January IAR Challenge- Pure Love Card

Happy Hump Day!! 

It's Wednesday, January 15th, 2020... And that makes this the FIRST official I Am Roses Challenge post of the year!! 

If you've never joined us for a challenge here is how it works...

Contest Details/Rules:

• Contest runs  Jan 15th - Dec 8th (Ends 11:59PM PST)
• Minimum (3) I Am Roses Products
• One project submission per participant
• One winner will be chosen
• Participants will upload their project to their blog or forum, Label it “ JAN IAR Challenge”
• Participants will add a direct link to their project using the InLinkz tool provided. (*if you are unable to use the tool, leave a comment to this blog post and leave a direct link to your project)
• Must Subscribe/or be a Follower of the IAR Challenge Blog
• Winners will be announced alongside the next NEW monthly challenge on the 15th

Here is the breakdown of the Prizes up for grabs:

WINNER (Chosen at Random) $50 Voucher

Top 3 (1st Place) $30 Voucher

Top 3 (2nd/3rd Place) $25 Voucher

Be sure to stop the I Am Roses for more inspiration, link your projects, or see previous winners!!

For this month's challenge, I created this long gorgeous #10 sized card. Valentine's Day will be here real soon and love will soon fill the air! But instead of using red flowers I used it as a background color. It gives my beautiful white blooms a great base and really makes them pop!! Don't you think?!

I Am Roses Supplies Used

White Peonies

White Cottage Flowers

Tiny Green Rose Leaves

Small Green Rose Leaves

Other Supplies Used

Big Shot (Sizzix)

Standard Magnetic Platform (Sizzix)

Tim Holtz Mixed Media #5 (Sizzix)

110 lb Cardstock- White, Black (Recollections)

Red Polkadot Paper (Paper Play House)

Mega Runner (Xyron)

Creative Station (Xyron)

Love Hearts- Sparkletz (Buttons Galore)

Wooden Dowel- Optional

I started with a #10 (9 1/2"x 4 1/8" card base made from black cardstock. A white mat measuring 9 1/4" x 3 7/8". And then my red polka dot mat measuring 9" x 3 1/2".

I ran the red polka dot paper through my Xyron Creative Station then used one of my Tim Holtz Mixed #5 dies and my Sizzix Big Shot with a magnetic platform to cut out a flowery silhouette on one end. I flipped the card over and repeated the same thing on the other end of the card.

Once I had the flower silhouettes cut out, I adhered it onto the white cardstock mat and then onto the black card base using my Xyron Mega Runner.

Then I attached my beautiful White Peonies. I cascaded them toward the bottom. Tucking in small and tiny green leaves under the peonies. 

I saved the stems from the peonies and created little swirly vines by wrapping them around a thin wooden dowel. then tucked those in and glued them in place.

Lastly, I placed my little Love HEarts Sparkletz onto the belt of my Mega Runner to attach adhesive to them and neatly placed each tiny heart around my card.

And here is my finished card...

CLOSE-UPS

There is something about white flowers that is so BEAUTIFUL & PURE! I absolutely LOVE them!!

I love the brilliance of these white peonies against the red background!

It's absolutely breathtaking!!

I really hope you enjoyed my card for today and that it inspires you to create something and join in on the challenge too!

Don't forget to stop on by the I Am Roses Official Blog to see what my wonderfully talented Design Tem sisters have created for this challenge!!

Until next time,

HAPPY CRAFTING!!

~Mitsyana

Mixed Media - Awaken the Soul - Journal

Hi, Crafty Friends!! 

I'm back again with another Mixed Media Journal Project today. Since discovering that I can dramatically shorten the length of time I can put these bad boys together I have been even more addicted to making them!

I can't get enough of Eileen Hull's Journal Die! Journals are so on trend but tend to get very pricey when buying pre-made ones. But with Eileen's Heartfelt Journal die from Sizzix I can make as many as I want whenever I want and customize and personalize each one, making them as extravagant or as minimalistic as I want.

This and my last journal are quite detailed. But just because they're detailed doesn't necessarily mean difficult. Let me show you how I made this journal using unexpected materials.

Supplies Used

Big Shot (Sizzix)

Eileen Hull Heartfelt Journal Die (Sizzix)

Eileen Hull Book & Pages, Trinket Box & Frame (Sizzix)- COMING SOON

Mat Board (Sizzix)

Brick Wall Stencil (Little Birdie Crafts)

Chipboard

Natural Burlap Stack (DCWV)

Corrugated Cardstock (DCWV)

Cheesecloth/ Gauze

Creative Station (Xyron)

Whipped Spackle (Faber-Castell)

Black Chalkboard Paint (Prima Marketing)

Art Alchemy AcrylicPaint - Emerald Green (Prima Marketing)

Art Alchemy Acrylic Paint-Opal Magic Blue Pink (Prima Marketing)

Mechanicals Tin Hearts (Prima Marketing)

Art Ingredients Mélange Art Pebbles (Prima Marketing)

Gilded Life Large Heart Bezel (Spellbinders)

Pebeo Gilding Wax- Silver (Crafter's Companion)

Pebeo Gilding Wax- Empire Gold (Crafter's Companion)

Pebeo Gilding Wax- Renaissance Gold (Crafter's Companion)

Pegasus Pony (Dollar Store/ King Dollar)

Mixed Media Glue (Beacon)

I started by cutting my chipboard, burlap sheet, and corrugated cardstock into 6"x 9" pieces.

Then I ran the CHIPBOARD pieces through my Xyron Creative Station. Once I ran it through I flipped it over and ran it through one more time. This way I have adhesive on both sides. I repeated this for both pieces of chipboard.

Once both pieces of chipboard were covered in adhesive, I peeled back the protective film and attached a burlap sheet to one side and a corrugated sheet to the other. I repeated those steps for the second piece of chipboard as well. These will be my covers.

I ran my covered chipboard through my Sizzix Big Shot using my Eileen 

Hull Journal Die (Corrugated side FACE DOWN, against the blade).

Then added Mixed Media Glue to the spine and adhered them together, Lining them up using the pre-cut holes. Then clipped the ends together with a clip and set a heavy object on top till the glue set.

 While that was drying, I ran pieces of cheesecloth and burlap I randomly cut up through my Xyron Creative Station.

Then applied the burlap and cheesecloth onto the front of my cover.

I die cut a frame from Eileen's NEW Book & Pages, Trinket Box & Frame from white Mat Board. 

I used Little Birdie's Brick wall spackle with some Whipped Spackle to stencil on some texture.

 Once the paste was dry, I ran the frame through my Creative Station, Peeled off the protective film and applied it onto the front cover over the cheesecloth. 

Then added a little fleur de lis metal embellishment to the top of the frame.

Here's a little something unexpected... Just like my last journal, I used plastic toys to build my mixed media piece. I found the plastic pegasus pony at my local King Dollar Store. I love her hot pink color but she's not the prettiest looking pony... but upon further inspection, her wings are absolutely GORGEOUS!! So much detail and texture just in her wings... I just had to take her home and sacrifice her for a greater cause.

Yes, I killed a pony. I'm not a bad person (I promise) but I have to say... I most definitely would and WILL do it again. Sorry kids... Just look away!!

I yanked out her wings... which surprisingly were easy to dismember from her body. Then trimmed off the stumpy plugs off the ends.

WOOT WOOT!! A huge pair of pretty WINGS for a little over $1!! WIN!!

Then, I used mixed media glue to attach the wings to the center of my frame.

And glued a metal heart bezel over top using more mixed media glue. There was quite a bit of a gap so I used some craft foam to fill that uneven space under the bezel.

I used more foam under the tin metal heart and glued it onto the top of the bezel.

While the glue was setting I placed an ink pad between my cover flaps to keep it level so the embellishments don't slide before they set.

Then I added these clear art pebbles for added interest.

Once the glue set, I painted the entire cover and embellishments with black chalkboard paint.

I dry brushed on emerald green and opal magic blue pink acrylic paint over the wings, burlap, pebbles, and bezel.

I ended up repainting the center of the heart and the frame black. I didn't like the grout of my brick green and I wanted the gilding wax to stand out. It really stands out and does best over black.

Then I applied gilding wax over all the metal embellishments and random raised areas along the cover. Rubbers lightly over the grooves in the corrugate, mesh, and burlap... and also tips of the wings and over the brick of the frame.

 I brushed on black chalkboard paint over my Tim Holtz Word Band then rubbed off the excess. I just wanted the paint in the recessed areas in the words. then attached it to the front cover under the frame.

 Then I painted over the back flap and insides with more chalkboard paint and set it aside to dry.

After my journal was dried, I threaded elastic strands through the pre-cut holes and tied the ends into a knot. Then inserted black page inserts I had made earlier... to see how I made my journal inserts, please visit my previous journal making post.

I personally think plain white pages in dark journals look awkward but black pages look amazing!! 

But you can use whatever inserts you like.

And here is my finished journal...

Close Ups

I really enjoyed making this journal! I've been meaning to try more Mixed Media art and I'm so glad I have!! 

I hope you enjoyed to this project and it inspires you to give mixed media a try!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!

~Mitsy

***Disclaimer***

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.

Pocket Art Journal

Hello, Crafty Friends...

I am so excited that you have visited today!! I, as well as my teamies at Xyron, are continuing this week with more awesome projects featuring Maya Road and Xyron products! 

And, the amazing people at Maya Road are having a HUGE GIVEAWAY going on over on their blog too!

They are choosing One Lucky person to win all this... 

an entire Follow Your Bliss Kit!!

For more details on how to enter this GIVEAWAY, click HERE!!

Now, for today's project...

I got the pleasure of indulging in a few yummies from Maya Road to create this

POCKET ART JOURNAL

Featured Products

Geometric Heart Die (Maya Road)         Tulle Mini Booms - Ballet Pink (Maya Road)

Medium Vintage Paper Flowers- Pink

Creative Station Lite (Xyron)                1.5" Sticker Maker (Xyron)

Other Supplies Used

Big Shot (Sizzix)

Eileen Hull Passport Book (Sizzix)

Black Chipboard (Grafix)

The Coral Couture Stack (DCWV Inc.)

Natural Cork Stack (DCWV Inc.)

150 lb. Illustration Paper (Canson)

Glossy Accents (Ranger)

VersaMagic Jumbo Java (Tsukineko/ Imagine Crafts)

Sweeper (Tsukineko/ Imagine Crafts)

Cutterbee Non-Stick Scissors (EK Success)

Sanding block

Hemp Twine

Embroidery Needle

Cheese Cloth 

I started by cutting my 12"x12" sheet of black cardstock in half to measure 6"x12". Because my die to make the album is 13" long my cardstock will not be long enough to cover the whole die. So, I just cover the outlines for the Album Cover and Book Spine. Then run it through my die-cut machine.

I do the while cutting my Book Pages using illustration paper. Covered just the double page outline and run though my die-cut machine again. This is a heavy duty die so I was able to cut multiple layers at a time*. I am able to cut through 2-3 layers of  this 150 lb. paper with ease.

* Just a side note: Do not cut too many at a time. Added pressure may cut through your crease lines. It's always best to test your dies to see what is the best amount for the type of materials you are cutting.

Before I started assembling my book I covered it with pretty paper. I ran my chipboard pieces through my Xyron Creative Staion (faced down). You can tell which side is up by the roundness of the cut edge. The edge of the back side will be more jagged.

Once my pieces were ran through my adhesive, I gave the them a quick rub down to make sure the adhesive was secured and then removed the protective film.

At this point, I examined my paper to see what particular part of the patterned paper I wanted to show up on my panel. Then I attached the pieces ,adhesive side down, to the back of my patterned paper. Then trimmed around each piece using a scissor.

After trimming them, I took a little sanding block and sanded down the edges. Then I used a liquid adhesive to assemble  cover pieces to the spine. I added more patterned paper to cover the spine. Then, distressed the edges of my pieces with brown chalk ink and sponged inking tool.

Then, I hand stitched each page insert into the album using an embossing needle and hemp twine.

I did this in three separate segments. Each segment consisted of  4 double pages (8 pages); for a total of 24 pages.

Each segment was tied off. Then all the loose twine was gathered and tied together to make one knot.

 To decorate the front of my Art Journal, I used the Maya Road Geometric to create a heart out of cork. 

First, I ran a 4"x 4" sheet of cork through my Creative Station Lite. This is the easiest way to add adhesive to your die-cuts. And these dies cut like butter!! It not only cut through the cork but also the protective adhesive backer as well. 

Each cut popped out clean and crisp with pretty much no effort. It practically fell out of my die during removal. 

For  more embellishments, I cut out tiny images from coordinating paper in the same paper stack I used to decorate the covers. Then ran them through my Xyron X Sticker Maker.

I used more liquid adhesive to attach my Maya Road Vintage Paper Flower and Tulle Blooms to the front and tiny piece of cheese cloth; peeled and adhered my Geometric heart; then attached my flag embellishment and butterflies.

And here is my finished project...

Now I have a cute little art journal I can take with me on the go!!

 This journal is so very "SWEET"!! I love making pretty things!

Lots of thick paper to draw, doodle, or even paint on. 

Hope you enjoyed my project for today!!

Don't forget to check out the rest of my DT Sisters on  the Facebook Xyron Page for more Xyron/Maya Road projects....

And just a reminder... Head on over to the Maya Road Blog to see all  the MR Design Team projects AND to enter in their fabulous GIVEAWAY!!

Hope you all have a wonderfully crafty day!!

~Mitsy

February Inspiration Photo and Challenge

Hello, Crafty Friends!! It is already a new month... where is the time going?? Is it just me, or do crafter's always seem to lose track of time? I know when I'm in my craft room "playing", hours seem to just breeze by. And, coincidentally, the same thing happens when I'm shopping at a craft store. Hmmm... I think we crafters enter a different dimension once we cross over any crafty threshold. But, it's just a theory I have, so don't quote me.

Anyway, like I said, It's a new month. A new month means, a new Die-Namites Photo Inspiration Challenge!! WOOT WOOT!! And, with Valentine's Day being just around the corner... well, you know what that means...

Yup, this month's theme... LOVE!!!

You have till the the 28th to link you project ... To find out more info, please visit the 

Die-Namites February Inspiration Photo and Challenge here..

For my project, I was inspire by all the red and golds in the inspiration picture. I also stayed true to the love theme.

Here is what I came up with...

For this project I used the following Die-Namites Dies:

Winged Heart

Budding Branch

Regal Heart

Other Supplies Used

Xyron Mega Runner

Craftwell eBrush

 Cardstock (Bazzill Basics)

Patterned Paper (From stash)

Stencils (Tim Holtz, DCWV)

Sharpie Markers- Bronze, Brown, Green, Red

VersaFine Onyx Black Ink Pad

2Way Glue Pen (EK Success)

3D Dots (EK Success)

Paper Shapers 3" XL Circle Punch (EK Success)

3D Lacquer

Pencil 

Scissors

Sponge Dauber

Lock Charm

I started off by laying my Regal Heart die on the back side of patterned paper and tracing the entire shape of the die and cutting in out.

Then I used the Regal Heart die to cut a heart out of red cardstock. 

I used my ebrush machine an a brown sharpie to shade around the edges of my heart.

I then used a 2way glue pen to adhere the two pieces together.

I then cut out 2 Winged Heart die cuts from white cardstock. The first heart I airbrushed the rose and leave with my ebrush machine and green & red markers. The inked the edges with VersaFine Onyx Black ink and an ink dauber.

The second set of wings, I inked up the edges with the back in again. But cut the heart in half and removed the heart and roses. Leaving only the wings and bottom leaves. Then I eBrushed the wings with a green Sharpie.

Next, I layered the two wings together and mounted my Regal heart with foam adhesive.

For my card base,  I cut my card front down to "x 5.25".

I aibrushed stencil design onto the card front using bronze and brown markers.

I used a 3" circle punch to create a window.

With my Xyron Mega Runner, I adhered my window panel onto black cardstock. And then onto a 4.25" x 5.5" card base.

Before I attached the card front to card base, I added golden branches behind my heart.

I Cut out 2 sets of Budding Branches, trimmed the down to more manageable sized pieces, and tucked them behind the heart. I attached both the branches and lock (onto  the heart)with 3D Lacquer.

And, lastly, mounted the Winged heart onto the card front with foam dots.

And here is my finished card...

I think I really captured the essence of the inspiration picture... even without all the green that was in the inspiration photo.

I hope that this card is able to inspire you!!

Until next time...

Happy Crafting!!

~ Mitsy