Crafter's Heart

I thought this was a cool photo for crafters on Valentine's day. What's your thought?

The ScrapRack photo.

Magnificent - Shaving Foam Marbling Technique

Today's background masculine cards were created using the 'Shaving Foam Marbling' technique. Using inexpensive shaving cream and ink refills created a cool background. Fill your paper plate with shaving cream. Use a stick to smooth the shaving cream out a bit. Then add several drops of each of your re-inker colors. Mix shaving cream and re-inker in a swirling motion. Don't blend to much, you want the marbling affect.

 Press your card stock into the shaving cream. Make sure your putting the glossy side down and its getting completely covered.Pull your card stock out of the shaving cream and wipe off with a paper towel. Lay another piece of card stock on top of the one covered in shaving cream.  Press together, then pull apart giving you two shaving cream coated pieces of card stock.  Let dry. I love this simple technique. It worked very well for these stamped images.

Challenges I participated in:

Addicted to Stamps - Challenge #236 - Anything Goes (W)

Parus Cardmaking Challenges - Anything Goes (April 25) Play along by creating a project and posting it over on the Parus webpage.

Crafting with an Attitude - April Anything Goes (April 30)

Rrruff Day

A clean and simple card without using dies. This card would be great for a fun loving dog owner. The colors yellow, black and white are classic.  The harlequin patter paper given a new layer of contrast.

Challenges I participated in:

Cas-ual Fridays - No dies Allowed (April 4) (April 4th)
Simon Says Stamps - Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
The Crafty Addicts - Anything Goes/Clean and Simple (CAS) [April 4]

Vintage Soul

Yesterday, I had some time for art therapy by creating this vintage feel card. The colors (brown, 2 shades of purple, black and various green shades) just work together. Art therapy is a form of therapy that encourages creativity and self-expression as vehicles to reduce stress, improve self-esteem and increase awareness.

You do not have to be an artist to enjoy the benefits of art therapy. In fact, most of the exercises rely not on the final product you create but on the therapeutic, meditative ritual of the creative process.

Challenges I participated in:

Stamped Blessings - Anything Goes + Stamp (April 2)

http://sundaystamps.blogspot.com/2017/03/ssc149-rich-succulents.html (Sunday)

Made In The USA

I had fun experimenting and combining various materials for the original mixed media journal page! The background was created with acrylic paints in various colors. After creating the background, I added a piece of a McCall's pattern which really fit with the theme.

Next, I added additional shapes on top along with several ephemera pieces. The finishing touches were real buttons and a magazine tag out of a magazine which read, 'Made in the USA.'  

Can you see the theme in my journal page?

Anything Goes Mixed Media



Live Life Love Pocket Letter Embellishment Tutorial

All the rage right now is pocket letters and embellishments for them. Per Jeanette Lang, she created  the idea of Pocket Letters™ as a new way to send letters to your new or existing penpals. Basically, you fill all the pockets of a 9 Pocket Trading Card Protector and send the whole page to someone who wants to swap with you. You fill the pockets with anything you like (stickers, tea bags, a note, washi tape samples, pictures, etc.). I decided to take this idea and only use one of the pockets from the card protector. I added punch pieces, beads, sequins then sealed it with washi tape.  I'm adding this in my flip book for an added embellishment.

Trading card protector. I used one square from the protector to create my diy embellishment. The embellishment was created with sewing or using a fuse gun.

Sunday challenges I participated in:

Come and Get It Challenge - Anything Goes

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge - Anything Goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

A Warm Hello

Today, I have a masculine clean and simple card to share. The card features a technique called 'off the edge.' To accomplish this, one of the feathers was positioned off the edge of the center mat. Embossing on the feathers and wood grain background works nicely together.   

Challenges I participated in:

Crafting by Designs Challenge - For a man (Wed)

Crafty Creations Challenges - #336 Anything Goes (03/28)

Scrap Embellishments

I had time to play around with my scraps and create embellishments. These can be used on cards, journaling pages, pocket letters, and even flip books. I created punch art cameras, photo frames and fringed hearts embellishments. What do you think? 

You can watch the Tutorial Video for the punched camera. Access the fringed heart video.