Love Potion #9 at Altered Eclectics

Wow does time fly! My last project for Altered Eclectics was 2 months ago (a break supplied by the gracious Ellapu, our esteemed leader) but it seems like yesterday! I am not a huge fan of Valentine's Day as I think every day should be celebrated with chocolate, especially dark chocolate (let me know if you'd like to send me some).  So, instead of going the way of the romantic, I decorated this little bottle:

After

Before

What I Used to Make my Project:
Bottle (in my stash - I seem to collect them!)
Alcohol Inks (I used TRIA inks, colors: Rhodamine Red, Warm Red 2X and 1925)
Black Vinyl
Silhouette Cameo
Cork (for the bottle top)
Black Ribbon Bow

Colored with the cork in.  See the cool pink shadow?

Easy peasy I thought - I use alcohol inks a fair amount and I figured coloring this bottle would go without a hitch. I thought I'd try to color the bottle inside as opposed to coloring the outside - nope.  I colored the inside of the bottle 2 times, swirling the ink to cover the inside completely and then letting it dry overnight and each time the ink refused to stick to the inside of the bottle - it ran down the sides, leaving little teeny dots of color and pooling on the bottom.  I even tried to dry the inside of the bottle with my heat gun (which made these awesome howling sounds that the cats did NOT like but it was funny because they all puffed up and ran around like secret agents) but it still would not stick.  So, after wasting 2 days, I went back to the tried and true method of grabbing a small piece of felt and daubing the ink on the outside.  After each layer of ink I let the bottle dry for a good amount of

time, a few hours, and then I daubed the second layer and so on.  You can't really tell the different colors and that was what I wanted.  While waiting for the bottle to try I realized there was no top so I found a cork that fit and colored it with Sharpie markers to sort of match the bottle.

Then came time to cut the vinyl for the saying.  It took me 3 days to choose the font that I felt worked with the saying.  I am a font fanatic and have far too many - but it was fun and I found a few more that I want to try on paper. Using my Silhouette Cameo. I cut the saying out of black vinyl and stuck it to the bottle, after tearing the first "L" and cutting it again. I am still very new at cutting vinyl, and while it is much more forgiving than paper, I am still learning, as you can tell by my wonky placed LOVE.  I glued the black ribbon bow onto the neck and I was done.  I like it even with a little wonk!

Thank you so much for stopping by! I just wanted to mention that I am having trouble with replying to comments, for some reason there are some that have to reply option on Blogger so please know that if I don't comment it isn't because I didn't see or appreciate your taking the time to say hi.  Fondly, Christi

Another view

Thank you SO much for coming to visit and I hope you enjoyed my little tutorial! Please consider following me as I am on a mission to gain 100 followers ~ Til next time ~ Christi

I am entering my Love Potion #9 bottle in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
DL. Art Thankful Thursday Challenge - #149, Valentine's Day 
Crafty Ribbons Challenge - Anything but a Card
Silhouette Challenges - January Challenge, Anything Goes
Not Just Cards Challenge - #11, Anything Goes

Shabby Chic Valentine

In my quest to use my stash, I have had a both of the papers featured on this card for a while but this project is the first time I have used them on anything.  I adore DCWV paper stacks and on this card I used Burlap Paper and Adhesive Fabric Paper in Pink.  Not my usual style, but it was fun trying out some new textures and color combinations. 

What I Used to make my Card:
Vanilla Card Base
Scrap of Vanilla Cardstock
DCWV Adhesive Fabric Paper in Pink, 12 x 12
DCWV Burlap Paper, 6 x 6
Happy Valentine's Day rubber stamp (manufacturer unknown)
Brads from Making Memories
Distress Ink in Victorian Velvet
Wendy Vecchi Ink in Potting Soil
Silhouette Cameo
Cut File - Heart

The Fabric Paper from DCWV

I wanted to create something old fashioned-looking, sort of shabby chic if you will.  I started the card by choosing the 2 papers. I have never worked with either of these papers, and I was surprised that the burlap paper is truly burlap, but it is much easier to use.  I got out my sheet of burlap (they are only 6 x 6) and cut it to fit on the top of the card so it appeared that the entire card was made out of burlap (but don't attach it to the card yet!). I edged the burlap panel with the Wendy Vecchi's ink in Potting Soil to give it some oomph. I went to my Silhouette machine and found a heart, sized it down to fit

Close up of the Heart

on the card, and cut it out of the fabric paper.  That was an experience since I didn't know which setting to use, but I settled on the light fabric setting and it cut out fine.  I thought I might have to help the fabric heart stick, since it was burlap, but it grabbed on with no problem! At this point the burlap is still not glued to the card, you still need to work with it.

Then I chose to stamp the sentiment on vanilla card instead of white, white just seemed so stark next to the warmth of the card.  I used Distress Ink in Victorian Velvet and I think it matches the colors in the heart perfectly! I also lightly edged the sentiment with the Potting Soil ink.  I decided to use brads to attach the sentiment to the card and I found these light green ones in my Making Memories brad stash - I usually use plain old silver or gold brads, but these sort of matched the green in the heart,  and the other colors were just too loud.  Once I added the sentiment to the card, I then glued the burlap panel to the front of the vanilla card.  I stepped out of my safety zone and I am so glad I did! Thanks for stopping by and please consider following me as I am on a quest to get 100 followers! Fondly, Christi

Another peek at the final card

I would like to enter my Shabby Chic Valentine in the following challenges:
Artistic Stamper - January Challenge, New Beginnings 
Die Cut Diva's - January Challenge, Anything Goes
Silhouette Challenges - January Challenge, Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes 
Shopping our Stash - #186, Love Me Do

Valentine with Quietfire Designs

First, let me say that if you have never been to Quietfire Designs, click on the link once, choose "open in another tab" from the dropdown menu you will get another tab and open the store up so you can go there as soon as you are done reading.  Suzanne is the owner & operator and I have been in love with her stamps (and now her cut files at the Silhouette Store!) sine I started to rubber stamp.  Even if you aren't a huge calligraphy fan she has the best quotes and sets to choose from, I dare you to not find something you fall in love with. I just got an order I placed and this stamp screamed to me the moment I opened the package.

 What I Used to Make my Card
White Cardstock Base
Twinkling H20's in Fairy Plum, Pink Crocus & Purple Sage
Watercolor paper
Archival Ink by Ranger in Jet Black
Pink Cardstock
Quietfire Designs, #6304, The Heart has it's Reasons stamp
Tattered Angels Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist
Vellum (embossed with Darice Embossing Folder Damask)

The Sparkle!!

This is a fairly straight forward card.  I had already embossed the vellum as I was going to use it on a Christmas card (in fact, it has little snowflakes on it, but you can't see them due to the embossing) but never did - a heads up, if you have older vellum, I have vellum that I have had for 15 plus years, embossing folders can cause the vellum to crack in spots, so be gentle.  And don't use any more shims in the die cut machine than you need - I have a metal plate that helps dies cut better when I used it with an embossing folder and some vellum  it embossed so hard the vellum literally broke. I used a Darice embossing folder, called Damask when I embossed the vellum.  Anyway, what you want to do first is get out your Twinkling H20's, drip a bit of water in them and let them sit so they get nice and creamy.  I use an old dropper to put water in mine in mine.  Once they were ready, take your watercolor paper and your lightest color and just swish the H20 all around

Close up of the sentiment

your paper.  Let that dry a bit and then swish your middle color, let that dry a bit and finish with your darkest color.  The screen does not due justice when it comes to the beauty of H20's.  I set that aside to fully dry and when it was I spritzed the iridescent  gold mist lightly to give it an extra boost of sparkle.  Then I stamped my sentiment with the Jet Black ink and cut it to size.  I found a

piece of pink cardstock that matched the H20 colors, trimmed that down and glued it to the card base.  Then I attached the vellum, followed by the sentiment.  The hardest part was finding the right shade of pink to match the colors I made with the Twinkling H20's. I love the sentiment because it can be used on so many different cards!

Thanks for stopping by and reading my short tutorial - I hope this inspires you to make something, be it a card, or anything else ~ Christi

A last look - tell me I am not the only one who takes a TON of pictures of each project!!

I would like to enter my Valentine with Quitefire Designs card in the following challenge:
The Pink Elephant Challenge - #283, Anything Goes
The Cheerful Stamp Pad - Valentine Challenge
Time Out Challenge - #23, Valentine's Day with option twist of Hearts
Red Rubber Designs - #204, Focus on Stamping, Anything Goes
Die Cut Divas - January Challenge, Anything Goes (embossing folder)

Sparkling Snowflake Square Card

Hi everyone - this time of year can get very dreary for me. I truly think I am part bear and I should hibernate, the sun is not peeking out enough and the cold, well, the cold is downright mean to my body! However, I still get excited when I see snowflakes falling from the sky {it's snowing as I write this!} - they are so beautiful!  I decided to make this card to celebrate the sparkling snowflakes of the season and besides, who doesn't love playing with Stickles?

The colors match much nicer in person - not sure if it my monitor that shows them not quite matching.

What I Used to Make My Card:
Square Light Blue Card Base
White Cardstock
Silhouette Cameo
Cut File (freebie)
Stickles in Arctic Ice,  Diamond & Disco
Liquid Pearls in Platinum
Corner Punch from All Night Media 
Snowflakes cut from Cameo in shades of Blue and White
White Cardstock for Panel

The hardest part of this card is deciding which snowflake cut file to use.  I have literally hundreds that I have amassed from the internet - there are so many freebie files out there!! I wish I could tell you where I got this particular one, but I can't recall exactly.  However, if you like the file drop me a line and I will gladly share it with you.  

All I had in mind before I started this card was that I wanted the card to be simple, yet have awesome sparkle, and I think I accomplished that!  I like that it can be used as a holiday card or a "just because" winter card.  The inside is blank. 

Layers

First, choose the colors of blue you would like to use, then cut your files.  I sized the largest snowflake to fit on a standard square card (sized them all at the same time so they'd all be the right size).  Once all my snowflakes were cut, I went to Stickles town!  I just put the glitter glue where ever I wanted to.  I cut the largest and the third snowflake out of blue cardstock & the smallest and second out of white paper and that sort of dictated where to put what Stickles.  One the largest blue snowflake I tipped off the tear drop shapes with Arctic Blue,

Snowflake alone

and used Disco on the inner rim (this makes much more sense when you look at the pictures), I decorated the same spots on the other blue flake, except I used Arctic Blue on the whole thing.  The largest white flake had the tear drop shape outlined in Diamond, and the center flake had the tear drop shapes and the inner circle outlined in Diamond.  The very center of the flake was dotted with the Liquid Pearls in Platinum.  Dry them all overnight and then assemble the snowflake.  I wanted a mat under the flake, so I cut out a square out of white cardstock, clipped the corners and attached the snowflake to the white mat, which I then adhered to the square card.

I could definitely see me making more of these for holiday cards next year in an assembly line fashion. It's an easy & elegant card!  I hope you enjoyed my little tutorial and please consider subscribing as I am on a mission to hit 100 subscribers. Thanks!!! Christi 

Another view of the finished card

I would like to enter my Sparkling Snowflake Card in the following challenges:

Little Red Wagon - #273, No Text, No Sentiment
Frilly & Funkie - Winter Wishes Challenge 
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Winter Stamping
The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - #25, W is for Wow, it's Cold Outside
Moving Along With the Times - Dies and/or Punches
Deep Ocean Challenge - Winter Dreams

Tim's 12 Tags of 2015 - January Tag

I have decided I am going to participate in the Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2015 and make a tag every month for this year. I will be doing a fair amount of substituting, mostly due to the fact while I have a lot of Tim Holtz products, I am far from having everything, and frankly, I can't keep up!  CHA just ended and I already have a wish list a mile long - he is just so darn creative and I want everything! Anyway, here is my January 2015 tag:

This is What I Used on my Tag:
8" x 4" Manila Tag 
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Gold Tissue Paper
Ticket Alphabet by MaVinci's Reliquary numbers 1-8 (the shop is closed, but you can still get awesome alphabet sets from MaVinci on her eBay page - and ask her if she has any of this set left if you want it!)
Stamps from the following Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous sets: (stamped on the gold tissue - I don't have any of Tim's Tissue Paper)
Train Ticket & Clock Face from The Journey, Paris Postale from French Market, Type Block from Lost & Found, Ticket Strip from Life's Possibilities
Distress Paint in Chipped Sapphire, Broken China & Stormy Sky
Chipboard #5 from 7 Gypsies "Gypsy Mart" 
Gold Glitter from the Art Institute
Tim Holtz Alpha Parts/Numeric
Adirondack Dauber Paint in Metallic Gold
Distress Marker in Soot
Dylusions Ink Spray in White Linen
Various Stashed Trinkets
Krylon Leafing Pen in Silver
Ranger Glue 'n Seal
Gold Sheer Ribbon 

Stamping on the tissue

 You can go to Tim's blog and read about how he made his tag and what products he used - just click HERE.  The very first thing I did was get out the gold tissue and chose the stamps that I felt matched the tissue on the tag.  I stamped my heart out and it was SO much fun - back to the basics; stamps, ink and paper.  While the stamping dried I moved on to figure out the 5 (ok, I had the Alpha Parts/Numeric on order but I didn't w- it's a fairly focal part of the tag so I found a large chipboard 5 in my stash and covered it with gold glitter from my stash.  Some of you recall that me and glitter don't really get along, but this time things went fine.  So the glittered five went to dry - out of reach of the cats.  I adhered the stamped gold tissue on the tag and set that aside to dry also, overnight and under a book because my tag was curling. 

Wet Paint

Dry Paint

Then it was time to play with 
the Distress Paints. I pounced my paints on the craft sheet, spritzed them with water and dragged my tag through the paint.  I dabbed some areas with my finger so I could get the look I wanted.  Then I used my heat gun to dry and set the paint.

Once the painting was done I cut out my twenty and one from the Alpha Parts/Numeric and since I don't have the Distress gold paint, I used the Adirondack Gold paint - it wasn't as easy to paint the twenty and the one as it looked on Tim's blog, but I did the best I could with what I had. I daubed the paint on and wiped some of it offand then heat what was left with my heat gun (I have a Weller Heat Gun which is sold to be used in industrial situations, so I had to be EXTRA careful that the plastic didn't melt).  

Chit Chat Time!

Then I placed my focal pieces on the tag to get the idea where my Chit Chat stickers should go - I used both the regular stickers and the Holiday version, mostly so I didn't use up all my precious Chit Chat stickers.   Here is where I got a tad carried away and forgot to take pictures of the process.  Honestly, I did just what Tim did, put all my stickers in place, coated the tag with Glue 'n Seal, waited for it to dry (it dries fast since you only need a thin coat) and then outlined all my stickers with the Distress Marker in Soot.  I smudged away (have the black fingers to prove it) and messed around a bit to get the proper amount of smudge and non-smudge. Then, since I didn't have the splatter brush, I used Dylusions Spray Ink in White Linen and gave the tag a few light spritzes.  I began looking for embellishments to use on the tag and I was really wanting toput an arrow on the tag like Tim, but I had no arrow.  But I did have an old game spinner and a Krylon Silver leaf pen, so I inked the spinner up and cut the back piece off (yes, I saved it) and viola! I now had an arrow!

Not bad if I do say so myself.  Then I pulled a few other trinkets I had in my stash that I felt would at least try to get the look of the original tag. I glued everything down onto the tag and let it sit overnight again (mostly because the metal star I used is open on the other side and I wanted to give the glue enough time to drip down from the star to the tag).  I skipped splattering the tag with the Krylon Gold Leafing Pen because I can't find my brand new Distress Spritzer - I am thinking someone borrowed it to use on a model they are building, but I'm not naming names.  I cut a legnth of gold sheer ribbon that I have had since my demonstrator days and tied it onto the hole of the tag.  My ribbon refused to hang as nicely as Tim's so I fixed it by tying it into a bow.  There you have it - my first tag of 2015! 

Another look at the finished tag

I truly enjoyed myself (and I will probably say that each month) and I urge you to break out those tags and play along with Tim!

I am entering my January Tag into the following challenges:
Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 - January Tag Challenge
Papertake Weekly - It's All New (some of the embellishments are new) 
Fashionable Stamping Challenges -#89, Something New (some of the embellishments are new)
Order of the Opus Gleui - #200, Anything But a Card

New Beginnings at Anything But a Card

The finished product.

The blank journal I used.

So it's another New Year and I have decided to keep my resolutions easy - at least I think they are easy now, we will see how well I do (but nothing hard like exercise or no chocolate!!).  Since the current theme at Anything But a Card, challenge #43, is New Beginnings I decided to fulfill one of my resolutions, and something I hope will help me creatively, which is to have an art journal and actually journal in it. My plan is to write, and make art, in the journal at least 2 times a month. I'm afraid if I make my goal too ambitious I'll rebel (I can be my own worst enemy) and I don't want this to become a chore.  I have a few many  blank books hanging around, but I decided to use the Strathmore Mixed Media Journal. The size I chose is the 9' x 12" so I would have lots of room to get messy.

LOVE these inks!!

I wanted to jazz up the cover and I knew I wanted to stamp on it - so I dragged out ALL my Adirondack Inks from Ranger (the first inks I fell in love with ages ago) and all my word stamps. I have been collecting word stamps for years and what a perfect way to cover a journal? Also, I had to use my art stamps, another collection, since I wouldn't only be writing in my journal, I'd be making art as well. Since the cover was a glossy brown I thought I'd cover it with gesso and then stamp away.  Nope.  Well, I suppose I could have, but I didn't like the look of the ink on the gesso - it sorta just sucked the ink in and the vibrancy was gone.  So, plan two - I cut a piece of white cardstock to fit over the cover and stamped on that.  I also stippled some color around in some of the emptier spots.

Even the stippling smudged

When I finally got the cover done (and it took me a few nights as I would work on it and then leave it. I like the perspective I get on my work after I leave it for a while) I wanted to protect the cover it so it wouldn't be susceptible to my mess and tea spills.  I first tried Glue 'n Seal from Ranger but it smeared the Adirondack ink horribly (thank goodness I learned my lesson long ago to test things out before you go full tilt).  So after that dried, I broke out good old Modge Podge, in matte.  That, too smeared some colors of the ink, but I actually think it looks cool and since I can still read the words, the smearing is fine. Adds character. Funny that only certain colors of the Adirondack inks bled.

Smudged but in a cool way.

The part of this entire process that took the longest for me was deciding on what letters I wanted to use for the "My Journal" title.  I have tons of alphabet stickers and an entire drawer full of alphabet stamps sets - I went back and forth for days, but finally settled on the very first alphabet I ever bought and a continued favorite by Stampers Anonymous.  I went to their website, but it looks like it has been discontinued.  In case you want to see if you can find one, this is what it looks like:

It didn't come in this case, and it has no real name, but I use this set more than any other. I had so much fun stamping like the "old" says - I forgot how much fun just getting down to basics can be. Scroll down for one more look at the finished journal if you'd like.



So now I am all ready to start my New Beginnings with my "new" journal - how about you? You still have loads of time to enter at Anything But a Card.  Come and show us what New Beginnings means to you. 

Thanks for stopping by ~ Christi.

PS: If you comment on a post and would like me to take a look at your blog, please note your blog address in the comment. When I click on your picture it only brings me to your Google plus page, not your blog. 

Shiny!

I would like to enter my brand new Journal into the following challenges:

Artist Trading Post - New Beginnings
djkardkreations - NBUS challenge #3 - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz - #262, New Beginnings
Country View Challenges - Use Something New to You
Mixed Media Monthly Challenge - #8 New to You

Warm Winter Wishes

I like to send cards for no specific reason.  To me, it means more to get a card when there is no holiday or birthday. It means someone was thinking of you for no other reason except for being you. I made this card during the holiday season but I decided to not send it until after the rush.  In fact, I just decided who the recipient would be and will be mailing it tomorrow.

The final card.

What I Used to Make My Card:
White Square Card Base
Silhouette Cameo
Layered Snowflake Cut File (a freebie)
White Cardstock
Blue Cardstock
Various Ranger Stickles; Star Dust, Crystal, Diamond & Arctic Ice
Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink in Cornflower Blue
Warm Winter Wishes stamp by Quietfire
Gems (from my stash)
Small piece of silver fiber
Distress Marker in Stormy Sky

Hanging Snowflake

I began by finding a snowflake that was layered so I could cut the layers out of different color cardstock; I chose blue and white and I cut a full set of each color.  I decided which pieces I wanted to use in my snowflake and set the others aside.  I hadn't decided what I wanted to do with my snowflake when I had cut it out but I knew I wanted to make it sparkle.  I broke out my Stickles and decorated the snowflake, careful to let it fully dry in between colors (because I know that wet Stickles means smeared Stickles).  Then I went into my stash of gems and chose a few that I felt complimented the blue cardstock I used.  I let the snowflake dry thoroughly and attached a piece

Just the Snowflake

of silver fiber on the back so it can be hung up, and really kept out all season long, if the recipient wants to.

I put the snowflake on the card, once all the Stickles were dry, and stamped "Warm Winter Wishes", using Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink in Cornflower Blue, on a small piece of white card.  I love this stamp - actually, I love everything that Quietfire Design manufactures - everything is so beautiful and elegant.  The white card blended in with the card base so well I used a Distress Marker to edge the stamped sentiment. 

See how the sentiment blended

 in?

I think made the sentiment pop a bit more. I am lucky that the Stormy Sky matched the Cornflower Blue ink so well!   

It's a simple card, but I think the sparkly  snowflake makes this card pop.  I hope you enjoyed my short tutorial and please leave me a comment (I'd love to visit your blog and do the same for you, so  please leave your blog address in the comment section!).  And, as much as I love the holidays, I'm happy to get back to my routine ~ Blessings! Christi

Another view of the finished card

I am entering my Warm Winter Wishes card in the following challenges:
Card & Scraps - #88, Use a Stamp (I used warm winter wishes)
Die Cut Diva's (M) - Anything Goes 
Lady Bug Crafts (1/8/15) - Blog Candy
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes (entry #2)
Stampotique Designs - Anything Goes
Allsorts Challenge - #282, Cold & Frosty Colors
Fairytale Challenge - #108, Snow
One Crazy Stamper - January Challenge, Blue & White and an Embellishment