Trick or Treat?

In Australia, Halloween is becoming more and more popular, not for it's origins - but more for the fact that it's a chance to have a fancy dress party and eat too many sweets!
When I was asked to create some Halloween items, I jumped at the chance and my immediate thought was some off the page treats...  what better inspiration than lollipops, adapted from the lovely Tracy at My2Angels! Please click THIS link to see her beautiful work.
Anyhoo - here's my take on Halloween Lollipops...... Doily-Pops!!!

 And individually for you:

1.

1.  The Spiderweb Halloween Doily-Pop:

• The orange cardstock rosette is actually two taped together, I punched holes in them with an eyelet setter before assembling.


• The metal doily/flower has been heat embossed with gorgeous Stampendous Aged Embossing Enamel - Black from My2Angels.


• The Spider's eyes and bottom have been coloured using Pumpkin liquid pearls.


• The double bow was made using my fingers like a "bow easy" tool.


• The black swirls on the flower are a Jasmine Puffy flourish in black that has been cut in pieces to fit petals.


• The Skewer is the lollipop stick and has been coloured with Black Stazon Ink.

Ingredients:

Kebab Skewer

Black Stazon Ink

Miscellaneous Spotted Ribbon

Flourish With A Bling Black Jasmine Puffy Flourish

Flourish With A Bling Black Pearls

Miscellaneous Orange flower

Spider Charm from My2Angels

Pumpkin Liquid Pearls from My2Angels

Metal Flower from My2Angels

Stampendous Aged Embossing Enamel - Black, from My2Angels

Tim Holtz Rosette Die x2

Bazzil Linen - Festive

Tim Holtz Black Soot Distress Ink

Eyelet hole punch - normal size

Green Tara spider web ribbon

2.

2.  The Orange Doily Halloween Doily-Pop:

• The Orange Doily has been coloured with Tim Holtz Spiced Marmalade Distress ink.


• The Black Doily is a diecut from Die-Namics


• The orange cardstock rosette is actually two taped together - inked on the edge with black soot distress ink.


• The metal doily/flower has been heat embossed with gorgeous Stampendous Aged Embossing Enamel - Black from My2Angels.


• I have added Black Pearls on the flower - 3 sizes, largest to smallest, outside to inside.


• The Spider's eyes and bottom have been coloured using Pumpkin liquid pearls.


• I kept the bow in place with wire and added the black tassel.


• The Skewer is the lollipop stick and has been coloured by sponging Black Soot Distress Ink.

Ingredients:

Kebab Skewer

Miscellaneous Spotted Ribbon

Flourish With A Bling Black Pearls

Miscellaneous Orange flower

Spider Charm from My2Angels

Pumpkin Liquid Pearls from My2Angels

Metal Flower from My2Angels

Stampendous Aged Embossing Enamel - Black, from My2Angels

Tim Holtz Rosette Die x2

Bazzil Linen - Festive

Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Black Soot

Dienamics Open Scallop Doily

Black Cardstock

Small white paper doily

Tim Holtz Distress ink - Spiced Maramalade

I hope you like my creations. These were SO much fun to make I have made some birthday and Christmas ones as well!!  Please leave me a comment or tag me on facebook if you decide to make some - I would love to see what you create :-)
Thanks for stopping by
Jen
:-)

Prima Class...

Layout of Fiona Tupper and I completed in Janine's class at the NZ retreat.  

Thank you Janine Koczwara, I enjoyed using Prima for a change as I've rarely touched it!  

AND I've fallen in love with your iridescent medium!!  Thanks! :-P

Cards ScrapCake Pair

I made these cards while on a Scrapbooking Retreat in New Zealand.  I had bought the beautiful papers from Nerrida at Manor House Creations when I was at the Melbourne Paperific Expo the week before... They are from the Sweet Childhood 6x6 paper pad and the die-cut set.

And closer:

The second card -

And closer:

Ingredients:
Twiddleybitz Square Card - White
The ScrapCake 6x6 Paper Pad - Sweet Childhood
The ScrapCake Die Cut Set - Sweet Childhood
Flourish With A Bling - Copper Grace Pearl Flourish
Manor House Creations - Large Flower - (If you can name it, please let me know :-))
My2Angels - Small White Roses
Ranger/Tim Holtz - Distress Ink - Victorian Velvet
Martha Stewart - Butterfly Punch (top card only)
Stix2Anything - Double-sided Tape

Thanks for stopping by!
Jen
:-)

My Little Choir Girl

I did this layout at the Vintage Indulgence retreat in New Zealand recently.  I had a fabulous weekend teaching a make n take and spending time with my online buddies.  I really feel like I've cemented some friendships that were 'meant to be'.  

My journaling is the tag in the top left hand corner as I am determined to not only create beautiful layouts I am happy with, but to journal and not forget why I started scrapbooking in the first place - to preserve our memories and tell a story!!  This photo is of Erin ready to perform in the school choir - she loves it and I am so happy that we share a love of singing and music!

• The background was stamped with the butterfly stamp in black stazon, then the butterflies colours with white resist crayon.
• I then sprayed the page with Banshee Black starbust (and the doily) and edged with black soot distress ink.
• I added the patterned paper (edged too!) and the doily
• I coloured the chippy frame with black stazon and when dry, added the silver rhinestones
• added some strips of washi (not wasabi LOL) tape
• I added the photo, frame and the manorhouse creations rosettes
• attached the charm from My2Angels
• Placed the white Grace flourishes
• slid the tag for my hidden journaling in at the top of the rosettes under the frame...
• and finished by adding just a touch of the irridescent medium to the rosettes

And the customary close-up :-)

Ingredients:
White Cardstock
Alison Ellis Design Patterned Paper
Twiddleybitz - Fantasy Round Overlay (OVO10)
Flourish With a Bling - Silver Rhinestones
Flourish With a Bling - Grace Pearl Flourish, Pearl
Manor House Creations - Rosettes, Pearl (SAF0037pea)
Kaiser Stamp - Botanical (CS795)
My2Angels - handmade embellishment with XOXO charm
My2Angels - premade white bow with silver edges
Doily
Washi Tape - Music
Wax Resist Crayon
Stazon Ink - Black
Tim Holtz - Black Soot Distress Ink
Lindy's Stamp Gang - starburst - Screaming Banshee Black
Windsor & Newton Watercolour Irridescent Medium (Thanks Janine Koczwara for the intro to this awesome medium!!)
Stix2Anything - Double-sided Tape

Thanks for stopping by!
Jen
:-)

Gold Powder Frame

I made this little frame while product testing for Twiddleybitz...

Twiddleybitz Metallic Powders

Recently I was very lucky to get my hands on these very new metallic powders, I couldn’t wait to have a play and discover ways to add that bit of sparkle to my projects!  The first thing I did was use the Binding Solution that accompanies the powders and this is by far the easiest and best medium I used.  It gives a beautiful finish and is easy to use.  

• The binding solution, multi-medium gloss, glossy and crackle accents all had no rub off as the powders were suspended in the medium.
• The Perfect Medium and Versamark ink I brushed the powder on while wet and although I sprayed with water and spray fixative after - disappointingly, there was rub off.
• Modpodge gave an interesting effect - the powder mixed well but I also noticed an interesting starbust effect when just sprinkled on the top of the wet modpodge.
• Inks had no binding or holding power for the power at all.
• Brushing the powders onto double sided tape worked a treat - a lovely concentrated shine.
• One scoop with the paddle pop stick suspended in a half full minimister had almost no effect when sprayed onto the chippy, but painting it one had a better effect - although a small, acceptable amount of rub off when dry.
• Various mixes of stazon re-inker and powder were unsuccessful as the powder sits on the surface and the ink soaks in.
• Mixing the powders with the new xpress-it clear gel and ordinary PVA also were successful - with no rub-off once dry.

Once I was happy with the various ways to mix the powders, I decided to experiment with using them on different surfaces, using different techniques.

• Painting was the most obvious method, perfect for chipboard - a basic mix of 1 paddle pop stick scoop and approximately 6 drops of solution gave the painted finish you see on the lamp post - smooth, and paint like.  The swirls around the frame were made by increasing the ratio of powder to solution - 2:1, and blotting it on with the brush.
• The metal butterfly charm was painted with the basic mix and then lightly sanded - there is no rub off or smudging and the gold is so brilliant the bling appears dull in comparison!

• The large cream flower also was painted by the brush - you notice the thicker areas... The lighter area were actually coloured using a sponge on a handle - similar technique to distress inks on the sponge.  The mix must be done on your non-stick mat though. 2 cap taps onto the sheet with 9 drops of solution, mixed with the sponge and then applied to the flower - the orange flower also has this technique.
• The Carriage has a different finish to the lamp post - it was also sponged.  This was very quick to completely cover.  The powder and binding solution mixture is quick drying - another thing I like about it!
• I also used the sponge to apply the mix to the lace you see in the background and to sponge around the edges of the stamped greeting. Again the same sponging technique was used on the “explore” tickets.

• The mixture is also fabulous for using on tumbled glass as you can see from the pendant, AND once dry you can stamp on the surface with permanent ink!

I found the accompanying binding solution was the easiest product to use the powders with.  The mixture allows for application to a variety of surfaces and is fast drying.   This is a product I would buy and use; if only there were more colours were available!

I hope you have learnt something new as I certainly did!

Thanks for stopping by!

Jen