Stampotique Mail Art, V2.0

This week's Stampotique Designer's Challenges is "Mail Art".  Here's a blurb about the theme.

"Let's make some Mail Art this week. Make something you can actually mail, whether it be an envelope, ATC, pocket letter, or postcard."

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 mail art project with Old Timey Frog (Kira Nichols), Camper (Roc Nicolas), and Smiling Sun (Janet Klein), and Folded Tags (Josie Cirincione).

Jet Black Archival ink (Ranger) was sponged over the ruler from the Made To Measure stencil (DecoArt/Andy Skinner). It was then sponged with Shadow Grey Archival ink, then covered with Post-It notes to mask it.

Old Timey Frog, Camper, and Smiling Sun were stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts) onto an A2 white envelope and onto Eclipse Tape (Judikins). The images on the envelope were colored with Copic markers. A touch of Clear Spica Glitter pen (Copic) was added to the Camper's windows. I made a coloring mistake, can you find it? Silver gel pen was used to add the chain from the Penny Farthing bicycle to the camper.

The Eclipse Tape versions were fussy-cut, then placed over their counterparts on the envelope. The cloudy sky was created with Sky Blue Archival ink and an old clouds stencil (Fairytale Creations).

The masks were lifted, the envelope was filled with an ATC, a card, and some goodies. It was then addressed, stamped, and mailed!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter my envelope into the following challenges:

• A Vintage Journey Challenge: Stencil It

• Craft Stamper Magazine: TIMI Challenge: Masks and Stencils

Stampotique Mail Art!

This week's Stampotique Designer's Challenges is "Mail Art".  Here's a blurb about the theme.

"Let's make some Mail Art this week. Make something you can actually mail, whether it be an envelope, ATC, pocket letter, or postcard."

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 mail art project with Julep (Amy Wilson-Wellenstein), Smiling Sun (Janet Klein), and Folded Tags (Josie Cirincione).

Julep, Smiling Sun, and Folded Tags were stamped onto a 5"x7" envelope with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts). They were colored with Copic markers, which were also used to add the dotty background. I had been concerned about the markers bleeding through to the back of the envelope, but I solved that by placing a piece of scrap cardstock inside the envelope. ''

I stuffed the envelope with a card, atc, and some goodies. Postage stamps were adhered and the envelope was ready to mail! Yay!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:

• Deep Ocean Challenges: Things With Wings

• Stamping Sensations Challenges: Anything Goes

• 613 Avenue Create Challenges: Anything Goes

Believe in the Magic!

The summer is winding down. Autumn approaches. Supermarkets and craft stores have put out their candy and changed their displays. It's almost time for the most magical time of the year and I'm getting into the spirit.

Here's a card featuring my new Vanna Vampire (Rick St. Dennis/I Brake for Stamps) rubber stamp. 

Vanna Vampire is available as a single rubber stamp or as the Randi Dandi Halloween Rubber Stamp Sheet #1 that includes four fabulous Halloween images. Personally I think you should opt for the sheet. It's more economical in the long run. I should also mention that there are lots of Rick St. Dennis rubber stamps available at I Brake for Stamps.

Vanna Vampire was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts) and colored with Copic markers. When I was done, I sponged Milled Lavender Distress ink (Ranger) around the image, then sponged the same ink over the Starry Nights stencil.

White Shimmer Delicata ink (Imagine Crafts) was sponged over the Starry Nights stencil onto a blue-grey cardstock panel and onto a card created from the same cardstock. The smaller panel was edged with the White Shimmer Delicata ink. The image panel was matted with the small grey panel, which was adhered to the card front. A sentiment from the Christmastime Remnant Rubs (Idea-ology) was added to finish the card.

I Brake for Stamps has a large selection of Rick St. Dennis rubber stamps and a plethora of other great rubber stamps. You should check 'em all out. Tell them I sent you! 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 shall enter this card into the following challenges!

• One Crazy Stamper Challenges: Fall/Halloween

• Dark and Daring Challenges: Anything Goes

Card Sketches!

You may or may not know that for several years I created card sketches for Bombshell Stamps to be used in challenges.

I have finally gotten all those card sketches together in one place, a page on my blog! Here's the LINK to them and here's a peek at a few of them!

Please feel free to use these sketches. You can flip them, flop them, and add your own special flair! Just have fun with them.

If you do choose to use any of the sketches, please give me credit while you share your creation.

Thanks for visiting today!

In the Mushroom Forest

Meet Lola (Tracy Scott), one of the new release stamps from Stampotique. She's hanging out in the Mushroom Forest (Janet Klein).

Lola was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts), colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, edged with a black marker, and set aside while I stamped and colored the Mushroom Forest background. I should mention that the Lola image includes her Tuxedo cat familiar and is a zombie, hence her coloration. Lola was adhered using Media Matte Medium (DecoArt). When dry, another coat of Media Matte Medium was sponged over it to seal it.

Green cardstock was stenciled using Bundled Sage Distress ink (Ranger) and the Vineyard stencil (The Crafter's Workshop). The panel was then die-cut with one of the dies from the Labels One Nestabilities die set (Spellbinders). The edges of the panel, including the aperture, were sponged with Bundled Sage Distress ink. The stenciled card panel was placed over the stamped image, then adhered to a green card.

A scrap of the same cardstock was die-cut with one of the dies from the Grommet Tag die set (Spellbinders) and the Hello die (Elizabeth Craft Designs). The cardstock was left in the Grommet Tag, then sponged with Distress ink. The sentiment was adhered and rhinestones were added to finish the card.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Fab 'n' Funky Challenges: Anything Goes
• Fantasy Crafters Challenges: Anything (Fantasy) Goes
• Tinker Dream Challenges: Mask, Stencil, Cutting (I did two of the three)

A Dotty Parrot Card!

This week's Stampotique Designer's Challenges is "Polka Dots".  Here's a blurb about the theme.

"Who doesn't like polka dots? Please add some sort of polka dots to your challenge!!!"

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 Amazon (Kylie DiOrio), Smiling Sun (Janet Klein), and Folded Tags (Josie Cirincione).

Amazon and Smiling Sun were stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts) onto a piece of yellow polka-dot patterned paper from the Vintage Double-Dot 6x6 pad (Bo-Bunny). The Amazon parrot and the face part of the Smiling Sun were colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, edged with a Black Pitt Artist pen (Faber Castell), and set aside while a background was created for them.

Green polka-dot patterned paper from the Bold and Bright Double-Dot 6x6 pad (Bo-Bunny) was die-cut with the Stitched Scene Builder Edgers die set (Frantic Stamper), edged with Mowed Lawn Distress ink (Ranger) then layered atop a piece of blue polka-dot patterned paper from the same pad. This was then die-cut with the  large rectangle from the Stitched Shapes Bundle die set (Simon Says Stamp).

A leftover scrap of yellow polka-dotted patterned paper was die-cut with the Sunny Skies die (Die-namics). The stamped, colored, fussy-cut Smiling Sun was adhered atop the die-cut, then the sun die-cut was adhered to the top of the card front.

Light green polka-dot patterned paper from the Vintage Double-Dot 6x6 pad was die-cut with a foliage border (Memory Box?) then the edge was die-cut again with the straight stitched line die from the Stitched Shapes Bundle die set. The die-cut was detailed with a Copic marker, then the leaves were adhered over the stitched corner on the left hand side of the card front.

The Amazon parrot was adhered to the card front and his feet/talons were drawn in.

A piece of light blue polka-dot patterned paper from the Vintage Double Dot pad was die-cut with one of the speech bubbles from the Birthday Speech Bubble die set, stamped with Folded Tags, and edged with Black Soot Distress ink. White cardstock was die-cut with the Lower Case Alphabet dies (All Occasion dies). The sentiment speech bubble was adhered to the card front, then 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:
• Craft Rocket Challenges: Things with Wings
• Scrapy Land Challenge #48: Use an Image
• Creative Craft Cottage Challenges: Things with Wings

More Mushrooms. With a Fairy This Time.

I guess I've been in a mushroom state of mind lately. I've used mushroom designs on a whole lotta projects. Hmmm. Maybe they're exercising subliminal magic on my mojo?

Here's my card with Zen Beauty - Hope, one of the wonderful stamps in the Zen Beauties Collection at I Brake for Stamps.

Zen Beauty - Hope was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts) and colored with Copic markers. Black Spica Glitter pen (Copic) was used to add a dot of glitter to the points on each swirl. Clear Spica Glitter pen was used to add glitter to the bubble that Hope is regarding. When the glitter pen was dry, Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) was used to add a glossy dimensional aspect to the glittery bubble.

Green cardstock was die-cut to create a frame, the frame was temporarily matted without the stamped image, and Bundled Sage Distress ink (Ranger) was sponged over small mushrooms found on the Whimsical Shrooms stencil (The Crafter's Workshop). The same Distress ink was sponged over the Tiny Circles stencil (The Crafter's Workshop). I apparently hadn't cleaned the stencil well at all because the dots came out sort of mushroom colored. I guess that's what's known as a "happy accident".

The card was assembled and I called it done!

I Brake for Stamps has a huge and varied collection of rubber stamps that you ought to check out right now. 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!

Peace and Love and (Magic) Mushrooms!

I should have posted this ATC that was created for this month's Stampotique ATC swap on a "Throwback Thursday". The theme is "Sentimental" where you're supposed to use a sentiment in your ATC. Stampotique Originals has a very active Facebook page, where ATC swaps, challenges, and fabulous Stampotique artwork is shared. If you haven't joined the group yet, click on over, and sign up!

Here 's my ATC, featuring Stampotique's Willow (Tracey Scott),  Mushroom Forest (Janet Klein), and the sentiment from Peace and Love with Words on the Side (Kate Crane).

Willow was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts) onto Neenah cardstock, colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, and edged with a black pen. The Mushroom Forest and Peace and Love were stamped onto 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock and colored with Copic markers. I like to use this cardstock as the Copic markers sink into the paper a bit more creating a softer blended look.

Media Matte Medium (DecoArt) was used to adhere and the sentiment atop the Mushroom Forest. Those eagle-eyed among you will notice that I opted to leave Willow's tiny skull dangly charm off of to keep the mood of this hippie-inspired ATC. I also had to slightly shorten her legs to make it her fit!

Thanks for visiting today!

Super Hero ATC

Today I've got a topical ATC for you that was created for this month's Stampotique ATC swap. The theme is "Sentimental" where you're supposed to use a sentiment in your ATC.

Stampotique Originals has a very active Facebook page, where ATC swaps, challenges, and fabulous Stampotique artwork is shared. If you haven't joined the group yet, click on over, and sign up!

Here's my Olympic-inspired ATC, featuring Stampotique's Birdy Shoes (Kira Nichols) and Be Your Own Super Hero (Linda Peterson).

Birdy Shoes (Kira Nichols) and Be Your Own Super Hero were both stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts), colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, and edged with a black marker. The image and sentiment were set aside while I created an Olympic stadium for them using a Multi-liner pen and my Copic markers.

Gold metallic cardstock was die-cut with a very old Ring die (QuicKutz) and a gold circle was punched from the same cardstock.

The ATC was assembled using Matte Glue and Seal (Ranger) as both the adhesive and as a sealing agent. Once dry, a Black Glaze Gel pen (Sakura) was used to add the necklace to the gold medal. Clear Glaze Gel pen was used to add some dimension and shine to the bird's beak!

Thanks for visiting today!

A Gnome Gnote Pad

Gnomes make me giggle. Bad gnome puns totally amuse me. I needed a new notepad to carry around since I lost mine recently.

This is what happened. 

Whenever I see small plain note pads (especially pads with an attached pen), I usually purchase several because I'm at the stage of life that if I don't write something down, I forget it. By extension, I lose the darned note pads all.the.freaking.time. Plain note pads are fun to decorate and  also make great gifts. Let me know if you want one and maybe you'll actually get one. That is if I remember.

This pad Gnote pad features the Digging Gnome from the Gnome Sheet (I Brake for Stamps). The Digging Gnome is one of NINE (9) gnomes and a mess of mushrooms on that sheet. It's a Gnoteworthy bargain indeed.

The Digging Gnome was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts), fussy-cut, colored with Copic markers, and edged with a black marker. He was set aside while I decorated his Gnote pad.

Media Black Gesso (DecoArt) was carefully applied to the covers on both the outside and the inside. A piece of 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock was cut to size, the top and bottom corners on the right side were rounded with a Corner Rounder punch, run through my Big Kick inside a Sheet Music embossing folder, painted with Media Fluid Acrylic paints (DecoArt), and allowed to dry. When the paint was dry, it was coated with a layer of Media Multi Medium (DecoArt) to seal it.

Two colors of green Archival ink were sponged over the foliage on a mushroom stencil onto the painted corner-rounded panel. Brown MFA paints were used to add the ground to the scene.

White cardstock was die-cut with some mushroom dies and the font was cut as well. The mushroom dies were colored with Copic markers, but Titanium White MFA paint was used to add white dots to them. The title letters were painted with MFA paint to match the ground.

The mushrooms, the Digging Gnome, and the title letters were adhered to the painted, stenciled panel with Media Multi-Medium. The same brown MFA paint was used to add some dirt to the Digging Gnome's shovel. The image panel was adhered to the note pad, the edges were sponged with Jet Black StazOn ink (Imagine Crafts), and several layers of Media Ultra Matte Varnish (DecoArt) were brushed over the entire Gnote pad to seal and protect it.

I Brake for Stamps has a huge and varied collection of rubber stamps that you ought to check out right now. 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!

Text Background Challenge!

This week's Stampotique Designer's Challenges is "Text Background".  Here's a blurb about the theme.

"Use a book, stamp, journal, dictionary, newspaper, letter or anything with text. Let's see text in your backgrounds this week."

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  Flossie Fairy (Karen Hayselden) and Romantic Text (France Papillon).

Flossie Fairy was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts) onto white cardstock and onto Eclipse Tape (Judikins). The Eclipse Tape version was fussy-cut and placed over its cardstock counterpart. Post-it Notes were placed across the bottom of the cardstock.

Romantic Text was stamped over the Eclipse Tape and Post-It Note masks onto the cardstock with Shadow Grey Archival ink (Ranger).  Sky Blue and Angel Pink Memento inks were sponged over the masked stamped background. The Post-It Note mask was lifted and replaced over the top of the image. Bundled Sage Distress ink was sponged over the base of the card to become the ground. My Mini Rays stencil (Stampers Anonymous) was placed over the base and Bundled Sage Distress ink was sponged over top.

All masks were lifted and was colored with Copic markers. When I was done, touches of Clear and Black Spica Glitter pen were added to the image to add a touch of magical sparkle.

The image panel was die-cut, the edges were sponged with Shadow Grey Archival ink, and the panel was matted with black sparkly cardstock.

A card front was cut from a leftover scrap of patterned cardstock from an ancient Club Scrap kit and the edges were sponged with Shadow Grey Archival ink. The image panel was adhered to the card front, then to a grey card.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Card in Envy Challenges: Wings
• Happy Little Stamper CAS Challenges: Masks
• Crafting When We Can Challenges: Things With Wings

Still Feeling Steampunky!

I don't know if it's because I've been spending a lot of time at my parents' house, where there are bolts, screws, paperclips, and metal odds and ends everywhere or if it's because I just love Steampunk, but I was in the mood to create a Steampunk-themed card.

I've used Steampunk Eyes, one of the Eyes of Adventure stamps available at I Brake for Stamps.

Steampunk Eyes was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts), colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, and edged with black marker. When I was done I added a touch of Clear Glaze gel pen (Sakura) to Steampunk Eyes' steampunk goggles to add a touch of glass-like dimension and shine.

I decided to keep the card's design simple, since Steampunk Eyes is such a wonderful character. I added a strip of Washi tape to a piece of patterned paper from the Junque Gypsy 6x6 pad (Marion Smith Designs). The edges of the paper were sponged with Antique Linen Distress ink (Ranger) and then adhered to a Kraft card.

I Brake for Stamps has a huge and varied collection of rubber stamps that you ought to check out right now. 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!

Steampunk Journal Volume two, The Aquarium!

If you love Steampunkery, as I do, you should check out I Brake for Stamps because they have a great selection of Steampunk stamps!

I have so many Steampunk inspired stamps and dies that I decided to create Steampunk Journals! I've already created Volume one, The Aviary, which houses Steampunk bird journal pages. My latest Steampunk Journal will focus on all things aquatic!

I've used Steampunk Siren's Call, Steampunk Baby Sea Turtle, and Steampunk Seahorse rubber stamps that are available at I Brake for Stamps.

Here's the front cover.

Here's the Inside Front Cover

Here's the Back Cover with a view of the Spine.

Outside of journal

Inside of journal

I've used Steampunk Siren's Call, Steampunk Baby Sea Turtle, and Steampunk Seahorse were stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts), colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, and edged with a black marker.

They were put aside while I prepared the journal for them. I used a Worn Cover (Idea-ology) as  the base for my journal. It was coated with Media Black Gesso (DecoArt) on the outside and the inside. It was then sponged with Media Fluid Acrylic paints (DecoArt). When the paint was dry, all sides were coated with a layer of Media Multi Medium (DecoArt) to seal it.

I tried to sponge green ink through a stencil, but it disappeared into the striated blue background, so white ink was sponged through the stencil, then immediately sponged again with green ink. This layer was heat set.

A variety of sea greenery dies were used to die-cut two colors of green cardstock. These were adhered to the bottom of the front and back covers. Media Sand Texture Paste (DecoArt) was used to add the sand over the greenery at the base of the covers. 

Silver-painted cardstock was die-cut with a gear corner die, a gear border die, a ton of gears, some pipes, and some nailheads. My trusty rusty paint mixture was used to add a nice touch of corrosion to the gears.

Silver cardstock was used to die-cut the title, subtitle, sharks, small turtles, sea horsess, a jellyfish, starfish, shells, and sand dollars. They were also rusted. 

Everything was assembled and I called it done! Yahoo! If you have any questions about the creation of this project, please feel free to contact me and I'll try to clarify.

I Brake for Stamps has a huge and varied collection of rubber stamps that you ought to check out right now. 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 shall enter this journal into the following challenges:
• SanDee and amelie's Steampunk Challenges: Anything Goes
• Fashionable Stamping Challenges: Under the Sea
• Mixed Media World Challenges: Under the Sea
• DecoArt Media's Under the Sea Challenge