Tuesday, August 25, 2026

A Scenic Card

 It's Topflight Stamps Tuesday and an "Anything Goes" week. I missed last week's "Outdoors" theme since I've been sick since mid-July with a rashy ick, cause unknown. I hope that I get answers this week and to be taken off the antibiotics which are whipping my itchy butt. Poor, poor pitiful me.

This card features products by Lavinia Stamps to create an outdoors scene. I've used the Acorn Abode Clear Polymer Stamp, the Hanging Lanterns Clear Clear Polymer StampDana Clear Polymer Stamp, and the Texture 2 Clear Polymer Stamp with six colors of Elements Premium Dye Ink and the ever-so-useful Hills Acetate Mask.


Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Other Products Used
Bristol Paper by Strathmore
Black Textured Cardstock by Bazzill Basics
Copic Markers:
Acorn: E77, E74, E71, E70, YG63, YG61, G00, G000
Door Frame: YR30, YR20, Y32, Y21, E93, E02, BV000
Door: E07, E04, E02
Rocks: T3, T1, T0, BG90, BG72, R01, BV20
Orange, Yellow, and Bright Yellow Zig Clean Color Brush Pens by Kuretake
Black and Yellow Glitter Markers by Grabie Art
Repositionable Sticker Paper by Avery
Low-tack Tape
STAY-tion by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink
Glassboard by Glassboard Studios
Stamping Platform

Instructions:
  1. Create an A6 card from black textured cardstock. Set aside.
  2. Use Tuxedo Black Memento Ink to stamp the Acorn Abode Clear Polymer Stamp twice — once on panel of Bristol paper and once onto repositionable sticker paper.
  3. Heat set the image stamped onto the Bristol paper, which will become the image panel. 
  4. Fussy-cut the sticker-paper version and adhere it atop its counterpart on the image panel as a mask.
  5. Place the flatttest mask from the Hills Acetate Mask just above the rocks so that it's covering the bottom of the image panel. 
  6. Brush Soft Cygnet Elements Premium Dye Inkover the top of the Hills Acetate mask and around the masked Acorn Abode
  7. Next brush Lemon Drop Elements Premium Dye Ink onto the image panel blending the ink colors as you go. 
  8. Continue this process with the Lime Punch, Pine, and Olive Elements Premium Dye Inks working from the center of the image panel outwards. 
  9. Use a water-filled Fine Spray Mister to mist the image panel to add some white speckles and splatter. 
  10. Remove the Hills Acetate Mask and heat set the panel.
  11. Trace the Hills Acetate Mask onto scrap cardstock or thin acetate, cut along the traced line, and place the upper part of the temporary mask to cover the top part of the image panel.
  12. Brush Bermuda Elements Premium Dye Ink over the temporary mask to ground the masked Acorn Abode
  13. Press the Texture 2 Clear Polymer Stamp onto the Bermuda Elements Premium Dye Inkpad and randomly stamp over the temporary mask and the masked Acorn Abode to add texture and interest to the inked ground.
  14. Remove the temporary mask and the mask from the Acorn Abode. Color the image with Copic markers. Trim the image panel to 4.25" x 6".
  15. Use magnets and/or low-tack tape to secure the image panel onto a stamping platform so that it's against the bottom, but centered horizontally. 
  16. Place the Hanging Lanterns Clear Clear Polymer Stamp facedown onto the right side of the panel so that it's a bit over the right edge. 
  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. Remember that you can always re-ink and stamp again if needed to attain a good impression.
  19. Clean and dry the stamp. 
  20. Position the Hanging Lanterns Clear Clear Polymer Stamp facedown in the center of the image panel, but with the end of the stamp slightly above the stamped Hanging Lanterns
  21. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
  22. Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp. Make sure that the image panel didn't move before inking and stamping again. Unlike me. Oops.
  23. Repeat the above steps with the Hanging Lanterns Clear Clear Polymer Stamp positioned along the left edge with the bottom of the stamp above the other two stamped impressions.
  24. Position the Dana Fairy Clear Polymer Stamp facedown on the image panel so that her feet and hand are on the stem of the Acorn Abode
  25. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
  26. Ink the stamp with  Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp.
  27. Remove the image panel from the stamping platform and thoroughly heat set it.
  28. Use watercolor pens to color the Hanging Lanterns and Dana's wings and lantern. 
  29. Use a yellow glitter marker to add yellow glitter to the dots in the Hanging Lanterns and a black glitter marker to add glitter to the dots around the lanterns.
  30. Edge the image panel with Bermuda and Pine Elements Premium Dye Inks, then edge again with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink.
  31. Finish by adhering the image panel to the reserved A6 black textured card.
Thank you for visiting today!

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Gear Up - A Steampunk Card

It's Topflight Stamps Tuesday and an "Anything Goes" week, so I created a Steampunk card with the Faceless Time Clear Stamp Set 1456, the Papillons Clear Stamp Set 1462, the Frise Pendentifs Clear Stamp Set 1461, and the Time Tinker Clear Stamp Set 1374 as well as the Cog Engine Die Set 125 and the Frayed Frames Die Set 26 — all by AALL and Create. The background panel and die-cuts were created with Steampunk Soiree Magical Pigment Powders by Lindy's Stamp Gang, applied with baby wipes to Bristol paper.

Here it is!


Topflight Stamps Products Used:
Steampunk Soiree Magical Pigment Powders by Lindy's Stamp Gang

Other Products Used:
Bristol Paper by Strathmore
Black Textured Cardstock by Bazzill Basics
Copic Markers:
Skin: BV000, BV0000, E50, E21, E11, E00, E000
Jacket/Hat: BV23, BV20, N3, N2, N1, N0
Vest: B43* (custom blend), B41
Shirt: B21, <B21* (custom blend)
Tie, Hatband, Pocket Square: R56, R37, R24, R22
Hourglass: Y28, Y26, Y23, Y11, BG90, BG72, BG70
Sand in Hourglass: E44, E43, E42, E41
Gears: Y28, Y26, Y23, Y21, Y11; E99, E97, E95; E18, E08, E07; YR26, YR24, YR23, YR21, YR20: BG75, BG72
Cloud: B60, C0, C00, Y000, BV000, RV000
Rainbow: R000, YR00, Y000, G00, G000, B21, <B21, B53, B60, V000, V0000
Outlines: <B21
Dots: <B21, B41, BG75, BG72, N1, N0
White Gelly Roll Gel Pen by Sakura
Baby Wipes
Craft Mat
Canna Lily Burnt Orange and Tophat Teal Magicals Pigment Powders by Lindy's Stamp Gang
Anti-static Tool or Pouch
Noteworthy Thinlits Alterations Die Set by Tim Holtz for Sizzix
Low-tack Tape
Tiny Gears Die by Memory Box
Glassboard by Glassboard Studios
Stamping Platform

Instructions:
  1. Create a 5" x 7" card from black textured cardstock. Set aside.
  2. Use Tuxedo Black Memento Ink to stamp the focal image from the Faceless Time Clear Stamps 1456 onto a panel of Bristol paper. 
  3. Heat set the ink, then color the image with Copic markers. 
  4. Use a White Gelly Roll Gel pen to add highlights to the hourglass.
  5. Use the largest die from the Frayed Frames Die Set 26 to cut the image panel, mat the panel with black cardstock, and set it aside.
  6. Cut a piece of 9" x 12" Bristol paper into a 4.75" x 6.75" panel (for the background panel) and a 2" x 12" strip (for border and sentiment die-cuts).
  7. Place the strip onto a craft mat. 
  8. Use a small spatula to place a pile of Yesteryear Yellow Magical Powder from the Steampunk Soiree Magical Pigment Powder Set onto the craft mat. 
  9. Fold a baby wipe and press the top part of it into the pigment powder. 
  10. Drag the baby wipe vertically on the strip of Bristol paper to start to apply the Magical Pigment Powder, working from the outside edges towards the center. Dip the wipe into the powder and apply it again. Continue until the powder pile is gone and your Bristol strip is colored. Clean your craft mat.
  11. Use a spatula to place a smaller pile of Canna Lily Burnt Orange Magical Pigment Powder onto the craft mat. 
  12. Using a new baby wipe, press the top of the wipe into the pigment powder, then drag the baby wipe down the strip of Mixed Media paper to fill in the gaps.
  13. Continue to dip the wipe and drag it down the strip until the powder is gone.
  14. Clean your craft mat.
  15. Repeat the above process using an even smaller amount of Tophat Teal from the the Steampunk Soiree Magical Pigment Powder Set to add some verdigris colors to the Bristol Strip. When the colors and blend please you, thoroughly heat set the panel and trim it in half (2" x 6".
  16. Use the both dies from the Cog Engine Die Set 125 to cut the colored Bristol paper strip. 
  17. Flip the die-cuts over and color the back with a black Copic marker or sponge them with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink.  This step will edge the die-cuts from the back.
  18. Place the 4.75" x 6.75" panel and a small scrap of Bristol paper onto a clean craft mat. 
  19. Use a spatula to add a pile of Pocket Watch Pewter Magical Powder onto the clean craft mat. 
  20. Press the top of a clean baby wipe onto the pigment powder, then drag the baby wipe onto the Bristol paper panel and scrap, working from the outer edges towards the center. 
  21. Dip the wipe into the powder and continue to apply color to the panels. When done, heat set the panels thoroughly.
  22. Pounce an anti-static tool/pouch onto the background panel then secure the panel onto the base of a stamping platform with magnets and/or low-tack tape.
  23. Position the corner gears stamp from the Papillons Clear Stamp Set 1462  facedown along the top left of the panel. 
  24. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the corner gears stamp and lift.
  25. Ink the stamp with Morning Mist VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp. 
  26. Remove the panel from the stamping platform, add Clear Gloss Embossing Powder to the wet ink, dump the excess powder back into the container, and heat set. 
  27. Clean and dry the corner gears stamp. 
  28. Place the background panel back onto the stamping platform and position the the corner gears stamp from the Papillons Clear Stamp Set 1462 facedown along the lower right hand edge. 
  29. Position the border gears stamp from the Frise Pendentifs Clear Stamp Set 1461 facedown vertically along the bottom left hand edge. 
  30. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamps and lift.
  31. Ink the stamps with Morning Mist VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp. 
  32. Remove the panel from the stamping platform, add Clear Gloss Embossing Powder to the wet ink, dump the excess powder back into the container, and heat set. 
  33. Edge the background panel with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink.
  34. Use a nameplate cutting die and a small gears die to cut the grey-colored scrap of Bristol paper.
  35. Place a piece of low-tack tape on the back of the Bristol paper scrap die-cut. and then secure the die-cut scrap onto the base of a stamping platform. 
  36. Position the "Gear Up" stamp from the Time Tinker Clear Stamp Set 1374 facedown onto the die-cut. 
  37. Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp. 
  38. Remove the die-cut from the stamping platform.
  39. Pour Clear Gloss Embossing Powder onto the wet ink, dump the excess powder back into the container, and heat set.
  40. Use the nameplate frame die and a small gears die to cut a leftover scrap from the rusty yellow tinted border strip. 
  41. Use Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink to edge both parts of the nameplate die-cuts, then adhere the sentiment die-cut onto the frame die-cut. 
  42. Adhere the gears die-cuts to cover the holes of the nameplate.
  43. Adhere the border die-cut to the right side of the background panel. 
  44. Adhere the matted image panel onto the background panel as shown. 
  45. Adhere the sentiment nameplate die-cut to the upper left of the background panel. 
  46. Adhere the completed card front to the reserved 5" x 7" black card.
Thank you for visiting today!

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

Soar!

Greetings! It's Topflight Stamps Tuesday! This week's focus is on Mixed Media with an emphasis on pigment powders. I created an encouragement card with the Tracy Scott 59 (TS059) Rubber Cling Stamp Set, the Tracy Scott 53 (TS053) Rubber Cling Stamp Set, the Scrapcosy 36 (ESC36)  Rubber Cling Stamp Set, and Sleight Blue, Sunset Beach, and Violet Storms Infusions — all by PaperArtsy.

Here it is!


Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Other Products Used:
140 lb. Mixed Media Paper by Strathmore
White Heavy Cardstock by Bazzill Basics
Distress Micro Glaze by Tim Holtz for Ranger Ink
Low-tack Tape
Craft Mat
Paint Brush
Paper Towel
Scissors
Anti-static Pouch
Stamping Platform

Instructions:
  1. Create a 5" x 7" card from heavy white cardstock. Set aside.
  2. Cut a piece of 9" x 12" Mixed Media paper in half. 
  3. Use magnets and/or low-tack tape to secure one half of the Mixed Media paper to the base of a stamping platform. 
  4. Position the hexagons and the bee from the Tracy Scott 59 (TS059) Rubber Cling Stamp Set  facedown on the Mixed Media paper. 
  5. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamps and lift.
  6. Gently dip a blending foam on a Premier Ink Blending Tool into a jar of Distress Micro Glaze to pick up some of the glaze. 
  7. Use the Premier Ink Blending Too to apply the glaze to the stamps. If you wish, you can spread the Distress Micro Glaze with a blending brush. 
  8. Close the platform's lid to transfer the glaze to the Mixed Media panel. 
  9. Repeat Steps 6 - 8 to ensure good impressions for all the stamps.
  10. Remove the image panel from the stamping platform and place it onto a craft mat.
  11. Lightly sprinkle Sleight Blue Infusions onto the bottom part of the image panel.
  12. Lightly sprinkle Sunset Beach Infusions over and around the bee. 
  13. Lightly sprinkle Violet Storms Infusions over the top part of the panel and wherever the powder seems light. 
  14. Mist the image panel with a water-filled Fine Spray Mister to activate the Infusions' pigments. You will note that the Distress Micro Glaze acted as a resist and the images' outlines remained white. 
  15. Tilt the background panel to encourage the Infusions pigments to blend. 
  16. Use a paintbrush to spread them further if so desired. 
  17. Gently dip a paper towel into any puddles to remove excess water. 
  18. When you're happy with the background, thoroughly heat set the image,.
  19. Trim the panel to slightly less than 5" x 7". 
  20. Use the edge of a pair of scissors to distress the edges of the image panel.
  21. Pat an anti-static tool over the image panel then place the image panel back onto the base of a stamping platform, secured with low-tack tape and/or magnets.
  22. Position the "Soar" sentiment stamp from the Tracy Scott 53 (TS053) Rubber Cling Stamp Set facedown on the image panel towards the top left. 
  23. Position the "Free to Fly..." sentiment stamp from the Scrapcosy 36 (ESC36)  Rubber Cling Stamp Set facedown and centered under the bee (but straight -- oops!). 
  24. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the sentiment stamps and lift.
  25. Ink both sentiments with Dahlia Purple VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp. 
  26. Re-ink and stamp and again if needed to attain a good impression.
  27. Remove the image panel from the stamping platform.
  28. Add Clear Gloss Embossing Powder to the wet ink, dump the excess powder back into the container, and heat set the embossing powder.
  29. Adhere the image panel to the reserved white 5" x 7" card.
Notes:
  • The credit for this resist technique goes Vero KT.
  • Here's a description of Infusions. "A water reactive dry dye stain suitable for fabric and paper. Our two-part formulation has 2 different crystals which react with the water at 2 different rates; the colour particles act fast, and the brown walnut crystals are slower to dissolve. This allows control over how much brown-to-colour you create depending on the amount of water you apply and when you dry."
  • I personally love that the colors are variegated.
  • I have stuck a tack through the metal lid of each of my jars of Infusions. This allows you to sprinkle the pigment powders with much more control. You can always remove the lid to spoon small amounts from the jar as well.
  • I should also mention that using the Infusions this way leads to unpredictable results, which runs contrary to my usual control-freak tendencies.
Thanks for visiting today!