Quick & Easy Mermaid Decor

Hi, Crafty Peeps!!
And HELLLLLO, SUMMER!!

Yup, the summer heat is here and it's time to hit the water! You could say I take to it like a fish in water... but I'd say, you're WRONG!! I'm not a fish in water... I'm a MERMAID!

And if you're a mermaid or LOVE everything mermaid, you'll love this quick and easy "Mer"-decor! Yes, Mer-decor is a thing!! Which is why it's a good thing that I am here today with Team Xyron and this week's amazing partner, my good friends from DCWV!! Because I'll be playing with their new Ocean Wonder Stack and it's gonna help take my home decor from awesome to "MERMAZING"!!



Supplies Used
Ocean Wonder (DCWV/ American Crafts)
Glitzy (DCWV/ American Crafts)
Stacked Love with Mermaid SVG File (Kolette Hall Studio)
Creative Station w/ 9" Permanent Cartridge (Xyron)
White Cardstock
Craft Foam
Picture Frame

When I saw this paper I immediately thought of Mermaids! And I found the super cool SVG file by Kolette Hall that was absolutely perfect!



I downloaded it onto my computer and loaded it into my ecal software.

When loaded into my software, the default size was too big for what I had in mind. So I resized it.

I simply adjust the sizing in the panel to the right of the screen. I used the drop-down arrow in the width section (which is simply labeled with a "w") and clicked it from it's 8.563" default sizing till it got to, what I thought was just right, at 7.060".

These pieces are also attached together (by default) and I want to cut multiples to stack them for a thicker three-dimensional look so I right-clicked, then clicked on "Ungroup" to separate them.

I knew I was going to be working with lots of colors and patterns and didn't want them to get lost or distracting. So, I broke it up by adding a .015" border around my "LOVE" word.

Simply, right click on the word, go to "Appearance", then "Add Shadow Layer...".

Then, set the sizing box to 0.15".

You can set what color you want your border to be, and in this case, I wanted it white. But that color blends into my virtual cutting mat. So I simply adjusted the outline to black. Go to the paint palette icon on the right of the screen, Go to "Stroke" box, then click in the color box and choose black.

Now, I can see that awesome border around my words!

I did those same steps to fill in color to my shapes too. but in those cases, I entered my selections in the "fill" box.

Both of these steps are optional, they just help me see what I'm doing better and help me get a better visual of what I am creating.

I separated my shadow onto another cutting mat. Remember, I wanted to create a stacked/ thick chipboard type of look. I only need to stack the shadow to achieve that look. So I duplicated 3 more and spread them over an entire mat.

Cutting multiple images is easier when you group like colors together and cut them all at once.

For the shadow, I cut in plain white cardstock. But for the main LOVE stacked word, I used this AMAZING or should I say MERMAZING fish scaled paper with a beautiful gradient and gold foil outlines and for my mermaid silhouette, I used this gorgeous pink glitter paper (also from DCWV).

I ran all my die cut pieces through the Xyron Creative Station, then layered all the LOVE stacks together.

I wanted the mermaid to have dimension but it seemed pointless to cover a bunch of glitter paper. So instead, I ran a piece of craft foam through the creative station and made my own foam adhesive to prop up my mermaid.

I attached the foam to the back of her head and torso only since her fins will be attached to the LOVE stack.

For my background, I used this deep purple paper with dotted waves. I think it looks a lot like deep sea currents. But it could just be me... HA!

I cut it down to fit inside my 7"x 10" frame... I know... what an awkward size! But use whatever size frame you can find and adjust accordingly.

 I took my stacked LOVE... look how nice and thick this piece is... and attached it to the center of my background paper, then inserted it into my frame and closed it up.

And there ya have it, EASY-PEASY!!



These papers are absolutely GORGEOUS and when the light hits it... Oh my gosh... STUNNING!!

This is clean and simple!

Aaaaaand...

 makes for perfect decor or gift for all those mermaid lovers out there!

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Until next time...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!

~Mitsyana

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Pumpkin Photo Holder

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!

On a desk, on a shelf, or on a mantle...There are pumpkins, pumpkins, everywhere!! 

I'm back again with the Xyron Design Team and today I'm bring you a project featuring fabulous products from Quick Quotes and Xyron to create this Pumpkin Photo Holder!

Supplies Used

Farmhouse Paper Pack (Quick Quotes)

Farmhouse Chipboard Die Cuts (Quick Quotes)

Coral PowderPuff Chalk Ink (Quick Quotes)

Amaretto PowderPuff Chalk Ink (Quick Quotes)

Creative Station Lite (Xyron)

Mini Faux Pumpkin

Martha Stewart Deluxe Paper Trimmer (EK Success)

Leaves (Recollections)

Hot Glue Gun & Glue Sticks (AdTech)

Jumbo Paper Clips (Recollections)

Hemp Twine

Round Nose Pliers

**Optional**

Blue painter's tape

Ruler

 I started off with a small faux pumpkin. These are the ones that look relatively real on the outside but are foam in the inside. The foam core is important and I'll go over why a little bit later.

I measured my pumpkin. You can easily use a measuring tape to get the measurements. But if you don't have one (or if yours grew legs and walked away, like mine are known to do) then here is an alternative... use blue painters tape!!

Just measure from the center top to the bottom center and run your tape down the side of you r pumpkin. When you get to the center, tear the tape. Lay the tape next to your ruler and measure.

Now, you have the exact measurements you need to create strips to cover your pumpkin. My 4" pumpkin needs strips that are 6.25" long. I trim them to 6.25" long by 1" wide. For my the pumpkin shown I needed a total of 17 strips.

 Once my strips were all cut, I inked all the edges using the Quick Quotes' PowderPuff Chalk Ink in Coral.

Then crumpled each strip. This breaks down the paper fibers and makes it more pliable.

Then I opened the strips back up and flattened them out.

doing this also give a really nice distressed look to the papers.

Next, I ran all my strips through my Xyron Creative Station using a permanent adhesive cartridge.

Then simply peeled and applied the strips onto my plastic pumpkin, slightly over lapping each strip and working my way around to make sure there were no gaps.

To make the wire holders, I took jumbo paper clips and straightened them out before re-bending them with round nose pliers and curling them into spirals. 

I didn't worry about them being perfectly rounded and actually really liked the wonky look to these!!

Next, I took a piercing tool and poked small holes into the top of the pumpkin. This is where that foam core is important... if this was a hollow pumpkin the wires would not stand snug and securely. I applied hot glue to the tips of my wire before inserting for permanent placement.

Then, I inked a few leaves with more chalk ink. I little inked the tops with more Coral and the edges with Amaretto. And before the ink dried, I took a water brush and blended the inks out to soften the colors and make it look more natural.

So far it is STINKIN CUTE!!!

But I can never leave well enough alone...

So... I glued a chipboard sign to the center holder and made a hanging sign to tie around the pumpkin. 

EEEEKKK!! LOVE IT!!

And here is my finished 

PUMPKIN PHOTO HOLDER

Ready to give as a gift or put out for display!

I think this one will be going with hubby to put on his desk at work!!

Hope you enjoyed today's project!!

Until next time...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!

~Mitsy

Altered Christmas Frame

Hey, Crafty Friends!! The most wondeful time the year is fast approaching! That means  it's tie to swith our crafting into over drive so we can make all those holiday crafts before the actual holiday get's here!! And today I have a altered picture frame to share with you all today.

Supplies Used

Cut'n'boss (Craftwell)

Teresa Collins Poocket Dies- Thankful, Memory Collection (Craftwell)

eBrush (Craftwell)

Creative Station (Xyron)

Mega Runner (Xyron)

Picture Frame w/ Photo Mat

Spectrum Noir Markers

Sharpie Markers

Patterned Paper

Craft Cardstock

Gold Foil Cardstock

Diagonal Stripes Embossing Folder (Darice)

Script Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug)

Diamond Glaze ( Judikins)

Hemp Twine

Button

I started off with an inexpensive picture frame I picked up at my local dollar store. It was just a little too blah for me but i knew I ccould dress it up.

I took the mat out of my frame and measured my sides. My mat mesure at 8'x 10" and is 1-1/2" thixk on all sides.

I cut  (2) 10"x1-1/2" peices and  (2) 8"x 1-1/2" pieces out of my patterned paper... which in this case had this pretty cool crackle looking finish to it. 

I cut the end of my strips at a 45 degree angle using my frame and rule as a guide and drawing a line from corner to corner and then I repeated it for all four sides

Then I ebrushed my edges to give it an even more distressed look.

Once that was done, I ran all my trips through my Xyron Creative Station.

Then attached it to my photo mat.

Now it looks like aged painted wood... pretty good for being all paper, huh??!!

Using the insert that comes with the frame... you know which one I'm talking about... the picture of thhe family that isn't yours... yeah, thaat one... I used it as aguid to where to center my picture. It's pre-cut to fit the frame and the pic is already centered to fit exactly into the mat. Takes all the guess work out so I don't have to measure a thing. Then I simply used my Xyron Mega Runner and aadhered my photo. And presto, PERFECT FIT!!

I like the new crackled paint over wood effect that my frame was now sporting but I wanted to kick it up a notch. So, I used my cut embooss machine and cut out some trees using Teresa Collins dies out of craft cardstock.

Then embossed it.

Then I used my ebrush to color over the embossing and sanded it with a saanding block. This exposed the craft paper underneath the raised areas. Then I trimmed then sides of my Christmas trees to fit onto theside f my frame.

Here are more Teresa Collins die cut pieces I made using gold foil cardstock and more craft stock. I ebrushed all the crasft cardstock and left the gold foil pieces alone.

When I first put together my frame, I had only planned to have only the twine bow at top. But it seemed kind off and the yellow tones were making my girls look like theey visited the taanning salon one too many times... their skin appeared orange when it took photos of my frame...

I know I didn't birth oompa loompas so I needed a solution to their orange skin problem

Well, problem solved...

And even though they're the exact same color in both the above and below pics... the Green sprigs balances out and tones down the orang looking skin. My children are naturally tanned but they're not "THAT" tanned!! LOL

Here are some close-ups of the frame so you can see the dimension and texture better...

Well, hope you enjoyed my project for today!!

Until next time...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!

~Mitsy

eBrushed Mixed Media Layout

Hello Crafty Friends... For today's project I went waaaay out of my comfort zone and did my very first mixed media layout. I've always wanted to give mixed media a try but was too scared to, but after this I can honestly say that it wasn't as scary as I thought it was going to be. I learned that any mistakes I thought I made were easily forgiven with more distressing and a lot more color. 

Supplies Used:

eBrush by Craftwell with the Spectrum Noir (SN) & Sharpie (SP) adapter heads

Crafter's Companion's Sheena Decorative Stencil- Nature

Spectrum Noir Markers (True Black, TN8, PP2)

Sharpie (Gold Metallic)

Tim Holtz Layering Stencils- Splatters & Measured

Sizzix Dies - Jelly Frames & Decorative Accents 

Hero Arts Stamp- Raindrop Background

Moment Ink Pad- Tsukineko (Tuxedo Black)

Gesso 

Mod Podge

Lace

Cheese Cloth

Patterned Paper (Fancy Pants- Fancy Free Collection)

Chipboard

Flat Back Pearls

Assorted Paper Flowers (Prima Marketing Inc.)

Bling (Prima Marketing Inc.)

Homemade Modeling Paste

I started by adhering a piece of patterned paper to a 12"x12" piece of chipboard. This will help prevent warping and keep my work surface flat. I then tore random pieces of coordinating patterned paper and glued and sealed it with Mod Podge onto the page.

Then, I stamped my layout using my Hero Arts' Raindrops Background stamp in Momento ink.

After stamping I created texture with my modeling paste and my Tim Holtz stencils in random areas around my page. Then I ebrushed over those same areas in my Spectrum Noir markers PP2, TN8, and True Black. The absolute best thing about ebrushing color onto my page is that there is virtually no drying time on the ink. So I can move right to the next step! 

I cut 3 frames from my patterned paper with my Sizzix Jelly Frame die and saved the centers on the side. I ebrushed the frames using my Spectrum Noir Marker in TN8 in the Spectrum Noir (SN) adapter.

I used my Sizzix Decorative Accents die and cut this regal shape out of chipboard. I then painted it with gesso then sprayed it with my eBrush with my Sharpie (SP) adapter and Gold Metallic Sharpie and then with my Spectrum Noir True Black marker again in the (SN) adapter around the edges.

I also used my eBrush to spray silhouettes from my Sheena Nature stencil onto the centers of my two of my 3 frames. For this I used my Spectrum Noir marker PP2 in my Spectrum Noir (SN) adapter head. 

I adhered all my frames and their centers onto a sheet of craft paper. Then I cut them all out creating solid pieces.

I also ebrushed my cheese cloth in Spectrum Noir TN8 to give it a more worn and aged look. Again no drying time!! Yay! 

I adhered lace and cheese cloth to my page with Mod Podge and then added all my finished pieces die cuts over top with more Mod Podge. This ensures a very strong hold. 

Lastly, I added my Prima flowers topped with flat back pearls and bling to the page. 

I hoped you like this project as much as I enjoyed making it!

Thanks for stopping by!!

~ Mitsy