Pitt markers | Distressed Scrapper

Back to School Themed Pocket Letter – Creative Embellishments

04 Sep 2017 Comments Off on Back to School Themed Pocket Letter – Creative Embellishments

by dlwidder in Cards and Projects Tags: back to school, Creative Embellishments, flair buttons, laser cut chipboard, mixed media, Pitt markers, pocket letter, Wood veneer

Lately, I’ve been having so much fun creating and swapping pocket letters with others across the US. So, for today’s Creative Embellishments post, I incorporated elements from their September Challenge. I decided to create a Back to School themed PL for my trade partner since I was inspired by the letters, numbers, and colors in this this month’s inspo image. I did not use this as an example for the challenge though because I did not incorporate this month’s twist (stamp an image in the background of your project).

Here’s the CE September Challenge Inspo Image if you’d like to play along this month or would like to see the inspiration for my project:

Here’s what I came up with:

Close up of the top row:

1st panel:

2nd and 3rd panels:

Middle row:

1st panel:

2nd and 3rd panels:

1st panel bottom row:

2nd and 3rd panels in the bottom row:

Front of the finished pocket letter:

Back of the finished pocket letter:

Creative Embellishments products used:

Chipboard

Wood Veneer

School Set (chalkboard, ruler, pencil, apple with worm, school bus)

Flair Buttons:

Be sure to check out the Creative Embellishments 20% off storewide anniversary sale! 😀

Mermaid Loaded Envelope – Creative Embellishments

02 Jul 2017 Comments Off on Mermaid Loaded Envelope – Creative Embellishments

by dlwidder in Cards and Projects, Uncategorized Tags: altered art, Creative Embellishments, die cuts, handmade tags, Kaisercraft, laser cut chipboard, loaded envelope, Mermaid Tails, mixed media, Pitt markers, shaker card

For today’s project, I created another fun altered Loaded Envelope for a swap. Creative Embellishments’ laser cut chipboard, wood veneer, rubber stamps, stencils, and flair buttons are perfect for creating fun and dimensional pieces for LE’s! They fun to alter and hold up to wet and dry mediums beautifully. to start out, I created the base of my loaded envelope by making the main pocket 6″ x 9″ with a gusset to allow for expansion. Then added a smaller front pocket that is also gusseted. Attached to the back is a 6″ x 9″ policy envelope that is adhered directly on the top, but attached with an accordion folded piece on the bottom to allow it to stand on its own like an easel. I applied the pink lace trim with a thin ribbon woven through it along the top edge of the envelop and along the top of the back piece as well. Then added the sequined blue lace to the sides and front of the smaller pocket. On top of that, I added the beaded lace piece. I altered the pocket by splattering it with black acrylic paint and white gesso, adding bits of the altered CE Wave Panel (I used blue acrylic paint mixed with white to create the pale blue shade), and layering a bit of cheese cloth. The chipboard pieces (mermaid, shells, flourish set 31, and coral) were all altered using PITT markers, and Lindy’s Stamp Gang color shots for a bit of shimmer. The wood veneer pieces (anchor and boat wheel) were altered with acrylic paint and PITT markers.

The main envelope, large tag, and wand:

I then added plastic “dew drops” as a finishing touch. Close up of the front pocket:

detail on the wood veneer pieces:

For the large tag, I altered the coral, shells, crabs, flourish 19, and flourish 20 the same as the other chipboard pieces, but heat embossed the jelly fish and mermaid after altering them with markers. Close up of the tag:

Detail shot of the altered mermaid:

Close up of the chipboard and die cut cluster:

The 2 steampunk tags were created by splattering them with black acrylic paint, and white gesso, and stamping using both the Distressed Text Stamp and the Distressed Grid stamp. The gears (I used 2 sizes 3/4″ and 1″) were altered using acrylic paint. For both the Steampunk Mermaid 2 piece on the left and Steampunk Mermaid on the right, I used a combination of acrylic paint and PITT markers. It’s hard to see, but I used metallic markers to give the mermaids rainbow hair. 🙂 In this pic, there are 3 smaller tags (1 regular and 2 pocket tags), a stuffed mini policy envelope, 2 regular stuffed mini envelopes, and 3 altered paper clips:

Close up of the steampunk pocket tag and the altered jumbo paper clips it holds:

Detail shot of the altered steampunk mermaid:

Policy envelope back of the LE, packaged trims, packaged bling, shaker card, and assortment of stuffed mini envelopes:

To embellish the back, I started some of the same trims I used on the front, then added bits of the wave panel that were left over from the front, then layered cheese cloth over it, then added flourish 21, some shells, another crab, and more die cut pieces from the Kaisercraft die cut packet. Close up of the embellished back of the LE:

Using a Fuse tool, I created a shaker card for fun. 😀 I altered this mermaid the same way I altered the other one from this set. buried in the sequins and glitter, there is a starfish along with a conch shell, and some more cardstock die cuts. Though the Fuse tool did a good job closing up the pocket, I added washi tape to seal all the edges as a safeguard since I did include the dreaded glitter. lol Close up of the altered mermaid in the shaker card:

Finally, I loaded everything up, wrapped it in tissue paper and mailed it out to my trade partner. I hope she likes it! Here’s how it looks fully stuffed and ready to go:

*Contents of the mini envelopes: acrylic stamps, 15 washi tape samples, die cuts, acrylic frame stickers, foiled stickers, and washi tape sticker “flakes.”

TFL! If you’re interested in creating and trading LE’s, check out this group on facebook (it’s the one that organized the swap I participated in)…Loaded Envelope Galore.

All the CE products used on my project have been hyperlinked to open in a new window and take you directly to the store listing for more info. The paper kit and cardstock die cuts are made by Kaisercraft and are part of their Mermaid Tails collection.

Visit and follow the Creative Embellishments blog for more creative inspiration provided daily Mon-Fri by their extremely talented DT, plus some weekend shares as well! CE also features a monthly challenge (always pinned to the top of their blog)! Enter for your chance to win a $50 gc from their store!

Encouragement/Incentive Board

29 Mar 2016 Comments Off on Encouragement/Incentive Board

by dlwidder in Cards and Projects Tags: Creative Embellishments, encouragement, flowers, lace, laser cut chipboard, mixed media canvas, mixed media tags, Pan pastels, Pitt markers, stamping

I’m up on the Creative Embellishments Blog today, sharing a project I created to hopefully motivate my children to do their chores! Getting them to help around the house or complete a single chore each has been nearly impossible, so I decided to create an encouragement/incentive board. Each day, they will find their tag on their dresser to remind them to get their single chore done. Once completed, they can add their tag to the their clip under the board. Then each night, I can give them a marble for completing their task and return the tag to their dressers. They can then save up their marbles for a prize that’s redeemable once they’ve collected 10 marbles. 🙂

The start out, I took an 8×10 canvas board and coated it with a spray adhesive and layered 2 different laces over it, covering it completely to create the background texture. I secured the excess material around the back. I then coated the whole surface with gesso. As that was drying, I cut a piece of cardstock for the back. Its purpose is to hold the 3 clips at the bottom of the canvas board so the tags can slip into place. I just attached the paperclips to the cardstock using 3 larger brads. Then glued the cardstock to the back of my project. It also gives the back a nice smooth finished look rather than having loose material ends showing there. 🙂

I then used 2 masks and misted the background for the main piece. To alter my chippies, I used Lindy’s Stamp Gang mists on the Falling Star Border piece and the Star title piece, along with the butterflies. I tried to create more dimension and detail by edging the flourishes and fern pieces with Pan Pastels. Here’s how it turned out:

Close up of the left cluster:

Close up of the right cluster:

I then created the 3 tags simultaneously. One for each of my 3 youngest children. I started out by lightly gessoing each tag. I then selected 3 shades of Lindy’s mist for each tag. I misted with the 2 lightest shades, then splattered with the 3rd, applying the heat gun after each layer. When splattering, to create drippies, I just hold the tag upright after sprinkling it with color and tap it on a solid, protected surface to encourage the droplets to move down my project, then use the heat gun to set it. Once dry, I then stamped each tag with a different CE background stamp. I love how fun and versatile they are! There are quite a few that are a staple in my craft room. 😀

I then selected a different panel piece for 2 of the tags and a Chicken Wire Border pieces that I pieced together for the 3rd, and snipped off the pieces I wanted to use. I love using just bits and pieces of the panels on different projects. They’re a great way to add interest and dimension and 1 piece can be used on several projects when you cut them apart on primarily use on visible areas of your project. 🙂 For Madison’s and Christian’s tags, I had left a good bit of the base showing through gaps in the panel so you could still see those details, but on Matthew’s I’d opted to cover the bulk of it with the Retro Square Panel. So after I painted each of the panel pieces, I stamped again on top of the panel piece on Matthew’s tag, mirroring the background stamping. I selected CE chippies that go with their personalities and interests and incorporated them into their tags, keeping their favorite colors in mind. For Christian’s and Madison’s tags, I misted the pieces. For Matthew’s I used acrylic paints and PITT markers. Here’s how they turned out:

Close up of Madison’s tag:

Close up of Christian’s tag:

Close up of Matthew’s tag:

Here’s how it all looks assembled:

I’m really hoping that them wanting to have their tag on display like this will encourage them to get their chores done early (without being reminded), rather than waiting until bedtime. 😀 Wish me luck!!!

CE products used:

For the canvas:

Falling Stars Border

Star Student title piece

Flourish Set 4

Flourish Set 20

Flourish Set 21

Flourish Butterfly Set 2

Flourish Butterflies Set 3

Fern Foliage 5

For Madison’s Tag:

Grunge Music Note Sheet Stamp