It's Raining JellyBeans: 10/01/2013

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Happy HavaLeen

I have probably blogged about this before but my son always used to call it "Havaleen". Some of my children's adorable baby-speakisms just never leave my head and "Happy Havaleen" is one of them. The weather in Michigan is CRAPPY with a capital C.R.A.P.P.Y. They are predicting a 100% chance of rain (fortunately just regular water and not jellybeans). The bad new is storms are predicted to start around 4:00. Terrific.

I spent a small fortune on candy. We have a really fun neighborhood for trick-or-treating. The subdivision has a clear border and it is just big enough for a nice big candy haul without being overwhelming. Lots of moms dress up to hand out candy (hmmm, hmmm I will be a rainbow fairly thingy). Several families build fires in their little portable outdoor fire pits, round up chairs and sit in their driveway handing out goodies. A few even hand out alcohol to the parents....a treats all around. Because we are so much fun.... lots of people drive over just to trick-or-treat here. Every year someone brings a wagon load of people pulled by a tractor. I must say, it is pretty fun. I have tried to take pictures in the past but it is impossible in one frame to really get a feel for just how jubilant and busy the neighborhood gets.

Lots of trick-or-treaters means I bought a ton of candy (running out is just not an option). If the storm is bad and trick-or-treating is a bust, I will have 1000's of little candies in my house. That is NEVER a good thing. I can't even send them to work with the husband- he flies for FedEx so it would be him and the Captain eating the 1000's of candies. Better him than me I guess but still....

As I worked on the October tag for the 12 Tags of 2013, I was trying to find something to fit in within the frame. I thought I had the small pumpkin Tim used-come to find out, I don't-but as I was going through all my dies I found the Mini Scary Jack-O-Lantern (the face) and the mustache from Mini Mustache and Pointed Finger and I HAD to try it.

I die cut the pumpkin from Grungeboard using Alterations Pumpkin Jack and painted it using Ripe Persimmon Distress Paint. In the photos it looks like the Grungeboard is peeking through the paint but it is actually Black Soot Distress Ink that I used to edge the pumpkin. The face holes are backed with glitter paper to mimic candlelight- who am I kidding, it is just an excuse for adding GLITTER.

For the mustache (also Grungeboard), I applied Glossy Accents and Black Soot Distress Glitter. I attached the mustache using hot glue only in the very center. This allowed me to bend the ends to give it some dimension. The stem was glittered using Glossy Accents, Shabby Shutters and Brushed Corduroy Distress Glitters. I simply used a pinch of glitter at a time, sprinkling them over the area unit it was covered. More hot glue was use to attach the stem to the pumpkin.

It has been a long time since I used a patterned paper for a tag background but this paper is just so gorgeous and lends a vintage vibe to the piece. As usual, I edged the tag with Black Soot Distress Ink before using foam tape to attach Jack. Embellishments were kept to a minimum so as not to distract from the whimsical Jack. I added an Idea-ology Ring Fastener to the tag and attached an Idea-ology Jump Ring and Idea-ology Halloween Muse Token. Idea-olgy Mirrored Stars were glued on with Glossy Accents and I dyed white seam binding using Ripe Persimmon Distress Stain. That's it.

Happy Havaleen. Hope yours is drier than mine looks to be!

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Witches Shoes Tag

Every Witch needs a great pair of boots and a fancy gold broom.

The boots were cut from Grungeboard using the Alterations Ice Skate die.

I snipped off the skates and painted the remaining boots with a generous coat of Black Soot Distress Crackle paint. After that dried I covered the entire thing with Black Soot Distress Ink using a Blending Tool to brighten the color. The heel was made glossy by adding Glossy Accents.

I added alternating purple and green mini eyelets along the edge and added Black Tinsel Twine for the lacings. I attached the boots to the card using hot glue and foam tape.

The broom was made using part of a bamboo barbecue skewer, washi tape and gold tinsel. I often use tinsel in my projects. Simple pull apart a tinsel garland and hot glue pieces to the stick until it was full and looked like a broom. THen I hot the tinsel with the heat gun to make it curl. Not all tinsel reacts this way so practice first.

Hope your Halloween is filled with Sunshine and GLITTER.

October 12 Tags of 2013

I got in under the wire this month- after a no-show last month and a barely-under-the-wire August. Oh well...better late than never.

This Month Tim really showed his new products...Distress Glitters, the newest Distress Paint color, new dies and acrylic stars.

My version:

I don't have the frame die but I have a Cricut file that cuts a Halloween frame...see the Raven at the top of the frame? There are bats along the sides as well but the glitter obscures it. I cut the skull and bats from GrungeBoard and used Distress Glitters to cover them. The Happy Halloween washi tape completes the look.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Halloween Decorating and Wreaths

My Halloween decor this year is...well nonexistent...but in the past I have come up with some pretty spooky and fun Halloween Projects.

Halloween Mixed Media Canvas

Faux-Mercury Glass Tutorial

Halloween Fabric Flowers Tutorial

Embellished Witches Hats

Wreath Tutorial Part 1

Wreath Tutorial Part 2

Tags, Cards and Bottles

Embellished Faux Pumpkins Tutorial

Do You Boo

Halloween Banner

There is more to show later in the week. Hope your Halloween is spooky and fun.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

What's Happening?

This week I am a student in Tim Holtz's online class Creative Chemistry 102. Last year I took Creative Chemistry 101 and it profoundly changed the way I stamp. Prior to the class I was a straight shooter- ink, stamp, manilla background....BAM..done. It rarely varied from that recipe. I may have occasionally used a direct-to-paper technique or Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist to color the background, but it was pretty straight forward. I rarely touched my heat gun except to occasionally melt some embossing powder. I NEVER used markers...never ever. After 101 I would never execute such boring designs.

Now I am all about the Distress....Distress Stains, Distress Paints, and YES (gasp), even Distress Markers, along with my old favorite, Distress Inks. I love mixing the products together and making a big mess of colored delight. I make such a mess that my 8 year-old recently commented about how I often cut myself when I am in the studio. Huh? Wha? What? Then I dawned on me... he thought the red paint/stain/ink that I am often covered in, was blood. Jeez, kid has seen too many bloody cartoons! (not really, I won't even let him watch Sponge Bob)... blame an active imagination.

My paper crafting has taken on an entirely new dimension. While I love a clean, simple design-think Martha Stewart-it just isn't "me". I enjoy lots of texture and color. Several of the techniques I learned in class have become staples in my everyday projects. Spritz and Flick and Marbling Stains are two that I use in almost every project.

Creative Chemistry 102 is Tim's second class in the series and he does require that you have taken 101 before you can take 102. You can still take Creative Chemistry 101- more details here. What I loved the most about the class is that rather than just showing a technique for us to mimic back, Tim really teaches the science behind his products. For example, he talks about the difference in dye, pigment, and alcohol-based inks.

The tags are all from Creative Chemistry 101.

I started working on 102, but didn't get anything finished in time to post today. I will admit that I was worried about what in the world he would teach that he hasn't already demonstrated in on his website but of the techniques I've seen in the first 3 days, I never should have worried. Tim has some stunning new ideas to share. Creative Chemistry 102 runs for a week. For more information on this class click here.

In other news...I won a great button collection from Helga of ArtChixStudio. I adore her, she is super talented and super nice. If you haven't seen her work you should stop by her blog and store.

I hope your day is filled with Sunshine and GLITTER.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Halloween Tags

I had big plans to share Halloween projects all through the month of October. Many many projects. But alas, my body had other ideas and so far...nothing is completed. For those of you have been around and know my health issues, I am happy to say that I think I am on the right track to getting better. Everyone keep their fingers crossed for me. In the meant time, I am planning fun things and I did get most of hte supplies purchased, so as soon as I feel good I will be creating. Until then I wanted to share links to my previous Halloween projects.

I love decorating and making paper crafts for Halloween and Christmas. So much so that every year I want to change things up a bit...change colors or the theme. With all the craft blogs, Pinterest, and craft companies websites (and design teams) it is so easy to find projects that are perfect for whatever you want your holiday to look like. Today I am linking my Halloween Tags. Later, I will share other projects and even some of my favorite blogs and websites for spooky inspiration.