Heartfelt Creations Alumni Design Team July Blog Hop

If you came to my blog from the very talented  Vicki Dutcher's blog, then you're on the right track...Welcome to another month of Heartfelt Creations Alumni Design Team Blog Hops!! I love to pull put the beautiful stamps and dies that I received when I was on the Heartfelt Creations Design Team. I started my background with adhering  piece  of Kraft paper to  piece of 12x12 corrugated cardboard using ModPodge. I used  mask and molding paste to get the chevron design for the background. While it was still wet, I spayed it with Lindys Stamp Gang Starburst spray in Azure Sea Asters. For this layout, I used Lindy's July color palette and their Limited  Edition spray set. I then used the Heartfelt Creations HCPC 3367 Vintage Life Background PreCut Set stamp and randomly stamped the background.

 Update!! 8/2/14  Congratulations to Anita Braddock. You won the hop!! Email Emma Lou to claim your prize!!!

For the frame I used 2 different Sizzix die cuts and stacked them to create a  2 dimensional frame. I used Lindy's Scotch Broom Yellow embossing powder on the bottom frame, then when it was dry, sprayed it with Golden Sleigh Bells. For the top, I just sprayed it, then used a pearl pen for the dots and swirls.

The flowers were die cut using Spellbinders Rose Creations die. I sprayed them with Lindys Starburst spray in Peony Scarlet Red and Flat Fabios in Queen Of Hearts Red.  I then stamped the flowers with Heartfelt Creations HCPC 3406 Botanical Floral 1 precut set (retired) using black ink.That why it is so important to grab the stamps when they are still available. These are one of my favorite!

I added a half pearl to the centers of the flowers. Some of the flowers were stacked. The leaves were created using Heartfelt Creations HCD 712 Bella Rose Die which is a custom Heartfelt Creations Die manufactured by Spellbinders. I then sprayed the die cut with Lindys Starburst spray in My Mojito Green. I then used Heartfelt Creations HCPC 3390 Bella Rose Leaves PreCut Set to stamp the die cut leaves. I did dd  little touch of Lindys Golden Sleigh Bells for golden shimmer. I only put ink on the leaf part of the stamp and left the swirls free of ink.

Now you should be headed to Candy Slabaugh's blog to see what she has created for the hop!!
And don't forget to check back on Sat. August 2nd where  the winner will be announced.The
Hop starts 8am EST on Tues. July 29th and closes Fri. August 1st at midnight. So continue on this wonderfully creative journey where you will surely be inspired!! The winner receives $25 gift certificate to shop at Heartfelt Creations.

 Blog Hop Order if you get lost...

Vicki Dutcher 

Lisa Nazario-Gregory (me)

Candy Slabaugh

Alissa Wells

Glenda Brooks 

Amarilys Doria 

Cibele Glazer

Selma Stevenson 

Sarah Miller

Mary Faus

Caroline Duncan

Emilia van den Heuvel 

Lisa Allen

Lindys July Color Challenge.

 I hope you join us for Lindys Color Challenge this month.  The colors of July are simply delicious! Reminds me of an ice cold sorbet on a hot summer day! Check out this line up of color... You can visit Lindy's to see the sets that are available.

Queen of Hearts Red

Peony Scarlet Red

My Mojito Green

Azure Sea Asters

G
lden Sleigh Bells

 My layout started with a white piece of card stock. I sprayed it with  Azure Sea Asters. Then using a mask I layered  on some My Mojito Green. I used another mask with molding paste in random spots.  To finish it off I sprayed some Golden Sleigh Bells for extra warm shimmer. I also splashed on some color.

The flowers were die cut and sprayed with Golden Sleigh Bells and Peony Scarlet Red.

The leaves were all die cut, coated with molding paste and spayed with My Mojito Green.

Here is  a closeup of the flowers and leaves.I also did some random stamping on the background using BoBunny  script stamp.

The Stampers Anonymous Classic Favorites dragonfly stamp was stamped on BoBunny patterned paper and colored with the sprays. The photo frame is a wood piece that was coated with crackle paint then spayed with Golden Sleigh Bells. 

The tags and dragonflies were die cut from BoBunny Demimonde Stand 6x6 patterned paper pad. The colors were enhanced using the sprays that matched the colors of the paper. I added a little molding paste around the edges for texture. The other die cuts on the page were all  painted with the sprays using a small paint brush.

Thanks for visiting. I hope you will be inspired to create your own project using this months luscious colors. I know once I put the colors on paper, my mojo just flowed so easily!!

Big Blog Tour Nomination!!!

I was nominated as a creative blogger by one of my very talented friends,  Sharon Martinelli. to join in on a chain of fun blog hop tours, where so many of us will get to meet new bloggers, get new inspiration, and connect with blogs that will open up our creativity, to new views, new techniques, and new creative experiences. This will get your mojo going for sure!!! I have the pleasure of working alongside Sharon at Lindys Stamp Gang!! You will be mega inspired by her art! Here is her original blog post on the hop CLICK HERE.

 There are four questions all the participants need to answer, before they nominate three other bloggers to continue on the tour. I will answer my four questions, and then lead you to three beautiful, and talented artists, I'm sure you'll love visiting, so make sure you read up until the end!

 1. What am I working on?
At this moment I am working on my Manufacturers Design Team assignments. In between I am working on a mini for my monitor tech at work who saves all of the chipboard that backs paper packs for me. I want to rid the world of broken down boxes one mini at a time!! lol. For this project I am using the very awesome and cute Lil Monster collection by BoBunny!!.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre? 
 Well. I am a do it yourself flower girl. I have been told in the past, that I will probably never be picked to join a Design Team for  manufacturers that make flowers, and I don't know if that is true, but I simply LOVE creating my own flowers. I hope it isn't true, but I probably wont let that stop me. Some of my crafty friends have dubbed me the Flower Queen. And I am honored.I think I have just about every flower and leaf die out there!! I blame it on Tim Holtz and his Tattered Florals die...My all time fave!! I even won his Tattered Floral Challenge last year.
This was my entry of some of the flowers I have created by using this 1 die. I have many flower tutorials on my side bar here. Feel free to try some yourself.

3. Why do I write/create what I do?
I have always had an addiction with paper.  And when you can take paper and create with it artistically, then that is therapy for me. So I can lock myself in my studio for hours and meditate with paper then come out a calm refreshed person. I use to write poetry and have always had a knack for writing creatively. So who would have thought that I am soooooooo bad with journaling and titles on my layouts!! It's true!! Someone teach me please!! 
Titleless/no journaling.  Really?? This layout deserves a title!! 

   4. How does your writing/creating process work?
My creating process can start a couple of different ways. I have soooo many talented friends in this industry. Some times it is their work alone that inspires me to create. Sometimes it is a color palette that gets my creative juices rolling, and sometimes it is just a beautiful piece of something, like a piece of paper or a gorgeous photo..Like this one....It just gets my mojo going!! First I have to find the owner of this photo..That is another story...

Now the blog tour needs to continue, so here are the three creative bloggers I want you to meet: 3 completely different crafters with unique styles. 

Lisa Novogrodski:  Lisa is one of my totally talented friends who I have had the pleasure to hang out with on a scrap retreat a few of years ago..She is the DT Coodinator for Scraps Of Darkness/Elegance kit club and a truly beautiful artist. We have many hours of creative girlie chit chat sometimes into the wee hours of the night!! I am proud to call her my sista friend!!!!  

Cathi Oneill: Cathi is another one of my very talented friends who I have seen grow into one of our leading designers. Her style is soft and lovely, and reflects her true nature. Living the green life in Ireland and wowing us with her work all around the world!!

Vicki Robertson: I met Vicki when she invited me to Guest Design for The Cropstop a couple of years ago. Vicki really knows how to work die cuts and bows!!! Her creative cards are what inspires me. 


I know you will be greatly inspired by these talented creative friends of mine. . Please have a peek and they will be up with their own nominations on the 28th. Just be aware, Lisa's own tour is up on her blog today!! oops....

Book in a Book featuring BoBunny Off The Page Project.

I am up on the BoBunny Blog this week with my Off The Page Project. I  had an unfinished paper mache book that I purchased at Hobby Lobby for $1.00 and was saving for a special project. Enchanted Garden was the perfect paper collection to use. The jewel tones almost makes it look like a jewelry box. The parts that were exposed I painted with a metallic rub to match the paper.I used one of the cutouts for the cover. I used a little burlap underneath before I used pop dots to raise the butterfly paper. Perfect book page image for a book cover. That one paper image that I cut from the patterned paper gave me the idea to do this project. A book within a book. 

 On the spine I adhered one of the stickers from the sticker combo pack. It fit perfectly.

When the book is laying on its back, it looks like a little treasure chest.

I lined the inside of the box using Double Dots paper in Caribbean. I created a mini album to place inside the book.I wanted to keep a monochromatic color for the cover. The Kraft wood pieces were coated with the same metallic rub I used on the book box. I added the dragonfly image cut from the patterned paper to the back of the small wood frame. I added a brad to  one of the crocheted flowers to match the others. I colored some ribbon and strung it through brads I placed on the front and back covers.

The inside pages were all lined with different papers from Enchanted Garden. The blues and greens are so dreamy.

 For the binding of the mini album, I used a piece of Grunge Board and used Viva Metallic Rub to color it. The Grungeboard is flexible and is perfect for the spine.

 On a couple of the pages, I created some waterfall features to add journaling or photos.

 Just another shot of my book in a book. I really enjoyed creating this project using Enchanted Garden. I plan to fill my mini with wishes and dreams.

Thank you for joining me this week. Be sure to head on over to the BoBunny Blog to see what Ilene and Rhonda have created working Off The Page!!!

BoBunny Supplies:
Patterned Paper: Romance, Moonlight, Enchanted Garden, Periodical, Fairies/ Enchanted Garden
6x6 Paper Pad:  Enchanted Garden
Card stock: Caribbean/Double Dot
Blossoms: Clover Dahlia
Brads: Lil Monster
Kraft Wood Shapes: Elegant

Other Supplies:
Grunge Board
Metallic rub
seam binding
burlap
pop dots
tacky glue
brads
paper mache book box

Lindys July Color Palette and Me...

I hope my friends in the US had a wonderful Independence Day. This months Lindys Stamp Gang color palette had me inspired to get a little red and blue in this layout, and I just added a bit of white, green and warmth..Is warmth even a color?? Well the Golden Sleigh Bells  added a bit of warmth, so I guess it is!! The Lindys Limited Edition Color Challenge Mega Set is a must have!!

For the background, I mounted a piece of white textured cardstock onto a 12x12 piece of corrugated cardboard using Mod Podge and a brayer. I sprayed it in random spots with Lindy's Starburst spray in Azure Sea Asters. Then I placed a mask over the board and sprayed it with Lindy's Starburst Spray in My Mojito Green. I just added a few flecks of color here and there with the Peony Scarlet red and Azure Sea Asters . The Blue Fern Studios Chipboard was sprayed with Lindy's Starburst spray in Peony Scarlet Red.

The flowers were colored with Lindy's Starburst spray in Peony Scarlet Red as well. The green flowers were enhanced with My Mojito Green.

 Cathi O'Neill, one of last months Lindy's Color Challenge winners gave me a terrific tip. She uses corrugated cardboard pieces to lift her layers to create depth when you want more of a  lift than using pop dots. I use this technique all of the time now. I always have corrugated cardboard in my stash. Thanks my friend for an awesome tip!!

For my Blue Fern Studios Chipboard Rose Frame, I painted it with white acrylic paint and then just lightly rubbed some Lindy's Starburst spray in Golden Sleigh-bells.For the pieces of patterned paper I used for my photo matting, I did machine sewing around the pieces, sprayed them with My Mojito green and edged them with Peony Scarlet Red. I sprays the tag holes with the red as well. The just strung a bit of jute through the holes.

And don't forget to join our color challenge this month using the gorgeous rich colors of the palette!!
Click here for all of the details on how you can join us this month!!

Blue Fern Studios and Some Sweet Color!!!

Today, I bring you 2 more projects using Ombre Dreams and wonderful chipboard from Blue Fern Studios.The Ombre Dreams papers are so versatile. Although they are all watercolor pastel colors, you can dress them up in vibrant colors and it still wont take away from the beauty of the papers. To prepare my layout, I used 2 different papers from the collection. I mounted them on cardboard after using a border punch for the paper in the middle. I saved the piece I cut out behind the middle paper and set it aside for my next project. I used molding paste and a new Prima mask for the background.

   The small BFS Circle Flourish Frame is BIG in design.There are so many different ways to adorn your chipboard. I used Lindys Stamp Gang  Flat Magicals to color all of my pieces, including my die cut leaves, and the spatters on the layout. I added a few pearls and gems to the middles of my flowers on the Circle Flourish piece. I touched it here and there with some clear crackle medium for texture. Look out for new Lindys Stamps Gang Flat Magicals. I used a gorgeous color set called Beauty School Dropout. The colors I used on the Circle Flourish are t-bird turquoise and "frenchys pink pouf." Oh my, looks like I need a dose of Grease right about now!!! Beauty School Drop Out will be available come September!!!

 For the Bohemian Butterflies, I primed them with white gesso, and after they dried, painted them with the Magicals in 2 colors. t bird-turquoise and Aloha Avacado which come from Lindys  Hawaiian Islands set which will be released July 15th. Then I just added pearls to their antennae.I used the same 2 colors on my die cut leaves.

My next project is a tag I created with the cutout pieces from my 12x12 layout above. I used 2 layers and did some machine sewing around the edges before putting them together. I use the Tim Holtz Tag and Bookplate die. The just cut the second one down 1/4 inch on each side. Once they were layered, I used gesso and a mask on the tag and did some spattering with the Flat Magicals in t-bird turquoise. I

I used one piece  from the Romantic Page Dangles Set. I just created this one simple by adding some flowers and leaves. I colored some cream colored seam binding ribbon with Lindys Stamp Gang Starburst Sprays in 2 colors. I used Tiffanys Blue and Sweet Violet Purple Teal. The seam binding I use is the Hug Snug Brand. I have 4 rolls  from white to cream colored. Each roll is 100 yards... Love them!! I have an old tutorial on how to color your ribbon. How to Hand Dye Vintage Seam Binding Tutorial. 
Just substitute Lindys Sprays...

For the Romantic Page Dangle, I heat embossed it using Lindys Embossing powder in Aurora Amethyst. Then just added a few pearls to finish off the piece. I added a tiny title, "hope" and called this tag done...

Thank you for joining me today. Don't forget to check out our Blue Fern Studios July Sketch Challenge for a chance to win some beautiful BFS chipboard!!

BoBunny Somewhere in Time Layout.

Somewhere in Time is simply timeless... The blues, the golds, and buttery beige colors are divine! There is no wondering what colors to put together because it is all done for you in this collection. The new Stitches Stamps are wonderful. I used one of them to outline the layout and another for the photo mat. I wanted to use the Somewhere in Time collection exclusively for this project. It didn't need any other color. This layout was totally inspired by my very talented friend Sandi Smith. Check out her blog. She is soooo talented!!!  I took one look at her gorgeous layout and the ideas were spinning in my head. Somewhere In Time was PERFECT for this layout.

The balloons were fussy cut from one of the papers. For the middle of the blue flowers, I used Double Dots Vintage paper and further distressed it with brown ink.

All of the flowers on this layout were hand made. The blue flowers were stamped using Heartfelt Creations Tattered Blossom Swirls PreCut Set and die cut using the matching die The Tattered Blossoms die . The middle of the flower is a Spellbinders diecut and a small punch,  and the cream flowers are rolled spiral roses.

 

I used some molding paste and a mask for the background and then sprayed it with mist spray in blue to match the papers. I also used some white acrylic paint to splash on. I added some jewels here and there for texture. I double matted the photo and used one of the stitch stamps from the set on the edges. The photo is my 14 year old kitty. His name is Willow. And he is a mushy dollbaby...

BoBunny Supplies:

Patterned paper: Somewhere In Time, Imagination, Balloons, Elegance, Beauty/Somewhere In Time

Double Dot: Vintage

Stamps: Stitches

Jewels: Welcome Home

Other supplies:

Spellbinders Shapeabilities Bloom 1

Heartfelt Creations Tattered Blossoms and matching die

Sizzix leaves dies

Martha Stewart punch around the page set

Lindys Flat Fabios spray

white gesso

McGill star punch

Fiskars deco scissors

Heart & Soul (The Color Room) Color Challenge #170

Palette #170 is here!! The Color room Challenge featuring the Heart & Soul artists have created some beautiful inspiring projects using the palette and a toothbrush!! Visit the blog for inspiration, and join us in creating your own art...Here is my take on the palette. 
I used TCW Leaf Frame Template for my background. I prepared my background by adhering a black 12x12 card stock to cardboard. I placed the template on my prepared board and used molding paste over the template. Once the molding paste was dry. I used Tim Holtz Mustard Seed yellow distress paint with a sponge applicator to rub onto the leaves. Once the paint was dry, I used a toothbrush to flick on some of the same distress paint onto the finished background. It created a fine spray. I ran the yellow paint around the edges of the layout when complete.

Here is the wonderful Color challenge Palette #170.

 I die cut the flowers using Sizzix/Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die. Then enhanced  the color using Lindy's Queen of Hearts Red and Peony Scarlet Red mists.

For the Blue Fern Studios title "Capture the Moment" from the Captured Words set, I used Tim Holtz Distress Paint in Mustard Seed to paint it. It is the same color I used throughout the page.

Once the page was put together, I did a little more flickering of paint around the page to tie it all together. 

Visit the Color Room and upload a project using palette #170