dare to Dream...MFT April Creative Challenge and a tutorial 40

Hi there! Welcome to the MFT DT April Creative Challenge! Just in case you are not familiar, the MFT Design Team Creative Challenge is a monthly feature, where we are challenged to explore our creative side using a specific theme, product, or technique. This month, we were challenged to "Jazz up our blooms with pattern". 

I painted a sweet owl on a canvas then embellished her with a variety of jazzed up die cut canvas blooms and leaves:

Shown below is a die cut canvas Pretty Posie featuring a star pattern which was made using the Graduated Stars Stencil then colored using the new Hybrid Razzle Berry ink pad and topped off with a Razzle Berry button:

I also jazzed up several die cut canvas Splendid Sunflower leaves (steps shown below):

I couldn't stop at just one ~ I embellished her with an additional trio of jazzed up die cut canvas blooms (steps shown below):

For the title, I stamped / heat embossed a sentiment from Dandelion Wishes then randomly added texture and design using the Damask Stencil:

For color inspiration, I joined along with the current MFT Color Palette Challenge which is to use: Natural, Razzle Berry, Blu Raspberry and Gumdrop Green. You still have time to play!

In case you are curious about how I made today's project, I took some step shots along the way:

I started with a blank 11" x 7" canvas board which I randomly applied acrylic paints that coordinated with the colors featured in the MFT Color Palette Challenge to create the background. I painted the owl, stamped a sentiment, stenciled on detail then embellished with my homemade jazzed up blooms.

To create the blooms, I die cut canvas using the following fabulous Die-namics dies: Die-namics Flower Medley, Die-namics Botanical Beauty, Die-namics Pretty Posies and Die-namics Perfect Petal Trio:

I added texture and design using the various stencils along with Gel Medium. Shown below is the Checkerboard Stencil. I repeated this step using the various stencils adding texture and design to the other die cut flowers: Graduated Stars Stencil, Swiss Dots, Graduated Diamonds,  

I jazzed up the Splendid Sunflower leaves by using the emboss / resist technique. I stamped / heat embossed the text image from Collage Backgrounds:

Lastly, I colorized the leaves and blooms using the following MFT inks: Hybrid Gumdrop Green, Hybrid Razzle Berry, Hybrid Blu Raspberry,  and Natural then adhered a coordinating button to each layered bloom:

Thanks so much for visiting! Please be sure to check out the MFT Blog for a list of all the designers who will be joining along.
Be Sweet ;)

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a beautiful world 44

Hi there! I hope you had a great weekend! It's time for an all new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge! This week's challenge is all about the BIG stamp! Whether is is a background, large image, pattern, or maybe just a big stamp pad ~ the week is all about the BIG stamp! I love to create backgrounds and add faux texture to my projects using big stamps.

I was so excited because the big stamp challenge was the perfect opportunity for me to ink up both of the Tim Holtz Cracks and Specks big stamps. 

I added a faux crackle appearance to the die cut and painted Artful Dwellings using the Cracks big stamp along with Vintage Photo Distress Ink

I added texture and design to the canvas background using the Specks big stamp along with Picket Fence Distress Paint and Jet Black ink along with a variety of BOTANICAL REMNANT RUBS

Each dwelling features a combination of  BOTANICAL REMNANT RUBS:

various Tim Holtz metal embellishments such as TIMEPIECES:

and the three houses are attached to each other using Tim Holtz HINGES:

In case you are interested, here are a few step shots I took along the way. I started by 
creating a collaged background using FRENCH INDUSTRIAL patterned paper and Mod Podge:

Once dry, I applied wild honey Distress Paint:

followed with Vintage Photo Distress Ink:

For more interest, I randomly stamped the Specks stamp using both picket fence Distress Paint and Jet Black Archival Ink:

For the houses, I die cut chipboard from my stash using Artful Dwellings then applied picket fence Distress Paint:

Followed with broken china then forest green Distress Paints:

Once dry, I inked up the Cracks stamp using vintage photo Distress Ink then stamped on the die cut pieces:

Followed with randomly applied vintage photo and weathered wood Distress Inks. 

I adhered the chipboard houses to the canvas then embellished with a variety of items all listed below. Thank you for visiting! Please be sure to visit the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog to see what the rest of the DT has created!

Products Used: Tim Holtz Cracks and Specks, Ranger Archival Jet Black ink pad, Tim Holtz Sizzix Die Artful Dwellings, Ranger Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink, Tim Holtz Ranger Forest Moss Distress Paint, Tim Holtz Ranger Broken China Distress Paint, Tim Holtz Ranger Picket Fence Distress Paint, Tim Holtz Ranger Wild Honey Distress Paint, Tim Holtz Idea-ology BOTANICAL REMNANT RUBS, Tim Holtz Idea-ology PAPER STASH 2013 FRENCH INDUSTRIAL, Tim Holtz Idea-ology 2013 HINGES, Tim Holtz Idea-ology 24 METAL GAME SPINNERS With Brads, Tim Holtz Idea-ology TIMEPIECES Metal Watch Clock Face, Tim Holtz Idea-ology LOCKET KEYS Metal Hardware Keyhole, Tim Holtz Idea-ology 9 PLAQUETTES Metal, Plaid MOD PODGE MATTE Paper Fabric Art Crafts Modge, 

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With Love 27

Hi there! I hope you are having a great weekend and Happy Easter Sunday to all who celebrate! Today I have a card to share featuring beautiful patterned paper from the Pion design Vintage Garden collection along with a sweet image From Grandma's Attic:  

I die cut the sweet image using a Die-namics Oval die, stitched around the perimeter then layered it on a fancy die cut oval frame that was made using a Spellbinders die. A sentiment from Tropical Sensations was stamped using Hybrid Black Licorice ink. I embellished it with a die cut heart that was made using a Die-namics Heart STAX die along with a pretty flower from my stash:

For sketch inspiration, I joined along with this week's Crazy 4 Challenges ~ Sketch challenge:

Scott and I stayed up the other night to watch the lunar eclipse which took place from 11:00 pm - 3:00 am. Yes, we are a little crazy but in a good way ;) Here are Scott's awesome photos of the different phases ~ we were driving my dogs nuts running out the door about every 20 minutes to look :)

Many thanks for stopping by ~ I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Be Sweet ;)

Pion design products:
From Grandma's Attic ~ tinted ~ PD3102
Vintage Garden ~ Flax ~ PD3605F
Vintage Garden ~ Flax ~ PD3605B
Vintage Garden ~ Blue Ornament ~ PD3606F

Other products used: Die-namics Oval STAX Set 1,  Die-namics Heart STAX, MFT Hybrid Black Licorice ink pad, MFT Kraft cardstock, MFT Primitive Cream cardstock, MFT MPD Tropical Sensations

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Thinking of You 40

Hi there! I'm so happy the weekend is almost here. Today I have a larger tag / wall hanging to share featuring pretty Pion design patterned papers from the A Day in May collection which I made for my dear daughter who loves burlap and doilies as much as I do.

To create this project, I used a variety of Spellbinders dies to cut the pretty patterned papers and burlap, layered and stitched them together. I embellished with a premade burlap flower which I layered on top of a paper medallion that I made using a Sizzix die along with Pion design patterned paper then adhered it on top of a crocheted doily:

I pulled out a neglected Spellbinders Media Mixage bezel, Ice Resin and Ranger Distress glitter to make a charm featuring a beautiful butterfly which I cut from a piece of Pion design patterned papers. Can't wait to make more!

I am linking this project to the current Frilly and Funkie challenge where the theme is Flights of Fancy as well as the current Scrap Africa where the theme is Distressing with a Difference.

Thanks so much for visiting ~ I hope you have a great weekend!
Be Sweet ;)

Pion design products:
A Day in May ~ Lady PD4402 front
A Day in May ~ Butterfly dance PD4403 back
A Day in May ~ Blooming branches PD4404 back
A Day in May ~ Apple blossom PD4405 front
A Day in May ~ Apple blossom PD4405 back
A Day in May ~ Borders 4410 front
A Day in May ~ Borders 4410 back

other products: MFT MPD Winged Beauties, Spellbinders dies

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