"Cherished" Layout

Good Day everyone!!!!\

My New Year's resolution is to get my albums updated and caught up.  I have 9 grandchildren (updated 4 of them) and must continue on with the rest.  So today I am going to share with you a layout that I did for grandchild #5, who is now 9 years old.  Unfortunately, I keep finding more adorable pictures that I cannot resist adding to the albums.

For this layout I did some very basic background mixed media techniques to accent the background paper I selected.

Here is the completed layout.

To start with, using a spouncer, I applied white gesso in the area that the picture is and coming out to the outside edges.  I then applied white gesso with a spatula and a decorative stencil, again around the area where my picture will be placed.

Next, I sprayed the above gesso'd area with a light pink spray and then here and there with a darker pink spray.  I adhered my picture to a piece of thick chipboard then adhered it to the page just at the centre.  The chipboard raised the picture up so I can tuck things under the edge.

I placed two doilies under the picture at the upper left corner and bottom right corner.  After this I cut out some flower sections from another piece of patterned paper and added these to the left and right side of the picture, slightly tucking them under the edge.

From the same paper that I cut out the flower sections, I cut 6 strips, different widths and lengths and adhered them down so that they look like they are coming out from the bottom edge of the fussy cut flower section on the left of the picture.  I spounced white gesso onto these pieces to help blend them in and then added the same sprays that I did on the background paper.

I added a strip of lace at the bottom of the picture then the rest of the embellishments.

I embossed the Cherish title with white powder and then added some pink mica powder for accent.

At the very end I added my favourite micro beads here and there around the picture and flowers and lightly brushed on white gesso onto the flowers, just on the tips.  A closeup below.

And there you have it.  I have to keep going, so I will be showing you some more layouts soon.

Have a great day and remember

"Happiness" is

Three grand essentials - something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.

"Happy scrapping"

A Winter Scene

Hello everyone!!

Just before Christmas I saw a beautiful wood house made into a wintery theme by Finnibair on her website.  I instantly fell in love with it.  After Christmas I found a heavy cardboard church and house along with some trees, bushes, etc. (were on sale for 80% off) that I really liked, so I decided to make a winter scene of my own.   A lot of people would think that this would be great for a Christmas decor, but since it is still winter, I decided to complete it anyway. The main items I used to complete my scene were lots of heavy gesso, modeling paste, a 12 x 18 white canvas board for the base, white tissue, finely ground gravel, chipboard pieces, glass tiles and a few miscellaneous embellishments.  Here is the completed scene.

Using mod podge, I applied white very wrinkled tissue to the surface of the canvas board to give it texture.  I added modeling paste here and there to look like snow, painted the complete surface with white gesso then sprinkled this with some very glittery glitter while the gesso was still wet.

I have some very finely chopped gravel that I found at Micheal's called Tiny Treasures decorative filler.  I used a generous amount to cover the entire roof of the church.  I mixed the gravel into soft matte gel and applied it using a spatula.  Matte gel medium is an excellent adhesive for things like this.  When dry I painted the entire gravel surface with white gesso.  I also used this for the sidewalk at the front of the church.  I then added modeling paste around the outside edges to act as snow, then sprinkled this with the glitter.  I applied heavy gesso using a spatula to the rest of the church as well as the house.  I used lots as I wanted to have a lot of texture.  I added pieces of decorative chipboard to the front of the church just under the roof line on all sides then I added decorative chipboard pieces to the front windows of the house.  Again for the house, I applied modeling paste and glitter to the edges of the roof as well.  Using a brick stencil I applied heavy gesso the sides of the house.

I accented here and there with different colours of mists using a thin paint brush, not too much, just enough for accenting.  I did use lots and lost of glitter.  Unfortunately it does not show that good in the picture.  The rest is my trees, bushes, fences, sidewalk.   Under the bushes and trees I added green moss to look like grass. I wanted a lot of snow so I applied modeling paste to all the decorative pieces at the fronts of the two buildings.  And there you have it.  Below is a couple of pictures from a different angle.

I currently have it sitting in my living room.  I will put it away when the Easter bunny arrives.

Thank you for viewing my winter scene.  Comments are welcome.

Until next time, this is Donna wishing you a "Happy Scrapping" day.

And remember

"Yesterday is already a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of  hope."

Altered Picture Frame

Happy New Year!!!!!

Now that Christmas is over it is time to settle into the new year and create.

I was working on an altered picture frame before Christmas and I have finally completed it and will now share it with you.

I started with a very inexpensive ornate picture frame that I picked up at Ikea some time ago.  Since I never used the frame for its purpose, I decided to alter it in my favourite style - mixed media.

I started out by adhering a decorative wood frame to the centre of the frame and topped this off with a decorative oval resin frame in the centre.  I then painted the entire surface of the frame and wood pieces with black gesso.  

I began adding different embellishments, metal, flowers, glass circles, wood flowers anything I could get my hands on - starting at the centre of the oval frame and adding and tucking here and there.  To adhere everything down I used a product from Prima called "soft matte gel".  This is an amazing product - I guarantee that nothing will fall off when you use this.  I then went to the upper left corner of the actual main frame and the bottom right corner as well and added different items.  When I decided that I had added enough (you can always add more later)  I adhered micro beads here and there, even onto the centre items to give more texture.  Again I painted all the embellishments with black gesso.

I then added sprays - gold, green, blue, silver.  And lastly I did my painting here and there onto the embellishments using various colours - pink, purple, green, blue, etc.  I just kept adding here and there in areas where it needed accenting.  The main paint that I used was from Finnibair (Prima) "art alchemy" acrylic paints.  Without sounding like an advertisement - another amazing product.   Below is the final result with a couple of close-ups.

I hope you have enjoyed this short tutorial.  Lots of new items will be coming your way.

Have a great week and a safe and happy new year.

"HAPPY SCRAPPING"

"Sing and dance and make good cheer, let's make it last throughout the year."

Mixed Media Christmas Cards

Good morning everyone!!!

Today I am going to share with you a couple of mixed media Christmas cards that I created.

For the first one below I first adhered a piece of glittery mesh on the right side of the card front, then I  die cut a lattice panel and placed this over top of the mesh.  I added white liquid pearls to where the lattice crosses over each other.

A strip of white lace was added to the left side of the lattice frame.  I put together the greenery section next - layering different branches - some die cut and some from Christmas decoration picks that I found at Michael's.  I then die cut a white poinsettia, layering each size.  To the poinsettia I applied platinum crackle paste from Finnibair.  You can see in the closeup the texture the paste added to the poinsettia.  Added some green holly leaves and red berries for accent.

For the next card, I used some antique Christmas patterned paper which I cut different sized pieces with different patterns to create my paper collage background. I distressed and inked the edges of the paper pieces. The main background piece which covers the front of the base card - I tore a small section at the upper left, folded it down, added a small piece of lace under it and some embellishments.

I cut out a tag that was on one of the papers and using pop dots I added this to the left side of the card about 1 1/2" down from the top.  The main center piece was cut out from one of the papers and again I added it using pop dots.  For the decorative flower section, I die cut three poinsettias from one of the matching papers.  I placed a small wood decorative frame first then I placed my greenery with the poinsettias around the frame.  Also added a couple of small white flowers and a small metal key. I then added some sparkle using gold metal flakes from Finnibair.  A closeup is below.

And there you have it.

Until next time,  this is Donna wishing you a very, very

Merry Christmas

"Christmas Cheer Recipe:  Combine loads of good wishes, heartfuls of love and armfuls of hugs.  Sprinkle with laughter and garnish with mistletoe.  Top off with presents. Serves everyone."

Mixed Media Cards

Hello everyone!!!

Today I am sharing a couple of mixed media cards with you.

For the first one I chose paper from the new You and Me Prima Collection which I layered onto the card base.  The upper one on the right, I adhered with pop dots.

I selected matching flowers which I tucked under each other, a small white resin frame with wood leaves at the bottom of the frame which I painted white.  Then I tucked in a piece of a crocheted  doilie under the flowers on the left.  When I'm making these cards I usually select a lot of items then place my main item (which is the large white flower at the top) and add the other items.

The second card below I used Graphic 45 Secret Garden paper.  The girl that you see is from one of the papers that I fussy cut then adhered with pop dots.  Starting with my main large turquoise flower, I added the other items.  Under the main flower is a piece of greenery ( it matches the greenery in the paper) which I cut from a vine that I purchased at a craft store.  I added more of this under the bird house.  I also added some cheese cloth to give some softness, a portion of a paper doilie and some pearl beads.  A little bit of bling  and it was completed.  The bird house accented the white picket fence in the paper.

I hope you enjoy and until next time (soon to come - mixed media Christmas cards)

this is Donna wishing you a very happy and safe week.

"HAPPY SCRAPPING"

Pumpkins in the cornfields, gold among the brown.

Leaves of rust and scarlet, trembling slowly down.

Birds that travel southward, it's a lovely time to play

Nothing is as pleasant, as an autumn day!

Two Layouts - Boy and Girl

Hello everyone!!!!

I know it has been several weeks since I posted my last project but unfortunately my computer had been compromised and hacked.  I knew something was wrong and since my computer intelligence is not very high even at the best of times, I did not realize what was happening until a few days ago when I got a notice on my screen that this had happened.  It is now fixed and I am ready to go.

So I am going to show you a couple of layouts that I did, one suitable for a boy and one for a girl.  They are simple and very easy to do.

For the boy

For this layout I chose papers (with a rustic look)  from my bits and pieces bin and I made various tags that I layered at the right side of the layout.  For the background I first marked where I wanted my picture to go then I stenciled some red paint randomly so that it would go around the picture.  This hint of red made the picture pop out and went well with the red tag.  I made a couple of banner pieces that I placed at the upper left corner and across the strip of yellow banner type paper.  With a border stamp and black ink I stamped the upper left and bottom right corners for extra accent. I then  added some various pieces of ephemera here and there.   Below is a close-up of the tag section.

The girl layout

For this layout I selected at neutral background paper.  I cut out a 10" square from another neutral coloured paper and added that, centering it.  At the right side of the layout I made a paper collage using various papers that blended well with the background papers as well as a smaller collage at the left side of the layout.  I then added pieces of lattice chipboard which I kept in its natural colour.  I did do some stamping with black ink randomly around the layout and onto the paper collages.  I added my usual flowers and embellishments along with a white circle resin frame to the larger collage section on the right.  Again embellishments and flowers and a wooden cut out flower (embossed with white embossing powder) were added to the left side collage.  I had to cut out and tuck in some butterflies as well.   Below is a couple of closeups of the collages.

I hope you enjoy.

Until next time, this is Donna wishing you a safe and happy week.

"HAPPY SCRAPBOOKING"

"Our main business is not to see what lies dimly in the distance but to do what lies clearly at hand.

                                                               Thomas Carlyle

12 x 16 Mixed Media Canvas

Today I am going to share with you a Finnibair inspired mixed media canvas.  This canvas is loaded with a lot of goodies.  I created a very unique background which I had been planning on doing for some time.  First the canvas.

For the background.  Some of you may remember a product from Tim Holtz called "grunge" board.  This is a very pliable chipboard product that I have had for several years.  I don't know if it is still available.  This particular grunge board had a texture on it which looks like a wood design and one that had a diamond pattern on it.  I came up with a plan to create a unique background.  I first took sheets of the "grunge" board and cut it into various sizes of rectangles.  I laid them down onto the canvas, without adhering, and created a pattern, almost like a puzzle making sure that they were all evenly spaced.  I kept cutting and placing beside and below each other until I had the complete canvas covered.  I also had a package that had pre-cut squares, circles and rectangles that I also fit in here and there.  As I was particularly obsessed with spacing, at the end I cut and added some very tiny pieces to fill in some gaps.  When I was happy with the placement, I adhered them all down, one at a time, with a hot glue gun.  It was time consuming.   I added some texture paste with a spatula on several of the pieces, just randomly to give more texture.  Before the texture paste dried I added some micro beads and pressed them into the paste.

I then painted the complete surface with a coat of white gesso.

Now the fun begins.  I pulled from my stash a selection of wood pieces, metal shapes: flowers, gears, crowns, buttons, leaves etc., small paper flowers, resin shapes, chipboard and anything else that I could get my hands on.  Colour doesn't matter as the entire surface will be painted with black gesso.

I started with the centre section first which is a chipboard frame.  I adhered this to the centre by raising it up with several chipboard pieces to give it a 3D look.  I added another wood frame and other wood pieces which I layered on top of each other.  Below is a picture of the centre.

From there I started at the section above the frame.  I kept laying things down, moving things, layering items until I was happy with the result.  I then adhered the items down using "heavy matt gel" from Prima (Finnibair).  This product is amazing.  Nothing will fall off when you use this product.  I did the bottom section next below the centre frame.  Then onto the sides making sure that everything was balanced.  I also added more micro beads in and around the centre frame.

When done and everything was permanently glued down, I painted the whole surface with black gesso covering it completely.

I next mixed some of my "teal mica powder" with water and using a brush I applied it to several of the grunge pieces on the background.  What a beautiful colour.  I will list some of the Finnibair products and colours I used along with the Prima Color Bloom sprays that I used.

Then I started spraying with my sprays starting with the Tea Stain going over all the embellishments as well.  I came back with the other colours and kept layering the colours until I was satisfied.  You can always go back when you are done to add more colours.  I also used other colours of mica powders, mainly around and on the centre frame.  Then lastly I highlighted some of the items with Finnibair acrylic paints along with the micro beads that I added in.   I did end up spraying some more of the turquoise coloured spray along with the purple spray.  Such yummny stuff.  I kept going until I was happy with everything.
Products:  Finnibair mica powder - teal, blue opal magic, lilac opal magic
Finnibair acrylic paints - vintage rose, pink-blue, rich turquoise
Prima Color Bloom Sprays - tea stain, summer sky, glistening waves, iris and bit of peony

It is something that you just go for it, don't think too much about what you are doing and use your imagination as far as products that you use.

Until next time,

this is Donna hoping you will give it a try and use up some of that stash that I know we all have.

Oh yes, if you don't have "grunge" board, use thick pieces of chipboard - maybe even throw in some corrugated paper.  The sky is the limit.

"Happy Scrapping and Creating"

"The art of life is to know how to enjoy little and endure much."  Hazlet

Handmade Lace and Silk Ribbon Flowers

Hello everyone!!!!

Sometime ago when I first starting posting blogs, I posted a short tutorial on how to make silk ribbon flowers.  It has been a very popular post.  So I decided to give you another tutorial on 

how to make these flowers.

First off you will need the following items:  silk ribbon and lace if you choose, a needle and thread, and a punched circle from cardstock that matches your ribbon colour.  Determine your size first.

Cut a strip of 1/2" wide ribbon about 36" long.  To start with, you want to stitch a long running stitch across one edge of the ribbon from end to end.  Do not tie off the thread when you get to the end.  Loosely for now, create gathers by pulling on the thread.

A glue gun works best for the next step which is to glue the ribbon to the punched circle.  My circle is about 2" for a very fluffy flower.  Starting at the outside edge, adhere the ribbon down by pulling the thread a small section at a time.  Place the glue in small sections and then move along until you have the outside edge covered with the ribbon.

Now you will move the ribbon down towards the centre, still gathering if necessary. The stitch edge of the second layer should meet with the stitched edge of the first layer.

Keep gathering the ribbon as you go.

Then you will move it again towards the centre, gluing in small sections.  Keep going until you have the entire circle covered.  When done you can add a brad, button, small flower, anything that you want to the centre to finish it off.  And there you have it.  If you make a larger one, your circle should be larger and cut a longer strip of ribbon.  The more gathers, the fluffier the flower.

Here is one I made using 1/2" antique lace.

I put together a heritage layout to show you the lace flower and how it looks.  I added the same lace at the outside edges of the layout.

Here is a closeup.

And there you have it.  I hope you will try this.  You can use wider ribbon if you wish for a larger flower.  Have fun and until next time, this is Donna wishing you a prosperous week.

"HAPPY CRAFTING"

I don't know if you do but

"I cook with wine.  Sometimes I even put it in the food."

A new Mixed Media Card

Hello everyone!!!!

A few weeks ago I promised a short tutorial on creating my own background on a mixed media card.  Here is the completed card.  The large doilie is not a part of the card,

I used the following products to create this card.  I was pleased with how it turned out.

The first technique I did was to cover my card front with a generous amount of Matte Medium.  This protects the card so that the sprays and water that I used did not soak through.  It also gives better flow for the sprays and water.  I let this dry thoroughly.  I chose a light shade of yellow spray, one a bit darker yellow and a green chartreuse spray.

I sprayed the light yellow first and immediately spritzed water onto the colour.  With a paint brush I worked the spray onto the card surface.  I did the same with the darker yellow then the green making sure that I dried each colour before I went onto the next one.  I mixed some green kraft paint into modeling paste and with a vine stencil I applied the modeling paste.

To apply the circles I used the bottom of one of my sprays and pressed it onto black ink then pressed it onto the card.  I did the same using the bottom of one of my misters.  I then did some stamping, here and there,  lightly using black ink and an acrylic mesh stamp.  There you have my background.

I painted a wood decorative circle in black paint and adhered it as shown.  I then took a plain white flower and painted the light coloured spray onto the top petals and the darker yellow spray on the next row of petals.  This I placed in the centre of the wood circle and added the rest of my flowers coming out from the bottom of  it.

  A loopy bow, green leaves an embroidered flower embellishment and a green grapevine added some more character to the card.  Using a brush and some matte gel medium I added some peach-coloured glass beads around the flowers and onto some of the flowers.  Some small black gems were also added in a few places for the finishing touch.

Here is a couple of closeups.

Until next time,

this is Donna wishing you a good and prosperous week.

"Happiness is - getting the kids back to school"

"Be curious always! For knowledge will not acquire you; you must acquire it."

Two Layouts for Boys

Hello everyone!!!!!  Today I am sharing two layouts that I completed which were done with the male theme in mind.  I have 5 grandsons and I am currently updating and catching up on the third one.

Here is the first layout.

The background paper is from my very old stash.  And the rest of the paper is Amy Tangerine "Plus One" which I find to be a very versatile paper.  I mounted my picture first onto the patterned paper, laid it down onto the background paper (without adhering) and then cut my papers as shown.  I always lay all my papers down first without adhering any of them and play around with them until I get the look that I want.  I painted a piece of chipboard with distress paint and added it to the left of the picture.  Added some mixed tags that I had in my tag bin and my title.  There you have it, very simple but colourful.

This is the second layout.

For this layout I took a piece of paper with the popular wood design on it and cut it into strips.  I staggered the length on some of the strips then I roughed up the edges using a distressing tool and inked them with a brown ink.  I adhered the strips to the background paper as shown.

For my papers behind the picture I used some very old scraps in my scrap bin.  I decided to use the red paper behind the picture to give it some pop.  I am usually nervous about doing that, but I went for it anyway and I rather like it.  I smudged on some white modeling paste onto the paper around the picture to give it a bit of texture.  I added some twine across the paper collage, a few metal embellishments. ephemera tags at the right side,  and my title.  And there you have it, very simple.

Until next time,

this is Donna wishing you a very

"scrap happy week"

"A boy is a magical creature - you can lock him out of your workshop,

 but you can't lock him out of your heart."

"Beauty" Layout

Hello Everyone!!!!!!  Today I am sharing a layout I did a short time ago.

To start off with, I did some stenciling on the background paper using modeling paste.  I then cut a strip of matching paper about 5" wide and tore along the top edge for texture and across the bottom edge on a diagonal curving up to the right side edge.   I adhered this to the background paper across the centre.   I then cut another piece from another matching paper about 3" wide and adhered this across the centre of the first strip.  I added a strip of lace across the top and bottom edges of this piece.  I also tucked white embroidered flowers from Prima under the top edges of the first centre piece.  And the rest is my embellishments.

I then added my picture, first making a collage of papers to go behind it, and popping it off the collage.  I used soft coloured flowers in pink and purple, added hexagon shaped chipboard pieces at the sides of the picture, a few small green painted chipboard vines and a resin heart shaped frame on the left of the picture.  I tucked an embroidered flower under the bottom left section of the frame. Below is a closeup of the left side of the layout and below that is the right side of the layout.  I painted the chipboard title with white gesso first then sprayed it with a light purple spray then accented the outer edges with white gesso.  And last but not least, I added some tiny micros beads in and around the flowers and onto the flowers as well as white pearls in the centres of the hexagon shapes of the chipboard.

I do hope you enjoyed this layout.  Until next time, this is Donna with another inspirational quote:

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

                                                                                          O.W. Holmes

HAPPY SCRAPPING

Mixed Media Cards

I thought that today would be a good day to share some mixed media cards with you.

This is my first time at this type of card using a lot of products.  I did paper layering to create a paper collage; tags; wood frames; resin frames; lots of flowers; crocheted flowers; cheesecloth; chipboard items.  Pretty much a lot of things from my stash.  I quite enjoyed the whole process and just let my imagination go.  Also got to use up scrap papers and embellishments.  For my next cards I will be creating my own backgrounds using various mixed media products. 

 I will keep you posted and share a short tutorial with you.

I hope you enjoy.

Until next time, this is Donna wishing you a safe, sunny, and relaxing weekend.

"HAPPY SCRAPPING!!!!!

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the

charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."

Beach Themed Canvas

Hello everyone!!!

I have been so very busy lately with store inventory and preparing for our June 18th crop day, that I finally found the time to finish this 8 x 10 canvas with a beach theme.

For the background I mostly used moulding paste and stencils.  I first painted the entire upper surface with a thick coat of heavy gesso.  I then used Prima bamboo stencil and applied moulding paste over the surface.  I let this dry and applied some white crackle texture paste from Prima, just here and there.  Let the crackle paste dry completely.  You can see below the texture that I got.

I then sprayed in 4 places the Prima tea stain spray .

Using a flat paint brush I randomly applied the ice blue metallic kraft paint as you see below.  You can use sprays if you wish, I thought I would try something different.  With the paint still wet I lightly spritzed with water to get the paint to flow a bit.  You can see this in the final picture.  I followed up with a stencil that has different sized holes in it and mixed some of the paint into moulding paste and applied it to the canvas as you see below.  It worked just fine.

The black circles you see below were applied with the bottom of a small glass bottle and black staz-on ink.  

This is the completed canvas below.  I added my picture first which has been mounted with pop dots onto a couple of pieces of paper.  The embellishments were added around the picture.  I used shells, wood chipboard decorative pieces, flowers, cheesecloth and even some fish netting.  The greenery at the bottom is from a silk flower stem - I thought it looked like an ocean plant.  Added some micro beads here and there with clear glue and there you have it.

A couple of closeups

I hope you have enjoyed this posting.  Until next time, 

this is Donna wishing you a safe and happy weekend.

HAPPY SCRAPPING!!!!!!!!!

"Keep your face toward the sunshine and the shadows will fall behind you."