Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Boys Rule!

Hey Crafty Friends...

I am so excited to show you today's project for Xyron. They have partnered up with the an awesome company... Simple Stories, which are known for the way their products come together effortlessly to make beautiful scrapbook pages. 

And I am am over the moon, thrilled!! Because I got to play with their new SO RAD Collection
Supplies Used 
Simple Stories So Rad Collection Kit
Simple Stories So Rad Simple Basics Kit
Simple Stories So Rad Bits &  Pieces
Xyron Creative Station with 9" Permanent Adhesive Refill
Teresa Collins Cut'n'Boss (Craftwell)
Teresa Collins Pocket Dies Memory Collection (Craftwell)
Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities Grand Labels One
EK Success Corner Punch 
Tim Holtz Paper Distresser (Tonic Studios)
Diamond Glaze by Judikins
Corrugated Cardboard
VersaMagic Chalk Ink Pads (Tea Leaves, Jumbo Java, Midnight Black)
Ink Sweeper (Tsukineko)
Faber-Castell Artist PITT pen (XS, M, B)

I just love how these papers can be used as is... elements on the page are designed in a way that you can easily just strap on your pictures and be done or you can take them apart and use the separately... um, yeah ... can you guess which option I chose?!!

This page had both 2x2 elements and 6x8 elements. They can be used as page accents and photo mats... awesome!! I love it when products serve a dual purpose. Besides, I just had to use that wood grain in a layout... just had to!

I started off by cutting that corner panel I was just dying to use. I set that aside. This was going to be a "boy" themed layout.  And then it hit me... Boy. Dirt. Grunge...
CARDBOARD!!


I love the look of naked corrugated cardboard but didn't have the urge to go out and buy a specialty stack of paper just for it... especially when I have tons of mailing boxes laying around. I just removed the top layer and presto just like the store bought ones without the hefty price tag!! And besides you all know how I love to recycle... I love going green wherever I can! Yay!! Win-win!

And how awesome is this I used my wafer thin dies to cut thick cardboard... I just ran it through a couple times to make sure it cut all the way through. But look how awesome my cardboard looks!!


One of the things I love about these Simple Stories papers is that they are double-sided!! EEkk!! The down side ... the patterns on both sides are so awesome it's hard to choose which side to use.

But in this case I got to use both!! I use one side for a mat and the other side I drew a curvy slope and presto I have an accent piece that compliments my mat but looks like an entirely different piece of paper!


I cut out my slope and inked my edges with some chalk inks... and while I'm at it I inked the edges of some elements from the So Rad Bits & Pieces Collection of die cuts.


I rounded my corners then gave the edges a bit of distressing to make them look tattered and worn. Then inked along the edges to make py paper a bit more grungy... gotta love GRUNGE!!


Then, I ran all my distressed pieces through my Xyron Creative Station. From the start I knew my layout was going to have lots of layers and I needed adhesive that was going to stay put and hold op to all the added weight. So especially on big projects like this I always tend to use my Xyron machines and once they're stuck down I know they're not going anywhere.


I cut out these awesome quotes. I quickly just rounded the corners, and inked the edges. Then did the same to a couple photos and ran everything through my Xyron 3"  Sticker Maker.

The pictures I chose were of my boys wrestling on my kitchen floor one morning. I think Sean was 2 going on 3, and Jordan had just turned a year. They were hugging on each other and rolling around. Just boys being boys... and being so adorable at the same time! Why do kids gotta be so darn CUTE at that age?!!


I LOVE LOVE LOVE these Pocket Dies from Teresa Collins and they went perfectly with the entire So Rad Collection!! The pocket dies I used are from Teresa Collins' Memory Collection. The are GORGEOUS!! And my favorite out of all my TC dies! Just gave them a quick run through with more yummy paper.


Now, that all my pieces were prepped and ready, it's time for my favorite part!! Time to peel and stick!!! It is so super fast and easy!! Love seeing everything instantly come together!!


I wanted some of the elements to really stand out... I usually reach for a glitter but thought I'd go for some shine instead. So I added Diamond glaze on top certain elements around the page.



So, I added glaze to all my little aliens.


And on my stars and numbers...


 maybe a gear and some arrows...


What a way to add some bling without any of the frou-frou! It is a "boy" layout after all.


And, WOW, what a huge difference!! I like dimension... oops, strike that! I meant to say, I LOVE dimension!! I seriously think I maybe allergic to anything flat!

Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!! LOL

And here is my finished layout.


I hope you enjoyed today's project!! I loved making this so much that I think I'll be doing
 more boy layouts really soon!!

I hope you all have a CRAFTASTIC day!!

~ Mitsy


Monday, June 29, 2015

Craftwell meets Bella Blvd... take 2!


Hello Crafty friends!! We are kick starting our second week with our fabulous friends at Bella Blvd. I am so privileged to get to work with 2 amazing companies!.Their products work so well together that it makes creating breeze.  Today I have a card that I made in mere minutes... how did I do that? Easy...


Bella Blvd has these awesome 12"x12"  papers that are filled with awesome sentiments and illustrations. I literally can cut up the whole page and make several cards at once!!



 Accent my paper 
panels with my awesome craftwell dies and... 




Tah-dah!!! Instant cards!!

Like this cutie down below.


Here are other cards I made using those panels! Die cut accents are just icing on the cake!! SWEET!!


These two card (above and below) used the same background panel but I airbrushed the one on the bottom with my eBrush for a pop of color!

The color gives an entirely different look!

Supplies Used

Cut'n'Boss by Craftwell
Teresa Collins Pocket Dies
Bella Blvd Papers and embellishments (Color Chaos and Tiny Tots Collections)
eBrush by Craftwell
Spectrum Noir Markers ( PP2, PP4, OR2, GB4, CG3, CG4, TB8)
EK Success 3D Dots
Colored cardstock (black, red, green)
Grosgrain Ribbon
Scissors
Double-sided Adhesive

PLAY with the panels on your paper... You'll be surprised how fun and easy it is!

~ Mitsy

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Mister... you're amazing!!




Hey Crafty Friends, Mitsy here!!!  I'm entering Die-Namites monthly Sketch Challenge and Dare!! 
This month's dare was to create something "manly".
The sketch doesn't have to be exact and can be loose interpretation... which I love. I just need to "somewhat" follow their sketch and make it "manly"... ok, I can do that... I think. LOL
Here is the sketch:

And I used the Die-Namites Small Ivy Die to incorporate into my card. I love that this isn't a flowery die. Flowers are pretty and delicate and some "men" (not all) don't like a card that is too frilly. So these ivys are a great choice.

Small Ivy


This card is for my Father-in-law. I would summarize him as very classy with a bit of old world. He likes to sit outside at night and smoke cigars and read the newspaper. Sometimes my husband and I take the kids over to visit… he’ll come inside and share a bottle of wine with me and my husband and ask about our day, our kids, or my side of the family.  Simple courtesies that in today’s society have become a rarity. He’s a classy man who’s entitled to a classy card.  

I thought the Mister set from Pink & Main would go great with this month's challenge. This is an awesome “Guy” set. I Love how it come with several different mustaches in different sizes, shapes, and even patterns!! But my favorite stamp of this has to be the houndstooth stamp! I also used it to make an awesome background for another card here.


Here is how I put my manly card together...
First, I started off by cutting a scrolled oval from my Spellbinders Floral Oval set. I airbrushed around the edges with my ebrush machine and my Spectrum Noir MArkers in BGR1, BGR2, and BGR3.

Then I used my hat, mustache, and sentiment from Pink and Main's Mister stamps set with my Momento ink pad in Tuxedo Black.
  I wanted a bit of shine on my card and since rhinestone don't appeal to too many men I opted for metallic paper instead. Graffix makes cool metallic cardstock that comes in different color bit I chose their plain silver...


I used my Die-Namics Small Ivy die and cut out 2 ivy branches.

Then I airbrushed the leaves with a black Sharpie marker. Even though I airbrushed the color over the paper it still maintains all the shine of the metallic paper.
I set that on the side.
I made a couple of mats and ran them through my Xyron Creative Station.
I also made a card base and another mat from these awesome dark , masculine paper by Craft Smith... this is from their Natural Luxury stack.
Then I ran all my pieces through my Xyron Creative Station. 

And pieced all my elements together. I decide to add an ostrich feather behind one of the mats at the last minute... I think I like it!

And here is my finished card...


I hope you liked my project!!

Come back and visit for more crafty inspiration!
~ Mitsy




Friday, June 26, 2015

Brutus Monroe, Serena Bee, & Me!

Hello crafty friends!! Today I have something special for you all...
My very first project for Brutus Monroe Stamps!! And even better I get to use the AWESOME new Serena Bee Deadly Desserts stamp set! EEEEEKKK!! 

Ok, if there's one thing you must know about me it is I absolutely LOVE Halloween!! I would celebrate it everyday if I could!! It is my most favorite holiday of the year... I love it even more than Christmas!! And it doesn't help that my birthday is the day before... which just extends my celebrating!! YAY!!

So, this was an absolute WIN-WIN all the way around!! 
Tools & Supplies
Brutus Monroe's Deadly Desserts (Serena Bee Collection)
Spellbinders Nestabilities Floral Ovals
Xyron Creative Station w/ 9" Permanent Adhesive Refill 
Cut'n'Boss
Core'dinations Black Magic Whammy
Canson 150lb Illustration Paper 
Spectrum Noir Markers (HB1, HB2, HB3 PP2, PP4, PP5)
DCWV La Bella Rouge Stack
Bazzill Cardstock 
Momento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad (Tsukineko/ Imagine Crafts)
Anna Griffin Fransesca Lace Embossing Border Folder
EK Success 3D Dots
EK Success 2-way Glue Pen



First, I stamped my image with Momento's Tuxedo Black ink. I'll be using alcohol ink pens to color my image I need an ink that won't bleed when it comes into contact with it and since it's India Ink base it dries permanent. I stamped my image onto illustrator paper because this paper was made for comic and manga artists and made to withstand saturated coloring and control bleeding from alcohol ink markers.


I used My Spectrum Noir Markers in HB1, HB2, HB3  for the purple ones and  to color my cupcake tops. And colored the bottoms in BG1, B2, and BG4 for the bottoms. I also cut a a1/2" x 2" rectangle and stamped my " you are deadly sweet" sentiment on it.


I "fussy cut" each piece and adhered the pieces together with my glue pen. Then attached a foam dot on the back of each to add dimension.


For the background I used a sheet of paper from DCWV's La Bella Rouge Stack and airbrushed it with my eBrush machine in Spectrum Noirs PP2, PP4, HB1, and HB2. Working in chuncks at a time first applying the lights then the dark colors around the edges.

I left the center white for a nice highlighted area.
 I also airbrushed the edges of the little rectangle in BG4.


Here, I used my Cut'n'Boss machine and the largest of my Spellbinders Floral Oval to cut a shape out of black cardstock.


Then I airbrushed the edges of my die cut with a silver metallic Sharpie. I do this because I'm using a lot of dark colors in my card and I didn't want my black cardstock to blend in and get lost from all the black in the background. So adding the silver around the edges gives the oval some definition.

I also ran astrip of Black Magic Coredinations cardstock through my Anna Griffin border die along both edges to emboss my strip. Then I sanded the raised parts off to expose the color underneath.

Finally, I ran my my panels through my Creative Station and assembled my card. As a final touch I added a couple rhinestone flowers.

Here is my final card...



Hope you enjoyed this project and have a very crafty day!!

~ Mitsy