Blue Dragon

This week's challenge at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is Anything Goes/Winter Holiday. My Outlawz Coloring Challenge teammates, Carla, Penny, Karen, Vannessa, and I challenge you to use create a project for this challenge. You can use any coloring medium you like, just as long as you color! 

Our May sponsor at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is Sweet Pea Stamps, who is offering our lucky winner three digis of his/her choice from the Sweet Pea Digi Stamp Store.  Play along with us for your chance to win!

Here's my card with Sweet Pea/Lisa Victoria's Snowflake Wonder.

Snowflake Wonder was resized in PhotoElements, printed onto Neenah cardstock with my laser printer, then colored with Copic markers. Clear Wink of Stella glitter pen was used to cover the snowflake. A window was die-cut from a piece of patterned paper from a 6x6 pad by Echo Park using one of the dies from the A2 Card Creator die set. The edges of the window and the panel were edged using the same Clear Wink of Stella glitter pen. The patterned paper was matted with white glitter paper (DCWV).

One of the sentiments from the Christmas Remnant Rubs sheet was added to a scrap of patterned paper from the same pad. This was then die-cut with a nameplate (Spellbinders) then adhered to a die-cut cut from white glitter paper. The sentiment was adhered and a sparkly sticker border was added to the card.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges.
• Crafting By Designs Challenges: Get Ready for Christmas
• Sweet Stamping Christmas Challenges: Cute Christmas
• Crafty Gals Corner Challenges: Critters

Tin Is In!

Janet Klein is our hostess this week at Stampotique Designers Challenge Blog. Her challenge is "Tin Is In!" Here's what she has to say about her challenge!

I am challenging you to use some form of tin in your artwork. Consider incorporating craft tin, tin tape, an Altoid container, a repurposed tin can, or any tin object to incorporate with your stamping.

Put on your "tinking" caps and join us in this challenge to have a chance to win some Stampotique stamps.

If you'd like the chance to win your choice of $30 worth of Stampotique stamps, you should 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 that great prize!!

I must say that this challenge presented a real challenge for my C.A.D.D. (Crafter's Attention Deficit Disorder). I had so many ideas that I couldn't settle on just one. Then I got really busy with fun life stuff such as a B52s concert (fab!), a nice steak dinner on a new grill (which I learned how to use), and then dinner out with friends. By then, it was screaming deadline time, so this is what came out of my head and hands.

Here's my tin that uses Stampotique's Tinman (Janet Klein), Angel Wings - 2 Sided (Arwen McCullen), and  Daniel's Hearts (Daniel Torrente).

Front view

Side View

The Tinman was stamped onto craft tin (Amaco) once and onto paper backed tin flashing tape (Nashua) several times using Jet Black StazOn ink (Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts).  I let the ink really dry and then used a plastic pointed stylus to trace the stamped lines onto the soft tin. The stamped tin was flipped over, placed back onto the rubber mat, and a paper stump was used to deboss inside the lines of the image. This process was repeated for each of the stamped images. When the pieces were all done, the whole Tinman was fussy-cut from the craft tin version, and the Tinman's head, hat, and chest were fussy-cut from the flashing tape versions. The chest was run through my Big Kick (Sizzix) inside a Steampunk Embossing Folder (Vintaj/Sizzix).

Whilst debossing the images, some of the stamped lines had been rubbed out, so they were replaced with Sharpie-drawn lines. The Tinman was then paper-pieced back together and set aside so a background could be created for him. A small Folk Heart punch (EK Success) was used to punch a piece of the scrap tin, which was then colored with a Copic marker, and added to the Tinman.

Dimensional foam tape (3M) was trimmed down, layered, and adhered to the back of the Tinman.

Angel Wings - 2 Sided was stamped onto craft tin (Amaco) with Jet Black StazOn ink, fussy-cut, then adhered behind the Tinman.

Daniel's Hearts was stamped onto silver metallic cardstock (Recollections) with Frost Dazzle VersaMark (Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts) ink and heat set with sparkly black embossing powder. The inside of the hearts were colored with a VersaMarker and heat set with Clear Filagree Fine Detail embossing powder (Stewart Superior). The stamped, heat embossed silver cardstock was then cut to the size of the interior of a candy tin, and the corners were rounded with a punch.

Cerulean Blue and Translucent White Media Fluid Acrylic paints (DecoArt) were mixed, sponged over the embossed silver cardstock, then wiped back to reveal Daniel's Hearts. When this was dry, it was adhered to the inside of the box.

Silver flashing tape was embossed with a 12x2 Gear Box embossing folder (Cuttlebug). Carbon Black MFA paint was sponged onto the embossed flashing tape, then wiped off, leaving the black paint in the debossed area. The painted embossed flashing tape was adhered around the sides of the box.

Silver metallic cardstock (Recollections) was die-cut with all three dies from Medium Steampunk Pipes die set (Memory Box) and Edge Gears (Joy Crafts). The Edge Gears (Joy Crafts) was supplemented with metal gears and added to the bottom of the box's interior. The Medium Steampunk Pipes were assembled, then adhered vertically behind the Edge Gears.

Shiny white semi-translucent vellum was die-cut with the Puffy Clouds dies (Memory Box), then embossed with the Clockworks embossing folder (Cuttlebug). The embossed Puffy Clouds were adhered to the background to look like steam.

The Angel Winged Tinman was adhered to the back of the box.

Red cardstock was die-cut with Eliza Mini alphabet dies (QuicKutz) and adhered to the top of one of the assembled Medium Steampunk Pipes dies. This was then adhered to the bottom of the box. The same shiny white vellum was die-cut with both of the Tiny Bubbles dies, which were then adhered behind the pipe on the left.

Four wooden spooly things (Recollections) were painted with black paint, then glued to the bottom of the tin to become its feet.

Thanks for visiting today.

I shall enter this tin into the following challenges.
• Corrosive Challenges: Anything Goes
• Love to Create Challenges: Anything Mixed Media Goes
• Two Creative Chicks Challenges: Anything Goes
• Altered Eclectics Challenges: Anything Goes

Music!

This week's challenge at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is Music. Use an image of a musical instrument, sheet music, musical die-cuts, or song lyrics. My Outlawz Coloring Challenge teammates, Carla, Penny, Karen, Vannessa, and I challenge you to use create a project for this challenge. You can use any coloring medium you like, just as long as you color! 

Our May sponsor at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is Sweet Pea Stamps, who is offering our lucky winner three digis of his/her choice from the Sweet Pea Digi Stamp Store.  Play along with us for your chance to win!

Here's my card with Sweet Pea/Karen Middleton's Musical Pixie.

 
Musical Pixie was resized in PhotoElements, printed onto Neenah cardstock with my laser printer, then colored with Copic markers. I also printed a copy of Musical Pixie onto Eclipse Tape with my inkjet printer. That version was fussy-cut and placed over the colored image. Removable Scotch Tape (3M) was placed across the image to form the horizon. The sky was airbrushed with my B21 marker and Copic Airbrush System. The tape was lifted and YG markers were used to create a grassy lawn. 

The image panel was die-cut using one of the dies from the 5x7 Card Creator Nestabilities die set (Spellbinders). Music patterned paper from the Paddington 6x6 pad (7 Gypsies) was die-cut using a larger die from the same Nestabilities set. The image panel was matted with the music panel and set aside.

I originally planned to use patterned paper for my other layers, but then decided to re-create the airbrushed/drawn background on a larger piece of cardstock to be used as the card front. So I die-cut another sheet of white cardstock, taped a horizon line, and airbrushed the sky, lifted the tape, and drew in the grass. 

Musical Pixie reminded me of the Pied Piper, so I decided that I should create a little audience for Musical Pixie's music. The Breezy Branches Statement Corner die (SCACD), Birds retired die (Poppy Stamps), and the Peace Doves die(Memory Box) were die-cut from white cardstock and colored with Copic markers. The Sitting Cat (Poppy Stamps) and two walking cats from the Cat Set (Impression Obsession) were die-cut from black cardstock. Shimmery vellum was die-cut with one of the dies from the Flags die set (Impression Obsession). Happy Birthday (Savvy Stamps) was stamped onto the Flag die with Jet Black StazOn ink. 

The image panel was adhered to the card front. The colored Breezy Branches Statement Corner die-cut was added to the upper left hand corner. Three little birds were added to the branches. Gold thread was  added to the hole in the stamped vellum flag, which was then adhered over the branches. The thread was adhered under the dove's beak. The card front was adhered to a white card and I called it done!

Thanks for visiting today! 

I shall enter this card into the following challenges.
• Scrapy Land Challenges: Birthdays/Celebrations (plus using any brand of die sold at Scrapy Land)
• One Sweet Challenge: Things with Wings
• The Cheerful Stamp Pad Challenges: Fairies
• Crafting for all Seasons Challenges: Birthday with Four of Something (I've got four birds)

Old, New, Borrowed, Blue Challenge!

Coby van Willigenburg is our hostess this week at Stampotique Designers Challenge Blog. Her challenge is "Old, new, borrowed, blue".

If you'd like the chance to win your choice of $30 worth of Stampotique stamps, you should 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 that great prize!!

Here's my card using Stampotique's Flower Truck (Janet Klein). 

I wanted the Flower Truck to be both my "blue" and my "old" element. My goal was to make the Flower Truck look old and rusty. I thought that watercolors might give me the look I wanted and I didn't feel like using my Copic markers.

Flower Truck was stamped with Jet Black Archival ink (Ranger) onto 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock (Strathmore), then colored with Inktense Pencils (Derwent). I don't have a huge collection of those, so I supplemented some of the blues, greys, and greens with Watercolor Pencils (Derwent) and Distress markers (Ranger). Metallic Silver Gelato (Faber Castell) was used for the emblem, grill (is that what it's called), bumpers, wing mirror, door handle, and hub caps.

When I was happy with the coloring, the Flower Truck was fussy-cut and edged with black marker. The windscreen and side windows received several coats of Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) to give them glassy dimension and shine. I'm always prattling on about Clear Gelly Glaze pen's magical dimensional properties, so here's a close up so you can actually see it!

My new elements are the patterned paper, which is from the Uncharted 4.5 x 6.5 pad (The Paper Studio) and the Rosettes stencil (Joggles). Salty Ocean Distress ink (Ranger) was sponged over the Rosettes stencil onto a sheet from the Uncharted pad. Then both Salty Ocean Distress and Broken China Distress inks were sponged over the Dot Fade Layering stencil (Stamper's Anonymous) onto the paper. The sheet was die-cut with one of the dies from the A2 Card Creator Nestabilities dies (Spellbinder), then edged with both blue Distress inks and Watering Can Archival ink (Ranger).

Road-patterned Washi tape was adhered to the base of the card front and words from the Life Quotes Remnant Rubs (Idea-ology) were added to the top right and lower left corners. I think that the phrase makes sense. It does to me...

The card front was matted with speckled black cardstock, then adhered to a ready made card.

BTW, the "borrowed" element was going to be a very old car key that I swiped from my parents' huge collection of old keys. Then I decided not to use it. Oh well, at least I got "old", "new", and "blue". Plus, I got out my watercolor pencils and enjoyed using them. That's always a good thing too.

Thanks for visiting today.

I shall enter this card into the following challenges.
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenges: Stencil It
• Smudgy Antics Challenges: Anything Goes
• City Crafters Challenges: Inkynes"S"
• Cards in Envy Challenges: Hey Dude!
• Word Art Wednesdays Challenges: Anything Goes

Under the Sea

SCACD's Steampunk Sea Turtle was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko), colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, and edged with black marker. His eyes, periscope lenses, rivets, and cogs were coated with several layers of Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) to make them shiny and dimensional. He was set aside while I created a suitable environment for him.

The Oceana Corner die (Memory Box) was used to die-cut 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock (Strathmore). I used the heavier cardstock because I wasn't sure how I wanted to color the elements in the die. I ended up coloring them with Copic markers and used Black Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) to add the fishes' eyes.

Green metallic Bling specialty paper (FiberMark) was die-cut with Weeping Willow Corner die (Memory Box). . 

A perfectly-sized scrap of very old blue patterned paper (Prima) was stenciled with the Gears stencil (The Crafter's Workshop) using Broken China Distress ink, which was also used to edge the paper. The Oceana Corner die (Memory Box) die-cut and the Weeping Willow Corner die (Memory Box) die cut were adhered to the stenciled blue patterned paper. Don't you think the Weeping Willow Corner die (Memory Box) die-cut makes a great sea plant?

My often-used Mini Gear die (Memory Box) was used to die-cut bronze and copper metallic cardstock which were layered and added to the both the corner die-cuts. Clear epoxy circle stickers were adhered along both of the die-cuts as water bubbles.

Kraft cardstock was torn and the edges were further distressed with a distress tool. My trusty VersaMarker was used to darken the edges and add some detail to the kraft cardstock. The torn strips were then layered over the stenciled blue patterned paper. "Steampunk" from the Steampunk stamp set (Hampton Arts for Graphic 45) was stamped with  VersaMark ink  onto the kraft cardstock, then immediately brushed with brown palette chalk to darken it.

Steampunk Sea Turtle was placed into the scene, which was adhered to a kraft card.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Left of Center Challenges: Distress It
• Top Tip Tuesday Challenges: Animals
• Cards for Guys Challenges: World Wildlife

A Card for Mother's Day!

This week's challenge at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is a color palette challenge, courtesy of Design Seeds. My Outlawz Coloring Challenge teammates, Carla, Penny, Karen, Vannessa, and I challenge you to use create a project for this challenge using the color palette below. You can use any coloring medium you like, just as long as you color! 

Our May sponsor at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is Sweet Pea Stamps, who is offering our lucky winner three digis of his/her choice from the Sweet Pea Digi Stamp Store.  Play along with us for your chance to win!

I know that Mother's Day was last Sunday, but my mother was out of town and I knew I'd be visiting her this week, so I hand delivered her card, which uses the color palette.

Here's the color palette.

Here's my card!

My mom loves flowers of all sorts, so I decided to use my new Build a Bouquet (Stampendous)stamp set and the corresponding die set to create her card. The vase, roses, hydrangeas, and leaves were stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink, colored with Copic markers, then die-cut with the Build a Bouquet die set. I must say that I really enjoyed coloring the stamped images and was delighted about how well the dies worked with them.

I wanted the focus to be on the beautiful bouquet, so I kept the card's design fairly simple. The bluish patterned papers, from a 6x6 pad by Bazzill Basics, and  white patterned paper, from a 6x6 pad by My Mind's Eye, were die-cut with the same die from the 5x7 Card Creator Nestabilities die set (Spellbinders). The blue patterned papers were layered onto off-white cardstock to form the card front. The City Girl Edger die (Cherry Lynn) and a nameplate (Spellbinders) were used to die-cut the white patterned paper, which had already been die-cut to the correct width.

The City Girl Edger die-cuts were adhered to the top of the card front and over the seam of the layered blue papers. The next step was to position and adhere the vase, flowers, and leaves. The roses image was popped up a bit with some scraps of cardstock.

The sentiment (Purple Onion Designs) was stamped onto the nameplate, which was then adhered to the card front.

By the way, my mom loved the card!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges.
• Cherry Lynn Designs Blog Challenges: Roses
• Scrapbooker PhD Challenges: Mother's Day/Flowers
• Scrapy Land Challenges: Anything Goes
• 7 Kids College Fund Challenges: Anything Goes

Celebrate!

Arwen McCullen is our hostess this week at Stampotique Designers Challenge Blog. Her challenge is "Human with an Animal Head". Here's what she had to say about this challenge.

"I love to combine designs together. This time I want to see something funny. Combine a human body with an animal head. I am looking forward to your creations.."

If you'd like the chance to win your choice of $30 worth of Stampotique stamps, you should 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 that great prize!!

Here's my journal page that combines Priscilla (Amy Wilson-Wellenstein) and the big bird from Birdy Bonnets (Kira Nichols).

Both Priscilla  and the big bird from Birdy Bonnets were stamped onto Neenah cardstock with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko), colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, edged with black marker, and assembled. Clear Stardust Glitter marker (Sakura) was added to the crown and Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) was added to the beak and the buttons. Liquid Glass (DecoArt) was added to the eye to make it even more dimensional than the beak. This was put aside for several eyes so that the Liquid Glass would dry completely.

Meanwhile, a piece of 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock (Strathmore) was painted with Dark Grey Medium Value 3 Media Fluid Acrylic (MFA) paints (DecoArt). When the paint was dry, Medium Grey Value 6 MFA paint, mixed with Translucent White MFA paint, was sponged over the Stone Wall stencil (Green Pepper Press). English Red Oxide MFA paint, then Translucent White MFA paints were stippled over the stencil to make the stone look variegated. This panel was die-cut with one of the dies from the 5x7 Card Creator Nestabilities die set (Spellbinders), then edged with Jet Black StazOn ink (Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko). 

Brown cardstock was trimmed, edged with Black Soot Distress ink (Ranger), and adhered to the base of the "stone" piece with dimensional foam adhesive.

Yellow, purple, and gold metallic cardstock were die-cut with the dies from Banner Basics set (Spellbinders), then the banner was assembled. It was adhered to the stone panel with dimensional foam adhesive. Purple and Blue Spica Glitter pens were used to add glittery highlights to the tassels and blue rhinestones were added to the points in the banner as well.

Now that I had a suitable setting for my bird-headed jester, comprised of Priscilla and the bird from Birdy Bonnets, he was adhered to the card front using slightly thinner dimensional foam adhesive. I tried to add rub-on and die-cut letters to half-pearls, but I couldn't get 'em to stick. Then I had a "Eureeka!" moment and remembered that I had three sets of alphabet beads from forever ago. Oddly one set of the beads was missing the letter "t" and another set had only had two "e"s. So I combined the sets and adhered them in a loose arc above the bird-headed jester to look as though he were juggling.

I matted the "stone" front onto blue and black cardstock to add a bit of heft to it.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this project into the following challenges.
• Crafty Cardmaker and More Challenges: Make Your Own Background 
• 613 Avenue Create Challenges: Anything Goes/Celebrate
• Love to Create Challenges: Anything Goes  
• Country View Crafts Challenges: Simply Scenic

Pink Peony

 

I guess Mother's Day got me feeling all pink, floral, and lacy, so I created this card to reflect my mood. Dinkie Peony (Indigo Blu) was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko) and colored with Copic markers.

The patterned paper, from various 6x6 pads by Authentique, was used to create the card. Black patterned paper was cut to size and the edges were distressed. Dinkie Peony was matted on this panel. The Dot Fade Layering stencil (Stamper's Anonymous) was placed over the solid pink patterned paper and Black Soot Distress ink (Ranger) was sponged over the stencil. The stencil was lifted and my Black Soot Distress marker was placed inside the Distress Marker Spritzer tool (Ranger). I spritzed a bunch and then edged the piece with Black Soot Distress ink.

The Distress Marker Spritzer tool with the Black Soot Distress marker was used to spray the other pieces of patterned paper, which were layered, then edged with Black Soot Distress ink.

Pristine white lace was layered over the horizontal scene, then stapled with my Mini Attacher (Idea-ology). The image panel was added, but the card was missing something up towards the top. SCACD's Ornate Hinge die was used to die-cut white patterned paper, which was then adhered along the top. Tiny white rhinestones, cut from Zva Long Line Self-Adhesive Clear Rhinestones, were used to finish the card.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Monday Morning Challenges: Pretty Flowers
• Come and Get It Challenges: Flowers
• Stamping Sensations Challenges: May Flowers
• Sisterhood of the Snarky Stampers: Monochromatic Mama

Stencil Challenge v2.0

Corrie Herriman is our hostess this week at Stampotique Designers Challenge Blog. Her challenge is "Use Stencils". Here's what she had to say about this challenge.

"Hello and happy Wednesday. I love using stencils. They add another layer to your backgrounds and lots of interest too. Use them with paint, ink, model paste or even gesso. Show me what you do with stencils.. Have fun."

If you'd like the chance to win your choice of $30 worth of Stampotique stamps, you should 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 that great prize!!

Here's my second project for this challenge, this time with Stampotique's Keykeeper (Kira Nichols) and Love and Laughter (Carol's collection).

This is my second project for this challenge because:
(a) I love stencils.
(b) After starting it, my original project for the challenge took a left turn at Albuquerque.
(c) I'm an overachieving Type A personality.

Your answer: _____

Don't you just love multiple choice questions whilst reading blog posts? Yep. Thought you did.

But I digressed. Big time. Which is not shocking. At all. So, I had originally planned to use a stencil with a dimensional medium and had applied White Media Modeling Paste (DecoArt) through my Keyholes Dylusions stencil onto 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock (Strathmore) and let it dry. When it was dry, I sprayed Primary Yellow, Red, and Primary Cyan Media Misters (Deco Art) over the raised keyholed surface, then sprayed the paint with water to allow the colors to spread. I let the paint dry slightly, then wiped off the excess paint with a paper towel. That didn't work very well, so I added some Purell hand sanitizer to the towel and wiped again, which worked like gangbusters (whatever that means). Purell is really handy stuff to keep in your craft room.

The piece was left to dry overnight. It was picked up the next day, which was when I realized that my original plan wasn't going to work, so it was set aside while I started my challenge project all over again.

When I picked this back up, I decided that the Keykeeper would work really well with the painted, textured, stenciled background. Keykeeper was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink, colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, then edged with a black marker. His eyes, nose, horns, key, and chain were coated with several layers of Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) to make them shiny and dimensional. When the gel pen was dry, the Keykeeper was flipped onto his front and various styluses (styli?) were used to add dimension to him.

The large keyhole from the Shapes 2 Dylusions stencil was placed onto stenciled background panel and  Carbon Black Media Fluid Acrylic (MFA) paints (DecoArt) was sponged over it. I was initially a bit concerned that it would take multiple layers to cover the painted background, but was delighted when the Media Fluid Acrylic paint complete covered it in one coat.

One of the dies from the A2 Card Creator Nestabilities die set (Spellbinders) was used to die-cut the stenciled piece. Number patterned Washi tape was applied to the base of the piece, then the piece was edged with Jet Black StazOn ink (Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko) and matted with gold metallic cardstock.

"Laughter" from Stampotique's Love and Laughter was stamped onto a scrap piece of the painted cardstock. This was die-cut with a die from a Spellbinders set for Just-Rite, edged with Jet Black StazOn ink, then matted with black cardstock that was die-cut with one of the dies from the Flags die set (Impression Obsession). One of my gazillion eyelets was aded to the hole in the flag. Gold metallic cardstock was die-cut with the Delicate Chain die (Memory Box). Gold and black metallic cardstock were die-cut with the Alphabet Plain Upper Case and Alphabet Plain Lower Case dies (Impression Obsession) as well as the Keys to My Heart die set (Frantic Stamper).

The Keykeeper was adhered to the piece with dimensional and gel adhesives. The sentiment string chain was adhered to the top of the card front. The card front was adhered to a black card, then I called it done!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Scrapy Land Challenge #17: Anything Goes
 • We Love To Create Challenges: Anything Goes
• Crafty Cardmakers Challenges: Make Your Own Background

Celebrations

This week's challenge at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is "Celebrations", such as birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, retirements, Fridays, etc.  My Outlawz Coloring Challenge teammates, Carla, Penny, Karen, Vannessa, and I challenge you to use create a project for this challenge. You can use any coloring medium you like, just as long as you color! 

Our May sponsor at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is Sweet Pea Stamps, who is offering our lucky winner three digis of his/her choice from the Sweet Pea Digi Stamp Store.  Play along with us for your chance to win!

Here's my card with Sweet Pea/Ronne P. Barton's Green Bubble Sprite.

I chose Green Bubble Sprite because she looks so festive resting upon a bubble. I've decided it's a champagne bubble because all celebrations call for champagne. Don't you agree?

Green Bubble Sprite was resized in PhotoElements, printed onto Neenah cardstock with my laser printer, then colored with Copic markers. The background was added with palette chalk from both Stampin' Up and Pebbles. Some glitter was added to certain elements using my Clear Stardust Gelly pen (Sakura).

Since I was going old school with the chalked background, I used seriously old patterned paper from the Kaleidoscope collection by My Mind's Eye. The copyright date is 2005. The patterned paper was layered according to a sketch from Technostamper Challenges.

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

I didn't add a sentiment because the sketch didn't call for one, but I can always add one later when I decide who will get the card and for what occasion.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this into the following challenges:
• Technostamper 1st and 3rd Monday Sketch Challenges
• Chalk N Stock Challenges: Anything Goes 
• One Sweet Challenge: Things with Wings

Stencil it in!

Corrie Herriman is our hostess this week at Stampotique Designers Challenge Blog. Her challenge is "Use Stencils". Here's what she had to say about this challenge.

"Hello and happy Wednesday. I love using stencils. They add another layer to your backgrounds and lots of interest too. Use them with paint, ink, model paste or even gesso. Show me what you do with stencils.. Have fun."

If you'd like the chance to win your choice of $30 worth of Stampotique stamps, you should 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 that great prize!!

Here's my project with Stampotique's Skull Balloons (Arwen McCullen) and Comfort Zone (France Papillon).

I should mention that this challenge was not a challenging challenge for me as I love stencils and use them often. I used three on this piece and thought about using more!

Skull Balloons was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko) onto Neenah cardstock and onto Eclipse Tape (Judikins). The Eclipse Tape version was fussy-cut and adhered over its counterpart to mask the Skull Balloons. Summer Sky Memento ink (Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko) was sponged over a Clouds stencil (Fairy Tale Creations) that I've had forever and a day. I kept moving the stencil down and sponging the blue ink over the stencil until the sky was filled with clouds. After I was done, I wanted to add a pink tinge to the clouds, so Spun Sugar Distress ink (Ranger) was sponged lightly sponged over the cloudy sky.

The mask was lifted and set aside for another day. Skull Balloons was colored with Copic markers. White gel pen (Sakura) was used to add highlights to the Skull Balloons and Black Gelly Glaze pen was used to trace the Skull Balloons' strings to make them stand out a bit more. This panel was set aside while I worked on the rest of the project.

I must admit that this project started out completely differently than I had initially planned. I wanted to use my newish Dylusions stencils. Specifically, I wanted to use the large keyhole from the Shapes 2 Dylusions stencil, the Keyholes Dylusions stencil (didn't get used in this piece), and the Skulls Dylusions stencil. My original idea didn't work, so I did something different.

Two sheets of 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock were painted with the combination of  Media Fluid Acrylic (MFA) paints (DecoArt) that I use to create an aged gold (Carbon Black, Metallic Gold, and Quinacridone Gold MFA paints). The large keyhole from the Shapes 2 Dylusions stencil was traced onto one of the two sheets and  fussy-cut.  This panel (with the keyhole) was run through my Big Kick (Sizzix) and die-cut with one of the dies from the Labels Twenty-Five Nestabilities set (Spellbinders). The edges were sponged with Jet Black StazOn ink (Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko). The Skulls Dylusions stencil was placed over the die-cut and a mixture of Metallic Gold and Interference Gold MFA paints was sponged over the stencil. This piece was set aside for a bit.

The second sheet of aged gold painted cardstock was cut slightly larger than the die-cut, edged with Jet Black StazOn ink, and then Paynes Grey MFA paint was added to my usual aged gold mixture and sponged over the Flourish stencil (Prima Marketing).

The idea of using the keyhole stencil was to create a keyhole in an escutcheon and have a scene visible behind it. So, my next step was to lay the keyholed Skulls-stenciled die-cut atop the Flourish-stenciled rectangle, mark the edges of the keyhole, and cut a hole in the rectangle. The keyholed Skulls-stenciled die-cut was adhered to the rectangle, then dimensional foam tape (3M) was added to reverse of this layered piece. The Skull Balloons-in-the-sky scene was positioned to be visible in the keyhole, then adhered. Tiny black brads were added to the shaped piece and brass domed embellishments were added to the rectangle. The whole thing was then matted with black cardstock.

The Comfort Zone sentiment was stamped onto a scrap of the aged gold painted cardstock with Jet Black StazOn ink.  This was die-cut with a die from a Spellbinders die set (can't recall the name of it), edged with Jet Black StazOn ink, then matted with a piece of matte black cardstock that had been die-cut with the next largest die from that same unnamed set. Black metallic cardstock (Recollections) was die-cut with the flourish from that same set. The sentiment piece was added to the keyhole escutcheon.

A sheet of 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock was painted with Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Transparent Red Oxide, and Carbon Black MFA paints. When the paint dried, the piece was sponged with Media Matte Medium (DecoArt). When that dried, Clear Crackle Glaze (DecoArt) was brushed over the piece and allowed to dry for several hours. Carbon Black Media Antiquing Cream (DecoArt) was sponged over the surface to make the cracks more visible. When I achieved the look I wanted, Media Soft-Touch Varnish was brushed over the piece to seal it. This piece was edged with Jet Black StazOn ink, then matted with black cardstock. The escutcheon was added to the right side (to look doorlike) and I called it done.

If you read this whole thing, kudos to you!

I shall enter this piece into the following challenges.
• We Love To Create Challenges: Anything Goes
• Crafty Cardmakers Challenges: Make Your Own Background 
• Perfectly Rustic Challenges: Use Three of Something - (I've got three layers of gold and three balloons.)
• Haunted Design House Challenges: May We Have a Quick Word?

Aged Gold, A DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Tutorial

Last month, when I was creating this Stampotique pocket watch card, I found a paint combination that looked like what I thought was tarnished gold. In talking to my husband, who is a chemist, I found out that gold does not tarnish because it is a Noble Metal, which means it doesn't oxidize, rust or tarnish. We ended up having a long discussion about how metals age and rust. It was an interesting conversation that made the car-drive-from-hell go relatively quickly. And I learned my new fact for the day.

So, here's a somewhat quick tutorial that shows how you can achieve an aged gold look using DecoArt's Media Fluid Acrylic paints.

1. You will need Carbon Black, Metallic Gold, Quinacridone Gold, and Interference Gold Media Fluid Acrylic paints (DecoArt), Cut n' Dry Foam (Ranger), a Rough Stippling Brush* (Art-C), a palette (I use an orphaned plastic food lid container), and heavy cardstock. (I prefer 140 Mixed Media cardstock (Strathmore).

2. Add a few drops of Carbon Black MFA paint to your palette.  Pounce a piece of Cut n' Dry Foam into the paint so the foam absorbs it. Sponge the paint onto the cardstock using circular motions to produce uneven coverage. Let it dry, though Media Fluid Acrylic paints dry really quickly.

3. Add Metallic Gold MFA paint to the palette. Pounce another piece of Cut n' Dry Foam into the Metallic Gold paint, then sponge the paint over the previous layer using similar circular movements.

 4. Repeat step #3 to increase the amount of gold paint. The black paint should still be somewhat visible.

5. Add Quinacridone Gold MFA paint to your palette. Pounce your Rough Stippling Tool into the paint to spread it out on the palette and to let it absorb into the tool.

 6. Pounce the Rough Stippling Tool with the Quinacridone Gold MFA paint over the cardstock. Use random motions, such as twirling the tool (as above), sweeping it, or just pouncing the tool vertically. Then immediately spread the paint with a horizontal movement of the tool.

 7. Repeat Step #6 until the entire sheet is covered with this combination and you are happy with coverage and appearance.

Come back tomorrow to see how I used the aged gold cardstock that I created in this tutorial!

*Art-C seems to have been absorbed by Momenta. However, you can still find the Rough Strippling Brush at Hobby Lobby, Michael's (was clearanced), and by doing a Google search. It's a great little tool, so if I were you, I'd buy a few.

Along Came a Spider Photo Bomb

I mailed the ATC, a card, and a packet of goodies off to Sweden for the Stampotique Photo Bomb Swap run by Nikki Woodward. I found out today that it did arrive at its destination, though the recipient moved house and packed it away before taking a photo.

Here's "Along Came a Spider" Photo Bomb ATC with Stampotique's  Peace and Love with Words on the Side (Kate Crane)  and Mr. Stripes (Daniel Torrente).

Peace and Love's face and crown were stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko) onto Neenah cardstock, colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, and edged with black marker. Peace and Love's hair, dress, wings, arms, her heart, plus Mr. Stripes' body were also stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto patterned paper from the Sweet Threads 6x6 pad (Basic Grey), detailed with Copic markers, fussy-cut, and edged with black marker. The bits and pieces were set aside.

Peace and Love was stamped again onto grey cardstock and onto Eclipse Tape (Judikins). The Eclipse Tape version was fussy-cut and adhered over her counterpart. Watering Can Archival ink (Ranger) was sponged over the Stone Wall stencil (Green Pepper Press). Copic markers were used to deepen the color of the grout. Mr. Stripes was stamped onto the top part of the card. I went over Mr. Stripes' legs with a black Copic Multi-liner and then with a Clear Gelly Glaze pen to make them a bit more dimensional.

Peace and Love was paper-pieced onto her stenciled counterpart and Mr. Stripes' body was adhered and trimmed. The piece was edged with Black Soot Distress ink, then adhered to an ATC sized piece of black cardstock.

Here's the card that accompanied the ATC on its trip overseas.

Peace and Love was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink, colored with Copic markers, then adhered to patterned paper from a 6x6 pad by Crate Paper. I decided to keep the entire card CAS this time.

I did have fun with this ATC swap and will likely do another in the future.

Thanks for visiting today!

Cinco de Mayo Challenge!

This week's challenge at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is " Cinco de Mayo (Mexican flag colors, margaritas, Mexican culture, food)".  My Outlawz Coloring Challenge teammates, Carla, Penny, Karen, Vannessa, and I challenge you to use create a project for this challenge. You can use any coloring medium you like, just as long as you color! 

Our May sponsor at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is Sweet Pea Stamps, who is offering our lucky winner three digis of his/her choice from the Sweet Pea Digi Stamp Store.  Play along with us for your chance to win!

I opted to use margaritas and the Mexican flag colors for my card, with  Martini Girl from the Frou Frou collection by The Crafter's Companion.

Martini Girl was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Craft/Tsukineko) onto Neenah cardstock and colored with Copic markers. Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) was used to add dimension and shine to the margarita glasses, Martini Girl's shoes, and her pearls. Chalk pencil was used to add a touch of blush to her cheeks.

The patterned papers are from older collections by Fancy Pants, Bo-Bunny, and Authentique and were layered according to a sketch from Papertake weekly. "Cheers" was die-cut from green cardstock using the ever-useful Cheers die (Elizabeth Craft Designs.

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

Papertake Weekly Sketch #27

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• The Crafter's Cafe Challenges: Food or Drink
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenges: Anything Goes
• Papertake Weekly Challenges: Take Your Pick