Spring Flowers, Winter Showers Canvas

I'm Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group for this week, so for 5 days I'll be showing you several works using Michael Strong's stamps. I hope you'll find them inspiring.

As I promised, after today's post there will be a small Giveaway (a surprise), a token of gratitude to those of you who took the time to leave comments to my posts this week. Your feedback means a lot to me.

I'll give you a few more days to wonder around and maybe to leave more comments, and then I'll announce the winner.

And now to today's art work – an 8x8 inches (20x20 cms) canvas, which was actually my entry to the Spring Challenge – and I won!

I used Michael Strong's Cloisonné Butterfly stamp (large)

I also used 2 stencils and 2 stamps made by Designed by Ryn, I think they're adorable and very versatile.

I used Maidenhair Fern and Flowing Branches stencils, and Trickling Water 2 and Raindrop set stamps.

First, I colored the canvas using acrylic paint.

Then I used the Flowing Branches stencil with 2 coats of modeling paste.

When it dried completely, I colored it using 3 colors of Ranger's Distress Ink.

Then I added punched Sakura flowers from upcycled magazines, all over the tree branches. If you take a close look you can see several eyes within the flowers.

I used the Maidenhair Fern stencil to add more interest to the background.

Then I stamped both Trickling Water 2 and Raindrop set stamps for a richer look.

The main idea was to show the Spring Flowers welcoming the beginning of the spring, while the Winter Raindrops were still in the background and were still present.

I added Mike's Butterfly, stamped with black ink on vibrant red CS, its wings not attached, so it seems to be flying in the air.

I added some blings to add glam, and some washi tape on both sides of the canvas to connect between them.

You can see the 3D effect, in the branches, in the raised flowers, and in the flying Butterfly.

I also added the word SPRING in contrasting black, written with my new Daymo.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it) 

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Happy Birthday Butterfly Card

 

I'm Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group for this week, so for 5 days I'll be showing you several works using Michael Strong's stamps. I hope you'll find them inspiring.

My 1^st card for this week is a Happy Birthday Butterfly Card, quite simple but pretty.

I used Michael Strong's Cloisonné Butterfly stamp (small) from the Mini Wings set.
The Happy Birthday script is my own handwriting.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it) 
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Spring is the time of plans and projects ATB

For a very long period of time I've been engaged with family duties, unfortunately very unhappy ones.

During this time I rarely created anything, and as much as I wanted to, I couldn't find peace of mind and passion to create. My blog has also been neglected.

Now I got my MOJO back, and it feels so good!!!

I needed to share it with you. I still have several former unpublished creations to share with you, and I also plan a little Giveaway soon. Stay tuned!

But for now here's my entry to the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group Spring challenge - a Spring ATB.

I made the 3D cube myself, out of sturdy CS, and it was such fun that I guess I'll make more ATBs in the near future.

Materials used:

Sturdy 12x12 Polka Dot CS by Netanella – Hot Air Ballons  collection

Scor-Pal

Red, light blue and black leather textured CS

Cream paper

Michael Strong Honeycomb stencil

Michael Strong Stamps: Cloisonné Butterfly (small and large), Cloisonné Flower (small)

Michael Strong Metal Die Cutters: Butterfly (small and large), Flower (small)  

Ranger Distress Ink - Fired Brick

Ranger Ink Blending Tool

VersaFine Ink - Onyx Black

White and light blue EP

Polka Dot Paper Tape in 3 color patterns

Turquoise and gold Gel pens

Black pen

Jewel brads

Clear blings

Double sided clear and foam tape

First I cut the 12x12 CS for the 3D cube, which turned out about 3.8x3.8 inches (9.5x9.5 cms), and left margins to glue the parts together. Please let me know if you're interested in a step-by-step tutorial.

I added Polka Dot Paper Tape in 3 color patterns all around the cube's connections of faces, both for decoration and to strengthen them.

Then I randomly decorated 5 faces of the 3D cube, using Michael Strong Honeycomb stencil, Ranger Distress Ink - Fired Brick, and Ranger Ink Blending Tool.

I stamped and cut the large Butterfly, and added clear blings to make it glamorous.

I stamped and cut the small Butterflies, and colored them using Gel Pens.

I stamped and cut the small Flowers and heat embossed them, then I added Jewel brads to their centers.

I glued all the images, using double sided clear and foam tape.

The large Butterfly, on the top of the cube, was glued only at its center, its wings flying in the air.

I added the sentiment, hand written with a black pen, on 4 faces of the cube.

I really enjoyed making this ATB, and it felt like spring is in the air (though it feels like summer in Israel).

I'm so glad I got creative again, and I hope this passion will last and grow.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Happy Birthday Butterfly and Rosette Card

 

This week it is my turn to be Card Captain at the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group (oh, how I've missed it!)

I created this birthday card for a dear friend, in warm colors and an elegant look. The main motifs are 3D and there are blings for glam.

Supplies used:

Cream CS for the card's basis

Chocolate brown CS

Basic Grey patterned paper

Black leather textured CS

Shiny gold paper

Red leather textured CS for stamping

Brown and dark beige CS for the Rosette

Michael Strong Cloisonné Butterfly Stamp (large)

VersaFine ink - Onyx Black

Spellbinders Nestabilities - Lattice Rectangles (medium)

Tim Holtz Paper Rosette Die

Red and clear blings

I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Butterfly using VersaFine ink - Onyx Black.

I cut it with scissors and glued it only in the center, so the wings seem to be flying in the air.

I made a paper rosette in matching colors.

Then I layered the papers, glued the butterfly and the rosette 3D, and added red and clear blings for extra glam.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Mini Wings in Flight Butterfly Card

Here is my 3rd card for this week as Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group

Today I created this card thinking how sunny it was (yes, in February!)
It felt like a day to spend outdoors, but I couldn't get inky in the garden (lol).
So I enjoyed the lovely day and it inspired me to think of flight and nature.
I decided to use the Silhouette Panels stamp set, which coordinates with the Cloisonné Stamps: Butterfly, Hummingbird and Dragonfly.

The colors I chose are pastels and the mini Butterfly seem to be in flight, who knows where to…

Light blue CS for the card's basis

Crafty Individuals patterned paper - Springtime (Book 3)
Turquoise and yellow CS
Off-white recycled CS (from a tea pack)
VersaFine ink - Onyx Black
Michael Strong's Silhouette Panels Stamp Set - Butterflies
Michael Strong's Mini Cloisonné Wings Stamp Set - Butterfly (small)

Embossing ink
Michael Strong's Midnight black EP

Light purple half pearls with sticky back

Double sided foam tape

First I stamped Michael Strong's Silhouette Panels Stamp Set - the butterflies - on yellow CS using VersaFine ink - Onyx Black.
I cut 4 squares of turquoise CS for matting.
I cut the heart using scissors (the paper was taken from a journal).
Then I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné small Butterfly on a recycled CS using Embossing ink.
I heat embossed it using Michael Strong's Midnight black EP.
I cut and layered the 4 squares on top of the background patterned paper.
I added the heart and the Butterfly, all glued 3D for extra dimension.

Finally, I added light purple half pearls for extra glam.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Sweet Mini Butterflies Card

This is my 1st card this week as Card Captain of the Michael Strong's Yahoo group.

Every month there's a sketch challenge at the Michael Strong's Yahoo group and this is the sketch for June and July.

I used this sketch once and I loved the Birds Flight Card, so I created a similar card with mini butterflies.

Ingredients:
Cream leather textured CS for the card's basis
Recycled CS from a magazine
Basic Grey patterned paper - Pheobe
Michael Strong's Mini Cloisonné Wings stamp set - Butterfly (small)
Dark pink organza ribbon with white dots
Embossing ink
Brown ink
Black EP
Black pen
Dark pink and clear blings
Dark pink artificial flower stamens
Double sided foam tape
EK Success Corner Adorner

I used Michael Strong's Cloisonné Butterfly (small) from the Mini Cloisonné Wings stamp set.
I stamped it on a recycled CS from a magazine and heat embossed it with black EP.
Then I cut the mini Butterflies using TH scissors.
I used dark pink artificial flower stamens for each butterfly's antennas, taped on its back side.
I distressed the patterned paper pieces with brown ink to give it contrasting edges.
I glued the patterned paper and the mini Butterflies 3D, using double sided foam tape, for extra dimension.
The sentiment "Happy Birthday" was written by me on the Basic Grey patterned paper.
I added dark pink and clear blings for extra glam.
(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Spring Is In The Air CD

This is the 5th project I made this week as Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group.
Today's project is a Spring CD with transparent motifs.
Like spring, it is light and transparent, colorful yet elusive, to remind us that flowers and butterflies are nature's masterpieces.

Ingredients:
Transparent CD, found at the top of a regular CD box
Ranger's Alcohol ink in various colors, regular and metallic
Alcohol Blending Solution
Tim Holtz Adirondack Alcohol Ink Applicator
A transparency sheet
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Butterfly stamp (large)
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Flower stamp (large)
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Leaves stamp (small)
Stazon ink - Black Jet
TH scissors
Turquoise blings in various sizes
Ranger's Glossy Accents

I started by coloring the transparent CD with Ranger's Alcohol ink in various colors, regular and metallic.
You can see a tutorial demonstrating how to use Ranger's Alcohol ink here.
I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Butterfly, Flower and Leaves on a transparency sheet with Black Stazon ink.
I cut them carefully using TH scissors.
I adhered the transparent stamped images on the colored CD using just a few drops of Glossy Accents.
I wanted the transparent stamped images to be in contrast with the colored CD, so I stamped them with black ink and left them uncolored, yet they seem colorful with the CD for their background.
I left the butterfly half flying in the air, not attached to anything, as a symbol of freedom - and also to remind you that some days are still colorless… spring isn't here yet.
I added turquoise blings all over for extra glam.

Transparent items are tricky when it comes to taking their photos, as they tend to reflect the light.
I hope you can still see the colors well, and even the butterfly's shade on the white background underneath it.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

The Secret Of Life Gothic Arch

As this is the 4th day this week as Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group and it's Technique Thursday, I decided not to show you a card but something rather different.
I hope you'll find it inspiring.
I made this Gothic Arch using quite a few techniques and incorporating several products, including recycled items.
It's a multi-stage project, so there are many details and photos.

Ingredients:
Cardboard
Patterned paper - Far East by DCWV
Original Chinese newspaper (recycled)
Mod Podge
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist - turquoise
Blue pigment ink
Plain turquoise paper
Black marker
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Butterfly stamp (large)
StazOn ink - Black Jet
Transparency sheet
Canvas textured black CS
Embossing ink
Mixed colors EP
Tim Holtz clear stamps: Flights of Fancy (bird, butterflies), Urban Grunge (crown), Life's Possibilities (word stamp)
Double sided tape
Crop-A-Dile
Satin ribbons – turquoise and black

The outer side
First, I cut the Gothic Arch out of cardboard. You can find the template here.
I cut 2 Gothic Arches, one was left as it is (that's unit 1) and the other one was cut vertically into 2 wins (that's unit 2).
I adhered the DCWV Far East CS on the front side of unit 2 and on the back side of unit 1, and cut off the CS so it was exactly the cardboard's size.
I used Mod Podge for adhering it.
I distressed all the edges of these parts with blue pigment ink.

The inner side
For the inside's background I used a recycled original Chinese newspaper to create a collage of pieces, words and photos all mixed together.
After I covered all the inner parts with the newspaper, using Mod Podge underneath and also on top of the paper pieces, I sprayed it randomly with turquoise Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and let it drip a bit for a messy look.
I wrote the text The Secret of Life Is… Trying to Find Inner Peace on plain turquoise paper, cut it with scissors into pieces and glued each word separately, inside and outside.

I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Butterfly stamp on black textured CS (for contrast), then heat embossed it with mixed EP.
I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Butterfly stamp again, this time with black StazOn ink on a transparency sheet.
I cut both butterflies carefully using TH scissors (yes, the antennas too).
I glued the embossed butterfly on the back side.
I glued the transparent butterfly inside, using double sided tape to adhere only the butterfly's body. You can see me holding its wings, as they aren't attached to anything.

I stamped TH stamps with black StazOn ink wherever they seemed to fit, trying not to overload my project with images.

I punched holes on both sides using the Crop-A-Dile.
I tied turquoise and black satin ribbons to attach all the units together.

You can see the Gothic Arch vertically, too, back and front.
You can (and I think you should) enlarge each photo by clicking on it.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Spring Card

Here's the 2nd card I made for this week as Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group.

Ingredients:
Cream CS for the card's basis
Turquoise CS, punched using Martha Stewart's Garden Trellis deep edge punch
Basic Grey patterned paper - Pheobe
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Butterfly stamp (large)
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Flower stamp (large)
Black Stazon ink
Clear and red blings

I used Michael Strong's Cloisonné Butterfly stamp and Cloisonné Flower stamp, stamped each one of them with Black Stazon ink. The flower and the butterfly were hand-cut with TH scissors and glued 3D for extra dimension.

I added red and clear blings all over.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Transparent Mini Album - Flowers And Butterflies

This mini album was created out of a big transparent page (12x12) cut into 4 smaller pieces.
I've easily cut it with a knife, with scissors and with Sizzix dies.
Because it is transparent, I had to pay attention to what's showing on the other side of each page. I think it's challenging, don't you?
Yet I could use so many techniques, inks and 3D items, and that turned it into a fun project to play with.
It is very colorful and cheerful, and there's still some room left to add photos.
It came out rather chubby because of all the embellishments I put in - and I like it this way.
I hope the photos show its transparency and the way each page seems from both sides, through the layers.

There are quite a few of them, so sit back and enjoy…

You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it.

Ingredients:
transparent page (12x12) - for the pages
transparent page (12x12) - for the TH dies (flowers and flourishes), colored with
Stazon ink
Cuttlebug's embossing folder - Tiny Bubbles
Basic grey patterned paper - Pyrus, cut with SN through the Cuttlebug
Rub-ons, brads, clear and turquoise blings
Ribbons
Metal binding rings
Felt flowers
Silk flowers
Martha Stewart's Quilted edger punch
A turquoise paper rose I made myself, like the TH paper roses, distressed with Ranger's distress ink (Broken China) and lightly coated with Diamond Glaze for a shiny glazing
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Flower stamp (small), heat embossed with white EP (on light blue CS) and with baby blue EP (on black CS)
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Butterfly stamp (large), heat embossed with white EP (on white CS), once as it is and once coated with Diamond Glaze for a shiny glazing, both glued 3D for extra dimension.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly