12 favourite 2014 projects over 2 posts

As 2014 is coming to a close I thought it would be fun to join some of my blogosphere friends and post my twelve favourite 2014 projects.  There is something very satisfying and fun looking back over the year remembering the work, the grumbles, the mistakes, the successes and the laughs (I still love the story of how Pinocchio got his twig nose) now embedded in each little (or maybe not so little; I'm still working on that) project.  I love remembering the support, the feedback and the people who surrounded me as I crafted.

Here they are in order of appearance:

12. another prima birthday (January) 

11.   goggles and tophats: a steampunk january (February) 

10.  valentine's day tags 42 over 2 posts (February).  This was really an all-time favourite.  I know, I know, it's really three (five if you count post one) projects but I can help myself.  This was my first humungous swap (42 tags) and I love how each set turned out.  Gold star for Valentine's Day 2014.

9.  lil monster layout (March)

8.  shabby freya chic (March) 

7.  scottie and yolanda birthday wishes (May)

6.  always start out with a larger pot than what you think you need - julia child (May)

Stay tuned for post two with the second half of my favourite project picks.

shabby freya chic

Shabby chic Freya (Octopode Factory) was submitted into February's Inked Stamper 10-tag swap.  I'm pretty sure that if I demonstrated no restraint that Freya would become my go-to gal for all of my creations over the next little while.  And I must admit I love digi-stamps.  I love the choice in sizing and I really adore the consistency in the image lines especially when you are producing en mass.

The tag base was a large Julie Nutting tag.  These tags make a great foundation to any tag design.  Made with heavy cardstock and printed with a non-intruding image you get a great base for your work.  

I distressed the sides of the tag with vintage photo and haphazardly stenciled on some hearts using a soft pink acrylic paint.  I gave the hearts some definition and grounded them onto the tag by outlining them in Dina Wakley style with gelly roll black.

I stapled lace ribbon into place at the bottom of the tag and added two eyelets on either side so that I could suspend a bit of chain.

I used Bo Bunny Pincushion cardstock as a backdrop for Freya and highlighted each strip by distressing the edges with vintage photo.  Freya  was coloured in with a mix of media.  Hair, skin and grey bits were done with coloured pencils.  Green and black items coloured in with markers.  Freya's lips have been brought to you today with gelly roll red.  The three dots (bottom right) were added with Viva Pearl Pen (red).

I added my domestic washi to the side of the tag.  Still loving the tutu-looking one the best, however, I have a vintage stamp that worked out amazingly well for this shabby chic challenge (see top and middle pieces).

I really love how this tag turned out.  Simple yet interesting and dynamic.  And Freya knocked it out the park with her chic-atude. 

Thank you for stopping in.

valentine's day tags 42 over 2 posts part 2

Part two of the 42 tag valentine day adventure begins with cupid (you can see part one here).  The tag background was prepared with peeled paint and worn lipstick distress inks, covered and heat set with Viva Croco crackling color (silver).  The Croco crackling effect was new to me and decidedly delightful.  Crackling color gave the crackle a less invasive finish than the homemade version which has an entirely different texture.  I adore both and I love having them both in my technique bag of goodies.  

Behind Cupid I added Stampotique hanging hearts and set her above a Octopode Factory cupcake wrapped in love.

The heart on her crown was embellished with Viva Pearl Pen (red).  I cannot say it enough: I love the Pearl Pens.  So much greatness in one container.

It appears that cupid was successful.  The raining hearts were punch cut from glitter cardstock.

 

And my final tag was a cityscape (Memory Box die cut) filled with love.

Peeled paint, tea dye and worn lipstick distress inks make up the background.  I misted it with water before heat setting to add texture.

The ribbon, which I found at Michaels craft store, was a bit of unexpected fun.  The hearts have a bit of a dimension and rubbery feel to them.  A wonderful little treat.

mr. everythingshetouches isn't a fan of the commercial exploits of the holiday, however, I still got a dozen roses (I have a whole other post about the roses situation in our household almost ready for posting) and a very adorably funny note.  Breakfast with the man, dinner with both my guys and wonderful friends and an evening of stamping madness made for an incredible valentines day.  

And the love continued into yesterday: dinner with two incredible friends (super yum) and a big thank you to mr. click! print! scrapbook! for the mini seashells.  I have the perfect idea for its use in mind.

I hope that you all had as much love and fun on your valentine's day and for all of my Canadian friends celebrating a statutory holiday this weekend: enjoy!  I would love to hear how you "observed" the holiday either in the comment section below or by email.

valentine's day tags 42 over 2 posts

Forty-two tags, five designs over two posts.  All of the stamped images over the two posts are digital stamps bought from the very talented Lily Chilvers' Octopode Factory and I absolutely adore each and every one of her designs.  I decided to colour sad bear in (and the others) with pencil crayons.  The tag background was layered with peeled paint, tea dye and worn lipstick distress inks.  Misted with water and heat set.  The technique gave the tag an extra sad tear-stained look.

Although sad bear captures the negative essence of valentine's day, he has a sweetness that I couldn't resist.  I love his stick legs and heart palms.

The jar of hearts is a memory box die-cut; the bottom layer was cut out of pink cardstock, the top layer out of pink vellum.  The hearts were punch cut out red glitter paper.

Freda is simply fantastic and I see great diverse potential for her.  I layered scottie masking tape, found at Michaels, as Freda's backdrop.

The heart glasses are stellar.

I lined the tag with some homemade washi tape.  To see how to make your own washi tape take a peek at this post.

The mad hatter makes up the last tag of this post.  The tag background was painted with white acrylic and erratically modge podged with torn pieces of vintage valentine paper.  Once dried, I highlighted the hearts and added decorative dots with silks acrylic paint (carmen and fuzzy peach) and then added Stampotique hanging hearts.

Mad Hatter's hat patch and bow tie were highlighted with viva pearl pen (red).  Love the pearl pens.  I'm slowing building a collection of every colour.

I'm entering the trio of tags in Anything But a Card's Challenge #32 TIC .. TAC .. LOVE! two ways:  3 (glitter), 5 (heart) and 7 ribbons and twine and 4 (bling it on!), 5 (heart) and 6 (sprays and mists).

Stay tuned for the second valentine's day post of tags four and five coming later in the week.