Help [ME] Ronda

Revolution Event: Loads of Layers ATC

One of my upcoming classes in March at the Revolution event.  This class will take you from a few simple basics to advanced techniques, teaching you how to combine layers with ease.  Painting, misting, stamping, & more, get ready to get a little messy and learn a few techniques along the way.

The Revolution event in Utretch, The Netherlands now has a pick & choose option.  Come for one class or come for the whole weekend.  With the holidays right around the corner, you can put it on your wish list.  I hope to see you there!

Merry & Bright: Noel Cover

This mini album using Cocoa Daisy's Merry & Bright Project Kit is 4 x 6. It can be a simple album with just 4 x 6 photos or a little more complex with pages, titles, etc.  I am going to show you how to create this simple cover with just a dab of paint, some patterned paper, and a few layered stickers on top a cool "vintage tag."



I painted the interior of the pages because the paper tape in the merry & bright kit are a bit translucent.



Next i added the My Mind's Eye paper and grabbed the paper tape. it was the right pop of color.



I tried each paper tape until i settled on the striped one. The tape hasn't been simply folded over the edge yet. I wasn't too worried about how the tape looked on the back because i had a plan.




Once the front was done, i flipped it over & covered up the edging tape with the polka dots. Honestly at this point i wasn't sure if i was going to use the text or the polka dots for my cover both were so pretty. 




the vintage tag was created with the simple tags that came in the kit. I am a huge fan of walnut ink. I have walnut ink crystals from 2002. Its one of those oldies but goodies. Simply spritz the tag & let it dry. Don't have walnut ink? Try stamping some distress inks on wax paper or a craft mat and spray it with water. Then dip the tag into the wet concoction.




Next crumple up the tag and then open it up. Hit those edges & ridges with some more brown ink. Now you have a vintage looking tag.





Now just layer the bits & pieces together. Try popping up a sticker to give the cover a focal point. Leave room for the title.

Merry Love

Every Minute

It may have been Lexi being home & knowing when she was leaving.  It could have been the holiday.  or it simply could be my perspective. But. this past week flew by.  I want to appreciate every minute of the day.  Sometimes i forget to be grateful for all the small moments. I don't want to get so caught up in the go go go of life that i don't appreciate it.  Just stopping & looking at the life around me and the blessing it holds puts things back into perspective for me.  It's the perfect attitude adjustment.

Oh the Joy: Tutorial

The other day i shared with you this joy cover using Cocoa Daisy's Merry & Bright Holiday kit.  Today i wanted to show you how to create your own.  I am using a thick piece of chipboard found in the kit.  it's excellent for making covers. 



Supplies:
Heavy Chipboard
Jillibean Frozen Lobster Tail
TCW Stencil
Echo Park Stickers
Pebble's Button
Gesso & Playing Card
Gel Medium & Foam brush
White Paint
Blue Mists
Fine Black Pin

This album is a 6 x 8 album.  I wanted you to see how you can cut the one piece of heavy chipboard to create these two album covers. This heavy chipboard can be purchased separately from the kit HERE.  You can decide which on you want to use & save the other for later!

I grabbed the 6 x 8 album covers for this piece. I covered the front & back with the jillibean paper. I picked this particular piece because i knew the red would really pop under the gesso. When adhering the patterned paper you want to have the piece glued even underneath otherwise it will bubble when adding the next layers. Once it is on, then using a foam brush & gel medium coat the entire top surface of the patterned paper. This seals the paper.



Place the stencil on the dried background. I like to place mine going off the page to create movement. I decided on the bottom half of my page. Push it around until you find a placement you like. Next take a palette knife or playing card and scrap the gesso across the entire page including the stencil. I scrap in different directions to give it texture. I also left bits of red peeking through the gesso.

It should look something like this when you are done. You want the piece covered entirely but still have texture, movement, and some patterned paper peeking through.



Wash off your stencil and let the gesso dry. Pat dry your stencil because we will need it again!



Put the stencil back into place and paint the background white. Gesso has the appearance of white but it more like chalk so i like to add paint. If some paint slips under the stencil, simply wipe it away. This is why you sealed the background paper.



Add in touches of mists. Mist can act like watercolor so i love the soft touches it brings to my projects. I used two Maya Road Blues (Popsicle & Turquoise Metallic) to get the color of the snowflake sticker. Add a little or a lot. Don't forget to just play around with it.



I really wanted that snowflake to pop so i added in a fine black pen around the stencil. If it doesn't exactly line up with the gesso, i am okay with that. I think it just adds to the look.



Lastly i added the stickers, buttons, binder rings, and twine. I love the simple yet graphic messiness of this cover using sparkling snow as my inspiration. It brings to mind those crisp snow covered winter morning in Colorado. I love those pops of red & back. Did you see the clever lyrics in the patterned paper? Totally love that.

Joyous Love

Poinsettia Wreath

This wreath still continues to be one of my more popular posts i did for Fancy Pants.  It has shown up at some of my favorite sites across the globe.  I thought it was time for it to come home to my blog.  I have been thinking it may be time to create a new one.  In the meantime i hope you enjoy this resurrected post.

This fun poinsettia wreath is a great way to bring something Fancy to your Christmas decorating. I used a variety of Fancy Pant's Christmas Magic paper to create this wreath. There are so many possibilities with this wreath; you could do one pattern paper or multiple like me.

Supplies:
Christmas Magic Pattern Paper
Glue Stick
Strong Adhesive
Foam Floral Ring
T-pins (or regular sewing pins)
Buttons/Beads or Both

Instructions:  
Note: It is best to do this like an assembly line. Once you get going, the flowers become so easy to create.

1. I have two different sizes of poinsettias. Cut pattern paper into strips. You need three strips per poinsettia. 
For the larger poinsettia you will need 1.5 inch x 4 inch strips.
For the smaller poinsettias you will need 1 inch by 3 inch strips. 

 

2. Fold your strip in half length wise. Then fold in half from top to bottom.

3. Using your scissors, cut in an arc from the outside to the fold part. This makes the point of the poinsettia. 

 

4. Unfold the pattern paper and you get a “squashed”  oval.

5. Now fold this oval in half top down, you will see the backside of the pattern paper.

6. Fold one side back up.

7. Flip over and do the other side.

8. Fold in half again.

9. Holding the center, run your finger under the pattern paper to pop it out.

10. Here you can see the progression of the “leaves” of the poinsettia.

11. It takes 3 “leaves” for every poinsettia flower.

 12. Once you have these leaves, I like to take a plain glue stick and glue the “leaves” together.

 

 13. After adding the glue, pinch & hold the “leaves” together.

14. You can see what the three look like once the leaves are glued.

15. Now you are ready to assemble the poinsettia. I cut small circles out of the scrap paper for the “base”.

16. With a dab of hot glue or a really strong adhesive in the center of the circle, put all three leaves of the poinsettia together.

17. Now you have this great little poinsettia.

18. So building the wreath … Take your poinsettias and place them randomly around a floral ring using T-pins to secure them in. Keep building around until your wreath looks full.

19. Once your wreath is full, you can add on buttons & beads to the center of the poinsettias.

 

Grateful

Feeling very blessed with my life.  Thank you for all your love & support.  I wish you health, happiness, and incredible amounts of joy & love.

With Love,

Merry & Bright: Joy Cover

Merry & Bright, Cocoa Daisy's Holiday Kit, is jammed packed full of patterned papers, 3 different alphabets, thick chipboard to create your own cover, TCW stencil, a Cocoa Daisy exclusive stamp, and tons of embellishments. With so many patterned papers, you can pick & choose the color combination that suits you best.  We have decided to gear this album towards collecting those holiday traditions that make this season so special for your family.  On the message board we will give you step by step instructions to 4 different cover options along with prompts to help you tell your stories.  Everyone is welcome to join in with us as we document this holiday.  In fact, Christine has two album covers up already!

My first cover is for a 6 x 8 inch cover using jillibean patterned paper, some gesso, paint & mists, the crafter's workshop stencil, a pebbles button, and some echo park stickers.  I love the simple yet graphic messiness of this cover using sparkling snow as my inspiration.  It brings to mind those crisp snow covered winter morning in Colorado.  I love those pops of red & back.  Did you see the clever lyrics in the patterned paper?  I have another album cover to share but you will have to wait to see that on Friday. 

Merry Love

Guest Designer: Colorful Creations

So blessed to be a guest at Colorful Creations.  The beautiful sketch they sent me went perfectly with a photo i just happened to have printed out.  I admit i was a little intimidated by the big circle but i found a way to make it work for me.  That's the beauty of sketch design, finding a way to make it work for you.

This layout came together relatively quikly for me using lots of Amy Tangerine & Cocoa Daisy November kit.  The photo totally cracks me up.  I think Ellen's expression may be my favorite.  I want to remember this time not only for the beauty time that it was but that i actually took time for me.  Love the touches of soft whites & cream with the beautiful greens & greys. 

Go check out the coloful creations site for more inspiration!

Colorful Love

 

The Antiquated Collection: My pieces

(Click on image to make it larger)

So very happy for my friend Lisa Pace.  Her beautiful Antiquated Collection has made it's debut at Pink Persimmon.  Anti­quated Col­lec­tion is a trib­ute to the era of ascots, para­sols, fancy hats, patent leather shoes and all things charm­ing and endear­ing. The details in these acrylic stamps are breath-taking. 

This card was created with the Fine & Dady Set.  It just reminded me of the poem, especially the part "and Mamma in her kerchief and i in my cap, had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap." I stamped & colored him in using different markers. I then cut him out & popped him up on the tag. The background on is made up of many layers including vintage sheet music & Maya mists. 

This society lady card was so fun to create.  It reminds me of the Georges Seurat's A Sunday Afternoon.  I started slowly building up the layers on the background of the tag using The Crafter's Workshop Stencils, molding paste, paints, Maya Mists, and watercolor crayons.  Next i stamped the brooch found in the Society Lady set using embossing ink & clear UTEE.  I added a couple extra layers of color over that image and then stamped the society lady in black.  I used watercolor crayons to color her in with a little bit of water on top.  I finished the piece with Maya Road Vintage Paper Roses, some vintage seam binding, baker's twine, and ruffled ribbon. 

Want your chance to win a stamp set?  Pink Persimmon is giving away 3 stamp sets to three people.  Go check out this blog post to see how to get your hands on these awesome stamps.  Like the Antiquated Collection Facebook page, and once they reach 200, one lucky winner will receive a stamp set of their choice.  That's two ways to win!

THANK YOU

i am ever so grateful for beautiful friends & followers. I appreciate with all my heart the love you have poured out for me.  I fully admit i am not okay at the moment.  I am okay with not being okay.  I know her death being a surprised was amplified by me having to face it without Andrew.  I couldn't even get a hold of him right away because he was off flying.  The pour guy had to find out via a text.  Blessedly Lexi had come home on Friday and got to see her one last time.  Our furry Nina was such an important piece of this family.  To know her was to know a riduculously abundant amount of unconditional love.  Being a work at home mom meant i spent 20 plus hours a day with her and our bond was deep.  The craftroom fills empty.  I am however extremely blessed by your generosity & sympathy.  It fills my heart with love knowing you all are reaching out to hold me up during these moments of sadness.  Thank you so much.