Izbzee

Is it Spring yet?

Mother Nature isn't quite willing to let Spring show her grandeur.  But I'm hoping we'll see more signs very soon!

Maybe one way we can make that happen is to share a few Spring Tags this week.  It's our Spring Tag Reveal week over on Facebook...  I'll post the link to the page at the bottom of this post.  

I decided to start off the week with this simple tag.  It's a shaped tag and slightly oversized.  

The chick is from the Library in SCAL, and I added a rounded triangle using the Union command for the tail.  The base is cut from a grey colored cardstock and is crimped and painted for a weathered look.  The body is also crimped but with the lines running horizontally.  I added some dimensional glaze to the eye.  The flower is from the Library in SCAL as well.  It is drybrushed with some white paint.  A glittered brad holds the layers together.  I used some baker's twine around the neck and for the hanger.  Sweet and simply!  

Hope you'll stop by and see all the other tags that have been made for this year's reveal.  You'll find them here.  Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek today.  Hope you have some creative time built into your week to nurture your creative soul.  

Prim Stenciled Sunflowers

This latest project created for CreativeFabrica.com was lots of fun - and turned out just the way I'd hoped.

Fabric, felt, tulle, cheesecloth, dowels, paint, ink and lots of tea stain brought this project to life along with the reusable stencils created with files from Creative Fabrica and the IkonArt Stencil kit.  For all the details, you can check here. 

Even the #10 tin can got a do over with a quick rusting process using Hydrogen Peroxide, salt and vinegar.  It only took about an hour for the can to rust.  Sprayed with a seal coat will keep some of the flaking at bay.  

While I've cut back on the number of projects I've been working on, it's still a joy to complete the ones I have selected to move forward with.  This is one that I really have liked seeing come to life...  and it was worth it.  Hope you enjoy the process article on The Artistry.  

Halloween with Simply Crafty SVGs

It has been a joy creating this fun piece that will be displayed in our front hall next month. Three files from the many Halloween files available at Simply Crafty SVGs.  I took a little liberty with the boot and the cat -- and I'll share a little more about that in a bit.  

I started with the Hovering Witch Hat.  Resized to 50% of the original file and assembled according to the video Sandy created.  Sandy suggested the use of tweezers on the upper pieces of the hat.  They were an essential tool -- as the space was too small for my fingers to fit to hold while the glue set.  

Ink all the edges of the flower pieces.  Sandy's idea shown in her video are perfect.  I added a small glittery sequin for the center of the flower on the hat and used an old technique for the creating some suede like paper for the leaves and the fern.  

Resize all pieces to 50%.  I altered the Witch Boot Lantern file slightly by cutting the large panels for the top of the boot in half, punching small holes to thread the ribbon through. Before threading the ribbon in the holes, ink all the edges of the panels. Once you've completed the threading, the panels are then adhered to the boot using your favorite method.  Tie a bow in the ribbon.  

 

The cat is made of fabric and the face is from the Black Cat Treat box.  I layered the facial features together and grouped them.  Then resized to about 2 x 2.1 inches.  Using the IkonArt Stencil kit, a stencil was created and then stenciled using some acrylic heavy duty paint on some black fabric.  Heat set the image.  The fabric was stitched around the outside of the image with a small body added and then lightly stuffed.  The stuffed image is tea stained to add a little distressed look.  

The fact that this piece is stitched and has raw edges, it is meant to fray.  If you choose to try this, you'll want to choose a tightly woven fabric.  

Fill the boot with some sphagnum moss (brown/gray) Set the cat in the boot.  You can use a bamboo skewer glued to the inside of the heel of the boot to make sure the cat stays in place if you're worried about shifting.   Place the hat on the cat and tip as desired.  

 

Additional supplies: 
SCAL 5 Pro and Skycut C24 were used to cut all paper pieces.  
Liquitex Heavy Body White Acrylic Paint
Foam brush
AC cardstock (white, black)
Bazzil cardstock (purples)
embossing folder (optional)
Digital paper (Halloween Gnome Paper Packs from PolkaDoodle)
IkonArt Stencil Kit.  
Printer
Distress inks
White pigment ink
Black Fabric
Sewing machine
Polyester stuffing
Grunge mix for tea stain
Ribbon (1/8")
1/8" round paper punch
Sphagnum moss
glittered sequin (Hocus Pocus mix from Kat Scrappiness)
Bearly Art Precision Glue
ScorTape (1/8", 1/4")

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you have some creative time carved out this weekend.  Enjoy.

 

 

dimensional butterfly

We haven't seen too many butterflies this year... but the ones we have seen around have been beautiful. 

I had so much fun creating this dimensional project for The Artistry, using fabric, paper, stencils and paint, distress inks and some inkjet printed fabric and cardstock!  The butterfly pattern was an Etsy purchase, but the remaining files used were from Creative Fabrica.  I even upcycled a needlework frame I've had for ages!  You'll find the details here.  

Thanks for stopping by.  Hoping you have some creative time lined out this week.  Enjoy it!  Nurture your heart along the way too.  

 

 

Mixed Media Scroll book

It's been a while since I've done much with mixed media, but this was a fun project and definitely something I'll be doing again.  

Way back when, I remember as a child building a cardboard TV with a scroll and filling the paper on the scroll with pictures.  And we'd have our own fun evening switching out the scrolls and laughing at our art.  Now, as an adult, it's a fun way to use digital images for backgrounds and the base for some mixed media painting and texture.  

You'll find all the details for this project, once again, on The Artistry!  I'm up for doing this project again and likely, sooner rather than later.  For a peek at all of my projects on The Artistry at Creative Fabrica, you can find them here.  

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll find some creative inspiration today!  

Tea Party

This Round Teapot from Simply Crafty SVGs is a fun make.  It's perfect serving as the focal point for a Mother's Day Tea.  It looks like porcelain with the glossy photo paper panels and other details. 

 The floral element printed on the panels for the base of the teapot can be found at CreativeFabrica.com.  It's such a sweet element.  Using a paintbrush and some Nuvo - pale gold, some additional details were added for the top and on the panels for the spout and handle.  

Another file, the Lots of Hearts Treat Cup was used for the teacup.  The panel was also printed on glossy paper and some gold trim added as well.  The handle was a resized version of the teapot's panel pieces.  

No Tea Party would be a party without treats!  Using the Serving Trays file, at original sizes, the smaller tray is just the right size to hold several tea bags or powdered drink mixes. 

Treats?  Of course!  Fill the larger tray with mini cupcakes, cake balls, bite-size cookies, etc!  

Panels for both of these trays are prints of miniature dollhouse wallpaper.  It's perfect to complete the setting for this project. 

I'm very happy that this project is featured this week on the Simply Crafty SVGs blog.  

Thanks for stopping by today.  Hoping you have some creative time blocked out this week and through the weekend!  Enjoy!  

"pewter" planter

I decided to give Simply Crafty SVGs Round Candy Box another go.  Last time, I used the box to make the pocket watch for the Wonderland Hat (found here).  This time, using only the bottom pieces, it's a planter hosting a small gathering of pansies from Maison Gregoria. * 

 

A renewed relationship with an often forgotten tool, the paper crimper was used on the "wall" of the box.  I added a band at the top and bottom of the box.  Added a couple of brads to secure the bands to the box for a little more strength.  

Sandy's assembly video is pretty straight forward for the basic put together of the box base.  The bands I used were  1/2 inch wide and about 1/2" longer than the box side.  glue them to the top and bottom of the side of the box.  For a little extra ornamentation, 2 brads were added to each of the bands where the ends meet and cross.  Once the bottom of the box is completely assembled, a coat of Lumiere (by Jacquard) in Pewter was applied.  Let that dry.  

I decided some flowers were in order and pansies seemed to fit the bill.  The studio is still in transition and a few of my coloring tools aren't available, but we made do with some paint crayons for color on white cardstock.  They turned out okay, but the colors aren't quite as bright as I would like.  The next bunch will be much brighter in color - yellow and purple, I think.  Jamie's tutorials for coloring, shaping and assembling are thorough - so be sure to take a look at the step by step tutorials he has.  I have enough flower and leaf cuts left to make another pot of pansies next week.  

I had a 3 x 2 inch round piece of styrofoam.  I cut the styro to about 2 1/2 inches so it would slide into the box and fit snugly.  No extra glue to secure is needed.  Add some moss and arrange the flowers, buds and leaves.  

 

*affiliate link used for this file.  A small amount will be paid to me if you use the link and purchase the file.  There is no additional cost to you.  

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you'll have some creative time soon!  

Farm Fresh

This was such a fun project to make.  The original design is from Simply Crafty SVGs.

This antiqued version of the milk can is fairly easy to replicate and I hope you'll enjoy making one too.

The supply list is pretty basic:
Milk Can SVG
Cardstock (Sea by Bazzill)
glue
acrylic paint (Off White, Black)
paper crimper
foam brush
ground cinnamon
Clear Acrylic sealer (optional)
Printer

Cut the following pieces for the can:  
Lid pieces
Can pieces (handles optional)
Bottom panels (the top decorative panel pieces were not used)


Assemble the lid and can as directed in the video.  BUT do not put the decorative panels on yet.  

Once the can has been assembled, using the foam brush, dry brush some of the off white paint on the sides for some highlights.  

Dry brush the bottom decorative panels with the white paint. 

Once the paint has dried, crimp each of the decorative panels.  Glue the panels to the can.  They should fit snugly between the seams.  




Add the ring pieces that have also been dry brushed.  

If desired, add a label.  This was created in SCAL 5 and the "Farm Fresh" was printed and then the label was cut using the print2cut feature of the SCAL software. 

Using a small amount of black paint and the corner of a foam brush, create some "rust" areas using the paint on the label.  While the paint is still wet, add a little ground cinnamon to a few of the wet areas.  Brush some of the excess cinnamon away if desired.  Let the paint finish drying.

Repeat the process for the can and lid to add some "rust" as desired.  Let the paint dry.  

Lightly spray the can and lid with the clear acrylic spray.  Let dry. 

The finished can stands about 6 inches high.  It's perfect for displaying a bouquet of spring flowers or filling with treats for a gift.  Or it can stand on its own on a shelf or in the kitchen window.  Enjoy! 

 

Faux China Plate Heart

This was such a fun project to make and I'm glad that it's now live on The Artistry.  Check out all the details here.  I've also done a couple of other similar projects using paper mosaic pieces and They will post shortly here on the blog.  

Here's what this final piece looked like:  

A second heart:  

Using the same paper, just a different part of the cut photo paper.  Not sure which one I like better -- but both are heading out the door as gifts in the next few days.  Wood for both hearts is from Thoughts in Vinyl.  

A scrappy wood project

WE initially thought maybe painting some gnomes on these pieces, but then again, the trees won out.  They were so fun and easy to do.  A bit of staining, a little painting and a fun stencil.  Files from Creative Fabrica and the stencil kit is from Ikonart Stencil.  Definitely a must have in my crafting room for a long time to come.  

You'll find all the details for creating this on The Artistry.