Autumn Create to Live Challenge - Mother Card

Hi Susan K. Weckesser fans! Dana here today sharing a card that I created for the Autumn Create to Live Challenge. I combined patterned paper and cardstock from our partners Canvas Corp and Core'dinations with the Susan K. Weckesser Motherhood is a Verb Stamp and some vintage embellishments for this card. I was inspired by the challenge inspiration block for the colors and theme of this greeting.

I stamped the image with Archival Ink and then added color with Distress Markers. I loved the spool of thread, pins, button and doily from the inspiration block, so I framed the image with those items.

We'd love for you to share your project based on the picture above. Write a blog post and link-up your project to the challenge submission on our sidebar to the left. After you post your project, make sure to tweet about it, share it on Facebook and Pin it as well! Use hashtag #createtolive when tweeting or pinning so we can find and share your posts. Your project can be anything you create using this picture as your inspiration. Using Susan K Weckesser Inc products are not required, but are ALWAYS welcome and appreciated. :-)

The prize for this challenge will be drawn randomly by Inlinkz when the challenge ends on 10/31/2014 at noon EST. The winner will receive The Garden {What-Not} Collection Stamp Set co-branded with Unity Stamp Company. We can’t wait to see what you create!

Thanks for stopping by today!
~Dana Tatar - Susan K. Weckesser Designer

Upcycled Diary/Notebook

Hi everyone, Steph Ackerman here today with a journal/diary created from a book that needed a facelift.  All you need are scraps of papers, ribbon, paint and a stencil.

Core-dinations cardstock was cut to fit the book, then I used a Crafter's Workshop stencil with Art Anthology's Lemon Tart paint.

 

 This beautiful design is the result.

Next, I used a scrap of  Live in Color paper and added several May Arts ribbons around the cut area.  After inking the edges, I added it to the front of the book.

 

The letters were cut from the reverse side of the paper and adhered over the stenciled design.

 

 

So next time you find a book that needs to be altered, try mixing and matching products for a fun effect.

 

Thanks for stopping by today.

 

Steph Ackerman

DT Member for

Susan K. Weckesseer

 

Smile Carry Tote

Hi every one, I am getting ready for a trip to Charleston, SC with a group of my friends next month. One of my good sketching buddies is going with me and we plan to take advantage of the scenery down there and do some plein air water coloring. Knowing I will be lugging my camera, purse and art supplies around with me ( and the odd thing I might buy ) I knew I would need to bring my big canvas bag...but it's ugly! So what's a girl to do?

Re-vamp it of course!!

Seriously, doesn't this Smile Carry Tote just look fun and happy now?

Here it is with it's not so interesting advertising on the front which I covered up with gesso. After the gesso dried I covered it with layers of DecoArts Multi-Surface Acrylic paints until I got the background that I wanted using an old hotel key card to scrape the paint on with.

Next, I sketched out my design on a piece of paper and then painted the design on with gesso. I originally intended the bird to be standing on his head, but I guess he got tired and decided to sit on the cow's head instead!

Then the fun stuff, like painting in the image and using tons of stencils to create the doodled borders of the tote. I also added some fun felt and buttons to the eyes of both the cow and the bird. The stamped sentiment is just the perfect touch and it just makes me...well...smile!

I think one of my favorite parts is the whimsical bird with his stenciled feathers.

But my most favorite part of this project is that I up-cycled an old canvas bag and used my art to create a big smile!

What can you create that makes you smile?

Sandee

waving hi from the hills of North Carolina

stencils used:

TCW474 Hand Drawn Frames

TCW 2044 Pods Fragments

TCW389 Fancy Feathers

TCW202 Harlequin

Susan's Live in Color stencil

stamps:

Insta-Cute stamp set - ( smile )

paint:

Deco Arts Multi Surface acrylics and gesso

Deco Art Glass Paint pen

other:

Ranger Liquid Pearls

Let Your Heart Sing Album

This month for our Susan K Weckesser team we were asked to create Mixed Media. Now we all have a different definition of that technique or style.
I decided to alter a plain white album using paper and stamps.

Here is my plain white album and how I added strong white tape to attach my designer paper from Susan K Weckesser.

I used one side of the paper for part of the cover and the backside for the other portion.

 When I stamp an image sometimes I like to use the image in  reverse, that is when my mirror image stamp comes in handy. A hint is to practice a few times, sometimes it can smear and I have realized the image isn't as crisp as a straight on stamped image.

Here is my two stamped images attached together.

Isn't this a fun image? I love the whimsical style of this set, Sing your Song.

 I used the sun and cloud stamp from Fly Away

The ribbon on my project is from Really Reasonable Ribbon... I love how the colors work with the Susan K Weckesser design paper.

Faith Is The Bird Mixed Media Canvas

Hi Susan K. Weckesser fans! Dana here today sharing an uplifting bird themed canvas. I had a blast mixing different media and mediums to created this tactile piece.

To build the background, I first covered the canvas with a brightly patterned piece of tissue paper that I then toned down with a light coat of gesso. I added texture with The Crafter's Workshop Beaded Curtain Stencil and some whipped spackle. I sprayed the canvas with Tattered Angels Plain Jane Fresh Orange Mist to add a burst of color and then stamped around the edge of the canvas with a stamp from the Susan K. Weckesser A Little Bit Washi Stamp Set.

I cut a vibrant yellow sun from a piece of Live In Color patterned paper and topped it with a piece of coiled Canvas Corp. Orange Hemp Rope. I finished the canvas with colorful flowers and ribbon.

If you'd like to explore the exciting world of mixed media art sign up for the Big Picture Classes Mixed Media Studio Workshop. Artsy all-star Susan K. Weckesser will share an exclusive project, a video of a featured technique and step-by-step instructions to help you complete a project. Plus, you’ll get to interact directly with Susan via a private classroom message board and gallery! Register by October 29th to join the fun!

Thanks for stopping by today!
Dana Tatar - Susan K. Weckesser Designer

Autumn Create to Live Challenge

Who is ready for an Autumn Create to Live Challenge?  Susan has challenged us to Think Outside the Box.  Hmmm, what kind of things could we create with this.  I’ve got a few ideas already.  Let’s throw in some vintage retro sewing supplies and great colors for the fall to complete this challenge inspiration block!  
We would love if you would share with us and join us for our Create to Live Challenge.  This challenge is for you to use the color and message themes in the picture above.  Take some creative liberty here to create based on how this picture makes you feel.  What does it inspire in you?  What creative ideas jump out at you first?
Create a project to share with us based on this picture above.  Write a blog post and share your project.  Come back here and link-up your blog post in the challenge submission in our sidebar to your left.  After you post your project, make sure to tweet about it, share it on Facebook and Pin it as well.  I’d love to see little ‘blooms’ of inspiration this month all over.  Use hashtag #createtolive when tweeting or pinning so we can find and share your posts too!
Your project can be anything you create using this picture as your inspiration.  Using Susan K Weckesser Inc products are not required, but are ALWAYS welcome and appreciated.  :-)


The prize for this challenge will be drawn randomly by Inlinkz when you link your post in the sidebar and the challenge ends.  Contest ends 10/31/2014 at noon EST.  Winner will receive The Garden {what-not} Collection stamp set co-branded with Unity Stamp Company.   Can’t wait to see what you create. 

GNOMEY!!!

I think I am the only person who has not created something with this super cute Gnomey from the Susan K. Weckesser stamp set What's Up Gnomey?!  We finished the contest "Spot The Gnomey" here on the blog recently. How many Gnomey's did you find???

Backwards canvases are super fun to use.  Like a shadow box, but not as deep and not as perfect.  I make them often!  I've had the honor of having 3 of them published.  The imperfections in the back of the stretched canvas make it even better, I think.

He is just that adorable!!!  SSOoooo stinkin' cute!!

This canvas is a 6x6 stretched canvas from Canvas Corp.  I used 2 different sheets of Susan's "Live In Color" paper and adhered them to the canvas with Mod Podge. While this was drying, I colored in my Gnomies.

I used the "Beaded Curtain" stencil from The Crafter's Workshop with molding paste to get that circular pattern on the square canvas.  I applied some Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist on top and finished with some splatter from Smooch Accent Ink.  

A little Canvas Corp. Cord was wrapped around the top.  I cut out the 2 Gnomes and layered them with foam tape.  I layered some gauze, the gnome (s) and wood mushroom embellishments from Prima inside and added the sentiment to the bottom.  Life IS Wonderful!!

Thanks for visiting and have an AWESOME day!!

xxDaniella

Mixed Media Card

I love to have cards on hand for any occasion, leave the front blank and you can write what you wish inside to have the cards fit for what you need.  for this card I can see myself using it for a teenage/tween girl birthday, think of you, thank you, or Valentines Day.

I used some of the wonderful Banner stamp from Susan K Weckesser to create the background to this card.  I then added in some May Arts Twine, Core'dinations cardstock, and Prima Flowers.

Supplies Used
Cardstock - Core'dinations
Patterned Paper - Kaisercraft
Flowers - Prima
Stamps - Susan K. Weckesser
Ink - Imagine Crafts & Prima
Twine - May Arts
Gems - Kaisercraft
Staples - Other
Mists - Heidi Swapp & Tattered Angles
Felt - Kaisercraft
Adhesive - Crop and Glue & Scotch & Beacon

Enjoy!!

Love and Dreams

Good morning everyone. How is everyone today? Today I decided to make a mixed media card. 

I usually only do journal pages for my mixed media so today I am working on something new. 

I started with one of my favorite stamp sets.
Create your Day!

I stamped the house and flowers with black ink.
I then colored them using Copic markers C5, C3, C1, C0 and R20.

I then used a pink Faber-Castell Pitt Big Brush Artist Pen to go around the edges.
Sort or a zetangle effect.
I then wrote the verse on the card.
"Home is a starting place for love and dreams."
It needed a little something else so I splattered some distress ink
all over the card. I used Black Soot and Pickled Raspberry with the
Distress Marker Spritzer. 

Hope you enjoyed my card today.
Don't forget to come back this week and see what the girls create.

Have a wonderful Monday everyone. 

L.O.V.E...

Today I have a Mixed Media project to share using Susan K Weckesser and some of my favorite products. For the month of September our design team at Susan K Weckesser were asked to share mixed media projects.

 

Can you believe I made two canvas pieces? I always like to have more then one project when I am playing with new ideas. I can't decide which one I like more.

 

I used this fabulous Susan K Weckesser Unity stamp set.

This is the one sheet of paper I used for the background and the backside for my large letters.

This is the very large Unity Stamp I used for my canvas

 Let me share a few steps along the way. This is a 12 x 24 canvas that I covered with Tim Holtz tissue paper.I used scraps of some Susan K Weckesser paper and tore extra from the sheet above.

 The large hearts were stamped with Deco-Art Media paint and Crackle paint added to distress.

These hearts were stamped with Memento ink and then distressed with Tim Holtz Antique Linen ink.Next I added the fussy cut hearts to old book pages and tore the shape roughly.

 One of our partners at Susan K Weckesser is TCW -The Crafters Workshop, they supplied us with so many Fabulous stencils. The one I used to add dimension to my canvas is called Mini North Star and worked wonderful with Deco -Art modeling paste and Green Gold Media Paint.

 

If you click on any of the pictures you can get a closer look at the texture and detail.

Let me know if you have any questions and I will get back to you.

I know this has been a long post this time, I just wanted to share as many pictures and angles as I could. Thanks for checking out my project,hope you leave a comment to let me know what you think.