Spring Cleaning

Hi Everyone,
Jess here today.

Well it's time to do some spring cleaning and that includes my desk.  I try to be a neat crafter, but my desk always ends up looking like a large bomb exploded in the general vicinity.  For today's project I used only items that were on my desk or within reach of my desk.  I will admit some of these are mop up tags, so I don't know exactly what is on there.

Adventure is out there tag-

The butterfly man background was made using Vintage Photo Oxide Spray and then I added Hickory Smoke ink through a stencil(THS091).  I shifted the stencil and added Peeled Paint Oxide Ink.  I splatted on some Black Soot Distress Paint and then stamped the flourish(CMS070) in  Ground Espresso Archival Ink.  The edges got a bit of Vintage Photo Distress Crayon for shadow.

The paper doll was inked up using Tsukineko Inks.  His buttons and watch chain were colored using gel pens.  Then got a pair of wings and  glued them to the tag.  I had a snippet of the mini provincial impresslit left so I popped that in the top corner.  Chic chat words were inked up using Peacock Feathers Distress Ink and glued down.

A snippet of the Meadow Flowers was on my desk so I added a couple layers of gesso and once that was dry I added PaperArtsy Infusions in The Sage to the stems.  I added grit paste to the flowers and used Peacock Feathers Distress Ink to color them.  There was some leftover Distress Crayon on my desk from edging the tag and I used that to dirty up the flowers.  Once that was glued down, I added detail using gel pens.

Eccentric, but very estimable gentleman-

For the eccentric, but very estimable gentleman tag I used a mop up tag that had some blues and purples on it.  I added some leftover rust from when I was rusting up bits and some Seth Apter Stamps.
The circles are from the Mixed Media Fragments 1 Small.  I rusted them using PaperArtsy's Rusting Powder and then added Verday Paint from 10 Second Studios for the oxidized brass bits.  I cut the circles into three segments and attached them to the card using glue.  I added Tim Holtz Hardware heads to make them appear to be bolted down. I added alcohol ink in Patina, Mushroom, and Coffee to the hardware heads.  Then I popped on a bit of Distress Crayon in Cracked Pistachio for a bit more dimension.

I tied a little brass heart to his wrist and glued him down.

 Clipping stickers make for really fun stories and gel pens add the final bits to this tag.

The Proprietor of Ideas-

This little guy gets stuck in all kind of things.  Today I popped him in a lightbulb from the Steampunk Lightbulb Set.  The lightbulb was painted white and then the bulb portion was given a layer of DecoArt Crackle Glaze.  Once the glaze was dry I added Distress Crayon in Black Soot and Brushed Pewter.  A thin piece of acetate was added behind the bulb and colored with mushroom alcohol ink.  The tiny crown on his head will be coming soon to the GSL cuts store(I cannot wait for you to see all of these teeny crowns).

The base of the bulb was painted with Tarnished Brass Distress Paint and then pounced with Mushroom, Latte, and Coffee Alcohol Inks. I snuck in another hardware head here and a story stick.

This tag was made by using Oxide Spray on my gel plate.  It makes such gorgeous and dreamy backgrounds.  I used a Tim stencil for the words and numbers.  I used Hickory Smoke and Black Soot Distress Ink for the coloring.  White paint is splattered all over the back, Perfect Pearl spray, and gel pens finish the background.

The main title is from the Tim Holtz Noble Gent set.  That was stamped in Black Soot Archival.  The little halo around the bulb is the same set.  I used Dina Wakley Paint in Ancient and Gilt to stamp out the halo.  Be sure to clean paint off your rubber stamps right away!   

Do you save all of your little bits to make projects with later or do you toss out the scraps?

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

Junk Journal featuring Queen Anne's Lace

Hi everyone, Jennalee here today with a quick junk journal featuring lots of fun Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts. When I saw the Queen Anne's Lace flower laser cuts I instantly knew I wanted to make a junk journal with them. You'll have to forgive me I got so caught up in the creating process I forgot to take step by step pics, but don't worry I'll walk you thru the process. Let's get started!!

The largest of the 3 Queen Anne's Lace flowers is the star of the layered and stitched cover. 

To color the flower paint a layer of Raw Umber. Allow to dry, Spray with a gold shimmer spray. Begin by adding random swipes of gesso using a palette knife to the front cover. Then stitch on a layer of green burlap. 

On top of the burlap layer and stitch scraps of vintage book text. Then glue on small pieces of ephemera. 

Run a decorative stitch down the edge of the cover. Alternately you could stamp a border along the edge. 

For the title page stitch together a collage of vintage book text. Glue onto first page. Emboss Scribble Frame Leaves. Determine the position of the frame on page. Paint a layer of gesso where frame will go to allow for the addition of a title to be added. 

Color the mid-sized Queen Anne's Lace piece the same as the piece used on the cover. 

For all pages of the junk journal tear or cut vintage dictionary pages to size. Add decorative stitching to edges of each dictionary page. Using a palette knife spread a layer of gesso across the text. This allows for a "blank" background for each journal page. Writing or collage can be added as desired. Glue each dictionary page into the journal.  

Emboss Printers Ornament Corners with Salted Wine. Glue to opposite corners. 

Color the smallest Queen Anne's Lace piece same as before. Glue into journal spread. 

To add some interest to the edges and draw people into your journal add some pieces that hang off the edge of the page. 

Emboss Meadow Flowers using Camo Ammo. Glue along bottom edge of the final page of journal. 

Here is a side view of all the chunky goodness peeking out. I absolutely love how the Scribble Frame Leaves hang out over the edge. 

I hope you enjoyed this quick little journal. It was such a joy to make. I love how easy the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts made this project. Thanks for stopping!! Happy Creating~ Jennalee 

Supplies:

Queen Anne's Lace

Scribble Frame Leaves

Printers Ornament Corners

Meadow Flowers