Celebrating All Things Alice!

The new Alice and Wonderland movie is coming out today and the Stampotique Design Team gals are celebrating!

Here's my journal page with The Tweedles (Janet Klein), Chessy (Janet Klein), Symphony Scroll (Jo Capper-Sandon), and The Raven and Chick (Kira Nichols).

The Tweedles were stamped with Desert Sand Memento ink (Imagine Crafts), colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, then edged with the same markers used to color them. Blue Glaze pen was used to accent the cufflinks and the buttons on The Tweedles's pants. Sadly,  I idiotically smudged the wet Glaze pen on the right-most The Tweedle. Usually, that would be enough for me to bin the image, but since crafting time is very dear at the moment, I decided that perfection was overrated. The Tweedles were set aside before I could do more damage to them. 

Chessy was stamped with Desert Sand Memento ink, his head was colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, and set aside to join The Tweedles, who played soccer/football with him, or his head to be more precise. 

Whereas I know that crows and ravens are different birds, albeit it the same family (Corvidae), The Raven served as the crow for my purposes. The Raven was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts), colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, and edged with black marker. The Raven was set aside to join the others in their spirited game, while I created a suitable background for my characters.

Cerulean Blue and Translucent White Media Fluid Acrylic (MFA) paints (DecoArt) were sponged over a journal page. Pthalo Green-Yellow MFA paint was sponged over a torn strip 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock (Strathmore), which was adhered to the base of the page for grass.

Pthalo Green-Yellow, Green Gold, Viridian, Pthalo Green-Blue, and Hansa Yellow Light MFA paints were sponged and pounced onto 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock and heat set. When the paint was dry, Symphony Scroll was stamped twice with Celestial Copper Delicata ink from the Delicata Metallic Quartet set(Imagine Crafts) and heat set with Filigree Clear Detail Embossing powder (Stewart Superior).  I cut loosely around the Symphony Scroll and edged them with green ink. 

Burnt Umber, Raw Umber, Sienna, and Titan Buff MFA paint were sponged onto 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock scraps. When the paint dried, Distress Crazing Medium (Ranger) was applied onto the painted strips using my finger, and allowed to dry. When the strips were dried, Walnut Stain Distress ink was sponged overtop to bring out the crazed texture even more. Tree trunk looking shapes were sketched on the reverse, fussy-cut, then edged with black pen. 

The poem, which I found unattributed on the 'net was computer generated and printed onto text paper with my laser printer. It was aged with Aged Paper, Antique Linen, and Tea Dye Distress inks (Ranger).

The scene was put together and I called it done!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter my journal page into the following challenges:
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenges: Anything Goes
• Anything But Cute Challenges: Celebrate Your Style
• The Dark Attic Challenges: Anything Goes
• Crafting With Friends Challenges: Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations Challenges: Anything Goes

Anything But Black Ink!

Samantha Read is our hostess this week at Stampotique Designer's Challenges and her challenge is "Anything But Black!" Here's what she has to say about her challenge.

"The first thing I usually do after choosing which stamp I'm going to use is to reach for my black inkpad. So I'm challenging myself and you to make anything you fancy so long as there is no black ink or paint etc. 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!!! Remember to check to see the deadline for all of this month's Stampotique Designers Challenges!

Here's my journal page using Stampotique's Fishbone (France Papillon), Oodles of Doodles (Karen Hayselden), and Vine Scroll (Arwen McCullen).

Fishbone and Oodles of Doodles were stamped with VersaMark ink (Imagine Crafts) and heat embossed with White  Detail embossing powder (Ranger). Oodles of Doodles  was stamped twice along the bottom of the page with Titanium White Media Fluid Acrylic (MFA) paint (DecoArt). Vine Scroll was also stamped randomly with the Titanium White MFA. The page was heat set just to make sure that the paint was completely dry.

Pine Needles, Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon, and Twisted Citron Distress inks were sponged over the entire journal page, misted with water, then heat set. Vine Scroll was randomly stamped with Fresh Snow Hybrid ink (Paper Trey).

Remnant Rubs (Idea-ology) were used to add some words to the page, though apparently I was in a tilty kind of mood as they are all crooked. Such is life.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this journal page into the following challenges:
• Through The Purple Haze Challenges: Under Water
• Crafting With Friends Challenges: Anything Goes
• The Dark Attic Challenges: Anything Goes/Mixed Media
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenges: Anything Goes
• Anything But Cute Challenges: Celebrate Your Style

Bird Day Zone!

My bird day card features the pelican from the Always Time for Friendship Half Sheet (Stampinback), available at I Brake for Stamps.

The pelican from the Always Time for Friendship Half Sheet was stamped with Desert Sand Memento ink, colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, and edged with a dark marker. When I was done, some Clear Gelly Glaze pen was added to the pelican's eyes, beak, and feet, which added dimension and shine to those elements and didn't hurt him a bit!

Heavy cardstock was painted with several colors of Media Fluid Acrylic paint, then die-cut several times with a waves border die. These die-cuts were brushed with white MFA paint to simulate sea foam and whitecaps, then were adhered onto a piece of blue cardstock. White cardstock was die-cut with a clouds die and the clouds were colored with Copic markers. When they were done, they were adhered to the sky portion of the card. White cardstock was also die-cut with a sign die-cut, colored with Copic markers, and brushed with a wash of diluted white MFA paint. Rub-ons were used to add the sentiments to the sign, which was then sealed with crazing medium. When the medium was dry, some Distress ink was smooshed over top with my finger to show more of the crazing.

The sign was adhered to the card with regular and dimensional foam adhesive and the pelican was positioned atop the sign with dimensional foam adhesive.

I Brake for Stamps is where you'll find great selections of Stampinback stamps plus lots of other stamps from other stamp companies. Click on my badge below to be whisked over to I Brake for Stamps to check out all of the goodies! Best of all, if you buy something, you can get a 10% discount off of your purchase if you use this code: SAVE10KATHI!

If you have any questions about the techniques or products I used, feel free to ask!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Stamping Sensations Challenges: Anything Goes
• Anything But Cute Challenges: Celebrate Your Style
• Dies R Us Challenges: Birthdays
• Stampinback May Facebook Challenge: Anything Goes

Circles!

This week Kristen Catalano is our hostess at Stampotique Designer's Challenges and she has challenged us to a "Circle" challenge, here is what Kristen says about this challenge:

"I love to use circles in my projects, so this week I am challenging you to get creative and show us what you can do with circles in your project."

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!!! Remember to check to see the deadline for all of this month's Stampotique Designers Challenges!

Here's my card with Stampotique's Dora Doodle Dolly (Karen Hayselden).

Dora Doodle Dolly was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts), colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, then edged with a Black Pitt Artist pen (Faber Castell). Dora Doodle Dolly was set aside while I created a background for her.

A piece of 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock (Strathmore) was cut to 5.75", sprayed with water, then a variety of Brusho Crystal Colours were sprinkled over top. More water was spritzed over the piece to allow the colors to travel and mix. A roll of paper towels were used to sop up the excess ink and water. This process was repeated until I was happy with the look. The piece was then heat set.

White Distress ink (Ranger) was sponged over the Mini Ring Doily stencil (The Crafter's Workshop) on either side of the piece. A small plastic cylinder was used to Titanium White Media Fluid Acrylic paint (DecoArt) rings onto the piece. Using a finger-tip dauber (Imagine Crafts) Titanium White MFA was randomly pounced over the Tiny Circles stencil (The Crafter's Workshop) or sponged through it.

Dora Doodle Dolly was stamped with Onyx Black VersaFine ink (Imagine Crafts),heat embossed with clear embossing powder, and outlined with a Cool Grey Pitt Artist pen. The colored, fussy-cut version of Dora Doodle Dolly was adhered over the embossed Dora Doodle Dolly. 

The image panel was edged with Black Soot Distress ink then mounted onto a 6x6 card.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Try It On Tuesdays Challenges: Spots, Dots, and Splashes
• Country View Crafts Challenges: Use a Stencil
• Fashionable Stamping Challenges: Blots and Splashes

I Brake for Mermaids!

Starfish Queen (I Brake for Stamps) was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts) and colored with Copic markers, which were also used to add the sea bottom. When I was done, the entire panel, including the Starfish Queen was airbrushed with BG34. 

The patterned papers are from the Maritime 8x8 pad (7 Gypsies) and were edged with Vintage Photo Distress ink (Ranger), which was also used to edge the image panel.

I Brake for Stamps is where you'll find a great selection of stamps and other goodies. Click on my badge below to be whisked over to I Brake for Stamps to check out all of the goodies! Best of all, if you buy something, you can get a 10% discount off of your purchase if you use this code: SAVE10KATHI!

Thanks for visiting today!

Hello!

Arwen McCullen is our hostess this week's challenge at Stampotique Designer's Challenges. Her challenge is "Scribbles". Here's what she had to say about her challenge.

"I want to see scribbles in your project this week, that could be scribbles by hand or by a stamp or stencil, just show me scribbles."

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!!! Remember to check to see the deadline for all of this month's Stampotique Designers Challenges!

Here's my card with Pepper (Janet Klein) and Verdette (Janet Klein).

I should note that this was a very challenging challenge for me. I love to doodle while on the phone and also used to doodle while sitting in classes in elementary, high school, and college. In fact, there were probably more doodles than notes in those notebooks. However, I am not comfortable sharing my doodles, drawings, or handwriting publicly. Apparently, my inner Virgo is not comfortable with imperfection!

Oops. I digressed. Pepper and Verdette were stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts) and fussy-cut. I used a fine point pen to add lines, dots, and flowers to their dresses, then used Copic markers to color Pepper and Verdette. A black pen was used to edge Pepper and Verdette so that nasty white edges would not show. Sadly, my pen slipped at the last moment, so I had to add a flower to Pepper's hair. The flower was created with some old punches.

I found a piece of lovely floral patterned paper in my stash. I'm fairly certain it's from an ancient Club Scrap kit. I cut it to size, used my Copic markers to add a bit more color to the blue and pink flowers to echo the colors worn by Pepper and Verdette. 

The paper was reversed and I used some old border ruler rulers to add some poorly shaded green doodling. White paper was die-cut with the Mermaid font die (Die-Versions). I added some more doodling to the letters and then adhered them to the reversed doodled panel.

The card was assembled, Pepper and Verdette were added, and the card front was adhered to a green card.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:

• Cuttlebug Mania Challenges: May Flowers

• Cards in Envy Challenges: Just Us Girls

• Through the Purple Haze Challenges: Anything Goes

Time to Celebrate...

If you've reached a certain age, birthdays are a good reason to...

Wolf (I Brake for Stamps) was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts) and colored with Copic markers. White gel pen was used to add stars to the night sky. The image panel was die-cut with a small Polaroid style die, which was also used to die-cut black cardstock.

White cardstock was die-cut to spell out the word "Howl", which is what I'm gonna do on my next birthday 'cause I'm getting so old.

Patterned paper from a very old 6x6 pad was edged with Distress inks (Ranger), layered, and adhered to a kraft card. The image panel was adhered and I called the card done!

I Brake for Stamps is where you'll find a great selection of stamps and other goodies. Click on my badge below to be whisked over to I Brake for Stamps to check out all of the goodies! Best of all, if you buy something, you can get a 10% discount off of your purchase if you use this code: SAVE10KATHI!

Thanks for visiting today!

Mother's Day Approacheth.

Claudine Criner is our hostess this week's challenge at Stampotique Designer's Challenges. Her challenge is "Motherly Love". Here's what she had to say about her challenge.

"Let's make something with our Moms in mind, show Mom how much she means to you."

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!!! Remember to check to see the deadline for all of this month's Stampotique Designers Challenges!

Here's my card with Stampotique's Wildflowers (Terri Richardson).

Wildflowers was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts) and colored with Copic markers. When I was done, the edges of the image panel were torn. 

Lately, I've been letting the stamped images dictate my color choices, rather than the patterned papers or the actual colors from nature (usually Googled for accuracy per my Virgo tendencies). I found patterned papers to match my colored Wildflowers in my rather large stash of patterned papers. The papers I selected are very old patterned 6x6 papers by Memory Box.

White cardstock was die-cut with the Ankara Lace Border die (Cherry Lynn Designs) and one of the dies from the Sentiment Frame Dies Set #1 (Cherry Lynn Designs). The sentiment was computer generated, then colored with Copic markers.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:

• DL Art Thankful Thursday Challenges: Mother's Day

• Crafty Gals Corner Challenges: Celebrate Mom

• Mod Squad Challenges: April Showers Bring May Flowers

• Scrapy Land Challenges: Anything Goes 
• Cherry Lynn Designs Challenges: Mother's Day

Lady of Spring

Now that it's May and the weather is finally springlike, I'm beginning to think about flowers and gardening, which made me want to use this gorgeous stamp for a card.

Here's my card with Lady of Spring, available at I Brake for Stamps.

Lady of Spring was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts) and colored with Copic markers. Blush was added to her cheeks, shoulders, and chest area with pink palette chalk.

Since the image is so busy, I decided to keep the card's design relatively clean. Green cardstock took a ride through my die-cut machine inside an embossing folder. Once the design was embossed, it was brushed with gold metallic wax paste. Green paper was die-cut with a really old corner die, then also brushed with the same gold paste.

I Brake for Stamps is where you'll find a great selection of stamps and other goodies. Click on my badge below to be whisked over to I Brake for Stamps to check out all of the goodies! Best of all, if you buy something, you can get a 10% discount off of your purchase if you use this code: SAVE10KATHI!

Thanks for visiting today!

I *Heart* Coffee!

There's nothing like a hot cup of coffee to start your day or soothe your nerves. After this past week my nerves have really needed to be soothed. I'll write about that in a later post when I've returned to what I (laughingly) call "normal".

Here's my card with Warm Cup (Stampendous) and Coffee Background (Stampendous).

Warm Cup was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts), colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, and edged with a Black Pitt Artist pen (Faber Castell). The mouse's face and ears are rather pink because he's bathing in hot coffee. The body of the mug was painted with a layer of Crazing Distress Collage Medium (Ranger), then left to dry. When it was dry, I applied Mermaid Lagoon Distress ink (Ranger) with my finger over the crazed bit. This was set aside while I created a background.

Here's a close-up so that you can see the mug.

140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock was sponged with Mermaid Lagoon and Abandoned Coral Distress inks, misted with water, then heat set. Coffee Background  was stamped over the inked background with Potting Soil Archival ink (Ranger). Three of the mugs and the coffee beans were colored with Copic markers. Gathered Twigs Distress ink was sponged over the Splatters Mini Layering stencil (Stampers Anonymous) and the whole piece was misted with water, heat set, then edged with Ground Espresso Distress ink.

Washi tape was added and the Warm Cup House Mouse was adhered to the card front.

Thanks for visiting today.

I shall enter this into the following challenges:
• Passionate Paper Creations Weekend Celebration with Stampendous
• Challenge Up Your Life Challenges: Critters
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenges: Anything Goes
• House-Mouse and Friends Monday Challenges: Favorite Way to Spend the Day