"Creativity" Stickles Tag

Yes, I seem to be on a Stickles/Glitter Glue roll ;)

I can't help it...it is just so much fun!! Seriously though, I get many e-mails asking how to incorporate Stickles into projects as more than just accents.

Today's project is a tag again paired with chipboard.

Creativity Tag

Supplies:

Chipboard

Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber

Stickles Glitter Glue

Vintage Ledger Paper

Adhesive (Aleene's Super Thick Tacky Glue)

Ribbon

Archival Ink

Sheer Crown Embellishment (maya road

Sentiment - Autumn Leaves

Tag

Instructions:

1. Cover the tag with vintage ledger paper. Fold over the edges and wrap around the backside of the tag.

2. Apply a white wash (50 water/50 white paint) to the tag and let dry completely.

3. Gather several different chipboard shapes to incorporate into your tag design. My main focus is the paisley shapes but I also added lots of little circles, flower and star shapes as well. Paint chipboard pieces with desired colors of acrylic paint...my main colors for this project are Aqua, Lettuce and Wild Plum.

4. After the chipboard pieces are dry, cover each piece with Stickles Glitter Glue. I am using Lime Green, Turquoise and Purple. Mmmmm such deep rich colors! They just knock your socks off when paired with the paints!!

5. On your work surface determine placement for each piece of chipboard. Place the tag beside your arrangement and glue each piece to the tag one at a time. This will help you keep track of where each little piece goes! Trust me, if you don't you'll end up with lots of little extras ;)

6. Stamp sentiment onto the sheer crown embellishment using Archival Ink. Add Gold Stickles Glitter Glue accents to the crown.

7. Punch a hole in the crown, tie the crown and ribbon to the tag. Lightly heat the ribbon to add curl.

Queen Kat Designs Royal Blog Hop

Happy Tuesday!

Today is Queen Kat Designs Royal Blog Hop

and today's inspiration is this cool card sketch...

and here is what I came up with...

Instead of stitches along the edge I thought the EK Success border stamp worked well with the design. I also added a few more embellishments along the edge (yes, those are the moon drops!!).

For more awesome,

inspiring creations

be sure to check out

Queen Kat Designs Blog

Be sure to pop back in later today as I share a

tag I created using

Stickles Glitter Glue!

Glittery Cupcake Trio!

Hi Everyone!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend!!

We made it back from vacation all in one piece :) We had lots of fun and hit several sites, found some fun bargains at a way cool flea market and got to see some beautiful animals at the Toledo Zoo!

Today I wanted to share a card I created using Distress Stickles...

Cupcake Trio!

Supplies:

Chipboard Cupcakes - Maya Road

Book Pages

Adhesive (ATG & Aleene's Super Thick Tacky Glue)

Adirondack Acrylic Dabbers - Ranger

Distress Stickles Glitter Glue - Ranger

Distress Ink - Ranger

Ink Blending Tool - Ranger

Paper Border Punch (optional)

Pattern Paper

Sentiment Stamp - Inkadinkado

Cardstock

Sandpaper

Instructions:

1. Apply a white wash (1/2 water - 1/2 white paint) to the book pages. I like to use pages I have torn from books I am altering but you can use any pages you like. Let the paint dry completely.

2. Apply a layer of Tacky Glue to the fronts of each cupcake base. Press theses pieces to the BACK of your painted book pages. This will be our "cupcake liners" ;) Let the glue dry completely.

3. After the glue has dried, trim the excess paper and sand the edges for a nice clean finish.

4. Paint the cupcake tops with desired color(s) of acrylic paint(s). I used Pink Sherbet & Raspberry.

5. Smear desired colors of Distress Stickles over the cupcake tops....I used Worn Lipstick on Pink, Fired Brick on the Raspberry and Rock Candy on the White. Add "sprinkles" and "cherries" using these same colors. Draw lines on the cupcake base with Walnut Stain Distress Stickles. Let all of these pieces dry completely.

6. Create a card base and add two complimentary pieces of pattern paper. If desired, add Distress Stickles accents as I did on the polka dot paper. I used the same colors here as I used on the cupcakes. I added a bit of Walnut Stain Distress Ink to the upper piece of cardstock using the Ink Blending Tool but that's totally up to you.

7. Add a decorative strip to the card covering the pattern paper seam.

8. Stamp sentiment, mount on cardstock and add to the card.

9. Assemble the cupcakes. Use double stick foam on the upper layers if needed. I had to use a piece on the center cupcake to hold up the upper most layer.

Your card is now ready to brighten someones day!

Have a wonderful day Friends!!!

Just For Fun Color Challenge #23

Happy Friday Folks!!

I hope you are surviving all the heat!

We should now be wandering Ohio...

Since I am typing this on Wednesday I am hoping we are enjoying the nice weather (crossing my fingers!!) and seeing some fun sites! We didn't really go with a plan other than we are going to a vintage tractor/garden tractor show in Findlay that dh & youngest ds wanted to go to. From there we aren't sure what we will be doing...hopefully checking out any antique malls along the way and whatever else we see that tickles our fancy.

Anyway, today is of course Just For Fun Color Challenge Friday!

Now normally this color combination would at one time have scare me because of the red! In the past couple years I have learned to use it and am no longer afraid :)

and here is the card I created using all Just For Fun Rubber Stamps!!

(notice the flower from yesterday!!)

The stamps I used are the leaf bunch, Best Wishes, Ticking, Cardinal and vintage script.

Be sure to check out the Just For Fun Rubber Stamps Blog to see what everyone else is up to!

Paper Doily ~ Lacy Paper Flower

Hi Friends!

I wanted to share another fun and easy paper flower with you today!

I am using 4" paper doilies that I found at the Dollar Tree. They come in 100 per package for yes $1.00!

Medium/Regular Sized Flower -

To begin, I pinch one area of the doily with my left hand and with my right hand I gather up small bits of the doily bringing them to my left as shown...

Once I have gathered up the entire doily into my left hand I twist the bottom to secure the flower....

And here is what it looks like....

Small Flower -

To create a smaller sized flower I fold the doily into quarters as shown and snip off 1/2" from the center section. I then fold and gather as I did in the above directions.

Large Double Flower -

If a larger flower is desired try creating a double flower.

I first make a small size flower as instructed then I place this flower in a second doily and gather it around the first. It creates a beautiful full double lacy flower!

Here is a photo of the various sizes...

The double flower is on the left, the next flower is a small and the last two (one on top and to the right) are medium sized.

Now the flowers I have shared in the examples are all left natural. BUT, since you start out with a white doily the color possibilities are endless! You could use inks, dyes, Glimmer Mist, Perfect Pearls, chalks, watercolors, on and on to color these flowers!!! Below I have just two examples ~ both colored using Distress Inks and my Ink Blending Tool. I love the "edges only" look but the other is just as fun.

Just think of the possibilities!!!!

All for only $1.00!!!

Splitcoast Stampers Technique Feature!!!

Woo Hooo!!

My Distressed Glue Technique is the current featured technique at Splitcoast Stampers!!!

You can click on this link to see it...

SCS Distressed Glue Technique

What fun!!!

Stamped & Chalked Images

As some of you know last week I was on a supply challenge for myself. One of the items I pulled out and dusted off was all of my chalks that I hadn't used really since I first encountered Distress Inks.

Several people asked how I created the stamped/chalked images so I thought rather than e-mail everyone individually I would post how I did it here :)

Supplies:

Rubber Stamp (inkadinkado)

Chalk (any brand will do)

Clear Embossing Ink

Cotton Ball or other applicator

Cardstock

Instructions:

1. Stamp the image onto your cardstock using clear embossing ink. Now I have an embossing pad that is a little bit less than clear. See I'm not so good at cleaning off my rubber stamps so I tend to have a bit of ink transfer to my clear emb. pad. This however works to my advantage with this technique as you will see from the stamped image. It adds just a bit of grey color to the "clear" image which really helps to see what I want to chalk.

2. I begin by adding the lighter colors first. Simply pick up a bit of the chalk using one of the little chalk balls (sorry I don't know the technical term) or other applicator. Gently DAB the ink over the desired areas of your image. DO NOT rub the ink across the image...it will smear the still wet embossing powder and ruin the image. Trust me on this...it took me a few tries when I first started messing with chalks to get this through my head.

Continue chalking working from light to dark....

3. Once you have finished chalking the entire image you will notice lots of excess chalk dust scattered about the image. Do NOT wipe it away ~ if you do so it will leave streaks of chalk across the paper. Blow away this dust and it will be gone in an instant!

4. Your image will look something like this.... Now I usually end up with a "halo" effect when I use the chalk balls...not so much when I use the makeup foam applicators (like for eye shadow). I didn't have any so the balls will have to do.

To fix this problem I just chalk the background...

Again, blow away the excess chalk powder when you are finished. As far as finishing the image off I never spray it with any "sealer" of any sort. I would however suggest you let the embossing ink dry completely before you add it to a card or other project. While the ink is still wet you could smear it but normally it doesn't take too long to dry.

And here is what my finished image looks like....

and used in a card...

So there you go...

Quick and easy

yet it creates stunning results :)

Stamped Shadowbox Collage Examples

Hi Friends!

Whew! It's been a busy one today. I just finished up the 2nd shadowbox collage I wanted to share with you so here are both the one I made yesterday and the one I created today.

I hope they inspire you to create one of your own!

Bird Family

Stamped Shadowbox Collage

There are 4 layers in this collage including the background.

Aloha

Stamped Shadowbox Collage

There are 7 layers in this collage including the background.

If you do give this technique a try, please feel free to leave a link in the comments section either here or on yesterdays post.

I love it when I see your interpretation of the techniques/projects I share!!

Stamped Shadow Box Collage

Happy Monday!

Are you ready to create?!?!?

Well today I've got a fun project that I thought of when I was looking through an old Christmas craft book from the 70's!

It was actually a Christmas scene created on the inside of a shoebox...I know you can do the same in any size box but I wanted something a bit layered so here's what I came up with....

Stamped Shadow Box Collage

Supplies:

Chipboard (recycled - old game box)

Acetate (recycled - discarded packaging)

Rubber Stamps - Birds, Nest - Ink Stained Roni Designs - Queen Kat Designs, Leaves - Just For Fun Rubber Stamps

Archival Ink

Distress Ink

Cardstock

Sizzix Rectangle Frame

Distress Crackle Paint

Note: I am really excited about this project because the base/foundation is made from recycled goodies! It makes it not only an inexpensive craft but also very Earth Friendly!

Instructions:

1. Die cut several rectangle frames from the game board box. The number of frames needed will vary with each project depending on how many layers you want/need. I ended up using 4 frames plus a few spacers (I'll talk about those later) as well as a solid backing piece.

IF you don't have this die then you can use any frame (chipboard or wood) as a template...simply trace and cut!

don't toss the inside pieces of the frame...they are almost exactly the size of an ATC!!!! It's something like 1/16" off for the 2.5" side and 1/8" off for the 3.5" side. Not enough to really notice so these are just a neat added bonus!!

2. Now cut several pieces of acetate a bit smaller than your frame. The exact number again will depend on how many layers you want to include in your finished shadow box. For the example I made I used 4 pieces.

I recently decided to store all of my nesties on key rings so I had the perfect size packaging for this project!

3. Time to stamp! I have found that it is easier to incorporate stamp images that are stand alone images...collage images don't work well for this as there is too much going on. I used a couple birds and a nest image for this shadow box collage.

In addition to my images for layering I also stamped the outermost piece of acetate with leaves to create a neat little frame for my collage. You could also use a flourish, stamp or other border stamp if desired.

I then stamped the background paper (white cardstock covered with Broken China Distress Ink and the Spritz & Flick technique) with the same leaves to add a bit of cohesiveness to the finished collage.

4. It is time to determine placement on each individual sheet of acetate. I moved my images around until I was satisfied with how each layer looked then glued it down in place ~ one image per sheet of acetate.

5. After the images/acetate has dried, apply adhesive to the back of each chipboard frame. Affix one frame to each piece of acetate centering the image as desired.

At this time you can also affix the background paper (Blue Distress Ink w/stamped leaves) to the solid background piece of chipboard. Set all of these pieces aside to dry.

6. Now to give added depth to this shadow box collage I added scrap pieces of chipboard to the back of each individual frame as shown. You could if desired glue on an extra chipboard frame which was what I had originally planned to do but these smaller bits work just as well and cut down on waste!

7. Paint and/or ink the upper most frame as desired. I painted mine with Distress Crackle Paint to add a bit of texture to my finished shadow box.

8. Now glue each layer together beginning with the bottom layer working your way forward. Right away you will notice how each layer works together and really adds an amazing depth to the collage.

**You would think I should have a photo of this BUT I was to intense as I was working on this and totally forgot to take a photo of this step!**

And here is what the finished box may look like...

To hide the layers I finished off my sides using a bit of Tim Holtz's tissue tape but you of course could use any number of items....ribbon, masking tape, gaffers tape, cardstock, etc.

I just used a couple pieces of scraps for a quick fold-out stand that I glued to the back.

Here is another angle trying to show a bit of depth achieved by the various layers...

Pretty cool huh?

Now you could use virtually ANY theme to create this project...think birthdays, anniversary, get well, personalize it for a special gift for a friend, family member, home decor ~ kitchen, bathroom, children or adult bedrooms, etc.

There are just so many directions you could take this project, the possibilities are endless!!

Tomorrow I'm going to finish off this collage with some nifty embellishments and I may even have another shadow box collage if things go as planned!

Till then friends,

start diggin out those supplies ~

it's time to join in the fun!!

Vintage Postcard Sunday...Let's Travel...

I have lots of "destination" type postcards in my collection so I thought maybe we'd start traveling a bit!

This week we'll travel to vintage Arizona!

I've never been there myself but I find the soft, muted colors of these vintage postcards absolutely beautiful!!

Looks like a paradise in the sand!

I especially love the sunset postcards.

Enjoy!

This week I've got a fun and different type of collage set to share with you.

It's way cool because for the most part it uses items that can be dug right out of your recycle bin!

I've also got another fun paper flower to share later this week

and

even though we'll be on vacation the end of the week I'll have the JFF Color Challenge on Friday and maybe even an Ink Stained Sketch for Saturday and of course more fun vintage postcards next Sunday!

So, it's going to be another full week...

I hope you stop by and check it all out!

Have a wonderful evening Friends!!