Monday, November 12, 2012

Love builds a garden.

Authentique is debuted its newest collection on Friday. It's all about love, and PINK. I made this project as a part of our Authentique-LoveMyTapes cross-promo last week and wanted to share it with you here.


I created the flowers with a couple of different techniques. For all of the flowers, I covered one side of a square of paper with washi tape - sometimes I covered the whole paper, sometimes I left stripes of paper for added texture. For the daisies and other petal forms, I used the "Tattered Flowers" die from Sizzix. For the roses, I used my favorite cut and twirl technique.For added texture and shine, I spritz some of the flowers with Goosebumps Shimmer Texture Spray.


I used more washi tape to create the stems - twisting it around florist's wire, and wrapping leaves in as I went.


Authentique always creates fabulous sticker sheets to coordinate with the papers, and I used the trims to decorate the jar. Washi tape twisted around itself creates great twine. 


I had a great time playing with tape - it's something I haven't tried before and it's a great product! So versatile and easy to work with. Be sure to visit the Love My Tape site to see what their design team is making with our papers.

~ Products Used ~
"Lovely" - Authentique
Washi tapes #880, #383 - Love My Tape
Tattered Flowers and Mini Leaves dies - Sizzix
Goosebumps - Imagine Crafts

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Going to the dogs...

Today is my turn to join the fabulous Authentique-Canvas Corp. Blog Hop. I'm so excited to share this project with you today, which literally.....went to the dog!

Daisy is my special Saint. She's got the best expressions, and she's such an original. Which means she's perfect for Authentique's "Original Collection".
To create the shadowbox effect, I used the backside of the "Stretched Canvas" and "Stretched Burlap" mini-canvases, and covered the edges with paper and more burlap. 
For the roses, I cut a circle of burlap, and used the pre-made "Canvas Minis" circles. I cut a spiral in each and twirled away. The leaves are cut from more burlap, free-hand.
To create the burlap ruffle, I took 1" wide strips cut from a 12x12 "Burlap Fabricpage" and crunched and glued them around the edge of the canvas back.

~ Products Used ~
"Original" - Authentique Paper
12x12 Burlap Fabricpage
6x6 and 2x2 Stretched Canvas
4x4 Stretched Burlap
Burlap Minis rectangles
Canvas Minis circles
1 Authentic Saint Bernard

Monday, October 29, 2012

Off to the pumpkin patch


Happy Monday everyone! It's been a while since I've posted - life sometimes throws us curve balls. But things are settling down now and it's time to get crackin! Below is my post for Authentique's "Pinspired Monday" - today's project was a lot of fun to create, and I hope it inspires you to created some seasonal fun!
~ Pinspired Monday ~

My project today was inspired by my love of Halloween, and especially pumpkins!

And my Pinspiration was this wonderful paper pumpkin from whipperberry

So off I went to my paper stash and pulled out "Enchanted" and go to work.

I loved how simple this project really was. Wet paper strips, twist into sticks and let set. For the thinner strips I twisted the paper around florist's wire for more strength. The great thing is that Authentique's paper is nice and thick, so water is all that's needed to make it pliable and to "set". Other sites used ModgePodge for this project but I didn't need it! 

Once all the paper twists were ready, I pulled out the hot glue gun and started attaching the twists to a stem. Round and round and some singed fingertips later and I was done! The curly stems are paper wrapped around florist wire, then twisted around a pen for better curl.

I hope you are inspired to create your own magic pumpkin this Halloween. And don't forget that pumpkins are great for Thanksgiving too, and "Thankfully" Authentique has the perfect paper for that too!

~ Products used ~
Enchanted paper collection

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Halloween Under Glass



I love my Petaloos - so doing an Authentique and Petaloo cross-promo was so exciting!
When I received my promo box the butterflies immediately caught my eye. The gorgeous deep orange - just the right shade to compliment our Enchanted paper. But what to make..
Then I remembered seeing vintage mounted insects in a museum book and voila!
Halloween Under Glass

I used paper from Enchanted, and two different dies from Tim Holtz's Sizzix Alterations to create the tiny branch. It's delicate enough for the daintiest butterfly.


Around the base is florist's moss and more Petaloos - this time their hydrangeas in black and orange. Some twists of different black ribbons and a scientific label finish off this spookily beautiful little piece.

Products Used:
Authentique- Enchanted Collection: 12x12 Details Sticker, "Spellbound" 12x12 paper
Petaloo- Orangeade Velvet Hydrangeas, Black Velvet Hydrangeas, Orangeade Velvet Butterflies,
Sizziz Alterations - Fleur and Fall Garland

Monday, September 3, 2012

Pinspired Haunted Treehouse

Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday. Ghosties, goblins, bat and cats, boney feet and witches hats. Who can resist?? Not me!

Authentique has started a "Pinspired Monday" series, where each designer finds inspiration on Pinterest, and uses it to create a project. So off I went to Pinterest and this is what I found - a haunted house!


Which led me to create...
a haunted treehouse!

The treehouse itself is built with a Configuration cabinet, lined with papers from our Enchanted line. Once the sections are covered in paper and the edges covered with paper tape the real fun begins - creating each scene!

The Apothecary's Shoppe is my favorite. I loved mixing potions and poisons for these tiny bottles.


All of the potion bottles have labels made with stickers from the Enchanted collection.  
I used a combination of different things to fill each one. 

~ Allow 24 hours for the bottles that use Glossy Accent in them to set properly. ~
~ Sand and distress the stickers before adhering them to the bottles for extra creepiness ~ 
~ Rub ink on the corks to make those look older too ~

~ Potion Recipes ~

"Poison"
"Slate" alcohol ink
Glossy Accent
cat litter
~ pour a small amount of Glossy Accent in the bottle and add cat litter. 
~ twist and turn the bottle to mix and coat the inside of the glass
~ add a few drops of alcohol ink
~ twist and turn the bottle to mix
~ set bottle on its side to set, occasionally turning the bottle to remix and smear the sides

"Witch's Brew" 
"Red Pepper" alcohol ink
Glossy Accent
~ pour a small amount of Glossy Accent in the bottle
~ add a few drops of alcohol ink
~ twist and turn the bottle to mix
~ set bottle on its side to set, occasionally turning the bottle to remix and smear the sides

"Eye of Spider"
Black Sparkly Fluff
~ tip a small amount of Sparkly Fluff into the bottle 

"Beware" vapor
"Meadow" alcohol ink
cotton ball
~ add a few drops of alcohol ink
~ twist and turn the bottle to coat the sides of the bottle
~ put a small amount of glue on the inside lip of the bottle
~ attach a small amount of cotton from the cotton ball
~ hold in place and lightly pull to make wisps

~ Products Used ~
Paper - Enchanted - Authentique
Configuration Cabinet - Tim Holtz
Wooden Tree - Kaisercraft
Black acrylic paint
Black embossing powder
Assorted tiny bottles with corks
Bird Cage - Idea-ology
Crows
Skeleton

Friday, August 17, 2012

hickory dickory dock!



this week authentique paper and basically bare are having a little get-together. i received some really whimsical kits from basically bare and was immediately inspired to create a special nursery canvas.


i started with a 9x12 canvas board and painted the edges with brown acrylic. then i tore and roughed up a sheet from authentique's "lively" collection and glued it in place.

the clock and owl are kits from basically bare. i used glue&seal to adhere papers to the bare pieces, then sanded the edges. a little bling and "hootie" the owl is ready to sigh, "there he goes".


i have lots of chipboard letters that belong to different paper collections, none of which matched the papers. so i chose the letters for the title, painted them all with brown acrylic and then flocked them with brown "sparkly fluff" from the craft lounge.


there goes that mouse again...
i used a piece from basically bare's flower kit to create the mouse. a googly eye and a curly wire tail and he's off and running.


thanks for stopping by the caravan today and be sure to stop by again!

~ materials ~
basically bare - clock, owl and flower kits
authentique paper - "lively" collection
the craft lounge - sparkly fluff
bits of this and that

Monday, July 23, 2012

Christmas in July tutorial

Merry Christmas Gypsies!
"What's that?" you ask? "Isn't this only July?"
Well yes it is. But all last week Authentique was celebrating Christmas in July - highlighting our new holiday paper collection "Festive".

I had so much fun celebrating, that I couldn't stop! So I went a little crazy and created a "festive" paper chain. And because I was having so much fun with that, I made a video tutorial to help you get in the Christmas-in-July-spirit! 




~ materials ~
Festive Collection - Authentique
Garnet and Peridot Glitter - Martha Stewart Crafts
Tiny Attacher - Tim Holtz Idea-ology

thanks for stopping by the caravan and be sure to come again soon!

Sunday, July 22, 2012

and the winner is...

thank you gypsies for visiting the blog this week. the contest winner this time is

loris van ark

loris visited and commented every day this week! thanks so much loris. please email me at suburbngypsycaravan@gmail.com with your address.

loris won 3 6x6 authentique paper bundles including the new "essentials" bundle, and a whole bunch of bling from want2scrap!



tomorrow is a very exciting day at the caravan. i'll be launching my very first video tutorial! be sure to stop by for the "festive-ities"


Friday, July 20, 2012

CHA-cha-CHA day 5

hello gypsies,
it's been a melancholy day, as i watch the events roll out in colorado. and while i did promise a new exciting blog post each day and fabulous prizes, today seems to call for something quieter and more reflective. so i thought i would post the page layout and card that i sent to CHA. both about life and beauty and love.

"enjoy life and the beauty of living" ~ card ~ "lively" collection


"bee" carefree



my little cupcake queen ~ layout ~ "carefree" collection


the little cupcake is hand cut and "sprinkled" with stickles

thank you for visiting today. don't forget to leave a comment! and come back tomorrow for the last day of CHA reveals! and give your loved ones an extra hug tonight.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

CHA-aaaah-CHA day 4

welcome gypsies to the haunted caravan! as many of you know, halloween is my all time favorite holiday. and to celebrate i thought it only fitting to create something very special with authentique's new halloween collection "enchanted"

behold the haunted treehouse


got a headache? visit the apothecary


fair tribute to lost lenore


quoth the raven ...


"mommy there's something under my bed!"


to make the tree extra spooky i embossed it with black embossing powder and tim holtz's wood grain stamp. delish!


~  materials  ~
"enchanted" papers, quotables and sticker embelishments by authentique
configuration cabinet, wood grain stamp - tim holtz
family tree - kaisercraft
black embossing powder and acrylic paint

 *** TRICK OR TREAT ***
visit the caravan and leave a comment to get entered in a fabulous drawing! 
the more you visit and comment, the more chances you have to win!
the prize package includes 6x6 authentique paper bundles and some nifty extras to inspire your own creations! 
the winner will be announced on july 22!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

CHA-cha-CHA day 3


*** CHA-cha-CHA CONTEST ALERT ***

visit the caravan and leave a comment to get entered in a fabulous drawing! 
the more you visit and comment, the more chances you have to win!
the prize package includes 6x6 authentique paper bundles and some nifty extras to inspire your own creations! 
the winner will be announced on july 22!

welcome gypsies! CHA is seriously under way and authentique has been celebrating with "christmas in july" all week on their blog. so i thought i'd share a little of my christmas spirit on mine too!


authentique's new "festive" collection + a canvas = a keepsake of my favorite elf!


this little cutey is on display in the authentique booth this week!



merry christmas to all and to all a good night!
looking for more merriment? stop by the authentique blog for more "festive christmas in july"

~  materials  ~
red 3D glitter gel paint - viva
"festive" paper collection - authentique
twine and tinsel twine
joy!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

CHA-cha-CHA day 2

hi everyone and welcome, or welcome back!

yesterday we believed in faeries.
today life is a bed or roses - or a box of roses. 

don't forget to leave a comment to enter the content. authentique paper bundles plus some special treats will be given out on july 22.


a simple box - the bottom is covered with pages from an old book.


the top is covered in roses


~  materials used  ~
"carefree" and "glory" papers - authentique
red papers - core'dinations

Sunday, July 15, 2012

CHA-cha-CHA

welcome gypsies and happy CHA week! 
for those of you that are new to the caravan, CHA stands for Craft & Hobby Association and this week in IL is the summer show. all this week companies will be sneak peeking their new products, bloggers will be frantically typing their reviews, and many of us will be strutting our stuff - showing off our projects for our design teams.

as a very proud member of authentique's design team, i got to send a big box of projects to the show. and this week i'll be featuring them here on the blog!

*** CHA-cha-CHA CONTEST ALERT ***

visit the caravan and leave a comment to get entered in a fabulous drawing! 
the more you visit and comment, the more chances you have to win!
the prize package includes 6x6 authentique paper bundles and some nifty extras to inspire your own creations! 
the winner will be announced on july 22!

so are you ready gypsies? then away we go!


the book of faeries


a fairy sighs in a secret garden, tucked away


 with trinkets and keepsakes and stolen treasures.


kept company by forest friends


knowing someone somewhere says "yes, i believe in faeries!"

~  materials  ~
"lively" paper collection - authentique
paper mache book box
tiny treasures from tim holtz, maya road, and marion smith for prima