You altered my heart

Hi Everyone,
Jess here today.

I was totally inspired by a class Tim Holtz just taught at the recent Creativation show(and he was inspired by Paula Cheney).  I wanted to create something similar to what I had seen done, but put my own twist on it.


Start by running the solid half of your Steampunk heart through your die cutting machine using a 3d embossing folder.  Spritz the chipboard on both sides before using the embossing folder so the chipboard really gets nice texture.

Using collage medium adhere college paper to the embossed half of the heart.  I did a thin layer on the heart and adhered the collage paper.  I applied another layer on top and really worked the paper in with my fingers so you could see the embossed texture.

Paint the gear side of the heart using Dina Wakley media paint in Umber.  Paint the gears using Dina Wakley Media paint(Gilt and Ancient) and Tim Holtz Distress Paint(Brushed Pewter).  Add metal gears on top of some of chipboard gears for dimension.  Add embossing powder and crackle texture paste randomly on the heart for even more visual interest.  When the crackle paste is dry rub in a bit of Gathered Twigs Distress Crayon.

Take one of your Extra Large Tags and cut about three inches off the bottom.  Cover the entire tag with patterned paper.  Add bits of ephemera and adhere them to your tag.  I used a mix of vintage and reproduction ephemera here.  I love to mix old and new.  The entire tag gets a coat of collage medium. 

Once the collage medium is dry smoosh Distress Oxide inks onto your craft sheet and tap the tag into the ink.  The ink will stay beaded up on the craft sheet and you get neat splotches of color.  When you have a bit of color on your tag spritz with water and allow to air dry. Do this step several times until you achieve the color you like.

   Use a stencil to add a bit of grit paste to the top corner.  

Then add random blobs of grit past on the sides of the tag.  Once the paste is dry, use the same Oxide inks to color the grit paste.  Add Distress Crayon in Black Soot to the edges of the tag.  Splatter the tag with white, black, and gold paint.  

Using foam tape adhere the heart of the tag.  Give the paper doll a layer of clear gesso and color in his suit using Distress Marker in Mowed Lawn. Add a resin flower to his suit.  Glue the ruler to the heart and using foam tape adhere the man so he appears to be sitting on the ruler.  

Use Chit chat stickers to create your sentiment.  

Color in the word token using Distress Crayon in Picket Fence and add a jump ring.  Take an old paint brush and add a jump ring to the top. Add the rings to a vintage laundry pin and stick the pin through the fabric at the top of the tag.  The fabric at the top of the tag is actually a piece of my clean up rag I use in the studio.  I just cut a piece off because I really liked the colors on it.  To complete my tag I took some gel pens and made marks all over the piece.

Happy Monday

Jess

An Incomplete Curiosity Composition Box

Ok, my project isn't finished but... But... BUT!!! I have a very good reason.

We've planned a little family getaway to Montreal next month and I've created this in preparation for my memories. I'll keep little mementos from our adventure and tuck them in this box when I return. I'm so excited!

I'll buy postcards. I'll keep tickets and receipts. Bottle caps and coasters will be placed in here too. Maybe a stone or a leaf or... or... or... the possibilities are endless! I'll keep my eyes peeled for a little tacky souvenir and add that to my curiosity box as well.

I've created embellishments for the box with layers from the Steampunk Shape Set and
Stackable Labels Shape Set. I have to toot my own horn and say I'm really digging that top element!

While I usually mix and match collections, I've stuck with Olde Curiosity Shoppe - Deluxe Collector's Edition from Graphic 45 for this piece. If you like quirky and cool and vintage it'll be right up your ally. If that ain't your cup-o-tea, by all means, make something that suits YOU.

Below is a list of all the bits you'll need and I've got a video walk through for pulling all those bits together. Here's hoping we all make some amazing memories to complete our curiosity composition boxes.

Supply List:
Composition Box - 25
Steampunk Shape Set
Stackable Labels Shape Set

Olde Curiosity Shoppe - Deluxe Collector's Edition
White glue
Ribbon
Acrylic paints (I am in LOVE with Golden Fluid Acrylic Paint Iridescent Copper)
Small brass brads

Steampunk Goddess

Hi Everyone,

Jess here today with a super fun project.  

I am not a steampunk girl.  It's not really in my wheelhouse.  I dabble here and there, but when I saw this Steampunk Cage Dressform I knew I had to make something with it.  Honestly, it was super easy to make, so today's tutorial will be super short.

Cover your base using Seth Apter's new Baked Texture Embossing Powders.  The base layer here is Rocky Road.  The different patches of color are from Dirty Sand, Chunky Rust, and Patina Oxide. 

Here's another shot.

It's gorgeous and you don't have to prep the chipboard before applying the powder.  I just slapped on the embossing ink and went to town.  The secret to the layering is really just heating up the base layer(in this case the ROcky Road) and sprinkling on the color you want to add.

The dress form was covered with a thin layer of gesso and then I added Distress Oxide Ink in Cracked Pistachio. 

I covered that with Ancient Amber Embossing powder and added gears.   The wings are covered with the same ink and then embossed using Vintage Beeswax and sprinkled with Patina Oxide and Deep Sea embossing powders.  

Her back has a key to wind her up.  

I colored a vintage chandelier crystal using Alcohol Ink in Mushroom and hung it from the center of the gear to complete the piece.  

Where the pieces joined together I used black paint to hide the raw chipboard. 

I hope you like her! 

Jess

    

The Watchmaker's Clock

Hello!! Jennalee here today with a Steampunk inspired clock. When I saw the Desk Clock Kit from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts I knew I wanted to make a clock for my hubby. He loves vintage and steampunk so the gears were an easy choice to go with.

Start by applying two layers of Black gesso or acrylic paint to the fronts and backs of all the chip board pieces.

Cover the Clock Face and Base with scrapbook paper. Adhere paper using Distress Collage Medium or matte medium. I used a piece of paper from Tim Holtz's Dapper paper stash paper pad. The wording was perfect and set the tone for the whole piece. 

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 Once Collage Medium is dry apply a generous layer of Distress Crazing Medium. Allow to air dry. Once dry apply accents to the crazing with Distress Ink in Vintage Photo. 

Emboss the numbers using Burnt Copper Leaves. 

Using a strong hold adhesive attach clock support to base and numbers to front of clock. Assemble clock workings. The inner workings of the clock fit perfectly on the support piece. 

Once I had my clock assembled I decided I wanted it to have a larger base. I took a small wooden cradle board I had in my stash and spray painted using a dark brown with light hints of bronze. 

Then came the fun of adding gears and other small steampunk inspired bits. The gears I used are from Tim Holtz's Idea-ology line.The light bulb and other random "thing" are from junking excursions. I attached the gears and bits and bobs with hot glue. 

I don't make masculine projects often, but I really enjoyed this one. And my hubby was thrilled that I made a project for him, for once!! Thanks for spending a few minutes with me today. Happy Creating ~ Jennalee 

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts used:

Desk Clock Standard 

Super Simple Earring Organizer

This project is sooo easy AND you'll be able to make three with as little as just one product! Are you ready?

I've simply taken Gypsy Soul's Decorative Screen, applied a coat of paint, added a length of ribbon, and created an organizer for my dangly earrings. This is a serious improvement over plonking them in my jewelry box and creating a tangled mess. I just used the cut areas to hang my sparkly fake jewels from.

The Decorative Screen comes with three panels, and my little organizer only uses one, so you can use the other two parts for gifts, to sell, or if you have a bazillion pairs of earrings, to keep all to yourself. I've created three in three different styles.

You could put all the panels together to create a complete screen to sit on your dresser but I really like the hanging ribbon that lets me cart my jeweled bits all over the place depending on where I'm getting myself gussied up.

I'm certain you don't need any guidance for this project, but HERE is a video for creating the above Steampunkish version of this project.

The only extra bit of advice I'll give is that it's probably best to be a little restrained in your embellishing if you want this to be a functional item.

The bare necessities you'll need for this project:
Decorative Screen
Acrylic paint
Length of ribbon

If you want to get fancy add decorative elements such as Flourishes, or any shapes that suit your fancy. Additional elements I've used are:
Faux Metal Number Plates
Faux Metal Number Plates 1 to 25
Faux Typewriter Keys Symbol Set
Gears Shape Set
Stackable Labels Shape Set

Now, go make something perfectly suited to you!

Haunted Mixed Media Tutorial

Hi everyone, Amylove here! Things have begun to cool off here in Georgia and it is really getting me in the Halloween spirit! One of my favorite things is to cover everything in gesso and then watch it come to life by adding colors. I had a wonderful time finger painting on this piece!

Now that it is finished....the hard part is not letting one of my kids steal it from me! Click on the link below to see the video tutorial for this project:
Haunted Mixed Media Tutorial

Items used:

Gina's Designs:

Cobblestone

Skeleton Shape Set

Spooky Shape Set

Keys and Plates Shape Set

Hinges Shape Set

Gear Shape Set

Clock Hands Shape Set

Art Deco Border and Corners

Gothic Cross Set

Dressform and Wings Shape Set

Haunted (coming soon)

My stash:

black gesso

tissue paper

mod podge

fabritac

embossing powder

metallic markers

Silk Acrylic Glazes