What's Brewing? STVOLDIES9 Challenge Winner!

I made this card for the Oldies but Goodies challenge over at Stamp TV. And WOW...did I have fun making this card. I used my Silhouette Cameo and Melanie Muenchinger's Create a Cauldron cut and print file (which can be purchased at Stamp TV's online store). I printed the cauldron and all the pieces on white card stock and then cut them out. Then, I removed the print files from the cut file and using other colors, cut the items again. I did make the cut a little bigger for the sentiment so I could frame it. I used Copic markers to color the cauldron and the boiling eyeball sludge...lol (then cut it by hand around the image). I found this awesome multi-colored ribbon at Michael's for $1.00 and couldn't wait to use it. The skeleton arm and skull spoon are from Jolee's Boutique. I added the googly eyes for a bit of whimsy...eye of newt. Thanks for looking.

Metal Molding and Scratching

I purchased these molds from Dick Blick's online store and wanted to see what I could do with them. Some are easier to work with than others, but it was so much fun. For all of the pieces, you take your piece of metal and cut it to one inch bigger than the mold on all sides. Cut the corners of the metal off and then bend the metal around the mold. Using different tools, I started by first molding the metal to mold. You have to use several different tools, preferably plastic or something that will not scratch the metal. You need different sizes of tips to get into all the crevices and make sure you uncover every detail of the mold. After you're satisfied with the molding, each piece can then be detailed according to what you want it to look like.  I will show the picture and explain what was done to each one.

Leo the Lion:

 

This was created with brown metal with a silver core. After molding, I used a sanding block to remove the brown metal. I then used green rubbing cream on the grass and gold rubbing cream on the lion. Because the rubbing cream will never dry on the metal, I set it using a matte setting spray. The metal will usually have rough edges, so to hide them, I created a frame with the brushed gold card stock. Layered that on brushed brown card stock and then brushed green card stock. The card is a 5.5" x 5.5" square.

Silver Elephant:

This one took a while because he went through several changes. He was molded the same way with silver metal. One thing to remember is silver is that color all the way through, so you won't see the same details. I sanded the elephant and then used a gunmetal and green rubbing cream and set it with matte spray. I matted the elephant with a brushed gunmetal card stock, then black and then brushed silver. I really wasn't liking the way it looked...so, I then scraped off all the gunmetal rubbing cream to expose the silver again. I sprayed the background with a sparkle spray and then added a metal Happy Birthday charm. I'm still not as happy with it as I could be, but I would definitely use a different color metal next time so there is a better contrast on the background.

Lady Liberty:

This was done using red metal. She also went through a couple of phases. I would not do all the scrapping on the burst around her next time. The mold had burst lines and I added blue Copic marker to that and then started scrapping in between them. I scrapped the stars and then added blue Copic to that. Lady Liberty was scrapped and then sprayed with matte spray to seal it. I added a matte silver card stock as the frame, then red card stock, then matte silver again and then dark blue. You have to be very careful of how you mount the metal to your card stock. As you can see in the upper right corner, the metal is forming around the sticky dot and there's no way for me to get it off now. So, be careful your tape is flat.

Metal Ship:

 

I think this one is my favorite by far. The camera will not capture the teal color of this. It is looking more turquoise, but trust me, it looks amazing in real life. This was done with black metal with a silver core. I tried to sand this one, but found out really quickly that the contours of this would not allow that. So, this ship was entirely scrapped. I used a teal Bic marker on the water and then matched that with card stock for the base of the card. I used the matte silver card stock to frame the ship and then added a shiny black card stock (matte card stock did not look good at all). This card is going to my good friend's son because I thought about him the entire time I made this ship.

Thank you so much for looking!

I'm Gonna Dance the Night Away

This is my entry for the October 7- 20 Creative Free Challenge for The Outlawz:

 

 This is a digi stamp from The Outlawz. I printed the image at 3 1/2 inches tall. She was colored with Copic markers and Atyou Spica markers for a little glitter. The background paper is from DCWV, the Stardust pack. I printed the sentiment using Microsoft Word's Wordart. I used Spellbinders ribbon die to cut out the saying. To get the ribbon die matted, I traced the outside of the actual die and then hand-cut it out. I then layered and assembled the piece. The bling are these little brad covers that looked like the paper to me, and I added yellow crystals to the centers. Thank you for looking. 

Oldies But Goodies 7 Challenge Winner

Once again, I was thrilled beyond belief to discover I had won this challenge. Gina had changed some of the rules on her challenges, and the Livechats and Oldies but Goodies challenges were now going to be picked by Gina and the Design Team to win. You got to pick your choice of a stamp set valued at $19.95 and a pack of Gina's beautiful patterned papers. The news came in an email set to all members of Stamp TV from Gina and the winner of the challenge would also get to have their card placed on Stamp TV's Facebook page and Pinterest. I think I actually screamed when I scrolled down the email and saw my card. It's the most thrilling experience when something you created is recognized by such talented crafters. Here is the card I won with:

I used 7 layers, the card has 7 flowers and 7 crystals. I used Gina K's One in a Million set. I painted the flowers with liquid pearls (cantaloupe and pink). The stems and leaves were done with a dimensional green paint. The frame, which is my 7th layer, is a Cheery Lynn die called Enchanted Forest (a stacking set of 4 dies). Then I added a pink satin bow to finish it off.

September 2012 Release Challenge Winner

I was very lucky and surprised to find out that I was the winner of Gina's Wood you try something new Challenge. This challenge was creating a wood look using a technique Gina showed us on her website. You can just imagine how thrilled I was to find out I had won. I used different colors and a smaller panel for my technique, and when I was finished, it reminded me of a beach house, so I went with it.

I did not use the traditional wood colors, but went with blues. I used 3 colors of Distress Ink and I made my planks 1/4" apart. Instead of molding, I created a border using Life's a Beach (colored with Copics). I made the window from extra planks and sponged the sunset with Memento inks. Then stamped the ship from Enjoy the Sunshine. I sponged the "wall" with Memento ink. I cut a shell using my Cricut and stamped the sentiment from Under the Sea. The decorations on the wall are dolphin brads and the "picture" I made using a silver frame, UTEE and charms. The UTEE is a lot more blue in real life than it appears in the picture. Thank you for looking.