Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Mice, Strawberries, and Fudge?

The strawberry season is well underway in the U.S. and the berries are looking great. They'll be even better when dipped in fudge sauce, which is the way that the House-Mouse critters like them best!

 


Other Products Used:
Spring Borders Die Set by Stampendous!®
Mini House-Mouse Designs Clear Stamp Set by Stampendous!®
Tuxedo Black Memento™ by Tsukineko®
Onyx Black VersaFine™ Ink by Tsukineko®
Black Soot Distress® Ink by Tim Holtz® for Ranger Ink
Red Cardstock
Copic® Markers Used:
Mouse Skin: BV000, E51, E50, RV91, R000, R00, R01, R20 (Cheeks), R21 and R22 (Noses)
Fur: (Left to right): T1, T3, T5, T7; E44, E35, E33, E31; E44, E25, E23, E21
Box: W0, W1, W2, W3, YR30
Strawberry Leaves and Stems: G40, G43, G46
Strawberries: R02, R05, R17
Rudge Drips: E74, E77
Fudge in Jar: E70, E71, E74
Jar: BG90, BG93
Label: YR0000, Y32, E74, E77
Ground: W1, W2, W3
Outline: G000
Freehand Graph and Dot Bella Besties 6x6 Patterned Paper Pad by Bella Blvd.™
Tiny Attacher by Tim Holtz® 

Instructions:
  1. Cut a piece of 12x12 red cardstock in half.
  2. Score one piece at 6" and fold to form a 6" square card. Set aside.
  3. Cut a piece of yellow patterned paper to 5.75" square and lightly edge with Distress ink. Set aside.
  4. Use Tuxedo Black ink to stamp the image onto white paper.
  5. Color the image with Copic markers.
  6. Trim the image panel to 4.75" x 3.5
  7. Mat the image panel with red patterned paper cut to 5" x 3.75". 
  8. Lightly edge the mat with Distress ink.
  9. Use one of the dies from the Spring Border Die set to cut red patterned paper.
  10. Edge the die-cut with Distress ink and cut in half.
  11. Use Onyx Black VersaFine ink to stamp the sentiment.
  12. Use one of the ticket dies to cut the sentiment and use the larger die to cut red patterned paper. Edge the red die-cut with Distress ink.
  13. Adhere the matted image panel as shown.
  14. Adhere border dies to the yellow patterned paper so that they are flush right and left as shown.
  15. Adhere the larger red patterned die-cut to the center of the border die-cut as shown.
  16. Adhere the sentiment die-cut to the red border die-cut.
  17. Adhere the matted image panel as shown.
  18. Use the Tiny Attacher to staple the border die-cut, the sentiment, and the image panel.
  19. Edge the card front with Distress ink.
  20. Adhere the card front to the reserved red card.
Thanks for visiting today!

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Topflight Stamps' Fifth Anniversary Blog Hop!


It's Topflight Stamps 5th birthday! To celebrate I’ve teamed up with some great designers to showcase celebratory projects using the unique products available at Topflight Stamps. Please hop along with us to see all the beautiful talent from this group of amazing designers! You should have arrived here from the Topflight Stamps Blog. If not, no worries, catch the details below. 

Here's my card!


Topflight Stamps Products Used:

PSA: You should pop over to Topflight Stamps right now because there's a birthday sale and there are loads and loads of new products!

Other Products Used:
140 lb. Mixed Media Paper by Strathmore®
Solar White Classic Crest® Cardstock by Neenah Papers
Brown Cardstock
Tuxedo Black Memento™ Ink by Tsukineko®
Copic® Markers:
Rabbits: E21, E30, E31, E33, E34, E35, E44, E47, E50, E51, R000, R00, R01, R21, R22, R32, BV20, BV23
Champagne Bottle: G46, Yw21, Y23, Y26, Y28, V17
Cork: E42, E51, E81, E84
Champagne Flutes: YR30, YR31, C1, BG11
Cut N'Dry Foam by Ranger Ink
Black Pitt Artist FIneliner SX, F, M Pens by Faber Castell
Black Chalk Pencil by General's®
Fishtail Flag Stax Die-Namics Die Set by My Favorite Things
STAY-tion™ by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink
Stamping Platform
Repositionable Scotch Tape® by 3M
Ancient Press Type

There are my usual verbose instructions accompanied by step-out photos below, but before I get to them, I wanted to give you more information and to tell you that Dina Kowal's Blog is the next stop on the hop!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS
Of course, it wouldn’t be a birthday celebration without prizes! Topflight Stamps is giving one lucky winner a $50 Gift Certificate to the store. But wait! There's more!  Each stop on the hop has an additional $25 Gift Certificate up for grabs for some lucky commenter. For a chance to win, make sure to visit every stop on the hop and leave a comment by April 3rd. Winners will be announced on the Topflight Stamps blog on April 7th. Good Luck!

Please Note: Topflight Stamps is only able to ship to the US and Canada. This is due to new tax laws and USPS limitations.

Instructions:
1. Place all three bunnies from the Bunnies Unmounted Red Rubber Stamp Set face-down on the stamping platform. Press the lid of the platform onto the back of the stamps and lift.

2. Use repositionable Scotch Tape to cover the carrot and the pencil on the corresponding bunny stamps. Ink the stamps with black ink. Remove the tape, and stamp onto white cardstock.











3. Stamp the carrot bunny and the looking-upward bunny a second time onto white cardstock. Fussy-cut their hands/paws.

4. Use black ink to stamp the champagne bottle, wine flute (2x), and the cork from the Cheers, Lovely Polymer Stamp Set  onto white cardstock.

5. Fussy-cut the stamped images.










6. Use Copic markers to color the stamped, fussy-cut images, then edge with a dark pen or marker. Add the press type letters T, F, S to the label of the champagne bottle. Set aside the bunnies, champagne, flutes, and cork. Don't worry. They won't be bored or lonely. They can drink champagne and do the bunny hop while waiting for their background.










7. Cut a piece of mixed media cardstock to 6.75" x 4.75". Adhere Repositionable Scotch Tape along the bottom as shown below.












8. Add drops of Mermaid and BoraBora Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paints onto a piece of Cut N'Dry Foam.











9. Smoosh the foam side down to mix the paint, apply paint to the mixed media paper, and heat set.












10. Use masking tape to secure the painted background paper to the STAY-tion.

11. Place the flower and diamond section of the Scrapcosy PS108 Small Backgrounds Stencil over the painted paper. Secure with magnets. 

12. Sponge Warm Breeze VersaFine Clair™ Ink over the stencil onto the painted background. 













13. Lift stencil and heat set the ink.

14. Using the diamond and flower shapes as a guide, move the stencil to the right, secure with magnets, and sponge Warm Breeze VersaFine Clair™ Ink over the stencil.

15. Lift the stencil and heat set the ink.

16. To stencil the remainder of the panel, move the stencil down, line up the flowers and diamonds, and repeat steps #12 through #15.

16. Completed stenciling. It's not perfect, but life's like that.












9.Remove the Scotch Tape. Place another piece of tape to cover the stenciled and painted top part of the background. Put a piece of scrap paper to complete cover to the top, then paint the bottom part with Toffee Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paint. Heat set.











10. Remove the tape. 

11. Use a black pen to add horizontal lines to create a quasi wooden floor look. I forgot to add the vertical lines to separate the individual boards.  I also forgot to take a photo of the step. Alas.

12. Adhere the champagne flutes to the bunnies' hands. Glue their hands to the glasses. Oops. Another missing photo.

13. Position the champagne bottle to look as though the bunny is carrying it. Adhere the bunny to her bottle. Or vice versa. Forget to take a photo.

14. Figure out the bunny placement by placing the bunnies onto the background without adhering them. Don't take a photo.

15. Use chalk pencil to add shadows to where the bunnies and bottle will be. Yeah. No photo. 

16. Adhere the bunnies in place without taking another photo.

17. Use magnets to secure the image panel to the base of the stamping platform.

18. Position the cork stamp from the Cheers, Lovely Polymer Stamp Set, face-down on the background where desired.  Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp, lift the lid, ink the stamp with Purple Velvet Prism Ink, and stamp.

19. Remove the panel from the platform and heat set the ink.

20. Adhere the cork over its counterpart.

21. Here's the completed image panel.












11.Sponge a piece of mixed media paper with Purple Velvet Prism Ink. Mist with water and heat set. Oops. Missed photo op!

12. Use a stamping platform and Purple Velvet Prism Ink to stamp the Background Clocks Solo 155 Unmounted Red Rubber Stamp. Repeat inking and stamping to ensure a good impression.

















12. Use Fishtail Flag dies to cut the stamped purple paper. 

13. Forget to take a photo.

14. Use magnets to secure the smaller flag to the base of the stamping platform. Position the "Cheers, lovely" sentiment from the set face-down where desired on the flag. Press the platform's lid on the back of the stamp and lift.

15. Use Repositionable Scotch Tape to cover the comma and the "lovely" from the Cheers, Lovely Polymer Stamp Set on the stamp. Ink the stamp, remove the tape, and stamp. Repeat Step# 13.

16. Use the stamping platform and Purple Velvet Prism Ink to stamp "Celebrate" from the Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set onto the larger flag. Repeat Step# 13.

17. Edge both flags with Purple Velvet Prism Ink, heat set, and secure them to the card front as shown.

18. Adhere the cardfront to a brown 7" x 5" card. 

Thanks for visiting! Bunny-hop along to your next stop, which is Dina Kowal's Blog!

~~~~~~~~~

Here's the blog hop roster. Follow along and if you get lost, you can always start again at the Topflight Stamps BlogRemember to leave a comment at each blog to increase your chance of winning a prize!

Sunday, March 27, 2022

Fairy Happy Birthday Card

Here's a birthday card created for Topflight Stamps that was inspired by the advent of spring. 



Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Other Products Used:
140 lb. Mixed Media Paper by Strathmore®
Avalanche Cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper®
Black Soot Distress® Ink by Tim Holtz® for Ranger Ink
Golden Locks,Honey Comb, Graystone, Blush, Rosie Cheeks, Blue Jeans, Lavender, Misty Morning, and Fern Zig® Photo Twin Markers by Kuretake
Cornflour Blue, Ochre, May Green, and Pale Green Zig® Clean Color Real Brush Markers by Kuretake
Black Sparkle Stardust® Glitter Gel Pen by Sakura® of America
Stamping Platform
Craft Mat
Flat, Round, and Grainer Paint Brushes

Instructions:
  1. Create an A6 card from white cardstock. Set aside.
  2. Use a stamping platform and Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink to stamp Fairy Rose Unmounted Rubber Stamp onto mixed media paper. Heat set.
  3. Smoosh the Della Blue Elements Ink pad  onto a craft mat, mist it with water, and use a flat paintbrush to add the sky. Heat set the image panel. Clean the craft mat.
  4. Repeat the "smoosh, spritz, and brush" step with Lime Punch Elements Ink to create the spring grass. Heat set the image panel. Clean the craft mat.
  5. Repeat the "smoosh, spritz, and brush" step with Pine Elements Ink to add shade and shadows. Then use a spiky brush, aka a grainer, to add the look of blades of grass. Heat set the image panel. Clean the craft mat.
  6. Repeat the "smoosh, spritz, and brush" step with the Graphite Elements Ink. Use a round brush to apply the ink to the shadows and knots of the tree. Heat set the image panel. Clean the craft mat.
  7. Since I didn't have a good tree brown, I made my own by smooshing Russet Orange, and Henna Elements Ink onto my craft mat, misting them, and combining them. 
  8. Brush the brown ink onto the tree trunk, the branches, and the wooden swing seat. Heat set the image panel. Clean the craft mat.
  9. Use Zig Photo-Twin and Clean Color Markers to color the fairy, the leaves, and the dragonflies.
  10. Use the black glitter pen to outline the dragonflies' bodies.
  11. Trim the image panel and edge with Black Soot Distress ink.
  12. Mat with white cardstock cut  a bit larger.
  13. Trim a piece of  patterned paper from the beautiful Ink Drops - Candy 6x6 Patterned Paper Pad by Craft Consortium to 4.25" wide and edge with Black Soot Distress ink. 
  14. Use magnets to secure the patterned paper to the base of a stamping platform.
  15. Position the Fairy Happy Birthday Clear Polymer Sentiment Stamp face-down on the top of the patterned paper panel.
  16. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp, lift the lid, ink the stamp with Onyx Black VersaFine Ink, and stamp. Repeat if necessary to get a good impression. 
  17. Remove the panel from the stamping platform and heat set the sentiment.
  18. Adhere the matted image panel to the patterned paper as shown to finish the card front.
  19. Adhere the card front to the reserved A6 card.
Thanks for visiting today!

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Discover! A Mixed Media Tag

It's Tuesday which means it's time to share a project created for Topflight Stamps. This week my teammates are flexing our mixed media muscles (which sadly are my only muscles)

I chose to decorate an ETCETERA tag with Lady Vagabond and Sir Vagabond 8x8 Paper Pads by Stamperia, Wolf Eye, Sea Glass, Cloudy, and Double Denim Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paints by PaperArtsy, the Discover Word Series Stencil by That's Crafty, Washi Tape 2 by Autour de Mwa for AALL and Create, and Rusty Car, Royal Blood, and Green Man Infusions by PaperArtsy.

Here it is!


Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Other Products Used:
Tim Holtz® ETCETERA Mini Tag by Stampers Anonymous
Vintage Photo Archival™ Distress® Ink by Tim Holtz® for Ranger Ink
Vintage Photo Distress® Marker by Tim Holtz® for Ranger Ink
Media® Modeling Paste by DecoArt®
VersaMark™ Pad by Tsukineko®
Aged Silver Frantage Embossing Powder by Stampendous!®
Matte™ Decou-Page Glue by DecoArt®
Cut N'Dry™ Foam by Ranger Ink
Jute by American Crafts™
Repositionable Scotch Tape® by 3M
Seam Binding from ye olde stash
Compass Charm from ye olde stash
Acrylic Magnifying Glass from ye olde stash

A Note:
This tag is a bit unusual for me as there is absolutely no stamping on this project! I could have stamped Lady Vagabond from the Lady Vagabond Foam Mounted Stamp Set or Sir Vagabond from the Sir Vagabond Foam Mounted Stamp Set, but instead I opted to fussy-cut the seated Lady Vagabond from the Lady Vagabond 8x8 Paper Pad by Stamperia.

Instructions:
  1. Add drops of  Wolf EyeSea GlassCloudy, and Double Denim Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paints to a piece of Cut N'Dry Foam.
  2. Smoosh the foam onto a craft mat then apply to the top and sides of the ETCETERA mdf tag.
  3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until you're happy with the coverage. Heat set, though the paints are quick drying. 
  4. Position the word "Discover" on the Discover Word Series Stencil where desired. Use repositionable tape to secure it in place. 
  5. Apply Media Modeling Paste over the stencil onto the tag. Lift the stencil.
  6. Immediately sprinkle Aged Silver Frantage Embossing Enamel over the wet modeling paste, dump off the excess, and heat set.*
  7. Use Decou-Page to adhere the patterned paper from the Sir Vagabond 8x8 Paper Pad to the painted tag. The map is of the New York/New Jersey area and actually includes the town where I reside! How cool is that?*
  8. Apply Decou-Page over the patterned paper to seal it. Heat set.
  9. Edge the tag with Vintage Photo Distress Archival Ink and heat set.
  10. Place a small strip of Washi Tape 2 onto a craft mat and sponge with Vintage Photo Distress Archival ink onto the tape to tint it.
  11. Tear the tape and adhere to the tag as shown to add a bit more visual interest. 
  12. Fussy-cut the seated Lady Vagabond from the pad and edge with a black permanent marker.
  13. Adhere the fussy-cut Lady Vagabond as shown.
  14. Working in sections, use a Vintage Photo Distress Marker to outline Lady Vagabond, then use a wet paintbrush to soften the ink outline.
  15. Wrap brown jute around the base of the tag.
  16. Wrap another strand of jute around the tag and thread through the bale of the compass charm. Knot.
  17. Use glue to adhere a magnifying glass or plastic where desired. 
  18. Smoosh the mdf reinforcement onto a VersaMark pad.
  19. Drop the reinforcement into the jar of Aged Silver Frantage Embossing Powder, remove from the jar, shake off the excess, and heat set.
  20. Adhere the embossed reinforcement to the hole in the tag.
  21. Cut three pieces of seam binding.
  22. Spray a piece of seam binding with water, shake Infusion powder onto the wet seam binding, mist with water again, then heat set.
  23. Repeat step 21 until you have three pieces of dyed seam binding.
  24. Thread the three pieces of seam binding through the hole of the tag.
Notes and Tips:
  • All the colors of Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paints that I used were opaque, so there was no need to prime the mdf tag with gesso. 
  • Aged Silver Frantage Embossing Powder has a lovely mottled metallic finish.
  • Bonus photo! My area of the world under a dome! 


Thanks for visiting today!

Saturday, March 19, 2022

Springish Card

Now that spring is a few days, I've finally seen some trees beginning to bloom. Plus I have one (1) crocus. Imagine that. I don't know when Lilies of the Valley begin to bloom, but I think it's soon. 



Stampendous! Products Used:

Other Products Used:
Tuxedo Black and Cottage Ivy Memento™ Inkby Tsukineko®
Green Cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper®
Copic® Markers:
Sky Background: <B41 and Colorless Blender Solution
Mouse Skin: BV000, E51, E50, RV91, R00, R000, R20 (Cheek)
Mouse Fur: E31, E33, E35, E4
Leaves and Stems: G20, G40, G43, G46
Flowers: C00, C0, C1, C2, B60, YR31
Stamping Platform

Instructions:
  1. Cut a piece of 8.5" x 11" green cardstock in half, score, and fold to form an A2 card. Set aside.
  2. Use magnets to secure the other half of the green cardstock (untextured side up) to a stamping platform.
  3. Place the Cling Leafy Breeze 6x6 Rubber Stamp facedown on the green cardstock.
  4. Press the lid of the stamping platform onto the back of the stamp.
  5. Lift the lid, ink the stamp with Cottage Ivy Memento ink and stamp.
  6. Repeat inking and stamping if necessary for a clean impression.
  7. Trim the green cardstock to 5.25" x 4" and edge with Cottage Ivy ink.
  8. Adhere the background panel to the card front.
  9. Use Tuxedo Black Memento ink to stamp the image onto white paper.
  10. Outline the image with the <B41 marker.
  11. Loosely color the sky with <B41 ink, then dab the marker away with a cotton pad dipped in Colorless Blending Solution.
  12. Let the Blending Solution dry completely. 
  13. Color the rest of the image with Copic markers.
  14. Trim the image panel to 3.75" x 3".
  15. Cut a piece of green cardstock to 3.875" x 3.125", edge with Cottage Ivy Memento ink, then use to mat the image panel.
  16. Adhere the image panel to the card as shown.
Thanks for visiting today!


Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Tea Time!

It's Tuesday which means it's time to share a project created for Topflight StampsI created a card with the gorgeous tea pot from the Tea Time Rubber Cling Stamp Set by Mistrahl for Carabelle Studio. Since there was a moon and stars on the teapot, I chose to create a background using the Stardots Stencil by Craft Emotions and the Alchemy Sympbols Stencil by Stamperia with SundanceConfetti, and Della Blue Elements Ink by Lavinia StampsCheerful VersaFine Clair Inks by Tsukineko, and Wishy-Washi Washi Tape 19 by Janet Klein for AALL and Create.

Here it is!

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Other Products Used:
Solar White Classic Crest® Cardstock by Neenah Papers
Navy Cardstock
Tuxedo Black Memento™ Ink by Tsukineko®
Copic® Markers: Y00, Y11, Y13, Y15, BG53, BG57, B02, B41, B52, B60, B13, BV17, B34, V22, V25, V28, RV62, RV63, RV93
Unicorn Hero Hues Pigment Ink by Hero Arts®
New Canvas Palette™ Hybrid Ink by Stewart Superior
Pouncy Tool -- Steel wool on a wood handle*
White Gelly Roll® Gel Pen by Sakura® of America
STAY-tion™ by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Industries
Stamping Platform

Instructions:
  1. Use Tuxedo Black Memento ink to stamp the tea pot onto white cardstock.
  2. Fussy-cut the tea pot and the liquid, color with Copic markers, edge with a dark marker, and set aside.
  3. Use magnets to secure a piece of navy cardstock to the STAY-tion.
  4. Use more magnets to secure the Stardots Stencil onto navy cardstock. 
  5. Brush New Canvas Palette (white) ink over the stencil onto the blue cardstock and let dry. *
  6. When the ink was dry, brush SundanceConfetti, and Della Blue Elements Ink randomly over the white inked stars to add a touch of color.
  7. Remove the stencil and heat set.
  8. Position the Sun and Moon symbols on the Alchemy Symbols Stencil by Stamperia Stencil are on the top of the navy panel. Secure the stencil with magnets.
  9. Brush New Canvas Palette ink over the Sun and Moons. Let dry.
  10. Cover the moons with scrap paper and brush Cheerful VersaFine Clair Ink onto the suns.
  11. Cover the suns and brush white pigment ink onto the moons.
  12. Remove the stencil and heat set the background.
  13. Trim the background panel to 6" x 4.75".
  14. Randomly brush the New Canvas Palette ink from the edges towards the center. 
  15. When dry, brush SundanceConfetti, and Della Blue Elements Ink by Lavinia Stamps overtop to add a touch of color.
  16. Use Unicorn Hero Hues pigment ink to roughly edge the panel.
  17. Use the pouncy tool to add white speckles to the background panel.
  18. Heat set the panel.
  19. Add Wishy-Washi Washi Tape 19 by Janet Kleinto the bottom of the panel. 
  20. Adhere the reserved tea pot and splash were to the background panel as shown.
  21. Adhere the card front to a 6.25" x 5" card.
Notes:
  • The New Canvas Palette Ink dries very quickly to a translucent white matte finish that you can leave as is, color with pencils, chalk pencils, or ink. 
  • If you don't have a pouncy tool like mine, you can use a piece of steel wool and/or crumpled tin foil to apply the ink. 
Thanks for visiting today!