Monday, August 9, 2021

My Other Creations: Dyalog Insert Re-Do using Tim Holtz's Big Number Blocks and AALL & Create's Vivre Washi Tape

Hello to anyone out there who still takes the time to read this blog (thank you)!  It's been awhile since I've posted.  I had some life challenges that really sent me for a loop (I'm sure many of you can relate) and I lost my artsy muse for quite some time.  Art, the ability to create, is inextricably tied to our emotions and our mental state, so when things crumble in our lives, our creativity often pays the price.  This practice of artistic expression that can bring us so much therapy and joy can also become a debilitating and frustrating experience when our hands and our heart lose their connection. But I'm here trying again, even though it's kind of terrifying.  If you're feeling the same way, believe me when I say that you're not alone!  And I am sincerely rooting for you wherever you may be in your crafty journey because I'm struggling and hoping right there beside you.  Baby steps!!  Baby steps!!

And so, with fingers crossed that I can still make some okay stuff, I am honored and grateful to be back on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog team!  Our theme this week is heat embossing, so I dug up my embossing powder, a Dyalog insert book, and gave it a go.


My theory is often, "when in doubt, cover it with paint or gesso," which is how I started this project.  I used a Dylusions Dyalog insert book and covered it with a thick layer of gesso.  While that was drying, I used Tim Holtz's Big Number Blocks stamp set and stamped a 5 and a 4 with embossing ink onto Strathmore Mixed Media paper.  Then I sprinkled some black embossing powder on top and hit it with a heat tool.


Next I took the numbers and drizzled some Dylusions shimmer spray on them, then spritzed them with water to get more coverage from the spray.  I used Bubble Gum and Lemon Zest spray.  I smeared some white paint on top in some spots to tone it down a bit.

I am always addicted to turquoise, so I added some Dina Wakley Turquoise paint to the numbers, along with a touch of Dina's Olive.


While the paint dried, I made some patterned text paper for the background by stamping some text (Inky Antic's Encouraging Words) onto a scrap of paper.


I still felt the yen to emboss, so I put a stencil (Altenew's Bubble Wrap) onto my gesso notebook cover and traced inside the circles using an embossing pen, then sprinkled on more black embossing powder and heat it up.  Wah-la!  Instant circles (another addiction of mine).


I painted the surface next using Izink Ice (this is like a translucent glaze that adds beautiful layers of color) and then I added some more acrylic paint (Dylusions' London Blue, Balmy Night and Tropical Sangria and Dina Wakley's Sky).


I had all of my components in place, so I glued down my text-stamped scraps using an UHU glue stick.  I also tore off a strip of fabulous washi tape from AALL & Create called "Vivre" and glued that on for my page's sentiment.


I finished the project by gluing on my number 5 (apparently I'll save number 4 for another project on another day), and I added some of Dina Wakley's Umber to darken up the edges of the notebook.  I also used a Dina Wakley clip to keep it closed, but here is it open and ready for new adventures:


And a close-up:


It's good to be back again and thanks again for hanging in there with me as we all find our footing in these crazy times!

Here are the supplies I used that you can find at Simon Says Stamp:


If you're needing a creative nudge, give our heat embossing challenge a try!  What's the worst that could happen (besides potentially burning a hole in your crafting table 😉)?  Just upload your creation to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog for your chance to win a $25 voucher to the Simon Says Stamp store.










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