Are You Kidding Me? -- Bat Boy and Friends

 Greetings! It's the last day of May and I'm squeaking in with my third card for May's Lost Coast Portal to Creativity's Are You Kidding Me? Challenge 197 created with Bat Boy (my name for him) from Lost Coast Designs' new Cartoon Kids Rubber Stamp Set.

Products Used:

Cartoon Kids Rubber Stamp Set by  Lost Coast Designs

Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Raven Black Textured Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Blue Lagoon,  Dark Denim, and Graphite Elements Inks by Lavinia Stamps
Nocturne VersaFine Clair Inks by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Copic Markers: BV17, BV13, BV11, BV04, BV02, BV01, BV00, RV55, RV52, B21, <B21

Black Stardust Glitter Pen by Sakura

Black Pigma Pen by Sakura

Sun and Cloud Stencil by Carla Creates for Vaessen Creative

Bats Dinky Stencil by That's Crafty

Texture Sprinkle Dots by Memory Box

Small Talk idea-ology Stickers by Tim Holtz for Advantus

STAY-tion by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger

Glassboard by Glassboard Studios

Low-tack tape

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1. Create a 3.5" x 5" card from Raven cardstock. Set aside.
2. Use Tuxedo Black Memento Ink to stamp Bat Boy onto white cardstock. 
3. Fussy-cut him, color him with Copic markers, then edge him with a black marker. 
4. Use a white gel pen to add highlights to his eyes. Set him aside.
5. Place a panel of white cardstock onto the STAY-tion.
6. Use low-tack tape to cover the sun and the clouds in the center of the Sun and Cloud Stencil.
7. Place the Sun and Cloud Stencil towards the top of the panel.
8. Sponge or brush Blue Lagoon,  Dark Denim, and Graphite Elements Ink over the top of the stencil onto the white cardstock.
9. Rotate the stencil and move it downwards.
10. Brush the same inks over the top of the stencil onto the cardstock panel.
11. Repeat Steps 8 and 9 until the panel has become a cloudy night sky background panel..
12. Cover the larger bats on the top of the Dinky Bats stencil with low-tack tape.
13. Position the bottom part of the Dinky Bats stencil onto the top right of the cloudy sky background panel. 
14. Sponge Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink over the stencil onto the background panel.
15. Clean and dry the stencil.
16. Move the Dinky Bat stencil down to the left side of the background panel. 
17. Sponge Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink over the stencil onto the background panel.
18. Clean and dry the stencil.
19. Move the Dinky Bat stencil down and to the right side of the background panel. 
20. Sponge Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink over the stencil onto the background panel.
21. You should now have three sets of bats who are Bat Boy's friends.
22. Sponge black ink over a dot patterned stencil to add flight trails to the sky. 
23. Use a black glitter pen to add glittery accents to the dots.
24. Adhere Bat Boy as shown.
25. Edge the background panel with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and adhere to the reserved black card. 
26. Adhere the Small Talk Sticker to finish the card.

You still have a bit of time to join May's Are You Kidding Me? Challenge 197 for a chance to win Lost Coast Ca$h!

So Grateful - a Thanksgiving Card

 Greetings! It's Tuesday so it's time to share a project created for Topflight Stamps. This week is "Anything Goes" for the TFS team. Since Thanksgiving is Thursday, I made a card which can be used for Thanksgiving or other special occasions.

But before I get to my card, I wanted to remind you that Topflight Stamps' Black Friday Sale Week is going on right now! There are so many wonderful products (both new and old) that make wonderful holiday gifts for family, friends, and yourself!

***Back to today's project***

So back when I saw the truck filled with critters in the Warm Hugs Clear Stamp Set by Jane's Doodles for Creative Expressions, I immediately thought of the holiday song "Over the River and Through the Woods" and knew that I wanted to use it on a holiday card. So here it is!

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Warm Hugs Clear Stamp Set by Jane's Doodles for Creative Expressions

Acetate Hills Masks by Lavinia Stamps

Distress Plaid Paper Pad by Creative Expressions

Wood Textures 6x6 Paper Pad by Craft Consortium

More Classic Sentiments by Heffy Doodle

Artist Trading Coin Stamp Set 11 by That's Crafty

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Morning Mist and Blue Belle VersaFine Clair Inks by Imagine Crafts

Other Products Used:
Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Grey Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

Chipped Sapphire, Blueprint Sketch, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Hickory Smoke, and Black Soot Distress Ink by Tim Holtz for Ranger Ink

Bleed Proof White Opaque Watercolor by Dr. Ph Martin

Copic Markers:
Pie and Tin: E23, E21, T5, T2, T0

Pumpkins: YR02, YR04, YR18; YR 12, YR15, YR16; YR65, YR68

Truck: B91, B52

Trucks's Bumpers, Lights, and Hubcaps: T5, T, T2, T0

Truck's Tires: N6, N6, N5

Truck's Lights: Y23, Y21, YR31

Bears' Fur: E79, E77, E74, E71, E70

Owl: E74, E71, E70

Owl's Beak: Y28, Y26, Y04

Owl's Eyes: Y38, Y35, YR31

Moose: E59, E57, E55, E47, E44, E43

Fox: E99, E97, E17, E15, YR02, YR000

Rabbit's Fur: E44, E35, E33, E31

Rabbit's Eye: YG67, YG63

Raccoon: C7, C6, C5, C4, C3

Coffee Cups: C2, C1, C0

Clothing and Bunting on the Truck: R59, R56; B16, B04, B02; YG67, YG63

A7 Rectangle Frames Die Set by Waffle Flower 

Arrow Sign: Source Unknown

Sentiment Flag: Source Unknown

Repositionable Sticker Paper by Avery

Low-tack Tape

STAY-tion by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1. Use Tuxedo Black Memento Ink to stamp the critter-filled truck stamp from the Warm Hugs Clear Stamp Sets twice — once onto a 5" x 7" panel of white cardstock and once onto repositionable sticker paper. 
2. Fussy-cut the sticker paper version and place it over its counterpart on the image panel as a mask. 
3. Place the acetate rolling hills mask from the Acetate Hills Mask Set towards the top of the image panel and the flattish masover the truck covering the bottom of the image panel. 
4. Brush Chipped Sapphire and Blueprint Sketch Distress Ink over the top of the mask to create a night sky. 
5. Keep the mask in place so the rest of the image panel remains covered and splatter Bleed-proof White paint onto the top of the panel to add some stars.
6. Place a previously traced and fussy-cut cardstock mask to cover the sky. *
7. Brush Rustic Wilderness Distress ink over the paper mask to create the top hills.
8. Brush the same ink over the acetate rolling hills mask to add the tops of additional hills. 
9. When done, brush Mowed Lawn Distress ink between the cardstock mask and the flattish acetate mask to complete the hilly background behind the masked truck.
10. Place another previously traced and fussy-cut piece of cardstock  to cover the hilly area of the image panel. *
11. Brush Hickory Smoke and Black Soot Distress ink over the paper mask and the masked truck to cover the bottom part of the image panel.
12. Lift all the masks and retain them for later use.
13. Use Copic markers to color the truck and critters. I intentionally left the truck somewhat streaky to make it look old and worn. I resisted the urge to add rust spots to the truck body and bumpers. I'm inordinately proud of my restraint.
14. Place a piece of wood-patterned paper from the Wood Textures 6x6 Paper Pad onto the stamping platform.
15. Position the the words "happy" and "together" from the Artist Trading Coin Stamp Set 11 as well as the sentiment "So Grateful" from the More Classic Sentiments facedown on the patterned paper.
16. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamps. 
17. Lift the platform's lid and ink the stamps with Blue Belle VersaFine Clair Ink. Stamp. 
18. Heat set the ink. 
19. Die-cut the sentiments and edge with 
20. Use the largest die from the A7 Rectangles Die Set to cut a piece of plaid paper from the Distress Plaid Paper Pad.
21. Use Morning Mist VersaFine Clair Ink to edge the inside and outside edges of the frame. 
22. Heat set the ink and adhere the frame die-cut over the image panel. 
23. Adhere the framed image panel to a grey 5" x 7" card.
24. Edge the card with Morning Mist VersaFine Clair Ink and heat set again.
25. Adhere the sentiment die-cuts to finish the card.

Note: I had previously traced all of the masks from the Acetate Hills Mask Set onto cardstock and fussy-cut them with the intention of using both sides of the cardstock masks for inking and such. I store them with the Acetate Hills Mask Set.

Imagine Crafts Walnut Ink "Flower" Card

Imagine Crafts' Walnut Ink is a natural colorant made from walnut husks that have been used to create eight beautiful Walnut Ink colors. They're available as dry walnut crystals which can be used to create your own custom watercolors. They're also available as premixed sprays in two sizes. I've been busy experimenting with the Walnut Ink Sprays.

Here's my first card!

Imagine Crafts Supplies:

Cherry Blossom and Lilac Walnut Ink Spray

Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray

Gold Sheer Shimmer Stix

Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink * 

Clear MBoss

Sponge Daubers

Fantastix

Tear It! Tape

On Point Glue

Craft Mat

Other Supplies:

Watercolor Paper by Canson

Raven and Purple Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

Crafty Grunge Flowers Stamp Set 2 by Melina Dahl for That’s Crafty *

Frayed Frames Die Set 26 by AALL and Create *

Repositionable Sticker Paper by Avery

Curved Craft Scissors by Fiskar’s

Heat Gun

Misti Stamping Platform by My Sweet Petunia

Big Shot by Sizzix

Please Note: Products with asterisks ( * ) are available at Topflight Stamps!

Instructions:

Step 1:

Using a stamping platform, ink the Grunge Flower stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and stamp. Re-ink and stamp again if necessary to attain a good. Impression. Stamp a second time onto repositionable sticker paper. Fussy-cut the sticker paper version to be used as a mask later.

Steps 2A and 2B :

Spray Cherry Blossom Walnut Ink into a small container (2A). Add water into a second container. Use a paint brush to watercolor the flowers’ petals, varying the intensity of the color by diluting the ink with water (2B). When done, wash and dry the containers.

Steps 3A and 3B:

Spray Lilac Walnut Ink and water into small containers (3A). Use a paint brush to watercolor the flowers centers, varying the intensity of the color by diluting the ink with water (3B). When done, wash and dry the containers.

Steps 4A and 4B:

Spray Cherry Blossom and Lilac Walnut Inks into separate containers. Spray a small amount of Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray into both containers and into a third container (4A).  Use paint brushes to paint the circular elements of the stamped image with sparkly Walnut inks (4B).

Steps 5A and 5B:

Adhere the repositionable sticker masks from Step 1 atop the stamped and painted images. Smoosh Gold Sheer Shimmer Stix onto the craft mat (5A). Use a brush to apply over the masked images. Also use the applicator top to apply the shimmery gold ink directly to the image panel. Wipe the excess away with a paper towel (5B).

Steps 6A and 6B: 

Repeat Steps 4A and 4B to add more shimmery walnut ink to the containers (6A). Load a paint brush with the ink then tap the paint brush to splatter the image panel (6B). Repeat with the second color. I wanted more splatter, so I loaded a clean toothbrush with ink and splattered the panel even more. (No photo). Remove the masks and heat set the panel.

Step 7:

Use the smaller die from the Frayed Frames Die Set 26 to cut the image panel. Use the larger die from the same set to cut black cardstock. Use Tear-It! Tape to mat the image panel die-cut with the black die-cut. (Sorry! No photo).

Step 8:

Place the matted image panel into a stamping platform. Position the “Flower” Sentiment from the Grunge Flowers Stamp Set 2 facedown on the bottom right of the image panel. Press the platform’s lid onto the back of the stamp and lift. Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp. Re-ink and stamp again if necessary to attain a good impression.

Step 9:

Remove the image panel from the platform and place onto paper. Sprinkle Clear MBoss powder onto the stamped sentiment. Dump the excess back into the container. Heat set the sentiment.

Step 10: 

Create an A2 card from purple cardstock. Use Tear-It! Tape to adhere the image panel to the card.

Thanks for visiting today!

Happy Halloween

It's Tuesday, my day to share a project created for Topflight Stamps. This week is an "Anything Goes" theme on the store blog and it's October! Hence, I created a Halloween card that my daughter called "weird". I'll let you judge for yourself.

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Van Gogh Elephant Unmounted Red Rubber Stamp Set by Katzelkraft

Funny Accessories Unmounted Red Rubber Stamp Set by Katzelkraft

Small Elements Clear Stamp Set 2 by That's Crafty

Lots of Words Clear Stamp Set by That's Crafty

Pumpkin Party Clear Stamp Set 1055 by Autour de Mwa for AALL and Create

Bird Collection Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Lavinia Stamps

Acetate Hills Mask Stencil Set by Lavinia Stamps

Acetate Hills Mask Stencil Set by Lavinia Stamps

Tulip Red and Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Other Products Used:
Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Red and Grey Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

Tuxedo Black, London Fog, Lulu Lavender, Bamboo Leaves, and Cottage Ivy Memento Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Clouds Stencils by My Favorite Things

Copic Markers: 

Elephant: N3, N4, N5, N6

Elephant's Tusks and Toe Nails: E181, E84, W00, W1

Elephant's Eyes: Y35, Y38

Elephant's Witch's Hat: YR16, YR18, BV08,, V17, Y23, Y26, Y28

Easel: E21, DE23, E25, E27, E39, W0

Skull Painting: E40, E41, T0, T1,

Cloudy Background on Painting: C00, C0, C1, C2

White Gelly Roll Gel Pen by Sakura of America

Red Uni-Posca Paint Pen by Mitsubishi Pencil Company

Removable Sticker Paper by Avery

Post-It Notes by 3M

STAY-tion by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger. Ink

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of 12" x 12" grey cardstock in half. Score at 6" and fold to form a 6" square card. Set aside.
2. Place a piece of white cardstock onto a stamping platform, secured with magnets.
3. Position the witch hat from Funny Accessories Unmounted Red Rubber Stamp Set facedown  towards the top of the image panel.
4. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp, lift, ink the stamp with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink and stamp twice— once onto the image panel and again onto repositionable sticker paper. 
5. Fussy-cut he sticker paper version and place it over the one on the image panel as a mask. 
6. Position the elephant from the Van Gogh Elephant Unmounted Red Rubber Stamp Set facedown on the masked hat so that the elephant's head is overlapping the bottom of the hat.
7.  Press the platform's lid onto the back of the elephant stamp, lift, ink the stamp with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink and stamp twice— once onto the image panel and again onto repositionable sticker paper. 
8. Fussy-cut the sticker paper version and place it over the one on the image panel as a mask. 
9. Position the easel from the Van Gogh Elephant Unmounted Red Rubber Stamp Set facedown on the image panel to the right of elephant.
10. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the easel stamp, lift, ink the stamp with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink and stamp twice— once onto the image panel and again onto repositionable sticker paper. 
11. Position the skull from the Small Elements Clear Stamp Set 2  facedown onto the canvas on the easel,.
12. Flip the platform's lid to be used with clear stamps.
13. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp, lift, ink the skull stamp with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink and stamp.
14. Fussy-cut the sticker paper version of the easel and place it over the easel on the image panel.
15. Remove the image panel from the stamping platform.
16. Use magnets to secure the image panel to the STAY-tion.
17. Place the flattish hills mask from the Acetate Hills Mask Stencil Set horizontally across the image panel, covering the bottom part. 
18. Place the cloud stencil toward the top of the image panel. Brush London Fog and Lulu Lavender Memento Ink Grey over the top part cloud stencil and the masked images.*
19. Shift the stencil and move it downwards on the image panel. Brush London Fog and Lulu Lavender Memento Ink Grey over the top part cloud stencil and the masked images
20. Repeat Step #19 varying the cloud pattern as you move the stencil downwards until you're happy with your cloudy sky.
21. Remove the the hills mask.
22. I've traced the hills mask onto white cardstock and cut along the traced lines to create a mask to cover the hills.
23.  Place your home-made mask to cover the sky. Brush Cottage Ivy and Bamboo Leaves Memento Ink horizontally over the paper mask and the bottom of the masked images.*
24. Lift and retain the masks for another use.
25. Use Copic markers to add shading and details to the lawn.
26. Place the image panel back onto the stamping platform.
27. Place Post-It Notes around the the painting on the easel.
28. Position the drippy elements stamp from the Small Elements Clear Stamp Set 2 facedown onto the painting on the easel.
29. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the Drips stamp, lift, ink the stamp with Tulip Red VersaFine Clair Ink, and stamp.
30. Position the the spider from the Pumpkin Party Clear Stamp Set 1055 facedown and dangling from the witch hat. Position one of the birds from the Bird Collection Clear Polymer Stamp Set facedown atop the easel. 
31. Press the platform's lid onto the back of both stamps, lift, ink the stamps with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink, and stamp.
32. Position the the word "Happy" from the Lots of Words Clear Stamp Set and the word "Halloween" from the Pumpkin Party Clear Stamp Set 1055 facedown on the image panel as shown.
33. Press the platform's lid onto the back of both stamps, lift, ink the stamps with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink, and stamp.
34. Remove the image panel from the stamping platform. Heat set.
35. Use a red Posca Paint pen to add red paint to the elephant's trunk to show how he created his painting.
36.  Use the red Posca Paint pen to add red paint to the grass, to add red hourglass to the spider's back, and to enhance the red drips on the painting.
37. Mat the image panel with red cardstock cut .25" larger than the panel.
38. Adhere the matted image panel to the reserved grey 6" square card. 

Notes:

• Memento ink was used for the backgrounds because I wasn't sure if I'd be using Copic markers to color additional stamped elements or to enhance the sky or grassy areas.
• I wasn't pleased with the look of the drips on the painting. 

Thanks for visiting today!