Take Time To Create

Wowzers! Summer is here with a bang as it is 111 degrees Farenheit outside. Thank goodness for air conditioning! I am inside all nice and cool sippin on an iced Caramel Machiatto enjoying my art time, my me time. Know what I mean? Summer means vibrant yellows, blues, greens, and pools so I made this card with that in mind.

The layout for this card was inspired by my friend Georgie (LittleBlueCraftBox) from a Birthday card she sent me. She's such a sweet and talented lady! 

I wanted to enter Linda's CC3 challenge as well because there are only 3 more challenges and I am determined to enter all of the remaining ones. This time around, we’re using Tim’s Layering Stencils for a cool and easy Paint Resist project.  Check out Tim’s tutorial on page 47 of  A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol.3 for the technique instructions because I won't give away the details for this technique. :) 

There is also a rather large prize from Inspiration Emporium up for grabs. They are offering a FIFTY DOLLAR SHOPPING SPREE for one lucky CC3C entrant! Yes please! 

I started with a plain yellowish piece of cardstock and did the Paint Resist technique to create my background. Lovin the twisted citron color! 

I think it turned out awesome sauce! I then started adding my embellies and cheesecloth. The coral and light blue- green chippe reminds me of sea coral so I added it to my underwater ocean type theme. 

I stamped a script stamp on the background to add interest then layered my cheesecloth, flowers and chippie. We all need time to create this summer so this was the perfect sentiment for my card. 

This card is for a crafty friend that creates fantastic cards (Wish some of that would rub off on me for making cards. Lol) Hope she likes it! 

I do hope you have an awesome summer and make plenty of time to create in between pool fun and picnics! Hugz! Carpe Diem! ~Niki

I would love to share this card with these amazing challenges: 

Linda Ledbetters CC3 #31-Paint Resist Technique

Frilly and Funkie-It's Summer!

Runner Dance Art Stamps-June Challenge Use these colors: Sunny/Sand Yellow, Ocean green and Blue

Beyond Grey Challenge #69-Cards Only! 

Fathers Day

Hello all and welcome to a crazy post. My laptop decided to catch on fire last night so this post may be a bit wonky as I am doing it from my phone. Hehe! Craft on right?

I had to make a Fathers Day card because I have never made one and my Pop will be very surprised to see this. He has everything he could possibly want so this is my gift to him. :)

I started with a cardboard base and then used some Tattered Times paper as the first layer. Then I dry embossed some white cardstock with a new SpellBinders EF and added Distress Inks and LSG sprays. 

The chippboard pieces were painted black and then I added Twisted Citron Distress Ink over it to give it a greenish look. I stamped a script stamp here and there for interest using Black Archival Ink. 

I wanted to do a different take on a Fathers Day card so I used the word Father to create words that describes my father. 

Of course "awesome" would be included. It is one of my go to words. Haha! 

I then added a clock and gear I have been hoarding (special occasion and all) and the clock hands. 

The nail heads were made using crafters foam and my scissors made a tiny cut in the middle (I learned this sweet technique from Bubbles aka Pamellia). Painted those with DP and DI. 

Awesome sauce! I hope Pop likes it. He would kill me (not really) if he knew I called him Pop. Lol! 

I will add a handmade gift card for one homemade meal made by me for his other gift. Grilled steaks sounds awesome right now. Yummy! 

 Thanks for stopping by! Carpe Diem! ~Niki

I would like to share this piece with the following challenges: 

Try It On Tuesday-Watches and Clocks

Mixed Media World #4-Father's Day/Masculine 

Sprinkle of Imagination-Anything Goes. I used Distress Paints and Ink and black Archival Ink. 

Ravaged Patina

So happy to share this piece with you all because it is one of my new favorites and also because I tried so many new ideas and techniques! The challenge at SanDee&Amelies Steampunk Challenge this month is-Ravages of Time. Think of crackle, patina, rust, worn out, peeled paint, peeling wallpaper, kapeesh?

This piece started out quite dull and un-interesting but the awesome part is a crafty friend of mine gave it to me to see what I could turn it into. Phone not included. Lol

I painted the box with black gesso and while it was wet added some white tissue paper to create some texture. Then sealed it with matte mod podge. 

While that was drying I started on the clock face, a Creative Embellishment chippie (love their Steampunk collection!). I added special effect paste and texture sand randomly to give it, well, Texture! :)

Once it was dry I used my finger to "paint" gold modeling creme over the entire piece. The bad news is I forgot to take pictures of the painting process because I was in the Zone! I spritzed and sprayed it with everything but the kitchen sink. 

Add some Cheery Lynn gears and cogs (I believe that a Tim Holtz cog is in there as well) with some foam dots to create depth of the gears and painted those the same way as the clock, kinda. 

To achieve a patina look I decided to do my own version, as I couldn't find any tutorial that suited what I saw in my mind.  I just kept adding and dabbing sprays, mists, Inka gold, Silks, and distress paint until I was happy. 

Here are some of the supplies I used, but not even 1/10 of everything I used. :)

I then swiped black StazOn to the raised tissue paper for definition. 

The last item added was the "time" sticker and "love the journey" rub in the bottom right corner. 

Here are some close ups and more pics:

Love that texture!

Depth and layers. 

Sun

It is amazing how different this patina looks in the sun vs indoors. Amazeballs!

I have never said this before about a piece I have made BUT-the pictures do not do it justice! Hopefully you are inspired to join in the fun at our Steampunk corner! 

Thank you to all that have read through this entire post, I know it is a long one! Hugz and Carpe Diem! 

~Niki

I would like to share this design with the following, wonderful challenges:

Eclectic Ellapu-June challenge for the Purple Team-Steampunk

Altered Eclectics-Anything Goes

Rhedds Creative Spirit-Anything Goes

That Craft Place-Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge-Anything Goes 

First CC3 Entry!

I have been wanting to join in the CC3 (Compendium of Curiosities 3) challenge blog and had to wait because I didn't have a book, BUT now I do!!! Yippee! So many wonderful techniques in there. Challenge #30 is all about the Faux Cracked Glass Technique. Here is what I came up with. My very first altered glass bottle. Bottles are hard to photograph!

"Open up your copy of A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol.3 to page 54 for the instructions, and remember, no sharing them on your blog. This challenge is for those who have supported Tim by purchasing his book." I can't share the technique but I did have fun trying it. 

The Funkie Junkie Boutique is back to sponsor Challenge 30, and sweet Linda Coughlin, the Funkie Junkie herself, has a fabulous $25 shopping spree for one very lucky CC3Cer! How sweet would a shopping spree be!!! 

This is what I started with. My blank bottle looks so sad. 

So I did the technique and then added some alcohol inks (Pool and Rust) to get some color on my bottle. 

I wanted the bottle to look "pretty" because it hides Poison in it! I added some metal embellishments and the "poison" rub. I then added some keys on jute that I colored with Rust AI. Even the key at the bottom of the string has a warning skull and crossbone on it. Beware and drink at your own risk! 

The black band around the neck is made from and old necklace the I demolished and have used in numerous projects. 

Here is a side view, well if circles had sides. Haha! 

Here is a close up of the wonderful cracks that I finally achieved. I had to practice a bit first. :)

 The alcohol inks brought this bottle to life and reminds me, I need to get some more AI for my stash. 

Thanks for havin a lookey lou! Carpe Diem! ~Niki

I would like to share this altered bottle with these lovely challenges: 

Linda Ledbetters Compendium of Curiosities 3 Challenge #30-Faux Cracked Glass Technique

Moo-Mania-Anything Goes Just scootin in under the wire. :) 

We Love 2 Create Challenge #12-Anything Mixed Media/Creative

June Tim Tag Using Real Starbucks Cup

When I saw the tag for this months challenge, I knew I had to make it because I am an avid caramel machiatto drinker. I have an espresso machine and all the fixins to make my own each morning-hot or iced. I prefer iced. Here is the link to original, from the man himself.

Here is my take. 

I did all the techniques from the original but the only supply item I had that is the same as the original was the manila tag. Hehe! 

I used some Distress Stain to create the mottled background and drops of H2O dripped off my finger to create the splats. 

I used a wood grain stencil to create the plaid with Cracked Pistachio and Black Soot DI. The stencil is from the Mod Podge stickable stencils line. 

I cut the burlap piece from my roll of burlap and inked the edges with Vintage Photo DI. For the #lifeisgood banner I used a piece of scrap, inked the edges and a set of alpha stamps and hand drew the hashtag. The "stitching" is a stamp.

Boom! Yeppers, I thought outside the Tim box for this entire tag. Awesome sauce! 

For the coffee mug I used a real Starbucks cup. My dogs always get a Puppachino when they are with me at Starbucks. It was the perfect size to use with this tag. I just cut it in half. The picture below is in celebration my new puppy enjoying his first puppachino and also features the cup I used. Awwwww! 

After I cut the cup I made a template onto some scrap paper and used coffee (Lol) Archival ink to blend my paper to look like espresso. I then used the same ink on the side of the cup. For the "caramel" drips I used Glossy Accents and a Copic marker. 

Can you see the Caramel? 

After everything was dry I glued the cup to my tag and added the straw. I then colored hemp with Cracked Pistachio and added the Wonderful token because a caramel machiatto is absolutely Wonderful!!!! And so yummy!!! 

And one more pic that shows the caramel drips. I always ask for extra caramel-wish they would sell the small bottles again. Sigh 

Thanks for having a gander at my tag! Have an awesome weekend and go grab a cold one! Hugz and Carpe Diem! ~Niki

My coffee tag will be shared with these wonderful challenges:

Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2015-June Tag

Card Mania Challenge #69-Use a Metal Embellishment I used the metal "Wonderful" token because coffee and my caramel machiatto is Wonderful!

A Vintage Journey-Celebrations Not only do I celebrate with my puppies and a Puppachino, my husband and I meet at Starbucks on May 2nd every year to celebrate our anniversary. We met at Starbucks in 2010.

Frosted Designs-Felt/Fabric/Burlap/Lace. I used burlap and it is not easy to keep it from fraying but alas, the grunge edge is so me. :)

Mod Squad Challenge Blog-I Am Tagging You-Make a Tag

Little Garden Trellis

Wowzers! If any of you have had tendinitis in your hands, I just wanted to say-I feel your pain! I am a lefty but as all lefty's know, we have to be ambidextrous   That means I use my right hand to cut things, use sprays (mostly both hands at once) and use paper punches. Owwww! I thought it would go away but it has gotten worse. Luckily my husband has a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and is "fixing me". Lol!

I started this last month and only was able to finish it now. Not my usual style but it was fun, and inspired by Sara Emily-my teamie on Anything But Cute. 

I started by putting my base together. It is a Fernli Designs Dimensional wood. You have to glue the sides together and then add the top and bottom. Easy, peasy and so sturdy!

I then added an awesome brick background using some homemade texture paste and a TCW brick stencil.

Many Adirondack ink Dabbers were used to color the brick. Very good deal on these dabbers at Tuesday Morning! 

I then made the trellis from paper leftovers and painted it with gesso, chalky edgers and DI around the edges. 

Here is me piecing it together. Thanks Sara doll! 

I added the trellis to the base with foam dots after weaving some Spanish moss through the trellis. 

The flowers were sprayed with ColorBloom and the leaves were die cut then painted with Eggplant and white crackle paint. My butterfly was stamped onto white cardstock, then I used white embossing powder and a light purple copic marker to color it. Then is was fussy cut.

I added my sentiment with the tiny talkers stickers and edged those with chalk ink as well. 

This would have been much faster to make with 2 functioning hands. Live and learn and get some Physical Therapy! Hehe! 

Many thanks for stopping by and have an awesome week! Hugz to you all! Carpe Diem! ~Niki

This project will be shared with the following lovely challenges:

Anything But a Card-Out and About. In my neck of the woods everyone has hanging baskets full of flowers and my neighbor has this wonder wall trellis that is gorgeous near her front door. Of course the flowers are in bloom and the butterflies are out and about.

Craft Stamper-Take It, Make It Challenge-Take a Texture. I stamped my butterfly and used embossing powder to create the white outline. I also used the texture paste for the brick background.

Sweet Stampin'-Something Old and Something New My something new was creating a paper trellis by hand, my something old was the Fernli base as I have had it in my stash for over 8 months I believe. 

Little Red Wagon-Use It Up. I used my Fernli base and the little flowers that have been in my stash for ages. The moss is older as well but only by a month or two. :)