Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Love Fabric Wallhanging

Hello friends! I'm sharing another project I made for CHA. This project features the Heartfelt Bigz Die. Bigz are steel rule dies…love them because you can cut all different kinds of surfaces from really thin to extra thick materials. You can cut materials like tissue paper, fabric, chipboard, cardstock, felt, metal, plastic, etc. It's almost like the skies the limit that's why I love them so much. 

 You all know how I love to sew and this project really sang to my "heart". I used my favorite fabric, Tim Holtz Eclectic Elements Fabric, this piece is called Shabby Script. Heartfelt Bigz die was perfect for my project cutting 11 different hearts of all shapes and sizes from wool felt. 

I added various stitching like the blanket stitch and a running stitch around the hearts to attach them to my background fabric. I used a few different colors of embroidery floss for interest. 

Vintage mother of pearl buttons are the perfect accent down the left side attaching them with different shades of floss. 

I also hand stitched the word "Love" in a dark floss and also sewed on a little vintage lace at the bottom. 

The new Tim Holtz Display Hanger was perfect to hold my little project. The package comes with 2 Display Hangers, 2 labels and 2 epoxy stickers. I added Remnant Rubs to the label, applied the epoxy sticker and label to the hanger  then alcohol inked the epoxy sticker using Mushroom (the best color for a little vintage look). The Crinkle Ribbon was dyed with a little Antique Linen Distress Spray Stain and then tied to the top of the hanger. 

I'd love to hear from you! 
Please let me know if you love to sew or you would like to learn to sew. 
and
What is your most favorite project that you have sewn or something you'd like to create. 

Thanks for stopping by!
Richele

Friday, January 15, 2016

Playing with Distress Crayons

Hello everyone! A few days ago Paula and I decided to play with the new Tim Holtz Distress Crayons. So fun just seeing what the Crayons will do. We tested the Crayons with the new Distress Collage Mediums, the use of texture paste, using a waterbrush or smudging with your finger, stencils, and more! 

First up is my piece from the Ranger Designer Challenge. 
The challenge was all about the Distress Crayons. Each person was given one of the NEW Distress Crayon sets, one of the new Dina Wakley Media Boards (love them) and a few odds and ends. 

First I added some dictionary print to the outside of the board using Multi Medium. Die cut pieces were also added using the new Tim Holtz Mixed Media #2 die. Next a thin coat of White Gesso to tone down the print a little. 

Now to add some color with the Distress Crayons. (a little scary) I drew the Crayons on my Craft Sheet, added a little water and painted it on my board. I loved how the crayons stayed translucent and how the colors blended together. 

The Butterflies are die cut with the new Detailed Butterflies Thinlits from Watercolor Cardstock and Metallic Kraft-core.. 

For the finishing touches I added some stencil work with Distress Paint, the frame is from the new Framed Panel also painted with Distress Paint, a little white spatter and a hint of Foil Sheet applied with glue stick here and there. 

Now for the fun….
The Distress Crayons are sold in sets of 6 and there is 3 color palettes to choose from. 
(and yes you need all of them)
They have the consistency of lipstick. 
They're water reactive. 
You can color with them, smudge them with your finger or use a brush with water.

First Paula and I added Texture Paste in regular, Translucent Gloss and Translucent Matte using a stencil. We also added some of the new Collage Mediums and ephemera. 

Regular texture paste takes the crayons very well. 

Translucent Gloss Texture Paste - the Crayons were wiped off with a wet cloth before the crayons dried. Love how the texture of the canvas shows in the paste. I guess the paste settles into the canvas as it dries. (Happy accident)  

The Photo Booth photo has Collage medium over it and a little Crazing medium as well. Crayons were added directly to the surface then smudged with my finger. The edges were darken with the black soot Crayon then smudged and blended out. 

Coloring was done with the direct coloring technique and smudged with the finger. Colors used - Rusty Hinge, Peeled Paint, Vintage Photo, Black Soot. Love that the brush strokes show. When I started the canvas it was blue and purple, I wiped it off with a baby wipe and started adding the browns and black. 

The finishing touch was the stencil work. Laying the stencil in a few areas and lifting off the color with a wet cloth. Did I mention Tim has MINI Stencils? The scale is smaller then the original stencils and they come in a set of 3 with 19 sets to choose from. Perfect for card making or mixed media projects. They're going to be a favorite!

It's crazy how many ways you can use the new Distress Crayons. 
The reactiveness of the Crayons make them very fun to use. 
The possibilities are endless and I can't wait to play more!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Richele


Thursday, January 14, 2016

CHA 2016 Tim Holtz style

Hello friends! CHA (Craft and Hobby Association Show) is always such a huge whirl wind, I can hardly believe the show is over! The excitement of receiving all the new product and creating, it's always a highlight of my year. I love to see what the new trends are, all the new products, the best is seeing old friends and making new ones. 

This is the convention center and the weather was so beautiful. I love southern California weather. Although it did rain a little throughout the week there was also plenty of blue sky and sunshine. 

The first day of set up was like a ghost town because the crates are being moved in on fork lifts. 

The Idea-ology booth has many elements to set up from putting the walls up, installing the cabinets or fixtures and laying down the floors.

And there is so many props, big props, little props but best of all VINTAGE props.

Not to mention a new IDEA-OLOGY sign to love. 

When set-up is all done the booth is beautiful!! 
Take a look...









Hope you enjoyed the tour!

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Richele