Vintage Button Bracelet

I have a "thing" for buttons.  Whenever I'm in an antique store or flea market I subconsciously look for them...here are just a few from my collection...

 so, putting them on a chain and wearing them made perfect sense to me:) 

YUM.

When I saw some of the cool images that came in our August Kit from ARTChix I was immediately drawn to the moon.  I'm kind of a night owl...mixed with "early riser" syndrome.  I guess I don't sleep  much, I never have.  It runs in my family.  Me and Mr. Moon hang out a lot. He was my INSPIRATION  for creating this vintage bracelet.

I cut him right out and decided to adhere his bright shiny face to a metal charm I had in my stash.

I wanted him to feel "at home" with my vintage buttons, so I added some Distress Ink from my Tim Holtz Walnut Ink Pad.

Below is the tag set I pulled the (Tim Holtz) charm from.  You can find it here. But, I actually think I bought mine at Hobby Lobby.  I used the one that says "ARTFUL."  

Next, I grabbed a chain from my jewelry stash similar to the one below. (also found at Hobby Lobby)

I cut the chain to fit my wrist using wire cutters.

Next, with a pair of needle nose pliers, I added each button (in shades of brown), attaching them with large jump rings. *You can find all of these simple jewelry making tools at Hobby Lobby or Michaels.

I added a simple clasp similar to this one below, although the one I used is just a plain hook...but cost close to the same...about $1.

I adhered the inked up image to the Tim Holtz charm with my favorite matte medium that Tina included  in our July Kit.  

Then added Glossy Accents on top.

You can see in the picture above that I need to go back in and "fully" close the jump ring for Mr Moon.

I love to look at each button and imagine what it's original home was...housecoat, shift dress, school uniform, bell bottoms, Easter coat...

Hope this inspires you to create simple jewelry using the creative images found in our monthly Frog Dog Kits! They are kits that will last for many many different projects!  Such great value:)

I really love "hanging out" with you,

Creatively Yours,

sue

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More ATC Card Fun!

Have you been having fun with this monthly kit...Martha Richardson here with another look at creating ATC Cards. They are such fun...little miniature pieces of art.

Let's take a look at how I start my creative process.

 I keep a scrap box of leftovers scraps from other projects...I throw the scraps in a box knowing that someday something will be perfect for some project. I play around with what I've chosen to work with and arrange and re-arrange until I'm happy with the composition. This is an evolving process & I don't rush it. I leave it out and as I walk by I look...I change...I look...I re-arrange. When I'm pleased I move onto the next step!

You will see in the next photos how I put one of the ATC cards together.

Once started it is hard to stop creating these fun cards. I find that ATC cards are great stash busters. I keep referring to this but I know that we all have paper issues {LOL} and I'm also finding a way to break that stash up!

Thanks for stopping by. Lots more this month so make sure you stop back and see what the other Design Team members are up to!!!

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How to Create a Vintage Style Mixed Media Keepsake Box

Good morning! Today I have a quick, easy, and fun project using our August kit items. I will show you how to make a vintage style mixed media keepsake box.

I started out with a .99 little box from Hobby Lobby and painted it with magenta acrylic paint. Then I fussy cut out the vintage girl from the clip art sheet and adhered her to the lid.

In the next step, I added some of the iridescent Inka Gold to the rose in her hand and in her hair. Then, I went over the whole box and around the image with the Viva Glitter Paste to add some shimmer and shine :)

To complete the box, I added some blue bling trim around the edge of the lid that I had in my stash. I also added the little butterfly wings from the clip art to her back. Then I finished it off with a cute quote.

The finished product:

Thanks for stopping by!

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August Special Guest, Candy Rosenberg, Part Two!

Hello and Happy Tuesday!

Our August Special Guest, Candy Rosenberg is back with a couple more projects!  We love ATC's and we are happy she has created more today!

Let's get right to her projects!

I don't know about you, but I am completely hooked on creating ATCs.  Aren't these just fabulous?

Thank you again Candy for taking the time to share your talent and creativity with us this month!  Please be sure and stop by Candy's Blog and see more of her amazing projects!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!

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Have the courage....

Hello and Happy Monday!  Tina here today with another project from the August Kit!

I'm relatively new to the world of Art Journaling, but I love the creative expression and artistic outlet that comes with creating in an Art Journal.  It is a free flowing and open way to create, experiment, and memorialize your daily experiences.

My tutorial today shows how I created this serene and peaceful Art Journal page, full of color, fluidity, and memory.

The quote I chose to use for my page is one that resonates well with me.

"One cannot discover new oceans, unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore."  Andre Gilde

And several close-ups before we get to the video...

I hope you enjoyed my creative journey today!  Please stop back tomorrow for more inspiration and creativity!

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August Special Guest - Candy Rosenberg!

Hello and Happy Friday!  We are super excited today as we have a Special Guest, Candy Rosenberg, with us!

Thank you Candy for sharing your amazing talent and creativity with us!  Before we get to Candy's first project, let's get to know her a little better!

Candy Rosenberg has been paper crafting since she was a child and comes from a creative family of artists, cartoonist and painters. She has been in the scrapbooking industry since 2007 and during this time has been in online marketing, design and education team coordination, product development and commission work for a number of manufacturers and magazines. There is no mistaking her style; a blend of vintage, shabby chic and mixed media all inked up, fussy cut and layered. When she first started out her style was not like "others," however, no matter what she never compromised her style and now her style is more mainstream than ever. Candy tells us the only reason why she does what she does is to inspire others, teaching is her passion. I would advise not to say "I do not have a creative bone in my body" in her presence! She is known for pulling her scissors, a bit of paper and adhesive out of her purse and perform an impromptu "mini" class to prove to you that every single person is creative...your style is all that you have to practice.

Candy is blessed to still have one teenager left in the home and the creative bug has spread to her and her older sister. The youngest is a duck tape artist and attends CHA with her mother, the oldest daughter is a student at the Art Institute of Portland for Photography and Design (which makes moms job easier with plenty of photos). Not to leave out her son who is in the Navy, he is creatively navigating the waters.

Here's what Candy has to say about the August Kit!

I squealed when I received this fabulous Frog Dog Studio mixed media ATC (Artist Trading Card) kit in the mail to create with.  I nearly fainted when I discovered the little wood windows and clear newspaper print film.  My mind went crazy and I got started right away.

Paint the ATC board with the Inka Gold, covering it thinly to make it appear like it is painted and swiped on the card.  This will create the background.

I placed a piece of the clear film, cut to size on the back of a wooden window pane.  Cut a square hole in the ATC card so that you can see through the window.  Hand cut the angel from the printed sheet and added with Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L 3D Foam dots stacked two high so that it sits even with the window pane.

 

Add the wings from the same sheet using the same technique of stacking the foam dots.

Add May Arts burlap twine and laser cut anchor to create the final look

I love the vintage nautical feel of the finished Artist Trading Card.

That is such a wonderful project!  Thank you Candy! Be sure and stop back next week for another project from Candy.  We can't wait!  Please stop by Candy's Blog and say hi!

We hope you have a wonderful weekend!  

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A Blank Canvas, August Edition...

Hello and Happy Tuesday! 

Tina here today with 'A Blank Canvas', my new monthly series.  Each month, I will share with you how I create a mixed media layout, starting with only naked sheet of raw chipboard.  By adding Kit supplies and product from my own stash, I will take the ordinary and turn it into something unique and special.  I hope you join me each month as I travel this journey of creation and exploration!

Before we get to the step-by-step, let's take a peek at my mixed media layout created for August.

Products used from the August kit include:  Luminarte Decor Glitter Paste, ARTchix Wooden window frames, ARTchix Ephemera sheet, and ARTchix wooden anchor.  I also used ARTchix microfiche strip, available in the Frog Dog Studio shop.

In addition, I used Chipboard, Luminarte Silks, Gesso, circle stencil, alpha stickers, tissue paper, and matte medium from my stash.

Ready for the step-by-step?  Here we go!

Step One:
Cover chipboard with a thin layer of gesso.  I prefer white chipboard (which is also available in the Frog Dog Studio shoppe)

Step Two:
Gather Glitter Paste, Luminarte Silks, stencil, brush, and palette knife. Apply Solar Gold Silk to stencil with brush.

Step Three:
Apply Glitter Paste to stencil (on the same side as the brushed on silks)

Step Four:
Apply Guatemalan Green Silk around outside of Glitter Paste section.

Step Five:
Gather Matte Medium and tissue paper.  Apply tissue paper to center of page.

Step Six:
Apply more Silks and Gesso around page, either with brush or fingertips.  Spreading and mixing as desired.  Using same stencil, apply more Glitter Paste to page.  The Glitter Paste will 'pull' the Silk color up and create some awesome effects!  I seriously love this effect with Glitter Paste.

Step Seven:
Prepare Mini Wood Window Frames by applying Solar Gold Silks to 2 of them, and ephemera to a third.

Step Eight:
Adhere Mini Wood Window Frames to page and add any additional Silks, Gesso or Glitter Paste as desired.  The trick is to build layers of color and texture.  It may appear as if you are covering up your previous layers, but you are building interest, individuality, and creating a work of art!
I also added several small circle accents (y'all know how much I love circles) with the tip of a marker and Spiced Pumpkin Silk.

Step Nine:
Add strips of microfiche and title and your mixed media layout is finished.

I hope you enjoyed my first 'A Blank Canvas' feature!  Please try out these techniques and share your projects with us on our Facebook page!  We love to see what our members and friends have created!  We are always looking for Guest Designers, so you never know what may catch our eye!  ;)

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great crafty day!

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