A Golden Hello!

 Hello Ai fans and welcome to the latest Bi-Weekly Challenge.

This one is Spritz, Splatter AND PAINT!

The reason behind this fun new challenge?

There is amazing new gold paint available at Art Impressions!

Winsor Newton Ink 14ml – Gold Paint

You can splatter this on your projects, add highlights, paint paper, stamp with it...yes, you heard me...It is SO gorgeous and versatile.

To enter our challenge it doesn't have to be gold. You can use the ever popular Dr. Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White, some spritzes you may have on hand or any other paint that you like to craft with.

Today I've created a card where I painted Canson XL WC Paper Pad – 9×12 and then die cut a frame from 5588 – Journal Oval Frames Die Set. Then, when I was almost finished, I took a paint brush and spattered little dots all over.

Read my post to hear all about it.

I die cut my frame and then painted it gold with a large brush. I used watercolor paper so that there would be less warping and then I cut a second piece to glue it to so that it would lay flatter and be thicker so that I could pop it up on dimensional foam tape.

My layered flower is from the new 6042 – Corner Bookmark Dies.

That beautiful gold border peeking out from under the frame was a happy accident. I used the 5972 – BJ Decorative Margin Dies on my recent PEACE Christmas card and this was the leftover remnant. I liked the way the "throw away" part looked so I embossed it and also painted that gold.

  

I die cut my two Hellos from 5408 – ShadowBox Window Die and 5718 – Mini Journal Template and the bees are from 5805 – Mini Journal Box Dies. See those tiny little pink hearts near the hello? Read on to see where those came from.

After I die cut the butterfly from 5811 – Gift Card Pocket Dies I was cleaning up the scraps. I noticed that two of the little pieces looked like hearts so I saved those.

After my card was completely assembled, I took my Royal Round Detail Brush #1, dipped into the paint and used my finger to TAP on the brush, spattering beautiful gold dots all over.

Look at all that golden goodness!! I feel like this is one of those things that you never missed because you didn't have it, but then once you have it, you wonder what on Earth you did without it!??? LOL!
I used the end of my paintbrush to curl the petals and leaves after I used brown ink to "age" the edges a bit.

I hope I've inspired you to try out some paint on your projects! It doesn't have to be gold. You can use the ever popular Dr. Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White, some spritzes you may have on hand or any other paint that you like to craft with.

Housewarming Card and Gift Box

Happy Housewarming Frank!

Our friend recently bought a new house and we went to a party there.

We purchased a gift for him but it didn't arrive in time so I decided to 

use the adorable little 5805 – Mini Journal Box Dies.
I printed a picture of what we ordered and put that in the box.

I wanted to have a matching card so I used the retired 4202 Cottage TryFold.

The decorative border is from 5543 – Journal Template Die Set.

Baby Girl Slim Journal! from Art Impressions

 Hello everyone and welcome to my first SLIM journal creation.

This journal is exactly like the original journal except that you only need to put two
pages in it. In fact, I only used one page making it even simpler because I added popped
up bows and I didn't want them to get squished.

The pretty heart clasp comes with the Slim Journal.

My journal is a little keepsake for a baby girls first tooth lost and first hair cut.

I used 5811 – Gift Card Pocket Dies to create each of the pockets. which fit perfectly onto the 5768 – Decorative Journal Page Set 1 frame I used behind them.

For the tooth, I cut a smaller pocket using a die from the 5805 – Mini Journal Box Dies and then added the little envelope from 5543 – Journal Template Die Set. I used the bow and rectangle from 5811 – Gift Card Pocket Dies.

The letters were cut from 5562 – Journal Letter Die Set.
This sweet baby girl is from 5185 – Baby Girl Set

The pocket for the lock of hair is the same as the tooth pocket except that I didn't use the small envelope inside. I used a heart from 5543 – Journal Template Die Set.

My journal also can be used as inspiration for our current Pop It Up! challenge on the Art Impressions blog.  My bows are popped up as well as my baby girl being popped up on foam dots. You might win a free stamp set if you enter!

I used 5809 – Decorative Journal Page Set 2 to create the border on my center page.

That's the great thing about these journals. Almost everything is compatible.

Mini Journal "Gift Box" and a tutorial for the Gift Card Pocket Bow from Art Impressions

 Happy Tuesday everyone!

Today I'm sharing a box that I made using the new 5805 – Mini Journal Box Dies.

The gingham paper is from 5741 – Valentines Paper Pack.

My friend's name starts with K so I used a die from 5562 – Journal Letter Die Set.

The little oval "tag" was made using the center of the oval frame in the Journal Template Die set.

I cut off the bottom to make it fit in the pocket.

I may just have happened to have some Reese's Thins laying around and discovered

that two of them fit perfectly into the little box as well.

Though I didn't use a bow on my box, I recently received a question about how to assemble

the bow from the new 5811 – Gift Card Pocket Dies.

Here's a quick picture tutorial showing how to put these adorable bows together.

I must say that I LOVE them!!

Step 1: Die cut the necessary pieces.
You'll need two of the one that looks like a fishing bobber.

Step 2: Put a dot of glue on the oval shapes and fold them over.
Don't crease them because you want them to be "fluffy."

Step 3: Glue them onto the long piece overlapping them a bit in the center.

Step 4: Place a dab of glue in the middle and add the little strip of paper to it as shown.

Step 5: Flip it over and fold down the top part of the strip and glue it down.

Step 6: Put another dab of glue down and fold up the bottom portion of the little strip.

Flip it over and you have a sweet, little bow. 

I hope you like my little gift box and that this bow tutorial will help if you weren't quite sure how to use it.  I can't wait to see your creations!

Bee and Butterfly Mini Boxes from Art Impressions

Did you guys see the awesome little box die set that was just released?

It couldn't be cuter and I can't wait to make more.
The set is 5805 – Mini Journal Box Dies and it comes with 11 dies.

I always notice AFTER I've edited and added photos that there's yet another dog hair stuck to my project...sorry.

These little boxes are going to be so perfect for so many things!
They measure about 2 3/4" L x 2 1/4" W x 7/8" H
(Just under 7cm L x 5.8cm W x 2.2cm H)

Of course I was THRILLED to see this sweet little bee die included.  There are so many pretty dies included with the template to personalize and embellish your boxes.

For my second box I used cream cardstock and metallic gold paper which is not fun to photograph. If anyone has any tips...let me know.  This time I added the butterfly to the top.  It's tough to see but there are black rhinestones on his body and his wings are popped up to add dimension.  I measured the top of the box, cut a panel to fit and then embossed it.

I also used the other filigree die on the front of this one.  I'm not sure which is my favorite.
Also, are those Laurel branches?  I feel like I should know and that's the what they're reminding

me of.  The die is straight but I was able to easily bend them.  I'll bet they could be used to create a pretty wreath on a card too.

These were so easy to make and came together quickly. I'll be using this little set ALL the time!