Wish...Dream...

Greetings! I'm back with a second project for Topflight Stamps this week! Our theme this week is Stars ! Here's a link to Topflight Stamps' Sun/Moon/Stars category! 

My card was created with Lavinia Stamps' Moon Fairy Clear Polymer Stamp, Blue Lagoon and Dark Denim Elements Inks, Uplifting Sentiment Stickers 6, and Nocturne VersaFine Clair Inks by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko.

Here it is!

Topflight Stamps Products Used:
Moon Fairy Clear Polymer Stamp by Lavinia Stamps

Blue Lagoon and Dark Denim Elements Inks by Lavinia Stamps

Uplifting Sentiment Stickers 6 by Lavinia Stamps

Nocturne VersaFine Clair Inks by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Other Products Used:
Bristol Paper by Strathmore

Raven Black Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

Tide Bleach Pen by Procter and Gamble

Paint Brushes

Pearl Color Set and Starry Color Set Gansai Tambi Watercolors by Kuretake

Black Pigma Pen by Sakura

English Lavender Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pen by Kuretake

White Gelly Roll Gel Pen by Sakura

White Chalk Pencil by General's

STAY-tion by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Glassboard by Glassboard Studio

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

Use a stamping platform and Nocturne VersaFine Clair Inksto stamp the Moon Fairy Clear Polymer Stamp onto Bristol Paper. Re-ink the stamp and stamp again if necessary to attain a good impression. Remove the image panel and heat set thoroughly.

1. Use a stamping platform and Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink to stamp the Moon Fairy Clear Polymer Stamp onto a panel of Bristol Paper. 
2. Re-ink the stamp and stamp again if necessary to attain a good impression. Remove the image panel and heat set thoroughly.
3. Sponge or brush Blue Lagoon Elements Ink over the stamped image. 
4. Brush or sponge Dark Denim Elements Ink over the rest of the image panel.
5. Brush or sponge Blue Lagoon Elements Ink over the panel to create a smooth blend of blue inks. 
6. Smoosh a Tide Bleach pen* onto your craft mat to create a small puddle.
7. Pick up a some of the bleach with a small paint brush and brush the bleach onto a small area of the moon, wings, and hair of the Moon Fairy stamped image.
8. Dab a paper towel or tissue over the bleached area to pick up the blue ink and/or excess bleach.
9. Repeat Steps 6 - 8 until those areas are mostly white. 
10. Heat set the image panel and thoroughly clean your brush with water.
11. Use shimmery white watercolor paint to paint the moon. Tap the paint brush to splatter the panel witht white/silver drops and splashes.
12. Use shimmery colored watercolor paints to paint Moon Fairy's wings. 
13. Use a lavender watercolor pen to color her hair. 
14. Heat set the image panel.
15. Use a white gel pen to add white dots to the background to make brighter stars. 
16. Use fine tip black pens to deepen the stamped lines that have faded a bit from the bleach.*
17. Use a black marker to deepen the black on her body. Heat set the image.
18. Add highlights to her hands, arms, legs, and back with a white chalk pencil. 
19. Use a cotton bud to soften the chalked highlights.
20. Trim the image panel to 3.25" x 4.75" and edge with the Dark Denim Elements Ink. 
21. Adhere the image panel to a 3.5" x 5" black card.
22. Add the sentiment sticker from the Uplifting Sentiment Stickers 6 by Lavinia Stamps to finish the card.

Notes:

• Be sure to open a window when using bleach and/or other solvents so you can avoid breathing the fumes.
• I had a bleach pen handy and it worked relatively well. I'm going to put some laundry bleach into a small bottle and try to use that with this technique to see if it yields a different result.
• It's a good idea to dedicate a paint brush to use with bleach to avoid contamination, etc.
• I left the stamp on the platform and was going to re-stamp the image with Nocturne VersaFine Clair, but didn't want to fubar my project. Maybe I'll grow a pair and try that next time.
• I had forgotten how much fun 3.5" x 5" cards are! 

Mysterious and Magical

Greetings! Saturday is my day to share a Funky Fossil Designs project. I decided to celebrate my cats' seventh birthday by creating a card with the Feline Magical Clear Stamp Set by Olga Heldwein for Funky Fossil Designs.

Here it is!

Funky Fossil Products Used:

Feline Magical Clear Stamp Set by Olga Heldwein for Funky Fossil Designs *

3 Layer Comic Book Burst Stencil Set

Public Service Announcement:

There's a Spring Cleaning Sale going on right now at Funky Fossil Designs with lots of items priced at £5. Click HERE to be whisked over to the sale page. Shipping costs are reasonable from the UK and PayPal takes the work out of dealing with exchange rates. 

The Feline Magical Clear Stamp Set by Olga Heldwein is on sale, but is not part of the Spring Cleaning Sale. 

Other Products Used:

Bristol Paper by Strathmore

Teal Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Aquamarine, Light Blue, Turquoise Green, and Cool Grey Zig Clean Color Real Brush Watercolor Markers by Kuretake

Skywater Blue, Lavender, Misty Morning, Rosewood, Blush, Forget-Me-Not, Inchworm, and Fern Zig Photo Twin Watercolor Markers by Kuretake

906 Gansai Tambi Starry Colors Watercolors by Kuretake

My Ember, My Cole, 1.5, 2.5, 14.5 from the Shiny Series Dot Card by Iuile Watercolors

Golden Buddha, Taxi, and Lavender from the Mica 20 Dot Card by Iuile Watercolors

Turquoise Gem, Sea Breeze and Ocean Depth VersaMagic Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Rose and Purple Stardust Glitter Pens by Sakura

Repositionable Sticker Paper by Avery

Low-tack Tape

STAY-tion by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Glassboard by Glassboard Studios

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1. Place a 4.5" x 6" piece of Bristol paper on the base of a stamping platform secured with magnets and/or Low-tack Tape.
2. Use Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink to stamp the left-facing cat from the Feline Magical Clear Stamp Set twice — once onto the image panel and once onto repositionable sticker paper.
3. Remove the image panel from the stamping platform and heat set.
4. Use watercolor markers to color the cat, flowers, and foliage.
5. Use sparkly watercolor paints to color the frame, star, moons, and circle designs around the cat.
6. Fussy-cut the sticker paper version of the cat and place it atop its counterpart on the image panel.
7. Secure the image panel to the STAY-tion with Low-tack tape.
8. Secure the first stencil from the 3 Layer Comic Book Burst Stencil Set over the image panel with low-tack tape and magnets.
9. Sponge Sea Breeze VersaMagic Chalk Ink over the stencil onto the image panel.
10. Remove the stencil and heat set the ink.
11. Secure the second stencil from the stencil from the 3 Layer Comic Book Burst Stencil Set over the image panel with low-tack tape and magnets.
12. Sponge Turquoise Gem VersaMagic Chalk Ink over the stencil onto the image panel.
13. Remove the stencil and heat set the ink.
14. Secure the last stencil from the 3 Layer Comic Book Burst Stencil Set over the image panel with low-tack tape and magnets.
15. Sponge Ocean Depth VersaMagic Chalk Ink over the stencil onto the image panel.
16. Remove the stencil and heat set.
17. Use the Aquamarine Zig Clean Color Real Brush marker to fill in any missing areas in the center of the image panel. 
18. Place the image panel back onto a stamping platform and secure with magnets.
19. Position the "magical" sentiment facedown on the image panel as shown.
20. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp, lift, ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink, and stamp. Re-ink and stamp again if necessary to attain a good impression.
21. Remove the image panel from the stamping platform and heat set it.
22. Trim the image panel to 4" x 5.25".
23. Adhere the image panel to a matching A2 card.

BTW, my cats are not mysterious, though sometimes their behavior is mystifying. If they are magical, they do their magic when we're not around. 

Thanks for visiting today!

Topflight Stamps Sixth Birthday Blog Hop!

It's Topflight Stamps 6th birthday and to celebrate I’ve teamed up with some great designers to showcase celebratory projects using the unique products available at Topflight Stamps. Please hop along with us and see all the beautiful talent from this group of amazing designers! There is a master list of Hop stops on the Topflight Stamps blog! We are also Hopping on Instagram! You can start at the Topflight Stamps account @topflightstamps .

Did we mention there will be prizes?

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Of course, it wouldn’t be a birthday celebration without prizes! Topflight Stamps is giving four lucky winners $50 Gift Certificates to the store. Two winners will be chosen from commenters on the blog hop and two will be chosen from commenters on the IG hop. For a chance to win, make sure to visit the stops on the hop and leave a comment by April 1st. Winners will be announced on the Topflight Stamps blog on Monday, April 3rd. U.S.A winners only due to shipping issues. Good Luck!

Let's Get Started!

You should have arrived here, at Kat's Tales of Stamping, from the Topflight Stamps Blog. Yep! I'm the first stop. Oh the pressure.

Here's my "Celebrate" card that was created with the Anyone for Bubbles Clear Stamp Set by Visible Image. 

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Anyone for Bubbles Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Visible Image

Ripples Stencil by Visible Image

Sundance, Russet Orange, Confetti, and Blue Atoll  Elements Inks by Lavinia Stamps

Sunburst Lemon, Crimson, and Turquoise Brusho Crystal Colors by Colourcraft

Nocturne and Morning Mist VersaFine Clair Inks by Imagine Crafts

Card Passe Partout Rectangle Essentials Die Set by Studio Light

Other Products Used:

140 lb. Mixed Media Paper by Strathmore

Silver and Gold Metallic Cardstock by Recollections

Dark Green Cardstock by Bazzill Basics 

Silver Shimmer Delicata Ink by Imagine Crafts

Grey, Lt. Blue, Peacock Green, Pine, Emerald, Crimson Lake Le Plume II Watercolor Markers by Marvy Uchida

Yellow Gold, Light Gold, Champagne Gold, and White Gold Watercolors from the Starry Colors Gansai Tambi Watercolor Set by Kuretake

White Gelly Roll Gel Pen by Sakura of America

Celebrate Die: Source Unknown

Water Sprayer

Paint Brushes

Repositionable Scotch Tape

1" Sookwang Double Sided Tape

STAY-tion by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Stamping Platform

Note:

Before I get into my usual verbose and excruciatingly detailed instructions, your next hop stop is at Dina Kowal's Blog, where you're sure to find inspiration galore.

PSA: 

Topflight Stamps is also celebrating with a 20% off sale!!! 

Instructions:

1. Smoosh Sundance Elements Ink onto a craft mat and spritz with water. Dip a piece of Mixed Media paper into the ink. 
2. Sprinkle some Sunburst Lemon Brusho Crystal Color onto the wet paper and let it sit for a few seconds.
3. Mist with water. 
4. Heat set the paper.
5. Clean the craft mat.
6. Repeat Step 1 with Russet Orange Elements Ink. 
7. Mist the paper with water, let the ink flow a bit, then heat set.
8. Clean the craft mat.
9. Repeat Step 1 (and/or 6) with Confetti Elements Ink.
10. Sprinkle some Crimson Brusho Crystal Colors over the wet pinkish/reddish ink.
11. Mist with water.
12. Heat set the paper.
13. Clean the craft mat.
14. Repeat Step 1 (6, 9) with Blue Atoll  Elements Ink.
15. Sprinkle some Turquoise Brusho Crystal Colors onto the wet blue ink.
16. Mist with water.
17. Heat set the paper.
18. Clean the craft mat.
19. Thoroughly heat set the paper panel until it's bone dry. Heat set it again.
20. Use removable Scotch Tape to secure the inked panel to the back of the Ripples Stencil .
21. Use magnets to secure the stencil to the STAY-tion.
22. Sponge Sundance Elements Ink over the stencil onto the image panel.
23. Lift the stencil and heat set the panel.
24. Add drops of water to the image panel and immediately lift with a piece of paper towel to add dots and such to the paper.
25. Use the largest scalloped die from the Card Passe Partout Rectangle Essentials Die Set to cut the inked panel.
26. Heat set it again just because.
27. Use magnets to secure the inked die-cut to the base of the stamping platform.
28. Position the champagne glass and the champangne bottle facedown on the inked panel.
29. Press the platform's lid into the back of the stamps, lift, and ink with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink.
30. Stamp the images onto the panel. Re-ink and stamp again if needed to get a good crisp image. 
31. Remove and clean both stamps.
32. Heat set the image panel while it's still on the platform if possible.*
33. Position the champagne glass facedown on the image panel on the other side of the champagne bottle.
34. Press the platform's lid into the back of the stamp, lift, and ink with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink.
35. Stamp the images onto the panel. Re-ink and stamp again if needed to get a good crisp image. 
36. Remove and clean the stamp.
37. Heat set the image panel.
38. Position the bubbles stamp facedown on the image panel above one of the champagne flutes.
39. Press the platform's lid into the back of the stamp, lift, and ink with Morning Mist VersaFine Clair Ink. 
40. Stamp.
41. Remove the stamp from the platform, clean, and dry it. 
42. Position the bubbles stamp facedown on the image panel above the other champagne flute.
43. Press the platform's lid into the back of the stamp, lift, and ink with Morning Mist VersaFine Clair Ink. 
44. Stamp.
45. Remove the stamp from the platform and clean.
46. Heat set the panel.
47. Position the large bubbles cluster facedown above the champagne bottle. 
48. Press the platform's lid into the back of the stamp, lift, and ink with Morning Mist VersaFine Clair Ink.
49. Stamp.
50. Re-ink the stamp with Silvery Dazzle Delicata ink. Stamp.
51. Remove the stamp from the platform and clean.
52. Heat set the panel.
53. Color the gold foil on the champagne bottle with Yellow Gold Gansai Tambi Watercolor paint.
54. Use watercolor markers to color the glass and labels of the champagne bottle.
55. Use watercolor markers to ground the champagne bottle and the flutes.
56. Use Light Gold and Champagne Gold Gasai Tambi Watercolor paint to color the contents of the champagne flutes.
57. Use White Gold Gansai Tambi Watercolor paint to add details to the bubbles.
58. Use a white gel pen to add highlights to the champagne bottle and flutes.
59. Position the "celebrate" die facedown on the image panel. Secure it with Repositionable Scotch Tape.
60. Run the panel through the die-cut machine.
61. Remove the paper from the "Celebrate" die, then use the die again to cut gold metallic cardstock.
62. Place a piece of Sookwang tape behind the aperture cut in the shape of the word "Celebrate"
63. Adhere the gold die-cut sentiment into the aperture. Adhere the negatives from the inked panel where needed (the holes in "a", "b", "e")
64. Use the largest rectangle die from the Card Passe Partout Rectangle Essentials Die Set to  cut silver metallic cardstock and use to mat the image panel.
65. Cut a piece of green cardstock to 8.5" x 6.25", score at 4.25", and fold to form a card.
66. Adhere the matted image panel to the green card.

Notes:

• Writing the smooshing instructions probably took longer than doing it. Just remember to spritz generously, let the colors run together. Keep going until you're happy with the way it looks.
• You can heat set on the Tonic Stamping Platform. You can NOT heat set on the Misti or you'll warp the mat. Don't ask how I know.
• Don't use two colors of gold watercolor paints to color the champagne. I wish I hadn't.

Thanks for visiting and don't forget to visit Dina Kowal's Blog and to comment along every stop in the hop for a chance to win!