I can be such a birdbrain!

That's the truth. Just got this Stampotique Owl with wings and had to have him perched upon SCACD's Steampunk Clock, which is ever-so-cool and one of the fabulous Mixed Media Blank Canvas Collection.

I seem to continually remember birthdays when it's too late to mail a card. Odd for a cardmaker, don't you think? So I decided to make a belated birthday card, figuring that the "I can be such a birdbrain" sentiment, by justjohanna's Odd Bird Planet, was just about perfect for it (and for me).

Anyways, here's the card.


I should mention that the owl stamp is currently unavailable at SCACD. I got the last one. Neener neener So mature. SCACD does have other Stampotique Originals stamps.

Here follows my longwinded description of the card's creation. It sounds way more complicated that it really is. I'm given to hyperbole and verbosity.

First I used repositionable Scotch tape to cover the wings portion of the Owl with Wings stamp as well as his branchy perch. I inked the stamp, removed the tape, and stamped the owl's body onto white Neenah cardstock using Tuxedo Black Memento ink. Then I stamped off onto Judikins Eclipse tape and fussy cut the owl from the tape and layered the mask over the owl. Using my trusty Stamp-a-ma-jig stamp positioner, I stamped the Steampunk Clock, so it would appear that the owl was standing on the pipe at the top. Again, I stamped off onto Eclipse tape and fussy cut the clock and pipes, though I had to do it in different sections because I'm just not that talented to do it at once. Those masks were placed atop their respective images. I used a Post-It note to cover up the owl, inked the stamp, and then removed the Post-It note. Using the stamp positioner again, I stamped the wings over the body, the clock, and the pipes.

I removed all the masks and set them aside for later use. The images were colored using Copic markers, which I won't list because I put them away. Oh well.

Then all the masks were repositioned in place over the stamped colored images and Pumice Stone Distress ink was pounced over the entire piece of cardstock. Then I grabbed my Bricks stencil by The Crafter's Workshop and sponged Aged Mahogany Distress ink over the stencil. The bricks looked too "new", so I shabbed 'em up with my beloved Black Soot Distress ink. I use that ink on most every project, even if it's only to edge those disgusting white edges!

I removed the stencil and the masks, only to realize that I messed up. Big time. I forgot to mask something, so I had to do a quick "fix" by changing the color and adding a bunch of Glaze pens over it to make it look a bit less gross. Oh well, perfection is overrated and is not a high commodity chez moi. I added some shading behind the owl and the clock to make them pop off the brick wall a bit more. I added Glossy Accents to the owl's eyes and I ran out to pick up this week's share from my CSA!

When I returned the eyes were dry, so I added some Clear Gelly Roll Glaze pen to the owl's beak and talons to make 'em dimensional and shiny.

With so much going on, I decided to just mat the scene on black cardstock, then onto a Kraft card. The sentiment, from justjohanna/Odd Bird Stamp, was stamped onto that same Kraft cardstock using Onyx Black VersaFine ink. I cut it into a strip, scored it, cut wedges from the ends, and inked it with both colors of Distress ink. I popped it the sentiment up onto dimensionals to make it more bannerific.

Thanks for visiting!

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
• Stampotique's Designer's Challenge #100: Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp: Favorite Inks (I love 'em all, but love Black Soot Distress ink a whole lot
• Anything Goes Challenge Blog #93: Handmade Backgrounds
• Crazy Amigos Challenges: Templates
• No Matter Which Challenge #9: Things with wings
• Oozak Challenge Blog: Anything Goes with Earthtones
• Corrosive Challenges #174: My Sentiment Exactly

True North

Crafting is my "True North". It keeps me grounded, engaged, and happy. I can lose myself in inks, paints, stamps, and paper for hours on end. I think about it often, see the world in terms of Copic colors, and gain inspiration from the tiniest of things.

Hence this small 6x6 canvas:


As you might have noticed, I love maps. Old maps, new maps -- it doesn't matter. I love 'em, collect 'em, and sacrifice 'em regularly. This map is a AAA map of California that has to be ten to twenty years old. Those folds were impossible to flatten, so I just let 'em do their thing, figuring that they add texture.

The compass is one of three stamps from SCACD's Nature's Directions set. The other two stamps in the set are a very cool lightning stamp and a gorgeous pair of Steampunk wings. Check out this set. You'll love it.

Anyway, the compass was stamped onto the map using Onyx Black VersaFine ink, which is the perfect ink for detailed images and/or for embossing with clear embossing powders. The image was embossed with clear detail embossing powder and colored with Copic markers (Ys, YRs, Rs, Gs, Ns). When I was happy with the coloring, I went over the compass using a VersaMark Marker, added a layer of clear embossing powder, and repeated the process several times until a thick glossy image had been built up. I stamped the True North sentiment, which is one of the four stamps in the Follow Your True Heart set, from using Olympia Green VersaFine ink and heat embossed using clear embossing powder. "Art" is from Bombshell's Sacred Heart Art set and was also stamped with the same green ink and heat set with clear ep.

Here's a close-up of the glossy compass!


The next step was to grab my Chevron Arrows stencil by the Crafter's Workshop and pounce Light Blue 3D Stamp Paint by Viva Decor through the stencil using a piece cut from a plain kitchen sponge. Permit me to rave about this paint. It's glittery, which appeals to my inner magpie. It's thick, which adds a sandy glittery texture, which can be spread thickly or thinly, depending on your project. Either way t dries quickly, which appeals to my more impatient side. And a little goes a long way, which appeals to my inner cheapskate. Plus, Viva Decor 3D Stamp Paint comes in several colors and is on sale now!!!!

Here's a close-up of the paint that shows its shimmer and texture!


Back to it! So, I pounced the gorgeous paint over the stencil, removed the stencil, and wiped the paint off of embossed compass, sentiment, and words. Since they were embossed, they resisted the paint! I also cleaned the stencil really quickly using a baby wipe and Purell, which is never far from me. I'm a germaphobe, so I have bottles of Purell in almost all rooms of the house, in my car, and in my hand bag.

The next step was to sponge Bundled Sage over the map. The Viva Decor 3D Stamp paint resisted the ink, as did the embossed bits. I wiped excess ink off everything and proceeded to the next step which was to sponge Mown Grass and Pine Needle Distress inks over the star portion of the Punchinella stencil by the Crafter's Workshop.

The map was further cut down to ~8" square and glued to a 6" square canvas using Multi Medium. This was left overnight to dry. The last step was to sponge a bit of Olympia Green VersaFine ink over the Tiny Circles stencil by The Crafter's Workshop.

It's been very rainy here this weekend, so I had some difficulty catching the glittery goodness of painted arrows and the shine/dimension on the compass. Alas.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this canvas into the following challenges.
• CMC Copic Challenge Group: #68: Anything Goes

• The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog: May Challenge - Words

• Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenges: Add Texture!

Tah Dah!

When I first saw Trixie Tapper by Kraftin' Kimmie, I knew I had to have her because I could envision her tap dancing on a variety of surfaces created from patterned papers, die cuts, stencils, and suchlike.

Here's an example!


Trixie Tapper by Kraftin' Kimmie, who happens to be on sale at SCACD, was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto white Neeenah cardstock. She was colored with Copic markers, which I'll list below. When I was done coloring her, she took a ride through my Big Kick, in a Nestabilities die, then stayed there as I sponged Old Paper Distress ink around her. Then she was liberated from her metal prison and her cane and shoes were treated with a few layers of Clear Gelly Roll Glaze pen to add dimension and shine. May I declare how much I love my Glaze pens? I totally do. A lot. They're a necessary staple in my craft room.

I started out with a khaki/black/white color scheme and was going to add a pop of deep red on Trixie's vest and top hat. Then I decided to color Trixie's tresses an auburn shade and didn't want to clash. So I went with a teal/turquoise instead.

I had already decided that I was going to have Trixie dancing atop the piano keyboard from a sheet from Curtain Call 8x8 pad by Graphic 45 and knew I was going to use a strip of tickets as well, so I had to find patterned paper to match Trixie's vest. Thankfully, I have a tiny bit of patterned paper to choose from (Remember that bridge from a previous post? Still want to buy it? *grin) and I selected a sheet from the Notable, Collectable 6x6 pad by My Mind's Eye, which is also on sale.

The stamped panel was layered onto the MME paper. The piano keyboard was cut from its sheet of patterned paper, edged with Black Soot Distress ink, then layered onto the card front. The ticket strip was cut from its sheet of paper, the edges were distressed with the T!m's Tonic Distress Tool. I scored between the tickets, sanded on the folds, then the folds and edges were sponged with Old Paper Distress ink. This strip was layered over the card front.

I thought the "Tah Dah!" sentiment by justjohanna/Odd Bird Planet was perfect for the card, so I stamped that onto a Spellbinders die cut. Photo corner dies by QuicKutz were used to cut music notation paper from the Avignon 6x6 pad by 7 Gypsies (I hoard that pad!) and from the Notable MME pad. The corner dies were stacked and added to the upper right hand corner.

The entire card front was sponged with Black Soot Distress inks and mounted onto Kraft cardstock. The final step was to add some black gemstones to the corner, sentiment strip, and Trixie's hat band.

Thanks for visiting today!

Copic markers used:
Skin: e00, e50, E51, BV00
Hair: YR14, E07, E19, E19, E29
Eyes: C00, BV000
Tux & Hat T3, T4, T5, T7, T8
Vest & Hatband: BG09, BG57
Shoes: C00, C1, C6, C10
Cane: E21, E23, E25

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
• Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge #178: Let's get sentimental
• Simon Says Stamp & Show: Little Papers
• Mad for Markers Challenges -- One for the Girls
• The Crafter's Cafe #16: Mom and/or for a woman
• Cute Card Thursday #269: Dancing Queen
• Clear It Out Challenges: Anything Goes (2 or more patterned paper)
• Papertake Weekly: The Sound of Music

Chicks just wanna have fun!

Yeah. I'm back in that wacky mood.

This was inspired by the Stampotique Designers' Challenge #99: Summertime.



The image is Birdy Up by Stampotique which was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Copics. I love this stamp because there are four birds in a row and you can use one, two, three, or all four. All four are cute, whimsical, and tickle my funny bone. I decided I was going to do a "Chicks on the Beach" card with them, so I gave them bathing suits. One has an itsy, bitsy, teeny, weeny, yellow, polka-dot bikini. Because I could.

I colored 'em to loosely match the patterned papers I had sort of chosen, which are from Graphic 45's On the Boardwalk 8x8 pad. I tend to hoard all my Graphic 45 papers because they're almost too pretty to use, but this card kind of screamed "Coney Island" at me. So I listened. If you've visited before you know that I have visions and that I hear voices in my head and that my supplies talk to me. Deal with it. I do.

Once I had them colored, I coated their eyes with Glossy Accents and added clear Glaze pen to their beaks and feet. I let that dry and then fussy cut all three birds. I also fussy cut the four bathing dudes from one sheet of the Graphic 45 pad and also cut out the Coney Island rectangle. As is my wont, I edged everything with black marker and/or Distress ink. I did add a matching gemstone to each bathing beauty!

The next step was to tear Kraft cardstock, ink the edges with Brushed Corduroy and Gathered Twigs Distress Inks, and stippled both colors of Distress ink over them. They were layered to look like beach sand, placed over a scrap of sea-lookin' patterned paper by Flair Designs, and a scrap of sky blue patterned paper by Fancy Pants. I do love when I can use my hoarded scraps.

I matted the image panel with white cardstock and set it aside.

I grabbed a piece of Kraft cardstock and cut it to 4.75" x 6.75" It took two rides through my Big Kick. Its first ride was within a the Post Card Texture Fade embossing folder that had been inked with white pigment ink. It then took another ride within the Bottle Caps Texture Fade embossing folder that had been inked with Gathered Twigs Distress ink. This panel was edged with Gathered Twigs Distress ink and a bit of Black Soot Distress ink. I covered the seam between two embossed textures with a piece of Film Strip Ribbon, which was stapled on using the ever-so-helpful Tiny Attacher. Gosh. I love that thing. Two Adage Tickets were crumpled, then inked with Distress inks, then they were attached to the upper left along with the Coney Island rectangle.

The final step was to computer generate the sentiment, print it onto Kraft cardstock, edge it with Distress inks, then attach it using the Tiny Attacher.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
Stampotique Designers' Challenge #99: Summertime
• Clear It Out Challenge: More than two patterned papers and Anything Goes!
• Crazy Amigos Stampotique Challenge
• Oldie But A Goodie Challenge: Inspired by a Song "Girls just wanna have fun" would be my song!
• Paperminutes #269 : On The Beach
• Use It Tuesday Challenge #55: You Can't Touch This --that would be any Graphic 45 paper. It's too pretty to cut.

May Muse Monday -- Ahoy Sailor

Muse Monday is a regular feature over at Bombshell Stamps Blog. Each month, Alison, our Challenge Captain, selects a stamp set to be featured every Monday of the month. The hope is that the Bombshell Girls will serve as your muses and inspire you to buy and use your Bombshell Stamps!

This month we're featuring the Ahoy Sailor set, which is one of my favorite sets. That cute vintage sailor girl and the accompanying images and sentiment are perfect for so many different occasions.

I decided that I would also use the sketch I designed for Bombshell's May Sketch Challenge as my starting point.

Here's the sketch! Please feel free to use it. Flip it, flop it, make a card, tag, wall hanging, or art journal page. If you own Bombshell Stamps (and if you don't, why not?), submit your challenge entry on this link HERE for a chance to win a $20.00 gift certificate to Bombshell's store!


Here's my card for May's Muse Monday, using the Ahoy Sailor set.


I first stamped the "Hold Fast" sentiment banner onto Neenah cardstock using Tuxedo Black Memento ink. I stamped off the banner onto a Post-It note and fussy cut it to use it to mask the sentiment on the image panel. Then I stamped the sailor girl over the banner, removed the Post-It note, and colored the images with Copic markers, which I'll list below. The image panel was diecut using Nestabilities Labels 17. I kept the panel in the die and sponged Old Paper Distress ink over the die to add a nice vintage touch.

My marker colors were selected to go with the Pride 6x6 pad by Authentique. I used several of these papers and layered them according to my sketch. I die cut an anchor charm (Die-namics Sea Charms by MFT) from navy cardstock and attached it with red Primio Twine by American Crafts.

Thanks for visiting today!

Copic markers used:
Skin: E00, E50, BV000, BV00
Hair: B21, C3, C6, C7, C8, C10
Shirt & Hat: E30, E31, B34, B37, B39
Banner: E40, E41, E3, E44
Stars: R24

Now for something different!

This is a departure from my recent cards and projects. It's not weird, funny, or offbeat. It's a Mother's Day card for my mother, who doesn't visit my blog, so I needn't worry she'll see it. I'll be bringing it with me when I visit next week, along with a flowering container and some vegies/fruits from the second week of my CSA, which I have not ranted about yet. I will, so be prepared.

Anyways, my usual "style" has been described as odd, offbeat, weird, "interesting*", techniquey, cute, whimsical, clean-lined, layered. Pretty much any descriptor, but rarely "pretty" or "elegant".

So, here's my try at a "pretty" card.


The stamp is Lilac in a Pitcher by Lockhart stamps. I love lilacs and am delighted that my lilac withstood Sandy and has even grown. It's in bloom right now and smells wonderful. I got my lilac when my daughter was ~five-ish from her hairdresser. It was about 2' tall. It's now taller than I am. And I'm really tall. And I have a bridge to sell you.

But shockingly, I digressed. I stamped Lilac in a Pitcher by Lockhart stamps (incidentally 25% off right now) with Tuxedo Black Memento ink, then colored it with Copic markers, which I will take a guess at below because I neglected to write the list before I put them away. Bad me. Two demerits. I coated the pitcher with Clear Gelly Roll Glaze pen to give it dimension and shine. I did think about using Crackle Accents, but wasn't feeling it. Oh well.

When I was done coloring the image, I diecut it a circle Nestabilities die, left it in the die, and sponged Squeezed Lemonade Distress Ink around it. I removed it from the die and mounted it onto two more Nestabilities die cuts, one of which had been very lightly sponged with the same ink.

White cardstock was diecut with SCACD's Ornate Hinge die. These were adhered horizontally to a thin strip of white card so that their flourishes would be slightly touching and look like intricate lace. Another strip of white cardstock was layered on top of that, then Memory Box/Poppy Stamps' Delicate Chain diecut was layered onto that to add a bit more interest.

The stamped, mounted circle and the "lace" diecut border were adhered to a piece of patterned paper from Prima's Fairy Rhymes 6x6 pad. It seems to be out of stock right now, but gadzooks! There are some amazing new pads for you to check out by clicking HERE!. I diecut two SCACD Garden Corners diecuts and adhered 'em to the top edges. Then all edges were sponged with Milled Lavender Distress inks. Finally, KaiserCraft Snow White Pearls were added to the "lace" border and to the corners.

I didn't add a sentiment because I didn't have a tiny Mother's Day greeting to go where I wanted it, so I'll add the sentiment to the inside of the card!

*"Interesting": I recently received a packet containing one of my cards. It arrived with no return address, but was from a magazine. It was placed between two pieces of cardstock. One of the pieces said that the card should be filed under "Interesting" cards. Well, I don't know about you, but when I hear something described as "interesting", it usually means that it's fugly, weird, or defies description by any other adjective.

Thanks for visiting today.

Copic markers that I *think* I used:
Lilacs: V000, V01, V4, V12, V17
Leaves: YG03, YG05, YG17
Pitcher: B41, B91, B93, B95
Background: Y0000

I shall be entering this card in the following challenges:

• Cut It Up Challenge #18: Mother's Day
• Penny's Paper Challenges #126: Diecuts or Punches
• The Sisterhood of Crafters: April Showers Bring May Flowers (in my case, lilacs)
• Craft Your Passion #161: Floral Delights
• Outlawz Promarker/Copic Fridays: Flowers

Cheers!

My odd mood seems to be continuing. Maybe my brain has Spring Fever. Yeah. That's my final answer.



This card features another of SCACD's Oddly Sweet Curiosities. This one's name is Some Days. I must admit that this stamp just totally cracks me up. I was chortling maniacally to myself during the creation of the card.

But I digress.

Some Days was stamped onto white Neenah cardstock using Tuxedo Black Memento ink and onto Eclipse Masking tape. I colored the cardstock version with Copic markers, which I'll list below. I diecut a martini glass using an old QuicKutz die, then used the negative space as a stencil, and traced the shape around the dangling dude using a BG90 Copic marker. The martini was colored in, then I added a touch of Clear Stardust Gelly Roll Glitter pen to make glittery liquor. I grounded the glass and the image by creating a wooden floor or bar with my markers. The Eclipse tape image was fussy cut and layered over the images. Post-it notes were layered over the "wood".

Squeezed Lemonade Distress ink was sponged over the masks to create a colored background. Then Scattered Straw Distress ink was sponged over the Quatrefoil stencil by The Crafter's Workshop. I let this dry for a bit, then edged the piece with Black Soot Distress ink.

I lifted up the masks and the head and torso of the OSC was painted with a very thick layer of Goosebumps Texture Spray. I just opened the top and painted it on. I let it set for a bit, then added Glossy Accents to her eyes and to the martini glass. I glanced down at my table and noticed that the QuicKutz die included an olive and a toothpick. Those were colored with Copic markers and the olive was treated to a layer of Glossy Accents.

Then I went and had dinner with my husband. The mushroom pizza, Zinfandel, and fresh salad (using lettuce and radishes from my first CSA basket) were yummy. While I was enjoying this repast, the Glossy Accents and Goosebumps were busy drying and curing.

After dinner and a nice surf on the Internet, I withdrew to my craft room to continue with my card. The image panel was matted with shimmery black paper, which I also used with the Party Glasses Poppy Stamps die to die cut tiny cute martini glasses. The die that I used has the martini glass, a champagne flute, two wine glasses, and a margarita glass. All tiny. All adorable.

After searching through my rather large stash of 6x6 pads, I settled on a sheet of blue/gold dot paper from Bo-Bunny's Double Dots Very Vintage 6x6 pad. The colors worked well with the colored image and the polka dots pattern didn't overpower the card. I must say that Bo-Bunny's Double Dots pads are so very versatile. I love that there are several different pads, such as Double Dots Natural Necessities, Double Dots Bold & Brights, and Double Dots Soft Shades.

I stamped the sentiment by justjohanna/Odd Bird Planet onto a leftover piece of stenciled cardstock, then die cut it using a Spellbinders Ribbon Label die. The satin-finish martini glass ribbon is from Michael's and was in the clearance bin! Score!!! The card was assembled and I called it done.

Here's a slightly blurry close-up to show the dimension, texture, and shine created with the Goosebumps and Glossy Accents.


Thanks for visiting today!

Copic markers used:
OSC: B60, B63, B66, RV000, RV00, RV91, RV93, YG21, YG23
Little Dude: E00,E11, E81, E84, E87, R24,R39, Y23, G40, G82
Martini Glass: BG90, T1, T2, BG000
Wood Floor/Bar: E21, E23, E25, E29
Olives: YG93, YG97, R24

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
• As You Like It Challenges #1: Favorite Die Cut or Punch
• Cute Card Thursday #268: Something Blue
• Divas By Design: Anything Goes