It’s 2023 and almost March already. I have been busy creating but haven’t had the time to post. I’m ‘lucky’ to have the time and energy to create whimsical and pretty things.

I’m starting off with my Lucky card which was totally inspired by #nicoletanicolle3

Creating the background was so much fun. First I used the 3D embossing folder Dotted and embossed the heavy cardstock. Then I used Distress Stains – shabby shutters, lost shadow and frayed burlap and spritzed the paper, drying between layers. Once this was dry, I added Distress Crackle Paste randomly over the top. I set this aside to dry.

Then I die cut the top hat from Tim Holtz Sizzix tailored thinlits, and the clover from the 3-D Impresslits Lucky Love. I also used the Alphanumeric Varsity dies and cut out the letters for lucky. I only used the outline from the letters. For the top hat, I colored with lost shadow using a soft bristle brush. The green ribbon was done with twisted citrus and lucky clover distress ink. I then used a paint brush to add some Distress Foundry wax, gilded, to the center of the clover and heat set it. I dipped the letter outlines in smooshed lost shadow ink.

I decided to add a bit of foundry wax to the background as well. It didn’t take as well on the crackle. Because I was wanting to use a bit of my stash (as I tend to hoard my lovelies) I added some cheese cloth behind the clover and some Ideology Tim Holtz Remnant Rubs.

Now to put it altogether. I didn’t want to cover much of the cool background, that patina is so vintage. I placed my diecuts and then added a little quote. Waala~done!

Once you have the first card done, it’s much easier to duplicate and make a few more. Always good to have some extras on hand.

I hope this was helpful and that you are inspired to create something beautiful.

Happy crafting ~ Joanne

Christmas is only 7 sleeps away and I’m still working on Christmas cards. You’d think that after all these years I would have my stuff together. That will be my 2023 New Years resolution ☺️.

Here are two of the three cards I created this year. The first one is done with all Tim Holtz products. I fell in love with the Sizzix thinlits die cut Harvey. It immediately reminded me of my 2nd home in England and I just had to have him.

I had a vague idea of how I wanted my card to look so I set out just die cutting a bunch of Harvey’s. Each one is a bit different from the other, however I used the same colors throughout. I cut his main body out of white card stock along with the other smaller bits that I could easily color with my COPIC markers to create shading (boots, feathers, etc). The jacket is done in a burgundy red and shaded with COPIC R69. The face and hands were done with different shades of skin tones. And the boots were either grey or black. I used gold metallic paper for the little accents.

Harvey went together relatively easy. I reviewed the Sizzix guidance to assemble. Then I prepared the paper by using Distress Inks – pumice stone and antique linen. Once it was dried I cut it to fit my slim line card and stamped it with Stampers Anonymous- the professor.

Then I stamped the sentiment from SA Christmastime 2 and gold embossed it.

Next came the die cutting for all the embellishments. This took a bit of time. I did create some cool green paper with different Distress Inks and Mica Stains but found it was taking too much time to die cut all those Sizzix Holiday Greens so I started using colored card stock. I added Nuvo crystal drops for berries – red berry for the eyes I used ebony black.

I love the script from the Vintage Tidings die set and used the peace from the set. I cut this from fine gold glitter paper and backed with white foam. One of my most used dies for 2022 is the Switchlit Seal. It really enhances the focal point. I cut this from gold metallic paper and then cut a circle from Tim Holtz Christmas paper to set in the center.

I added stitching around the background card stock which was layered with gold metallic and burgundy CS. Then I assembled my soldier or nut cracker with all the greens. I topped it with the die cut Peace and called it good. I loved the outcome but it took a bit of time to make.

Here’s a sneak peak at the inside. Very simple but I found the sentiment perfect. This also came from the Christmastime 2 stamp set.

For the next card my goal was for something quick. aka – simple! I had purchased a used hymnal a while back and tore some Christmas hymns from it which I distressed with Distress Ink old paper and pumice stone.

I used a Sweet ‘n Sassy stamp set to creat this card, SNS-18-056 O Holy Night.

I embossed the image with gold embossing powder on white card stock and colored it with Distress Inks chipped sapphire and villainous potion. I cut it out and and layered on the Switchlit Seal (see, I told you I use this a lot!). I added a gem to the star center and centered it on the hymn. I embossed the Joy to the World with black embossing powder and backed the hymn with black CS. So simple and only took me about an hour to make 8 of these.

I hope that you have a blessed Christmas and that 2023 brings lots of opportunities for you to be creative.

Happy Crafting ~ Joanne

So for my big project this Christmas I wanted to make a fun advent calendar that I could store special surprises. I found this cute box house on Amazon DIY Wooden Advent Calendar House 14 x 12 Inch, Pack of 1 Christmas Advent Calendar With 24 Empty Drawers for Crafts, by Woodpeckers https://a.co/d/iuSVhOY

I started by preparing the house by sanding it then numbering all the drawers and drawer holes to make sure the drawers fit correctly. Then I primed to outer layers with Distress Collage Medium. I added Ideaology Christmas design tape around the drawer boarders.

Then I started putting the outside layers on. For the roof I used the Cobblestone 3-D texture fade by sizzix, for the chimney I used Brickwork 3-d texture fade, and for the sides I used the lumber 3-D texture fade. I used heavy card stock and colored them with distress paints and inks. The new Lumberjack red paint was the perfect red for this house. I distressed each with black soot and gathered twigs.

I then added the Scallop 3-D texture fade boarder which was distressed with gathered twigs and snow grit and rock candy Distress glitter.

I found some old card stock in my stash that worked for the upper portion of the house. I also used this to line each drawer.

Now for the fun part, decorating all the drawers. I had some old Tim Holtz Distress Christmas paper the worked perfect for this. I simply took each drawer and traced its outline on the backside of the paper and cut them out. As each opening hole was slightly different. I used Collage Medium to attach.

The paper was pretty enough to leave as it was but I wanted to embellish them more. I have a collection of Distress Ideology to last my lifetime and so it was fun pulling all these things out and deciding where to put them.

From tiny pine cones, ice shakes, mittens, sleigh bells to snowflakes and wreaths. In addition, you will see ideology mini-flair Christmas, ephemera and of course the number tokens for each day.

A few of the drawers I used distress texture paste thru the poinsettia and star stencils.

Let’s not forget the pine greens die cut from card stock colored with distress Spray Stains and mica spray.

Ok, the little room. I used different ideology Christmas paper stash to cover the walls. Added a boarder around the top and a wreath to the back wall. Then I attached the sticking baseboard and some ephemera to the other wall. Although the room was not big enough for a large ideology woodlands tree so I used two of the medium size. I sprayed them with Rustic Wilderness distress spray stain and let them dry. Then I added some collage medium to the bristles with my finger and sprinkled rock candy glitter and ‘tinsel’ on them. Once the were dry I added the tiny lights. I set one of the trees in the black kettles and dusted it with glitter too!

I used some tiny scrabble tiles and a domino for the gifts, wrapped them and tied them with a bow. I added a few bottles and glittered peppermint candies and sticks and a few bits of tinsel.

Up on the roof top, I found some birch bark stars in my stash that looked nice. I attached them to wooden skewers then attached them to the backside of the house. I covered the back with Tim Holtz vintage Christmas paper and covered the tiny light Switch with a poinsettia from Ideology. I added the Scallops around the roof and midsection to frame it off.

For the front I used Ideology Christmas ephemera Santa 🎅 and reign deer 🦌

And last but certainly not least, the last drawer of Advent. I added the Sizzix 3-D Provincial boarder with ideology distress red card stock around the opening to set it apart from the other. A special surprise is inside. All attached so the tiny pieces don’t get lost.

I hope you liked my advent creation and I hope it brings years of joy to the little ones who use it.

Happy Creating ~ Joanne

Here are some of the materials I used for this project:

I make all my own cards. I have for the last 30 years. I always think I need new stamps, dies and stuff so that each card is totally different. Ha – that’s what the sellers want us to do! Anyway, here are some of my cards so far in 2022.

If you would like additional details on a specific card, please leave a message and I will get back to you. I just don’t have the time to write all of the details out for each one of these.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a very crafty day.

Joanne

It’s Halloween and time to get your creep on. I decided to work with what I had on hand and used my imagination to create this crypt.

I used a Tim Holtz long vignette box and covered it with Ideology backdrop paper and Halloween design tape to hide the edges. Collage medium is what I used to adhere everything. This paper is perfect for a creepy crypt.

Now to created the doors. I used #10 tags and backed two together for sturdiness. I painted them black with Distress paint them added Distress crypt paste. I applied some Seth Apter embossing powder on the wet paste and once it was dried I heat embossed the powder. Next I added crypt past around the edges and distressed with Distress crayons to get the grunge look.

I used Ideology hardware that I distressed with grit paste and crayons. I adhered them to the vignette box with distress nails.

The inner sides of the doors were sprayed with bronze Distress Mica spray thru a stencil. I dry embossed the gold metallic paper and created a pocket. I overlaid a spiderweb die cut. I used some Tim Holtz Halloween emphera and clipped together with a tiny clip.

Now adding the inner crypt details. Using lots of Tim Holtz ideology and distressing each piece. I used moss around the base to fill in. The apothecary bottles are glazed with Distress crazing.

That’s about as creepy as I get. 🥴 just love ❤️ all the fun things to play with. Hope you take time just to play.

Happy creating

Joanne

This year I actually had time to make a few gifts. I get so much joy out of making and giving and I literally spend hours and hours in my crafty dungeon just making. For this project I wanted to use the new Tim Holtz collage tiles and panel.

I’m a collector of ‘things’ and I like to incorporate them into my projects. I was really inspired by Paula Cheney at One Lucky Day to use things I’d never used before. Here is a link to her panel: http://www.oneluckyday.net/2021/11/collage-tiles-panel.html?fbclid=IwAR0hhMG4iGP8WZdasjERGL9vpeSlprA7HUYH9iaqe0SOozsXj_cjFQAyEfc&m=1

Tim has made this so easy with the new Christmas tiles. I only needed to glue them to the 10×10 panel with collage medium, add Distress crayon around the edges and smudge it in to create the aged patina. I also added strips of backdrop paper to the sides. Then I added collage crackle paste randomly around the frame sides. Once dried I smudged in some vintage brown crayon.

I then used some TH Christmas Baseboard items for the focal point. I used the new distress collage snowfall grit past to enhance the frame. For the posterior I used a piece from the Christmas ephemera pack. I tied some red and white string in a double bow and attached some TH ice skates that I had distressed.

I selected a vintage photo of a small boy and his sled (sledge) and tinted him with Distress crayons. I used a TH metal frame to frame him. The vintage tiny lanterns from TH caught my eye even though I had no idea how I would use them. They are so cute! For this one, I painted it with candy apple paint then rubbed black crayon onto it. So simple!

These little bristle brush Christmas trees are so sweet. For this one I sprayed it with the new Holly Branch Mica spray, then I dipped the top bristles in a glass of water to remove some of the paint to create the ombré effect. I colored a few baubles with alcohol ink. When the were dry, I rubbed some snow grit over them. I hot glued them to the tree once the tree was positioned to the panel.

For the ‘shelf’, I used some old vintage rulers that I had collected, glued them together to create approximately 1 1/2 – 2” shelf so that there was space to add the tree and lantern. I glued these onto the panel and let set over night to ensure it was stable. I then glued the lantern and tree in place after adding tiny lights. To fill in around them I glued tiny pine cones that I had also collected.

Once I had the main objects attached, I went back and added bits and pieces of ephemera. The 25 metal number from TH which I painted candy apple red and distressed. I glued these over the printed 25 and makes this little tile look 3-D. For the little baseboard I added mica behind and then attached TH word stickers, then below the photo opening I glued and added mica flakes. I also added the Merry & Bright baseboard to the top of the photo frame and enhanced it with tiny stars and icicle grit paste.

I used the baseboard stars as the final finish after distressing them with distress vintage platinum glitter dust to add a little bling to this panel.

Unfortunately I didn’t take a picture with the tiny lights on or the little pocket I created in the back to attach and store the light batteries. But I hope you get the main ideas. This project really only took me about 2 or 3 hours, most likely because I used Paula’s as an example.

Hope this inspires you to use you ‘stash’ and collectibles. I think the vintage ruler is the highlight on this panel. The receiver if this gift was delighted 😊.

Happy Creating ~ Joanne

I’m a collector of vintage type things, one of them are cigar boxes. Not sure when this all started but I have ‘few’ and have been looking for a way to incorporate them into my mixed media craft. Anyway, I was inspired by Jan Hobbins at https://janhobbins.blogspot.com/2020/11/december-daily-vignette-drawer-tim.html?m=1 She created a vignette box for December Daily memories.

Not going to lie, this took me a fair amount of time but I loved every moment as it really allowed me the freedom to be as creative as I wanted to. You will see that the earlier days are simpler and that with each passing day I added more complexities.

For the cigar box, I couldn’t find leather texture paper so I tried to create a faux leather by wetting and crumpling the paper and adding different distress stains. Although not quite what I was hoping to achieve, I just went with it because I wanted to start making the ‘fun stuff’. I used some very old paper stash that I had that was made of fabric. I added the the gold border using the Tim Holtz 3-D Impresslits. Santa and his sleigh adorn the sides using the Tim Holtz Stamptember 2021 stamp set.

For the inside of the box, I added TH paper from my collection (think this is from 2013) and them added texture paste randomly around the sides. I adhered everything with Distress Collage Medium. Now, on to the fun stuff.

I started with taking Christmas paper from the TH Ideology Merriment pack and created 25 3 1/2 x 6 inch panels. Then going through all my collections of ephemera and choosing things that would make this advent vintagy!

I soon realized that I would need to use my die cuts to get the full look that I was going for. The majority if my materials are TH (because I’m an addict to his all thing Tim Holtz 😊).

For the numbers/dates, I wanted to use different ones to create a more unique look. I scrounged through all my collections which included a vintage stamp set that I used for number 11.

Some of the adornments are actually Christmas ornaments that I picked up here and there (see number 14 & 17).

I love the variety of TH Ideology used on every panel. The snowflake die is so gorgeous but try creating a ‘thick’ one. Here I adhered 5 on top of each other and added Distress Stormy Sky glitter to the top flake.

I think these are my favorites. I was really running out of ideas around the dates/numbers. I wanted to use this key and when I looked at the size of the key opening I wondered it an Ideology coin would fit. Sure enough, it did. Now to figure out how to attach so that it would dangle. Thank you Emma Williams of https://stickydots.blogspot.com/?m=1 for so many excellent examples. No. 24 has to be the simplest panel yet I think it looks pretty cool. All I did was stamp the images in archival black ink, mask the moon then lightly smudged Distress black soot around it. Here are a few close ups of these panels.

For the last panel, I wanted it to show the real reason for the season – Jesus. I fell in love with this stamp set from Sweet ‘n Sassy called O Holy Night. I thought the stamps spoke for themselves and didn’t need any embellishments.

Now I was really challenged with the topping and the date, 25. I had painted some ideology metal numbers red and made them look distressed but that didn’t go with this scene. As you can see, I went back to the old 25 dies and used those, then topped them with the Simon Says Stamp die Peace Love Hope Joy.

I plan on finishing the backsides of the panels in January, but for now I must move on to my next project – Christmas presents. I hope you might find some inspiration in this fun project. Just remember that you can do whatever you want, simple or extravagant. Just be you.

Happy crafting ~ Joanne

So, I’ve been busy making Christmas cards but decided to take a break and make something just for me. I don’t do that often enough and this little project came together quickly. So let’s get started. I was totally inspired by Emma Williams for this make. I am so drawn to her works of art. Please checkout her blog at http://www.stickydots.blogspot.com

I started with 8×8” paint board. I wrapped the edges with washi tape then added several layers of card stock from Tim Holtz ideology Tidings Paper Stash. I inked the edges with Distress walnut stain.

For the top paper, I used a distress stencil (THS132) and Snowfall grit paste. I wanted a bit more bling so I added Distress Rock Candy glitter. Unfortunately, it doesn’t show up much in the photos. Then I die cut the flowers and greens from Festive Bouquet thinlits.

I added shading with various Distress Inks, aged mohogany, Forrest moss, peeled paint, and rustic wilderness.

I used different bits of Ideology emphera to accent the focal point which I die cut several rectangles and used Antique Linen Distress Stain on the top layer to create an aged look. I then lightly stamped some musical notes and gold embossed Christmas from Christmastime 2.

I die cut Merry from the die set Merry & Bright 4x to create more depth. I used other bits of from my stash to finish this off.

I hope you find inspiration from the beautiful things around you and that you take time this busy holiday season to do something just for you. Now, back to those cards…

Happy creating ~ Joanne

Sometimes we wonder why we are here, what is our purpose. I came across this verse from Esther 4:14 that really hit home with me. “Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created”. Now, not yesterday or tomorrow, but NOW! Anyway, I wanted to incorporate this verse into a mixed media form.

I started with an 8×8 canvas and covered it with Tim Holtz Ideology collage paper and medium.

I use the wide brush to ensure full coverage of the medium and all air bubbles are out. Set it aside to dry while I moved on to my focal point.

I created several backgrounds using watercolor paper and Distress Sprays – Speckled Egg, Antique Liner, Frayed Burlap. I experimented with Distress Resist Spray and several stencils – THS148, THS070. It creates this resist that looks embossed. Really neat!

I also created backgrounds with THM090, THS077, THS147, either using Distress Texture Paste crackle or grit, and of course inking thru the stencil.

Going with the theme from the collage paper, I die cut the Tim Holtz Sizzix cardinal Thinlit set. This was a free gift with a purchase and it cannot be purchased unfortunately. I die cut him from the darker background paper I created. I added a Nuvo crystal drop to his eye and used a COPIC Yellow on his beak. I then die cut the “nest” from the Tim Holtz Thinlets Funky Wreaths. I stamped the verse on some background paper and used the deckle edge die to cut it out.

You can see that I added a real stick with miss that I had collected a while ago. It helped to anchor the cardinal. I then started to add layers and Funky Florals to accent the focal point. The Funky Florals were also die cut from the backgrounds I had previously created.

To create the depth, I used foam sheets behind each die.

I have been collecting bits of memorabilia over the years and I found this old music sheet torn from an hymnal. I thought it would be perfect with my verse. I attached it to a piece of the background I had made and added some Ideology hardware that I had grundged up with distress paints. I also die cut the new Distress Switchlits Seal and stamped it with a stamp from the Distress Field Notes set. Adding bits and bobs of Distress Ideology just makes me happy. It seems to pull it altogether.

Even though I was finished I had to decide how it should be displayed. I settled on a 9×9 shadow box frame that I purchased a Michael’s. I distressed the outer frame by added Distress paint (speckled egg, vintage photo and salvaged patina). Oh yeah, a little walnut stain crayon too! The inner most layer of the frame was a white canvas that was easily distressed and stenciled.

I hope my directions have made sense. I’m hoping I didn’t miss anything important. It was helpful for me to take pictures as I was creating. Just know that I never know how my projects will turn out. I have a general plan but nothing in stone. Staying flexible helps me not to be a perfectionist.

Happy Creating ~ Joanne

Although I haven’t posted much over the last year or so, I have still been busy creating. Mostly for my grandchildren. I’m going to post the cards and if I remember the details for the make I will add.

This was a technique Jennifer McGuire provided a video on. Basically ghost stamp using a background stamp, use with Versa Mark or an white archival ink, allow to dry then use stencil over it. I got better results with the white ink. Here I used distress inks – salvaged patina and cracked pistachio. I die cut the text and that’s it.

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So I like to use the same card design for a year so that each grand gets a similar style. I used the same distress inks and a circle stencils from AAL&L, Tim Holtz Crazy Birds stamp and dies. The balloon was also from one of the older Tim Holtz.

Here I used background paper, die cut the cupcakes from different colors and added glitter and coordinating dots.

This was the exception this year to the style because it was as the first one I did in 2021. Anyway this is a Hero’s Art stamp and die set that I’ve used a lot. I had the idea for making the bunting to fly behind the plane but it was too long. I used various dies and stencils for this card.

I love the text die from Simon Says and wanted to use it for this make which was a Valentines card. The challenge is that it is sizable and so I had to use a 5 1/2”!x 5 1/2” card base. Again I stenciled the heart base, die cut and colored a crazy bird with COPIC markers.

This was a copy of Stacey Hutchinson’s card for which I purchased these hexagon dies for. Used Distress inks and stencils.

This was made for my 5 year old that loves bugs. Bug stamps are Tim Holz. I reversed stenciled, let the ink dry them stamped and embossed the bugs using Tim holtz embossing glaze. I used various rectangle and square dies.

Simple stamping and coloring.

I like to find ways to use my products as my ch as possible. This circle stencil has gotten used often. I added clear texture paste over the number stencil, then added glitter before drying. Simple card.

Sometimes you need a quick card that doesn’t require much creative thought. This is one of them.

This is not a birthday card but it uses that cute Hero Arts set from earlier. Shaker card.

And that catches me up on kid birthday cards. Hope this sparks a bit of inspiration. Happy creating, Joanne