February 2016 – Artful Musings

Month: February 2016

13
Feb
2016

Pretty Pink Posh: Valentine Challenge (Sending Love)

categories: Artful Pursuits, Creative Challenges

Hello, friends! I’m on the blog today with my third and final entry for the Pretty Pink Posh Valentine Challenge. Learn more about this challenge by clicking the image below.

As I said in my first post, I have been in love with PPP for a while now. Her sequin mixes are beautiful and unique. I love using them in all sorts of projects from shaker cards to plush creations. My favorites are the exclusive sets: Ocean Spray, Peacock Feathers, Strawberry Burst, Sunshine Glow, and the new mini confetti hearts and stars. I also love her new stamps! My favorite is the exclusive set created for Simon Says Stamp’s “Stamptember” event last fall. This amazing set is still available. Typically, these exclusive sets sell out right away (as this one did), but it was so popular SSS restocked it so it is still available.

For my final entry into the challenge I decided to create a card using this wonderful stamp set. Again, I take my inspiration from Liz who used the winter version of the “half animals” in a PPP stamp set. As an extra little something I also created a plush heart gift using one of the new Memory Box plush dies, Pocket Heart and filled the pocket with some stick figure pals.

I fell in love with the new line of plush dies from Memory Box last fall. There are several dies covering Christmas (stockings, snowmen, and mittens), Valentine’s (hearts), and Easter (bunnies, birds, and eggs). I die cut up a bunch and watch tv while I sew them together — it’s a fun and relaxing way to spend a few hours.

The base is a “sunshine” A2 card. I stamped the hot air balloon, bunny (2), puppy, and of course, the kitty on Copic blending paper using Memento Tuxedo Black ink (see this post for a note about Copic blending paper). I also stamped the big and small clouds from the Pixie Dust set by Avery Elle. I die cut all the pieces and began coloring them with my Copic markers. Balloon: RV10, E08, E35, BG34, BG13, BG10, & BG000. Clouds: BG000 & B000. Bunny: RV10, T2, & T0. Kitty: RV10, E08, E11, & E35. Puppy: W5 & W0. I also used the Copic colorless blending pen.

Once everything was dry I die cut the large Scallop Frame (a PPP exclusive) out of white cardstock and glued it to the sunshine card. I began laying out and gluing down the clouds and balloon. Finally, I added the bunny and stamped the “sending you love” sentiment using Memento ink.

For the plush heart I die cut two of the large heart out of grey wool felt, the pocket out of hot pink felt, the bits and pieces out of various colors of felt. Using embroidery floss I sewed the bits and pieces (along with a few PPP sequins) on and then began sewing the pocket and two large hearts together, stopping short of completing it so I could add some polyfil and then stitch it closed. Using a bamboo skewer I attached the puppy, bunny, and kitty using thin washi tape and inserted them into the pocket.

I had so much fun creating for this Valentine’s Challenge. I have loved looking at everyone’s entries and I know Pauline will have a difficult time choosing a winner — all the entries are amazing. Until next time, remember, creativity and imperfection live together in all we do. “Grace is the face love wears when it meets imperfection.”

~xoxo
Beanie

12
Feb
2016

Pretty Pink Posh: Valentine Challenge (Sparkle)

categories: Artful Pursuits, Creative Challenges

Hello, friends! I’m on the blog today with my second entry for the Pretty Pink Posh Valentine Challenge. Learn more about this challenge by clicking the image below.

For this challenge entry, I created a sweet birthday card using the Avery Elle Pixie Dust stamp and die set. This set is perfect for all the little princesses in your life and I love the sassy and sweet sentiments included. I particularly love that this card could also be a Valentine! I was inspired by Joni’s card and the wonderful Copic work she did.

First, I embossed the front of my card using Avery Elle’s Pierced Rectangles dies. This set of dies pierces the paper with evenly spaced dots – it doesn’t cut the rectangles. If you want to cut rectangles that are also pierced then this is the die set you want. I have both! 😛

Next, using Memento Tuxedo Black ink, I stamped my images (pixie, wand, and the small and large clouds) on Copic blending paper. A quick note about Copic blending paper. While you can use any paper with your Copic markers, I find the Copic blending paper not only holds up better to color blending but also bleeds through less and is easier on your markers (no stray paper pilling to deal with). I get mine locally at Impress, but it can also be ordered online here.

I colored in the pieces using Copic markers in these colors: pixie (hair E08 & E35, dress & shoes BG13 & BG34, skin E50, and wand RV02), and for the clouds BG000. I used Wink of Stella on her wings. Once everything was dry I die cut the pieces and set them aside.

Next, I stamped the sentiment, “don’t be afreaid to SPARKLE” using Memento Tuxedo black ink and once dry I added some color to the center of the card. Using a blending tool and some Broken China Distress ink I sponged ink in a circular motion in the middle of my card front. TIP: I ink up my round blending tool and test the ink level on scratch paper first. When applying it to the card front I use light pressure and a circular motion, avoiding pressing hard or going fast so I don’t get any defined lines or dark splotches.

Finally, using foam tape I applied the clouds, pixie, and wand to the card and for that final flourish, added the new iridescent mini heart confetti from PPP.

I hope you were inspired to participate in this challenge or another that speaks to your creative muse. Until next time, remember, creativity and imperfection live together in all we do. “Grace is the face love wears when it meets imperfection.”

~xoxo
Beanie

11
Feb
2016

Pretty Pink Posh: Valentine Challenge (Love EWE)

categories: Artful Pursuits, Creative Challenges

Hello, friends! I’m on the blog today with my first entry for the Pretty Pink Posh Valentine Challenge. Learn more about this challenge by clicking the image below.

I have been in love with PPP for a while now. Not only are the sequins rich and vibrant, but she creates unique dies, and recently added stamp sets! When I saw this challenge posted I was so excited to enter! My card was inspired by the darling shaker Liz made.

For my first entry I wanted to create a shaker card. I am in love with the shaker card because it adds the sense of sound to the visual and tactile senses that a card provides.

For this card, I started with a taffy notecard and I stamped the “XO” from the Avery Elle Hogs & Kisses stamp set using Angel Pink Memento ink. TIP: Tone on tone stamping creates a subtle watermark look that is fun and fresh. Hogs & Kisses is my new favorite Valentine’s set, with so many cute sentiments and adorable animals it’s very versatile. Next, I die cut PPP’s Decorative Tag 1 out of the striped Pixie Avery Elle Sorbet Collection paper. I also cut the center of the die out of white Copic blending paper, a piece of hot pink cardstock, and two pieces of white adhesive foam.

I stamped the sheep and “love EWE” sentiment using Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto the white copic blending paper. I colored the sheep using Copic markers (heart: R37 & R46, sheep body: T0, T2, & N0, sheep hooves: E35, and sheep nose: RV02). Once that was dry I went over the heart with a clear Wink of Stella to give it a bit of shimmer.

All that remained was assembly. I glued down, in order, the large die cut, the sheep panel, two layers of white foam, a piece of clear acetate, and finally the hot pink frame. Before gluing down the acetate I added some PPP sequins (sweethearts mix and iridescent mini star confetti) and silver shimmer micro beads.

Thank you for sharing some of your time with me today. I hope to see you participate in this or another challenge! Until next time, remember, creativity and imperfection live together in all we do. “Grace is the face love wears when it meets imperfection.”

~xoxo
Beanie

08
Feb
2016

Frozen: Who Cherished Her Heart

categories: Artful Pursuits, Mixed Media

Hello, friends! I’m excited to be back today sharing my miniature mixed media piece called, “Frozen”. Have you ever heard the tale of “Frozen Charlotte”? Frozen Charlotte’s are miniature porcelain or bisque dolls. The ones I’ve found have come from Germany and were dug up from the ruins of pre-world war factories. Owing to this digging up, it’s rare to find a Frozen Charlotte intact. Most are hauntingly tragic with a missing arm, leg, or foot. The dolls were made in the latter part of the 19th and early 20th centuries and are widely collected today by doll enthusiasts and mixed media artists.

Here is the story of poor frozen Charlotte…

“One piercingly cold, winters night, Charlotte’s beau, Charles, picks Charlotte up in his sleigh to attend a ball at the village inn, 15 miles away. Looking lovely, young Charlotte, dressed in her finery, vainly wanted to be seen and admired along the way, and so did not heed her mother’s good advice and cover herself with a blanket, refusing even to wear her wrap. By the time she and Charles arrived at the inn, Charlotte was a frozen corpse! Charlie, devastated by the loss of his love, soon died of a broken heart and they forever slumber together, in one tomb.”

Sad, no? It’s unclear if the legend of Charlotte is based on actual fact or if it’s urban legend, but one this is certain. With their cheery faces, and broken bodies, Frozen Charlotte’s are a wonderful addition to any mixed media piece.

I was inspired to create this piece when I received the Prima Marketing Relics & Artifacts: Flaming Hearts II in an order from Nani Ke Ola. I’ve long been wanting to try out these relics and I thoroughly enjoyed working on colorizing the flaming heart at the center of this piece. I often enjoy working with the Melissa Francis domes. They are sometimes hard to find, so I ususally stock up. She does have a website where she sells them.

First I mixed up some gesso and LSG Red Hot Poker Orange magical and painted the chipboard base. I also drilled a small hole in the base and painted the bamboo skewer, setting both aside to dry.

Next, I chose some Copic markers (YR23, YR07, YR04, YR16, R37, R43, R46, & V15) and began coloring the flaming heart. I buy my Copics locally (at Impress, Urban Scrapbooker, or Ben Franklin) when I can. Several online retailers also sell them (Simon Says Stamp, Ellen Hutson, and Scrapbook.com). When I was satisfied with the colors and shadows I set this aside to dry. Next, I chose two small letterpress letters “X” and “O” and painted them with Distress paint in Candied Apple and put them aside to dry. At this point I came back to my relic and added some clear Wink of Stella to give it an iridescent glow. I glued the relic to the bamboo skewer and set that aside to dry.

Next, I created feet for the piece using scrabble tiles. Using Aleen’s fast grab tacky glue I adhered the feet to the bottom of the chipboard base. While I was waiting for things to set up, I took some Color Bloom Sprays in Cotton Candy, Peony, Carmine Red, and Frost and colored two pieces of seam binding. I crinkled the wet binding and began drying it with my heat gun. TIP: I love the fact that you can refill (with regular water) the Color Bloom sprays 2 times before discarding it. They are so packed with pigments.

I added the phrase, “who cherished her heart” using ChitChat stickers to the front of the dome and I distressed the X & O using my favorite sanding block. Now that everything was dry, I was able to begin assembly. First, I placed the relic and then added in the Frozen Charlotte, which I draped in one of the lengths of died ribbon, and finally the X & O. The last thing I did before sealing the dome to the base was to add a bit of Flower Soft (Snow).

Lastly, I tied the 2nd piece of dyed ribbon to the top of the dome and added a word charm (adore) to it. I’ve made many of these little dome pieces and I really enjoy creating in miniature.

Thank you for sharing some of your time with me today. I hope this piece has inspired you to get into your creative groove! Until next time, remember, creativity and imperfection live together in all we do. “Grace is the face love wears when it meets imperfection.”

~xoxo
Beanie

Supplies Used
Prima Marketing Relics & Artifacts: Flaming Hearts II
Prima Marketing Color Bloom Sprays: Cotton Candy, Carmine, Peony & Frost
Tim Holtz Word Charms
Tim Holtz Sanding Block
Tim Holtz Letterpress Letters
Wink of Stella Clear
ChitChat Stickers
Bamboo Kabob Skewer & Flower Soft (Snow)
Distress Paint in Candied Apple
Copic Markers & Vintage Frozen Charlotte
Snug Hug Seam Binding Winter White