Creative Imaginations Blog

Altered Bird Cage

Hi Bloggers, Lynn K. here with an altered project using the stunning IOD collection "Cotswald Manor". I found an inexpensive birdcage from Michaels that had some not so attractive fake floral decorations on it. I knew exactly what I wanted to do with the cage. I ripped all the florals and fake grass out and coated the outside with Splash of Color Viva Colour Inka Gold Metallic Rub. I took a soft cloth and rubbed it on the cage, then buffed it with a soft cloth - this gave the cage a copper like finish. I applied the Inka Gold to a key and added that to the top of the cage.

The cage opened allowing me to decorate the inside with papers from the Cotswald Manor collection. I fussy cut papers, including two adorable birds nested on some paper cut flowers. I dabbed some gesso aroung the papers edges and the green berry spray ...

Notice how the flower centers are glittering - that is Viva Colour's German Glitter in Champagne. This glitter is AMAZING - the sparkle finish is stunning, moreso than other glitter products.

Supplies Used:

• IOD's Cotswald Manor Collection
• Viva Colour Inka Gold Metallic Rub ~ Copper
• Viva Colour German Glitter ~ Champagne
• Gesso
• Petaloo Green Berry Spray
• Background Stamp
• May Arts Sheer Ribbon ~ White
• Key from my stash 
• Ranger Archival Ink ~ Black

 Thanks for stopping by and check out Spalsh of Color's new website for all the new collections and Viva Colour products!!

Baby Steps . . .

Hi everyone. Nancy W here with an altered journal page.

Must confess - I am new to art journaling so it's baby steps for me. I love the look that some of the artists get but it's hard for me to *let go*. First, I like a focal point. So I'm on the lookout for something I can use to make a statement, whether it's something from a magazine, a greeting card or a stencil.

This time, I began a page with a Marah Johnson design that I've been hoarding.  It's a lovely piece of paper called Character. Wallpapering a page in my journal with this was easy.

Next, I painted over it in what I'll call *tropical colors* from Splash of Color Luminarte Acrylic Silks. Painting with Silks allows the colors to jump center stage while still keeping the integrity of the design. Don't you love how you can still see the print through the Silks!

Next step was to choose a focal point. I turned to two stencils: one from The Crafter's Workshop and one from Stencil Girl Stencils.

For the Crafter's Workshop bird branch, I used Viva Colour Inka Gold Metallic Rub in Old Silver. Love the pearly sheen of this!

Then I used both Viva Colour Ferro Special Effect Paste in Granite and Pearl Modeling Cream for the Stencil Girl stencil. The Ferro Special Effect Paste actually has teeny tiny bits of ground rock in it so it's consistency is similar to really fine concrete. Love!

Then the painting/coloring began using those adorable pots of Luminarte Twinkling H2O's to add some color to the birdies. A Black VIVA Colour Pearl Pen was used for his eye.

So my foray into the world of Art Journaling continues, be it simple as it is. Finding this beautiful stamp on my shelf, I added this Japanese poem, Beneath A Plum Tree:

I am waiting to see

The flowers of long ago

In my old home

Beneath the plum tree

Has the snow melted?

Taking baby steps, practicing being random and free in art.

Thanks for allowing me to share with you.

 

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Channeling my inner Heather Jacob . . .

Mix it Up by Donna Bryant!!!

Hey Scrappers, Donna here again today so lets "Mix it Up" !!!  

For today's layout, I’ve mixed a piece of corregated cardboard, Twinkling H20s and papers from the Beautiful You, Awkward Family and Samantha Walker’s Tea Party collections. And oh!  There are some Paint It! word stickers, ribbon, a half piece of a zipper, lace, and buttons thrown in to today’s “mix” as well  .  

Here is our "Mix it Up" layout for today:

 

And here are your instructions:

Tear a piece of corregated cardboard to approximately 6" x 2".  Paint "ribbed" area heavily with Luminarte Solar Gold Twinkling H20s.  

Determine what photo size you will be using on your layout (I used a wallet size) and cut a white matt for the photo, making the matt size approximately 1/4" larger than your photo size.   Heavily paint the matt with Luminarte Solar Gold Twinkling H20s.  

Choose two (2) word stickers from the Devotion Words (I used "giddy" and "together").   Paint lightly with Luminarte Pink Azela Twinkling H20s.   Set aside to dry.

Select the design of Awkward Family Photos 12 x 12 paper to use as your layout base - you will need two (2) of the same - and set aside.  I used "Awkward Love".  The papers in this line can serve double duty here as they will serve as your page title and layout base at the same time! 

Punch five (5) hearts from the Beautiful You papers.  Set aside.

Punch two (2) photo corners from the Tea Party Floral Plaid paper.  Set aside. 

Punch or cut out  the layout base sentiment from the top, left portion of a piece of Awkward Family 12 x 12 paper and set aside (I punched the "Certified Awkward" circle.  Set aside.

Select a piece of paper from the Beautiful You papers and cut a piece approximately 1" larger than your photo. Use an edge punch to create a decorative edge on this piece.  Adhere this piece behind your matted photo and adhere the matted photo (do not put glue on bottom half of photo) to the center of the cardboard piece.

Determine placement of cardboard (the photo is already on it), four (4) hearts, two (2) photo corners, lace, ribbon, zipper. buttons, and stickers at bottom of layout and adhere to layout base.  Adhere sentiment piece to layout base with foam tape over the same area of your laout base.  (I used "Certified Awkward").  

 

Stitch buttons.

Wrap twine around bottom edge of photo and attach at right, layout edge with staple. Adhere one (1) punched heart over twine.

You know, you may want to try another one of this design to lay vertical on your page.   Fun!!

Thanks for stopping by!

 Supplies Used:

29241 Awkward Love DS Paper

29384 Floral Plaid DS Paper

29716 Beautiful You 6 x 6 Paper Pad

29155 Devotion Words 2.5 x 10 Cardstock Stickers

29035 Luminarte Twinkling H20s Grande Pink Azela

26363 Luminarte Twinkling H20 Grande Solar Gold

 

 

Guest Designer Nancy Wethington!

Hi everyone. My name is Nancy Wethington and I am today's guest blogger on the CI Splash of Color blog.

Cheryl introduced me to the Splash of Color array of products and I was immediately hooked.

The paints, metallics and modeling creams opened up a whole new world for me.

After grabbing a canvas, I decided to mix my new love of these paints with my addiction for inchies/betwinchies.

Inchies are 1" x 1" squares that you can paint, decorate, draw on, paper

and otherwise embellish to your heart's content.

You can do the same with betwinchies only on a slightly larger surface: 1.5" x 1.5"

Beginning with a 6" x 12" canvas, I reached for my *go to* color preferences:

 

I opted for Splash of Color Luminarte Acrylic Silks for the base.

Using a large flat brush, I painted in one direction and began layering the colors. This paint is so unique, you can layer colors over colors and you will never create a muddy look!   

You can easily achieve the most beautiful blending with these water based paints.

 And look at the sheen!

 

Next, for the background, a Crafters Workshop stencil and Viva Colour Pearl Modeling Cream were the medium of choice.

The Splash of Color Modeling Creams come in a variety of colors and are so smooth!

I love the Pearl (and I can tint it myself with any of the Luminarte Acrylic Silks or Luminarte Primary Elements).

Once again, a lovely shimmer and a quick dry!

Using Luminarte Twinkling H2O's, I was able to add bits of color here and there.

The adorable little pots contain so much color and shine!

After cutting some heavy chipboard for the betwinchies,

I counted on the Splash of Color Mixed Media Travel Collage Pack to decorate.

These images are perfect for tiny collage work as they're detailed in a small pattern.

 

Using a template helps plan the images:

 Wanting to add color to the betwinchies,

I once again turned to the Splash of Color Silks for the background

as well as the Splash of Color Luminarte Twinkling H2O's for the detail work. 

The Twinkling H2O's are also water based and work beautifully right from their cute little jars.

 

All dressed up and ready to go:

And here's the finished project:

Adding carpenter rulers to the edges finished it off:

I hope you enjoyed this altered canvas with betwinchies. It was a surely a pleasure guest blogging today.

Thank you Cheryl and Splash of Color.

NYC or BUST!!!

Howdy Peeps.....Lynne Forsythe here 
with my "NYC ARTSY" canvas bag
I created for Winter CHA ~ 2013. 

I designed and created the canvas bag
from Canvas Corp ~ Canvas.
and embellished with the New York Destination Papers
Along with.....LOTS of Viva Colour Pearl Pens!!! 

I began by image transfering various images from
the New York Destination Collection
to different size pieces of Canvas Corp ~ Canvas.

I chose to use Pearl Pens to color the canvas bag and embellies
because they are fully washable when dry!!
What an AWESOME FEATURE!!!

SOOOO....I dipped the caps into it,
stamped with it,
colored the Petaloo Canvas Flowers with it...
and I found that if I spritzed it with
water or my favorite Radiant Rain Shimmering Mist
when freshly applied....
they could be easily manipulated.
.....and it splatters REALLY WELL, too!!! 

A good example is the matching wallet I made.

I love that it is even dimensional!!!

Hope you have enjoyed my ARTSY creation as
much as I did making it!!!

Products used:

Splash of Color
New York Destination Collection
Monarch Canvas Flowers 
Monarch ~ Canvas Shapes 

Viva Colour ~ Pearl Pens
30065 ~ Orange
30064 ~ Sunny
30073 ~ Copper
30070 ~ Black

Luminarte ~ Silks Acrylic Glaze
Stargazer

Luminarte ~ Radiant Rain Shimmering Mist
26395 ~ Ginger Peach 
26465 ~ Persimmon