It's A Small World

At City Crafters

Challenge Blog, hostess Kirsty is singing "It's A Small World", and she wants us to make a project with a map or DP with map prints. Wow!... there are lots to choose from. 

I picked some from

Idea-ology and created this card...

Teamed with black

and pale yellow textured cardstocks, Vintage Photo Distress Ink, some flowers from my stash and I Am Roses leaves. The metal corner is by Momenta. The frame is the negative from an Alterations Mini Tickets cut, and is edged with a Zig Painty oil based paint marker in gold. 

I am linking up at:

City Crafters - It's A Small World

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Sugar Creek Hollow - Lots Of Layers

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

Be Mine Card

I need to get

back to work. Haven't done one thing in the studio yet today. The Penmaker and I went out for breakfast and some Michaels looking. I would have said shopping, but nothing was on sale, there were no coupons this week, and nothing was on clearance that I needed. I'm guessing that all the good stuff was grabbed up over Saturday and Sunday..

I did a couple of 

pages in my Press journal and made a card this weekend, which isn't a lot for two whole days. I did however find Laurel From NJ on Ustream and spent hours watching her make some fabulous mini albums a la Paula. Here is the card...

Now this is my

idea of vintage... Echo Park and My Mind's Eye papers from last year and extremely old and faded Valentine stickers. These gorgeous gems are Prima's Say It In Crystals, the heart trinket pins are by Maya Road and the flowers and leaves are I Am Roses. The paper heart doily is from my stash.

I'm linking up to:

City Crafters - Forever Mine

Craft Us Crazy - Valentines/Love/Use Red

Hope you had a 

great weekend. Ours could have been better being we both were sick with sinus problems. We are considering heading down to Florida soon with a stop at Donna Downey's shop in NC. She's still in Europe, so we have to figure out out schedule. It would be fabulous to meet her. Does anyone know if she is usually in her store when she's at home (NC)? Am really wanting some more of her products, so what better way to get them. Anyway, that's the plan.

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

Creative Jump Start #9

Who doesn't like

stencils? Seriously, they can be used on any project and with many different techniques. Jump Starter Karen Ellis showed us three ways...

She used her

Crafters Workshop Karen's House stencil... one I haven't purchased yet... to show her three ways with a Gelli Plate, molding paste and paper piecing.   

I created my background

starting with a coat of gesso and topping it with Cerulean Blue, Titanium White and Grey acrylics, blending with my finger and spritzing with a bit of water. I layered on: 1. Cerulean Blue using the CW Chunky Chevron stencil and a foam brush; 2. Molding paste and CW Tile Texture; 3. Jet Black Archival ink and CW Art Is; 4. Meadow Green Glimmer Mist and CW Harlequin. Splattered on Butterscotch Color Wash.

I'm link up at:

Balzer Designs - Art Journal Every Day

Hope you have a fun and relaxing weekend.

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

Press Journal Peek

My word for the year

is "Press". So along with a Christmas "Memories" album, a Prima mixed media album, and my Creative Jump Start journal, I have started a personal journal to record my journey in 2013. Here is the beginning of my adventure...

I chose to make my

journal following the amazing Paula Phillips, aka Journal Artista, directions here. She has been on a "sabbatical" to get her health in order, and I'm thrilled that she's back again streaming on Ustream.

My cover is on a

base of black chipboard, and so far, I believe I'll be using 7 Gypsies Lille and KaiserCraft Timeless papers. The pages themselves are made from large scraps of miscellaneous papers and prepared according to Paula's instructions.

Am so excited to

 get this put together and share it with you.

Hope you have a 

wonderful weekend, friends. We are get a great deal of snow dumped on us right now, so I'm thinking I may be spending mine in the studio.

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

My Heart Is Fixed

I'm running way

behind today. Started out with a doctor's appointment, a trip up to Canton with breakfast at Cracker Barrel, a stop at Michael's for tape runner refills that were on sale, a side stop to pick up a cinnamon roll at Panera for my son, then a swing by Starbucks for a latte. I had time though this afternoon to get a card made...

On a Recollections Kraft

cardstock base, I layered red cardstock and Lille papers from the 8x8 pad by 7 Gypsies.

The butterfly is

a very old one from Recollections... and by the way... have you seen all the new Recollections embellishments at Michael's? Yowzers!!!

The paper heart

doily is from my stash, the hreat trinket pin is by Maya Road, and the flowers are from I Am Roses.

I'm linking up at:

City Crafters - Forever Mine

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

Creative Jump Start #6

You may have

noticed that my Jump Start pages aren't in order. I like to switch things up a bit, especially if I don't have the product on hand that the girls are using. Like #6. Nat's techniques were with foam stamps, and I don't own any. So, I just sat that day aside until I determined that I wouldn't be getting any new stamps soon. Then I went ahead and created a page without them...

This background is

done in Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists... Meadow Green, English Ivy and Patina. Did the ghosting technique using my new 12" Crafter's Workshop Paradise stencil.

I used three

different stamps with both Jet Black and Aquamarine Archival ink and applied some soft gel medium in various spots using that same CW stencil. When the soft gel was dry, I lightly sponged Vintage Photo Distress ink over it for just a hint of color.

I love the subtile

texture the soft gel medium gives the page.

I layered on

a little My Mind's Eye Portobello Road paper from a 6x6 pad along with Stella & Rose trims. Hummm... I think that aqua trim is upside down... but that just adds to the grungy look... right? I finished up with tiny wooden clothes clips and Idea-ology Salvage Stickers.

I'm linking up at:

Anything But A Card - Tie It Up

Balzer Designs - Art Journal Every Day

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

Graphic 45 Decorated Mache` Box

Hi blogging friends!

It's COLD here in Ohio... our high today is suppose to reach a whopping 13 degrees... but it's warm and cozy in my studio. I made a little something for my granddaughter's birthday...

I thought she might

like putting some of her little treasures in it.

I bought this mache`

box some time ago, put on a coat of gesso... and that's as far as I got. It's just been sitting on a shelf waiting for me to complete it. Today was the day!

The papers I used

came from my old Once Upon A Springtime 8x8 pad from Graphic 45. There were only a few full sheets and some scraps left, but that was enough to chose from and to cover it.

The flower on top is

Prima, the side crocheted ones are from I Am Roses and topped with Queen & Co pearls. The trims are from my stash, which is very much depleted and needs to be re-stocked. Hummm... I forsee shopping in the near future.

Just a little fun project you may like to try!

Stay warm!

I'm linking up to:

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

I Am Resolved

The other day

on Ronda Palazzari's blog, she posted a gorgeous journal page with the word Resolve. Having gotten my attention, I proceeded to read what she had to say about it, and discovered that it was her design team project for One Little Word. Ah haa... I like this! A challenge to scrap a word... RESOLUTIONS. Immediately an old gospel song came to my mind. It starts...

I am resolved no longer to linger,

Charmed by the world's delight,

Things that are higher, things that are nobler,

These have allured my sight.

but this is the verse I was thinking of...

I am resolved to follow the Savior,

Faithful and true each day;

Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth,

He is the living Way.

That was my inspiration, and this is what I created...

I started with the

8x8 Place In Time paper pad from Graphic 45. I backed the January sheet with a piece from their 12x12 Communique pad plus some chipboard for added strength.

I printed the photo

in black and white to match the papers better.

A tag from the 

January embellishments sheet and a French Lace paper doily.

Clear Rock Candy

Stickles on the snowy parts and TPC Studio rhinestones.

 A Momenta metal corner.

Shabby Chic

Treasures frame by Prima, a Spare Parts bottle cap from The Paper Studio, and I Am Roses flowers. More tags with one having my list of Resolutions.

A Prima clock.

More I Am Roses.

Authentique Petite

Type Square alphas and American Crafts Doll Thickers that I colored with Faded Jeans Distress Ink.

Why don't you Resolve 

to enter this challenge with me or stop by and check out the DT's gorgeous work here.

I am linking up at:

One Little Word - Resolutions

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

Birthday Invitation Reinvented

Our weekend here 

in Ohio has started out with the most beautiful weather. There is nothing like blue skies to brighten your day. How is yours?

My granddaughter Penny's

birthday is coming up and I wanted to make her a special card. What better way than to recycle a birthday invitation from another happy time. This castle image was the front of my granddaughter Katie's birthday party invitation two years ago. It being so sweet, I tucked it away into my stash for just such an occasion as this. It's so fitting for both of my darling granddaughters. Now they can say that they each had a part of it.

I trimmed it down,

and put it on a base of white cardstock layered with red cardstock topped with a tiny heart patterned paper. I sponged the edges with Worn Lipstick Distress Ink and sprinkled around a few dainty pink butterflies.

The heart is a scrap

of hand dyed wool cut with Alterations Mini Hearts set. The bow is red seam binding. The flowers are all from I Am Roses and the heart pin is Maya Road.

I'm linking up at:
Craft Us Crazy - Valentines/Love and/or /Use the Color Red 

Little Scrap Pieces - Use A Flower
The Pink Elephant - Pink, Red & White

Thank you so much

for all the kind comments you've been leaving. They certainly are an encouragement. 

Have a wonderful weekend, friends.

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

Creative Jump Start #8

If you're taking

advantage of Nathalie Kalbach's Creative Jump Start Summit 2013, you are familiar with the sponsor spots that show up every few days. Sad to say, I haven't purchased any product from Jump Starter #8, Darkroom Door. Their rubber stamps look amazing! Here's the page I created for them...

I blended three

acrylics for the background... Red Ochre, Grey and Titanium White spritzed with a little water.

Once I got started,

I couldn't stop piling on the layers. I pulled out my whole stack of stencils and began... first with the Titanium White acrylic, a brush and Studio Calico's Bubbles. Second, soft gel medium and Crafter's Workshop Punchinella. 

Next, CW Chevron

 Arrows spraying with Lindy's Stamp Gang  Rudolph's Nose Red Starburst... CW Ledger stencil, a sponge brush and cheap black craft paint. Added some drops of Black Marble Dylusions ink and finished off with Jet Black Archival ink and one of the Stampers Anonymous Bitty Grunge stamps.

Grabbing my box of

scraps, I cut a few banners and glued all the pieces together.

Lots of texture...

and as Donna Downey says... Happy Place!!!

I'm linking up to:

Balzer Designs - Art Journal Every Day

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

Creative Jump Start #7

Jump Starter Louise

Nelson, presented some techniques for crackling I hadn't tried before. I actually did two on this page, the first being stamping the crackle effect into molding paste. I thought mine turned out quite nice, but I didn't have the right shades of spray ink. I really am not happy with the results. I'll have to give this one another go after I do some sprays purchasing.

I wanted purple 

shades to match Louise's photo, but only had Desert Moon Wild Iris Glitz Spritz and Wild Plum Color Wash. I just didn't get a good blend here at all...

but check out the crackle.

I just have to try this again!

I'm linking up at:

Balzer Designs - Art Journal Every Day

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

12 Tags OF 2013

For 2013, among other

things, I am challenging myself to do the 12 Tags of 2013. Yes!!! I have the first one done...

You know it's funny,

but I thought I had a lot of supplies, tools, dies, etc... until I went to make this tag. Jeepers, this required a bunch of stuff I didn't own... but that's okay... it's about creativity, right? So, here I go!

First off, I didn't have

 the Bigz Gears die so I ordered some pre-cut chipboard ones from an Etsy shop. I had to order the metallic Distress Stains as well. I wanted those anyway, so it just gave me the push to buy them now. That's two new groups of items I had to purchase to make my tag. The rest, I just made do with what I had... and I'm likin' the results!

I went ahead and

finished the back side so I could give this to someone and have a place to write a short message. This paper is from Basic Grey's Clipping collection... Typewriter. I made a pocket and tucked in a blank #5 manila tag.

I hope you're staying

warm where you are. Baby... it's COLD here!!! and warnings of an ice storm moving in... yikes!!!

I'm linking up at:

12 Tags of 2013 - January

BasicGrey Challenges - New Beginnings/Something New

Crafting for All Seasons - Something New

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

Place In Time With My Sweetheart

Graphic 45's

Place in Time collection offers you multiple options for paper projects... at least twelve right off the bat!

How many can you come up with?

Here's one I did to sit on an easel in our living room....

For this layout,

I chose the 8x8 paper pad. I find this the perfect size to display as a stand alone decor piece, picking the 12x12 for my framed hanging layouts. This one is backed with chipboard, giving it the support it needs to hold the weight of heavy embellishments.

All the papers 

are from the paper pad except for the two mats, which are from G 45's 12x12 Communique pad and a dark red cardstock. They're all sponged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

The hearts were

cut with Alterations Mini Hearts and my sentiment is on an Alterations Mini Tickets die cut. I used French Lace white paper doilies, ivory lace, and pearl trim from my stash. The metal flourish is by Momenta and the rhinestones are from TPC Studio.

These red flowers 

are from the mixed Valentine selections at I Am Roses, along with a few of their white rose buds and green leaves. They were all misted with Lindy's Stamp Gang Scintillating Silver Glitz Spritz.  The red spray is from a chandelier garland.

I'm linking up at:

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday - Hearts/Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda