Dare to Dream 34

Hi there! I hope you are having a great weekend! We are just relaxing at home, enjoying the air conditioning. Tonight, Scott and I are going to a retirement party for one of our colleagues. Are you doing anything exciting?

I have a mixed media canvas to share that features lots of texture, stamps and die cuts. I collaged the canvas with printed tissue paper, randomly stamped dandelion images from MPD Dandelion Wishes, then added lots of paint, sprays and fiber paste. I also stamped the checkerboard image from MPD Distressed Background Blocks. 

On the right hand side, you can some of the design that was made using the MPD Delicate Doily stencil and modeling paste. I die cut a variety of flowers using the following Die-namics: Die-namics Layered Rose and Die-namics Mini Rolled Roses.

Thanks so much for visiting!
Be Sweet ;)

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Memory... 49

Hi there! Hope you are off to a great start of a new week! I had some time to play so I pulled out some of my favorite products and created a layout featuring a photo of Jerry, April, Scott and myself that was taken after April's graduation ceremony last month. 

I combined various flowers that I've collected / hoarded over the years as well as a few metal trinkets. For texture, I used fiber paste along with the MPD Graduated Dots stencil. The fancy chipboard piece that runs across the top is the Blue Fern Studios Symphony Border that I altered. 

For added interest, I randomly stamped the checkerboard image from MPD Distressed Background Blocks using MFT Berrylicious ink. The little doily peeking out from under the metal trinket was cut using a Die-namics Mini Doily Circles die. I dug out a fancy Tattered Angels chipboard frame from my stash, (remember these?), and gave it a fun crackled appearance using various acrylic paints and crackle medium then I framed a stamped sentiment from MPD Dandelion Wishes.

The banner was made using some of my own painted papers along with two different sized Die-namics Jumbo Fishtail Banner STAX dies then topped with some beaded trim (another item I hoard when 50% off :) that may be found at Hobby Lobby.

I'm really lovin' the big 12" x 14" Gelli Arts printing plate because I have the freedom to create whatever colors of paper my heart desires. I use Canson 138 lb Mixed Media 14" x 17" which makes for an awesome weight that accepts paints, sprays, ink, etc... 

Here are the 3 papers I created along with SUPER inexpensive paint (40 cents per bottle!!! ~ thanks to my dear friend Sue Lelli who enabled me ;).

Here is what my page looked like after adding texture and stamps prior to attaching the photo and embellishing:

For inspiration, I played along with Scrap Around The World which consists of an international team of crazy talented inspirational crafters! I also joined along with Hels Sunday Stamper challenge which is a Dream theme.

Thanks so much for visiting! I hope you enjoyed my layout as much as I enjoyed creating it. I'm going to hand deliver this one to Jerry and April when we visit them in July :) Have a good one!
Be Sweet ;)

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Make a Wish... 36

Hi there! Welcome to the MFT May Release Rewind Day 2! Yesterday and today, many of the MFT DT members will have shared or will be sharing projects made using awesome MFT products that can be found in the Brand Spankin' New category of the MFT Boutique! Please be sure to visit the MFT blog for a complete list of designers who will be participating today and who have participated yesterday. I have several projects to share featuring a variety of MFT products!

First up is a rather simple mixed media 9" x 11" canvas board featuring MPD Distressed Background Blocks, MPD Dandelion Wishes and MPD Delicate Doily along with a variety of Die-namics dies. 

After creating the background using the Gelli Arts Printing Plate and a variety of paints, I randomly added texture using the MPD Delicate Doily stencil, fiber paste and gesso.

Once the doily design was dry, I randomly stamped the polka dot image from MPD Distressed Background Blocks using MFT Steel Blue ink. I stamped a sentiment from MPD Dandelion Wishes on a die cut then adhered a Sno Cone button with hemp.

The cluster of flowers were made using the following Die-namics dies: Die-namics Large Hybrid Heirloom Rose, Die-namics Royal Rose, Die-namics Mini Royal Roses, Die-namics Mini Rolled Roses along with a flourish made using Die-namics Large Leaf Filled Flourish.

I also made a few cards featuring sweet Pure Innocence images :) 

After stamping the sweet girl from Pure Innocence Make a Wish, I colored and trimmed around the image then adhered her to a die cut made using the Die-namics LLD Insert It - 3 x 4 Notepad die.

Last but not least is a card featuring a cute Pure Innocence girl and piglet from Pure Innocence Farmer Girl. I stamped the piglet on a die cut made using a Die-namics Mini Album Square Scallop STAX die. To create soft edges, I sponged Sno Ink around the perimeter while leaving the die in place.

Many thanks for stopping by today! I hope you enjoyed my take on clean and simple.
Be sure to visit the MFT blog for a complete list of designers who will be participating today!
Be Sweet ;)

I hope you've enjoyed my Release Rewind projects today! Please be sure to visit the MFT blog for more inspiration!

Be Sweet ;)

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have fun 35

Hi there! I wanted to create something today but wasn't up for the usual card, layout or canvas so I reached for an art journal and had some fun! I wasn't sure what to use as a focal point so I made a silhouette pattern simply by tracing around one of the gorgeous models that I cut out from an online store catalog. Worked like a charm :)

I combined lots of stamps, stencils, paints, gelatos and rub ons to create this page. I randomly stamped a dandelion image from MPD Dandelion Wishes on the silhouette prior to adhering her to the page. I wish I would have colored her first then stamped to get a clearer image. I tried to line up and stamp the images but honestly, I wasn't thrilled with the outcome but I learned something :) I topped off the dandelions with a few drops of Perfect Pearls.

I randomly stamped the checkerboard and chickenwire images from MPD Distressed Background Blocks and added lots of rub ons from my stash.

For more layers and design, I randomly stenciled acrylic paints using with MPD Graduated Dots and MPD Delicate Doily stencils. I'm playing along with the current "Diamonds and Pearls" theme at Ink on My Fingers.

Here is what the naked page looked like prior to adding all the "fluff" :)

Thanks so much for visiting!
Be Sweet :)

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It's a Good Day...MFT May New Product Tour 50

Hello! Welcome to the May MFT New Product Tour! Tonight, the MFT DT will be taking you on a tour of all the new products that are available NOW right HERE in the MFT Boutique. I am so excited to share several projects featuring a combination of various MFT products while focusing on several items designed by me: MPD Distressed Background Blocks and the following stencils: MPD Graduated Dots, MPD Delicate Doily and MPD Square Motif. Here we go...

First up is a layout featuring a photo of Scott that was taken while we were visiting Venice, Italy. I was aiming for a grungy masculine look so I used a darker color palette.

To begin, I first created the background paper with a variety of acrylic paints and a Gelli Arts printing plate.

I decided where I would place the photo then I randomly stamped the checkerboard image from MPD Distressed Background Blocks using VersaMark ink then embossed using silver embossing powder. Love the metallic shine! I made a canvas flower using Die-namics Layered Rose then sprayed it with ink spray that made using Black Licorice ink. 

More heat embossed distressed checkerboard design peeking out:

I added some texture using the MPD Graduated Dots stencil and fiber paste. I stamped one of the fun sentiments from Chalkboard Greetings on a die cut tag made using Die-namics Vertical Frame and Steel Blue cardstock. I layered it on a Kraft tag that was made using a Die-namics Traditional Tags STAX die. For a little added interest, I randomly stamped the chicken wire image from Distressed Background Blocks using Black Licorice ink.

Up next is a 6" x 6" canvas. To create the background, I first sprayed using mists made from Blu Raspberry and Kraft inks then I added design as well as texture using the Delicate Doily stencil and fiber paste. I randomly stamped the chicken wire image from Distressed Blackground Blocks mainly around the perimeter and sides of canvas. 

I stamped one of the sentiments from Dandelion Wishes and framed with a die cut made using a Die-namics Designer Labels 2 STAX die. The sweet little butterfly was made using a die from Die-namics Butterflies.

I finished the canvas with several flowers made using the following Die-namics dies: Die-namics Plentiful Petals, Die-namics Layered Rose and Die-namics Mini Royal Roses.

Last but not least is a card featuring the Square Motif stencil, the polka dot image from Distressed Background Blocks along with a sentiment from Chalkboard Greetings. 

Using the Square Motif stencil along with molding paste, I added design and texture to the background. Once dry, I lightly sponged Kraft ink over the design. The hint of blue was completely accidental as I did not clean the stencil prior to adding the molding paste and Berrylicious ink made it's way into the molding paste. I was happy with the accident, so I ran with it and randomly stamped the polka dot image from Distressed Background Blocks on the next layer:

I stamped one of the versatile and fun sentiments from Chalkboard Greetings on a die cut label made using Die-namics Heirloom Label and finished it off with a flower embellishment that was made using the flower die included in the Die-namics Blueprints 3 set.

In case you would like to know how I created the color, design and texture on the canvas projects, here are a few steps taken along the way:

Step 1: Place the Delicate Doily stencil on top of 6" x 6" pre-Gesso'd canvas, then apply Fiber Paste.

Step 2: Remove stencil, repeat step adding texture to all 4 sides of canvas.

 Step 3: Once texture paste is dry, paint a coat of Gesso over the entire canvas.

 Step 4: Mix a few drops of Blu Raspberry ink with some water in a mister to create desired color then randomly apply color. Allow to dry.

 Step 5: Randomly apply Gesso on surface.

 Step 6: Add a few drops of Kraft ink on canvas, mist with plain water then move ink around with paint brush.

 Step 7: Repeat Step 6 using a few drops of Blu Raspberry drops as well until desired color is achieved.

 Step 8: Randomly stamp chicken wire stamp from Distressed Background Blocks using Archival ink (permanent).

 Step 9: To make textured doily pattern "pop", align up Delicate Doily stencil then apply Gesso.

Completed canvas prior to adding final embellishments:

Thank you so very much for looking ~ I hope you enjoyed my projects and I hope the tutorial was useful!

Be Sweet ;)

Be sure to head over to the MFT Blog, where you can see what the rest of the team came up with using the new products. 

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