BEWARE!!!

Hello fellow crafters!

It's getting to be my favorite time of the year!  I love fall with it's colors, cool, brisk air, the smells, and that special way the sunlight hits everything!  It's such a magical time of the year for me, and with it, brings Halloween!  I love Halloween, too; probably because it's a day when things don't have to be perfect--if your home is dusty for a Halloween party, it looks like you've been decorating for days!  It's also a day when you can be something you aren't any other day of the year! So what I didn't comb my hair today; it's part of my costume!

That being said, I've made my first Halloween card of the year!  It's going to a blog friend who enjoys Halloween probably as much as I do!  I hope she likes it!

For my bottom layer, I used a Recollections stencil and Wow Embossing Powder on Kraft card stock. I blended on Frayed Burlap Distress ink , and I added a little shimmer with Perfect Pearls Powder. The photos don't show the slight shimmer of the Kraft card.

I used a Spellbinders die and Kraft Core card stock for the glitter edged panel. I chose a Tim Holtz Texture Fade to emboss it, sanded the raised areas, and wiped on some Distress paints to add color.  The glitter is Tim Holtz  Distress glitter in Pumice Stone.

I used Tim Holtz' Ornate Frame die to frame the spider web.  The web is a piece left over from a project last Halloween. I added some Vintage Photo stain and when dry, spritzed it with Black Soot distress marker using my marker spritzer.

 I've been playing around in my Closet, being a crazed chemist!Try It On Tuesday's theme this time is Try Something New. I'm so happy I can play along again--it's been awhile. I've tried something I've never done before with an old product--Perfect Pearls powders.  Forgive me if you've seen this done before; I haven't, so it's new to me! I used Tim Holtz Crackle Paint in Brushed Pewter and Perfect Pearls Powder in  Forever Violet to get that haunting shimmer on the frame.  I also used some Cloisonne Crystals for some random texture on the frame.

The small frame is heat embossed using Wow embossing powder and a Hampton Arts image.  I fussy cut it and painted it, as well as added some Stickles for more spooky glamour. Inside I made a mirror using a Jif Peanut Butter seal (washed well; choosy mothers choose Jif because they have the best seal to reuse in crafts), UTEE and  Vintage Photo Distress stain inspired by  Pamellia's Evil Queen's Vanity. Thanks for the great idea, Pamellia! If for some reason you missed this back in April, be sure to head on over to her blog and have a peek at an awesome assemblage by Pamellia!! Bling on a Roll in deep purple from Michael's Halloween clearance sale last year covers a portion of the mirror and gives it texture where the stain refused to sink into the cracks after two attempts.

The flourishes are cut from a Spellbinders die, and the sentiment is from Hampton Arts, inked on a Tim Holtz  Tattered Banner die cut. The  vintage seam binding purchased at an estate sale LAST summer  is colored with Seedless Preserves Distress ink.

Here's another look or two at my first Halloween creation of the year!  I hope to have a few more!  If you enjoyed seeing how I used Perfect Pearls powders on this card and would like to see more ways to use them on your projects, please stop by Anything But Cute on September 26 where I will be presenting the spotlight post on Playing With Perfect Pearls Powders.

This next shot was taken in full daylight right after the one above!  Somehow my phone focused on the mirrors and faded everything else out...SPOOKY, isn't it???

I would like to enter this into the following inspiring challenges:

Try It On Tuesdays Try Something New

Mixed Media World MMW #6 Gorgeous Textures

We Love 2 Create #18 Anything Mixed Media/Creative Goes

That Craft Place Mixed Media Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Trio of Colors silver, brown, purple

Eclectic Ellapu Purple Team Use Your Stash Which Is 6 Months or Older NOTHING under 6 months old from my stash used on this card! AND it's purple!!!!

Vintage Stamping Challenges #35 Anything Goes

Crafty Cardmakers and More #146 No Patterned Papers

Creative Artiste Challenge #6 Anything Goes

Thank you for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments!  I read and appreciate each one!

Hugs!

Sara Emily

UPDATE:  My card was chosen as a Spotlight at Simon Say Stamp!

Yippee!  And it was chosen as winner...

And best of all!
Samra liked it!

Tim's 12 Tags of 2015-August Grungy Again!

Hello everybody!

I'm in my happy place right now as I'm back to grunge with my August tag for Tim Holtz' 12 Tags of 2015-August!

  No need for step by step instructions, as Tim has laid them all out for you on his blog.

I have to say I was a little daunted by this month's tag, as I am once again a day late and definitely a dollar short when it comes to the necessary supplies needed to get Tim's incredible background. I can't wait to get back to work so I can do a little shopping!  As Tim puts it "out of limitations comes creativity". Not one to toss in the towel, I improvised with Tim's Labels dies to make my cut outs.  This was certainly not my first try though; I tried various Movers and Shapers and Friendship Words in Script, and they ended up on the cutting room floor. Maybe for another project, but not the look I was going for here.

I chose the young pair from Tim's Found Relatives. Initially, I was going to make one tag depicting a little story (in my mind, of course) about my teenage boy/girl twins. But as they are individuals, I decided to cut them apart and make two separate tags using the same technique and composition, but changing it ever so slightly for a "masculine grunge" and a "feminine vintage". These will make great additions to their graduation gifts this coming spring.

Because I didn't have any of the  Block Word dies, which I love, I decided to redeem myself and use Tim's Inside Out die to cut some block letters. I layered them on top of the tag for that blocky look that looks so cool on his tag. Not too shabby!

 As I picked through my pile of ephemera, a combination of Thrift Shop, Expedition and Emporium, my tags took on their personality. (Those of you who suffered through a recent rant about me dropping the whole darn bunch on the floor will know why I have no idea which specific ephemera pack these came from.) This is why I love Tim's stuff so much; just looking at it conjures up stories in my mind! And some of these stories make it onto tags, cards and what not.

I used the postage stamp background with the Einstein stamp for my son's tag because people often refer to him as this odd genius. The sheet music for my daughter because she is quite musically talented in voice and piano. French images and ephemera for her 5th year of French language in 4 years of high school, and yes, years of perfect attendance! A pen nib for her love of writing.

My son can use lots of encouragement, but he can take on the world if he sets his mind to it!

For my daughter's tag, I used Wild Honey, Evergreen Bough , Walnut Stain and Hickory Smoke Distress inks--and for the edges and to finish the tag--Hickory Smoke Distress marker and paint. I think this is a little softer for the lighter feminine background I was going for. Stamps used are from French Market and Boundless Flight. I added Evergreen Bough to her blouse for a little extra color.

For my son's tag, I chose Chipped Sapphire, Hickory Smoke, Walnut Stain, Rusty Hinge and Peeled Paint Distress inks, and as per Tim's tag, finished with Black Soot marker and paint.Stamp used is from Boundless Flight. A shoelace rescued from one of his old tennis shoes top this tag.

For my Mirrored stars, I used alcohol inks in Sunshine Yellow on my daughter's and Latte on my son's and gave them each a dab of Vintage Photos Distress paint to give them a vintage look, since I don't have Mushroom alcohol ink (it's at the top of my list!).

I used papers from Tim's 8 x 8 Collage paper stash for my backings, Small Talk stickers, and Remnant Rubs from Numbers, Elements, and Life Quotes collections.

While I was off to a rocky start on this month's tag, I have to say it was one of the most enjoyable to make in the end. (And I have tags ready  for my kid's high school graduation gifts in May (I hope!).) Thank you to Tim for his ongoing inspiration and wonderful products!  They bring so much joy to so many people!

I would like to enter this into the following  inspiring challenges:

Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 August

Mixed Media World MMW #6 Gorgeous Textures

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Anything Goes

Stampotique Designers Challenge SDC210 Anything Goes

Deep Ocean's Challenge # 111 "For the Boys"

Vintage Stamping Challenge #35 Anything Goes

We Love to Create Craft Challenges #17 Anything Mixed Media/Creative/Inky Goes

The Artistic Stamper August Creative Challenge Anything Goes

Thank you for visiting today, and for all your wonderful comments! I read and appreciate each and everyone of them!

Hugs and Blessings!

Sara Emily 

A Touch of Gold--Frilly and Funkie Guest Designer

Hello everyone!

I am thrilled to join the  super talented Design Team at Frilly and Funkie as Guest Designer for Georgie's fun challenge "A Touch of Gold"!  This couldn't be a better theme for me, as I still have plenty of sparkly products out on my desk from a previous project.  I am just loving using gold on my projects!

I didn't have any particular design in mind when I went about making this little wall hanging.  I just knew I wanted to use some embossing folders and gold embossing powder sitting unopened within easy reach on my work table. My sentiment says it all, so I kept the design very simple. While it looks simple in design, each layer is home made paper, and required some time for drying, experimenting, etc. Oh, so much fun!  I love to experiment with texture, and what a great opportunity to do so for Mixed Media World's challenge "Gorgeous Texture".

The very back layer is made with a Lifecrafts embossing folder and white card.  I used Versamark embossing ink, Ranger Sticky embossing powder, Perfect Pearls powder and Frayed Burlap Distress ink to color it. This has a nice sandy gritty texture as the powders melt into the sticky embossing powder when heated. The sandy grit feel and the incredible shimmer can only be realized in person; you'll have to trust me on this!.

Next layer is River Rock and Sandstone acrylic paints and Crackle medium, distressed and edged with Frayed Burlap, and given a couple of swipes of gold metallic rubs. The crackle is just so fun, and I really felt bad covering it up and forgetting to take in process photos.  Hopefully you will see a little of the crackle texture peeking out, but sadly I couldn't pick up the shimmer of that layer on the camera.

The embossed  tan layer is white card with texture paste slathered through Tim Holtz' Gothic Layering stencil and allowed to dry. I blended on Frayed Burlap ink and smeared some metallic gold Gelatos over the raised areas. Again, the  luxurious creamy shimmer just really isn't justified on camera. If you click on any photo you will get a bit of a better view.

The embossed turquoise layer is embossed with a Sizzix embossing folder, then blended with Evergreen Bough Distress ink, followed by Perfect Pearls Powder in gold. Two turquoise layering  panels are just Evergreen Bough Distress ink blended over white card and distressed with Frayed Burlap on the edges.

For my focal point I chose Tim Holtz Perspective butterfly, and part of a sentiment from the same set.  I die cut a Tim Holtz Label after stamping and edged with Wow Gold Sparkle embossing powder.  I heat embossed the butterfly with the same embossing powder and painted the wings with Evergreen Bough distress ink and a water brush pen using one of Tim's techniques from his Compendium of Curiosities Vol. 3. When done, I fussy cut the butterfly and popped him off my background. I added some Stickles for the body and and antennae. When writing this post (I always try to bring the piece to my desk with me, so I can give accurate details of the process.) I decided the butterfly would look better if his wings were curled, so some of the photos look "flat" and a few are curled.  Please forgive me for not retaking every shot--I'm not supposed to be on my feet much right now.

This hanging really sparkles and shimmers in real life, and as you know the camera (especially my little phone camera) just doesn't do it justice.

I would like to thank Sue and the Design Team at Frilly and Funkie for inviting me to join them as Guest Designer this time. Sue was a real sweet heart to accommodate me to allow a little extra recuperation time from my surgery. Thank you, Sue!  This was so much fun!

 I hope you are inspired to gather up your own touches of gold and join in the fun at  Frilly and Funkie for their challenge " A Touch of Gold"! Be sure to stop by the blog and see all the wonderful makes from the talented Design Team--you will be so happy you did! Most of the products I used can be found at  The Funkie Junkie Boutique, where Linda's huge art and craft inventory is always 20% off retail. When you participate in the challenge you may win your chance to be Guest Designer or be a lucky winner of  a generous shopping spree to The Funkie Junkie Boutique. So get out your gold and get playing!

I would like to enter this into the following inspiring challenges:

Mixed Media World MMW #6 "Gorgeous Textures"

A Vintage Journey "Things With Wings"  I hope Tim's influence is obvious here with his Perspective Butterfly and sentiment and his Gothic Layering Stencil, but I did bring in a lot of glitz, so uncharacteristic of Tim's style.

Vintage Utfordring Challenge #106 "Butterfly"

Country View Challenges "Summertime" Summer equals butterflies!

That Craft Place "Blue"
Stamping Sensations August Challenge Anything Goes with a Stamp and a Die

Our Creative Corner "Mexico Moods" I went with the textures and colors of the first photo in the mood board and the caning of the chair below it (at least that's the look I was going for!).

The Artistic Stamper August's Creative Challenge "Anything Goes" Stamps used by Tim Holtz Perspective.

Aurora Wings Challenge #17 "Anything With Wings"

Thank you for visiting today and for all your lovely comments!  I read and appreciate each and every one! Hugs!

Sara Emily

Never Give Up Compendium of Curiosities Final Challenge

Hello crafty friends!

It's been a while since I've been able to make anything in the Closet, so it is with great pleasure I get to enter the final Compendium of Curiosities 3 Challenge hosted by Linda Ledbetter. The final challenge is Layering Stencil: Monoprint found on page 48 of Tim Holtz' book A Compendium of Curiosities Vol. 3.  You can purchase your own copy autographed by Tim himself  here. Be sure to pop in Linda's blog to check out all the amazing inspiration from the Curiosity Crew, and then visit each of their blogs to get all the details on their great projects.  Of course, if you want to have some real fun, give Tim's monoprint technique a try yoursellf, and join in the challenge...you still have a few hours! There are two prizes you can win: one-- a huge pile of goodies donated by Tim and Mario, and the other, a generous shopping spree to The Funkie Junkie Boutique donated by the lovely Linda Coughlin, owner of the shop.

I chose to make a tag this time, and I had a lot of fun using a new color combination for me, as well as using my  Tim Holtz Ephemera Packs. I had my good blog friend and Anything But Cute Teamie, Branka aka Vintage Handmade, in mind as I was making this tag.  I made and sent her two birthday cards and neither of them arrived! I just knew the next thing I made would be in celebration of her birthday, even though that special day is months behind us now!  The bouquet is for her, the ephemera is self explanatory (or so I think) and the quote is for me! So Branka, this tag is to honor you, and if I ever get to the post office again, I will try one last time to get your birthday greeting to you! Because I never give up!

I can't tell you how to actually do the Layering Stencil Monoprint technique (that wouldn't be fair to Tim), but I can tell you I used Tim's Flourish Layering Stencil and Distress inks in Bundled Sage and Victorian Velvet. Here's a shot of the technique before I did anything else to my tag. I actually did this twice, but I used the Gothic stencil the first time, and was not pleased with my outcome.

You can skip down to the close up photos if you don't want to read through the process, but I failed to take any more photos until the tag was complete. I really have to apologize for the photo quality, too--my mobility is really limited at this time. As always, you can click on any image for a closer view.

After I did the monoprint, I placed my moth where I wanted it to go and  laid the stencil carefully back over the inked design, so now the "empty" spaces were exposed. Working around the moth, I used Wendy Vecchi's Crackled Texture Paste through the Flourish stencil in the areas devoid of color.(I wish I had taken a photo at this point, but I was on a roll and forgot. It looked so dimensional!) Once dry, I blended on Hickory Smoke Distress ink to expose the cracks.

I chose 5 pieces from Tim's Ephemera packs (I can't say exactly which ones I used--I have 3 packs, and they have kind of gotten jumbled since I dropped the entire mess on the floor! What a clutz!) I colored the moth using the same inks as the monoprint, and then swiped on some Antique Linen and Picket Fence distress paints.  I buffed Antique Linen distress paint on each of the remaining ephemera pieces except the bouquet and distressed each of the pieces with Hickory Smoke Distress ink. I wanted the moth, stamp, postcard and special delivery tag to blend  into the background, so they got the paint job. I wanted the flowers to become the  focal point, so I omitted the Antique Linen on that piece.  I hope I achieved my goal.

I adhered the moth in his snug place amongst the texture pasted flourishes, and the remaining three background pieces were adhered on TOP of the flourishes.  I chose a phrase from Tim's Small Talk sticker pack and distressed it with Hickory Smoke ink and the tiniest dab of Antique Linen paint and adhered it.

I distressed and inked the edges of my tag with Hickory Smoke ink, and gave the entire tag a coat of Multi Matte Medium. I allowed this to dry, and once dry, edged the background ephemera pieces and Small Talk stickers  with my Hickory Smoke Distress marker, and swiped with my finger to blend for a shadow effect. Then I took a little Picket Fence Distress paint and added some splatters to the back ground, before adding the bouquet with foam dots for dimension. The final  vintage touch is the Black Soot marker spritzed randomly on the background with Tim's Marker Spritzer.

I dyed a length of Tim's Crinkle Ribbon with Victorian Velvet and Bundled Sage Distress inks and Wild Honey Distress marker, spritzed and crinkled, dried slightly with a heat gun to stop the blending process and left to finish drying while I painted some metal Ideaology trinkets. These were fastened with a jump ring to the ribbon which I knotted at the top.

So, there you go, Branka!  I'm sorry my original cards never made it to your side of the globe, but I won't ever give up on you! Just the postal service!

I want to extend a huge thank you to Linda Ledbetter for organizing these challenges at Compendium of Curiosities 3 and the Curiosity Crew for all their hard work and lovely inspiration. There are so many things I've tried that I wouldn't have without the motivation of this challenge, all the great creative ideas from the Crew, and the creativity of the entrants in these challenges. Also a BIG thank you to Tim and Mario, Linda Coughlin at Frilly and Funkie, and Joy and her family at Inspiration Emporium for all their generous sponsorship of these challenges.

I would like to enter my tag into the following inspirational challenges:

Linda Ledbetter's Compendium of Curiosities 3 Challenges: #34 The Grand Finale

A Vintage Journey "Things With Wings"

Mixed Media World MMW #6 "Gorgeous Textures"

That Craft Place "Mixed Media Anything Goes"

Country View Challenges "Summertime" Nothing says summer like flowers and butterflies!

Vintage Utfordring Challenge #106 "Butterfly" I hope my moth resembles a butterfly!

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge "Homegrown Summer" The background reminds me of my late summer garden, all overgrown and a little bit tangled.  The flower bouquet and the flower embellishment remind me of some late blooming  coneflowers and  the roses on my trailing rose bush.

Thank you for visiting my blog today and for leaving all your encouraging comments!  I read and  truly appreciate each and every one of them!  Hugs and blessings!

Sara Emily

Anything But Cute Mixed Media Challenge #4 - Making Magic

Hello crafty friends!

It's time for our fourth challenge at Anything But Cute. The super talented and very prolific artist Georgie is our hostess this time, and she would like you to make some magic--our theme this time being "Making Magic". I'll give details about the challenge, but first here is my version of Making Magic--an altered wall plaque.

Most of us are drawn to the magic of fairy tales and fantasy.  The colors are often hypnotic, and your mind is free to explore outside the limits of reality. For this challenge, Georgie would like you to create a magical mixed media project strongly inspired by the mood board. Be inspired by the theme, the colors, the textures or all three.  Let's bring a little magic back!

I started with white, thin cardboard waste packaging to make my background.  I added Distress paints in shaded Lilac, Cracked Pistachio and Black Soot, spritzed them to blend, and left to dry.  When completely dry, I added  Tarnished Brass Distress paint, spritzed lightly with water, dried somewhat with my heat gun.  I pressed my paper towel over the entire thing, and quickly removed it to get the texture.  I dried again with my heat gun and blended on Archival ink in aqua. I lightly sprinkled with Frantage and heated from underneath.  Lastly, I splattered with Dylusions Black Marble ink spray .

I die cut some flowers (Tim Holtz Tattered Florals and Tattered Flower Garland) and painted them with black gesso.  When dry, I swiped on some gold Perfect Pearls powder and spritzed them with Perfect Pearls spray in gold.  The two larger ones were also embossed with  Tim Holtz' Mesh Texture Fade, and then wiped with a gold metallic rub to highlight the raised areas. A few smaller ones embossed and highlighted the same way using a dots folder. Two were encrusted with some chunky glitter and added at the end..

Next, I mixed up some Ranger transparent texture paste with Lumiere paint in Metallic Olive and spread this on randomly and squished my flowers into it.  Before drying, I added Frantage embossing powder, and then dried with my heat gun to get some bubbling. I added a few sequins and flicked on more Dylusions Black Marble ink spray.

My butterflies are cut from Tim Holtz Layered Butterfly die; I cut three and gave them each a coat of black gesso. I used Golden Iridescent Gold and Metallic Olive acrylic paint to paint them. I dry brushed two and one I covered fairly heavily with the metallic paints. I put the gold butterfly through my failing Big Kick with Tim's texture fade, and then swiped transparent texture paste on with a credit card, added glitter, mica flakes and micro beads.  I did have to give this a coat of Multi Matte Medium in the end, because stuff started flaking off and that took the glam down a notch, I'm afraid. I added a few large pearls and some smaller black ones painted with Silver and White Mixatives alcohol ink for the body.

When I was through, I really thought my panel looked a little blah, so I dug this old painted wooden plaque out of my stash.

 I gave it a coat of black gesso and edged in Tarnished Brass Distress paint, but still not what my panel needed.  I tried to do the same technique I did on the panel on the plaque, but it didn't work real well. It started to peel off the gesso, back to the original painting and the Cracked Pistachio turned blue.  To save it, I dabbed on some Cracked Pistachio and Tarnished Brass Distress paints,and used a texture tool to drag the color out.  Then I heated the daylights out of the paint and sprinkled on some Frantage and heated to melt. Lastly, I flicked on Dylusions spray in Black Marble. The photo below shows it with the paint still wet.

Next, an oops shot.  You can see the bare spots where even the black gesso came off.

Rescued!

I added the finished panel to the plaque, adhering with Perfect Paper Adhesive.  I tied it in to the plaque by adding some black and transparent texture pastes, Frantage embossing powder, micro beads and the glittered flowers.

I would like to enter this into the following inspirational challenges:

Frilly and Funkie "Things With Wings"

Altered Eclectics Anything Goes Mixed Media/ Altered Art

Country View Challenges "Summertime"

Our Creative Corner Summer Challenge "Mexico Moods" I was inspired by the black door background and the texture of the door and the surrounding structure.

Dies R Us Challenge # 30 "Summertime Fun"

A Sprinkle of Imagination "Anything Goes"

Blessings Ink Amusing Challenge "Sequins"

Pile It On Challenge # 80 "Sequins and/or Beads"

That Craft Place Mixed Media Anything Goes

Dream Factory Challenge #22 "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

Here's one last  wacky shot of the finished piece. I hope you enjoyed the post and the process.  I know I did!  It was so much fun to make some magic!  I hope you will find some time to make some magic of your own and enter the Making Magic challenge at Anything But Cute--you have lot's of time! The challenge runs 'til September 4th. Hugs and Blessings!

Sara Emily