Mixed Media Card Design

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.  We are 'enjoying' a tough winter, the worst in over 20 years.  We got a foot of snow this weekend along with a blizzard, but today the sun was shining and the snow looks beautiful.  

I have a card today that I used a little mixed media to create.   

I started with mixed media cardstock and added a layer of Gesso.  After drying I covered it with a piece of Tim Holtz Tissue using a Gel medium.    I added texture with TCW Harlequin stencil and light molding paste and let it dry.  Next I sprayed Dylusions inks and painted with Silks acrylic glaze.   I added some gold and green Inka Gold wax on the raised pattern.   I coloured the tissue (on the butterfly) with Inktense pencils.

Art is from Chocolate Baroque's Artistic Expressions and the final step was to add some metal charms.

And here is a photo of one our cats, Archie, who was quite 'chill'.   It was tough to get a photo from the angle, but you get the idea.... crossed arms & legs :)

 

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your week,
Shirley

Because I Care

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.

I have card today that was 'quick to make' using Chocolate Baroque's gorgeous new sets Tranquility and Serenity.  I thought this would work for an occasion when you want to cheer someone up or even as a sympathy card. 

The background behind the tree and bird was created with alcohol inks on glossy paper.    I stamped the tree and bird from Serenity and sentiment from Pretty Poppies with black Archival Ink.   The second background was created with Seedless Preserves Distress Ink using the Acrylic block technique.  I over stamped with the vine from Tranquility using Seedless Preserves DI.   

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day,
Shirley

Colourful Zendoodle Lady

Hello everyone, I hope you had a super weekend.   It's a bit dreary and cold here, but we are doing well.

I found time during the holidays to play in my Art Journal and created this Zendoodle lady.   Her eyes are a bit intense, but it's just a doodle drawing. 

It was fun to create this page as I enjoy doodling.   I sprayed a little Dylusions around her and used Distress Ink with a stencil.   I coloured the tangle & doodle patterns with Inktense pencils and the lady with Neocolour II crayons.  The words are from Chocolate Baroque's Artistic Expressions set which are excellent to use in journals.

Below is the full page:

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by,
Shirley

Unwrap a Beautiful Day & Blog Candy Winner !

Happy Weekend everyone !

I have a card to show this evening but will start with announcing the winner of my Blog Candy.   I used Random Org, numbers 1 - 56 and the number that came up was  17.  The 17th comment was from Ros C.  Congratulations Ros!   The package will be flying all the way to Australia!    I will contact you to get your information.

I appreciate everyone's kind support & comments, you make blogging so much fun.

I used a large background & sentiment stamps by Chocolate Baroque for the card below.   After I spent some relaxing time colouring the background with Prisma Pencils I had to decide what I was going to with it.  I really didn't want to cover much up but I love this beautiful sentiment and added it.

 
I stamped Big Bold Background - Wildflower with brown dye ink on a mauve tone sheet of Basic Grey paper.   However I've covered the ink by colouring with the Prisma Pencils which I love using.  I added highlights with a white Gelly Roll pen.     "Make a Wish" is from Loving Sentiments.    I added stickles to the body of the die cut butterflies.  

Dies:   Spellbinder Labels 4 (S4-190) and Cheery Lyn Designs Small Butterfly DL112

Here's a look at the Big Bold Background - Wildflower stamp: 

Have a Beautiful Day and Congratulations again to Ros !
Shirleyx

Joy is Not in Things

Hello everyone !  I hope you are doing well and enjoying this month.    I would like to extend a big welcome to all the new followers.  Thank you so much for your interest in my blog.

I have another Buddha Lady from Chocolate Baroque's gorgeous new Serenity A5 set.  

The background is Turquoise Dylusions Ink over stamped with various images from Tranqulity, Serenity, Wisteria Lane, and the bubble edge from Decorative Edges with Peacock Feathers and Picked Raspberry Distress Inks and highlighted with Prisma Pencils.   The background landscape behind the Buddha is sponged Distress Inks using ripped paper and a circle cut-out.   The fantastic sentiment is from Words of Inspiration.

I cut the Buddha out (removed the structure she was in), coloured with Prisma Pencils and popped up her up.   I added some glitter to her lotus seat.

Thanks for visiting and have a great day,
Shirley

Art Journal Journey - Silence

Hello everyone,

I have an Art Journal page today for this months' Art Journal Journey challenge - Silence.     I enjoy silence very much, I don't like a lot of noise for extended periods.    I like silence in the garden, when I'm sleeping, reading, creating and when sitting by the water enjoying the view.     My Journal page is a underwater scene where I imagine it's very silent.

The background is Dylusions inks (London Blue, Vibrant Turquoise, Calypso Teal & Linen).

I added pattern with TCW Stencils:  Circle Explosion & Coral with Mowed Lawn and Picked Raspberry Distress Inks

Design by Ryn stamps:
  Sea Bubbles - stamped in white pigment ink, highlighted with Gelly Roll pens
  Rising Bubbles - stamped with Colbalt Archival Ink, painted and highlighted
  Seaweed Set - open design, stamped with Colbalt Ink and highlighted with a white Gelly Roll pen
  Kelp - stamped with Mowed Lawn Distress Ink
  School of Fish - stamped with Colbalt Ink
  Wanda (the Angel fish) & Seahorse Set - coloured with Tombow markers & decoupaged

Voice of the Sea is by Impression Obsession ( C5053)

If you would like a chance to win my blog candy, please leave a comment at this post here.  I'll make the draw on January 17, 2014.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day,
Shirley

Blog Candy - 200 Followers

Hello everyone,  

When I started my blog  2+ years ago, I never imagined 200 followers would join along with all the visitors that stop by.   Blogging is great fun, I've met so many talented and friendly people all over the world who inspire me with their beautiful designs.  Also, your kind comments are always greatly appreciated.

As a way to say 'thank you' and to celebrate,  I have a little stash of unused stamps that I've been saving for the day I reached 200 followers to give out as a prize.

If you would like to be included in the draw to win the blog candy above - (Stamps by Outlines, IO & the Artful Stamper along with pearl & rhinestone bling) - please leave a comment at the end of this post.    I'll draw a winner using Random Org from the comments on Friday, January 17th and announce who it is by January 18th.   In fairness to my loyal followers, you need to be a follower to win.

And below is a tag that I recently created using Designs by Ryn stamps.   (I used Spiral Branch, Sea Bubbles, Rising Bubbles and Starfish set)  

You are all amazing, thank you so much for your wonderful support,
Have a great day and Good Luck !
Shirleyx

Texture and a Lotus Flower

Hello everyone, I hope 2014 is starting out wonderful for you.

I have another design today using images from Chocolate Baroque's beautiful Serenity and Tranquility A5 sets.

I started by creating texture using a fan design stencil (by Existencil - Expressions) with light molding paste.   After letting it dry I sprayed with Dylusions inks (Cut Grass, London Blue & Turquoise) and rubbed Inka Gold over parts of the raised areas.    I stamped the water Irises from Tranquility on the bottom RH side with Peacock Feathers DI and the vine also from Tranquility at the top LH side with Mowed Lawn DI. 

I stamped the  Lotus flower from Serenity with Cobalt Archival ink, sprayed again with Dylusions and then coloured with Prisma pencils.  I added a little glitter to the water and centers of the flowers.

Thanks for visiting and have a great day,
Shirley

Count the Moments

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well and managed to get some rest after all the festive activities.   It's been extremely cold here but we are warm & cozy inside and it's a nice time for creativity.  I would like to welcome the new followers, thanks for your interest in my blog  :)  

I have a card and an Art Journal page to share today using stamps from Designs by Ryn in one of my favorite colour combinations.

The background is Dylusions Inks and a stencil by Joggles - Star Flower Mask.    I sprayed over the stencil (mask) for the Journal page (below) and then I turned it over to use the ink that was left on it to create this background.   I embossed Compound Leaf with a green glitter powder and stamped Abstract Leaf Set with Cobalt Archival Ink on the background.

Selini the Moth was stamped on another sheet of paper covered with Dylusions inks sprays, coloured a little with Prisma pencils, highlighted with a white Gelly Roll pen, decoupaged and popped up over the background.  I also added glitter which you can see a little better in the close-up below.    The excellent quote is by Impression Obsession - D1379.

Next is a 'New Year' Art Journal page - I was just playing, going with the flow and allowing myself to be messy.   

The background started with Dylusions inks sprayed over Joggles - Star Flower Mask.   I also used TCW Spinning Top stencil with black acrylic paint over top of other acrylic painting and stamping.  I stamped Design by Ryn's Fiddlehead Set with Distress Inks.   The sillouette was created with a self-made stencil using black acrylic paint and doodled over top.  

Thanks for your visit and have a great day,
Shirley

Serenity for 2014

Happy New Year!   I hope 2014 brings you happiness, health, serenity and lots of creative activities.

I have a design today using Chocolate Baroque's new gorgeous Serenity A5 set.

The background is Teal & Turquoise Dylusions ink.  I stencilled a little over top with TCW Pointy Circles and stamped in the background with a beautiful feather image from Peacock Parade.   I embossed with gold UTEE around the edge of the background.

I embossed the Buddha from Serenity with gold directly over the background.   I stamped a second Buddha image with Cobalt Archival ink and embossed a third image with gold powder on separate cardstock.   Next I decoupaged the cobalt Buddha and the gold Lotus chair and layered over the main image.   I embossed the smaller feather images also from Peacock Parade with gold and decoupaged as shown.  All the images were coloured with Prisma and Inktense pencils. 

I'm including a few photos taken after the 48 hour ice storm that hit here the weekend before Christmas.   We are thankful that our electricity was only off for one day as many families went much longer in freezing weather.  Some waited over a week for hydro lines to be repaired.    Sadly there is extensive damage to trees in the Region.  We won't know the extend of damage to our shrubs until the Spring when the snow melts. Our trees are younger and seemed to survive well.  Nature is beautiful and sometimes cruel.

Taken on the third day, still very dark.  The ground is snow & ice covered, the shrubs and trees are ice covered, that's not snow!

Candied Crab Apples covered in ice. 

Taken when the sun was setting, a couple of days after the ice storm.

I would like to thank everyone for all your visits and kind words at my blog during the last year,  I appreciate them very much.   I'm looking forward to the inspiration I gain from visits to your blogs in 2014!

Have a great day
Shirley