Cultivate Kindness

Hi everyone!  I'm here today sharing a quick little project using a 4 x 6" Burlap Panel.  Lets get right into it!
I sprayed the burlap with a few colors of Distress Spray Stain and dried it with a Heat it tool.  Using Spray Stain is the easiest way to get great coverage over the nubby burlap texture!

I used the new Wildflower Layering stencil and Ranger Texture Paste to add the silhouette of the wildflowers over the burlap.  I let it air dry (which does not take too long at all) before proceeding with the next step.  Do not dry Texture Paste with a heat tool or the paste can become puffy.  Always REMEMBER to wash the paste off the stencil right away.

Once dry you can see that the color of the Spray Stain came up through the Texture Paste, leaving the paste a minty green color.  Not a problem, in fact it's really kinda cool how the colors bleeds up through the paste. 
I used a Mini Blending Tool and a few colors of Distress Ink to color the flowers (mustard seed and abandoned coral), then misted it with water to let the colors blend.  I dried the ink with the Heat it tool.

Next, the stems of the flowers needed a just a little more color so I added Evergreen Bough over the dried paste.

I used the same colors of the Distress Ink to color a piece of Specialty Stamping paper which has a matte surface.

I misted the ink with water.

And rolled over the water with a roll of paper towels to tone down the bright color.

I stamped the paper with one of the small butterflies from the Watercolor Stamp set and Archival ink in Black Soot.  I did dry it with the Heat it tool to make sure the ink was set before cutting one out.

Once I had it cut out, I added a bit more ink on edges to disguise any white paper that was left from cutting it out.  A little Glossy Accents down the center of the butterfly...then hold it in place for at least 30 seconds till it adheres to the burlap surface.

I added a Mirrored Star that has been colored with gold Alcohol ink, text from the Small Talk sticker book and a bit of the new Trimmings.

Easy to do and a fun little experiment in coloring Texture Paste.  I love that it dries so fast! 

I sure love this little reminder to always, Cultivate Kindness.

Thanks for stopping by to see what I made today.  I'm off to teach at Memory Bound in Iowa this weekend.  Praying for planes to be on time, luggage to make it to the destination, and a happy weekend for all the students!

now carry on,

paula

 

InLinkz.com

Holiday Wishes Card

A couple new Layering Stencils were released last week, Holly Bough and Harlequin.  Gosh these will be great for holiday projects!

Today I am working with the Harlequin pattern.  I decided to make a Christmas card since this is about the time of year to get starting.  I tried to pick products that are easy to use and come in multiples so you can easily replicate the card 5, 10, or 20 times.

Start by adhering white cardstock to a piece of chipboard.

Cut into squares and run through the Vagabond machine using the Sizzix Ice Skates Bigz die.  Cut one skate per card being made.

Cover all skates with Crackle accents and set aside to dry (I did not cover the skate blade).

Once dry, rub Distress Ink into crackle finish.

Lacing the Skate -
1.  Thread string through needle.
2.  Thread the string through the bottom hole - even out the string.

3.  Work your way up the skate, skipping every other lace hole.

4.  Starting at the bottom with the other end of the string, work your way up the skate, crossing over the first string.

5.  Tie the string into a bow at the top.   
I wrapped the string around the boot a few times and then tied the bow.  Either way works.

6.  Paint the heal of the boot with a thin coat of brown paint.  Use your finger tip to rub the paint into the crackle in the heal.
7.  Paint the skate with silver Adirondack dabber paint.

8.  Add a thin coat of Glossy Accents to the skate and sprinkle with Pumice Stone Distress Glitter.  Set aside to dry.

Back to the card -
Cut a piece of Ranger Manila cardstock for a card front.  Using the new Harlequin stencil, add Barn Door Distress Ink to the cardstock with a Blending tool.

Because the cardstock was wider than the stencil, I just slid it over, lined up the pattern and began coloring the rest of the cardstock.

Until the entire cardstock is covered.

Wipe off the stencil with a wet wipe.  Super easy clean up.

Once clean, line up the stencil over the red pattern.

This time color the open area with a combinations of Forest Moss and Peeled Paint Distress Ink.

Again, slide the stencil over to color the remaining area.

Until the entire cardstock is covered.

Ink the cardstock with Frayed Burlap and the edges with Walnut Stain.

 Cut a piece of Core'dinations cardstock to use as the card foundation.  Set the card to the side. 

Add the large Sized Oval to the center of the Cameo Frame Bigz die.  Cut a piece of Merriment paper and run it through the Vagabond machine.
NOTE: I should have adhered the paper to a piece of chipboard before I cut it but I didn't, so I cut the chipboard separately and then glued the two together.

Add the Cameo Frame and the Ice Skate to the card front.

Pick three Christmas words from the Holiday Chit Chat stickers in either white or kraft.  One book of will make a lot of cards!

Cut the ends like a flag and add to the card front.

Color a mirrored star with Meadow Alcohol ink.  Add a touch of gold mixative over the green.  There are 24 stars in 5 sizes in one pack of Mirriored stars...plenty to go around.

NOTE: If you plan to color the stars in one color -  Drop the stars into a small plastic bag.  Squeeze a small amount of the desired Alcohol Ink into the bag.  Close the bag and rub the color around till the stars are coated.  Dump out onto a craft sheet and wait a minute or two to dry.  Now they are ready for a bit of gold over the top. 

Add star to the ice skate with a bit of foam tape.

I used the center that was leftover when I cut the Cameo Frame/Sized Oval for the inside of the card.  I also used the Harlequin Layering Stencil and Forest Moss to add a little pattern over the top.  A Christmas Word band and a Vial Label finish it out.

The Christmas Word Bands come with 12 different saying in one package - all appropriate for Chirstmas wishes.  So 12 cards per package!

Hope this gives you some ideas for using the Harlequin stencil to create cards or tags.  My friend Richele Christensen has a fabulous Christmas card on her blog using the stencils - check it out here.

As a little bonus - I'm giving away 2 of the harlequin stencils!  

You know you want one, right?
 Leave me a comment and I will post the winners on Friday! 
giveaway is now closed

carry on!
paula

InLinkz.com