How To Mix Your Own Colors of Texture Paste

Today's layout is a zany mix of texture paste, matching colors of glimmer mist, and lime green flowers. I took the colors directly from this photo of AJ next to an alien themed ride at the fair. The title reminds her she is half human, half cosmos, and all stardust!

~ Half Cosmos ~

 This layout started as a White with 1 entry. I used Versafine ink and Wow embossing powder to create rows of  circles for the base of my design. The circle stamps are from Little Yellow Bicycle.

 The photo doesn't do the color scheme credit. In reality the mist and paste match shade for shade. I used Calambour 3-D Glossy gel in Light Blue and Green Gold. I ended up with so much paste by the time I had the color right that I saved it in a spare jar.

 I applied the paste through a Memory Box star stencil. After It had cured I added more circles with Liquitex modeling paste and TCW stencils. A spritz of Tattered Angels Chalkboard, Seven Seas and a the background was finished. 

 I chose lime green and lavender for contrasting colors. A Martha Stewart "Punch All Over The Page" in a caning pattern pops in lime green against the purple cardstock. The background was too textured for adhering the photo mat down so I used tiny brads.

 Strips of Webster's Pages trim echo the colors and the circle theme. I added black brads and punched gears from the purple cardstock.

 A spray of lime green and black flowers cover the unsightly parts of the photo. Of course I didn't have the right flowers to start with. I spritzed a few Prima news print flowers with Tattered Angels Chalkboard, Inchworm. The final touch of Prima crystal flourishes meld perfectly with the stamped circles.

Although I lost the White with 1 entry along the way I am thrilled with the result. I guess that means I will just have to spend MORE time crafting. 

Oh the agony!!!

Scrap On!

~charity hotrum~

How To Make A Stitched Heart Layout

Today's tutorial is a simple 1-2-3 for adding a stitched heart to a layout. Scrapbook pages look delightfully shabby chic with hand sewn details. If you aren't familiar with stitching or if you'd like a new stitch to add to your repertoire this post is especially for you.

~ Fancy Feline ~

 Step 1: Cut a heart from scrap paper, trace directly onto cardstock or patterned paper.

Step 2: Stitch the heart outline with a running stitch. Tie loose ends together at the back.
Step 3: Run a second thread along the edges of the heart, weaving it between each stitch. Tie loose ends in a bow at the front.

This layout gets most of its drama from using color wheel opposites. The papers are in blues while the photo, alpha, and sequins are in yellows. The backlit fall foliage certainly plays along with this theme.

 This sequin mix is Sunflower Flight from Spiegelmom Scraps. You can find it at the link below, while it is still in stock!!!

Sunflower Flight

Life has been too crazy the last couple years to participate with my favorite challenge blogs. I have missed Rochelle Spears sketches SO much. Today's layout is made possible by this luxe sketch from Rochelle for her May Challenge. 

To participate with Stacey's Photo Inspiration Challenge I stitched the hearts on my layout.

Supplies:
Patterned Paper:Blue Fern Studios
Punches:Martha Stewart & Kreaxions
Stencil:The Crafter's Workshop
Feather Dies:X-Cut
Stickers:Studio Calico
Alpha:Basic Grey
Sequin Mix:Spiegelmom Scraps

Scrap On!

~charity hotrum~

Album With Handmade Flowers and Window Casement

Today's project is a spiral album with handmade flowers draped around a window casement. The Tattered Walls kit from 123 Scrap With Me has just the right supplies to make a photo album or garden diary. The spiral binding, vine cutting die, and Lilac Nuvo Mousse are not from the original kit.

~ Moments ~

The album cover is made with two layers. The base layer is cut from Blue Fern Studios Tattered Walls:Apartment B. I punched the holes for the spiral in both layers before embellishing. The included TCW Stencil:Screen Print and Toasted Almond Nuvo Embellishment Paste were used to create a "curtain".

To complete the base layer I added the books from the 7gypsies Architextures. I also placed craft foam on the back of the window frame.

Together the give the illusion of looking into a well appointed sitting room.

Handmade flowers were next on my agenda. 

Step 1:Punch 10 circles from BFS Tattered Walls:Suite 204. Coat the rim with Lilac Nuvo Mousse.

Step 2:Fold the circles so that a dark rim from the underside shows.
Step 3:Fold the circle, accordion style, in thirds.

Step 4:Add glue between the tiers and clamp till dry.

Using a Tim Hotz die I cut a variety of vines from BFS Tattered Walls:The Library. I cut the Bumble Bee from BFS Tattered Walls:The Garage. I spread Toasted Almond Nuvo Mousse on the Bees wings.

I glued the vines to the left and upper edges of the Kaiser Craft Window Frame.

Finally, I adhered the bee to the upper left corner and the Moments tag from BFS Tattered Walls:Ephemera below it.

The Tattered Walls kit has a lovely variety of papers and mixed media supplies. Stop by 123 Scrap With Me to get your kit today! Use KITPROMO at checkout to get 15% off any order that exceeds $50 when you include the Tattered Walls kit.

Scrap On!

~Charity Hotrum~

How To Make an Elegant Card that is Quick and Easy

Today's project is a mixed media card that is as elegant as it is easy to make. This Dragonfly Card assembles super fast with the Tattered Walls Kit from 123 ScrapWith Me. The sheen of Nuvo Embellishment Mousse adds a chic touch to the mix of dark and light neutrals. The large variety of phrases from Tim Holtz Idea-ology Clippings lets you add a sentiment quickly.

~ Lovely Time ~

Here is a look at the items I used from the kit:

Blue Fern Studios Tattered Walls:Apartment B

Blue Fern Studios Tattered Walls:Sun Room

TCW Stencil: Screen Print

Nuvo Embellishment Mousse:Toasted Almond

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Clippings Stickers

To accommodate the dragon fly design I cut a 4 ¾ x6 ¾” card front from BFS:Sun Room I centered that on a 5x7” card blank in cream from my own stash.

I cut 6 squares of 1” and 4 squares of ½” inch from BFS:Apartment B. I arranged them on either edge of the card as shown.

Using a pencil I marked the center of the card as well as the center of the dragon fly stencil. I lined up the marks and added Nuvo Embellishment Mousse over the top.

This product is super easy to use. Dab it on with a finger, apply with a scraper, or use a paint brush.

 If you want extra texture on a project just flip the stencil over and press the excess product on to your project.

Each application offers a different finish. Clean up is a snap. 

Just rinse under running water and rub gently.

The dragonfly dried while I was cleaning off the stencil. I added a sentiment from the Idea-ology Clippings and my card was ready to send off.

The Tattered Walls kit is offered at 26% off list price. Stop by 123 Scrap With Me to see what other products you can find.

Scrap On

~Charity Hotrum~

How To Make An Industrial Grunge Layout

The Tattered Walls kit from 123 Scrap With Me has an Industrial Grunge edge to it, perfect for Mixed Media layouts. The combination of Nuvo Embellishment Mousse and TCW Stencil: Screen Print are perfect layered over the Blue Fern Studios papers. Stop by 123 Scrap With Me for a look at the kit. It begins shipping May 24^th!

~ Challenge The World ~

The photo featured on this layout is my oldest daughter. She was going through a Jane Austen phase and needed a regency style gown to fulfill all her dreams. I agreed to assist with the sewing project on the condition I was permitted a photo shoot. An agreement was quickly made!

The base design for the layout is vertical strips of Blue Fern Studios papers. I used the Screen Print stencil and Lilac Lavender Nuvo Mousse on either edge of the large central strip. Using a binder punch I created a stencil with a piece of cardstock. I used it to create a line of circles from Coastal Surf Nuvo Mousse on the left side and Toasted Almond on the right.

The Tattered Walls kit includes an Architextures Junque Pack:Library. I cut the “door knob” vertically and used circle and hexagon cutting dies on the “tooled leather” piece. Doodling, a scattering of Ideaology phrases, and a twist of ribbon finish the photo frame.

Layering to the right of the photo includes a piece of Kaisercraft frame and more scattered phrases. I edged a scrap of BFS “The Library” with a postcard cut and inked. I slipped the dragonfly shape on the stencil under the edge of the frame. I used my finger tip to apply a thick layer of Nuvo Mousse in Toasted Almond.

I repeated the dragonfly and mousse process at the photos upper edge. The stencil retained some of the product so I patted it randomly across the layout. I machine stitched a line to the left of the photo, and added the drop light from the Architextures Junque Pack.

These are the items I used that are not found in the kit:thread, gel writer, circle and hexagon die, binder punch, grey cardstock doily.

Here is a look at the kit I received.

These three Nuvo Embellishment Mousse are my choice of kit Add-ons:

Coastal Surf

Citrus Green

Lilac Lavender

Scrap On!

~Charity Hotrum~

How To Make A Stunning Page Quick and Easy With Embossing

Today I have a new tutorial that shows you how to make a stunning page the quick and easy way. This process lets clear Embossing Powder steal the show with a Mixed Media twist. It's all the hard work of a messy fingers project without the drying time.

~ Special Event ~

My weekend in Tacoma with this dear friend was an exceptional experience. We relaxed, saw the sights, and reconnected over plenty of coffee. Blue Fern Studios new collection Spring Parade shares the emotions of that time with its pastel tones and garden images. These tags with the titles Special Event and Small Moments pulled it all together.

The sketch I used for this page has a background heart shape. I wanted to incorporate a Mixed Media element but didn't want to take the time for the layers to dry. I decided to put my Wow Embossing Powder to work and it was CLEARLY a success.

I made this sweet Teddy ATC to illustrate the process I used for the green tone-on-tone heart on my layout.

To begin I cut a heart shape from cardstock and taped it over my purple ATC blank. Over that I placed a stencil with a very open pattern. Finally I dabbed it heavily with clear embossing ink.

 I dusted my ATC with clear Wow Embossing Powder then heat set it.

 I again taped the heart shape over my purple ATC. I dribbled a darker purple mist onto a cotton round then rubbed it across the embossed surface. 

 The mist tinted only the bare paper and wiped off the embossing. The finished product offers a tone-on-tone Mixed Media background. The ATC took mere minutes to produce!

Special Event is my entry for Stuck Sketches June 15th Challenge. Here is the sketch by Laura Whitaker.

Layout Supplies:
Paper:Blue Fern Studio
Flowers:Prima
Flower Centers, Acetate:Glitz Design
Tags, Tickets:Crate Paper
Die Cut Banner:Fancy Pants
Pearls:Close To My Heart
Embossing Folder:Crafter's Companion

Purple Mist:Clear Snap
Stencil:The Crafters Warehouse
Embossing Powder:Wow Embossing

ATC Supplies:
Paper:Close To My Heart

Cardstock:Recollections

Twine:Twinery
Stickers:Echo Park, Bella Blvd
Teddy:ClipartView.com

Stencil:Kite
Embossing Powder:Wow Embossing

Scrap On!

~charity~