We Are Fearless

 Creativity is good for the soul. A healthy escape and cheaper than therapy. I made this mixed media card using many of Tim’s techniques from his demos. 

As I patiently await for the palette papers to arrive I had to get creative. Using recoiling scissors and palette collage strips cutting down in different sizes to make ephemera then collaging it to the card base. 

Building up the layers TH/Sizzix texture fade wood planks, swiping the embossing folder with distress ink in frayed burlap, once embossed swipe a mini cube of distress archival frayed burlap on the raised parts to create dimension. 

Chipped Sapphire is one of my favourite ‘old school’ distress inks/oxides. I used the oxide and smooshed it onto distress watercolour card stock, heating between layers. Next using the same oxide swipe the TH/Sizzix 3D texture fade Typewriter, run it through, then with a brayer and distress paint black soot lightly run over raised areas of embossed background.

 Bringing the flower and greenery to life. I love the thickness of chipboard. It’s sturdy and great for painting. I used lightweight chipboard and dies from vault wildflowers. They are the perfect size for this card. I tucked the banner behind the flower/greenery, using dies from vault bunny and chick. Distress paints to colour the dies. Tim and Ranger came up with these awesome label stickers for their line of distress. I especially love the distress paint stickers. It makes it easier to see what I have or to grab and have at the ready. lol 

Cello sticker tape from Tim’s idea ology line has been my go to for final touches on my cards. I added an extra cello sticker over the bottom part of the stems as if they were wrapped. You can have a closer look in the second picture.

Finishing touches. Tying a piece of twine from my stash around the stems ending with a knot. Tim’s idea ology chit chat sticker book has many sayings to choose from that are perfect for simple sayings on makes. I modified a saying to fit this card perfectly. Even though they are self adhesive I always like to add collage medium for extra tackiness.

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and that you take the time to make stuff. It’s a beautiful thing.

Christina

Mr. Dandy

 Meet Mr. Dandy, he has a dandelion garden.

I made a front facing card using Stampers Anonymous Mr. Rabbit stamp set and Sizzix thinlit dies.

Smoosh distress ink + oxide in pumice stone on distress watercolour card stock. Heat set between layers. Using the faded plaid, dots and words from cms478 Mr. Rabbit and distress ink Pumice stone, stamp in random spots on inked background.

Bringing Mr. Dandy to life with TH/SA cms478 Mr. Rabbit. VersaFine Clair nocturne ink, Distress watercolour pencils, water brush and to complete him with Simon Says Stamp coordinating dies.

I had a lot of fun making the dandelions with TH/Sizzix dies. The feather from vault lovebirds has a unique shape that is perfect for the dandelion leaves. Mixed with wildflower stems #1 and vault wildflowers you can get a variety of leaves.

Choosing the colours for the leaves + twigs came easy, as I had swatches at the ready. Distress inks add a nice saturated colour with a spritz of water and a water brush.

I used the same technique for the dandelion flowers. From when they bloom to when they blow into white fluff.

 Securing Mr. Dandy to the card front with pop up squares. Adhering the dandelions with collage medium. Intertwining them to create dimension. Adding a saying from the idea ology sticker book and last but not least machine stitched border in cream thread.

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and it leaves you feeling inspired.

Christina 

You are Beautiful

 

Distress watercolour card stock is my go to for mixed media. It’s heavy weight and perfect for all mediums. There are two sides textured and smooth. I opt for the smooth side. But it’s entirely up to you. 

Creating the background using distress ink + oxide, distress spray oxide in lost shadow, distress sprayer and heat tool. Making sure to heat set between layers. Once dry stam with cms454 gothic tapestry (music notes) distress in lost shadow in random places in the background.

Simon Says Stamp embossing folder SF460 Pinnacle Hearts adds a nice soft dimension to the background.

Tim’s collage strips from his everyday idea ology release come in many colours. I chose the pink palette and trimmed it to fit the card base. Adhering with collage medium. Using Tim Holtz/Stampers Annonymous mixed media stamp and stencil set THMM162 (stencil) linked circles and crackle paste translucent to create added texture over collage strip.

For the focal point I used one of the flowers from cms487 French garden. Inked with distress archival ink in black soot.

What I love most about these stamps is the room for colouring. Tim’s distress watercolour pencil crayons are great for  wet or dry watercolour. I used the wet technique for a nice soft blend. You can see the process here.

Fussy cut the flower using recoiling scissors and a craft knife for the intricate details. 

Machine stitch the right side of the card in pink thread. cms394 tiny text stamped in distress oxide kitsch flamingo masking out the word “BE” and placing it behind the flower.

Adding dimension to the flower with pop up squares. Tiny attacher to secure the stem of the flower and the saying. The finishing touch adding cello tape to random sections of card.

I hope this inspires you to make. Thnx for looking.

Christina 

A Little Note

 I was never a huge fan of the colour yellow. But when it’s mixed with other colours the subtle vibe it brings is beautiful. 

Creating a light background using distress ink + oxide scattered straw + distress spray oxide antique linen. Misting with distress sprayer and heating between layers. Keeping with the colour yellow theme adding one of Tim’s idea ology collage strips. Adhere with collage medium, trimming to fit card base.

Stampers Anonymous field notes stamp set makes it easy to collage a background. Choosing a couple of contrasting colours for inking makes for a nice background. Applying crackle paste translucent through SA mixed media stamp + stencil set (mesh) with a palette knife creates a nice subtle texture. Let it air dry to reveal all the cracks from the paste.

I love birds and nature. I have a ‘bird family’ in the backyard. They come to the bird feeder every now and then and sometimes eat the fallen seeds around the tree. I have yet to see a chickadee. Simon Says Stamp has a beautiful die layered chickadee that is perfect for this make. Choosing colours with a hint of yellow on the birds belly captures it perfectly. Adding pointy pine sprigs from SSS diecember release (sold out) with some greens.

 Machine stitched border in cream thread then stitching a messy circle with loose ends. SA mixed media stamps + stencil (note quotes) stamp circle in fossilized amber oxide. Stamp the words a little note in embossing ink then Ranger embossing powder white onto Kraft stock blackout (retired) heat set with Ranger Handle IT tool to avoid burning fingers lol.

Finishing touches. Adding depth to the pine sprigs with a deeper shade of green and my new favourite cello tape. It comes in different sizes and great for your makes. A piece of wooden plank from my stash for the chickadee to perch on.

Adhere to pale yellow card stock makes for a nice warm card.

Even when it’s your least favourite colour it can turn into something beautiful.

Thnx for looking 

Christina

Focus on the Good

A mixed media card using Simon Says Stamp dies flourish bird + classic leaf ring from the Diecember release and flourish heart trio from the heart to heart release. 

Distress watercolour card stock is perfect for wet and dry techniques. This is my go to for card bases. Smoosh distress ink + oxide in lost shadow on card bases. Spritz with water and heat set between layers. Add a bit of distress spray stain in lost shadow on top. Heat set.

Sayings from cms343 natures wonder stamped with distress oxides in hickory smoke + black soot in random sections of card bases.

Die cut the sss flourish heart trio and save the negative die. Use this as a stencil with texture paste translucent and a palette knife in random sections of tag. Let air dry. Next choose an ombré of your favourite oxides to blend on the flourish hearts.

The flourish bird is so adorable! Take your favourite coordinating oxides and create a soft blend on the bird. Choosing what to use for the twigs came easy as the classic leaf ring die comes with a full die and a mini sprig of leaves die, perfect for tucking underneath the bird. Use a combo of light browns to make the twigs look natural.

Machine stitched border in light blue thread. Next making a messy circle by running card stock through machine like a race car then leaving loose threads at ends. Stamping the circle from Stampers Anonymous mixed media stencil and stamps in distress oxide tumbled glass overlapping the messy circle. focus on the good saying stamped in distress embossing ink, Ranger embossing powder white on Kraft stock blackout (retired). Trim to fit a square and adhere to surface.

Tim’s cello tape adds a nice finishing touch to mixed media projects. Just peel + stick.

The flourish bird needs a perch/branch to sit on, a wooden plank from my stash to the rescue! Adhere card base to Kraft stock classic.

With a few steps you can make layers into magic at your fingertips. 

Thnx for looking 

Christina

Comfort & Joy

 The possibilities are endless with Simon Says Stamp Falling Snow die, paired with Tim + Sizzix Winter Wonderland dies + Stampers Anonymous stamps makes a perfect everyday or seasonal card.

I started with distress watercolour card stock as a base. Die cut SSS falling snow. A soft blend blueprint sketch + shaded lilac distress oxides, to create the magic of northern lights. 

Die cut the mama + baby deer from Tim + Sizzix die winter  wonderland. Distress oxides in tea dye + distress ink in walnut stain for shadowing.

I love the different fonts from Tim’s + Stampers Anonymous stamps. In particular the ones from the great outdoors stamp set. I chose the stamp ‘tidings of comfort & joy’ masking off tidings of then embossing ink embossed with Ranger embossing powder white and my handy dandy Ranger handle IT tool for heat setting.

Machine stitched in cream thread, ever so delicately along the bottom of card.

Take the time to be creative. It’s good for the soul.

Christina 

Let it Snow

 Winter is here. ❄️ The snow is falling effortlessly. So happy to be inside crafting lol. Made a winter themed card using dies from Simon Says Stamp releases, Diecember and Heart to Heart. 

Distress watercolour card stock and SSS falling snow die, run through die cut machine. I used the new Sizzix big shot. Any machine will do. 

I love the soft blend from Tim + Rangers distress oxides. They have a chalk like finish when dry, then the magic happens once you spray it with water and heat set. Tim + Ranger collaborated on these cool distress labels. They make things a lot easier to find your inks/oxides.

Die cutting the flourish bear S1078 from SSS Diecember release with distress heavy stock white and his nose + eye from Kraft stock black. Tim’s tiny ink blending tools are the best for intricate details. Using a small amount of distress oxide in tumbled glass on the bear gives the right amount of shadow. 

The “let it snow.” Stamp from STAMPTEMBER 2023 I just love. The font is perfect for this make. Heat embossed with distress embossing ink, Ranger embossing powder white on blackout Kraft stock. With Ranger Handle IT tool to the rescue while heat setting. Tim’s recoiling scissors to separate the words, then adhere to card with distress collage medium.

Machine stitched border in cream thread and pop ups for flourish bear makes for a nice finish.

Hope you enjoyed my how to and it leaves you feeling inspired.

Christina