Something Wicked this Way Comes

Here are a couple of my favorite Halloween Projects from last year.  The "It's A Hoot!" owl banner ...

 And " Who Are You?" Alice layout. 

Both were samples for KatScrap Studio, which I'll miss even more at Halloween.  This is inspiring me to get cracking on some Halloween Cards, I do mean to do at least a few every year.  Maybe I'll get going on those, since I can't decide what to be.

Cheers

~Chelsea

Ocean Pendants

I thought it would be fun to do a deep sea theme with these findings.  Here's what I used.

3D Crystal Lacquer

Jewelry Findings Black

Gem Particles

Glass

Bail 

Antique GoldChain

Scrap Paper

Sea Life Stickers

 I arranged smaller sea life stickers inside the Jewelry Findings and placed the large eel sticker on some scrap paper that I liked as a background.

 I sprinkled gem particles inside the Jewelry findings, to mimic see water and put some pink on the Jellyfish to match it's color.  I sprinkled some on top of the scrap of paper with the eel.

 Next I filled the Jewelry Findings with 3D Crystal Lacquer and set them aside to dry overnight.  Then I used small dots of Crystal Lacquer to create a mosaic with the Glass over the eel sticker and Gem Particles.

 Once everything dried overnight, I trimmed the Eel Mosaic around the class, attached a gold Bail to the back of it with Crystal Lacquer and strung the chain through.  Voila!  Summer Jewelry!

I have really enjoyed being on the Design Team for Sakura Craft, so many wonderful products and ideas!  Please keep following me and the other designers as well as the Sakura Blog, for great ideas!

Merci 

~ Chelsea

NY Mini Album

 The Boy and I took a great trip to NY this summer.  So I made him a fun little coffee table type album.  It's an acrylic Arrow album by Rusty Pickle, the rest it s a hodge podge of different stuff I have on hand.  At some point I will get it together and start doing my actual scrapbook pages for these trips, but it's nice to make the boy an album, it's quick-ish and easy to share, just the highlights, and I feel productive and rewarded sooner than doing several full album pages.  

Anyway, enjoy we had fun on the trip and I had fun doing the album.

We went for the Premiere of a film called Starla that Brendan was in so lots of the pictures are from that night.  Great film, wonderful people and the Boy had a huge turn out of family, it really was a great time.

I had to make a flip up page to fit more pictures and an account of what happened the day of the Premiere.

 Pictures from walking around NY and meeting friends for Brunch.  Got to meet Tiff's babies for the first time.




Walked through Central Park, and St Patrick's Cathedral. Saw Jordan do Shakespeare in the park, it was a great trip.  Fast, but fantastic!

Circus Charms (DT Submission)

I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the Sakura Design Team, I can't believe our 6 months are almost up!  What a talented bunch of women, they have been inspiring and raised the bar on my creativity.  I have been honored to get to keep up with them every month.  So here I am again, hoping I make the cut.  Hope you guys like my Design Team submission. (Pick me!  Please pick me!)

I hang out at the Santa Monica (The Original) Muscle Beach.  We do acrobatics and all kinds of fun stuff.  There's been a really cool community down there for decades now, and the people are really wonderful. I also just this year, began taking Arial Classes, learning Silks and Trapeze.  Not flying trapeze, but acrobatics in the air.  Needless to say when Graphic 45 came out with their Le Cirque papers, I had to get my hands on them.

Their tiny postage stamp size Circus Poster Images were a perfect pairing with Sakura's Jewelry findings!  I love these little metal wearable frames, I had been looking for something like this for a while, nothing was ever quite right, until I stumbled on these.

This project is fairly simple, but I think it's extremely unique, and for me and my friends, images of things that are dear to our hearts and express our hobbies, or one of them.

MATERIALS

Sakura Jewelry Findings in Brass and Black

3D Clear Crystal Lacquer

Gem Particles

Strip of G45's Le Cirque paper

Scissors

Inspiring music: Caravan Palace (has a fun circus sound) or Cirque du Soleil soundtrack

 The key is trimming the images so they fit inside the frame of the Jewelry Findings and you get the portion of the image that you want.  I found some of the images looked better once trimmed than others.  (ie the elephant on the tricycle did not want to get inside the circle finding, it was probably my trimming skills)

Once the images are the right size, apply a dot of Clear Crystal Lacquer to the back, it isn't necessary to adhere it but it make it easier.  Then sprinkle in a tiny bit, or a lot, up to you, of Gem Particles, fill the whole thing up with Clear Crystal Lacquer and go read a book, perhaps Water for Elephants or something Circus like!

Tada!  I can't decide if I want to pop on some jump rings and colored ribbon as gifts for my acrobatic friends and teachers or put them all on a charm bracelet to keep for myself... thoughts?

For more amazing ideas and uses for Sakura products check out the Design Team Blog!

Glad you stopped by.

Merci

~Chelsea

Journal Tin

For this project I made a blank journal that fits inside a tin.  You could also forgo making the journal and use the tin for discreetly hiding unmentionable items in your purse. 

MATERIALS:

Small flat metal tin

3D Crystal Lacquer

Color Crystal Lacquer and Metallic Color Lacquer

Gem Particles

Rubber Stamps

Stazon Ink

White Cardstock

Tim Holtz Texture Fade

Glimmer Mist in Tiger Lilly

Distrezz It All

Steampunk Debutante Paper Pack cover

 First thing I did was trim the images I wanted off the Steampunk Debutante Paper Pack cover.  Yes the cover.  I use everything!!  I trimmed them and arranged them how I wanted on my tin, then used Clear Crystal Lacquer to adhere the pieces, I then rubber stamped some images on the metal using StazOn stamp ink in black. (some images I stamped before and they are layered with the paper strips.)

Next I filled in portions of the images on the cover of the tin with Clear Crystal Lacquer.  Intending to fill the areas with Gem Particles I chose what I did by color. I did the wings first with Green Gem Particles, then once I had the excess dusted off I filled in the girl's flowers with Lacquer and sprinkled Pink.  To be sure you don't mix you could let each section dry before doing a new color... I am not this patient, and I don't mind if stuff mixes.

 While this dried (see my patience above) I trimmed several sheets of white cardstock to 5"x8.5" and folded them in half to make a booklet of 4 1/4"x 5"  The top sheet I ran through my Sizzix with a Tim Holtz Texture Fade (post card) then spritzed with Glimmer Mist and let that dry (so much drying I better go read a book!)  I reassembled my folded journal, punched 2 holes in the spine with my hole punch, and strung twine through a few times to make the binding.  Finally I ran the page side through my Distrezz It All for a fun, steampunk, antique look.

I colored in the rest of the images I wanted to make pop, and the stamped images with various different Color Lacquers, and Metallic Color Lacquers, then allowed them to dry before going to the next image, otherwise things run together.  Then let the whole thing dry overnight.  The image above is of the back of the tin.

 Front

 Inside and journal fits perfectly!

Voila!  I chique journal you can take with you in your purse, and keep safe in it's own little tin!  For more great ideas check out the Sakura Design Team Blog!

Merci

~Chelsea

Steampunk Brooches

I have always felt the allure of steampunk, since before I knew it had a name, or even was a thing.  The Victorian nostalgia combined with a future of steampower and gears, the mystery and genius of Nicola Tesla, yes please!  So when I saw these Deep Dish Jewelry findings, I knew I had to do something special.  Their design also held a wonderful surprise for me, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

MATERIALS

Zinc Jewelry Findings Oval and Rectangle

3D Crystal Lacquer

Steampunk Debutante Tags

Distress Stickles

Various Gears, charms and pins

Grungeboard Wings and Key

Teal Adirondack Paint Dauber

Distress Ink: Pummice Stone

Pinbacks

 As limited as my sewing ability is, I have built a corset, and I would really like to make steampunk costumes.  So I decided to start with some cool brooches that would have an industrial, artsy, slightly miliatry feel to them.  Obviously victorian, nouveau and gears are a must! One girly one for me and more Tesla for the Boy.(my boyfriend)
I put on my Caravan Palace Album for background inspiration, selected my images and used the shapes that came with the charms as templates for trimming though they were a little larger than the bottom.  Once I had my images trimmed to fit I put a dot of 3D Lacquer inside and stuck them down. MAKING SURE THE CHARM EYE WAS IN THE DIRECTION I WANT FOR MY CHAINS TO HANG!!

 I chose my tiny gears and a couple small charms for inside.  My initial plan was to layer crystal lacquer and gears, letting each layer dry, giving it a 3D feel, but here's the surprise... those shapes that came with the Jewelry Findings are actually nicely protected acrylic that fits perfectly on the top of the finding like a shadowbox!!  So I scrapped my Lacquer filling idea for a loose gear shadowbox.  It's kind of a "Duh Chelsea" moment I know, but I was super excited!  And I wanted to make sure you know you have the option of either one.  So I added a little Distress Stickles to my images inside, as well as some Crystal Lacquer on the Light Bulb, and let them dry overnight.  I also Embossed a clock image on the grungeboard wings and painted them with teal Adirondack Paint Dauber, and inked the Grungeboard Key with Pumice Stone Distress ink.(not pictured)  I left these to dry as well.

 The next day...
I peeled off the protective film from the acrylic shapes and arranged my charms and clock gears (from a real clock) inside.  I put a thin line of Crystal Lacquer along the top rim lip and placed the front window panes in place.
While that dried I sanded the raised surface of the wings, and inked them, then glued the wings and key to the backs of the Findings with Crystal Lacquer. Behind that I glued the pinback also with Crystal Lacquer. Finally I attached all the hardware using jump rings, a few charms and the chain on the Finding loop and then a couple charms and a pin in the other end of the chain. VOILA!!!

The top pin is my girly one and the bottom is the Boy's, more industrial one.

Here's a closer view of the Brooches themselves.  Feel free to comment, or ask questions, I love sharing ideas, that's what it's all about!  For more great ideas check out the Sakura Design Team Blog!  

Merci!

-Chelsea

Movies I had on for inspiration while I worked: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, and Hellboy.

Shiver Me Tin-bers!

This tin was so fun to make, the moment I saw it my mind swirled with ideas.  I jumped in with experiments and loved how it came out!  Summer eventually gets me excited about Pirates and they come hand in hand with Mermaids.  So naturally I ended up with this  swashbuckling Pirate/Mermaid theme.  Oh it's so fun, I am really excited to share!

Materials:

Crystal Lacquer, Gem Particles, Color Crystal Lacquer, Glass Tiles, Jewelry Finding, milk tin, StazOn stamp ink-jet black, Ship and mermaid rubber stamps, Rusty Pickle Pirate coupons, seashell stickers, key stickers.

First I selected my materials and decided how I wanted them arranged.  Next I stamped my images directly on the tin using StazOn Jet black ink.  It stamps on EVERYTHING!

 Next I arranged my stickers inside the Jewelry Finding and sprinkled in some Peacock Green Gem Particles, filled it with Crystal Lacquer and set it aside to dry for a few hours.  I also stuck 2 key stickers back to back to make it double sided and covered it with Crystal Lacquer letting each side dry before coating the other side.

While I waited on those I colored my stamped images using the Color Lacquer, I am pretty sure I used almost every color in every set!  It was fun to use the Glitter colors on the Mermaid tails.

I filled in the skull and swords of the Pirate  Flag with Clear Crystal Lacquer and once all the lacquer had dried, I started to attach my paper pieces with the Clear Crystal Lacquer

I punched a hole in the lid of the tin with my Crop-a-dile and attached it , the  Jewelry Finding and the key with some pieces of string.  Using the Clear Lacquer  I attached a small square glass tile over the X on the Treasure map to highlight it.  Then I added bubbles to the empty space around the swimming mermaid.   I waited for it to dry, and VOILA!

(Click on the photos to enlarge them)

I hope you enjoy this project!  Be sure to comment, I love sharing ideas, and follow my blog, I dabble in all kinds of fun stuff.  Also check out the Sakura Design Team Blog, those ladies are super talented!

Avast, ye skervy, land loving, knaves

~Chelsea

Sakura Blog Hop!!!

Hi there Hoppers!  Welcome to my page.  

This project is fast, fun and simple! I made a book mark but you could also make pretty stained glass sun catchers this way.

Materials:

Pastel Glitter Color Lacquer set

Plastic packaging (I always save these in case, waste not, want not)

Outline Stickers

THAT'S IT!

Adhere your outline sticker to the clear plastic packaging, the trick is making sure the sticker fits on the packaging, and get it stuck on nice and smooth.
Tip: resist the urge to cut it out, the edge of the packaging gives you something to hold while you color.

Next I colored in the image, using all the colors in the Pastel Glitter set, and set it aside to dry.  

Once it was dry I cut it out, around the outline of the sticker.  Punched a small hole in the top with a Crop a dile, strung a pretty piece of string through and put beads on the ends.
I love the way it sparkles and glows!

Check out more amazing and versatile products at Sakura Hobby Craft

Thanks for stopping by, remember if you are doing the Blog Hop make sure you click "Follow" at the top of each blog to follow us, and comment so you can win our Blog Candy!!  If you aren't doing the Blog Hop, you should!  Happy Hopping!

Merci~ Chelsea

Your next Hop Stop is: Creative Souls

Here's the blog list:

1)Sakura Hobby Crafts

2)Terri Sproul

3)Jenifer Van Pelt

4)KatScrap Studio- Karen Myers (previous)

5)Whimsykins by Chelsea (you are here)

6)Creative Souls (next stop)

7)Carole Lassak

8)Carol Berns

Father's Day Card

A play I have been doing since April (I Never Sang for My Father) is closing this Sunday, Father's Day.  I have had a great time doing this play, it's a wonderfully talented cast, and we have a great time together.  The play is about family relationships, loss and connecting with our fathers in particular.  So I thought my cards to the cast would also make a great Father's Day Card!  The specific touches I used for the play, can simply be changed for the things the Father in your life likes!

What I used:

• 3D Crystal Lacquer
• Metallic Color Lacquer
• Blank Greeting Cards
• Patterned Paper
• Cardstock with Poster Clip Art printed on my printer
• Cricut Sentimentals Cartridge, Chair
• Tim Holtz sheet music Texture Fade
• Distress Ink Pumice Stone, and Honey
• Rubber Stamps 

As I said, I used images that are from the play.  The Father's Chair is present on stage the whole time, and I think it's a great symbol of Dad, like his throne.  Can't think of a man I know who doesn't love his recliner, spot on the sofa or special gaming chair.  Dubonnet is also referenced in the play, but you could take Dad's favorite hobby, beer, soda, what have you and find a great vintage poster image like I did!  Trains, golf sports team, make it special and all about him.

I was mass producing these, if you have multiple Dads in your life you may want to do the same.
First I cut up my little Vintage posters, and die cut all my chairs and cushions.
I also cut some 3.5"x5" pieces of white cardstock and embossed them with the sheet music texture fade.  You could use any texture fade but I chose music, again, specific to the play...

Next I inked all the sheet music with Pumice Stone and an ink blender and went over again with the ink directly, to make the notes really stand out. 
I inked the seat cushions with the Honey ink, the chair in our play is kind of a mustard color, the paper I had matched but wasn't quite yellow enough, and I also wanted to give the cushions more dimension like a real cushion.

I used 3D Clear Crystal Lacquer on the bottle and glass of Dubonnet, to make it look like glass, and I added some copper accents of Metallic Color Lacquer to the edges of the image.  This really gives an image and extra quality, and polish that I love!  It's such a great way to keep it from looking like something you just printed on your printer.  It gives it that special touch.
I adhered the cushions to the chairs, and let everything dry for a bit. 

Finally I Stamped the word "Congrats" on the side of the card, and used 3D Crystal Lacquer to glue everything in place.  I like the Lacquer as an adhesive, it sets things in place in seconds, and I know pieces aren't going to fall off, even going in and out of an envelope and being handled, like with some adhesives.  I also added some dots of more copper Color Lacquer to the "Congrats" to give the whole thing a uniformity.  And TADA!!  This photo doesn't do it justice, but the Crystal Lacquer really gives it finish and pizzaz!  I love the effect it creates, and I always love the "wait, you made that?" aspect that Crystal Lacquer gives.

I can't wait to hear what Father's Day slants you put to personalize yours, feel free to share!  Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful Dads in your lives!  Be sure and check out more incredible ideas by the other ladies in the Sakura Craft Design Team on our Blog.  We're also going to have a Blog Hop June 30th, with the blogs of all the designers so stay posted for that. Have a great weekend!  Merci.

~Chelsea

Fairy Favorite Garden Award

Since I am making my first attempt at Gardening right now, I have gardens on the brain.  So I decided this week my project would be a whimsical Garden Award, to be given by the fairies for their favorite garden of the day, week, moment what have you... you know how fairies are.

What I used: 3D Crystal Lacquer, Color Glitter Lacquer, Gem Particles, Glass Tile, outline stickers, crepe paper, phone book paper die cut in scalloped circle, scissors, ribbon, fairy image from G45 "Once Upon a Springtime" paper stack, rubber stamps, Distress Ink, piece of chipboard or cardboard, chopstick, needle, and thread.

 I am impatient about drying, so I like to do the wet stuff first!  I cut out my fairy stamp image, and used some dots of the Glitter Color Lacquer to adhere the Glass Tile (make sure you get the right side up, there is a right side to the glass, the edges are rounder on the top)  I left the stamp edge on, I just like the kitchyness of that, and the way the glass makes the image and colors, and glitter pop!

On the Scallop circle I arranged some of the black outline stickers and colored them in with an array of Glitter Color Lacquer colors.  I do love to color.

I set those aside to dry

 
 I stamped my phrase for the Garden Award on a strip of white paper, using alphabet stamps, and distressed the edges with Pumice Stone Distress ink.  I put some dots of peach Glitter Color Lacquer on it, and then covered the whole thing with 3D Crystal Lacquer, then added that to the other drying stuff.  (as you can see I got a little messy, which made my craft mat feel useful) I sprinkled some Gem Particles for fun.


Next I made my rosette.  I took about a yard length and 1" ish wide strip, and layered one slightly narrower on top.  Using needle and thread, make a running stitch just inside one edge of the paper (this will be your center side) run it all the way through, gathering as you go.  Tie the 2 ends of thread together, about as tight as you can, and still have the paper lay flat in a circle on your worktable.
I distressed it with Broken China blue and Pumice Stone Distress Inks.  I also trimmed, folded and distressed a strip to be my ribbons hanging down.

I didn't get photos of the assembly (for some unknown reason) my apologies.  Toward the bottom of a piece of chipboard I adhered a chopstick with 3D Crystal Lacquer (adhere the flat square end, so the narrow end goes in the ground like a stake.  Then I attached the crepe ribbons and blue ribbons, to hang down, then I put a small and large circle of Lacquer on the back of the rosette and stuck that on top of everything.  I like to hold the rosette down gently with the palm of my hand to make sure everything sticks well, but don't smash it flat.


To adhere the Gem Particles, I just made little dots on the peaks of the rosette with Lacquer, and sprinkled the Gem Particles over.  Once everything is dried, you can assemble.  The scallop circle goes first, then the glass fairy image, and then finally, the title!  It's a lot of steps, but lots of fun!!  Voila!

All that's left it to hand it over to the fairies and hope they like your garden best!

For more fun ideas using Sakura Craft Products check out the Design Team blog (of which I am a member)  Enjoy this lovely weather by taking a walk in a garden, yours or someone else's!

Merci! ~Chelsea

Stain Glass Votives

I had an idea to use Crystal Color Lacquer on these glass Votives a while back, I tried it freehand, as an Easter project, but I didn't like the way it came out, because of my poor freehand skills.  These outline stickers got me so excited to try again, and the results were even better than I expected.

What I used: 

glass votive globes from the craft store, outline stickers, 

Metallic Color Lacquer, and Primary Color Lacquer

The process is fairly simply.  Stick the stickers on the glass, in whatever design pleases you.  I wanted to use some of the larger stickers but the roundness of the votive bulbs made it easier to use the medium and smaller shaped stickers, they are more forgiving, and make sure you smooth them down.

 Next paint them in with the Color Lacquer, YAY COLORING!!  I used the all the colors in both sets, Metallic with the Gold Stickers to emulate faberge, or enamel.  Then the Primary colors on the black outline stickers, which has a nice stained glass effect.  Then let dry, add a tea light and enjoy!

I am thrilled with the result, they are both completely different.  I think they are a perfect addition to the summer garden I just planted.  Tres romantique!  

Don't forget to check out other fantastic ideas by the lovely and talented Sakura Craft Design Team!!

~Chelsea