Well, today marks my very last post as this month’s Guest Creative Team designer!  I have had the time of my life creating and sharing here at the Maja Design blog…so a HUGE thanks to both Jenny (for asking me) and Marie (for allowing me to create with HER amazing papers)!!!

Today, I am going to share 3 projects that I created using the beautiful Ska Vi Ta En Fika? paper collection:  2 mixed-media projects and 1 layout.  So, sit back, relax, and enjoy.

I am pretty sure that everyone who has ever seen, or had the pleasure to create with the Ska Vi Ta En Fika? paper collection, knows just how truly exceptional these papers are! And if you haven’t….. They are gorgeous, and you really need to get some!  But with that said, ALL of the Maja Design papers I have had the pleasure to work with are truly exceptional.  The papers are heavy-weight, so they stand up to a lot of creative play with distressing, water, paint, etc. and are beautifully designed and coordinated.  I LOVE how well the beautiful prints compliment each other.

The first project I would like to share is a (3) canvas mixed media piece: Sweet Little Cupcake This project consists of 3 small (4 x 4) deep edge canvases. I love the dimension of deep edge canvases.  I painted the edges of each canvas before choosing my background papers.  After choosing my background papers, I then decoupaged them down onto the canvases and then added stamping to create background texture and interest. The next step was to figure out which patterned papers I wanted to use for my cupcake bases.  Once I decided on my papers, I cut out the bases and used them as templates.  Using a pencil, I sketched the tops onto different patterned papers. Then, I cut out the tops of the cupcakes, and sketched some designs on them, so that I could add some hand-stitched details. I pierced holes out along the sketched out designs, so that I could add the stitching.  TIP:  If you do not have a paper piercer, a thumb tack works well for this step, and if you do not have a piercing mat (mine is made from cork) I have used a cardboard pizza box before. Once I had created all of my cupcakes, added the finishing touches, added a few more textural stamping, I then fan-folded the cupcake bases and inked the edges. I used hot glue to adhere the cupcakes and the button toppers onto the canvas.  I like the way the hot-glue adheres the paper to the canvases and gives the cupcakes just the right amount of dimension. Here is one more up-close photo of some of the hand-stitched detailing I added to one of the cupcakes: Ska Vi Ta En Fika? papers used for this project included:  En kopp te; Cheesecake; Blommor pa bordet; Bjornbarskakor; Tva froknar; Kladdkaka; Chokladmuffins; Chaite; Soders hojder; & Hemma hos mig.  Other ingredients included:  3- 4 x 4 canvases; misc. buttons from my stash; Hampton Arts small alphabet wood stamps; CTMH & Staz-On inks; hole punch; Misc. stamps from CTMH and Stampabilities; embroidery floss; acrylic paint; and paper piercer and cork piercing mat from Timeless Touches.

My next project is a 12 x 12 layout of my sweet baby girl. I used a Martha Stewart leaf punch here….punched out the leaf, inked the edges, and curled them slightly, and then, framed my baby girl’s photo with the leaves. I also made the flower near the bottom right hand side using 2 of my punches. I used my flower petal embossing punch from Marvy Uchida (see below)- punched it out 6 times, curled and inked the edges, and then layered them together, gluing them down with hot glue.  I then used my McGill Starburst punch – punched it out 3 times, curled and rolled the points, & layered and glued them together with hot glue - then added the starburst to the center of the flower.  These punches make it super easy to create and make your own flower embellishments AND out of whatever paper you like. Ska vi ta en Fika? papers used for this layout included:  Karleksmums; En kopp te; Blommor pa bordet; Cheesecake; Lejas Café; Maudekaka; Hemgjord saft; Hemma hos mig; Pratstund; Tva froknar.  Other supplies used here included:  Martha Stewart leaf, lace border, & deep edge flower border punches; EK Success apron strings border punch; McGill starburst punch; Marvy Uchida embossed flower punch; Prima & Petaloo flowers; Prima flower vine; flourish stamp; Ink from CTMH; Hampton Art small alphabet wood stamp set; embroider thread; & Prima bling.

For my final project, I would like to share another 3 canvas panel mixed-media project.

I created this project using 3 – 5 x 5 canvas pieces

I painted the canvas edges before decoupaging paper onto them.

I cut 3 different damask images using my Cindy Loo Cricut cartridge.  I cut the different layers out of different patterned papers, and then glued them down with decoupage.

Above, I tested out the damask patterns against the background papers before adding stamping and paint.  Once I was satisfied with the patterns of my designs, I added textural background stamping, some inking, acrylic paint…and then glued down the damask images onto the canvases.

I added some clear dimensional “Liquid Glass” from CTMH to certain points in my designs, for some added dimension.

After adding all the little extra detailing with stamps and paints and Liquid Glass, I glued everything down to the canvases and voila….I considered the pieces down.

Ska Vi Ta En Fika? papers used for this project included: Leja’s Cafe (front and back); Favoriter; Soders hojder; Sockerkaka; Mandelkaka; hemgjord saft; Marzipanbakelse; Smulpaj m applen; Blabarssylt. Other supplies used here included:  3 – 5 x 5 canvases; CTMH Liquid Glass; Cricut cartridge, Cindy Loo; acrylic paint; INK: CTMH, Staz-On; Misc. stamps: Tim Holtz, Stampabilities, & CTMH.

Thank you Maja Design fans!!! I have so enjoyed sharing my personal style with you! and I hope that something here has inspired you to create something today!