Michael Strong Black and White Blog Hop journaling page

Michael Strong Black and White Blog Hop journaling page

Welcome to the Michael Strong Black and White Blog Hop!

I hope you have arrived here from Lola Radnoti's blog: http://raevon59.wordpress.com/

My project is a double spread journaling page, in a regular sized notebook (A5).

For the background, I used a collage of randomly torn pages from a Mythology book which I saved from being thrown away – I upcycled it for a good purpose.

I also used a photo from the same book, showing a figure which seems to say "It'll be OK", very confidently.

I used Mike's Whimsical Owl stamp, heat embossed with an extra sparkly and shiny black EP, hand cut with scissors.

Here's a link to Michael Strong’s catalogue, where you can see all the wonderful stamps (and more) Mike has:

http://www.strongstamps.com/catalog-rubber-stamps-supplies/index.htm

The Washi Tape at the bottom of the page is actually a rather wide fabric tape.

It's directing the way to a one-way-ticket destination, leading to a positive and optimistic ending of the road, which goes along with the Sentiment.

The hand-written Sentiment is a very optimistic one.

The next blog you should hop to is Rosie Guiher's blog:
http://gramig05-playtime.blogspot.nl/

Please notice: if leave a comment in Mike’s blog, you may be lucky and win some blog candy stamps.

I missed blogging, and I'm glad to be back.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

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

Wise Owl and Leaves Card

Here's another Michael Strong card in shades of green, using the Whimsical Owls stamp set.

I colored the Owl using ProMarkers, and glued it 3D to add some dimension.

The background was embossed with numbers, then colored and edged using Ranger Distress Inks.

I framed the dark green CS with faux stitches, using a white gel pen.

The leaves are a die cut.

The pearls enhance the Owl's eyes and also draw the corners, and - of course - add some glam.

I added Washi Tape with musical notes… will the Owl sing "Happy Birthday"?

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it) 

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

Lady Owl Sitting On A Branch Card

Here's the card I created yesterday as your Card Captain for the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group.
I created this card using both earth tones and pastel contrasting colors, so that the green and brown are typical forest colors, yet the pastel colors enhance the Lady Owl.
She seems like a very clever and elegant lady bird to me, perched on the branch and watching around her.

Supplies used:

Cream CS for the card's basis
Forest green canvas textured CS
White CS for embossing
White CS, recycled from a box, for the branch and for stamping and heat embossing the Owl
Tim Holtz Sizzix Woodgrain Texture Fades Embossing Folder
Ranger Distress Ink - gathered twigs
Ranger Inkssentials ink blending tool applicator
Sizzix Bigz Die - Bird Branch
Michael Strong Whimsical Owls stamp
Embossing Ink
Michael Strong Weathered Copper EP
ProMarkers
White Gel pen
Clear blings
Double sided foam tape

I used white CS for embossing, using Tim Holtz Sizzix Woodgrain Texture Fades Embossing Folder.

I colored it with Ranger Distress Ink - gathered twigs, highlighting the raised parts.
I cut only the branch out of white CS, recycled from a box, using Sizzix Bigz Die - Bird Branch.
I colored the branch with ProMarkers.
Then I layered the forest green canvas textured CS, the Woodgrain embossed CS and the colored branch.
I added faux stitches, using a white Gel pen.

I stamped Michael Strong Whimsical Owls stamp on white CS, using Embossing ink, and heat embossed it using Michael Strong Weathered Copper EP - I just love its mixture of colors, it gives a result of an antique patina.
I cut the Owl with scissors, colored it with ProMarkers and added clear blings for the Owl's eyes.
The Owl was glued 3D with foam tape for extra dimension.
Whom do you think the Lady Owl is waiting for?

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

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

Happy Birthday Ornate and Owl Card

This is my 2nd card this week as Card Captain at the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group.

For this card I chose brown and light blue as the dominant colors, and Michael Strong Cloisonné Owl Stamp as my main motif.

Supplies used:

White leather textured CS for the card's basis
Chocolate brown CS
Light blue CS (from the white CS pack cover)
Basic Grey patterned paper
White recycled CS for stamping (from a tea pack)
Sizzix Bigz Ornate Plate Die
Michael Strong Cloisonné Owl Stamp
Emboss Ink
Michael Strong embossing powder - Weathered Copper
ProMarkers
Light blue blings in various sizes
Clear blings
3D double-sided foam tape

I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Owl using Emboss Ink, and heat embossed it using Michael Strong embossing powder - Weathered Copper.

It has a unique color mixture, which gives a very special and beautiful result.
I carefully cut it with scissors, colored it using ProMarkers, and added clear blings for the Owl's eyes.
Then I layered the papers, glued the Ornate Plate die and added the Owl 3D.
Finally, I added light blue blings in various sizes 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

Michael Strong Blog Hop - Owl My Love Card

Today Michael Strong Blog Hop is about Owls - smart creatures...

You're welcome to visit all 10 blogs to see the wonderful artwork.
If you want a chance to win a Michael Strong Whimsical Owls stamp set, you MUST leave comments along the way in all 10 blogs.
Hetty will announce the winner next Sunday (Feb 10th 2013) on her blog.
It is a circular blog hop, so wherever you start from, you will see them all.
This is the card I made - Owl My Love.
It was made for my DH, who's my true Valentine and the love of my life.
Today is a very important day for us.
We're ending a long, difficult journey, and hopefully we're starting a new time, more relaxed and happy.
I hope I'll have more creative moments from now on, and I plan to blog, to share, and more… stay tuned!

Ingredients:

Cream CS for the card's basis
Dark green CS, from a commercial booklet
Wood patterned CS, from a commercial booklet
Recycled tea box CS, for die cutting and stamping
Tim Holtz Die - BirdBranch
Embossing Ink pad
Ranger embossing powder - Black Sparkle
Michael Strong Whimsical Owls stamp
ProMarkers
3D double sided foam tape
Pink heart bling

First I layered the papers on the card.

I used the BirdBranch Die, and cut off the bird to use only the branch.
I colored it using ProMarkers.
Then I stamped the Owl and heat embossed it with Black Sparkle EP, to give it a shiny effect (look at its close-up photo).
I cut it with nail scissors and colored it using ProMarkers.
The sentiment "Owl My Love" was hand written by me.
Both the Owl and the sentiment were glued 3D for extra dimension.
Finally, I added the pink heart, to add some glam.
Want to see more? Hop over to Heidi's blog
I hope you get lots of inspiration and enjoy!

(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

Two Smart Owls

Paper Piecing on canvas (8x8)

I used acrylic paint, Basic Grey & other paper scraps and Stazon ink.

You can find free paper piecing patterns here

Are they smart or cute? Or Both?