Monday, October 21, 2019

Creepy Skull Trio- Easy Mixed Media with Xyron

Hey, Crafty Guys & Ghouls...
I'm baaaaaack!! And this time with some spooky mixed media! I created this Creepy Skull Trio Journal for Team Xyron... It will be a cringe-worthy piece to add to anyone's Halloween collection.

Let me show you how I simplify my mixed media creations with the help of my Xyron Creative Station!




Supplies Used
Big Shot (Sizzix)
Black Chipboard (Graffix)
Black Gesso (Golen)
Gilding Wax (Pebeo)
Black Netting
Cheesecloth
Plastic Bugs
Plastic Skulls
2mm Elastic Cording (Darice)
Strong Liquid Glue 
Tweezers
Non-Stick Scissors
Paintbrush (Prima Marketing)
4" x 6" Notebooks
Clothes Pins (Optional)

I love making little books and journals. They are great as gifts but also make wonderful home decor.
I love to display my finished pieces on my living room mantle and they are always an eyecatcher.

For this book, I used Eileen Hull's new Pocket Notebook Die to create the base and cut 2 panels from black chipboard using my Sizzix Big Shot.

I use strong liquid glue on the spine to attach the two panels together. I secure them in place with clothespins till the glue sets.


While the glue is setting, I cut 2 8"x 8" pieces of black netting. I ran each piece of netting through my Xyron Creative Station. I make sure to burnish each piece with my bone folder for maximum adhesion to the netting. 

Then, I peel them off the protective film an attach the netting to the outside my book cover.

For me, using my Creative Station and adding adhesive this way. cuts down my creative process time by at least half. A lot of wet adhesive mediums take hours and sometimes days to fully dry. By adhering my materials this way, I save myself a lot of unproductivity and unnecessary waiting.


Next, I used non-stick scissors to trim off any excess or hangovers.


I found these little plastic skulls at the dollar store... loved their dimension but their heads stuck too far out. So, I cut the back half of their skulls off. These skulls were hollow so they were very easy to cut just using scissors.

Then, I added glue along the rim an attached the skulls onto the front of my journal cover.


To hide any glue, I shrouded the skulls with little wrapped hoods.

I created each hood by running layers of cheesecloth through my Xyron Creative Station and cutting them into strips and draped the cloth over and around each head.


After I've hooded the skulls, I attache plastic insect toy figures to the front and back cover.

Then coated everything with black gesso. 

Gesso dries fairly quickly. And once my gesso was dried, I used my finger to rub gold gilding wax over the raised areas. 


I wanted to have texture on the inside of my journal cover, so I ran more cheesecloth through my Creative Station and adhered it to the inside flaps. Then covered the entire inside with more black gesso.


I threaded 2mm black elastic coring through the pre-cut holes in the journal using needle-nose tweezers. 

Then inserted premade 4"x6" notebooks under each elastic band. These books were a good-sized thickness, so I used only 3 books to fill my journal cover. 


And here is my finished book...



I absolutely love how simply painting my project completely black then rubbing a metallic wax over the raised areas can look so awesome!!

Check out all the amazing dimension...

Front Cover

Look at all that texture and detail just pop!!  Look at the texture on the fly wings and those teeth on those skulls... WOW!!

Back Cover

The Entire Outer Cover

I hope this project doesn't give you too many heebee-jeebees!!

I think it is totally wicked!!

I hope it inspires you to try this mixed media hack and create something spooktacular of your own!!

Happy Haunting!
~Mitsyana

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Trick Or Treat Yo'self- Halloween Card

Hey, Guys & Ghouls...
I'm back again and this time with the creepy-cute Halloween card using Maker's Movement's new Trick Or Treat Yo'self stamps & dies! 
Did, I ever mention before that I absolutely LOVE Halloween?! Well, I do!! Immensely! 

In fact, when I saw this Trick Or Treat Yo'self set, I knew I just had to have it! These characters look almost like little voodoo dolls... but cute ones! They were just screaming to be made into a card. And that's exactly what I did. Let me show you how...


Supplies Used
Trick Or Treat Yo'self stamp (Maker's Movement)
Trick Or Treat Yo'self Die Set (Makers Movement)
Crossover II (Crafter's Edge)
Mega Runner (Xyron)
Watercolor Paper 
 110 lb White Cardstock (Recollections)
110 lb Black Cardstock ( Recollections)
MISTI (My Sweet Petunia)
Verasafine Onyx Black Ink (Tsukineko/ Imagine Crafts)
Twin-tip Markers (Derwent Academy)
Waterbrush Pen
Star Stencil
Distress Oxide Ink- Carved Pumpkin, Salty Ocean, Blueprint Sketch
Lucky Clover, Mowed Lawn (Ranger Ink)
Washi Tape
Button Shank Remover (Buttons Galore)
Life Changing Blender Brushes (Picket Fence Studios)



I started by collecting my supplies. In an attempt to keep my dies together and to save time, before stamping my images, I usee my to help with stamp placement. I slid each coordinating stamp under its matching die. 

I only snipped the inner dies and separated them out those images could be stamped and cut separately. To snip apart the inner dies I used a button shank remover I had on hand.


Once I had my stamps positioned accordingly, I removed the dies, closed the lid and adhered the stamps to my MISTI. Then inked my images using Verasafine Onyx Black Ink.


I used my Derwent Twin-tip Markers to color the images then blended it out with a water brush.

After coloring my images, I used the matching Trick and Treat Yo'self dies to die-cut them out using my Crossover II machine.


For my card front, I  wanted to create a starry skyline. So I used washi tape and taped
off the upper section of the cardstock. I placed my stencil over the paper and inked on Carved PumpkinSalty Ocean, & Blueprint Sketch Distress Oxide inks with my Life Changing Blender Brushes.
                                                                                                


I removed the stencil then brushed on more ink over the stenciled background. Carved Pumpkin over the Pumpkin stars, Salty Ocean over the Salty Ocean stars, and Blueprint Sketch over the Blueprint Sketch stars. 


Then I retaped the skyline and expose the uninked bottom portion. I blended on and covered the entire bottom with Mowed Lawn Distress Oxide ink. Then blended the edges with some Lucky Clover.


I removed the washi tape and stamped along the horizon with the fence stamp with more Verasafine Onyx Black Ink.


Then stamped "Trick or Treat Yo'self" at the bottom corner.


I used my Xyron Mega Runner to attach the card front to a black 


Before attaching my images, I wanted to give them a bit of dimension... so I ran a sheet of craft foam through my Xyron Creative Station., flipped it over and ran it through a second time to create my own DIY foam adhesive.

I cut out the amount I needed and attached it to the back of my colored images, then mounted them onto my card front.


And here is my finished card...



These little guys came out so stinking cute!!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and are it inspires you to create your own spooktacular Halloween scene!

Thanks so much for stopping by 
AND 
CREEP IT REAL, Crafty Peeps!

See you all next time!!
~Mitsyana

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

I Am Roses October Challenge- Thank You Card


Hello, Crafty Friends!!
It's October 15th and time for another I Am Roses Challenge!! 
I may be a bit biased but October is my favorite month of the year- let me tell you why... 
  1. Out with hot weather, in with the sweater weather.
  2. Fall. Pumpkins. Scarecrows, & Hay Rides.
  3. It's my birthday month!
  4. Let's not forget Halloween!! CANDY!! "Nuff said!!
And with all those wonderful things in mind, I decided to create this gorgeous fall-inspired Thank You card for my challenge project.



I Am Roses Supplies


Other Supplies
Big Shot (Sizzix)
Tim Holtz Skeleton Leaves (Sizzix)
Tim Holtz Funky Floral #2 (Sizzix)
Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink- Fired Brick (Ranger Ink)
Natural Corrugated Cardstock (DCWV)
 Luxury Cardstock- Precious Metals (Crafter's Companion)
Autumn Leaves (DCVWV)
110 lb. Kraft Cardstock (Recollections)
110 lb. White Cardstock (Recollections)
Mega Runner (Xyron)
Metal Thank You Embellishment (Momenta)
Life Changing Blender Brushes (Picket Fence Studios)
Quick Grip (Beacon)


I started by creating a #10 (9 1/4"x 3 7/8") card base from kraft cardstock. Then layered it with a 9 1/8" x 3 3/4" piece of white cardstock, followed by a 9" x 3 5/8" piece of corrugated cardstock and used my Xyron Mega Runner to attach the layers together.

I cut a piece of patterned paper from DCWV's Autumn Leaves Stack an attache it to the card front. I made sure to make it as wide as the corrugate and torn on both ends. Sadly, this stack has been discontinued- but a digital download version is available through AC Digitals.


I ran a small piece of white cardstock through my 3" Disposable Sticker Maker then die-cut four sprigs using my Big Shot machine and Tim Holtz's Funky Floral #2  dies. 

Then I inked on Distress Oxide Ink in Fired Brick with one of the small Life Changing Blender Brushes by Picket Fence Studios.


I also die-cut some Tim Holtz Skeleton Leaves from Rose Gold Luxury Cardstock. I forgot to back my paper with adhesive first, so I quickly ran my die cuts through my 3" Disposable Sticker Maker

For intricate dies like this, I suggest running your paper through your with adhesive BEFORE die cutting, I found out the hard way that the adhesive through littler holes in metallic paper isn't forgiving. OOPS!! Avoid sticky residue and smudges by adding adhesive first, then die-cutting.


Once your intricate piece is properly done, I peeled the protective film backer off halfway and snipped off the peeled off film. This way my I can bend and shape my die-cuts and adhere them to my project and still add dimension and not just have them lay flat.

I added both the leaves and sprigs this way. Took off only half the backer, attached it to my card, then shaped it.

Once the leaves and sprigs and leaves were attached, I started on my floral bouquet.

I used a Large Romantica Rose as my center, followed by two Chocolatey Fall Tone Peony Flowers, and tucked in Arabian JasmineSemi-Open Rose Buds, and sprinkled in a few white Achillea Cottage Flowers and used a sturdy liquid glue to attach them in place.


I used white pigment ink to lightly sponge the tips of my orange flowers.

Then decided that my little sprigs were slightly too light... so I brushed on more Fired Brick ink onto them. I covered the surrounding area with a tissue to protect it from getting inked.


Look at how much more they pop!

Finally, I just added a simple metal embellishment with the words thank you and my card was done.


And here is my finished card...




I really love how those orange and browns catch your eye!

I hope you enjoyed my card and are inspired to play along in our challenge!!

For more gorgeous inspiration from my fellow teamies and details to enter, how to link a project, or what kind of amazing prizes are up for grabs, please visit the I Am Roses Challenge Blog HERE.

Until next time...
HAPPY CRAFTING!!
~Mitsyan


Thursday, October 3, 2019

Eileen Hull Release- Foolish Mortals Pocket Notebook


Pocket Notebook Release Party

Welcome to the Pocket Notebook Release Party! This is Eileen Hull’s newest book die with
Sizzix. On the die, you get all of the pieces you need to make an entire book- the cover, pages,
latch and pen loop! The Pocket Notebook measures 6 3/4” x 4 1/2” with a spine that can
adjust from 3/8” to almost 2”!

String it with elastic, hemp, ribbon or twine. So many options for this fun die! Eileen’s Inspiration and Educator teams have combined options to show us their amazing
Pocket Notebook ideas.

Please follow the Blog Hop to see all of the fabulous projects, techniques, and videos! There are also two GIVEAWAYS- the Pocket Notebook die and a gift certificate for Eileen’s

To,  enter to win, leave a comment on each of the posts. Winners will be announced
on Tuesday, October 8 on Eileen’s Facebook Live show.

**The Full BLOG HOP LINE-UP will be listed below**

Thanks for hopping along with us today!
Let me start off by saying... I am a Halloween JUNKY!! It is absolutely my most favorite holiday EVER!! So I love any and everything Halloween-y! And that includes all the creepy-crawly things that go bump in the night, like SKELETONS & BUGS!

So with that in mind, I created this ghoulishly delightful piece...


If this tickles your Halloween fancy, let me show you how I created it...

Supplies Used
Mat Board (Sizzix)
Burlap (DCWV)
Cheesecloth/ Gauze
2"x3" Ornate Picture Frame (Recollections)
Skeleton Toy
Pegasus Pony toy 
Black Chalkboard Paint (Prima Marketing)
Gilding Wax (Pebeo)
Crown Charm
Tim Holtz Idea-ology -Adornments- Wicked (Advantus)
Tim Holtz Idea-ology -Adornments- Typed Tokens- Halloween (Avantus)
Tim Holtz Idea-ology -Word  Bands- Incantations (Avantus)
Metal Brads
Beaded Garland
Jump Rings
Quickgrip (Beacon)
Black Twine
Black Mat Board (Grafix)
110lb Black Cardstock (Recollections)
Jewelry Making Tools
Button Shank Remover (Buttons Galore)
Nail File or Fine Grit Sandpaper
2mm Black Elastic Cord
Long Reach Stapler

I'm gonna let you in on a little secret... I love toys... shhh, don't tell anyone! But more importantly, I love to incorporate toys into my creations. So I love to keep them in my crafting arsenal. But you don't need to spend big bucks to get an amazing project, I found these cool items at the dollar store! 

It's Halloween and you can find skeletons aplenty everywhere! I picked this skelly garland up and untied one from his noose. 

And... what little girl doesn't love pretty ponies?? Well, this girl is no exception... so, this pretty little thang is going on my project too!! Or should I say,  just her wings?? Yup, I ripped those suckers off and now she's wingless- Oh no, that's so sad... ok, I'm over it. LOL


I'll start on first prepping my boney friend...

I had some really cool charms my amazing friend, Eileen Hull, had sent me. In the batch, I found this cool crown charm. It had two rings on each end that I didn't need, so I cut them off using a button shank remover. Then I filed down the jagged edges with a nail file.

Once the edges were smooth, I glue the crown to the skeleton's forehead.


I laid him face down till the glue hardened. Then severed his pelvis from his spine using kitchen shears... Wow, sounds kind of gruesome! 

I set his pelvis and legs aside- I'll incorporate them later. They're in perfect condition... I don't want to waste a perfectly good pelvis!

Now, we bring in the wings...

I painted both the upper torso and pegasus wings with black chalkboard paint.


 I removed the backing of the ornate frame to get rid of bulk and painted that too with chalkboard paint then set all the pieces to the side to dry.


Now onto the main part... building my pocket notebook.

I die-cut white Mat Board using Eileen Hull's Pocket Notebook Die using a Big Shot Plus machine.

Then ran sheets of burlap through my Xyron Creative Station and attached them onto my notebook panels.


I made sure to burnish the burlap with a bone folding tool for maximum adhesion.

I added clear drying liquid glue to the spines and connected the spines together and used a couple of clothespins to hold my spines together till the glue set and dried.

Then, ran some cheesecloth through my Xyron Creative Station too and attached it to the front panel.


I added glue to the back of the frame an attached it onto the cheesecloth.

Then, glued the painted wings and skeleton onto the frame.

Next, I took a little spider adornment and cut off the little charm shank and filed down the sharp edges and attached it to my skelly's chest.


Then, I painted the entire notebook (back, front, and the reverse) with more chalkboard paint.


Once the paint was dried, I attached a word band with brads onto the cover.

Then, using my finger, rubbed gilding wax over the surface of the brads, band, and all the raised surfaces of the entire notebook cover.


I finally got back to my pelvis and dangly legs...

Using a piercing tool, I poked a tiny hole through my tailbone. And painted the lower body with more chalkboard paint. Then, rubbed gilding wax over the raised surfaces. And hooked a tiny jump ring through the hole.


For the inside of the notebook...

I decided I wanted a pocket on the inside front cover, so I die cut one from black chipboard using Eileen Hull's Gift Card Folder & Label. I folded the mat board along the creases and glue the overlapping edges together. Again, I used a clothespin to hold it in place till they dried.

For the cards, I found some cool Halloween cobweb paper in my stash. When I die-cut the pocket from the black chipboard, I also die-cut cards out of it too. I covered the fronts of the cars with the cobweb paper and attached a small spider to the top of each along with bows made from black twine.


Then placed my cards in the inside pocket. 

My Inserts were nothing fancy just pieces of folded 110lb black cardstock die-cut using the Pocket Notebook Die that I stapled together with a long-reach stapler.


And here is my finished Notebook... 



I also decorated the spine by stringing this gorgeous beaded garland down the side. I attached charms more to the ends.


I also strung some nylon cording from the jumpring I attached to the tailbone and tied it to the top center hole in the book spine to use the skelly legs as a bookmark/ place keeper.


I absolutely LOVE how this turned out... It's so CREEPY COOL that it's AWESOME!!


I hope you enjoyed my project & tutorial!

CREEP IT REAL, GUYS & GHOULS!!
~Mitsyana

AND...

Don't forget to visit my amazingly talented crafty sisters for more amazing Pocket Notebook projects and leave a comment on each blog to be entered into the GIVEAWAY!!

**BLOG HOP LINEUP DESIGNERS**

Mitsyana Wright (YOU ARE HERE)