I think we need a little Christmas!

Is it ever too early for Christmas? I know right now with COVID-19 and quarantines, it can get a little depressing and things seem bleak. But Christmas always brings a smile to our faces and some joy in our hearts!

My style is mainly dark and vintage but for my Artful Academy DT tutorial, this Double Penny Slider Card is more colorful and bright! And I'm not generally a card person so I'm really out of my element with style and finished product! But I couldn't resist these Victorian Christmas printables for a slider card. The elements were really perfect for a fun and festive card!

Materials:

Victorian Christmas Artful Academy Printable 

Craft Consortium paper: The Gypsy Gypsy Collection 

Ranger Archival Ink: Black 

Corner Punch 

49th and Market Flowers 

Foam Mounting Squares 

Matte Gel 

Two Pennies 

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Select a piece of paper from the pad and cut a 7.5" x 7.5" piece and fold in half. 

2. Cut a another piece that's 5" x 3" for the slider piece from the remaining paper. If you're not using double-sided paper, then cut a piece from paper that's a coordinating/contrasting color. Punch the corners for a decorative edge.

3. Rather than going into individual instructions, I've marked my piece below so you can see what I did. Basically, your slit is ¾" from the bottom and ½" in from each side. The part that's cut out is ⅖" high from the bottom edge to the top, which is right at the size of my foam square on my penny which you'll see below. Go around the edges with ink. 

4. Print and cut your angel out after measuring how big you want it on your card. Go around the edges with ink. Then stick a foam square on the back, remove the backing, add your penny, then put another foam square on the penny - DO NOT REMOVE THE BACKING! This will help it slide. 

5. Turn your slider piece over and put your penny angel into the slot as pictured. The penny edges overlap the slot edges to keep it from falling out. Add more foam squares, using the penny edges as a guide so you don't put them too close to the slot. Otherwise, your penny will get jammed and won't slide! 

6. Flip the slider piece over, remove the foam square backs, and place it on the front of your card. You're ready to embellish! 

7. I know I said it's a Double Penny Slider - I did the same process for the inside using the Santa Sleigh and added Santa faces! 

Contrasting paper for the slider makes the card pop more and breaks up the main pattern used for the card. Just touch your finger on the angel (and sleigh inside) and move it back and forth! 

I used a plain piece of card stock for a strip I added to break up the pattern on the slider piece and Santa's sleigh. 

Have a look around the store to get your own copy of these lovely Victorian Christmas images or something else!

I'm entering this at Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge!

Outdream yourself

Greetings from WV! Tomorrow I have gallbladder surgery 🤕 but before I go, I have a mixed media project that makes me think I'm looking into a villa window at the height of spring!

This garden beauty started out as a mess. It originally had white gesso covering the outside and then I added a purple spray to parts of it and it gave me nightmares! So I decided to cover everything with white crackle paste and I loved it. Some of the purple underneath peeks through. 

The inside hides an artsy woman in tones of greens. I loved using Finnabair's metal butterflies in various spots. Along with the outdoorsy look of moss, wood bark, and flowers, I envision this as part of her rustic home in the country. 

The scene is light and airy for spring, yet has the purples and greens to give it color and depth.

The shutters really are the focal point and fit perfectly into the square opening. Leave them half open for a peek inside - or maybe to let a little breeze in. 

A wonderful decorative piece sitting on a shelf or hanging up. 

I'm entering this at Mixed Media Place and Classic Design Challenge!

Easy brush upcycle

I've got a really simple brush upcycle for my DT Project for Bleeding Art - virtually no gluing! The only part that has any adhesive is where I tacked the burlap on the back of the handle and the picture frame on the front.

I have a bunch of various old brushes so I picked one and started throwing stuff together 😅.   And I really just used alot of scraps. 

The brush has a scrap of metal trim and wire screen which is held on by wrapped twine. The picture frame is wrapped with rusty wire which holds the acrylic film strip. 

The handle is wrapped in burlap and then wrapped over with an old shoelace. I added a piece of rusty screen and a rusty safety pin. 

It really doesn't get any easier than that! I have it hanging on my kitchen wall that has various old pics and things I've made. Simple way to use your scraps and create something vintage and beautiful! Don't forget to join us for this month's challenge at Bleeding Art! 

Treasured Memories

Howdy, howdy! I hope you are all doing well, wherever you are! I, myself, am having my gallbladder out in about a week 😬 so I'm trying to get some things scheduled through May while I recover!

Today, I've got an art journal spread using A Vintage Girl chipboard!

I used some bricks, window pane, and a sentiment. And those colors are courtesy of Lindy's Gang shakeables and sprays in varying turquoise and purple shades. 

I love this chipboard because it's so versatile. It takes pastes and paints beautifully - I just used white gesso applied with my finger so it's not so bright. But those sprays and shakeables are gorgeous together. Eye-popping shimmer! 

You'll love the chipboard from A Vintage Girl because there are some really unique albums and individual pieces you won't find anywhere else!

I'm entering this colorful spread at Artpiaskownica!

Patinaed stone treasures

Greetings, my friends! I hope we're all healthy and happy and keeping busy and productive during this global down-time!

I've been experimenting with a couple things! One thing is using clay with an embossing folder and stencils. The other is using VerDay to patina everything!

This first piece is clay that's had a stencil pressed into it. It's an imperfect piece as are all three pieces I used. It's been painted with VerDay paints and sprayed to give it a fabulous patina of varying colors! And it's adhered to cardboard that's been covered with plaster paste. It might look like it's a heavier piece like stone but it's as light as a feather! 

Look at that color and varying types of patina - looks like patinaed stone but it's clay and cardboard! 

This second piece is done the same way, but using a different stencil. 

I created texture with a fork and pressing a piece of rusty screen into the plaster. I love the stone affects.

The centerpiece is - WOW! The texture from the stencil and the VerDay combine to make it look like an old treasure. I made the faces using a mould which gives it an artisan look I think. 

This last piece was made using an embossing folder. I don't have any machines for folders or dies so I used a rolling pin! The VerDay makes it so lusciously patinaed. I also used it on the bottle caps. And everything is mounted on cardboard so - light as a feather! 

I just love these results - the colors are stunning! 

The patina makes lightweight, air-dried clay appear to be a piece of broken stone. I love using an imperfect piece - gives it a more authentic look, like it's an ancient remnant from a larger piece. My advice: experiment, experiment, experiment! You never know what  treasure you'll accidentally discover! 

I'm entering these at Artpiaskownica!