Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Altered Playing Cards — Week Four

I am participating in an Altered Playing Card challenge on Facebook. The talented and lovely Claudine Criner is the person who is organizing and setting each week's challenge by choosing the supplies, media, and techniques to be used.

I must say that I've really enjoyed this challenge because it forces me to get messy at least once a week and also has pushed me to re-use old supplies, use those supplies in a different way, or pushed me out of my comfort zone.

My first card this week did just that. We were to add tissue paper to our pre-gessoed cards, paint 'em, doodle on them, grab some Gelli prints (or patterned paper), doodle houses on the prints, fussy-cut the houses, stamp an image, and fussy cut that. I do not doodle on my projects, nor do I use my handwriting on them. Never, ever. Why? Because if my handwriting or doodling is not perfect, my inner Virgo control-freak has a conniption, which sets the voices in my head to arguing, and that just ain't good.

So, this week, I forced myself to doodle and draw houses. It took me several attempts to draw some houses that weren't barftastic.

With the above as a prelude, here's my card!
Per Claudine's example, Idea-ology tissue paper was torn and the strips were adhered to the card with  Media Matte Medium by DecoArt. I used text, music, and a graphic. When dry, Cobalt Blue Hue and Cobalt Teal Hue DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics were sponged over the card.

When the paint was dry, I used the Fude Ball pen to add some doodles. I was not happy doodling, but was happy with the pen as it's opaque, wrote over all sorts of bumps and divots on the card, and dried quickly.

I found some old (rejected) Gelli prints and drew a plethora of houses on the Gelli prints using the Fude Ball pen until I settled on the three you see here. They were fussy-cut and adhered to the card front with a Ranger Collage Glue Stick.

A moon (Hero Arts) was stamped onto a scrap of white cardstock using Tuxedo Black Memento ink, colored with Copic markers, then fussy-cut. It was adhered using the Collage Glue Stick. A heart corner punch was used to punch vellum, then the three hearts were adhered over the chimney with the Collage Glue Stick.

Do I like this card? Not sure? Do I like my doodling? Nope. It looks jive. Amateurish. Ick. Blech. But at least now you all know why I love stamps. The images are already perfect and make (all of me) happy.

The second card was much easier for me. Claudine's sample used acrylic paint, a colored, fussy-cut digital image, and washi tape.

Here's mine.

Primary Magenta DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics was mixed with Titanium White MFA and Primary Yellow MFA was mixed with Titanium White MFA. Both were streaked over the pre-gessoed card until I was happy with the coverage.

Le Petit Artiste by Vera Lane Studios was resized in PhotoElements, printed onto Neenah cardstock using my laser printer, colored with Copic markers, then fussy-cut. Little dabs of the paints that I used were added to her palette.

I had some "Keep Calm and Carry on" Washi tape that was perfect for this project. "Create" was die-cut from white metallic paper using a die by Elizabeth Craft Designs, colored with Copic markers, then adhered over "Carry on".

Here are this week's cards together!


Thanks for visiting today!

Friday, September 26, 2014

Meet Pengie x 2!

This week's challenge at Outlawz Alcohol Markers Challenges is Anything Goes and/or Christmas.  Outlawz Alcohol Markers Challenges is now a coloring challenge! You can use alcohol markers, other markers, colored pencils, and any other coloring medium. The only requirement is that you color an open line image!

September's sponsor for the Outlawz Friday's Coloring Challenges is Vera Lane Studios! If you haven't checked these stamps out, you should. They're quirky, whimsical, and fun! Here's some incentive! Janet, the owner of Vera Lane Studios has issued a coupon code for 10% off!

The code is: TRYVERA10

You should definitely enter this challenge and should also visit my Outlawz Coloring Challenge Teamies' blogs for inspiration! Carla, Dawn, Penny, and Laine  are seriously talented!

Here's my card featuring Pengie,who is one of SCACD's fabulous digital stamps !

Pengie was resized in PhotoElements and twinned (via Duplicate Layer). The twin was flipped, then positioned so that he was slightly behind his twin brother. The twins were printed out onto Neenah cardstock using my laser printer, then colored with Copic markers.

The patterned papers are from an old 6x6 pad by Basic Grey and the layout was based on a sketch from The Pink Elephant Challenge blog. An old Doodlebug button was threaded with black embroidery floss. Washi tape was colored with Copic markers to match the penguins. My Talk Bubbles die-cut by Simon Says Stamp was used to die-cut a label from red cardstock. The sentiment and the stars are from an Idea-ology Remnant Rubs sheet that I won last year! 

Here's the sketch so you can see how I did.


Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this in the following challenges:
The Pink Elephant Challenge #269: Sketch
Crafty Sentiments Designs: Christmas in September
Sweet Stamping Christmas Challenges: Christmas Critters
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenges: Anything Goes

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Altered Playing Cards — Week Three

I am participating in an Altered Playing Card challenge on Facebook. The talented and lovely Claudine Criner is the person who is organizing and setting each week's challenge. 

This week one of the cards was to have a Distress inked background, some die-cuts, and some stenciling. 

Here's mine.


My gessoed background hand some striations that I added using the serrated blade of a plastic knife. Whenever I get plastic cutlery, I end up with most of the knives yet, so I've appropriated a bunch of them to use in the craftroommess. I sponged Concord Grape, Chipped Sapphire, and Salty Ocean Distress inks in stripes across the card with Grape at the top and Salty Ocean at the base. I grabbed a paper towel and rubbed from top to bottom to achieve a gradient look. The I heat set the card, which sadly faded my lovely gradient.

I grabbed my Schoolhouse Layering Stencil and sponged Jet Black StazOn ink over it, then immediately cleaned the stencil with Purell®. As a raging germaphobe, I love Purell® and keep a bottle at the ready, which means I have a bottle in my car, in my handbag, and in most rooms of my house.  I have discovered that Purell® is a great way to clean a craft mat, stencils, acrylic blocks, etc. Plus, if it drips on a project, it can leave a cool result. Just sayin'.

Hmm. I digressed, but at least it was somewhat craft related.

A Post-It note was used to mask the top of the card and Cactus Green and Jet Black StazOn ink was sponged onto the bottom of the card.

Black cardstock was die-cut with the Sitting Cat die by Poppy Stamps and the cat was adhered on the "grass". White cardstock was die-cut with a QuicKutz heart die, sponged with Memento ink, and covered with Clear Wink of Stella Glitter pen. Vellum was die-cut with an old QuicKutz bird die, its wings were removed (didn't hurt it a bit), coated with Clear Wink of Stella Glitter pen, and adhered to the back of the heart. The flying heart was adhered to the background to finish the card.

The second card was to receive an alcohol inked background, some die-cuts, some stenciling, some rub-ons, and some stamping.

Here it is!

Eggplant, Denim, and Purple Twilight Alcohol inks were applied to the felt of a blending tool then pounced over the card. It took a few tries to get the coverage and pattern that I liked, but once again, Purell® came to the rescue, removing the first and second tries! See? It IS handy to keep around!

The next step was to die-cut some images to use on the card. A tombstone from Spellbinders' Graveyard Scenes die set was used to die-cut a scrap of 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock by Strathmore. Black cardstock was die-cut using A Bunch of Bats die by Memory Box. White cardstock was die-cut using my new Skeleton Man die by Ellentina. I colored the skull with Copic markers, added a few cracks to his skull with a Copic Multiliner, and set most of the die-cuts aside.

Since I had so much fun using the Effects Powders Technique, from page 52 of Tim Holtz's Compendium of Curiosities Challenges, I decided to use this technique again on the tombstone, using Weathered Wood and a bit of Old Paper Distress Powders. I also used my beloved Black Soot Distress ink along with Tea Dye and (oddly) Milled Lavender Distress inks on it. Now that the tombstone looked stoned (pun intended), it was set aside too.

The Lightning stamp from SCACD's Nature's Direction rubber stamp set was inked with white Palette ink and stamped across the top of the card. Green cardstock was torn and Jet Black StazOn ink was sponged over "October" from the Life Months stencil by The Crafter's Workshop.

It was time to put the card together! The skeleton was adhered to the back of the tombstone, then the tombstone was adhered to the card. The grass with "October" was placed over the base of the tombstone, the bats were added, and "Happy Halloween" from the Apothecary Remnant Rubs sheet was added to finish the card!

Thank you for visiting today!

These cards will be entered in the following challenges:
Compendium of Curiosities Challenge #11, sponsored by the Inspiration Emporium
Simon Says Monday Challenges: Stamp or Stencil

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Another Day, another Wall Hanging!

Carol is the hostess this week at Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and her challenge is "Early Halloween. Get your spook on! Here's what she has to say about her challenge!
I love Halloween and as a crafter it can never start early enough. So for the challenge this week I am sneaking it in a week early. So I hope you have fun getting and early Spook on.
If you'd like the chance to win $30 worth of Stampotique stamps, you should play along. Visit Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and be sure to read the rules so that you'll have the chance to win a great prize!!!

I'm in the process of reorganizing my craft room, though it will be a while before it's complete. As such, I guess that I'll be changing out the stuff that's currently hanging on my walls since I've just done two wall hanging thingies in a week.

Here's my wall hanging thingy that uses Stampotique's Angel (Daniel Torrente).


I started the project by tracing the outlines of one of the skulls from the Skullduggery stencil by Andy Skinner/Tando Creative onto 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock by Strathmore. Using my Stampa-ma-jig stamp positioner, I lined up Angel where I wanted her, then stamped her using Tuxedo Black Memento ink. I messed up because I wanted her standing in the eyes and nose openings of the skull, but such is life. I colored her with my Copic markers and tried to give her hair and outfit a fiery look. A Copic Multiliner was used to strenthen the traced lines and the skull was colored and shaded with Copic markers.

The Flames stencil by the Crafter's Workshop was placed over the skull then I used my Copic markers to carefully trace the flames were I wanted them, which was behind Angel and the skull. The stencil was lifted and I colored the flames with Copic markers, which were also used to add the background. A variety of Distress inks were sponged over the outside edges towards the inside to deepen the color and a touch of warmth (pun intended) to the background. Black Soot Distress ink was used to edge the piece and to add a sooty look to the flames.

A piece of black chipboard was cut to 5" x 7". Spellbinders' Ironworks Accents border die, Flourish Trim die, and my Wesley Border die by Top Dog Dies were used to die-cut black cardstock. The Ironworks Accents border and Wesley Border die-cuts were adhered to either side of the chipboard panel, then the panel was painted with Black Ice Silks Glaze, which was also used to paint the Flourish Trim die-cut. The Black Ice Silks Glaze added a nice rich black sparkle. The die-cuts all received a nice brushing of Onyxite, Rose Quartz, and Florentine Treasure Gold by PaperArtsy.

The image panel was adhered, then the painted Flourish Trim die-cut was added to to the top of the piece. The skull of a skull cameo was painted with Titanium White Media Fluid Acrylic paint, then adhered to a brass cabochon, which was brushed with Treasure Gold. The skull cameo was adhered to the center of the Flourish Trim die-cut.

I poked holes in both sides of the piece and stuck very old Karen Foster brads through the apertures. I should note that I changed the color of the pewter brads using a Prismacolor marker and Treasure Gold. Jump rings were used to attach the brads and chain. The color of the brass chain was not quite right, so I also brushed it with Treasure Gold so that it, the cabochon, and the border die-cuts would be all matchy-matchy. 

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this project into the following challenges:

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Tick Tock

Sam is the hostess this week at Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and her challenge is "One Stamp"! Here's what she has to say about her challenge!
"One of the beauties of Stampotique stamps is even though there are 18 amazing artists designing our rubbery goodness and their images work so well together it's great to use a lot of stamps for one project, I often do.

So this week, I am challenging myself too and inviting you to use just one stamp . . . wondering off scratching head and rubbing chin . . . this is going to be SO hard to choose!"
Most importantly, have fun!
If you'd like the chance to win $30 worth of Stampotique stamps, you should play along. Visit Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and be sure to read the rules so that you'll have the chance to win a great prize!!!

Here's my project, using Stampotique's  Timeless (Amy Wellenstein) stamp.



This is a difficult challenge for most of my teammates, but as I tend to use one stamp at a time, it was a rather easy challenge for me. So I decided to complicate things by going all techniquey and try out some new-to-me techniques from Tim Holtz's A Compendium of Curiosities, Volume 3, which I got as a b'day gift to me from me with love. :D

Scattered Straw, Ripe Persimmon, and Barn Door Distress paints were sponged over the Flourish stencil by Prima onto 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock by Strathmore, then heat set. Scattered Straw Distress ink was sponged over the paint, which resisted the ink. The next step was to sponge Spiced Marmalade Distress ink over the Burlap Layering stencil on either side of the piece. This ink was also sponged over the Shatter Layering stencil in the center of the piece.  Rusty Hinge, Barn Door, and Black Soot Distress inks were used to edge the piece and the entire thing was heat set.

Timeless was stamped into the center of the piece with Onyx Black VersaFine ink and was also stamped onto a scrap of cardstock using Jet Black Archival ink. This was sponged with Scattered Straw Distress ink, then parts were colored with Distress ink and/or Distress markers. The circle with the second hand was coated with several layers of coated with several layers of  Clear Gelly Roll Glaze pen to add glossy dimension and shine.

A very old, hoarded Technique Tile square frame by Technique Tuesday was pressed into the Onyx Black VersaFine inkpad and heat set with Clear Filigree Fine Detail embossing powder. The frame was then pressed into a Frost Dazzle VersaMark pad and heat set with the same embossing powder. This step was repeated a second time to build up the gloss and the sparkle

The colored Timeless scrap was framed with the tile and adhered in place on the piece.

I've used "Tick Tock" before in the same way, but the placement appeals to my inner Virgo, so I decided to do that again on this project. This time I took Newsprint Alpha-Parts by Idea-ology, painted them Distress paints, using one color, heat setting it, adding another, heat setting it, wiping it off, until I ended up with a variegated look. I grabbed a black Sharpie marker and edged the letters, but decided that the letters looked a little flat, so I pressed each painted letter into the Frost Dazzle VersaMark pad, dipped it into the jar of Clear Filigree Fine Detail embossing powder, then heat set it. I was a little over-zealous with some and they melted a bit, warping the shape. Perfection is overrated, so I used them anyway.

Now I had the upper left and lower right corners filled, but I needed to do something else, so I die-cut black cardstock with SCACD's fabulous Alice's Clock Statement Corner die which was pressed into the Frost Dazzle VersaMark pad and heat set with Clear Filigree Fine Detail embossing powder.

I decided to play along with the current challenge at the Compendium of Curiosities Challenges, and try the Effect Powders Technique, which can be found on page 52. I used this technique on the Mini Butterflies and Mini Gears die-cuts with Weathered Wood, Old Paper, and Fired Brick Distress Powder. Miscellaneous gears, Game Spinners by Idea-ology, black brads, and black pearls were used to finish the piece. At this point I decided I wanted to hang it, so I dyed some Crinkle ribbon with Distress inks, heat set it, and attached it to the back of the piece.

I've decided that I don't know how I feel about the finished project. It's a bit busy and I think I should have left the plastic letters as they were, but I had fun putting the thing together and that's what counts. Maybe.

If you've read through all of this, pat yourself on the shoulder and/or have a cocktail!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this project into the following challenges:
Compendium of Curiosities Challenge #11, sponsored by the Inspiration Emporium
Simon Says Monday Challenges: Stamp or Stencil
Rhedd's Creative Spirit Challenges: Anything Goes
Tando Creative Challenges: Numbers and Letters
Altered Eclectics September Challenge: Anything Goes

Friday, September 19, 2014

This week's challenge at Outlawz Alcohol Markers Challenges is a coloring challenge! Outlawz Alcohol Markers Challenges is now a coloring challenge! You can use alcohol markers, other markers, colored pencils, and any other coloring medium. The only requirement is that you color an open line image!

September's sponsor for the Outlawz Friday's Coloring Challenges is Vera Lane Studios! If you haven't checked these stamps out, you should. They're quirky, whimsical, and fun! Here's some incentive! Janet, the owner of Vera Lane Studios has issued a coupon code for 10% off!

The code is: TRYVERA10

You should definitely enter this challenge and should also visit my Outlawz Coloring Challenge Teamies' blogs for inspiration! Carla, Dawn, Penny, and Laine  are seriously talented!


Here's the color palette from Design Seeds:

Here's my card using the Coffee Girl set by Vera Lane Studios

I reduced both the Coffee Lover Gal and Cup o'Cat digital stamps and positioned them using PhotoElements. The scene was printed onto Neenah cardstock using my laser printer, then colored with Copic markers. The image panel and its mat (Kraft Basics by Basic Grey) were die-cut using  dies from one of the Blueprints die sets by Die-namics. The kraft die-cut's edges were lightly distressed, then the image panel was matted with the kraft die-cut, then matted again onto blue cardstock.
Patterned papers by older 6x6 pads by My Mind's Eye were layered according to a sketch over at the Digi Sketch Challenge blog. All edges of the patterned papers were lightly distressed so that the white edges would show. The patterned papers were all matted with blue cardstock, the card was assembled, and then added to a kraft card.
Thanks for visiting today! 

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Studio Table - The Reveal

Seth Apter, of The Altered Page Studio fame, has dared us to show him our studio tables, since he's showed us his.

Here's what he had to say about this challenge:
So many times when we are presented with images of artist studios, they are pristine -- almost as if nothing goes on in the space. This is often true in books, magazines, blogs, and Facebook. The reality is, of course, that during the process of creating, the mess multiplies faster than the matheletes at the International Mathematical Olympiad (and there really is such a thing)!

Let's go behind the curtain, throw any feelings of shame out the window, and show the world the underside of art and craft. I'll show you mine if you show me yours!

Never one to back down from a dare, I'm participating. Here it is!

I must state that my table is actually somewhat clean since I'm mostly done with the card that's on my table. I also didn't go multi-media with it, so the table is much tidier than when I'm using paints, stencils, markers, and suchlike. I didn't show the floor, which is covered with scraps of paper, fallen embellishments, and stuff like that. I have carpeting in the room and a fairly inept vacuum cleaner (and housekeeper)... Oh for hard wood, tile, or even linoleum. More space would be nice as there's another table piled with dies and a bed that is also piled high with schtuffs.

Please note that I have several pairs of reading glasses (of various strengths) and that my three OTT lights (two battery powered purchased during that-bitch-Hurricane Irene) are covered with ink splatter. 


Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Altered Playing Card Challenges: Week Two

I am participating in an Altered Playing Card challenge on Facebook. The talented and lovely Claudine Criner is the person who is organizing and setting each week's challenge.

The first week was easy. We were just find a deck of playing cards and prepare them by sanding or applying gesso to one side.

Being me, I found wonky playing cards. I went to the local dollar store emporium and bought a deck of cards, only to discover that they originally were discarded casino decks that had been corner punched so they could no longer be used in a casino.

Also being me, I only prepped ten cards, though I will go back and do more. I decided to use gesso and applied the gesso in a variety of ways, which yielded a bunch of different looks. I sponged some gesso on some, applied it thickly to others, scribbled into the gesso for others, and applied thickly to one card, pressed the face of an other card into the gesso, then pulled it apart. That pair are the ones I'm showing today for Week #2, which you can read about HERE.

Essentially, you were supposed to spray your cards with a few colors of ink or paint, a stamped image, and diecuts. I should note that I don't like using sprays, but I went for it and eventhough my OTT light is now speckled and a Rubbermaid container is stained, it wasn't too ghastly. I might even use those sprays again!

Here are my first pair of altered playing cards.


My first card uses SCACD's Nancy's Mech Seahorse


SCACD's Nancy's Mech Seahorse is a digital stamp, that was resized in PhotoElements, printed onto Neenah cardstock using my laser printed, colored with Copic markers, and fussy-cut. The compass and the rivets were coated with several layers of coated with several layers of  Clear Gelly Roll Glaze pen to add glossy dimension and shine. The Seahorse was set aside while I worked on the playing card.

As stated, I applied DecoArt Media White Gesso very thickly to one card, pressed another card into it, and pulled them apart. The cards dried with wonderful textures and patterns on them. I sprayed one of the cards with Vibrant Turquoise, Calypso Teal, London Blue, and Fresh Lime Dylusions sprays. When I was happy with the coverage, I heat set it. I wanted to bring out the cool sea vegetation-ish texture, so I lightly sponged Cactus Green StazOn ink over the the raised bits, which worked just as I wanted. Gotta love that! Then I used the same ink to edge the card.

I wanted to add a sandy sea floor, so I used my palette knife to apply White Media Texture Sand Paste to the bottom of the card. Some watch parts were pressed into the Sand Paste while it was wet. The Sand Paste absorbed some of the colors from the sprays. The bits that stayed whitish were touched up with an Old Paper Distress marker. The last step was to adhere Nancy's Mech Seahorse to the front of the card.

The second card features Stampotique's Moon Girl

I wanted Stampotique's Moon Girl to look ethereal, so Distress markers were applied directly to the rubber. I huffed on the stamp, then stamped the image onto Neenah cardstock. The image was colored more completely with Copic markers. Clear Wink of Stella Glitter pen was used to add glitter to Moon Girl's wings, then she was fussy-cut and set aside. 

The gessoed card was sprayed with Bubblegum Pink, Vibrant Turquoise, and Pure Sunshine Dylusions Sprays. I also sprayed Heirloom Gold Perfect Mist, but I disliked that, so I wiped it off, and resprayed with the same Dylusions Sprays. Much better. The card was heat set.

White vellum was die-cut using cloud dies by Memory Box/Poppy Stamps. . Black cardstock was die-cut using a house die by Memory Box/Poppy Stamps. These were adhered to the card and then Moon Girl was added.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this into the following challenges:
Crafty Card Crew Challenges: Urban or Steampunk
Punkyou Girl Challenge #16: What Creeps under the Sea
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenges: Rock The Techniques


Friday, September 12, 2014

Hats off!

This week's challenge at Outlawz Alcohol Markers Challenges is Hats because September 15th is Make a Hat Day! Outlawz Alcohol Markers Challenges is now a coloring challenge! You can use alcohol markers, other markers, colored pencils, and any other coloring medium. The only requirement is that you color an open line image!

September's sponsor for the Outlawz Friday's Coloring Challenges is Vera Lane Studios! If you haven't checked these stamps out, you should. They're quirky, whimsical, and fun! Here's some incentive! Janet, the owner of Vera Lane Studios has issued a coupon code for 10% off!
The code is: TRYVERA10

You should definitely enter this challenge and should also visit my Outlawz Coloring Challenge Teamies' blogs for inspiration! Carla, Dawn, Penny, and Laine  are seriously talented! Laine just joined us and we're delighted to have her aboard! As a fun aside, I'm always going to list Penny, then Laine because it amuses me and plants a song in my head, which distracts me from those pesky voices.

My card for Make a Hat Day features the witch, crow, and pumpkin pail from Vera Lane Studio's  Little Whimsical Witch set and the cat from the Girl and Cat with Party Hats set. Yes. I know. I didn't make a hat. That would have taken engineering and math skills. I don't have those. Sad but true. But I am all about Halloween and Halloween imagery, so I made a Halloween card featuring a witch and this witch's hat is skullicious. I should note that the Little Witch set comes with a dog. It's a cute dog, but this witch (referring to myself) is a crazy cat lady. Hence the cat substitution.

Here it is!
(The photo isn't great since it was taken at dusk. I'll try for a better photo tomorrow if it's not raining!)


All the images were resized and positioned using PhotoElements. Some were flipped so that they'd be facing the way I wanted them to face. The scene was printed out onto Neenah cardstock using my laser printer, then colored with Copic markers. The pumpkin pail, crow's eyes, crow's beak, the skull on the witch's hat, the cat's nose, and eyes were all coated with several layers of  Clear Gelly Roll Glaze pen to add glossy dimension and shine.

The patterned papers are from the Eerie collection by Basic Grey and another old set of Halloween papers (and I lost the packaging). They were layered according to the sketch from Crafty Creations. I flipped the sketch and took further liberties with it as I had an attack of math ineptitude. The frame was created with a die from a set by Die-Namics. The border stickers are also from the Eerie collection. I never use the stickers that come with these sets, so I was pleased as punch to be able to use them in my Plan B. (Plan A didn't work because of the aforementioned math ineptitude attack, also known as MIA.) I also used glittery raven stickers that I got either last year or the year before. I think they're by either EK Success or Recollections. The sentiment was compiled with glitter stickers from my stash of Making Memories Glitter alphabet stickers. Three glittery dots from that sheet were added to the top left. 

Here's the sketch!


Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
Crafty Creations Challenge #271: Sketch
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenges: Anything Goes
Crafty Bloggers Network Challenges: Anything Goes
Without Words Challenges: Celebration (Halloween is cause for a lot of celebration!)
A Step in the Dark Challenges: Anything Goes

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Meow!



Gothie Feline was resized using PhotoElements, then printed out onto Neenah cardstock with my laser printer, then was colored with Copic markers. An additional copy of the resized digital stamp was also printed out in fast draft mode with my inkjet printer, fussy-cut, and adhered over the colored version using temporary adhesive.  

Gothie Feline took a ride through my Big Kick inside of a Nestabilities Labels die. The die-cut was left inside the die, Post-It notes were placed horizontally over the die, and a background was airbrushed  using my Copic Airbrush System. The Post-It notes were moved to cover the top portion of the die and the "floor" was airbrushed. It got a bit sticky, so I used alcohol on a paper towel to dab off the excess. I ended up removing more ink than I wanted, so I added some dots to the "floor".
 
Black Spica Glitter pen was used to add black glittery accents to Gothie Feline's whiskers and the black dots on her mask.

Purple Copic Spica Glitter pen was used to add a jeweled touch to one of her canine teeth. The eyes, bones, teeth, and the skull in the flower received several layers of Clear Gelly Roll Glaze pen to add glossy dimension and shine.

Here's a close-up so that you can see the effect!


The stamped, die-cut panel was put aside while I put together the rest of the card.

Very old Halloween-themed patterned paper from Cosmo Cricket was layered onto equally old Halloween text paper. (I should note that I hoard Halloween-themed papers and schtuff!) Strips of purple patterned paper from the Spirited 6x6 pad by Authentique were added to bring some purple to the layers.  My new Spider Web Border die by Poppy Stamps was used to die-cut off-white cardstock and layered over the horizontal purple strip. All the layers were tattered with my Tonic distressing tool and a scissors blade, then sponged with Old Paper Distress ink.

A small flag die was used to die-cut the offwhite paper and old QuicKutz dies were used to die-cut black cardstock for the sentiment. Black cardstock was also die-cut with the Scary Spiders die by Memory Box. All the spiders' legs were folded and their bodies were popped up on dimensionals with their legs attached to either the spider webs or the sentiment. If you look closely, maybe you can see the strand of spider silk (a thread) that goes from the spider web to the sentiment-holding spider!

Three purple rhinestones were used to finish the card.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
Craft-Room Challenges: Something Old, Something New (new image, new die, old paper and dies)
Through the Purple Haze Challenges: Clear and Bright
Die Cut Divas Challenges: New Things
A Step in the Dark Challenges: Anything Goes 
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenges: Anything Goes
Crafty Bloggers Network Challenges: Anything Goes

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Birds or Animals Challenge

Sue is the hostess this week at Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and her challenge is called Animals or Birds! Here's what she has to say about her challenge!
Napoleon once said that the English are a nation of shopkeepers.What he should have said is that we are a nation of animal lovers. 
Nearly everyone I know has got a cat or dog, a pet rabbit or bird, and I know that my Stampotique teamies have their pets too. So this week we're celebrating the fur and feathers and I challenge you to create something with either animals or birds. So put your best paw forward and bring it on. 
Have fun!
If you'd like the chance to win $30 worth of Stampotique stamps, you should play along. Visit Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and be sure to read the rules so that you'll have the chance to win a great prize!!!

Here's my card, which uses Stampotique's Cat Family (Janet Klein) stamp, which I love a bunch because we're a family of three cat lovers.

Cat Family was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink, colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, edged with a black marker, then set aside while I worked on a background for the family.

Since Madame le Chat is wearing a beret, they had to be in Paris, so I decided to use some french text and a very old Tour Eiffel sticker by Jolee's Boutique. True confession time, the french text came from a text that apparently was stolen borrowed from my home town library. I don't recall reading Le Cid in high school french class, so maybe one of my sibs was the thief! In any case, I found the book buried in a box that was rescued when our basement was flooded due to Hurricane Irene. It was one of the dry books, though the spine was damaged and pages had come loose. I kept the book because I figured I'd eventually use it in crafting. I was right and I've digressed. Je suis choquée.

The french text, along with some old patterned paper from 7 Gypsies, was torn, edged with Potting Soil Archival ink, then sponged with watered Broken China Distress paint, and heat set. The edges were sponged again with Potting Soil ink and the papers were adhered to an off white card front. 

Bronze Metallic cardstock by Recollections was die-cut using a Nestabilities Decorative Labels Eight die by Spellbinders. The same cardstock used on the card front was die-cut with a Nestabilities Labels Eight die, sponged with watered Broken China Distress paint, heat set, and adhered to the card front.

Musical notation patterned paper from another 6x6 pad by 7 Gypsies was painted with watered Mowed Lawn Distress paint and adhered to the bottom of the card. Bronze Metallic cardstock was die-cut with an Ironworks Accents border die by Spellbinders. This was adhered over the painted music cardstock. The Bronze Metallic die-cuts were brushed with Renaissance Treasure Gold by Paper Artsy, which was buffed to enhance the shine.

Vellum was die-cut with Clouds dies by Memory Box and the Talk Bubbles die by Simon Says Stamp. Old-almost-gone Doodlebug rub-ons were used to add the sentiment. The clouds were adhered to die-cu. The Eiffel Tower was positioned as shown and the Cat Family was adhered to the card front, which was edged with a bit of the Renaissance Treasure Gold.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
I {Heart} Sketches with a twist Challenge #78: Recycled (my purloined textbook)
Jellypark Friends Challenges: Pets or Animals

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Refresh, Recycle, and Distress!

Kaz is the hostess this week at Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and her challenge is called Refresh It! Here's what she has to say about her challenge!
"We all love playing with new stamps, but sometimes it's good to revisit some that have been neglected for a while. I'd like you to find an old favourite and give it a new lease of life."
If you'd like the chance to win $30 worth of Stampotique stamps, you should play along. Visit Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and be sure to read the rules, so that you'll have the chance to win a great prize!!!

To be totally truthful, I can't remember my first Stampotique stamp, though I remember the first batch I received! So I decided that I should use a stamp that I've neglected and I opted to use Nerd Cat (Kira Nichols).

Here's my card!


Nerd Cat was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto patterned paper from the White Basics 6x6 pad by Basic Grey. He was colored with Copic markers and his shirt buttons, pens in his pocket, and his glasses were coated with Clear Gelly Roll Glaze pen to add a nice glassy dimensional finish. The frames received several more layers to make them stand out from the lenses.

Very old rub-ons (2005) from 7 Gypsies were added to the white space around him and the image panel was set aside while I worked on the background. This card is for a special cat lovin' nerd, but I can't name names. Just in case...

I grabbed an old empty two-toned file folder and cut it down to a more workable size. Media White Crackle paint by DecoArt was dry brushed unevenly over the folder and left to do its thing. When I returned, I was delighted to find an unevenly crackled background!

French Journal Page (France Papillon) was stamped over the crackled background with Onyx Black VersaFine ink, then heat embossed with black sparkly embossing powder, which curiously was unlabeled in my stash.

Media White Modeling Paste by DecoArt was tinted with a drop or two from Primary Cyan Media Mister, then applied through Stars, Schoolhouse Layering Stencils, and Specimen Stencil by The Crafter's Workshop.

I liked what the background looked like, but it still needed something. I'm not a big spray person, probably because my inner Virgo control freak problems, but I wanted some different colored paint splatters. I sprayed some Red Media Mister by DecoArt onto a palette, dipped a toothpick into the paint, and applied some control freakish splatters, which looked like blood spray. So I sprayed Primary Yellow Media Mister onto the palette and dipped its cap and the cap from a Mini Mister into the paint, and added little yellow rings. That made the panel look less crime-scenic and made me much happier.

The painted, stamped folder was torn to size, then my underused Bind-It-All was used to add punches along the left hand side. All edges were distressed using my distressing tool by Tonic, the edge of a scissor blade,  then some of my beloved Black Soot Distress ink was sponged around the piece to distress it a bit more.

The Happy Birthday die by Elizabeth Crafts was used to die-cut the blue folder. The Nerd Cat image panel was matted with a piece from the folder than adhered to the card. Ancient photo turns were attached with red brads. The missing dot from the "i" in Birthday was replaced with another red brad.

The card front was attached to a card made from the other side of the file folder and I called it done! Hallelujah!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenges: Stamp It
A Little Bit Crafty: Distress It
Scrap It Girl Challenges: Stencils or Masks
Fashionable Stamping Challenge #80: Birthday for Someone Special

Friday, September 5, 2014

Bear with me!

This week's challenge at Outlawz Alcohol Markers Challenges is Teddy Bears because September 9th is Teddy Bear Day! Outlawz Alcohol Markers Challenges is now a coloring challenge! You can use alcohol markers, other markers, colored pencils, and any other coloring medium. The only requirement is that you color an open line image!

September's sponsor for the Outlawz Friday's Coloring Challenges is Vera Lane Studios!

You should definitely enter this challenge and should also visit my Outlawz Coloring Challenge Teamies' blogs for inspiration! Carla, Dawn, and Penny are seriously talented!

Here's my card, featuring Bear'n Gifts, a new addition to SCACD's line of digital stamps



Bear'n Gifts was resized in PhotoElements and printed out onto Neenah cardstock using my laser printer. He was colored with Copic markers. A fine mist of rubbing alcohol was sprayed onto a clean Swiffers Sweeper dusting sheet, which was then pressed onto the image. The alcohol removed the marker in a random manner and gave the bear's fur a fuzzy look. I enhanced this look further by coloring tiny rings with three different colors of marker. Bear'n Gifts was then fussy-cut, edged with a black marker, and set aside to wait for his new home to be created. BTW, Bear'n Gifts comes with a "Happy Birthday" sentiment, but I didn't feel like using it.

I followed this sketch from Creative Craft Cottage Challenges, though I made the oval into a circle so that Bear'n Gifts would fit!



The patterned papers are from the Origins 6x6 pad by Basic Grey. The circle die-cuts are Nestabilities Circles by Spellbinders. The other die-cuts (the Fishtails and Scallop) are by Die-namics. Since I didn't want Bear'n Gifts to be floating in space, Washi tape was added to the patterned paper prior to die-cutting the circle. All edges were sponged with Distress ink or Copic marker as I can't abide white edges.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
Creative Craft Cottage Challenge #27
Fan-Tastic Tuesday Challenge #51: Anything Goes
Crafting When We Can Challenge #77: Borrow A Sketch