Mini Album #5 : Altered Lunch Pails - Doggy Diary's

Hello Paper Crafters.  I have soooo many projects from way back when I wasn't blogging that I would like to gradually work into my blog and this is just one of them!  

These are some of my all time favorite projects featuring our pups.

My husband and I each got a pup when we turned 40.  Our kids were growing up and didn't seem to need us as much, so we wanted more babies, without the bottles and diapers, teehee.  So I had this idea to create them doggy diaries.  And the Basic Grey lunch pails were really big back then.  The idea was that I would store, their breed papers, vet records, and favorite photo's in them.

Ok I admit it.  I have a slightly unhealthy relationship with my pups.  I adore them.  They have never been boarded.  I have a rule, that if the dogs can't go, I don't go, teehee.  With the exception of 1 time, either my husband and I have been with them over night.  Only once have we went away and left them with someone else, daughter, and I called frequently.

And of course I needed a few accesories to go along with them!

Boy is this a bad photo.  It was taken years ago.

If you have pups, I hope you are inspired to create your own special doggy diaries!

Melisa

You can view all of my Altered Projects HERE

3 ways to use paint on your backgrounds ...

Hello friends!  I'm so excited to share these today.  I have several different idea's for ways you can use acrylic paint on your projects.  I have used them on cards, but they could be used for scrapbooking, artist trading cards, and art journals / mixed media as well.  

All of the projects today feature Hero Arts stamp images as well.

On the card above I used Hero Arts "Design Block : Flourish" and "3 Artistic Butterflies".  I watered down some acrylic paint just a little (mine was very thick) and patted it on the background stamp with a foam brush.  I spritz the water color paper lightly with water and then stamped the background.  I think it would be fun to try multiple color paints as well.  Next I splattered on some watered down pink paint using a small round paint brush.  

For the second card I spritz the water color paper lightly with water and then "stamped circles" on the background with the cardboard centers from toilet paper and paper towels.  Again the paint was watered down a little.  Then I spritz again with water so that the paint would run and the background would become mottled.  I did some smaller pieces for ATC's using some small plastic lids from my chapstick and an hand sanitizer bottle.  The green paint was splattered on.  The stamp for this card is "Classic Bloom".

The background on this one was stamped like the first one using "Cling Dots".  I used "Dictionary Greetings" and "Cupcakes" as well.

I also created by own washi tape for all of these cards as well.  You may remember I did this last year on some of my Pink Persimmon Artist Trading Cards.  Adhere masking tape to wax paper (so you can pull it back up later and adhere it to your project).  Paint masking tape then stamp with patterned images.

A few general tips ...

Watercolor paper paper comes in different weights and textures.  Doesn't matter what kind you use, but keep in mind that the thinner the paper, the more it will warp.  Mine was thinner that I usually use.  After the panels were dry I ironed them to flatten them by placing the panels between 2 paper towels.

Acrylic paints vary in viscosity as well.  Just practice til you get the feel for how much to water yours down.

I hope you are inspired to use acrylic paint on your projects.

Have a fabulous day!

Melisa

Sweet 'n Sassy "Flowers in Bloom"

Hello stampers.  Today I'm sharing a card created using Sweet 'n Sassy "Flowers in Bloom".  Love those flowers!  And I love that sentiment.  I hope you are all having a fabulous week so far.

I'm excited because tomorrow is the day I meet with my painting group.  I'm working on an oil painting.  Still haven't actually done a canvas yet.  I just feel like I want to get better at it before I actually do a canvas.  So I'm still practicing.  I have to say learning to oil    paint is one of the hardest crafty activities I've ever tried.  I haven't really worked on it the last year like I had intended when I started this journey.  But last month I started going back to my wednesday group and that's keeping me on track with at least working on something once a week.  Maybe I will have the courage to share with you some day.

I have been working on some Faith art this week which was inspired by taking Stephanie Ackerman's Class.          We are supposed to create 1 a week.  I will share mine 4 at a time, once monthly.  2 down, 2 to go!  I also have a card set to share that shows creative ways to use paint on your cards.  So be looking for that one as well.

Have a blessed day!!
hugs, Melisa

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Project Details

All Stamps : Sweet 'n Sassy "Flowers in Bloom"

Patterned Paper : Authentique 6 x 6 paper pad

Copic Markers

Deckled Scissors - Fiskars    Border Punch - Martha Stewart

Spellbinders Labels Eight Nestibilities

Adhere patterned paper to card front.  Trim patterned paper 1 7/8" x 5 1/2".  Punch border from black cardstock and adhere along edge of panel.  Adhere black cardstock to panel and trim with deckled scissors.  Adhere panel to card front.  Stamp image on white cardstock and color.  Cut white cardstock with Spellbinders Nestibilities die.  Adhere to panel to card front.  Stamp sentiment and adhere to card front.

Mixed Media Cupcake Canvas'

Hello mixed media friends.  Today I am excited to finally sharing the 4 cupcake canvas' I created earlier in the month.  I was holding off because I felt like they were not quite finished.  I want to add some words or phrases, but never got around to it.  So I figured it was best to go ahead and share them as is for now.  The canvas' are 8 x 8 and I did them in colors to match my studio.  I'm going to arrange them in a square.

I had sooooo much fun creating them.  Of course looking back, realized things I would not do if I had to do it again.  But still found great joy in the creative process for these canvas' and I hope you are inspired to create one of your own and share it with me.  I'm including photo's of each project at the 1/2 way point as well.  

CANVAS #2

The techniques I used for creating the layered / dreamy background was learned in a class called "Art Journal Conversion" by Roben-Marie Smith.  While using these mediums were not new to me, it was the use of them that completely inspired me and is now one of my favorite mixed media techniques.  Roben shows you how to build multiple layers of spray inks with stencils, and gesso to get that dreamy effect.  I'm including photo's at the 1/2 way point of creation as well.

CANVAS #3

The cupcakes are hand drawn patterns.  I paper pieced them and then added the icing (thick tachy glue -Aleene's with glitter sprinkled on top)

I learned a lot doing these canvas'.  

#1 plan out what you are going to put on your backgrounds and visually lay it out, so you can see where you might want to place your modeling paste shapes.  

#2  I love the circles and flowers with the cupcakes ....  but wasn't crazy about the style of the 2 swirly stencils and ended up trying to cover them up with circles.  

If you have any specific questions about any of the backgrounds ..... shoot me an email.

Here's a close-up so you can see the texture the modeling paste adds !

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!  I will have so many more projects (Mixed Media, Scrapbooking, Cards, and ATC's) to share with you in 2012 so I hope you will stop by again.  If you want to receive my post via email, it's easy!  Just enter your email address in the sign-up box on the side-bar.  You can unsubscribe at any time.  

If you are interested in checking out all my Mixed Media projects Click HERE.

Projects with background tutorials can be found HERE.

I just set up a new page with a list of mixed media classes I have taken and why I liked them.  You can find the link with the tabs along the top of my blog.  If you have any classes you have taken and enjoyed .... I would love to here about them.

I have to share one more thing .... I just signed up for Stephanie Ackerman's "52 Card Pick Up" Class.  Wanna check it out??  Visit Stephanie's blog HERE.

I just set up a new page with a list of mixed media classes I have taken and why I liked them.  You can find the link with the tabs along the top of my blog.  If you have any classes you have taken and enjoyed .... I would love to here about them.

Pink Persimmon's "Fine and Dandy"

Hello stampers!  Tonight I'm sharing a card is designed using one of the Antiquated sets "Fine and Dandy" by Lisa M. Pace for Pink Persimmon.  I just love the Antiquities line!  I hope you are all having a fabulous New Year so far!!

Still lots of challenges for us and certainly not sure what 2013 will bring.  It's a little scarry, because my mother still has no place to live and it's not looking like that problem will be solved anytime soon.  It is very difficult to have her living with us.  I grew up with no father and an alcoholic mother.  It wasn't the best of situations and there is soooo much hurt, anger, resentment in our relationship.  So to now have someone who has damaged you emotionally live with you .....  well it's one of the most difficult situations I have been in for quite some time.  I am trusting that God has a fabulous plan.  Even when my prayers are not answered like I think they should be ... or when they should be .... I know that He loves me and I trust that He will not put more on me than I can handle as long as I lean on Him.  I pray that the way that I handle this very difficult and emotional situation will only bring honor and glory to Him!  Because trust me ... there is no way that I could show love, kindness, forgiveness, or patience to the one person who has hurt me so deeply in my life without God.  Everyday has become a struggle but I know that I will be stronger  when it's all said and done!

As a result ... I am struggling with be creative as well.  I did work on a set of 4 coordinating 8 x 8 canvas's recently and need to get them photographed.  Hope to share more soon!!

hugs,
Melisa

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Project Details

Stamps : Pink Persimmon "Fine and Dandy", "Carnival Alpha Set", "Mini Silhouettes and Monograms"
Check out Pink Persimmon stamps HERE.
Patterned Paper : DCWV "Linen Closet" (Joanns)

Markers : Copic B93, B95, E000, E00, R00, E23, E25

Border Punch : Fiskars

Embossing Folder : The Paper Studio "Musical Flourish"

Die : Spellbinders "Labels Eight"

My Mind's Eye Layouts

I was so excited that I got a few minutes to finally do some crafting this weekend!  I created a couple of layouts for some scrapbook challenges.  The December Challenge over on the My Mind's Eye blog was a sketch.  You have until midnight January 1st to play long if you are interested.  I used My Mind's Eye "The Sweetest Thing" products for layout #1.  The doily stamps are from the " Stella and Rose " collection by MME.  The washi tape is from the "Oliver" collection mentioned below.

These photo's are of my children, myself, and my grandfather way back in 1990.

In October I won the My Mind's Eye monthly challenge and received a fabulous prize package.  Each month the winner gets to choose a MME collection as their prize!!  And they send you EVERYTHING in that collection !!!  Definitely worth playing along with their challenges.  I selected the " Lost and Found 3 - Oliver " Collection.  So over the next couple of months I will be sharing layouts using this collection.  

And this one is of my son at age 19.

Thanks for stopping by!

Melisa

You can check out all my Scrapbook Layouts HERE.

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Challenges

Layout #1 - "3 Generations"

My Mind's Eye Sketch Challenge

Cards Galore - anything goes deadline January 14th

Another Freaking Scrapbook Challenge - Generations
Scrappin' Happy - use a number in the title


Layout #2 - "19"
Creative Scrappers - Dec 9th sketch #238
The Studio Challenges - lots of layers

Unless .....

Hello friends!  Its been a while since I posted ( the PP post was pre-posted ).  Just wanted to take a few minutes to share with you what I have been up to.  Let me begin by saying how sorry I am that I haven't sent any Christmas cards.  : (    I do have some winter cards I made a while back and hope to get some of those in the mail soon.  This month has turned out to be very overwhelming .... but I hope to get back to more regular post in January.

Well we went on a little road trip that took us from Houston, TX to Georgia to visit relatives, then down to Jacksonville, FL for our daughters graduation.  We also had to finish packing up my daughter and mother to move them out here to Houston.  We were exhausted by the time we got back.  

I ask for your prayers.  We moved my mom here expecting to move her into an apartment soon after arriving.  But there were some problems that resulted in the apartment complex turning her down.  Imagine our shock.  We have an opportunity to submit a letter for them to reconsider and I am asking that you PLEASE pray about this for us.  We will be turning in the letter tomorrow and will have an answer in 24-48 hours.  This is really a stressful time for us regarding this right now, so thank you so very much for your prayers.

Of course, the best part of the trip was seeing my sweet girl graduate.  I'm so very proud of her!  She will be an elementary school teacher and the kids in her class will definitely be blessed by this very enthusiastic girl who is determined to change the world.  And I believe she will!

Here are a few photo's the first class she taught for her internship.

It was so wonderful to have the opportunity to stop by her class on the way to graduation.

"UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it's not."

The Lorax

thank you so much my friends for your prayers!

Melisa

Designing with Masking Tape

2.5" x 3.5" Artist Trading Card

Hello paper crafters.  Today I want to share a couple of ways to use masking tape on your projects.  It can be used to create a distressed background as seen in the ATC above or to create your own decorative tape as shown on the ATC below.

2.5" x 3.5" Artist Trading Card

I am really enjoying using the ATC Sized Background stamps by Pink Persimmon.  I used the script image from "Fairy Tale" on ATC #1 ... and 3 other background patterns on ATC #2.  Hop on over to the Pink Persimmon store HERE and check out all the options!

Now get that masking tape out and get creative!!
Have a great day,  Melisa

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Project Details

ATC #1 

Stamps : Pink Persimmon "Fairy Tale" (script background image) and "Fine and Dandy"
Check out Pink Persimmon stamps HERE.

Spray Ink :  Glimmer Mist 

Ink : Brilliance "Pearlescent Brown"

Masking tape

Gesso

Cover ATC with masking tape.

Tear edges of masking tape strips and continue to layer.

Cover with gesso. (you can also use acrylic paint)  

Distress the surface by gently rubbing with a finger and peeling back some of the edges of some of the tape.

Spray with ink.

Rub cream colored acrylic paint on with a finger here and there and around edges.

Stamp with script background and brown ink.  I applied the ink to the image with a dauber over specific area's of the image (I didn't want to stamp the entire image). 

I didn't intend for the brown to be so prominent, so I wiped some off with a paper towel.  Just keep layering paint / ink until you get the look you want.  I ended up rubbing on a little more cream colored acrylic paint.

Stamp male image, color, trim and adhere to ATC front.  Stamp, trim, and doodle around words.  Adhere to ATC.

ATC #2

Stamps : Pink Persimmon "Springtime" (polka dots image), "Fairy Tale" (script  and floral image), "Spelling Bee" (words image), "Little Red Wagon" (girl image),  "Soda Pop Alpha"

Check out Pink Persimmon stamps HERE.

Masking Tape

Acrylic Paint (orange, purple, aqua)

Patterned Paper : Memory Box "Jubilee" 6 x 6 paper pad (green) and Pink Paislee "365 Degree's" 6 x 6 paper pad

Markers : E23, E25 (hair / shoes), Y38 (bow), E000, E00, R00 (skin)

Brilliance "Pearlescent Chocolate"

Stamp polka dot background image with yellow ink.  Paint strips of masking tape with acrylic paint.  I save the little plastic sheets that my clear stamps come on, so I applied the tape to these before painting.  You can put the strips on any surface that will be easy for you to remove after paint is dry.  After it's dry, stamp background patterns on them.  Tear and add to card.  Ink edges in brown.  Stamp girl on white cardstock, green patterned paper, and orange patterned paper. Color hair and skin, then trim girl from white cardstock.  Paper piece dress / socks-shoes.  Color over the green shoes with brown marker.  Stamp letters, trim, doodle around edges and adhere to ATC.

Background Tutorial!

2.5" x 3" Artist Trading Card

Good morning friend.  "Whoo" wants to see another background tutorial???   I want to try and share one a month for a while.  I used this technique on a Artist Trading Card, but you could use it in a altered journal or card as well.  I designed this one using another one of Pink Persimmon's fun ATC Background stamps.  They have 4 different sets.  This one is from "Fairy Tale".  

I also used "Wise Old Owl".  The images in this set are solid and the body parts separate. So you can really get creative and stamp different body parts in different colors.  Here is one that I stamped but haven't had time to use on a card yet.

See what I mean??  He comes with a party hat as well.  Too cute!

Whoo wants to give this technique a try??  Stay tuned for another background tutorial in December!

Hope you find some time to get creative today,

hugs, Melisa

You can check out more Background Tutorials HERE.

You can check out more Mixed Media projects HERE.

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Project Details

Stamps : Pink Persimmon  "Wise Old Owl"  and "Fairytale" ATC Sized Background
Check out Pink Persimmon stamps HERE.
Spray Inks : Glimmer Mist "
Ink : VersaMagic "Tea Leaves", Brilliance "Pearlescent Chocolate", VersaMagic "Turquoise Gem"
Glitter Glue : Studio G (Joann's)

Trim watercolor paper 2.5" x 3.5" (I didn't realize it until I went to put mine together that the one above was larger.  That's why the final project has part of the branch cut off).   Spray with aqua and yellow inks.  Stamp Fairytale background image with green ink.  Ink edges with brown ink.

Spray watercolor paper with yellow spray ink.  Stamp owl body and head with brown ink then trim.  Stamp wings in brown ink, trim, and adhere to owl body.  Stamp crown / eyes, trim, and adhere to owl body.  Stamp branch if you like the partial swirlies of the final project.  Stamp branch / claw image across bottom of owl image.  Adhere owl to background.  Add glitter glue to crown.  Type words, print, cut, and doodle around edges.  Adhere to ATC.

Altered Christmas Birdhouses

Good morning paper crafters!  Hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving.  We had our son and his girlfriend over and really enjoyed spending time with them.  Here's a photo ....

I don't know about you ... but I"m still stuffed from all the food we ate.  We cooked on Friday instead of Thursday so the kids could spend Thursday with Jenna's family.  I tried a new recipe this year ... pumpkin cake.  I don't eat pie and we have always had pumpkin pie in the past.  So I thought a pumpkin cake would be a good idea .... or was it .... I can't stop eating it, teehee.   Now we are taking all the fall decor down and getting the Christmas decor up.

So today I want to share some altered Christmas birdhouses I created.  

I have a detailed step by step tutorial on how I created one of them posted with my Altered Valentine birdhouses HERE.  

All the patterned paper is from my stash.  A lot of the cardboard embellishments I used are from K& Company from last year.  The Holly Flourish die I used above is by Cheery Lynn Designs.  The birds used on the first 3 houses are stamp images.

The word "peace" above is by Maya Road and these chipboard Christmas Words are still available HERE.

Hope you are inspired to create some altered birdhouses of your own!

hugs, Melisa

Vintage style birthday card

Hello paper crafters!  Today I want to share a vintage styled card I designed using images from 2 stamp sets from Pink Persimmon "Society Lady" and another recently released set "Postal Stamps".  "Society Lady"  is from the Antiquated line.  It includes a lot of vintage images.  I recently purchased some 8 x 8 mini-album pages and other accesories from the "Documented" line by Simple Stories.  Combined with the Antiquated line of images, I think I will be able to create a nice little album using some really old black and white photo's.  I don't have all the sets yet, but once I get them and it's all done, I will share.  I am completely addicted to Cheery Lynn Designs "French Doily".  I love the look I get when I cut from tissue paper and then spray it with inks.  

I'm off to work and then grocery shopping for the rest of my Thanksgiving meal ingredients!  I will be missing my daughter this year.  But I"m soooo thankful to have my son and his girlfriend.  I love the time we spend together cooking in the kitchen, listening to Christmas music,  and then decorating the tree's.  Did I mention I'm in love with his girlfriend.  She is so sweet .... and she likes to craft!  We spent the day together last wednesday and I really enjoyed it.  

Check out Pink Persimmon stamps HERE.

Thanks for stopping by today ....  and in case I don't get a chance to post again this week .... 
Happy Thanksgiving!!

hugs, Melisa

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Project Details

Stamps : Pink Persimmon "Society Lady" and "Parcel Post  "

Patterned Paper : My Mind's Eye 6 x 6 paper pad "Portabello Rd"

Die : "French Pastry Doily" Cheery Lynn Designs

Lace : Hobby Lobby

Pearls : "Say it with Pearls - Butterfly Pearls" Prima

Decorative Scissors : Deckled by Fiskars

Walking in a winter wonderland!

Good Morning card makers!  I love that Christmas carol.  I can't wait til thanksgiving day so I can start paling the Christmas music.  I have to admit .... I already started early in the month as I was working on a Christmas project.  DH snarled a little, teehee, asking what in the world was I doing playing Christmas music already.  I told him it's never to early for Christmas carols and ran him out of my studio!   Today I'm sharing a card I created for the Artistic Outpost November "referrel program".  Each month Artistic Outpost allows customers to link up their Artistic Outpost projects for a chance to win a prize package!  It's anything goes as long as you use their stamps.  For my project I used "Sleigh Ride"

Have a great day!!  Melisa

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Project Details

Stamp Set : Artistic Outpost "Sleigh Ride"

Patterned paper : Simple Stories "25 Days of Christmas - Journaling Cards"

Tickets : Making Memories

Poinsettia embellishments : K& Company ??

Watercolor crayons : Neocolor II

Trim red cardstock and journal card, ink edges and adhere together on card front.  Stamp image on watercolor paper and color with watercolor crayons.  Trim and adhere to card front.  Ink edges of tickets and adhere.  Embellish with paper poinsettia flowers.