Be a story-teller (part 1)...

This is the story of a WIP (work in progress).  The Scrap It Girl Design Team is having a mid-month challenge!  The challenge is to use wood in your project.  So, I received this fabulous wood book (that I failed to take a "before" picture of, but you can see it here at the Genuinely Jane Studios site).  I used the wood book as a stencil to trace onto paper and then used the paper to cover the book.  Chipboard letters covered with acrylic paint and Stickles are the "WOOF".  And because I just happened to have some doggy ribbon (doesn't everyone?), I tied some on to the rings.  No peaks inside yet, because, remember, I said it is a WIP.  I'm going to fill it with pics and stories about the dogs that have and still do grace our family.

More coming soon!

~Kelly

Be ready to soar...

Soaring is not on my "to do" list lately.  More like "squeeze in some crafty time when I can".  However, this ink-speckled bird is ready to fly!  When I was shopping at Linnie Blooms in July, my items were given to me in a plain Kraft gift bag.  I told Linda Barutha (Linnie Blooms owner) that the bag would come back to her eventually.  I kept my promise and went wild!  I zentangled with a fine point Sharpie on a square blank and then added Distress Inks to this bird and its wing (which also doubles as a leaf shape).  Sharpies, Distress Inks...is there anything these Linnie Blooms shapes can't withstand?

And why stop there?  I crinkle folded some border punch cut strips and attached them onto the bottom of the bag.  I also spy a paper doily, a butterfly and flower (both punched from an old book), a little spritzing, and don't forget the burlap scrap!

How about you?  Ready to soar or just squeezing in some crafty time when you can?  Hope it's the first one!

~Kelly

Be a friend...

I'm continuing my love affair with Linnie Blooms canvas shapes, and this time I am playing with a "long canvas blank".  It is a layer of cotton batting between a blank cotton canvas and a printed cotton layer on the back, size 12"x5".

Just like the other smaller Linnie Blooms shapes that I've played with before, I love the way this texture absorbs any medium I throw at it.  Today---acrylic paint! I used some Scotch blue painters tape and created a chevron pattern.  I did not measure---just laid down the tape in what looked like straight chevrons to my eyes.  I like the way it looked when I aligned them off center.  Make sure you push down hard to adhere the tape to the blank so that you don't get any seepage.

I spread the acrylic paint directly on the canvas with a foam brush using a light gray and canary yellow.  As you can see, there is no need to be neat about it!

I ripped the tape off (I didn't even wait for the paint to dry) to see how it turned out and was so impressed that the lines were so sharp.

To create the jar, I traced a clip art jar shape onto some velum paper and cut it out.  I inked the edges and then highlighted the thread and reflection lines with some Rock Candy Stickles.  I attached the jar to the canvas by sewing on a few stitches (can't have any adhesive showing)!  It's difficult to see in the photo but there are wire stems wrapped with twine that I hot glued to the back of the felt flowers--they run down into the jar so the flowers don't look like they are just free-floating.

Yes, those are Linnie Blooms leaf shapes in between my felt flowers (a Sizzix die).  I swiped some Distress Stain on those leaves to add a splash of color.  Then, I plucked some random buttons from my stash and slid a few seed beads onto the threads as I attached the felt flowers to the canvas. 

Lastly, I printed the sentiment on some cute pink/khaki gingham paper.  I dried the ink with a heat gun to make sure it was really dry before painting a layer of Modge Podge over it to add some texture. 

I loved this project SO much, that I've decided that this was the first in a series of seasonal blanks.  Coming soon---fall!  I better hurry, it's already September!

~Kelly

Be hopeful...

 

 

Unfortunately I have had to send 2 sympathy cards in the last few weeks.  I have always loved this sentiment...

 

 "Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy." 

 

It is a message of hope when it doesn't seem like there is a lot of hope around.

 

 

 

This week, over at the Linnie Blooms Blog, we are challenging everyone to use Distress Inks.  The Design Team is continuing to show the endless versatility of the Linnie Bloom canvas shapes. 

 

I applied Distress Stains (faded jeans, weathered wood, and tumbled glass colors) directly to the canvas overlapping the shades a bit.  I spritzed with a little water to facilitate them to bleed together and then spritzed with some Close to My Heart Pearl Paint (that I mixed with water and put in a spritz bottle).   

 

When it dried, I cut stars into the square using my Sizzix paddle punches (remember those?)  I like the way it caused the stars to fray (and I pulled a few more string to get them to look even more distressed).  I placed some silver glitter paper behind the canvas to make it look like the love in the stars was really shining. 

 

I loved the way this card turned out.  But I am hoping that I won't have to make anymore sympathy cards for awhile.

 

Hopeful.

 

~Kelly

Don't forget to show us how you use your Distress Inks over at the Linnie Blooms Blog.  The challenge ends August 31st.

 

Be a singer...

I am not a good singer (so my children often remind me).  You will not find me up on stage--EVER.  I do sing in church, in the car, and in the shower.  That is about the extent of my venues.  My sister in law has a lovely voice and so does her new husband.  Their wedding was filled with beautiful songs.  So, when it was time to make them a wedding card, I looked to the list of songs from the ceremony and used one of them as a sentiment on the card.  I do that often.  When I can't find the words inside of me, I look to music.  So many more musically inclined people than me have already found the words that I couldn't.  Makes creating a card (or a title for a scrapbook page) MUCH easier.

~Kelly

Be different...

Being different means being willing to show what you are inside even when it might be difficult or scary.  I tell my kids all the time, "wouldn't the world be boring if everyone was the same; looked the same, like the same things."

So, who says that these Linnie Blooms shapes have to be flowers or leaves? They are so versatile that they can have a 2nd identity as footballs, shoes, and monster bodies! The ideas are only limited by your imagination! I like the way the texture of the shapes is brought out when color is added, like I did here with oil pastels. Get a bag of Linnie Blooms shapes and show us what secret identity you found your shapes waiting to reveal. You can shop HERE

 

Don't forget to participate in the "I SPY" game over at

Linnie Blooms Facebook Page. 

Tell us how many different Linnie Blooms Shapes

you see in my cards.

 

And, show your differences today~it's ok.

 

~Kelly

Be meditative...

 

Often, I find it very difficult to clear my head.  I claim that my daughter is a "worry wart", but I think she gets it from me. 

 

I am not one to do yoga, but I do find a long walk can be helpful.  But, losing my head in a good project is the best way to distract me.  It is my meditation. 

 

Last week, Unity had a Facebook contest.  We were given this image to color any way we wanted.  For some reason, I was drawn to Zentangle it.  There were some AMAZING entries.  Mine didn't make it to the finals, but it did help to clear my head.

~Kelly

Don't forget to head over to the LinnieBlooms Facebook page and keep playing "I Spy" all month long!  There is a fabulous prize package for the winner!