is at the bottom of this post.

I used acrylic paint to paint all the edges of the ATC Bookcase. I separated the drawer pieces from the actual pieces that make up the book case. It also helps to determine which pattern paper to use.

I traced and cut the pattern paper and adhered them to the pieces. I sprayed the Mod Podge Ultra Matte onto the backside of the paper. This made it so easy!
I used Beacon Power-Tac on the tabs to assemble and also to attached the drawer knob.

Here are a couple of side angle photos.

I also covered the side of the drawers for a more finished look.

It's so pretty! I can't wait to fill it up with craft goodies.

Thank you for stopping by today and happy crafting.

Supply List: 
ATC Bookcase No. C56L
Mod Podge Ultra Matte
Acrylic Paints
12x12 pattern paper
Paint brush
Beacon Power-Tac
Westcott Scissors
Paint brush
Knob
Rhinestones
Pencil

Decorative Screen

Hello and welcome, this is Yolie with today's project. I used the Decorative Screen and Wood Medallions set. Inspired by the colors of an embossing powder meant for mixed media, Midnight Magic. You will see the embossing powder in the photos below, but first let's get started with the Decorative Screen.

First, with a damp paper towel I cleaned off the soot residue left behind by the laser cutter. Then I took the blue acrylic paint and I applied one coat to each panel and allowed to dry.

Applying the next three colors were the same technique; apply the paint with a dry brush sporadically, before it dried, I removed some of the paint with a paper towel. The paint colors are listed below.

I purchased 3/4" x 11/16" hinges from my local hardware store. I painted the hinges first with black chalk paint. Using a toothpick, I applied Power-Tac adhesive to the backside of the hinges. After the glue dried, I lightly painted them with brown acrylic paint for rust look.

So here is the color inspiration. It's from a mixed media heavy embossing powder made by Emerald Creek for Rita Barakat. It is called Midnight Magic and get this, it glows in the dark.
I applied a heavy coat of embossing ink and dusted the Wood Medallions with the embossing powder.

Here are the acrylic paints used. What do you think? Did I match up the colors to coordinate with the embossing powder?

Here is my Decorative Screen, it stands at 8" and is 15" width. It's gorgeous!

It folds nicely enough for storage.

Inspiration is everywhere! Look, get inspired and create!
I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and the final results. Enjoy your week and keep it crafty.

Supply List:
Decorative Screen No. D21F
Wood Medallions  No. D106E
Plaid Crafts paints: Look At Me Blue, Melted Chocolate, Midnight, Black Chalk Paint
Rita Barakat Midnight Magic Embossing Powder by Emerald Creek
Beacon Power-Tac adhesive
Hinges
Paint brushes
Heat Gun
Versamark Embossing Ink
Paper towels

Spring Lantern

Hello this is Yolie with today's project. It's late May and in Southern California, we are still getting rain. Spring made an appearance with the Super Bloom, but then quickly disappeared. The plan was to make a Summer Lantern, but I'm still in the mood for Spring. I used the Lantern Cage Style and added a faux patina with lots of blooms.

To create the faux patina, I first painted all the pieces, front and back with metallic copper and allowed the paint to completely dry.
I then painted the pieces with black chalkboard paint and before the paint dried, wiped it off with a paper towel.
Next, I painted the pieces with aqua drift and again, before the paint dried, wiped it off with a paper towel.

I then assembled the Lantern using a bit of Beacon Power-Tac adhesives to secure it in place. 

I added pretty blooms and a couple of resin butterflies.

Here's a closeup of the beautiful faux patina. I added the butterfly as doorknob to easily open the lantern door and turn on the LED tea light.

Hoping Summer is delayed so I can enjoy the Spring Lantern a little longer.
Thank you so much for visiting today and enjoy your week.

Supply List:
Lantern Cage Style No. C41C
Plaid Crafts paints: Black Chalkboard, Metallic Copper, Aqua Drift
Beacon Power-Tac adhesive
Flowers
Resin butterflies
LED tea light

Summer Vibes - Altered Mini Box

Greetings, this is Yolie today with today's project. I recently took a road trip to Arizona and New Mexico. I always a take a bag of crafting supplies to create on the road. On this trip I took along Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts' Fold Up Oval Box {coming soon}, Layered Frame Bella Oval and the Words and Phrases 1.

I used Graphic 45 Sun Kissed paper and traced the shadow of the Layered Frame Bella Oval frame. I then  colored the top layer with a blue Sharpie.

I trimmed the different pattern paper to cover all sides of the top lid and bottom.

I used a copper pen to color the word "Inspire" and adhered it all with Beacon Adhesives.

I added a trim of aqua rhinestones strand. I thought of adding some rhinestones around the frame, but I really wanted to focus on the cutie!

And there you  have it, a simple but adorable altered box. Thank you for visiting and enjoy your week.

Supply List:
Fold Up Oval Box  D19F {coming soon}
Layered Frame Bella Oval 
Words and Phrases 1 D71A
Graphic 45 Sun Kissed
Beacon Power-Tac Glue 
Rhinestone trim
Black Sharpie
Copper pen
Scissors
Pencil