Note to Self

Hello!! Does your creative mojo just ever fly away and leave you hanging? That's what happened to me this week. When I started this project I knew I wanted to play with the Ornamental Birdcage Shape Set. I had a completely different idea in mind when I started and then bam my mojo up and snuck out the door. 

I loved how rusty and crusty the cage turned out so decided to keep it as the focus of my piece and build a collage around it with elements to remind myself that it's okay to need to rest and take a break. 

The Ornamental Birdcages Shape Set comes with 3 different style cages in 3 sizes. 

I started by painting my cage with Raw Umber both front and back. 

Then using Distress Collage Medium and Paper Artsy's Rusting Powder rusted my cage. From chipboard to rusty crusty goodness!! 

I really loved the solemn graceful look of the woman in the Photobooth Photo and that button with the pop of original red thread spoke to me. As I was digging thru my Tim Holtz Ephemera pieces I found this "Handle with Care" label and it was perfect for my message to myself. 

The bottom corner of the frame says Cloudy days good as sunshine another excellent reminder!! 

Carrying on with my note to self theme I added the airmail label and the Story Clipping to remember. 

How do you handle your mojo leaving for vacation? I can usually find mine again after a nap and some chocolate and a good day of free play in the studio. 

Happy Creating ~ Jennalee 

With a Head Full of Numbers

Hello and happy Friday!! Jennalee here today with a project featuring a few of my favorite things wings and rust!! The Butterfly of Gears wings from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts are the inspiration behind this piece. Who knew you could make wings better by adding gears?

The Butterfly of Gears comes in a 2 pack and are just so inspiring. 

To add faux rust to your wings paint a base layer of white acrylic paint using a cosmetics sponge to dab it on. Using the same sponge randomly dab on Distress Grit Paste and allow to air dry. Once dry sprinkle a generous amount of Rusty Car Infusions directly onto the wings. Spray generously and allow the water to work its magic. Keep adding Infusions and spraying until desired coverage and color is achieved. 

Once the infusions have dried fill in any white areas with Rusty Hinge and Walnut Stain Distress Crayons. Using a very light touch add some detail with Cracked Pistachio Distress Crayon. 

Faux rust three Tim Holtz Hardware Heads using Ginger, Latte and Mushroom Alchohol Inks. Add detail with Walnut Stain and Cracked Pistachio Distress Crayons. Adhere to gears on wings. 

Add faux rust to Clock Hands using Rusting Powder from Paper Artsy. 

Create a ruler piece using the ruler from Tim Holtz's Thrift Shop Ephemera pack and a piece of scrap chipboard. 

Add Distress Crazing Medium to the ruler image and once dry add Walnut Stain Distress Crayon. 

Prepare a Ticket Booth ticket colored with Fired Brick Distress Oxide Spray. 

Cut out Found Relative and trace around edges with Brushed Corduroy Distress Marker to get rid of harsh white edges. 

Gather chosen Ephemera pieces and distress using instant coffee. Layout collage and adhere to book cover. 

Layer dial, wings and Found Relative on top of the collage. 

Adhere Clock Hands to the ruler and then adhere to the bottom of the book cover. 

Add faux rust coloring to a Tim Holtz Vintage Clip using Ginger, Latte and Mushroom Alcohol Ink. Add details with Cracked Pistachio and Walnut Stain Distress Crayon. Prepare Numeric embellishment using the same colors and adhere to clip. 

It felt so good to get back in the studio and play with some of my favorite mediums. I really took my time to just enjoy the process and the flow of the project. Plus who knew you could rust so many pieces in multiple ways? 

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you get to sneak in some creative time this weekend along with hopefully a bit of Spring weather. 

Happy Creating ~ Jennalee 

Sending All My Love

Hello and happy Friday!! It's Jennalee here today with an altered Altoid Tin and Frame. As you all know I love creating faux rust. While at Creativation earlier this month I was reminded of Rusting Powder from Paper Artsy. I knew this would provide the perfect finish for the blank canvas provided by the Altoid Tin from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.

The Altoid Tin comes ready for altering. I started by sanding mine to give it some tooth. 

Add some color to your tin with Mushroom and Gun Metal Alcohol Inks. 

Cover the tin with ephemera. I used a mix of Tim Holtz ephemera and vintage postage. 

Apply Rusting Powder with chosen adhesive and spray with a mix of vinegar and water. Spray every 15 minutes until level of desired rust is achieved. 

Look at that rusty goodness!! 

Cut a background for the inside of your Altoid Tin lid from Tim Holtz Journaling Cards. Smoosh into a puddle of Vintage Photo Distress Oxide. And add a length of Ruler Ribbon attached using a Tiny Attacher. 

Select a variety of postal themed ephemera to slip into the ribbon of the lid background. 

Cover the Altoid Tin Frame with patterned paper and add distressing with the run off of Rusting Powder from the tin. Add a Classic Label Sticker and hand-stitch an Arrow Adornment to the bottom of the frame. 

Using foam dots build up the frame insert to desired height. I chose to make mine level with the top of the tin. Cut a piece of patterned paper to apply to the inside of frame to cover the foam dots. 

Heat emboss a Photobooth photo using Vintage Beeswax. Once cool messy stitch photo onto a scrap of shorthand text. 

Stack foam squares to desired height and adhere to inside of tin. Color a small bunch of flowers with Aged Mahogany Distress Ink and slip inside the frame. 

I really enjoyed putting together this little tin and think there will be more in the future. And I can definitely see more faux rust using this method!! 

Happy creating ~ Jennalee

Two of Hearts

Hello!! Happy Friday everyone. I'm here today with a quick little Valentine project inspired by these amazing Heart Playing Cards from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts. The instant I saw them I envisioned them all rusty as a frame for some antique photos. Although this was a super easy project I am so pleased with the outcome.

The frames come in a 2 pack and there are 4 pieces total with the fronts and backs. 

Run the frame backs thru your Xyron and apply short hand book text. Trace around the frame opening and then paint the outer edges of the back gold. This gold accent will pop thru once the frame is put together. 

 

For the top of the frame pieces I used my favorite faux rust treatment. 

 Using a cosmetics sponge apply brown paint and then dip directly into cinnamon. Pounce on more brown paint and heat set. If you have a heat gun that runs hot you can burn the cinnamon for that great crusty effect. But be careful!! 

Photo copy your vintage images. Heat emboss using Baked Texture Vintage Beeswax. Die cut with Stitched Oval die. I heat embossed my images before die cutting so that the die cut details would stand out. 

Cut a length of vintage patterned seam binding and adhere down the center of the frame backs. Adhere the photos centered in the cutout area. 

Adhere frame to the back. And voila you have a super easy antique inspired Valentine in just a few minutes. 

Although its a quick and simple project I love the way these Heart Playing Card frames take the main stage. And be sure to stay tuned on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Blog this coming Monday Jess from Two Mad Dahlias has a tutorial using these amazing frames as well!!

Happy Creating ~ Jennalee