It's a PARRRRTYYYYY!!!

WhootHoo!!  Welcome to eclectic Paperie's Belated Birthday Bash!  Today we're celebrating the (belated) one year anniversary of the store's new ownership! It's been an amazing year, full of inspiring projects, wonderful classes, and many, many new products!!  eclectic Paperie wouldn't be where it is today without the ongoing support of our customers and as a BIG thank you, you'll have an opportunity to lots of great prizes!  You have until midnight, tomorrow(9/20), to comment for your chance to win the following prizes!!!

 A full set of Tim's NEW Distress Paints
6x6 Paper Pad Bundle
Dylusions Stencil Bundle
A set of NEW Wendy Vecchi Archival Inks
Crafter's Workshop Stencil Bundle

 To be entered into the prize drawing, please be sure to comment on the eclectic Paperie blog and on each of the eTeam blogs.  Check out all of the thumbnail links below to view the rest of the eTeam projects!  Enjoy the hop!

I was very excited to be asked by Kim to help eP celebrate it's first year under new ownership!  When Kim started this new journey of ownership, her goals included  offering lots of new products, ideas and inspiration. I have personally been inspired by the current eTeam members and have enjoyed watching them explore new ideas and mediums in their own creative journeys.  It was with that thought in mind that I decided to try a new technique (for me!) in using the Gelli Plate with clear adhesive (in my case, the sticky side to self laminating sheets).

First things first; getting out all the possible supplies that I thought I might use to make my mono prints.  *Note: originally I had thought I would use Distress Paints for this technique.  It just wasn't the look I was going for. While not pictured, I ended up using Claudine Hellmuth's wonderful paints instead.

Supplies:  6x6 Gelli Printing Plate (HIGHLY recommend the 8x10 one.  That will be on my next shopping spree!!), various stencils, masks cut from dies, embossed papers, Paints (see above note) brayer, non-stick craft sheet

Next; lay out masks in various spots on the Gelli Plate.  You will note that this layout is not the actually one I used for my final project.  It took several prints before I came up with the look I wanted!

The next steps are lacking photographic representation.  It would seem that somebody (ahem!) got caught up in the making of prints that she forgot to take pictures of the steps!  OOOPS!! Basically, I placed my masks on the Gelli Plate. Using the brayer, I applied a combination of Claudine's Dab of Yellow and Dash of Red paints onto the Plate and over the masks.  Carefully removing the masks, I then added some stenciling (TCW's Susana'a Arrows and Mini Ledger) and free hand elements, using the end of a paint brush, an old hair pick and a marker cap.  Remember, for this particular technique, what you see on the plate is what you will transfer to your clear adhesive. You also want to keep some areas free of paint.

HELPFUL TIP:  it is important to let the paint dry between layers to avoid making a muddy paint mess!

AFTER THE PAINT HAS DRIED *VERY IMPORTANT*, apply your clear adhesive to the plate.  I used the sticky side of self laminating sheets for my project.  You could also use clear packing tape. Burnish the adhesive onto the plate using a scraper or a bone folder.  Then, carefully, remove the adhesive from the plate.  If you find an spot of paint that didn't stick to the adhesive, roll back the tape and use your fingers or scraper to burnish that spot again, so that the paint sticks.  

After you have removed your tape from the plate, you have several options for the clear areas.  You could apply some printed tissue paper, dictionary pages, fine glitter, foils, or as I did, some Pearl Ex powder. I chose to use some bronze. I sprinkled the powders on the sticky side and used a "glitter" brush to evenly spread the Pearl Ex evenly onto the surface.  

WAH-LAH!! You now have a wonderful piece with shine and texture to add to a project!  

Originally I thought I would use my piece to make a birthday card (as this is a birthday celebration!) but instead, I went a different path.  I dug out a 6x6 chipboard cover (from my stash) and randomly applied a fairly dry brush layer of Claudine's Charcoal Black  paint.  

Using an adhesive spray I adhered my focal image to the center.  Pulled out some old idea-ology Alpha Parts and added them to the image.

Final project is still to be determined.  I am debating on using this as a cover to a small 6x6 mixed media journal (in which case I will decided on whether to use my Bind It All, Jump Rings or some other binding mechanism to put it all together) OR I will leave this as a little art piece for my desk.  

I wish I could have captured the lovely shiny sheen this has!  The Pearl Ex adds a wonderful metallic glimmer and the shiny surface of the laminating sheet give this another depth that catches the eye!!

Congratulations Kim for your first birthday at eP's helm!!  Here is wishing you many, many more creative years!

Be Yourself

Hey there Peoples!! Today is my last day as guest DT on the eP blog.  I started out with the idea of exploring a more layered mixed media journal page and ended up with more of my usual style of  CAS (clean and simple) mixed media canvas instead!! LOL!

AND I used PINK!!!  

I am dying of laughter on that one!! I find it beyond amusing that I titled this project "Be Yourself" and I used PINK!!! BWHAHAAA!!

 Yes, for those of you who may not know, I am sooo NOT a pink type of gal but for some unknown reason I reached for some pink stains and inks on this one!!

I hope you will visit the eP Blog  to see more details about this "girly girl" project!!

Distressed Hummingbird

Hey there People!  I have another project up on the eP blog today as April's Guest DT!  This week I pulled out my never used very neglected Distress Stains and played a bit also with the new Distress Paints.    Just to make sure it was a true "mixed media" project, I included pastels and a bit of charcoal too! Add some very rusty skills of sketching, water coloring and I came up with this:

 I hope you will drop by the eP blog  for more step by step pictures and listing of products used!!

'Till next time.............pull out some "neglected" mediums and have FUN!!

Canvas Message Board

I am so thankful that Kim from eP invited me to be a guest DT for the month of April.  My creative wheels have been turning in over drive!!  

This week I'm sharing how I altered an 8 x 8" canvas board to create a message board.

I hope that you will head over to the eP blog  for more details as to how I made this!!

'Till next week.....make sure you add some creativity time on your calendar!!

2013 is Off to a Questionable Start

It is day 7 in the New Year and I'd say, 2013 has made it's entrance with an questionable start.

**Started feeling a bit "iffy" Jan 30.  Ended up taking a couple of doses of medication to take away the "OMG...are clothes suppose to hurt your skin with contact" feeling while at work New Year's Eve.

**Never rang in the New Year.  Instead, after work on NYE, I came home, slathered on a tantalizing layer of Vick's, curled up on the couch and shivered my way into a feverish sleep.

**The Toad and the Oldest and Youngest Kiddo also came down with the "bug".  We are all getting our "once a year sickness" out of the way early this year.  Which, is a good thing.  The bad thing is...the "bug" lingers.  We are all still overly fatigued, suffering intermittent fits of coughing (me and youngest kiddo mostly), stuffed up noggin's and disappointment in the fact that food has absolutely NO TASTE.  

The biggest change of the New Year affects my crafting.  New Year's Day had me moving ALL my crap,  craft supplies out from the spare bedroom so that a student at the small church school my kids attend could move in. This is one of The Toad's boys he has coached in the past.  His parents actually live out of state, but  his older brothers live locally.  But, sometimes, it is hard to have your big brother be your "parent".  And this Kid doesn't want to leave the school.  Which means that currently, what was in my craft room has now taken over the hallway and is piled up in a corner of my bedroom.  

This little change is giving me a very long overdue push to go through my supplies, weed out, purge and re organize.  

Have I mentioned how long over due this job is?!! Needless to say, until I get this nasty job out of the way, there will be no creating on my part.  As of right now, I don't know where anything has gotten shoved, LOL!!

BUT!! I still have a couple of projects that I haven't had time to share yet!!  One, being, the second mixed media canvas that I made for the Spellbinder's Explore Beyond challenge.  

This canvas is completely different from my first canvas that I made for the challenge.  I decided to try my hand at what is the more popular style of mixed media, such as you seen with mixed media journals, etc.

Of course, I had to do it my way! While I admire those who can add layer after layer onto their pieces, I find that for me, personally, mixed media can become too busy for my brain. I look at certain pieces, not sure where my eye is suppose to to focus; is it suppose to be on the stripes and polka dot border?  The layers of paper and paint behind the main image? The paper pieced, colored, painted, drawn/doodled main image? The added stamping, doodles, etc.?  Or, the funky font of the sentiment?

So, while I wanted to explore the different mediums and  layers that make up most mixed media projects, I did it with a clean(er) and simple(ier) version that made me excited to try something new, yet didn't overwhelm my senses.

remember, you can click on the images for a larger view

I began with a 9x12 canvas board (which means it is a "solid" canvas versus a stretched canvas over a frame).  I dug through my outdated paper stash and found a newsprint style paper for my base.  

glued it down and added a "frame" of gesso around the edges

randomly scribbled with watercolor pencils

added the water and blended the colors 

used Spellbinder's Paisley and Hearts to make my little song bird

added glimmer mists and pastel chalks 

dug out my paints and brushes

die cut lots of flower layers and emboss texture

add a bit of shimmer.....

Put it all together

I liked how this piece turned out and find it rather amusing that it looks pretty girly, which is SO NOT ME, LOL!! 

I am liking this different creative path from just making cards.  I feel like I'm starting to return to my roots of painting and drawing with a twist.  Hopefully, I'll figure out my creative space soon and will be able to explore some more canvas work!!

Linking this to the eP blog challenge Get Altered--Using Canvas

I have ONE more quick, easy little project to share soon!! Hopefully, by then, I will have made a dent in the purging, reorganizing of the craft area and will be able to start sharing again regularly!  If no one hears from me by the end of the month, send out the rescue troops!! LOL!!

'Till next time.................

Inspired By

TODAY IS THE DAY!  The BIG reveal of the project you have all been anxiously awaiting! Just go with my disillusions here! hehe.   The E-team is starting a new series that I think we will all enjoy and hopefully grow from!

This new blog hop is featuring our own personal journals as we embark on a journal that is

INSPIRED BY WORDS.

Visit each E-Team blog participant and leave a comment between today, April 25 to Sunday, April 29th for the chance to win a $25 eP gift certificate.  Winner's will be announced on the eP blog, Monday, April 30. PLUS!!  Join the E-Team in our journal adventure and post your journal cover on the eP blog by May 4th and we will pick 2 people to join us next month for the next journal adventure!!

Daisy, eP blog

Broni

Linda L

Micki

Sherry

ME!

I'm really excited about this new series!  I have been wanting to do an art journal for a while, but just never jump off the ledge. Add my love of inspirational words and this series has become the icing on the cake!  I'm so glad the Daisy snuck up behind me, and shoved! LOL!

I decided to make my own journal book instead of buying one.  My thought is that this will allow me to add what ever type of base paper or medium I would like to work with for that particular entry.  And I can add as many pages as I can fit my binding rings around! haha.  For my journal cover, I wanted to combine a couple of my favorite mediums; paint, metal and most recently, Ice Resin.  I started with a couple of Zutter book covers and painted a base coat of TenSecond Studios Verday paint in Bronze.  

Tips:  shake the paint well before applying.  The Verday paint is an acrylic paint that has actual metal particles in it.  You want to make sure that those particles get dispersed from settling on the bottom of the bottle.  

After letting the base coat dry for a couple of hours, I took a rough sea sponge and lightly dabbed more VerDay Bronze paint randomly onto the cover.  Immediately, while the paint was still wet, I misted with the VerDay Patina.  I put my Verday Patina into a cheap, fine mist bottle (like "hairspray" bottle), found  in the area where travel sized accessories are at Target.  

Let the Verday chemically react with the paint overnight.

After drying, I felt that I had gotten a bit heavy handed with the sponging/VerDay and had too much patina. I then just took my course sea sponge again, dipped it into a bit more VerDay Bronze paint, dabbed off on a paper towel and "dry" sponged randomly on the top of the covers to add more copper

Here is a picture, deliberately angled so that you can see all the wonderful metallic bronze shine

I have to say, I hated to cover up all this wonderful patina!!  LOL!  But cover it up I did!  Here is the cover to my journal.

I die cut various layers from the Tattered Floral die and from Spellbinders Carnation Creations from TenSecond Studio's Barn Red metal. I ran some of the flower layers through the Big Shot with an embossing folder and some layers I just hand doodled squiggle lines and others I used a decorative wheel tool on the metal to make patterns.  I then intensified the color with some alcohol inks 

I then shaped the flowers and applied a thin layer of Ice Resin to both sides of the individual layers using a small paint brush.  I recommend wearing gloves for this step.  It gets rather messy and you will get Ice Resin on your hands while trying to paint both sides of the petals.  I left a small portion of the bottom of the flowers unpainted so that I could set them down on my craft sheet to dry.  I was hoping that the Ice Resin would harden the metal enough that the flower petals would be more stable and would not bend as easily.  The Ice Resin DID help stabilize the metal.  I'm thinking that if I were to add another layer, it would make the metal really solid.   After letting the Ice Resin cure for a couple of days, I glued the layers together with Beacon's Glass, Metal and More Permanent Glue.  This is the first time I have used this glue and I was pleased at how relatively quick it set. I would highly recommend using it in a well ventilated room though! It has a bit of a strong odor!

The leaves were die cut using a combination of Spellbinders Carnations Creations and Foliage from TSS's Peacock metal.  

Here is my tutorial , with a video link for making flowers out of metal.  

And a close up of my "first" journal entry.  

The journal entry was typed on the computer, then each word cut out and sponged with Distress Vintage Photo ink.  I cut off a flap from a cardboard box, saturated it with water and peeled off the smooth layer of cardboard, revealing the rough layer underneath.  Distress Stain in Picket Fence was randomly applied.  The words were then attached using glue dots.  

The final touch was adding some swirling bling from Want2Scrap.  

I also finished the inside of the cover. 

I like to think that the TOTALLY different look is reflective of what I hope to accomplish with this journal.  No preconceived ideas.  No limits.  Just go for it.

I first covered the inside with Claudine's gesso.  I didn't really worry too much about how thick the coverage was.  Since I was totally impatient, I heat dried the gesso with my heat gun.  I then dropped random spatters of alcohol ink onto the gesso and hit them with a blast of canned air, dispersing the inks.  A light mist of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Tuscan Sun  was added on top.  After drying, I stamped the sentiment from Wendy Vecchi's I Am My Art set, using Archival Jet Black Ink.  Tip:  I would HIGHLY recommend that you do the inside of the cover before completing all the dimensional work on the outside.  It would make getting a clean, crisp stamped image soooo much easier and you will be able to avoid having to go over the stamped image with a black Sharpie.  Just sayin'.  

I'm really excited about this new adventure!  I hope that you will check out all the other E-Team's journal cover's and be inspired to join us!!

While the Boss was Away.....

.......I had NO TIME TO PLAY!!

This has been a CRAZY, crazy week at work and after putting in full days and bringing home a couple of hours of more paperwork, my mojo, energy and gumption crawled under the covers and hid!! I'm totally bummed that I couldn't (ok, chose to give myself a break) participate in the E-Team's latest blog hop today.  I'm still hoping that maybe I can come up with something this weekend (note the bold maybe).  BUT!! Make sure you feast your eyes on the lovely works the rest of the team came up with!!

Daisy

Broni

Linda L

Micki

Sherry

And....don't forget that leaving a comment on each team member's blog will enter you for the chance to win one of two $25 vouchers to the eP store!!  Comments may be left from today, Friday, until Sunday, April 1.  Winner's will be announced on the eP blog Monday, April 2.  Good luck!!

I'm soooo glad it is Friday and the weekend is just ahead!  This cranky, over worked girl needs a break, hehe!!

Marbling Faux Many Ways

Hey People!  The E-Team is gathering again today to bring you another technique hop!  Today, the different E-Team members are showcasing Faux Marble!!

Of course it wouldn't be an E-Team blog hop without some blog candy!!  Daisy will chose random TWO winners from comments left between today, February 29, until March 2, on the E-Team members blogs.  The two winners will  receive a $25 eP gift certificate! 

The E-Team

Daisy -esteemed leader

Broni

Micki

Sherry

Me

Linda L--couldn't play along today, but make sure you drop by and let her know she was missed!

The winner's will be announced on the eP blog Monday, March 3!

OK!! Let's get this Faux Show rolling!!



Today I'm going to show you several variations on how you can achieve a Faux Marble.  I must admit I got a bit carried away with playing! 

First up:  This is what I call Distressed Faux Marble.  Step One:  smoosh Distress inks of choice randomly on your craft mat. I just smoosh block and lines here and there.   Spritz with Tattered Angel's Glimmer mist until ink beads up. Place your paper (I used Pure Luxury Ivory in this sample) down in the beaded ink.  Lift, dry.  You have now completed my version of the Wrinkle Free Distress Technique. 

wish I could have captured the shimmer!! Drat these dreary days!

Tear a piece of scrap paper.  Grab your sponge dauber or stencil brush, a couple of Distress Inks in complentary colors and apply the ink along the torn edge of the paper to your background.  Try to avoid making letters with your lines (such as "Y", "T", "K") as they are not natural in marble!!





I used a combination of Distress Brushed Corduroy and Vintage Photo for the lighter brown lines.  The dark brown lines are Tattered Angle's Glimmer Mist in Tattered Leather.

I have to say I LOVE how this turned out!  I must admit that I stared a this forever trying to come up with a project that wouldn't hide the effect, LOL!  Alas, I failed to come up with anything today, but keep an eye out for this, I'm mulling over some ideas!

Ok...next version of Faux Marble.  Now, this is something that I found on Andy Skinner's blog.  He came up with a faux marble technique that he calls Alcohol Floating Backgrounds.  His technique combines alcohol inks and water.  You can see his video here.  WARNING: THIS TECHNIQUE IS VERY ADDICTING!

Begin with a tub of water and some alcohol inks. 

Drip two/three drops of each of the alcohol inks into the water

Slip your paper of choice into the water

Out comes some fabulous backgrounds!!

Front side

BACK SIDE!!  YEP!! You get two different backgrounds on each sheet!!  This lets you choose which side you want to work with!!

  

Different colors on shipping tags

On Pure Luxury Cardstock

NOTE the middle sample...that one will be used for my project!!

On Glossy Paper

Slight variation.  Spritzed glossy paper heavily with water.  Applied alcohol inks with ink applicator. 

I also did samples with the alcohol ink Snow Cap.  It added a cool effect, but I found that on the glossy, it clumped up and then just brushed off once dried. Still a variation!! 

For the most part, I could make one sample, add new colors for another sample before needing to dump my water and starting over. 

I also tried this technique with some sticky back canvas. I wanted to try to make a background that was complentary to the middle sample seen above on the Pure Luxury.  Funny thing, I actually liked the PAPER backing of the canvas better!! haha!   And this is what I came up with using the Alcohol Floating background. 

This is an 8.5 x 8.5" layout.  the papers are retired Stampin' Up (Sorry, I don't recall the specific paper names and will admit that I'm too lazy and too far behind schedule in trying to get this posted!)  The main base was scored using my Scor-Pal every 1/4".  The backing to the sticky back canvas makes up the second background piece.  Tip:  Tape will NOT adhere to this backing! I had to put the tape on the black layer and then applied the background.  My guess is that if I could pull it up easily.  If I was really wanting this to stick, I would use some glue (either hot glue or strong glue like E6000.

The Suzi Blu image was stamped twice with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  I stamped it on a piece of Pure Luxury White and again on the Alcohol Floating background that was seen previously.  I paper pieced her dress using the background.  I added a very slight bit of shading to her dress and hair with some Copic markers, but deliberately left her body uncolored, as I liked the stark, rather gothic look to her!

The roses were made with more of the retired SU papers.  Ok, I felt guilty.  I'm taking a wild guess here:  Lovely Lilac, Lavender Lace and Almost Amethyste would be my guess on which shades of paper I used.  The large roses were die cut with Spellbinder's Spiral Blossom One.   The small rose was made from a Spellbinder's Scalloped circle that I just hand cut the spiral to roll.  The large flowers were stamped  and sponged with Distress Inks in Dusty Concord and  Chipped Saphire, using stamps from Wendy Vecchi's Art Colors Life and Be Happy, Make Art sets.  The leaves were die cut from SU's Kiwi Kiss using Spellbinder's Foliage and were sponged with Distress Peeled Paint ink.  The pearls in the center were made with a Viva Decor pearl pen.

The edge embellishment was cut with Spellbinder's Edgeabilities Classic Ric Rac.  The black rhinestones are from Want 2 Scrap nestabling that match Spellbinder's circle dies.  I just cut them to fit the area I wanted to place them in.

Close up of the Faux marble on the dress and flowers

I hope that these variations of doing Faux Marble will inspire you to create!!

'Till next time...................