'Cheers' Travel Mug

Hi There,

Today I am sharing my creation for Paper Rose using die cuts to decorate a travel mug.

Originally the plastic travel mug contained an image of Freddo frog. 

Not very appealing, but I knew the mug was functional & had potential.

Firstly I removed the lid, applied masking tape around the screw top above the rim.

The whole surface was painted with Black Gesso & left to dry while I die cut some patterns to apply.

I made sure that I painted in a cross hatch fashion to give more texture to the surface.

The die cuts I used were the

  Layered Cheers die, Amelia Decorative Background die & the Lots of Buttons die set.

I used quite thin cardstock for this.

The die cuts were applied with Soft Matte Gel Medium from Prima. 

Applied under and over the die cuts to seal them.

The textures were then highlighted with a dry brushing technique 

& Art Alchemy paints. I then applied some Art Alchemy waxes with my finger.

Wink of Stella was applied over the Cheers to give extra sparkle.

Finally I sealed the mug with a layer of  gloss varnish from Decor Art.

The finish has held up really well with hand washing.

Not quite game enough to put it in the dishwasher!

The finish is really glossy so was hard to take good photos.

A matte sealer would also work just as well.

Hope this gives some ideas for different ways to use your die cuts.

Cheers     Deb Adams

Silhouette Keyholes & Alcohol Ink Background Cards

Hi All,

My first post for 2020 for the Scrap FX Design Team

 is of two sweet cards that I have created featuring Keyhole Silhouettes & Alcohol Ink backgrounds.

really adore these colours & the textures of the alcohol inks & gold mixative.

My first card has a garden theme in lovely pinks, blues & purple.

Framing  of the page was made with flowers from my stash & the Clockhands frame.

The Alice Keyhole Silhouette really pops on the alcohol ink background.

The sentiments are from the Art Phrase transparency.

The butterfly was fussy cut from the Butterfly transparency sheet.

The Alcohol ink background is raised from the metallic gold base card

by 2 layers of mesh chipboard coloured in silver & gold.

The fronds of the fern flourish chipboard complement the curve of the keyhole.

The sentiment is also painted chipboard. Forever in my heart mini.

Pearls & Mini Art stones add some finishing texture.

Hope this gives you some ideas for projects to use those lovely alcohol ink backgrounds that we all hoard!

Cheers for now,   Deb Adams

'Beyond Awesome' Galaxy Card for Paper Rose 2020

Hi There & Welcome to 2020.

I am very honoured to have been invited to continue on the Paper Rose Design Team for 2020.

For my first card I wanted to feature a Galaxy background, 

showing the moon, stars & clouds with fireworks for the New Year.

I made my background first on 300 gsm watercolour paper.

I used Distress oxide sprays & ink applied to my craft mat to layer up the background.

There are many videos explaining this technique on YouTube.

Here are a few links:- Jennifer Maguire Distress oxide &  The Craft Bunny.

It was fun to play around with this.  Better to make quite a few at once while getting messy!

I recommend to start with a light area in the middle & add darker layers around this.

Always dry between layers.  Flick water on to paper to give extra texture.

The colours I used were Twisted Citron, Wilted Violet, Chipped Sapphire, Stormy sky & Black soot.

I diecut a circle for the moon from printer paper.  

Coloured it with Antique Linen & Pumice stone Distress Ink to resemble the moon.

 Icing Paste by Prima was applied through the Fireworks stencil towards the edges.

These stars & fireworks have a lovely sheen.  

The page was then crisscrossed with the Stitches Borders die leaving patterned impressions 

of fireworks trails on the paper.

The coloured moon was applied to the centre with matt gel medium.

The clouds were added after this with layers of white gesso & Prima Snowflake paste through the Clouds Stencil.

I love how the Stencils have absorbed some of the colours below.

The sentiment is from the Awesome stamp set & the Layered Awesome die. 

Wink of Stella shimmer & Glossy Accents applied over the black cardstock word makes it stand out.

Framed with the largest Square stitched frame cut from extra coloured card.

Mounted on 6x6" card base, sentiment stamped inside 

& extra stenciling on the envelope complete this set.
On a personal note:-

Fireworks have now become a controversial symbol for NYE.
Personally I would rather see money spent elsewhere.
This card was made prior to the catastrophic fires & with wishes of good will to all.
Looking forward to a creative 2020.
Cheers for now,

Deb Adams