Every little thing wants to be loved.

Hi everyone! leslierahye here with a recent Altered Trading Card Swap. ATCs are meant to be traded among artists and that's why they are so fun to make. This little 2½×3½" work of art will be shared with other artists making ATCs along the same theme--this theme was Bees. They also will make a run of cards on this theme and our hostess will sort out the lot and send them to each of us. It's always fun to get back the cards and see everyone's artwork!
I chose to use this quote from The Secret Life of Bees for my ATC. This is part of the Bee Yard Etiquette and while assembling them I became inspired to do a series of Bee ATCs--I will share those with you at a later date!

“I hadn't been out to the hives before, so to start off she gave me a lesson in what she called 'bee yard etiquette'. She reminded me that the world was really one bee yard, and the same rules work fine in both places. Don't be afraid, as no life-loving bee wants to sting you. Still, don't be an idiot; wear long sleeves and pants. Don't swat. Don't even think about swatting. If you feel angry, whistle. Anger agitates while whistling melts a bee's temper. Act like you know what you're doing, even if you don't. Above all, send the bees love. Every little thing wants to be loved.” 

― Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees

Thank you for stopping by!

A Pattern for Love Journal Page

Good afternoon! leslierahye here to share with you this fun journal page entitled A Pattern for LOVE. I layered pattern paper from a vintage pattern onto my K & P Imports art journal. I layered colors onto my tissue papers and Pink Paislee  Tag with Rangers Dylusions Ink Spray and Tattered Angels Mist. With Prima's Raspberry Red Chalk Ink, I edged the tag and the page and then sprinkled with gold embossing powder and heat set. Next I adhered the tag and some tape onto the page. I finished the page by doodling and writing little quips that provide advice for love—such as Be Kind.

Products used in the creation of this journal page : 

Kunst & Papier Art Journal—K & P Imports

Designer Dries Clear—Art Glitter Adhesive
Color Wash Tags, Color Wash Stamps—Pink Paislee

Card stock—Bazzill Basics
24K Gold—Globecraft&Piccolo Embossing Powder
Color Brush Twin (Black)c
Mod Podge (Matte)—Plaid Enterprises

Glimmer Mist (Vintage Pink)—Tattered Angels

Dylusions Mist (White Linen, Funny Fuchsia, & Cherry Pie)—Ranger Industries
Chalk Inks (Raspberry Pie)—Prima Marketing Inc.
Tissue Tape, Pattern Tissue Paper

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed my journal page!

A Little Piece of my Heart - Melt Enamel Embellishments

Lea here with another technique just in time for Valentine's Day!!!  Create these lovely embellishments with a hot pot and embossing enamels.  Embossing enamels are thicker than regular embossing powders and are perfect for dimensional projects.

A hot pot works well with clear embossing enamels.  

Inks added to the clear enamels will create color.  Back in the day, I added mica powder colors to my clear enamel.  This not only added colors but a wonderful shine to the finished art.  We didn't have melt pots so we used clips, and a heat gun holder to heat the enamel from underneath first, then on top. Things are so much easier today!!!! 

Molds are used to create shapes or you can even use cookie cutters!  Suze Weinberg is the queen of everything enamels, and she inspired me to experiment and play with the enamels.  Molds are made for this purpose; there are molds for polymer clay, and even molds for candy and fondant baking elements.  

In addition, you can create your own molds!!!  Resins are popular, and there are compounds that are like putty so you can make molds from any charm or trinket laying around the house.

Another way to create embellishments is to put some clear enamel on a Teflon craft sheet.  Hold a heat tool 8 to 10 inches away (so not to blow the powder), and start to slowly melt the powder.  As it is melting add other EP (embossing powders), mica powders, little shards, or beads to the mix.  Keep adding more clear enamel on top.  Let dry.  Once dried, you can break pieces to use in your art.  If you have a flat mold sheet (for clay) or a stamp (inked with pigment ink), you can press that into the hot enamel before it hardens.  The result is so wonderful!!!  I save any broken shards to use as accents for future projects.

Here is how the melted enamels look melted in the pot.  It would look similar on the craft sheet.  I find the craft sheet is easier to add elements like beads to it, even charms.

This art is created by collaging on a scrap mat board.  A piece of paper is created with mica powders and webbing spray.  A molded element is then added, and then the scrap images.  Lastly, the key is added with the jump ring.

Experiment with this technique and see what you come up with.  Make batches of embellishments to have on hand for your next creative journey!!!

Cre8tivelea Yours - Lea