Let's Play Dress Up!

Ok, I just couldn't wait until tomorrow! I finished my magnet project and I think it rocks! I've been playing with it for about an hour now... I know, I know, but it's fun. I borrowed a couple of Bombshell sets from a very good friend of mine and when I saw the Butterfly Queen set in person, dress-up dolls was the first thing I thought to make. Maybe it was all the influence of the consignment and antique stores that I've visited lately; they have some pretty cool looking vintage paper dolls. But I wanted mine to last a while and be visible, so that's why I chose to make them into magnets.



All of the pieces are made on scrap paper and colored with prismacolor pencils. I stamped the queen first, then traced her and drew templates for the clothes. The frame uses both a Bombshell stamp and a stamp from a set that I got at AC Moore. The sparkly bling is glitter glue. I cut out all the pieces and ran them through my xyron with the laminate/magnet roll, cut them out again, and voila! Dress-Up Magnets! I think these would be great in a little flip-open decorated tin. If I make one, I will definitely share pics! Let me know what you all think of these...

P.S.-CLICK THE PICS FOR LARGER VIEWS











...as an afterthought, wouldn't it be great to make little tattoos for her? A project for another day!

Yay to Vintage!

When I lived here in WA six years ago, I discovered a fabulous consignment mall that I absolutely loved; it was the neatest little place. I'm sure there is something similar pretty much anywhere you go, but it was the first time I had seen one like that. Well, yesterday my daughter and I went on a search to see if we could find it again. After 45 minutes of driving around in circles, because of course I didn't remember the street name or exact location, I finally saw a restaurant that I recognized and flipped a u-turn. A little more driving brought us to what I think is the same location, but different store entirely. Still consignment and still AWESOME, just owned by different people and much MUCH BIGGER! I could spend days getting lost in all the stuff!

Needless to say, I found things that I wanted. Last Christmas I accidentally broke (sob!) a crystal decanter that had been given to me by my grandmother. I was devastated!! A few days ago I had even mentioned to my husband that we needed to find a replacement somewhere... well, guess what I found at said consignment shop? You got it! A brand spankin' new-to-me decanter! Happy Birthday to Me!

Anyways, besides all the goodies that I bought just to buy, I found a pretty cool vintage tin lunchbox to alter. I know they sell tins regularly now at any scrapbooking store, but it's just so much cooler to have a scruffed up vintage one, ya know? I also found a few craft globes and some half used really old parchment paper boxes with envelopes. They are all discolored, so it makes my job alot easier! I don't even have to stain them myself. Yay me! Can't wait to get started on the lunchbox and share with you all. Right now I am finishing a magnet project that I think you will just faint over, it's so fun! Hopefully I will finish those today and share with you tomorrow!

Glitch

I apologize for the earlier glitch with the blog, I lost my entire layout while updating and the blog was down for a few hours. But, on the brighter side, I've added in an awesome new layout that I hope you enjoy! Thanks for your patience!

First Featured Artist for Smeared and Smudged!

Well, it took longer than anticipated but here it is! The first featured artist for Smeared and Smudged is (drumroll!!!!!!!!!!) Kelli Green who lives in Newport News, VA. Kelli has some great looking, and interesting, projects that I love! She has a very diverse selection of items to share. so without further adeu...

Kelli Says:
"I am a stay at home mom of 2. A Navy wife, and an avid stamper. I was introduced to rubber stamping about 7 years ago and fell in love. At first I only stamped cards because that is what I thought you had to do. Then I started seeing other things that were being stamped and thought to myself…oh I can do that, or I wonder if it will work on this. So I started experimenting and oh the things I came up with, although I will admit, I had help on some of them. So I guess you could say I am hooked. "

Kelli Shares:

Distressed Heart Card

Beautiful!

Halloween Card

This fabulous Halloween card uses Stampin' Up! cardstock, patterned paper and figures from Little Yellow Bicycle. It is called a Full front Tri-fold Card!

All I ReallyWant Tag

Kelli shares that this sassy tag uses chipboard, Stampin' Up! watercolor pencils, microbeads from pennywisearts.com, O'So sticky sheets, hemp twine and mini clips. The charm is from walmart several years ago... and, of course, the Butterfly Queen stamp set from Bombshell Stamps. I especially love the reason why this tag was made- a gift tag for her husband! I think that says it all. Lucky guy.

Bombshell Angel

This Bombshell girl uses Stampin' Up! cardstock, Bombshell Stamps Butterfly Queen, and wing stickers from Making Memories. What an interesting way to use stickers! I personally have never gotten into them, but seeing the way these are layered behind the stamped image makes me rethink my opinion. This looks awesome!

Altered Skull Notebook

Like I said before, Kelli offered a variety of projects in her submission, and I love the simplicity and cool theme of this notebook. I'd make one in a heartbeat for my tween, who is very much into the skull thing right now. Athough you can't see it well in the picture, I can imagine the texture that the microbeads made on the surface of the book. The Altered Notebook was made using a crayon resist technique. Kelli used glossy white cardstock, white crayon, a spiral journal from Michael's $ spot, Tim Holtz Distress ink, Stazon ink, and Microbeads from Pennywisearts.com.

Kelli Teaches:
As a featured designer, Kelli was asked to make a tutorial for one of her projects, and she came up with an awesome one! I can't wait to try this myself!

Emboss/Reverse Etch Picture Frame Tutorial

"Here is a list of the things you will need:

Versamark ink pad

stamp(s) of choice (my choice is Bombshell Stamps Butterfly Queen)
heating gun and clear embossing powder

basic tools

etching cream( I used Armour Etch)

embossing buddy

contact paper(mine is from Walmart)

picture frame any size with glass NOT plastic!

window cleaner

cardstock color of choice or patterned paper for background(I used Stampin' Up! Pacific Point cardstock)

embellishments.

Step One: Take glass out of the frame and clean thoroughly with glass cleaner.

Step Two: Rub embossing buddy over cleaned frame in the area where you are stamping.

Step Three: With Versamark, stamp your image. Be very careful that your stamp does not slide when doing this.

Step Four: Emboss with clear embossing powder. (When you use the etching cream in the next step the embossed image will not etch.) After finished embossing, use contact paper to mark off glass where you do not want the cream to go. ( I used a 8x10 frame so I masked off a 6 1/2 " section!)
Step Five: Use etching cream according to package directions. (Mine says leave on for 1 minute. Some need more time!)

Step Six: Clean with water making sure to rub all of the embossed image off, that way you have a clear image. I used my fingernail, but a non-abrasive scrubbing tool will work. Make sure to clean off all your finger prints when done!!

Step Seven: Decorate card stock background (if using). I used the butterflies from the Bombshell stamp set. Attach your picture. Decorate the outside of your frame any way you choose. I chose to emboss in silver the words "My Bombshell" and used crystal flowers in shades of blue. Blue is my daughters favorite color and she picked the colors out since this is a picture of her. "

Thank you so much, Kelli, for that tutorial and for sharing all of your projects! You can visit Kelli on her blog by clicking the pic below:

~Magickal Graphics~

I will be featuring a new designer each month, so if you are interested in having your own spot on Smeared and Smudged, check out the sidebar for more info on how to submit your projects!

Finally Home...and Back Online!

Wow! What a long and awesome trip cross country! Beautiful! My family and I have finally arrived back on the Kitsap Peninsula and we are loving it! It's like coming home. I've been in the new house for twelve days now, and things are slowly but surely getting organized and back to the way they are supposed to be. I know it will take months, but let me tell you one of the first areas I plan to finish is my stamping area. I have some awesome built in cabinetry in my laundry room that I'm going to utilize for stamping storage; it's a far cry from the overcrowded and cramped apartment that has been our home for the past few months. Lovin' it!

Thanks to those of you who submitted pics for my featured designer contest, keep then coming because this will be an ongoing thing. Although I'm running a little late on posting (I overestimated my abilities as a superhero mom slash mover slash organizer and didn't get internet service till two days ago) my first featured designer is right now starting work on her projects and I'll have it posted by the end of the month!

In the meantime hold tight and I'll have some new projects to share with you in the next week. I'm itching to try something new with some of the found objects I have laying around, and I've discovered long lost projects in the move that I'd love to give a second go! See you soon!