Life's Portraits

Here are a few paintings I've done over the last few days. I was inspired by my life and elements in my life by each one of these. I'm quite pleased with them. Feel free to comment on which one is your favorite!

 "Family Tree"

 "Into the Night"

 "Radioactive"

 "Wall Flower"

"Blossom Inspiration"

Around the World Suitcase box

So I'm in a swap and I made this box as a gift to hold all the goodies that will be wrapped and inside the box.

First, I sanded the box and prepped it for being covered with Tim Holtz's fabric, the one I chose was the map for this particular project.

After that, I covered it using matte mod podge, then the hard coat on top afterward when it had dried from being covered.

I made these leather straps using some of Tim's buckles to make it look more like a suitcase, the goal I was going for was and old fashioned suitcase, looks good so far huh?
 

Here's the box completed, I covered the name for privacy. But I used sticky back canvas, inked it with different browns from the distress ink pads. I think I used tea dye, vintage photo, and walnut stain.

After drying the inking, I die cut her name using these my new die cut letters.
 

I hope you all like my suitcase box!

~Phoenix

Happy Veteran's Day!

Where do I even begin? I am so thankful to all the men and women who have served bravely in the USA military both past, present, and future generations. I couldn't be filled with more pride in the USA military. I salute you all.

Here is a photo of all the veterans that made it out to my son's school for the "Veteran's Day Parade."

My son, myself, and my son's father all got to walk in the parade to represent our veterans who were unable to make it out to walk in it themselves. It was so much fun, and Xander, my son, never stopped waving his flag or walking, I was, and still am, very proud of him!

~Phoenix

November Tag 2015

Whether you choose to call this season autumn or fall, both technically correct, I always think of kids laughter and playing in the piles of raked fallen leaves.

Here is the tag that I did based off of some of the methods that Tim Holtz used on his November tag of 2015 tags.

I started with a plain #8 vanilla tag.

I then attempted the stamping with the distress paint with a mixture of walnut stain and picket fence. I didn't have a roller, so I just used a piece of cut'n'dry foam. It worked ok, but didn't come out the best once I applied the pumice stone inking to the edges. It didn't do the resist effect I had hoped for, but still looked nice.

I then added the foiling to the edges using the glue stick and foil transfers that I had on hand. Afterwards, I sprayed and glued on just at the bottom stem my "falling leaves." I mixed my own shimmer spray together using the method of adding a few drops of spiced marmalade and some perfect pearls powder to get the shimmer and color effect.

I then stamped the flags, colored, and cut out the letters on the flags. After all that, I "domed" the flags using the method Tim shows on his pumpkin for his Nov. tag.

Next was cutting and inking the edges of my flags. I used pumice stone. It's my new favorite! LOL

Afterwards was piercing the holes needed for the flag banner, stringing them together, and then attaching.

I put the string through the brad, or fastener, then through the tag, and twisting it around to secure it. I made extra sure to push down hard to make it stay in one place and not unravel on me lol.

My last step was putting on the "play" typed token of Tim's line and the seam binding ribbon colored in distress ink pad wild honey and vintage photo. Two of my other favorite colors of his. They're perfect for this time of year! (Well any time of year for me lol)

And here is my finished product use some rather simple but effect (for my level of experience) techniques from Tim Holtz's Tags of 2015 - November Tag.

Just remember everyone this took me HOURS to do. I didn't do this in a matter of minutes. So give yourself credit if something takes you a bit longer to finish than when you started. Just keep working at it like I did and you'll get the results you want eventually!

Happy crafting everyone!

~Phoenix

Coming back...

After such a long time away, I have finally come back to the online crafting community.

My dreams for this upcoming year of 2016 is to make and sell custom albums, complete album kits, and more such as resin jewelry, clay jewelry, dream catchers and maybe try to think of an invention or two. 

Such big dreams, I know, but it's what I want to have happen. So I'm going to spend the rest of this year getting back out there, and doing what I love. Well one of the things I love. My number one thing I love is taking care of my kiddo. He can be such a stinker at times, but ultimately is fairly well behaved. Only manners in my house and everywhere else. Lost art of courtesy I know, but we try.

I hope you all will enjoy what I have to post. I keep things fairly simple, but every now and then, I really like to go overboard, part of my lovely bipolar effect lol. It's got it's benefits, this is for sure. Silver lining peeps, it's all about the silver lining to what you have in your life that you have to deal with.

Well, this is it for now, but tomorrow I will be posting a series of photos of a tag I'm working on. Should be up by end of day, if not two. I do have a youngin' that requires my attentions 24/7 ya know lol.

~Phoenix~