Authentic Beauty....DeStash #3

It's time for more de-stashing and this week it's all about those teeny, tiny Prima flowers that came in those amazing milk bottles. I didn't physically count how many of those little suckers were in the bottle but I guesstimate around a million. Yes, it was definitely time to start using those.

I am also using #2 of the 3 metal frames from Prima. When I first bought this frame I knew I wanted to use it to feature a photo of my daughter, Breanna. I then went through  my stash of flowers & metals bits and made sure my hot glue gun was plugged in.

I also grabbed this brand new die cut from Southern Ridge Trading Company.

 It's so beautiful as a wreath but I needed it to frame the outer edge of my frame so I cut it apart.

I then stained it, and applied some my favourite Hot Stuff Embossing Powders from Emerald Creek Craft Supplies. I used mostly Burnt Coppers Leaves  with just a sprinkling of Oil Rubbed Bronze.

I then started gluing on those teeny Prima flowers. And I kept gluing. And gluing. I still have a tonne of those suckers left.

 Just before starting to assemble my frame I stenciled the removable back 

with inks and paint just to add a bit more depth.

I used a lot of little bits of bobs including a few Flower Link Charms from Emerald Creek. 

Here is finished frame.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog today!

~~stay crafty~~

Christmas Sweater Inspired Advent Calendar - Festive Project for Emerald Creek Design Team

It's the end of November and my thoughts are turning to all things Christmas.

Cards & gift tags to make, gifts to wrap, meals to plan and all that decorating!

What better way to get into the holiday spirit than to make & decorate a 25 Day Advent Calendar.

Each box is like a tiny piece of art and I love how this one turned out.

I was initially inspired by this package of paper from Carta Bella called Warm & Cozy. Isn't is dreamy! Then I decided to combine it with an 8x8 pad of Yuletide from Tim Holtz.

These advent calendars are handmade - my dad builds the wood box out of MDF and then I make the smaller boxes from chipboard. I have bought the advent calendars available on the market in the past but these are so much more sturdy.

I painted the outside of the box with a mix of bright red and burnt sienna acrylic paint - at about a 2:1 ratio. I didn't mix the paints completely as I wanted the brown of the burnt sienna to be visible as streaks throughout the red.

Each smaller box was painted with Peeled Paint Distress Paint on the outside and a wash of burnt sienna on the inside.

I then used the Holiday Knit Layering Stencil from Tim Holtz and Fired Brick Distress Ink to apply the design on all sides of the MDF box.

I then glued squares of the paper on the front of each box as well as lined the back and bottom sides of the boxes on the inside.

Once I found enough handles & drawers pulls and other bits & bobs it was time to start decorating.

I used the Alphabet thinlit die from Tim Holtz/Sizzix and a sheet of gold adhesive backed deco sheets from Tim Holtz Idea-ology. 

 I traced around the numbers with my hickory smoke distress marker just to add a bit of shadow.

I was so excited to finally use my snowflake charms from Emerald Creek Supplies. These metal alloy charms are gorgeous! I used alcohol inks in various shades of brown to give them a vintagy look.

Check out the Victoria Snowflake Charm & Mini Snowflake Charm.

I also used a Buckle Charm for a drawer pull. It was the perfect size and looked great after I used alcohol inks to add some colour.

I know I have said it before but I am in love with the Exclusive Line of embossing powders from Emerald Creek Crafts. This time I used the Soft Fallen Snow. I first used it on the words Let It Snow. I just love the texture and the tiny flecks of sparkle is perfect.

 I also used the Soft Fallen Snow on the Stacked Snowflakes - I first covered them with Picket Fence Distress Crackle Paint and while it was still wet I sprinkled the embossing over it. I just love the look of it after the paint dried ans cracked. I finish it off I gently inked the edges of the snowflake with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

I also used this embossing powder on a couple of scrap pieces of torn white cardstock.  This made a nice little 'snowdrift' for my Crazy Bird.

Here is my finished 25 day Advent Calendar - already to go for December 1st.

 For more Festive inspiration check out the projects from the rest of the Emerald Creek Design Team

Karon - Karon's Krafty Korner
Diana - missusgmoments
Cathy - Amethyst Dragonfly's Alcove 
Katelyn - A Creative Journey

Now that you are feeling festive head on over to the Emerald Creek Dares blog for the new Festive challenge. Share your Festive projects with us for a chance to win a $25 credit to the online store.

Thank you so much for dropping by my blog today!
I appreciate you taking the time and leaving a comment.

More Tim Holtz Inspired Tags

I loved Tim's techniques for his November tag that I decided to make a bunch of mini tags that I knew I would eventually need for gifts this year.

I started by die cutting my 15 mini tags out of a jumbo manila tag.

These are about 2"x 3" and I think this is a Spellbinders die.

I used a variety of Stampers Anonymous stamps for my backgrounds with Picket Fence Distress Paint applied with a brayer.

Now my favorite part - I love applying the Distress Sprays and seeing the 

how the paint resists the stain.

After applying Vintage Photo Distress Ink to the edges it was time to add the gold foil.

Finally after adding my watercoloured mini blueprint stamped images and
my tag were done!

I now have a bunch of tags ready to added to gifts this year!
I feel like I am one step closer to feeling organized.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

~stay crafty~

Challenges Entered:
Anything But Cute: It's Ornamental
Mixed Media World: #9 Anything Goes 
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes 
Tim Holtz: 12 Tags Of 2015 - November 
That Crafty Place: Anything Goes Mixed Media

My Tim Tag ~ November 2015

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....or winter at least and I am ready to take on Tim's tag for November. Check out his tag tutorial here. 

I decided to take my tag in more of Christmas theme but using some of Tim's techniques.

Off I flew to my tickle trunk of Christmas stamps to look for some oldies but goodies.

I found one from Rubber Stampede called "Sayings" that I have had forever but haven't used in a few years. It would be perfect for the background technique on a black tag.

Next I found a poinsettia stamp from Penny Black called "Warm Wishes".

I decided to stamp 2 images on watercolour paper with Staz-on & using my Fired Brick Distress Marker and a watercolour brush to add the colour.

I fussy cut one poinsettia as it was then fussy cut only the centre leaves of the other so I could layer them with a foam square. I gently curled the leaves before gluing it to my tag.  I love the dimensional look it gives.

I should mention that before I adhered the flower to the tag I burnished some gold foil to the edges of my tag like Tim did in his tutorial.

I added a few bits from the Christmas Ephemera pack from Tim Holtz Idea-ology and used my spritzer tool & vintage photo Distress marker to add some details over the entire tag.

Thank you so much for dropping by my blog today!

I really appreciate your visit & comments.

~~ stay crafty~~

Challenge Entered:
Tim Holtz - 12 Tags of 2015 (November)
 

***don't forget to pop by the Emerald Creek Dares blog***

Enter your 'Remembrance' projects for a chance to win a $25 credit to the online store.

Remember The Fallen.....Emerald Creek Dares Challenge

Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to visit the John McCrae Birthplace & Memorial Gardens in Guelph, Ontario. Did you know that 2015 is the 100th anniversary of the poem "In Flanders Field"?  I know I didn't. 

Standing in that quiet garden in Guelph and reading the beautiful words of Colonel McCrae's poem was a very sobering reminder about how lucky I am to be living in Canada. I am so very thankful for the sacrifices made by the men and women who fought for our rights & freedoms in wars past and for those who continue to fight today. 

Now on to my project ~~~

I started with an 8x10 canvas that, in a previous life, was going to be another project. That planned project didn't quite turn out how I hoped so I just painted over it with black gesso and tucked it away. 

Never waste a canvas! 

I first started by applying a thin layer of white gesso with my paint brush. I wasn't too neat about it, I just knew I wanted a bit of black left around the edges as a border. Next I applied a dollop of  heavy gesso to the centre of my canvas and used an old hotel key card to spread it out a bit. I then used the same card to make vertical drag lines through the thick gesso and one horizontal line.

Once that was good and dry, I applied an few dabs of Fired Brick & Aged Mahogany Distress paint along the horizontal line, spritzed it with a bit of water then tip my canvas to & from until I got the finished look you see on the right panel. 

I then added so stamping along the bottom edge of the canvas using
Carnation Red Archival Ink from Ranger and these amazing Canada themed stamps from Emerald Creek Craft Supplies.
 Canada
We Grow On You
Maple Leaf

 Check out the rest of the Canadiana stamps from Emerald Creek - here.

The tag I made using a #8 black tag from Ranger that I trimmed down after I die cut the word "Remember" from the Friendship Words Block thinlit die set from Sizzix.

I then layered this over a small piece of cream cardstock using foam tape for dimension and some Picket Fence Distress paint along the edges.
The wreath was made using  Holiday Greens Thinlit die set from Sizzix & Tim Holtz. I die cut a bunch out using 3 different shades of green cardstock and gluing these around a base made from jute string. I used my spritzer tool & Peeled Paint Distress Marker to add some detail to the wreath and added a few Pine Cone Charms from Emerald Creek Craft Supplies.

Before adhering my wreath & tag to my canvas I used my spritzer tool & Hickory Smoke Distress marker to add some small details and stamped a few Maple Leafs with black Archival Ink to the canvas.

Lest We Forget

Don't forget to check out the rest of the projects from the rest of the
Emerald Creek Dares Design Team:

Cathy - Amethyst Dragonfly's Alcove
Karon - Karon's Krafty Korner
Diana - missusgmoments

Thank you so much for visiting my blog today!

Masculine Card - Operation DeStash #2

Just a quick post today to show you a card I made for my sisters future father-in-law.

I am sad to say that this is the first time I used my 12x12 Kraft Resist Paper Stash from Tim Holtz. I've has this in my paper stash for almost 2 years! Well, I can say that I will be using it a lot more now because it is amazing!
I die cut Umbrella Man out of a sheet of this paper then used Black Soot Distress Stain. I like how Umbrella Man looks like a shadow.
The background is Rivet embossed foil paper that I  covered in Black Soot Distress Paint then gently wiped away when it was partially dry. I then scratched it up with some sandpaper and then stamped some images with Staz On Ink.

 

The blue banner is stamped images from the Tiny Things set. I then using my blending tool to blend Peacock Feathers, Walnut Stain & Ground Espresso Distress Inks over the stamped images.

I just can't resist adding a bit of stamping to the envelope too!

Thank for visiting my blog today & I hope you a have a wonderful weekend!

~~stay crafty~~

Genuine Smile......Operation Destash #1

**Since downsizing to a condo I realized that I need to curb my hoarding tendencies and begin using my stash - Today is day 1. Let Operation DeStash begin! Everything I used for this project was stuff I had on hand and some things I have had for years.**

My husband and I became 'empty-nesters' a couple of months ago and I'm still getting used to not seeing them for weeks at a time. I'm happy that they are happy, independent adults off following their dreams but they will always be my babies.

I was recently going through my stash and found these Altered Metal Frames from Prima and decided that they would make fabulous projects to showcase photos of my kids.

Today's project is all about my son, Daylen, and his genuine smile. 

I started out by removing the back of the frames and adding some stenciling with Ranger Archival Ink & Splatters and Burlap Layering stencils from Tim Holtz.

Another stash find was this mini brick wall chipboard from Dusty Attic.

After a layer of Ground Espresso Distress Stain, I applied some Turquoise Embossing Powder from Ranger. After setting this with my heat gun and letting it cool I gently rubbed the embossing powders to reveal the edges. I then glued the bricks down with Tacky Glue making sure to leaves spaces in between.

Bricks need mortar - so I made some using Texture Sand Paste from Deco Art Media and a couple of drops of Ground Espresso Distress Ink. I used a tiny spatula to spread this between the chipboard bricks.I love how this turned out!  

I definitely was going for a Steampunk feel to this project and as luck may have it I have A LOT of gears in my stash. Metal gears, wood gears, chipboard gears.....so many gears!

I wanted a grungy, rusty feel to this gear set so I decided to combine some Vintage Photo Distress Powder with some Burnt Copper Leaves Embossing Powder from Emerald Creek Craft Supplies.

I was absolutely thrilled with the end result - the perfect mix of rust and grunge!

I wish I knew who made this gear set - I checked a few sites but can't find it. Let me know if you recognize it!

 

The sentiment was embossed foil paper die cut with the word Genuine from the Friend Block Thinlit set and the word 'Smile' from the Friend Script thinlit set. I love this set because it so versatile. I have used it for many different projects & cards.

 Assembling this project was a lot of fun.  I found so many cool charms, gears & do-dads in my stash that worked so well!

Operation DeStash is well underway.

 Thank you so much for visiting my blog today!

 Challenges Entered:

SanDee & amelie's Steampunk Challenge - Anything Goes (Steampunk/Industrial)
The Dusty Attic - November Mood Board