Mixed Media Art Journal – Take 5

“Mixed Media Art Journal – Take 5”
Created by Sophia Vida

Happy November! I can’t believe Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Not sure I’m quite ready for all the holidays just yet. It seems they come faster and faster every year.

On a more fun note, I wanted to share my new journal pages with you. Journaling is a perfect place to showcase your artwork which is what I did on these two pages. I had created these two tags using Angel Mist Sprays, stamp embossing and various embellishments. Although they were a lot of fun to make, I really didn’t have a use for them so I thought it would be fun to give them a permanent home in my journal.

I painted the backgrounds with dark blue and pink acrylic paints. Where the two colors mixed, the paint turned mostly purple which is what I wanted. But you can still see a few pink streaks here and there.

When I looked at the tags against the background they got lost, so I added highlights with gelatos. I accented the pages with white acrylic paint and doodled in the corners and around the tags with a white paint marker. Of course, I couldn’t resist finishing it off with a little bling, so I added Stickles and that was it!

Hope you enjoy!

And stay tuned as the journaling adventure continues…..

Thanks for stopping by!

            

Supplies Use:

• Strathmore Mixed Media Visual Journal 5.5″ x 8″
• Gesso
• Acrylic Paints -Dark Blue, Pink, White
• Stickles
• White Paint Pen
• Artwork to display in your journal

Follow your own path Watercolor

          

“Follow your own path Watercolor”
Created by Sophia Vida

I was inspired by Gina Lee Kim, a very talented watercolor artist. Gina creates some really stunning paintings with bright fun colors that just seem to jump out at you. She offers classes and has been featured in many magazines. You can find out more about her on her blog at ginaleekim.blogspot.com.

To create this piece I used a 10″ x 15″ 140 lb watercolor paper. I taped down the edges and gave the paper a coat of water. While it was still wet I started adding pink, blue and yellow paints.

When the paper is wet like this I love how the colors mingle and create new colors. If you remember your basic color mixing rules, pink and blue make purple and yellow and blue make green. That’s how I ended up with this beautiful wash. To create the spotted background, I sprinkled coarse sea salt on the wet paper and then let it dry. After the paper was dry, I gently rubbed off the salt and was left with the spots you see here:

You’ll notice the birds have unique designs on them as well. To do this I created a second wet wash on a another sheet of watercolor paper. Once the paint mostly dry, I used a couple of different stencils and gently wiped off  some of the paint with a wet wipe.

    

Next I traced the birds from a small wood cut out that I found at the craft store. I outlined the birds with a purple Gelly Roll pen, cut them out and adhered them to my first watercolor background.

I wanted the one bird to stand out more than the others, so I gave him a coat of clear glitter paint and let it dry. I used a swirl stamp with white embossing powder as an accent.

Last I hand wrote my sentiment in the bottom right corner of the paper with a Sakura Micron Pen #03. I accented the letters with a dark purple Gellly Roll pen. I outlined the sentiment with a Marvy White Gel Pen and used white watercolor paint to create a light wash around it. I added a little shading with a dark blue watercolor pencil and Voila! I had a new one of a kind painting to hang in my home!

    

Hope you enjoy!!

 

Supplies Used:

• 140 lb Watercolor Paper, 10″ x 15″
• Watercolor Paints
• Wood Bird Cut Out
• Assorted Gelly Roll Pens
• Sakura Micron Pen #03
• Wet Wipes
• Coarse Sea Salt
• Marvy White Gel Pen
• Pigment Ink
• White Embossing Powder
• Heat Gun
• Clear Glitter Paint
• Aleene’s Tacky Glue
• Scissors
• Large 1″ mop brush for watercolor
• Clean water and paper towels

Merry Christmas Mixed Media

Merry Christmas Mixed Media
Created by Sophia Vida

Back in November I saw “the stampers’ sampler” magazine. Although I don’t normally buy this one I couldn’t stop looking at the cover. I loved how the artist used torn pieces of Christmas paper to make this card. I thought it would be such fun to do the same but make a canvas (8″ x 10″) instead.

So off I went tearing pieces of Christmas papers but I didn’t like how that looked. So I switched gears and decided I would use acrylic paints. But then looking at it, I traveled too far from my inspiration piece. So I started over yet again, lol….

This time I used painters tape to block off different sections. Each section was painted a different color and gold ribbon was used to outline each box. This ended up working rather well. I wanted to keep it clean and simple so I decided not to add any patterned backgrounds like the inspiration piece. Unfortunately, by now the holidays had started and my pace slowed drastically but I continued on my journey not sure of where this would end up…

To fill the boxes I used different embellishments and added red and green stickles for extra highlights.  I also used my Merry Christmas, candy cane and prima doll stamps. I colored the stamped images with alcohol ink markers and then highlighted them with stickles and that was it!

Although the holiday season has passed I figured at least I would be early this year. Enjoy!!
                   

                   

Clean & Simple Tulip Card

Clean and Simple Tulip Card
(created by Sophia Vida)

I made this for the Clean and Simple Card challenge over at Addicted to Stamps & More but unfortunately I missed the deadline. In any case, this was a really quick and easy card to do with minimal supplies.

For this card you will need:

– Premade 4.5″ x 6.25″ Olive Green Card & Envelope
– Cardstock: Red and White
– Hero Arts Watercolor Tulip Stamp H3834

– Fiskars Home Sweet Home Stamp Set 136840-1001

– Stardust Stickles
– Colored Markers: Red, Grass Green
– Color Box Black Pigment Ink
– Ranger Clear Embossing Powder
– Glue Stick
– Scissors
– Heat Gun
  

1. Cut a 3-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ rectangle from the red cardstock and glue to the center of the premade olive green card.
2. Cut a 3-1/8″ x 5-3/8″ rectangle from the white cardstock.
3. Color the stem on the tulip stamp with the green marker. Color the flower part of the stamp with the red marker. Blow moist breath over the stamp to activate the markers and stamp your image on the center of the white card stock.
   
4. Ink your “Best Wishes” stamp with the pigment ink. Stamp the sentiment on the bottom left corner of the white cardstock. Sprinkle with embossing powder. Tap off any excess and use the heat gun to set.
   
5. Glue the white cardstock to the center of the red cardstock. Highlight the stem and flower with the Stardust Stickles. Let dry.  Voila! You have a beautiful handmade card.
   

Thanks for looking and have lots of fun making this Clean and Simple Tulip Card!

For more Crafting Tips and Techniques visit our main website at Just4Crafters.com

Valentine’s Day Card

Valentine’s Day Card
(created by Sophia Vida)

This is a pretty quick and easy card to make. There is lots of texture which makes it lots of fun! Your recipient will surely love this handmade card. Enjoy!!!

For this Card you will need:

– Great Impressions Happy Valentine’s Day Stamp #D364

– Inkadinkado “You Make My Heart Flutter” Stamp #97573

– Studio G Heart Stamp #2011-10-25 or any other 1-1/2″ Heart Stamp
– Fimo Soft Red Clay

– Clay Machine
– Exacto knife
– Perfect Pearls Kit – Metalics (White)

– Premade Brown 5×7 Card and Envelope
– Cardstock: Bazzill Mudpie, Any Red Garnet 
– Small piece of Brown Burlap
– Ranger Tea Dye Distress Ink
– 4″ Natural Raffia Ribbon
– CuttleBug D’Vine Swirls Embossing Folder
– Versa Fina Onyx Black Ink
– Three 3/4″ Red Glass Discs
– Aleene’s Tacky Glue
– Glue Stick
– Wax coated paper plate
– Spray bottle with water
– Water for cleaning brush
– Parchment Paper

1. Condition your Fimo clay by rolling and kneading it. Then run it through the clay machine on a setting of 1.
2. Place the thin sheet of clay on your parchment paper. Spray your stamp with water (this will kep the clay from sticking to the stamp). Stamp your image directly on the clay (If you’re not happy with the results, simply repeat steps 1 and 2).
3. Using your exacto knife and very light pressure, gently cut along the outside edge of the heart (If you prefer, place a cutting mat underneath just in case). Once it is fully cut, set the excess clay aside.
4. Press your heart into the embossing folder and gently peel off.
5. Dip your brush into water, just enough to dampen it. Dip your brush into the white  Perfect Pearls and begin brushing it on the embossed swirls on your heart.
   
6. Repeat steps 1 through 5 and make the second heart.
7. Place your hearts on a clean piece of parchment paper and bake in the oven on a cookie sheet according to the manufacturers directions.
8. While the hearts are baking, distress the edges of the card with the Tea Dye ink.
9. Cut 2 squares from the Brown Mudpie cardstock measuring 2.75″ x 2.75.” Cut 2 squares from the Red Garnet cardstock measuring 2.5″ x 2.5.” Cut 2 squares from the burlap measuring 2″ x 2.”
10. Layer your squares. Using the glue stick adhere the red square on top of the brown square. Then using  Aleene’s Tacky glue adhere the burlap on top of the red layered square. Repeat this step for the second set. (Tip: if your burlap has creases and isn’t laying flat just wet it with a little water and iron it flat. Make sure it is completely dry before gluing onto the cardstock)
11. Glue the first layered square to the top left of your card. Glue the second layered square to the bottom right of your card.
12. Tie a bow with the raffia around one of the red glass discs. Glue the three red discs on the top right of your card above the layered square.
    
13. Using the Versa Fine Ink stamp “You Make My Heart Flutter” on the bottom left of the card below the square.
    
14. Stamp “Happy Valentine’s Day” inside of the card with the Versa Fine Ink.
    
15. Once your hearts have finished baking and have cooled, use the Aleene’s Tacky Glue to adhere them on top of the burlap on each square.Voila! You have a gorgeous handmade Valentine’s Day Card.
    

Thanks for looking and have lots of fun making this Valentine’s Day card!

For more Crafting Tips and Techniques visit our main website at Just4Crafters.com

Cupcake Birthday Card

 

Cupcake Birthday Card
(created by Sophia Vida)

For this Quick & Easy Card you will need:

– Cardstock: White, Fuchsia, Purple, Yellow and Patchwork Quilt by Urban Prairie
– Hero Arts Large Cupcake Stamp CG157
 
– Rubber Soul Vertical Happy Birthday Stamp S120-K

– Sizzix Sizzlits Die – Candles #2 (#654853)

– Stardust Stickles and Lavender Stickles
– 2 Silver Brads
– 2 Small Purple Paper Flowers
– Colored Markers: Fuchsia, Yellow, Purple
– Jelly Roll Pen: Purple Star
– Orange Colored Pencil
– Staz On Black Ink
– Clear Pigment Ink
– Glitterex DD Multi Ultra Fine  Glitter  GX-123 (White Iridescent Glitter)
– Small Heart Stickers
– Glue Stick
– Foam Squares
– Deckle Scissors
– Scissors
– Heat Gun
  

1. Cut a 6″ x 12″ rectangle from the Fuchsia cardstock. Fold in half. This will be the base of your card.
2. Cut a 5.5″ x 5.5 square from the yellow patchwork quilt cardstock. Adhere to the front of your base card.
3. Using the Sizzix Sizzlits, cut the base of the candles from the Purple Cardstock. Color in the diagonal stripes with the Purple Jelly Roll Pen.
4. Using the Sizzix Sizzlits, cut the candles again but from the Yellow Cardstock. Color in the center of the flame with the orange pencil. Cut the flame off. Glue the flame to the base of the candle from step 3. Set aside.
    
5. Cut two 4″ x 4″ squares from the white cardstock. Ink your cupcake stamp with the black Staz On ink and stamp your image on to each 4″ square.
6. Using the fuchsia colored marker, color in the thick stripes on the bottom of the cupcake. Using the yellow colored marker, color in the thin stripes on the bottom of the cupcake. Carefully cut out your image with scissors. Glue the candles from step 4 to the top of the cupcake. Let dry.
   
7. Using the fuchsia colored marker color in the small pink hearts on the top of the second stamped cupcake. Also color in the outline of the large heart. Color in the sprinkles on the top of the cupcake with the purple and yellow colored markers.
8. Ink the top of the cupcake with the clear pigment ink. Sprinkle with the ultra fine glitter. Tap off any excess. Use your heat gun to set. Once cool, carefully cut out the top part of the cupcake and adhere to the base cupcake in step 6 with foam squares. Highlight the round swirls on the top of the cupcake with the purple stickles let dry.
   
9. Cut a 2″ x 5″ rectangle from the white cardstock. Ink your Happy Birthday stamp with the fuchsia marker. Breathe moist air onto it and stamp your image. Trim the edges with deckle scissors. Leave enough of a border to add your embellishments.
   
10. Insert the silver brad through the center of the flowers and fasten to the top left and bottom right of your stamped image. Adhere the small heart stickers randomly to your sentiment. Use the stardust stickles to highlight the small hearts. Let dry.
11. Outline the Happy Birthday letters with the lavender stickles. Let dry.
12. Adhere the Birthday sentiment to the left side of the front of your card. Adhere the cupcake to the right side of your card. Voila! You have a beautiful handmade Cupcake Birthday Card.
    

Thanks for looking and have lots of fun making this quick and easy Cupcake Birthday Card!

For more Crafting Tips and Techniques visit our main website at Just4Crafters.com

Halloween Ghost Boo Card

 

Halloween Boo Card
Created by Sophia Vida

I found the Martha Stewart Haunted Fence Punch Set and the Pumpkin Punch on sale and couldn’t pass them up.  I loved the details on the fence punch with the crows, spider webs and pumpkins. Plus, the pumpkin punch is really cool because not only does it punch your image but it embosses at the same time!

For this Card you will need:

–  Great Impressions Ghost Stamp E622
   
– Any “Boo” Stamp or Letters
– Martha Stewart Haunted Fence Punch Set
 
– Martha Stewart Jack-O-Lantern Medium Double Embossed Punch

– Cardstock: Orange, Black, White
– The Stencil Collection Chalks – Dark Brown (These chalks are great! Unfortunately I just found out the company closed. If you find a set online, definitely get it. I love these chalks because they become permanent after applied and don’t require additional fixatives.) Another alternative would be to use Ranger Tea Dye Distress Ink.
– Souffle Jelly Roll Pen in White

– Stardust Stickles 

– Small amount of raffia ribbon 
– Color Box Black Pigment Ink
– Ranger Clear Embossing Powder
– Heat Embossing Gun
– Round Watercolor Brush
– Watercolor pencils: Rose, Gray
– Foam Squares 1/16″ and 1/8″
– Glue Dot
– Glue Stick

1. Cut a 6″ x 12″ piece of orange cardstock and fold in half. This will be the base of your card.
2. Cut a 6″ x 6″ piece of black cardstock. Using your Martha Haunted Fence punch set, punch the corners of the 6″ x 6″ black cardstock. After you punched all 4 corners, punch the sides as shown on the instructions.
3. Using the pumpkin emboss & punch, punch 2 pumpkins from the leftover orange cardstock. Set aside.
4. Stamp the ghost image onto white cardstock with the Colorbox Black Pigment ink. Sprinkle with the clear embossing powder and remove excess. Use the heat gun to set. Trim your stamped image to size.
5. Using the gray watercolor pencil, lightly shade the top of the heads and hands for each ghost. Using the rose watercolor pencil, lightly shade the cheeks for each ghost. Use a round watercolor brush dipped in water to blend the colors.
6. Stamp the Boo image onto white cardstock with the Colorbox Black Pigment ink. Sprinkle with the clear embossing powder and remove excess. Use the heat gun to set. Trim your stamped image to size.
7. Use the dark brown Stencil Collection Chalk or Ranger Tea Dye Ink to distress the edges of the card. Glue your black cardstock with the haunted fence border onto your orange card base.
   
8. Adhere the Ghost Image to the bottom center of the black cardstock using the 1/16″ foam squares. Adhere the Boo Image at a slight angle above the ghost image with the 1/8″ foam squares.
9. Draw a cloud around the Boo image. Draw a few white circles from the ghost image leading to the Boo image.
   
10. Using the glue stick, adhere the embossed pumpkins to the right and left of the Boo image.
11. Cut a small bundle of raffia ribbon and tie in a knot. Use a glue dot to adhere to the top left corner of the black cardstock just under the fence.
    
12. Highlight the orange pumpkin eyes with the Star Dust Stickles. Also highlight the eyes and smiles of the corner punched pumpkins on the black cardstock with the Stickles. Let dry. Voila! You have an adorable Halloween Card!!!

Thanks for looking and have lots of fun making this Halloween Ghost Boo card!

For more Crafting Tips and Techniques visit our main website at Just4Crafters.com

Alcohol Ink Book Marks

                                      

Alcohol Ink Bookmarks (measures 2-1/2″ x 7-1/4″)
Created by Sophia Vida

 
– White Glossy Cardstock
– Colored Alcohol Inks and Gold/Silver Alcohol Inks
    
– Alcohol Ink Stamper and Felt Pads

– Alcohol Ink Blending Solution
 
– Assorted Punches, Stamps, Embellishments (whatever you have on hand will do)
– Clear Plastic Bookmark Sleeve
– Glue Stick
– Foam Squares
– Your Imagination

Bookmarks are fun to make for your own personal use or you can make them as gifts for family and friends. They are also a great craft for kids’ parties because they are so easy to make. The best part is you can use your scrap paper and leftover embellishments!

There is not a lot of instruction with this project because bookmark sleeves vary in sizes depending on where you buy them. So although I may give you specifics on what I made, yours will more than likely be completely different. The only requirement is that you add a little imagination and let your creativity fly! Most importantly have fun!

I recommend using glossy paper with the alcohol inks because it works best with the inks. You can stamp images on top of the inks and heat emboss them. It looks fantastic!

1. To start, place the felt pad on the ink stamper. Add a few drops of 2 or 3 different colors of alcohol inks to the felt pad and randomly stamp your glossy paper. Leave a little white space.
2. Add a little silver or gold alcohol ink to the pad along with a little of the blending solution. Then stamp over your colored areas and blend. You can stamp the solution, give it a twirl or swipe it across the paper. Experiment and see what you like. The various effects are beautiful!
3. Once you have the desired look you can cut the cardstock to fit inside of your plastic book mark sleeve. Check your fit. Tip: If you want to add layers, just cut pieces of coordinating cardstock and layer your pieces with the alcohol ink paper on top so it will be most visible.
4. You can stamp images on top of the alcohol inks and even heat emboss them. Add any embellishments and finish it off with some ribbon or yarn and a charm if you like. The possibilities are endless! Voila! You have a beautiful one of a Bookmark!!!

Have lots of fun making these Alcohol Ink Bookmarks!

          

                  

Butterfly Bookmark
The inks used on the Butterfly bookmark were Purple Twilight, Sunset Orange, Sunshine Yellow and Gold. After I cut my background piece, I used the left over paper to punch and layer butterflies.

Dream Bookmark
The inks used on the Dream bookmark were Stream, Wild Plum, Butterscotch and Silver. Once dry, I heat embossed the letters and added rhinestone embellishments.

For more Crafting Tips and Techniques visit our main website at Just4Crafters.com

Blog Candy Winner

Blog Candy Give Away #2

Hi Everyone!

In appreciation to all of my wonderful readers I thought it would be fun to have another Give Away!!!

To be eligible just leave a comment below by May 12th and subscribe/follow this blog.

A lucky winner will be drawn and announced on this blog May 13th.

The prize is a brand paper crafting book titled “Magenta Style Paper Magic” by Nathalie Metivier and Leslie Conron Carola!!! This fabulous book is filled with over 75 projects (128 pages) for stunning cards, gift tags, scrapbook pages, album covers, gift wrap, boxes, holiday ornaments and more.

The back summary reads: “Dozens of inventive ways to use rubber stamps, inks, papers and festive embellishments to great effect from Magenta, the world-renowned paper craft company.

Techniques include: ghost stamping, coloring and embossing, making paper beads, die-cut windows, pieced paper, Bargello, swivel panel card, layered Peel Off’s, tearing and cutting paper, and many more.”

I’ll e-mail the winner for their mailing address.

Good Luck and Happy Mother’s Day!