Just a little update!

Well, not much of a crafty post today as I've been so tired running around this weekend. A few months ago, but I'm not much of a facebooker then. Recently, more and more of my friends are there too, so I just thought I would get active there too. So if you're also on facebook, you can add me to your list of friends too if you wish. My screen name there is Irene Tan or you can type my email : scrapperlicious@gmail.com....there is a picture of me there, so I'm sure you all would get the right "me"...lol!

Tomorrow, I'll start to upload my guest designing projects for Purple Onion Designs. Actually, they've sent me some stamps to work on for their DT considerations in October but I was away in France and Sweden then. So i missed it. Anyway, they've asked me to guest design for them instead. So check back tomorrow!

My Words Sign

Pictures for saving and display.

This is a sign that I've created to remind myself about my motto of scrapping and of course to inspire me once a while. I've created this piece using Clear Scraps 8x8 acrylic display and XL brackets. I've used loads of techniques on it. If you all love my words/motto or simply feel inspired by this piece, you could save either of the last two pictures above and display it on your blog, site or even your computer screen. It would be liked having a piece of me with you to remind or inspire you always.

Here are the steps to it.

1) I've used the "Inking in Layers using Crayon and Masquepen" technique to ink the Prima paintables. Mask a film strip and stamp on it while the mask is still intact. Distress the edges with the scissors distressing and tearing technique. Ink it with some distress ink. Hand stitch on the right border and corner of it. I've mat it onto another piece of Prima pattern paper and a strip of brown card stock.

2) Insert the piece above into the Clear Scraps acrylic display.

3) I've used a Hambly Screen Print journal box transparency and paste it on the front of the acrylic display. The "S" is created using grungeboard which I've inked and matted onto black card stock. For details, I've stitched and added brads to it.

4) The words are done using rub-ons, paint markers, printed from computer and some embellishment.

5) Before I attach the "S" to the front of the acrylic display piece, I've attach a rick-rack and some fibers to the left border.

6) I've created various embellishment using the "Apply Magic Mesh to your Embellishment" technique for this piece. Eg. the dragonfly, the plants.

7) For the top and the bottom, I've used Clear Scraps XL Brackets. I've first apply Masquepen to duplicate the bracket shape on them. Then, use the "Masking using Masquepen" technique on it. Use a black paint marker to highlight the masked shape. For details, stamp some flourishes using white acrylic paint and add liquid pearls to it.

8) The circles on both end are also created using the "Apply Magic Mesh to you Embellishment" technique. Punch some holes and add eyelets to the edges of both brackets. Use some ribbons to tie the circles to it.

9) Lastly, add a strip of ribbon to the acrylic display and you have yourself a completed hanging sign.

So, if you all like this sign or want to display a piece of me on your personal sites, you're more than welcome to save the last two pictures above and use it. I'm hoping that you all love this piece that I've truly created along the lines of my words/motto. Enjoy!

Sources: ClearScraps 8x8 Acrylic Display, ClearScraps XL Brackets; Card Stock: Coredinations; Pattern Papers: Prima Marketing; Inks: Ranger Distress Ink, Tsukineko Staz On; Stamps:Autumn Leaves, Purple Onions Designs; Others: Masquepen, Ranger Liquid Pearls, Hambly Screen Prints transparency, EK Success Zig Painty, Magic Mesh, Ranger Sepia Accents, Ranger Glossy Accents, Making Memories Acrylic Paints, alphas rub-ons, Prima flower, vellum, chipoards, crafting wire, crystals, rick racks, eyelets, ribbon, fibers, Helmar Glue, Zip Dry and Glue Dots.

Apply Magic Mesh to your Embellishment

Someone had actually emailed me and ask me this question. "I have bought some Magic Mesh but is there any other way I could use it besides using it to layer in my layouts?". So, I told her, I would try to come up with some fun way to use it. Below are some of the ways to use your Magic Mesh creatively.

Use it to cover your chipboard embellishment for textures. In my example above, I've also used some sepia accents to cover some of the squares on it.

In this second example, I've used some Magic Mesh to cover over some vellum which I've used to create this dragonfly's wings. Isn't it cool with all the textures on the wings? I've also added some stickles to it.

For this third example, I've actually used a Dottie Ann Mesh to create part of the embellishment itself. I've later covered it with some glossy accents.

I've used Magic Mesh in so many ways in my projects (including masking) and recently, I've even used it to create flowers...well, you all know me....I can't leave out flowers, right? So try to be creative with your Magic Mesh. It's very versatile and easy to use.

Tomorrow, I'll be posting something that all of you could have it. So keep an eye for it.

Inking in Layers using Crayon and Masquepen

This is a technique that I've used recently while playing with my inks. It's actually a very cool technique for those of you who loves to colour your printed or stamped images with inks. I've used Prima's paintables in my project.

Here are the steps to it.

1) Use a white crayon to colour part of your image (I've colour the outer ring and part of the top of the image) and ink it with some distress ink. ( I've used shabby shutters distress ink) (It's best to start off with a lighter colour distress ink). Later, use some wet wipe to lightly wipe the area covered with crayon. This is the "Crayon Resist" technique.

2) Use a Masquepen and covered part of the image again. This time, I've covered the inner ring and part of the top of the image. When the translucent liquid is completely dry, ink it with distress ink. (I've used faded jeans and pine needles distress ink) (it should be a darker shade of distress ink than in step 1). Use your fingers to rub off the dried translucent liquid to reveal another layer of colour.

3) Use a stencil to cover over the image and apply Masquepen on it. Let it dry completely.

4) Ink it with distress ink (I've used vintage photo and peeled paint distress ink). Then, rub off the dried translucent liquid with your fingers.

Now you have a fully coloured image with layers of colours. Isn't this cool! Now, make your white crayons and Masquepen works for you!

2008 Review

This is an altered project that reflect the 2008 review of my family. It's yet the biggest project that I've done this year. It took me almost 2 days to finish this off....lol! Well, I'm not that good with altering. I've used the Doodlebug Designs Inc's large chipboard house to alter. I've included bits and pieces of happenings in my family during 2008 on the walls of the house.

Here are the details.

1) Wrap the walls of the house using black card stocks. Use some Dottie Ann Magic Mesh and white acrylic paint to stencil some dots all over the walls. Then I use a brown strip to cover the bottom of the house (ink it with distress ink).

2) I've used some pattern papers to create some curtains from the inside of the house (ink the edges of the pattern papers with distress ink).

3) Use some pattern papers to create planter boxes, shade and shutters for the windows. I've added details such as hinges for shutters (created using the "Creating your Faux Metal Pieces" technique and add some liquid pearls to it)and stamping on the shutters. I've also added some flowers on each planter box. I've inked some small flowers with distress ink and add liquid pearls and crystals to it. For the stems, I've used some black crafting wires. I've also used some Hambly Screen Prints overlays which I've cut out the circles to create flowers. Use the "Freshen Up your Flowers" technique on all the flowers.

4) Cover the door with pattern paper and create a stair way with pattern paper too. Ink all edges with distress ink. I've added a real hinges for the door with some brads and a screw brad for the door knob. I've also added a small key as embellishment. I've added a picture tile (all pictures had been backed with a piece of chipboard for dimension and inked on the edges with distress ink) and a screw to decorate the stair way.

5) To create the flower pot holder, simple just use a corner stamp and stamp on some black card stock twice and cut it out. Paste both pieces together. Poke a hole and attach the jump rings to it. To create the flower pot, roll some pattern paper to a cone shape and fill it up with some flowers. Use some twines to tie it to the holder.

6) I've cut out strips of pattern paper with scallop edge to paste onto the roof. Ink the edges of the strips and slightly bend the scallop edges up before attaching it to the roof. Cut out more scallop strips to create some rain shades on the edges of the roof.

7) For the chimney, cover it with black card stock which had been stamped with a musical notes stamp using white acrylic paint. Then use some pattern papers to cover the top of the chimney. Ink the edges with distress ink and add a rick rack to dress it up. To decorate the top of the chimney, I've used a crafting wire to create the heart shape for holding the transparency. I've also added some picture tiles on it and some metal embellishments. The "review" word had been stamped onto a chipboard piece using solvent ink and later inked with distress ink. Use some brads to embellish it and paste it to the chimney.

8) Paste all pictures onto small squares of chipboard and ink the edges with distress ink. Use it to cover most of the walls of the house.

9) I've also created some stamped and inked tiles for the wall of the house. The ones above are done by stamping on the tiles using solvent ink and later inked it with distress ink. Use the "Water Distressing" technique on it.

10) For the crown and the clock stamped tile, I've used the "Crayon Resist" technique to create it.

This project is one of the most fun and interesting project that I've created this year. Instead of the traditional layout based year in review, I've decided to give a little twist to it and do an altered house for this instead. I actually have more ideas on doing year in review projects in 3D and hope I could have more time to do it. Perhaps you all could come up with a more interesting ideas for your year in review projects. Have fun creating!

Sources: Doodlebug Designs Inc (chipboard house); Card Stock: Bazzill; Pattern Papers: Basic Grey; Inks: Ranger Distress Ink, Tsukineko Staz On; Stamps: Heidi Grace, Purple Onion Design, Making Memories; Others: Ranger Liquid Pearls, EK Success Zig Painty, Magic Mesh, Making Memories Acrylic Paints, Hambly Screen Prints overlays, metal embellishments, Blueyedezines and Prima Marketing flowers, chipboards, white crayon, brads, rick racks, Helmar Glue, Zip Dry and Glue Dots.