Monday, March 31, 2014

Meet Cyber Chick




Cyber Chic is one of SCACD's newest digital stamps. As an avid science fiction/fantasy reader, this digi-stamp had to be part of my collection. I think she's fabulous!

Cyber Chic was resized in Photo Elements, printed out onto Neenah cardstock, then colored with my Copic markers. When I was done coloring her, I added some gold gel pen highlights, then coated them with Clear Gelly Glaze pen which was also used to coat her silver rivets. Cyber Chic took a ride through my Big Kick to be die-cut. The dotty pointillist background was added with Copic markers, then Gold Stickles glitter glue was added to the rim of the die cut.

The patterned cardstock is from an old Club Scrap kit. Chipped Sapphire Distress paint was painted onto an Idea-ology Word Band and onto pewter screw head flat back embellishments, then immediately wiped off the surface, leaving the paint in the recesses.

Seam binding was dyed using Copic markers, reinkers, and a metallic gold pen, scrunched, heat set, then used to adhere the Word Band. Gold metallic floss was  used to tie a knot on either side of the Word Band.

The screw heads were attached and I called it done!


Thanks for visiting today.

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Vintage Birthday Card

Since I wasn't so sure that I achieved a vintage look for this week's Vintage challenge at Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and since I needed a birthday card for my mom, I made this card featuring Stampotique's Cat Family, which is perfect for my family as we're a family of three.


Last Monday we were going to visit my mom on her actual birthday, so I had this card ready to go. Then I found out that my daughter had to work and couldn't go with me, which was the point of the visit. But, whilst visiting with my mom over the weekend (daughter had to work then too), I found out that my mother actually really does hate cats (How could my mother hate cats?), so this card wouldn't really work for her. So I made another that I'll share later. So a non-cat hater will get this card.

But I digress. Oops.

So, Cat Family was stamped onto Neenah cardstock using Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Copic markers. Two sheets of patterned paper  from the Madame Payraud 6x6 pad by Papermania were cut apart since there were parts I wanted to use and parts that I didn't. These were cut down to fit together with the stamped, colored piece. All edges were sponged with Distress inks to get rid of that nasty whiteness and to age 'em. Then all the pieces were assembled and adhered.

The sentiment, Happy Birthday (Stampotique) was stamped with Onyx Black VersaFine ink, then heat embossed with Filigree Clear Fine Detail embossing powder. The card was finished with some ancient black photo corners by 3L/Scrapbook Adhesives.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card in the following challenges.
Crafty Calendar: Animal Antics
Open-Minded Crafting Fun Challenge#7: Animal Antics
613 Avenue Create: Anything Goes

Friday, March 28, 2014

Holiday Owl




Holiday Owl is one of SCACD's digital stamps! Looking at both my rubber stamp and digital stamp collection, I seem to have some sort of odd fixation with all birds, but especially owls. I wonder if it's because like an owl, I'm so wise or perhaps it's because I'm a birdbrain. Hmmm. Maybe I can be both! Yep. That's the ticket.  I'm a wise birdbrain.

You might wonder why I chose to create a holiday card. That's easy! It's because this week is an "Anything Goes and/or Christmas" challenge at Outlawz Alcohol Marker Group!

Holiday Owl  was resized in PhotoElements, printed onto Neenah cardstock with my laser printer, and colored with Copic markers. His eyes, talons, and the berries were highlighted with a few layers of Clear Gelly Roll Glaze pen to add dimension and shine.

I usually color an image based on the patterned papers I feel like using. This time I colored Holiday Owl first, then chose the patterned papers from my sizeable stash. They're from an old Tis The Season 6x6 pad by Mind's Eye. The layout of the card is based on the current sketch over at Paper Take Weekly. I used die-cuts from Die-Namics and Simon Says Stamp. The sentiment is a Remnant Rub by Idea-ology.

Here's the sketch:


Thanks for visiting today.

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
Paper Take Weekly: Sketchie Free For All
Crimbo Crackers Challenge 61: Anything Goes Christmas
Creative Moments Challenge #39: Things with Wings
Fab 'n' Funky Challenge #209: Christmas

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Vintage!

***If you're here for the Bombshell Stamps Hump Day Hop, please scroll on down!***

France Papillon is hosting this week's Stampotique Designers Challenge, which is "Vintage". If you'd like to play along with this challenge, visit Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and be sure to read the rules, so that you'll have the chance to win a great prize!!!
This is what France has to say about her challenge.
‘Hello lovely Stampotiquers,
Lots of us get so excited when we get our hands on an old ledger, old books, or old family photos even from people we don’t know. But those are often hard to come by, or very expensive.
Because of that, lots of us became very agile in making new things look old by using inks, paper distressing tools, and yummy techniques.
How about we combine that love for all things vintage and all those yummy techniques with our favorite stamps to create a vintage looking Stampotique piece?
Can’t wait to see where that leads you! Ready? Create!’
Here's my tag, which features the Stacked Cups stamp by Stampotique. 

My mother collected beautiful porcelain tea cups which I loved as a child. They were only used when my parents gave parties and I was not allowed to touch them. When my Mom gave me a fancy luncheon party when I turned sixteen, the party was made even more special and festive when the tables were set with these beautiful tea cups. My mother recently gave me her collection as a gift and I truly treasure them.

The  Stacked Cups stamp reminds of these tea cups, which are now vintage heirlooms that I'll pass along to my daughter!

I wanted to give Stacked Cups a vintage look, so I painted 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock with Baltic Blue Fresco Finish Acrylic paint by Paper Artsy, then heat set it to make sure it was completely dry. I applied Fresco Finish Crackle Glaze in a very thin layer and heat set. A layer of Cheesecake or Vanilla Fresco Finish Acrylic (bad me can't remember which) was painted. Cracks immediately started to appear and got even more pronounced when I heat set the cardstock. I added some Tea Dye Distress ink here and there to age it even more.

The cardstock was lightly sanded, wiped with a baby wipe, and heat set again, which made even more cracks appear like magic. Stacked Cups was stamped onto the crackled painted cardstock using Jet Black Archival ink then heat set. The  Stacked Cups were colored using Distress markers, then fussy cut, and set aside while I worked on a background for them.

I took the reserve piece of crackled painted cardstock and sponged Weathered Wood and Stormy Sky Distress inks over the Dot Fade Layered stencil (on sale!).  Since once again, I wasn't sure that my project met the theme, I sponged Faded Jeans Distress ink over the word "Vintage" from a stencil by Wendy Vecchi. The saucer of the Stacked Cups needed to be grounded, so Stormy Sky Distress ink was sponged over vertical stripes from another Wendy Vecchi stencil. The Stacked Cups were adhered and the piece was roughed up with a Distressing tool by Tonic, then sponged with Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, and Tea Dye Distress inks.

Here's a close up of the image panel.

This panel was layered onto yellow and blue cardstock, fringed lace was adhered using the Tiny Attacher, and blue and yellow ribbons were threaded through the tag's hole. The tag was finished with a piece of blue twine which attached a teapot charm to the ribbons.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks: No patterned paper 
Moxie Fab World: Stylin' with stencils 
Anything but a Card Mini Challenges: Use two or more stencils
 

Bombshell's Hump Day Hop!

Alison, Bombshell's Challenge Captain, has selected this month's theme, which is called "Washi Away!" Here's what she had to say about this theme.
I want you to use washi tape on your project. Use a little, use a lot....whatever you like. Washi tape comes in so many different colors and patterns, so I expect it to be a really fun hop!
You've reached the last stop on the hop! You should have arrived here from the talented and lovely Kelli's blog! During a recent AC Moore prowl, I found some Washi Tapes that went exceedingly well with Bombshell's Hot Rod Classic collection, which is now available as rubber AND digital stamps! Woo-hoo! Now these fabulous stamps can be manipulated digitally, which is just what I've done with this card!



I had some fun manipulating the Classic Coupe Hot Rod from the King of the Road digital set. It was flipped, resized, and the shadows were erased using PhotoElements software. It was printed out onto Neenah cardstock using my laser printer, then colored with Copic markers. The chrome bits were colored using a silver Prismacolor pencil which was blended out with a Prismacolor Colorless Blender. My design called for a mask, so the same image was printed out onto used generic printer paper using an inkjet paper. This image was fussy-cut and adhered to its counterpart using repositionable adhesive. The "roadway" was sponged using Watering Can Archival ink. The cloudy sky was created by sponging Stormy Sky Distress ink over an old FairyTale Creations cloud stencil.

Checkerboard and flame Washi tape was adhered to a piece of cardstock to use for my background. The stamped, sponged piece, was adhered to the Washi taped cardstock, and foil photo corner stickers were added. I haven't decided who will receive this card for what occasion, so I did not use a sentiment at this time.

Thanks for visiting today!

In case you've gotten lost, here's the blog hop roster.
Bombshell Blog
Alison
Marnie
Kim
Alaine
Monika
Kelli
Kathi

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
A Random Fan Challenge: Plains, Trains, and Automobiles
Craft-Room Challenges: Transport
The Cheerful Stamp Pad: Modes of Transportation
A Little Bit Crafty: Are we there yet?

Friday, March 21, 2014

Meet SCACD's Victorian Steampunk Owl!


Victorian Steampunk Owl is one of SCACD's newest digital stamps! Of course I had to get this stamp as I love Steampunk and I love owls! She's so whimsical with that hat and winged boots!

Victorian Steampunk Owl was resized in PhotoElements, printed onto Neenah cardstock with my laser printer, and colored with Copic markers to match the color challenge that starts today over at Outlawz Alcohol Marker Group. One interesting note: I used B60 under the Neutral Grays for the owl's body. They combined together to make a different gray!

Here's the color swatch from Design Seeds.

After coloring Victorian Steampunk Owl, the image panel was die-cut using a Circles Nestabilities die. It was mounted onto a black/pink Core'Dinations cardstock Cog that was die-cut with a Cogs Nestabilities die, then lightly sanded to reveal pink edges.

When the image panel was mounted, I coated the eyes, beak, the boot's buttons, and the circuit-board/lightbulb circle with several coats of Clear Gelly Glaze pen. I also opted to add a very faint dotty background using BG10.

The card's design is based upon this sketch by Try Stamping on Tuesday.

I selected the patterned papers from the Natural 6x6 pad by Authentique since it matched the colors I had used on Victorian Steampunk Owl. RV Copic markers were used on the white flowers to make the paper match even better. The sheet was cut down to fit the sketch and the leftover piece was used for the horizontal strip.

Believe it or not, I had a Cuttlebug die that had a tiny lightbulb in addition to a mess of other tiny shapes. I have no recollection of buying it and have very few Cuttlebug dies, so I must've stolen it. All I know is that I found it when I was reorganizing a while back. I don't know if I had ever even used it! Anyway it was used to die-cut white cardstock, which was colored with Copic markers, then coated with several coats of Clear Gelly Glaze pen.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
Try Stamping on Tuesday: Sketch Challenge
Crafty Boots Challenges: Feathers
Lexi's Creations Challenge #112: Dies and Punches
Marker Pop Monday: Anything Goes
Frilly and Funkie: Neglected Dies 

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Masculine!

R.Maria is hosting this week's Stampotique Designers Challenge, which is "Masculine". If you'd like to play along with this challenge, visit Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and be sure to read the rules, so that you'll have the chance to win a great prize!!!
 ''How many masculine cards did you make in the last month? I personally made zero cards. Masculine creations can be a real challenge. I challenge you to create something using the masculine theme. Keep the cuteness and bling away this time. Lock them in your drawer. Let's make men feel special at least once in a while with something made only for them''.
Here's my card! I hope it's masculine and not cute.


What's more masculine than a rooster? Rootie Toot is the star of my card. I'll admit that I was singing "You're so vain" whilst making this card and he really is vain, what with his handsome plumage. Plus he's posing atop a weather vane. Yeah. I really did go there. :D

Back to the card. Sort of. As a suburban person, I haven't been around (m)any real roosters, so I had to do some research to find out about their coloration. My bird books didn't have any photos, so I resorted to Google. Who knew that there so many differently colored roosters? Not me.

Rootie Toot was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Copic markers whose colors were chosen based on my research. I selected a very masculine variation in keeping with this week's Stampotique Designers Challenge theme. When I was done coloring Rootie Toot, the image was fussy-cut and set aside.

The background was created with Stormy Sky Distress ink which was sponged over a very old clouds stencil by Fairytale Creations onto 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock by Strathmore.

An equally old QuicKutz die was used to cut the arrows from black cardstock. Three arrows were stacked up and painted with Brushed Pewter Distress paint. The feathers of four of the arrows were cut off and two arrows were stacked with the points facing away from each other. These were also painted with Brushed Pewter Distress paint. Mini Studio QuicKutz dies were used to cut N, S, E, and W from black cardstock, which were adhered to the double pouint-ended arrows. The "body" of the weathervane is an Antique Lamp Post die by Poppy Stamps, which I hadn't used in forever-and-a-day.


Here's a closer view of the weather vane and Rootie Toot.



The Pediments Alterations die, which I had purchased and not used [bad me], was used to die-cut a scrap of 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock by Strathmore and colored with Distress markers.

I didn't use a sentiment because I haven't yet decided who will get this card for what occasion.

Thanks for visiting today.

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
Crafty Boots Challenges: Feathers
Lexi's Creations Challenge #112: Dies and Punches
Marker Pop Monday: Anything Goes
Frilly and Funkie: Neglected Dies 
Inspiration Journal Challenge: A Splash of Color

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Another mythological creature!

Phoenixes are such wonderful mystical creatures. They're believed to rise from the ashes. As such, they have come to symbolize hope and rebirth. Do a Google search to find out more about these mythological birds!

Recently SCACD released a Phoenix digital stamp that I just had to have. If you haven't checked out SCACD's Digital Stamps, you really out to do so now!

Here's the first project that I made with it.



Phoenix was resized in PhotoElements and printed onto Neenah cardstock using a laser printer. He was colored with Copic markers and his beak and eye were coated with a layer of Clear Gelly Glaze pen to add some dimension and shine. Copic markers were also used to create the background. Pumice Stone and Black Soot Distress ink was sponged onto the edges.

The patterned papers are very old and beloved Black Tie Basic Grey papers that were sponged with Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Rusty Hinge, and Black Soot Distress ink to make them match the Phoenix a bit better.

A Spellbinders die was used to diecut more of the same Basic Grey papers. Idea-ology Remnant Rubs were used to add the sentiment. The ampersand is from an alphabet set from October Afternoon. They Remnant Rubs went on a bit wonky, but the imperfection adds that human hand-crafted touch, don'tchathink?

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this project in the following challenges:
Digi Sketch Challenge: Fantasy
Crafty Little Fairies: Things with Wings
Fab & Funky: Animals, No People

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Playing with Teresa and Paper Artsy!

My friend, Teresa Abajo, posted a wonderful tutorial on Paper Artsy's blog where she used Grunge Paste, Fresco Finish paint, Distress inks, stencils, Treasure Gold, Lynne Perella stamps, ephemera, and Kraft cardstock to create a card and ATC. Here's a link to the tutorial!

I had some time and decided to try the technique she used.

Here's what I made!




I also started out with some scraps of Kraft cardstock which I cut down to ATC size. I taped the two ATCs together on the back and scraped some Grunge Paste over the Bamboo stencil by The Crafter's Workshop using a palette knife. I carefully lifted the stencil, untaped the ATCs, and put them aside. I grabbed another piece of Kraft cardstock, placed the stencil over it, and repeated the process. This was also set aside while I cleaned the palette knife and the stencil.

When I came back, the Grunge Paste was almost dry, but gave all three pieces a blast or two with my heat gun to make sure. Sage and Tinned Peas Fresco Finish acrylic paint was sponged over the pieces and heat set.

Vintage Photo and Pumice Stone Distress inks and some water were added to a Mini-mister. This was sprayed over all three pieces and heat set. This was done several times. I also sanded the Grunge Paste a few times to reveal the core color of it. These pieces were again set aside.

Three images from the LPC023 stamp set by Lynne Perella for Paper Artsy were stamped onto more scraps of Kraft cardstock using Jet Black Archival ink. These pieces were edged with Tinned Peas Fresco Finish acrylic paint and with Vintage Photo Distress ink. A touch of Forest Moss Distress ink was added as well. Some brass coins and various other metal bits were added to the stamped images and Classic Gold was used to edge the stamped pieces that had the brass elements. Florentine Treasure Gold was used to edge the stamped ATC with the aged copper elements. A touch of the Florentine Treasure Gold was gently smoothed to the top of the copper elements to make 'em blend in a bit better.

The stamped pieces were adhered and the finished cards were edged with more Treasure Gold, which was also lightly brushed around the raised Grunge Paste area.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall be entering these three cards into the following challenges.
Paper Artsy Weekly Challenges: Teresa's Turn
Simon Says Monday Challenges: D is for Distress
Craftitude Challenge #60: Anything Goes or Add a Little Green
Inspiration Journal Challenge: A Splash of Color

Friday, March 14, 2014

This week's challenge at Outlawz Friday Alcohol Markers DT Group is Fantasy and Fairies!
and here's my card, using Fairy Merrily, a digital stamp by Elisabeth Bell, who is sponsoring our March challenges. Play along with any of our March challenges and you could win this stamp, along with Sweet Tooth, who I used last Friday!

I based my card on Mojo Monday's Sketch #336! Here it is!


Here's my card!

I resized Fairy Merrily and printed her out onto Neenah cardstock using my laser printer. Since she was going to go into a circle, the circle would have to be ginormous, so I used my trusty Fiskar's Fingertip Control Craft knife to free her wings, placed a Nestibilities circle die under her wings, and die-cut the image. I did this step before I colored her, just in case I messed up the process.

She was colored using Copic markers. I had her "halo" going the wrong way, so I had to fix it, which is why it's a little wonky. I do wonky really, really well. It's a gift and I have it. Anyway, when I was done coloring her, I added a touch of blush to her cheeks using a chalk pencil. Clear Wink of Stella Glitter pen was used to outline the circle and a Turquoise Spica Glitter pen was used to add "fairy dust" issuing from her fingers and foot.

I chose the colors to match patterned paper from fairly old Miss Caroline papers from a 6x6 pad by My Mind's Eye. These patterned papers were layered according to the sketch. Old flower punches were used to punch these papers. The flowers were textured, layered, and added to complete the card.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
Mojo Monday's Sketch #336
Crafty Little Fairies: Things with Wings
MilkCoffee Challenge: Flowers
7 Kids Fund Challenge #95: Anything Goes/Die Cuts
Paper Shelter Challenge #149: Away with the Fairies

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Use Green as your Primary Color!

Kristen is hosting this week's Stampotique Designers Challenge, which is "Green as your Primary Color". If you'd like to play along with this challenge, 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 what Kristen had to say about her challenge: 
Hello there, Kristen here, and I am the host of this week’s Challenge.  I am a huge fan of using Primary colors in my projects, with Red being my favorite, but since it is March, and this month the month of the beginning of spring and St. Paddy’s Day. I am challenging you to use GREEN as the main color in your project.  I can’t wait to see what you create. Have fun and have a great week!
Here's my project which took a left turn somewhere, but definitely not at Albuquerque!


If you've visited here before, you know that I love birds and Stampotique has some terrific ones. In fact, there's a whole category for birds! One of my most favorite Stampotique birdies is Birdy Shoes There's something so sweet and whimsical about him.

Birdy Shoes is a very fashionable bird and loves to celebrate all the holidays by getting into the holiday spirit. He morphed into a green bird here and was colored with Copic markers after being stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto Neenah cardstock. His beak was coated with Clear Gelly Glaze pen to make it shiny and dimensional. He was fussy-cut and set aside.

His top hat was die-cut from dark green silk-finish specialty paper by FiberMark using a very old die from QuicKutz. The hat band and clover were die-cut from some even older fabric paper from my stash using another very old die from QuicKutz. I colored the clover with Copics because I could.

Here's where my plans went awry. I had planned to use some very old green patterned paper from the Lime Rickey 6x6 pad by Basic Grey. But then I found a clover punch, punched up a strip of scrap paper, and sponged Mown Grass Distress ink through the paper onto green cardstock for Birdy Shoes  to stand on. I liked it, but it needed something, so I sponged Mown Grass Distress ink over the dot portion of the Punchinella stencil by The Crafter's Workshop. Better, but still not right.

I grabbed my Tenticurl stamp and my Mown Grass Distress paint. I applied the paint to the stamp and stamped it onto green cardstock. It wasn't quite long enough, so I stamped it again upside down, quasi-joining up the Tenticurls, then fussy-cut it, and adhered it over the clover piece.

But the card front still needed something so Mown Grass Distress ink was sponged over a circle stencil.

Now Birdy Shoes had something to stand upon and he had a background! He was adhered onto Tenticurl and his hat was added. Now it was time for some more St. Patrick's Day accessories. Did Birdy Shoes need a rainbow, a pot of gold, or something else?

Since he's my stamp, he obviously needed a nice cold mug of green beer. I used a very old QuicKutz Beer Mug die to die-cut a piece of acetate packaging. I taped the mug down, covering the handle and the top and sponged Limelight Fresco Finish acrylic paint over the acetate. Limelight is translucent, so some Mowed Lawn Distress paint was sponged over it. The tape was removed and the beer mug was set aside. The QuicKutz Beer Mug die, actually had a companion Beer Foam die, so I used it to die-cut white paper, when I couldn't find this fluffy paper I had (somewhere safe). I used Copics to make the beer foam look foamy, then adhered that over the beer mug, then positioned the beer mug on the Tenticurl very close to Birdy Shoes.


Banner was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto Neenah cardstock, colored with Copic markers, and fussy-cut. It was added to the top of the card front. Ancient (from 1992 or 1993) rub-ons from WH Smith (in England) were used to add Mar 17 to the Banner's pennants. Mown Grass and Pine Needles Distress ink were used to edge the card front, which was adhered to a green A2 card.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
Artistic Inspirations: St. Patrick's Day
Crafty Boots: Green
Amusing Challenge: Green
Open-Minded Crafting: Use Green 
Craft for the Craic: Something Green
Craftitude Challenge #60: Anything Goes/Green

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

New Digital Stamps from SCACD!

SCACD has just released new digital stamps. Here's what Susana had to say about them in her latest newsletter!  
They are a little bit steam punky and a little bit cyber punky but they are definitely out of this world!!! I have added a unique selection of fun flora and fauna found only on planet SCACD :D So give them a peek see as I am sure some will capture your imagination and heart!!!
I got hold of the new Steampunk Nautilus digis and used him on this card.

Here's the outside:

One of my favorite things about digital images is that you can resize them and print them on whatever you wish. For the outside of the card, I resized the using PhotoElements and printed it out onto Neenah cardstock using my laser printer.

Steampunk Nautilus was colored using Copic markers. Several layers of Clear Gelly Roll Glaze pen were added over the various gauges. B01, B00, B000, and B0000 Copic markers were also to outline the image and create the background.

The image panel was edged with Black Soot Distress ink and matted with black cardstock. This was mounted onto patterned cardstock from Club Scrap, which was also edged with Black Soot Distress ink, and then adhered to the card front.  SCACD's Contempo Compass Statement Corner die was used to cut two black corner die-cuts, which were adhered to the upper left and lower right of the card. Very old Rain Dots were added to the corner of the left die-cut, the center of the right die-cut, and the top right edge.

Here's the inside:

The sentiment that is included with Steampunk Nautilus was resized with PhotoElements and printed onto patterned cardstock from Club Scrap using my laser printer. The starfish was colored with Copic markers.  The sentiment panel was edged with Black Soot Distress ink, then adhered to the inside of the card.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall be entering this card into the following challenges:
Card Mania Challenges: Something New
Crafting From The Heart Challenge #9: Anything Goes
Through The Purple Haze: Anything Digital
Corrosive Challenges Blog: Animals
SanDee & amelie's Steampunk Challenges: TransparencyI used Clear Glaze over the gauges

Friday, March 7, 2014

I've got some sweet news!

I've been asked to join Outlawz Friday Alcohol Markers DT Group! Yay!

This week's challenge is Something Sweet and here's my card, using Sweet Tooth, a digital stamp by Elisabeth Bell, who is sponsoring our March challenges.

I based my card on Stella Says Sketch #204.

Here's my card!

I printed Sweet Tooth on Neenah cardstock with my laser printer and colored it with Copic markers to match the Secret Garden patterned papers by Graphic 45. Most of the edges were sponged with Antique Linen Distress ink. Die-namics die cuts were used for the border and the bow. An ancient QuicKutz die was used for the sentiment, which was from PaperTrey Ink's Friendship Jar set. "U.R" came from my beloved-and-rapidly-vanishing Doodlebug rub-ons.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:

• Catch the Bug: Stella Says Sketch #204
Aud Sentiments Challenge #101: Sentiment for a Girl
7 Kids Challenge Blog: Anything Goes
Deep Ocean Challenges: Just for a Girl
Through the Purple Haze Challenge #31: Use a Digi

Thursday, March 6, 2014

If I only had a brain...

Kay Wallace is hosting this week's Stampotique Designers Challenge, which is "Textured Backgrounds". If you'd like to play along with this challenge, 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 what Kay had to say about her challenge!
I am thrilled to be posting the challenge today!  That said, it is going to be a challenge with a bit of a twist.  This challenge is all about using texture in the background of your artful projects.  But, here’s the twist:  I am not challenging you to create a texture like mine, but challenging you to share with the rest of us through your art your “signature” or “go to” techniques for creating that texture in your backgrounds.  For example, Design Team member Coby vanWilligenburg has the ability to create amazing texture in a background by using Yupo (synthetic) paper and alcohol inks, yet her background remains as flat as a pancake!!  On the other hand, Design Team member Magda Polakow will create a textured background by building up many layers, yet it remains in the background and never overpowers her focal images.  So, share with us what YOU do to create that physical texture or just the appearance of it!  Above all, have fun!
 Here's my card, which features Scarecrow!

Being a me of little brain, like the Scarecrow who is the star of my card, I read the challenge as "texture", not "textured backgrounds", so I created a scene and put in (almost) as much texture as I could. I suppose I could have added more by creating a painted, pasted, stencilled background, but I didn't.

I stamped the Scarecrow with Jet Black Archival ink onto tan (twice), light blue, and blue (twice) Canvas specialty papers by FiberMark, who is no longer in the craftin' business. I hoard these papers because they are fabulous. This paper has two sides that are both textured, one shiny and the other matte. I stamped onto the matte because I wanted to color and/or shade the images. After stamping them, I fussy-cut one of the tan ones for the face, hand, rope belt, and feet and the other tan one to use as a base. The shirt, hat (twice), and pants were fussy-cut from the blue canvas. All the elements were colored with Distress markers and edged with a black Sharpie.

White raffia from my stash was colored on both sides with Distress markers, cut into short lengths, and then vertically cut. The Scarecrow was pieced to the solid one with raffia added under his hat, head, and pants legs. Once whole, he was put aside while I created a suitable background for him.

Here's a close-up so you can see the Canvas texture and the raffia.

Yellow paper was dry embossed using a Bricks Spellbinders embossing folder. The Emerald City was die-cut from green and silver glittered paper using the Cityscape Silhouette and the Cityscape Nighttime dies by Memory Box. Green textured cardstock was torn for the grass and wavy cut for hills. Clouds were die-cut using Puffy Clouds die by Memory Box, then detailed with Copic markers. The elements of the scene were all adhered to blue cardstock. The Scarecrow was adhered using several layers of dimensional adhesive. The entire piece was cut to size width-wise, then edged with Black Soot Distress paint.

The sentiment, Happy Birthday, was stamped onto a Talk Bubbles die by Simon Says Stamp and DoodleBug rub-on letters were added. The bubble was popped up on dimensionals over the Scarecrow's head.

Red and yellow cardstock were punched using a tiny flower punch, shaped, and adhered to the grass in the hope they'd look like poppies.

I first tried to take a photo indoors with a little help from my familiar, who apparently wanted to be involved.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
Loves Rubber Stamps: Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly: Anything Goes
Artistic Inspirations: Anything Goes with Sparkle
Card Maniac Challenges: Use A Sentiment
Craft Your Passion: Birthday Bonanza
Craft a Scene: Let it be Springy

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Bombshell Bingo -- Ms. March's Challenge

Leslie Turner, who is Ms. March, set this month's challenge over at the Bombshell's Blog! Her challenge is Bombshell Bingo!

Here's the Bingo Board!


Here's my card using the Man's Ruin and Dead Necessities sets and the row containing
flowers, fancy border, skulls, ribbon, and blue.

My card uses the skull from the Man's Ruin set and the roses from the Dead Necessities set. The skull was stamped first with Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto Neenah cardstock. It was die-cut using a Die-Namics die. The trio of roses was then stamped onto two corners, using Tuxedo Black Memento ink. The images were colored with Copic markers. Old Paper Distress ink was sponged around the images over the roses a bit.

Wesley Border die by Top Dog Dies was used to die-cut blue cardstock. Red ribbon was threaded through the holes at the top. The corner dies are from that same Spellbinders set that I found on cut-out at AC Moore. Red metal roses were added to the corners to finish the card!

Feel free to take this challenge, which you can find over at the Bombshell Blog. This month you do NOT have to use Bombshell stamps. However, if you do have them (and you should), use them for a second chance to win a fabulous prize! 

BTW, if you love Bombshell Stamps, why not try out to be a Bombshell Pin-Up? Click on this link to check out the details on our blog.

Thanks for visiting today! 


Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Book Lover!

It had been ages since I played along with a challenge at Kraftin' Kimmie, plus I came across a large scrap of book patterned paper from the Oxford collection by Basic Grey. So Priscilla came out to play!

Here's the card.


Priscilla was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto X-Press It Blending card, then colored with Copic markers. When I was done, I added some blush using pastel pencils.

The image panel was die-cut using a Nestabilities die, kept in the die, and Old Paper Distress ink was sponged over the die onto the image. It was popped out of the die, matted onto black cardstock, then adhered to the book patterned paper. Some Washi tape was used to finish the card. I haven't figured out who will get the card for what occasion, so it's sentiment-less at the moment.

Thanks for visiting!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
Kraftin' Kimmie's Wonderful Wednesday Challenge
613 Avenue Create: Anything Goes (Use your Stash)
• Left of Center: Die Cuts
DL Art Thankful Thursday: Woman or Girl Image
7 Kids College Fund Challenges: Anything Goes