A Big Christmas Thank You

We are at the end of 2014 and it's been a crazy year of busyness but I have enjoyed every minute. I would like to take this time to thank all my followers for your continuous support and enthusiasm through your wonderful comments. I call myself blessed to have met some great new friends throughout the world and look forward to creating and inspiring each other throughout the new year.

Special thank you to my design teams that have kept my artsy mojo going. To Danie May from Unrulies and Susan Brown from Anything But A Card... you both are amazing... Not sure how you do everything that is needed to keep a blog going as well as create as well as run a home, family etc.... You are amazing and I truly appreciate being on both your teams. I have made some wonderful new friends on the design teams and can/t wait to see what 2015 has for us. 

Thank you to my wonderful friends that are the receivers of many of my creations.  I so enjoy creating for you and truly appreciate our times together. Praying that everyone has a wonderfully magical Christmas season. Sit back and enjoy my YOUTUBE that features many of my holiday creations for 2014. 

It's A Frosty Gift Box

This month at Unruly PaperArts our theme is "Out Of The Box" and perfect time because Christmas is right around the corner so it's still time to make some quick one of a kind gift boxes. 

 I just love snowmen and decided I wanted a Frosty Top Hat box for a friend of mine. Something to carry her gift in and then she can display as a table decoration for years to come.  This is very easy and fun to make and that's just what you need with this busy season upon us.

This is a picture of the top of the hat. I decided I wanted a pretty red cardinal to sit upon the hat. So many different ways you can put your own spin on this. 

I hope you were inspired a bit and jump over to  Unrulies website for some wonderful "Out of The Box" fun. Come play and create with us !

For the steps taken to achieve this, please enjoy my SNAPGUIDE tutorial below.

Check out How to Create a Frosty the Snowman Top Hat Gift Box by Toni Burks-Grijalva on Snapguide.

Angels Watching Over Us

This month at Anything But A Card challenge blog it's all about "Celestial" . When I think celestial I immediately think angels, so I decided to do a Christmas mixed media canvas.

This project took many different turns along the way as many of my projects do, but I am real happy of the end result. Lots of layers and textures used to accomplish this creation.  

Using a 8 x 10 canvas I collaged vintage music papers down and than started layering stencils using molding paste. Splashes of Heidii Swapp Gold Lemme Spray here and there and using Distress Ink for the high points on the canvas as well as the flowers and assorted embellishments. 

To achieve the cracked glass, I created the wings from chipboard then covered them with Christmas wrapping paper and then applied 3 coats of UTEE then placed in the freezer for a bit. When removed from freezer just bend here and there and the UTEE cracks beautifully. 

Different embellishments were created like this bauble cluster hanging from my door knob and the rolled parchment. Cheese cloth always provides a beautiful texture for your mixed media or scrapbook layouts. This was also sprayed with the gold spray. 

I hope you enjoyed my take on "Celestial". Please join us at Anything But A Card and show us your take on "Celestial" Have a blessed Christmas season. xoxo Toni

This project will be entered in the following challenges: 

Eclectic Ellapu - Vintage Christmas 

Try It On Tuesday - Winter Whites

The Mirror Crack'd - Recycle /Upcycle (used old picture frame)

Sentimental Sundays - Anything Goes 

Shopping Our Stash - Favorite Technique - Distressing and Stenciling

Please feel free to sit back and check out my step by step tutorial below. And for more creative tutorials visit my SNAPGUIDE webpage. 

Check out How to Create Broken Glass Effect Using Freezer Method. by Toni Burks-Grijalva on Snapguide.

I Believe

It's day 11 over at "12 Days of Christmas Link Up Party" being hosted by Unruly PaperArts and I am amazed at the beautiful Christmas projects people are making. My Christmas tag is once again a play off of an old technique Mr. T!m Holtz introduced back in 2009. Check out his blog for his wonderful tutorial HERE

 First, several different Christmas stamps were used to create a collage effect. Then distressed inks also used in a collage fashion. The technique T!m was using on his tag was a hanging embellishment, T!m used his memory glass, but  I was completely out so I needed to improvise...  Since I didn't have a memory glass I used a metal picture frame, alcohol inked in for an aging effect. Metal corners were also inked and used like the roof top of a house. Then glued a fragment with my choice of background. Stickles was used to make the icycles on the roof, T!m then used a memory capsul (which I also did not have on hand) I made my own memory capsul from these little plastic bubbles that I have had for years... filled it with some seed beads, attached the bells and bow and waa laa....

Thank you for stopping by my blog... hope your enjoying your holiday crafting. Have a blessed Christmas ! xoxo

This tag is being entered in the following challenges: 

Shopping Our Stash - Favorite Technique ( distress inking) 

Frilly & Funky -  A Vintage Christmas 

Craft Hoarders Anonymous - Celebrate The Season

Altered Eclectics - The Countdown To Christmas

Eclectic Elapu - Vintage Christmas

Around The World Blog Hop

Hi everyone... Toni here from California and I was honored to be asked to participate in this great blog hop. Provides you to visit creatives from all over the globe and get a glimpse into their artsy world. For this hop I was to answer 4 questions concerning my creative journey, so here goes:

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW????

Hummm.... it's Christmas time so I have many many holiday projects going on. I have a Christmas layout of my wonderful daughter sitting waiting to be finished. I am currently participating in "12 Days of Christmas Link Up Party" so I have tags, ornaments, and cards that are being worked on. I'm also on 2 design teams so I have projects that are awaiting me.  My craft table is filled with a beautiful mess of glitter, glue, paper and inks.... I ♥ it !

HOW DOES MY WORK DIFFER FROM OTHERS???

My style tends to be quirky, grungy, sometimes un-expected. I have a difficult time doing CAS (clean and simple). I love applying different techniques in a project, so even if I am doing a card or layout, it usually has a taste of mixed media involved. I love to alter items... it's not uncommon for me to see something tossed in the trash and I will take it apart to create something entirely different.  Ink, then bling, then ink some more, then add a bit of modeling paste, spray and of course more ink. Ripping & crumpling of paper I love in my projects.

WHY DO I CREATE???

I love the freedom of expression creativity allows me and I tend to be a perfectionist so art really encourages me to "Embrace My Imperfection" and some of my most favorite pieces my viewers probably wouldn't understand. and that's o.k. I think we all have a need to create somehow, whether it's music, gardening, cooking etc. For me it's necessity. It's calming, invigorating, liberating. Coming from a very creative family I have always been exposed to the arts. Music, theater, painting, crafting, dancing was a way of life in my family.

HOW DOES MY CREATIVE PROCESS WORK???

I gather inspiration from almost anything. Nature, music, people, a technique or tool, and then the wheels start turning. It's not uncommon for me to come up with an idea while laying in bed at night. My most creative time to work is in the evening, with music on, a cup of coffee and away I go. Being on a couple design teams and staying involved with blog challenges on the internet really help my creative flow. Sometimes you know you want to do something messy but not sure what and than a theme is suggested and that really kick starts the process. As I create, my process evolves. It constantly changes direction while working on my piece and that's what I love about art. It's definitely a journey. 

I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit about my creative side and now I get to introduce to you a wonderfully talented friend of mine Kelley Rooks of Addicted To Paper

She never seizes to amaze me with her work and is constantly inspiring me.  Please drop by her blog, show her some love and on December 15th she will invite you into her creative world also by answering the same questions as I.  Have a spectacular week, and I hope it is filled with glitter. xoxo

Christmas Tagging

Playing catch up here for the "12 Days of Christmas Link Up Party" hosted by Unruly PaperArts and I missed day 5. 

 I have to admit, I have so many projects going on for other blogs that I really needed some creative mojo....  So we're going back.... waaaay back to a technique that I learned from non other than the amazing T!m Holtz. This was a technique he shared on the 12 Days of Christmas Tags 2009.... I told you we were going back 

Create your plaid background by using glossy paper and alcohol inks. Distress Marker Spritzer for my black splashes . 

Using my alcohol inks, I stained the clear dew drops to look like holly berries. 

Fun and easy technique and now these tags are ready to attach to their presents. Be sure to join in on the fun... There is so much inspiration going on at the party so hope you decide to play along. 

I ♥ Christmas

I'm having so much fun with the "12 Days of Christmas Link Up Party" at Unruly Paper Art and I hope you decide to join in. Make at least 1 project and link it up to our blog and then share some ♥ with some other crafters. Quick and easy garland for your tree or wall. For a closer look, double click on the photo.

Only a few supplies were needed to create this cute garland. So many ways you could decorate this with so many holiday sentiments.. love, peace, joy, wish, dream, believe etc. 

I'm entering this in the following creative challenges: 

Frilly & Funky - A Vintage Christmas 

Craft Hoarders Anonymous - Celebrate the Season

Eclectic Ellapu - Christmas But Not a Card

For a more detailed tutorial please feel free to view my SNAPGUIDE tutorial. 

Check out How to Create Christmas Garland by Toni Burks-Grijalva on Snapguide.

Christmas Tussie Mussie

Day 3 of  "12 Days of Christmas Link Up Party" at Unruly PaperArts and we sure are having fun.

Today I created a Christmas Tussie Mussie... ok I wasn't sure where or why a tussie mussie was originated, so I Googled it... lol

In the 1700's, when regular bathing and indoor plumbing was uncommon, the tussie mussie became popular. A tussie mussie is a small bouquet (nosegay) of fragrant herbs and flowers. During this time, elegant ladies carried tussie mussies to mask the odors around them. Smaller tussie mussies were often worn on the lapel to mask body odor. So there is your lesson for the day ...hahaha

Made from a paper mache cone I purchased at Michaels, covered with scrapbook paper. Using the Sizzix Mini Rosette Die I created the rosette on the front. Applied some glitter to burlap and ruffled it aroumd the edge of the cone.  Sitting atop is a birds nest filled with twigs, floral sprays, & bird of course. A little Smow Tex to the tops.  I had this tiny frame that fit perfect. Printed out the word "NOEL". I attached burlap twine to the sides for use to hang on the tree. 

I hope you decide to join in on the fun. No need to make a project every day, just create something between Dec 1st & Dec 12th and link up to the party. This is a crazy busy time and sometimes we don't take any time for playing with our craft supplies. This project took me less than 2 hours. Hope you were inspired... Happy Holidays ! xoxo Toni

Creatively playing with the following challenges: 

Frilly & Funky - A Vintage Holiday

Altered Eclectics - The Countdown to Christmas

Eclectic Ellapu - Vintage Christmas 

Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree

It's day two at Unrulies "12 Days of Christmas Link Up" party and it's great to see lots of crafters coming together to have fun.

Today my project is an easy but fun project. I made these a few years ago and they were a hit at a Christmas boutique I was involved in so I thought I would make some up for some of my co-workers.

My Snow Globes are made from salt and pepper shakers and tiny jars. The salt and pepper shakers I got at the 99 cents store. I bleached out my little bottle brush trees and some I sprayed with Lindys Stamp Gang sprays, pink, blue, green etc. others I just left white. Rubbed glue all over and sprinkled Diamond Dust on top. Attached my sentiment and then inserted and glued in jar or shaker. Added mica, artificial snow and tiny gold stars in the bottom.

For the lid on the jars I used a large crystal bauble from my stash and glued it down, then embellished it with Christmas florals, tulle, pearls etc. 

For the salt and pepper shakers  I ran jute through the holes in the lid and added a bauble to hang on the tree. Very simple but so pretty. I hope you join in on the creative fun with our "12 Days of Christmas Link Up". 

Wishing you Peace and Love this Christmas Season. xoxo Toni

This project will be entered in the following challenges: 

Try It On Tuesday - Christmas Is Coming

Craft Hoarders Anonymous - Celebrate The Season

Country View Challenge - Nostalgic Christmas

Altered Eclectics - The Countdown to Christmas

The Mirror Crack'd - Christmas Decorations

Eclectic Ellapu - Vintage Christmas

Counting Down To Christmas

Its 12 Days of Christmas Link Up Party with Unruly PaperArts. From Dec 1st thru Dec 12th. Create a Christmas project and link it up, then be sure to go and spread some love to the link before your project and the two links right after your link.

For my project I made a Christmas Countdown Calender using a cookie sheet. This was such a fun project... If you have a ton of little embellishments sitting around your craft room, like bells, flowers, snowflakes etc... this is a great project to put them to use.  I saw this project done years ago at a scrapbook store that I worked at and fell in love with it. So this is my version.  

I embroidered "December" for the top banner, the main portion of the cookie sheet was covered with chalkboard paint and once dried I used white ink to draw the grid blocks.

 Using small squares of wood for the base, I painted and then made little themed collages for each day of December. Little magnets were then glued to the back of each square which will hold perfectly on your metal cookie sheet.  At the top of the cookie sheet I used my crop a dial and punched two holes then ran ribbon through it, tied a bow and now it's ready to hang on your wall. It's so much fun thinking of ideas for each day. This is a gift for a special friend to enjoy with her grandchildren.

To view more up close pics of the collages check out my YouTube video. Hope you come and party with us at Unruly PaperArts 12 Days of Christmas... Merry Christmas !
I am also entering this in 
Craft Hoarders Anonymous - Celebrate the Season
Altered Eclectics - Countdown To Christmas
The Mirror Crack'd - Christmas Decorations
Country View Challenge - Nostalgic Christmas 
Eclectic Ellapu - Christmas But Not a Card

Thank you to my brother, Tracy G, for the great rendition of "These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things"

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas

Hi everyone... This month we have 5 weeks so that means it's "The 5's Challenge" at Anything But A Card. It's  Christmas time and we all are so busy so for my design team project I thought I would come up with a  tutorial for a quick & pretty ornament that the children can even join in and help make (using caution with the glue gun of course) with only 5 STEPS

1. SPREAD YOUR ALCOHOL INK

2. EMBELLISH YOUR ORNAMENT

3. ADD YOUR FLORALS

4. STAMP YOUR SENTIMENT

5. FINISH IT OFF WITH A CUTE BOW

Sometimes we only have time to create quick and easy. These ornaments are going to a couple very good friends that always fill me with love and joy. Hope you have a creatively blessed holiday season, and be sure to drop by Anything But A Card blog to view all the other "5's" inspiration of the design team. 

Please take time to view my Snapguide for a step x step tutorial on the process. 

Check out How to Create Christmas Ornament in 5 Easy Steps by Toni Burks-Grijalva on Snapguide.

What's Cookin"

Hi eveyone, it's November and our focus this month at Unruly PaperArts is "Make & Bake"... hummm you say, what could that mean??? Well this month we'll  focus on any products you use to make/bake items/embellishments in your crafting using FIMO, MOLD PUTTY, MOLDING CLAY, MELT ART, RESINS, SHRINK PLASTICS etc.

I'm getting geared up for the holidays and starting on my gift boxes.  This month at Unruly our sponsor is AMAZING CRAFTING PRODUCTS which is the maker of Amazing Mold Putty. This product is so easy to use and so versatile. In the molds you can use, clay, hot glue, UTEE,  resin, plaster, wax, chocolate, soap and the list goes on and on. 

I chose to use UTEE in my molds and create some pretty angel wings for my gift box. Simple and so effective. While I was heating up the UTEE I also decided to dip my poinsettias in the hot goodness and this created a faux crystal-like flower... So pretty. I will be entering this piece in the following challenges:

The Mirror Crack'd - Christmas Decoration 

Shopping Our Stash - Leaf Me Alone 

Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes

Check out my SNAPGUIDE tutorial for step x step procedure on this project. 

Check out How to Make Embellishments Using UTEE & Magic Mold Putty by Toni Burks-Grijalva on Snapguide.

Keeping with the make and bake theme I also decided to make some candy canes with SCULPTY clay to dress up my windows on my gingerbread house. The gingerbread house holds a mini album which is specifically for my holiday baking pictures.  

 Santa is even coming down the chimney in this house.

This was such a fun project, loads of techniques and I can't wait to start putting my pictures in the mini album. Hope you enjoyed this post. Be sure to check out the November issue at Unruly throughout the month there will be some AMAZING projects and tutorials provided by the design team to inspire your holiday crafting. And join in on this month's RAQ (Readers Art Quest) which is "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" and link up and you could possibly win something from AMAZING CRAFTING PRODUCTS.  I will be entering this piece in the following challenges: 

The Mirror Crack'd - Christmas Decoration

Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - November Challenge Anything Goes

For a step x step tutorial on this project, check out my SNAPGUIDE tutorial 

Check out How to Create Paper Mache Gingerbread House by Toni Burks-Grijalva on Snapguide.

With A Thankful Heart

Happy November everyone... it's a new month and that means a new challenge at Anything But A Card. This month it's OPEN THEME so get those creative wheels turning and join in on the fun with us.
My project was inspired by the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, and I have so much to be thankful for. Friends, family, health, etc.... so I decided to take one of my printer trays and dedicate it to the special things in my life that I am thankful for.

To take a closer look at all the different compartments, sit back and enjoy my YOUTUBE.

Thank you for taking the time to view my creation. I hope you have a wonderfully creative month. Don't forget to stop by Anything But A Card for lots of wonderful inspiration from the other designers, and linkup your creation so you can play along and inspire others. You have until November 22 to enter your creation.  For my tutorial on this project, visit my SNAPGUIDE webpage HERE... xoxo Toni

Here Comes Santa Claus

Hi everyone, well it's November and Christmas is right around the corner, so it's time to get some holiday crafting going. Over at Unruly Paper Crafts the RAQ (Readers Art Quest) this month is Santa Claus is coming to town ! For inspiration, use the picture below and the color palette.

Here is my Design Team contribution ... My Santa decided to travel a bit different this year. I have these beautiful pine cones outside my place and thought they would make the perfect hot air balloon.

 The basket I created by using jute twine and I dipped it in fabric stiffener and wrapped it around a little bowl until is was completely dry.

The gifts were made from little wooden blocks and wrapped in foil, vintage tinsel was added to the basket, the bottle brush tree was bleached & custom sprayed for the color I wanted and pearls were colored with alcohol inks and glued to the tree. Miniature toys were stuffed in Santa's basket. There you have it... Santa is ready to make his rounds to all the good little girls and boys. 

 I added Snow Tex to the edges of the pine cone and vintage tin garland was strung on the outside of the pine cone. I think this will be a fun Christmas ornament to hang on my tree this year.

There you have it... Santa is ready to make his rounds to all the good little girls and boys. So I hope you join in with the festivities over at Unruly and show us how Santa is going to come to your town . You have a whole month to work on your project and be sure to link up to our website HERE so that you can share and inspire with others, also it provides a chance to win an amazing prize from our sponsor this month... Amazing Craft Products. They are the makers of Amazing Mold Putty and Amazing Resin.... Happy crafting ! Toni

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

It's Steampunk time again  and this was such a fun project to make. 

Every girl should have the ultimate closet to keep her couture in and that is what I made with this paper mache box. 

 The dress on the left was created by making the corset first then adding the skirt as well as the ruffles and embellishments. I will be doing a tutorial on this technique in a later post. I added a dowel inside the closet for the dress to hang properly on a coat hanger ready for that special occasion.  

The inside of the closet furniture and picture frame (mirror) are all chipboard pieces from Blue Fern "Second Hand Furnishings". I used 3D paint to add details to the pieces first, then applied their base coat. Once dried, Rub N Buff in Antique Gold was applied to provide an antique look. I used Ideology Mirrored Paper and glued it on the back of the picture frame to create a mirror. The clock was created by making a custom mold using Amazing Putty and I pressed Sculpty Clay inside and once cured I applied Rub N Buf to the top. 

The inside of the closet was painted teal and while still damp I applied a paper towel and pulled it off so that it created a chipped worn look. The paper for the walls of the closet are from G45 Steampunk Debutant collection. On the back wall dampened the paper and ripped a hole to give an "aged" appearance. 

The mannequin on the right I've had in my stash for years. I Mod Podged 7 Gypsys Tissue paper and sprayed Lindy's Stamp Gang Treasure Island Aqua for a pretty glow. The wings were made from an old heart earring which I cut in half and it made the perfect wings. Using assorted laces I created her dress. Then added some cogs, chain with watch and love heart. Butterfly is from G45 Steampunk Debutant and was fussy cut then Glossy Accents was applied. Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting ! xoxo Toni

Fun, fun, fun project and I would happily like to contribute this piece to the following challenges: 

That Craft Place - Girls But No Pink

The Cracked Mirror - Body Beautiful -Something Featuring the Human Form

Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes 

Sandee & Amelie's Steampunk - Steampunk Couture