Naughty or Nice (or Psycho)?

 Greetings! Here's a slightly demented Christmas card created for Lost Coast Portal to Creativity's Christmas in July Challenge #211 with the Alfred Hitchcock Standing Rubber Stamp by Carmen's Veranda and Mini Gnome Santa with Toys from the Mini Gnomes 2 Rubber Stamp Sheet by Lost Coast Stamps.

Here it is!

Products Used:

Alfred Hitchcock Standing Rubber Stamp by Carmen's Veranda

Mini Gnome Santa with Toys from the Mini Gnomes 2 Rubber Stamp Sheet by Lost Coast Stamps

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Ruby Slipper and London Fog Textured Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

Memories of a Snowy Day 6x6 Patterned Paper Pad by Ciao Bella

Copic Markers:

Face and Hands: BV000, BV0000, E50, E21, E11, E00, E000

Cheeks: R20

Suit:  G99, G94, G95

Shirt: R56, R46, R35, R32

Shoes: N8, N6

Santa Hat: R56, R46, R35, R24

Cotton Ball White Fun Flock by Stampendous

Quickie Glue Pen by Sakura

Tea Dye and Vintage Photo Distress Ink by Tim Holtz for Ranger Ink

"Naughty or Nice" Die by Cottage Cutz (I think)

Arrows by Sizzix

Occasions Small Talk idea-ology Stickers by Tim Holtz for Advantus

Low-tack Tape

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1. Create a 5" x 7" card from London Fog Textured cardstock. Set aside.
2. Use Tuxedo Black Memento Ink to stamp both the Alfred Hitchcock Standing image and Mini Gnome Santa with Toys from the Mini Gnomes 2 image onto a piece of white Neenah cardstock.
3. Fussy-cut both images, but cut the Santa hat off of the gnome's head. 
4. Use Copic markers to color both images, then outline them with a black marker.
5. Add wet glue to the brim and pom-pom on the Santa hat, add Cotton Ball White Fun Flock, gently press the Fun Flock, and allow it to dry.
6. Once dry, brush off the excess flock.
7. Adhere the Santa hat to Alfred's head and set Santa Alfred aside for a few mintues while you create a background for him.
8. Trim a piece of winter-themed patterned paper to 5.25" x 6". 
9. Use Tea Dye and Vintage Photo Distress Inks to edge it. 
10. Cut a piece of white cardstock to 5.25" x 6.75" 
11. Add Film Strip Washi Tape to the base of the white cardstock. 
12. Adhere the winter-themed patterned paper just above the Washi Tape to create the background panel. 
13. Trim the patterned paper/Washi combo to 4 5/8" x 6 5/8" and edge it again with Tea Dye and Vintage Photo Distress Inks. 
14. Cut a piece of red textured cardstock to 4.75" x 6.75" and use to mat the background panel.
15. Use "Naughty or Nice" die to cut red textured cardstock. 
16. Use an arrow die to cut red textured  cardstock twice.
17. Adhere Santa Alfred to the background panel as shown. 
18. Adhere the "Naughty or Nice" sentiment die-cut to the upper left. 
19. Measure the arrow die-cuts. 
20. Adhere the "be good for goodness sake" sticker an arrow's width from the left side. 
21. Adhere both arrow die-cuts as shown, so that the arrows' points are overlapping the sentiment sticker.
22. Adhere the background panel to a a taupe-y brown 5" x 7" card.

~ ~ ~

You have a little less than two weeks to enter this month's Lost Coast Portal to Creativity's Christmas in July Challenge #211 for the chance to win Lo$t Coa$t Ca$h!

Thanks for visiting today!

Antique Tea Set!

When I used the tea set last week, I thought to myself, "Self, wouldn't a teapot look cool if it had a crackled texture?" So I set about creating an antique tea set this gorgeous teapot and matching tea cups from a fabulous rubber stamp sheet (MS78) from Merry Stamper, available at I Brake for Stamps! The tea set has four tea gorgeous teapots with four matching tea cups, two sentiments, and a tiny steaming teapot.

Here it is!

The teapot and matching tea cups were stamped with Blueprint Sketch Distress ink (Ranger), colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, then edged with a blue Sharpie marker. I used my index finger to coat the teapot and  tea cups with relatively thick layers of Distress Collage Crazing Medium (Ranger). They were left to dry for several hours. When completely dry, I had to place them under a stack of books for a few days to flatten them out.

Blue floral cardstock from the Daisy/Stripe Petite Prints 6x6 pad (Doodlebug Designs) was trimmed, then the edges were distressed. White cardstock was die-cut with the Fancy Floral Lace Border die (Cottage Cutz).

The border was adhered over the patterned paper, then the teapot and matching tea cups were adhered. The final step was to adhere card front was adhered to a blue card.

Here's a close-up view of the lovely crackling!

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!

Word Up Weekend with Stampotique!

I know that I've been MIA from the Blogosphere for the last little while. The holidays were relatively insane and were complicated by a bunch of family fun, some estate messiness, and some relatively nasty dental work. Take care of your teeth. Really.

If you've been here at all, you know that 2016 was not the best year for me, which definitely impacted my crafting time. I'm hoping that 2017 will be much better in all regards for all of us and will be filled with love, laughter, health, happiness, peace, and prosperity!

Stampotique's Facebook Group has started "Word-Up Weekends" where we share projects created with Stampotique's many Words, Phrases, Letters, and Numbers.

Here's my entry for the week featuring Love and Laughter (Carol's Collection),  Happy, Happy (Janet Klein), and Whisker Monster with Sign (Kira Nichols).

The Whisker Monster with Sign was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts). Using my stamp positioner, Happy, Happy was stamped onto Whisker Monster's sign. Many of the text stamps fit perfectly onto his sign, which makes him ever so useful and versatile.

The Whisker Monster with Sign was colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, and edged with a black marker. Several layers of Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) were added to Whisker Monster's horn, teeth, and claws. He was set aside while I created the rest of the card.

Old double-sided patterned paper was die-cut with the Polaroid Frame die (Kaiser Craft). The polka-dotted patterned paper was the reverse of the yellow patterned paper. Brown-wood patterned paper was adhered over the bottom part of the polka dotted paper and a Whisker Monster was placed atop it, and a shadow was traced with a Copic marker. He was set aside again and the layered polka dot paper was edged with Fossilized Amber Distress ink (Ranger). 

The Polaroid Frame die cut was also edged with the Fossilized Amber Distress ink, then adhered to a yellow pre-made A2 card from my stash. Love and Laughter was stamped with Jet Black Archival ink under the aperture of the Polaroid Frame die-cut. 

Yellow cardstock matching the pre-made card was die-cut with a Happy New Year die (Cottage Cutz), an ampersand (QuicKutz), and my new Birthday Balloons die (Die-namics). Black cardstock was also die-cut with the the same die. The sentiment die-cuts were adhered to the card front. Simply Sweet Rub-Ons (Doodlebug Designs) were used to add 2017 to one of the balloons.

Whisker Monster with Sign was adhered to the card front, the balloon strings were tucked under his paw, and the balloons were adhered to finish the card.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:

• Scrapy Land Challenges: Anything Goes

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenges: Something New 

• Marker Pop Challenges: Happy New Year

• Dies R Us Challenges: Anything Goes

It's the Witching Hour! Happy Halloween!

This Halloween card features Chilling, a gorgeous and spooky stamp by Stampendous. I first created the background with by sponging Distress inks (Ranger) onto a piece of 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock (Strathmore), then heat setting the ink. Chilling was stamped with Jet Black Archival ink (Ranger) over top of the sponged background, then touched up with Black Pitt Artist pens (Faber Castell).

Matte black cardstock was die-cut with a Wrought Iron Fence die (Spellbinders) and Onyxyite Treasure Gold (Paper Artsy) was gently smooshed onto the fence die-cut with my finger. Black shimmery cardstock was die-cut with the Graveyard Border die (Cottage Cutz) and some tiny cats were die-cut using one of my myriad cat dies (All Occasions, Impression Obsession, Poppy Stamps).

The image panel was matted with black cardstock and the Graveyard Border die-cut was adhered. The Wrought Iron Fence die-cut was adhered over both the image panel and the Graveyard Border die-cut, then the three black shimmery kitties were adhered. The image panel was edged with Onyxite Treasure Gold, then mounted onto a black card front. A sticker from the Occasions Small Talk pad (Idea-ology) was edged with Onyxite Treasure Gold to finish the card.

Happy Halloween!

Well? Naughty or Nice?

Read My Lips Lucille, from the fabulous and funny Humorous Senior Collection of stamps (I Brake for Stamps) wants to know if you've been naughty or nice. She's one of Santa's secret agents and she has to report back to her boss real soon! Can't you see how impatient she is? She's practically tapping her left foot!

Lucille was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko), colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, and edged with Black Pitt Artist pen (Faber Castell).  Her glasses were colored with a Red Spica Glitter pen (Copic). The clasp of her handbag, her glasses chain, and her sweater clips were touched with gold gel pen. Her handbag, shoes, and glasses (frames and lenses) were coated with several layers of Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) to add dimension and shine.

The Naughty or Nice theme was reinforced with ledger paper from an old 6x6 pad by My Mind's Eye. The other patterned papers are from the Vintage Christmas 6x6 pad (My Mind's Eye). The patterned papers were all edged with Cornflower Blue Archival ink (Ranger).

Red cardstock was die-cut with the Naughty or Nice die (CottageCutz), Alison's Ribbon Borders die (Cherry Lynn Designs), and a Santa die set (QuicKutz). Gold metallic cardstock was die-cut with a buckle die by BossKut.

You really ought to go check out  Humorous Senior Collection of stamps and all the other great stamps at I Brake For Stamps. Click on my badge below to be whisked over there to check out their fabulous images! Best of all, if you buy something, use this code: SAVE10KATHI  and you'll get 10% off your purchase.

 

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenges: Die Crazy
• Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenges: XMas
• Left of Center Creative Challenges: Bumper Christmas
• ScrapyLand Challenges: Holidays

Snow White is a Zombie!

Arwen McCullen is the hostess at Stampotique Designers Challenge Blog and her theme is Scary Confusion. Here's what she had to say about her challenge.

"I  love creepy things and I like weird. Combine in your work a little scary and a little confused."

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 Skull Moon Small (Arwen McCullen), Snowy (Kira Nichols), and Owl Tree (Kira Nichols).

In honor of Halloween, the most wonderful time of the year, I decided that Snowy needed to be zombi-fied and freshly dug up from the graveyard, presided over by some spooky owls and the Skull Moon.

Black and white cardstock was die-cut with dies from my new Basic Step-Up Framelits die set (Sizzix). Snowy was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts) onto the front panel and onto Eclipse Tape (Judikins). The Eclipse Tape version was fussy-cut and positioned over her counterpart on the image panel. Owl Tree was overstamped using Jet Black Archival ink (Ranger). 

Snowy's mask was lifted and Snowy and the owls' eyes were colored with Copic markers. I went over the owls' eyes and Snowy's apple with a VersaMarker (Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts), then heat set with Filagree Clear Fine Detail embossing powder (Stewart Superior). 

The Graveyard Border die (Cottage Cutz) was used to die-cut white cardstock and Eclipse Tape. Snowy's mask was replaced, the Eclipse Tape Graveyard Border die-cut, was positioned, and Removable Scotch Tape (3M) was used to mask off the bottom portion of the image panel. Blueprint and Chipped Sapphire Distress ink (Ranger) were sponged over Snowy, the Owl Tree, and the Graveyard Border. The embossed eyes served to resist the Distress inks.

The masks were lifted and the Removable Scotch Tape was repositioned at the base of the Graveyard Border. Forest Moss and Mowed Lawn Distress inks were sponged over the bottom part of the panel. The tape was lifted and a T01 Copic marker was used to color the tombstones. A Forest Moss Distress marker was used to touch up the area and to add blades of grass to the tombstones. The die-cut cardstock was colored with a variety of Toner Grey Copic markers plus a gold gel pen and set aside. 

A Red Glaze pen (Sakura) was used to add some bloody touches to Snowy and her apple. Espresso Distress ink was used to add some touches of "dirt" to Snowy's hair, face, dress, and shoes. 

The primary image panel was edged with Black Soot Distress ink, the die-cut, colored Graveyard Border was adhered behind it, and the combined pieces were adhered to the cardfront. 

White cardstock was sponged with Blueprint and Chipped Sapphire Distress ink, die-cut with the smaller panel dies from the Step-Up Framelets die set, and added to the card front.

Skull Moon Small was stamped with Jet Black Archival ink (Ranger), colored with Distress markers (Ranger), and fussy-cut. A touch of A Red Glaze pen was used to add some gore to the Skull Moon 's fang and then Skull Moon was adhered to the card. Some bats were die-cut from the Halloween die set (Impression Obsession) and the Halloween set (Little B) to finish the card.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Die Cuttin' Divas Challenges: Halloween 
• Forever Dark Challenges  
• Papertake Weekly Challenges: Take Your Pick -- I picked Halloween Hues.
• Haunted Design House Challenges: Holy Hell, It's Halloween! 
• Scrapy Land Challenges: Use Heat Embossing and Dies -- The owls' eyes are embossed.

Thank you!

One of the things about celebrating birthdays is getting birthday gifts, so it's always a good idea to have Thank You cards at the ready.

This is Marcie, one of the Rubber Romance Divas that are available at I Brake for Stamps. I think the Divas are very stylish, like I'd be in an alternate life if I were thin, younger, and ladylike. Alas, I'm none of those things.

Marcie appealed to me because she is holding a sign which makes her perfect for a myriad of occasions and sentiments. You gotta love a versatile stamp. Marcie was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Ranger) and colored with Copic markers. I did add a touch of blush with a chalk pencil.

The image panel was die-cut with a die from the Long Rectangles Nestabilities die set (Spellbinders). Black cardstock was die-cut with the matching Scalloped Long Rectangles Nestabilities die, the Fancy Floral Lace Border die (Cottage Cutz), and a Fancy Corner die (QuicKutz). Yellow patterned paper from the French Country 6x6 pad (Graphic 45) was die-cut with one of the dies from the Decorative Borders die set (All Occasion). 

The image panel die-cut was matted with the scalloped rectangle die-cut, the was adhered to a card front cut from a sheet from the Typography 8x8 pad (Graphic 45). The Fancy Floral Lace Border die-cut was adhered at the base of the card front and the yellow chain Decorative Border die-cut was adhered over it. The two Fancy Corner die-cuts were added to the top corners of the image panel.

An ancient rub-on Thank You sentiment was added to the scalloped boxes.

You really ought to go check out Marcie, the other Rubber Romance Divas, and all the great stamps at I Brake For Stamps. Click on my badge below to be whisked over there to check out their fabulous images! Best of all, if you buy something, use this code: SAVE10KATHI  and you'll get 10% off your purchase.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
• Use Your Stuff Challenge: Markers
• 613 Avenue Create Challenges: Anything Goes with September's Birthstone, Sapphire
• Card and Scrap Challenges: Use Dies
• Let's Craft and Create Challenges: Use Dies
• Scrapbooking and Cardmaking: Thanks

It's a Two-Fer: Stampotique's and Friday Coloring/The Outlawz Challenges!

Nellie is our hostess this week at Stampotique Designers Challenge Blog and she is asking us to "Use only two stamps" Here is what Nellie says about this challenge:

"I tend to use a lot of stamps when I create something. Thought I might challenge myself and all of you by limiting the number of stamps. So no more than two stamps please!"

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!

~~~

This week's the challenge at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is Hats because September 15th is Make a Hat Day . My Outlawz Coloring Challenge teammates, Carla, Penny, Karen, Vannessa, and I challenge you to use create a project for this challenge. You should check out their blogs to see their gorgeous artwork. 

Our September sponsor at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is Norma J. Burnell and Fairy Tangles, who is offering our lucky winner three digital stamps of his/her choice from the Fairy Tangles Store.  Play along with us for your chance to win!

Here's my card with Stampotique's Priscilla (Amy Wilson Wellenstein) and Skully (Arwen McCullen).

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I know that I've created a scene (on a card) before that used Priscilla as a juggler. If you can't steal an idea from yourself, who can you steal from?

Priscilla was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts) twice. Once onto Neenah cardstock and once onto Eclipse Tape (Judikins). The Judikins version was fussy-cut. Using my Stamp-a-ma-jig stamp positioner (EK Success), Skully was stamped five times in a rough semi-circle pattern over Priscilla's hands and head. 

Both Priscilla and Skully were colored with Copic markers. Lavender Spica Glitter pen (Copic) was used to add some glittery bits to her headdress and vest. I like my skull images to be slightly cracked like me, so the Skullys  received some cracks courtesy of a Black Multiliner pen (Copic). My Prismacolor pen (Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts) was used to color in the skulls and Filigree Clear Detail Embossing Powder (Stewart Superior) was used to add dimension and shine to all the Skullys.

Here's a close-up so you can see the shiny dimension.

 
The Eclipse Tape mask was placed over Priscilla and repositionable Scotch Tape (3M) was placed horizontally over Priscilla's foot. Walnut Stain Distress ink (Ranger) was sponged over the bottom part of the card panel. The tape was lifted and repositioned to cover the "floor". Milled Lavender Distress ink (Ranger) was sponged over Priscilla and the Skullys. My Harlequin Layering Stencil (Stampers Anonymous) was positioned over the the scene and Milled Lavender Distress ink was sponged over the stencil. Then the same ink was sponged again over the Dot Fade Layering Stencil (Stampers Anonymous). The embossed Skullys resisted the ink, but were lightly wiped with a baby wipe to remove excess ink from them. The Eclipse Tape mask was pulled up and set aside for another use. The tape was pulled up and some horizontal lines were added to the floor with a Sepia Pitt Marker pen (Faber Castell). The image panel's edges were sponged with my beloved Black Soot Distress ink, then double matted with black and lavender cardstock.

Lavender cardstock was die-cut with my Fancy Floral Lace Border die (Cottage Cutz). Grey cardstock was die-cut with Bats and Crossbones Border Garland die (Alterations/Sizzix). The skulls got a bit of detailing with Copics, then were backed with scraps of Copic colored cardstock to make 'em all matchy with the Skullys. The Fancy Floral Lace Border die-cuts were added to the base of a lavender 5x7 card. The Crossbones die-cut was adhered over that, then the image panel was added to the card. As is my wont, I didn't add a sentiment because I haven't decided who should receive and/or appreciate this card and for what occasion if any.

Thanks for visiting today! 

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Bloggers Challenges: Stencils  
• Left of Center Challenges: Diecuts and Punches
• Scrapy Land Challenges: Anything Goes/Use a Die  

Twist: Anything Goes!

This week's the challenge at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is Anything Goes and/or Christmas. My Outlawz Coloring Challenge teammates, Carla, Penny, Karen, Vannessa, and I challenge you to use create a project for this challenge. You should check out their blogs to see their gorgeous artwork. 

Our August sponsor at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is Sweet Pea Stamps, who is offering our lucky winner three digis of his/her choice from the Sweet Pea Digi Stamp Store.  Play along with us for your chance to win!

Here's a gift tag with Gabriella Szabo's Goth Fairy (Sweet Pea Stamps).

Goth Fairy was reduced in PhotoElements, printed out with my laser printer onto Neenah cardstock, colored with Copic markers, then die-cut with one of the dies from the 5x7 Card Creator Nestabilities die set (Spellbinders). 

Plaid patterned paper from the old, but well loved (hoarded) Black Tie collection (Basic Grey) was die-cut with the next largest die from the 5x7 Card Creator Nestabilities die set. This was edged with Aged Mahogany Distress ink (Ranger) then matted with shimmery black cardstock. This was adhered to another sheet from the Black Tie collection, also edged with Aged Mahogany Distress ink, leaving the top part of the matted image panel free from adhesive. 

Dark red cardstock was die-cut with a Fancy Floral Lace Border die (Cottage Cutz) and adhered at the base of the image panel. Barbed Wire Fence border die (Die-namics) was used to die-cut flashing tape, which was adhered over the lace die-cut border.

My Tiny Attacher (Idea-ology) was used to secure the image panel/pocket to the tag front. Grey roses (Recollections?) were also attached to the tag front with the Tiny Attacher. 

Red cardstock was cut to size, then the top corners were punched with the Ticket and Tag Duo Corner punch (Tonic Studios). A hole was punched in the center. The tag front was adhered the red card. Silver Foil Corners (Stampendous) were added to the top corners of the tag front. "For You" from the Handwritten die set (Little B) was used to die-cut flashing tape. The sentiment was adhered to the tag. Sheer black ribbon was threaded through the hole in the tag. A hand charm was added to the tag with silver thread.

Thanks for visiting today.

I shall enter this tag into the following challenges:
• Scrapy Land Challenges: Tags and Pockets
• Crafting By Designs Challenges: Things with Wings 
• Fab and Funky Challenges: Things with Wings
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenges: Anything Goes