Dreaming of a White Christmas

Hi Everyone,

 

My favorite day of the year is coming up.  Each year my mum and my  sister come to my house for cookie day.  We bake all day long, I'm talking like 7am-9pm.  We have our favorite recipes we use year after year.  We keep those in a little notebook.  We do like to try new recipes each year too.  More and more often we are finding new recipes on the internet.  I thought it was the perfect time to make a Christmas themed phone/tablet holder so we don't get baking supplies all over our phones.
 These phone holders are so easy to put together(there are only three pieces). They would make an awesome gift!

Paint the base white.  Make sure the edges and at least one side are really well done since they will be exposed.  Paint the edges of the other pieces white too.  The other two pieces get covered with patterned paper.  I used some of the Tim Holtz Christmas wallpaper to cover the back piece.  This paper looks and feels like real wallpaper.  It's nice to add the tiny bit of texture to the project.

These snowy flourishes are coming to the shop soon.  You get two in a pack.  Paint both pieces white, then cover them with a clear glitter.  

Insert the pieces into their slots. Don't forget to add a bit of glue to hold them in securely.   Technically your piece is completely put together at this point.  But we will embellish this! Glue the snowy flourishes to the back of the piece.  Then cover the base with Grit Paste from Ranger.  While the paste is wet sprinkle on clear glitter.  Leave the space where your phone will sit paste free.  

Paint a tiny resin snowman and cover him with clear glitter.  Add teeny mercury glass holly berries to his hat.  While the grit paste is wet stick the snowman in the paste.  In front of the small piece of chipboard add a Christmas saying.  Again, do this while the paste is wet and it will dry in place.  

On the back add a couple bottlebrush trees, teeny presents, a deer, and peppermints.  Another Christmas sentiment will complete your project. 

I hope you have a great kick off to your holiday season!

Jess

Does the bell still ring for you?

Hi Everyone,
Jess here today.
One of my favorite Christmas stories is The Polar Express.  Today's project is a little nod to the book.

When I started this project I didn't think I wanted a tag as long as the Extra Large Tag (it's 8 inches long and 4 inches wide), so I cut off a big chunk.  Thankfully I saved the piece I cut off because as my project evolved I knew I needed it!
Start by painting the entire tag white and then stamping a line of music notes all over the back using Distress Oxide ink in Hickory Smoke.  Then seal the ink using Distress Micro Glaze.  Once the micro glaze is on add Vintage Distress Collage Medium to the entire piece.  The thicker the glaze, the darker the color.

Next paint a piece of Distress Collage tissue. The collage tissue is black and white, but it can be colored.  Pick the area you want to show and on the backside apply your paint.  The paint doesn't have to be perfect, but it shouldn't go too far outside the lines(unless that's the look you're going for). 

Once the paint is dry adhere it to the bottom of the tag.  The tissue blends in so well it looks like it was part of the background all along.  

Add a bit of Charred Gold embossing powder around the edge of the entire piece.  

Paint the Frame in Tarnished Brass Distress Paint.  Once it is dry add Deco Art's Crackle Glaze.  The glaze makes teeny cracks, like you see on old china.  When the glaze is dry rub Distress Crayon in the cracks to make them pop.  Glue the frame to the tag. Using a bit of foam tape, add a piece of patterned paper inside the frame.  Color your paper doll and adhere her to the patterned paper(she's popped up with a bit of foam tape too). Add a teeny bell to her hand.    

The paper doll had a little paper tassel on her hat, but mine ripped off.  So to give her hat a makeover color a baubble using Spun Sugar Distress Paint.  Once the paint is dry add a bit of mushroom alcohol ink to age it a bit.  You can see the tiny cracks in the frame a bit better here too.  

Using the Tim Holtz festive foliage die make a bunch of flowers to adhere to the corner of the frame. 

Now here is the part when I decided I wanted to add more to my tag.  My sentiment wasn't working the way I thought it would and it just needed more.  I took the part I had cut off earlier and glued it to the base creating a little shelf.  Color the fringe using spray ink and alcohol ink and glue it to the base.  

Paint a salvaged santa using Distress Paint and Alcohol inks.  Once the paint is dry rub Distress Crayon to pick up the nooks and crannies. Paint the deer using gold alcohol ink.  Glue them all to the base.

On the opposite side glue a bottle brush tree decorated with vintage mercury glass. 

After that it's just finishing touches! 

I hope the bell always rings for you. 

Have you started your Christmas crafting?

Jess

Creepy Critter

Hi Everyone,
 Jess here today.

 I promise next month I will get back to doing step by step photos for you.  Work has been a bear lately and I have hardly had any time to create.  I wanted to get a bit spooky though.  It's cooling off around here-it's been under 100 degrees at least twice!

To begin cover your Reliquary- Arch Top with a thin layer of gesso.  Then layer on your inks.  It is key to allow time for each layer to dry naturally to achieve the faux marble look. Using your blending foam, apply a layer of Pumice Stone Distress Ink and then add a bit of Espresso Distress Ink.  Spritz these layers with water.  Once they are dry add Distress Oxides in Iced Spruce, Hickory Smoke, and Black Soot.  These are applied one at a time and spritzed with water.  I switched back and forth between using the blending foam and just stamping the pad directly onto the arch.  Using the pad I was able to get some veins in the marble.
Add your paperdoll and bunny head charm.  Set the piece aside to dry.

Cover the Extra Large Tag with a piece of patterned paper.  Use Distress Oxides in Hickory Smoke and Forest Moss to get the mottled effect.  Edge the tag using Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  Socre the bottom of the tag to create a bend. 

Use the large piece from the Layered Flourish Aria.  Paint the back piece using Tarnished Brass Distress Paint.  Paint the front piece using Sterling Distress Paint.  When the paint is dry pounce on Alcohol ink in Patina, Mushroom, and Latte.  Glue the two pieces together and adhere to the top of the tag.  

Using the same colors of Alcohol INk color your gravemaker and attach to the arch using brads.  Glue the arch to the bottom of the tag.  

Cover the base of the tag with moss and add some skulls and bones.  Paint the Meadow Flowers using Forest Moss DIstress Paint.  Stipple on the same alcohol ink color you used before.  Cut the flowers in half and adhere them to the back of the Reliquary- Arch Top.  

Your creepy masterpiece is complete!

I hope you enjoyed this creepy tutorial.

Jess

Alice in Wonderland

Hi Everyone,
Jess here today with a little Alice in Wonderland inspired project.  I want to apologize for the lack of step out photos here.  Work has been consuming my life as of late and I have barely had any time to do what I love.  I hope my instructions are clear enough for you to follow along.

 I started with a simple number 10 tag and turned it into a mini album.
To begin, fold your tag in half.  Cover the spine with washi tape to give it a bit of extra strength.  Cover all pages with bits of Tim Holtz wallpaper and washi tape.  Once all of your paper is adhered give it a white wash using acrylic paint.  Use Distress Crayon in Gathered Twigs to age some areas and all edges.  Splatter some Distress Paint on the background in Vintage Photo to tie it all together.

To make the cover, run your stencil letter(coming soon to the store) through your die cutting machine using the Sizzix 3d embossing folder.  Use Cracked Pistachio Oxide Ink on the raised areas and smudge around with your finger to coat the entire stencil.  Cut a found relative card down to fit behind the stencil letter and adhere using double stick tape. Add a tiny brass clock charm and some spun cotton mushrooms to the bottom corner.  Set the image aside.  Do not glue the image onto the cover yet because you will need to add sari ribbon to hold it closed.

For the first page, gather various clock faces.  Some of these are vintage, some are paper, and some are charms.  Glue your faces down in a pattern you like and add your mini white Rabbit.  The Rabbit (along with the other silhouettes) was painted black and embossed using Rangers Frosted Crystal Embossing powder.  The result is an awesome matte finish.  Glue your Rabbit to the center of the largest clock face.  Add a word sticker and outline in black.  

What's a Mad Hatter without his tea? This tea cup die has a slit in the top so it was easy to slip in the Mad Hatter once he was embossed.   A bit of bakers twine holds on his hat size.  I distressed this page a bit more than the others by curling back some of the paper.  

Finish the book, but keep your head! The Queen finishes out the little book.  I found lots of Rose ephemera to add to her page, but I wanted to make sure some were not painted the right color.  I love the cowering card in the corner.  

Wrap your ribbon around the entire booklet.  Adhere your stencil onto the front cover and this will hold the ribbon in place.  

I hope you enjoyed our quick trip through Wonderland!

Jess

Drinks with my girls

Hi Guys,

Jess here today with a fun tropical tag for you.  I used one of the tags from the  Extra Large Tag set for the background here.  I created this tag to share as part of a new stamp release for Blank Page Muse Stamps.  One of the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Design Team Alumni drew all of these stamps.  Pam Bray is a woman that wears many hats!

Cover your Extra Large Tag with cardstock and stamp with Distress Ink in various shades of green.  I used stamps from the Blank Page Muses Tropical Dreams set.  Once your leaves are stamped cover the entire tag with Antique Linen Distress Ink and spritz with water. 

Stamp the hibiscus flower using Stampin Up ink in tip top taupe. This completes the background of your piece.

Paint the Flowers using Folk Art paint in color shift Green Flash and the flower centers in Distress Paint in Abandoned Coral and Picked Raspberry.  

I doubled up the small flower and one of the large flowers on the top of the tag.  The top flower was stamped with the Pineapple stamp to add some texture.  

The other large flower helps ground the girls.  

The big hats and flowers called for big drinks too! I think most of you know by now that I am pretty snarky and this sentiment was perfect for this tag.  I did a bit of scribbling using gel pens and paint on the tag to complete it.  

I think this would be a really fun gift for your best friend! I hope you're inspired to create a tag too.

Jess

Beautiful Girl Pennant

Hi Everyone, 

Jess here today with a canvas art pennant. 

Here's how you can make your own.

Start by adhering tissue wrap to a canvas pennant using Pellon EZ Steam II.  Once the tissue is firmly attached trim it to size. 

Color your pennant using inks, paints, and crayons.  Emboss the edge in gold.  

You can see there is a lot of detail on here.  Lots of inky layers and flicks of paint too. 

Paint your mini journaling block with a cream color and let dry.  Add a layer of gesso to your Layered Bella Frame.  Emboss your Medium Fairy 

Use Distress Crayons to color your journaling block.  

Emboss the back of the Layered Bella Frame and color the front using Distress Crayons.  The finished frame has white gel pen around the edge to look like stitching. 

Adhere your frame to the journaling block. Use a bit of foam tape to pop the fairy in the frame. 

Glue the whole piece to the pennant.  

Add your words and using a Stabilo pencil outline the words a bit.  Add dots with a white gel pen.  

Use a Distress Marker to color the edge of vintage seam binding and wet to make color feather and wrinkle the binding.  Run the seam binding through the slot in the pennant and create your hanger.  Add a large fluffy bow made out of the seam binding.  

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial!

Jess