Happy Halloween!

 Happy Halloween! I've got two Halloween cards to share today that were created for Topflight Stamps to showcase the fabulous Twisted Tree Red Rubber Cling Stamp Set by Darkroom Door. I also used  stencils, masks, and ink to create the cards.

We recently returned from a trip to Bodega Bay, California. We traveled through Bodega, which was the setting for  Albert Hitchcock's masterpiece, The Birds. Hence this card, which also uses the Time Flies Stencil by Visible Image, a sentiment from the Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set by Heffy Doodle, the Acetate Hills Mask by Lavinia Stamps, and Della Blue, and Pine Elements Ink by Lavinia Stamps.

This slightly scarier second card features Twisted Tree Red Rubber Cling Stamp Set with the Acetate Circles Mask by Lavinia Stamps, the Halftone Skull Stencil by Creative Expressions, all four colors of Elements Ink listed below, and a sentiment from the Holiday Sentiment Duos Clear Stamp Set by Heffy Doodle combined with a sentiment from the featured Darkroom Door set.

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Twisted Tree Red Rubber Cling Stamp Set by Darkroom Door

Holiday Sentiment Duos Clear Stamp Set by Heffy Doodle

Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set by Heffy Doodle

Halftone Skull Stencil by Creative Expressions

Time Flies Stencil by Visible Image

Acetate Circles Mask by Lavinia Stamps

Acetate Hills Mask by Lavinia Stamps

Violet Chalk, Blue Lagoon, Della Blue, and Pine Elements Ink by Lavinia Stamps

Other Products Used:

140 Lb. Mixed Media Cardstock by Strathmore®

Nocturne VersaFine Clair™ Ink by Tsukineko®

Raven Cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper®

New Canvas Palette™ Ink by Stewart Superior

VersaMark® Ink by Tsukineko®

Shadow Grey and Jet Black Archival™ Ink by Ranger Ink

Black Soot Distress® Archival™ Ink by Tim Holtz® for Ranger Ink

Zombie Party Clear Stamp Set by Whimsy Stamps

White Detail Embossing Powder by Stampendous!®

Graveyard Die: Source Unknown

Vellum

Black Fine Tip Pitt Artist Pen by Faber Castell

STAY-tion™by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Stamping Platform

Stamp-A-Ma-Jig® by EK Success

Instructions:

Bird Card:

1. Place a piece of mixed media cardstock onto the STAY-tion.
2. Use magnets to secure the flattest Hills Mask to the base of the paper and the STAY-tion.
3. Brush Della Blue Elements ink over cardstock. Remove the mask, mist with water, and heat set the image panel.
4. Move the Hills Mask slightly downward and brush Pine Elements ink over the mask. Continue to move the Hills mask downward, brushing ink as you go. 
5. Remove mask and heat set the image panel.
6. The Time Flies Stencil has two parts, a bird-shaped mask and stencil. Use magnets to secure the bird mask over the image panel.
7. Brush Della Blue Elements ink over the bird mask onto the image panel. This will deepen the blue and leave the bird-shape a lighter blue.
8. Remove the bird mask and heat set the panel.
9. Move the Hills Mask slightly downward and brush Pine Elements ink over the mask. Continue to move the Hills mask downward, brushing ink as you go. 
10. Remove mask and heat set the image panel.
11. Use magnets to secure the image panel to the base of the stamping platform.
12. Position the tree stamp from the Twisted Tree Cling Stamp Set face-down where desired.
13. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
14. Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and stamp. Re-ink the stamp and stamp again to ensure a good impression.
15. Remove the stamp.
16. Place the large flying bird stamp from the Twisted Tree stamp set face-down on the image panel.
17. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
18. Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and stamp. Re-ink the stamp and stamp again to ensure a good impression.
19. Clean and dry the stamp and place it face-down in another area of the image panel.
20. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
21. Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and stamp. Re-ink the stamp and stamp again to ensure a good impression.
22. Repeat Steps #19-21 to get a third impression of the large bird.
23. Remove the image panel from the stamping platform and heat set.
24. Use a Stamp-a-Ma-Jig to position and all of the smaller birds, heat setting between each impression.
25. When happy with the amount of birds, heat set the image panel.
26. Use magnets to secure the image panel on the STAY-tion.
27. Use magnets to secure the Time Flies Stencil to the base of the image panel.
28. Brush Jet Black Archival ink over the stencil.
29. Remove the stencil and heat set.
30. Use magnets to secure the image panel to the stamping platform.
31. Position the "Happy Halloween" sentiment from the Classic Sentiments Clear stamping set facedown on the "T" on the image panel.
32. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
33. Ink the stamp with VersaMark ink and stamp.
34. Remove the image panel from the stamping platform.
35. Add White Detail Embossing Powder to the stamped image, dump off the excess, and heat set.
36. Trim the image panel to 4.75" x 6.75".
37. Edge the image panel with Black Soot Distress Archival ink.
38. Adhere the image panel to a black 5" x 7" card.

Bats Card:

1. Place a piece of mixed media cardstock onto the STAY-tion.
2. Use magnets to secure the largest Circle Mask towards the top of the image panel and the STAY-tion.
3. Brush Violet Chalk, Blue Lagoon, and Della Blue Elements ink over cardstock.
4. Lightly mist with water.
5. Remove the Circle Mask and heat set. You'll have a white circle which will become the moon on the image panel.
6. Use magnets to secure the image panel back on the STAY-tion.
7. Use magnets to secure the Circle Stencil over circle on the image panel.
8. Brush Shadow Grey Archival ink from the edges of the circle inwards to add definition to the moon.
9. Use magnets to secure the Halftone Skull Stencil atop the circle/moon.
10. Brush Shadow Grey Archival ink over the stencil onto the moon.
11. Remove the stencil and heat set.
12. Use magnets to secure the image panel to the base of the stamping platform.
13. Position the tree stamp from the Twisted Tree Cling Stamp Set face-down where desired.
14. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
15. Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and stamp. Re-ink the stamp and stamp again to ensure a good impression.
16. Remove the stamp.
17. Place the three large bat stamps from the Twisted Tree stamp set face-down on the image panel.
18. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
19. Ink the stamps with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and stamp. Re-ink the stamp and stamp again to ensure a good impression.
20. Clean and dry the stamps and place them face-down in other areas of the image panel.
21. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
22. Ink the stamps with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and stamp. Re-ink the stamps and stamp again to ensure a good impression.
23. Position the smaller bats as desired face-down on the image panel.
24. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
25. Ink the stamps with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and stamp. Re-ink the stamps and stamp again to ensure a good impression.
26. Repeat Steps #22-24, cleaning and drying the stamps between each impression.
27. Remove the image panel from the stamping platform and thoroughly heat set.
28. Use the graveyard die to cut vellum. This will be used as a mask.
29. Place the image panel on the STAY-tion, secured with magnets.
30. Secure the top section of the vellum graveyard die-cut with magnets on the image panel.
31. Brush New Canvas ink over the gravestones to create a little cemetery.
32. Remove the vellum die-cut and heat set the image panel.
33. Tear vellum horizontally.
34. Sponge Black Soot Distress ink and Pine Elements inks over the vellum to ground the tree and the gravestones.
35. Move the vellum downwards continuing to brush ink over the top edge to create a grassy background.
36. Remove the vellum and heat set.
37. Use magnets to secure the image panel to the base of the stamping platform.
38. Position the zombies from the Zombie Party Stamp St face-down where desired.
39. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamps and lift.
40. Ink the stamps with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and stamp. Re-ink the stamps and stamp again to ensure a good impression.
41. Remove the image panel from the stamping platform and heat set.
42. Use magnets to secure the image panel to the base of the stamping platform.
43. Position the sentiment stamp from the Twisted Tree Stamp Sets face-down where desired.
44. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
45. Ink the stamp with New Canvas Palette ink and stamp. Re-ink the stamp and stamp again to ensure a good impression.
46. Remove the image panel from the stamping platform and heat set.
47. Replace the image panel back onto the stamping platform with magnets.
48. Ink the sentiment stamp with Jet Black Archival ink and stamp.
49. Remove the image panel from the stamping platform and heat set.
50. Replace the image panel back onto the stamping platform with magnets.
51. Position the Halloween Sentiment from the Holiday Sentiment Duos as desired face down on the image panel.
52. Use scrap paper or vellum to cover all the words except "Halloween".
53. Ink the stamp with New Canvas Palette ink and remove the scrap paper or vellum.
54. Stamp.
55. Remove the image panel from the stamping platform and heat set.
56. Replace the image panel back onto the stamping platform secured with magnets.
57. Repeat Steps #51.
58. Ink the stamp with Jet Black Archival ink and remove the scrap paper.
59. Stamp.
60. Remove the image panel from the stamping platform and heat set. 
61. Use a black pen to touch up the black ink on the sentiment.
62. Trim the image panel to 4.75" x 6.75".
63. Edge the image panel with Black Soot Distress Archival ink.
64. Adhere the image panel to a black 5" x 7" card.

Thanks for visiting today! Happy Halloween!

Celebrate — You've Got This!

It's Tuesday which means it's time to share a project created for Topflight Stamps. This week my teammates and I are celebrating winter and/or Christmas. 

I decided to celebrate some winter fun with this card.

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Penguins 2 Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Craft Emotions

Snowflakes Background Red Rubber Cling Stamp by Darkroom Door 

Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set by Heffy Doodle

Scalloped Rectangles Frame Die Set by Paper Rose 

Watercolor Basics 6x6 Patterned Paper Pad by Paper Rose 

Onyx Black VersaFine™ Ink by Tsukineko®

Other Products Used:

Solar White Classic Crest® Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Green Cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper®

Fun Plaid 6x6 Patterned Paper by Paper Rose

Tuxedo Black and Shadow Grey Memento™ Ink by Tsukineko®

White Shimmer Delicata® Ink by Tsukineko®

Copic® Markers:

   Penguins: BV23, BV25, N4, N6; B0000, B60, RV0000, C00, C0: YR15, YR16, YR18

   Hats: B34, G16; G00, G02

   Background: RV0000, G0000, B0000, C00, C0

Quickie Glue™ Pen by Sakura® of America

Clear Stardust® Glitter Gel Pen  by Sakura® of America

Clear Glaze® 3D Glossy Gel Pen  by Sakura® of America

White Uni Posca Paint Marker by Mitsubishi Pencil

Cotton Ball White Fun Flock by Stampendous!®

Frost Shimmer™ Stix by Imagine®

Flag Die: Source Unknown

Small Rectangle Die by Spellbinders®

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1. Create an A2 card from Green cardstock. Set aside.
2. Use the smaller of the two dies from the Scalloped Rectangles Frame Die Set by Paper Rose to cut plaid cardstock.
3. Remove and retain the center part of the frame die-cut.
4. Use magnets to secure white cardstock to the base of the stamping platform.
5. Place the frame die-cut onto the base of the stamping platform atop the white cardstock.
6. Position the two snowball fighting penguins and two of the snowball piles face-down on the white cardstock within the plaid frame die-cut.
7. Press the lid of the stamping platform onto the back of the stamps and lift.
8. Remove the plaid frame die-cut.
9. Ink the stamps with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and stamp.
10. Remove and clean the stamps. 
11. Place a snowball pile stamp facedown on the image panel to the right of the throwing penguin. 
12. Press the platform lid onto the back of the stamp, lift the lid, ink, and stamp.
13. Use Copic markers to color the images and the background.
14. Use the White Uni-Posca Paint Marker to add snowballs to the right of the throwing penguin and to add some dimension to the snowball splatting that poor penguin's face. Let dry. 
15. Use clear Stardust Glitter pen to add sparkle to the painted snowballs, the splatted snowball, the snowball piles, and under the penguins' feet.
16. Use Quickie Glue pen to add a dot of glue to the hats' pom-poms.
17. Shake a little bit of Cotton Ball White Fun Flock onto the glue, lightly press, and shake off excess. 
18. Use Clear Glaze pen to add several layers of glossy dimension to the snowball in the penguin's hand, the small snowballs around the right penguin, and the snowball piles. Set aside image panel to dry.
19. Use magnets to secure a piece of green watercolor patterned paper to the base of the stamping platform.
20. Position the snowflake backgrounder face-down onto the patterned paper.
21. Press the lid of the stamping platform onto the back of the stamp and lift.
22. Ink the stamp with Shadow Grey Memento ink and stamp.*
23. Wipe the stamp with a damp towel.
24. Ink the stamp with White Shimmer Delicata ink and stamp. Repeat this step if necessary to attain a good impression.*
25. Heat set.
26. Trim the snowflake-stamped green patterned paper panel to 5.25" x 4".
27. Use Frost Shimmer Stix to edge the snowflake stamped patterned paper. Let dry, then repeat.
28. Adhere the snowflake stamped patterned paper to the reserved green card.
29. Use magnets to secure a small piece of white cardstock to the stamping platform.
30. Position the sentiments face-down on the white cardstock. 
31. Press the lid of the stamping platform onto the back of the stamps and lift.
32. Ink the stamps with Onyx Black VersaFine ink and stamp. Repeat if necessary to attain a good impression. 
33. Remove the sentiment panel from the platform and heat set.
34. Use a small rectangle die to cut the sentiments.
35. Use the flag die to cut two flags from plaid patterned paper panel from Step #3.
36. Adhere the sentiments to the flags.
37. Adhere the plaid frame die-cut over the stamped and colored image panel.
38. Adhere the framed image panel to the card.
39. Adhere the sentiments as shown to finish the card.

Note:

White ink including the White Shimmer Delicata ink disappeared into the watercolor printed patterned paper. I solved that problem by first stamping with a light grey, then overstamping with the White Shimmer Delicata ink. I suppose I could have heat embossed with a white glittery embossing powder, but thought that might result in too much contrast. 

Thanks for visiting today!

Steampunk Halloween!

It's Tuesday which means it's time to share a project created for Topflight Stamps. It's still October and I'm firmly stuck in Halloween mode. If you've been here before you'll know that I love skulls and Steampunk, so they're combined in this card made with the Memories Never Die Mixed Media Foam Stamps by Antonis Tzanidakis for Stamperia and the 6 x 6 Cogs Corner Stencil by That's Crafty. I also used Lime Punch, Russet Orange, and Violet Chalk Elements Inks by Lavinia Stamps to stencil the 5" x 7" card.

Here it is!

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Memories Never Die Mixed Media Foam Stamps by Antonis Tzanidakis for Stamperia

6 x 6 Cogs Corner Stencil by That's Crafty

Lime Punch, Russet Orange, and Violet Chalk Elements Inks by Lavinia Stamps

Black Blending Brush Set by Time for Tea Designs

Other Products Used:

Solar White Classic Crest® Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Raven Cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper®

Tuxedo Black, London Fog, and Desert Sand Memento™ Ink by Tsukineko®

Copic® Markers:

   Spider: E07, E19, YR23, YR27, Y21, Y23, Y26, Y28, BG90, C0, C1, C2, C3

   Light Bulb: Y00, YR20, YR21, YR23, YR31

   Skull: E40, E41, E42,E43, T0, T1, T3, W00, W1, W3,W7

Spider Web Mini Stencil: Source Unknown

Clear Glaze® 3D Glossy Gel Pen by Sakura® of America

Diamond Glaze by Judikins

Stamping Platform
Repositionable Labels by Avery®
STAY-tion™ by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Two-sided Tape by Sookwang.

Instructions:

1. Secure a piece of white cardstock to the base of the stamping platform with magnets.
2. Since these are foam backed stamps, apply two-sided tape to the back of the stamps and remove the backing strip.
3. Position the skull and spider stamps facedown on the paper, press the platform's lid onto the stamps, and lift the platform.
4. Ink the stamp with Tuxedo Black Memento ink, stamp the images onto the white cardstock on the platform, then remove the cardstock.
5. Secure the label paper on the platform.
6. Re-ink the stamps and stamp.
7. Carefully remove the stamps from the platform's lid.* The tape "should" stay on the platform's lid and be easily removed.
8. Fussy-cut the label paper versions of the images and adhere atop the images on the white cardstock.
9. Use magnets to secure masked image panel to the STAY-tion.
10. Position the Cogs Corner stencil so that it's flush with the bottom and left edges of the cardstock. 
11. Add magnets to the stencil to secure it in place.
12. Brush Desert Sand, then London Fog Memento inks over the onto the image panel.**
13. Remove the stencil, rotate the STAY-tion 180° with the image panel still in place.
14. Repeat Steps #10 through #12 until you're happy with the ink coverage on the image panel.
15. Remove the image panel from the STAY-tion.
16. Lift the masks and color the images with Copic markers.
17. Apply Diamond Glaze to the bulb on the spider, then move the image panel completely out of touching distance so there's absolutely no temptation to touch it.***
18. Cut and fold a piece of white cardstock to create a 5" x 7" card.
19. Use magnets to secure the white card to the STAY-tion.
20. Position the spider stencil on the top left of the card and use magnets to secure the stencil to the card on the overhanging bits.
21. Brush Lime Punch Elements ink over the spider stencil onto the card.****
22. Move the stencil down, secure with magnets, then brush Russet Orange Elements ink over the stencil.
23. Move the stencil to the bottom middle, secure with magnets, then brush Violet Chalk Elements ink over the stencil.
24. Continue to move the stencil, brushing the various colors of Elements inks over it onto the card.*****
25. Retrieve the image panel but don't touch the light bulb!!!
26. Use Clear Glaze pen to build dimension on the spider's legs, the screw-head, and the screw-head on the skull. Let dry, then repeat until you're happy with the dimension and gloss.
27. Trim the image panel and mat with black cardstock.
28. Adhere the matted image panel to the stenciled card.

Notes:

• Remove the stamp from the platform slowly and carefully because the black foam backing can stick to the stamp.
• Brush the inks more heavily on the edges, softening your touch as you move towards the center. This should allow the inks to subtly blend.
• It takes a while for Diamond Glaze and/or Glossy Accents to dry. Be patient. Do NOT touch it before an hour or so has elapsed. Go have a cup of coffee and cruise the interweb.
• Elements Ink pads are very strongly pigmented and are juicy, so it's best to ink to your brush or sponge, then dab some off onto the STAY-tion before you apply the ink to the paper. The upside of using a STAY-tion or a craft mat is that the ink stays wet, so you can pick it up with the brush/sponge.
• Since you'll be covering the bulk of the card with the matted image panel, you just need to blend the inks slightly. Again, apply the inks more heavily on the outside edges of the card and lighten the application as you move inwards.

Thanks for visiting today!

Halloween Wall Décor

It's Tuesday and time to share a project created for Topflight Stamps. This week my teammates and I are spotlighting stencils. I love and use stencils all the time so this was not a stretch assignment. I created a sign to decorate the house at Halloween time and used stencils, stamps, paints, Copics, and die-cuts. 

Here it is!

Topflight Products Used:

Elena Zinski Art 16 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp Set by PaperArtsy

Elena Zinski Art 17 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp Set by PaperArtsy

Zini Mini ZN07 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp by PaperArtsy 

Zini Mini ZN45 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp by PaperArtsy

Zini Mini ZN47 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp by PaperArtsy

EclecTica ENB02 Nicci Battilana Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp Set by PaperArtsy

France Papillon FP001 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp Set by PaperArtsy 

Tracy Scott Stencil PS252 by PaperArtsy

Southern Skies, Blueberry, Eggplant, and Lavender Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paints by PaperArtsy

Redemption Stencil by Andy Skinner for Creative Expressions

Totally Triangular Stencil by AALL and Create

Violet Chalk Elements Inks by Lavinia Stamps

Other Products Used:

140 lb. Mixed Media Cardstock by Strathmore®

Solar White Classic Crest® Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Raven Cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper®

Cloudy White Vellum: Source unknown

Media® Modeling Paste by DecoArt®

Tuxedo Black Memento™ Ink by Tsukineko®

Black Soot Distress® Archival Ink by Tim Holtz® for Ranger Ink

New Canvas Palette® Ink by Stewart Superior

VersaMark™ Ink by Tuskineko®

Copic Markers:

   Frankenstein: YG41, YG45, Y23, Y26, Y28, BV13, BV17, YR04, YR07, YR09

   Lady's Skin: BV0000, BV000, E50, E21, E11, E00, R20 

   Lady's Hair: E08, E19, YR24

   Lady's Clothing: C5, C7, C8, YR24, Y07, B34, YG45

   Yelling Guy's Skin: BV0000, BV000, E50, E21, E11, E00, R20 

   Yelling Guy's Clothes: C5, C7, C8, YR04, YR07, B34, YG45

   Devil Dude: BV0000, BV000, BG0000, BG000, BBG10, BG11, R02, R105, R17, V22, V25, V28

   Witch Bat/Cat: N1, N3, N4, N6, N7, R81, B23, YG45, R04, R07

   Sign: R05, YR04,YY17, BG90, BG93, T0, T1

   Ghosts: C00, C0, C1, B660, <B91

   Skulls: BG90, BG93, YR30, YR31, E40, T0, R05

Twilight and Midnight Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paints by PaperArtsy

Aged Ochre Fran-Tage® Embossing Enamel by Stampendous!®

White and Red Posca Paint Markers by Mitsubishi Pencil

Inkssentials™ Cut 'N' Dry™ Stamping Foam by Ranger Ink

Creepy Spider Die by Memory Box

Circles Nestabilities® Dies by Spellbinders®

Wings dies by Cherry Lynn Designs.

Wings dies by SCACD

Halloween Letter Die: Source Unknown

Caution Washi Tape: Source Unknown

3D Foam Squares Black Mix by Scrapbook Adhesives® by 3L

Stamping Platform

Repositionable Labels by Avery®
STAY-tion™ by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Instructions: 

1. Add a few drops each of Midnight, Eggplant, and Lavender Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paint to a piece of Cut 'N' Dry Foam.

2. Squish the paint side of the foam onto a craft mat to slightly mix the paint and force it into the foam.

3. Pounce the foam onto a piece of mixed media cardstock twisting the foam to blend the paint.

4 Pick up more paint from the craft mat and continue to apply to the cardstock. 

5. When needed, repeat Steps #2 through #5 until the cardstock is covered.

6. Add a few drops each of Twilight, Blueberry, and Southern Skies Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paint to the same piece of foam.

7. Repeat Steps #2 through #5 until you achieve a variegated look.

8. Heat set.

9. Use magnets to secure the Redemption Stencil and painted cardstock to the STAY-tion.

10. Sponge or brush New Canvas Palette ink over the stencil onto the painted paper. Heat set.

11. Use a circle die to cut Repositionable label paper.

12. Adhere the circle label paper of the center section of the clock portion of the Tracy Scott PS252 Stencil.

13 Use magnets to secure the stencil and painted cardstock to the reverse side of the STAY-tion.* 

14. Use repositionable tape to attach scrap cardstock to the top, bottom, and sides of the stencil. Add magnets to these papers as well.

15. Use a spatula, spreader, or credit card to apply White Media Modeling Paste the stencil.

16. Lift the stencil and the additional scrap paper. Remove the scraps of cardstock and the circle label paper and toss out. 

17. Use water and dish soap to clean the stencil and tools immediately.

18. Let the Media Modeling Paste air dry.

19. Use Tuxedo Black Memento ink to stamp the Bottle Creatures from the Elena Zinski Art 16 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp Set, the humans from the Elena Zinski Art 17 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp Set, the bat/cat witch from the Zini Mini ZN07 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp, the odd fellows from the Zini Mini ZN45 and ZN 47 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamps, the skulls and ghosts from the EclecTica ENB02 Nicci Battilana Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp Set, and the hazard sign from the France Papillon FP001 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp Set.**

20. Use Copic markers to color all of the images.

21 Fussy-cut cut all the images AND cut the off the bottle creatures and the heads off of all the human images. 

22. Edge all of the images with a dark marker.

23. Re-assemble all the separated images and set aside. Don't worry, they'll all have fun together, especially if you left them those bottles.

24. Use the wing dies to cut vellum.

25. Use the Halloween Sentiment and the spider die to cut black cardstock.

27. Sponge or brush Violet Chalk Elements Ink over the Totally Triangular Stencil by AALL and Create along both sides and the bottom of the painted, paste-stenciled cardstock. Heat set.

28. Sponge all edges with Violet Chalk Elements ink and heat set.

29. Edge again with Black Soot Archival Ink.

30. Adhere Caution washi tape to the bottom of the panel.

31. Adhere the Happy Halloween sentiment die-cuts to the top of the image panel.

32. Adhere the road sign, frankensteined creatures, ghosts, wings, and skulls to the image panel.

33. Use White Posca Paint Marker to add an hourglass to the spider die-cut. Let dry.

34. When the white marker is dry, use Red Posca Paint maker color the white hourglass. The spider is now a Black Widow. Hurray!

35. Use dimensional foam adhesive to adhere the spider and the witch bat/cat to the image panel.

36. Trim a piece of black chipboard so that it's .25" larger than the image panel.

37. Use the VersaMark pad to ink the edges then drag the edges through a small pile of Ochre Fran-Tage Embossing Enamel***. Dump off the excess powder then heat set.

38. Repeat Step #37 until the edges are covered.

39. Adhere the image panel to the embossed chipboard to complete the piece.

Notes:

• Use the back of the STAY-tion when you don't need the ruled lines, which can rub off, especially if you try to clean the surface with Purell, alcohol, or a baby-wipe.
• It's fun to switch heads, bodies, and other parts of stamped images. It increases the versatility of your stamps.
• The Fran-tage Embossing Enamels combine different colors and metallics to create a really cool look. 

Thanks for visiting today!

Cast a Spell on Halloween!

It's Tuesday so it's time to share a project created for Topflight Stamps! I'm firmly in Halloween mode, so I've created yet another spooky card with the spell book and the crow from the Free Your Imagination Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Visible Image, the Time Tunnel Stencil by Visible Image, and sentiments from the Holiday Sentiment Duos Clear Stamp Set by Heffy Doodle. The background was created on the 5" x 7" Gel Press with the Sundance, Paprika, and Sahara Elements Inks by Lavinia Stamps.

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Free Your Imagination Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Visible Image

Time Tunnel Stencil by Visible Image

Holiday Sentiment Duos Clear Stamp Set by Heffy Doodle

5" x 7" Gel Press

2" Speedball Brayer

Sundance, Paprika, and Sahara Elements Inks by Lavinia Stamps

Onyx Black VersaFine Ink by Tsukineko

Black Blending Brush Set by Time For Tea Designs

Other Products Used:
140 lb. Mixed Media Cardstock by Strathmore®

Harvest Orange My Colors Cardstock by My Mind's Eye

Black Soot Distress® Ink by Tim Holtz® for Ranger Ink

STAY-tion™ by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Stamping Platform

Post-It Notes® by 3M

Waterbrush

Instructions:

1. Use a brayer to apply Sundance Elements Ink to the Gel Press.
2. Use a brayer to apply Sahara Elements Ink to the Gel Press.
3. Use a brayer to apply Paprika Elements Ink to the Gel Press.
4. Press a piece of heavy cardstock onto the Gel Press, smooth the back,, and pull the print.
5. Repeat Steps 1 to 4 until you're happy with the blending, color, and coverage.
6. Place the Time Tunnel Stencil onto the Gel Press.
7. Brayer Paprika Elements Ink over the the stencil onto the Gel Press.
8. Remove the stencil, place the inked print facedown onto the Gel Press, smooth the back, and pull a print.
9. Lightly mist the print with water and heat set.
10. Repeat step 9 if desired.
11. Use magnets to secure the Gel Press print to the base of the stamping platform.
12. Position the book stamp face down where desired.
13. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp, lift the lid, ink the stamp with Onyx Black VersaFine ink, and stamp.
14. Re-ink the stamp and stamp again if necessary for a good ink coverage.
15. Remove the book stamp and clean.
16. Position the 
17. Position the raven/crow stamp face down where desired.
18. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp, lift the lid, ink the stamp with Onyx Black VersaFine ink, and stamp.
19. Re-ink the stamp and stamp again if necessary.
20. Remove the print from the stamping platform and heat set.
21. Use a waterbrush and a paper towel to remove ink from the book's pages. Heat set.
22. Use magnets to secure the print onto the STAY-tion.
23. Place the STAY-tion ruler horizontally just under the book.
24. Brush Paprika Elements ink under the book to ground the book.
25. Heat set the image panel.
26. Use magnets to secure the Gel Press print to the base of the stamping platform.
27. Position the Happy Halloween sentiment stamp face down where desired.
28. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp, lift the lid, ink the stamp with Onyx Black VersaFine ink, and stamp.
29. Re-ink the stamp and stamp again if necessary for good coverage.
30. Position the Happy Halloween stamp face down where desired.
31. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp, lift the lid, ink the stamp with Onyx Black VersaFine ink, and stamp.
32. Re-ink the stamp and stamp again if necessary.
33. Remove the sentiment stamp.
34. Shift the image panel to the left and resecure with magnets.
35. Position the Happy Holidays sentiment facedown on the bottom right of the image panel.
36. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
37. Use Post-It Notes to cover "Happy Holidays" and "this holiday season". 
38. Ink the stamp with Onyx Black VersaFine ink, remove the Post-It Notes, and stamp.
39. Remove the image panel from the stamping platform.
40. Heat set thoroughly.
41. Trim the image panel to 4.75" x 6.75".
42. Edge the image panel with Paprika Elements Ink and heat set.
43. Edge the image panel with Black Soot Distress Ink and heat set.
44. Adhere the image panel to an orange 5" x 7" card.

Notes:

• Brayer the excess ink onto cardstock or onto text or music notation paper. You never know what you'll get!
• Mist the inked stencil with water and press onto your mop up paper! You'll end up with a cleaner stencil and a cool result!
• If I had used bleach instead of water in Step 21, I might have gotten cleaner results. I was lazy and didn't want to go into the garage. 

Thanks for visiting today!

Bwa Bwa Bwa! Happy Halloween!

Greetings! Not only is it World Card Making Day which you can celebrate by visiting Topflight Stamps' World Card Making Day Sale, it's also World Farm Animals Day. So what better way to celebrate than with a Halloween card? 

The star of my card is one of the adorable sheep from the super cute Baa Humbug Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Hobby Arts, who is wearing a witch hat from the Funny Accessories by Katzelkraft. A tree and tree branch became lightning from the Twisted Tree Red Rubber Cling Stamp Set by Darkroom Door on a stormy cloudy sky created with the Great Outdoors Stencil by Polkadoodles. The sentiment is from the Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set by Heffy Doodle.

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Baa Humbug Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Hobby Arts

Twisted Tree Red Rubber Cling Stamp Set by Darkroom Door

Funny Accessories by Katzelkraft

Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set by Heffy Doodle

Great Outdoors Stencil by Polkadoodles

Onyx Black VersaFine Ink by Tsukineko®

Black Blending Brush Set by Time For Tea Designs 

Public Service Announcement: Topflight Stamps has a wonderful sale in honor of World Card Making Day. There are loads of fabulous new products, so you should hop on over and check it out. 

Other Products Used:

Solar White Classic Crest® Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Grey Cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper®

Tuxedo Black, Danube Blue, Lulu Lavender, and London Fog Memento™ Ink by Tsukineko®

Emerald Green Achival™ Ink by Ranger Ink

Mowed Lawn and Black Soot Distress® Ink by Tim Holtz® for Ranger Ink

Shark White Atelier Fusion Ink by Ink On 3

Simply Sweet Rub-ons by Doodlebug Designs Inc.™

Copic® Markers: C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, YG21, YG23, BV13, BV17

Fine Tip White Uni Posca Acrylic Paint Marker by Mitsubishi Pencil Company

Cartoon Speech Bubble Die Set by Frantic Stampers

Stamping Platform
Repositionable Labels by Avery®
STAY-tion™ by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Post-It® Notes by 3M

Instructions:

1. Create an A2 card from grey cardstock. 
2. Cut a 4" x 5.25" piece from the same grey cardstock.
3. Use a distressing tool and/or scissors (or both) to distress the edges of the panel.
4. Sponge the distressed edges with Black Soot Distress ink and adhere to the card. Set aside.
5. Use magnets to secure a piece of white cardstock to the base of the stamping platform.
6. Choose the sheep you want to use from the Baa Humbug Clear Stamp Set*.
7. Use the clear index sheet from the Baa Humbug stamp set to determine where the sheep will be and where the Witch Hat should be stamped on the panel. 
8. Place the Witch Hat facedown on the clear index sheet and press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp. 
9. Lift the lid and remove the clear index sheet.
10. Ink the stamp with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and stamp onto the image panel and onto a piece of repositionable label paper.
11. Place a Post-It Note over the base of the stamped Witch Hat.
12. Position the selected sheep stamp and place facedown onto the image panel so that the top of the sheep's head will be in the Witch Hat. 
13. Press the stamp platform's lid onto the back of the sheep stamp, lift the lid, and ink the sheep stamp with Tuxedo Black Memento ink.
14. Stamp the sheep onto the image panel and onto a piece of repositionable label paper.
15. Fussy cut the stamped label paper versions of the Witch Hat and the Sheep then place over their counterparts on the image panel.
16. Tear a piece of scrap paper and place horizontally over the sheep's hooves.
17. Starting at the top of the image panel, brush Danube Blue, Lulu Lavender, and London Fog Memento™ Inks over the Great Outdoors stencil.
18. Move the stencil downward and continue to brush the same colors of ink over the stencil under you've created a dark and stormy cloudy sky.
19. Remove the scrap paper and place the other side of the torn paper to cover the sky.
20. Flip the used torn paper from step 16 so that you have a clean-ish torn edge.
21. Brush Mowed Lawn Distress ink horizontally over the torn edge, moving the torn paper downwards until the bottom portion of the image panel looks like a green pasture.
22. Use the Emerald Green Archival ink with the grass stamp from the Baa Humbug Stamp Set to add grass for the sheep to eat.*
23. Remove the masks and color the images with Copic markers.
24. Use magnets to secure the image panel to the base of the stamping platform.
25. Position the branch from the Twisted Tree Red Rubber Cling Stamp Set*facedown on the top of the image panel.
26. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
27. Ink the stamp with Shark White Atelier ink and stamp.
28. Remove and clean the stamp.
29. Repeat Steps 25-28 to add more lightning strikes to the image panel.
30. Position the tree top rom the Twisted Tree Red Rubber Cling Stamp Set facedown on the top of the image panel.
31. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
32. Ink the stamp with Shark White Atelier ink and stamp.
33. Remove and clean the stamp.
34. Repeat Steps 30 -33.
35. Remove the image panel from the stamping platform and heat set.
36. Use the Fine Tip White Uni Posca Acrylic Paint Marker to trace the lightning.
37. Set aside the image panel to dry.
38. Brush or sponge a scrap of white cardstock with Danube Blue, Lulu Lavender, and London Fog Memento™ Inks. Heat set.
39. Use magnets to secure the inked cardstock to the stamping platform.
40. Place the speech bubble die on the inked cardstock, then position the Happy Halloween sentiment, from the Classic Sentiment Clear Stamp Set, facedown.
41. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp, lift the platform's lid, and remove the speech bubble die.
42. Ink the stamp with Onyx Black VersaFine ink and stamp. 
43. Remove the stamped cardstock from the platform and heat set.
44. Use the cloudy speech bubble die to cut the sentiment.
45. Use the rub-ons to add "Bwa Bwa Bwa" to the speech bubble die-cut.
46. Use Black Soot Distress ink to edge the speech bubble die-cut.
47. Edge the image panel with Black Soot Distress Ink.
48. Adhere the image panel to the reserved card front.
49. Adhere the speech bubble to finish the card.

Notes:

• The sheep from the Baa Humbug Clear Stamp set can be accessorized with the included hats or used with other accessory stamps and/or die-cuts. This makes this stamp set very versatile and not just for Christmas!
• When stamping the grass, use first and second generation stamping to add depth.
• The branch and the tree canopy from the Twisted Tree Red Rubber Cling Stamp do double duty as lightning strikes. 
• The tree canopy stamp could be stamped then heat embossed with white embossing powder to add additional interest.

Thanks for visiting today!