Still sweet on Valentines? ~ Cards with Sandi Clarkson

 Hello Creative Embellishments fans! 

Sandi here with you today sharing a couple of sweet cards. 

This time I focused on doing one large chippy per card using different techniques on each. 

I also chose a color palette that is out of my norm and caused me to have to think little and get really creative. :) 

This card features the Flying Heart and was altered with my 13 Arts watercolors and a bit of Old Silver wax at the end. 

For interest, I embellished it with items from the Poetic Rose paper collection. In addition, I used a small amount of pink Stickles for glimmer. 

I elevated the focal area with some corrugated cardboard. And I love how that looks! 

Lastly, I splattered some watered down white gesso for blending. 

***

The next card features the original Heart Dangle. There are several heart dangles in the CE store but this would be #1 although it carries no number. 

This chippy was sprayed with walnut mist and then dabbed with some Old Silver wax. Not being satisfied with that, I added some Bronze. So overall, the item got a little more coverage than I had planned but it looks really great against these papers. (Please excuse these photographs as we are under a Winter Storm watch and the skies are so gloomy.) 

Here is a little view of this cutie. 

I've used the same paper collection on both cards and just changed my layers around. 

Again, I've used that gesso splattering to blend. 

In addition to the miserable weather, I've been suffering with a cracked tooth and will need a root canal as soon as the weather and infection permits. There was a terrible 100 car pile-up near us this morning and it certainly reminds us to be careful on the roads. 

So, if you are bundled up inside, maybe you will have time to create a few new cards! 

Thanks for coming by the blog today! 

See you next time! 

Sandi

Creative Embellishments products used: 

Flying Heart

Heart Dangle

"Some Kind of Wonderful" mixed media canvas ~ 13 Arts

 Hello, 13 Arts fans! 

Sandi here with you today sharing a new mixed media canvas for my 13 Arts solo inspiration for this month. Because it is February and the month of love, I decided to use this stock bridal photo (Flickr) and coordinate it with my papers and embellishments from the Sunrise collection. 

I began with a layer of modeling paste that was thickened with the Magic Powder (now known as texture paste), and let that dry overnight to obtain the crackle effect. Because I knew that I would be applying rice paper, I did a try thin application of texture paste across the diagonal section from top left to bottom right. 

Once that was dry, I applied my 3 mist colors as base layers and later went back and defined that area more thoroughly. I just wanted to ensure that there was color underneath the Sunrise rice paper. 

After tearing a section of the Rice paper and adhering it with gel medium, I began layering up my focal area. The papers in the Sunrise collection are SO beautiful! I did use a bristle brush to tamp the rice paper and secure in over the crackled layer. 

I was also glad that Aida include some Flair and paper clips in the last release. It adds another degree of texture that I crave. 

For additional texture, I added in some loose black threads. Of course, I just had to add in some florals. You may have noticed that my florals have gotten smaller and had less emphasis over the last few months. I still love the soft texture they provide but they aren't stealing the show anymore either! 

One of my favorites from 13 Arts has always been the microbeads. Here I've used the Gold microspheres. The little automobile is from the Bella ephemera collection. 

I always like to show a dimensional view as projects are always so much prettier IRL than what the camera replicates. 

One last photo! 

I splattered with white gesso and 13 Arts Pastel White mist and a bit of Gold glitter acrylic paint. 

Thanks for coming by today! 

If you need some retail therapy, please visit the 13 Arts Store Here. 

Also, if you are in the USA, please visit BlueMoon scrapbooking right Here. Their variety runs lows from time to time but they do carry 13 Arts products! 

See you next time! 

Sandi

"Lucy" Beauty and Strength Layout for Creative Embellishments

Hello, Creative Embellishments fans! 

Sandi Clarkson here with you today sharing a "Lucy" layout featuring an old photo of Lucille Ball.

 For my papers, I've selected some 13 Arts Victoriana papers and ephemera. 

I brought definition to the focal area by adding some white gesso on my background paper. I also used the Creative Embellishments Distressed Circle Stencil  to create a design using modeling paste from 13 Arts which is very white. 

For my chipboard treatment, I did some heat embossing using Stampendous Aged Gold embossing powder.  I rarely use embossing powder these days, so that was a refreshing way to alter my chipboard.  I like to leave a bit of the Aged Gold not so melted if you will. That gives it more of a textured appearance versus being shiny gold. 

To being attention to my photo, I placed the Feeling the Love Frame around the photo. Before adhering the layered photo to my background, I placed and adhered the solid Heart Pieces right where I wanted it in relation to the focal area. 

The remainder of the composition was layering of all my elements and then splattering of paint in white, black, gold and silver. 

The Victoriana ephemera was perfect for these papers and the overall theme of "Beauty and Strength."

This photo helps show you the texturing effect I get when I use a more controlled heat embossing technique. 

I love the Distressed Circle Stencil and use it frequently on my Lucy layouts for a consistent look for all of them. 

Just a quick layered view to show some of the dimensions achieved with multiple layers of corrugated cardboard and foam tape. 

That's about it for today! I hope you feel empowered to relax, create and see where your imagination takes you! Product links are listed below. 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Sandi

Creative Embellishments products used:

Feeling the Love Frame

Heart Pieces

Distressed Circle Stencil

"Isn't She Lovely" layout for Creative Embellishments

 Welcome to February the "Month of Love." 

This month the challenge at Creative Embellishments  is to create a project using black, white and one other color. I chose to work with a pale teal color as my extra color choice. My inspiration was a stock bridal photo from Flickr. 

I don't normally use a lot of blue in my projects. I lean more toward teal or turquoise, so I added a smudge of turquoise to my pale blue 13 Arts paint.

Because I really wanted the chipboard frames to pop out against the busy black and white papers, I decided against doing any significant mixed media work. I love how the CE Heart Doodle Frames dance down the page. They were embellished with sisal, florals and some of the CE wood veneer Conversation hearts. 

My title is the Isn't She Lovely title sentiment (links below.) 

After a bit of random stamping with CE's Distressed Crackle Stamp, a final splatter of watered down white gesso made this layout complete. 

Here are some close-ups for you: 

This was a fun and unique challenge. We hope you enjoy it and play along! 

I can't wait to see your take on the February Challenge. 

Here is the Challenge photo: 

Black and white plus one! 

Thanks for dropping by! 

Sandi

Creative Embellishments products used are: 

Heart Doodle Frames, 

Isn’t She Lovely

Conversation Hearts  

Distressed Crackle Stamp. 

Papers and medium are 13 Arts: 

Blue Magnolia

Aqua Flora