All The Strong Pretty Ladies

Today brings you sketch #344, designed by teammate Debbi, at Tuesday Morning Sketches.  Sketch 344 is a lovely, simple design that would go with any project that could make.

Instead of making a card, I made a trio of ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) with Graphic 45's A Ladies Diary.  Every piece of patterned paper that G45 makes has fun images to fussy cut and use on something else. The rub-ons are from Tim Holtz and Basic Grey.  I gave the ladies strong sentiments instead of just using words such as "beauty" and "grace."

               

If you want to play along with our sketch this week, we are being hosted by Di's Digis.  There may be a prize for you!  You have until Sunday, March 27 to enter this week's challenge.   Please stop by and visit my fellow Tuesday Morning Sketches crew!

Debbie

Jenee 

Kris

Jessi

Melissa 

Patti

Wanda

Thanks for visiting my blog!

I'd like to enter my ATCs into these challenges:

Addicted to CAS: Code Word Delicate

I think my ATCs are delicate looking and they are pretty clean and simple for me!

Crafty Calendar Challenge: Mum's Day/Special Woman

Frilly and Funky:Make it a Trio!

Vintage Keepsake Box

Hello! Today I have a box that I altered to share with you. You will have to forgive me because I dug into (again!) my favorite paper stash. Graphic 45 has the perfect paper to use for altered items that will be displayed around your home.

I knew I wanted a vintage feel to my box, then I decided to make it masculine. I imagined what sort of things a boy might collect in this box. I just moved that collection to the top of the box.

The patterned papers were trimmed to fit the sides and top of the box. I inked the edges and applied the papers to the box. I sealed the papers with matte soft gel, because I used dye ink; I did not want the ink to come off on fingers as this piece is meant to be handled. I trimmed the flourish laser cuts,  I cut one flourish in half so it could work like a latch. Flourish B's flowers were removed. I painted the latch and corners. The corners were painted black with my eyes shut (on purpose), and I was able to ink the bare spots brown.  

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my altered keepsake box. Have a great day!

Fairies and Flowers

Fairies and flowers are made for each other.  Beautiful flower gardens are made to attract fairies, attendance by birds, bees, and butterflies are just a happy side effect.

I put together this mini album with the idea of using this cute fairy from Unique Laser Designs.  I think she is so sweet!

Again I have paired this embellishments with a Graphic 45 collection.   I usually refer to G45 as "the big guns."  Does anyone else feel this way?  This time I used Secret Garden.  I thought the fairy would be perfect with that collection and I had enough supply to build a mini album.

I started my fairy just like one of my Unique Laser Designs design team members had.  (We are like crafty twins separated at birth! And her name is Lea.  Lee and Lea!  See her fairy here.)

I applied gesso to the fairy's wings and dress, but not on her "skin" as I wanted to leave the warmth of the wood to come through the paint.  I then painted the fairy with Lindy's Magicals.  I love these paints!

The other laser cuts I used are "Border Swirl D," which come in a pair.  These were painted with Distress Ink, then topped with Glossy Accents.  I would have added more chipboard, but I had to be able to close the album.

Now let's see if you can watch the whole album!

Thanks for stopping by!

Creative Canvas for Molossi

Hello there! I am a bit late to the game for the May Mood Board Challenge, but I wanted to share what I have created. There are a few days left in May, so get going on your projects and link-up to our challenge!

I am making my debut today on the Molossi blog with this project:

This is a small 6x6 inch canvas. I gave it a coat of paint to match that wonderful door on the Mood Board.  I also liked how the details were painted the same color as the door. I painted the Dusty Attic Swirly Vines to match the canvas. Next I stenciled the alphabet onto the canvas with Viva 3D Stamp-Paint. 

The tag on my canvas was made using the Graphic 45 Typography collection.  The edges of the papers were colored with Distress Inks in Black Soot and Tumbled Glass, and each layer was mounted with plenty of room in between to tuck in the feathers and other pieces of chipboard. The butterflies are Dusty Attic Flutterbies.  I painted them different colors and gave them different finishing treatments to set them off. Some of the detail work of the butterflies was done with Kaisercraft paint in black. The green butterfly was given a coat of Viva Glitter Paste for some sparkle. The red butterfly's edges were rubbed with Viva Inka-Gold in gold. I also accented some other areas of the canvas with the gold.  

The second vine chipboard, ribbon, fiber, metal bits and vacuum tube were added to the tag.  On the bottom of the canvas I added the quote "Creativity takes courage," by Henri Matisse.  Go be brave and creative! 

 Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

I would also like to enter this into the Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge Blog for Challenge #8: Show us Metal or Glass

Y is for Yo Mama!

Challenge #7, "Y is for Yo Mama," is ready to be played at the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers!  Mother's Day is coming up, so if you need to do a card, you can enter it into our challenge.  You could make your mother the lovely and sentimental card and enter our challenge.  Then you could make a card for your mother (or mother-in-law) that shows your true feelings and you could enter our challenge.  We are excepting sweet or snarky cards.

I made a sweet card.  I pulled out my secret weapon, Graphic 45, and used papers from the Secret Garden line.  

All the layers were slightly distressed.  On the bird and pattered paper I used Old Paper Distress Ink.  The plain card stock was given the dual treatment of Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink and Peach Bellini Glimmer Glam.  

I embossed the front of the card with a translucent embossing powder. On the inside of the card I used the same stamp, so I will spare you all that view.  ;)

I embellished the card with metals, flowers, fibers and a drop "gem."

Hope you like it Mom!

Please visit my snarky sisters' blogs to see what they have come up with for Mother's Day.

Shari, our current Guest Designer

Lindsey

Jessi, who made both kinds of cards!

Barb

Chris

Donna

Karen, also made both cards.