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I love birds and I love Steampunk, so I swooned I first saw SCACD's new Steampunk MechAnimals collection!


Meet Special Delivery, one of the fabulous new Steampunk MechAnimals from SCACD!

 Special Delivery was stamped with Onyx Black VersaFine ink and heat embossed with Filigree Fine Detail embossing powder. colored with Copic markers which I'll list below. I added some Clear Gelly Roll Glaze pen to his eyes, beak, and talons. I used my trusty Fiskar's Fingertip Craft Knife to cut around his tail and then die cut him using a Nestabilities Oval. Keeping the cardstock in the die, I lightly traced around the interior of the die using a COO marker. Then I removed the oval from the die and added a cloudy sky. I tried to make it look as though he's taking a break by perching on a cloud.

I've been studying cloud patterns while stopped at traffic lights (that crafting ADD, don'tcha know) and realized that they have grey, blue, and purplish undertones. So I added some more color to the cloud mix.

I followed Splitcoast's Sketch #444, but modified it a bit. I used Airmail Washi tape, which I thought was perfect for the image. The patterned papers are from Prima's Engraver 6x6 pad (map) and My Mind's Eye Lost & Found: Union Square 6x6 pad. Both pads seem to be gone, but there are plenty of wonderful new pads that you can find HERE! Frayed Burlap Distress ink and Espresso Adirondack ink were used to sponge the edges of the layers.

Here's the sketch I used:

Copic markers used:
Feathers: G2, G5, G19, 2, B4, B16
Bill: Y13, Y15, Y19
Helmet & Jacket: E31, E33, E334, E35, E37, E39, BG90 BG93, t0, T1, T3
Flying Apparatus: BG90, BG93, T0, T1, T3
Scroll: E41, E42, E43
Sky: B21
Clouds: C00, C0, BV0000, BV000

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
• Sparkles Monthly Challenges: Steampunk or Vintage
• Splitcoast's Sketch #444
• Crafts and Me Challenge #148: Anything Goes
• Party Time Tuesdays #128: Wing It
• CMC Copic Challenge Group #72: Anything Goes

Bombshell's Muse Monday!

It's Muse Monday over on the Bombshell Stamps Blog. This month's we're showcasing the Tiki Party set. Every Monday, the Bomshell Girls will share projects made with this set. By the end of July,  you will have lots of inspiration.  Better yet, this set is on sale for the entire month of July! So if you don't have it yet, this is a great time to pick it up.

Here's the Tiki Party set.

Here's my card!

Cocktails from the set was stamped using Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto cardstock and onto a Post-It note, which was fussy cut and set aside to be used as a mask. The image was colored with Copic markers and then took a ride through my Big Shot in a Nestabilities circle die. The cardstock was kept inside the die, the mask was placed over the Cocktails, and Pumice Stone Distress ink was sponged over the image. The cardstock was popped out of the circle die and Orange and Lemon Spica glitter pens were used to rim the outside of the circle.

I was delighted to discover that SCACD's gorgeous Classic Timepiece die fit perfectly inside the Alterations Pocketwatch Frame! So, I diecut SCACD's gorgeous Classic Timepiece from black cardstock and set it aside while I diecut the Alterations Pocketwatch Frame from silver metallic cardstock, black cardstock, and pink dotted patterned paper from an old, but beloved My Mind's Eye Lost & Found 6x6 pad. The pink dotted paper was layered over the black Pocketwatch Frame. Then SCACD's gorgeous Classic Timepiece black clock was layered over the pink dotted paper, and the stamped circle was adhered to the center of the Classic Timepiece clock. The silver Pocketwatch Frame was then adhered over the whole thang. This was set aside to wait patiently.

Leftover scraps of patterned paper from the Down by the Shore 6x6 pad by Fancy Pants were layered up. I had some very, very, very old orange and white paper tape by Heidi Swapp which went really well with the colors of the patterned paper, so I layered onto the card front as well. I used Pumice Stone, Weathered Wood, and Peeled Paint Distress inks to edge the layers.

The Pocketwatch was adhered to the card front on dimensional adhesive. The Dienamics Oval Chain Border die was used to die cut silver metallic paper and this became the watchfob!

SCACD's fabulous new MechAnimals set contained THE perfect sentiment for this card. So I stamped it onto a scrap of the pink dotted cardstock, colored the umbrella with Copic markers, and die cut it using Alterations Tattered Banners die. It was sponged with Pumice Stone Distress ink, folded, and popped up on dimensional adhesive over the base of the Pocket Watch.

By the way, I should mention that Bombshell Stamps is happy to be hosting challenges for the entire month of July over at Outlawz Friday Alcohol Markers Group!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Outlawz Friday Alcohol Markers Challenge: Barbeques & Picnics
• 613 Avenue Create: Anything Goes & Twist 
• Penny Black & More: Dies & Punches
• Sentimental Sundays #162: Recipe Challenge
• 365 Cards: Day #185: Overlapping Elements

Collector, hoarder, or recycler?

This week, the lovely ladies over at the Stampotique Challenge Blog challenged us to Recycle It. Well, I don't know about you, but since I caught this crafting bug 13 years ago, I've looked at the world through different eyes eventhough they're still the same eyes I was born with (though my sight has deteriorated and I have glaucoma now).

What I mean is that I'll be driving along and I'll notice the color of the sky and wonder what the Copic marker equivalent would be. Or I'll visit my parents' house and abscond with some old cigar boxes. Or I'll cut off the buttons off a shirt that I inadvertently bleached while doing that ghastly thing called housework, even knowing that I rarely, if ever, use buttons on my stuff. Or I'll keep packaging (boxes, blisterpack, etc.) because I might want to use it some day. So is this collecting, hoarding, or recycling?

So, when this challenge came up, it was dead easy for me. Actually, it wasn't that easy. I couldn't decide whether to use the clear pillow boxes from Alterations Texture Fades or the coasters I cadged from Chili's, or this thick chipboard tag that was on a pair of jeans.

The tag won.

Here's the before:

And here's what I made:

The first thing that I did was to coat the tag with a layer of Claudine Helmuth Studios Gesso, which I heat set because I was impatient. I sponged on several different colors of Paper Artsy Fresco paint (which is awesome stuff and I'm still at the beginning of the learning curve), blended 'em together, and heat set again. Then I repeated the process using slightly darker colors.  When I was happy with the coverage. I sponged paint through the Pattern Strip, Sunburst, and Cornflower stencils by The Crafters Workshop.  Then I heat set again.

The sentiment was created with Ideology Chit Chat stickers, which I colored with Copic markers. I put a layer of Fresco Gloss Glaze over the painted tag and moved onto the next step.

Girl with Heart Purse by Stampotique Originals was stamped with Jet Black StazOn onto watercolor paper then colored with Distress markers. I took some liberties with her hair because her neck is soooo skinny that I would have decapitated her when I fussy cut the image. Whereas that might be a cool idea for the future, (and I have cut some heads before) it didn't really fit this specific challenge.

When I was done coloring her, I fussy cut her, ran her through my Xyron X, and adhered her. Once I saw where she was placed, I colored the white areas that were left between her limbs and the handle of her heart bag. The final step was to add a ribbon to the top of the tag!

Thanks for visiting today.

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
• Stampotique Designers Challenge #107: Recycle It
• Make It Monday #147: Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp and Show: Anything Goes
• Oozak Challenge Blog #17: Anything Goes with a Girlie Theme

Crafting ADD

I swear that I have crafting Attention Deficit Disorder! I'll be surfing along the internet, see something in a gallery, blog, or Pinterest, and then follow links to find out more about the product.

This can be an expensive disorder since my curiosity and lack of impulse control, both attributes of ADD, usually lead me to purchases.

Similarly, cleaning my craftroom can do the same thing. I'll be putting stuff away, reorganizing, or purging,  and I'll discover a stamp set or a supply that I haven't used in a while, if ever.

This is what happened recently when I was cleaning up after my last project. Cleaning up led to reorganizing my stamps. I found Nature Set #11 by  Stampscapes  that I won in Stampbord's contest (several years ago), and visited Stampscapes' website, which led to me clicking on the Stampbord link, which led to watching some videos, which led to the following 2" square tile.

The creation of this was relatively quick. You sponge on some dye inks, stamp your scene, then take a sharp pointy thing and scratch in some stars. I'm relatively pleased with this tile. For a first go, it's kinda cool, though I need to improve on my scratching and remember that the scratching tools are sharp. Fortunately, I didn't get any blood on the tile. :D

I plan to seal this and put a magnet on the back, but took a photo of it first.

Be prepared to see some more Stampscapes projects in the future because while I was visiting, I had to place an order. That darned impulse control thing, don'tcha know?

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this project in the following challenges:
• Lady Anne's 4th Challenge: Monochromatic
• Make It Monday #147: Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp and Show: Anything Goes

Stagefright: v3.0 plus Monday Mojo #300!!!

Here's my last entry for the Kraftin' Kimmie DT Tryouts, once again creating a card with an outside and an inside!

This time I used a sketch from Mojo Monday, who is celebrating their 300th post! Woot!!!

Here's the sketch:

Here's my take on the sketch!

And here are the card's innards!

That cutie hula dancer is Leilani by Kraftin' Kimmie. She was stamped using Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto Neenah cardstock and colored with Copic markers which I'll list below. When she was all colored, she took a ride in my Big Kick to be die cut by a rectangle Nestabilities die. She was kept in the die while I used Post-It notes to block off first the beach and then the sky. The Post-It notes were lifted and I colored the sand, sea, and sky using Copic markers. Inkssentials White Gel pen was used to add sea foam and white caps. When I was happy with my little scene, I put it aside to construct the card.

I must say using sketches makes things much easier. The only issue I have with them is that I have to do math. I guess my third grade teacher was right after all. You really DO need to know how to add, subtract, and divide fractions.

But I digress, which I'm sure shocked you.

The hibiscus flower and green banner paper are from the Down by the Shore 6x6 pad by Fancy Pants. The yellow floral paper that I used for the circle is from My Mind's Eye's Remarkable: Collectable 6x6 pad. The patterned paper on the front and innards is from Basic Grey's Basics: Manila 6x6 pad.

"Aloha" and "Mahalo" sentiments are included with  Leilani.

The hibiscus is from Bombshell Stamps' Hula Girl set. It was colored with Copic markers, fussy cut, and adhered to adorn the sentiment banner.

All edges of the patterned papers were sponged with Old Paper Distress ink, which was also used to sponge over a very old stencil by Club Scrap.

True confession: I made a few mistakes, including an element that I meant to be right-side up, but perfection is overrated or so I keep telling myself. I also meant to add black photo corners to the stamped image, but I forgot and didn't realize it til everything was all securely adhered.

Copic markers used:
Skin: E11, E13, E15
Hair: B41, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8
Top: R24, R46, R59
Skirt: YG01, YG03, YG05, YG13, YG21
Leaves: Same as the skirt, but added YG63
Flower: Same as the top, but added YR12
Sand: E40, E41, E42, E43
Sea: BG11, BG13,BG23, BG45, BG57
Sky: B21, C00, C0

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Kraftin' Kimmie Challenges: Happy 300 Mojo Monday!
• Mojo Monday 300 Celebration
• Oozak Challenge Blog #17: Anything Goes with a Girlie Theme

Stagefright -- Part Deux!

Greetings! Here's my second entry for the Guest DT challenge over at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps! Since the challenge is to create a card with a decorated inside, I decided to try my hand at creating a pop-up card. I recently got the Sizzix Pop 'N Cuts die, saw the construction and had a "I can do that myself" moment.

So here it is!

I used Lab Geek by Kraftin' Kimmie (stamp is not in stock, but many of the ones that are in stock are on sale!). I love this stamp because whereas I'm NOT a chemist, I've been married to one for almost 33 years! I was a child bride of 5!  So I figured the stamp would be very useful. In fact, I've already used it a bunch. Here's a link to another card using Lab Geek.

But I digress. Quel shoque! The little scene was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Copic markers, which I'll list below. The scene was die cut with Nestabilities Labels 11. The cardstock was left in the die and I sponged Victorian Velvet and Old Paper Distress Inks around it, then liberated it from its metal prison. If you look carefully, you'll see that I messed up. So what? Perfection is overrated.

I added Glossy Accents to her goggles and the flasks and left it overnight to cure.

 The patterned papers are all from MME's So Sophie: Graceful 6x6 pad. All edges were sponged with Victorian Velvet and Old Paper Distress Inks.

Here's the inside:

I diecut two flasks using Memory Box's Bottles die (which appears to be sold out. Too bad. I got mine! hahahahaha). I colored them with Copic markers, (I should have made them more transparent by adding a matching green. Oh well!) I added some Clear Gelly Stardust Glitter pen accents, then coated them with a layer of Clear Gelly Glaze pen. I die cut a slightly smaller label using the Nestabilities Labels 11 set, stamped the sentiment, added the flasks, and then added some more glitter pen accents.

I used the same papers and design on the inside of the card, but added the pop-up mechanism to the Ledger paper sheet, then adhered the Nestabilities piece over it.

I'm no engineer (nor do I play one on TV), but I'm inordinately proud of myself for this card, since fancy folds are usually beyond me. :D

OK. Thanks for visiting today!

Copic Markers used:
Skin: E000, E00, E21, R20, BV00
Hair: C4, C6, C7
Lab Coat: W00, E81
Goggles: BG90, 93
Blouse: RV93, RV95
Bottles: Way too many to list.

I shall enter this in the following challenges:
• Kraftin Kimmie: Finalists Challenge
• Stampotique Designers Challenges #106: New Adventures
• Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes 
• 613 Avenue Create: Anything Goes

Steampunk: Meet SCACD's Wise Owl MechAnimal!

Have you checked out the latest SCACD release? If not, why not?

Susana released a wonderful new Steampunk inspired MechAnimal Collection that I just love!

Here's the deal:

Get all five MechAnimals stamps with their matching sentiment for the price of four stamps PLUS the Bonus word "Art" stamp (2" wide), which is available only when you buy the complete set!

Meet Wise Owl!

Wise Owl was stamped onto Neenah cardstock using Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Copic markers, which I'll list below. Clear Gelly Glaze pen was added to his beak, talons, the compass face, and the nails in his armor.

When I was done coloring him, I drew a crescent moon for him to stand upon, using the negative space of die cut circles as a stencil. I then stamped off another image onto Eclipse tape, fussy cut it, and placed it over the owl and also fussy cut a crescent moon from Eclipse tape to use as a mask.

A night sky was airbrushed using several Copic markers. When I was happy with the color (my fave night sky combo) and coverage, I applied Opaque White Copic paint/ink/whatever to a toothbrush and splattered white "stars" onto the night sky.

I lifted all masks, touched up the image, then inked the moon using a VersaMarker and brushed on Pearl Perfect Pearls to make the moon shimmery silver white.

After die cutting a bunch of different corners, I decided that "less is more" and went CAS and mounted the stamped, airbrushed image onto a white metallic A2 card, which photographed slightly  grey.

I couldn't take a photo outside since it's been storming all day. In fact, a tornado touched down about two blocks from where my husband works, causing lots of tree damage, and a power outtage. We sure have been having freaky weather.

Thanks for visiting today!

Copic Markers used:
Feathers: E40, E41, E42, E43, E44
Helmet: E70, E71, E74; BG90, BG93, BG96
Armor: T0, T1, T3, T5; RV91, RV93, RV95: BG90, BG93
Eyes: Y13, Y19
Watch Face/Compass Face: B60, B63
Night Sky: B63, B66, B69, B79, B26

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
• Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes
• Addicted to Clean & Simple #16: Take Flight
• 613 Avenue Create: Anything Goes
• CAS on Sunday: One Layer Wonder Cards
• Simon Says Stamp and Show: Anything Goes