Steampunk Insects

I have a special project for you today. I think it is one of my favorite projects to date! I am a big fan of the artist Finnabair. She creates the most beautiful things and I was fortunate enough to take a class from her last year. This pair is inspired by her collage techniques and my love of gears and steampunk.

The insects were made using the new Layered Butterfly and Dragonfly dies from Tim Holtz. I love these dies! I will have many more projects to come with them incorporated.

Here are few detail shots before we get into some of the "how" I made these:

 

Now for some beginning steps. The initial layers were a scrap pieces of matboard I had around. I used Ranger's Texture Paste and the Gears stencil to create some base texture. When it was dry, I spritzed each one with Tumbled Glass and Ripe Persimmon Distress Stains for a first layer of color.

Next came the fun part of pulling out a zillion bits and pieces of gears etc. and playing around with the composition. The chipboard gears (and fancy gear borders and corners used on the frame) came from Gina's Designs. I've been very pleased with their laser cut chipboard shapes. They are so intricate!) After gluing everything down I painted it all with Silks Acrylic Glazes. I love these paints; the colors are so rich with a bit of shimmer in them.

To the frame I also applied some Texture Paste through the Dot Fade stencil. I made sure I didn't get into the areas where the gear borders were going to go. I wanted them to lay flat on the frame.

I am also entering these into the August Mixed Media Monthly challenge. If you haven't checked out this challenge blog yet, I highly recommend it. They have very interesting challenges and lots of inspiration to see.

I hope that you have been inspired to get creative yourself! Most of the supplies I used for these can be found at Inspiration Emporium. Follow the links below and use my code JUICE to save 10% if you go shopping. I will also point out that US shipping is always $5 and international shipping is just $10!

Online Card Classes - MORE of Stretching Your Stamps 2

Whew! I have been a busy busy bee making cards for this class. Every day there are at least three techniques demonstrated. Good thing I have lifetime access to all the videos and class content! Let's jump right in:

Day 3 - Stamped Diecuts

Day 4 - Letters as Objects

Day 5 - Watercolor Outlines & Debossing

Day 6 - Stamping/Coloring on a Non-Paper Surface

Day 6 - Tight Cropping of a Stamped Image

Day 6 - Watercolor Painting

Told you I've been busy! =) I was moving way too fast to keep track of which supplies and stamps I used but if you are in an inspired shopping mood, check out Inspiration Emporium. Use my code JUICE to save 10% if you buy anything. I will also point out that US shipping is always $5 and international shipping is just $10!

New Sizzix Release from Eileen Hull - Vintage Kitchen

It's sneak peek time!! Eileen Hull has designed a new line of dies called Vintage Kitchen and they are so wonderful and versatile! They will not be available until December but that means you can put them on your Christmas list. ;-)

First up is the Cookie Box die:

This die is perfect for making little gift or trinket boxes. (It has a hinged lid.) It can be themed a zillion different ways.

Next is the Canister die:

Again this is perfect for little gifts but you could also use the basic shape and alter it into a shadowbox, or gingerbread house or something else "outside of the box". I'll have to ponder that one!

Last is the Mug & Spoon paired with the Make-It-3D die. Wouldn't this be a great hostess or teacher gift?

You can see the entire new line HERE and make up your wish lists. Be sure to check out the other designers sneak peeks at Eileen Hull's blog. She will be showcasing their projects in the upcoming weeks.

Also, Eileen's August Art With Heart Challenge is "Anything Goes". Link up your project there and the prize is your pick of a die from the new Vintage Kitchen collection! How can you pass that up? Go join in now!!

Online Card Classes - Stretch Your Stamps 2

Hello! I am currently taking a class called Stretch Your Stamps 2 at Online Card Classes. Each day's lesson is jam-packed with techniques and card ideas. I'm picking up all sorts of inspiring ideas! Best thing is, when you take the class you have lifetime access to the videos and forum archives so you can go back whenever you want and review a technique. I really love their classes.

I haven't had time to try everything they are teaching, but here are four cards I've gotten done this week. Hopefully I'll have some more crafty time this weekend. ;-)

Day 1 - Faux watercolor stamping

Day 1 - Mist resist

Day 2 - Metallic on dark cardstock

Day 5 - Multi-color embossing powder stamping

Thanks for looking! This is great for building up my card stash. =)

I was moving way too fast to keep track of which supplies and stamps I used but if you are in an inspired shopping mood, check out Inspiration Emporium. Use my code JUICE to save 10% if you buy anything. I will also point out that US shipping is always $5 and international shipping is just $10! ;-)

Compendium of Curiosities 3, Challenge #8

Well I'm doing pretty well! So far I've kept up with all the challenges. =) The current challenge is Faded Layers, from page 58 of Tim Holtz's book, A Compendium of Curiosities Vol. 3. It's not too late to join in the fun yourself. All you need is your own copy of the book and head on over to the Studio L3 blog to see all the inspiring projects. I made two cards using the Faded Layers technique:

Many thanks also to The Funkie Junkie Boutique for sponsoring the prize for challenge #8.


Most of the supplies I used for this card can be found at Inspiration Emporium. Follow the links below and use my code JUICE to save 10% if you go shopping. I will also point out that US shipping is always $5 and international shipping is just $10!

Tim Holtz Collection - Papillon	Tim Holtz Collection - Fabulous Flourishes	Tim Holtz Collection - CMS155 - Simple Sayings	Tim Holtz Collection - Steampunk	Tim Holtz Collection - CMS164 - Tiny Things	Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Vintage Lace
Sizzix Movers & Shapers Magnetic Die Set 2PK - Mini Gears Set	Tim Holtz Collection Stencils - TH018 - Doily	Tim Holtz Collection Stencils - THS006 - Dot Fade	The Crafter's Workshop - 6x6 Template - Mini Gears	Tim Holtz - Distress Ink Pads - Picked Raspberry	Tim Holtz - Distress Ink Pads - Black Soot
Archival #0 Pad - Jet Black	Archival #0 Pad - Coffee	Archival Ink Pad Designer Series: Wendy Vecchi - Orange Blossom	Tim Holtz Adirondack Alcohol Ink Cardstock	Tim Holtz - Alcohol Blending Solution	Tim Holtz Adirondack Alcohol Inks - Mushroom
Tim Holtz Adirondack Alcohol Inks - Wild Plum	Tim Holtz Adirondack Alcohol Inks - Currant	Tim Holtz Adirondack Alcohol Inks - Rust	Tim Holtz Adirondack Alcohol Inks - Butterscotch	Tim Holtz Adirondack Alcohol Inks - Shell Pink	Tim Holtz - Idea-ology - Tissue Tape - Elements
Tim Holtz - Idea-ology - Tissue Tape - Commute	Tim Holtz - Idea-ology - Tiny Attacher

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Card Sketch Challenge

Hello! A paper crafting yahoo group I'm in is having a sketch challenge this August. I got right to it and made a card for it. =) Here is the sketch (from PageMaps):

Here is the card I created from it:

The major change was switching the small postage stamp shapes to hexagons. I used the Wallflower Paper Stash for the card base and the fussy cut hexagons. All the little butterflies are from the Tim Holtz Butterfly Frenzy strip die. One cut and you have a zillion little butterflies; I love it!

I hope you enjoyed my card. Most of the supplies I used for it can be found at Inspiration Emporium. Follow the links below and use my code JUICE to save 10% if you go shopping. I will also point out that US shipping is always $5 and international shipping is just $10!

Tim Holtz Collection - CMS188 - Typography	Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Butterfly Frenzy by Tim Holtz	Sizzix Bigz Die - Hexagons, 3/4" Sides	Tim Holtz Collection Stencils - THS005 - Honeycomb	Tim Holtz - Idea-ology - Paper Stash - Wallflower	Tim Holtz - Distress Ink Pads - Bundled Sage
Tim Holtz - Distress Ink Pads - Vintage Photo	Tim Holtz - Distress Ink Pads - Dusty Concord	Tim Holtz - Distress Ink Pads - Picked Raspberry	Archival Ink Pad Designer Series: Wendy Vecchi - Tree Branch	Archival #0 Pad - Jet Black	Archival #0 Pad - Coffee

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