Jeni's Mixed Media Madness

Using what you have.

2009-02-05T16:15:00.000-08:00

Times are tough, don’t let that stand in your way, make your own matching set of papers. I created this matching set of paper with color washes. If you don’t have color washes make your own using Rit dye or water soluble reinkers. If you’re not sure if they are water soluble, just drop them in water if the melt into the water you’re good to go, if they float on top or bead up, sorry not the right stuff.

I got some decorative paper very cheep on sale but the colors were not so good. A quick spray of color wash did wonders for these papers. I also sprayed the background card stock and some coffee filters so very quickly I had a matching set of papers.

I cut the flowers on the bottom from the coffee filters using the Sun flower 2 die template.
The boarder was cut using the Rose Borderability Grand while still in the die template I inked it with embossing ink then sprinkled different color embossing powders onto the different areas.

Spellbinders Blog

2009-02-04T09:34:00.000-08:00

I’m the feature artist on the Spellbinder’s Blog
I have had so much fun being a part if this design team. I am so happy having the opportunity to meet all the wonderful artist on the team. Of course, I have love all the inspiration I have received from the design team and all the wonderful products.

This is a book I did by cutting water color paper with the Butterfly die template. It was then covered with Opals and heated. The sun flower was done the same way. The frog was made by pouring the melted Opals into a Krafty lady mold. The pages were folded then cut with the fold inside the die cutting edge.

Ready for spring

2009-02-03T13:32:00.000-08:00

An altered box ready for a gift

This box was rubbed with chalk inks and decorated with die cuts from Spellbinders.

2009-01-20T11:24:00.000-08:00

The 5th Anniversary party for Spellbinders Paper Arts is nearing its end. Spellbinders’ staff is hurrying-- scurrying to get all the little details finished for the big “party” in Anaheim at the Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show. You still have until 11:59 CST, January 21, to enter Trudee Sauer’s Blog contest. Then Spellbinders will be drawing for the Grand Prize Winner, and will announce the Grand Prize winner on the Spellbinders Blog on January 31.
Today, Stacey Caron, Creative Director and Co-founder of Spellbinders Paper Arts shares a special message for you, so check it out here

Congratulation to Linda from San Antonio, Texas who was the winner of the dies from my Blog

This is what she had to say.
“Oh my gosh!!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t believe I won! After I ran around the house for 30 minutes screaming hysterically….I calmed down enough to ask my oldest daughter to read the e-mail with me, to make sure I was reading it correctly(of course still all the while screaming). She gave me that look that only a 25 year old can give her crazy mother, and said yes Mom, you won! THANK YOU so much, I can not begin to tell you how excited I am, and this e-mail has just made what was a really bad week into a wonderful one. I know that these dies will just help me so much in my card making, and I can’t wait to use them.THANKS AGAIN! Linda

Spellbinders Blog Frenzy: Day 9

2009-01-12T09:29:00.000-08:00

"Thanks to everyone who entered the Spellbinders' 5th Anniversary Party to win my Die Template release. You can no longer enter to win my release. Please check out the links below to enter the contest on other blogs.

Check Spellbinders Blog for the announcement of Daily Winners. Grand prize winner will be announced on January 30th.

PLEASE NOTE: Commenting on this post is welcome but does not enter you into the contest. This contest is sponsored directly by Spellbinders Paper Arts. Please read the post to find directions for entering the contest. If you have any questions, please e-mail ContestQuestions@spellbinders.us.

I am so excited about the die templates I get to play with for the Spellbinders 5 Year Anniversary Celebration Sneak Peeks Blog reveals. The uses for these die templates are unlimited. They give a whole new look to windows and frames and are great for layering adding yet another dimension to show off your stamped images.

Spellbinders is celebrating their 5 year anniversary by sharing 16 days of sneak peeks, with LOTS of drawings for dies!! When my reveal is over, there will be a random selection for the die I am showing you and the previously revealed dies during the Spellbinders 5 Year Anniversary celebration. Each day an additional die is added to the daily give-away list for a grand total of 16 dies on the 16th day of reveals! You have until January 13 at 11:59 CST to enter Sharon Harnist’s blog (http://paperfections.typepad.com/)

Happy Anniversary to Spellbinders and a big -thank you- for creating such wonderful products that in just five short years has changed the way I create my art.

Don’t miss a day of the sneak peaks

JANUARY 14: Wickedly Wonderful Creations by Wendy Weixler

JANUARY 15: Cookies for Breakfast by Beth Pingry

JANUARY 16: Pink Lemonade by Keri Lee Sereika

JANUARY 17: Inky Heart by Sally Lynn MacDonald

JANUARY 18: Donya Schroeder by Donya Schroeder

JANUARY 19: Linda’s Works of Heart by Linda Duke

JANUARY 20: Follow Your Bliss by Trudee Sauer

CONTEST WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED on Spellbinders Blog (www.spellbinderspaperarts.com/blog)

I’m really thrilled with the SM and LG Classic Inverted Scalloped Circles die templates because they are such a great addition to all the Circle Nestabilities. They add a delicate effect of sun’s rays and when layered with the scalloped circles, they have a beaded effect, but my favorite technique is to cut a scalloped window in a card.

LG Classic Inverted Scalloped Circles DIE SKU S4-194 MSRP $24.99 Size: 3 3/8", 2 7/8", 2 3/8", 1 7/8", 1 3/8", 7/8"

SM Classic Inverted Scalloped Circles DIE SKU S4-195
MSRP $24.99 each
Size: 3 31/4, 2 3/4", 2 1/2", 1 3/4", 1 1/2", 3/4"

For this first project I wanted to create a window card, this is an effect that is easily done with Spellbinders die templates and the scalloped edge of that window is such and elegant touch. I think this is a great die to show off all the wonderful round JustRite sentiment stamps.

supplies:

Spellbinders S4-194 Large Classic Inverted Scalloped Circles
Spellbinders S4 145 Small Long Classic Scalloped Rectangles
Spellbinders S4-114 Large & S4-116 Small Standard Circles
Wizard Die Cutting System
Harmony Classic Circle Stamp Ensemble
Color Box Pigment ink Merlot
Patterned paper by Die Cuts with a View
Cardstock by WorldWin Pop Dots by Glue Dots
Ribbon and brass charm

Stamp the image three times on the off-white cardstock. Center the round die templates size 1 5/8” & 2 3/8”where you want them to cut. This is easy to do because you can see through the middle of them. Place a small piece of masking tape onto your clothing to reduce its adhesive power, making it low tack tape. Use it to tape your die template into place. Cut/emboss in the wizard die cutting system.

Ink all the edges with the inkpad directly to the paper. Cut out the center portion of one of the images.

Cut/ emboss two LG Classic Inverted Scalloped Circles, the largest and 3rd largest, from the burgundy paper.

Assemble the die cuts using pop dots as shown.

Cut the off-white printed paper to 8 ½" x 11" and fold to a finished size of 8 ½" x 5 ½". Cut/emboss the Long Classic Scalloped Rectangles from the green paper. Tape it to the card and trim the edges that overhang.

Using low tack tape, secure the S4-194 Large Classic Inverted Scalloped Circles die template to the front of the card where you want the window using low tack tape.

Turn the card inside out so that the die template is on the inside of the card. Place the card onto the cutting mat with the front of the card down.

Place the spacer plate on top of the die, then fold the card closed. Now both the spacer plate and the die are inside the card. Place the other cutting mat on top and die cut. To emboss, remove the spacer plate and place the embossing mat under the card, next to the side with the window cut into it. Ink all the edges of the card.

Add ink directly from the inkpad to all the edges of the card

Cut a piece of green patterned paper to fit the inside of the card, then mount the “Just Because” button to fit into the window when opened.

Add the ribbon and brass charm, done that easy.

Spellbinders S4-194 Large Classic Inverted Scalloped Circles Spellbinders S4 145 Small Long Classic Scalloped Rectangles
Spellbinders S4-114 Large Standard Circles
This book was done in a similar way, but I layered several of the Inverted Scalloped Circles die cuts, I just love the texture it creates.

It is so effortless to use Spellbinders dies with other die cutting machines, check out these great videos to actually see how easy it is to get professional looking projects with Spellbinders.

Now, for all the details on the BIG CONTEST!

Spellbinders 5 Year Anniversary Celebration

Sneak Peek Party Drawing Information

Spellbinders will randomly pick one entry from each of the 16 Spellbinders Sneak Peek Blog reveals as stated in the “Rules”. This name will be drawn to receive the die being revealed and any other dies listed as a part of said blog give-away. These entries must follow all rules stated below to be valid for the drawing.

Entrants visiting all 16 Spellbinders 5 Year Anniversary Celebration Sneak Peeks Blog reveals and correctly entering their information into the 16 separate drawings, as described below, will automatically be entered into a GRAND PRIZE give away of a full set of all 28 NEW RELEASE dies debuting at the Winter Craft and Hobby Association Show in Anaheim, California, on January 25-28, 2009!

Rules

Any participant wishing to be included in the daily drawing for the Spellbinders Birthday Celebration Sneak Peek die give away must adhere to all of the following rules:

1. Participant must click on the provided link on Reveal blog to enter each individual drawing on sneak peeks between January 5 and January 20, 2009.

2. Participant must type in the subject line the name of the die being revealed.

3. Participant must send their entry for this blog before 12:00 midnight Central Standard Time on January 14, 2009.

4. Participant is only allowed to enter each of the 16 Spellbinders sneak peek blog give away drawings one time per sneak peek. Participant must use the same email address daily to be considered for grand prize entry, no exceptions. Please consider whether you will have access to the same e-mail address from January 5th through the 20th and plan accordingly.

5. Spellbinders Design Team members and employees are not eligible for drawings.
Any participant wishing to be automatically entered into the drawing for the Spellbinders 5 Year Anniversary Celebration Sneak Peek Grand Prize drawing, must enter the drawing from all of the 16 blog reveals and follow all the above rules.

Please note:

*Spellbinders will only use email information to contact the winner.

*Spellbinders will not share this email address with any other parties.

*Spellbinders will not use this email information for advertisements or communications
other than to contact the winner.

*If you wish to be included in further communications from Spellbinders, please go to their homepage SpellbindersPaperArts.com and sign up SpellbindersPaperArts.com for their newsletter.

If you have any questions regarding the contest, please e-mail ContestQuestions@spellbinders.us

To enter the Spellbinders 5 Year Anniversary drawing.

The Drawing for my blog has ended.

(If you use an e-mail client that does not work with this pop-up box, you may copy and paste this address to send your entry to: ContestDay9@spellbinders.us

For more Spellbinders product release information to http://www.spellbinderspaperarts.com/

Thanks for stopping by to help me wish Spellbinders a Happy Anniversary and to share some of my excitement over these great new die template sets, Spellbinders S4-194 Large Classic Inverted Scalloped Circles AND S4-195 Small Classic Inverted Scalloped Circles.

Shadow Box ATC

2009-01-11T11:03:00.000-08:00

Shadow Box ATC I first published these in an article I wrote for Altered Arts Magazine may/June 2007 called Functional ATC. I cut all the niches with a craft knife, now with spellbinder this process is a snap, making it more practical to make these for a large trade.

Step one
Lay out your dies face up on top of a scrap ATC blank. This ATC black will help you line everything up in the next steps.

Step two
Cut a piece of craft foam (fun foam) to ATC size. Lay this on top of the dies using the ATC black to line them up. Tape in place.

Step three
Cut the patterned paper, using the ATC black to line it up. Don’t forget to tape in place.
Give everything a finished edge by embossing it, if your magnet is thin you will need to have a spacer plate under it, remove that and leave the magnet in place, place the embossing mat on top and run it through the wizard . If you have one of the thicker magnets you’ll need to remove it before you lay the embossing mat on top and run it through the wizard.

Step 4
Make one of the niches make into a shaker box by gluing a piece of transparence to the foam, then glue the pattern paper on top. Inked the edge of the foam with green ink, remember it was red. While still wet place this down on your background, it will leave lines so you know where to stamp. Stamp and ink your background. (stamp by Fancy Pants Designs)

Step 5
Place your shakers into the niche and then glut the background on. A side note: Glue comes out of the bottle much better if the lid is off, I’ve now done the research on this and the findings are conclusive.

Step 6 Fill the niches with tiny treasures. Die cut the bird from a stamped piece of shrink plastic. Stamped it with brown Staz-on then flipped it over and colore it with Coptic markers. The little flowers and brads are from Creative Impressions. And the butterfly is a Czech glass bead.

In Memory of Howard Hupke

2009-01-10T16:36:00.000-08:00

Loss of Self In Memory of Howard Hupke

I was going to post steps on how to make the shadow box ATC and as I was working on those I got a phone call that my grandfather has passes away. I made this scrapbook page after taking him to the zoo last summer. To anyone with a family member with Alzheimer’s disease my heart goes out to you, it’s a hard road to travel.

This is my journaling
Loss of Self:Grandpa is a very strong man; he has always worked hard physical labor as an airplane mechanic. He’s always told great stories that left a little mystery about his past. He loves to talk, coffee and desert, well any kind of food and to work on stuff, whether it’s around the house or fixing up old airplanes. When this photo was taken it was the last time he remembered my name. You see, Alzheimer is stealing him from us a little bit at a time. He is a different person than the happy talkative person that I had known. Today he is quiet, asking the same questions over and over. He is scared or angry wondering who we are and why are we keeping him here. It is a hard thing to see the person that you love and to know that he has loss of himself.

ATC with Spellbinders

2009-01-08T05:42:00.000-08:00

Artist Trading Cards

I love trading ATC. I get to collect art from all my favorite artist. Any medium is welcome the only rule is the size, the same size as a base ball trading card (2 ½ by 3 1/2 ). I have ATC made from fabric by my quilter friends and paper by scrapbooking friend, stamp, beaded, made from metal, painted, collaged, photographed and the list goes on and on.

Not only are they great to receive they are a blast to make. The size makes them easy and very cheep to make. I created all these ATC’s using only 4 sheets of cardstock and 4 sheets of printed paper.

I embossed an alphabet brass stencil (it's very old I don't know where I got it) onto green cardstock, this is very easy to do in the wizard. I cut/embossed spellbinders S4 130 Classic Rectangles and sm S4 131 Classic Scallop Rectangles from some pattern paper, green cardstock and off white cardstock. The stamp is from Rubbernecker Stamps, which i stamped first in green then slightly off set in black. A spellbinders doodle was cut/ embossed out of copper cardstock. Add s finishing touch of a ribbon.

I’ll tell you how to do a few more of these tomorrow.

2009-01-08T05:26:00.000-08:00

I’m getting ready for Valentine’s Day. This is a great card for all my Valentines friends, sending them a big hug. I used spellbinders Nestabilities hearts to cut some decorative paper scraps I purchased in a pound package. The colors were not right so I sprayed them with color wash by Ranger. The background started as white cardstock that I also sprayed with Color Wash and while still wet I sprinkled Pearl Ex onto it. The Hugs was cut from a spellbinders die also, after embossing I left it in the die and presses an embossing ink pad into the embossing space. I then removed it from the die and sprinkled it with embossing powder and heated.

Spellbinders Blog Party

2009-01-04T10:38:00.000-08:00

Chance to win a complete set of all new release die templates valued at more than $600, plus a daily progressive prize! For all the details see http://spellbinderspaperarts.com/blog/spellbinders-5th-anniversary-blog-party/

Visit the blogs listed below to see a sneak peak of the new release dies, I've seen them and they are all on my wish list. The prototype I got to play with are amazing, I can’t wait to show you what I’ve done with them.

JANUARY 5: Thinking Inking by Debbie Olson
JANUARY 6: Mish Mash by Michelle Wooderson
JANUARY 7: Today’s Creations by Holly Craft
JANUARY 8: Walkin’ on the BAD side by Sherry Cheever
JANUARY 9: Embellished Dreams by Heidi Blankenship
JANUARY 10: Amazing Paper Grace by Becca Feeken
JANUARY 11: Created from Paper by Jennifer Ellefson
JANUARY 12: PaperFection by Sharon Harnist
JANUARY 13: Mixed Media Madness by Jeni Calkins
JANUARY 14: Wickedly Wonderful Creations by Wendy Weixler
JANUARY 15: Cookies for Breakfast by Beth Pingry
JANUARY 16: Pink Lemonade by Keri Lee Sereika (link is all better now)
JANUARY 17: Inky Heart by Sally Lynn MacDonald
JANUARY 18: Donya Schroeder by Donya Schroeder
JANUARY 19: Linda’s Works of Heart by Linda Duke
JANUARY 20: Follow Your Bliss by Trudee Sauer

bright eyes layout

2009-01-04T10:15:00.000-08:00

My layout and corrugated cardboard and embossing powered technique is featured on the Spellbinder Blog.

I love the look of corrugated cardboard it gives everything such great texture. It also fits my re-use instead of throw away philosophy. This cardboard was packaged with some cardstock I purchase. I haven’t used all the cardstock yet but for that packaging material I found a quick use.

This is an altered book I used corrugated cardstock, I also used brown paper bags, die cut soda cans and bottle caps.

My favorite part of Christmas

2008-12-28T15:30:00.000-08:00

Is the day after Christmas. The kids are home playing with their new toys. The work of the holidays is done; time to put my feet up and enjoy the family.

This is a box I made using the spellbinders die Abstract Mosaic to cut all the paper tiles. I then glued them on with Aleene’s Tack-It glue, filling in the open spots with gold leaf. The hole box was covered in 2 coats of Liquid Laminate.

Spellbinder’s is having their design team search. This last year on the design team has been great fun.

the pawns

2008-12-13T16:14:00.000-08:00

The pawns on the black side all started with a plastic frog. They were then placed on a base, this pawns is on some plastic peas from my daughter’s grocery store. The top is a little plastic squid glue upside down. My kids were all very much into making this chess set out of their toys; they didn’t want any of these toys anymore. They all helped with the painting and assemblage of the pieces.

Re-use Mc Donald’s Toys

2008-12-09T08:24:00.000-08:00

As seen in Altered Arts Magazine:

I guess I have to admit it, I take my kids to Mc Donald’s, I am addicted to their iced coffees. I get to enjoy reading a magazine or actually having a conversation with my husband, while the kids play; a perfect way to spend a Saturday morning. With each of the kid’s meals they get a toy, once in a while it is something they like but most of the time it is quickly discarded. Well, you know me, I can’t throw anything away so I cut the toys up and glue them back together and created a chess set for my oldest son.

Custom made chess sets available for sale

Check back because I’ll show more photos and describe how I made it.

Creating your own background paper using color washes.

2008-12-07T07:59:00.000-08:00

Happy Winter Holidays
Winter in the Sonoran desert means I get to enjoy the outdoors as the sun is shinning and it is about 60 degrees. A great time to go outside and get messy creating some custom background paper. This is a great way to use up scrap paper. The star on this card was made from left over photo paper that I had after printing a few photos. I sprayed it with color washes and sprinkled it with Pearl ex. The background was a scrap of white cardstock.

The dies used are Spellbinders Stars, Long scalloped Rectangles, and Long Rectangles. the stamp is from Rubber Necker Stamp Company.

Reuse

2008-11-21T12:54:00.000-08:00

Reuse and reduce your ecological footprint. I think that is important but I also like the way those things we have laying around look when included into art work. Using packaging material is a great way to add texture and interest to artwork. The butterfly was cut from corrugated cardboard using the wizard embossing system. The background is made from a piece of screen and burlap. The text was printed on an old math book page, and some old washer made a great embellishment.

Cover of Altered Arts Magazine

2008-11-13T16:46:00.000-08:00

My Snowflake book appears on this month’s cover of Altered Arts Magazine.
There are stepped out photos of the techniques I used in the article. My opalized fantasy film technique is used in the book. I’ll post the directions to that one soon.

Welcome

2008-11-13T13:37:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Jeni’s Mixed Media Madness. I’m a mixed media artist My artwork is about texture and color; I produce work to draw the viewer into the piece, calling out to be touched and encouraging the viewer to interact with it in some way. I enjoy working with paints, inks, metal, trash (recycled treasures), stamps, photos, clay, fiber – ok, I guess I’ve never met an artistic medium I didn’t like.