All Geared Up to Celebrate

Greetings! It's Topflight Stamps Tuesday! This is an "Anything Goes" week, so I decided to try a new technique and to use some of my new stamps! 

Here's my card created with the Precision Paws Clear Stamp Set 1373. the Time Tinkerer Clear Stamp Set 1374, and the Steamheart Gears Stencil PC-270 — all by AALL and Create. 

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Precision Paws Clear Stamp Set 1373 by Janet Klein for AALL and Create

Time Tinkerer Clear Stamp Set 1374 by Janet Klein for AALL and Create

Steamheart Gears Stencil PC-270 by AALL and Create

Steampunk Soiree Magical Pigment Powders by Lindy's Stamp Gang

Graphite Elements Premium Dye Ink by Lavinia Stamps

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Other Products Used:

Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Paper

140 lb. Mixed Media Paper by Strathmore

Metallic Copper Cardstock by Recollections

Black Textured Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

Copic Markers: 

Dog's Fur: W8, W6, W5, W4, W3, W2

Dog's Nose: N7, N5

Dog's Mouth: E04, R56, R43, R30

Dog's Ears: RV91, R30

Dog's Hat: BG96, BG93, BG90, BG57, BG53, BG49, BG45, YG17, YG07, YG03

Goggles and Gears: Y28, Y26, Y23, Y21, Y11, C2

Goggle Lenses: YG91, YG67, YG63, YG61

Cat's Fur: C5, C3, C2, C1, C0, C00

Cat's Eyes: Y23 Y21, Y11

Cat's Hat:N8, N6,N5, N4

Cat's Goggles: BG49, BG45, Y28, Y26, Y23, Y21, Y11

Goggle Lenses: YG91, YG67, YG63, YG61

Pocket Watch: Y28, Y26, Y23, Y21, Y11, BG15, BG13, BG11

Man's Skin: BV000, BV000, E50, E21, E11, E00, E000, R11 (cheeks)

Man's Mustache: C2, C1, C0, C00

Man's Eyes: YG05, YG03, YG00, BG13, BG11

Man's Coat and Hat: N6, N5, N4, N3, BG49, BG45

Man's Pants and Shirt: BG95, BG93, BG49, BG45,

Man's Vest: YG17, YG13

Man's Shoes: BG96, BG93, BG57, BG49, BG45

Man's Glasses: BG49, BG45

Man's Goggles: Y28, Y26, Y23, Y21, Y11

Gears on Goggles: T4, T2, T0

Goggle Lenses: YG91, YG67, YG63, YG61

Black Pigma Pen by Sakura

White Prismacolor Pencil

White Watercolor Pencil

White Gelly Roll Gel Pen by Sakura

Clear Detail Embossing Powder by Stampendous

Pocket Watch Pewter Magicals by Lindy's Stamp Gang

Baby Wipes

Mango Madness, Pumpkin Spice, Turquoise Gem, Night Sky VersaMagic Inks by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Stipple Brushes

Like Clockwork Frame Moonstone Die Set by Hunkydory Crafts

Craft Mat

Low-tack Tape

2" Double-sided Tape by Sookwang

Strip Dies: Source Unknown

STAY-tion by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Glassboard by Glassboard Studios

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1. Create a 6" square card from black textured cardstock. Set aside.
2. Cut a piece of 9" x 12" Mixed Media paper in half and place it onto a craft mat.
3. 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. 
4. Fold a baby wipe and press the top part of it into the pigment powder. 
5. Drag the baby wipe vertically on the Mixed Media paper, working from the outside edges towards the center.*
6. Dip the wipe into the powder and apply it again. Continue until the powder pile is gone. 
7. Clean your craft mat.
8. Place a small pile of Apothecary Azure Magical Powder from the Steampunk Soiree Magical Pigment Powder Set onto the craft mat. 
9. Use a clean baby wipe to repeat the process described above. The pigment powder colors will begin to blend. 
10. When the powder is gone, clean your mat.
11. Place a small pile of Pocket Watch Pewter Magical Powder onto the craft mat.
12. Use a clean baby wipe to add additional color to your background. 
13. When done with the powder, clean your craft mat, then heat set the background panel. *
14. Place the background panel onto a magnetic craft mat.
15. Place the Steamheart Gears Stencil PC-270 over the background panel and secure with low-tack tape and/or magnets.
16. Brush or sponge Graphite Elements Premium Dye Ink over the stencil onto the background panel to enhance the background panel.
17. When done, trim the background panel to 5 5/8" square and edge it with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink,
18. Use stipple brushes to apply specks of Mango Madness, Pumpkin Spice, Turquoise Gem, Night Sky VersaMagic Ink to the background. *
19. Heat set the panel and set it aside. 
20. Use Tuxedo Black Memento Ink to stamp the cat and the dog from the Precision Paws Clear Stamp Set 1373 onto white Copic-friendly cardstock. 
21. Use the same ink to stamp the Time Tinkerer from the Time Tinkerer Clear Stamp Set 1374 onto white cardstock. 
22. Fussy-cut all three images.
23. Use Copic markers to color all three images, then edge them with a black marker. 
24. Use a White Gelly Roll Gel Pen to add highlights to the Time Tinkerer's eyes.
25. Use a white colored pencil or a white watercolor pencil to add highlights to the cat's eyes (I wanted them to be fainter as his eyes are covered by glasses) and to the watchface. Set the characters aside.
26. Use low-tack tape and/or magnets to secure the piece of mixed media paper left over from Step 17 onto the base of a stamping platform.
27. Place all three sentiment stamps from the Precision Paws Clear Stamp Set 1373  facedown onto the piece of mixed media paper.
28. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
29. Ink the sentiments with  Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp. Re-ink and stamp again if needed to attain a good impression. 
30. Remove the stamped paper from the stamping platform. 
31. Add clear detail embossing powder to the wet ink, dump the excess powder back into its container, and heat set the powder. 
32. Use sentiment strip dies to cut the three sentiments, trim them, and edge them with the Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink.
33. Adhere the three sentiments to the reserved 5 5/8" square background panel.
34. Adhere the dog, cat, and the Time Tinkerer atop the sentiments as shown to create the card front.
35. Cut a piece of copper metallic cardstock to 5.75" square and use it to mat the card front. 
36. Back a small piece of the copper metallic cardstock with double-sided tape.
37. Use a sentiment die from the Like Clockwork Frame Moonstone Die Set to cut copper metallic cardstock. 
38. Adhere the sentiment as shown. 
39. Adhere the card front to the reserved 6" square black card.

Notes:

• I discovered the baby wipe/pigment powder technique on Instagram. Here's a link to the reel by @artful.layers .
• True confessions. My baby wipes were almost completely dry, so I misted them with water, then used the damp wipes to drag the powders. I was quite pleased with the results.
• I plan on experimenting further with this technique to see if it works better with moist baby wipes and with other pigment powders. 
• VersaMagic Inks are chalk-finish pigment inks. Stippling them adds opaque matte speckles, which work well with metallics.

Have a Purr-fect Birthday!

 It's Tuesday, my day to share a project created for Topflight Stamps. This week is an "Anything Goes" theme for me and my teammates and I decided to make a CAS birthday card with the super-cute, super-versatile Purr-fect Birthday Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Visible Image.

Here it is!

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Purr-fect Birthday Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Visible Image

Nocturne, Sand Dune, Portabello, Avocado, and Grass Green VersaFine Clair Inks by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Premier Blending Tool by Hunkydory Crafts

Premier Ink Blending Sponges by Hunkydory Crafts

Other Products Used:

Desert Storm Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Kraft Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

Rough Stippling Tool, formerly known as the pouncy tool

Yellow Green and May Green Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers by Kuretake

White Gelly Roll Gel Pen by Sakura of America

Post-It Notes by 3M

Low-Tack Tape

STAY-tion by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1. Create an A2 card from Kraft Cardstock by Bazzill Basics.
2. Cut a piece of Desert Storm cardstock to 4" x 5.25" and place it on the base of a stamping platform and secure with magnets. 
3. Place a piece of low-tack tape horizontally across the cardstock panel about 1.5" from the bottom. 
4. Position the right facing cat stamp from the Purr-fect Birthday Clear Polymer Stamp Set facedown on the top left border and the cat-in-the-box stamp from the same stamp set on the tape in the center of the image panel. 
5. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamps. Lift the lid.
6. Ink both stamps with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp the images. Re-ink and stamp again if necessary to attain a good impression.
7. Remove the panel from the stamping platform and place it onto the STAY-tion.
8. Re-position the low-tack tape so that it covers the stamped box. 
9. Use Premier Blending Tool to sponge Sand Dune VersaFine Clair Ink over the tape onto the bottom of the image panel. 
10. Place Post-It Notes on a diagonal from the bottom edges of the box to the bottom of the image panel. 
11. Use a second Premier Blending Tool to sponge Portabello VersaFine Clair Ink over the tape and Post-It Notes to create a shadow.
12. Remove the tape and Post-It Notes and heat set the image panel. 
13. Place the image panel back onto the stamping platform and secure with magnets.
14. Position the left-facing cat stamp from the Purr-fect Birthday stamp set facedown on the right border of the image panel as shown. 
15. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamps. Lift the lid.
16. Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink b and stamp. Re-ink and stamp again if necessary to attain a good impression.
17. Position the "Surprise!" stamp facedown on the box on the image panel. 
18. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamps. Lift the lid.
19. Ink the stamp with Avocado VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp. 
20. Lightly ink the stamp with Grass Green VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp to deepen the color a bit.
21. Position the "purr-fect birthday" stamp facedown on the image panel as shown.
22. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamps. Lift the lid.
23. Ink the sentiment stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp.
24. Remove the panel from the stamping platform and thoroughtly heat set it. 
25. Use watercolor markers to color the cat's eyes.
26. Use the white Gelly Roll pen to add highlights to the cats' eyes.
27. Use a black marker to edge the image pane.
28. Adhere the image panel to the reserved A2 Kraft card.

Thanks for visiting today!

Another Butterfly Card!

Greetings! I was really inspired by Tuesday's card so here's another butterfly themed card created for Topflight Stamps. 

Here it is!

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Tracy Scott 39 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp Set by PaperArtsy

Butterflies Background Red Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp by Darkroom Door

Della Blue, Dark Denim, Blue Lagoon, Violet Chalk, Confetti, and Sundance Elements Inks by Lavinia Stamps

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko
Nocturne VersaFine Clair Inks by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Fine Spray Mister by Spectrum Noir

Premier Embossing and Shaping Tools by Hunkydory Crafts

Other Products Used:

Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers
184 lb. Mixed Media Cardstock by Strathmore
Raven Cardstock by Bazzill Basics
Silver Metallic Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Copic Markers:

 Butterfly Wings: B04, B06, B18, V15, V17, B52

 Butterfly Body: T0, T2, T4, YR20, YR31, Y000, Y00

 Flowers: B41, B45, B60, B63, B66, V09, V12, V15, V17; B11, BV13, BV17, BV34, YR12, YR16, YR18, Y15, Y35

 Leaves: YG25, YG41, YG45, YG67

Jewelry Pins

Stabby Tool

Red Stardust Glitter Gel Pen by Sakura of America

Acetate from packaging

Black Foam Adhesive Squares by Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L

Tape
Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1. Use Raven cardstock to create an A6 card. Set aside.
2. Use Tuxedo Black Memento Ink to stamp the butterfly/flower from the Tracy Scott 39 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp Se onto a small panel of white Copic-friendly cardstock. 
3. Fussy-cut the image.
4. Use Copic markers to color the butterfly. 
5. When done, use a dark marker to edge the image. Set the image aside.
6. Smoosh Della Blue Elements Ink onto a piece of acetate packaging, mist with water using using the Fine Spray Mister, then smoosh the inked acetate randomly onto a piece of mixed media paper.
7. Mist the panel with water to blend and mottle the inks. Heat set.
8. Clean and dry the piece of acetate.
9. Smoosh Dark Denim Elements Inks onto it, mist with water, and smoosh the inked acetate onto the mixed media paper.
10. Mist the panel with water to blend and mottle the inks. Heat set.
11. Clean and dry the piece of acetate.
12. Continue this process with Blue Lagoon, Violet Chalk, Confetti, and Sundance Elements Inks by Lavinia Stamps until you're happy with the coverage. 
13. Heat set the panel thoroughly.
14. Use a stamping platform and Nocturne VersaFine Clair Inks by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko to stamp the Butterflies Background Red Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp by Darkroom Door onto the inked mixed media panel. Re-ink and stamp again if needed to get a good impression.
15. The background was a bit boring and needed more blue,.
16. Smoosh Della Blue onto a craft mat, mist the ink with water to dilute it, and use a paintbrush to splatter the diluted ink onto the background panel. 
17. Repeat this process with Dark Denim, Blue Lagoon Elements Inks.
18. Trim the background panel and edge with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Inks.
19. Cut a piece of silver metallic cardstock and adhere to the reserved black A6 card.
20. Retrieve the fussy-cut colored butterfly and place it onto a piece of craft foam or a foam mat.
21. Use the smallest stylus from the Premier Embossing and Shaping Tools to trace the butterfly's head and body,
22. Flip the butterfly onto its back and use the Premier Embossing and Shaping Tools  to shape the butterfly's head and body. 
23. Use a stabby tool to poke a hole in the butterfly's head and use a black fine line marker to edge the hole
24. Place a silver jewelry pin through the hole to become the antenna and secure the pin on the back of the butterfly with tape.
25. Position the second silver jewelry pin adhere and adhere it to the back of the butterfly to become the second antenna.
26. Use the red Stardust Glitter Pen to add sparkly eyes to the butterfly.
27. Adhere the buttefly's body and the flowers and leaves to the card front. 
28. Use dimensional foam squares to adhere the butterfly's wing to the card.

Thanks for visiting today

Steampunk Father's Day Card Tutorial

I’m continuing my experimentation with Imagine Crafts' Metallic Brilliance Inks and created this Father’s Day card using two of my favorite themes – cats and Steampunk! My somewhat lengthy and verbose tutorial is below!

Here's my card!

Imagine Crafts Supplies:

Starlite Sillver, Starlite Black, Lightning Black, and Cosmic Copper Brilliance Inks 

Turquoise Gem and Mango Madness VersaMagic Dew Drop Inks

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink *

Sponge Daubers

Fantastix

On Point Glue

Tear-It! Tape

Craft Mat

Other Supplies:

140 lb. Black Mixed Media Paper by Strathmore

Raven Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Designs

5” x 7” Gel Press

4” Brayer by Speedball *

Foundry 3D Alterations Foundry Embossing Folder by Tim Holtz for Sizzix

Gears Alterations Embossing Folder by Tim Holtz for Sizzix

Sprightly Sprockets Shapeabilities Die Set by Spellbinders Paper Arts

Sentiment Labels Die Set by Spellbinders Paper Arts

Nuts and Bolts Craftables Punch Die by Marianne Designs

Mini Gears Die Set by Memory Box

Premier Ink Blending Tools by Hunkydory Crafts *

Premier Ink Blending Sponges by Hunkydory Crafts *

Steampunk Pets Clear Stamp Set by Funky Fossil Designs

Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set by Hefty Doodle *

Copic Markers:

 Cat's Fur C00, C0, C1, C2, C3, C8

 Cat's Ears and Nose: RV91, R30, R000, R00

 Cat's Eyes: B23, YG01

 Helmet and Jacket: N5, N6, N7, N8

 Goggles and Ornaments: BG11, BG13, BG18

 Goggle Lenses: BG10, BG90

 Brass Bits: Y11, Y21, Y23, Y26, Y28

Spray Mister

Curved Craft Scissors by Fiskar’s

Heat Gun

Misti Stamping Platform by My Sweet Petunia

Please Note: The products marked with asterisks ( * ) are available at Topflight Stamps!

Tutorial:

Step 1:

Use a brayer to apply Starlite Silver Brilliance Ink to a 5” x 7” Gel Press. Place a piece of black mixed media paper onto the Gel Press. Smooth the back of the paper to transfer the ink and pull a print.

Step 2:

Repeat Step 1 to enhance the coverage.

Step 3:

Clean the brayer, then use it to apply Starlite Black Brilliance ink to the Gel Press. Place the print back onto the Gel Press inked side down. Smooth the back of the paper, then pull the print. Heat set the inked paper, then clean the brayer and the Gel Press.

Step 4:

Place the inked black mixed media paper into the Foundry 3D Alterations Embossing Folder. Spritz the back of the paper with water. Close the folder and run it through a die-cut machine.

Step 5:

Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Cosmic Copper Brilliance Ink to the high points of the embossed paper. Heat set.

Steps 6A and 6B:

Use Fantastix to apply Turquoise Gem VersaMagic Ink randomly to the high points of the embossed paper (6A). VersaMagic Ink has a matte chalk finish which comes out when it’s heat embossed. 

Use another Fantastix to Apply Mango Madness VersaMagic Ink randomly to the high points of the embossed paper (6B). Heat set the panel and set aside.

Step 7:

Use Tuxedo Black Memento Ink to stamp the cat from the Steampunk Pets Clear Stamp Set onto white cardstock. 

Step 8: 

Fussy-cut the image and use Copic markers to color it. Use a dark marker to edge the cut image. Set aside.

Step 9:

Use the largest die from the Sprightly Sprockets Shapeabilities Die Set to cut black mixed media cardstock two times. You will end up with two cogs and two circles.

Step 10:

Sponge Lightning Black Brilliance Ink over one of the cog die-cuts and one of the circles. Heat set both.

Step 11:

Use On-Point Glue to adhere the inked cog atop the other one.

Step 12:

Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Starlite Silver Brilliance ink to one of the circles from Step 9. Heat set.

Step 13:

Place the silver-inked circle into the Gears Alterations Folder and run it through a die-cut machine.

Step 14:

Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Cosmic Copper Brilliance Ink to the high points of the embossed circle. Heat set.

Steps 15A and 15B:

Use Fantastix to apply Turquoise Gem VersaMagic Ink randomly to the high points of the embossed paper (15A).

Use another Fantastix to Apply Mango Madness VersaMagic Ink randomly to the high points of the embossed paper (15B).

Step 16:

Use Tear It Tape to adhere a slightly larger circle to the back of the stacked cog die-cuts.

Step 17:

Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Starlite Silver Brilliance Ink to a strip black mixed media paper. Sorry that there’s no photo. Use cog dies to cut the silver-inked black paper.

Step 18:

Use a C2 Copic marker to color a piece of white cardstock. Use magnets to secure the colored cardstock onto a stamping platform. Place the “Happy Father’s Day” sentiment stamp facedown on the colored cardstock. Ink the stamp with Turquoise Gem VersaMagic Ink and stamp. Repeat inking and stamping if necessary to attain a good impression. Remove the stamped cardstock from the stamping platform and heat set the ink.

Step 19:

Use a rectangle die to cut the sentiment. Use the matching nameplate die to cut the Lightning Black circle. Adhere the sentiment die-cut atop the nameplate die. Sorry that there’s no photo.

Step 20:

Use Tear-It! Tape to adhere the embossed circle and the Steampunk Cat onto the cog die-cut. Use the tape to adhere the sentiment as shown.

Step 21:

Use On Point Glue to adhere the gears, cogs, and screws to the sentiment die-cut.

Step 22:

Cut black cardstock to 10” x 7”. Score at 5” and fold to form a 5” x 7” card. Use Tear-It! Tape to adhere the image panel to the front of the card.

Close Up of the Finished Card

Thanks for visiting today!