September 29, 2013

Steampunk Spells Halloween Album

What a fun time I had creating this jam-packed album!  Although I'm not into Halloween, each year I REALLY love creating an album using the annual Graphic 45 Halloween collection.  This year just might be the best one yet -- the Steampunk Spells collection is AMAZING!

This class will take place on Saturday, October 12, at Weekend Memories in Leesburg, VA.  I love teaching classes there -- the croppers (and owner) are so much fun!

I can only give a sneak peek today, as I haven't taught the class yet. I'll post a picture of the cover soon (it's still drying).



August 05, 2013

Friendship Mixed Media Canvas


Last night I really enjoyed creating this mixed media canvas in honor of Friendship Day.


I SO LOVE this Julie Nutting Doll Stamp!  Heck, I love them all -- they are so darn cute!  MUST HAVE THEM ALL!

I created this piece for my blogpost on today's Scraps of Color E:spire.  It was my first time using a 6" x 9" canvas and I must admit that I love working with this size canvas.  Can't wait to get my hands on another one (I'm giddy with anticipation).


I like the way her wings stick out the past the canvas.  The supply list, a couple of tips, and another close up of this project are posted on today's SOC blogpost

Happy (belated) Friendship Day!  Live life in full color!

July 30, 2013

And the Winner Is...

Thank you all for your very kind comments about the Advent Calendar that I made. I really had a great time making it and sharing it with you all.

Now for what you've been waiting for (drumroll please). The winner of the set of the newly released Tim Holtz Distress Markers is...


Blogger Shanta said...
Oh my what an awesome advent calendar!! Love it!! The colors are so amazing!!
July 27, 2013 at 10:03 PM
 Delete

Congratulations, Shanta!!! Please use the @ button under "Find Me Here" to send me an email with your address so that I can send this blog candy to you straight away.

Thank you to everyone for taking the time to participate in the SOC blog hop.

July 26, 2013

SOC Christmas in July Blog Hop!



Welcome to the SOC Christmas in July Blog Hop! I am joining a group of very talented crafters to deck the halls with Christmas themed projects! Christmas is the season for giving, and this blog hop is no exception.

There will be giveaways on various blogs throughout the hop -- including this one!  Plus, there will be a SOC Blog Hop Gift awaiting one visitor. To be eligible for that prize, you must comment on all of the blogs by 11:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, July 28. One lucky reader will be randomly drawn and the winner of the SOC Blog Hop Gift will be posted Wednesday, July 31.

For my Christmas in July project, I created this wooden tree advent calendar.


Supplies: Fancy Pants - Home for Christmas; Kaisercraft - 'Tis the Season; 
Claudine Hellmuth Studio acrylic paint - Traditional Tan; Kylon - 18kt Gold Leafing pen

BLOG CANDY: 12 Tim Holtz Distress Markers that were just released at Connect-and-Create (aka CHA). Yes, the whole set! 

To be eligible simply leave a comment on my blog by 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, July 28. The Blog Candy winner's name will be randomly selected and posted on this blog on Tuesday, July 30. Good luck!

Be sure to visit all of the SOC Christmas in July Blog Hop sites and leave comments to be entered to win SOC Blog Hop Gift.

Here's a list of everyone in the hop:

Michelle - that's me!

July 25, 2013

Fun with My Big Girl Crayons - Copic Markers!

Sometimes I get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and just need to slow down for a bit to collect myself and free my mind. So, that's what I decided to do.

At the Weekend Memories crop this past weekend I didn't teach any classes or spend a lot of time getting pictures printed or projects packed. Instead of stressing after a long, tiring week, I decided that I was going to spend my time at the crop doing something that I have loved since I was a child -- COLORING!

It had been so long since I'd colored anything. At first I was worried that I might be really rusty and someone would walk by and see how awful my blending or color combos would be. Then I got over it and printed out digital stamps from one of my favorite digital stamp illustrators, Krista at Saturated Canary.

Then I grabbed my big girl crayons (Copic Markers), my Daylight lamp, my Mac & headphones and headed to the crop to color.

Oh boy what fun I had! And it was so relaxing!

Here are a few of the things that I colored. First up is YoYo.

Hair: E35, E39, E47, E49, Y23; Skin: E11, E21, E51; Eyes: E31, E35, E37; 
Lips: R20, R22, RV39; Skirt: V04, V06, V09; Shirt/Scarf: BG05, BG09, BG13

This fun one is called Frizzy Jinx.

Skin: E00, E21, E51l; Eyes: YG03, YG17, G14; Hair: Y21, YR21, YR23; 
Red: R24, R27, R29; Green: YG05, YG07, G05; Brown: E50, E53, E57; Beige: E50, E53

And this last lovely is LaLa.

Hair: C1, C3, C5, C7; Purple: V12, V15, V17

Like I said, it's been a long time, so my blending is a bit rusty. But it was so much fun. I look forward to breaking out my big girl crayons to color again soon!

July 06, 2013

Creating Harmony with Bird Song

Last night the Scraps of Color Friday Night Challenge #1 was to use textured paper, mist, metal, and a stamp. Here's what I came up with:


This Julie Nutting Doll Stamp arrived in the mail yesterday (along with a few others) -- YIPPEE!  Thank you, Blue Moon Scrapbooking for your speedy delivery and free shipping. And a BIG thank you, Barb, for introducing me to this great online shop!


As soon as I saw the stamp, I knew that I wanted to use the lovely Bird Song Collection by Graphic 45. And this piece of embossed paper  form the Core Impressions Graphic 45 Timeless Collection by Core'dinations provided the perfect background.

Okay, so this isn't the greatest picture. What can I say, it was 2:30 a.m.
I'll take a better pic later & replace it.
Supplies used:  Prima Marketing - Julie Nutting Mixed Media Stamp, Graphic 45 Bird Song Collection, Core'dinations Graphic 45 Timeless Collection, Smooch - Tuxedo Black, Distress Paint - Antiqued Bronze, Distress Ink Pad - Vintage Photo, The Girls Paperie - Glitter Charms, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist - Marshmallow, StazOn - Jet Black, Archival Ink - Jet Black, Mod Podge - Matte

Off to play with my new stamps!

June 02, 2013

Fun Mixed Media Class

The ladies in the Mixed Media Canvas Class that I taught yesterday at Weekend Memories were a lot of fun! These talented women created some amazing artwork.

They were all given the same materials, but they each created something different. I love when that happens.

The following mixed media canvas artwork was created by a couple of the ladies who requested red kits:






The following mixed media canvas artwork was created by a some of the ladies who used the purple class kits:










There were a couple of other talented women who left before I had an opportunity to take pictures of their masterpieces.

Everyone said that they had a great time and that they were very happy with the class and what they created. This makes me smile -- REALLY BIG!

People at the crop really seemed to like what the class participants made because they asked when I'll be teaching it again. 

In fact, there was one woman who told me that I will be teaching the class at the next crop.  LOL! So, looks like I'll be teaching it again in July. YEAH! I can't wait!

Thank you to everyone who took my class. I so enjoyed getting messy with you!

May 28, 2013

Mixed Media ATC

What a blast I had making this ATC for a Mixed Media ATC Swap on Scraps of Color.

I've only done one other swap with that group and was really happy with the quality of workmanship. So I feel confident that the ones that I receive for this swap will be great.

Here's what I made:


If I were thinking, I would have taken a picture of one of them before I started (I made 5).  I started out with a filled metal element from the Industrial Chic line by Susan Lenart Kazmer.



I was instantly drawn to the variety of mediums included within the binding and could not wait to start adding to and creating within it.


Sorry for the fuzzy picture.  Underneath the stamped acetate is a bird mailing stamp.


The bird on this page is made out of wood.  I used Copic Markers to color it. 


I also used them to color the stamped image on the acetate.


For this page, I stamped the quote on Sticky Back Canvas by Claudine Hellmuth.


The butterfly below was Color Magic Butterflies and Color Shine Tropicana Teal from Heidi Swapp's new line.


Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tissue Tape was added to this page. 


I created the ATC base (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") using an Inkessentials Surface Gloss ATC and alcohol ink by Ranger Ink to create this polished stone look.


I hope that the Host and Swappers like it. 

If you can have any boards that you enjoy swapping on, please let me know!



May 12, 2013

Mixed Media Canvas Class

I had a SO MUCH FUN creating this mixed media canvas for a class that I'll be teaching at Weekend Memories at the end of the month. Usually I create and teach mini album classes, but I thought that I'd do something different this time.


In March I took a wonderful class, taught by Logan at Camp Crop-A-Lot, where we used the "SHE was a daughter" Christy Tomlinson stamp made by Unity Stamp Company. I fell in love with it and had to get one for myself.


Embedded on the dress of the stamp is "she was a daughter of God." But by utilizing the "Box Word Set" by Rubbernecker Stamps I was able to change the words to impart what I wanted to convey.


You can even can even print and cut your own words and stick them on the dress... the possibilities are endless!

May 04, 2013

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!


It's time to get your crop on! For those of you (like me) that didn't make plans to celebrate National Scrapbook Day at a crop, do not despair.  Big Picture Classes is hosting an online Creative Crop for FREE today.  You can click here to read the full story in an Examiner article that I wrote about it.

I have a few things to do today that I committed to -- not putting the date and NSD together (or looking at my calendar), when I agreed.  So, luckily, in the hours that I do not have places to be, I will be getting my crop on with the crazy talented instructors hosting Creative Crop!

I love the fact that you can just jump in at the top of every hour...it totally fits with my sporadic schedule today.  I'm looking forward to participating in the challenges, seeing everyone's creations, and maybe even winning a fab prize (if I'm lucky)!

HAPPY NATIONAL SCRAPBOOKING DAY!

March 04, 2013

iPhone cover – "It’s Time" Challenge


I am very excited to share that I have been selected to be a member of the Scraps of Color E:spire Blog Creative Team.  My first assignment was to create a project for the quarterly challenge called "It's Time!"

So, I decided to create an iPhone cover to remind myself to remember to make time to create something every day.

Supplies: Graphic 45 - Hallowe'en In Wonderland Collection "Jabberwocky," Times Nouveau Collection "Hip to the Jive"; Paper Arts - Black cardstock; The Girl's Paperie - Vintage Whimsy "Sticker Market"; Ranger - Tim Holtz Distress Ink "Vintage Photo"

I had SO MUCH FUN creating this project for the "It's Time" Challenge!  The challenge is open to everyone.  Be sure to check out the SOC E:Spire Blog for the particulars and to link your project. I can't wait to see what you create!

Good luck!

February 28, 2013

Craft On - R.A.K.

Have you ever had one of those days when you've just had enough and think, "If one more person...?!" Well, I had one of those days yesterday and it was EPIC! I was literally at the end of my rope when a random act of kindness brought me to my knees.

I was walking in a crowd when I felt a tug on my arm. Before I turned to look, I thought, "Geez, what now?!"

Imagine my surprise when a very thoughtful lady said to me, "I had to take my son to the store last night to get some things for his school project and I saw this and it made me think of you. I instantly thought of you and just had to get it!"

Then she handed me the following:


I almost started crying when she handed me this tin. The thought that she was out shopping with her child after a long day at work and thought of me...words cannot convey just how much that meant to me. I was truly not in a happy place and in an instant she reminded me that there was some sunshine in my forecast (because a stormy sky was all that I could see).

It goes to show that you may never realize just how much something that you may perceive as a small token can truly impact the life of another in a HUGE way.

This tin now has a prominent place in my studio and will continue to serve as a reminder that there's sunshine, even on a stormy day. I have to focus on the "keep calm" and get back to crafting on!

February 11, 2013

Non-traditional Valentine

Scraps of Color has weekly Friday Night Challenges (FNC). The first challenge of the evening was to create a Valentine tag and not use traditional colors -- red or pink. I thought I'd give it a shot and this is what I made:


I know what you're thinking -- is that butterfly red? No, it's orange...I know how to follow the rules (most of the time)!

It was a lot of fun (and challenging) trying to create the tag in the time allotted. Let's just say I need to work on my time management skills. I wasn't even close to finishing in time, but I did have a great time and I plan to participate in FNC again soon. 



Supplies: Ranger: Manilla Tag, Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber; Tim Holtz: Tissue Tape, Grungepaper, Findngs, Tissue Paper, Distress Inks, Distress Stain; Wendi Vecchi: Stamp (butterfly); Tattered Angels: Glimmer Mist; Heidi Swapp: Bling; Scrabble Tiles; Miscellaneous: rub-ons, stamp, ribbon.

Tip: Use alcohol ink pens (I used Copic) to change the color of your bling!