FUSION 5th Birthday Celebration...

Really enjoying this fabulous New Year - hope you are too! 

For those of you craving some crafty inspiration, check out the double dose of inspiration from our Design Team and our special invited guests who have dropped in to share the FUSION 5th Birthday celebration.

This fortnight I was inspired to do some multimedia crafting using my NBUS Gelliplate with a selection of blue, teal, green, navy and white acrylic paints, to create the background panel, the butterfly panel and the base colour of the large butterfly, using this gorgeous Heidi Swapp butterfly stencil, Tim Holtz butterfly stamp, Ranger black archival ink, and adding the super cute MFT Stitched Daisy and Kaisercraft sentiment. 

My guest is the fabulous Jenny Martin from My Paper Epiphany. 
Check out her gorgeous watercolour interpretation of the FUSION inspiration, then head on over to the FUSION blog for some more super inspiration from our fabulous Design Team, and their special invited guests...

Betty J. - Jeanne Jachna - Jen Mitchell

Karren Johnson - Linda Callahan - Michelle Leone

Michelle Lupton - Michelle Williams - Wanda Cullen

Hope you can join in the fun this fortnight @ FUSION.
Can't wait to see what you create!

Also playing along with
More Mixed Media Challenges Anything Goes (optional Blue),
 Mix it Up Anything Goes and CAS Stencil Challenge

Fusion & Hop to Stop...

This weeks FUSION is inspired by the gorgeous sketch and floral theme of the fabulous FUSION inspiration photo, and importantly I am also also joining in The Hop to Stop, raising awareness for victims of domestic violence. 

This fortnight, I created a simple watercolour background and base on which I stamped these gorgeous Winnie and Walter hydrangeas, and fabulous Articellar Jane Girls stencil, adding this very apt sentiment by My Favorite Things on a layered fishtail flag. Fussy cut and pop dotted the Winnie and Walter hydrangeas.

Love to see how you are inspired by FUSION photo, sketch or both!

Hope you get a chance to play along!

Hop on over to FUSION to see some more super inspiration from

 our amazing Design Team too:

Becca Cruger - Betty J. - Carol Mayne - Jeanne Jachna - Karren Johnson

Linda Callahan - Michelle Leone - Michelle Lupton - Michelle Williams

Also joining in

The Hop to Stop, raising awareness for victims of domestic violence,

 

Mixed Media Cards Black and Purple

and Inkspirational Black plus One Colour

 

The ART of Possibility...

It has been a bit of a roller coaster this past fortnight, with DDs French Exchange trip postponed and DH starting a whole new career, so it was pure joy I was able to play at the Dina Wakely class by Artified last Friday, and when I arrived home I was inspired to create this journal page, to remind myself of all that is possible.

Created using acrylic paints on a gesso background, in yellow, orange and hot pink using Dina Wakely's circle and leaves stencils to create positive and negative spaces - thanks to the magic of baby wipes! Added highlights with white gel pen, painted the stencil sentiment by Dyan Reavley and highlighted in white gel pen, and added Dina Wakely's scribbly butterfly stamped on patterned paper fussy cut.

Playing along with That Craft Place Anything Goes Mixed Media

We Love to Create Anything Mixed Media
Mixed Media Monthly Challenge - Texture

Cardabilities - Final Sketch...

I so wanted to join in the final Cardabilities Sketch...

This card background went through many incarnations before I decided I liked it LOL! I quickly discovered that too much red Glimmermist ends up looking like the chainsaw masacre, rather than quiet Autumn tones! That's the beauty of a gesso layer - if you don't like it you can remove colour with a baby wipe and start layering again!

Dictionary page base and added modelling paste (to play along with City Crafter Paste It) and a Pink Paislee She Art doily stencil. Covered in gesso, sprayed with a combination of Glimmermists and Dylusions in Autumn hues, highlighted with Gelato rubbed crayon once dry. Gorgeous Winnie and Walter sentiment, Dynamics branch and Clearly Besotted autumn leaves diecuts. Leaves created from watercolour paper oversprayed with orange and yellow Glimmermists. See how it GLOWS in the sun...

Cardabilities

City Crafter Paste It and Inkspirational Glow

This made me smile...

Simon Says... Ombre Art Journal

Had a fabulous time away crafting for the long weekend! 

Here's a peek at my very first Art Journal page, created using Gelatos and a brush over a layer of gesso for the background together with Donna Downey stencils with modelling paste for the flowers, and Unity stamps for the background text and Tim Holtz stamps for the sentiment, and butterfly, stamped over Twinkling H2O, and heat embossed.

Playing along with Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Ombre
Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes and
Virginia's View All things Coloured

 

This makes me SMILE...

Mixed Media Card Challenge... Summer with Burlap

Time for the next Mixed Media Card Challenge, and I'm on a roll with my Summer sunshine. Created using Heidi Swapp 12x12 Sunshine Stencil and Distress Inks Squeezed Lemonade, Wild Honey, and Spiced Marmalade, and this very summery Avery Elle Kombi Campervan, fussy cut from Distress Ink Peacock Feathers on watercolour paper, with a-very funky Avery Elle sentiment. The centre of the sun was created using a strip of burlap, folded in half and then twisted and rolled into a circle, which is glued onto a cardstock circle base. The burlap was then coloured using Momento Luxe ink in Dandelion.

I hope you take the opportunity to have a play with Mixed Media, I'd LOVE to see your creations!  In case you're wondering what qualifies as a Mixed Media Card, I have posted details here, and they can be found on The Mixed Media Card Challenge blog. 

While you are there, grab some more fabulous inspiration 

from the amazing Design Team!

Julia Aston

Shirley Bampton

Charlene Cundy

Maria Fischer

Jan Jenitis

Kripa Koushik

Maria Levine

Sanna Lippert

Deepti Malik

Jenny Martin
Shery Russ

Elina Stromberg

Loll Thompson

HOW TO PLAY

1. Create a mixed media CARD based on the theme, with or without the optional element.

2. For this challenge only, you may create a mixed media TAG based on the theme.

3. Display the challenge graphic on your blog post and link back to this challenge post.

4. You may enter as many times as you want, as long as each entry is different.

5. You may combine a maximum of 7 challenges (6 other challenges plus ours).

6. Submit your projects by August 25, 11:55 p.m. PDT (GMT -700).

7. We’ll announce the winner and favorites on August 31.

Also playing along with Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes and Seize the Birthday.

A Happy FUSION...

Hello happy FUSIONistas!! Welcome to this fortnight's FUSION inspiration.

So many amazing elements you could be inspired by in this fortnight's FUSION challenge! The colours, the cupcakes, the candelabra, the flowers, the wicker, the wood, the watermelons... the possibilities are endless! 

I was inspired by the summery yellows and blues in the beach house inspiration photo, and the horizontal lines in the sketch became my sunrays! Created the background using Heidi Swapp 12x12 Sunshine Stencil and Distress Inks in Squeezed Lemonade, Wild Honey, and Spiced Marmalade. The blue Paper Smooches Clouds were die cut from a sheet of Gelatoed watercolour paper with rocksalt added on top and left to absorb the excess water. The Paper Smooches Happy Everything sentiment is stamped in Momento Luxe Nautical Blue, onto the background layer and the die-cut circle.

How to join in the fun...

1. Play with just the sketch challenge.

2. Play with just the inspiration photo challenge.

3. Or you can create FUSION by combining BOTH challenges into one card.

4. Use the challenge graphic and link back to Fusion in your post.

5. Please read the other considerations on the Our Rules Page before playing along.

Can't wait to see how you will be inspired by this WEEKS FUSION!

The Design Team have some FABULOUS creations to inspire you!

Betty J - Dannielle Robeson - Deepti 
Jeanne Jachna - Julia Aston - Katie Brooks

Kelly Griglione - Kimberly Wiener - Lynn Mangan - Michelle Folland

Michelle Lupton - Sindhu - Stephanie Severin

Please check the linky for the days left to play with us.

Also playing along at Paper Smooches Sparks Anything Goes and
 Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes

Getting Distressed with Winnie & Walter & Mixed Media...

I couldn't help but join in the fun again with Winnie and Walters Distress Inks Challenges, and remind you that there is still time to play in the Mixed Media Card Challenge Touch of Nature. This time I decided to get out my flower stencil and create a card in ombre tones using Distress Inks in Squeezed Lemonade, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Picked Raspberry and Spun Sugar. As I wanted the colours to pop, rather than disappear into the book page, I first applied a layer of white gesso, before graduating and gently blending the Distress Ink colours within the stencil. To add some extra pop, I highlighted the shadow lines in black. This gorgeous Winnie and Walter The Big, The Bold and the Happy sentiment was stamped in Versarark Watermark ink then heat embossed in Zing Copper, to create added dimension and shine. To highlight the sentiment, the cardstock base is in a matching copper tone.

Playing along with Seize the Birthday too!

This made me smile!

Happy Today with FUSION...

This fortnight I was inspired by both the FUSION sketch (in mirror reverse) and this gorgeous image, with its ombre colours and old book print. I created both the watercolour panel and the book paper panel by inking one side of Tim Holtz Faded Dots stencil using Distress Inks in Picked Raspberry, Wild Honey and Scattered Straw, then spritzing and pressing the mask into the paper panels. Then added three Prima butterflies (the top butterfly is actually pink, but it kept photographing as red!), and two Studio Calico wood veneer words to create this birthday card.

How will you be inspired by this fortnights FUSION - will you use this fabulous sketch, or pull inspiration from this gorgeous inspiration photo or BOTH?!?

How to join in the fun...

1. Play with just the sketch challenge.

2. Play with just the inspiration photo challenge.

3. Or you can create FUSION by combining BOTH challenges into one card.

4. Use the challenge graphic and link back to Fusion in your post.

5. Please read the other considerations on the Our Rules Page before playing along.

Can't wait to see how you will be inspired by this fortnights FUSION!
The Design Team have some FABULOUS creations to inspire you!Anya Schrier - Betty J - Cathy Weber - Dannielle Robeson

Deepti - Jeanne Jachna - Julia Aston - Katie Brooks

Kelly Griglione - Kimberly Wiener - Lynn Mangan - Michelle Folland

Michelle Lupton - Sindhu - Stephanie Severin

Please check the linky for the days left to play with us!

E.T.A. Linking up to the new Mixed Media Card DT Challenge!

Playing along with Seize the Birthday too.

A PhD in Sketchabilities...

I had put this photo, papers and chipboard together about seven years ago - so this definitely classified as a Project half Done (aka PhD)! Getting back into the swing of scrapbooking is more difficult than I thought, but made a whole lot easier with fabulous sketch challenge sites like Sketchabilities!  How can you go wrong with this fortnights fabulous sketch...

Inspired by the single cloud above DS head, with a selection of (very old) papers from Basic Grey, Fancy Pants and papers and embellishments from Sassafrass Lass, I added the Pink Paislee wooden letters, Lil Inkers Stitched Polaroid die cut frames, texture pasted some clouds and added splatter to bring the layout into this decade LOL! 

Still feel a bit squeaky scrapbooking wise, but glad to have another PhD completed!
Playing along with All Crafts Challenge Anything but a Card too!

Keep It Simple - Can You Sea What I Sea!

This weeks fabulous Keep It Simple inspiration is Maritime!  I created my sea background using watercolours and laying my stencil over the top whilst it dried. I love this gorgeous Verve nautical sentiment and sailing boat, paper pieced with MME weathered wood patterned paper and watercolour red flag, and backed with some more of the weathered wood patterned paper.

Remember to stop by the blogs of the Keep It Simple DT for some more 

FABULOUS maritime inspiration.

Anni

Christine

Mia

Tanja

Tenia

Love to see how you are inspired this fortnight!

Trust Your Wings...

Had a fabulously messy time on Sunday morning creating this mixed media piece at an Artified Getting to know Gelatos class taken by Naomi Cox. It was amazing how much variation in the finished pieces was achieved by everyone, even following the same instructions! I love how the spotted texture stamp ended up looking like Autumn leaves swaying in the breeze. At one point I thought I had absolutely ruined my piece when I added texture paste over a musical notes stencil and it did not dry properly before I tried to add the next layer of colour - but luckily I was able to just grab a wet wipe, remove most of the texture paste, and build up the colour layers again.  That's the FAB thing about mixed media - if you don't like it, you can always change it!

Also playing along with Moxie Fab World Hip on Handwriting Challenge, 

with this Autumn Leaves Typewriter Font Hand Drawn,
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Anything Goes, and
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Not so Mellow Yellow.

Going Green...

Catered Crop Think Green is celebrating the forthcoming Earth Day on April 22 (and USA National Arbor Day on April 25), a perfect time to Think Green. Just make a project that includes the color green and come join the party, and, of course, be sure to recycle your scraps!

I created my mixed media piece completely from scraps or recycled materials. I started by recycling a page from an old book, covering with Gesso, then applying Gelatos in blues and grey, blended together with a baby wipe. I used the Crafter's Workshop Mini Clouds stencil and using a baby wipe, removed the Gelatos from within the clouds, then filled three of the clouds with texture paste for some added dimension.

Using the Lil Inkers Leaves background die, I cut a few of my green scrap papers into leaf shapes, and layered these around the edges to create a frame, these were adhered using mixed-media paste. The Memory Box Woodland Branch, Poppystamps Serene Bird and Lawn Fawn letters were also cut from scrap papers. The Verve Words of Wisdom sentiment was stamped - and I discovered that the Momento Tuxedo Black doesn't dry as fast when stamped over Gesso! But hey, like it says:

"Life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful"

Playing along with Virginia's View Stencilled Challenge too!

E.T.A. Linking up to the new Mixed Media Card DT Challenge!
My Mixed Media projects can be seen here :)

Happy Easter with Stencils...

 

 

Created the background of these two Easter cards using this gorgeous Studio Calico mask and Distress Inks in Squeezed Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade and Picked Raspberry for the bunny card and Salty Ocean, Mowed Lawn and Tumbled Glass for the sheep card. As a rule, I like to stamp my baby cards and Easter cards in brown rather than black inks, and this is no exception - stamped in Hero Arts Cup O' Joe using Hero Arts Happy Day Animals, and the sentiment combines Happy Day Animals and Lawn Fawn Happy Easter. The papers are from Lily Bee Designs.

Playing along with A Blog Named Hero Build Your Own Background, 

Virginia's View Stencil Challenge, Moxie Fab World Styling with Stencils Challenge, 

and don't forget you still have time to play along with Keep It Simple Stencil Challenge too!

KIS and Tell with Stencils...

Time to KIS and Tell, with this fortnights theme of Keep it Simple Stencils Challenge!

This technique was a happy accident!  I had coloured my first Prima stencil using graduated Squeezed Lemon, Spiced Marmalade, Picked Raspberry and Spun Sugar Distress Inks, then wiped the excess inks from the top of my stencil before I started this card. After painting a base coat of Gesso over the old bookpaper, I filled the stencil with texture paste, and lo and behold - the texture paste soaked up the Distress Inks which had not been wiped off the inside edges of the stencil, leaving these gorgeous coloured edges around the edges of my flowers!  Finished my card with this fabulous Winnie & Walter banner stamped in Momento Ink Rose Bud, sprinkled with clear embossing powder and heat set on my vellum fishtail flag banner.

Take a look at the rest of the cards from the fabulous 

Keep It Simple DT.

Hope you get a chance to play along - can't wait to see what you create!

Playing along with Virginia's View Challenge #2 Stencils, 

Winnie & Walter Join in to Win, Seize the Birthday Anything Goes,
Simon Says Stamp Happy Birthday Challenge,
 Moxie Fab World Styling with Stencils Challenge.

Mixed Media & Happy Crafting...

I took some of these 4x4 canvases away on our crafty retreat and thought I'd have a go at mixed media.

We were lucky enough to have a play with some of Joy's the new Penny Black masks and stamps - and yes, they are as fabulous as you hope they might be! The butterfly canvas is created by applying Gelatos over the primed canvas (they can be primed using Gesso, but these canvases came pre-primed) and blending the Gelato colours with a baby wipe. Using the Penny Black Charming stencil, I gently removed the colour from the stencilled flower and leaf sections, before applying Festive Berries and Mowed Lawn Distress Inks to the flowers and leaves.  When adding a layer of clear embossing paste to the flowers, I discovered that the Distress Inks react to the embossing paste, so I had to be very careful when applying the paste - next time I would use LuminArte or Gelatos, which don't have the same reaction. The sentiment ant butterfly undercolour were created using LuminArte. The Dyan Reaveley sentiment was stamped in Versamark Watermark and Zing White embossing powder, then fussy cut and adhered to the canvas using multimedia paste. The underlayer of the butterfly was adhered to the silver butterfly, and bling added, before adhering with Dimensional Magic.

The little bird canvas is created using one of Jenny's bird stamps, first stamped on watercolour paper with Versamark Watermark just to get an outline of the shape of the bird, then painted in LuminArte and dried before overstamping in Versamark Watermark and Zing Pewter embossing powder. The Dyan Reaveley sentiment was created using the same technique. The background was created using Gelatos, then a second layer of Gelatos mixed with texture paste to create a more textured finish.

Playing along with Virginia's View Stencil Challenge, 

Simon Says Anything Goes Monday Challenge,
 Moxie Fab World Styling with Stencils Challenge, and

Catered Crop Put A Bird On It.

Retreat photos... all the fabulous ladies who attended:  

Back Row: Teresa Xanthos, Jenny Dix, Debbie Pamment, Joy Taylor.

Front Row: Michelle Lupton, Sue Kohler, Jenny Martin Rawling, Iwona Palamountain (Chupa)(in front), me, Angelique Kelly and Cecilia Hsieh.  

Please go and check out their blogs - they're all completely fabulous!!

This made me smile...