Greetings Earthlings!

It's Tuesday, which means that it's my day to share a project created for Topflight Stamps. I've been watching a lot of old Twilight Zone episodes, so I decided to ink up my Alien Invader Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Visible Image and create a card!

Here's the card, which also uses Visible Image's Time Tunnel Stencil!

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Alien Invader Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Visible Image

Time Tunnel Stencil by Visible Image

2" Speedball Brayer

5x7 Rectangle Gel Press

Onyx Black VersaFine™ Ink by Tsukineko®

PSA: There are lots of fantastic new products at Topflight Stamps, so you should definitely click on over there after reading my instructions! BTW, if you'd like to get 12% off your order at Topflight Stamps use THIS LINK!

Other Products Used:

Solar White Classic Crest® Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Tuxedo Black Memento™ Ink by Tsukineko®

Copic® Markers: B60, BV000, BV00, BV20, YG03, YG04, C0, C1, C2, C4, BG90, YR24, YR27, YR31, FY1, R22, R24, R39

140 lb. Mixed Media Paper by Strathmore®

Salty Ocean, Blueprint Sketch, Chipped Sapphire, Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet, and Black Soot Distress® Oxide Inks by Tim Holtz® for Ranger Industries

Black Soot Distress® Ink by Tim Holtz® for Ranger Industries

Unicorn Pigment Hero Hues® by Hero Arts®

Constellations Stencil by The Crafter's Workshop

Glitter by Stampendous!®

Quickie Glue™  Pen by Sakura

STAY-tion™ by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Industries

Stamping Platform

Big Shot by Sizzix®

Instructions:

1. Use Memento ink to stamp the alien and one of the two flying saucers from the Alien Invader Clear Polymer Stamp Set onto white cardstock.
2. Colored both images with Copic markers, fussy-cut, and edge them with a black pen.
3. Several colors of Distress Oxide Inks were applied directly to my 5x7 Rectangle Gel Press, then blended with a brayer.
4. A piece of 6x8 Mixed Media paper was pressed onto the Gel Press to pull the first print. Water was misted onto the print, which was heat set. 
5. This step with different colors until I was happy with the color blend on the print.
6. The print was heat set again to make sure it was dry as toast.
7. The Time Travel Stencil was placed onto the Gel Press and Black Soot Distress Oxide was brayered over the stencil. The stencil was removed from the Gel Press and cleaned.
8. The previously inked print was smoothed onto the Gel Press and the stenciled print was pulled to create the card's background
9. The print was heat set, sandwiched between two pieces of clean scrap paper, placed on the cutting mat of my Big Shot. The two cutting plates were placed over the the paper sandwich, and run through the machine several times to flatten the paper.
10. The print was placed onto the STAY-tion and the Constellation stencil was secured to it with magnets.
11. White pigment ink was lightly sponged over the stencil onto the print and heat set.
12. The background was trimmed to 4" x 5.25" and edged with Black Soot Distress Ink.
13. The background was secured to the base of the Stamping Platform.
14. The prone human stamp and sentiment stamp were positioned on the background. The lid was pressed into the stamps and lifted.
15.  The stamps were inked with Onyx Black VersaFine Ink, and stamped. 
16. The space debris stamp from the set was inked with Distress Ink and stamped randomly on the background panel, which was edged, and adhered to a black A2 card.
17. The Alien and the Flying Saucer images were adhered to the background,
18. The Quickie Glue Pen was used to add glue in front of the ray gun and under the alien's feet. 
19. Black and orange glitter were added to complete the card front.
20. The card front was adhered to a black A2 card.

Thanks for visiting today!

Be careful out there!

Ever since I first saw the What Big Eyes set from Susana Loves Stamps Eyes of Adventure and Fables Collection, I knew that I'd have to pair it with the Aspen Trees mini stencil by The Crafter's Workshop to create a Little Red Riding Hood card!



What Big Eyes set was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Copic markers which I'll list below. When she was done, I fussy cut her and put her aside, which made her pout. I assured her she'd have fun later, so she calmed down.

Anyway, I grabbed a piece of light grey cardstock, taped down the Aspen Trees mini stencil and sponged Forest Moss, Bundled Sage, Stormy Blue, Broken China, and Tumbled Glass Distress inks over it. I also sponged an additional scrap of grey cardstock with Forest Moss and Bundled Sage ink, then tore it, edged the torn strips with Black Soot Distress ink, and adhered the strips to the Aspen Trees piece. I wasn't totally happy with the piece, so I sponged grey Pebbles Palette chalk to add some dimension and shading to the trees. Much better.

I adhered What Big Eyes, now in her role of Red Riding Hood, to the piece. I thought something was needed, so I die cut some black cardstock with one of SCACD's Classic Corner dies (two dies come in the set), ran them through my mini Xyron X machine, then painted on a layer of Black Ice Silks Acrylic Glaze to add some shine and shimmer to the die cuts.

I adhered the piece to a black card front. When I decide who will get the card and for what occasion, I'll add a sentiment!

By the way, Susana just added some really fabulous new products, such as new 6x6 pads, fabulous new stencils by ArtistCellar, the new Distress Stains, Spellbinders D-Lites, Make It Crafty chipboard, and Stamping Bella's Uptown Girl stamps to the SCACD store. Go check it all out!!!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
• Chalk-Ah-Lot Cafe: #23 -- Anything Goes
• Crafting When We Can: #32 -- Fairytales Challenge

Copic Markers used:
Skin: YR0000, YR000, YR00, R20, BV00
Hair: C6, C7, C8
Dress: R22, R24, R27, R29 & C8, C6
Petticoat: R0000, R00
Cape: R89, C7, R56, R59

A little night music?

Here's Akiko by Kraftin' Kimmie. Her name means "Sparkle" and she surely does or at least this card does!



Akiko was colored with Copic markers, die cut, masked with Winsor & Newton masking fluid, and then the background was airbrushed. I lifted the mask and added some glaze pen to the flute and some sparkly glitter pen accents to the flowers and her hair jewels.

I found amazing shimmery green cardstock in my stash. I *think* it might be by Club Scrap. I used the Bamboo 6x6 stencil by The Crafters Workshop and airbrushed G46 through it. I airbrushed a separate piece of the cardstock to be die cut for the sentiment.

I had a "Eureeka!" moment, when I realized that I had Ideology Tissue Tape with musical notation on it. It got airbrushed to match Akiko's kimono.

A few gemstones were strategically placed to finish the card. I just wish you could see the shimmer on this card. *sigh*

By the way, this is my "application" card. I'm throwing my proverbial hat into the ring for a chance to become a Krafty Girl. I don't think my chances are too good because I know of at least two fabulous artists that have applied. But, you can't win if you don't play...

Thanks for visiting today.

I shall be entering this card into the following challenges:
• Simon Says Stamp & Show: "Anything Goes"

"Bring the Heat" Blog Hop with S&S!

Welcome to the "Bring the Heat" Blog Hop! You should have gotten here from Wendy's Blog!

I'm thrilled to be participating in the "Bring the Heat" Hop sponsored by the Smeared & Smudged community.

If you are unfamiliar with Smeared & Smudged, here's how they describe their community!

Smeared and Smudged is an online community of rubber stampers and crafters who enjoy using alternative, gothic, edgy, and unique stamps in their designs. We thrive on different and unusual. We welcome the macabre and devious side of things, and most of all, we embrace ALL types and styles of art. Whether or not you “come to the dark side”, your creations should be a reflection of you. Here at Smeared and Smudged, the most important thing is being yourself.

The theme for this hop is "Bring the Heat" and here's Smeared & Smudged's blurb about it!

The theme is BRING THE HEAT! This is totally up to interpretation....some ideas would be using heat embossing, hot glue or fire. Or even using imagery of fire, heat, or even something SEXY! Step outside your comfort zones - the HOTTER the better!!! It can be a canvas, a card, a scrapbook page, an altered item, an art journal page, etc. Use your imaginations. Also, don't forget the S&S rule that is has to be stamped somewhere (digi stamps are fine)

Here's one of my projects using the devil from the Cherry Bomb set by Bombshell Stamps! I'm working on a second card and hope to get it uploaded later today!


The devil was stamped onto Cryogen white cardstock and colored with Copic markers. That cardstock is offwhite and has a nice shimmer to it. Unlike the other shimmery cardstock in my stash, Copics blended really nicely.

I used a clear Glaze pen to highlight his horns and monocle. Red glitter pen was used on his eyes and the cigarette tip to give them a nice red glittery glow. He was masked and airbrushed with Y21. I taped a flames stencil from The Crafters' Workshop and airbrushed a variety of Y and YR Copics over him.I grabbed my beloved Black Soot Distress Ink and added some black sooty flames to the base, above his cigarette, and around all the edges of the card

The sentiment is from the Memory Box and was die cut with a combo of Nestabilities and QuicKutz dies. Sheer black dotted ribbon and red rhinestones were used to finish the card.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Your next stop on the hop should be Dianne's blog

If you get lost, here's the complete roster!
Here's the Blogroll for the hop!

Blog Roll:

Tori

Black Dragon

Windy

Jane

Shell

Susan S.

Madelein Bouquet

Lady Brayton

Kristy

Glittery Katie

Alison

Lisa

Bombshell Stamps Blog

Wendy

Kathi

Dianne

I shall be entering this card in the following challenge(s):
• Simon Says Stamp & Show: "Anything Goes"

June's Bombshell Sketch challenge!

As you know, I create monthly sketches over at Bombshell Stamps. Please feel free to grab your Bombshell stamps and have a go at the sketch. If you do create a project, please share it with us over at Bombshell's Forum and at Bombshell's Blog. Sharing your project at both web sites will give you two chances to win your choice of a free set of Bombshell Stamps! I think that's worth playing for!!! (Yes. I watch Survivor.)


Here's June's sketch:


Here's my take on the sketch:


My leopard is actually a panther from the Panther Tattoo set by Bombshell Stamps.

I googled "panther" to check coloration and markings and discovered that lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars are members of the genus panthera.

The panther stamp is actually a solid stamp, which I don't use often as I prefer open line images. I decided to make my panther into a leopard by trying something different. I stamped the panther using Butterscotch Adirondack ink by Ranger. I then colored over the ink using YR20, YR24, and YR27 Copic markers and added his spots using a C10 Copic marker.

My leopard was then painted with a layer of Winsor & Newton masking fluid, which was allowed to dry. I airbrushed E55 over the leopard, then layed the Wood Grain stencil from Crafter's Workshop over the piece and airbrushed with E57. When I was done, the mask was peeled off and I scratched the paper to add claw marks to the "wood".

A black Glaze gel pen was used to add both dimension and shine to the leopard's claws, nose, and eyes. An Inkssentials white gel pen was added to whiten his teeth.

An embossing stylus was used on the outline of the image and on certain lines to mark the edges. The cardstock was flipped over, put onto a piece of craft foam, and I went to work with the embossing stylus. This added extra dimension to the piece and made the leopard literally pop from the background.

Here's a close up that shows the embossed leopard:


The leopard print paper, used in the strips and behind the computer generated sentiment, was created by airbrushing white paper with the same YR24 and YR27 that I used on the leopard. The orange paper was then stamped repeatedly with Onyx VersaFine ink using the leopard-print stamp from the Bombshell Patterns set.

Black cardstock was embossed using a leopard-print embossing folder by Cuttlebug, that I was lucky to find marked down at Michael's.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
• Crafty Cats Weekly Challenge: Embossing
• Craft Your Passion #114: Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp & Show: Anything Goes
• Outlawz Twisted Thursdays: Anything Goes/Animal