Captured

The layout "captured" does not contain any moldeling paste in case you were getting tired of that. It does however have a lightly stamped background that was misted over. I love the paper collection that I used, but my old mind can't remember what it was. haha! And that was just last week.

The journaling was typed on scrap paper then ran through the printer with a journal block attached over it. I left enough space to pop dot the camera slightly over the photo. The letters are scripted foam Thicker's. And a little tag was added to the side of the photo. And lastly, so stitching was added to a couple of the paper strips. It is not a colorful layout, but it has quickly become one of my favorites.

Thanks for visiting - Enjoy your weekend!

Dani

WOYWW 160

Another week, another Wednesday, okay, Tuesday night in my case. Another peek, thanks to our hostess Julia, into the work desks of fellow crafters from around the world.

On my desk this evening is a lot that needs to be picked up. The new October Afternoon that came in a few days ago. My Thickers and easel from my shopping trip on Monday. And a new mixed media art journal and art journaling book. I know with the light it is hard to see, but the first page has been stencil with modeling paste through a heart stencil that I created on my Silhouette. I am hoping to add some color to it today. This will be my first attempt at an art journal and it is part of my trying new things attitude.

And finally, the layout that I finished tonight. I used the starting points from Shimelle's challenge last week.

Thanks for visiting today! Hope you are having a great week!

Dani

Create Art

Over the weeks of being out with my back, I have had to learn to be patient when it came to my crafting. Since I couldn't sit for more than 15 minutes at once, I had the time to allow things to dry, something I didn't have the patience for before. Now, I had the perfect excuse to try some things that I have always wanted to do. The modeling paste techniques from last week were on that list.

Below, is a small canvas that I made one afternoon, during my early weeks of physical therapy. Since it was a small project, it was very manageable for me to do standing at my kitchen counter. I now have it hanging in my playroom to remind me that I need to "create art" even on my darkest days. It is the thing that helps me get through a lot in my life. And all of the "playing" has made me look at my art in a different light. Some things I have really enjoyed more than I ever thought I would. You will see more of these things reflected in my work in the future.

While I am not happy that I had to suffer back issues to make me slow down and enjoy the process, I am glad that I had the time to try. Now that my hubby has made me a standing desk, I am back to being able to craft for longer periods of time. So while I am back to finishing a card or layout in one session, I also promised myself that I will still take the time to just sit stand and play. I hope that you will grant yourself the same.

Have a blessed day!

Dani

Senior Prom

Today's layout was a challenge from Camp Scrap, with May Flaum. This week, she issued a no pattern paper challenge. Wow! A whole page without any pattern paper? Since I was already on a modeling paste kick, I figured it could be done.

I only used part of the stencil with the paste. When dry, I misted it with Glimmer mist and wiped off the excess. As you can see, the paste only slightly takes the color. I then removed the sprayer off of the bottle and tapped bigger drops on to the page.  I added some strands of bling for some additional sparkle. I know you can't see it in the photo, but the tree branches are draped with the same kind of bling.

So, what do you think? Might you give it a try?

Have a great weekend!!!

Dani

WOYWW 159 on Tuesday

Since the post is already up at the Stamping Ground, I have decided to add mine early. I have so missed playing along each week. It is great to be back!

As you can tell, my pretty yellow work desk has been pushed to the back wall, so that my hubby could make me a standing height table. Due to my back issues, standing is the way I have to craft for now. My dh took down my stacked cubbies and made a mock up of that famous Pottery Barn table. Since I had to push it against a wall, he turn one of the cubbies to the inside of the desk. This is where I store rarely used materials. I still use the yellow desk for sewing, since this is something that I can do rather quickly and not have to sit for a long time. And let me clarify, it is sewing on paper that I mostly do, not fabric.

Tonight, I am working on a layout from my daughter's homecoming, but below are two cards that I made earlier today. Both cards are quick ones, of course, with machine stitching.

Have a happy humpday!

Dani

Playing with Paste

Thank you all for such nice comments that were left yesterday. It really is so nice to be blogging again. I showed something that I had been playing with yesterday, and today, I would like to explain a little more on how to do the technique.

On the layout below, I started with a Kraft sheet of card stock. I placed a 12x12 stencil on top and used masking tape to hold it in place. I then spread light molding paste through and leveled it off with a palette knife. I then removed the stencil and waited for it to dry. (it takes about 30 minutes to an hour, depending on where you live) Once dry, I choose two colors of dye re-inkers and place small puddles side by side on a piece of wax paper. Any nonstick surface would work. I rolled a rubber brayer in the ink being careful not to mix the colors too much or you will end up with a brown mess. Then roll the brayer down the paper and hold upright so that the ink runs. Repeat. Once dry, I spray with a purple mist and added splotches with my Picket Fence Distress stain. To do this, I stamped the stain really hard on to the paper and it splats out. You might want to do this step outside and while wearing old clothes. Ask me how I learned this. And then, just build your layout on top of your design as usual.

Thanks for visiting!

Dani

It is good to be back

Finally, after a break longer then I intended, I am back! For those of you who have been following my blog and knew about my back issues, I just wanted to give you a quick health update. After five weeks of physical therapy, cortisone meds, and some much needed rest, I have been discharged and have learned some techniques to keep me on my feet. Since I am too young to be considered for the surgery needed (yeah, finally too young for something), I am learning to adjust and live with controlling the pain and flare-ups.

One of the things is sitting for extended periods of time. To help with this, my hubby has taken some cubbies in my room and turned them into a table for standing. You will see more of my desk on Wednesday for WOYWW. How I have missed these weekly posts.

I have been working during my break, but just for very short periods of time. Some projects have taken me two weeks to complete, which has led me to be able to try new things that before I didn't have the patience to wait for things to dry. One of those things was playing with light molding paste and Julie Fei-Fan Balzers Crafter's Workshop stencils. The first thing I tried was playing on tags, as shown below.

Once I became familiar with the way the paste reacts, I took one of the tags, cut it apart, and used it on a layout. I then dripped Distress Ink down the page using a rubber brayer. I am so in love with this technique, as you will see in pages coming up in the next week or so.

Well, if you joined me again today, thanks so much for sticking by me through all of these weeks. The prayers and well wishes were really overwhelming and humbling. If you are new here, I hope you continue to visit and see what I am up to.

Hope you have a blessed week!

Dani :)