Get Well Soon

It's Tuesday so it's time to share a project created for Topflight Stamps. This week's theme is Mixed Media. I used chalk acrylic paints, watercolor markers, glitter markers, colored pencils, and gel pens on my project.

Here's my Get Well card was made with Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paints by PaperArtsy, the JM36 Mini Cling Rubber Stamp, JM45 Mini Cling Rubber Stamp by JOFY for PaperArtsy, the Polaroid Pop Die Set DI-89 by AALL and Create, Sparkling Brights Colorist Glitter Markers by Spectrum Noir, and the More Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set by Heffy Doodle.

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Shutters, Pool, Lawn, and Spring Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paints by PaperArtsy

JM36 Mini Cling Rubber Stamp by JOFY for PaperArtsy

JM45 Mini Cling Rubber Stamp by JOFY for PaperArtsy

Polaroid Pop Die Set DI-89 by AALL and Create

Nocturne VersaFine Clair Inks by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Sparkling Brights Colorista Glitter Markers by Spectrum Noir

More Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set by Heffy Doodle

Other Products Used:

Bristol Paper by Strathmore

Gold Metallic Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Green Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

Cut 'n' Dry Foam by Ranger Ink

Red, Crimson Lake, Grey, and Light Grey Le Plume II Markers by Marvy Uchida

Scarlet Red, Deep Red, Burnt Carmine, White, and Black Polychromos Colored Pencils by Faber Castell

Champagne VersaMark Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Detail Gold and Black Embossing Powders by Stampendous

Anti-Static Pouch

Upper and Lower Case Alphabet Dies by All Occasions

Low-tack Tape

2" Sookwang Double-sided Tape

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1. Make an A2 card from green cardstock. Set aside.
2. Add drops of Shutters and Pool Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paints to a piece of Cut 'n' Dry Foam (or a firm foam makeup wedge). 
3. Pounce the paint onto a craft mat to blend, then pounce the paint over a piece of Bristol or other heavy weight paper, varying the direction of the foam. Re-apply the paint to the foam as needed. Heat set the panel if desired. 
4. Use the two largest dies from the Polaroid Pop Die Set DI-89  to cut the painted paper.
5. Use Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink to stamp the ladybug from the JM45 Mini Cling Rubber Stamp onto the center of the smaller die-cut and heat set. 
6. Use watercolor markers and/or colored pencil to color the ladybug. 
7. Use a white colored pencil or a white paint marker to add highlights to the ladybug. *
8. Pounce an anti-static pouch of the image die-cut panel. 
9. Use VersaMark ink to stamp the cage from the JM36 Mini Cling Rubber Stamp over the colored ladybug. 
10. Add detail gold embossing powder to the wet ink, dump off the excess embossing powder into its container, and heat set. 
11. Use Sparkling Brights Colorista Glitter Markers to add sparkly color to the embossed bird cage. Heat set the glitter ink.
12. Add 2" Sookwang Double-sided tape to the reverse of a piece of gold metalllic cardstock.
13. Use alphabet dies to cut the gold metallic cardstock then adhere the "Caught a bug?" sentiment to the image die-cut panel. Set aside.
14. Add drops of Lawn and Spring Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paintsto another piece of Cut 'n' Dry Foam. 
15. Pounce the paint onto the bottom of the larger painted die-cut panel, which will become the background layer. 
16. Use a paint brush to add blades of grass.
17. Adhere the image die-cut panel to the background die-cut panel as shown.
18. Cut gold metallic cardstock so that it's slightly larger than the image background die-cut panel and use to mat the background die-cut panel. 
19. Use the flag die from the Polaroid Pop Die Set DI-89 to cut gold metallic cardstock. 
20. Flip the gold metallic cardstock panel.
21. Use low-tack tape to cover the flag-shaped aperture on the reverse of the panel.
22. Adhere the gold metallic flag into the aperture.
23. Place the gold metallic panel onto the base of a stamping platform secured with low-tack tape and/or magnets.
24. Pounce the anti-static patch onto the die-cut.
25. Position the "Get Well Soon" sentiment from the More Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set facedown on the die-cut.
26. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
27. Ink the sentiment stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp the "Get Well Soon" sentiment onto the die-cut. 
28. Add black detail embossing powder to the wet ink, dump the excess embossing powder back into its container, and heat set. 
29. Adhere the sentiment flag die-cut to the background die-cut as shown. 
30. Adhere the background die-cut to the reserved green A2 card.

Notes:

• I wasn't happy with the white colored pencil highlights on the ladybug's shell, so I added white gel pen overtop. It immediately turned pink. I tried using White Posca Paint, and that didn't work well either, so I used Doc PH Marten's Anti-bleed White, which while it stayed white, applied really goopily. I should have left well enough alone. Alas.
• I am happy that the Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink stamped cleanly on the metallic cardstock. So one win, one loss. 

Thanks for visiting today!

Bon Voyage!

I'm back with my second post my April guest designer gig for A Colorful Life Designs! If you're not familiar with with this company and love stencils, I urge you to check them out. They also carry clear stamps and Bling!!! 

Here it is!

This time I've created a 5" x 7" Bon Voyage card with the wonderful Layered Arches Stencil Set, which is a five piece stencil set comprised of the blank arch, the stone/bricks, and three masks that cover the interior arches. 

I also the used the Cloud Edger Stencils, a two part set, to create the clouds at the upper part of my card. 

I won AALL and Create's Milk Train Heist Clear Stamp Set in an Instagram Contest. I was supposed to win just one set, but they sent all three of the special prize sets! This is the first time using one of my prizes, but it certainly won't be the last!

Products Used:
Layered Arches Stencil Set by A Colorful Life Designs

Cloud Edger Stencil by A Colorful Life Designs

Raven Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

140 lb. Mixed Media Paper by Strathmore

Rustic Wilderness, Mowed Lawn, Twisted Citron, Tumbled Glass, and Pumice Stone Distress Inks by Tim Holtz for Ranger Ink

Desert Sand Memento Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Pouncy Tool (looks like steel wool on a wood stamp mount)

Milk Shake Train Heist Clear Stamp Set by AALL and Create *

Deep Scarlet Red, Cobalt, Ultramarine, Sky Blue, Light Pthalo Green, Dark Pthalo Green Pitt Artist Pens by Faber Castell

Amethyst, Butterscotch, Pumpkin red, Pink, Tan, Yellow Marvy Le Plume II Pens by Marvy/Uchida

Lt. Grey, Dark Grey, Burnt Sienna Chalk Pencils by General's

White Gelly Roll Gel Pen by Sakura of America

Silver Startdust Glitter Gel Pen by Sakura of America

Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set by Hefty Doodle *
Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko *

Fancy Nameplate by Spellbinders

91% Isopropyl Alcohol in a Mister

Low-tack Tape

Post-It Notes by 3M

STAY-tion by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Stamping Platform

Please note:

The products with asterisks, except the Milk Train Heist stamp set, can be purchased at Topflight Stamps. The train car that is part of AALL and Create's Sugar Delights Clear Stamp Set 1045 would have worked for this layout.

Instructions:

1. Create a 5" x 7" card from Raven cardstock. Set aside.
2. Use magnets to secure the plain arch stencil from the Layered Arches Stencil Set over a piece of 6" x 8" of Mixed Media Cardstock on the STAY-tion so that the bottom of the stencil is flush with the bottom of the paper.
3. Tear a piece of scrap paper in half and place the top half horizontally below the arches.
4. Brush Rustic Wilderness Distress Ink across the top of the torn paper and the arch stencil.
5. Move the torn paper downwards and brush Rustic Wilderness Distress Ink across the top of the torn paper and the arch stencil. 
6. Repeat Step #5, then remove the torn paper mask.
7. Brush Mown Grass Distress Ink to fill in the bottom of the background.
8. Brush Twisted Citron Ink to lighten the grass. 
9. Keeping the arch stencil in place, place the bottom side of the torn scrap paper over the grassy area as a mask..
10. Brush Tumbled Grass Distress Ink over the top of the torn paper and the stencil to create a blue sky in the top of the arches.
11. Remove the torn paper mask and set aside.
12. Use magnets to secure the two half arches and the arch masks from the Layered Arches Stencil Set to the image panel.
13. Place a ruler, secured with magnets, horizontally across the top the image panel flush with the top the plain arch stencil. 
14. Brush Desert Sand Memento Ink over the bottom of the ruler and across all of the arch maskss to create the base of of the arches.
15. Keeping the arch masks in place, remove the plain arch stencil and set aside.
16. Use magnets and/or low tack tape to secure the brick/stone stencil over the arch stenciled in Step 14.
17. Brush Desert Sand Memento Ink over the brick/stone arch stencil.
18. Use a smaller brush to darken the Desert Sand Memento ink along the outside edges of the arches.
19. Remove the brick/ stone arch stencil, keeping both the ruler and the arch masks in place on the image panel.
20. Use a pouncy tool to add Pumice Stone Distress Inks flecks to the arched bridge.
21. Remove the ruler from the image panel and replace with low-tack tape so that the top of the arched bridge area is covered and protected.
22. Place the Cloud Edger Stencil at the top of the image panel.
23. Brush Tumbled Glass Distress Ink over the top of the Cloud Edger Stencil.
24. Move the Cloud Edger Stencil downwards and rotate it.
25. Brush Tumbled Glass Distress Ink over the top of the Cloud Edger Stencil.
26. Repeat Steps #24 and #25 until the area between the top of the arches and the top of the image panel looks like a cloudy sky.
27. Remove the stencil.
28. Use magnets to secure the image panel to the base of a stamping platform.
29. Position the engine and train car from the Milk Shake Train Heist Clear Stamp Set facedown on the image panel so that the wheels of the train are flush with the top the tape.
30. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamps and lift.
31. Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp.
32. Re-ink and stamp again if necessary to attain a good impression.
33. Remove the stamp from the stamping platform. 
34. If necessary, remove the image panel from the stamping platform*.
35. Heat set the image panel.
36. Place the image panel back onto the base of the stamping platform and secure with magnets.
37. Place the other train car from the Milk Shake Train Heist Clear Stamp Set facedown onto the image panel so that its wheels are flush with the top of the tape and the bumper is against the bumper of the train car to the right.
38. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamps and lift.
39. Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp.
40. Re-ink and stamp again if necessary to attain a good impression.
41. Remove the stamp from the stamping platform. 
42. If necessary, remove the image panel from the stamping platform, prior to heat setting.
43. Use Pitt Artist and Le Plume pens to color the train cars.
44. Use the white gel pen to add white highlights to the train.
45. Use silver glitter pen to add glitter to the train wheels and hubs.
46. Use a grey chalk pencil to add steam above the locomotive.
47. Remove the tape from the image panel.
48. Use chalk pencils to add details and shading to the bricks on the arches.
49. Using a stamping platform, use Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink to ink the "Bon Voyage" sentiment from the Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set onto white cardstock. 
50. Ink and stamp again if necessary to attain a good impression.
51. Heat set the cardstock.
52. Use a narrow rectangle die to cut the sentiment.
53. Use a fancy nameplate die to cut raven cardstock and use the die-cut to mat the white sentiment.
54. Trim the image panel to 4.75" x 6.75".*
55. Adhere the image panel to the reserved black card.
56. Adhere the sentiment to finish the card.

Notes: 

• The Layered Arches Stencil Set is so versatile because the masks were included. Gotta love that.
• The Layered Arches can be trimmed to various heights which makes it even more versatile.
• If you have any questions about my instructions, please contact me and I'll try to explain further.

Thank you for visiting today!

Heart Card

It's Tuesday which is my day to share a project created for Topflight Stamps. This week's theme over at the Topflight Stamps blog is "Anything Goes".  I've made a card that is heart themed, but not especially Valentine-y with PaperArtsy's Eclectica EDY01 Cling Rubber Stamp Set by Darcy, Ink and the Dog Mini 124 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp, and two colors of Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paints.

Here it is!

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Eclectica EDY01 Cling Rubber Stamp Set by Darcy for PaperArtsy

Ink and the Dog Mini 124 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp by PaperArtsy

Vintage Lace and Blah Mange Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paints by PaperArtsy

Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink by Imagine Crafts

Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Glitter Brush Pens - Clear Overlay

Other Products Used:
140 lb. Mixed Media Paper by Strathmore
Raven Cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper Company

Pink Petunia VersaMagic Ink by Imagine Crafts

Deep Red, Geranium Red, May Green and Light Green Zig Clean Color Markers by EK Success

Silver and Black UniPosca Paint Pens by Mitsubishi Pencil Company

Black Pitt Artist Pens by Faber Castell

Cut 'N' Dry Foam Pad by Ranger Ink

Repositionable Label Paper by Avery

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of black cardstock to 10" x 7", score at 5", and fold to form an A7 card. Set aside.
2. Apply drops of Vintage Lace and Blah Mange Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paints to a small piece ofCut 'N' Dry Stamping Foam
3. Pounce the foam onto a craft sheet to mix the paints, then pounce the foam onto a panel of mixed media cardstock. Repeat this process until the panel was covered. 
4. Trim the panel to 4.75" x 6.75" and heat set.
5. Place the Ink and the Dog Mini 124 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp onto an acrylic mount. 
6. Ink the stamp with Pink Petunia VersaMagic ink and stamp onto the painted panel.
7. Repeat Step 6 until the panel is mostly stamped. Heat set.
8. Use magnets to secure the stamped painted panel to the base of a stamping platform.
9. Position the heart border from the Eclectica EDY01 Cling Rubber Stamp Set by Darcy facedown at the top of the image panel.
10. Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp the border. Heat set.
11. With the border stamp still in place on the platform's lid, rotate the image panel 180° so that the stamped top of the image panel is now secured at the base of the platform.
12. Re-ink the stamp and stamp the border again. Heat set.
13. Remove the border stamp from the platform's lid.
14. Move the image panel 1" to the right keeping it flush with the base of the stamping platform. Secure it with magnets. 
15. Position the zipper heart stamp from the Eclectica EDY01 Cling Rubber Stamp Set by Darcy on the platform's lid so that it will be centered on the image panel.
16. Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp the heart onto the image panel. Heat set. 
17. Place repositionable label paper over the image panel, re-ink the stamp, and stamp.
18. Remove both the image panel and the label paper.
19. Fussy-cut the label paper version to be used as a mask.
20. Heat set the image panel.
21. Use Watercolor markers to color the images. 
22. Use White colored pencil was used to add highlights to the hearts. 
23. Use Silver Uni-Posca Paint pen to color the zipper.
24. Use Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Glitter Brush Pens - Clear Overlay to add a touch of sparkle to the gemstone hanging from the focal heart.
25. Apply Red Geranium Zig pen to your craft sheet, mist your finger with water, and use it to edge the image panel. Repeat until the entire piece is edged.
26. Place the fussy-cut mask over the heart. Tap Black and silver paint pens to splatter the image panel. 
27. Use Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink to edge the image panel. Heat set the entire panel, concentrating on the edge.
28. Adhere the image panel to the reserved A7 black card.

Notes:

• VersaMagic is a chalk pigment ink by Imagine Crafts. I wanted to see how it would look stamped onto a Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paint background. I was really happy with the result!
• While coloring the images with one of the red watercolor markers, I had a bit of a happy accident. I inadvertently got a red fingerprint on the image panel, decided it looked cool, then used a wet finger and the red marker to edge the image panel.

Thanks for visiting today!

Something Wicked?

We're in the dog days of August, which means that Autumn and Halloween will soon be here! Frantic Stamper's August release of stamps and dies is called Fall Greetings. Be sure to hop over there to check out the new release, their wonderful line of precision cutting dies and clear stamps, and other crafting goodies.

Here's a Halloween card, which features Frantic Stamper's new Boneyard Edgers (FRA-DIE-10265 and the Cute Kitten (FRA-DIE-09574) dies.

140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock (Strathmore) was die-cut three times with the Boneyard Edgers, then colored with Copic markers. The crosses were colored with the Large White Bullet Nib Pitt Artist pen (Faber Castell). The cemetery gate was colored with a gold marker (Pentel).

Solar Crest White cardstock (Neenah) was die-cut with the  Cute Kitten die, then colored with Copic markers.

140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock was sponged with Fossilized Amber and Spiced Marmalade Distress Oxide inks (Ranger), spritzed with water, heat set, then die-cut with one of the dies from the Circle Nestabilities die set (Spellbinders).

The sentiment was computer generated and printed onto white cardstock with my laser printer.

The three Boneyard Edgers were layered and adhered to white speckled black cardstock.  The Distress Oxided (new word) die-cut circle was set in the sky to serve as the moon in my scene. The computer-generated sentiment was cut into a strip and layered across the moon. The entire image panel was sponged with Black Soot Distress ink and adhered to a white card. My somewhat evil Cute Kitten die-cut was adhered to the edge of the scene to finish the card.

Thanks for visiting today!

Time for Spring!

Here in New Jersey we're enjoying warmer weather and the days are getting longer too, which makes me yearn for the arrival of spring. However, it's always good to appreciate every day, which inspired this card with the Mayday silhouette stamp (Rubber Romance) and the clock/sentiment from The Old and the New half sheet (Stampinback). Both stamps are available at I Brake for Stamps.

This card is a bit unusual for me as I've done absolutely NO coloring. However, I did make a scene and I love to make scenes (on cards - not drama queen scenes). I actually had to plan the scene to figure out where to place the elements and even with that, I had to wing it a little bit.

The first step was to stamp Mayday and the clock/sentiment from The Old and the New half sheet onto the plastic sheet of my Stamp-a-ma-jig (EK Success). The clock/sentiment was also stamped onto Eclipse Tape (Judikins) then fussy-cut.

The Stitched Scene Builder Edger dies (Frantic Stamper) were used to die-cut Eclipse Tape, which was adhered to a piece of White Pearl Shimmering cardstock (Crafter's Companion). Using the Stamp-a-ma-jig, the clock/sentiment was stamped in position using Jet Black Archival ink (Ranger) then heatset.

The fussy-cut the clock/sentiment was adhered over its counterpart and Chipped Sapphire, Blueprint Sketch, Salty Ocean, Picked Raspberry, and Wild Honey Distress inks (Ranger) were sponged onto the cardstock to create the sky.

The Eclipse Tape mask over the the clock/sentiment was lifted and Squeezed Lemonade Distress and Wild Honey Distress inks were sponged over the the clock/sentiment sun. The sky portion of the card front was heat set.

The die-cut Stitched Scene Builder Edger die-cut Eclipse Tape was lifted, then the other part of the die-cut was positioned over the sky and sun so I could create the ground. Forest Moss and Mowed Lawn Distress inks were sponged over the Stitched Scene Builder Edger die-cut masks, The grassy ground was then heat set.

Mayday was stamped onto the card front using the Stamp-a-ma-jig to position the children. The impressions were touched up with a bit of Black Pitt Artist pens (Faber Castell).

The Flower Arch stencil (Imagination Crafts) was positioned along the top of the card front and Jet Black StazOn ink (Imagine Crafts) was sponged over the stencil. The stencil was lifted and the card front was edged with the StazOn ink. The piece was matted with black cardstock, adhered to a yellow card, and I called it done!

I will definitely be using this design and stamp combination again, perhaps with acrylics!

I Brake for Stamps is where you'll find great selections of Rubber Romance and Stampinback stamps plus lots of other stamp companies. Click on my badge below to be whisked over there 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!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Fashionable Stamping Challenges: Sunrise/Sunset
• The Paper Players Challenges: Rain or Shine
• Through the Purple Haze Challenges: Make a Scene
• Time Out Challenges: Spring/Easter with a Twist (Masking)
• Simon Says Monday Challenges: Make Your Own Background