What can YOU do w/ metal tape?!

Today I would like to share w/ you a tag that I made for a challenge that I am no longer a part of!  Haha!  I am still playing along because it broadens my horizons and I'm trying new things!  Like....metal tape!  Have you ever heard of it?  Well, I hadn't!  Until Monday!  I watched a YouTube video on the fun things that you can do w/ metal tape and paper!  So, since I wasn't chosen to continue in the Ultimate Design Challenge for Swirlydoos, I really don't need to continue w/ the challenges.  But, I want to!  I want to show that I can be a team player even though I'm not eligible any longer.  I refuse to be a sore loser!

I sent a text message to my friend, whose husband is a contractor, and asked if I could borrow some metal tape if he had any.  He did!  Yay!  I didn't have to buy a roll!  My husband is so happy!  I'm happy too!  It's expensive!!!!  I received the roll last night when we met up for dinner w/ some of our other friends, and I couldn't wait to get started!  After I took the kids to school this morning, I got my littlest one situated on the couch (still a fever after 3 days.  Ugh!), and I went off to my craft cave, I mean, room!

Here's what I created!

 Here's what I started out with!

 A plain manilla tag, metal tape, rub ons, titanium white accrylic paint, pink crackle paint, black gesso, chipboard, red and vanilla smooch spray, tinsel Heidi Swapp spray.I also added a chain, some accoutrements to the bottom, fancy rose button, flowers, and some leaves that I've had since I started crafting!

 In these pictures, I'm trying to show you the texture that I started with.  I first layered the tag w/ the tape.  Then, I glued the letters of my name, and then covered them w/ the tape.  I took different pieces and embossed them underneath the "Create" w/ an embossing folder.  I taped it every which way on that side.  I took my embosser and outlined each letter over the tape.

 Then, I started distressing it and changing it up.  First I painted it w/ white paint.  I wanted to get the paint into all the nooks and crannies.  Then, I sanded the tops of the embossed areas.  Then, I painted it w/ the pink crackle paint.  That looked ok, but it wasn't vibrant enough.  So, I grabbed my red spray and white spray and made it look pink.  Then the tinsel spray to add the metallic look.  I took white paint and w/ the wooden skewer, went over all of the highlights on each letter to accentuate the letters.

 The above pic is a good shot of what the tape looks like on there, even underneath all of the layers of paint and sprays!  The fact that it had the crisscrosses on it made my job easier because I didn't have to texturize it if I didn't want to.

If you look really close, underneath the word create, you can see the embossed swirls on a couple tape panels.

So, that's my latest development in the world of metal tape!  Unfortunately, I have to give the roll of tape back, or I would have more cool metallic projects!

Craft on!

Scrapbooking like CRAZY!

I can't believe it, but I have created more pages within the past 2 weeks than I made within the past 2 years! Amazing! I have created 2 pages for the Swirlydoos contest going on right now; 1 page for eclectic Paperie; and I completed 3 pages while at a scrapbooking fundraiser for 2 days! Wahoo!

 If you're a regular, then you probably have seen my 3 pages for Swirlydoos and eP.  Now I will show you the 3 pages I completed last weekend!

 This first page is of Elizabeth on the day she was born! I don't normally work w/ a sketch, and didn't for this one.  It's hard when you're getting used to creating w/ one picture, to try to incorporate two!  I think I achieved a level of elegance without it being too much.  My mom loved it, so that's always a plus, as she's a co-star on this page!

 This is when we went fishing at my dad's friend's pond the spring before Elizabeth was born.  I, of course, just sat and read my book and took a few token pictures to acknowledge that we did go fishing as a family!  So, I paid homage to that little fishing trip!  And looking back, it was fun!

 This picture of Jack just takes my breath away!  I really enjoy scrapping pictures of Jack because he's a boy and I love to do frilly, frou frou pages, so he forces me to think outside the box and get masculine!  Haha!
I think I achieved that look here! 

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a great day!

Jack's First Day of First Grade!

Hi there!  Today I am sharing a scrapbook page that I made for the Swirlydoos' Ultimate Design Challenge Week 2!  I made it through Week 1!  Whew!  Cross your fingers I can make it through another week!!!

This past weekend, I scrapbooked at a scrapbooking fundraiser.  As I was perusing through my photos for what I would work on, I found pictures of Jack's first day of First Grade!  I thought that if I made it through, I would do something w/ these pics this week!  So, here you have it!

The challenge called for paper layering.  I think I have 11 layers here...
Ok, let's dissect the page:

 I chose the best picture out of the bunch and worked around that.  I chose Kraft 12"x12" cardstock to be the bottommost layer and sponged w/ Walnut Stain Distress Ink and distressed it w/ my Tim Holtz Distresser.  Then, a boy type sheet that I trimmed the edges and distressed.  I took a piece of black Core'dinations 12"x12" c/s that I cut into a shape.  I trimmed out about an inch and sewed on the zipper.  Yes, I actually sewed!  It's straight too!  Wahoo!

Ok, here's a closeup of the bottom half.  The numbers are from Mini Numbers Collage from The Crafter's Workshop (found at eclecticPaperie.com) I laid the template down at an angle and painted the modeling paste over it in several layers.  I lifted the template and let the paste dry.  Once it was dry, I rubbed different colors of Gelatos over it to add some interest and detail.  All white is just blah!
The library card and Learn cards are from my stash.  The ruler is from Swirlydoos (a past kit), and I sanded off the black writing that was on there.  I had Jack write his name, and right now he has a number attached to him for school purposes!  I covered it w/ Clear Glaze so that the ink won't ever come off!  His handwriting now is the same as it was last year!  Still messy!  Hahaha!

I added a paper ruler the length across the page from a past kit.  And then the panel w/ the kids in school is from Graphic 45's An ABC Primer.  The little school house on the right is a file that I put together from svgcuts.com called Miss Baker's Classroom.  As you can see in the pic below, it's a card!

I think that's it!  Thanks for stopping by!

Ingredients:
Paper: Kraft 12"x12" c/s (Stampin' Up!);
           World paper: 12" Weekend Market Around the World by Bo Bunny
           Black Core'dinations c/s 12"x12"
           Cherry Cobbler, Baja Blue, Garden Green, Basic Black (all SU!)
           Graphic 45's An ABC Primer
           12" Weekend Market Rulers by Bo Bunny
           Learn Bingo Card & Library Card (assorted stash)
Ink: Walnut Stain Distress Ink (Ranger)
Embellishments: Cranberry Spray (Swirlydoos) (Prima?)
                         Black Pearl Swirl (Swirlydoos)
                         Scrabble letters (assorted)
                         Kaisercraft Black Pearls
                         Modeling Paste (Swirlydoos)
                         Numbers Template (The Crafter's Workshop) (eclecticPaperie)
                         zippers (Swirlydoos)
                         ruler (Swirlydoos)
                         chalk
                         Clear Glaze (Swirlydoos)
                         Miss Baker's Classroom (svgcuts.com)
                         Notebook punch (SU!)
                         Gelatos (lots of colors!) (Swirlydoos & eclecticPaperie)

Have a lovely day!

Secret Garden

Hi!  Today I would like to share my latest scrapbook page!  I created this based on a challenge that I am participating in at Swirlydoos! 

I had such fun creating this page!  I really should scrapbook more, but this page took a week to do!  And there's one picture on it!  Hahahaha! 

The original challenge was to create a 3-D embellishment that was to be added to a layout, card, altered piece.  I decided to create a garden gate w/ ivy and roses.  I cut the garden gate from the Moonlight Garden Party SVG file from svgcuts.com.  I cut two identical gates and glued them together.  This creates a more sturdy gate when you start piling on the embellishments!

I painted the whole gate w/ Picket Fence Ranger Distress Crackle Paint and let it dry.  There weren't enough cracks in it, so I double coated it w/ Rock Candy Crackle Paint.  This is more like it!  I then sponged Walnut Stain Distress Ink to age it.

I stamped Kitchen Sink Stamps Ivy several times and fussy cut them out.  I adhered them to the gate, and then added the roses that I have in my stash from Swirlydoos!

Here's a closeup of the distressing!  I just LOVE crackle paint!!!!

 Here's the finished layout!  Isn't Olivia just beautiful?!  This picture was taken right after she was born!

  Here's a closeup of the picture and some of the embellishments!

Ok, so what did I use?  Here we go!
Paper: Prima Firefly Collection (cut w/ Simon Simple Shapes: svgcuts.com);
           Pink Core'dinations c/s 12"x12" which I sanded down, distressed the edges, and then added a few 
                 layers of Rock Candy Crackle Paint.  I sponged Walnut Stain around the edges to age it.

           K & Co. Baby Girl stack, which I cut into a circle for the background layer of the picture.
           Perfect Plum for frame layer around photo, and swirls

Stamps: Kitchen Sink Stamps Ivy:  Ink: 1. Certainly Celery, 2. Mellow Moss, 3. Always Artichoke,
                                                            4. Olympia Green (Versafine)

Embellishments: Swirlydoo flowers, Prima flowers, Petaloo flowers
                         Prima Shabby Chic Treasures Birdhouse and birds: birdhouse covered in Rock Candy Paint
                         MFT Framed Greetings Die-namics colored in w/ Guava & Bubble Gum Gelatos and
                               sponged w/ Walnut Stain
                         MFT Fancy Flourish Die-namics

Have a wonderful day!!!

Storing your photos in style!

Hi there!  Today on the eclectic Paperie blog, we are being challenged to alter a box!  This is the first eTeam Picks Challenge!  It's held on the third Thursday of each month and each challenge is an opportunity for you to be inspired by one of our eTeam's creations, to share your work, and to be entered into a challenge prize drawing!!!!  Who doesn't want to win something?!

Today's challenge is brought to you by our lovely host Marjie Kemper!
The challenge: Altered Boxes

Well, if you are a regular on my blog, you have seen recipe boxes that I have created and posted on here.  I decided to make a photo box instead, but using the same kind of accordian file boxes that I use for the recipe boxes!

I wanted to take advantage of using items that you can find in the eclectic Paperie shop, so my theme is Summer Photos!  When I think of summer, I think of vacation first!  Ah, the beach!  But, I also think of many trips to Idlewild Park with family and friends!  And that's where my inspiration hit!  I picked up my 8" x 8" Midway stack from October Afternoon, and started paging through it, getting ideas.

Here's the finished result!

On the front, I created a midway of sorts, w/ the ferris wheel and merry go round horses (svgcuts.com).  Everything else besides the balloons are from the Midway stack.  The polka dot paper that's the background is to simulate the lights and visions of a real carnival/amusement park atmosphere!  The balloons are from Kitchen Sink Stamps.  The twine that you can kind of see at the very top, the strings for the balloons and the bow on the front catch can all be found in the eclectic Paperie shop!

 This is just the very top of the front when it's unhinged.

 This is the top of the box to show the banner and for lack of a better word, title!  The letters "SUMMER" are all cut out from the Midway stack!  All of the ticket strips are also from the stack!  I used my perforated edge on my cutter in between each ticket so that I could fold and make them more 3-D-ish!  The fishtail layers of the banner are from svgcuts,as well as the Tilt-A-Whirl die cut image.  The camera, shown below, is from My Favorite Things.

Well, that's my box for today!  I hope that I have inspired you to create a one of a kind box!  You definitely need to share it HERE so that we can all comment and you can be entered for a prize!!!!  I can't wait to see what you create!!!

Twine by The Twinery, Midway stack by October Afternoon

SNOW

Hi there!  Today I am posting my first official post on eclectic Paperie's blog!  Head on over and check it out!  Here's a sneak peek at what I'm showcasing!!!  See you over there!!!

A New Stamper in the House!

Hi there!  My daughter, Olivia, has been getting very crafty lately!  She loves to hang out in my stamp room with me, and use all of my products!  Sometimes, seeing all of the stickles and embossing powder in a jumbled mess gives me heart palpitations, but the smile on her proud face makes it all worth it!

Yesterday and this morning, she worked on this latest creation!  I was so impressed that I told her that I would post it on my blog!  She was over the moon excited!  :D

She knows that I LOVE making 3-D projects!  Apparently, she must love them as well!  Here's her 3-D creation!

Every time I look at this project, it makes me smile!  For a 6 year old, I think she did a darn good job!  Of course, as her mother, I'm biased!

Have a wonderful day!

Get Altered: Canvas!

eclectic Paperie has issued the first Get Altered Challenge of 2013: use canvas!  So, of course, me being a literal crafter, went ALL OUT!  Almost everything in this frame is CANVAS!  LOL!  I just had a ball, and my inky fingers can tell the story!

Canvas is one of those textures that I have not had the pleasure of working with....until now!  And let me tell you, I am a new fan of canvas!  It stamps so nicely, it cuts smoothly, I can blend different inks together and it doesn't come out a mumbo jumbo mess, I can draw w/ my Copics and the ink doesn't bleed!  It's amazing!!!

Here is the full view of the frame.  The border, flowers, leaves, background and nest are all canvas.  The bird is chipboard, and the wings are paper.  The frame is one that I found around the house that hasn't been used yet!

 This view showcases the quote that I found about birds.  It's short and sweet and just enough for this small space!  This is actually the masked silhouette of the flowers from the other two corners.  I sponged Peeled Paint all over the space, and then cut it out to look like the leaves.  I wanted it lighter so that my quote wouldn't get lost in all the green!

I took the matting that came w/ the frame, and sprayed it w/ adhesive.  Then, I put the canvas down, and cut the inside and all around.  I then stamped it w/ Distress Ink, and it stamped just like paper!  I was amazed!!!

 Here you can see the closeup of the bird.  This was fun for me!  I took a beige chipboard bird from an album that I have had for quite some time!  I dropped purple and green alcohol inks all over the bird and then dropped Alcohol Ink Blending Solutions to further blend the two colors.  Then, I stamped banners from Dylusions Bags of Bunting, sponged on top and then sponged the edges.  I did drop green ink on each "wing" as well.  I also threaded a piece of canvas through its mouth as if it was building its nest.

Also, the branch that you see in the background, I created that w/ my Copic markers!  I love how it turned out!!!!  Looks so real!  I just love those markers!

I wanted to make a nest, but everytime I tried to make one that looks like a real nest, I wasn't happy w/ the look.  So, I weaved a few pieces, and this is the result!

 This is a closeup of the flowers in the top left corner.  All I did was cut strips of canvas and put them in a cup.  I dropped several drops of alcohol ink, depending upon what color I was wanting, added some Alcohol Blending Solution and with my fingers, just mixed the strips around until they had a good coating on them.  I let them dry, then rolled them up and adhered the ends w/ glue dots!  I also did this for the bird's nest.

The leaves were harder.  I think I have an old cuttlebug!  It might just be time for something new!  But, I tried putting in my PTI dies w/ canvas and it made a nice impression, which I then had to use an exacto knife to cut, but hey, it was worth the work!  They turned out beautifully!  I took a piece of canvas, dropped lots of green alcohol ink, then the blending solution to muddle the dots a bit, and then let it dry!  Doesn't take too long!

 This last picture is from the side angle, so that you can kind of tell the 3-D effect.  I took the glass out of the frame to use for another project!

Wow!  What a fun challenge!  You HAVE to participate!!!!!  All you have to do is go to: http://eclecticpaperie.blogspot.com/

Here are all of the products that I used!
Stamps: Dylusions ~ Bags of Bunting, WPlus9Design ~ Defining Words
Ink: Alcohol Inks: Copper Mixative, Pearl Mixative, Ginger, Sunshine Yellow, Purple Twilight, Citrus,
                            Sail Boat Blue, Alcohol Blending Solution
       Distress Inks: Frayed Burlap, Wild Honey, Bundled Sage, Broken China, Dusty Concord, Peeled Paint
       Copics: E37, E47, E57
Other accessories: bird (chipboard), Turning over a new leaf (PTI stamp set and dies)

New Design Team News!

Just wanted to share that I have been invited to join the eclectic Paperie Design Team!  I am SUPER excited to join this awesome team!  I know that I will have fun crafting and creating new and imaginative things while on this journey!  I can't wait to start!
There are a few other new teammates as well!  Stop over to eclectic Paperie and see what's up!  Lots of fun challenges and things going on over there! 
See you soon!