Markers and Cards and Challenges ! OH MY!

 Greetings My Crafty Friends!

  I cannot believe how fast the year is flying by. It seems like only yesterday I was planting my spring containers... and now its AUGUST !!

Time really does fly.

 I wanted to share a couple of cards that I have made over the past few weeks - One for the Birthday of a  family member, One just because I wanted to play with the same Stamp Set again and my last and most certainly not least was for a  Spectrum Noir  Monthly challenge on Facebook...

So without further Ado! Bring on the cards!


 My first card  to share with you today is a birthday card I made using the Build a Tree stamp set from Fiskars. I inked the squares first using a masking technique and multiple colors of distress ink .
Then stamped the tree trunk from the set and  then all the leaves in trio and singles with black archival ink from Ranger. I layered  the stamped image on a celery-ish green matt and a white 8.5 x 5.5 card base. A light and bright green bakers twine and small buttons accent the happy birthday sentiment. I did have to cut down some skeleton leaves and then I inked them with distress ink as well.

 The inside has an inked square in similar tones to the outside and a birthday sentiment inside too.. ( I just didn't get a photo of it before it was given to the person who was sending it out... Whoopsie!


 The next card on our journey is one that I made because I wanted to play with the stamp set some more ,  so I stamped the trunk down and randomly stamped a different leaf and some flowers.  Then I colored the leaves and flowers with my Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers.. In pinks and Greens -( I didn't write down the Marker numbers for this card, I was just playing around)...after looking at the colored image I thought it just too busy, So I cut the image down the center, I stamped one half with a birthday sentiment and  then stamped the other half with this sentiment...  The bummer thing was that I bounced the Stamp on the upswing and smeared the sentiment.....  but  it turned out to be a happy accident and was easily covered up but  the same sentiment (unsmeared) with a narrow pink and green matt.. This of course gave me the inspiration to break up the right side panel with pink and green squares instead if a single color. I embossed them with my texture folders and may add a few statically placed rhinestone bling or Sequins to add a little something, But haven't decided for sure.

I plan on making the other half of this image into a birthday card eventually but for now its in my waiting for inspiration  folder.

 And without further ado, My Challenge card.. This is for the Spectrum Noir August 2015 Monthly Challenge -  This was an anything goes challenge so I was over the moon that I could create anything that I wanted!!!

Spectrum Noir August 2015 Challenge  

   I have been obsessed with stained glass patterns lately (not sure why) - and this was a great way to practice my color blending !

I liked using this image because I could work in small sections.  Each segment didn't have to be exactly the  same as the one next to it because it is the color variances that make the stained glass so beautiful.

 I used the following Spectrum Noir Alcohol marker colors -
 Greys/Blueish  - BGR1, BGR3 and TB2                                 
 Pinks/Purples - LV3, LV2, PL2, BP2,TB2 , TB3
 Greens - DG3, CG2, CG1, CT1, CT2

There was lots and lots and lots of blending and color over colors because I wasn't satisfied with how it looked. Still not completely satisfied but I was starting to color through the paper (UH OH! That little goof is hidden under the sentiment !)

 I used a smooth navy cardstock and punched out several lacy borders strips and attached them staggered onto white cardstock to make the lace back round then matted it with white and then navy.  Its on a white 8.5 x5.5 card base

The focal image is popped up with pop dots as well as is the  sentiment. I hadn't decided what sentiment was going on it until the last minute and it just screamed sympathy card to me ..

So there you have it ....My work schedule is crazy during the summer but I am excited that I still managed to indulge in crafty time.  Looking forward to doing more challenges and projects in the next couple weeks..... FALL is almost here and I cant wait !!!

  Thank you for stopping by and see you soon !

XOXO Jenn








  

My, how the time flies...

Hey there ,

   Have i been a bad bad blogger or what!!

 I am honestly not sure how I let  two years go by without updating my blog. Life certainly can get the better of you sometimes ( I am preaching to the choir with that comment , Am I right ?)

So on the bright side, Even though i have been neglecting my blog that doesn't mean that I haven't been crafting.  Anytime I get stressed out by work or family life, I just clear off my craft table and try something new. As a compromise for not updating my blog as often as I should, I am going to try  extra hard to turn over a new (blog) leaf and let everyone know what goes on in the little crafty corner of my world.

 My latest obsession this month is.....

Marbled Paper !!!

 I am not sure what I like more, the mess I get to make with the shaving cream or actually being able to use my Ranger ink Sprays  and Alcohol inks in more than the "normal" way.

 This technique is super easy and  the results are so
beautiful and versatile .

 I will be putting up a picture tutorial and perhaps even making a tutorial for my (also Neglected) Youtube channel but in the mean time here are a couple of cards that I made using this technique as background paper!

 This card was made for the daughter of a coworker who was turning 25.  The flowers remind me of fondant flowers that you find on wedding cakes... I just want to pick them off and eat them.... I used Spellbinder dies and Recollection bling flourishes and pearls, and the bling numbers are from Hobby Lobby . The flowers ( IamRoses) and ribbon were dyed to match the paper .

 The awesome thing about making custom backgrounds for your cards
is that you also able to use those same colors to dye paper flowers and 
ribbon too !! Its simple -  Fill a small (2oz) spritz bottle halfway with rubbing 
alcohol and add several drops of your chosen ink spray (remember the more ink you use the more vibrant/dark the color will turn out - the reverse is also true. The less color you use the more subtle your colors will be).
 Once saturated to your satisfaction set them aside or use a heat tool to dry them.

 When doing this technique I realized that if you use a flat edge to scrape off extra foam, you get drag marks , so i learned to blot the Shaving cream instead of dragging it across the paper. This helps keep the colors and swirls intact. I thought it still looked pretty and kept it. As an added bonus the white shop rags I used to blot look amazing once I rinsed them out.

 

Next up is a  birthday card for my brother Rick.

 He just got open water certified and love love loves scuba diving. I tried to keep this card as masculine (he turned 34) as I could given the colors that I used. I used layered mats and embellished with bakers twine and ocean themed buttons instead of my normal ribbon and rhinestones. The focal  image was found on the internet and colored with alcohol markers (I used a combination of Spectrum Noir and Copic and Bic Sharpie Markers).

 The sentiment is a Hero Arts Wood Block stamp ( I think - But I could be wrong ;) )

These are the only two cards that I have made with my marbled background paper so far.  I did make some more papers with different color combinations one night when I was bored after work....  you can see them below. I hope you like them as much as I do.

When I sprayed these colors I was NOT impressed with how
it looked on the foam. The colors seemed muddy and  I almost
rinsed the whole tray off to start from scratch... Boy am I glad I
didn't do that.. I think this is my favorite mix of colors yet.

This paper begs to made into something for Valentines day... Maybe
on a black card base .... We shall see

Eventually I got bored with seeing the same patterns each
time i sprayed new colors so I decided to use the handle of a
plastic spoon to mix up the designs and i really like the bigger
swirls that it produced

This is the left overs from the red and black ink after
 it was all mixed together into a pinkish color  I spritzed on
some more black ink and got to swirling and was pleased that it
turned out okay.

And this is just me playing around I had already rinsed
out the other trays and this one had been sitting untouched
for about two hours... the shaving foam had started to
 break downand become less foam like, I had a couple
 of pieces of cut paperleft out so I though why not...


   Check back in the next week or so to see the step by step tutorial, and as always feel free to message me with questions or comments.
 If you have any tips or trick to share , I would love to hear from you.

Keep it crafty!

Jenna Lynn

Graphic 45 Design Team 2013 Audition

  Hello My crafty friends, I have some super exciting news !! Graphic 45 posted a Design Team Call !!...

 So  here are my submission for their Design Team...

 Hope everyone enjoys looking  at them as much as I enjoyed making them!!

 Ok, Project # 1

 This is an Altered Cigar  box I made using K and Company paper. The top of the box is embellished with paper flowers , bling flourishes, laser cut butterflies and dragonflies , acrylic flowers and metal brads that I glued into place. The bling is dyed to match the paper using Ranger alcohol inks.

 The inside of the box is lined with brown velvet with more paper flowers, dyed bling and laser cuts on the inside lid. the rosette trim creates a little keepsake pocket.











 The outsides are embellished with brown stamped vinyl that is distressed with white paint . I used silver flat back pearl trim as well as two rows of mesh bling and a beautiful sheer ruffled trim i found in my stash finishes off the bottom and hides the feet pretty well.




Project #2

This is a paper mache box that I got from the craft store. I used the Graphic 45 Bird Song paper collection and a ornate metal keyhole. The rhinestones are from the dollar bin at the craft store. I used blacksoot distress ink on the edges of the paper to give the box a more used look.

The inside of the box is finished with papers from the same collection.  Inside the lid I  used some of the stamp focal images and recreated a look I found on the wooden panels I saw at my local chinese buffet .   I am pretty pleased how it turned out !

Close up of the focal image that is  matted on black card stock.

 Side

Here is a side profile of the box.





 Here is a close up view of the key hole embellishment.. I treated it with gold rub n buff and used glossy accents over black card-stock to make it look like there was  space behind the keyhole for a key.












Project # 4

       This is a 3D wardrobe I made  using K and Co Paper. The venice style lace is the most favorite of all the  laces i have in my collection but I like how it turned out. The drawer pulls are made from Bead and silver spacers and i used flat back pearl trim.















 Close up of the Venice Lace... The door closes with a super thin magnets hidden underneath the lace itself

The decorative swag on top is made out of a paper flower tinted with distress ink , buttons, silk rosettes and  tulle and pearls from the floral section of the craft store

Closer picture of the faux drawer Pulls

The back of the wardrobe had a pocket for a really large tag and is trimmed with flatback pearl trim.

 This project started out as just a 3d wardrobe but I made a mini album to fit inside to round out the project.

 A closer view of how the mini album fits inside the wardrobe.

Project # 4

The project is a wall hanging I made using the Ladies Diary Paper from Graphic 45. I used a square chipboard 3d frame on a 9x12 canvas board to give it a three dimensional aspect.

The chipboard cutouts were heat  embossed  with gold and an  speckled

 off white embossing powder. Flowers were inked with distress ink and then spritzed with water to spread out the ink without being too dark.

 This focal image was the perfect size to fit in the frame, I framed the image with paper doilies and bling flourishes and more inked paper flowers. I also used Stickles on the image itself to make it pop a little more.

The book print butterflies were just the right embellishment  to compliment the colors of the Ladies Dairy paper collection.

 The paper doilies were cut in half and applied with adhesive..Paper flowers are inked  and sprayed with homemade shimmer spray to match the back round papers












Project # 5

This is a vintage frame that I got from an estate sale.

 I altered it using tissue paper and a combination of  Graphic 45 paper collections.The frame was in rough shape when I bought it so I cleaned it up and made it pretty with paper flowers with button centers and gold leaf flourishes.

 This is a closer shot of the Altered frame not sitting on the easel . The frame measures roughly  5x6 and I think would  look smashing as a wall hanging. The Graphic 45 papers used  in this project are from the Romantiqe, Ladies Diary and a peice from Curtain call.

 This picture is taken slightly from a side angle to better see the tissue paper that I decoupaged to the sides of the frame

Project # 6



This is my last project for the Audition.. the first couple pictures are dark because I was trying to photograph the light inside the Gingerbread house.



This is my Favorite Picture, the side view just makes me want to walk up and peer into the Window !!





Back View of the 3D Gingerbread House 




Here is the side view of the house.. The shutters and Fence Piece came with the 3D Gingerbread House kit. I heat embossed the fence with holographic glitter embossing powder and then modified it to extend from the side of the house. The Icicles on all sides on the house are Actually separate pieces that I hot glued to the Roof once I had assembled it and then used Golden… pumice Gel, Extra Heavy Gel and white paint . I also used Glossy accents and Holographic Glitter over top of that to give it that shiny Icicle/Sugar coated look.




Full Frontal View of the 3D Gingerbread house. The kit itself came with 6 structure pieces, two sizes of candy canes, Peppermint candy shapes, 2 Doors, 2 Door arches, 2 different size Shutter sets, Two Fencing Pieces, 2 small door shaped lattice pieces and 2 Large Lattice Pieces, 4 Icicle Strips and 2 gabled Icicle Strips.




Close up of the Front of the 3d Gingerbread house..The paper used if the Nutcracker Suite From Graphic 45,  Laser cut candy Canes heat embossed with White and Red Tinsel Glitter Embossing powder. Mirrored Gingerbread Dude was found at the Dollar store .The Frosting/Snow Effect was Created using a combination of Golden pumice Gel, Extra Heavy Gel and white paint . I also used Glossy accents and Holographic Glitter over top of that to give it that shiny Icicle/Sugar coated look




I was playing with photo angles.





This is a close up of the back.. I used the peppermint shaped chipboard
laser cuts that are embossed with recollections red tinsel embossing
powder and the bigger ones are heat embossed with White and and
holographic Glitter. The shutters were embossed the same way. The paper used if the Nutcracker Suite From Graphic 45. I used velum in the windows to Simulate frosted glass and made cute little curtains out of scraps.





My Favorite Part of the this project was creating the Roof, as with the rest of the project, I used Graphic 45 Nutcracker suite paper, I cut 1.5 inch squares and alternated the patterned of Candy Stripes. I heat embossed the peppermints with Recollections embossing powder in Red Tinsel (Glittery Red) and a pearl paper backing. The Frosting/Snow Effect was Created using a combination of Golden pumice Gel, Extra Heavy Gel and white paint . I also used Glossy accents and Holographic Glitter over top of that to give it that shiny Icicle/Sugar coated look.




 Well everyone, I hope you enjoyed looking at my projects and like always if you ever have any questions about how I did something or what I used, Please feel free to comment or contact me. I am always happy to explain if I can !!..

 Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for checking out my blog!

XOXO

 Jenna

November DT project for Gina's Designs

Ah Yes,  Its beginning to look alot like Christmas !!!.. ( well not here in Florida LOL But up north it is )

 Hey Everyone, Jenna here. Just wanted to show you what I made for Gina's Designs DT Project for November !!..

 Now THIS project was  was truly a joy to make..  I love making ginger bread houses anyways, so when I saw this 3D gingerbread house kit in the DT package I was over the moon.  Just looking at it makes me want to eat gingerbread cookies !!

 Here is a little about  how the project came together.

 View of it lit up. I got the light from the dollar store, it is just a small bulb in a socket.... normally used with the ceramic Christmas village houses .




This is my Favorite Picture, the side view just makes me want to walk up and peer into the Window !!





Back View of the 3D Gingerbread House kit from Gina's Designs




Here is the side view of the house.. The shutters and Fence Piece came with the 3D Gingerbread House kit. I heat embossed the fence with holographic glitter embossing powder and then modified it to extend from the side of the house. The Icicles on all sides on the house are Actually separate pieces that I hot glued to the Roof once I had assembled it and then used Golden… pumice Gel, Extra Heavy Gel and white paint . I also used Glossy accents and Holographic Glitter over top of that to give it that shiny Icicle/Sugar coated look.




Full Frontal View of the 3D Gingerbread house Kit from Gina's Designs. The kit itself came with 6 structure pieces, two sizes of candy canes, Peppermint candy shapes, 2 Doors, 2 Door arches, 2 different size Shutter sets, Two Fencing Pieces, 2 small door shaped lattice pieces and 2 Large Lattice Pieces, 4 Icicle Strips and 2 gabled Icicle Strips.




Close up of the Front of the 3d Gingerbread house.. Graphic 45 Paper, Ginas’s Designs Laser cut candy Canes heat embossed with White and Red Tinsel Glitter Embossing powder. Mirrored Gingerbread Dude was found at the Dollar store .The Frosting/Snow Effect was Created using a combination of Golden pumice Gel, Extra Heavy Gel and white paint . I also used Glossy accents and Holographic Glitter over top of that to give it that shiny Icicle/Sugar coated look




I was playing with photo angles.





This is a close up of the back.. I used the peppermint shaped chipboard
laser cuts that are embossed with recollections red tinsel embossing
powder and the bigger ones are heat embossed with White and and
holographic Glitter. The shutters were embossed the same way. The paper used if the Nutcracker Suite From Graphic 45. I used velum in the windows to Simulate frosted glass and made cute little curtains out of scraps.





My Favorite Part of the this project was creating the Roof, as with the rest of the project, I used Graphic 45 Nutcracker suite paper, I cut 1.5 inch squares and alternated the patterned of Candy Stripes. I heat embossed the peppermints with Recollections embossing powder in Red Tinsel (Glittery Red) and a pearl paper backing. The Frosting/Snow Effect was Created using a combination of Golden pumice Gel, Extra Heavy Gel and white paint . I also used Glossy accents and Holographic Glitter over top of that to give it that shiny Icicle/Sugar coated look.






Well I  know I had fun making it, and I hope you enjoyed looking at it ... I also hope that everyone has a wonderful Holiday and  A great new year !!..

XOXO
Jenna