Creative Friday

I turned the calendar page on my Downton Abbey calendar on Monday and discovered I had Creative Friday blog duty.  I thought, "Oh no!, I've been on creative overload these past few weeks and now it's time to pull it out again."  I had completed an album for a customer celebrating her son's elementary school graduation, made 48 favors and decorated for a tea party, made four books and brochures for my girls club at church and made a blank baby album for a shower.  I couldn't even think about being creative.  Then I pulled out my Distress paints and inks, Fancy Pants stencils, the 6x6 DIY Shop paper pad and started to play.

I'm Jenn Bidwell Edwardson and I'm a Tim Holtz/Ranger junkie.  I admit it, I love all things distress, and I love the Distress paints, inks, markers and stains Memory Works carries.  They are a fun way to add color to projects.  You can pretty much color anything with these supplies and they top the list of a few of my favorite things.

I had some divider cards from a photo box sitting out and grabbed them to create some tags.  Somewhere in the back of my brain I thought about turning them into pockets with little tags inside for cards.  I grabbed my craft mat and started dabbing different colors on the mat and then took my Perfect Pearls mist and spritzed it into the color.  I didn't even have to get out of my chair.  :)  I swiped the cards through to create some colorful backgrounds and went from there.

I did finally get out of my chair to pull out my Tattered Florals die and doily edge punch and used the DIY Shop papers to cut several layers of flowers.  I punched the edges of the flowers to create a doily effect and layered.  I took the stencils, scooped some white embossing paste onto my craft mat and mixed in a little Distress paint to add some color and smeared it over the stencil onto my backgrounds.  I may have stamped a bit first, or after, or both!  This Happy Birthday tag has the tab cut off.  I added some Distress ink on the sides and wherever I thought I needed color.  

I also colored the seam binding with the Distress paints as well.  After adding the color I scrunched it up and let it dry.  Stamps, die cuts and punches, and a few embellishments finished off this collection of tags and pockets.  The feather in the tag above was a gift from my friend Kim, and she deserves credit for it.  I did add some color to it though...

I find that playing with Distress paints, inks, markers and stains releases my creativity which is why I love them so much.  Play time sparks my creativity and now I can't wait for more scrapping time this weekend.  So, go ahead and play. 

                                                             

                                    Jenn