A Rockin' 60th Birthday Card!

My favorite brother-in-law turned 60 last week. He loves Classic Rock, especially The Rolling Stones, Beatles, and The Grateful Dead, so I decided to make him a music-themed birthday card.

Alas, I could not find any stamps featuring iconic musicians, so I resorted to a Google search, where I found a fabulous caricature, which I promptly purchased along with a Keith Richards caricature. I created the card, mailed it, and it arrived on time. My brother-in-law loved it and gave his permission to share it with you all.

Here's the card.

Products Used:
Mick Caricature from GraphicsFactory.com
Solar White Classic Crest® Cardstock by Neenah Paper
Black and Red cardstock by Bazzill Basics
Patterned Paper: Source Unknown
Copic Markers:
    Skin: BV0000, BV000, E50, E21, E11, E00, R20
    Lips: 04, R30, R32, RV42
    Mouth: RV93, R95, RV99
    Tongue: RV42, RV93, R30, R32
    Teeth: T0, YR0000, YR30
    Hair: E44, E47, E49
    Clothes: B26, B39, R27, R39
    Microphone: C4, C6, C8
Silver Stardust® Glitter Gel Pen by Sakura
White Gelly Roll® Gel Pen by Sakura.
Pale Ochre and Jet Black Archival™ Ink by Ranger Industries
London Fog Memento™ Ink by Tsukineko®
Barn Door and Blueprint Sketch Distress® Ink by Tim Holtz®/Ranger Industries
Play Guitar Stencil by Visible Image *
Super Hero Rays Stencil by Paper Rose *

Simple Strips Birthday Stamp by Taylored Expressions

Simple Strips Die by Taylored Expressions

A Hint of Lime Die by Die-Versions

Sun Die by The Stamp Doctor

STAY-tion™ by Wendy Vecchi/Ranger Industries

Sun Die by The Stamp Doctor

Removable ID Labels by Avery®

* Please Note: You can purchase products by Visible Image and Paper Rose at Topflight Stamps, where you'd can get 12% off your order at Topflight Stamps by using THIS LINK.

Instructions: 

1. Cut, score, and fold red cardstock to create an A2 card.
2. Find a piece of music notation patterned paper.
3. Secure the music notation paper to the STAY-tion using magnets and sponge the entire piece with Pale Ochre ink.
4. Lift the magnets, position the Play Guitar stencil over the patterned paper, and secure with magnets.
5. Sponge Barn Door and Blueprint Sketch Distress ink over the stencil as shown.
6. Lift stencil, trim the patterned paper, and edge with the same colors of Distress inks.
7. Adhere the stenciled, trimmed, and edged patterned paper to the red card. Set aside for now.
8. Download clipart image, resize using photo editing software (I use PhotoElements), and print onto Copic friendly cardstock and onto label paper using a laser printer.
9. Fussy-cut the label paper image and place over its counterpart on the white cardstock.
10. Secure the white cardstock image panel to the STAY-tion with magnets. 
11. Place the magnetic ruler horizontally across the image where you want the stage floor to be.
12. Sponge Ochre Archival Ink over the masked image.
13. Position the Super Hero Rays stencil over the image as desired. Secure the stencil with magnets. 
14. Sponge Pale Ochre over the Super Hero Rays stencil.
15. Reposition the magnetic ruler to cover the top part of the image panel.
16. Sponge London Fog Memento ink over the masked image on the image panel.
17. Lift the mask and reserve for another occasion.
18. Color the image with Copic markers. Use the glitter pen to add sparkle to the microphone. Add white gel pen to the shoes.
19. Sponge Pale Ochre ink over a piece white cardstock, then cut with the sun die. Reserve the rest of  sponged yellow cardstock.
20. Mat the image panel with black cardstock.
21. Use the alphabet (which has numbers) die to cut black cardstock.
22. Adhere the number 60 onto the sun. 
23. Adhere the sun to the image panel as shown.
24. Using Jet Black Archival ink, stamp Simple Strips Birthday onto the reserved piece of sponged Yellow Ochre cardstock, the use the Simple Strips die, to cut the strips.
25. Adhere the strips as shown to finish the card.

**Another Note: I did finish the inside of the card with additional Simple Strips and personalized commentary. 

Purrfect Time!

Here's today's card using one of the wonderful cats from the Les Chats Russe rubber stamp sheet (Katzelkraft) and the tiny clock from the Les Droles d'Accessoires rubber stamps sheet (Katzelkraft).

The cat was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts) and die cut with one the dies from the Stitched Rectangles Thinlits die set (Sizzix). The cat and the background were colored with Copic markers. The cat's eye and the clock face were coated with several layers of Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) to make them dimensional and shiny.

Yellow cardstock was embossed with the Clocks Embossing Plate (Cherry Lynn Designs), then die-cut with the Reverse Pawprint Border (Frantic Stamper). It was cut to 5.25" x 4" and adhered to a grey A2 card. The image panel was adhered to the card front.

Grey cardstock was die-cut with the A Hint of Lime die (Die-Versions). The sentiment was adhered to the top to finish the card.

Today is a special day for me. It's the day that my cats were born in 1999. They're both gone now and I miss them dearly. Of course, they live on in my heart and we'll remember them forever.

We're in the process of tearing up the soiled carpeting, refinishing the floors, and painting. It's not going as smoothly as I would like. It feels like a step forward and two steps back, yet I hope it's over soon so we can adopt a new pair of kittens. I'm so ready. It's the purrfect time!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Scrapy Land Challenges: Anything Goes
• Show Us Your Pussies Challenges: Furrything Goes
• Crafty Animals Challenges: Anything Goes
• Dies R Us Challenges: Layers

VOTE: Revisited

Read My Lips Lucille, from the fabulous and funny Humorous Senior Collection of stamps (I Brake for Stamps), wants you to vote today. Lucille doesn't even care who you vote for, just as long as you vote. After all, if you don't vote, you can't complain.

It's your right and your privilege to vote, so go VOTE now!!!

Lucille was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts). First I colored Lucille's sweater and dress in E43, E42, and E41 Copic markers. I grabbed a knit-textured orphan sock, put some Colorless Blender on it, then pressed it onto the colored sections which created instant knit texture on both the cardigan and dress! I finished coloring Lucille, fussy-cut her, edged her with black marker, and used gold gel pen to add a touch of gold to the buckle of her bag and the clasps of her sweater. Startdust glitter pen (Sakura) was used to add glitter to her glasses, since Lucille does like her glitter!

Blue cardstock and patterned paper from an old 6x6 pad by Authentique was die-cut with two of the dies from the 5x7 Card Creator Nestabilities (Spellbinders) die set. Antique Linen Distress ink (Ranger) was used to cover the white edges of the patterned paper. The image panel was adhered to the matted blue cardstock.

A piece of star-patterned paper from the same pad was die-cut with the Mermaid font die (Die-Versions). The second part of the sentiment was created with blue Dymo tape and my Dymo Caption Maker). 

The tape sentiment was adhered to a 3.75" x 5.75" piece of patterned paper from the same 6x6 patterned paper pad. The matted image panel was adhered atop the Dymo tape sentiment and the die-cut letters were added to the top. The letters didn't stand out enough, so I used a fine tip Multi-Liner (Copic) to outline the die-cut letters. The edges of the panel were sponged with Fired Brick Distress ink then matted onto a piece of  4" x 6" navy cardstock.

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! BTW, if you thought you've seen this before, you have. :D

Key Keeper "Frame It" ATC!

I did have a few rays of sunshine during my absence from the blogosphere. I am delighted to report that I will continue as a design team member with Stampotique Originals for another term! Click here to read more about the Stampotique Designers, including me!

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

Our current ATC challenge is called "Frame it!" Here's my ATC featuring Keykeeper (Kira Nichols).

Keykeeper was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts) and colored with Copic markers. The image panel was set aside while I worked on a frame and the background for the ATC.

Black Media Gesso (DecoArt) was applied to a black chipboard frame using a palette knife and allowed to dry. Dioxazine Purple and Translucent White Media Fluid Acrylic (MFA) paints (DecoArt) were mixed and stippled over the frame. Metallic Gold MFA paint was stippled over top. The frame was set aside to dry. When it was dry, it was adhered over Keykeeper.

140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock (Strathmore) was painted with Dioxazine Purple, Translucent White, Quinacridone Violet, and Quinacridone Magenta MFA paints and heat set to create additional texture.

Jet Black StazOn ink (Imagine Crafts) was sponged over a Keyholes stencil (Ranger) and heat set. This panel was then edged with Jet Black StazOn ink. A black mdf heart was painted with Metallic Gold MFA paint. Gold metallic cardstock (Recollections) was die-cut with the Hint of Lime font die (Die-Versions). The heart and sentiment were adhered to the panel.

Thanks for visiting today!

Hello!

Arwen McCullen is our hostess this week's challenge at Stampotique Designer's Challenges. Her challenge is "Scribbles". Here's what she had to say about her challenge.

"I want to see scribbles in your project this week, that could be scribbles by hand or by a stamp or stencil, just show me scribbles."

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 Pepper (Janet Klein) and Verdette (Janet Klein).

I should note that this was a very challenging challenge for me. I love to doodle while on the phone and also used to doodle while sitting in classes in elementary, high school, and college. In fact, there were probably more doodles than notes in those notebooks. However, I am not comfortable sharing my doodles, drawings, or handwriting publicly. Apparently, my inner Virgo is not comfortable with imperfection!

Oops. I digressed. Pepper and Verdette were stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts) and fussy-cut. I used a fine point pen to add lines, dots, and flowers to their dresses, then used Copic markers to color Pepper and Verdette. A black pen was used to edge Pepper and Verdette so that nasty white edges would not show. Sadly, my pen slipped at the last moment, so I had to add a flower to Pepper's hair. The flower was created with some old punches.

I found a piece of lovely floral patterned paper in my stash. I'm fairly certain it's from an ancient Club Scrap kit. I cut it to size, used my Copic markers to add a bit more color to the blue and pink flowers to echo the colors worn by Pepper and Verdette. 

The paper was reversed and I used some old border ruler rulers to add some poorly shaded green doodling. White paper was die-cut with the Mermaid font die (Die-Versions). I added some more doodling to the letters and then adhered them to the reversed doodled panel.

The card was assembled, Pepper and Verdette were added, and the card front was adhered to a green card.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:

• Cuttlebug Mania Challenges: May Flowers

• Cards in Envy Challenges: Just Us Girls

• Through the Purple Haze Challenges: Anything Goes

Crack Me Up!

I'm the hostess this week at Stampotique Designer's Challenges. My challenge is called "Crack Me Up"! Here's what I said about it.

"Create a humorous project that also has crackled texture!"

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!

The left-most cat of the four cats included in Stampotique's Kitty Squad stamp (Kira Nichols) is a Maneki-neko, the beckoning cat, which is a cat figurine with one paw upraised. It's supposed to bring luck to its owner.

Here's my card which is crackled, but not particularly funny! I think this stupid flu bug has made my funny bone disappear! 

Kitty Squad was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink three times and the Maneki-neko cat was fussy-cut from the image. The other kitties were put into an envelope for later use! Each Maneki-neko cat was colored with Copic markers, edged with a black pen, then painted with a layer of Crazing Distress Collage Medium (Ranger). I wasn't totally thrilled with just one layer, so I painted on another layer and was much happier.

A happy accident occurred when the Crazing Distress Collage Medium buckled the paper kitties a bit, so I flipped 'em over and used a shaping tool to add a bit of dimension to them.

The Maneki-neko cats were set aside while I created a setting for them. Initially my plan was to have them sitting atop a table, but then I remembered that I had purchased a super-cute Fireplace die set (Impression Obession) and used that to die-cut 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock (Strathmore). The brick portion of the fireplace was colored with Copic markers. A Picket Fence Distress marker was used to add a bit of detail. A Gold Leaf marker (Krylon) was used to color the fireplace grate, then black ink was added and wiped off in places. The log and flames were colored with Copic markers and the fireplace bits were complete!

A muted patterned paper was chosen for the background. Wood-patterned Washi tape was added to the the bottom edge, and the fireplace die-cuts were assembled.

A chipboard frame was painted with a layer of Carbon Black Media Fluid Acrylic (MFA) paint (DecoArt), then Metallic Gold MFA was pounced atop it with a pouncy tool (its scientific name). White Mixed Media cardstock was cut to back the frame and colored with Copic markers to dull the white. Black cardstock was die-cut with A Hint of Lime die (Die-versions). The sentiment, "Good Luck" was adhered to the white cardstock and the sentiment-bearing cardstock was adhered to the painted chipboard frame. A thick layer of Diamond Glaze (Judikins) was applied to the aperture. Sadly, rather than set the piece aside overnight, I rushed things and had to pull off the sentiment cardstock and do it all over again. You can see where I messed it up along the edges. This time, I did leave the sentiment frame overnight to cure, only to discover that the black cardstock ran! Whattabummer! Oh well, perfection is overrated. So I went with the imperfect sentiment frame and the unfunny sentiment.

Once I decide who will get the card, I will likely add "You'll need it!" to the inside to go with the "Good Luck" on the outside. Because I'm so funny that way.

Thanks for visiting and reading all this!

P.S. I will be back with at least one other project that (I hope) will be a tad bit funnier and even more cracked!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Alphabet Challenges: C is for Cats
• Chocolate, Coffee, and Cards Challenges: Spring is in the Air
• Creative Card Crew Challenges: Die Cuts
• Show Us Your Pussies Challenges: Furrything Goes

Mardi Gras!

I am hosting this week's challenge over at Stampotique Designer's Challenges. My challenge theme is Mardi Gras! 

Here's what I've got to say about my challenge:

"The colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green, or gold. Use them or the symbols of Mardi Gras -- Fleurs de Lys, masks, costumes, or music! Let the good time roll!"

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 Ta-Dah with Words on the Side (Kate Crane), Phineas (Amy Wilson Wellenstein), and Priscilla (Amy Wilson Wellenstein).

Ta-Dah with Words on the Side, Phineas, and Priscilla were stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts), colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, the edged with a Black Pitt Artist pen (Faber Castell). They were set aside to cavort while I created a background for them.

Two strips of musical notation patterned paper scraps from the Avignon 6x6 pad (7 Gypsies) were sponged with Golden Glitz Delicata ink (Imagine Crafts), then layered atop a sheet of fleur de lys patterned paper from the same pad. 3mm washi tape (Little B) was used to cover the seams and add additional interest.

Gold, green, and purple glitter paper (American Crafts) was die-cut with one of the dies in the Decorative Borders set (All Occasions) to become Mardi Gras beads. Green glitter paper was die-cut with the clock hands from Retro Mod Clocks die set (Spellbinders) and Celebrate (Die-versions). A purple glitter flower (QuicKutz) was die-cut as well.

Ta-Dah with Words on the Side, Phineas, and Priscilla were adhered to the background and the glitter bead necklaces were draped on their hands. The clock hands were positioned in the upper left corner and the flower die-cut was placed over them. The sentiment was added to the lower right. The entire card front was edged with Golden Glitz Delicata ink then adhered to a card.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Cards 4 Guys Challenges: Make It Shine or Sparkle
• Colouring in Scrapland Challenges: Carnaval
• Scrapy Land Challenges: Anything Goes

2016 Parrot Calendar

It's 2016 so I needed a new tear off calendar. Thanks to the Internet, I've fallen in love with parrots. Truth be told, I've always loved them, but last year, I started following an Australian woman who hand-raises and trains parrots from the eggs to their adoption. She shares videos and photos on FB and I find it totally captivating. So when I saw this image, Parrots (I Brake for Stamps), I had to get it! This is my first time using the stamp, which seemed appropriate for my new calendar!

Parrots was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko), colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, and edged with a Black Pitt Artist pen (Faber Castell).

Scraps of tropical foliage and patterned green paper, hoarded from the Tropical Travelogue 8x8 pad (Graphic 45), were edged with Black Soot Distress ink. The calendar was stapled onto one of the scraps of tropical foliage paper. 2016 was die-cut from the green-patterned paper using the Mermaid font die (Die-Versions). Black cardstock was die-cut using one of the dies from the Sentiment Frame #1 set (Cherry Lynn Designs).

You really ought to go check out I Brake for Stamps stamps, plus 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 my calendar into the following challenges:
• Stamping Sensations Challenges: Anything Goes with a Die
• Card and Scrap Challenges: Stamp
• Brown Sugar Challenges: Happy New Year
• Not Just Cards Challenges: Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenges: Something New 

Belated Birthday Card

Here's a late birthday card that I made for my nephew, who was off at school for his birthday. Being me, I took his absence at the recent family celebration as an extension, which seemed to continue to lengthen. Ah well. He's not a wee tot anymore and he knows his aunt is a flake, so the lateness of the card is not as dire. I did wish him Happy Birthday on FB and told him I was running late. Maybe that will exonerate me. Or maybe not.

This card features Stampotique's Rabbit (Janet Klein).  Rabbit was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko), colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, and edged with a Black Pitt Artist pen (Faber Castell). Rabbit's eyes, nose, buttons, and the watch were coated with several layers of Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) to add dimension and shine. A gold gel pen was added to the watch chain to make it stand out a bit more.

Gold metallic cardstock (Recollections) was die-cut with the Clock die (KaiserCraft). A circle was cut from patterned paper from an old 6x6 pad by My Mind's eye.

Patterned paper from the same 6x6 pad was cut, all the edges were sponged with Black Soot Distress ink (Ranger), and then layered. The clock die-cut was adhered to the card front and Rabbit was glued in place.

Black metallic cardstock (Recollections) was die-cut with the Missy Micro font die (Die-Versions), Wishes from the "Best Wishes" die set (Elizabeth Craft Designs), and  Birthday from the"Happy Birthday die set (Die-Versions). They were adhered to create the sentiment.

The card front was adhered to a white card and I called it done! I even mailed it!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Allsorts Challenges: Anything But Christmas
• Simply Papercraft Challenges: Anything Goes
• Crafting With An Attitude Challenges: Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenges: Die Crazy

PSA: VOTE!

Read My Lips Lucille, from the fabulous and funny Humorous Senior Collection of stamps (I Brake for Stamps)  wants you to vote today. Lucille doesn't even care who you vote for, just as long as you vote. After all, if you don't vote, you can't complain. These days, complaining seems to be a very popular activity by Lucille and other people! Additionally, it's your right and your privilege to vote, so go do it!

Lucille was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts). First I colored Lucille's sweater and dress in E43, E42, and E41 Copic markers. I grabbed a knit orphan sock, put some Colorless Blender on it, then pressed it onto the colored sections. Instant knit texture on both the cardigan and dress! I finished coloring Lucille, fussy-cut her, edged her with black marker, and used gold gel pen to add a touch of gold to the buckle of her bag and the clasps of her sweater. Startdust glitter pen (Sakura) was used to add glitter to her glasses, since Lucille does like her glitter!

Blue cardstock and patterned paper from an old 6x6 pad by Authentique was die-cut with two of the dies from the 5x7 Card Creator Nestabilities (Spellbinders) die set. Antique Linen Distress ink (Ranger) was used to cover the white edges of the patterned paper. The image panel was adhered to the matted blue cardstock.

A piece of star-patterned paper from the same pad was die-cut with the Mermaid font die (Die-Versions). The second part of the sentiment was created with blue Dymo tape and my Dymo Caption Maker). 

The tape sentiment was adhered to a 3.75" x 5.75" piece of patterned paper from the same 6x6 patterned paper pad. The matted image panel was adhered atop the Dymo tape sentiment and the die-cut letters were added to the top. The letters didn't stand out enough, so I used a fine tip Multi-Liner (Copic) to outline the die-cut letters. The edges of the panel were sponged with Fired Brick Distress ink then matted onto a piece of  4" x 6" navy cardstock.


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 into the following challenges:

• Cards Galore Encore Challenges: Use a Stamp or Digi 

• Sweet Stampin' Challenges: Dies and/or Punches 

• Crafting When We Can Challenges: Distress It

Milestone Birthdays, Anniversaries, and/or Celebrations

I am the hostess this week at Stampotique Designers Challenge Blog and my challenge is Milestone birthdays, anniversaries, or other celebrations.

This is what I've got to say about my challenge:

"Whether it's a 21st, 25, 50, 60th birthday or 10th, 25, 50th anniversary, it's time to celebrate. Let's see a project that celebrates those sometimes scary milestones of life!"

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 project for the challenge with three of the birds from Birdy Up, two of the birds from Birdy Bonnets, one bird from Stack of Birds, one of the hats from Happy Head Appliances, Owl with Wings, Skull Balloons, and Happy, Happy. 

Two of the birds from Birdy Up, two of the birds from Birdy Bonnets, one bird from Stack of Birds, one of the hats from Happy Head Appliances, and Owl with Wings were stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts), colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, and edged with a Black Pitt Artist pen (Faber Castell). Diamond Glaze (Judikins) was added to all of the birds' eyes and the birds were banished to a drawer in a closet overnight so I would not be tempted to touch them to see if the Glossy Accents had set. 

The closed-eye happy looking bird from Birdy Up became the birthday bird-of-honor courtesy of the hat from the Happy Head Appliances and placed away from the maelstrom of my craft table. Skull Balloons was stamped with London Fog Memento ink because I wanted a more subtle look. The balloons were colored with Copic markers and fussy-cut. Happy, Happy was stamped over two of the balloons using Tuxedo Black Memento ink and my Stamp-a-ma-jig stamp positioner (EK Success). Happy, Happy joined Skull Balloons out of harms' way. 

The Blossom Grand font set (QuicKutz) was used to die-cut black glitter paper for the 60. WHOOO was die-cut from the same glitter paper with the Blossom font set (QuicKutz). A Hint of Lime die (Die-Versions) was used to die-cut is. Pale green vellum was die-cut with the Big Word Pop Curve die (Memory Box). A scrap of white cardstock was die-cut with the Cocktail Party die (Taylored Expressions), which was then colored with Copic markers.  

The patterned paper is from the Baby Boy collection (Basic Grey) and was edged with both Peeled Paint and Black Soot Distress inks (Ranger). Danger-striped Washi tape was added to the base of the card front and the Big Word Pop Curve die-cut was added to the upper left corner, then outlined with Black Spica Glitter pen (Copic).

The glittery 60 number dies were positioned on the patterned paper and Owl with Wings was perched on the 6. All the birds from Birdy Up (pinky-orange and blue/green),  Birdy Bonnets (red-winged blackbird crown and fedora), and Stack of Birds (red-winged blackbird on the right) were adhered atop the striped Washi tape. The birthday-bird was placed over the 0 atop a second layer of Washi tape. The Skull Balloons were placed over the red-winged blackbird on the right.

Black Glaze pen (Sakura) was used to draw legs onto the black birds and strings attaching the
Skull Balloons to the blackbird on the right. Whooo is was adhered to the vellum Big Word Pop Curve die-cut. The colored Cocktail Party die was adhered over the Washi tape to the base of the image panel, which was then adhered to a 5x7 white card.

By the way, if you're wondering what prompted this theme, I recently celebrated two milestones. In August, my husband and I celebrated our 35 Wedding Anniversary and I just turned 60, which mildly freaked me out. However, I figure that whereas I might be a bit of an old bird, I'm still on this astral plain, moderately healthy (too fat, too caffeinated, too winy), enjoying family and friends, and my hobbies. All in all it beats the heck out of the alternative, don'tchaknow?

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Left of Center Challenges: Dies or Punches
• My Time To Craft Challenges: Owls
• Aurora Wings Challenges: Anything Goes with Wings
• Papertake Weekly Challenges: Animals
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenges: Die Crazy 

"Ciao!"

There's something about mopeds and scooters that make me laugh. Then I saw Eddie Izzard in his Dress to Kill HBO special. His Italy/Vespa skit, had me literally rolling on the floor laughing. And crying. And not being able to breathe. You know. All that good stuff. So, whenever I see any form of scooter, my brain says "Ciao" and I start laughing like a lunatic. And if I see a Vespa stamp, I must have it.

You know where this is going, don't you? I Brake For Stamps has a hilariously funny stamp collection called Humorous Seniors. While perusing that collection, I found Moped Millie, ordered it, and here's my first card with her!

Moped Millie was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts) and colored with Copic markers to match a large piece of two-sided patterned paper that I found in my scrap stash, which makes me glad that I hoard large scraps that I deem might some day be useful.

Road-patterned Washi tape (two different kinds) were adhered under Moped Millie's scooter. The image panel was die-cut with one of the dies from The Card Creator die set (Spellbinders), then edged with Black Soot Distress ink (Ranger).

Several layers of Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) were added to Moped Millie's helmet, glasses, and the scooter's headlight to give them dimension and shine. Turquoise Spica Glitter pen was used to add glitter to Moped Millie's ankle bracelet. I also gave her a turquoise glitter earring, because I thought she'd like it. I'm generous like that.

The red/yellow reverse side of the patterned paper was die-cut with the next largest dies from the same Card Creator die set and sponged with Black Soot Distress ink. The paper was also die-cut with my Mermaid font die (Die-Versions), then the sentiment was adhered to the Washi tape.

I started to put the card together, opting for a relatively clean layout. However, I thought that the card was missing something, so I started to think, which can be a scary thing. Then I remembered that I had a stoplight charm that might work. After a relatively short search, I found it! Sadly, it was just plain pewter, so I added some red, yellow, and green acrylic paint in the appropriate places (after checking Google to make sure that the red and green were in the right spots. I "hung" the light with some beading wire from an ancient pewter photo corner, then added a second corner to the bottom of the card for balance. You wouldn't want me to be unbalanced, would you?

The card front was mounted on a kraft card and I called it done!

If you like Moped Millie and want to see the other Humorous Seniors 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!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Sweet Stampin' Challenges: Make a Scene
• Natalie and Amy's Challenges: Use a Charm
• Cuttlebug Mania Challenges: Wheels 

Repeat Yourself!

Samantha Read is the hostess this week at Stampotique Designers Challenge Blog and her challenge is to "Repeat Yourself". Here's what she had to say about her challenge.

"I recently read that the human eye likes things that are repeated, so for this week's challenge I'm inviting you to use some sort of repetition on your creations. A stamp stamped more than once or even your own doodling, it's up to you but most importantly have fun!"

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 that uses Stampotique's fun new Jasper Fruhling (Daniel Torrente) and "Just Keep On" (Kate Crane).

 

Have you seen all of Stampotique's new release stamps yet? If not, why not? What's your favorite? There's no way that I could choose a favorite, so I'm glad no one forced me to choose one!

However, I really like Jasper Fruhling because I think he looks like he's singing and dancing. So I decided to create a scene where he was doing just that. While I was doing so, kept hearing a medley of dance music in my head, including the Jackson Five's Dance Machine. I'm weird like that. 

Jasper Fruhling was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts) onto Neenah cardstock, then again onto Eclipse Tape (Judikins). The Eclipse Tape version was fussy-cut, then placed on the cardstock to mask Jasper. Using my Stamp-a-ma-jig stamp positioner, Jasper Fruhling was stamped two more times. Technically, since I was primarily hearing Dance Machine in my head, I should have stamped five Jaspers. The Eclipse tape mask was lifted and set aside for another day. All three Jaspers were colored with Copic markers, which retrospectively, I should have colored with a different color scheme. Nothing like 20/20 hindsight.

Anyway, after I was done coloring all three Jaspers, I carefully traced the Rays Layering stencil (Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous) with a Y00 Copic marker, lifted the stencil, and colored in the rays. I also sponged Ripe Persimmon and Spiced Marmalade Distress ink (Ranger) over the Dot Fade Layering stencil randomly.

Musical notation Washi tape was used to ground the Jaspers, so they didn't look like they were dancing in mid-air. Since my stash is a bit low on birthday cards, I die-cut Celebrate (Die-Versions) and Party (Little B) from orange cardstock to match Jasper's hair. 

The image panel's edges were distressed using my Paper Distressor (Tonic Studios) and the edge of a scissor. The image panel was matted with blue cardstock, then stapled to a card front cut from green polka-dotted patterned paper from a 6x6 Double Dot pad (Bo-Bunny) using my Tiny Attacher Tool (Idea-ology).

"Just Keep On" was stamped onto vellum with Jet Black StazOn ink (Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts), then die-cut with one of the dies from the Fishtail Flags set (Die-namics).

Since the theme of this challenge is "Repeat Yourself", I also used Tiny Attacher staples to attach the sentiment flag between the two pieces of Washi tape.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:

• The Cheerful Stamp Pad Challenges: Birthdays

• Stamping Sensations Challenges: Anything Goes with a Stamp and a Die 

• Lisa Somerville's Bloggers Challenges: Birthday 

Twinchies!

Janet Klein is the hostess this week at Stampotique Designers Challenge Blog and her challenge is Twinchies! Here's what she had to say about her challenge:

"Twinchies are small works of art that measure 2 x 2". Create a set of twinchies

using your favorite Stampotique stamps."

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!!!

Here's my wall hanger using Stampotique's Timeless (Amy Wilson Wellenstein). 

Since I'd never made Twinchies before, I decided I might as well do a two-fer, get out my newly purchased  Brusho Crystals (Colour Craft Ltd), and give them a go. As usual, before purchasing a new product, I do my research, watch videos, ask friends, and agonize endlessly before I finally go for it. I think that's because I'm not-so secretly a Virgo control freak.

Timeless was stamped onto watercolor paper (Canson) with Onyx VersaFine ink (Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts). Clear Detail embossing powder (Ranger) was sprinkled on and the excess was dumped back into the container. Here's a question: Why do you always dump more back into the container than was there before you used it? Anyway, I digressed, which is shocking. Or not.

I used my waterbrush to wet the area where I wanted color, then sprinkled on one or two colors of Brusho Crystals, and let them spread. If the colors didn't spread, I  either added a drop of water or used a paintbrush to move the color around. I repeated this step until the entire clock collage was completely colored.

The colored stamped panel was cut into four 2" sections and the edges were sponged with Black Soot Distress ink (Ranger). The four twinchies were adhered to black cardstock. The open areas of each twinchie was stenciled with Distress inks (Ranger) and the Dot Fade Layering stencil (Stamper's Anonymous/Tim Holtz).

A second piece of watercolor paper was misted with water and several different colors of Brusho Crystals were shaken onto the wet surface and allowed to migrate. I misted the paper again to make the colors move some more until I was happy with the coverage. The paper was heat set, then Timeless was overstamped with Onyx VersaFine ink, and heat embossed with Clear Detail embossing powder.

The center clock in the Timeless collage was die-cut with one of the dies from the Circles Nestabilities die set (Spellbinders), the edge was sponged with Black Soot Distress ink, then was matted onto a slightly larger metallic black circle die-cut. This circle was adhered in position over its counterpart on the project using dimensional foam adhesive. The inset clock was coated with several layers of Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) to add dimension and shine.

Metallic gold cardstock was die-cut with the Wings die set (La-La Land Crafts) and the Mermaid font dies (Die-Versions).

The wings were added to the center clock piece, the title was added along the side, and the piece was double matted.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this project into the following challenges:
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenges: Anything Goes 
• Take A Word Challenges: Wings
• We Love to Create Challenges: Mixed Media/Inky

Alice in Wonderland Blog Hop!

Today we are celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Alice in Wonderland. What better way to do that than to share lots of creative projects inspired by this wonderful story?

Not only will you see lots of amazing artwork today, but you can also win prizes from the following amazing companies:

The Stamping Boutique

Rick St Dennis MFA

Faery Ink

That Craft Place

Ike's Art

Delicious Doodles

Sweet Pea Stamps

Sassy Studio Designs

Vera Lane Studio Digital Stamps

Prize winners will be selected from Random blogs throughout the hop using Random.org to select each winner.  In order to be eligible for a prize you must visit all stops on the hop and leave a comment. The prize draws will be open until July 18th, with winners announced on July 20th.

You should have arrived here from Julie W S's blog where I'm sure you saw something absolutely terrific!

Here's my Alice in Wonderland inspired project.

I've used several Vera Lane Studio Digital Stamps, namely Alice and the White Rabbit from the Alice and the Rabbit Wonderland set, the Queen of Hearts from the Quirky Queen of Hearts set, the Mad Hatter from the Mad Hatter set.

The characters were resized, grouped in PhotoElements, reduced as a group, printed out onto Neenah cardstock with my laser printer, then colored with Copic markers. Their eyes, Alice's skull, White Rabbit's horn, nose, teeth, armbone, the Queen of Hearts' crown, and the Mad Hatter's teeth and shoes were all coated with several layers of Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) to make 'em dimensional and shiny. The blood drips were coated with a  layer of Red Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) to add some additional ick factor. Don't you think that "The Ick Factor" would be a great name for a reality show?  The Queen's heart became a jeweled brooch due to Red Stardust Glitter pen (Sakura), Garnet Spica Glitter pen (Copic), and several layers of Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura).

Here's a close-up so you can see what my beloved Clear Gelly Glaze pen does!

I should mention that I added the red capillaries to the eyes of both Alice and the White Rabbit and added pupils to the Queen and the Hatter. I added some clubs, spades, hearts, and diamonds to the Hatter's tie.
 
The patterned paper is from the Destinations Paper Stash (Tim Holtz/Idea-ology). The edges were sponged with Watering Can Archival ink (Ranger). 

Red adhesive cardstock (QuicKutz) was die-cut with the Season's Greetings die (Impression Obsession). "From" was die-cut from yellow adhesive cardstock with the A Hint of Lime font (Die-Versions). "Zombie" was die-cut from green adhesive cardstock with the Alphabet Typewriter UC die (Impression Obsession). "Wonderland" was die-cut from blue adhesive cardstock with the Eliza Mini font set (QuicKutz). Looking at the card now, I probably should have stayed with just red and blue cardstock. Oh well. It's done and done is good.

I was going to add some other stuff to the card, but I decided that more stuff would be too much stuff. "Less is more" and all that. KWIM?

Now that you've seen my project, your next stop on the hop is Karen's blog and I'm sure you'll find something totally wonderful there! If you get lost, the blog hop list is below!

Thanks for visiting today!

Blog Hop List

Suzi

Alison

Trudie

Sharon

Milo

Donna

Leigh

Claudia

Leadonna

Nan

Jenn

Nikki

Black Dragon

Teresa

Ike

Creepy Glowbugg

Shelley

Alana

Harp

Lori

Monica

Kemly

Margaret

Julie

Katie

Julie W S

Kathi
Karen
Corrie
Emily
Geraldine
Carol
Avril
Lisa
Kim
Mo
Lorraine