Stamp Set Win from Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015

Oh boy oh boy! I received my prize from being one of the winners for the March 12 tags of 2015. Tim and Mario sent me a stamp set (butterfly) and a stencil (dots)

So I just had to make something with some of the stamps. But first I want to thank my new followers and also those that have been with me for a bit. Y'all are Amazeballs! Keep on truckin! :)

I stared with the number stamp and covered my canvas with it. Then I embossed the stamped image with clear embossing powder to create a resist. 

I wanted to use my blues and so I just ran with it and grabbed all the blue spray I have (all 4!). Then I just had a spray party in my homemade spray box. Lol! 

For this canvas I didn't think about the end product, I just threw caution to the wind and had at it. Fun stuff, you know you want to try it! 

Before I started spraying I did line my spray box with some scrap white cardstock. I then saw the lovely, blue overspray colors on my scrap paper and decided to stamp my butterfly image on the scrap. I embossed it with sparkling white embossing powder and fussy cut it. 

My butterfly looked in need of some highlights and a touch more color so I grabbed a paintbrush and my colorbox inks and viola! There are some whites and purples. 

Can you see the shimmer? 

I had some blue ribbon and a Sentiment so those were added as well because Possibility really does Begin With Imagination! I swiped and dabbed cheesecloth and jute through my overspray, added those behind the butterfly to give her a soft place to land and my canvas is almost finished. 

I kept seeing the number 3 in my head (weird) so  I grabbed a metal 3, added some Alcohol Ink to it and some Perfect Pearls and glued it to the upper left corner. Viola, done! 

Thanks so very much for stopping by today and I do hope everyone's muse is kicking arse! 

This canvas will be shared with the following challenges:

LESSology #46-Typeface and my recycles bit is the butterfly cut from my scrap overspray.

Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #11-April Showers Blue skies and butterflies are what my April is all about. We have such beautiful blue skies after it rains and it has been raining here.

Frosted Designs-Spring! Spring is all about bright colors and new life. My blues are bright and my butterfly represents new life.

Artful Times #79-A Bit of Finnabair

Abandoned Coral Card

Happy day to you all! I don't usually make cards (even for Christmas) but I was in a weird mood today and decided to do one. This is my second braided spine card and it was a lot more easy compared to the first. Lol!

I used regular white card stock and then applied Distress Inks in Abandoned Coral and Cracked Pistachio. These colors work so well together! I added the patterned green paper after tattering the edges and using brown chalk ink around the edges. 

I wanted to use stitching around the card and since I don't have a sewing machine, or a stamp, I hand stitched that sucker! It took a bit of time but the results are okay by me. And I only poked myself 4 times. :)

I then added a cute little flower. The rose in the middle was "painted" with Cracked Pistachio and the greenery die cut was also painted with the same color. I used a rub on for the butterfly and just fussy cut it. The metal tag was in my stash, not sure from where it came though? 

I used a stencil and some coffee Archival ink to add a bit of interest to the upper right corner. 

I then added my sentiment using embossing powder and viola! Card done. 

Thank you for stopping by and having a look see. Carpe Diem and Happy weekend! 

This card will be shared with the following wonderful challenges:

Mixed Media World #2 Use Bright Colours HERE-This is Bright for me as I usually shy away from pinks, greens, purples.

Creative Moments Challenge #66-Anything Goes Spring or Easter HERE Spring is in the air with my card

Krafts 4 Eternity #223-Anything Goes HERE

Card Mania #67 Flowers HERE

Tagalicious tag and Art Block

Hello beautiful, talented peoples! It seems like I have been MIA for so long. I have a new house, new craft space and built a new art desk. Awesome right? Yeppers, but then I got an Art Block big time. I just couldn't create anything. Finally I was able to pull this tag together, thank goodness!

I really had to do things my way because I didn't have much of anything needed for the April Tim tag, although the base is a Kraft tag! Boo yeah! You can check his make HERE. 

I did almost every (not the stitching) technique he showed but not exactly how he showed to do it. This will shock many of you but I don't have any, nope none, Distress Markers! What!! Yeppers. It is on my list but so are many other items. Hehe! So instead of using the DM, I just smooshed the Distress Ink pad on my craft mat, spritzed it with water and used a plain old paintbrush to create my "water color in my flower, the stem and the shadow. I also used it for my ribbon. This is a "new" technique for me as I have never done any water color type painting. Does it count? I think so. 

There are so many supplies I didn't have but I think it looks close to the original, kinda, okay, sort of. I am just happy to have created something! Hugz! ~Niki

This tag will be shared with these amazing challenges:

Tim Tags 2015

Try It On Tuesday-New Beginnings HERE There is so much "new" in my life, I think I need a break. Lol

Inspiration Emporium-Everything Goes HERE

Crafty Calendar Challenge-Add a Sentiment HERE My sentiment is "Beautiful Life" and I do have an absolutely Beautiful Life. First time I have ever said that. :)

Country View Challenges-Use Kraft card HERE

The Gentleman

Today I am sharing the story of The Gentleman and what awaits behind a raised curtain. This month at SanDee&Amelie's Steampunk Challenge is all about "Raise the Curtain". Let's begin!

The Gentleman comes home and lays his goggles and pocket watch on the table, he looks up at his beloved's portrait knowing he will always keep her in his heart. He then turns with a light step and can not contain the glee he feels as he opens the curtains to his...........

Lab! He knows he is so close to figuring out how he will see his beloved again. His beloved is waiting for him to come home after he finishes inventing his latest creation, the "BopperDopper Dimension De-Tangler". His beloved actually lives between dimensions and they have only met through her dreams. But Alas! He is done and finally they can be together in real time! To be continued......

                                                                          ********

I started with an Altoid Tin. I cut some papers to fit the front, back, and insides. 

I used washi tape to line the inside edges, as paper is too thick for the top edges, and the tin won't close properly. 

I then added the front key piece and knob with E6000. I edged the paper with black archival ink. Adding a scrap piece of fabric completed the front. 

Next came the goggles, brooch and frame around the brooch (this is the Gentlemans Beloved "portrait").Then I added the watch and passport to the inside lid. 

 The Lab section was made using bits and bobs from my stash. I made the curtain rod from a small dowel piece that was leftover from a previous project, the dowel was painted black. I used some TH fabric and added small hoops to the top of the fabric to represent the curtain hooks and I love that the curtain can actually open and close. 

The big copper piece in the back lower left corner is from a watch I had that stopped working, so I took its guts out. And of course there has to be a periodic table, every scientist needs one right?

Are you ready to try out this challenge? I bet your head is spinning with possibilities for Steampunk curtains of some sort. What will you come up with? Carpe Diem! Happy crafting! ~Niki

New Mixed Media Challenge Blog and Design Team Announcement!

I am so happy to be able to finally share this info with you all! I was asked to be a Design Team member for a NEW challenge blog! I can't contain my glee at this opportunity! The new challenge blog is called Anything But Cute. Awesome right? I know!!!! Feel free to check out this new blog, and remember to hit that Follow button! I am going to be sharing some wonderful creations over there, as well as some tutorials.

Here is some information about the new blog:

Anything But Cute is a brand new mixed media challenge blog with a new challenge starting on the 5th day of every month at 7:00 am EST. 

We welcome all types of crafts. Cards, journal pages, scrapbook pages, 3D crafts, canvas art, altered items and any other handmade paper or mixed media arts. We encourage crafters of all skill levels and styles - shabby chic, grunge, vintage, elegant, stylish, retro, you name it. As our name indicates, the only style we are not showcasing - are all things cute and adorable. There must be at least one mixed media product on your project somewhere, be that paint, ink, stain, spray, paste, clay, crackle glaze...whatever tickles your fancy!

At Anything But Cute, we would love to see all you seasoned and expert mixed media artists, but we also want to encourage those of you who are just getting your feet wet. Our design team will always be on the lookout for these exceptional projects and artists. You just never know when we might be giving out something special to a mixed media beginner. We all have to start somewhere, right!

Our first challenge starts on May 5th, so let's get messy and have some fun!

Our next Design Team member will be announced on April 16th! Are you excited to see who it is? I know you all will be inspired by her because I sure am! Hugz and Carpe Diem! ~Niki

Upcycled Box and Last Design Team Project for MMM

Well what a journey this has been. April will be my last month at Mixed Media Mojo as a DT member. The team has been wonderful and I will miss you all! For my last DT project it was all about our April Challenge to Upcycle/Recycle and the Twist is to use a flower. We also have some new DT members joining MMM, please check out their blogs and send them some love.

This box started out life as a pretty blue with some Stenciling on the side and a sentiment. 

Pretty right? Well it was being thrown away and I asked if I could have it. I knew I could make it more my style and put so many die cuts in it! 

I started by painting it in black acrylic paint. One of the drawers was sagging so I fixed the little runner thing that helps slide out the drawer. Easy peasy! 

I knew I wanted to use a paper set I just got-Tattered Times! So many lovely papers to choose from! 

I applied my gear paper with TomBow Multi and left the center bare. I added some script paper to the front of the drawers and to add some interest I used the leftover papers from the top of the box for the middle section of each drawer. 

I edged all papers used with black Archival Ink. 

Now for the more fun part! I grabbed some chipboard gears from my stash (love me some CE chippies!) and die cut some gears as well. I then layered all the gears to my liking, took a picture so I would remember what went where, and then started making my gears look different. 

I used embossing powder, rusting powder, inks, sprays, mists, and Rub-n-buff on the different layers of gears. Each layer was treated differently and I do enjoy the final result. This chest will be my storage drawers for most of my Steampunk items! 

The finals results of the gears. 

I do hope you can join in and recycle/upcycle! Enjoy your crafting! Carpe Diem! ~Niki

This project will be share with the following: 

Altered Eclectics-Anything Goes HERE

Rhedds Creative Spirit-Anything Goes HERE