Swirlydoos Round Robin challenge

Hi there! Today I would like to share with you my Round Robin challenge page that I created for the Swirlydoos forum that I'm a part of!

I was the last week spot for the month, so I followed 3 different scrappers!  From their pages, I took the following: placing the picture in the middle of the page, use of butterflies, pastel color scheme, dripping technique, use of a doily, and having a splotchy background.

I was already late in submitting this, so I didn't add all of the cutsidella that I would normally add.  This is pretty basic for me, and actually FLAT!  What???!!!!  Can you believe it?!  The only thing not flat are the flowers!  Gasp!

But, like I could have done a better job w/ the butterfly trail.  I was trying to use my distress glitter in a different way, and using it with 3 in 1 glue just doesn't cut it.  :(  That's my FAVORITE glue EVER!  But, for some things, it just doesn't work. 

Anyway, another page done!  Whoo hoo!

Ingredients used:
Paper: Floral stack by DCWV, kraft c/s, white c/s
Ink: Sassy Pink Smooch, Blue Ice color smooch, Bubble Gum Pink Dylusions Spray
Stencils: Hexagon 12" x 12", Splatters (TH)
Embellishments: Aqua Dolce & Bubble Gum Gelatos; assorted flowers, LYB flower pins; Sizzix SU!
                            Embosslits Beautiful Wings; Picked Raspberry Distress Glitter, assorted resin
                            swirl, doily

Have a great day!

Pallet Decorating

Hi there!  I have a new love and appreciation for altered wood projects!  Pallets are my new favorite surface!  I have a HUGE industrial pallet that my friend gave to me last week.  I'm still working out what to do with that!  But, today I am sharing a much smaller pallet with you!  You can find this exact pallet at the store where I work, which is where I picked it up!  We had 3 in stock, and every time I would pass by them, it felt like they were calling my name!  Pick me!  Pick me! So, I gave in and picked one up.  I also picked up some new paper from Kaisercraft, Key To My Heart.  LOVE this paper!  And I know that the first thought for this paper would be valentine-y.  I wanted to go in a more Victorian shabby chic direction so that I could display this in my house longer than the one day of the Valentine's holiday.  I also decided to showcase pictures of my family, and not just about "love".  The reason for this is to not only be able to keep this project out longer, but also to show the versatility in the paper!  Thirdly, to give you a jumping off point for what the heck to do with a pallet!  Haha!

So, how did my project come together?  Well, when I brought the pallet home, the tops of each board were kind of yucky.  So, I sanded it all down so that it was nice and smooth.  

I painted a thin coat of white gesso to further smooth it down, and to catch any errant splinters.  I had a little problem after this when I went to adhere the paper.  I painted a coat of Matte Medium on top of the gesso so that the paper that I cut to fit each board perfectly, would adhere.  Well, it came right up.  I tried painting the Matte Medium over the paper thinking that it would smooth out and adhere.  No again.  Ok, round three.  I sprayed each backside of paper w/ Elmer's Craft Bond Spray Adhesive.  I laid each piece down, and the edges came up!  Annoying!  So, finally, I reached for my 3 In 1 glue which is my all-time FAVORITE glue, and covered each backside and using a bone folder, I smoothed the paper down each board and made sure it stuck!  Whew!  FINALLY!  

Once the glue was dry, I painted a thin coat of Matte Medium on top of each board.  I just like what it does to the paper.  It gives it a subtle sheen.  Once that dried, I sanded the edges of all the boards, rounded the corners, and sanded away some of the paper.  That's how I am able to get the shabby look.  

Once the board layer was complete, I wanted to incorporate some sort of bling.  I hate to waste (I'm such a hoarder when it comes to embellishments!) those large pearl bling swirls for something that I have to essentiallly cut up since the boards aren't side by side.  So, what's the next best thing?  Viva Pearl Pens!  And a stencil of course!  I picked up the Stars stencil by Dreamweaver, which is a new line that we're carrying in the store!  These stencils are metal, so it's so nice when you're working with a liquidy material, it doesn't get under the stencil like regular vinyl stencils will do.  Well, not much anyway.  When I took the stencil away after using the Viva Pearl Pen, my "pearls" went flat.  So, I went w/ a different texture and used my Liquid Pearls.  It turned out to work perfectly!    And everywhere that there was a star, I made a flower to take its place.  (You can see a closeup of this at the beginning of this post).
 
The flowers I created using the following dies: Sizzix Tattered Florals & Sizzix Tattered Pinecone.  The pinecone die was also helpful for the greenery around the flowers.  In the very center of this large flower are just a grouping of microbeads.  (Just an FYI).

I wanted to make this pallet more than just a piece of "art".  Something that you just hang on a wall and forget about.  I want it to be a conversation piece.  I always like my creations to pull double duty, and to be interactive.  I pulled out my brand new Accordion Flip 3D Album die by Sizzix, and cut out several pieces of cardstock, and matching Kaiser paper.  I chose my pictures and created my little mini album!  I looked on the Sizzix site as to how the pieces went together, and from the pictures, it was easy to see how it works!

And then, here's the finished piece!

I hope that this has inspired you to try some new mediums instead of just scrapbooks!  Working on different surfaces is fun and opens up your creative mind to new possibilities!  Will you try something new?!


Ingredients:
Paper: Kaisercraft Key To My Heart Collection: Irresistable, Dreamy, Charismatic, Devine, 
                                                                                     Magnetizing, & Charmed
             pink cardstock (for making album more sturdy)
Ink: white gesso, matte medium, gold pen
Embellishments and Misc.: 11.5" x 11" wood pallet; Tattered Florals Die; Tattered Pinecone
                                                 Die; Accordion Flip 3-D Album Die; Stars Dreamweaver Stencil;
                                                 Viva Pearl Pen - Ice; Platinum Liquid Pearls; glue dots; 3-IN-1
                                                  glue; sandpaper (any grit)

You can pick up any of these materials at our store!  Scrapbook Super Station, Butler, PA

Have a wonderful day!