eP Blog hop with Add A Little Dazzle

Welcome to our joint blog hop with Add a Little Dazzle. We are so excited to partner with them and have had so much fun playing with their products.  They have a beautiful collection of metal sheets, in a variety of colors, that are perfect for mixed media project.Both design teams have combined our products and are ready to share some inspirational projects with you. Join in on the fun and make sure to enter for a chance to win an amazing prize.

Welcome to Day 1 of  the Eclectic Paperie & Add a Little Dazzle joint blog hop!We’re so excited to be sharing some fabulous creations featuring the wonderful products from both companies in today’s hop. We have two amazing days of inspirational projects so make sure to stop by tomorrow.

 First we’d like to share a little bit about the two companies…

eclectic Paperie is a different breed of craft store, conceived as more than just a place where you can purchase supplies, we believe in the strength of collaboration, in coming together and sharing with like-minded crafters. Our goal is to offer a mixed media marketplace where a generation of artists can congregate, explore, imagine, and inspire one another.

We specialize in an exclusive line of craft metal sheets that helps you take your crafting to the next level. Whether you are a seasoned or new crafter, our craft metal sheets will help you create unique projects that will make you stand out among the crowd. Are you ready to take your crafting to the next level? Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal Sheets will help you turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Prize Alert!

Make sure to stop by and visit each of the Design Team Blogs for a chance to win 1 of 2 prize packages from eclectic Paperie and Add a Little Dazzle  valued at $25.  You have until Friday, June 27th to enter.  The winners will be announced on both blogs on Saturday, June 28th.  You must leave a comment on all blogs.

So Are You Ready for Some Amazing Inspiration?

 I have never actually worked with color metal sheets before so this was something totally new for me! I also purchased a metal stencil from Add A Little Dazzle because I was dying to dry emboss.  I decided a card would be a wonderful first attempt.

I used a baby blue metal sheet from Add a Little Dazzle with some solvent ink to add some distressing. I used a roller tool along the edges to create an embossed border. 

Note! The solvent ink actually takes the color off the metal!!! It's a very cool distressed effect but be prepared. 

Next I decided that they were so shiny and pretty I wanted to die cut with them.

I started with a butterfly

And then used the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die to create a flower

The metal worked so easy with a squishy pad and stylus, it was amazing.

Here is the finished page. For the background page I used a piece of Fancy pants Nautical collection and for the torn pieces I used Authentique's Naturale collection. The frame is Prima Ingvald Bolme collection.

Don't forget to leave a comment on each blog to qualify for a prize. I hope you enjoyed our little hop. 

And don't forget the ePlay challenge still going on over at eP to win a shopping spree in the eP store!

Til next time 

{{hugs}}

Andiepants

Monica Weaverwww.addalittledazzle.com
Bonnie Irvine - http://www.artfuldigits.blogspot.com/
Kim Schofield – http://paperiepetals.blogspot.com
Martha Lucia Gomez- www.stampartpapel.com

Sherry Cheever - http://sherrycheever.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Sue Lelli - http://suelelli.blogspot.com/
Toni Burrows - http://craftdabbler-toni.blogspot.com/

Lydia www.lydiawalker.blogspot.co.uk

Adriana Templeton - http://www.scrappygoddess.blogspot.com/

ePlay Challenge for May - Stencils!!!!

Welcome to the May ePlay Challenge...Stencils!!!!

Wow was this a kick start to my mojo....first a preview...

Remember I said I was visiting my girl? Well we went scrappy shopping first thing when she picked me up at the train station and when I saw this Prima Bloom stamp in person...I knew I had to have her. I kinda had been wanting her anyways. I decided to do tags so that I could play a bit without a large commitment...and WOW!!! This was so much fun to do all the different things with.

First...it was time to get serious...

Kim got serious too..

and now we can start with our TAGS!!!

Using Distress inks in all sorts of colors I created LOTS of different backgrounds

Then using my Timmy layering stencils I began to layer different colors one at a time. I only worked on one tag at a time.

My favorite technique with the stencil is to use a similar color or just a tad darker than the background. This gives an almost airbrushed effect that is just way super cool. For busy patterns use lighter colors, like the polka dots, and for patterns in the foreground use darker colors, like the ruler.

I stamped directly onto the tag, used my Distress marker to highlight some, and embellished as desired.

For some of the other tags I used embossing paste through the stencil instead. Love the effect layered on top. Also, this tag really shows the "air brush" effect that I was referring to.

For the blue tag I gessoed over my final stencil and then stamped and colored on the gesso.

Here are some closeups of the individual tags:

What will you decide to do with stencils? 

Remember to upload your stencil project to the ePlay challenge before the end of the month for your chance to win a gift certificate to the eP store!

I hope you were inspired by my lovely Prima stamp, Hope :) Check out some of the fantastic face stamps Kim has in the eP store.

{{hugs}}

Andiepants

SGC all about me challenge

Hello Blog-land! Wow has it been a crazy month for Andiepants. Lost my mojo for a minute there and had to find it again. My room was soooooo tore up that my crafty GF came and helped me clean my house. Although she only shoved craft stuff into bags it really helped me to focus and cleared my table...all just in time to pack for a getaway where I stayed with my girl Kim...who is the newest member of the Swirlydoos DT!!!!

*Crowd goes wild*

Congrats Kim!!

and while at Kim's I got to do tons of scrapping. To say my mojo came back would be an understatement.

Today I'm briefly going to share with you a LO for the swirlygirls challenge...All about me.

For this LO I used Prima Princess papers, tag, wood embellies, and typewriter keys. While out of town scrapping with my girl I got a ZVA swirl to go with these papers...and it was perfect!! 

The photo is a pic of me that my GF took while I was on my scrappy visit last weekend.

  

I decided for the chandelier that I wanted some of the elements different so I used 2 different embossing powders. Both came in the January swirly kit. I used the Lindy's Hibiscus Rose Orange and Silver moon sapphire. The pink is soft and shabby...not a sharp pink. It blends so well with these papers (WHICH I AM TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH)

The corner piece is painted with gesso and the chicken wire is colored with Distress Markers. 

Thanks for stopping by and prepare yourself...there will be another post tomorrow!

*GASP*

I know right ;)

{{hugs}}

Andiepants

eP blog hop and challenge

Welcome to eclectic Paperie’s ePlay Challenge – Push Your Boundaries!  We’re altering our challenges in 2014, creating one, month-long challenge, increasing the prize drawing, holding a design team blog hop, and including a product discount with each new challenge!  Check out the details below:

·         We’ve combined our two challenges into one, announced on the first Thursday of each month.  This gives the design team more flexibility with challenge topics and projects and allows you more time to enter! 

·         We’ll also feature a product each month, and during the first day of the challenge, you’ll receive a discount on the featured product….be sure to check for the special code! 

·         Our prize drawing is increasing from $15.00 to a $25.00 gift certificate and the winner of each challenge will be announced on the last Thursday of each month and will be featured on the eP blog. 

·         Each month we’ll hold a blog hop featuring the beautiful artwork from our design team…just scroll down to the bottom of the post for all of the links!  Talk about inspiration!!

Our challenges are about encouraging you to explore your creative journey and inspiring you to step outside of your comfort zone.  When you submit your artwork, share a unique card, scrapbook or journal page, a canvas, home décor project, or anything that you’re excited to share!  We’re looking forward to crafting with you!

Today’s special is on Liquidtex Gesso and for one day only, you can save 10% on a bottle of gesso…perfect for all of your altered projects!  Simply use code GESSO03 when checking out.

This month’s challenge is altering a book.

It was just my luck that I had purchased a book from the restore while pursuing with my crafty friend last winter. I had this little gem sitting up in a cupboard just waiting to be unleashed into something fantastic...and this challenge was it!

I was chatting with said same crafty friend regarding this challenge and it struck me...I would make a tablet cover!!!

The first question is...can this book cover a tablet. If you go online to check dimensions you will find that tablets come in EVERY size under the sun. IS NOTHING STANDARD ANYMORE PEOPLE?!

*composes herself*
Anyway...I found that my book was too small to cover any sort of apple tablet and too big for a kindle...but the Nook was JUST RIGHT :)

I started by removing the innards of the book. Just take a utility knife down the inner edge on the inside of both the back and front cover. The entire book should come right out of the cover. Mine was glued in a couple of spots so I did have to slice through the glue.

Then I covered the entire outside in gesso. This is to get a really good seal on the book so the spray will cover nicely as well as create a base. Gesso can be used as a paint but was originally intended as a base. Ever notice the canvases that you purchase are white? (or sometimes black) but when you purchase canvas material it's cream colored and raw? Well, those canvases that you purchase on a wood frame have been pre primed with gesso (oooooo...and the light bulb goes on)

Anyway...enough with the art lesson...moving on

I then flipped to the inside cover and measured and sketched what I needed and where I wanted everything. Here's a bit of a note...I created a spot to attach altered ribbon in order to tie the 2 halves together but decided instead to go with magnets as a closure. If you don't have magnets, use an awl to punch holes through the book cover and attach your ribbon as a closure. Super cute and you can make it coordinate too.

Once I punched my unnecessary holes (haha) I then began to adhere pieces to my cover in layers. I decided the front would be much more decorated. I added lots of washi tape, a doily, and some adorable embellie pieces from eP. Check these out:

Petaloo Color me crazy silk
Petaloo Color me crazy straight cut
Maya rd wooden ruler
Maya road flower centers

I know the title may seem a little cheesy but hear me out. So I called my girlfriend and found that she had a nook. I said "great...You are getting a handmade gift." She replied "I love gifts for no reason" to which I responded "it's not for no reason, it's because you're my friend". So, cheesy yes, but it has meaning.

 

From here I sprayed the entire piece with Dylusions sprays in Calypso Teal and Vibrant Turquoise. Yes...I realize I use turquoise a lot, but when I decided to make this for my girl I called and asked her what her favorite color was...guess what she said. *sigh*  If you look closely in the above picture you will see little pink flower gems. This is one of my most favorite techniques to do with Luminarte glazes. Because they are a glaze, they are see through which means you can color rhinestones any color you want! Isn't that great?! Since my color scheme was going to be varying shades of blue and teal with orange accents, I decided to color the rhinestones with Spiced Pumpkin silks glaze in order  to turn them orange. 

Here is my final cover:

I also used Tattered Angels glimmer mist in Patina and Aquamarine for the added shimmer to the misted portions. The glazes were applied in layers starting with Teal Zircon, Guatemalan Green, and finally Sky Blue. 

You can really see the iridescence of the silks.

After coloring with sprays and mists I added a large rub on to the back and binding that was in my stash.

I wasn't expecting the orange. It was a nice little surprise.

I used a Prima stencil for the back

I hope this inspires you to make something super awesome with your altered book. I had so much fun with creating this cover that I ran out of time to cover the inside with paper. LOL

Make sure you hop through the other DT blogs to see what fantastic creations they have come up with. 

And don't forget to hop over to the store to grab your discount on gesso (along with a few other mooooost have items of course) so that you can play along for the chance to win $25 in the store.

Hugs

Andiepants