Pink Ink Designs: Mixed Media "Hare"

Hello Crafty Friends!

Have you ever come across a product image and said to yourself "Oh my word...I need that!"?   That is exactly what happened when I first saw Pink Ink Designs' Hare stamp set.  That sweet face and those eyes drew me in.  The Hare was ordered and as soon as it arrived I was crafting!

The hare was stamped onto watercolor paper and colored using Spectrum Noir Water Reactive inks.  Just look at those blushed cheeks! 

 Nuvo drops were applied as shown.  The glitter drops were also spread along the inside of the ears.

The background was created using more of the Water Reactive inks.  The butterflies, rabbits, and foliage were added using Spectrum Noir dye inks.  More of the Glitter drops were added to the foliage.

Very happy with the first project I made with the Pink Ink Designs Hare stamp set.  The hare is such a cutie!

Product used:
Pink Ink Designs, Hare
Spectrum Noir, Water Reactive Inks and Dye inks
Spectrum Noir, Waterproof ink
Spectrum Noir Aqua paper
Nuvo Crystal Drops and Jewel Drops


Thank you for stopping by!
Have a happy, crafty day.
Big Hugs,
Kathy Jo

Busy times, exciting news, and many projects!

Hello Crafty Friends!

You may have noticed a slight hiatus on my crafty blog.  It has been super busy here!  As you know, I am a proud member of two crafty teams: Quietfire Creations and Crafter's Companion.  They both keep me happily crafting along. 

Today I will update you on Crafter's Companion.  I create many projects for them that are shared on their Facebook group: Fans of Crafter's Companion on HSN (https://www.facebook.com/groups/CraftersCompanionOnHSN/)  and for the HSN show.  Wow- they keep my busy but it is worth it as I get to create with their product, share with fellow crafters, and see my projects on TV!  What a thrill seeing the camera slowly scanning the sample table and seeing my projects on display. 

The past few months have resulted in numerous samples being made for HSN shows. 

Crafter's Companion offers many different products which means I may be sharing a chalkboard style card with fun font and bright papers

or an elegant style card with images colored using Spectrum Noir alcohol markers...

or a fancy fold die card using their specialty Gemini dies

or a cheeky card made with they many dies, clear stamps and ink...

...or a mixed media card using their stencils, metallic wax and stamps

or holiday cards using their foiling dies, luxury card stock and embossing folders.

Yes, I have been busy but it is a good busy playing with inks...

...foils...

...dies...

...pretty papers...

...whatever is new!

I enjoy pushing boundaries or using product I have never tried before.

Because of the busy times, I have been sharing my projects only on the Facebook fan group and on Instagram.  Please feel free to follow my Instagram account or friend me on Facebook to see what Crafter's Companion projects are created.

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kathyjocrafts/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathyjo.wood

Thank you for stopping by!

Have a happy, crafty day!

Big Hugs,

Kathy Jo

Peacock Sparkle mixed media card

Hello Crafty Friends!

Crafter's Companion has so many crafty goodies available on HSN and on their online store.  The card I am sharing today has some mixed media fun involved.

First, I took some Spectrum Noir (SN) Aqua paper and applied SN Sparkle Brushes (from the Coastal collection).  After drying I applied gold foil using the Vintage Lace Background foil die.  Next, I heat embossed the peacock feathers (in the Coastal Collection) in gold onto Aqua paper.  It was colored using the sparkle brushes.  I fussy cut the feathers and applied to the front using foam.

Last, I cut some seam binding and dyed it using the Sparkle Brushes.  After drying I used a hot glue tool to adhere it to the card front.

What have you created using the Spectrum Noir Sparkle Brushes?  Feel free to share your projects on the Spectrum Noir Connoisseurs page on Facebook.  We would love to see them!

Thank you for stopping by!
Have a happy, crafty day.
Big Hugs,
Kathy Jo

"Be a Mermaid" mixed media card

Happy Sunday, Sweet Crafty Friends.

Did you know that Mermaids are very wise?  I had no idea until I saw this quote.  :)  Isn't it great?  I think we should all be Mermaids in this large, fishy ocean!

The stamp set is from Crafter's Companion.  Actually, there are a couple of different stamps to the Mermaid set but I only used the silhouette set for this card.  The quote was so sweet that I had to make sure that it was elevated off the card for a little bit of extra emphasis.

The background used the new Spectrum Noir Sparkle Jars.  If you are familiar with the Sparkle brushes then you will be happy to know that now the Sparkle ink is available in jars so that you can use a wider brush and create a background such as on this card.  The results are sparkly and stunning.  Such wonderful colors with a glimmer finish!

For extra details, I used my Nuvo drops to make fish bubbles and water lines.  It looks so neat in person.

Spectrum Noir Water Reactive inks were used to dye the seam binding.  The purple metallic papers are also from Crafter's Companion.

Hope you enjoyed the card, my Mermaid Friends! 

Thank you for stopping by!
Have a happy, crafty day.
Big Hugs!
Kathy Jo

Video Tutorial: mixed media Reindeer flight

Hello Crafty Friends!

Today is my day to post at Quietfire Creations and I decided to share a video tutorial on how to make this reindeer flight mixed media card.  The card uses Quietfire Design stamps, stencil and dies in conjunction with watercolor, texture paste, metallic card stock and Nuvo Drops.  Too fun!

Here is the link to the video!  Enjoy!  :)

Thank you for stopping by!  Have a happy, crafty day!
Big Hugs,
Kathy Jo

Video Tutorial: Coffee & Friends are the perfect blend

Hello Crafty Friends!

It is my turn to post at Quietfire Creations and I created a fun gift card/gift card holder using two newly released Quietfire Creations stamp sets: Tea & Thee and But First, Coffee.

To aid in creating the background, I created a video showing the steps and product used.  Feel free to hop on over to Quietfire Creations to see the video.  :)

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a happy, crafty day1
Big Hugs,
Kathy Jo

"Destiny is not a matter of chance"

Hello Crafty Friends!

Decided to pull out the Dylusions Sprays again and create a bright mixed media card.   After the inky fun I used a newly released stamp from Quietfire Design, Destiny is not a matter of chance.

The butterfly and Soar dies are also designed by Suzanne for Elizabeth Craft Designs.  The brick background was die cut using Tim Holtz' Mixed Media Thinlits die set #3.  All of the enamel dots in the corners and on the butterfly body were created using Enamel Accents by Wendy Vecchi.

Gotta love getting all inky and playing with mixed media product!  Of course it is always great to inspire someone, too.  :)

Product used:
Quietfire Design: Destiny is not a matter stamp, Soar die, Butterfly Flourish die
Ranger Ink: Dylusions Sprays, Vintage Photo Distress ink, Wendy Vecchi Enamel Dots, Jet Black Archival Ink
Sizzix: Tim Holtz Mixed Media #3 Thinlit die set

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a happy, crafty day.  :)
Big Hugs,
Kathy Jo

Shoot for the moon!

Hello Crafty Friends!

It is a busy weekend here in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  This weekend is the annual Bluenose Marathon.  The event is well received and so inspirational!  I am always proud of my friends and family who participate in the event. This year a dear friend of mine, Mel, is running in it.  Her story is one to fill your heart with love and inspiration.  She has MS and has suffered many problems with this horrible disease.  However, she has the heart and strength to do as much as she can to fight the disease.  While doing so she has inspired many.  Here is her story and I hope it inspires you, too:  video of Melanie on the local CTV news.  Mel is running in the race today and it felt fitting to share this card today.

The sentiment is from Elizabeth Craft Designs.

The background was created using Dylusions Sprays and white acrylic paint.  The dies are also from Elizabeth Craft Designs.

Card Instructions:

Please hop on to the Elizabeth Craft Designs post

Product used:

Elizabeth Craft Designs: Soar Collection stamp set, Fishtail Borders, Double Sided Adhesive, Liquid Adhesive

Ranger Ink: Dylusions sprays

Other: mixed media paper, black card stock, white acrylic paint, black ribbon

Thinking of you, Mel!  You rock!!!

Have a happy, crafty day.

Big Hugs,

Kathy Jo

"You can do anything"

Hello Crafty Friends!

It has been a week since my last post but for good reason: I have been playing with Quietfire Design and Elizabeth Craft Designs new releases.  I cannot share the ECD projects yet but I can share Quietfire Design.  :)

First up is an inspirational and colorful card using the new stamp, You can do anything.

Instructions:

1. Spray desired Dyslusions Sprays onto mixed media paper. Dry.  Cut to desired size.
2. Use texture paste and stencil.  Air dry.
3. Apply Picket Fence Distress Paint to some edges and extend into paper.  Dry. 
4. Apply Vintage Photo Distress Ink along edges.
5. Splatter white acrylic paint.
6. Create card base (navy blue).  Mat wood grain paper.
7. Die cut navy blue card stock using lace edging. 
8. Cut a strip of wood grain paper.
9. Mount mixed media paper, wood grain paper strip and lace die cut as shown.
10. Wrap and adhere coordinating twine.
11. Stamp quote onto white card stock using black archival ink.  Dry.
    
12. Die cut quote and mount onto card front using double sided foam tape.
13. Create twine bow and adhere.  Add embellishment.

It is so bright and cheerful!  A perfect card to inspire a loved one.

Product used:

Quietfire Design: You can do anything stamp

Ranger Ink: Dylusions Sprays, Texture Paste, Picket Fence Distress Paint, Distress Ink in Vintage Photo, Jet Black Archival Ink

Stampers Anonymous: Tim Holtz Gothic stencil

Spellbinders: Becca Feeken Venice Lace, Parisian Accents

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a happy, crafty day.

Big hugs,

Kathy Jo

Smile Inspire Dream vintage wood wall art

Hello Crafty Friends!

Yesterday I shared a project for the FaveCrafts Best Blogger Contest.  Today I would like to share another project for the contest: a vintage-y wooden "Smile Inspire Dream" shimmery wall art.  Testors Craft (Rust-oleum) provided a can of their new product, Intense Glitter.

For my project I used Intense Glitter in Silver. 

The intense glitter was applied to an aged looking wall plaque (Michaels) using a good quality acrylic brush.  The results were awesome!  I was blown away at how glittery the finish looked immediately.  Mind you, it is not a chunky glitter finish.  The finish looks smooth, shimmery and beautiful.  While it was drying I prepped the three inspirational words:

 Smile was a pre-cut wooden word that I painted using black acrylic paint.

Inspire was also a pre-cut wooden word.  I kept the Inspire as a dark wood finish and added sparkly gems (that looked great against the shimmery wall plaque).

Dream is a die cut designed by Suzanne Cannon for Elizabeth Craft Designs.  The die was used to cut hardboard and gold construction paper.

After the wall plaque dried, I used a doily stencil (Prima Marketing) and texture paste to add the doily detail in the top left corner.  A wooden heart was painted using red acrylic paint, air dried and more Intense Glitter applied. 

After dried, I used liquid adhesive to mount all pieces to the plaque as shown.  A wee white double bow and gold pendant were the finishing touches.  I am so thrilled at how the wall art turned out!  Now the tough part is deciding whether I hang this up in my craft room or my work cubicle.  I may need to make two.  :)

Thank you for stopping by!  Thank you, Rust-oleum, for sponsoring the event!

Have a happy, crafty day.
Big Hugs,
Kathy Jo

Best Blogger Contest- Upcycled bottle using Plaid products

Hello Crafty Friends!

In January I was fortunate to attend Creativation in Phoenix.  Over that weekend I attended the FaveCrafts Prime Networking Event.  During that event I met with several sponsors to discuss their products and many sponsors provided product to be used on projects.  These projects would be shared on our blogs, social media and be entered into FaveCrafts' Best Blogger Contest.  Today I am sharing the first project for the contest: an upcycled bottle using Plaid Enterprise, Inc products.

The project started with a bottle that should have been placed in recycling but I liked the shape of the bottle too much to toss it.  Instead I grabbed some mixed media product to upcycle the beautiful bottle. 

The bottle required prepping: after a thorough cleaning I applied glue and seal to the entire surface.  After drying, white gesso was applied.  The next steps are where the fun began...

FolkArt Crackle Medium was applied to the gesso surface.  A crackled surface appeared after drying.  Next a layer of FolkArt Metallics in Ice Blue was applied liberally to the bottle.  The crackled metallic sheen is gorgeous:

Next, FolkArt Glitter paint in Peridot was applied to the top of the bottle.  I wanted a dripping affect so I purposely used a lot of the paint and let it slowly drip down the bottle.

After it was completely dry, I applied a light layer of the Metallic again over the entire bottle.  It resulted in a very shimmery, metallic finish.  Below is a closeup of the finish.  You can see the Peridot glitter in the crackled surface, too.

The final touch was the application of gilded flakes to the top of the bottle. 

The colors were not only picked because I like them- I wanted a bottle to hold the colorful group of feathers that have been patiently waiting for the perfect container.  The bottle and feathers look fantastic together!

It is so bright, shimmery and pretty!  It will look great on a shelf in front of a window.

Thank you for stopping by!  And a big Thank You to Plaid Enterprises, Inc for being a sponsor at the Prime Networking Event!

Have a happy, crafty day.
Big Hugs,
Kathy Jo

Plaid product used:

Metallics- Ice Blue

Crackle Medium

Extreme Glitter