Creative Embellishments 1st Anniversary Blog Hop

Welcome to  Creative Embellishment’s 1st Anniversary Blog Hop. 

You should have arrived here from Michelle's Blog. If not, then please go back to the Creative Embellishments Blog to start at the beginning! Be sure to read all about the great anniversary and Blog Hop prizes and more importantly the NEW challenge rules! You must start incorporating at least one Creative Embellishments product in your challenge entry … which seems entirely fair to me! 

Now, are you ready to see what I created? 

Today I'm sharing an altered journal/calender. The pictures just don't do it justice! And I've taken multiple sets! 

 Back in May the hubby and I were on a little trip when I found this great little tag with an image by local artist Thereasa Ramsey of Weatherford, Texas.  I thought this sweet face was a little bit Boho, a little Steampunk and a whole lot ME!  Back in my younger days, I "owned" Boho! Heck, I probably thought I invented it! Heehee! These days I have to tone it down a bit, though! =) And …of course, all things "Steampunk" just kind of bring out that inner artist in me. So, I bring you Boho/Steampunk/Chic. 

I've had this BoBunny Misc Me! Kraft Journal/ Calendar (along with the Vintage inserts) that I've been using since last year to keep track of when my Design Team assignments are due and to write down what products were used on each project! REALLY helps me stay on track! Until now it has been unaltered … but that's all changed now!

 I started by stamping the front cover with the Distressed Brick Stamp in Ranger's Vintage Photo in a very random fashion. To add a little drama I've heat embossed here and there with Stampendous Fran-tage Aged Gold Embossing Enamel. 

Next, I got busy altering my Steampunk Gear Panel (my favorite CE product has to be any of the panels!) with that same Vintage Photo and some heat set Stampendous Fran-tage Aged Gold Embossing Enamel along with a couple of Prima Bloom Sprays .. Antique Gold and Pearl White as well as a couple of Distress Paints .. Fired Brick and Wild Honey.  Here you can see a bit of my Fairy Wing Set 2 which I will tell you about here in just a bit.

My tag says "Imperfection is Beautiful." So, I decided to finally, once for all, embrace that and leave a chippy naked! Yep, first time ever! Well, I did add a dab of gesso which is used on everything for blending. Does it still count? I hope so because that was really, really hard for me! So, there is my NAKED Flourish Dragonfly tucked under that flower. I also have a Flourish Set 17 underneath my floral cluster which has been altered basically like the Steampunk Gear Panel minus the Bloom sprays. See the neat little metal leaf over to the left? Gift from sweet DT sista, Doris! Thank you, Doris!

Here you can see the Distressed Brick Stamp, more of the Steampunk Gear Panel and part of the Fairy Wing Set 2. I love the few dots of embossing powder on the cover and on the tag .. yum! Well, I love it all! This is so me! Including the pumpkin spice crinkle seam binding.  It's fun doing projects for yourself occasionally. 

Now about my Fairy Wing Set 2! Experiment gone slightly awry! But hey, I try to keep it real! I used a rock salt technique of scrappy friend Tracey Sabella. It's been done by others as well including her inspiration Michelle Grant. Here is Tracey's version: Rock Salt Tutorial.  I did each of those steps except for the wire brushing. I think my error was in using too much Mod Podge which then filled in my crackle. So, to compensate I later went back with another very thin coat of Crackle accent which helped a bit. Then as I was gesso-ing everything, I added some gesso to my Wings and waa-laa, my crackle re-appeared! Things are still a bit too thick and goopy but live and learn, I say! So, the steps are:

Gesso your chippy, let dry

Add mist of any color

While still wet apply chunky salt like rock salt or sea salt

Spray again with your mist

Allow mist to thoroughly dry 

Brush off the salt completely

Use wire brush to scratch shipboard as desired esp on larger solid pieces

Apply Crackle Accents and allow to dry several hours; do NOT use heat gun!

Apply Glossy Mod Podge .. if you dare! (I won't ever do that again!) 

Then in my case I re-applied my Crackle accent; dried several hours

Applied gesso to highlight the cracks

This effect looks really great on large, solid chipboard pieces such as a door. Not really meant for delicate pieces but hey, I was having fun! 

Thanks for coming by today! I hope you enjoyed my fun little project!

 Be sure and visit the STORE and get stocked up! 

Did you notice that I didn't use the Distressed Crackle stamp, LOL? That is my favorite CE stamp but I figured you were tired of seeing it! And of course, I love all the frames. And all the flourishes! All the stamps! Are you getting the general idea? =) How do I pick a fave? 

The next stop along the way is Tammy's Blog.  

Thanks for coming by and have fun hopping! The Hop ends Sept 7th at 11:59 EST.