Mixing the new with the old...

I'm determined to finish my bag of paper scraps this year [yes..it's just one bag...a big one though..*winks*]. So you'll be seeing me mixing the new with the old.

The new would be the entire summer collection of stencils from The Crafter's Workshop...[So lucky I get to design for this awesome company!] :)

The old would be patterned paper scraps I've amassed over the last few years...

Since I've stopped buying patterned papers, I think it might actually be doable...*winks*.

P/s: My bloggy pal Helen Tilbury is having an awesome giveaway on her blog. Go check it out! :)

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The need to "lace-cify" everything...

So you know how I'm a tad obsessed with lace...with the urge to "lace-cify" everything? *winks* Apparently, an old Hello Kitty storage unit could not escape from me and my lace...[sinister music plays in the background...]

My mother came home with this old Hello Kitty storage unit that had seen better days. Even my niece S, the Hello Kitty fanatic, wasn't terribly excited about it because it looked so dull and old.

Initially, I wanted to spray-paint it...but the thought of having to disassemble and reassemble parts promptly killed that idea [ahem...me=lazy bones...*LOL*].  I went straight to measuring and cutting the lace fabric and putting the pieces through my trusty Xyron 5" Creative Station. I actually like the pink bits peeking through the lace...[that's my story and I'm sticking to it...*winks*]

I removed the glass panels and replaced them with chipboard "grilles" and vellum. 

The door knobs were decorated with vintage buttons and tassels.

I added some lace trim to the edges with a hot glue gun...[as if there was not enough lace...*winks*]

So what do you think?

P/s: I intend to use the Hello Kitty glass panels for another project. :)

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Slide and pose...

As you know, my niece S, is totally a girly girl. When I'm "roughing" it out with her brothers, she's usually on the sidelines watching. She loves to play...but on her own terms of course.

Last Saturday, I was taking photos of her coming down the slide...and she checked to make sure her hair accessories were in place before posing for the photos...[I kid you not! *LOL*]. 

A super quick layout using already-cut scrap papers...[The goal is to finish them up this year..*winks*]

Playing along with Let's Get Sketchy.

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The new playground

After months of waiting, The Gangster Gang [aka nephews + niece] finally got to test-drive the new playground...

But first, a group shot at the fire hydrant...yes they were "photo-bombed"...*winks*

And a "sweaty" shot at the new playground...

The background was created with residual mists and new The Crafter's Workshop stencils. 

Playing along with Let's Get Sketchy.

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The almost ruined mixed media canvas....a tutorial

I grew up believing that a real artist is one who can draw and paint. Now that I'm dabbling in mixed media, I really think that we can all be artists....with the right "tools" of course...*winks*. Scroll down for the tutorial on how I created this mixed media canvas for The Crafter's Workshop.

I started with scrunched up wrapping tissue which I adhered with Liquitex matte gel medium [If you don't have this, you can substitute with 2 parts white glue and 1 part water]. After a layer of gesso, I added colours using Derwent Inktense blocks and water [If you prefer pastel colours, you can use Faber Castell gelatos instead.]. 

 Then I stamped along the edges using a Stampers Anonymous stamp and Ranger Archival Ink. 

Next I applied Liquitex Light Modeling Paste through The Crafter's Workshop stencil. Now I love light modeling paste because the texture is light and fluffy, easy to spread, dries fairly quickly and holds peaks...perfect for a little texture on my tree trunk.

Then I added colour to my trunk and branches using Art Anthology Sorbet paint. This dimensional paint adds texture and sparkle. After that I painted in my leaves using Daler Rowney Pearlescent Liquid Acrylics and a small paintbrush. [You can use any acrylic paints for this but I love the shimmer in these.]

I "finished" my tree with Golden gold mica flakes and painted the edges of the canvas with blue paint.

Here's a closeup so you can see the textures.

My intention was to include an inspiring quote but I totally "ruined" it and had to salvage the canvas by adding a photo of my niece on it...Good save, eh? *High fives all around.*

P/s: Happy weekend friends!

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I love hanging out with the boys!

So I really love hanging out with the boys [aka nephews] because they are always up to some mischief and tell really corny jokes. *winks*

I found some old photos of them and thought it would be great to have a layout to show how they've "grown" in 6 months. The photos were printed in colour but didn't stand out on my "abstract" background so I printed another set in black and white and added them with 3D dots.

The background was created with residual mists and The Crafter's Workshop stencils. And after misting the Maya Road chipboard letters, I just had to add the Art Anthology stone effects paint for that gritty texture.

Playing along with Pagemaps.

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A wall hanging for Xyron and Maya Road....a tutorial

This week, the team at Xyron will be showcasing products from Maya Road with daily giveaways on the Xyron blog. :) I made a wall hanging with a Maya Road chipboard album. Scroll down for the full tutorial.

I sprayed the Maya Road chipboard album with a Dylusions ink spray.

Next I cut some scallop frames from The Crafter's Workshop die and misted them with Dylusions ink sprays.

Then I coloured the Maya Road chipboard alphas with a black Sharpie.

To create texture on the chipboard, I coated them with Art Anthology stone effects paint. Now you can skip the black Sharpie if you want some of the raw chipboard to show through. 

Then comes the fun part...the assembly! I glued the scallop frames to the chipboard album using the Xyron Teresa Collins Clear Hold Adhesive.

I like the 3D effect on my photos so I printed two copies and fussy-cut them. For the base layer, I adhered with the Xyron Mega Runner. For the top layer, I added the Xyron foam squares.

After adhering the photos and chipboard, I outlined with a white pen for more interest.

I also added a Maya Road kraft owl along with googly eyes and Maya Road wood shaped buttons.

I used a cute wooden hanger to clip my chipboard album...and added some tassels at the bottom. 

There you have it...a fun and easy wall hanging. Don't forget to check out what my teamies did and leave a comment for your chance to win some Xyron products every day this week over on the Xyron blog.

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