Embellishment Redo

I have many embellishments that just don’t work for me.  The main reason I don’t use them is the color.  If I don’t like the color it will never get used, no matter how nice it is.  So I decided to “fix” some embellishments that I didn’t like.  This started out as an experiment, so I was thrilled to see that it actually worked!

I have acquired quite a mix of acrylic cabochons from when I belonged to a kit club.  Every month I received a package with items pertaining to a certain theme and, although the company that put out the kits is no longer in business, I have a large stockpile of stuff.  

What I Used for my Embellishment Redo:

Acrylic Cabochons 

Embossing Fluid

Mermaid Tears, Cranberry Wine and Vintage Gold Embossing Enamel

Vintage Gold - a bit melted :)

I wanted to try to “fix” some of these embellies so I would use them.  I took an empty medicine bottle, popped the top of the Embossing Fluid and poured some in the bottle.  Then I brushed the Embossing Fluid on the cabochon (the brushing worked better - you can work the fluid into the little nooks & crannies), poured whatever color of Embossing Enamel I wanted (after pouring the extra off) and heated it.  The first one I did melted a bit, but then I got the hang of it.  

Cranberry Wine

 As I said, this began as an experiment and I am so happy it worked! Now I can “fix” my cabochons to match my projects!

I hope this inspires you to think a bit out of the box and find ways to “fix” items that you aren’t thrilled with.  And, since I had all the items on hand already, the new cabochons are essentially free!

My Favorite One - Mermaids Tears

Thank you SO much for stopping by today! I appreciate your support ~ Christi

A Certain Darkness. . .

I know everyone is making pretty spring cards and projects but I am stuck on a quote kick, plus I got a bunch of new stamps from Unity Stamp Company.  And, I found the base paper hiding in my stash, unopened, where it has sat for a very long time (the company I bought it from is out of business, but if you do a web search you can find it).  I am on a mission to use my supplies (I am still buying new stuff, but that can be our little secret) so I wanted to use this paper.  I am very pleased with how this card turned out and I hope you agree!

Not sure why this one looks a little blue. . .

What I used to make this card:

• Base made of black plastisheen paper (which is a thicker, heavier version of glossy cardstock)
• A144 Tiny Hearts, Flowers, Stars & Flourishes
• Unity Stamp Co. “A Certain Darkness”, IB-DD-579
• Micro White, Starry Sky, Siam Silver and Mermaid Tears Embossing Enamel
• Embossing Fluid
• Scrap piece of black cardstock
• Sturdy silver cardstock
• Small Star Punch
• Pop Dots
• Crafters Pick Adhesive

First thing I did was take four of the small stars from the Tiny Hearts, Flowers, Stars and Flourishes set – I need to order that set again as I have no more stars left. I embossed them with Siam Silver Embossing Enamel after coating them with Embossing Fluid.  I just have to say, I have been using this bottle of Embossing Fluid, at least weekly, since January and I haven’t even put a dent in it.  And the dauber delivery system is SO much easier to use than a typical embossing pad, plus, I pried the top off and put a small amount in an old pill bottle to use for painting the Embossing Fluid on.  Love this stuff! Sorry, I got distracted <grin>. I completely ruined one of the stars (don’t drop newly embossed items on the floor when you have four very furry cats) so that left me with 3 stars.  I knew I needed more, so I punched some out using the heavy silver cardstock.

Next, I embossed the sentiment with the Micro White Embossing Enamel on a scrap piece of black cardstock.  Now, I have never had good luck with white embossing, ever.  I use my little pouch thingie to ensure there is no stray powder but I could never seem to get a clean emboss.  I did here! I am thrilled with this stuff! I trimmed the sentiment down so it was even.

It was then I decided to try something new.  I knew I could emboss on glossy cardstock, so I thought I’d give it a whirl on this plastisheen.  All I did was use the Embossing Fluid and I swiped it on the card, right out of the bottle.  Then I embossed my swipes with Starry Sky Embossing Enamel. 

I love the texture (such a big thing now!) and it was so fun! I love to try new things; especially when they work out!

So, now I have my background done, my sentiment and my stars.  I pieced it together and felt something was missing.

Hmm. . .not quite right

After debating how to give the card some more interest, I took 2 of the cardstock silver stars and embossed them with Mermaid Tears.  Definitely gave the card a little more pizzazz! After I glued my stars where I wanted them, I pop dotted the sentiment, adhered that and we have liftoff!

My Mermaid Tears stars

So there you have it! I want to share a few more pictures of the card:

I was amazed to see the purple pop out in this picture!

And the last picture of the finished product!

It is very difficult to get a good picture of a black glossy card!
Thank you for popping by and I hope you stop by the Globecraft & Piccolo blog every day to see what my fabulously talented teamies have created! I have to get started on my Mother's Day card ~ eeeek!! Christi 

Thinking of You

For my Globecraft Piccolo card today, I have used the new Stacey's Stacking Flowers set.  To color my flowers I used:

Rose Metallic 3D Stamp Paint

Cranberry Wine Embossing Enamel

Girl's Night Out Embossing Enamel

I just love that you can still see the detailing on the flowers after they have been colored or embossed.  And just take a look at how many flowers you get in the set.....

I used my Cheery Lynn Designs Lattice 2 die for the background.  I die cut it from card stock and then embossed it with Aged White Embossing Enamel. I just love the flecks of gold in this powder.  Be sure to look closer at the picture for the beauty of the enamels.

Next I die cut the middle size die from my Cheery Lynn Sentiment Tag 2 set out of card stock and colored it with Rose 3D Stamp Paint.  I stamped Thinking of You and then used the smallest die to cut it out.  I added a few gems to my flowers and I was all done.  Finished size is 4.25 x 5.5 inches. 

Be sure to check back each day for more inspiration from the design team.

Be True

Hello my lovelies!

Today I have for you one of my favorite things to create- mini canvases.

Ah they are so much fun and so very sweet.

This project also uses one of my favorite charms sets- Vintage Birdcages.

Supplies:

Mini canvas, fancy napkin, acrylic paint, Mod Podge, epoxy sticker, beads, charms (bow and bird)

Heat gun, tooth pick

Vintage Birdcage Piccolos

Enamel Adhesive Fluid

Aged White enamel powder

Gold & Copper enamel gels

E600 glue

First things first- separate the layers of your fancy napkin.

Coat the canvas with mod Podge and stick the top (fancy) layer of the napkin onto the canvas.

Once it's dry, tear off around the edges. Then paint the edges with acrylic paint.

Randomly plop some enamel adhesive fluid onto the canvas and add Aged White enamel powder.

Heat to melt the powder and activate the adhesive.

Coat the solid background for the birdcage with enamel adhesive fluid and then Aged White powder.

Heat it up!

Now coat the fancy part of the birdcage with enamel gels.

Gold on the swirly heart on the door, copper on the rest.

(I went back and did a second coat of the gold once it was all dry).

Once the cage is dry, use a toothpick to put E600 glue onto the back of it and adhere it to the cage background.

Add the birdcage to the left corner of the canvas.

Use the E600 to add a bow to the cage (this bow was a charm that I cut the loop off of).

Randomly spread some E600 around the bottom of the cage/bottom edge of the canvas 

and drop beads onto it.  

Add your epoxy sticker and a bird charm, and it's all done!

Hello Sunshine Mixed Media Sign

I love finding ways to repurpose something that is no longer needed as is. I found a Halloween sign in the clearance section of a fabric store for $.50 and decided it needed a Spring makeover...using items from our new Spring Release!

The new items that I'm using on today's mixed media sign:

3D Enamel Gel Daffodil Pearl
3D Enamel Gel Satin Rose (also a pearl gel!)
Butterfly & Flowers Accents A153
Stacey's Stacking Flowers LA106

Other supplies used:
Enamel Powder Adhesive Fluid
Distress Ink Vintage Photo
Fine Line Applicator Tip
3D Enamel Gel Mars Black
3D Enamel Gel Titanium White
Enamel Powder Aged White
Archival Ink Jet Black
Dylusions Ink Spray Bubblegum Pink, Lemon Zest, Vibrant Turquoise
heat gun
type stamp
sentiment stamp
oil pastels
gesso

Let's get started! Begin by applying 2-3 thin coats of gesso using an old plastic card. (I have found this to be The Best Way Ever for applying thin coats of paint and gesso!) Let each layer dry.

Spray with Dylusion Ink Sprays and then spray lightly with water to move and diffuse the ink. Use a heat gun to dry the ink as you go along. This helps to leave light texture and interesting patterns.

Once dry, use the Archival Ink and your type stamp and randomly tap the words onto your sign.

Isn't this new butterfly so pretty?! Using the fine line applicator tip and the 3D Gels (be sure to rinse the tip between colors or make sure to have a few more on hand) to color the butterfly wings and body. Let dry.

There are *4* different sizes of flowers in the Stacey's Stacking Flowers package (and you get a total of 24 flowers). These flowers are fabulous! They have detailing on the petals and *you can even bend them up to give them more dimension.

*I brushed on a thin coat of the 3D Gel in Titanium White to strengthen the petals. After they dried I held the flower by the center and gently pushed the petals up.

I used a smattering of Aged White Enamel on the petals, too.

Under the flowers and butterfly are scrap circles of white cardstock that are hand-torn. After gluing the circles down, I used various oil pastels to color the edges and traced over it with my finger to soften the color. Draw stems and trace over with your finger.

All that is left is to stamp your sentiment with the Archival Ink. Well, there you have it, my crafty friends - a beautiful Spring Mixed Media sign to brighten your day!

Be sure to visit daily to see more wonderful projects made using the new Spring Release!

Inky hugs,
Angi