Remember 2 Dream Canvas

It's the first of the month once again, which means it's time for a new challenge at Scrap It Girl. The theme for June is wings, and I have a super fun and colorful project that fits the bill perfectly.  How about a canvas full of mixed media pastes, sequins, and lots of  Unique Laser Designs embellishments. 

So let's get going, and I'll show you how it was done.

I'll start by apologizing because the first picture I took wouldn't transfer from my camera.  However, what I did was lay a stencil on the canvas and apply a light coat of modeling paste with a trowel.  I then let the canvas dry overnight. When the modeling paste was dry, I added lots and lots of color with my spray inks. Just keep adding color until you're happy with the result.  There is no right or wrong on this.

Now, to work on the embellishments.  I added a Glimmer Glaze to a canvas heart and alcohol ink to a set of wings.

Back to the canvas, I added a strip of washi tape to the bottom, lots of sequins along the right side, and a transparency across the middle.  I added a bit of glitter glue to the letter E to make it stand out a bit more.

I finished the heart by stamping a couple of flourishes and adding a layer of glass bead gel medium. then I attached the heart to the wings then attaching a pin and gem to the bottom.

Next up, I added several dragonflies that were colored with Distress Ink.

Lastly, I added a Grungeboard number that was colored with glitter glue and the word dream which was sprayed with Glimmer Mist. Lots and lots of shimmer and shine :)

The finished product is a highly textured and colorful canvas. Now the question is this, where to display it to best show it off?

Steampunk Picture Frame

Hello!  Katy here to show you a fun project with gears!

Here is the finished frame.  And as you scroll down I will show you how this all came together! :)

I used the Angels Wings, Gears A and Gears B.  I love the how delicate these wings look!

I started with a wooden frame that you get from the crafts store (they are generally inexpensive).  I painted it with gesso, first.

Then I covered the frame with Ranger's Distress Crackle Paint.  I applied it on medium to thick so the cracks would come through.

Here is the frame with it's cracklely goodness.

Here is a close up. 

Then I painted it with Tim Holtz's Distress Paint Antiqued Bronze over the cracked paint.  

To get to this step I then patted Versamark ink on the frame.  I did one side at a time (because of how hot the frame can get from the heat embosser).  I mixed Tim Holtz's Vintage Photo Distress Embossing Powder and Stampendous Midnight Black Opaque Embossing Powder.  I use a coffee filter to catch the excess.  So I would put Versamark on one side of the frame and then press it into the excess.  I think that is how I got those lumps.  That didn't blow off when I heated it so I consider that a success!  I think it adds texture. Not to mention that the embossing didn't cover up the cracks!

Here is a closeup of the left side of the frame.  All rusty and sooted :)

Now to the gears!  I used gears from both sets.

I used Wow Metallic Cooper on this one in the picture.  It is an Ultra High embossing powder so it is a bit chunky.  You can see the great coverage here.  I love the dimples in this gear-it just adds to the over all character.  I also used Wow Metallic Gold and Silver on the remaining gears.

For the wings I used Ranger's Liquid Platinum embossing powder.  This is finer than the Wow and a different metallic color.

I didn't get a picture with this step.  Once all of the gears are cooled off, I put Black Soot Distress Paint on the gears to give them a dirty look.  I just applied with my fingers (which is probably why I didn't take a picture at the time.) ;)  Some of my gears didn't get enough embossing powder so this covers the spots and makes them look more grungy.

Before gluing I arranged my gears until I liked how they looked.

Now, get out your strongest adhesive :)  I used Glossy Accents.  I just had to be patient and let the glue dry before adding.  Also, notice in this picture that the last copper gear doesn't have anything in the middle.  So if I put a smaller gear there it won't be raised like the other gears.

 So I glue 2 gears together on there sides.  The gold gear is going in the copper gear.  So it will be suspended there.  To make sure it is supported I put a pop dot underneath it.

Here is a close up of the gears all finished and glued into place.

Here is a closeup of the wings.  I used a Prima light bulb for the center.  

Here is a closeup of the frame on the left.  The crackle and the copper color of the vintage embossing powder show through so nicely!

We can't wait to see what you make!  Link up here to join our April Challenge! :)

Steampunk Pop-Up Box Card Tutorial

I had a card swap I needed to make a card for, and just couldn't think of what I wanted to do.  Finally, after scouring Pinterest looking for ideas, I stumbled across a steampunk board and it hit me !   I'm fortunate in that if I want something I can make it, but that's a good thing for you too, since if I make it, then it usually becomes available on my website.  :D

This is the end result, which I think turned out marvelous !  Since I didn't make the tutorial off this card, I decided to make another one, so lets see how the second one comes out. :)

Here we go...

First off, you need to decide what colors you want to use.  Three different colors are used in this card.  I chose black as the base for this card, for the outside panels I used a red glitter floral paper from a Recollections - Love Letter pad, the inside panels are black and grey floral from a DCWV "The Performance Stack" pad.  

You will need an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of cardstock for the main card piece, I chose black.
Along the short side, measure 5 1/2" and cut (keep this skinny strip as we use it later.)
Now, on the long side, we want to score the sheet in 4 places:  2 5/8", 5 1/4", 7 7/8" and 10 1/2".  From here, rotate the sheet 90 degrees and score at 3".  
Now, on the very skinny end, cut along the score lines on the 2 1/2" side and remove the little corner.  We also want to cut along the 3 score lines on the 2 1/2" side, but only up to the horizontal score line that goes all the way across the page - this is creating the top flaps on the box that open. 

So here you can see the top left corner cut out, the score lines and cuts on the top half score lines

You can go ahead and fold along all the score lines EXCEPT the big one on the left (do fold the skinny little piece.)  This section (my finger is on in the pic and the one above it) is the back bone of your card, and while we do add a little more to it to make it sturdier, it holds up better if you don't fold it down.

As you can see, all the flaps are folded open and down (except that back piece) and we have the box shape, although I haven't taped it closed just yet.

I wanted to make the back piece a little stronger, so I cut a strip from some spare black card stock I had laying around, 5 3/8" x 2 3/8".  Glue this piece to the back of the card, covering the entire back panel, adding strength.

Now we get to add some color !   I cut my pieces ahead so I'm ready to glue all at one time.

I started with the outer bottom panels, using my red glitter card stock.  (I opted for card over paper as it makes the card a little sturdier in general, but as long as your base card is fairly heavy, paper should work too.)

I cut 4 squares, all sized 2 3/8" x 2 3/4" and glued these to the outer lower panels.

For the inner top panels, I used the black and grey card stock.  All 4 squares are 2 3/8" x 2 3/8".  Glue to inside top panels.

You can now glue the card together to form the box (small tab glued to inside of large back piece.)

Now is when I start to play with the goodies I'm using to decorate the card with, in this case...GEARS !

I have a bunch of different natural chipboard gears in all shapes and sizes.  I decided which ones I wanted to use, and painted them an assortment of colors.  When it comes to painting, I'm all for quick and convenient when possible, so for many of my projects I opt for spray paint - there are some gorgeous colors these days !!  For this project, I used a mix of gold, silver, dark wood stain, hammertone pewter, and a little gold glitter spray.  I also LOVE Inka Gold Metalic Rubs, and used the copper on a few pieces, as well as some Tim Holtz tarnished bronze Distressed Paint.

While those dry, we can add the center pieces in the box.  
Get the strip that was cut off in the very beginning.  I score it in two places, 10 1/2" and 7 7/8".  Cut it so that the final piece looks the same on both sides:  skinny, big, skinny.  This is the piece that goes in the middle of the card, that we attach the gears to.  

We need two pieces, so go ahead and cut in half to create two like pieces (it doesn't have to be perfectly straight or exactly in half, just eyeball it.)  
When folding along the score lines, I fold the left one way and the right the other way...this makes it all lay flatter in the envelope.

We are going to divide the inside of the box into thirds, again, this doesn't need to be measured.  Glue the folded edges of the pieces we just made and attach inside the box.  You may need to play around to get the pieces mostly straight - I do this by folding the card closed and flat a few times and readjusting the dividers if needed.  

Now for the fun part !  Here are the goodies I painted (not all will be used in this card.)

This gives you an idea of how they can turn out.   

For the front divider, I glued several different color/shaped gears together and then glued this piece to the divider.    I placed our top hat set on the front flap, as well as a partial gear (regular gear cut in 1/4's, one piece was used.)  I used a random assortment of other gears on either of the side flaps, and a clock face, gear and another gear piece on the back panel.

Almost done !!  For the back divider, I used our angel wings, gears and pocket watch.  To give them a little lift, I glued them to chipboard strips (you could use just about anything here, just needs to be sturdy to hold up the pieces.)

Add your final pieces...and voila !