Valentine’s Day Card

Finally got out and played some more ….. my little ones have been sick ….

I really haven’t played with the Time Well Spent set from SU! so that was my focus. I’m in the processing of cleaning my studio and ran across my Pearl-Ex watercolor set and some glitter pens …. fun! So it was a watercoloring session using both my blender pen and aqua painter – along with my watercolor crayons. My friend let me borrow a fun alphabet set for my CB and hence my letters ….

Since the letters were so delicate, I had to use a craft knife to cut through sections and pop them out. I ran them through my Xyron machine and once placed on the paper, I painted shadows with choc. chip using my blender pen. I used my bone folder to curl the flower petals and leaves. Not bad considering I was “floating” on cold medicine ….

Playtime with crafting stuff!

I finally got my Cuttlebug and have been having fun playing with it! I have a few projects I’m in the process of working on; one of which involves a cute tin all white and pristine – just waiting for paper, ink, and embellishments!!!!!! Ok, so here a couple of pics of some stuff I done in the last few days!

This first is a picture of the white tin I’m in the process of embellishing. I’ve decided to make it a “princess” keepsake tin for my daughter.

This picture is of a card I created using as many embossing folders I could with my CB!!!

In this last card I was playing with my alcohol reinkers, vellum and a photo slide! The slide has a nice coating that creates nice blends from the ink. (no blending solution used). Although not my favorite card I’ve made – just fiddling around usually leads to something better!

Cherish Card

Yesterday I stepped out in my shop to put some things away and next thing I knew – I’d made a card! Wish it were that easy everyday! All I meant to do was play with some drywall tape I found in the garage – it is a neon yellow and I wanted to see if I could ink it a different color! Well, I started daubing on it but used the wrong the type of ink so it didn’t stick. However, when I peeled it away I was happy to see a grid pattern. Ok so hence the card inspiration! Drywall tape!

I also had some white silk flowers I had torn apart and inked up! The result was quick and easy! I used SU! Chocolate Chip CS as base with Tempting Turq. for the edge layer. My main layer started out as Whisper White as can be seen with the grid pattern! Other things used: Baroque Motifs: cherish, rhinestone brad, silk flowers, drywall tape, sheer polka dot ribbon, daubers, paper piercing tool and dimensionals.

To create the grid: smooth down the drywall tape onto white paper – make sure it’s really stuck down to get clean edges. Using the sponge dauber with Chocolate Chip Ink, pounce on the left edge of the paper to get the color down around the tape then gently swirl to blend it. Take the next color, Tempting Turq. with a dauber and starting at an overlap with the Chocolate Chip – pounce and swirl. Last color with dauber, Blue Bayou – start again with an overlap but as you get closer to the edge – leave some white showing. Once done just peel the tape up and cut to size!

The flowers started out white and I just sponged them with Tempting Turq. and Blue Bayou, layered and topped off with a rhinestone brad!

Now I’m off to try my stazon ink with the mesh! Happy Creating! -Melinda

Beaded Necklace

This necklace was quite some work. There were several stages involved in getting to the final piece. The main section is bead embroidery on paper and then backed with felt. I used a variety of beads to fill in the sections of this butterfly. Size 8 and size 10 seed beads, bugle beads, fire-polished czech beads to name a few. My chain is a combination of herringbone and brick stitch. I like the herringbone because I can put things between the stitches as in my transition from the main piece to the necklace. My finishing touch was the tassel fringe at the base. Although I would love to claim this beautiful butterfly completely as my own – it is inspired by a pattern found in the most wonderful beading book: “Classic Beadweaving: New Needle Techniques & Original Designs” by Ann Benson. She has wonderful ideas and patterns throughout the book! So now you know what I’ve been up to the last few days! This necklace is a gift for my mother on her birthday! – Melinda

Horizons

Every new year I think … resolution? no resolution? yes? no? …. I’m never inspired by making a resolution …. So this year I am trying something different – I am doing a word for the year ….. my word is “Horizons”. I plan to explore past, present and future horizons …. creative horizons, new horizons ….. yep, that’s my word! I’ve ran across several blogs of artists doing this and it’s wonderful! Happy New Year to all!!!! -Melinda