Background Tutorial

This baby has a background tutorial up on the May Arts blog today!

Halloween Party!!!

Party the last week of September with Viva Las VegaStamps!!!

Seven days of inspiration, seven days of contests, seven days of GIVEAWAYS!!!!!!!!!

Using the August Kit!

Tomorrow I'll be joining in a SPOON ALTERING blog hop to celebrate a super close friend's Blog-versary:

so stay tuned to see how I used this month's kit and add on to alter my spoon!!!

Feed Your Soul

Here is the first completed set of pages for my brand new art journal!

Totally channeling Anna Debrowska for this...

...I had to use the new techniques I learned from her this past weekend along with a few of my favorite old ones including some certain supplies used.

The pages started out as cut pieces of paper from the longitude and latitude portion of a giant hard bound atlas. I used TONS of bits n bobs, some cast and some original pieces to form my wave of Magic. There are also some Prima flowers, Ideology gears and game spinner, Making Memories frame, and a clothespin spring. I used black soot distress stain to distress the edges as well as paint through the Gauche Alchemy star punchinella mask. 

I misted over the goodies with Charcoal Chalkboard glimmer mist by Tattered Angels, and dry brushes gesso over the top. The Umbrella man is Tim Holtz's sizzix die cut out of black cardstock and highlighted with gesso. 

I used Amazing Mold Putty to cast some of my favorite resin pieces.. a giant button, lots of smaller buttons, a cameo.. etc. They can easily be seen here:

Of course I used VLVS! Stamps... "Art is the last form of magic that exists"

and "feed your soul" both stamped in ranger archival jet black

well??

Mixed Media LOVE

I can't believe how much I love mixed media and the different styles associated with paints, mists, collages, found objects and anything and everything else that goes into it!!

This weekend I had the utmost pleasure of meeting one miss Anna Debrowska aka Finnabair, who taught a mixed media journal class at Treasured Memories in California. 

here we are together:

It was all I could do to not be a screaming little fan girl.. not talk her head off.. not stalk her and not just pack her up and take her home with me. I must say I was very well behaved! 

Here is the journal we made:

And here is the background for a set of pages for the inside! I've always used vintage photo distress stain for my "tea stained" look.. but anna says go straight for the tea! it's the only thing that actually LOOKS like tea. and I must say.. it was fun splattering a big bowl of tea! 

And she had the most ingenius idea of adding a pocket to the end of your journal for ephemera, bits n bobs, inspiration pieces and mementos from trips as journal page starters! In mine I've got a bit of prima paper from our kit, our beach parking stub and two embossed pennies from the trip. 

It was truly magical watching Anna work.. basking in her creative process was astounding and I'm so thoroughly happy to have been able to do it! I'm excited to gather a few more supplies from the class and get started on some of my own pieces of work!

And of course I couldn't NOT represent VLVS! --- I used the chicken wire background and the birds on a wire stamp :) They're both in Archival black.. without a block though, so that they're grungy sort of "misstamped" on purpose! 

Honeymoon - CC Challenges

This challenge is to make a mini album around a vacation you will or have taken --- We just don't vacations (until this summer!) So I did ours on our "Staycation"

I made the base for the album out of MME's Life Stories journaling cards. Used Imaginisce punch as well. and the Precision pen. all from CC

Not CC : Cosmo cricket black chipboard, baker's twine, lace, kraft paper, dymo label maker, vintage buttons.

Photos from the Winter Western

My last craft show was a half success -- not a complete failure but I think online is where I'll keep my stuff..

it did however give me the opportunity to branch out and create LOTS of fun new stuff for the shop.. while I'm photographing all my goodies to put up.. take a look at the pictures of the booth :D

Keep in mind that I shared half the booth with a good friend -- so not everything you see is mine!

The banners, garlands, white frames with chicken wire, tags, vintage pillows and wreaths are mine :) 

there are also a couple of bracelets floating around.. some keychains.. a few hair barrettes thought not many!

Everything on this shelf is mine, pillows, blocks, wreaths, garland, chicken wire frame.. all stuff that will be coming to the shop soon!

@CropChocolate today!

Check out THE CROP for a piece I made about layering embellishments super easy peasy!

and after you've visited the blog -- head on over to CropChocolate.com itself as today is the beginning of a new challenge based on my project! Lovely inspiration by Jamie! 

Vintage Valentine

Not sure where the mixup happened.. but tomorrow my Vintage Valentine will be posted on the May Arts blog.

here it is early:

Recipe box + Creating a vintage envelope tie

I forgot to post this on my own blog.. and as I'll be using this video to apply to the Authentique Design Team here goes!

I made this Recipe holder for the "All about me" Project for CropChocolate.com due a couple months ago.



supplies: Euphoria collection pack by BasicGrey, Rhinestone Brads by Making Memories, Miracle Tape by Viva Las Vegastamps!, Twine, Distress Ink, Cork, Brown pen, Mini Eyelets.

It opens up quite nicely to hold all my favorite recipes.. both hand written and magazine torn ;) ..and it sits right beside the stove!!



and I did this shortish video on the vintage envelope tie! Makes it really easy to understand :)



Enjoy! -DeeDee

Altered Globe - Simon Says Stamp + Show

Simon Says Stamp and Show is having another Design Team call -- I applied once before, and wasn't accepted... but the two girls they chose do WONDERFUL work (so I'm not THAT hurt lol), and I'm sure there are HUNDREDS of gorgeous applications this time around, too. So I've told myself "Go big or go home!" And the theme this week is EMBOSSING - in each of the photo descriptions I've bolded the appropriate embossing technique!

All week I've been working on altering this globe I found @ A garage sale for $1.



I have a feeling that this will always be a work in progress... as it's so large and each theme (you'll see) can be added to indefinitely, but I thought this was a great stopping point for the moment.. and I'm enjoying just sitting back and soaking in the meaning!

-from here on out I suggest clicking the photos to see them in their actual size!!-

"HOME"

--the beginning of everything is NATURE.. so no matter what's on the outside, we should remember we're always animals on the inside. Driven by emotion and instinct.--
-paper, scrabble tiles, stazon, hinges, brads, a door knob, hot glue, viva las vegastamps miracle tape, wire, distress ink, momento, embossing powder (smooth black)-

I chose to take large sections of the globe and turn them into themes of life or themes of the world.. Kind of like paths you take in your journey of life :) I started by cutting the shapes out of manilla folders and inking them to look like old leather. I then adhered down the folders with Miracle Tape by Viva Las Vegastamps! Because IT.ROCKS. From there I set out to make each piece it's own meaningful story.

"CELEBRATE"

--all about color and fun, adventure, trying new things and loving every minute--
-paper, tissue paper, distress ink, momento, manilla tag, hemp, stazon, mod podge, water, Viva Las Vegastamps! stamps, miracle tape, TH stamps, alligator clip, hot glue-

"TRUCKIN' ALONG"

--sometimes all we're doing is mozying through... and that's ok!--
-paper, distress ink, miracle tape, grungeboard, distress embossing powder(walnut stain), th stamp, hot glue, manilla tag, TH embossing folder (on the A L N G) random round find, Qtip cotton-

"EXPLORE"

--seek out the place you've never been and return to all your favorites--
-distress ink, brown pen, Art Blanche chipboard letters, offbrand chipboard letters, diamond glaze-

"FLY"

--don't be afraid to spread your wings or fill your balloon with a little hot air once in a while--
-Viva Las Vegastamps! stamp, smooth black embossing powder, distress ink, manilla tag, black pen, art blanche chipboard letters, hot glue, 3d pop dots-

"RECORD YOUR LEGACY"

--tell your story!!--
-7Gypsies stamp, distress ink, stazon, GraphicsFairy graphic, feather, hot glue-

"BRAVE THE STORM"

--it gets hard, but if we don't keep going we'll never see the sunshine on the other side!--
-grungboard, distress ink, manilla tag, Prismacolor marker, black pen, Echo park letter stickers, dymo label maker, Viva Las Vegastamps! Umbrella man stamp, tissue paper, mod podge, hot glue-

I have another spot open I think I'll do "Love, Family and Friends" in.. what do you think?? Maybe an "Invention" spot? I love big projects like this!!

I'm also linking up to Grungy Monday - Chipboard

Polkadot Door BH + Love tags + PRIZES!!

Hiya!! Welcome to my stop on this wonderful inspirational blog hop, sure hope you've found some amazing work to get your creativity flowing. I'm very honored to participate in this hop, as there are some remarkable designers with MAGNIFICENT work!



Here is a list of all the blogs you will have seen by the end -- be sure to visit each one and leave nice comments! It would also be super if you'd leave a comment on the Polkadot Door Designs blog with which project was your favorite!

Jennifer
Nicole
Valerie
Diana
Sabrina
Nicole B.
Court
Tenny
Tammy
Dee Dee -- you are here
Mazlina -- next stop!
Lindsay
Smitha
Polkadot Door Designs

Here is a reminder of July's inspiration (I'm always so blown away by the images that these girls put together):




and after drooling over the hemp like twine, the color combo, and the Love script I had to make a home decor piece -- I decided to make individual tags for each letter and embellish.


please.click.to.enlarge
I'm also submitting this to Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge.. as this week is "A Word" =)

I started with plain manilla tags, inked them with antique linen distress wash, and sponged with barn door distress ink and dusty concord distress ink. Then I spritzed with water and let dry. After some light splattering to create droplet effects I embellished each tag separately.




Supplies: Manilla tags, Antique linen distress wash, Barn door, dusty concord, and black soot distress ink, art blanche cursive letters, MM brads and vintage button, American Crafts pearl brad, rusty key, rusty chain, old door knob, small glass jar, purple wire, seed beads, old hinge, TH grungeboard, gold metallic paint, gold eyelets, mini spool, hemp/twine, paper clip, book page, lace, ribbon and copper findings.

Be sure to make your own creation, as there are LOTS of prizes available.. all of which are located on the Polkadot Door's Blog -- your final destination on the hop and where you'll link up!

Don't forget, you're on your way to Mazlina's blog!

VLVS! Blog Hop + Alice In Wonderland MiniBANNER

Welcome to my stop in the blog hop!! Hope you are enjoying all the wonderful blog posts you've seen using Viva Las Vegastamps! stamps!

I'm super glad to have you visit me HERE at my blog, instead of the VLVS! Blog.. but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy seeing you there, too. =)

Here is a reminder of the order in which you should be participating and the links in case you need them =) :
Viva Las Vegastamps! Blog - you.probably.started.here
Terri Sproul
Chris Hurley
Kim Prince
Rebecca Parsons
Joe Morgan - you.came.from.here
DeeDee Catron - you.are.here
Jennifer Bliss - go.here.next
-don't forget to leave comments on everyone's posts and follow each blog to be entered for the pound o' rubber prize! SO.MANY.STAMPS.

I try really hard to show you completely different uses for stamps each time I share with you @Viva Las Vegastamps! ... and today is no exception! I've put together for you a mini banner featuring two of my favorite Alice in Wonderland stamps that VLVS has to offer; the Mad Hatter (1.75" x 1.75" - $7.50 mounted) and the March Hare (2.75" x 3.25" - $10 unmounted).


Here are their close ups:


and




and here is a photo of the whole thing:



Supplies include 3 lines by Echo Park; Little Boy, Walk in the Park, and Be Mine, brads, a black pen, white lace, hot glue, the Viva Las Vegastamps! stamps, twine, a yellow net, floral beads, momento tuxedo black ink and distress stain.

Here are my tow favorite banner pieces up close:


|Enjoy! And thanks for stopping!! Don't forget, you are going to Jennifer's blog HERE!!

Dunce is only part of the Journey..

I put together a Dunce hat for my CropChocolate monochromatic submission this month.. I'll also be submitting it to Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge for their weekly challenge, this one is distressed and or torn edges.



Supplies: EP's little boy paper, MM Autumn Splendor locket, manilla tag, TH stamps, a label maker, twine, distress ink, StazOn ink, hot glue, Miracle Tape by Viva Las Vegastamps, metal, alcohol ink, and TH butterfly die.



I had big plans for this. it didn't quite turn out what I had in mind, but still pleasant!

Storybook Village

I was recently given the opportunity to work with a fantastic set of stamps that was designed by Purnima G. - a wonderful artist who's creativity never ceases to astound me! This set of stamps comes with fun creatures and gorgeous little girls and the most AMAZING little house stamps.

I feel very honored to work with her designs. So far I've completed a wall hanging and a tag!


Other supplies:
BasicGrey paper, distress ink, recycled cardboard packaging, black ink pen, MM brads, momento ink, 3-d pop dots by EK success, miracle tape by Viva Las Vegastamps!, glue gun, diamond glaze, white cardstock, eyelets and twine.


Other supplies:
Tag, distress ink, seed beads, wire, 3-d pop dots by EK success, butterfly stamp by Viva Las Vegastamps!, prismacolor markers, heritage cricut cartridge, cuttlebug embossing folder, momento ink, stickles.

if you'd like to purchase these stamps feel free to check Stampington Company!! And I used the jar that came out of The Stamper's Sampler template challenge - so I'll be sending both of these in in hopes of being published in a future publication!!