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

Creative Station (Xyron)

Big Shot (Sizzix)

Eileen Hull Pocket Notebook Die (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

Creepy Crawly Skeleton Journal

Hello, Crafty Friends!! Happy Friday the 13th!!

I'm back with Team Xyron to bring you this creepy crawly mixed media project. And surprisingly, despite its appearance, this project was fairly mess-free! Say what?! I know what you're thinking... How can mixed media be mess-free, right?? Well, the secret is in the Creative Station! Let me show you!

Supplies Used

Big Shot (Sizzix)

Eileen Hull Journal Die (Sizzix)

Chipboard 

Burlap Sheets (DCWV)

Cheesecloth

Creative Station (Xyron)

Black Cardstock (Bazzill)

Chalkboard Paint (Prima)

Pebeo Gilding Wax-  (Crafter's Companion)

Plastic Halloween Skeleton and Bugs Toys/ Favors

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Adornments- Wicked

Tim Holtz Ideology Word Bands- Halloween

Mixed Media Glue (Beacon)

Stapler

I started by cutting my chipboard and burlap materials into 6"x 9" (die-cuttable sized) pieces. I cut out 2 chipboard pieces and 4 burlap pieces.

Then ran the chipboard through my Xyron Creative Station. Once through I flipped it over and ran it back through again to get adhesive on both sides.

I peeled off the protective film then applied the burlap onto both sides of each chipboard.

Once my chipboard was covered on both sides, I used my Eileen Hull Journal Die and Big Shot machine to die-cut two journal covers.

Then I used mixed media glue to adhere the two spines together. Iused the pre-cut holes to line them up evenly and set them aside to dry.

This next step saved me a whole lot of mess and dry time. Usually when people add texture to their projects the "decoupage" it onto their project, slapping on a whole lot of wet glue with a paintbrush or squeegee, or spackle. That process is repeated for each layer. and the more layers you have the longer dry time takes.

To combat both the mess and drying time I found that quickly running my materials through the Creative Station to be an absolute dream!

With the cheesecloth, I didn't even have to completely unfold it. I simply left it double layered (Folded in half) and cranked it through.

I peeled it off like a fabric sticker and added it to my cover. I added creases and folds to the cloth while adhering to create even more texture.

SO SIMPLE, MESS FREE, and INSTANTLY DRY!!

Once I got my cheesecloth in place I worked on my embellishments.

I found these plastic skeletons and bugs and my local dollar stores. 

I deconstructed my skeleton. I snipped and separated the bones for easier posting and placement.

Next, I used more mixed media glue to piece together the skeleton into a desired position. And then I adhered the plastic bugs and set aside to dry again.

When the glue dried I painted the journal cover with Black Chalkboard Pain! I painted over all the plastic pieces and made sure to get between the creases.

I applied gilding wax over the raised areas and textured material using my fingertip.

Rubbing the guilding was over top really makes all the raised areas and textured material just pop off all that black!

Then I began the whole process again for the back cover.

I also added a word band that said "bone collector" to the front cover.  I painted it over with more chalkboard paint but rubbed it off so that the paint only remained in the recessed areas.

My cover is so creepy it's giving me goosebumps!

I didn't add texture to the inside but did paint it over with more chalkboard paint and rub over it with more guilding wax.

To fill my journal, I created black paged inserts.

I simply crease an 8.5"x 11" cardstock at the 5.5" and folded in half. I did this for 10 sheets.

Then stapled 5 of those sheets together down the center to create one insert.

Then threaded elastic card through the pre-cut holes and tied them off on the inside. Then simply slid my inserts under each cord to fasten the inserts into the book.

And here is the finished Journal...

FRONT

BACK

How cool is this?!! 

I. LOVE. IT!!

And I hope you do too!!

Thanks for joining me today!!

Hope you have a totally wicked Friday the 13th!!

Until next time...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!

~Mitsy

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This blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products.

The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with each manufacturer, provider, or party in question.

Bugs-N-Kisses

Hello Crafty Friends... 

It's a new month and there is a new challenge over at Pink and Main Challenges!

We are currently on Challenge #18 for the month of February and this month's theme is...

LOVE!

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I decided to make an adorable 

adorable "Bugs N Kisses" card. It will be flying it's way to a dear friend really soon!!

For my card I used a oldie but goodie, and Pink and Main Favorite, called...

Bugs N Kisses

I also used the following Pink and Main products to build my card base...

Stitched Rounded Rectangle Dies

Stitched Rounded Squares Dies

Other Supplies Used

Hello Darlin' Stack (DCWV)

Mega Runner (Xyron)

140 lb Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore)

Stitched Greetings Dies-Ticket Shaped Die (Pink and Main)

Momento Tuxedo Black Ink (Tsukineko/ Imagine Crafts)

Alcohol Markers (Spectrum Noir)

Color Pencils (Spectrum Noir)

White Gel Pen (Sakura)

PITT Artist Pen XS (Faber-Castell)

Grosgrain Ribbon

Glossy Accents (Ranger)

Foam Adhesive Squares (Xyron)

Flower Rhinestones

I stamped my image using Momento Tuxedo Black ink onto Mixed Media paper. Then used a combination of alcohol markers and color pencils to color in my image.

I used a PITT Artist Pen in size XS to create the eyelashes.

I used a white gel pen to add highlights.

I found  both of these gorgeous papers in the Hello Darlin Stack. I cut the pink patterned paper into a 6"x 12" piece of paper, then folded it in half to make a 6"x 6" card. I die cut my folded card with the largest stitched rounded squares die to create the card base.

With the same stitched rounded square die, I die cut the black patterned paper and cut it at 1-1/2 tall. Then attached it to the card base using my Xyron Mega Runner.

Then, I attached grosgrain ribbon along the top of the black patterned paper and trimmed off the excess.

I trimmed down my image using the second largest Stitched Rounded Rectangle die and attached foam adhesive square to the back and mounted it onto my card, over the ribbon. 

I used more grosgrain ribbon to make a bow and I trimmed it to give them "dove tail" ends. Then attached it to my card with clear adhesive.

I die cut a ticketed label from yellow patterned paper I found in the same paper stack, and stamped "hugs N kisses" with more Momento Tuxedo Black ink. Then, I used more adhesive to prop up my "ticket".

Lastly, I used Glossy Accents to attach little rhinestone flowers and added a little sparkle with my Wink of Stella pen over the little cuties' butterfly tummy and heart on her wings.

And here is my finished card...

I think it turned out sweet enough to make any friend's heart flutter. 

Hope you all enjoyed this quick tutorial!

Until next time... Happy Crafting!!

~ Mitsy

Planner Fun

Hello, Crafty Friends!!

Xyron and our Friends at Simple Stories have partnered together to bring you today's super easy project! And this lucky gal got to play with Simple Stories Bloom and Grow Collection. If you are a garden lover or gnome fanatic this collection is for you!! 

Today, I  will show you how to transform your daily planner for plain and ordinary to bright, cheerful, and most importantly... FUN!!

All you need are a few supplies.

1. A planner

2. Scrapbook Paper / Cardstock ( I used these awesome papers from Simple Stories)

Bloom & Grow Collection Kit

3. Paper Punch or Paper Trimmer

4. Xyron Creative Station Lite
5. Fine Tip Black Marker

Here is a cool way to make your own decorative panels for your planners...

Simply use a paper punch to cut out patterned paper or cardstock. The one I used was a 2 " square punch. This fit nicely into each section.

 I used a combination of a few different papers for my Bloom & Grow Collection Kit. Each paper is double sided adding more coordinating options.

I cut these 9 different squares from only 3 sheets of paper.I love how each of them are different yet still go with and compliment each other.

Then I ran all my 2" panels into the Xyron Creative Station Lite, turning them into decorative sticker panels.

Then I randomly placed them into my planner squares. I love these bright bold colors! The definitely brightened up my pages.

I decorated my pages even further by adding a variety of stickers from my Bloom and Grow kit.

Because I covered up a few of my calendar dates, I used additional stickers to add those missing date back on. You can totally handwrite the numbers back in if you wanted to. I just prefer to do it this way because I loath my handwriting!

As another cool trick I hand drew the shadows to my new numbers. It gives the illusion that the numbers are three dimensional and helps make them pop off the patterned paper.

OMG... look how stinkin cute these gnomes are!! I just had to sneak a couple in for good measure! LOL

I also added a scalloped border to the "Notes" section and also added flowers. The Bloom and Grow also comes with border stickers, you don't have to stick with just decoration your days!! These were a bit long so I used scissors to trim off the excess and continued around the top and bottom of the lined area.

And here is my new decorated planner pages. Now, to fill in my important dates!!

Hope you enjoyed this quick tutorial on how to give your planner pages a crafty and colorful make-over!!

Until next time...
Happy Crafting!!
~Mitsy

Supplies Used

Bloom & Grow Collection Kit  (Simple Stories)
 Xyron Creative Station Lite
PITT Artist Pen S (Optional)
2" Paper Shapers Square Punch (Ek Success)
Planner

Bugs N Kisses

Happy Taco Tuesday!! Sorry, I've been watching the "Lego Movie" one too many times! Beside we're not having tacos today anyway!! LOL

Well, anywho... I've got an adorable cutie patootie card today... made with the uber cute "Bug N Kisses" set by Pink and Main!!

Love these little cuties dressed up like bugs! They are so sweet wearing their little socks and mary-janes! They always remind me of my little girls or even further back when my mom used to dress me up in mary-janes!! Too sweet!

The paper I used is from Craft Smith. The great thing about this company is that not only do all the papers in this stack match each other but other collection easily coordinate with it too! I have mixed this collection with their Tea Party and Natural Luxury Collections as well... and always ended with GORGEOUS results!! 

  

The die I used for the ornate square is manufactured by Darice. I was really pleasantly surprised at the quality of their dies. I had purchased this die set online and before then had no idea Darice made dies. The were extremely inexpensive. A set of 6 nested dies cost under $9. How awesome is that?!!

Of course I had to put a little bling on my card somewhere... so I scattered a few pink sequins here and there... these are just your everyday sequins I picked up in my bead/ jewelry making isle at the crafts store not the scrapbook section (if you label something "scrapbook supplies" companies tend to jack the prices up for some reason). There are lots of varieties, different sizes and colors... don't be afraid to venture out of the scrapbooking isles... you'll never know what kind of treasures you'll find!!

And for my super loopy bow... I tied 2- multi looped bows and tied together to make it seem huger than it really is!! 

Overall, I loved how this card turned out and all the yellows and oranges make me "HAPPY"! Have you ever noticed how bright citrus-y colors tend to do that! I have!!

Well Hope you enjoyed my card for today!!

Hope you have a HAPPY, CRAFTY sort of day!!

~ Mitsy

Supplies Used

Bug N Kisses Stamp Set (Pink and Main)

Nesting Square Die (Darice)

Embossing Folder (We R Memory Keepers)

Patterned paper ( Crafts Smith- Sweet Soiree)

Lt Yellow Polka-dot Paper (Play Shop Hawaii)

Momento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad (Imagine Crafts/ Tsukineko)

Spectrum Noir Markers (GB4,GB5, OR1, CR3, CR5, FS4, FS5, FS6, FS8, TN4, & TN5)

Glossy Accents (Ranger)

Corner Punch (EK Success)

 XS PITT Artist Pen ( Faber-Castell)

Snow White Opaque Marker (Recollections)

Pink Sequins

Orange/ White Twine

Lt Yellow Embroidery Floss