August 30, 2013

Mixed Media with Inchie Arts

One thing I love about mixed media is that in adding layers the project seems to create itself and I never know what I will end up with.  When I don't have a particular technique in mind, I really like starting my mixed media projects using an Art Square because I know that no matter how many layers I add, the matboard square will never warp and will help my mediums look their best.  
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For this card, I began with a white ATC Art Square.  I stamped my image, Penny Black 3633K Clusters, with VersaMark ink and then embossed with white powder. (Yep, you can emboss on your Art Squares!)  Then I let the media mixing begin....
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Here are the layers I added next:
1) Distress Markers to color the image and the background then spritzed with water
2) Distress Paint dabbed on and spread with my fingers around the image
3) Copic markers inside the flowers to create more depth
4) Memento Markers blended with water around the flowers (orange)

So fun to just play, paint, and get inky!  And to finish things off I mounted my Art Square to red cardstock and layered onto my card.  Sentiment by Penny Black, Sentimental.
For more Inchie Arts inspiration, visit their FACEBOOK PAGE and BLOG.

August 13, 2013

A Little Break

Hi all! Just wanted to pop in and let you know that I'm taking a bit of a blogging break for a couple of weeks.  I will see you later this month, my friends, with lots more colorful posts. HUGS!

August 9, 2013

Inchie Arts

NOTE: This is my second post for today. For my "Too Cute, Day 5" post, scroll down. :)
I love working with my Art Squares from Inchie Arts, and today I used a white ATC sized Art Square to make a painted tag.  I simply trimmed the corners of the Art Square and punched a hole at the top with my Crop-a-Dile.
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Because the quality matboard of the Art Square can take lots of wet media without warping, I decided to add gobs of Distress Paints to my "tag."  I colored onto my craft mat using the Distress Paints (Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, and Barn Door) and then pressed my Art Square "tag" into the paint.  I then spritzed the Art Square "tag" with water before drying it with my heat gun.  
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I finished off my card using Creative Dies from Penny Black, 51-002 Leaves and 51-007 Tagged (large butterflies), and stamped the top portion of the card using Penny Black Puzzle Parts.  The sentiment is an SRM Sticker (#53003 Sweet) and the ribbon is from Ribbons Unlimited.
For more Inchie Arts inspiration visit their BLOG and FACEBOOK page.

Happy stamping!

Too Cute, Day 5

Even though it's hard to tell in the picture, these tags are teeny tiny and so cute in person!
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I stamped Penny Black 30-170 Summer Fun onto a tag cut using Penny Black Creative Dies Tagged from kraft cardstock.  
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I colored the images in using Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Art Grip Colored Pencils.  To finish things off I added Picket Fence Distress Paint around the outside edges and also some Twinery twine available through SRM.
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Hope you have a wonderful weekend and perhaps are inspired to pull out your favorite CUTE stamps!

August 8, 2013

Too Cute, Day 4

Today I've combined CUTE with CIRCLES...
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The image, Penny Black 30-183 Mermaids (illustrated by Mo Manning), was colored with Copic Markers. I die cut each circle using my Spellbinders Die.  And the background was created by stamping 3860J Pointille using Colorbox Gray Whale ink. 
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Thanks for popping by!

August 7, 2013

Too Cute, Day 3

Before we begin with the CUTE, I just wanted to let you know that I have a NEW PB&J Video over on the Penny Black blog today.  Here's a peek...
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Click HERE for the full reveal and video.

Now, I promised a week of CUTE cards so here we go...
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I loved using a couple of my favorite Penny Black Creative Dies on this card--the banners at the bottom of the card were cut using Creative Dies Tagged and I used the Creative Die Dots as a stencil to create the background.
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The cute image, Penny Black 40-227 Cherry(illustrated by Mo Manning), was colored using Copic Markers.  Sentiment by Penny Black, 30-160 Friendship.
See ya tomorrow!

August 6, 2013

Too Cute, Day 2

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Speaking of cute...I love this guy!
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I began by stamping Penny Black 30-121 Fishing Dreams with VersaFine Onyx Black Ink, embossing with clear powder, and coloring with Copic Markers. I cut him out and added him to my background.  I designed the background using a frame cut using Spellbinders Labels 8. By adding the frame to the card base with dimensional adhesive, I was able to layer design elements both "above" and "below" the frame on the card.  The light blue "sky" was painted, lightly swiping a Distress Paint dauber onto the white cardstock.
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Instead of Copic markers, I colored this gal (Penny Black 40-142 Day at the Beach) using Art Grip Aquarelle Watercolor Pencils by Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft.  The subtle background stamping was done by repeatedly stamping Penny Black 30-181 Lace Trims (such a versatile set!).
See ya tomorrow with more CUTE!

August 5, 2013

Too Cute, Day 1

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Can you ever have too much cute? :)  I don't think so!  This week I'm featuring some cutesy cards here on the blog. I typically tend to reach for florals and butterflies, but there is something so refreshing about grabbing some critter stamps and having fun!
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To create this card I used Penny Black 30-119 Homemade.  The critters were stamped with VersaFine Onyx Black Ink, embossed with clear powder, and colored using Copics.  I stamped the sentiment on Penny Black Creative Die 51-003 Chat Bubbles.  And I added a touch of lace on the bottom using Penny Black 30-181 Lace Trims.
See ya tomorrow with more CUTE!

August 3, 2013

Designed by Maddi and Emma

Unfortunately I've been a bit under the weather this week so things have been pretty quiet here on the old blog-o, BUT I'm back today with some beautiful creations by my talented nieces. I just couldn't resist sharing their artwork as we have so much fun crafting together!

They've both been bitten by the mixed media bug and began their crafting a couple of weeks ago with 5 x 7 canvases.  Add in stamps, stickers, sprays, paints, dies, ink and two talented young minds and here's what you get...

DESIGNED BY MADDI, AGE 12
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DESIGNED BY EMMA, AGE 11
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Maddi also decided to try her hand at two more canvases, here's a look!
DESIGNED BY MADDI, AGE 12
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DESIGNED BY MADDI, AGE 12
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And last, but not least, here's a summertime card and tag they made to help Beat the Heat (Penny Black's current challenge).
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DESIGNED BY EMMA, AGE 11
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DESIGNED BY MADDI, AGE 12
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I sure love crafting with these chicks!  :)
Here's a little something of mine, too...
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I used Penny Black's 4332K Expecting and 30-161 Embellishments for this clean and simple card.

Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping by!