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 

Beautiful Day

 To new beginnings…. I’m not a fan of adventures . The unknown, being out of my comfort zone in everyday life. It’s a different ball game when it comes to creativity. Stepping out of my inner circle and exploring new techniques and applying them to older ones. The difference is being creative in the craft room is it’s the  safe zone. You know what they say ‘what happens in the craft room ~ stays in the craft room’ lol I made a card about being in the moment and seeing where it takes you.

Distress watercolour card stock is my go to for inky backgrounds. Especially with distress oxides. Magic happens when spritzing with water then heat setting it. 

I love how versatile Tim’s + Stampers Anonymous stamps are. I used cms358 music and advert. Applying distress archival in vintage photo to random parts of music background stamp then to smooshed oxide background.

I’ve always wanted to use the cms329 Theories stamp set and glad I bought it. Seeing the gentleman with the balloon and how others have used him. I was inspired to make. The properties of distress archival inks are perfect if you want a crisp look as they are permanent. I like to use the mini distress archival inks as they are easier to ink the detailed parts of stamps.

Sorting through ephemera is always a fun task. Cropping it to fit or using for layers. This particular ephemera piece is from an older package of Tim’s. I don’t remember what type of ephemera it came from. Mental note: always keep packaging lol. If anyone knows the name it would be greatly appreciated. machine stitched corners with brown thread. I wanted a messy look so I ran it through the sewing machine like a race car but not getting to carried away. Next I grabbed the cello tape which was gifted to me by a great friend. You know who you are. Place it in random places on the card. 

Tim’s chitchat stickers are perfect for everyday words. Distress spritz in Antique linen for an added touch 

I hope you take the time to make stuff ~ it’s good for the soul.

Christina 

Winter Fun

 Winter is here, as I see big fluffy snowflakes falling from the sky. It's a perfect time to make a winter theme tag.

I love the endless possibilities of Tim's + Sizzix dies. They are so versatile. Perfect for the holiday season.

Apply Dina Wakley gesso in white (an even coat) to the small thickboard Ecetera tag. Let air dry or to speed up the process heat set. Once dry add a light wash on top by mixing distress paint in speckled egg + water. Ratio 2 parts water to one part paint. Heat set.

Begin by adding more texture using TH/SA layering stencil dots + texture paste icicle with a palette knife in random places of tag. Let air dry. This gives the illusion of ice crystals with the crackle of the texture paste.

Assembling Gladys:

Tim + Sizzix have a video on YouTube how to assemble Gladys. This makes is easier especially when you have to reverse her. You can find the video here. Next colour the dies with distress heavy stock white and  distress oxides, using a blending brush. Gladys needs ice skates. Tim's die thin ice to the rescue! 

Finding ideas for a freezer, using Sizzix retro oven. It's easy to assemble, with metallic kraft stock in jewel + texture paste in icicle. Let air dry.

Making ice cubes + backing for the freezer. Backing: mixed media heavy stock white with retro oven die, alcohol yupo translucent fit to backing. Rock candy glitter + chunky glitter with glossy accents on idea ology baubles. Tim has an awesome demo how to make these. You can find it here. It's at the 1:30:13 mark. Adding a dimensional dome to the freezer opening, fill with baubles then adhere backing.

Adding a few presents from thinlits die santas helper + distress oxides for colour.

The words and hanger are a combination of thinlits dies vault seasonal sketch (drop shadow of letters with kraft stock cool + overlay with metallic kraft stock) + vault bunny hop (hanger - metallic kraft stock)

Diedember 2022 chilly + freezy dies make great accessories for Gladys. Scarves, toques, ear muffs.... the possibilities are endless.

The wood planks are from my stash using the 3D embossing folder lumber, distress inks, crayon.

Feeling inspired... go through your stash, it's amazing what you can make with it!

Christina