Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Scraps of Elegance June Sketch Challenge

This is a pic of my dear family on a weekend trip. I'm not sure how I got them all to pose together. I must really have threatened them with something nasty! 
For this sketch I used the Scraps of Elegance June Kit, called Country Charm. TFL!

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

CSI 24

I'm still having fun dabbling over at CSI
I'm getting old products used up, but I did cheat on this one.  I purchased the lace.  I know, I said I wouldn't buy anything new.  But I just didn't have the right lace.  I'm not generally a lace user!
Here's the Case File

What a gorgeous case to solve!

Here is how I solved the case:

I didn't have a traditional wedding, so when I found this picture from the Graphic's Fairy, I thought I'd pretend that I did. The railing is actually my favorite part of this picture :)

My EVIDENCE: lace, sparkly things, shimmer (I used Glimmer Glam over the stamping and the leaves), and I used gesso.

My TESTIMONY: I added jewels to my journaling spot and I used the IW "vision". I don't think there is any woman who isn't an absolute beauty on her wedding day. I don't know if it is how they feel, or if it is the dress. But I think something shines through on that special day. TFL!




Monday, June 18, 2012

Paper Mixing Bowl

I did it!  Or did they do it?  Either way, I have made my first Design Team (DT)!  The Paper Mixing Bowl has chosen me to be one of their "Chefs!"

This was my second application to a DT.  I am so excited!  So, for my non-scrappy family followers (paper crafty people may skip to the next paragraph), being a member of a DT is a big deal!  I provide examples for others.  Whoa!  Me?

The Paper Mixing Bowl is a newer place that hosts a monthly challenge, and the challenge is served up in the form of a recipe. I will follow this recipe, which I get ahead of the general public, and it will be published with the new challenge. Check it out.  I'll be there for six months.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Glossy Chipboard Tutorial for The Robin's Nest


Hello everyone!  I am doing a tutorial on taking your naked chipboard and making it super glossy.  I admit that chipboard has not always been a friend to me and that some times it fought back, but no more!  I have learned a way that I can make plain chipboard beautiful!



Items Used
Gesso, both black and white
Plain Chipboard
Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE)
Embossing Ink
Distress Ink
Pearl Ex Powder
Blending Tool
Paint Brush
Heat Tool

                        
The first step is to paint the chipboard with the gesso.  I used the white gesso on the sign and the black gesso on the wrought iron sign holder.  Let those dry before proceeding.

PART ONE

Take the sign and apply distress ink with the blending tool.  I used weathered wood and bundled sage.



Then I stamped an image onto the sign with black soot.  I actually stamped the image twice, overlapping a bit.  Precision is not mandatory with the stamped image.




After stamping, apply your embossing ink to the chipboard.


    

      Cover the chipboard with UTEE.  Heat the UTEE to melt, then let cool.      
                                                                                                       

  Add more Distress Ink to the sign.  The ink will bead up, but this is not a problem!  Here's the MAGIC!  The properties of the Distress Ink and the UTEE are what make this technique fun.  Re-ink your chipboard with embossing ink and apply more UTEE.  When you use the heat gun, watch the Distress Ink.  You can see it moving as the UTEE melts.  Repeat with more Distress Ink and UTEE layers until you achieve your desired result.


PART TWO

Take the black gesso covered sign holder and apply embossing ink.  While the embossing ink is tacky, brush Pearl Ex powder to highlight areas of the sign holder.



Cover the sign holder with UTEE and heat.  You do not need to repeat steps with the sign holder.  If you are happy with the result you have gotten, you're ready to start putting your sign together.


I used paper letters that I cut with my Cricut, using the old standby, the Plantain font.  I mixed upper and lower case letters, both plain and italic for extra interest.  One last layer of UTEE covers the letters.


Here's a close up.


Thanks for looking!  

The Paper Mixing Bowl June 2012 Challenge- Shish Kebab


I tried a new Challenge site called The Paper Mixing Bowl

It's in a recipe formant with the Main Ingredients, Utensils, Directions, and Measurements being key challenge points.

For the June 2012 recipe challenge, Shish Kebab.  This is how the challenge looks:


On my LO I used the charcoal color.  My Utensils were twine, metal elements and paper with script.  I used all of the Directions, which were to Journal about a special man in my life, the Inspirational Word (IW) "Strong," and the hidden Journalling Element.


Below are some of the detailed photos.





CSI Case # 22

I worked on another LO for the challenges over at CSI.  Here is the Evidence for Case File #22:

This LO used the following EVIDENCE: chevron pattern, corrugated cardboard accent, wet medium: which were Distress Inks and modeling paste, and a crown accent. The TESTIMONY that I chose was to use the IW: "some day" and add 3 wishes. 

It's my children's fault for this journaling.  They love ganging up on me as I try to get a photo of them together.  They get goofier and goofier the longer it takes me to get a picture, which is why I can't get a picture in the first place!  My main wish is that the spawn have a close relationship when they are adults.  

Sunday, June 3, 2012

CSI: Case File No. 21

I made the Watch List at CSI for this LO!  It's fun getting noticed!


Here is my second attempt at solving a case at CSI.  Here is what the case looked like:
The Evidence that I used were doilies, ribbons, flowers, lacy border, and icing.  My testimony included using two or three different sized journaling spots and tying a ribbon onto my journaling spot.  This is what I came up with:
I am still only using my stash.  I am not purchasing anything new to participate in this challenge.