Out of the Mire: March 2014

Monday, March 24, 2014

032414 CKC March Challenge Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Counterfeit Kit March Blog Hop

I chose Challenge #2 this month for an extra challenge page, as I was uber-inspired by

Jennifer Grace during her November 2013 Frosty Festivities blog event.

Buckets of bling, sewing on the page, *g*l*i*t*t*e*r*, vintage images, fussy-cutting - sigh... a girl after my own heart!

This page of hers was a particular favorite:

I borrowed the vertical strips behind the photo & some of the sprinkled goodies.

Oh! And glitter!

Now keep on hopping & don't miss a thing!

Lisa http://lisahausmann.blogspot.de

Tina http://tinasscrapcorner.blogspot.com

You are here: http://lcsmithsaved-outofthemire.blogspot.com

Go here NOW: Margie http://scrappinmargie.blogspot.com

Elaine http://chidkids26.blogspot.co.uk

Lesley http://ohblogitifyoucantbeatthem.blogspot.co.uk

Stephanie http://skylinepaperie.blogspot.de

Milissa http://millermall.blogspot.com

Julie http://jsquaredscrapspot.wordpress.com

Julene http://julenebydesign.blogspot.com.au

Cindy http://www.cindyscreations-cinmfoster.blogspot.com/

Jemma http://just-jimjams.blogspot.co.uk

Sunday, March 16, 2014

031614 CKC March Challenge #3

CKC Challenge #3 Add TEXTURE to your layout

Wow! I know it doesn't sound like it, but this turned out to be a TOUGH challenge for me.

I have hit a bit of a cold patch in my scrap mojo lately & just couldn't get focused.

Fortunately (as always) my KIT came to the rescue!

Plenty of printed texture on the flower patterned paper, the embossed piece

gives dimension along with the torn edge of the watercolor counterfeit.

Add some staples for sleek & shiny metallic texture.

I still had a piece of Sticky-Back Canvas on my desk from last month's kit.

I stamped my title letters, cut out the strip & then sprayed with Dylusions Ink Spray.

I was trying to pick up a color close to the denim in the photos.

The pink peeling painted wood patterned paper holds it's own in the mix,

but a little stamp action kicks it up a notch along with a lace doily with baker's twine.

Crumpling the doily a bit before adhering just gives one more layer of dimension.

A sprinkling of wood veneer is just icing on the cake!

Saturday, March 8, 2014

030814 CKC March Color Switch Kit Tutorials

Once again, I was intrigued to try to forge some of the papers.
Cocoa Daisy actually designs some of their own papers in the kit each month!

I took on the hexagon from the main kit.

First I tried Heidi Swapp gold Color Shine on one of her resist papers but the color was much too subtle.
Then I used mustard, which was much too bold, but a lot of wiping eventually toned it down somewhat.
There is a lot more white space on the inspiration paper...

Next was the chevron from the Paint Chip add-on.
I liked how it had a translucent feel to the chevrons so I used vellum!

I knew I would never have the patience to do those tiny pieces so I went with a 6x6" paper.
I simply positioned the pieces randomly one at a time in a column starting at the edge.
By sewing through the center I didn't have to worry about adhesive showing through.
I had creased the vellum to cut it & that helped the shapes "hug" the paper & lay flat.

I really liked the beautiful watercolor pattern on this
American Crafts autumn crisp cherry patterned paper
from the Palette add-on.

Mine's not so vibrant but I love it!

The inspiration here is obviously NOT the bold hot pink graffiti paper but the tinted script.

I used a Basic Grey script dotted paper & randomly misted the colors as in the original.
The thought was to dry brush the white areas in but I confess I still haven't done it!
BAD COUNTERFEITER! Let's face it - inspiration may strike but it's not much use if you don't follow through...

And I'm still considering forging these:

In real life these are truly stitched with thread, but I kind of like them like this!

Monday, March 3, 2014

030214 Date Day Saturday

Plans for this weekend were easily decided after we received a reminder postcard that Red Cedar Antiques in Williamston, Michigan was having their annual 25% storewide discount yesterday. Well within striking distance, and with the Antiques Market of Williamston at the other end of town, we headed out on this gloomy grey morning.