Artist Trading Blocks by Shanna and Brigitte

Hi Everyone!  Today we have two artists on the blog with very different takes on our feature this month, Artist Trading Blocks.  First up we have Shanna

Shanna here today to share my newest creation. I got the idea from using Tim Holtz's monthly tag he creates! I used lots of paints and inks and crackle paint. It was so fun to create. I have a quick tutorial on  my blog on how I altered my chipboard so stop by here to check it out and more up close photos on my  project.

Items used:

Gina's Designs Lasercuts

Artist Trading Blocks

Sea Horse Shape Set

Mermaids Shape Set

Beach Shape Set

Catweed Shape Set

Next up we have Brigitte.

Hello crafty friends, Brigitte here!  I am excited to share my Artist Trading Blocks (ATB's) with you today from Gina's Designs, featuring the French Seamstress digital papers from the wonderful Luisa at Kitty's Scrap Post.

Please take a look at the photos as I have tried to show as much detail as I could......being the amateur photographer I am LOL!

Thank you and have a wonderful, crafty weekend!  xo, Brigitte

Gina's Designs Products used:

Artist Trading Blocks

An Altered Tin by Nancy and an ATC shrine by Veronica

First up is Nancy with an altered tin.

Hi everyone, Nancy here!  I might be rushing the season just a wee bit, but when Gina designed these new mermaids, I simply couldn't wait to have some fun with them.  I'm calling this piece a mermaid aquarium.  The mermaids are available as a set of 12 in varying sizes.  I used the 4 inch size thinking I'd start small then once it gets closer to Summer, I can go much bigger with a 12 x 12 canvas project.  For this fun project, I used a tin I'd had in my stash for a couple of years.  It's a little bit larger than an altoid tin at nearly 4 x 6.  I used mod podge to apply Japanese lace papers to the tin for texture, used ink sprays in ocean colors, then coated it with clear glass bead gel.  I painted my mermaids with twinkling H2O's and then applied glass microbeads over a coating of glossy accents.  I also used our new catweed shape in the background, a clump of chipboard grass at the bottom, and a section of palm tree at the top for some extra tropical appeal.  Everything else I used was already in my stash.  My favorite part of a creation is looking through my stash to find things that are perfect, and it's so exciting when I find just the right pieces.  I wanted it to look like an aquarium so I found various wood pieces to create a stand.  I hope you like it!

Gina's Designs Products Used:

Mermaids Shape Set

Palm Trees Shape Set

Grass and Foliage

Catweed Shape Set

Fanciful Elements

Other Products:

Glass bead gel

Prima Lady Bird flowers

Japanese Lace papers from Dick Blick

Ink Sprays

Wooden decorative elements from Hobby Lobby

Gilder's Paste

Twinkling H2O's

Glass microbeads

Butterfly by Renea Bouquets on Etsy

Next up is Veronica

Hello Everyone!  It's Veronica here and today I want to share a project from Gina's Designs!  Her ATC Shrines are so much fun to decorate, and truly make wonderful gifts for any occasion! 

The ATC Shrine that I chose is titled Time.

 Mine is a simple project, but the possibilities that you can come up with on any one of Gina's ATC Shrines is endless!

 They all have a small door to open.....so cute!

 Just the perfect size to store your ATC's or, just simply decorate like a tiny shadow box, as I've seen many others who've bought these do.

 Peek - A- Boo! Says the little mouse! He has to figure out how to open the small door to get to his cheese set up on top!

Thank you for taking a look. I truly had fun with this one! It was so simple to complete an over all finished look!  You can always keep adding to make it more decorative, but sometimes I prefer a simpler design.

Gina's Designs

ATC Shrines - Time

Old scrapbook paper in my stash of many!

Americana Acrylic Paint - Buttermilk

Radiant Rain Shimmering Mist Spray - Pearl Green.

 Beacon 3-in-1 Glue

Altered Projects by Heidi and Deann

We have two projects to share on the blog today.  First up is Heidi.

Hello, Heidi here!  I had to share one more Valentine Project that I did for Gina's Designs.  This is my valentine box- used to collect valentine's at work.  It is actually a tangerine crate that I covered with white paper and then pink heart embossed paper.  I used a variety of the Gina's Designs Valentine chippies.

  

On the far left I have used a little pink heart and another white heart from the Cupid Shape Set. On the front of the box is a solid heart and then a white double heart(Valentine Shape Set).  All my chippies were painted with spray paint. 

Then there is the little cherub, painted white and he is shooting hearts that I painted in variegated pink and red paints.  In the background you can see the two pink/white straws holding up the doily with a couple more hearts.   This was definitely a hit! 

Gina's Designs Products

Cupid's Shape Set

Valentine Shape Set

Next up is Deann.

Good Morning , Deann here with a DT project for Gina's Deaigns.

I started with a paper mache book box that I found at JoAnn Fabrics .

I covered the outside of the box with a brown paper bag that had vintage adds printed on it.

Next I tore a piece of corrugated cardboard to fit most of the top. I painted it with gesso then rubbed Vintage photo distress ink to the raised areas and sprayed all of it with 

Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist.

On top of the corrugated cardboard I used a piece of the Mad Tea Party paper

from Marion Smith.

Once the base of the box was done , it was time to add the goodies !

Lots of leaves and flowers. A little lace and lots of Chip board pieces.

I'll have a list of all the chip board I used at the end of the post.

 Thanks for stopping bye :)

(((HUGS)))

Deann

Gina Designs Products used :

Catweed Shape Set

Birds on a Branch Assortment
Keys and Plates Shape Set

Wood Charm - Memories