It's A Mad Hatter World Featuring Products From Rita Barakat

Hello Crafty Friends!

Welcome to the INSPIRE blog.

Gosh, it seems like a lifetime since I have posted, as the last 3 months I had been running to and fro, prepping and creating in helping my baby brother and my now sis-in-law prep for their big day this past Saturday. It was a beautiful day! I am happy to say that everything went very smoothly.

Stay tuned, I will be sharing photos later this week, to share with you some of the craftiness used to bring it together.

ANYWAYS......

Today I am up on the Rita Barakat blog, sharing my latest DT project.

A canvas inspired by my favorite childhood story,

Alice In Wonderland.

Making it fabulously wonderful....Beautiful die cuts & the Magical Mysteries Embossing Powders by Rita Barakat, that can be purchased in the Rita Barakat Store on Etsy.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/RitaBarakat

For full details on my project and to view more projects by the talented Rita Barakat Design Team, please visit the Rita Barakat blog at:

https://ritabarakat.com/index.php/blog/

And be sure to join us tonight for 

Mixed Media Monday on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/rita.barakat.1/

Thanks for stopping by today!

Be Blessed!

Ten Day Wedding Countdown Has Begun! Nearly Ready!

Hello creatives!

Welcome to INSPIRE.

Well, here we are finally in the home stretch of my baby brother's wedding!

Have been spending time finalizing the reception decor, menu, music, cake & cupcakes, favors......

Okay, just about everything is in place, lol.

So looking forward to getting back to my "normal" crafting schedule & time.

I mean there has been a fair amount of crafting with this wedding, but man has it been stressful!

Today I will be dying silk flower petals for table decor, decorating the card box & honeymoon fund box, but the rest of the decor is finished.

Here are pics of a couple of the projects finished.

Well nearly.

The first, is a birdcage that belonged to the bride to be's grandmother. She wanted to incorporate it on the wedding party table. The first thing I did, was to custom dye the white silk flowers in her chosen colors of blue & yellow. I restructured the flowers, and added pearl stamens to the centers.

I added wired white lace ribbon, and structured a  bow for the top. This photo is in process, however it is now finished, with her adding iridescent leaves, pearl strands, and butterflies.

We will be adding a battery operated flickering candle and rose petal to the inside the day of the wedding.

Next, is the stainless cake stand for the wedding cake, that coordinates with the vintage looking silver trays that will feature the cupcakes, and matches the cutting knives & toasting glasses as well.

I used beautiful antique looking lace trim, and jute rope along with initialed wooden dangling hearts.

And a bigger project for me this past week, was re-painting a memorial sign, to be featured on a table with photos of grandparents that are sadly no longer with us.

The before.

The After.

We have been very budget friendly with planning this wedding. Many of the items used were found on Facebook Marketplace, but with some paint, glue and imagination, all has come together beautifully. 

I will be featuring all the finished photos here on my blog after the wedding.

This has been quite a crafting experience. But there has been a lot of laughter and memories made in the process.

And that, is what matters most.

Thanks for visiting today!

Until next time.......

Be Blessed!

The Countdown Begins....Wedding Bells Are About To Ring!

Hello there!

Welcome to INSPIRE.

Well, it has been a couple of weeks since my last posting, because I have been up to my elbows in creating wedding invitations, and helping to decide on menu, decorations and centerpieces for my brother and his adorable fiancé's upcoming nuptials.

She wanted me to be her "planner", and boy, I forgot how daunting it can be.....

But it hasn't all been wedding planning. I have got to get some crafting in.

Creating a couple of design team projects, and I want to share the links with you today!

The first, is my debut project for Rita Barakat Design Team. I made this adorable card using the die cut "Over The Moon", and Magical Mysteries Embossing Powders from Rita's line.

http://ritabarakat.com/index.php/2018/09/14/the-midnight-fairy/

We are presently collaborating with Rinea, using their gorgeous Foiled Papers, which was perfect for my card background and tattered flowers.

Follow this link on how I brought the card together, and the following two links to Rita Barakat's online store and the Rinea online store, to purchase these fabulous products for yourself!

http://ritabarakat.com/index.php/2018/09/14/the-midnight-fairy/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/RitaBarakat

https://www.rinea.com

My next project, is for Canvas Corp Brands, and is featured this week over on The Creative Studio Blog.

http://blog.canvascorpbrands.com/how-to-make-gorgeous-clutch-bags/

I used 2 zippered bags, one made of canvas & burlap, the other made of ticking material, to create adorable clutch bags for fall.

Head on over and see the details, and be sure to visit Canvas Corp Brands online for products like these, Tattered Angels, 7Gypsies and more!

https://shop.canvascorpbrands.com

Okay, now back to wedding stuff. 

Pray for me!

Until next time.......

Be Blessed!

Rita Barakat & Emerald Creek Blog Hop! And Your Chance To Win!

Hey there!

Welcome to INSPIRE!

Thank you for visiting today, there is 

something very exciting going on with

Rita Barakat & Emerald Creek!

They have collaborated to bring to you 

a FABULOUS collection of embossing powders,

the Rita Barakat Magical Mysteries!

And if you stay till the end of this post, I will

share with you how you could 

win a set of these gorgeous embossing powders for yourself!

(*does not include Fairy Wings)

I chose to do a canvas project, using the 

Midnight Magic & Kiss The Fairy Magical Mysteries embossing powders.

I also used the Heart Wing Foamie Stamp by Rita Barakat, that can be found in her Etsy store along with the entire line of the Magical Mysteries embossing powders.

Just follow this link To Rita's Etsy Store:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/RitaBarakat

So to begin my canvas, I chose coordinating 

Distress Oxide Inks that coordinated with my choice of embossing powders.

Using a Distress Inking Tool, I added the ink as my background, lightly overlapping the different shades.

I used a couple of round of water spritz, to oxidize the ink, once I had the desired shade. I used spray ink to add splatters to the background.

Using heavy white cardstock and embossing ink, I used the foamy stamp and begin the layering of the embossing powder.

This embossing powder is so rich in color, and so very easy to set! I only added a couple of layers for a more textured effect, setting each with my heat tool.

I used a small beading of glue around the heart in the center of the wings, and added two layers of the Kiss The Fairy embossing powder.

I used mini brads, and a medium square brad to secure the heart to the canvas, making small holes with my craft knife. 

Using gel medium, I added the phrase & bracket, and a gorgeous crown embellishment.

I love the way it turned out. And I LOVE these embossing powders!

Now that you have seen my project, be sure that you have hopped to the other blogs of the Rita Barakat Design Team, and see what they have created with these FABULOUS embossing powders!

Rita: https://wp.me/p47OIs-Os

Yolie: http://www.justyolie.com/2018/08/rita-barakat-emerald-creek-blog-hop.html

Steph: http://inkedartist.com/?p=2123

Betz: https://scrappycafe.blogspot.com/2018/08/rita-barakat-and-emerald-creek-blog-hop.html

Karen:

https://stampinakapalace.blogspot.com/2018/08/angel-tag-rita-barakat-emerald-creek.html

Jenn:

https://yvonnebijouxcrafts.blogspot.com/2018/08/rita-barakatemerald-creek-embossing.html?m=1

Now, for your chance to win a set of these beauties for yourself......

Be sure to join us for Mixed Media Monday with Rita Barakat over on Rita Barakat Facebook Live 

at 8pm CT.

This week, it is about creating molted backgrounds.

You don't want to miss this one!

https://www.facebook.com/rita.barakat.1213

Again, thank you so much for visiting, and be sure to visit again soon, as I always have something crafty brewing!

Until next time........

Blessings!

I Have Such Exciting News To Share!!!

Hello!

Welcome to INSPIRE!

I am so excited to share with you

that I have been chosen to be a part of the 

AMAZING Rita Barakat Design Team!

http://ritabarakat.com/index.php/2018/08/20/2018-2019-design-team/

Visit Rita Barakat's blog, to meet the entire team!

Just follow the link under to photo for all the details!

Be sure to join the Get Creative With Rita Barakat Facebook group, where you will see what Rita and the design team are creating.

GET CREATIVE WITH RITA BARAKAT

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1987734151505493/ 

And tune into GCWRB Facebook live every 

Monday evening 8pm CST, to see new products, and to learn tricks in mixed media creating

with Rita!

Thanks so much for visiting today!

Until next time.....

Blessings!

My Nifty Fifty Birthday Bliss & Creative Fun Too

Hey y'all!

Welcome to INSPIRE!

Is it has been a couple of weeks since I last posted.

August marks my birthday month, and on the 14th, I turned the 5-0!!!!!

I had been full of dread about that number for a couple of months prior. I mean 50!?!?!?!

I am not sure where in my mind, that I thought this was not a good thing.

I feel relatively healthy (aside from the problems that can come with Type 1 Diabetes), only minimal aches & pains associated with growing older.

 I started embracing the idea that this is a new season of my life. A new season to test my boundaries, to try something new, to be bold and unafraid of what life has in store.

So 50....HERE WE GO........

The celebration of my birthday began early, last weekend, as my hubby surprised me with taking to a more local crafty event that happens every August,

Stampaway USA.

OH MY!!!!!

I had never seen so many stamping, mixed media & innovative products in one place!

Companies like Art Impressions, Gina Marie Designs, Heartfelt Creations, Stencil Girl & Technique Junkies to mention just a mere few.

Oh, and STAMPER'S ANONYMOUS!!!!!!

OH MY!!!!

You know what that means? Yes, the one, the only, the phenomenal, the extraordinaire himself....... 

TIM HOLTZ!!!!

I was stunned in my tracks when I seen him sitting there demonstrating fabulous techniques using his broad range of products!!

For an hour and a half, we stood, we watched, and we, yes my husband and I learned, lol.

At the end of one demonstration, my husband spoke up and I hear "Mr Holtz, my I ask you a favor?" With his huge smile Tim replied "Sure".

I stood there puzzled.

Then my wonderful hubby said..

"We are celebrating my wife's birthday today,

is it possible we get a picture of you & her together?"

WHAT?!?!

Again with that smile, Tim said "Why sure".

So I made my around to where he was and then there was this moment!

My smile says it all!!!

And he signed a tag he had made in a demo, wishing me a Happy Birthday.

A birthday momento from Tim.

Couldn't be any better.

Easy to say, turning fifty has been my best birthday ever!

Before leaving the Stamper's Anonymous booth, we stopped in, and for my birthday, my hubby purchased me a set of the Distress Oxides Tim had been using in the demo.

I hadn't purchased any prior, and was so excited to finally get to play with the product, putting to use some of the techniques Tim used.

I decided to do these on Artist Trading Coins I had cut from mixed media paper, started small so I could really get a feel for how to do these techniques on a smaller scale.

After finishing, I used a variety of stamps to add design, and I am absolutely in LOVE with these!

Thanks so much for letting me share this most wonderful birthday moment with you today.

Before you go, I invite you to head over to the Chattering Robin's blog today, where the feature is a project I created using Dew Drops from The Robin's Nest.

https://chatteringrobins.blogspot.com

Join me again soon as I share inspirations in creativity. and life in general!

Until next time.......

BLESSINGS!

Paint Brush Transformation With Products By Finnabair

Hello there!

Welcome to INSPIRE.

Whew...what a busy summer I have had. Busiest one I can recall in a very long time.

Have been enjoying time spent with family, running here and there for household, cleaning a (new to me) classic Land Rover that my hubby traded his classic Harley Sportster for, nursing an injured hip, and preparing for fall home improvements, helping my future sis-in-law plan her & my baby Bub's fall wedding............

Think I need a vacation lol 😉

My Land Rover 💖💝💗

She needs a new bumper, and ignition (on it's way) but other than that, she is perfect! And she is an automatic, which will not irritate my hip as my standard Jeep Compass has 😒

I have always loved this particular design. And thanks to my generous & loving hubby, I now have one 💓

But lately I have been able to get in some crafting, of the non-committal variety. I FINALLY got to use my Finnabair Art Alchemy products my hubby blessed me with for our anniversary, in February.

First project, converting a very used and once loved paint brush into a little piece of art.

I absolutely LOVE these metallic paints & wax! The colors are so vibrant and rich, and very, very concentrated.

Literally, a little dab will do.

And I love the end result. Next will be doing a mixed media canvas to mount the brush on. Will share those pics when it is done!

Anyways.....I certainly hope all of you are enjoying your summer or winter depending on geography.

Until next time......Be Blessed!

How To Add Transfer Foil To A Creative Project

Hey there!

Welcome to INSPIRE!

Today I wanted to share the link to 

my latest canvas canvas project, created using the innovative products of ScraPerfect.

Head on over to the ScraPerfect blog

for full details following this link:

https://scraperfect.blogspot.com/2018/07/boho-inspired-foiled-feather-canvas-how.html

I also wanted to share some fun I have had these last couple of weeks, spending time with a couple of my nieces, and share the art they created, using many tips (and auntie's supplies) that I had taught them.

These girls AMAZED me!! So dedicated to the projects, seeing them through to the finish.
They did this auntie proud!

We also took an afternoon to visit an art district in a local community, unfortunately there wasn't a whole lot going on that day, the gallery was even closed 😞, but I did find a new art store for many of the art supplies I use, at more reasonable prices 😃 so it wasn't a complete wasted day.
Played on some of the local artisan metal sculptures too.

Made one of the nieces smile big, finding a book that has been selling out fast since it's recent release, as an early birthday present for this August baby.

While in the art district area, we also visited a boutique, "Made To Love" featuring hand crafted art, jewelry & apparel, to aid in giving children of Haiti, an opportunity to go to school.

Statement from their website:

WE BUY HAITIAN MAKE ITEMS FROM LOCAL ARTISANS MARKETS AND CO-OPS. THIS CREATES LONG-TERM, WELL PAYING AND SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT. WE THEN SELL THOSE ITEMS IN OUR STORE LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN HAMILTON (LINK TO THE CONTACT US/GEO MAP PAGE). AND, THE PROFITS GENERATED IS USED TO CREATE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR HAITIAN CHILDREN.

IT’S A FULL CIRCLE CREATING TRUE GENERATIONAL CHANGE THAT WILL LIFT THESE FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY AND BUILD HOPE WITHIN COMMUNITIES.

The art & merchandise is sensational, the stories, truly inspiring. Check them out at:

https://www.made-to-love.org

And to finish the week, we gathered my "mamma", and went to see "Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again", being that I have been a fan of ABBA & of the first movie, couldn't miss out on this!

If only we had danced in the aisles......

Thanks so much for stopping by today, an letting me share with you my busy couple of weeks.

Hope to see you again real soon!

Until next time....... Be a "Dancing Queen"!