Corner of Your Heart

Hello!! I am so excited that Spring is right around the corner. It has been so cold in my studio that my mojo has packed up and gone on vacation. But that hasn't kept me from creating. I put together a little kit of some of my favorite papers and trinkets so that I could create in comfort on the couch. The Matchbox Skylines (coming soon) from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts was the perfect project to keep my creative heart happy. 

The Matchbox comes flat ready to cover in the papers of your choice. I used a glue stick and various vintage papers to cover the box and mini houses. The accordion of houses comes with 6. As I started adding elements to mine I realized it was going to be too thick to fit in the box so I simply removed one house. 

For the first house or the cover stitch on a button. Leave a long tail to wrap around the accordion to keep it closed. 

The second house is a vintage postage stamp with a Tim Holtz rub on. 

The third house is a piece from Tim Holtz's Snippets set layered with a Quotations Sticker. 

The fourth house and my favorite is simply a vintage locket photo hand stitched on. 

The final house has a torn ticket layered with a bird die cut I found floating around in the scrap box. 

I decided to keep my palette and collages very simple. I love the stark contrast of the black and red and the simple story that came about from the pieces chosen. I had fun with this simple project but look forward to warmer days when I can head back into the studio without fear of freezing.

Happy Creating ~Jennalee 

With Wonder Shadowbox

Hello!! Happy Friday and Happy New Year!! I spent the first day of 2019 in my studio playing, and this was the result!! I had put together this Mini Shadowbox a while back and found it in my drawer while looking for the Pocket Watch, which was the inspiration for this whole piece. Being the new year I wanted to make something with a watch or clock theme. From there I just let the piece guide me. Those are always my favorite projects!!  

Begin by covering the inside surfaces of the 3-inch Shadowbox with vintage ledger scraps and cigar label patterned paper from Tim Holtz Paper Stash. Then assemble the box.

Cover the back of the shadowbox with a ruler print patterned paper. Cover the sides of the shadowbox with a faux rust background.  Sand edges and ink to help everything blend together. 

Apply Distress Crazing Medium to back of box and allow to air dry. Once dry add distressing using Prima Artist Powders.

Make a photocopy of a vintage photo booth photo on plain copy paper. Heat emboss two layers of Vintage Beeswax over image. I prefer to do this technique on plain copy paper because of the unique transparent effect it achieves. 

Apply Distress Grit Paste randomly on the 1 1/2 inch Pocket Watch. Allow to air dry. 

Once the Grit Paste has air dried apply a faux rust treatment. 

Stitch photo to pocket watch. Wrap wire around the top of pocket watch. 

Heat emboss the 2-inch clock from the Pocket Watch Assorted Size Set with Burnt Copper Leaves and a sprinkle of Patina Oxide.  

Adhere clock to inside of shadowbox. Add a small screw in hook to top inside of box. 

Add a Gadget Gear to the inside of the clock. In bottom left corner add altered Numeral. I wanted a nod to 2019 so I cut the word nineteen out of the dictionary and adhered it to the metal number. 

Finish off two opposite corners with a corner sticker from Industrious Sticker Gallery. 

Apply Handle with Care ephemera piece to top of shadowbox. 

To finish off the pocket watch add 'wonder' sentiment from Clippings Stickers. Adhere key to bottom of shadowbox. Add a vintage metal film canister lid to bottom of box for a stand. 

I really enjoyed creating this project and love the way it turned out. It was a great way to kick off 2019. I wish you all a very happy year full of renewed creativity!! 

Thanks for stopping by and happy creating my friends ~ Jennalee

Blessed are the Curious

Hi everyone!! I hope you had a great weekend. I had a few days off and snuck in some creative time along with a bit of junking. I incorporated a few of my new finds in this piece. 

Begin by embossing a piece of gold paper from the Paper Stash Metallic Kraft pad using the Mechanics 3D Texture Plate. The secret to getting a good impression with the Texture Plates is to mist your paper before running thru your machine. After you have embossing lightly sand paper and ink with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink. 

Cut and emboss Layered Butterfly from a 6x6 square of the cigar print found in the Dapper Paper Stash. Ink the embossed areas with Black Soot Distress Ink and apply random areas of gold metallique wax. 

Enhance metal embellishments. Apply a thin layer of Tarnished Brass Distress Paint to the largest size of arrow found in the Arrows Adornments. Using a Picket Fence Distress Crayon rub the crayon over the words on a Quote Token to make the sentiment stand out. 

Cut a small label using the Labels Thinlets set. Stamp numbers found in the Stampers Anonymous Etcetera set. I cut mine from this vintage Ticker Tape I picked up while out junking this weekend. 

Adhere label with Distress Collage Medium. Using an awl poke holes for the stitches. Attach Arrow Adornment with Craft Thread and needle. 

Stitch the butterfly down to the embossed background using coordinating Eclectic Elements Cotton Thread. Be sure to only stitch down the middle of the butterfly so that the wings will be able to pop off the background. 

Layer Baseboard Frame on top of the embossed background and attach with Hex Fastners on all four corners. Adhere piece to mixed media paper for some added stability and back with a piece of linen fabric ripped to size for frayed edges. Apply sentiment from Clippings Stickers. 

Adhere the smallest Measurements piece to background and layer on the Paper Doll with foam dots. Wrap top of the Quote Token with Craft Thread and tie a bow. Attach to piece with foam dots. The base is a large bolt that was also picked up on my weekend junking excursion. 

This piece came about because I was having so much fun playing with the Layered Butterfly die set I recently picked up. So don't be surprised if you see wings on lots of future projects!! I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and get to sneak in lots of creative time this week. Thanks for stopping by and spending a few minutes with me today. Happy Creating ~ Jennalee 

Hearts Have All Things

Hello and Happy Friday!! I'm here today with a collaged assemblage featuring the Doodled Cage with Solid Back. This cage was the perfect jumping point for the whole piece.

Start by prepping the cage. Emboss the front of the cage using Ancient Amber Baked Texture powder. Heat random spots a second time and sprinkle on Patina Oxide Baked Texture powder and heat set. 

Paint the back of the cage and add random bits of Patina Oxide Baked Texture. 

Make a copy of a vintage photo booth photo and add a layer of Vintage Beeswax Baked Texture powder for the perfect vintage touch. 

Adhere photo to back of cage. With sewing machine stitch down the top of the cage. 

The bottom of the cage ripped a bit when I was stitching it down. I love the added texture and detail. 

Begin building layers for the collage under the cage. As I was looking for the perfect pieces I stumbled across this bit from a vintage cabinet card folder. I added a bit of lace with my machine and some hand stitching with a needle and Tim Holtz's Craft Thread. 

Heat emboss a key and key plate from the Keys and Plates Shape Set with Burnt Copper Leaves powder. Punch holes in the key, the key plate already has holes and attach to top of collage with mini brads. Attach chain piece from Tim Holtz's Assemblage line to other side of key and key plate with mini brads. 

Add sentiment sticker to bottom of birdcage. I used a sentiment from Tim Holtz's Clippings Stickers. 

I really enjoyed this project. It was one of those pieces that I didn't think and just followed where it took me. I hope you enjoyed this quick tutorial. Thanks for stopping by!! 

~ Happy Creating ~ Jennalee