I promised a second look at the suitcase die and here it is.  I decided to use the theme of Tim Holtz Tags.  The outside of the suitcase is a little different because I used TH buckles and brown grosgrain seam binding for straps. The label is from one of TH Ideology packages as is the one inside the lid. The valise is filled with a small tag book and each tag has a different Holtz technique done with Distress Inks, Stains and Paints.  I won't show you each page but I have photographed a sampling.  There are also many of Tim's embellishments and stamps on each page.I absolutely LOVE this die and I know you'll see more projects from me in the future using it.  Hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend! Are you happy about Back To School in your house?!?!?

The Suspense Is Over!!! And the winner is...........................

First thanks to everyone of you who visited and left such kind comments.  You are all winners and I wish I had a prize for each of you.  Unfortunately, there can be only one winner and she is........................MIAMI KEL!  Please email me with your full address including zip code. My email can be found under my profile in the left sidebar.  This package will get mailed today priority mail and should be arriving in 2-3 days.  Congratulations!

 Dar's Crafty Creations http://darscraftycreations.blogspot.com/

Primitive Seasons (Mary) http://primitiveseasons.blogspot.com/

A Mermaids Crafts (Lisa) http://indymermaid.blogspot.com/

Nellies Nest (Diane) http://www.nelliesnest.blogspot.com/

Mulberry Mindy (Mindy) http://www.mulberrymindy.blogspot.com/

Scrap For Joy (Joyce)    http://scrapforjoy.blogspot.com/

PRIMA WINTER!

Our last and final season is Winter.  We're almost done?? Say it isn't so!  But at least in this case, the ending has a happy side.  The various blogs involved in the hop will be awarding their prizes.  On my blog, I'm going to give you the rest of today to post your comments and pick the winner tomorrow morning. I hope this is OK and felt it was only fair to those who might be working and couldn't post early.  Please check back tomorrow to see if you won!

First up is a seasonal winter tag that doesn't scream "Christmas."  The papers used on this tag including the dolls clothing are from S.E.I. that was available about 2 years ago.  It was a soft teal, red, and gray color scheme and I have used the heck out of this paper.  Again, I covered her arms with a shirt to match the tights. The frosty border punch on the bottom and top is from Memory Box. I just love their dies.  The window is from Poppystamps and the scene inside the window is a snowy village from Cuttlebug embossing.  The sentiment, stamped in Encore Green Metallic ink, is from PTI.  I finished her off with some real vintage seam binding we found at my mother in laws when we cleaned out her house.  The glittery plastic snowflakes are from Michaels.  I also used that "faux lace" technique on her skirt with the white dots.  

The next tag is "definitely" Christmas.  The houses background was from the front of a greeting card I received one Christmas.  Yes, I save them too! The vintage images are Tim Holtz and the December 25th sticker is Anna Griffin.  After I was finished, I sprayed the tag lightly with adhesive spray and used trickled on some Mica flakes.

My final project for winter and for the hop is a scrapbook page.I'm not a big scrapbooker but I do occasionally get motivated.  I thought this would be a fitting final project.  The background paper I believe is from Visions of Christmas by K&Co.  Can you tell that company is a favorite?  There's a lot going on on this page to talk about.  Punched border snowflakes are a Martha Stewart punch as is the punched border on the red mat.  The bow in the upper left is two ribbons tied together which perfectly matched the background color!The little flags are topped with a small page of Chritmas music, crowned with a snowflake and the Prima name.  The wings were sprayed with perfect Pearls Sunflower Gold.  The chipboard itself is Dusty Attic.  There's lots of Stickles all over the dolls clothing.  In the upper right hand a gold glittered star shines over all.  I call this page The Heavenly Prima Choir.

Well we've come to the end of our Prima Mixed Media Dolls hop.I want to thank everyone who visited and left such kind comments.  It's very gratifying.  I also want to give a nod to my fellow blog posters.  They are a great bunch of gals and we're spread all over the place geographically and all of us have never met in person but only online.  Isn't the internet wonderful! There is some talk and "rumors" of another hop with a different theme in the fall.  Not sure, just sayin'.....This has been more fun than I imagined when Diane Hover our "fearless leader" asked me to participate.  A special thank you to her.  Love ya' Di!  If you have any questions about the projects on my blog, please feel free to contact me.  My email is under my profile.  I'd love to see the work you do that was inspired by our hop and be sure to share on Pinterest.  Thanks again and enjoy the rest of your summer.  

My First Halloween Post!

I hope I'm not rushing the season as it IS still August but if Mike's and JoAnn can do it why not me?  After debating for over a year, I finally purchased the Sizzix Vintage Suitcase die by Eileen Hull,  This is not to be confused with other suitcase dies which Sizzix makes which are flat.  This is three dimensional.  It's from the line of Scoreboard dies which cut through thicker materials and have the fold lines all ready to go when you cut your die. I cut mine from a material sold by Ellen Hutson called Craft-a-Board.  It's a nice heavy but thin chipboard which goes through my Big Kick like butter.  I thought this would be too small and too hard to assemble...that's why I hesitated.  Boy am I glad I took the plunge.  It's a good size, 4 x 3, and was a snap to assemble.....except the inside flap.  More about that later.

The die sat for a couple weeks.  Meantime, I found this really cool paper at Mike's that looks like vintage leather.  It called out to me for the suitcase.  One sheet made two suitcases.  The lining if you choose to do one is a decorative paper.  Now the first suitcase went together great.  However, there is a flap on the lid, inside, which is supposed to keep the suitcase closed.  Didn't work.  Wrote to Sizzix for advice.  Have not heard back yet.  So rather than waste the suitcase, I made straps for it and did this little Halloween valise! It doesn't open because I wasn't satisfied with how the inside looked anyway and it wouldn't stay shut so, oh well.  I used ribbon I bought at Mike's eons ago to create the straps and added Prima and Recollections flowers and leaves with a little tag by My Minds Eye that says "Happy Haunting."  I think I salvaged it very well.

I made a second one which will be another post.  The reason I wasn't happy with the lining was this.  I lined the first one after it was put together.  WRONG!  Die cut the suitcase.  Die cut the lining.  Die cut the outside paper.  Glue it all together FIRST, then assemble.  Also to keep white edges from showing, before adhering the paper inside and on the front I went all over the edges with a Copic pen that matched the paper.  It worked like a charm! You could also use Distress Ink, Distress Markers or whatever markers or paint you have that matches your paper.  This is a really fun die.  I have another coming with a surprise inside!  Enjoy!

Glorious, Wonderful, Amazing Fall!

Hi everyone!  Are you enjoying the hop so far?  Got any ideas for these stamps in your future?  I find them so easy to be creative with.  You can do so much with them....tags, scrapbooking, canvas, a mini book (REMEMBER: THE DOLLS DON'T HAVE TO BE FULL SIZE), shrinky dinks, bookmarks, etc.  The possibilities, as they say, are endless. Be sure to double click on the images to see them up close.

So this Tuesday finds us at fall, my favorite season of all.  So I went all out with tags for this seasons.  Let's start with back to school.  Lots of embellies on this one.  The tag and all elements are distressed with Vintage Photo applied with an applicator.  The school photo, the box of crayons, the flashcard and the ruler are Tim Holtz.  The schoolroom clock is Recollections.  The little books in the lower right hand corner are from a sheet of dollhouse books to cut out.  I even put print inside!  YOU COULD LOOK FOR PICTURES OF BOOKS IN MAGAZINES OR JUNKMAIL AND PRINT AND CUT THEM TO SIZE.  The back to school letters are faux Scrabble stickers.  I added a collar, cut freehand and the headband is the same paper as the dress.  A matching gingham bow tops it all off.

  

The next tag is sprayed with Dylusions Inks (LOVE those things), blotted off and dried.  Our doll has a dress detailed with Stickles.  All the little details were punches with the exception of the apple which is K&Co.  All the foliage is embossed and distressed.  And I detailed the leaves and pumpkins with a stylus.  She's ready for an autumn gathering.

The third tag jumps into the Halloween season.  A regular Prima tag is covered with a highly embossed scrap of paper (I'm not sure you can tell this from the picture). which I bought on a trip to Lancaster PA years ago.  I have no idea of the manufacturer.  I only bought one sheet (duh!) and wish I had twenty more.  It is just the neatest paper.  The doll is dressed in a small print paper and her shoes are colored with Copics.  The hat was stolen from a sheet of halloween stickers byf K&Co. The tags and Happy Haunting sentiment are Graphic 45.  The little clock (up on the tickets) is from My Minds Eye Lost and Found.  The tickets themselves are Crafty Secrets, which is all digital stamps now.  Boo Hoo!  I loved their rubber.  Everything was edged with Vintage Photo Ink.  TIP: WHILE WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT EDGES, I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT MOST OF THE DOLL PARTS AND EMBELLISHMENTS I EDGE WITH A MARKER OR INK THAT MATCHES THAT PART.  IT'S ANOTHER TRICK TO DISGUISE THOSE WHITE EDGES WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE SHOW ON YOUR FINISHED TAG.  IT GIVES A NICE NEAT APPEARANCE.

My last fall tag is my favorite of all the tags I made for the hop.  Let's hear a big welcome for Bat Lady! Be sure to double click and see this one enlarged.  The Prima tag is covered in an old halloween script paper.  Her bodice and ruffle are a Martha Stewart glittered paper.  The skirt is an embossed black paper, black on black, which is stunning.  The flower is Prima.  The black beaded bling is Recollections.  The brad at the top where the ribbon is is Lost and Found from My Minds Eye.  The bat wings were embellishments from last year's Halloween collection from K&Co. The apothecary tag to the side is Crafty Secrets.  The edges are done is Black Soot ink.  TIP: THE USE OF LOTS OF DIMENSIONALS TO "POP UP' THESE DOLLS ON THE TAGS IS VERY IMPORTANT. THEY SEEM TO FLOAT OVER THE SURFACE.  I USED TWO SIZES AND THICKNESSES OF POP DOTS AND ONE VERY SMALL CIRCULAR ONE FOR AREAS THAT WERE THIN AND TINY AND A LARGER CIRCLE WHICH WAS THICKER THAN MOST FOR THE DOLL ITSELF AND LARGE EMBELLISHMENTS.  ALSO GET INTO THE HABIT OF ALLOWING YOUR LARGE EMBELLISHMENTS HANG OFF OF THE TAGS HERE AND THERE.  IT ADDS SOME WOW FACTOR!

Well that does it for me for fall.  Hop to Lisa's blog to see her offerings and don't forget to comment for a chance at my blog candy (see post below) to be awarded on August 27th.  Next Tuesday we will end our hop with Winter (and I might do something different than tags for a change (wink!).  See you then!

 Dar's Crafty Creations http://darscraftycreations.blogspot.com/

Primitive Seasons (Mary) http://primitiveseasons.blogspot.com/

A Mermaids Crafts (Lisa) http://indymermaid.blogspot.com/

Nellies Nest (Diane) http://www.nelliesnest.blogspot.com/

Mulberry Mindy (Mindy) http://www.mulberrymindy.blogspot.com/

Scrap For Joy (Joyce)    http://scrapforjoy.blogspot.com/

Summer is Here!

Summer time is in full swing and I have two Prima tags to celebrate!  The first shows one of our Prima dolls in her garden.  Her dress is an old SU paper and THE TRIM IS JUST DOTS OF WHITE PAINT TO MIMIC LACE. The large flower is Recollections in a pot from Papertrey Ink.  All the stentiments including the ones on the tags are PTI.  The seed packets are an old K&Co. line along with the bee in the upper right corner. I THINK THE BEST TIP I LEARNED DOING THESE DOLLS IS THIS.  I AM NOT GOOD WITH AN EXACTO KNIFE.  WHEN CUTTING OUT THE DOLLS I JUST CONTINUE TO CUT BETWEEN THE FEET, OR LEGS, OR BETWEEN THE ARMS AND BODY. THEN YOU CONTINUE TO CUT OUT THOSE LITTLE AREAS WHICH ARE HARD OTHERWISE.  WHEN YOU PLACE YOUR DOLL DOWN, JUST USE A LITTLE GLUE OR SMALL DIMENSIONAL ACROSS THE JOIN.  YOU'LL NEVER NOTICE IT ON THE FINISHED TAG.  NO MORE FUSSY CUTTING OF INSIDE PARTS.

My second tag has a picnic theme.  NOTE: THIS DOLL IS THE EASIEST OF ALL TO CUT OUT.  If you're just starting with these stamps, she'd be a good one to start with.  Her dress and background paper are from Alphabet Junction by Carta Bells, the 6 x 6 pad.  Cupcakes and sentiment were from a pack of stickers I picked up in Michaels dollar bin (now the $1.50 bin!) a long time ago.  The little lunch box is a Lockhart stamp.  Whenever you order from Ellen Hutson, she send a little colored stamp image as a thank you along with a yard of ribbon.  I save those images to use on other projects.  A little bling of a butterfly perches in the top left of the tag.

Jump on over to see Lisa to see more great projects with those wonderful stamps.  Don't forget to leave a comment, become a Follower, or comment about our hop on your blog.  Each of those will win you a chance at winning my blog candy (shown in the first post).  And be sure not to miss next Tuesday when we roll out all the stops for FALL!  Some great projects for my favorite season!
 Dar's Crafty Creations http://darscraftycreations.blogspot.com/

Primitive Seasons (Mary) http://primitiveseasons.blogspot.com/

A Mermaids Crafts (Lisa) http://indymermaid.blogspot.com/

Nellies Nest (Diane) http://www.nelliesnest.blogspot.com/

Mulberry Mindy (Mindy) http://www.mulberrymindy.blogspot.com/

Scrap For Joy (Joyce)    http://scrapforjoy.blogspot.com/

Rain or Shine--Version 2

This is a card I did below on July 28 and decided to do a second version of because the image is so much fun to color.  I used Copics again, Spellbinders dies, a Martha Stewart border punch and some flowers and ribbon.  Finished off the border with a few Perfect Pearls.  Enjoy!

Here Come the Prima Ladies!!!

It's finally here!  Welcome to the Prima Mixed Media Paper Doll blog hop.  We have all been so excited to get this started after two months of planning.  Let's get the rules out of the way first.  My blog candy is shown below and to win the prize you must visit my blog on each Tuesday in August and leave a comment.  If you post about the hop on your blog, you get a second chance and if you become a follower, a third chance.  Let me know in your comment if you have done either of those and make sure to leave an email so that I can contact you.  If I don't hear from the winner in 48 hours, another one will be drawn.  The blog candy for each of us is different and the winners will be drawn on August 27th, the last day of the hop.

My blog candy is shown below and includes two Prima Doll stamps, one Prima Doll pad of tags, one Prima Doll Stencil and three tags, handmade by me.  Included but not pictured is a 12 x 12 package of SU paper with small prints which is great for these dolls.

Links for all the participants in the blog will be listed below each week so you can find your way.  We ask if you post a project on your blog or on Pinterest that you give credit to the blog that created it. Also here on my blog, scattered throughout the posts, are tips for working with these stamps,  They will be printed in BOLD TYPE so that you can find them easily.  Let's go! First my candy:

Our theme is the Seasons.  We'll begin with Spring.  For my post, I have done two tags,  The first is an Easter themed tag, using a Prima Tag as the base.  I used paper from a 6 x 6 pad from Alphabet Junction by Carta Bella for her clothing.  Tip:  small prints are really great for these dolls to keep them in scale.  The 6 x 6 pads are great for this because you use so little and the prints are reduced in size.  You don't have to cut into a large 12 x 12 sheet. All my paper dolls are stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on watercolor paper and colored with Copic Markers. You could also use Prismacolor pencils or your favorite brand of pencils, Distress Markers or whatever you are used to.

The Easter tag uses the following products:  Fruit Punch Stickles on the headband, a paper doily and flat backed pearls, clear Rock Candy Glitter by Ranger, K&Co. egg stickers, brads, a vintage image from the internet (basket), bling from Recollections, two images from G45 Once Upon A Springtime collection and Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  Instead of bare legs, I colored this doll as though she had white tights on.  Don't all little girls wear white tights for Easter?  Tip:  Don't overlook substituting clothing on the bare body parts of the dolls.  You can change the look by making sleeves, pants, tights, collars, hats, etc where there are none.

My second tag for Spring commemorates Prom season.  Black formal wear is so hot with young people today and our doll is no exception.  She's wearing a short strapless dress with a silver ruffle.  The ruffle was from already glittered paper.  Headband, shoes and crown are Stickles.  She was again done on a Prima tag with Washi tape down one side and some preprinted words.  Recollections flower in three shades of grey/black cascade down the front.  The tag is finished with sparkly black ribbon tied in a double bow with the tails up, which is a detail I especially like on these tags.

Now hop on over to Mindy's blog to see what goodies she has ready for you.  Be sure to stop back next Tuesday for Summer themed dolls.  And thank you for taking the time to visit.  I hope you have a good time.

         

Dars Crafty Creations (Dar) http://darscraftycreations.blogspot.com/  

Primitive Seasons (Mary) http://primitiveseasons.blogspot.com/

A Mermaids Crafts (Lisa) http://indymermaid.blogspot.com/

Nellies Nest (Diane) http://www.nelliesnest.blogspot.com/

Mulberry Mindy (Mindy) http://www.mulberrymindy.blogspot.com/

Scrap For Joy (Joyce)    http://scrapforjoy.blogspot.com/