here's how I got started...

here's how I got started...
a 20 minute podcast by Crazy BeYOUtiful

Friday, November 30, 2012

change of plans...

I intended to post a project today using my 
however...

since I'm starting to work on this post at 5:30AM...
it's really dark out &
 I neglected to take a photo of the finished piece...
duh...

so...that will be a post for next week...

instead...
moving on to...

plan B...
I'll show you how to make this large Christmas ornament...
it's a whopping 7 1/2 inches tall...
this was soooo much fun!



I used just the solid base from the art parts large packet watch...
there are 2 solid bases in the package...
so, you could work on 2 at once...

like the old commercial...
double your pleasure...
double your fun...

you could also use the frames & cut your own base...
that would allow you to make 4 ornaments from the package...


you'll want some of my white embossing paste...


a little goes a long way...

but I will NEVER run out...
EVER!



below shows how the base started...

first, stain the base with tumbled glass distress stain...
I used 2 layers for a brighter color...

I cut a snow bank template from scrap cardstock & laid that in place, then added the white embossing paste...
to the bottom of the ornament...

remove the template, 
scrape the excess paste off the cardstock & return it to the jar...
then sprinkle the wet paste with the rock candy glitter...

when that was dry, I stamped Merry Christmas with jet black & embossed it with clear embossing powder...

then stamped 2 of tim's snowflakes, multiple times 
(remember I worked in surgery...so I chopped the stamp apart to use the tiny snowflakes individually)

then edged the ornament with the same pewter stain...
 I stained the ornament top also...

 to add texture to the top of the ornament...

the branches were stamped with olive archival...

the edge of the ornament was darkened with chipped sapphire, using the blending tool...


to stamp with stains, you want the dabber top fairly dry...
***just a little hint...***


I stained the 2 art parts flowers with barn door stain & stamped them with polka dots...
the fern art parts were stained with
lol...
that seemed an appropriate color choice...

they were stamped with jet black & the houndstooth stamp...


I had scraps of my Clearly for Art, which was covered with vintage dictionary paper, so I used that for the snowman...

I stamped the snowman 2 times...
used one full image & chopped the second to get extras of the hat & face & scarf...

I covered the hat with the black embossing paste & lightly sprinkled it with the dry rock candy glitter...


here's what he looks like...

his scarf was inked with the tumbled glass marker...

his hat is embellished with tinsel twine

I painted a thin layer of rock candy stickles over the whole guy & when that was dry, I added shading to the edges with pumice stone stain, using the water brush...

he's very dimensional...
after you heat the CFA & shape him, the hat & the scarf...




oops almost forgot...
I added the word snowman after it was inked,
 with the tumbled glass marker...

how did we live without the markers?
I use them every day...
if you don't have them...
maybe Santa will bring them?

 I added a long fastener to accent the saying...

 here's the finished piece again...



I think this will look cool hanging 
inside a large fresh wreathe on the front door...

this is a great "double dipper" project...
you have fun making it & 
a special someone gets a fun handmade gift...

plus...
 an added bonus...
since it's made with art parts & CFA...
it's simple to pack away for next year, without fear of it being squished...

OK...answers to a few questions...

#1...I live in the middle of nowhere & must order on line. if the embossing paste freezes will it be ruined or will it be OK?

I had to do investigating on this one...
here's the answer, direct from our supplier...

it can freeze & thaw 3 to 4 times, without affecting the quality of the paste...
let it come to room temp & DO NOT heat it to thaw it...
good to know!

#2...did you use the stains full strength in the misters when spraying the wet embossing paste...
YES! 
but you could mix your own concoction with reinkers & water...
but keep in mind, that since the reinkers have been mixed with water, they will not react again if you want to use them for techniques on art journal pages...
that's why I used the stains full strength in the mister...
easy & always ready for action...

#3...will the pastes work with Dylusions sprays?
you bet they will!

#4...I have color washes. can I use them instead of the stains with the paste?
you bet! 

 #5...did you cover the CFA with paper so the paste would stick or because you wanted to see the text?

the paper gives the paste tooth to grab on to...
but I have painted the CFA with Glue N Seal & then applied the paste...
that will work too...

back to the paper part of the question...
if you apply a thin layer of paste, 
you get the added benefit of the text showing thru...

the more layers...
the better your art will look...

I think that's all the questions I received...
if I missed anyone, please let me know...

here's another take on embossing paste snow...
this time it's applied as an accent, only on the edges...

this is up on the Sizzix blog & was created by Eileen Hull...
she totally transformed her cupcake holder die into a tree...

look how cute!




ok...that's it for today...
I hope you enjoyed the pocket watch "turned ornament" tutorial...

and that you are inspired to...

make art!
wendy
PS...GO BEARS!

WAIT...did you notice?
no brown inks were used on this piece...
I know...SHOCKING!







35 comments:

Debby said...

This is so very cool! Thank you for sharing your techniques with us. May have to give this a whirl this weekend!

Hetty said...

This is so wonderful! I like how everything comes together. Thanks for the great tutorial!

Redanne said...

Fabulous snowman piece Wendy, I have those Art Parts so off to try it out now! Thanks, as ever, for your inspiration.

julie case said...

This is fabulous! Thank you so much for the great tutorial!

Helen said...

I love your pocket watch snowman!! Need to put the paste right to the top of my wish list. Have a great arty weekend!

Dorothy said...

Love the ornament!! I may have to make one now!!

eileen hull said...

What a cool snowman ornament! I love how all of the materials work together and also how everything you do is so dimensional. Thanks for the tree mention :-) Made possible by your fun embossing paste!

Cim Allen said...

I love the idea of using the pocket watch as an ornament, the snowman rocks !! I'm shocked .. no brown ink on the tree .. LOL. Have a great weekend :)

Cheryl Lynn 2011 said...

Love your ornament and another use for art parts!

Barbara Rankin said...

Your ornament is adorable, and I absolutely love the snowman and how you made him dimensional. TFS this awesome project.

Eyeleeeen said...

Beautiful, beautiful! I've been playing with the paste all morning and I JUST LOVE IT!

Hels Sheridan said...

The first thing I thought "hey, Wendy, no brown ink?" LOL Seriously though, this is so special, methinks me and Ellen might be having a Skypey sesh on Sunday, here's a cute project we could make! (rummages in stash for big Pocket Watches!) Thank you for all your inspirations... I have had a good play with the Embossing Pastes.. the Black looks AMAZING with Perfect Pearls mixed in.. dry ones and mists... and the white is amazzzzing with Dylusions/Colorwash mixed in too.. so many ideas... so little time at the mo... am off to ... as you say... make art! Mwah x

Kim said...

Brilliant Wendy! I love this as a Christmas decoration...Need to get crafty!

Art By Wanda said...

Totally LOVE your large ornament!!!!!!!!!!!!! I need to play... I need to play..............

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous project, my wish list just grew by about two pages. :) Thanks for the tutorial also.

SusanK said...

Of COURSE the pocket watch could double as an ornament. Sheesh, where has my brain been?????? Very, very cool....even if there is NO brown.

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Hi Wendy, fabulous ornament and wonderful creative use of the Art Parts, love the texture paste as snow. The snowman is perfect and I love the dimension. No brown ink, wow, how did,you manage that lol. Tracy x

Lori said...

What a cool project! Thanks for sharing all the deets...you rock!

Anonymous said...

Great ornament! Thanks for the tut & tips.

michelle said...

Well that is so much fun. . . I really must get some paste to play with soon!

Claudine said...

This is so cool Wendy, thanks for sharing your techniques and projects with us, your such an inspiration

lilyandthelotus.blogspot.com said...

oh how cute! love the snowman.adorable. and the tree is wonderful
hugs
susan s.

Rea' said...

The ornament is so very cute. I will have to try that embossing paste looks like great fun !

sue said...

Wow! Thanks for all the ideas!

jill said...

I'm crazy about your adorable ornament....thanks for the very detailed tutorial!!!

Samad Shahid said...
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Unknown said...
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Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

LOL LOL LOL!!! I just started on a project using the pocket watch as an ornament...WOW...I can't believe I channeled you...lol! Yours is freaking awesome! I love the snowman and that textured snow is the winter bomb!!! This project rocks Wendy! I LOVE IT!!!

slbt17 said...

wow ... wonderful ... just wonderful!
Sandra ltb

barbara macaskill said...

I N C R E D I B L E ! ! ! !
I love your snowman piece! It is so adorable and I really LOVE how his body has the text on it! I think that really takes the piece to new heights! TFS!

Dorothy said...

So adorable!!!

Candy C said...

What an adorable PLAN B! Boy, did I learn some new things from reading your post today. But then, I always learn cool techniques and really amazing ways to use Ranger products. Thank so much!! Your ornament is absolutely darling, Wendy. Love the blueprint snowman and all of the layers you did to create such a cute little guy! Such a cute ornament design using your pocket watch! <3 Candy

PlumTuckered's Paper Plays said...

Those pocket watches are my FAVORITE!! I'm also a snowman freak and hadn't even thought of using the two together! Now I need to order some paste and get this project done..love the tip about using the CFA for the snowman :-)

Kathy Eddy said...

Love, love, love this Wendy! Have to scrounge around and see if I have all the art parts needed for this. It's bad enough that your Bears came to Lambeau and beat My Packers, but did they have to hurt Aaron! I'm really worried about the rest of our season.

seahag said...

Wendy, the more I see the book pages being used, the more intrigued I am. I've been using a thicker paste, and I really like the look of yours! Going to have to buy a jar soon! :)