Yuletide Christmas Tags with Heather Thompson

Posted on November 22, 2025 by Heather

Welcome back, I know it’s been a while. Life has been definitely different for me. I am working on getting back into the crafting aspect of it again. Its good for the soul, the mental health and its a great community to be in.

Decided after my much unwanted hiatus to get back into crafting, boy a lot has changed. My last project I made was in May of 23. Its really hasn’t been that long but things have evolved, especially with AI, reels and tic tok.  I will do my best to not look like I am out of the times.

Today I will be sharing a set of Tags made with one of my favourite paper collections from 7 Dots Studio. Yuletide is just perfect for that mixed media, lots of layers type of a project. Getting back into creating I decided to use what I have and I love this paper.

I made two separate tags, I make most things in two, you can’t have enough cards or tags laying around for when you need one. I did make a video of the creative process, the link is to my Youtube channel.

 

I am actually in a Secret Santa gift exchange at work and this is the tag that is going with the gift. And they make great decorations this time of years well.

 

Lots of layers. I recently moved and I have struggled a bit to know where everything is. I still can’t find some of my very everyday used items/tools. So I did have to be creative. I can’t find my spray bottle and wasn’t going to run to the store at midnight.

I finished off the back of the tag with a smaller cluster of elements. and Did a bit of some dry brushing to soften the look. Its is such a bold collection and easy to work with.

 

Check out the video on my channel:

https://youtu.be/Kr-Qnf6OsSU

The other tag is the classic green gold colour. A more difficult colour to match with inks but still beautiful.

This particular collection DeeDee Catron from UmWowStudio made some matching items from her shop that go with it. I added the Chevron Strips, Christmas Confetti and the Flair.

Lots of space to write on the back of the tag, to send those holiday greetings.

Thank you for joining me today and thank you for stopping, one to the holiday season, may it be a wonderful time of year.

Posted in 7 Dots Studio, Mixed Media, Scrapping and Crafting, Tags, Video | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Altered Hand Saw

Posted on April 4, 2025 by Heather

Updated: This is an older project I just am getting around to sharing.

Hello all I would love to share a little bit of mixed media today. This project was made for a good  friend of mine and for a previous DT project, I just never got to share it here. I love old tools and just things old in general. I have a large number of rustic looking items in my house. I find things and alter them for more rustic, more grungy or more industrial. All depending on the mood and the item.

There was a bit of rust already on this piece. But I knew I wanted to add more gears and metal pieces. I picked a gear from the gear album and then grabbed the next biggest set of gears from the store. I always start with the bigger elements on the bottom or base of the cluster.

I did not do a video this time, just creating. I did have to be careful because the teeth are still fairly sharp on this.

I layered the various sized gears and layer a little pipe work from the pipe works set. I used smaller metal embellishments to fill in the and add smaller dimensions to each of the clusters.

Using the Gears Corner piece, I cut it to fit the handle. Once all of the embellishments are glued on using a heavy gel medium. I added texture with the dots stencil and crackle paste. I also threw some grid stencil work on here and some patches of sand texture paste.

After all is said and done, I use various colours of paint, one of my favourites is the Quinacridone Gold. I mix a blend on burnt umber, paynes black and yellow iron oxide. Once the rust effects are in place, I add some colbalt blue and dry brushing to highlight the textures and clusters of gears and elements.

I hope you enjoy the project. Slowly I will be creating more as things hopefully start to settle down some. Thank you for stopping by, Happy Crafting.

 

Heather

Posted in Altered Art, Creative Embellishments, Mixed Media, Scrapping and Crafting | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

My Hiatus. LIFE

Posted on February 21, 2025 by Heather

Hello all,

Wow. It’s been a little  bit to say the least. A lot has happened since I have been here last. So much has happened and I don’t even know where to begin. I’ve been thinking about how and when to post something and what would be or not be appropriate to post.

There has been a roller coaster ride. Ups and downs some weeks more downs than ups. Lots of tears, filled in with some smiles and some happy moments in-between the stressful situations that have happened since 2020. Those close to me unfortunately have had to live the story with me and helped me along the way in so many ways. So many supportive people that I don’t know how or if I could ever repay them for the support, love and encouragement they have provided for me especially over the last few years.

I can say there are still tears, mostly daily but I have pushed myself into attempting to make art again. I went through a period where I thought I could push through it and continue to meet my deadlines and keep the projects coming but I came to the understanding with art that the mind has to be in the right space to do art. Sometimes we have to push ourselves past that slump and pray that something will become beautiful. Sometimes no matter what it looks like, the hands got dirty and the desk got messy and the paint brushes got wet. It may end up in the bin, but the thoughts and initiative were there.

My hope is to get back into my art, my desk is a clean slate at this point and the paint brushes are out. I have a list of projects I want to do, but it’s a matter of having the time and sitting down and letting the mind just go. So to keep this short and sweet, Thank you all for continuing to follow me and we will see if I can get back into the times of art, videos and teaching.

See you all soon!!!

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Mom’s Holiday with Heather Thompson

Posted on May 15, 2023 by Heather

Welcome back today! And Happy Mothers Day to all. Today I would love to share a page I made for our recent Mom Trip had down in the Caribbean. We had such a fabulous time on our mom trip starting in the wonderful down town Miami.

 

I started with finding some beautiful paper and did my normal prep work with clear gesso and setting aside to dry. I love a classic stencil the Fishnet Stencil. I added paste on to the background and then added some spray to the background and set it all aside to dry.

I pulled out a variety of sea themed chipboard and decided to go with the Nautical Badge Set. I also picked out a Light House out of the Lighthouse Set of 4. Using a variety of embossing powders, I added a few layers to each of the chipboards. I actually didn’t like the first layer of powders and just added a second layer with a different colour. The second layer was better.

I layered up a few pieces of paper elements and found some matching flowers and embellishments. I layered up the Light House and finished it off with a photo from our dinner in the harbour.

 

I finished the page off with the Vacation Title Word, and layered it right on top of the grouping. Such a fun page to finish off with a variety of Mica Flakes.

Thank you for stopping by today! Look forward to more pages from our Mom Vacation, more to come! Happy Crafting.

 

Heather

Supplies:

Fishnet Stencil 

Vacation Word Set

Nautical Badges

Lighthouse Set of 4

Posted in Ciao Bella, Creative Embellishments, Layout, Mixed Media, Scrapping and Crafting | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

A Mothers Hold Card and Tag Set

Posted on May 5, 2023 by Heather

As spring is finally here and lots of holidays, graduations, cinco de mayo, nurse’s week and mothers day fast approaching. I wanted to do a bit bright and bold today. Unfortunately I have to work mothers day and the kids will be with their dad, but we will still be celebrating at work.

I picked out some matching paper collections, an older collection, but still pretty. I love that I can match the flowers, paper and embellishments with ease. I picked out the chipboard A Mothers Hold, and the Mini Flourish Set 2 to add to the cluster of flowers and embellishments.

I decided to do a  card and tag, I like the fact the tag is long and I dont have to alter the title chipboard, but to fit it on the card, I have to cut and alter it slightly to fit. I was going to layer the paper but changed and thought I would go simple and bold.

I matched embossing powder with each of the A Mothers Hold Chipboard to each of the background paper. I matched a bit of a different colour to the Mini Flourish Set 2. 

I sprinkled a contrasting colour on the flourish set, and then built up the flower cluster. I added some beads to the mix when all the layering was done, I had fussy cut some of the paper elements out of the paper and placed them in the clusters.

I hope you all enjoy and happy mothers day, nurses day, birthday or another holiday you and your families will be celebrating in the coming weeks. Thank you for stopping by.

Hugs, Heather

Supplies:

A Mothers Hold

Mini Flourish Set 2

Posted in Cards, Creative Embellishments, Scrapping and Crafting, Tags | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Shabby Chic Small Sentiment Tags switch Heather Thompson

Posted on April 16, 2023 by Heather

I seem to get a lot of request for tags and cards. Most recently I was asked to do a thank you card and then there was a death in the family, so I decieded to do a Sympathy Tag also.

Starting with some general tags, I picked put some pretty paper. I layered the tags with the paper and then getting a few different colour inks. I stamped on the background of each of them. Using the Bokeh Circles Stamp and contrasting colours I stamp on the yellow tag, pulling the circles out of the background of the paper.

On the red tag, I matched up the distress type set stamp and a few bold reds to that background.

Once those were dry, I added the type keys stencil and I sponged white paint through the stencil, I then painted the Flourish set 2 and the Small SentimentWord set with white paint.

I picked out some older sprays that I need to use up and matched with each of the backgrounds.

Once all the colour was applied, I simply layered flowers and a smaller tag. I finished off with small micro beds to add a little more texture.

Supplies/l k

Supplies:

Flourish set 2

Bokeh Circles Stamp

Distress Type Stamp

Distress Type Keys Stencil

Small Sentiments Word Set

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Grunge Mixed Media ATC’s with Heather Thompson

Posted on April 6, 2023 by Heather

Welcome back to another project here for Creative Embellishments. I haven’t done some ATC’s in a while and my friend Maggi posted some recently and I thought that I needed to just do some. As I was getting ready for Easter, I thought why not something bright and bold.  A friend of mine told me I do a lot of dark, so I decided to do a little grunge with some bright colours! I am up to surprise people.

 

I started with some ATC’s and painted them all white. Thinking bright and bold. I then started to dig through my grunge basket of chipboard. I picked out 4 grunge pieces. Distress Grid, Distress Checkered, Distress Chevron, and Distress Brick Pieces 2. The cool thing about Nicole is that she has matching stencils for each of these.

 

I started with just randomly picking 4 background sprays. I added spray to each of the pieces and let dry. Then I matched up each of the stencils and spread sculpting paste on each of the ATC’s. I matched with the Distress Patterns Stencil, Crackle Brick, Grid, and Small Square Stencil.

Once Each of the ATC’s were stencilled, I added Lava Paste to each of the pieces. Once the Lava paste is heated up it added that unique texture to each of the pieces. I glued each of the pieces down and matched up the colours of the background with a few waxes. I added a little depth to each of the ATC’s and picked out a title. I finished off the ATC’s with a metal clip.

Thank you for stopping by, I hope that you enjoyed and Happy Spring!

Supplies:

Distress Grid Stencil

Crackle Brick Stencil

Distress Patterns Stencil

Small Square Stencil

ATC’s

Distress Chevron Pieces

Brick Pieces 2

Distress Checkers Pieces,

Distress Grid Pieces

Posted in 7 Dots Studio, ATC's, Creative Embellishments, Mixed Media, Scrapping and Crafting, Video | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Amazing Journey Mixed Media Tag

Posted on March 29, 2023 by Heather

Welcome back today, I have been trying to get some projects done but was asked to do a commissions piece for work. This piece is for one of our doctors that has decided to head over to Papa New Guinea to do a medical missionary trip for the next 2 years. He’s one of the nicest people I have had the pleasure to work with. Also he ranks up there in my top 5 worst night shifts ever. We just laugh about it now.

Starting with a large tag, I painted it white. I took some old (and I mean old) paper from 1873, and decoupaged it on various spots on the background. Using the harlequin stencil, I added some pumice paste to give it more texture. I set it aside to dry. I didn’t know what colour to do as the background but figured warm and tropical. I used some contrasting sprays and brushed a bit on the background.

I wanted to incorporate the medical aspect of things so I used the Caduceus and added a few extra embellishments to the chipboard.

I used and relics and artifacts heart to pull in the religious aspect of things. I started out with some base paint white. Then mixed and blended the piece. Once dried, I added a layer of crackle glaze. This is one that has to dry naturally. Once dry I didn’t like how bold it was so I used a patina antiquing cream. I covered the piece completely and the. Wiped off the cream and set with varnish. It really pulls the cracks out on the glaze.

I pulled out a variety of chipboard and metal pieces. Not really knowing what I was going to use I painted them all black. Using the Distress Harlequin and the Atoms Chipboard long with the metal pieces.  I added some dry brushing to the black pieces and some wax.

I choose to do the amazing journey as the title. He is moving his family and children to take them on this 2 year adventure helping people in an amazing country.

I hope you enjoy it and I hope that our doctor makes it back ok and I will get to work with him again.

Thank you for stopping by today and enjoy, happy crafting.

Supplies:

Caduceus

Large Tag

Distress Harlequin Pieces

Distress Harlequin Stencil 

Atoms

Posted in Altered Art, Creative Embellishments, Mixed Media, Relics & Artifacts, Scrapping and Crafting, Tags, Video | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Stamperia Mixed Media Tag with Heather Thompson

Posted on March 15, 2023 by Heather

Welcome back to another post here. I would love to share a large tag I made for Creative Embellishments. This was a fun industrial looking tag made with some industrial paper as the background.

I started with adding the base paper, with a little prep from some clear gesso and I set aside and grabbed some stencils. I wanted to do a contrasting Yin/Yang type of card, so I grabbed the Rivet Stencil, and the metal stencil.

Using contrasting Crackle paste, I did a half and half full coverage on the background of the tag and set it aside to dry.

I think grabbed some gears along with the Gear Flourish Corner, painted the contrasting crackle on each of them, and set aside. I poured a few moulds that match the paper collection and sat and painted a bit before adding a crackle glaze to each of them. A bit of dirty wash after the glaze dried.

I picked out a title for each side of the tag and did some water colouring on the background. After everything was dry. I added a  bit of microbeads to each of the sides of the tags.

I hope you enjoy the tag today. Happy Crafting, thank you for stopping by!

Supplies:

Rivet Stencil

Metal Stencil

Large Tag

Gear Flourish Corner

Gears

Posted in Mini Album, Scrapping and Crafting, Stamperia, Tags | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Winter Fun Mixed Media Layout

Posted on March 5, 2023 by Heather

Welcome back to another post. I really enjoy winter here in the Midwest and love to capture memories and moments with the kids. Maksim has really gottten to be a good at snowboarding. Other than his darn feet have grown so much I could buy stock in snow boarding boots.

This is a page I did of a few snowboarding trips Maksim and I got to do together this season. The season is too short. Maksim is getting so good he suggested a few black diamonds. We have been doing black diamonds together. I’m so proud of my boy!

I started with the base of the paper and prepped with clear gesso. Once dry, I started with the Large Winter Words Stencils and sporadically put down words on the base of the base paper. Once those were dry, Iused the flurry stencil and layered over the whole page.

Once all dry, they I cut a few elements out of the paper for some framing on the photos. And I added a crackle paint to the snowflake Corner Page Set, and the winter trees and set that aside to crackle up.

I fell like adding a bit off stamping tot the background so I grabbed the Moroccan stamp and a deep blue distress ink and stamped right over all the pastes. By now the crackle Ono the frames were dry and I could begin to layer the page.

I started to layer everything and once finished I decided to cut one of the winter trees in half and just have a bit peek out of the page. I topped it off with some winter acrylic pieces, twine and glass babbles. And there’s our memories captured.

Here is a quick video of the creative process:

https://youtu.be/FLX3mO0fYHY

Thank you for stopping by today, I hope you enjoy and happy crafting.

Heather

Supplies:

Moroccan Stamp

SnowflakeStencil

Snowflake Page Corner Set

Large Winter Words Stencils

Winter Trees 3

Posted in Layout, Mixed Media | Leave a comment