Monday, December 31, 2018

Top 10 projects of 2018 ~

Hi guys!!
I love sharing the top 10 projects of 2018.  Some of these are my favorite
 and some got high viewing but non the less I love them !!
So here we go~

#1. Created this Shaker Boat Album for Clear Scraps~

#2. Canvas zippered bags created using stencils by Clear Scraps.
  I loved creating these~

#3.  I created this scrapbook page for Quick Quotes.  My favorite part of this page
was getting so many photos on the page to tell the story and the boys are really enjoying being outside and talking to us.

#4. This card was created for Darkroom Door using newly released stamps and stencils.

#5.  This pop-up card was created for a Blog hop between Karen Burniston 
and Darkroom Door.  I enjoyed combining the different products into a card~

#6. This pocket page was created with Creating Made Easy monthly kit by Clear Scraps. 

#7.  Created this mix media piece as a member of the DecoArt blogger Outreach Program.

#8. All I can say,  is what a thrill this was!  Guest Designer for Take Ten magazine, publisher Stampington.

#9. Created this card for World Card Day using stamps by Joy Clair.

#10. Most loved~ created with Joy Clair stamps.
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Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful 
New Year.  See ya in 2019 !


Thursday, December 20, 2018

Christmas Wreath with Clear Scraps!

Hi, Connie here with a Christmas wreath using some of the festive embellishments by Clear Scraps.  I used chipboard trees, a mini star pallet shape and a large birch wood script word to create this Christmas wreath.

Script word1_Clear scraps_C. Mercer
I started by adhering pine cones to the front of the wreath.  I had collected the pine cones a couple of years ago while on vacation.   If you have some pine cones and fear they are buggy, just put them in the oven at a low heat for about 30 minutes.

Script word2_Clear Scraps_C. Mercer
After the pine cones were attached to the front of the wreath, the script word, trees and star were painted with acrylic paints.   The script word and star were sanded down to create a distressed look.  The embellishments were speckled with watered down white paint.

Script word4_Clear Scraps_C. Mercer
The elements were adhered to the wreath with hot glue.  It really took no time at all to put the wreath together once the embellishments were decorated and painted. Goes pretty fast!!!

Script word5_Clear Scraps_C. Mercer

Script word3_Clear Scraps_C. Mercer

Supplies used:
Clear Scraps: wood lrg. script word "Believe"
Clear Scraps: sm. pallet Star 
Clear Scraps: chipboard Pine trees
Pattern paper
white acrylic paint (for speckling embellishments)
twine and buttons


Thanks for stopping by~
Connie Mercer/DT Member

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Try It Tuesday~ tags for gifts!

Hi guys!
Thanks for stopping in.  I was wrapping Christmas gifts and
 had no tags to label the gifts.  Nothing that some festive 
stamp sets, from Joy Clair, can't fix.  

I got these sets last month when they had a GREAT sale going on!!! I love a
good deal just like most people~

I used scrap paper and cut the tags different sizes.  I end ended up with 25 tags and
thought that would be plenty but it wasn't.  So I made 15 more.

They looked really nice on the packages!!! Should have taken a photo :(.

These go fast and easy and end up being so cute!!!

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Thanks again for stopping by for


Have a wonderful Christmas and see ya soon~


Monday, December 17, 2018

Darkroom Door December Challenge~creating a background!!

Hi guys!!
Here is my take on the December Challenge over on the
 Facebook Inspiration Page for Darkroom Door.
 The challenge this month is to create
 a background for a card, using  Darkroom Door stamps.


December Challenge: Backgrounds!
This month we challenge you to create a creative background! You can use any Darkroom Door stamp or stencil - all you need to do is create a background for your project. It could be a stamped background using a Background Stamp, or a stamped background using a combination of smaller stamps, or a stenciled background! Be creative and see what you can come up with!
Your project can be a card, tag, gift wrap, gift idea, decoration, art journal page, scrapbook page, mixed media project... anything goes! Your project just needs to include a Darkroom Door Stamp or stencil as the main feature for the background.
Here's how to enter the challenge:
* Create a project using a Darkroom Door stamp and/or stencil. You can use other products too, but Darkroom Door products must be one of the main elements or features of the design.
* Post a photo here in the Darkroom Door Inspiration group
* You have until December 31st, 2018 to enter.
* Project must be new and not previously uploaded to the group.
* Create as many projects as you like! (of course you are always welcome to upload ANY other project you create with Darkroom Door products too, not just ones for the challenge! We like to see what you are creating!)
One winner will be picked at random (within the first week of January 2019) and will receive a Rubber Stamp set and stencil (or equivalent) of your choice.
To inspire you, here's a couple cards by Anneke De Clerck. One using the Inky Script Background Stamp and the second card uses a variety of Darkroom Door stamps to create a fun unique background!
To see the full range of our Background Stamps, click here:
https://www.darkroomdoor.com/background-stamps
Good luck and happy creating!!
Rachel
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Supplies:
Darkroom Door: Artist Brushes and Splats!
DecoArt: acrylic paint
Scrapbook Adhesives / foam squares
Thanks for stopping by~ you still have time to create a card for the December challenge !!
 Hope you do :)

Thursday, December 13, 2018

Making Christmas Cards Special with Quick Quotes!

Hi, Connie here with a couple of  Christmas cards using the new Holly Jolly Holiday Collection by Quick Quotes and just for fun, I printed out some Christmas cards, using a vintage photo, from my iP8720 Canon Printer Really happy with the results!

The card design is pretty simple.  Mat coordinating pattern paper to the cardstock base.  Shade with Quick Quotes PowderPuff Chalk inks (listed below).  Add a smaller piece of coordinating pattern paper to the card front, shade with the chalk inks and adhere to card front.  Mat die cut image on cardstock and adhere.

Stamp sentiment, using Quick Quotes PowderPuff Chalk ink, on cardstock and trim out.  Adhere to card front.  Add twine and small wooden embellishments.  The wooden embellishments are colored with Quick Quotes PowderPuff Chalk inks.  Colors beautifully!!!

I wanted to put a photo inside the card, so I came up with this (with the help of the iP8720 Canon Printer) ~


I got to playing around with the Image Garden (program that comes with the iP8720 Canon Printer) and made a card to go inside the created card.

I printed it in Gray ink on 4"x6" Canon photo paper.   Very easy and love the look!!!
Then I tried printing a vintage photo on cardstock ~

The trick on this one is to flip the photo (as shown in the top photo).  The cardstock size is 4"x10".  You will have a small margin
of paper to trim off.


I think certain family members will love these cards, so I will be printing more. 

Supply list:
Quick Quotes: Holly Jolly Holiday Collection
Quick Quotes PowderPuff Chalk inks: Desert Sun, Barn Board, Cactus, Vanilla Cream and Midnight Confessions.
other:
iP8720 Canon Printer
Canon photo paper/High Gloss
Beacon 527
Stamps: Joy Clair and Darkroom Door
Scrapbook Adhesives

Thanks for stopping by~
Connie Mercer

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Snowflake Christmas Ornament by Clear Scraps!

Hi, Connie here with a Christmas Ornament using the Snowflake Shaker by Clear Scraps!!! This makes a fun family craft night project.  Shakers are always fun to create and shake !!!  This one is created with a fun twist ~ perfect for that special photo.

Snowflake shaker1_Clear Scraps_C. Mercer
The top frame, of the shaker, is embossed with Distress Oxide ink and high gloss embossing powder.   It is really shiny!!   Add pattern paper to the back of the shaker.  Glue the frames together with a strong wet glue and let set for a minute.  Add the sequins and sparkle to the inside of the snowflake.  Take the embossed frame and glue the acrylic frame to the back of the embossed snowflake.  Remember to remove the plastic film from both sides of the acrylic snowflake frame.  Glue the front of the snowflake to the base of the snowflake.  Decorate the front.

Snowflake shaker2_Clear Scraps_C. Mercer
Emboss the word "Holiday"  Distress Oxide ink and high gloss embossing powder.  Glue to front of snowflake.  Add small holly leaf and red button.  Glue black velvet ribbon on a cloths pin then glue the snowflake shaker to the cloths pin.  Now you are able to clip that special photo to the snowflake shaker ornament.  It is all ready for your 2018 Christmas tree or it would look super pretty on a Christmas gift.

Supply list:
Clear Scraps: Snowflake Shaker
Clear Scraps: script word "Holiday"
Beacon 527
Distress Oxide Ink
embossing powder/high gloss
holly leaf, button and velvet trim
cloths pin

Thanks for stopping by~
Connie Mercer/DT Member

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Easy and Quick Gifts~

Hi guys!!
A quick Christmas gift post.  These are perfect for girl friends and
 all other friends:)  I had a little buddy help with this project.
  He is really good too~

He is always eager to help me with assembly work~ 
Our projects were making coater clip type notebooks and the long notebooks
 for the ladies, at the facility, my mom is at.

These are coasters covered in pretty Christmas paper with a post-a-note pad attached.
It is all held together with a decorated cloths pin.  

Add twine and some rhinestones for a festive look.  I packaged them in clear bags.

Another easy project! These require the legal size note pads to be cut in thirds. 
 Most of the time the office store will have the cutter to that.  
You will be charged a small fee.  Not bad at all and they are really cute decorated!!

Cover the back of the notepad with pattern paper.  Use strong adhesive either
 tape or wet glue.  Cut a flap to go over the top.  Decorate using stickers or stamps.

All packaged up to send !! They don't take long at all 
especially when you have a cute helper.
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Products used:
Christmas paper from stash
Joy Clair /You and Me Sentiments  (affiliate link) *** on sale ***
X-Press it adhesive tape
Ranger Archival ink/Jet Black
coasters
cloths pins
stickers
legal size note pads (cut in thirds)
twine and embellishments
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Thanks for stopping by~

Monday, December 3, 2018

Clear Scraps~Printer Tray Frame, Christmas style!!

Hi, Connie here with a really fun Christmas project.  You will need the Printer Tray Frame by Clear Scraps.  They have several different designs, this can be created with any design ~ so just pick your favorite!  You will also need some festive chipboard pieces for the Printer Tray spaces.    Get some paint, glue, photo, pattern paper and you are ready to create a Christmas themed Printer Tray.

Printer Tray1_Clear Scraps_C. Mercer
Instructions:
1. Paint the top frame with acyclic paint.  I went with a Hunter green (really dark green).  Let dry. 
2. Gather the chipboard pieces that will go in the spaces of the Printer s Tray and lay them out.
Printer Tray2_Clear Scraps_C. Mercer
Designers note ~ When I picked up my frame to paint , I flipped it making my design wrong (what photo shows) so I just went with it.  No biggie!!!! 

Printer Tray4_Clear Scraps_C. Mercer


4. The next step is embossing the chipboard embellishments.  (Stars and lamp post).
5. The holly and 2 hanging ornaments were painted with acrylic paint.  Set aside while back frame is prepared.
6. Cover back of frame with pattern paper and glue on frames thus creating the open Printer Tray.  The acrylic frame cover was not used for this project.  (Makes a great acrylic scrapbook page for later.

Printer Tray3_Clear Scraps_C. Mercer

7. Add prepared embellishments to each section on the Printer Tray.  Use a strong wet glue (supply list below).
8. Speckle with white acrylic paint, when all sections are filled in.  I use an old toothbrush and water down the paint.  Works great!!
9. Add photo last.

Printer Tray6_Clear Scraps_C. Mercer

Printer Tray5_Clear Scraps_C. Mercer

Supply List:
Clear Scraps: 12" Small Rectangles Printer Tray
Clear Scraps: chipboard embellishments ~ Stars, Christmas Bulbs, Holly and Street Lamp Post
Beacon 527
Distress Oxide Ink

Embossing Powder/high gloss
DecoArt/acrylic paint
Pattern Paper/Quick Quotes
stickers, twine, buttons, rhinestones


Thanks for stopping by~
Connie Mercer/DT Member

Friday, November 30, 2018

Coffee Lovers Fall/Winter Blog Hop 2018

Hi guys!!
It is that time again for the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!!
 Looking forward to seeing some amazing creativity using coffee and tea stamps.

Anyone is eligible for a Super Sponsor/Flash prize if they link up a newly created Fall/Winter Themed Coffee, Tea &/or Cocoa project, no back-linking please. Random.org is used to draw for winners.  So all you do is link up HERE.

Such a fun card to create.  I created the background with the Distress Oxide inks and dragging the cardstock through the different colors.  All of the shading was done using the PowderPuff Chalk inks by Quick Quotes.  The coffee cup was stamped out on matching paper from the Autumn Brilliance collection by Quick Quotes and then trimmed out and shaded.  The sentiment was added along with the small wood heart and twine. A complete list of products used is listed below.

Supplies used:
Inks: PowderPuff chalk inks by Quick Quotes: Cool Gray, Barn Board and Midnight Confessions
Other:
Distress Oxides ( for background)
Stamps: Darkroom Door and Joy Clair (affilate link)
Scrapbook Adhesives / foam squares

Thanks for stopping by~