Carey Burns

During the shelter at home, I've been finishing more project including these framed creepy 'family portraits.' Supplies: Metal Frames (these are vintage frames I found at an antique shop) Alcohol Inks (I used Tim Holtz in Botanical, Orange Sunset, Teakwood, Gunmetal, Pitch Black, and Mushroom) Tim Holtz Paper Dolls (I used dolls from a Halloween pack) Scrapbook Paper (I used Tim Holtz paper from a Halloween stack) Distress Marker in Black Soot Distress Ink in Black Soot Distress Spray Stain in Aged Mahogony Duralar (or any other sheet of acetate) Thick backer board (I used a piece of heavy backer board from Tim Holtz packaging) Glue (I used Glossy Accents) Tools: Cotton Swabs Paper Towel Scissors First, I washed both frames to remove any dust or grime and let them dry. I dripped on Botanical, Orange Sunset, and Teakwood alcohol inks on the frames and once dry, I rubbed on Gunmetal with a cotton swab. To make them more tarnished-looking, I swabbed on Pitc...

This week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge   is to make something Christmassy. Seems odd for October, but what can you do?  I had an idea for a vintage plastic reindeer but as I assembled supplies, my idea shifted a bit.  Supplies: Tim Holtz Vignette Tray Yupo Paper Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink in Pitch Black Blending Solution Archival Ink in Jet Black Tim Holtz Tree Line Stamp Vintage Plastic Reindeer Acrylic Paint in Black Glossy Accents Recollections Vintage Glass Golden Glitter - previously dyed with the Alcohol Ink in Pitch Black E6000 I had the alcohol ink background from a previous project. First, I added a pool of Blending Solution to the Yupo paper and then added a few drops of the alcohol ink. I shifted the paper back and forth until about 3/4 of the paper was covered. I added more alcohol ink to make it a bit darker and shifted it again.  Once dry, I added straight black alcohol ink to the white band for the horizon. Afte...

This past Saturday I started crafting around 6 a.m. and didn't stop until well after noon. I wish I had more days like that, but I'll take what I can get! The day started with alcohol inks and an idea - Halloween cards! I chose my favorite spooky colors: lime green, orange, purple, and indigo and then made a band of black to make some creepy landscapes. I have a wonderful Tim Holtz stamp and after trimming the landscapes down, I stamped it on with archival ink.  The ink was faint so I worried it wasn't playing well with the paper or alcohol ink. I tried again. I'd say this time was a success! Next step for these pieces is a nice sealer and then they will become cards. Next, I created a Halloween collage out of Tim Holtz Idea-Ology Curiosities Ephemera , some Bristol board, and Glossy Accents. It was fun trying to make things layer together. Now that it is done, I might make another and frame both for a decoration. We'll see...

I started this blog off staring out at a gray day at a decaying pile of gray snow and wishing I was someplace warm. Someplace not here. Now it is the next morning and I'm cold and tired and still wishing for that someplace else. I've been stalled on a writing project project for too long with nothing new to switch over to, so I've been crafting things. These are alcohol ink dreamscapes that I've completed and I've been searching for something in their faint stars and rippled skies to inspire me. Nothing so far. I've also been working on a necklace for an upcoming raffle. Perhaps the repetitive action of making wrapped loops will put me in a zen enough state where I can see what this character of mine wants. If anything, maybe the creative outlet will just get me out of this funk. Spring is soon, right?