Wednesday, November 20, 2013

LWD Design Team Showcase: Dylusions Journal, Echo Park Reflections Collection, & Cosmo Cricket Snowflake Wood Charms

Hello everyone.  I thought I’d share a journal page with you today.  No, I’m no expert at this (try rank amateur), but journal pages are fun to do and allow you to experiment with different products while allowing freedom of expression. 

This week, I had a ton of new products I wanted to try:  The Dylusions Large Journal, the Echo Park Reflections Collection (Christmas-themed), some Cosmo Cricket Snowflake Wood Charms (these are awesome!), and a couple of stencils by Heidi Swapp and Color Box.  So, let’s see what I did.

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So, here’s the journal.  It’s a nice size with the pages measuring 11-3/8” x 8-1/4”.  The outside is sturdy and the elastic bank keeps it closed.

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To start, I gesso’d the pages to keep my color from bleeding through, since I’ve very heavy handed when it comes to paints, inks, and mists.  After that dried, I laid down some color, using paints from the Lumiere range by Jacquard.  I used a baby wipe to smear and blend the colors somewhat.  A damp rag would also work.

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Next, I stenciled in a background using the Heidi Swapp Confetti stencil, a Color Box Jumbled Art Screen, and Distress Inks in Black Soot and Picked Raspberry.  The blender tool by Ranger works really good for applying these inks to stencils.

Okay, I forgot to take a picture of this step, though it’s obvious is subsequent pictures.  I took a selection of seasonal stamps and randomly stamped them over my page using  black Ranger Archival Ink and Stormy Sky Distress Ink.

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I then took a couple of pages from the new Echo Park Reflections Collection and trimmed a border for the left side of the page from one sheet and the 24 card from another.  I adhered these to the page using my Xyron sticker machine.

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Next, I scattered Cosmo Cricket Snowflake Wooden Charms across the page in a random pattern.  I literally just kind of threw them onto the paper and glued most where they landed.  I liked the color they were so I left them bare.  I also took a piece of Tim Holtz Tinsel Twine and ran it across the top and partially down the right side using Glossy Accents to glue it to the page.  I then took my Lace Glitz Roller Doodle and randomly rolled it in lines across and down the page.

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Though it’s hard to see in the picture, I sprayed the entire page with Perfect Pearls Pearl mist so it would be shimmery.

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So, here’s my page.  I like the way the colors turned out and it seems very festive to me.  However, something just didn’t look quite right.  It was missing something.

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Soooooo, I dug around in the pieces and parts laying on my desk and found the negative of a Sizzix Alterations Tree Line die cut.  I had used the actual die cut for another project, but the negative it left had several tree shapes that were very useable.  I trimmed them up, added some Ice Stickles for snow, and AT LAST!  my page was done.

So, don’t ever discount the bits and parts left over from another project.  Look at them with a critical eye and see if they can’t be used for something else.  The leftovers from my previous project fit perfectly into my page.

Now, art journaling is not a science.  In a lot of instances, its beauty is in the eye of the creator.  What I hoped to show you today was just how easy it can be to art journal.  A few paints, some stencils, inks, maybe some stamps, and you have all you need.  And in case you are wondering, for me, an art journal page is never done!

You can find the products used here and many more for your crafting projects at 25% off MSRP at Lone Wolf Designs, LLC.  All you have to do is join the Lone Wolf Designs Discount Craft Supplies Facebook group.  If you haven’t joined us yet, you’re paying TOO MUCH for your craft supplies!

Supplies Used Available from Lone Wolf Designs LLC:
Dylusions Art Journal
Echo Park Reflections Collection
Cosmo Cricket Snowflake Wood Charms
Heidi Swapp Confetti Stencil
Color Box Jumbled Art Screen
Jacquard Lumiere Paints
Distress Inks
Ranger Archival Ink
Ranger Blending Tool
Tim Holtz Tinsel Twine, Winter
Glitz Tiny Roller Doodle, Lace
Perfect Pearls Mist
Ice Stickles
Sizzix Alterations Tree Line
Xyron Sticker Machine

Until later…………………………….
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Friday, October 25, 2013

Happy Halloween

I know, I’ve been remiss in posting to my poor blog lately.  I share my LWD projects but rarely anything else.  Well in honor of Halloween, here’s a canvas I did with some Basically Bare, Art Anthology, and Authentique (with a little Tim Holtz thrown in – gotta have that!).

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Yeah, I had FUN!

Until later………………………..

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Thursday, October 17, 2013

LWD Design Team Showcase: Pin Up Queen, Day of the Heads, & This Old House Dylusions Stamp Sets

Good morning everyone!  Today I want to share with you a tag I made using three of the new Dylusions Stamp Sets:  Pin Up Queen, Day of the Heads, & This Old House.  I just LOVE these stamp sets!  They are very versatile and exceedingly fun to work with.

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First, I stamped  the Pin Up Queen body onto a piece of card stock, along with one of the skulls from Day of the Heads using Distress Ink in Black Soot.  I colored her and the skull with Copics in YR68 & G02, LePlumes in E852, Y625, & R808, and finally Spectrum Noir in EB1.  Then, I carefully cut out just on the edge of the black line left by the stamp.  Yes, it was a bit fussy, but I loved the edge I got.  If a little white shows, running a Black Soot Distress Ink pad down the edge will help (but be careful, you don’t want a smudged edge).

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Take a #10 manila tag and stamp the face house from the Dylusions This Old House set using Distress Ink in Black Soot and then emboss with clear embossing powder.  You want to use a #10 manila tag because these stamps are fairly large.  Now stamp it again on a piece of scrap paper and cut out slightly inside the line - this becomes your mask for the next step.  Trimming the mask just inside the stamped line keeps you from leaving a halo around your stamped image during the next step.

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Position mask over the embossed stamped house and spray with Dylusions Mists in Squeezed Orange, Lemon Zest, and White Linen.  Remove the mask (save for future use).  Dry with your heat gun.

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Use the following Distress Markers to color your house:  Barn Door, Vintage Photo, Brushed Corduroy, Pine Needle, and Mustard Seed.

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Stamp and cut out the “sassy britches” saying from the Dylusions Say It How It Is stamp set.  Adhere the body, head, and words to the tag.  VOILA! You’re done!

You can find these and many more products for your crafting projects at 25% off MSRP at Lone Wolf Designs, LLC. All you have to do is join the Lone Wolf Designs Discount Craft Supplies Facebook group.  If you haven’t joined us yet, you’re paying TOO MUCH for your craft supplies!

Supplies Used Available from Lone Wolf Designs LLC:
Dylusions Pin Up Queen stamp set
Dylusions Day of the Heads stamp set
Dylusions This Old House stamp set
Dylusions Say It How It Is stamp set
Dylusions Mists in Squeezed Orange, Lemon Zest, and White Linen
Distress Ink Black Soot
Distress Markers in Barn Door, Vintage Photo, Brushed Corduroy, Pine Needles, and Mustard Seed
Copic Sketch Markers in Orange, Spectrum Green
LePlume Markers in Yellow, Red, and Mint Green
Ranger Heat It Craft Tool

Until later………………..
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Thursday, September 12, 2013

Basically Bare Design Team Call

In case you haven’t heard, Basically Bare is having a Design Team Call.  Submissions for the team will be accepted until Midnight, Monday, September 23rd.  Below are the details:

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Basically Bare is a manufacturer of mixed-media albums and embellishments for the scrapbooking and paper crafting industry. In business since 2011, Basically Bare has seen incredible growth, and is now sold in scrapbooking, craft and hobby and rubber stamp stores across the US, Canada, Europe and the UK, Australia and Asia.

We are looking for 3-4 designers to add to our team. Design team terms last for six months.

You will be showcasing the Basically Bare embellishments and albums in scrapbooking layouts, cards, and other paper crafting or home décor projects. Each design team member is responsible for 2-3 projects per month. All types and styles of artists are encouraged to apply.

Each team member is responsible for creating two to three blog posts per month on the Basically Bare blog showcasing the projects they make during that month. In addition, design team members are required to help promote Basically Bare via their own blog/website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and/or other social media outlets. We also require that you create and update a scrapbook.com account and gallery during your term.

Each designer will also be responsible for creating two to three samples for the Basically Bare booth during CHA Summer or Winter, depending on the time of their term.

Design team members can expect ample Basically Bare product to complete their assigned projects for each month, including access to brand new and unreleased product prior to CHA. Basically Bare is owned by Art Anthology, so each of our designers will also receive a sample of Art Anthology products to work with during their term. We also hold blog swaps with several other manufacturers throughout each design team term, and each design team member will receive materials and product from these manufacturers during their term. Basically Bare designers will also have the opportunity to join us at CHA and appear in the Basically Bare booth as a Basically Bare ambassador! There, you will meet thousands of fellow crafters and scrapbookers, mingle and network with others in the paper crafting industry, as well as help out with our workshops, demos and make ‘n takes.

To apply, please send an email containing the following to Basically Bare Design Team Coordinator Marilyn Hughes at Marilyn@basicallybare.com.

The subject of the email should read: “(Your Name) DT Application”. An example of an application for the team is “Jane Doe DT Application”. The body of the email should include:

1. Your name, address, phone number, and email address.
2. Links to your blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and any other social media outlets you belong to.
3. In 50 words or less, tell us why you think you’d be a good fit for our design team.
4. Photos of six to ten projects that you feel show how well you will fit within the team. Projects using Basically Bare products are appreciated but not required.

International designer applications ARE accepted.

The length of this call is two weeks. At that time, all applications will be reviewed by the Design Team Coordinator and the owner of Basically Bare/Art Anthology.

Please send any questions to info@basicallybare.com – DO NOT SEND APPLICATIONS TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS. Applications should be sent to Marilyn@basicallybare.com.

Application deadline is midnight CST September 23, 2013

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Friday, September 6, 2013

LWD Design Team Showcase: Tattered Angels Pure Mistable Paper 12x12

Good morning everyone!  Today I want to show you the results of an experiment I conducted using the Tattered Angels Pure Mistable Papers.  I chose 6 of the papers to try:  Naugahyde,Wide Wale, Satin, Crushed Velvet, Linen-White, and Patent Leather-White.  These papers are white.  Due to lighting, they might look a bit pinkish in the photos, but they are not.

All samples are ATC-sized.  Photos can be viewed in a larger size, in a separate window, by clicking on the picture.  The mists were sprayed on, allowed to set for a few seconds, then blotted with a paper towel.  A Ranger Heat It Craft Tool was used to speed drying time.

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First, I tried the Naugahyde paper.  I sprayed it with three colors of Dylusions; Vibrant Turquoise, White Linen, Cut Grass.  This resulted in subtle veined look with a smooth texture.  I have to say this is my favorite.

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Next, the Wide Wale.  I sprayed this one with Dylusions Melted Chocolate, Funky Fuchsia, and Lemon Zest.  You get a nice subtle vertical stripe background pattern with a smooth surface.

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Here is the Satin paper.  This time I used Dylusions Postbox Red, London Blue, and White Linen.  This runs a close second as a favorite of mine.  You get a very textured background, slightly rough finish, with a nice shimmer that shows through the mists.

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Next up, Crushed Velvet.  For this and the next two, I switched to more subtle mists made by Art Anthology.  For this one, I used Vineyard, Patience, and Honey Bee.  You get a pebbly texture that’s slightly rough to the touch.

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And here’s Linen-White.  I used the Art Anthology mists in Glorious, Pesto, and Studio Blue.  The design is extremely subtle with a fabric-like look as would be expected.  The finish is slightly raised.

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Finally, Patten Leather-White.  I used Art Anthology mists in Sangria, Watermelon, and Plush.  As expected, you will get a very smooth finish with a nice gloss to it.  The mists slightly puddle on the paper giving you the below shown effect.  Yes, the gloss shows through the mists!

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And in case your were wondering, they also work well with stains.  Here’s a sample of Crushed Velvet colored with Tim Holtz Distress Stain in Wild Honey.

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If anyone wants to see a sample of any of the Tattered Angels Pure Mistables 12 x 12 Paper that was not shown today, just let me know.  I’ll do a test run for you and post it here on my blog.

Last but not least, a piece of the paper in action.  For an ATC I’m working on, I used the Naugahyde paper shown above.

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You can find these and many more products for your crafting projects at 25% off MSRP at Lone Wolf Designs, LLC. All you have to do is join the Lone Wolf Designs Discount Craft Supplies Facebook group. If you haven’t joined us yet, you’re paying TOO MUCH for your craft supplies!

Supplies Used Available from Lone Wolf Designs LLC:
Tattered Angels Pure Mistable Paper 12 x 12 in Naugahyde, Wide Wale, Satin, Linen-White, Crushed Velvet, and Patten Leather-White
Dylusions Mists in Vibrant Turquoise, White Linen, Cut Grass, Melted Chocolate, Funky Fuchsia, Lemon Zest, Postbox Red, and London Blue
Tim Holtz Distress Stain in Wild Honey 
Ranger Heat It Craft Tool

Until Later…………………………

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Thursday, July 25, 2013

LWD Design Team Showcase: Under the Sea with Dylusions Stamps

Good morning everyone!  This is my first post for Lone Wolf Designs and I thought I’d share something fun.  I have fallen in love with all things Dylusions so today I’m going to showcase some of the stamps.

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Nice, bright, cheerful and oh so much fun to create.  Ready?  Okay, grab your ink pads and your stamps and let’s get this party started!

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I began with a #8 tag.  Using a blending tool, I applied Tumbled Glass and Faded Jeans Distress Inks as the background, blending as I went.

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Next, I stamped the Seaweed stamp from Dylusions Ocean Backgrounds stamp set using Ranger Black Archival Ink.  I then traced with stamped image with a Distress Ink Marker in Black Soot and colored in the image with Pine Needles.  I followed it up by going over the entire colored image with a waterbrush to give it a slight water-color effect.

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Then, I stamped the fish and octopus from Dylusions Under the Sea stamp set in Black Soot Distress Ink onto a manila tag.  I colored both images with Prismacolor markers in primary colors (fun!).

Okay, now I got sooooo into this fun tag that I forgot to take my progress pictures (face-palm).  So here’s what I did to finish the tag:  I stamped the Currently Unsupervised sentiment from Dylusions Say How It Is onto a manila tag and cut out.  I then pounced on some Squeezed Lemonade Distress Ink.

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I popped out the fish and octopus with foam squares and stamped some bubbles using the Dylusions Under The Sea bubble stamp and Broken China Distress Ink.

I smile every time I look at this tag. It that bright and cheerful.  Of course the sentiment just makes it that much funnier!

You can find these and many more products for your crafting projects at 25% off MSRP at Lone Wolf Designs, LLC. All you have to do is join the Lone Wolf Designs Discount Craft Supplies Facebook group. If you haven’t joined us yet, you’re paying TOO MUCH for your craft supplies!

Supplies Used Available from Lone Wolf Designs LLC
Sizzix Tag Bookplate Die
Dylusions Under The Sea Stamp Set
Dylusions Ocean Backgrounds Stamp Set
Dylusions Say How It Is Stamp Set
Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Tumbled Glass, Faded Jeans, Black Soot, Squeezed Lemonade, & Broken China
Tim Holtz Distress Markers in Black Soot & Pine Needles
Ranger Archival Ink in Black

Until later…………….
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Thursday, July 18, 2013

Timeless

Just a little something I did for Gauche Alchemy with their Alchemist’s Apothecary Kit, which apparently has now sold out.

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I used a 5 x 7 canvas panel as my base and layered it with tissue paper and netting.  Then I spritzed on Dylusions and Art Anthology mists until I got the desired colors and blends.  Added the kit components, and Voila! a piece of Steampunk art.

Until later………

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Saturday, June 8, 2013

HOOT HOOT

This month’s theme on So Artful Challenges is Owls.  Any color could be used on any surface.  Most of the designers work in digital, but I prefer to work with paper (considering I’m digitally-challenged).  If you’re interested, you have until July 6th to submit your entry.

So here’s mine.  A steampunk owl ATC.

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I covered the roses in several layers of UTEE.  The background is created using several colors of Distress Inks which I then stamped over in sepia archival ink.  The owl is a Jolee’s 3D Sticker.

One thing I did learn.  Never, ever squeeze your bottle of embossing fluid.  Nuff said.

Until later…………….
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Friday, May 17, 2013

Stirred Not Shaken

In addition to designing for Gauche Alchemy and Basically Bare, I also participate in swaps over on the Art For the Creative Mind Yahoo group.  This provides me with lots of ideas and a way to not only fulfill my design team commitments, but allows me to send my creations out to others.  As a designer, I get lots of art that just piles up.

So, when the AFTCM Stirred Not Shaken Altered Spoon Swap was announced, I knew it was a great fit for Gauche Alchemy and their Shaken, Not Stirred Mixed Media Kit

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So, how do you like my altered wooden spoon?  All the elements with the exception of the tiny glass came from Gauche Alchemy.

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A little tip:  To get the paper to wrap around the spoon without creasing, cut slits in the paper almost up to the spoon itself, then glue.  I used Decoupage glue to adhere the paper to the spoon and then gave it several coats to strengthen the paper.  Magazine paper is exceedingly thin and tears easy.

Until later…………………

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Friday, May 10, 2013

Just a Few of my Recent Projects

Oh, man, it’s MAY!  MAY! Already! ACK!  My son turns 18 (boy do I feel old) and graduates (okay, now I feel older, sigh).  So what have I been up to lately to keep my mind off my aging body?  Well, let me show you………..

ATCs for An Altered Place Alphabet ATC Swap:

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An ATC for So Artful Challenges:

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                                                      Moonlight


An Altered File Folder for Gauche Alchemy

I’ve got several more cool projects that I just can’t share with you yet (RATS!).  I’ve got to wait until they are published on the respective Design Team blog.  But I promise, you will LOVE them!  Haunt the Gauche Alchemy & Basically Bare blogs if you want a sneak peek!

Until later…………………….

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