Little Bit About Me

Hi everyone...ever wonder what inspires a creative or how they work, or what was it that got them interested in art in the first place ??? Well this week I am in the "Spotlight" at Unruly Paper Arts sharing my journey with art. Jump over to Unruly's blog to view the entire column and check out what inspires me to get messy with my paints and inks.

You've Been Steampunk'd

Hi all... it's Creative Embellishment time and I just love working with these chipboard pieces. I needed a box to hold some of my favorite steampunk trinkets and I found this box at Hobby Lobby for $6.99 and I had  40% coupon... Cool huh !

Well that.... became this: 

I love organization and this will be perfect for organizing some ... ( I say some) of my steampunk embellies. I have a Snapguide tutorial that you can follow for step x step procedure, but I will fill you in on a few highlights. 

I used Andy Skinner Industrial Stamp set for the cracked look before painting with Quincadron Gold for that beautiful rusty look. The metal on the sides of the box is actually plumbers tape ran through the Vagabond for the embossing effect. 

The chipboard pieces are all from Creative Embellishments... of course and they have such cool steampunk pieces... I ran the pipe chippies through my Vagabond for the embossing and my steampunk lady had her wings topped with SnowTex for some pretty texture. 

The gears and cogs had Art Basics Graphite Texture Paste added to provide a corrosion and rusty effect. 

The compartments were lined with G45 Steampunk Spells paper and then filled to the brim with wonderfulness. I hope you enjoyed this and that it has inspired you to go and "Create Art" ... until next time... xoxo Toni

Creative Embellishments Chipboard pieces used are: 

Steampunk Dress Form	Propellars	Pipeworks
Steampunk Gear Large	Steampunk Gear 3	Inspire Word Set

I am entering this project in the following wonderful challenges:
That Craft Place Challenge - Steampunk
Anything But Cute - Mixed Media Makeover
Eclectic Ellapu - Pink Team Anything Goes
Altered Eclectics - September Anything Goes
Try It On Tuesdays - Add Some Metal

Check out How to Create a Steampunk Box for Trinkets by Toni Burks-Grijalva on Snapguide.

Happy Family Layout for Creative Embellishments

Hi everyone... I decided to do a layout with my beautiful daughter and our two fur babies using Creative Embellishments chipboard pieces. I love this chipboard because it is intricately gorgeous and takes so many different kinds of medium.

I first wanted texture on my layout so using modeling paste and my honeycomb stencil I randomly added it to the background paper. Then using my Lindy's Afternoon Delight Denim spray I dripped and splattered this on the paper.  I then distressed the edges of the photos and added them to the page. 

It was now time to alter my CE chipboard pieces. I used the chicken wire and cut it in 3 parts using Viva Paper Soft in Indigo, I colored my CE pieces including my title. Then I adhered this to my layout using Glossy Accents. 

Then I decided to add some sparkle, so I used Art Basics 3D Gel Medium and put a scoop of blue chunky glitter and then mixed some 3D Gel Medium with green chunky glitter and added it to different parts of the chicken wire. 

For the sea grass and bird, I first added Art Basics White Sand Modeling Paste for texture, I also added a little bit on the birds belly. Allowed to dry completely. Then the sea grass got two coats of different acrylic green paints. Once dry I covered it with Distressed Stickles in Pine Needles. The bird was sprayed with Lindy's Afternoon Delight Denim and then touches of green acrylic paint were added for interest. 

Last but not least, flowers and twigs were glued on using my glue gun and crystal Stickles were added to the pettals. I hope you enjoyed and please drop by the blog for some wonderful inspiration from our design team. Be sure to participate in this months challenge and link up your project for a chance to win some beautiful Creative Embellishment product. xoxo Toni

Creative Embellishment products used on this project are: 

Seagrass

Happy Word Set

Celebrate Word Set

Birds

Chicken Wire

I am entering this piece in the following challenges: 

Simon Says Monday Challenge - Love This Technique (Using Modeling Paste and Stencils) 

Frilly and Funky - Stamps Be Gone ( Used Modeling Paste and Stencils for texture) 

Say Yes To The Dress

Hi crafty friends... new month, new theme at Unruly Paper Arts. We are focused on wings, fairies, angels, birds, feathers .... just create something with wings. I was really in the mood to get messy, so I decided to create this vintage styled/steampunk mixed media canvas. 

The background had all different kinds of layers, from napkins to modeling paste, with spray mists, and stamped images. 

My birdcage was textured with Art Basics Modeling Paste Graphite and then sprayed with beautiful Lindys. Charms were created and hung from the bottom of the cage. 

The vintage style mirror is chipboard, painted and crackle added and then I used T!m Holtz's Ideology Mirrored Sheets for the main mirror. 

I then busted out my German Glass Glitter collection and gave a sprinkle here and a sprinkle there for gorgeous texture and color.  And there you go.... For a step x step tutorial sit back grab a cup of tea and enjoy my Snapguide Tutorial below... Creatively yours, Toni

This is being entered into the following wonderful challenges: 

Love To Create - Mixed Media

Eclectic Ellapu - September Purple Team (Use Stash 6 Months or Older) everything on this canvas was 6 months or older... 

Altered Eclectics - September Anything Goes 

Mixed Media World - Gorgeous Textures

Frilly & Funkie - Touch of Gold 

Simon Says -Trio of Colors .. I used shades of white, turquoise & golds.

Check out How to Create a Vintage Styled Canvas by Toni Burks-Grijalva on Snapguide.

Coffee With A Little Bit Of Cream

Hi everyone and happy September. Can you believe it... its almost fall and I can't wait for the weather to get cooler. This month's RAQ is all about "Coffee and Cream" or your take on it. I chose to be inspired by the colors of coffee and cream. The photo is of my daughter when she was in college in Philadelphia. This is about as CAS (clean and simple) as I get but I wanted to keep the photo the main focus so it works for me. 

Awhile back I took a class using a vintage pleating machine. What a challenging class but so much fun. The flowers were the perfect color to go on my layout so they were utilized. With the addition of some gorgeous mica flakes and some simple pale white mulberry flowers my layout is complete. I hope you decide to show us your take on "Coffee and Cream" ... be sure to drop by the blog for some wonderful inspiration. 

Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover

Well, I am so excited to share with you my very first design team project for Rhedd's Creative Spirit Design Team. Yes I am a new member of the team and so excited to create with these wonderful ladies. If you love mixed media and altered art then this is a great place to get inspiration and create with us. So for my first project I decided to give my art journal cover a face lift.

 This is what it looked like before, pretty sad huh ! I picked this baby up at the dollar store.

And here is the new transformation: 

I really kept it very simple using modeling paste, paints, sprays, gesso a little glue gun art and a product I have had forever and I busted it out to use it on this project "Goosebumps". Here is a photo of just the front cover. 

I had intended to put  a title in my frame but decided to make a shaker box instead. Something different and fun. That's what usually happens with my projects, they start off one way and end up another. I hope this has inspired you to get messy with us this month. Be sure to drop by Rhedds Creative Spirit and link up your project.... the theme is "Anything Goes" Below is my Snapguide tutorial for a step x step process on creating this cover. xoxo Toni

I'm entering this piece in the following wonderful challenges: 

That Craft Place Challenge - Mixed Media Anything Goes

Altered Eclectic - Anything Goes 

Eclectic Elapu - Pink Team Anything Goes 

Love To Create - Mixed Media 

Anything But Cute - Making Magic Happen Using Mood Board I used the textures, colors, and glitters 

Mixed Media World - Gorgeous Textures 

Check out How to Create Mixed Media Art Journal Cover by Toni Burks-Grijalva on Snapguide.