Thursday, December 22, 2011

From Scrappy Mess to a Masterpiece

Some serious Holiday crafting has been going on in my room the last few weeks. Between Tim's 12 tags of Christmas, Cards, and some last minute gifts, I have had scraps up to my elbows. I wanted to share with you guys today a tip for turning those scraps into a work of Art.

I started with an 8x10 naked canvas (you could do any size). Then I used my Ranger Glue 'n Seal to decoupage the scarps onto the untreated canvas. Just looks like a giant mess right now. But notice the chipboard pieces - they will offer some depth later.



Next I covered the entire canvas with watered down Gesso. This will make all the elements one color and make them look as if they belong together. Be careful not to apply the Gesso too thick - you still want to be able to see the patters from the different styles of paper. I also added a thin coat of White Metallic Acrylic paint and then lightly sprayed Lindy's Stamp Gang's Creme Brulee Cream to the finished piece to give it a sparkle. So you may ask - "Why add all of those pieces if you are just going to cover them up?" - well, it's simple, I'm after texture. While it is hard to see in the photograph - the text and the music notes are still visible in places. But the Mess looks like a uniformed mess at this point.



Next I wanted some contrast for all this white. So I took an old cardstock frame from Daisy Dee that was dated 2004, and I covered it in black gesso and bead gel. When it was dried, I used my finger to rub same white metallic paint over the frame to bring out the texture of the bead gel. Then I spritz it with the Lindy's Stamp Gang Creme Brulee Cream.



Next I assembled a beautiful spray of Prima's Christmas lights Crystal Sprays, White Flowers, and butterflies from Karlas001 store around my frame. Notice that even though the flowers and frame have covered the canvas - you can still see the textures of the pieces that were adhered to the canvas backdrop. These textures give depth to the canvas and offer something new every time you admire the piece.



Next I decided the frame seemed empty so I cut a Tim Holtz bird cage from black chipboard and embossed it in silver with the music note stamp from Stampendous. During the 12 tags of Christmas, Tim Holtz shared a technique for using shrink plastic with UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel). So I cut the bird at 8 inches from the Home Accents Cricut Cartridge from Shrink plastic and when I dipped it into the UTEE it shrunk to about 4 inches making the perfect crystal center piece for my canvas.



To finish the piece off, I used a Dylusions stamp from Dyan Reaveley, that says "A Friend knows the song in your heart" - the rest of the phrase was removed. I stamped it onto thick packaging and embossed it with white embossing powder. Placed it in the bottom right hand corner of the frame and called this Masterpiece finished.



I have a step by step from start to finish video available on my YouTube Channel, click here to watch it.

Thanks for stopping in today,
Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomoms.com

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Store Front Mini

Today I want to share with you a different take on a mini ablum design. Amy Rodriguez, Teddyboo, gave me the storefront mini album kit to design. But instead of a traditional mini album - I decided to turn mine into a christmas Decorative piece. I made the pages into village pieces instead of a traditional mini album. The panels are all free standing with the aid of a Tim Holtz Easle that is adhered with Tissue tape. At the end of the season, photos can be added to the back of the panels and the album can be bound into a mini.

There are lots of details on each panel. I have broken out tutorials on how to make some of the elements. Please visit my YouTube channel for more details on this..







View Youtube Walk through

Thank you for stopping in today. I hope you have enjoyed my project share.

Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomoms.com

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Cristmas Cards

I thought I would share with you a card that I created using Graphic 45's Christmas Emporium, and Spellbinder's Poinsettia die.



I rounded the corners of the wreath patterned paper from the collection, and sewed around the edges for a clean looking backdrop. The Santa Clause photo was a panel on the paper and I thought the stamp was a nice touch. The stamp is from Studio G.

I have a YouTube video on how I made the Poinsettias. To me they look so realistic.



I love making Holiday cards for those extra special gifts. I would love to see your card creations on the Artsy Addicts group, please make sure you tag me if you post one.

Thanks for stoppping in today.
Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomoms.com

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Gratefulness

This weekend we are celebrating Thanksgiving in the United States, and I know our friends abroad have a similar day in their countries. For me, Thanksgiving is a time to slow down, reflect on my life and give thanks for the blessings that God has given me.

I feel so incredibly blessed to have such a strong family unit. My kids and husband are the BEST! We are all so close. Do we argue and fuss? Absolutely, we are "Real, but we also laugh and play together. My husband Kenny and I have been together since high school. We married 21 years ago, and have two AMAZING children, Brittany 17 and Brighton 15.

I wanted to create a layout that shows my gratitude to them and reflect how blessed I feel. Webster's Pages' Sweet Cherry Pie Fly A Kite Paper was the perfect setting for this layout.



Scattered around the paper are quotes that depict family. Like "The Secret Ingredient to good living is Family", "Fine Feathers Make Fine Birds" and "Embrace Time with the People That You Love"



I accented the photo with layers of lace and trims from some of my favorite companys, Prima and Maya Road. I scattered lots of mulberry flowers in Sunflowers, Roses and some fabric roses too. I aslo included some Prima packaging for a photo matt, Doilees, Antique book pages, Tim Holtz caged bird die from Sizzix, felt birds, and Maya Road Chipboard pieces.

I hope you have an amazing weekend and you find time to be with the people you love!

Thanks for stopping in today,

Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomoms.com

Thursday, November 17, 2011

December Daily

Ali Edwards started this holiday journaling concept a few years ago called a December Daily. The idea is to create a journal documenting every day in December. You don't have to write a lot, a simple quote is enough. Just jot down things that represent the holiday season to you. I have been wanting to join in for a few years, but the holidays always get here before I can blink. This year I got my game plan started early, and made my December Daily in Nov. so that I would be armed and ready for action.

I decided to use the Webster's Pages Wonderfall, Waiting for Santa and Sweet Seasons collections for my Journal pages. I used my bind it all to bind it, and printed some digital images on transparencies that I created from digital brushes available at Webster's Pages Website.

I wanted my book to start with the Thanksgiving and run through New Years.



Are you planning to do a December Daily. If so comment below with a link to your journal. I would love to see it.

Thanks for stopping in,
Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomoms.com

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Grunge Canvas

I took these photos of my son a few weeks ago for football, and I wanted to use them in a scrapboooking project. However, I didn't want "typical" football imagery. I felt that was too 'generic'.




The images make a statement on their own, so I wanted them to be center stage. I decided instead of a traditional scrapbook page, I wanted to make a wall canvas.



His school colors are royal blue and red, these colors inspired the color of the canvas. I added some dictionary pages for words like Athlete, Jock, Boy, and sports. Then painted over them lightly with the royal so they are there, but not completely in focus.



I used a transparency from Creative Imaginations and cut it into two parts. I didn't want clean lines, so I distressed the edges and then used my heat tool to melt the plastic and give the transparency a more warped and tattered look. I painted in the saying on the canvas with red marker. It says "stop searching and create yourself." I feel at 15 years old that is what he is doing, "creating" himself.

I also used a screen to represent the grid iron. The screen was painted black so it would also fall into the background, then I curled the edges up to give more dimension and to hide the sharp edges.



His name is made with letter block grunge board from Tim Holtz. Each letter is sitting at a different height, so that there is more dimension.

I hope you enjoyed this share. Thanks for stopping in today,
Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomoms.com

Sunday, November 6, 2011

PaperBag Album Swap: Flora Garcia-Alvarez

A few weeks ago I hosted a paperbag album swap. Each person who signed up was paired with a partner and they swapped albums. My partner was Flora and she made this gorgeous album to commemorate my recent nuptials. I'm so excited to get it. It might be sitting in my mailbox right now. I'll send the hubby out to go check.




I've already posted sneaks of my album for Flora on the facebook page. Here it is again. I'm using mostly Studio Calico products from their kit club kits for the last couple months. Love them. 



The album is gorgeous and I can't wait to start filling it up with all the pictures from my big day.

Thanks so much Flora.


Happy Crafting. 

Mrs. ABC

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Altered Cigar Boxes - Shabby Chic

This year I started participating in a monthly Altered Cigar box Swap, and I would like to share with you a few of the boxes that I have created in the Shabby Chic Style. All of these boxes started out as “naked” boxes. They are unfinished 8x8 wooden boxes that can be found in the wood section at your craft department stores. They are usually less than $5.

Dressing Room
For this box I used Prima's Annalee paper to cover the box and the dress form. I distressed the edges to make it look more Shabby. The sides of the box are painted a very soft blue, with White Crackle around the corners. I added gold rub and buff to the edges and on top of the crackle to make the box appear dirty and weathered.


Timeless Bliss
Again this box uses the Webster's Pages Hollywood Vogue paper. I made a spray of Prima Roses and used some of the Tim Holtz film strip as filler in the spray. This box is so elegant; it was really hard to part with it.




1920's Fashion Couture
I wanted this box to be sexy and rich. I used Webster's Pages Hollywood Vogue paper collection, since the 20's were about Glamour, Hollywood, and sex appeal.



Pretty in Pink
This box was designed around Pink Paislee's Sweetness collection. I replaced the glass of an ornate frame with a wedding dress applique then nested a hand painted cameo in the center. Add a spray of Prima Roses and trimmed the box in lace, velvet ribbon, and half back pearls.


These boxes are gorgeous keepsakes. They are perfect for storing mini albums, or fill them with goodies for a friend’s birthday or Christmas present. Christmas will be here before you know it. Start planning now to alter one of these cute boxes for a special someone this holiday season.

Thanks for stopping in today,
Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomoms.com

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Birthday Magic

First birthdays are so magical with yummy cake all over such a delicious face. Who could resist these photo ops? Well, not I.

Prima Madeline Paper Collection - Rosalee, Say It in Pearls & Lace Brown, Lindy's Stamp Gang Tibetan Poppy Blue & Creme Brule Cream, and Gossamer Gold, Flowers (Received in a RAK not sure where they are from), Tissue Paper, paper doily.


This is a photo I took of my niece Addy at her first birthday party. I wanted to select a paper that would not take away from the photo, so I picked the B side of the Prima Madeline Rosalee paper. I loved how the subtle blues on the borders complimented the blue in the frosting on her face.

I used a paper doily as a mask and sprayed my Lindy's Stamp Gang gently onto the paper. Then I moved the doily to the upper left hand corner to reveal the unsprayed area.

My friend, Sandra, had sent me a RAK (Random Act of Kindness) and it had all the beautiful flowers used in this layout wrapped in Turquoise tissue paper. The paper was sprayed with a Gossamer Gold, Lindy's stamp Gang, I cut it into strips, and made a bow.


Thanks for stopping in today,
Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomoms.com

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Digital Layouts

Today I wanted to share with you guys a few of my Digital layouts. I know for a lot of people this is a little out of their realm of thinking, but Photoshop is like an extension to my arm. I love to "hand draw" my digital elements, and play with layering brush effects to create patterned papers. The beauty of digital is that you can create a layout and share it over and over again. I love to create them throughout the year, and then use an online photo service to print Photo Books for family Christmas presents, or even to share on Mother's Day.

Here are just a few of my favorite digi layouts! All of the elements on these pages are created from a blank canvas in Photoshop!












Thanks for stopping in Today,

Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomoms.com

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Steampunk Mini Album

One of our Artsy Addicts Members, Amy Rodriguez, designs unique mini album dies and has shared her Hot Air Balloon and Dress Form Dies with me. I was so excited to get the opportunity to play with these dies. I wanted to share with you guys today the mini that I created.

From day one I knew I would use the Steampunk Debutant Line from Graphic 45 on this mini. I wanted it to be tiered so that behind every dressform there was a hot air balloon. I also wanted the pages to be vibrant, elegant, but most of all interactive!




















Here is a video with a complete walk through of the concepts and details on each page.

Thanks for stoping by today,
Tonya Gibbs
http://www.psychomoms.com
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