Izbzee

2018 - going, going, gone

2018 has been a full year.  Lots of good things have happened overall and even the not to great stuff wasn't all that bad when you think about it.

I've really enjoyed my creative time so much more this year.  A few artsy and fun classes from penwork to gelli plate/art and general play with paper, clay and fabric.  Grateful for it all. 

I've decided that for me, it would be fun to recap the year with a few pictures of some of my favorite projects....  you can check the archives by the year and month for the whole year's worth of fun.   

January the Valentine Ornament box.  File from Lori Whitlock - Halloween house adapted for the holiday. 

February a little clay play.  Love using Sculpey, stamps, mica and more.  This was among my favorites for some mixed media play and design team work for Mixed Media Supplies. 

March Lots of pastel colors and a touch of non-caloric chocolate for this fun dimensional card from Simply Crafty SVGs  was a favorite for the month. 

April  A sweet shadowbox card using G45's Secret Garden.  File from SVGCuts.com

May  ATC sized gelli prints -- and digital stamps.  So much play fun! 

June  quick and easy card using a digital stamp from RGStudio360. 

July -  July porch decor using a recycled shelving side panel...

August - we got an early start with October crafting with this paper quilt. So much fun kicking up a few heels! 

September  The Geodesic Pumpkin from SVGCuts was a perfect addition to the mantel for September and October! 

October  brought more than a change in the weather.... it's also anniversary time for our youngest son. We went a little overboard on this year's card, but it was so worth it! 

 

November I couldn't pick just one project for this month, so I'm sharing two!  The first was a fun 12 Tags of Christmas challenge.  All of the details for this one including a video can be found here. 

Dreaming Tree also put out a bevy of great files to work with in 2018... among my favorites was this cutie! 

December   Our Gnomie tree - I love my laser etcher and I've loving having found a new way to showcase some digital artwork using wood pieces from my stash!  

I hope you've enjoyed this review of my year. Crafting is my respite -- my discovery for the year.  I've loved taking the online classes and exploring more ways to develop my talents and play.  I'm grateful to my family for their generosity in time, space and respite. 

We look forward to a fabulous 2019 -- carving in creative time each week. Hoping you're doing the same! 
My word for 2019 - Inspire

Come, sit with me

Hi everyone, thanks for stopping by.  I'm so thrilled to be back as a Design Team member for Mixed Media Supplies again this term and I wanted to share this project with you.

You'll need:
cardboard (about 8 x 6), with some of the corrugated areas visible
Printed book paper sheet - stash
Park bench (cut 5 times) - stash
Mica (Sapphire)
Texture Background stamps (bark background, diamond fence background)
ink
markers
e-brush with marker adaptor
leaf and vine punch
acrylic medium
flexible modeling paste
gesso
putty knife
brush
small spray bottle
gelatos (green, blue, lavendar)
white tube paint
flowers
small jewels (flower centers)
word processing program
micron pen - .01 black

Prep the cardboard, remove additional paper if desired exposing more of the ridges.  Apply a light coat of gesso and let dry. 

Rub the Gelatos on the gessoed surface.  Using a waterbrush, smooth the color a bit on the surface.  Let dry. Spritz a little of the mica if desired at this stage.

On a palette, shave a little bit of the gelatos and mix with a small amount of modeling paste.  The color should be a little lighter than the surface of your now colored cardboard.  Lightly spread the colored modeling paste for a little more texture on the surface.   Let dry. 

Stack the 5 cut benches and let the glue dry thoroughly. 

With the bark texture stamp, lightly add some texture to the bench.  I used some black and medium brown ink...

it was pretty stark looking so I dry brushed a bit of white paint on the surface to soften the tone a bit.  Set aside.

Tear the printed book page into strips and using the acrylic medium "glue" to the cardboard as desired. Apply a light coat of the acrylic medium to the surface of the project.  Let dry.  Glue the bench in place on the cardboard.  Let dry.  



Using the diamond fence stamp, lightly add the texture to the far right of the cardboard. 

Add flowers and leaves and vines as desired on the fence, secure with glue and or acrylic medium. 

Using the ebrush and a marker in a very light brown, lightly spray the edges and around the bench and on the book print.  Just for a little more aged look. 

Add the gems to the flowers, add vines and leaves.  Print Come, sit with me. and add a doodled box around the words.  Lightly spray the edges using the eBrush and glue to the cardboard. 

When everything has dried, lightly spritz with the sapphire mica for a subtle bit of shine. 

Sign your work and display as desired. 

Again, thanks for stopping by. Hoping you are enjoying some creative time this week!  I'll be back with another Mixed Media Supply project in a couple of weeks!  In the meantime, keep on creating!

*I have used products that were provided by Mixed Media Supplies - the project and opinions in this blog are mine and I have not been compensated otherwise. 

 

 

Spring in 3D

Hi everyone.  Thanks for stopping by today.  It's time to get caught up on a little crafting and I'm happy to say, it's been pretty productive. 

A while back, My Scrap Chick came out with their version of some 3 D letters.  They're small, portable and fold flat for storage!  You can buy the letters separately or bundled.  You know me, I had to have them all! 

I really wanted to get them cut and put together in one sitting, so I decided to just use a single color for each letter.  One 12x12 sheet will do it for each 4 inch tall letter and were cut on my Sizzix eclips and eCal2 software. 

I used paper from an AC Pastel cardstock pack.  To embellish the front panel and the inside back panel. 

I used a stamp from the Flower Swirls Stamp Set and some black ink.  It was a nice contrast on each of the panels and looks really nice.  I left the back panel plain, but it could certainly be decorated.

These are simple to put together - go quickly and I used Scor-Tape to adhere all the pieces. 

(No affiliate links were used in this post and no products were supplied by manufacturers for review)

 

 

with a little bit of luck...

These little "gift" boxes are perfect for the grands for St Patrick's Day.
(No affiliate links are used in this post)

You'll need
Small Gift Boxes from Simply Crafty SVGs
Lucky Charm - etsy shop
Die Cutting machine (software)
Cardstock (stash)
Patterned paper (stash)
Scor-Tape
Tombow tape runner
Black Micron .01 pen - optional
Tombow Markers (Dual Brush) - optional
Sakura White Gel pen
foam pop up dots (stash)


Using your die-cutting software, set up the lucky leprechauns for print 2 cut.  On a separate mat, create your sentiment and size as desired.  Print and cut.

Cut the boxes - I down sized mine a bit.  Cut the boxes and the panels.  I chose not to cut the decorative front panel, but you could certainly do that.

Cut or punch a 1 1/2 inch circle.  "stitch" the edge with a white gel pen.  Add a doodle along each edge of the patterned paper panel. 

Put together as shown on the pdf of the Small Gift Boxes file.  All 12 were a quick project and easy to complete in less than a day from start to finish. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Hoping your #CRE8TIME is going fabulously this week!  More fun stuff to come this month.... stay tuned!

Spring Wreath

You'll need: 
Digital  Printable Journal papers from Mixed Media Supplies
dies*
die cutting machine*
Printer
copy paper
Micron Pen .01
Marker AirBrush*
3/4 " circle paper punch
markers*
Hot glue
Sapphire and Pearl Mica from Mixed Media Supplies
grapevine wreath
floral wire
green or brown floral tape

 

Download and print the journal page from Mixed Media Supplies using regular copy paper.  Using your favorite flower dies, cut an assortment of flowers and layers.  TIP:  Cut multiple layers at a time.  

Remove cuts from the dies, sort according to size.

If desired, add a doodled outline to the "petals" using the micron pen. 




Punch a circle in the yellow paper for the stamens of you flower.  Fold in half, cut a small vertical slit in the fold.  On the arched area of the circle, make small cuts to form a fringe.  Unfold, and slide onto the brad,    Make one for each of the flowers that will be open flowers (not buds).

My wreath is a 10 in wreath -- relatively small, so I chose to use the smaller of the dies and create a small arrangement for the wreath. 

Cut a few leaves.  I used white card stock -- they need a little more body.  Color using the marker airbrush and colors as desired.

Add a spritz or two of pearl and sapphire mica to the edges of the flower petals and buds.  If desired, add a little pearl or gold mica to the leaves.

Secure the flowers and leaves on the wreath using a little hot glue.  Add any additional embellishments and fillers as desired.




Add a ribbon if desired and hanger. 


Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll be setting aside some #CRE8Time this month and every month!  Explore new ideas and new techniques! 

No affiliate links are used in this post. 
*Specific products used:
Sizzix Big Shot (you could also use an electronic cutting machine and files specific to your machine)
Spellbinders Rose Creations by Donna Salazar
Craftwell eBrush and SN adapter
Spectrum Noir Markers