Christmas Kitties House Shadowbox by Nancy & Let It Snow Layout by Melissa

Happy Thursday everyone! Today we have two designers up with some Christmas themed projects. First up is Nancy with her Kitty Cat Shadowbox.

Hi Everyone, Nancy here!  Today I'm sharing another of my favorite pieces, our house shadow box. I've decorated this one especially for one of my kitty loving friends as a Christmas gift.

After assembling the shadowbox, I painted it with gesso and applied Tim Holtz tissue tape in music note pattern to the edges.  The inside of the niches, and the outside of the shadow box were papered with a printable digital paper in a vintage Christmas pattern.

I filled the box mainly with fussy cut digital images that I found on Pinterest, or purchased on Etsy, and handmade little books which I created from free digital files.  The smaller of our layered chipboard fireplaces fits perfectly in the larger square of the box, and I thought it added a cozy feel.

The lamppost at the upper right is also by Gina's Designs, and is available in the store as a larger piece than shown here.  I had requested that this smaller version be custom cut for me.  The shadow box was cut at a depth of 1 1/2 inches by request.  The standard depth is 2 inches, but you can request it be cut to fit your needs as I did.

Gina's Designs Products Used:

House Shadow Box
Fireplace (special order - contact store)
Lamppost 2

Other:
Vintage Christmas digital paper kit by Crafty Secrets
Wooden vintage cat icons

Next we have Melissa with her snowy layout!

Hi everyone! Melissa here with a 12 x 12 mixed media layout for Gina's Chipboard Laser Designs.

The snowman, title, and tree go with the photo pretty well, don't you think? I especially love the intricate detail on the tree.

To decorate the chipboard I first prepped them with gesso. I experimented with the snowman, trying to get a lot of texture. I put on:

1. Texture paste , make some swirls in it with a small paint brush. Let dry.
2. Pale blue watercolor paint, let dry
3. Viva decor metallic paint in pearl, let dry
4. It wasn't white enough so I applied white puffy paint
5. Utee while the puffy paint was wet
6. heat till puffed up
7. sprinkle on some clear glass glitter

The scarf is blue watercolor over swirled texture paste, then viva modeling cream, and silver Pearlex powder. For the hat, I pressed it on a black ink pad. I put on glossy accents, followed by white Pearlex .

For the title, I used pale blue watercolor, then a thick layer of Viva white metallic paint. I topped it off with a thick layer of Distress Crackle Paint. I put some silver stickles around the edges.

For the tree, I put on texture paste in a small blobs. I pulled and twisted them lengthwise with a straight pin, to make it look like tree bark. I painted on a coat of pale brown watercolor, followed by a coat of silver ink on the raised areas. I rubbed some blue-purple pearlex powder on the "ridges", then another layer of silver ink.

Thanks for looking!

Chipboard used:

Winter Shape Set

Other:

Paper from Pink Paislee and UHK Gallery

Gesso

Viva Modeling Cream, in pearl

Lindy's Spray

Viva Color Precious Metal Effect Paint,in white

Foam core board

Utee(ultra thick embossing powder)

Clear glass glitter

Plaid Liquid Leaf Silver Paint

Jaquard Pearlex Powder

Distress Crackle Paint - Clear Rock Candy

Windsor and Newton Watercolors

Swarovski pointed back crystals

Pearl swirl by Prima

Celestial Stage by Nancy and Banner by Veronica

Today we have two projects to share.  First up is Nancy with one of our fun altered art pieces.  This piece can be decorated to suit any number of themes.

Hi everyone, Nancy here!  I had so much fun decorating this Stage.  I love anything to do with the sky, stars, moon and all things celestial, so I thought I'd call my creation "Reach For The Stars".  I added lots of textures to this piece with chunky glitter, glass beads, bead gel, shabby embossing powders, mica, gilder's paste, etc.

Gina's Designs Products Used:

Stage

Art Doll Female - Small

Heidi's Stars Shape Set

String Alongs - Moon & Stars

Queen Anne's Lace

Next up is Veronica with a gorgeous vintage styled banner incorporating lots of fun chipboard shapes!

Hello Everyone! Veronica here, to share with you Gina's lovely C-R-E-A-T-E Dovetail Banner.

I added Gina's Doily Intricates to give the letters some pop.

Here is a her Butterfly Of Gears. Just adds a creative feel to the banner's theme.

Here I added one of Gina's String Alongs this one is" Sewing", and of course I couldn't finish without one of Gina's wonderful Flourishes Miniatures!

Thank you again for stopping by!

Gina's Designs
C-R-E-A-T-E Dovetail Banner
Butterfly Of Gears
String Alongs - Sewing
Flourish Miniatures
Cardstock Doily Set Intricates

Trinket Box by Gina's Designs with Craft Supplies 1

Hi everyone, Nancy Here!  Today I'm sharing this trinket box you can purchase at Gina's Designs.  At a generous 7 inches square, this is a good sized box with lots of room for decorating and embellishing.  I decorated the box as a pet memorial for my beloved Willie.  It contains a cast of his paw print, a disk of photos, and a little kitty angel book signed by all of the doctors and staff at the veterinary cancer care center after his passing.  I treasure this box, and every memory it holds.  The embellishments are mainly flowers and some pearl sprigs from CraftSupplies1.

I crackle painted the box and added Tim Holtz feet.  The corners and the frame around the photo are from Gina's Designs.  The resin bridge is by Prima.

Gina's Design's Products used:

Trinket Box

Fantasy Frames & Flourishes

Other Products:

Flowers and pearl sprigs from CraftSupplies1

Tim Holtz Feet

Resin Bridge by Prima

Folk Art paints

White School Glue (used as a crackle medium)

Altered Canvas in a garden theme by Nancy

Hi everybody, Nancy here!  Today I'm sharing one of my favorite themes again.  Nature!  Somehow for me, it's the theme that comes most easily, and gives me the most pleasure in creating.  I began with a simple application of gesso to the frame, then streaked it with some various colors of Folk Art acrylic paints.  When the paint was dry I added some Kroma Crackle.  This crackle product can take a couple of days to "cure" and finish crackling, so I just leave it and move on to other projects.  When it fully "cured", I rubbed on some Prima chalk inks in various colors to bring out the crackled finish.  I found a nature collage style of design paper in my stash, and I secured it to the back of the canvas with mod podge.  Now comes the fun part.  I began to gather my chippies and to ink, emboss and crackle them.  I looked through my "nature" stash and found nests, birds, eggs and mosses.  After that it only took an hour or so to decide on my final arrangement and to adhere the pieces to the canvas.

Gina's Designs Products Used:

Chipboard pieces have been colored with Prima Chalk Inks.  These are a great tool for coloring.  If you buy the big set you will have plenty of colors in the same family to use for shading.

Feathers Shape Set
Tree 3 ( a portion of the tree can be seen on the inside)
Topiary Trees (basic instructions are below the post on how I colored it)
Grass and Foliage
Postage Frames
Build A Layout - Country Living (the wagon wheel) crackled with TH distress rock candy crackle paint
Fall Shape Set (the rake) colored with chalk ink then TH distrees embossing powder to look like rust

Coloring the Topiary: I began with a light dry brushing of gesso followed by Prima Chalk Ink.  I "shaded" the pot by leaving the thinly coated white gesso uncolored in the center to give it a rounded look.  For the topiary, after I colored with shades of green chalk ink, I added some clear glass bead gel and left it to dry.  It will dry clear.  At that point you will have lots of texture from the beads that will be stuck to the chipboard.  I then rubbed on some Gilders Paste in Vertigris over the beads and along the edges.  Done!

Photo Display Tray in a Halloween Theme

Hello friends!  It's Nancy here with a spooky version of our photo display tray in the damask style (one of many styles available).  In this creation I've teamed up lots of Gina's fun chipboard shapes with papers from Graphic 45. You can't go wrong with this combo, and I had so much fun I was awake all night just waiting until I could get up and play some more.

Gina's Designs products used:
Photo Display Tray
Spooky Shape Set
Spiderweb Shape Set
Cottage Windows - Small
Fancy Lamp Post & Sconce Set : Large
Flourishes 1
Apothecary Miniatures Shape Set (available soon)

Other Products and techniques used
Patterned Papers by Graphic 45 (Steampunk Spells & Happy Haunting collections)
Black acrylic paint, Kroma Crackle and white school glue used on the tray frame
Modern Masters Metal Effect Iron Paint and rust activator used on the lamppost
White Gesso (light dry brush coating) and Prima Chalk inks used to color chippies
Stamping on chipboard shapes with rollagraph stamp in crackle pattern
Tim Holtz distress rock candy crackle paint (on the witch)
Distress stickles in black soot (on the bats)
Ranger Embossing Pearl in Pearl Blue (on the apothecary jars and the word "Boo")
Stampendous embossing Powder in crystal transparent (on the ghost
Tim Holtz frosted film used as glass in lamppost and window and sprinkling of clear glass microbeads
Tim Holtz distress embossing powder in Vintage Photo and a script stamp (on the flourishes)

Garden Fairy Layout by Nancy

Nancy is with us today to share a loving tribute to her sweet kitty Willie who recently passed away:

Hi everyone, it's Nancy here today.  I'm still missing my kitty Willie so much, and I like to imagine that perhaps he flew to heaven on the wings of a fairy.  This layout was created from my heart.  I hope you like it. I have used two of the small fairies from Gina's Designs, and one of the medium fairies as well as one of the large shuttered windows.

The fairies were painted with clear gesso followed by Twinkling H20's in a gold tone, then dotted with some glossy accents.  I covered the wings with glossy accents then gold glass microbeads.  The steampunk doily is new at Gina's Designs and should be in the shop soon.

I used some Prima resin embellishments to represent the rainbow bridge, and more doilies.  I used a damask stencil on the background paper and also dotted it with glossy accents.

The bricks are also new at Gina's Designs.  The window was dry brushed with gesso and acrylic paint in pastel colors followed by Grecian Gold rub n buff.

Supplies Used:

Garden Fairies Small

Garden Fairies Medium

Cottage Windows Large

Flourishes 2

Steampunk Doilies

Brick Wall

Stalker Layout by Nancy

It's Nancy here with a layout featuring my cat Missy.  This month the Design Team combined Gina's awesome chipboard shapes with animal print papers from The Robin's Nest.   I chose the leopard print and I distressed it with some script stamping, then dragged it through some Tim Holtz distress inks that I watered down on my non-stick craft mat.  It came out tea dyed just like I wanted.  I surrounded Missy in grasses from Gina's Designs, and some ferns I had in my stash.  The leopard butterflies are by Renea Bouquets. I hope you like it!

Supplies Used:

Gina's Designs Grass & Foliage

Robin's Nest leopard paper

Bird House Shelf by Nancy

Nancy here today with one of the Off the Page products from Gina's Designs.  This birdhouse shelf is so much fun to decorate.   Since I have a thing for "feet", and I don't have a lot of wall space left,  I decided to use the Tim Holtz feet instead of hanging my birdhouse on the wall.  Either way, it would be great.  I can think of other ways to display this as well.  I was even thinking of attaching the entire house to an 8 x 10 wooden plaque that I bought at the dollar store.  I'm sure I'll want to play with at least one more of these.

Since we are featuring the lovely feathers this week, I've used them as well on this project.  They are so "feathery" they pick up color really well.

I began by painting my bird house with gesso, followed by two shades of teal in folk art paints.  On top of that I applied Kroma Crackle and various shades of Prima chalk inks.  The Tim Holtz feet were distressed using rub n buff in white and patina.  I used the smallest sized intricate doilies in the windows and the vine frame which I cut apart to use as ivy over the doorways and windows.  After coloring the vines with gesso, then Prima chalk ink,  I applied glossy accents.  The roof was covered in script paper.  The entire house was coated with Tim Holtz Distress rock candy crackle paint.  The feathers were painted with magical mica's in various shades, mostly gold.

Gina's Designs Products Used:

Birdhouse Shelf

Feathers Shape Set

Vine Frame

Cardstock Doily Set Intricates

Keys & Plates Shape Set

Cat Photo Display Tray by Nancy

Hi everyone, it's Nancy here today with one of the Gina's Design's Photo Display Trays which currently are available in six styles.  This one is called the "Cat's Meow".   This was so much fun to create using one of my kitties "Timothy" as my inspiration along with shapes from our Nancy's Garden collection, and other favorite pieces from Gina's Designs.  These Photo Display Trays are made of sturdy wood, and are so versatile and easy to work with.  In this project my pieces were mostly colored with Prima Chalk Inks.  In some cases I've embossed with either clear UTEE, or Stampendous crystal embossing powder.

Above is the finished piece

Here I used one of our Intricate Border Sticks, an Ornamental Birdcages Shape Set, and the Small Leafy Tree which I cut up into pieces.

I framed this section with one of our ivy corners

The word "love" is also from Gina's Designs, from the 10 word package.  You can also see another view of the lace border stick and pieces from the leafy tree.  Some of the grids come with overlay pieces.  Here the word "meow", and two of the skeleton fish are overlays.

I've framed this section with the smallest sized palm tree.

Supplies Used:

Photo Display Tray - Cat's Meow (please also see the other styles)

Border Sticks

10 words package

Small Leafy Trees

Ivy Corners

Palm Trees Shape Set

Ornamental Bird Cages

Chain Boarders

Make it Manly: Steampunk Collage Layout by Nancy

Hi everyone, Nancy here with a collage styled layout.  In keeping with the manly or masculine theme for this week I chose to create a Heritage/Steampunk style.  This theme was a little bit out of my comfort zone.  Yikes!....no flowers!,  but I really enjoyed the challenge.  Once I began looking through my gorgeous chippies, the project came together easily.  I'm really happy with the end result.  I think this would make a great gift for the man in your life when mounted inside of a 12 x 12 shadowbox frame under glass.

I used a variety of techniques on this layout.  The vintage photo came from a free collage sheet I'd downloaded.  I printed it out then cut it into four strips and mounted the strips on a mat.  I think it gave the photo a little more interest.  

The chipboard pieces were colored using different techniques.  The hot air balloon was colored with gelatos, I punched holes in the bottom section of the balloon with my Cropodile and connected it to the top section with jump rings.  The antique car was embossed with Stampendous shabby black embossing powder. The clock faces were inked with Prima chalk inks in various shades.  The hinges were given a rusty look with Tim Holtz distress embossing powders in vintage photo and antique linen.  The clock hands were embossed in copper.  The antique bike was inked in black and trimmed with a little gold rub n buff.

I really enjoyed incorporating all the collage elements with the chipboard pieces.  I hope you like it and that I've inspired you to try something different.

Supplies used:
Hot Air Balloon from Steampunk Shape Set
Faux Typewriter Keys (in gold color) - Special Order
Antique Car from Miniatures Shape Set - Guy Thing
Skeleton Clocks
Hinges 
Gears from Gears Shape Set
Antique Bicycle from Miniatures Shape Set - Guy Thing

Birds of a Feather Layout by Nancy

It's Wednesday and it's Nancy blogging with you today!  This layout features my cat "Timothy" who loves bird-watching from the wire enclosure outside his window.  This is one of the many outdoor enclosures we had built for the enjoyment of our multi-cat family and to keep them safe from harms way.  I used tons of chipboard embellishments from Gina's Designs on this one, including many of our newer items in the store.

My inspiration for this layout in both design and color comes from the very talented Charlotte aka Suepup sketch 0513.

Supplies Used:

Items from the Birdwatching Shape Set

Doily Set 8 Inch ( in Ivory)

Ornamental Birdcages Shape Set

Border sticks (this one in heart shape, other styles are available)

Flourishes 2

For The Birds(I used the nest and eggs from this set)

Altered Frame by Nancy

Nancy is up today with an altered frame that features a variety chipboard shapes.  This frame began as a particle board unfinished frame. I crackle painted it and added the chippie embellishments.  The frame is being donated to an auction for a dear friend to help with some veterinary costs.  To bid on this frame please visit the facebook page. The frame measures 12 x  12 inches and holds a 5 x 7 photo, or a smaller photo with a mat.

Supplies Used:

Chain Borders

Birdwatching Shape Set

Flourishes 2

Grass & Foliage

Ornamental Birdcages Shape Set

Chicken Wire Large

For The Birds

Bag - a - Whats?

Today we are introducing a new item in the store.  We chose to name them "Bagatelle Boxes" for several reasons.  My husband uses the word bagatelle in everyday conversation (oh yes, he really does), and it is kind of a fun word.  Then there is the definition of the word:  bagatelle - 1630s, "a trifle," from Fr. bagatelle "knicknack, bauble, trinket.  And then, gotta love that alliteration (same beginning sound) in Bagatelle Boxes.  At any rate, we have a fun set of boxes to show you, with a fun name.



Nancy has taken on the challenge of showing what these are for and making the boxes look good, and she has done a wonderful job.  She has a great post over on her blog that shows off some of the different configurations you can make with the Starter Set, as well as giving some great info on how she got her shabby look. Here is her finished project, but be sure to pop over and check out the full post.

Love is in the Air...

or at least in the art.  Have a look at these great romantic pieces from Nancy and Heidi featuring the Build A Layout: Romance Set. (This shape set has been replaced with Build a Layout Lovebirds).

Layout by Nancy

Tags by Heidi