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October 22, 2015

Cherish Special Moments for Creative Embellishments

Hi everyone... it's my turn up on CE's blog today to share with you a layout I created featuring my daughter and our two little fur babies.
The layout foundation was white cardstock. I then custom colored some modeling paste with Dylusions paint in Bubblegum Pink and Crushed Grape and ran it through my crackle stencil for texture. The corners are Hocus Pocus Black Magic Coredinations paper stack, which I ripped first and then crumpled in a ball and then using sand paper I sanded off the top layer which exposed the vivid pretty core colors.
For my Creative Embellishments I chose Feathers and Dream Catcher to enhance my layout. They both were primed with black gesso and then given several coats of Lindy's Stamp Gang Magical Micas in the following colors : Asteroid Amethyst Blue, Blazing Magenta Blue, Pulsar Plum Red, Pluto Periwinkle, and Morning Magenta. 
My title was from the Moments Word Set and was painted white and gold stickles were added to the top. The flowers had 3D Gloss Gel from Prima Art Basics added then the seed beads were sprinkled on the top. I hope you enjoyed my layout and please join in with our monthly challenge at CE where you have a opportunity to win FREE gorgeous product !!! xoxo Toni

The following products were used from Creative Embellishments: 



October 8, 2015

Freedom Driven Layout for Creative Embellishments

Hi everyone... it's my turn as designer today for Creative Embellishments and I decided to do a layout of a couple photos of my brother, an accomplished brilliant musician.  A man of few words who allows the freedom of his music to speak loudly for him.
The frame was simply made by ripping and tearing a piece of corrugated cardboard, cut it into a frame and then distressed the edges. Using Distress Inks in Vintage Photo and Black Soot provided a grungy wonderfulness. 
 Using modeling paste and stencil I added a bit of dimension and texture to the background. I wanted to keep this very simple and in it's rawest form though so that the photos would be the main focus.
The Creative Embellishments chippies were also left natural. You don't always have to add color or texture to your chippies to get the look your trying to achieve. I hope you enjoyed this layout and my wish is that "the freedom of art would drive your creativity"... Peace
Creative Embellishments Used are the following: 


October 7, 2015

Spooky Fun !

This month at Unruly Paper Arts our theme is "Open Theme". Halloween is right around the corner and I love decorating so I thought I would make something for my front porch. I used this graphic on another project awhile back and thought it would be perfect addition to my decor. I used an 8.5" x 11" canvas for this project, so here we go !
My canvas was first given a blotchy coat of white gesso... I wanted it to be chunky and worn looking. Next I used a splatter stamp for background texture effect with Brushed Corduroy & Tea Dye Distressed Inks.  Using Ideology Ransom Alphabet mask I then applied different shades of Lindy's Stamp Gang mists over the stencil. Using Black Soot I stamped a few spider webs here and there. Next up is my house and blue prints. My house image was generously provided by Graphics Fairy



...blueprints and all ! I distressed the blue prints and house with Walnut Stain DI then applied the graphics with Glue and Seal and allowed to dry completely.
For my sign I simply ripped a piece of chipboard,  and glued my "Don't Let The Price Scare You" sentiment on top. Distressed the entire top with Black Soot and Walnut Stain and crumpled the edges then attached to canvas. 
For my key and safety pin I took 1 pt vinegar and 2 pts bleach allowed the key to be fully submerged. I left over nite... outside because it had a pretty potent smell and in the morning I had a perfectly rusted key and safety pin to attach it. 
Ok for the fun part... I love working with beeswax and I haven't in quite awhile. I allowed it to melt a bit longer than normal because I wanted it to discolor a bit. I then just brushed over the entire canvas, using my heat gun to move the wax around and allow chunky areas. Then I brushed over the top of the canvas which provided the nice long drips. Once it dried it turned a beautiful warm caramel color which I love. 

This will now be nailed to a wooden stake and stuck in a pot on my front porch for a Halloween decoration...Hope this has inspired you and have a  BOO-tiful Halloween !

October 1, 2015

Carving Out Some Halloween Inspiration !

Happy October everyone and I am loving this cooler weather. New month so time to create something new with us at Rhedd's Creative Spirit.... altered or mixed media pieces and link up to our blog so we can be inspired by your creativity.

It's time to start decorating for the upcoming holidays... but first up is Halloween. A friend of mine is having a "Monster Bash" this year and has volunteered me... lol... to do some decorating for her. She knows how much I love to hostess parties and presentation is everything ! 

I decided to get my hands on a few of these great pumpkins at Michael's

You can get different sizes and colors, white, orange, black even chalkboard black. They are made from a foam material and so they are really easy to cut up and alter. First up I cut the top off, like you would a regular pumpkin and I painted the inside with black acrylic paint because it was white inside. 

For the skull, I picked up a paper mache one also at Michaels and painted it white and added Art Basics Texture Paste White Sand all over it to give it texture. Once everything was dry I then gave it a coat of black acrylic paint and then wiped off the excess with baby wipes just so the black would seep into the crevices of the skull. The hands I purchased at the Dollar Store and they were beige so I gave them the same painting treatment that I did with the skull. I then just added red gems for the eyes using my glue gun. To give the illusion that the skull is popping out of the side of the pumpkin, I cut a whole the same size as the skull and using my glue gun once again I adhered then filled in the edges with spanish moss. 
I then added a piece of styrofoam glued it to the inside bottom of the pumpkin and added spanish moss on top. Using fabric fall leaves, I sprayed Dylusions Black Marble and Postbox Red here and there on the leaves to cause a more dramatic look. 
The hands are fun because they look like they are holding the top of the pumpkin. This was super easy and fun, probably took me 4 hours... mostly waiting for stuff to dry and I have lots more ideas for the other pumpkins. Hope this has inspired you for some Boo-tiful Halloween decorations. Have fun and come play along with us at Rhedd's Creative Spirit. 

Your Driving Me Batty

Happy October everyone and it's time for a new challenge at Creative Embellishments. Are you ready for our photo....it's AWESOME !  Use this as your inspiration with a bit of a twist... incorporate metal somewhere in your piece.
So now for my design team creation I was inspired by the steampunk appeal, the top hat, the bats and the colors. 
I decided to use the backside of the canvas and make my shadowbox. First up I decided I didn't want to use modeling paste this time for texture but instead I reached for my Sizzix embossing folders "Halloween".
 I made 4 of these and glued them together. Then I applied Dylusions sprays for the pretty colors and once dry I applied Black Soot DI to the tops and edges for distressed look. 
My bat was created using a paper mache egg and I crackled the paint for the body.  The eyes are Creative Embellishment cogs painted black and gems that were colored with alcohol ink in Plum. 
The legs and feet were made from metal wire and then dipped in black acrylic paint. 
The Creative Embellishment steampunk wings were covered with metal tape then run through the chicken wire embossing folder. Then I used 3D black paint for the rivets.
The tophat had feathers and stickpin added. The Creative Embellishment cogs were painted black and then highlighted with silver Inka Gold. 
The candlestick is something I picked up at Hobby Lobby, painted black and sprayed with Lindy's Stamp Gang Screamin Banchee Black... it has a shimmer of purples and blues, then added some Magical Mica in Rusty Lantern Lime for shimmer. For my title I used Creative Embellishments "The Freaks Come Out at Night". I painted it white first then gave it a nice coat of lime green Stickles. Spanish Moss was added here and there, and all those glue strings that collect over your project... no problem for this because it really adds to the Halloween look. 

I hope this gave you inspiration for creating something for your table top. Have fun and don't forget to drop by Creative Embellishments blog to see some amazing design team creations and link up your project for a chance to win some FREE goodies from Creative Embellishments. xoxo Toni

I will be entering this in the following challenges: 
Eclectic Ellapu - Purple Team Halloween
SanDee & Amelie's Steampunk - Top Hats & Moustaches 


The following Creative Embellishment products were used: 

art (ärt) noun - supplement, alter, or counteract the work of nature. The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty.