Steampunk Strut

Greetings! It's Topflight Stamps Tuesday on my blog! This week the team is showcasing Indigo Blu's wonderful and eclectic cling rubber stamps.

Here's my card created with the Lady Fortesque Cling Mounted Rubber Stamp by Indigo Blu, Flowers and Gears Clear Stamp Set 195 by Bipasha BK for AALL and Create, Tag It Yourself Die Set 27 by AALL and Create, Words of Steam Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Lavinia Stamps, and the Ink Drops - Midnight 6x6 Paper Pad by Craft Consortium.

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Lady Fortesque Cling Mounted Rubber Stamp by Indigo Blu

Flowers and Gears Clear Stamp Set 195 by Bipasha BK for AALL and Create

Tag It Yourself Die Set 27 by AALL and Create

Words of Steam Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Lavinia Stamps

Ink Drops - Midnight 6x6 Paper Pad by Craft Consortium

Graphite and Russet Orange Elements Inks 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 Papers

Blue Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

Engine Room 6x6 Pataterned Paper Pad by Funky Fossil Designs

Copic Markers:

 Skin: BV0000, E50, E21, E11, E00, E000

 Cheeks: R20

 Lips: E04, RV42

 Hair: YR31, YR23, YR21, YR20

 Boots, Belt, Gauntlets, Pouch: E39, E27, E23, E21

 Outfit: B45, B41

Metallic Gold Gel Pen by Pentel

White Gelly Roll Gel Pen by Sakura

Lightning Black Brilliance Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Blue Jean Simply Sweet Rub-ons by Doodlebug

Sentiment Flag Dies: Source Unknown

Low-tack Tape

STAY-tion by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Glassboard by Glassboard Studios

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1. Create a 5" x 7" card from blue cardstock.
2. Use Tuxedo Black Memento Ink to stamp the woman from the Lady Fortesque Cling Mounted Rubber Stamp Set onto white cardstock. 
3. Use Copic markers to color Lady Fortesque. 
4. Use a metallic gold pen to add sheen to her earrings, her choker, and the dangling thing on her right side.
5. Place a piece of low-tack tape across the image panel below Lady Fortesque 's feet.
6. Place the second largest die from the Tag It Yourself Die Set 27 cutting-side down with Lady Fortesque centered in the die. 
7. Secure the die to the image panel with low-tack tape, then run the sandwich through a die-cut machine. 
8. Flip the die and panel so that the back of the panel shows.
9. Use low-tack tape to secure the tag die-cut to the panel. 
10. Flip the combination back over so that the image is facing upwards.
11.  Gently brush Graphite, then Russet Orange Elements Inks over the back of the die onto the image panel die-cut. 
12. Remove the low-tack tape below Lady Fortesque 's feet and place the tape onto the horizon line to cover the bottom of the image panel.
13. Brush  Graphite, then Russet Orange Elements Inks more heavily over the tape and the back of the die, onto the bottom of the image panel die-cut. 
14. Remove the cutting die and clean it with hand sanitizer. 
15. Set the image panel die-cut aside.
16. Cut a piece of patterned paper from the Ink Drops - Midnight 6x6 Paper Pad by Craft Consortium to 5" wide and adhere it to the top of a 5" x 6 ¾" of thin white cardstock. 
17. Use Y26 and Y23 Copic markers to alter the color of some of the veins of the patterned paper.
18. Trim a piece of patterned paper to 1 ½" x 5" and lightly brush it with Graphite and Russet Orange Elements Inks. 
19. Use Graphite Elements Ink to edge the strip of patterned paper.
20. Place the white cardstock/patterned paper panel onto the base of a stamping platform and secure with magnets and/or low-tack tape.
21. Position the long flowerless gears stamps from the Flowers and Gears Clear Stamp Set 195 facedown along the left side of the patterned paper panel. 
22. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp, lift, ink the stamp with Lightning Black Brilliance Ink, and stamp.
23. Clean and dry the gears stamp, then position the stamp facedown along the right edge of the patterned paper panel. 
24. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp, lift, ink the stamp with Lightning Black Brilliance Ink, and stamp.
25. Remove and clean the stamp.
26. Position the two smaller gear stamps from the Flowers and Gears Clear Stamp Set 195 facedown along the center top and center bottom of the patterned paper panel.
27. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the two gears stamps, lift, ink the stamps with Lightning Black Brilliance Ink, and stamp.
28. Clean and dry the stamp.
29. Remove the patterned paper/white panel from the stamping platform.
30. Heat set the Brilliance ink, then adhere the brushed panel over the patterned paper onto the bottom of the white cardstock panel.
31. Trim the patterned paper covered panel to 4 ¾" wide. 
32. Use Lightning Black Brilliance Ink to edge the stamped patterned paper panel.
33. Heat set.
34. Sponge or brush Graphite and Russet Orange Elements Inks onto a scrap of white cardstock. 
35. Place the inked cardstock onto the base of the stamping platform. Secure with magnets and/or low-tack tape.
36. Position the word "Steampunk" from the Words of Steam Clear Polymer Stamp Set facedown on the inked panel.
37. 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 needed to attain a good impression.
38. Use a flags die to cut the sentiment, then use it again to cut another flag from the  Graphite and Russet Orange Elements Inked panel.
39. Trim the flags off of either end of the "Steampunk" sentiment, then edge the die-cut with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink. 
40. Use Blue Jean Simply Sweet Rub-ons to add the word "strut" to the other flag, cut off the the flag edges, and edge with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink.
41. Adhere the image panel die-cut to the stamped patterned paper background panel. 
42. Adhere the sentiment die-cuts as shown. 
43. Adhere the card front to the reserved 5" x 7" blue card.

Thanks for visiting today!

Celebrate with Funky Fossil Designs

I was unable to share a project with Funky Fossil Designs products last Saturday because my not-so-dh gave me the ick and I've been sick for more than a week now. After a course of antibiotics, I'm feeling slightly better, though I'm still really tired and coughing. So I'm sharing today and will share again tomorrow on my "normal" day.

As you know, I love all things Steampunk and am especially enamored of products designed by Belinda Basson, aka the Steampunk Queen. Belinda is one of the wonderful product designers for Funky Fossil Designs. It's a secret, but I've got a massive fangirl crush on her for ages. 

The Clockwork Woodland Clear Stamp Set by Belinda Basson is part of the Steampunk Menagerie which features Steampunky Woodland critters including a rabbit. Since Easter's on Sunday, I figured that it would be seasonally appropriate to create a card with that set. 

Here it is!

Funky Fossil Designs Products Used:

Clockwork Woodland Clear Stamp Set by Belinda Basson

Leafy Wreath Die (just £5 now)

Mixed Media Compendium 8x8 Patterned Paper Pad (on sale)

Specimen Slides Die Set  (on sale)

Sentiment Sticker Stack (on sale)

Rusty Lantern Lime Starburst Spray from the Industrial Chic Starburst Spray Set by Lindy's Gang

Other Products Used:

Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Watercolor Cardstock by Strathmore

Navy Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

Obsidian Black Amalgam Ink by Gina K Designs

Copic Markers:

 Rabbit's Fur: C3, C2, C1, C0, C00

 Rabbit's Nose and Ears: RV93, RV91

 Jacket and Hat: B39, B37, B34

 Vest and Strap: YG45, YG41

 Shirt: E84, E81, Y000

 Bowtie: RV93, RV91, R83, R81

 Brass Bits: Y28, Y26, Y23, Y21

Black Pigma Marker by Sakura

White Gelly Roll Gel Pen by Sakura

Clear Gelly Roll Glaze Pen by Sakura

Shabby Shutters and Mowed Lawn Distress Oxide Spray by Tim Holtz for Ranger Ink

Green Man Infusions by PaperArtsy *

Metallic Jade and VerdiGri Liquid Metals by Ken Oliver Crafts **

Steampunk Corner Die by La La Land Crafts

Stabby Tool and Mat

Tiny Metal Cogs by Bead Landing

Screwtop idea-ology Mini-Brads by Tim Holtz for Advantus

Blue Mini-Brads: Source unknown

Stamping Platform

* Available at Topflight Stamps

** No longer being made. However, I found them at Dick Blick

Instructions:

1. Create a 5" x 7" card from Navy cardstock. Set aside.
2. Use Obsidian Black Ink to stamp the Steampunk Rabbit from the Clockwork Woodland Clear Stamp Set by Belinda Basson onto white Classic Crest Cardstock.
3. Fussy-cut the Steampunk Rabbit, color him with Copic markers, and edge with a black marker.
4. Use a White Gelly Roll Gel Pen to strengthen the highlights in the Steampunk Rabbit's eyes.
5. Use a Clear Glaze pen to coat the clear areas of the rabbit's eyepiece and goggles. Let the first layer of Glaze dry, then add another layer of Clear Glaze. Repeat until you're happy with the dimension and shine.
6. Set the Steampunk Rabbit aside well out of the line of fire.
7. Place a piece of watercolor paper into a box. Spray with Shabby Shutters Distress Oxide Spray. Heat set.
8. Mist the watercolor paper and heat set.
9. Spray the watercolor paper with Mowed Lawn Dixtress Oxide Spray. Heat set.
10. Mist with water, then sprinkle on some Green Man Infusions. Let it sit for a bit, then mist with water again to let the powders activate. Heat set.
11. Spray the watercolor paper with Rusty Lantern Lime Starburst Spray to add some shimmer. Heat set.
12. Add a few drops of Metallic Jade and Metallic VerdiGris Liquid Metals to a craft mat. Mist with water. Use a paintbrush to apply the Liquid Metals to the sprayed and infused watercolor paper. Heat set. 
13. Place an acrylic mat over the watercolor paper and add heavy objects over it to flatten the watercolor paper.
14. Use the paintbrush to add Metallic Jade and Metallic VerdiGris Liquid Metals to a piece of patterned paper from the Mixed Media Compendium 8x8 Patterned Paper Pad. Heat set.
15. Trim the patterned paper to 4.75" x 6.75", edge with a grey Copic marker, and set aside.
16. Use the Leafy Wreath Die  to cut the flattened inky watercolor paper twice.
17. Use the open nameplate and solid nameplate dies from the Specimen Slides Die Set to cut the inky watercolor paper. 
18. Adhere the open nameplate to the solid nameplate.
19. Trim the sentiment from the Sentiment Sticker Stack so it reads "Celebrate".
20. Color the sentiment sticker with Copic Markers and add it to the completed nameplate die.
21. Use a Steampunk corner die to cut four corners from the remaining inky watercolor paper.
22. Adhere one Leafy Wreath atop the other one, offseting the leaves slightly.
23. Adhere the base of the Steampunk Rabbit under the bottom of the Leafy Wreath with his ears and hat over the top of the Leafy Wreath.
24. Adhere the sentiment nameplate over the bottom of the Leafy Wreath so that it's covering the base of the Steampunk Rabbit.
25. Adhere the Steampunk Rabbit/Leafy Wreath combo to the patterned paper panel to create the card front.
26. Adhere the four corner dies to corners of the card front.
27. Use a stabby tool to poke holes through the patterned paper under the corner dies and under the nameplate. Be sure to place a mat under the patterned paper so you don't stab yourself or your crafting surface.
28. Place a tiny brass metal gears on each end of four corner die-cuts. 
29. Secure each gear with a  positive or negative screwtop brass mini-brad inserted through the cardfront and open the brad on the reverse.
30. Place a copper gear in the center of each of the four corner die-cuts. 
31. Secure the gear with blue mini-brads inserted through the cardfront and open the brad on the reverse.
32. Place a copper gear on either side of the nameplate.
33. Secure the gear with blue mini-brads inserted through the cardfront and open the brad on the reverse.
34. Adhere the card front to the reserved blue 5" x 7" 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!