LESSology - Guest Designer!

Hi Guys!

I wanted to tell you about a relatively new blog called - LESSology.  It's a challenge blog dedicated to altered arts and using upcycled (recycled) goodies! 

Now you all know how much I love altered arts AND how much I love to use old, discarded or worn out "things" so it's a perfect fit :)

I am the guest designer today

and

the challenge was to create a trinket box! 

What fun :)

Here is what I started with....

an old candy tin which has a unique lid.  It almost reminds me of one of those vintage hump back steamer trunks.

 

And I also found a bit of old material and tossed in a few old book pages, pieces of vintage sheet music and a couple dictionary pages just for good measure :)

Now, to see the finished project you'll have to hop on over to LESSology and check it out -  LESSology Challenge #2 - Trinket Box - Roni Johnson

Be sure to stop back and let me know what you thought of the box because....

if you do you'll be entered to win the box which I will fill with some lovely fall inky trinkets just for you!!!

You have until 10-15-11 to post your comment to be entered to win!

Good Luck Friends!!!

Grunge Paper Calla Lily

Today I have another fun paper flower for you to try...

Calla Lilies!

A bit about the flower....

The Calla Lily most commonly means "magnificent beauty" which why it lends it's self so well for weddings, mother's day, birthday's or just to tell someone how much you love them.

Usually found in white (which is what I used for this example) calla lilies are also available in various shades of cream, pink, yellow, purple, red, lavender, gold, peach, deep burgundy and even black! So if you do need a specific color for your card, scrapbook lay-out or other creations keep that in mind.

Supplies:

Flower Pattern

Grunge Paper

Adirondack Acrylic Dabber

Adirondack Alcohol Ink

Flower Stamen

Thick Tacky Glue

Floral Wire

Floral Tape

Cloths Pin

Stylus

Instructions:

1. Cut desired number of flowers using the pattern below. Each flower takes one overly exaggerated fluffy heart. I am using Grunge Paper. I tried several types of paper from copy paper, various brands and types of cardstock, pattern paper and even chipboard. Nothing works as well as the Grunge Paper for achieving the gentle roll that Calla Lilies are known for.

2. On a soft surface, use a stylus to emboss a line about 1/8" in from the edge around the entire upper section of the flower. This will help create the roll in later steps.

3. Paint the flower white on both sides.

4. Dry brush yellow paint near what will be the center of the flower on once side.

5. Flip and dry brush green paint near the center on the other side. Set the flower aside for now.

6. Color flower stamen using alcohol ink.

7. Make a knot in the end of a piece of floral wire.

8. Place the flower petal on your work surface. Apply a 1/4" strip of glue near the center of the flower. Lay the knotted floral wire in the glue and tuck the stamen into the knot/glue. Let dry.

9. Once the glue has dried, fold the left petal towards the center, add a bead of glue along the back edge as shown...

10. Fold the right side petal over the left and secure using a cloths pin until the glue has dried.

11. After the glue has dried, roll the edges of the flower.

12. (optional) For a more natural looking flower wrap floral tape around the flower and floral wire once or twice.

And....

here is what the finished flower looks like!!!!

Amazing isn't it?!?!

Mystery Technique - Explore Canvas!

Well I hope you all had fun trying to guess what products were used on this project!

Before I tell you who the winner is I thought I'd share the complete project with you....

Explore Distressed Canvas

Supplies:

Distress Inks

Distress Stickles

Distress Re Inkers

Distress Crackle Paints

Adirondack Acrylic Dabber

Grunge Board or Grunge Paper

Archival Ink

Ink Blending Tool & Foam

Mini Mister

Ideaology Mini Mask

Pattern Tissue (from clothing patterns)

Ephemera (background paper on the canvas)

Large Vintage Brads

Aleene's Quick Grab Tacky Glue

Rubber Stamps

6x6 Canvas - Canvas Concepts

Instructions:

1. Add one drop of Broken China Distress Ink into a Mini Mister - fill with water. Shake well to mix. Apply a good coat over the entire canvas and paper ephemera. Let dry naturally or speed drying using heat tool.

2. Add one drop of Walnut Stain Distress Ink in Mini Mister - fill with water & shake well to mix.

3. Place mask where desired on the canvas. Mist with Walnut Stain. Remove mask & let dry.

4. Glue the paper ephemera on two corners using desired liquid glue.

5. Cut butterflies, swirls, swish (from butterfly), and label from Grunge Board or Paper. I free-hand cut my elements but I'm sure you can find loads of patterns on the net.

6. Paint the flourish, swish & label with Distress Crackle Paint and let dry.

7. Ink all parts of the butterflies with Distress Inks & let dry. Stamp the butterfly wings with various rubber stamps and Archival Ink.

8. Once the crackle paint has dried, stamp sentiment on the label.

9. Accent the flourish, swish & label with Distress Stickles.

10. Cover the Butterfly bodies with Black Soot Distress Stickles.

11. Assemble the butterflies by gluing bodies to wings.

12. Attach all of the Grunge Board pieces to the canvas.

That's where we'll stop for today.

Tomorrow I'll show you step by step how I created the tissue roses!

Now for the winner....

TrixR4Kids!!!

trixr4kids said...
Okay, here's my guessYou said to guess at least 3 products so here I go-Stamps (Obviously) :)-Distress/Adirondack ink-Alcohol inks-Grungepaper-Stickles (Original/Distressed) -Tissue paper/Mulberry Paper/Phonebook page?-Embossing inkHope I'm at least close. This is just so much fun. Thanks Roni
February 28, 2010 8:48 PM

Congratulations!!!!

Please send me your snail mail addy so I can get your goodies out in the mail to you!

Thanks for playing everyone!!

Beloved Altered Game Box Lid

I am so excited about today's project. It is not necessarily just a Valentine's Day project, it would be great for anyone you love any time of the year.

This is another "green" recycled art project....the base is actually a lid from a card game I bought at a garage sale! How cool is that?

Supplies:

Game Board Lid

Distress Crackle Paint

Distress Ink

Ink Blending Tool

Large hole Punchenella (sequins waste material)

Grungeboard Heart, Wings, Keys, Keyhole

Adirondack Acrylic Dabber - Black

Brads

Wire

Gold Dresden Trim - German Corner Store

Foam Core Board

Instructions:

1. Paint the inside and outside of the lid with black paint.

2. Place the punchenella on an angle inside the box lid.

3. Paint desired color of Distress Crackle Paint in a few of the holes. Continue painting using the next desired color above the first.

4. Move the punchenella around and paint additional colors of Distress Crackle Paint until the box has been covered with colorful dots. When you have finished covering the lid with dots of color, paint Black Soot Distress Crackle Paint around the outside edges feathering the paint towards the center...this just adds a bit of a distressed feel and blends it in with the edges. Let all of the paint dry overnight.

5. Paint the Grungeboard keys and keyhole using metallic colors of the Distress Crackle Paints.

6. Paint the Grungeboard heart with Fired Brick and Worn Lipstick, the wings with Picket Fence Crackle Paints. Let all of the Grungeboard pieces dry over night.

7. Print the sentiment on cardstock. Distress the edges using Black Soot Distress Ink and the Ink Blending Tool & Foam.

8. Use the brads and affix the keyhole to the center of the heart.

9. Attach the wings to the back of the heart. Mount the heart in the center of the lid using 2-3 layers of foam core board so the sides of the lid don't interfere with the wings.

10. String the keys together and wire to the top of the box lid so they dangle freely.

11. Mount the sentiment in the lower right hand corner of the box.

12. Add Dresden trim to the top and bottom lip of the box.

Enjoy!

You've got a great gift ready to give to your own Beloved :)

25 Days of Hand Made Ornaments ~ Day #4 - Traditional Grunge Board Ornament

YEAH!

Day 4

in my

25 Days of Hand Made Ornaments!!

I wasn't sure what to call this ornament so I called it a "Traditional" Ornament since it's a basic round ornament made using Grunge Board.

No matter what you call it, it's another fun, quick and easy ornament to add to your collection!

25 Days of Hand Made Ornaments

Day #4 - Traditional Grunge Board Ornament

Supplies:

Grunge Board (the original, not the Grunge Board Paper)

Pattern Paper of your choice (I used snowflakes)

Grunge Board Reindeer

Die Cut or hand cut Star

Heidi Swapp Letters

Stickles Glitter Glue

Distress Crackle Paint

Adirondack Acrylic Dabbers

Eyelet

Ribbon

Adhesive

Double Stick Foam Tape

Instructions:

1. Cut a circle from the Grunge Board and cover it with pattern paper.

2. Punch a hole in the ornament for the eyelet. Insert and set the eyelet.

3. Create a reverse scallop pattern around the entire edge of the circle as shown... Basically you just draw a scallop along the edge of the circle then go back and fill in everything from the scallop towards the outside edge. Set aside to dry.

4. Paint the Grunge Board Reindeer with Antique Bronze (looks like copper to me - yeah!!) Distress Crackle Paint. Depending on temp/humidity/etc. it will take your paint a while to dry.

5. Paint the letters and holly with the Black Acrylic Dabber. Paint the star using the Pearl Acrylic Dabber. Don't forget to paint the edges as well.

6. After the acrylic paint has dried, cover each piece with the desired color of Stickles Glitter Glue. Set aside to dry....if you're like me, you will need to make sure it's not anywhere that you might touch it accidentally ;) LOL!! I have had to add more Stickles to so many projects because I end up touching it before it dries completely...not to mention decorating myself ;)

7. After everything is dry, adhere the letters directly to the ornament. Use double stick foam tape to attach the star and reindeer. This gives your ornament a great depth... If I add multiple items I usually add a second layer (like I did with the star) to create even more depth and interest.

8. Glue the holly onto the reindeer and add a ribbon for hanging!

Now, just think of all the die-cut or hand drawn shapes you could use to take this basic idea and incorporate into a "ball" ornament.

Things like snowmen, snowflakes, candy canes, holly, evergreens, Cross of David and so much more!!

The possibilities are just endless :)

Blog Bash Give-A-Way #8 - Distress Stickles!!!

I wanted to share a project I made recently using Ranger's new Distress Stickles. Now, I'm sure many of you know how much I love mica ~ well when these Distress Stickles dry the little glitter particles look just like mica!! Mmmmmmmm - I just love it!!! I know I mentioned it before but it also has a way cool feel once it's dry as well...it's chunky and feels like sugar particles :) Just another layer of texture to add to your creation!

Butterflies....

Supplies: Distress Inks; Distress Crackle Paint; Distress Stickles; Grunge Board (flowers, butterflies, dragonfly); Canvas Concepts Natural Canvas

Monarch -

I used Black Stickles to draw on the segments of the wings/body. Once it was dry, I filled in each of the sections with Spiced Marmalade Distress Stickles.

Flowers -

Here are some of the layered flowers I made using multiple flowers from the Nature Grunge Board shapes... You'll notice that the camera doesn't like all that glitter too much...when it's aimed directly at the glitter it freaks out the auto focus.

NOW...

for the give-a-way....

In honor of turkey day tomorrow...tell me what your favorite part of the meal is....

Mine is the Pumpkin Pie & Cool Whip! Yes, that's a pair ~ you can't have one without the other in my book. And honestly if you ask my family in my case it would be Cool Whip & Pumpkin Pie ;) It always has and probably always will be - LOL!!!

If you're not from the US and don't celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow then tell me what your favorite holiday meal is...any holiday...

What will you win??? Well Distress Stickles of course!

I'll choose 3 different colors (it's a surprise silly) to send you ~ wish it could be all of them but I haven't won the lottery or anything - LOL!!!

You have until 11-30 to post your favorite Thanksgiving (or other holiday) meal.

Good Luck everyone :)

Fun & Funky Wedding Guest Book

This isn't your Mom's Guest Book....or even your own probably!

Here is the Wedding Guest Book I've been working on since Wednesday a.m. and it's FINISHED!!! I am so excited...it's way different than most other things I've ever made ~ especially for a wedding!

My guest book was one of those ~ white books w/plain pages and all...very bland and boring. Well Mindy asked me if I would make her one and sent me several examples of new guest books and mini albums she liked. I combined features from each and this is what I came up with....

All of the pages are hand cut ~ Bazzill Bling cardstock on each side (colors from their wedding). The decorations in the book are either Cricut die-cuts or American Crafts rub-ons. The image on the front of the book is actually taken from their wedding invitation to make it a bit more personal. I bound it using 1" black Bind It All wires. The box is what my MM distressing kit came in about 6-7 years ago!!! See, this is where my pack rat mentality is justified ~ I knew that box would come in handy for something!!!! LOL!! The black flourishes on the box are Grunge Board painted & Stickles added. All flowers are Primas & all of the edges (of the book & box) were sanded & inked as well.

Hope you enjoy!!

Mindy's Guest Book....

(sorry ~ some of the photos aren't the best but I was in a hurry...)

(not sur why these colors are so off but all of the paper is the same color though out...no brown or icky greens!)

Sooooo, what do you think?

Told you it wasn't your mama's guest book ;) LOL!!!

Distress Crackle Paint ~ Halloween ATC's

Continuing with the ATC theme today I wanted to share a few ATC's I've made using Distress Crackle Paints.

Distress Crackle Paints are an easy one step crackle process that takes just a few minutes to apply, about 20-30 minutes to dry and offers up amazing results.

Supplies:

Distress Crackle Paints - Ranger

Chipboard

Distress Inks - Ranger

Collage images & embellishments

Grunge Board

Instructions:

1. Cut Grunge Board to ATC size (2 1/2" x 3 1/2"). I am using the harlequin pattern GB. You will see why I love using this pattern with the Distress Crackle Paints later on.

2. Rub Vintage Photo Distress Ink over the entire piece of Grunge Board. Make sure you press the ink down into the pattern a bit.

Your GB ATC should look something like this....

3. Immediately paint the Distress Crackle Paint over desired areas of the GB. Let dry...this will take approximately 20-30 minutes. As the paint dries it will form crackles over the entire area. The size of the cracks will depend on the amount of paint that was initially applied to various areas. Thicker layers will produce more pronounced cracking.

4. Once the Crackle Paint has dried completely, rub Walnut Stain Distress Ink over the cracks. Press a bit to make sure the ink gets down deep.

5. Wipe excess ink away with a damp cloth. This is what you will be left with ~ notice how the Vintage Photo layer of Distress Ink bleeds through the crackle paint? It really highlights the diamonds in the pattern while the Walnut Stain Ink highlights the cracks.

Sexy Thing ATC

Now, if you just want to use plain cardstock or chipboard you can skip the first two steps entirely. Simply apply the Crackle Paints over the desired areas and let dry. Once the paint has dried and crackled, apply Distress Inks to the unpainted areas using the Ink Blending Tool & Foams.

A Merry Halloween ATC...

Bedtime Story ATC...

Halloween Greetings ATC...

Hope you've enjoyed the ATC's as much as I have this week.

It's nice to be able to sit down and complete a mini piece of art work in one setting.

If you haven't voted for your favorite Hanna Stamps rubber stamp you've only got a few hours left until I draw for the 3 Riley images!!

Be sure to post your favorite soon :)