The CropStop March Guest Designer Final Project "Watercolor Peonies" Tutorial

For my final week as CropStop Guest Designer, I created a flower using Donna Salazars Grand Peony Creations die. I am still on a high about winning Tim Holtz Tattered Floral Challenge, and Donna's dies that she designed for Spellbinders are among my favorite as well.  I created a few ATC gift tags to place my flowers on. You will be seeing more flower tutorials as I polish my skills and get ready to Guest Design For Donna Salazar.

Here is the tutorial. Just a Note: The Cone coffee filter paper is heavier than the basket type. I just cut the seams out, opened it up and flattened the filters.

Step 1:  Die-cut the two smallest flowers from the Spellbinders Grand Peony Creations Set.  5 of the larger and 4 of the next one smaller.  I layered cone coffee filters 4 at a time and cut multiples.  You can use a thinner cardstock in place of the coffee filters.

 Step 2:  With your flowers on the Inkssentials Craft Mat, mist them lightly with water until damp.

Step 3:  Using Luminarte Twinkling H2Os, paint the flowers to give them a light coat of paint.

Stap 4:  With a coordinating spray color in a darker shade, Creative Imaginations Radiant Spray - Pink Grapefruit spray a small puddle on your craft mat, pick some up on your paintbrush and touch just the edges of your petals.  The color will bleed slightly...this is what you want.

 Step 5:   Dry the flowers using your heat gun.

Step 6:  Using a stylus on an embossing mat (or rubber mouse pad), make the petals cup and curl using a circular motion around each individual petal.  Repeat this until all of your flowers are done.  You may have to use a smaller stylus on the smaller flowers.

 Step 7:  Layer your larger flowers, adhering them with glue, staggering the petals.  Then do the same with your smaller flowers.

 Step 8:  Scrunch them up a bit toward the center of the flower.  You can make many sizes to suit your need.

Supplies

Creative Imaginations Radiant Spray - Pink Grapefruit

Cuttlebug Die-cut Machine

Inkssentials Craft Mat

Luminarte Twinkling H2Os - Think Pink

Sizzix - Susan's Garden Tool Kit

Spellbinders Grand Peony Creations Set

                                                         ZAP! Embossing Heat Tool

And...you can use these flowers on just about any project.  I decided to use them on 3 Artist Trading Cards that I created to use as gift tags.

I die-cut the ATCs using Tim Holtz  ATC and Corners Die.

Next, I embossed them with the Couture Creations Crazy Daisy Embossing Folder and lightly rubbed Ranger Distress Ink - Mowed Lawn over the surface and inked the edges.

I painted the die-cut corners with Ranger Distress Paint - Mowed Lawn and adhered them to the corners of the ATCs.

Using my Crop-a-dile, I punched a hole, set an eyelet and added Creative Expressions Magenta on Magenta Organdy Swirl Ribbon to each ATC.

The flowers were added along with some Martha Stewart punched leaves inked with Mowed Lawn Ink.

I printed the sentiments in Photoshop, cut them out, inked the edges and adhered them to the cards.

The butterflies were punched with a Martha Stewart 3 in 1 Butterfly Punch, sprayed with Creative Imaginations Radiant Spray-Pink Grapefruit and adhered to the cards.

ATC Supplies
Couture Creations Crazy Daisy Embossing Folder
Creative Expressions Magenta on Magenta Organdy Swirl Ribbon
Creative Imaginations Radiant Spray - Pink Grapefruit
Martha Stewart 3 in 1 Butterfly Punch
Ranger Distress Ink - Mowed Lawn
Ranger Distress Paint - Mowed Lawn

I want to shout out a HUGE thank you to Vicki Robertson and The CropStop for inviting me to guest design for March.  I had so much creative fun with all of the products they sent me to work with and I will continue to use CropStop as my one stop shopping store!  You must check out all of the new stock as CropStop is always adding to their inventory!!!

Tattered Floral Challenge Winner!!!

So Tim Holtz had a nice little (understatement) challenge on his Blog. It was called The Tattered Floral Challenge. PERFECT!!! A perfect opportunity for me to  develop a new flower for the challenge... So working on a Blue Fern Studios project for my April Blog Post, I set on my journey to do so. And this is the end result....

 I WON!!! Can you believe it??? I am one of the 5 winners out of over 700 entries. You would not believe the scream I let out when I read the Tim's Blog post. Lynne Forsythe..I love you!!!!  Lynne left a message on my FB page prompting me to the post!. I was on a road trip with limited internet access!!
These were my entries. The Blue one was designed specifically for the challenge and for Blue Fern Studios (See the full reveal on April 3rd), the Pink ones were designed as a part of my March CropStop project, (they sell a load of Ranger and Tim Holtz stuff!!) and the other 2 were tutorials I did for Swirlydoos when I was on the DT there. There are MANY more on my blog!! I just entered my faves.This is the pic Tim showed on his Blog. Click HERE to check out the announcement!!

And this my friends, is the Prize that Mario has lovingly packed and will be sending to my doorstep, compliments of Tim Holtz!!!!! Can you see why I am soooo excited??? HAPPY MAIL!!!! Look at all of that GRUNGE goodness!!! I cant wait!!!

In case you missed it, this is the whole photo of my layout that I did for the CropStop. Using Rangers new Mowed Lawn paint and ink for the background. Oh, and by the way?? The little Roses?? Yup!! They were created with the Alterations Tattered Pinecone die!! I just rolled them into roses. That Tim, he is sooooo damn creative!!!

This next project is an older layout I created when I was designing for Swirlydoos. But I just had to show you some more flowers created with the Tattered Floral die...I used old dress Pattern Tissue paper. And once again, all of the designs on the die were used to create them.

Well Thank you for stopping by and sharing in my excitement. March is my birthday month, and I have received MANY gifts that money just cant buy...But OH SO HAPPY for Happy Mail!!!!
xoxo my dear blogging friends!! Till next time, Happy Scrapping!! And thank you for all of the love you leave for me each and every day. You all inspire me!!!

The CropStop Guest Designer

This is my 3rd project for The CropStop. 

I wanted to do a tag, as I LOVE my Alterations Tag and Bookplate die, but my project took on a life of it's own!  Now, it will be part of a journal cover I am doing.  I wish you could see the sparkle and metal look the tag has in real life. The products I used from The CropStop are really amazing. Don't forget to see the bottom of my post for a great discount at the store!!

I die-cut the Tag/Bookplate and the Butterflight on the Edge Die in chipboard sandwiched between black card stock. 

Then I glued the layers together using Glue N Seal.  Once the layers were together, I used a brayer to get out any air bubbles and make a very smooth surface. 

I embossed the tag with the Couture Creations I Dream, embossing folder. 

I rubbed some Viva Decor Metal Gloss Inka Gold in Old Silver over the raised areas of the embossed tag and around the edges. I also rubbed it all over the On the Edge Butterflight. I die cut the Memory Box die, used the same technique, and placed it on the tag.  
 

I die-cut the birdcage and used the Clear for Embossing on it, sprinkled the WOW Embossing Glitter all over and heat embossed it with a heat gun.  Love, love, love the look!  Like old hammered metal.

 I also touched the edges of the On the Edge Butterflight, used the WOW Embossing Glitter and heat embossed it as well before adhering it to the edge of the tag.  

I glued the vintage charm to the middle of the birdcage.  I rubbed the Viva Decor Inka Gold on the charm, Blue Fern Studios chipboard butterfly and chipboard word, Joy.  I printed the journaling words in Photoshop, cut them out and adhered them to the tag.

I was going to put the final touch on the tag and place ribbons through the hole on top, but decided to use this piece as part of a journal cover I am working on.  It has an old world charm to it and the embossing folders give it such texture and depth.  I really enjoyed working with them. Head on over to the store at The CropStop to see the newest additions in Embossing Folders. Couture Creations makes beautiful ones!!! 

Supplies
Couture Creations Fine Design, Limited Edition Embossing Folder - I Dream
Inkssentials Glue N Seal 
Memory Box Chesapeake Scrollwork Die 
Ranger Clear for Embossing Distress Pad
Sizzix/Vintaj Diamond Swirl Filigree 
Tim Holtz - Movers and Shapers Tag and Bookplate Dies
Tim Holtz - On the Edge Butterflight Die-cut
WOW Embossing Glitter - Metallic Platinum Sparkle
ZAP Heat Embossing Tool

I want to send out a BIG THANK YOU to The CropStop for having me as your guest Designer for the month of March!!

Shop in the CropStop Store for your crafting needs.  Use their blog discount code, BLOG, on checkout for 10% off your total purchase of $30 or more.

Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Challenge

 Those of you who know me, know that I LOVE to make my own flowers. And The Sizzix Alterations Tattered Florals die is among my favorite die. I have created many a tutorial using it. So what a perfect time to really put my floral making to the test, to enter Tim Holtz Tattered Floral Challenge. I used every shape on the die to create all of the flowers here.  I did see some absolutely gorgeous creations for the challenge. I sure do have my work cut out out for me.Every flower on my layout was done with the onle and only Tattered Florals die. I can't show you the whole layout as this is also a sneak for my April Blue Fern Studios Blog Post, so you will have to wait until April 3rd... And wait until you see the Blue Fern Studios pieces I used for this layout. Brand spankin new and absolutely gorgeous!! Can you say Silks Glaze, Blue Fern Studios chip board  and Crackle Accents?? Oh but you will...

The CropStop Guest Design Creation.

I am back again this week at The CropStop to share another creation with you created with products straight from the CropStop online store!!

 Even though we live in Florida, every November we vacation in Daytona for the yearly Turkey Rod Run. My favorite part when staying at the Hilton right on the beach, are the sunrises. We live on the West Coast of Florida and get the gorgeous sunsets, and hop over to the other side of the state for the sunrises. How lucky are we!! I thought the perfect paper for my layout is the new Prima Sunrise/Sunset. The colors were a match made in heaven. And adding all of the goodness from The CropStop was just icing on the cake!!

 To create the photo mat, I embossed the La Blanche specialty stamping paper with the Couture Creations Crazy Daisy Embossing Folder, sprayed it with a variety of mists, and wiped it down while it was still wet.  Using my sewing machine, I sewed around the perimeter of the mat and then distressed the edges.

 Next, I stamped the leaves onto the La Blanche specialty stamping  paper using Tsukineko Black Memento Ink.  When the ink was dry, I sprayed them with a couple of different mist colors.  While the mists were still wet, I blotted the colors to help blend them a bit.  Then, with a paint brush, added some green mist to further blend them together.  The flowers and punched butterfly were all placed on a craft mat and sprayed with a variety of colors to match the papers, then dried using my ZAP! heat embossing tool.

I love mixed media, and that is where I discovered Liquitex Light Modeling Paste which I used along with  the Crafter's Workshop Love Birds Template to add texture to the layout. 

I reversed the template and placed birds and leaves in different positions in opposite corners of the page.  

I then  arranged the flowers, leaves, and butterfly around the matted photo, adding some misted gauze under the cluster at the corner.

Thank you, CropStop, for having me as a Guest Designer and sending me so much gorgeous product to work with!!  Stop by the CropStop next week on Thursday March 22nd, where I will share my 3rd creation with you all!!

Supplies

Couture Creations Crazy Daisy, Limited Edition, Embossing Folder

Crafter's Workshop Love Birds Template

Creative Imaginations Ginger Peach Spray

Creative Imaginations Pearl Gold Spray

Creative Imaginations Persimmon Spray

Creative Imaginations Sunburst Spray

Dylusions  Cherry Pie Ink Spray

Dylusions Fresh Lime Ink Spray

Dylusions Squeezed Orange Ink Spray

La Blanche Specialty Stamping Paper

Liquitex Light Modeling Paste
Martha Stewart Large Double Butterfly Punch
Tonic Studios Paper Distresser 
Tsukineko Memento Black Tuxedo Ink 
ZAP! Heat Embossing Tool

Visit the CropStop Store today for your crafting needs.  Use the CropStop Blog discount code, BLOG, for 10% off your total purchase over $30.

The Cropstop March Guest Designer

I am the March Guest Designer for The CropStop. Your One Stop Store. If you have never been, please check out this wonderful online store!! If you love embossing folders and Tim Holtz distress inks and Sizzix and Spellbinders dies, and Sprays, and Crafters Workshop templates, and alcohol inks and punches, and ...and did I mention embossing Folders??? Just to much product to mention here, I just mentioned a few of my favorite things!! I challenged myself, and started this layout with 1 piece of 12 x 12 white card stock. With all of the new product that The CropStop sent me, I knew that was all I needed...

 The CropStop sells the mini version of the Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations die Tattered Florals. Movers & Shapers Magnetic Die Set (2pk) - Mini Tattered Florals. 

So you could create these flowers on a smaller version than the ones I created. I will be doing a tutorial on the flowers. I decided to enter these flowers in the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Challenge. After all, I did use the new Ranger Mowed Lawn Distress paint...Such a yummy color!!

The beauty of the mica-enriched Creative Imaginations Radiant Rain Spray, is the color variation you can get from them. I used Pink Grapefruit on the white card stock flowers, the background paper and the Blue Fern Studios Chip board  "Butterfly Kisses"  after I painted it with white paint.If you love Twinkling H2O's, you will love the Radiant Rain Spray!! The shimmer is just unbelievable and oh so yummy!! I want EVERY color!!

Then after the chip board was dried and inked, I added a thick layer of Ranger Crackle accents and let it do it's magic as it dried.

Just another closeup of the flowers. The small roses were created using the Tim Holtz Tattered Pinecones die.

I absolutely love the Crafters WorkShop templates. The 6 x 6 sizes are just perfect for  cards, but using them to accent your background paper is perfect!! The CropStop has plenty of designs, not to mention all of those gorgeous Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink colors. I used Mowed Lawn for the gorgeous greens in my layout.

So head on over to The CropStop Blog for details on the products I have used for this layout and getting your hands on them. The products are linked for your convenience. Then check them out in the store. My list keeps getting longer and longer from the things I want in the store. And if you use the word BLOG when checking out, you will save 10% on a $30.00 or more purchase. Next week on Thursday, March 14th,  you will see another project I created for the CropStop on their Blog. Do you love embossing folders??? Just sayin!!...So don't forget to check out the blog and become a follower so you don't miss a thing!!

PaperHaus Magazine Featured Artist layout.

This is another one of the layouts I did for PaperHaus Magazine as a Featured Artist. I was so pumped when Frank Garcia sent me  the color scheme to work with!! I absolutely love pastels  and just weren't given the opportunity to work with a lot of these colors in past assignments. So you can imagine my joy when I saw the paperhues of spring 2013!!

I used Blue Fern Studios Symphony Border chip board and just cut it in half using both pieces on the page.

                                                               Symphony Border  074530

I opted to use a lot of hand made flowers as I couldn't wait to use some of my sprays. So I busted out the dies, and some 110# card stock and started spraying away. Colorshine, Glimmer Mist, Lindy's Stamp Gang and Shimmerz. I used the Sizzix Alterations tattered Florals die, The Spellbinders Donna Salazar Rose Creations die, the Spellbinders Grand Peonies die and the Sizzix Tattered Pinecone die. I only used a couple of Kaisercraft flowers in the bunch.

                 The vines were Spellbinders Foliage die and one of my fave from CottageCutz, a leaf die.

I printed the journaling in Photoshop and you can see a peek of the beautiful Blue Fern Studios chip board which I painted in a cream color as to not take away from the beautiful hues of the flowers. I placed the photo which I processed in Photoshop using an overlay for the frame over a piece of corrugated card board and tucked some Glimmer Misted gauze around it. I added some Zva pearl flourishes to the background as well.

                                     Just another closeup of the opposite corner of the flower cluster.

Thank you for taking a look at my creation for the Spring Issue of PaperHaus Magazine. Please go take a look at the gorgeous issue. There is so much inspiration in one place. You will definitely be inspired!. 

PaperHaus Magazine feature in Spring Issue 2013.

Back in October, Frank Garcia had asked if I would like to join PaperHaus Magazine as a Featured Artist for the Spring Edition. Of course!! I answered. Anything for my sweet friend. Here is one of the layouts I did using the gorgeous sweet colors of Spring that he sent me.

I like to hoard Prima Flowers...And here are a few that have been in my stash for a long time. I LOVE the Big blue one in the corner. I have 2 pails full of them in different colors!

Some of the flowers are silk flowers that I find at Joanns, Michaels or Hobby Lobby, and I strip them from their stems..The little blue ones were topped with a Prima E line pearls. I found the sweet little bird in the bridal section of Michaels.

The flourish is from Blue Fern Studios. They are adding new designs to their collection all of the time. I painted it with Lumiere Paint and topped it with some pearls.

I love collecting stencils as well as masks. I used Gesso with the beautiful rose stencil on both sides of the background paper. It adds depth and interest to another wise bland piece of paper.

 Just another closeup of some of the Prima flowers. I love Franks color choices. So so pretty!!

 And please don't forget to go check out the spring issue of PaperHaus Magazine and join in on the Blog Hop to win some fabulous prizes!! And learn a little bit about what gets my creative Mojo going!!  The issue will have you yearning for Spring!!
A big Hug to Frank and his wonderful team for having me this issue.
And join PaperHaus on Facebook.