Oily Cicada {an Altered Canvas by Riikka}

Today we're welcoming back RIIKKA with this beauty:

Riikka says "When I first saw this cicada bug chipboard, I fell in love. The shape is so captivating! So when I started to think what I should create for my guest post, I immediately thought about the bug and wanted to do a canvas using it. In my mind I saw the bug having black, oil-like surface that would shimmer in the colors of the rainbow on a surface of ephemera.

I painted the cicada bug first with black Plain Jane mist and let it dry. On top of the black coat I then misted bright Glimmer Mist colors knowing that only their colorful shimmer would show in the bug because of the black. I also wanted the shape to have a glossy, slightly crackled surface, but was all out of crackle paint. So I embossed the bug twice with embossing powder and while the second coat was still hot, I pressed my crackle stamp on it creating a subtle crackle effect. The surface looks almost like crocodile skin!

For the background I used various ephemera and leftover alphas together with a few arrow shapes form UmWowStudio. I glued them to a canvas base using regular glue and then spread gesso all over. After the gesso had dried I used Glimmer Mists to color the surface in blues and greens. I also added touches of black and white mist. Lastly I added some splashes of mist and pencil doodling to the background and mounted the cicada using a decorative needle.

I'm so honored to have a chance to guest design for UmWowStudio! Thank you for the opportunity!"


RIIKKA.. thank YOU! This piece is amazing and I'M the honored one -- I get to share your beautiful work using our products! Stay tuned for one more post this month from Riikka in CARD form :). Please leave her some love and let her know how much we appreciate her work! 

In Her Hands It's Magic {12x12 by Miae}

This layout today is by Miae -- and just like Miae it's UBER fab!

 

 

Miae says : You know how kids love bubbles...something so simple yet endlessly entertaining, well I wanted to capture that sense of magic of seeing bubbles floating in the air. I used the Layered Circles and Layered Butterflies to help me along!

Using gel medium, I covered the circles in tissue paper, wrinkles and all, then added a little paint. 

 

 

The butterfly is covered with Deco Art Snow Tex and painted over with watercolors. 

Supplies:

UWS Layered Circles

UWS Layered Butterflies

Derwent Inktense 

Angora watercolors

Faber Castell Pitt Pastel

Faber Castell Big Brush Pitt Pen

Gesso

Snow Tex

Gel Medium

Home Sweet Home {May Arts Ribbon Cutting Ceremony}

Hello Friends!! 

Welcome to my stop today on the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Hop!

Bethney has gathered all the beautiful talented Ribbonistas together to celebrate a brand new site launch! May Arts has been working so uber hard on a brand new more interactive site and you won't believe how insanely awesome the redo is!! PLUS there's a GIANT giveaway of $1000 + -- all from your favorite companies!

Yesterday these girls all shared projects:
Christina Colón
Gini Williams Cagle
Emily Lanham
Jenifer Cowles
Jessica Kephart
Courtney Lee
Latrice Murphy
Charlene Driggs
Erin Thiem

And today it's THIS half's turn:
Candy Rosenberg
Jen Shears
Karen Baker
Lalo IK
Virginia Fynes
Rhea Weigand
Shellye McDaniel
Sandy Allnock
{{DeeDee Catron}}

And now.. I Get to share!! Today I'm sharing with you a 12x12 layout. When Bethney mentioned Ribbon Cutting Ceremony I immediately thought of big red bows being cut right in half, trimmed edges and straight up strips of ribbon. So I set out to commemorate our first home as a family with these things in mind. Needless to say the work took me in a slightly different direction, but never the less RED and RIBBON are still recognizable! 

I layered up some gorgeous ribbons ( 447-1-01 | 336-38-14 | SM08 ) to embellish this layout.

I clipped and layered my ribbons, along with 7 Dots Studio (Domestic Goddess paper and alphas,) Viva Las VegaStamps! stamps (Star, Grid Background, Striped Border Arrow, Coffee Ring,) Gauche Alchemy (Washi Tape,) UmWowStudio (Layered confetti chip, Black and Blue Flair, Chevron Lines Mask,) Pink Paislee (Luxe Alphas,) Prima (flower and leaf,) Tattered Angels (Charcoal Chalkboard,) My Mind's Eye (Epoxy brads,) Archival Ink by ranger in black, Stazon ink in red, a black pen.

Leave your glorious comments everywhere for this INSANE prize!!

A layered card!

Hey Folks :D :D

(I always feel like I should say hi.. you know like we happened upon each other at the grocery store, or both our kids bowl on the same league.. something. We're friends, right??)

I have a card to share today that I did for May Arts that was posted on the Paper Crafter's Library blog!

This card starts off with a Fancy Pants corrugated white board base. The next layer is MME's paper which has been distressed with distress stain and glimmer mist. I've stamped down my Dictionary Page stamp and Dream BIG stamp from Viva Las VegaStamps!, and laid down some Washi Tape from Gauche Alchemy. Then I've used the Pleated navy ribbon and and Black Burlap string from May Arts to add some texture. The brad is also from MME. 

I balled up some thread and then spread it back out in its woven mess. The butterfly is one of the plain layers from our Layered Butterflies set. It's been covered in Gesso and distress stain using May Arts webbing as a mask. 

If you'd like to see the details on the HOW-TO head over to the Paper Crafter's Library and check it out :)

Ribbonista BLUE Hop!!

Hi everyone :)

I'm super honored to be a part of May Arts and Bethney's Ribbonista hop today!

All around the world it's Autism Awareness day and we're celebrating with blue projects full of ribbon!

Here's the sneak peek that brought you here from the MA blog :)

You should be here via Charlene's blog - if not start over at the May Arts blog!

The ribbon I've used on today's card is

BY-01 - white leaves

and

336-38-10 - black and white diagonal striped grosgrain

I've put this beauty together using Echo Park's Paradise Beach CS, the Butterfly and Make A Wish by VLVS!, Teal Highheel Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, an MME brad, Broken China Distress Stain, Archival ink in black by Ranger, and Studio Calico's Mr Huey in white.

If you leave a comment on each post along the hop you'll be entered in a wonderful giveaway!

Now head on over to Emily's blog and see what she's sharing! :)
(I'll also be entering this into the CropChocolate weekly challenge!)

Introducing... WINTER WONDERLAND!!

Since we did Christmas last month, we'll move towards winter this month :) 

Winter Wonderland:

photo source : - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | -

Introducing... Midnight Spell ♥

I'm very excited about this kit! It's a little Halloween, a little fall, a little dark, a little bright ♥

Midnight Spell

photo source: - | - | - | - | -

Mossy Glen Sneak Peek #3

I think I missed a sneak peek day in there ;)

Also.. I keep taking photos at night and it's not helping this kit any!

rest assured.. it's the best one yet :D

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??

Something I'm working on...

First off I just noticed...... THIS: 39999 pageviews

WOW WOW WOW..

Thank you all! Thank you for your sweet comments, and encouragement, your continued reading and your support :) 

I recently had a request for some resin clouds.. and as I've been pulling them out of the mold I couldn't help but mess around with a couple... check this out:

available in the etsy shop this weekend :)

Dear Child - Let your creativity SOAR tag

I recently got the chance to work with some fabulous Gauche Alchemy pieces.. they put together vintage and ephemera kits. Super fun!! I teamed up the VLVS! DT with the GA DT and fun was had by all :)

here is my finished piece for the team up:

p.s... yes.. that is my Goobaloo bent down coloring with chalk :) he loves it so!!

I used the Bird In Flight stamp from VLVS! and I used a star punchinella from GA as a mask. I also used some beads from a trim they sent me to form my clouds. Which by the way are held together using Gel Medium! What a super neat effect it is has so thick and "gloopy".

I also used Distress Ink in walnut stain, broken china, and pine needles, the TH ray embossing folder, TH soar alphas and bubbles, TH tags die, memento ink, white cardstock, an american crafts pen, turquoise wire, water, crystal lacquer, pop dots, hot glue and recycled packaging.

I'll be entering this in the Layered challenge @ SimonSaysStampandShow as well as the pastels with a pop of color challenge @CropChocolate.com 

May Arts - Round 2!

Our round 2 submissions are due Friday for May Arts.. Yay for getting it done before the last second :)

For my submission I've chosen to do a wedding ensemble. I gathered supplies to make a ring barer's pillow, a cuff (either as a gift for the bridesmaids or for the Bride) and a hair piece.

First off we need a gorgeous center piece for our ring barer pillow.. And May Arts Ribbon certainly fills that slot! Prima had a flower called the Gatsby Collection in which they used ribbons folded over and tied in the middle to create a flower, but they were sort of flimsy and didn't have much body. Using May Arts Ribbon gives us an endless supply of possibilities in texture, color, material and width making our flowers absolutely customizable to whatever we're working on. For this particular flower I chose three substantial sturdy ribbons eliminating the need for tulle or other "fillers".

The three used for this portion of the project are:

350 5/8"x50y SHEER/RUFFLE EDGE (350-58-94)

384 3/4"x20y LACE/PEARL CENTER

and the
SD 3/8"x50y - SOLID/CENTER DOT

The ribbons are wrapped around a center spot and tied together. They're fluffed and spread apart to mimic petals on a flower and are finished off with a pretty center. You could use stamen, vintage jewelry, beads, and anything else. I chose to use two pearls and a bicone bead. Here's a video with the details:

And here is the whole ensemble:

I also utilized two other ribbons by May Arts:

.398 2.5"x10y Burlap/Wired
and the
392 58"x10y SHEER / BOX PLEAT (392-58-09)

as well as pearls, a bicone bead, burlap thread, muslin, glue, a needle, thread and a sewing machine, pillow fluff, vintage buttons, cardstock, cheese cloth and vintage photo distress stain.

If you have any questions I'd be happy to answer them :)
-DeeDee

With a heavy heart..

I say a final farewell to the CropChocolate Chocolatiers Design Team.. 

Yesterday was my final post on TheCrop. Read my message there.

I did a project inspired by Louise Nelson.. her layouts utilize space and graphics in such a beautiful way I had to finally just quit drooling and give it a go. 

Out :) 

Introducing : Summer Lovin'

Here's the inspiration for our June Kit :) 

I made the collage, but the photos I did not take.

photo source : - | - | - | - | - | - 

MVL Link Up - Get Inked

I'm a fan of tats.. and a fan of color.. I've got 25 stars on my arm, 6 of which are bright colored with a gradient of the rainbow. The other 19 are just black outlines. 

I feel like Mary Vogel Lozinak's Images are just the perfect "stick it to the man" type of characters. 

I used 

Mary's Owl In Vest - 2x3

and I put him in the

Mason Jar - 2.25x3.75

for this bad boy!! 

be sure to link up your own project using Mary Vogel Lozinak's images from Viva Las Vegastamps! -- you have until tomorrow night, check out the VLVS! Blog for any specifics on giveaways :) LOTS up for grabs!

VLVS! Tryout - Whimsical!

It's that time again!

Here I am trying out for VLVS! I've had a great year with them and am very honored that I was able to serve a 2nd term, if I don't make it this time, It's because VLVS! has AMAZING fans who do AMAZING work!

I love the vast variety of VLVS! images, the miracle tape and the ultra thick EP.. I will FOREVER be a fan, if not a DT member ♥ And here is a GIANT shout out to the wonderful team that is currently supporting and promoting VLVS! -- Their work is so wonderful and has inspired my post for the tryout today! 

Check out Viva Las Vegastamps! HERE --- and visit the blog HERE for new posts from the DT Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays!

and without further ado.. Here is my project (it's taken a whimsical sort of fun turn from my usual stamping ways) :

I had so much fun with this Umbrella Man (2.5x3.5) -- he was so whimsical and begging for color.. which I answered with Prisma Color markers Deco Blue, Cool Gray 60%, and Yellowed Orange. After, of course I stamped him with Memento tuxedo black ink on Kromecote cardstock - the combination of two gave me such a crisp clean image.. WONDERFUL! 

I then adhered some Basic Grey paper to a recycled kraft base with Miracle Tape, gave it a little distress ink.. and glued my man down! Add a bit of doodling with a white pen and VIOLA. A fun scene, simple yet graphic and fun card to send to a close friend! 

@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:

CHA bound! Wish Upon a Star

I was so thankful to get on the AMP design team.. and now I am just beyond speechless.. our fearless leader Terri Sproul has arranged for us to have pieces of work in the AMP booth at CHA! 

AHHHHHHHH!

SO FRIGGIN PUMPED!

Here is one of the pieces I'll have there!!

The cabochons and the dress form were molded from original pieces with putty, and cast in the quick set white resin.. the turquoise pieces were colored with alcohol ink :)

Other products: KnCo paper, FP paper, TH labels die, BoBunny brads, KnCo half pearls, paper doily, studio G stamps, Pink Paislee daily junque wooden letters, recycled cardboard packaging, vintage photo distress ink, walnut stain distress ink, faux stamen, baker's twine.

I'd also like to say thank you and welcome to all my new followers!! So glad to have you here :D

linked up to:
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/

12 tags day 7

Each day of the hop we are using stamps from Plate #1363 -- which is also a PRIZE! for people who hop all 12 days, leave comments and become followers! 

You should have started @ Terri's Blog. if not, click the link and be sure to go in order :)

My Creation:

This tag is.. different to say the least. I wanted to use that gorgeous santa.. but think I'll be trying him again.. I also wanted to stay with Linda's 12 tags.. but incorporate that simplistic look that Prima posted on THEIR tags.. gosh. too much! lol 

--looking back on this.. I'm actually pretty disappointed in this tag's turnout. boo--

it's only saving grace IS that gorgeous santa stamp!!

I have also managed to base my tags off of Linda (The Funky Junkie)'s 12 tags! So I will be linking up there each day :) Today's is linking to tag 6 -- I stayed with the color scheme (sort of) used the "25" and a doily!

Thanks for stopping by!! You're on your way to Susan's Blog next!!!

-DeeDee