More Altering Fun with Dixie Belle Paints

Welcome to the DIYDesignStudios Blog!  
I am so glad to see you again. 

Today I have for you a work in progress, otherwise known as a WIP.  I am very excited about this project as it is a bit of a collab.  I will be creating an altered junk journal using DIYDesignStudio.com supplies as well as AlteredPages.com goodies.  Please see the supply list at the end of this post to find what you need to make a creation of your own. Here is a little tease.....

I began my project with a leather bound vintage law book that was about 800 pages long!  We eventually are going to remove tons of vintage paper from this book, some to be used on this project and some to save for literally 100's of other uses in altered art and mixed media projects for a later time. 

First a couple layers of Dixie Belle Paint in Chocolate. 

I then added a few paper embellishments consisting of torn bits of vintage pages from this very book.   This was de coupaged on with glue that had been tinted with the Chocolate Dixie Belle chalk paint.  I added more glue/paint mixture here and there to add 

dimension with lights and darks.  I allowed this layer to dry thoroughly.  I also added bits of collage from AlteredPages.com, 

which can be found here.  I found in the One of a Kind  catagory the great grid paper.  You just never know who you will find in the one of a kind catagory.  

Next, I added a bit of dimension with a stencil and Swamp Mud texture medium.  I used Chocolate and Dried Sage Dixie Belle Paint to tint the Swamp Mud.  It was then applied over the Compass Rose (small) stencil using a palette knife directly to the book cover.  I then added Dixie Belle Paint in Gulf for some pretty highlights.  I just used the tip of my finger to add the beautiful Gulf color here and there, where ever I wanted.  I just kept adding Chocolate and Gulf to add the dimension that I was after all the while using my finger as the tool of choice. 

After giving the whole project a good once over with the heat gun, I added a Giant Tag that I had in my stash.  This is when I value my "make it for future use" pile.  The tag needed a bit of color tho, Gulf chalk paint to the rescue adding that all important "pop".  A few pretty fibers were added and then I attached it to the journal cover using Tacky Glue. 

And, here is the cover of my Junk Journal.  I am so looking forward to filling this bad boy up.  As mentioned above this is a collab project so watch for instructions later on the Alteredpages blog on January 20th for more progress.  I will address how to deal with different bindings and signatures and how to go about removing sections of pages to avoid that dreaded alligator mouth look to your completed journal after adding all of those goodies we all LOVE!  

Here is a sneak peak at that....

removing approximately 12 pages per signature,

many times over within an 800 page book, 

creating space for journal and pocket pages. 

Thanks again for joining me today. 

Please check back next Wednesday to see what our designers have in store for you using Dixie Belle products. 

Again, mark your calendar for January 20th and check the AlteredPages.com blog 

when I will be posting my progress on this 

labor of love vintage law book/junk journal.

Have a great day! 

~ Stef  S.

DIY Design Studio
Dixie Belle Paints
Altered Pages
Vintge books
Palette tools
Glue
Ranger brayers
Embellishments and fibers
tags manila

DIY Watercolour Cards

The Altered Pages Design Team is preparing another month of treats for you.  This month we are working with the theme of Peace, Kindness and Love.  You can never have enough really, right? 

So, in keeping with that I have a creative, easy and quick project for you today that is totally worthy of gift giving.  I am AGAIN working with my true love, watercolour.  I will show you how I incorporated watercolor with collage, paper packs and embellishments.  

I seem to always be in the need for a greeting card of some sort, Birthday, Congratulations, etc.  So, today I have for you a couple sweet cards that can be whipped up in no time thanks to Altered Pages. 

My first card started with a theme chosen from a prepared paper  pack, handpainted watercolor background, custom seam binding (dredged in the remaining watercolor paints used to paint the background) and a sweet sentiment from one of many of the Glitz 6x6 paper pads then applied.  

Using the envelope as my template I added coordinating paper from the Glitz paper pack to customize the inset of my envelope.  Just use the envelope as a template and you can retrofit any theme or color you desire.

   

   

Aww, they match perfectly.

Now, on to the next card and coordinating envelope...

This background was created with watercolour pinks and greens as well as some chalk paint in Vintage.

Fussy cut collage images from the Shabby Chic digital collage were then added (did you know that you can print and print and print when you order digital). 

I added a bit of border in that same chalk paint in Vintage to the outer edge of the card front of the card. 

 I then attached the water colour background. 

 And, then the shabby chic collage images...

 And here are the final cards with coordinating envelopes. 

I hope you are inspired to make your own greeting cards.  It really is easy as pie with original supplies from Altered Pages!

Thanks for stopping by. 

Steph S. 

Alteredpages.com
Misc paints and inks
Pipettes for filling water brushes with inks, etc.
Waterbrushes
Dyeable Seam Binding
Glitz 6x6 paper pads in 77
Glitz 6x6 paper pads in Carpe Diem
Shabby Chic collage image
Multiple adhesive tools

Double Duty Holiday Blocks

Happy Eve of Christmas Eve!  

I love this time of year.  I know it can get crazy busy, but there is just something magical in the air, IMHO.   

I wanted to make one more handmade gift over the last week or so. So, I decided on an ATB (Artist Trading Block) project.  

This is a great double duty gift.  By that I mean it can be displayed with all of your Christmas decor and continued to be loved until VALENTINE'S DAY! Yes, just rotate the blocks for a whole new look.  This is an all skill level project as well - bonus! 

With Altered Pages carrying everything you need from kits to embellishments, this is easily completed in a few hours (including drying time). 

   

In the above picture you can see that my blocks have been painted black using craft paint - you can use whatever color, sheen or finish you desire.  
Choose your background paper.  With your block as a template, cut paper to size.   I inked the paper a bit with a black ink pad.  Don't worry about being precious with this...go ahead get inky.  I think it adds a lot of charm.  

Give each block a bit of a sand or a lot of a sanding if you want more distress. Then add a coat of Tacky Glue or matte medium to the front of your block to decoupage and add your paper.  

   

Seriously, already come the final touches...letters, embellishments, etc. and you are almost done.  Altered Pages has so many papers and images to choose from.  Choose the digital collage option and you can easily resize to fit your needs.   Here is one... 

The JOY letters that I used were from a rich red paper that was run through my Silhouette.  I then added a few fussy cut holly berries, red, green and white twine and a few other details. 
Now, flip those blocks around and....
My LUV letters were printed on vintage text page run through my printer.  They were then glued to my base paper.  I used an embossed Kaiser Craft 6x6 paperpack.   Can you see those sweet little hummingbirds?  

   

With letters or images adhered to blocks with charms, crowns and wooden treats for extra sweetness you have a sweet homemade gift that can enjoy the spotlight for more than just one holiday.  

Flip side...

Thanks for stopping by.

I am honored to be included with this 

inspiring group of women and artists. 

I wish you all a very 

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza. 

~Stephanie 

Supply list...

Artist Trading Blocks set of 3 

ATB Fall Blocks Kit with fall veggies

Glitz 6x6 paperpack - Hello December  this was used for the chevron Joy background. 

Twine Spools - red, green & white

Altered Art Pack for fun embellishments

KaiserCraft 6x6 paperpack - Hummingbird  this was used for the pink LUV background

Laser Cut Wood Keys 

Vintage Text Pages

Leather Bound Books  

Dimensional adhesives

Craft paints, inks, mists...

Many Uses Vintage Christmas Tree

Wow, December 2nd...how is this year almost over already?!?!  It truly is crazy how time flies, well, I guess it is easy to see that times flies when you are having fun creating.  That is what I have been doing lately, with the help of Alteredpages.com.  I actually had a little help this time around from Diydesignstudio.com as well.  Scroll along and see what I came up with. 

I grabbed one of the adorable wood and chicken wire trees from DIY Design Studio and gave the entire tree a coat of craft paint in purple. 

I then gave it a light dry brushing with chalk paint in cream.  The tree is 15 inches tall and makes a wonderful statement piece.   

   

I then gave the entire tree a bit of sanding to distress it and reveal the wood grain below.    I also added two coats of Dixie Belle satin clear coat sealer  from DIY Design Studio.

   

 Next, came embellishments consisting of lace, cup chain, jewelry pieces, beads and crystals.  

All embellishments were added using Crystal Lacquer.

The crystals and jewelry pieces came in a great jewelry pack full of all sorts of
goodies.  You could use rustic colors and embellishments too.   Maybe include wooden ornaments or beads.

   

I finished the piece by wiring the crystals and beads onto a beautiful trim. 

I also added a skeleton key that I had in my stash.

You can coordinate any colors to match your theme. 

I attached the trim to the back of tree where you won't see the mechanics of it.

   

These trees are a great starting base for many cute projects.

You could add mini clothespins to attach your Christmas cards  to the chicken wire and how cute of a display would that be?  You could choose white on white on white for a shabby look.  Metallics are always a great color choice for Christmas crafts.   They even come with a jute hanger already attached.

You can find everything you need at Alteredpages.com.

Thanks for joining me.

Have a great weekend!

~Stephanie

Watercolour Fall Foliage Tag

Happy Friday, gang!  We made it!  Another week tackled, yay us!!

Now, for some crafting fun.   Today, I have for you a "mostly" quick fall foliage tag that would make a great addition to a hostess gift or greeting card.  And, we all know there is an endless need for those quick little gifties this time of year. 

I am keeping with my trend for this month and that is water colour. In my post a couple weeks ago I decided to get back to what I truly love and that is painting with watercolours making a pointsettia tag. And, here that is below.  

I am keeping with that trend today.  And, you will see that both of my posts involve tags.  I think most of us love tags because the size makes them manageable. Even if you want to get really intricate a tag is still a type of project that can be completed in an hour, an evening, etc. 

Let's get going.......
I began with a page from my Dylusions Journal. Did you know you can just create on that wonderful paper and rip that page right out of your journal to use however you want?   Yes, you can.   And, for some of you wondering, no, this is not 300 pound cold pressed watercolour paper.  However, for this application it is just fine. 

 So, I began with a quick sketch. 

Don't be too heavy handed as you will 

need to erase most of your pencil marks 

so they don't show through your final image. 

Then, begin applying your watercolour.  

Give your image some dimension by adding darks and lights. 

Next, I choose the tag/s.  These were tags where the background was previously created with the forethought that they would someday be used for something great.  The green tag was done with multiple shades of mists and inks after "wrinkling" the tag. 

The amber tag was created with multiple shades of golds and amber ink pads applied directly onto the tag.  You can see that there is also a stamped image of the Eiffel Tower...sorry today we only need the background.  Paris, you will have to wait. 

I then adhered the green tag to the gold tag using 3/8 inch double side tape.  I added a few pieces of beautiful ribbon fibers and seam binding that I dyed with coordinating inks.  Next, came attaching the fall leaf to the tag.   I did this by applying Zig 2 Way Glue Pen to the back of the leaf.  This makes those small intricate cuts adhere perfectly.   

Attach this beautiful tag to a wine bottle, tea towel or gift basket and you will certainly convey how Thankful you are for your Holiday Hostess. 

I hope you enjoyed this little tag!  I 100% enjoyed playing with my true love, watercolour, in a quick way that tackles multiple uses. Gotta love painting therapy for me 

and a hostess gift for someone special.  

Thanks so much for joining me.  

Stephanie Siatta 

for the

Altered Pages Design Team

Here is a quick supply list....

Dylusions Journal - small

Watercolor Supplies

Double side tape

Zig 2 Way glue pen

Fine Line Glue

Embellishments, Ribbons & Trims  

Getting Back To My True Love - Watercolor

Well, Hi there! 

Welcome to the Altered Pages Blog.  I am happy you stopped by.   This month the Design Team will be focusing mostly on the Holidays coming up.  Today, I decided to combine that goal with a medium that I truly love...watercolor.  I love all types and styles of art, but when it comes to making my heart happy I love to paint and watercolor is my medium of choice for painting.  It is definite therapy for my soul. 

So, I whipped up a quick Poinsettia tag that I can incorporate into a card, gift bag or mixed media project.  Here it is...I hope you like it. A supply list will be at the end of the post. 

I started with an oversized tag and used a mossy green and truffel Salazar ink to colorize the background.  Then, I sketched my basic outline of a poinsettia.  

Next, I started layering my watercolors...and layering and layering. 

   

Once I was happy with all of the lights and shadows I added some pretty ribbons and it is ready for its next phase.  I am not sure what that will be, but it will be perfect for adding to a hostess gift or card.  I can stamp on it or just sign and date it.  We will have to see...

I really love the watercolor kits that Altered Pages has.  I always keep a sketch and paint kit ready to go when traveling or if I know I am going to have some time on my hands.  I can grab a little journal or a tag, get out my watercolor pencils, a couple water brushes and I am ready to create.  I also love the AP logo canvas tote. It is large enough to hold all of my goodies and sturdy to stand the test of time. 

Thanks again for stopping by.  Please leave me a comment so I know you were here.  Be sure to check back all month long and see what we have up our sleeve next.  

~Stephanie 

Supply List - 
Alteredpages.com
Mixed Media Salazar Iinkx - Mossy
Mixed Media Salazar Inkx - Truffle
Watercolor paints, inks, etc.
Watercolor Pencil Tin
Watercolor Pencil Mini Set
Aqua Flo Water Brushes
Waterbrushes
Pipettes
Tag
Ribbons and Trims
AP Logo Canvas Tote