Free to Fly - Tag for Marte Savona

Servus! I hope you've been having a great summer so far!

Today's post is an invite over to the MarteLAB blog, where I am sharing my latest make for them - using Aall&Create stamps and stencils alongside some DecoArt paints and products.

As always there is a detailed step by step to be found over on their blog - together with loads of steps images and close ups. Simply check it out by clicking HERE. Everything you need to create this tag can be found in the Marte Savona online store - maybe not always the exact brand I've used, but it's all there.

Hope to see you over there

and

happy holidays!

Claudia

xxx

Heroes - a DecoArt Project

Servus, hi and thanks so much for taking the time to stop by my little (quite quiet) creative corner.

I haven't posted much lately as I am having to take a break from some of my already few design team commitments - due to health issues that I can no longer ignore.
I am in the middle of a struggle with a panic disorder that has obviously built up during the last fifteen months (being caused by menopause having hit hard last year) and has now struck me full blow.
Shaky hands and panic attacks caused by just sitting down at my craft desk and trying to tackle (even far away) deadlines are a nasty thing to have - especially when it concerns a hobby you think (or thought) you love. So obviously I will need to find new ways to go on with being a creative (which I have no doubt I am). Gladly I am in the very lucky position that some of my design team terms have just ended and that I am also on design teams where members are being cared about; so special agreements could be made. This way I didn't have to completely leave them all!

Sounds worse than it is actually (or maybe it doesn't) - but there's no need to feel sorry for me. I've already hit rock bottom and finally accepted my current situation - so the only way from now on can be upwards again. ;)

But there are of course also better days when my muse seems to be around and when I obviously manage to not be fixed too much on a deadline or the needed perfect (uh oh! Killer!) result of a project. So this week is going to bring you even two new projects and tutorials instead! Today's post is the invite over to the DecoArt Blog, where I am sharing a little altered mixed media tray that was a true pleasure to create.

It originated during my attempt to do a bit of tidying up in and around my craft space - which I find often sparks ideas for new projects (I guess because it is definitely more fun than a proper tidy up). I was right about to store away the little tray (the post on the DecoArt Blog reveals what it held in the first place), when I saw the drawer with my hoarded Tim Holtz paper dolls....and there it was!

The quote and melancholic feel to it were inspired by Peter Gabriel's fantastic cover version of David Bowie's wonderful "Heroes" - a song that never fails to deeply touch me. I have obviously heard it lately (I think it was used in a TV series or documentary or so) and it seems it was still spinning round in my head and needed to come to the surface.

As always there is a detailed tutorial with lots of steps images to find on the DecoArt Blog. Simply click HERE to get to the blog and check it all out. I hope to see you over there soon! And don't forget to pop by tomorrow for another project and tutorial!

Hugs and happy summer crafting!

Claudia

xxx

Travel Journal - a StencilGirl Project and Column

Hi, servus and thanks for stopping by!
How's your summer been so far? Travelling has become quite difficult and even more of an "adventure" these days, but you don't always have to travel far to experience new things and inspiring new locations.

Anyway, having a travel journal can never be wrong.
I always use a small travel journal to have information about timetables, train connections, locations to visit and other important stuff at hand without having to switch on my phone and connect with the internet. I simply am a dinosaur when it comes to electronic devices and always will be and do not trust them totally (or maybe my ability to have their batteries re-charged properly all the time). And I love journals and notebooks of all kinds. ;)

So I have created this one for my first post as a StencilGirl Columnist over at the StencilGirl Talk blog - and you will find loads of steps images and detailed descriptions of the how-to if you hop over to their blog (by clicking HERE for example).

It also has pockets to store tickets and other ephemera in and you can adjust the tutorial to any size of cheap bought notebooks to use on the inside (so you do not have to make your own signatures, which can be quite time consuming)!

And the flaps do not only help to keep the tucked in content in the pockets safe and in place, but also work as bookmarks if needed! And it all is made from just a single sheet of A3 Mixed Media or heavy drawing paper!

Here's a little scene from the back cover - just to make you even more curious and check it all out in the blog post. As a columnist for StencilGirl I will be sharing stencilled projects with a focus on "Textured, Weathered, Grungy" - my personal favourites when it comes to surfaces and designs - every three months on their blog.

Hope to see you over at the StencilGirl Talk blog!

Have a wonderful summer

and safe travels!

Claudia

xxx

The Start of a "House Journal" - a Calico Craft Parts Project

Servus, hi and thanks for stopping by! I hope you've had a lovely weekend!

It's Calico Craft Parts time today and over at their BLOG I am sharing the first piece of a kind of House-Journal I have been wanting to create for a long time, but haven't found the courage yet to start. But finally I took the first plunge and the first house is waiting for you to be visited ;)

A sneak peek should give you a first impression on what kind of mixed media project is waiting for you. Of course there is a step by step as well as loads of pictures and the lists of the Calico Craft Parts and DecoArt media products and paints used as well. Simply click HERE (or on the picture) to get taken to the blog post.

Hope to see you over there soon!

Have a good start into the week!

Claudia

xxx

Victorian Style Brooch & Pendant - for SASPC's Summer Special Challenge

Hi, servus and welcome to the kick off of our annual summer special challenge over at SanDee&amelie's Steampunk Challenges! I hope you will join in our two months long summer challenge again this year!

My project for your inspiration this time is inspired by an upcoming murder mystery dinner on a beautiful castle with our best friends, that will throw us back into Victorian times. Yay! I will be playing the murdered lady's chambermaid - so I am looking forward to having lots of fun and joyful role playing!

Of course I will need some personal belongings for my character (my friends and me all being passionate and true role players) - so I decided to make a brooch and pendant showing some of "my" ancestors that I like to keep close to my chambermaid's most innocent (!!!!) heart ;)

But back to the project and the challenge! The rules apply as usual - the only small change for our summer special is that you can enter up to five makes during the two months instead of the usual three. So two more chances to win one of our two fabulous prizes (being generously sponsored by DecoArt and boozybear chipboard)!!!!

To create my jewellery set, I used DecoArt matte Decou-Page and Raw Umber Americana paint alongside DecoArt media clear Crackle Glaze, Liquid Glass, Raw Umber, Interference Gold and Metallic Gold fluid acrylics, Titanium White Antiquing Cream and Americana matte spray sealant.

The arches and tiny shields MDF wood shapes are from Calico Craft Parts.

The papers I've cut the backgrounds and portraits from are from older Spellbinders designer paper pads designed by wonderful Susan Lennart Kazmer.

I also added some texture using the 3D Impresslits "Lattice Trim" designed by Tim Holtz.
The loop on the pendant was made using a thin strip of linen ribbon that I glued in place with matte Decou-Page.

(by the way...have I already mentioned that I am NOT the murderer of my poor lady?...I am sure it must have been the gardener!!!)


The Lattice Trim pieces were first painted in Metallic Gold and then given a wash of Raw Umber fluid acrylic.

The arches were first painted with Raw Umber and then given a coat of clear Crackle Glaze. Once that had cured, I went in with Titanium White Antiquing Cream and only wiped part of that back with a damp cloth for an aged look. Before I went on, I sealed the two pieces with DecoArt Americana matte spray sealant (otherwise the Antiquing Cream could be reactivated by any moisture or come off with time).

The third arch shape was covered with some script designer paper and then painted with Interference Gold.
The tiny shields with the glued on portraits were given a thorough coat of DecoArt media Liquid Glass each and left to cure over night.

Once all the pieces were dry and cured, I painted around all the edges with Metallic Gold fluid acrylic and then diluted the left overs on my palette and sprinkled that onto the pieces as well.

I used a simple safety pin for my brooch. It was glued to the back using matte Decou-Page and a piece of linen ribbon. I made sure the ribbon was glued tightly around the pin, so it would stay in its exact position. Gold Metallic Lustre was added to highlight the raised areas from the Lattice Trim pieces where the wash had toned it down too much.

Done!

I love how much dimension the Liquid Glass and the Lattice Trim add to the pieces! And the depth and weathered look from the sprinkled on Gold and the Antiquing Cream was just what I had hoped to achieve! A thin purple velvet ribbon from my stash was the perfect addition to the more colourful pendant. Yesss!!!

I love it when things come together just nicely! 

I hope you like my little jewellery set too and are inspired to play along! There's time until the end of August to enter your creations to our challenge. Over at our challenge blog the teamies' fabulous makes are waiting for you to be checked out as well - please, take some secs to visit their blogs and leave them a little love. Thank you!

Hugs and happy crafting!

Claudia

xxx