A Vintage Girl

My Spellbinders™ Story ....exploring and inspiring and fitting in!

I have been in the industry for over 5 years now and there have always been particular companies that I would dream of working with.  Most people know me for my Graphic45 story as it is the reason why I am in the industry in the first place.  I got the opportunity not only to work with but work for Graphic45 and am so happy that they are celebrating their 5th anniversary this year...so proud to have been a part of it all!

I met Stacey at a Craft & Hobby Association show 3 years ago, I had been watching Spellbinders™  much longer than that but really had the opportunity to talk to Stacey and learn what it was all about and I made a note to self that I would love to work with them somehow, someday.  If you know me, you know that I am not a "die cutter," I am a "fussy cutter."  I was intrigued with the dies as they were much different than what was out there, but definetly struggled to figure out how to use and apply them in what I do.

Last year, I was given the opportunity to join the team as a Spellblogger.  I have to admit that I actually cried.  But honestly, I still struggled with all that I had before, not only NOT being  a die cutter, but not a Cardmaker either.  So why me?

Months went by, I did the best I could.  I was a pain in the neck (still am) but as I kept using them, I got better at it, I believe.  Then when I went to the Spellbinders retreat in Arizona last year...it all became apparent why I was here!

In January, they introduced their new Media Mixage line of products and it clicked!!  I am so excited about all the new possibilities and was blown away to see my MIXED MEDIA project on the front page of the website today!  Just had to share!

Thank you Spellbinders for taking a chance on me and making a girls dream come true!

Be sure to stop by the Spellbinders blog as well for the HOT AIR BALLOON that I created using a Cut, Fold and Tuck die...I really had fun with this one!

Spellbinders Explore Beyond: Sneak Peek and Giveaway Day 7

It's that time! The buzz is swirling and I am so excited to share a peek into the wonderful world of Spellbinders and all the excitement of what’s new!  I am beyond excited for all the wonderful possibilities that these new products will open up for all of us and allow us to Explore Beyond!

 

Spellbinders Products:

• Spellbinders® Grand Calibur Machine
• Spellbinders® Media Mixage® MB-005 Squares Two Bezel
• Spellbinders ® Media Mixage® MD1-008 Squares Two Dies
• Spellbinders ® Media Mixage®MBS-011 Birds One Blank
• Spellbinders ®Media Mixage® MD2-011 Birds One Die

Preferred Partners

• Ice Resin 

Cross Promotional Partners

• May Arts Burlap Twine 
• Graphic 45 Place in Time Alphabet Stickers
• Beacon Adhesives Fabri-Tac
• Scrapbook Adhesives by 3M®  3D Foam Squares

Other: corrugated cardboard, alcohol ink, burlap, ink, scissors

 

Let’s Get Started.....

To begin with you will need a 5" x 5" piece of corrugated cardboard. Remove the top layer of paper to reveal the corrugated texture of the cardboard leaving some pieces in place.  Ink the entire surface.

 

Cut the burlap to fit 3/4 of the cardboard surface. Adhere.

Pull  a few of the burlap pieces out of each side as shown below to give it a frayed edge look.

Add the Ice Resin covered vintage paper.  Prepare it the night before by placing a one gallon zip lock bag down on a hard surface, place the vintage paper down and cover with Ice Resin.  Let set for at least 24 hours.  For this project I just randomly tore the paper.

Using the Spellbinders Bird One Blank, you will place a few drops of red alcohol ink and pat it with a paper towel.

Die cut the Ice Resin covered vintage paper with Spellbinders Birds One Die, then cover with the same alcohol ink on the back side and pat with a paper towel.

Adhere the wing portion directly to the bird blank with Fabri Tac. 

Add two 3D foam squares to the bird body, cut the square in half to make it as small as you can.  Place on top of the blank lined up with the adhered wing.

Add the bezel with the die cut corrugated cardboard to fit inside and adhered down, string the burlap twine and use Fabri-Tac on the back side of the bezel to keep it sturdy.  Wrap the twine around the back and tie.

Use the Graphic45 Alphabet letters to add the text, adhere the bird on top of the bezel to complete the look.

The possibilities are endless....you can create a multitude of projects from cards and layouts to mixed media wall decor and so much more with just a few simple products!  I could not resist making another project with the same products to show you another very quick way to use them in home decor to make a bird seed bucket!

In this project, instead of using alcohol ink on the back side of the bird, I used paint.  On the metal bezel itself I used the red alcohol ink and added some green.  This looks beautiful on my mantel.

Click HERE for official contest rules.

 Click HERE to enter the amazing Explore Beyond Giveaway!

Thank you so much for visiting my blog today. Please take a moment to visit Sherry Cheever’s blog for more inspiration, new reveals, and another chance to win!

 

Questions? [email protected]  No entries will be accepted at this email address.

 

 

The issue of Just Steampunk 2 is out, check out the projects that were featured!

This month the second edition of Just Steampunk by Scott Publications came out.  I am thrilled to be a part of both the first edition and now the second edition and love seeing some of my dear friends included in this issue, including a cover shot of Terre Fry's amazing airship!

An upclose look at the projects that I created for this issue and all the wonderful products I used to create them!

First we have some steampunk bottles using Graphic 45, Flourish with a Bling, May Arts, Ranger.

Steampunk Banner
Graphic 45, Flourish with a Bling, May Arts,, Blumenthal Lansing Buttons, 7Gypsies and Ranger, 

 

And the final project is an altered printers tray using Graphic 45, Blumenthal Lansing Buttons, May Arts, Ranger, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L, GlueArts.

These were such fun to make and hope they inspire you to get your alter on!

Candy's World....in the latest issue of Australian Simply Cards! Check it out!

I am so excited to share this finally!

I got the opportunity to make a few projects for an incredible spread in the latest issue of Australian Simply Cards from Practical Publishing Australia. When I spent time in Australia last August I really fell in love with the area and all the wonderful people I met.  So this article really means alot to me!  

Be sure to pick up a copy and check it out!  It is sold here in the states as well and I love the education and inspiration that is in each issue!  A big thank you to Mandy Collins as well!

Thank you to all my product sponsors: May Arts, Spellbinders, The Rubber Cafe, Vintage Street Market,  Flourish with a Bling, Blumenthal Lansing, Beacon Adhesives, Glue Arts, Canvas Corp,  Basically Bare and Ranger!

  -

-Living The Altered Life

Candy 

The Holidays Are Upon Us...first up HALLOWEEN!

Halloween is coming.....put an album together to show off the little ones in costume trick or treating! This album has lots of fun techniques including the page with that large spider web, I used leather cord from May Arts Ribbon to make it right on the page!

 

Album, Silhouette, Rhinestones: Want 2 Scrap
Patterned Paper: Graphic45, Canvas Corp
Ribbon: May Arts Ribbon
Ranger: Ranger dimensional pearls, distress ink 
Adhesives: Beacon Adhesives Zip Dry, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L; 3D Foam Squares, GlueArts Extreme Tac Runner

 

If you want to see this baby in person, visit a Scrapbook Expo near you and head on over to the Want2Scrap booth!

Living The Altered Life,

Candy 

It's Tea Time with Graphic 45...dress form style!

It is always a great pleasure to see my Graphic 45 family at each CHA show, but it is a true honor to create a dress form for the booth at the shows.  The summer show I got the chance to use "A Ladies Diary" and the beautiful May Arts ribbon to create a soft dress that would be fit for tea time in another era.

The dress tucked away in the Graphic 45 booth:

Thank you for stopping by!

A Walk Down Graphic45 Mannequin Lane...and meet the NEW GIRL for Summer 2012!

I love CHA time, that means that I get to play with the newest Graphic45 paper collections to create a traditional handcrafted dress for the booth, and this show is no different.  It was Winter 2009 when I sent an email to Aimee about a paper dress that I had created with the new Botanicabella paper line, asking if she was interested in me bringing it to the show.  My heart beat wildly when she answered yes!

I brought "her" to the booth at the Anaheim Convention Center, this was my very first CHA and was there with Scrap n' Art Magazine.  The dress form was put on the table at the show and I would be lying if I said it didnt mean anything!  It was an incredible experience to see her on the main table of the booth!  Thank you again Aimee and Diane.

Winter 2009: Anaheim, California

I have to say the moment I walked onto the show room floor my mouth dropped, it was so huge and so much to see.....just plain amazing!  I got the chance to meet Aimee and Diane at the booth, tell them the story that I have told a hundred times about how Graphic45 is the reason why I found my way back to scrapbooking.  (if  enough people ask that do not already know it, I might just have to tell that story again here on my blog!)

Let's start with the newest girl for Summer 2012 at Rosemont, Illinois and then take a walk back through her entourage:

Winter 2012: Anaheim, California  She lives at the home of Jewel Lee.

Summer 2011: Rosemont, Illinois.  Dorothy from Wizard of Oz and her red slippers.  The album that is in front was one of the workshops I taught in Australia in August 2011. She lives at the home of Michelle Vocke from the Examiner.com.

Winter 2011: Los Angeles, California.  She lives at the home of Melissa Forsyth from The Rubber Cafe.  This one took the longest to create over 35 hours and is the largest one at 3 feet tall.

Summer 2010:  Rosemont, Illinois   This was the show that my ex-husband and I dressed up in our Steampunk Outfits.  This was my "mini-me" I tried to match her to my steampunk outfit.

Winter 2010: Anaheim, California  This one was the first Steampunk style mannequin I made using the only paper I found that fit the theme at the time, A Proper Gentleman.  The next show I got my "Steampunk" paper, thank you Diane!!

Steampunk : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLQfRvEQxDM 

 

Summer 2009: Orlando, Florida 
This is the smallest of the mannequins at only 10 inches tall. it was so fun to make.  The apron makes her "domesticated" but when you take the apron off a fun dress for going out is underneath. 

 

I cannot believe it has been this many years and shows, I am truly blessed to have worked with Graphic45 and so many other wonderful companies.  It was amazing to take this walk down memory lane, tears were falling....so much has happened in my life over this time and so grateful to be here!

Thank you to Diane, Aimee and Charee for allowing me to be a part of the Graphic45 family.  I love you very much and will never forget the impact that you had on my life!

Living The Altered Life,
Candy 

May Arts & Graphic45 Blog Hop.....Its my turn....Steampunk Curiosity Style!

Recently my daughter and I went out on a "Steampunk" photoshoot with a local photographer.  We had an incredible time and I just had to make an album with some of the photos.  With a ton of scrumptious May Arts Ribbon and you all know how much I love Graphic 45, a Basically Bare album is born!

By the way, if you are attending the Summer CHA Trade Show in Chicago in July....you will see us in our outfits!  Be sure to stop us and say hi!!!

Look at the awesome airship on the front from Globecraft Memories and metal embellishment from Stanislaus Imports.

On the cover, the burlap ribbon that is used on the bottom has paint on top of it to bring out the dimension.  Each Graphic45 letter is backed with black cardstock (another one of those old school techniques that I still use), and could you just die with this incredible airship with gears inside!

A  cardboard and canvas collage using pen, paint and pieces of Graphic45 and May Arts ribbon! 

I am loving this new burlap ribbon from May Arts!  I made a pocket to put this photo in on this page.  I used embossing enamel from Globecraft Memories to create the antiqued gear look on the large gear!

Now be sure to visit the following blogs today:

Denise Hahn: http://www.inmyblueroom.blogspot.com/
Laura Denison: http://www.followingthepapertrail.blogspot.com/
Susan Lui: http://luv2scrap-pages.blogspot.com/
Jen: http://jenshearsdesigns.blogspot.com/
Kimberly: http://serendipityvintagestudio.blogspot.com/

 and the rest of the days too:

Monday, June 18th:
Alberto Juárez : http://vintageodyssey.blogspot.com/
Gloria Stengel : http://gloriascraps.blogspot.com/
Nicole Eccles: http://www.nicoleeccles.com/
Jingle: http://www.justjingle.blogspot.com/
Charlene: http://www.paperandinkplayground.com/

Tuesday, June 19th:
Arlene Cuevas: http://butterflykisseswithlove.blogspot.com/
Jim, The Gentleman Crafter:http://thegentlemancrafter.typepad.com/
Betto Cesare: http://scrapguys.blogspot.com/
Vera: http://www.lingshappyplace.blogspot.com/
Latrice: http://www.latricemurphy.blogspot.com/
Karen: http://thebalddragonfly.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, June 20th:
Clare Charvill: http://mycreativespirit.blogspot.com/
Kristin Wilson: http://www.kristinwilsonhandmade.com/
Sharon Ngoo: http://glooshmoo.blogspot.com/
Jenifer: http://stitchcutcreate.blogspot.com/
Tiffin: http://www.linwoodavenue.blogspot.com/


Friday, June 22nd:
Jane Tregenza: http://janetregenza.blogspot.com/
Maiko Miwa: http://shiny-scrap.blogspot.com/
Tara Orr: http://eachmoment-onlyonce.blogspot.com/
Jinky: http://jinkyscrafts.blogspot.com/
Leah: http://1alabasterowl.blogspot.com/

Thank you for stopping by on this blog hop!
-Candy 

May Arts & Graphic45 Blog Hop Week!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a great pairing!  Beautiful Graphic45 paper and yummy May Arts ribbon in one!  This week is going to be fun...

I am not up until Thursday, but be sure to visit the following blogs through the week to see all the incredible projects from both teams!

Monday, June 18th:
Alberto Juárez : http://vintageodyssey.blogspot.com/
Gloria Stengel : http://gloriascraps.blogspot.com/
Nicole Eccles: http://www.nicoleeccles.com/
Jingle: http://www.justjingle.blogspot.com/
Charlene: http://www.paperandinkplayground.com/

Tuesday, June 19th:
Arlene Cuevas: http://butterflykisseswithlove.blogspot.com/
Jim, The Gentleman Crafter: http://thegentlemancrafter.typepad.com/
Betto Cesare: http://scrapguys.blogspot.com/
Vera: http://www.lingshappyplace.blogspot.com/
Latrice: http://www.latricemurphy.blogspot.com/
Karen: http://thebalddragonfly.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, June 20th:
Clare Charvill: http://mycreativespirit.blogspot.com/
Kristin Wilson: http://www.kristinwilsonhandmade.com/
Sharon Ngoo: http://glooshmoo.blogspot.com/
Jenifer: http://stitchcutcreate.blogspot.com/
Tiffin: http://www.linwoodavenue.blogspot.com/

Thursday, June 21st:
Denise Hahn: http://www.inmyblueroom.blogspot.com/
Laura Denison: http://www.followingthepapertrail.blogspot.com/
Susan Lui: http://luv2scrap-pages.blogspot.com/
Jen: http://jenshearsdesigns.blogspot.com/
Candy: http://candyscraps.typepad.com/scraps/
Kimberly: http://serendipityvintagestudio.blogspot.com/

Friday, June 22nd:
Jane Tregenza: http://janetregenza.blogspot.com/
Maiko Miwa: http://shiny-scrap.blogspot.com/
Tara Orr: http://eachmoment-onlyonce.blogspot.com/
Jinky: http://jinkyscrafts.blogspot.com/
Leah: http://1alabasterowl.blogspot.com/ 

Home Decor with Graphic45 and Hambly Studios

I know it has been awhile.  It is not because I haven't been crafting, just the ol' cant show it for a long time adage.  So today I got a bit of time and decided to make something JUST FOR YOU!  Not for anyone else except for my wonderful readers!!

I had a wonderful chipboard printers tray that I picked up in Australia when I was on tour last August and it has been calling my name for quite some time.  So I grabbed it and got busy.

First paint. Graphic45 paper. Glue. Hambly Screen Prints. Pearls from Flourish with a Bling. May Arts Ribbon. Graphic45 clothespin. Jolee's findings. Layered and Glued and there you have it!

 

Underneath the Hambly Screen Prints is a butterfly, ribbon, an old key and then a wood heart from Blumenthal Lansing.

Lots of layers to make this little home decor project.  Lots of fun getting the paint brushes out, and getting my craft on!