Fairies and Wizards and Dragons, Oh My!

After many trips to the beach on driftwood hunts, I finally started my fairy garden. It's anchored by this wonderful piece that Roger carried about a mile back to the car for me. It has the perfect window for a crystal.

We placed it next to one of the giant fir trees near our bedroom window. I think I'm going to do a little swing hanging from the spiky thing and a little staircase down to the natural cave in the bark of the fir tree.

This is looking back through the window with the crystal sparkling in the sun. There are 2 natural huckleberry plants growing around this tree as well.


 and here's a close up of the window.

As you go left around the tree. I have a smaller fairy house door and a dragon guarding his treasure in front.

I'll have to try and get a picture of the treasure sparkling in the sun. This was near dusk and the jewels don't show up very well. The dragon wing is cut from some packaging plastic and colored with Alcohol Inks.

This is the smaller fairy house on the left. It has some interesting dips and depressions near the top so may get some fairy furniture for a topside sitting area.

This is going to be the Wizard house. Love the shape of this one with all the points. Next, I'll be making staircases, bridges and maybe a little fountain. Hope the fairies find it for the winter.

Creative Chemistry 103: Last of the Alcohol Ink on Yupo Techniques

Finished up the last of the Yupo techniques today.

First: Alcohol Ink Splattered Flowers on Yupo

I couldn't find my canned air so I had to use a straw, which worked, but I don't think it worked as well as the air would. Will have to try again when I find it.

And Finally: Alcohol Ink Landscapes on Yupo

This one is just fun. Definitely a zen like experience, just playing and swirling and dragging till you get something you like.

Creative Chemistry 103: Day 5 Yupo Continued and a Side of Crayons

Got a little time to play today. So far, all of the Alcohol Ink techniques are just fabulous and the Crayons too. Hard to really choose a favorite.

First Up:  Alcohol Ink Painting on Yupo. Another stamp from one of my favorite Club Scrap kits, Nature's Wonders.

Yellow, Orange, Cranberry, Citron, Bottle and Espresso AI's were used. It takes some practice and getting used to how the alcohol inks work, but I do like the effect.

Next: Alcohol Ink Faded Layers.

I love this technique in all its various ink flavors and colors. Will make some great journal page backgrounds and cards too.

Last for today: Distress Crayons with Distress Grit Paste (Substituting Glass Gel Bead Paste)

I was sure that this was going to be my least favorite technique and after doing it I think it's going to be an all time favorite. I really love how this turned out! I pretty much just substituted glass bead gel paste straight up for the distress grit paste because I didn't have any. It worked beautifully. Mustard Seed and Hickory Smoke are the only 2 crayons I used and they came out scrumptious.

Creative Chemistry 103: Day 5 Got Yupo?

My Yupo arrived today, Yay! Got a chance to play with the first two techniques and will hopefully get to the others before the week end.

Up first: Alcohol Ink Stamped Resist on Yupo.

Various bright alcohol inks used: Citrus, Watermelon, Pool, Eggplant, Lemonade. I used a yellow archival ink for the resist and one of my favorite CS stamps from Rhapsody.



Next: Alcohol Ink Texture Resist.

I used more traditional AI for this one, Bottle, Pool, Eggplant, Citrus. This is a Darice embossing folder for the resist and Hickory Smoke Archival for the ink.

Creative Chemistry 103: Stains and Crayons

Waiting for my Yupo to arrive in a few days so I went back over the first 4 days and did a few of the techniques I skipped.

From Day 1: Distress Washed Watercolor

I don't think I quite got enough micro glaze on the image, but not bad. I used Distress Markers  Mustard Seed, Dusty Concord, Broken China, Evergreen Bough, Black Soot and Iced Spruce.

From Day 2: Distress Stain Rub Resist

Not a big rub on stash, but I had some summer themed white ones to play with. Should have used a more defined stamp than the little boy on the beach, but otherwise a fun technique to use up those old rub ons.

From Day 4: Distress Crayon Watercolor Resist

I like this one the best from today's play. The coloring is done with the Distress Crayons and the background with Distress Inks.

Creative Chemistry 103: Day 4 Got Crayons?

Can I just say, I'm in love with Distress Crayons! I almost didn't buy them because, well, Gelatos are very similar and I have a LOT of Gelatos, but after Tim showed the differences I'm hooked. Not giving up my Gelatos, but glad I have both.

I've done 3 of the techniques from Day 4 and love all of them.

1st up: Distress Crayon Smudge. I did 2 tags one with Club Scrap's By the Numbers stencil and one with Club Scrap's Nature's Wonders stencil.

Both tags use my homemade texture paste, which worked great and various Distress Crayon colors.

Next, is the Distress Crayon Gesso Fresco technique. One tag uses some random stencils and the other almost all the images are from Club Scrap's Science stencil.

So far, this is my favorite technique from 103. I just love the layers and depth you get from this one.

and last for today is the Distress Crayon Texture Resist technique.

The homemade texture paste doesn't work quite like the one Tim used so I think I'd like to get some of the opaque texture paste and give this one another try.

Creative Chemistry 103: Day 3 Got Texture?

Didn't get into the studio to play yesterday since it was my Birthday! Whoop whoop! Got lots of new toys to play with though.

1st is Texture Paste Coloring technique. I did 2 of this one because I'm using my homemade texture paste. I would say it falls somewhere inbetween being completely porous and somewhat resistant. Might have to order some of the product Tim used just to see how it works.

This one uses Antique Linen paint and Festive Berries, Mustard Seed, Peeled Paint, Dusty Concord and Walnut Stain inks.

This one uses Antique Linen paint and Peeled Paint, Peacock Feathers, Mustard Seed, Dusty Concord and Walnut Stain inks.

Next up: Texture Paste Embossing. This one the homemade texture paste did just fine.

I used Silver embossing powder and Peeled Paint, Mermaid Lagoon, Festive Berries, Mustard Seed, Pumpkin and Ground Espresso inks

Next we have Texture Paste Resist

This is just a patterned scrapbook paper with regular transparent texture paste and then inked with Festive Berries.

Creative Chemistry 103: Day 2 - Got Paint?!

Today's first 2 videos were all about the paint, Yay! Really had some fun doing these and I really love how both of these techniques turn out.

First up: Distress Paint Resist

Peeled Paint, Peacock Feathers, Evergreen Bough, Dusty Concord and Frayed Burlap Distress Inks were used. Bundled Sage Antique Linen Distress Paints were used. Stamp is from Club Scrap's Papillon kit.

Next: Distress Paint Lifting

This one, my favorite so far, uses Peeled Paint, Lemonade, Something Raspberries, Salty Ocean and Something Preserves. Guess I need to learn some of the new colors! Hahaha!

Creative Chemistry 103: Day 1

I've been looking forward to Creative Chemistry 103 starting and today was the day, yay! I watched all the videos today and played with 2 of the techniques.

First up: Distress Off-Set Stamping. Really had fun with this one. I just don't play with those Distress Markers very often and I should. They are really easy to work with and love the results.

This one I used Wild Honey, Mustard Seed, Festive Berries, Peeled Paint, Bundled Sage and Vintage Photo markers.

This one is my favorite out of the 2. Evergreen Bough, Bundled Sage, Festive Berries, Frayed Burlap, Wild Honey, Walnut Stain, Scattered Straw, and Iced Spruce markers.

The second technique I tried was the Micro Glaze resist. I need to try this one again as I've never used this before and need some practice, but I do like the way it works. Would be great for journal pages.

I used all homemade sprays for the technique. No labels so I can't tell you what colors.