New and ombre, hombre!

Here is another little creation from this week:

Supplies and notes:

• This was one of my very-first-ever experiments with a die-cut/embossing machine (read my post HERE about my gift from Autumn)
• I used a Darice embossing folder (from Autumn) on a library card with awesome results... I wasn't sure how that would go... well, it went fabulously.
• I used Aged Mahogany, Spiced Marmalade, and Tarnished Brass Distress Stains in a puddle on the craft mat, along with a few squirts of high-quality H20... yummy results
• The book stamps and the saying are from a Crafty Secrets stamp set (from Autumn) inked in MementoLuxe
• Once dry, Distress Crackle in Clear Rock Candy was painted over the books.  I decided to do this after multiple craft sessions in which I couldn't decide how I should finish the books.  I chose to use crackle after I had the notion that these old books look like the leather-bound volumes of old. Don't you think they elicit that feeling?  And the clear just accentuates-- it doesn't detract from the color.  I think actually because of the nature of Distress Stains, the Clear Rock Candy brought out a little bit of the color... must investigate this...
• The ribbon was from the ol' stash

I plan to enter this cutie into the following challenges:

• Crafting By Designs: January Anything Goes
• Shopping Our Stash #234: Something New... new items include the Cuttlebug machine, embossing folder, and stamps
• Simon Says Stamp on Wednesday: Ombre: it was an unintentional ombre effect, but that's what we got here, so I'm going to be opportunistic here!

Happy ending...

Here is a little love story of an unlikely meeting of mismatched pieces:

Ahhh, sweet mystery of life... how these pieces were destined to make their way to eachother... right on my desk...

I plan to enter this into Simon Says Stamp on Monday: Stencil It. I use stencils a lot, so I will enter as many recent projects as I can into this SSS... a crafter is, afterall, perpetually in want of more supplies...  I feel no shame.  I am, in fact, shameless.

Supplies and notes:

• Pretty simple, just made with scraps, basically.  I was messing around with my watercolors and a Heidi Swapp paper stencil, thinking of how this particular stencil might absorb enough extra water to use a straight-up paintbrush through it.  This was my initial test sheet-- I used a scrap of watercolor paper and tried a few techniques on dry paper (versus wet on wet).  
• The sentiment was a "reject" from last week.  The stamp is from Studio 113 stamped in Distress Embossing Ink on vellum, then embossed with Princess Gold EP
• The embossed card came in a pack from my friend Autumn, and they were sitting near me as I was liking my "tester" paper.  Well, all these pieces got married and now will live happily ever after on this birthday card.

The end.

Blue Buntings

Oh my... made this last week and am just now trying to catch up on showing some cool projects (well, I think they are cool!)  Here's a good'n:

Supplies and notes:

• First, let me say, as I've been struggling with images, I finally came to the conclusion I'd have to build my own photo box.  (I've had excellent luck taking images outdoors on the side of the shack, but with all of the snow and my crazy crafting schedule, I needed an alternative). So, the other night, I was granted crafting time (as anyone with kids might understand), so I took a sip of my drink and went to work on a Costco chip box.  This is one of my first indoor-nighttime images... hang in there... I'll be tweaking the design little by little...)
• I used Ranger Transparent Texture Paste through a Heidi Swapp stencil on a library card base
• Alcohol inks then added: Mermaid, Rust, Gold, and some blending solution
• I used birds from my go-to guide bought specifically a lifetime ago when I was in Ornithology for the purpose of destroying... in a good way: I made placemats for my apartment of the birds I had to study.  Still have the placemats, still craft from the book!  Still study birds... 
• Vintage seam binding
• Sequin strand from Target
• I had typed a quote from Roger Tory Peterson (even though this wasn't a Peterson guide), but the quote covered too much of the gorgeous background... I think I'll glue it to the back.  I typed the quote with my old typewriter onto parchment and then dipped it through puddles of Vintage Photo and Chipped Sapphire Distress Paint (UPDATED... DONE!) It said something like: Birds are free and have a mobility that most people envy...

I plan to enter this into the following challenges:

• STAMPlorations Mixed Media for January
  
• Stamps & Stencils: Oh So Blue: (This may not qualify for a win because it is not mostly blue, but this project was one of many that started out with intentions to be entered into this challenge, so, by gum, I'm going to give it a shot... [read in the voice of an old man in an old Warner Brothers cartoon])
• Simon Says Stamp on Monday: Stencil It... to which I said, "OKAY!" 

I promise...

I promise this is for crafting purposes!

After I filed this mister,  though,  and labeled it,  I had to take a picture!

It just makes me laugh!

It might just turn into Binaca! Haha!

Noooo... now, if you see a slice of lemon and some tonic bubbles...

But really,  in this case,  I intend to use this fine potato juice for various crafting purposes, from paper prep to alcohol inks. Oooh, I sense I science project coming on...

I wonder if different alcohols will perform different functions. Like,  will my husband's fancy gin destroy more lignin in a paper's surface than,  say,  vodka? Probably a negligible difference there because their alcohol content is about the same.  But it would be neat to compare my vodka vial with standard rubbing alcohol.

Anyway... happy Friday!

Amazing friends... sharin' the love...

I received the most awesome happy mail last week from my homegirl Autumn at Sew Paper Paint...  I mean, it wasn't even happy mail... it was flat-out glorious.

Look.  Just look:

No, really, she sent all of that, and even some stuff you can't even see in the image!  So, this all came down the pipe because I mentioned somewhere that I did not have a die-cut machine. This amazing woman, Autumn, said she had one and would happily send it!  Of course I offered to pay, but she sweetly said she'd love to share-- that's how she is!  There are no words to describe how amazing this gift package was.  It was... amazing.  I remain pretty speechless.  I mean, what is this other than amazing?--  Incredible?  Generous?

It's very simple, really: Autumn is a kind, good-hearted, and practical crafter.  She is friendly, up-beat, and loves to help others (as evidenced here by my mail).  She could not have bestowed this on a more grateful recipient.

In the image above*, you can see the Cuttlebug along with multiple plates, a 2016 calendar, multiple embossing folders, four REALLY COOL stamp sets, some earrings that I think she made (!), a box of 60 cards and envelopes... plus, an Autumn-made card!

*Pardon my messy desk, but I'm still moving into the shack and rearranging when I can... which is, like, daily, because it has been so cold I have to haul all of my "freezables" into the house at night...

Here is the beautiful card that was right on top when I opened the package:

And you know, it was such a busy day when I received it, and when I got home from the P.O. (and grocery store, and work, and picking up kids), there were 10 million things going on, and I still snuck in the house to open this-- I was too excited.  Then I had to go attend to the 10 million things that were going on, and then a few hours later I snuck out to the shack and got loco!  Here's a collage of what happened:

So, thank you, Autumn.  This is a very public thank-you, but I have to recognize this as loudly as I can: the crafting community in the blogosphere is so incredible.  And good deeds and kind gestures breed more good deeds and kind gestures... it is a truth. XOXO.

My second Sketch Saturday

Here is my second interpretation of Sketch Saturday #394:

Here's the sketch:

Supplies:

• Gorgeous Grunge SU! set stamped into some Chipped Sapphire Distress Paint.  My initial instinct would be to use Chipped Sapphire Distress Stain on the stamp, but the stain is not as true-to-color as the paint, and I also feel like the stain bleeds strangely.  I like the paint.
• The stickers are all from a sheet of embossed stickers by We R Memory Keepers... I love this sheet.  It's called "Inked Rose."  That makes me think of a tattooed circus lady or biker chick or something!  "Hey, Inked Rose asked for a shot of whiskey!"
• The yellow is just the envelope, but since it is so cute with the card, I wanted to show it. 

Sketch Saturday Numero Uno

Here's my first attempt at the current Sketch Saturday Challenge:

Here is the sketch:

My oldest goes to summer camp every year... the same summer camp I went to and eventually worked at :), except when I was a camper, I only got to go one week per summer.  My oldest goes 2 to 3 times a summer, and this year my youngest *might* go (she is on the younger side... might not be ready in June...)!  Anyway, I hammer the kids with mail so then they have to sing songs and do silly things at mail-call, so I'm getting the jump on the cards!  Ahhh, happiness is harassing your kids!

Supplies and notes:

• Crate Paper paper from years ago... (Autumn... you feel me on the Crate Paper love???)
• Studio Calico stars... I just bought those after xmas, and those are all going to be gone soon... I am loving them.  I think I'm going to make earrings out of them.
• I dropped some random Rose Quartz Liquid Pearls among the stars
• The stamped sentiment is from Recollections inked in Memories ink in Sand.
• I edged the Core'dinations white and the Crate Paper with Weathered Wood Distress Paint
• I think in hindsight I'd adjust the cant of the panels a bit more.