Book Lover!

It had been ages since I played along with a challenge at Kraftin' Kimmie, plus I came across a large scrap of book patterned paper from the Oxford collection by Basic Grey. So Priscilla came out to play!

Here's the card.

Priscilla was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto X-Press It Blending card, then colored with Copic markers. When I was done, I added some blush using pastel pencils.

The image panel was die-cut using a Nestabilities die, kept in the die, and Old Paper Distress ink was sponged over the die onto the image. It was popped out of the die, matted onto black cardstock, then adhered to the book patterned paper. Some Washi tape was used to finish the card. I haven't figured out who will get the card for what occasion, so it's sentiment-less at the moment.

Thanks for visiting!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Kraftin' Kimmie's Wonderful Wednesday Challenge
• 613 Avenue Create: Anything Goes (Use your Stash)
• Left of Center: Die Cuts
• DL Art Thankful Thursday: Woman or Girl Image
• 7 Kids College Fund Challenges: Anything Goes 

My Koi Pond v2.0

There's something so Zen about Koi ponds and I'm feeling kind of mellow, so I decided to create another Koi pond card using SCACD's Customize Your Koi Pond rubber stamp set. The great thing about this set is that it has three different Koi and three different lily pads so that you truly CAN customize your own Koi Ponds!

I felt like using my Copics because they were feeling neglected, so I stamped the small and medium sized lily pads using Bamboo Leaves and Cottage Ivy Memento inks onto Neenah cardstock. I also stamped the lily pads onto Post-It notes, fussy-cut them, and then adhered the masks over their counterparts.

The two large Koi were stamped with Tangelo Memento ink. I had kept the masks from my last pond, so I adhered the masks to the large Koi. Using a stamp positioner, the medium sized Koi were stamped next with Rusty Hinge Distress ink. The medium sized Koi were also stamped onto a *Post-It note pad, fussy-cut, and these masks were placed. The smallest sized Koi were stamped using Dried Marigold Distress ink, again using a stamp positioner for placement. *Post-It note masks were also stamped, fussy-cut, and placed.

With the stamping complete, the masks were kept in place and a background was airbrushed using B and BG Copic markers and my Copic airbrush system. When I was happy with the coverage, the masks were lifted and all the fish and lily pads were colored with Copic markers. This actually took some thinking, oh my poor brain, so that the fish would appear to be swimming in different depths in the pond. The smallest Koi were the dullest in color so they'd be the deepest swimmers. The middle fish were above them, and the largest Koi were closest to the surface, but under the lily pads. I hope I achieved that effect with coloring and shading! When all the coloring was done, the masks were placed over the lily pads and the scene was airbrushed again with B and BG Copic marker. The masks were removed, and the Koi Pond was set aside.

Mottled gray textured cardstock was die-cut (unevenly) with two Grand Labels 11 Nestabilities on my new (and fabulous) Magnetic Platform. Chalk pencil was used to create the look of stone pavers. The excess chalk was brushed across the frame to make the stone look a bit more weathered. Black Soot Distress marker was used to add more depth and detail.

The Koi Pond was diecut using the larger Grand Labels 11 Nestabilities and adhered to a plain green card. This was then outlined using the Black Soot Distress marker. The stone frame was adhered in place and some seriously very old Rain Dot clear epoxy splashes were added to finish the card.

*A tip for creating Post-It Note masks: When you need multiple masks of the same image, stamp the image up near the top of the pad where the adhesive is, then pull of as many notes as you need, being sure to keep them adhered to one another. Then you only need to fussy-cut once, but will end up with many masks. I've been able to cut up to five notes at a time!

Thanks for visiting today!

• Chalk N Stock Challenges: Anything Goes
• Tuesday Throwdown: Anything Goes
• Color Me Creative: Anything Goes

Monochromatic! Blues

* Please scroll down for my Bombshell Hump Day Hop card! *

Tanja is hosting this week's Stampotique Designers Challenge, which is "Monochromatic". If you'd like to play along with this challenge, visit Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and be sure to read the rules, so that you'll have the chance to win a great prize!!!

Here's what Tanja had to say about her challenge!

Hello crafty fellows, today it's my turn. I selected the theme "Monochromatic". Well, in fact it's a big challenge to myself.  I actually prefer it a little more colorful. But restrict myself to work tone in tone? First let's see the projects from the amazing Stampotiue Design Team. And now... Come on up! I'm longing to see all your stunning monochromatic artworks. Hugs Tanja

Here's my monochromatic journal page using Stampotique's Single Tear.

A brayer was used to paint Antartica, Ice Blue, then Sky Blue Fresco Finish Acrylic paints onto 140 lb. Multimedia cardstock. After each color, the brayer was rolled onto another sheet of this cardstock to clean it. When I was happy with the depth of color, Peacoat Fresco Finish Acrylic paint was watered down and brayered over the mixed blues to add a touch of darker blue.  A mini-mister was filled with 2/3 water and 1/3 Peacoat Fresco Finish Acrylic paint, shaken, then sprayed onto the painted cardstock, which was standing up on paper towel to allow the drips to travel down the paper. When I was happy with the result, I heat set both the sheets of cardstock.

The "clean-up" cardstock was die-cut using SCACD's Classic Clock die, the Musical Notes Die-Namics die, and a Boss-Kut alphabet. These die-cuts were adhered to the painted cardstock using Matte Glue and Seal, which was also used to add several layers to protect the piece.

Stampotique's Single Tear was stamped onto tissue paper using Deep Lagoon VersaFine ink and heat set. The tissue was flipped over and Ice Blue Fresco Finish Acrylic paint was sponged behind the image. Matte Glue and Seal was brushed over white cardstock and the stamped painted tissue paper was adhered to it. This piece was then adhered to the journal page using Matte Glue and Seal and an additional layer of Matte Glue and Seal was brushed over the entire piece.


Translucent Embossing Paste by Dreamweaver was brushed over a 6x6 Raindrops stencil by Prima and allowed to dry over night. The next morning it was a bit flat looking, so I added some white Glaze pen to the drops, but that still didn't ring my bell, so I added some Diamond Glaze to the drops to make them rounder. While I was adding the Diamond Glaze, I decided to add some over the tear on the Single Tear image. The piece was set aside to dry and I left my craftroom to resist the temptation to touch the Diamond Glaze. (Guess how I learned that lesson!)

When I returned, everything was dry, the raindrops looked like raindrops and the tear looked teary. I was happy, but the page still looked a little flat to me. Then I remembered that I had received White Fire Treasure Gold as a holiday gift, so I got out that bad boy and used a fuzzy paintbrush to brush some shiny glimmer over the die-cuts on the page. Much better! This magpie does like shine and shimmer!

A bit of hand journaling was added and the page was then adhered to the journal using Matte Glue and Seal, allowed to dry, then dragged outside for a photo shoot.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall be entering this journal page in the following challenges:
• Country View Challenge #12: Painty Pleasures 
• Take a Word Challenge: Blue
• Simon Says Monday Challenges: Paste
• Perfectly Rustics: Shades of One Color
• Timbroscrapmania Challenge #88: Monochromatics
• Open-Minded Crafting Fun Challenges: Monochromatic
• Inspiration Journal: Show it with Words

Bombshell's Hump Day Hop!

Greetings! Bombshell's lovely and talented Challenge Captain, Alison, has set this month's blog hop theme, which is a color challenge, based on a fabulous color palette from Design Seeds.

Here's the palette:

You should have arrived here from Monika blog, where you no doubt, saw something totally fabulous!


Here's my card, which features rubber stamps from the Bombshell Patterns and the Hula Girl sets. Apparently, I was only supposed to use colors from the palette above, plus neutrals. However, I'm an anarchist and used green for my leaves.

The Hibiscus Pattern stamp from the Bombshell Patterns set was stamped several times onto Neenah cardstock using Peacock Feathers Distress ink, then colored with Copic markers. It was then diecut using a Spellbinders Corner die, which was part of a set that I got for $10.00. Gotta love a bargain. The four corners were set aside.

The Aloha Banner stamp from the Hula Girl set was stamped using Tuxedo Black Memento ink, then colored with Copic markers. It was also stamped onto Eclipse tape, fussy cut, and the mask was placed over its counterpart. Previously die-cut and saved Memory Box clouds were temporarily adhered to the background, which was then airbrushed with my Copic airbrush system. The masks were all lifted and the clouds were outlined and detailed with CO and CO0 Copic markers.

The corners were adhered, the entire piece was edged with Peacock Feathers Distress ink, and then mounted onto a plain white A2 card.

Thanks for stopping by today! Your next stop on the hop is Alaine's blog, where she's sure to wow and inspire you with her fantastic coloring and great design!

If you get lost along the way or want to revisit any of the blogs, here's the hop list!
Bombshell Blog
Alison
Kim
Glittery Katie
Monika
Kathi (You are here!)
Alaine

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
• Paperminutes: On the Fly
• Crafty Cardmakers and More: Come Fly with Me
• Stamping Sensations: Wings, Fantasy, and Fiction
• Outlawz: Friday Alcohol Markers Challenges: Things with Wings

Bombshell Stamps Muse Monday!

Throughout February, the Bombshell Girls have been sharing some fun projects showcasing the Sugar Daddy set.  Click on over to Bombshell's Blog to check out all the great projects!

Here's the set!

 

Here's my card which also uses a modification of the sketch I created for February. 

Pimpin' Wolf (his real name), from the Sugar Daddy set was stamped using Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Copic markers. His teeth, cufflinks, and the buttons on his jacket were coated with a layer of Clear Gelly Glaze pen to make 'em shiny and dimensional. 

The mat under the wolf is a patterned paper sheet from the Origins 6x6 pad by Basic Grey (the mat under the wolf) and the card suit patterned paper is from the Well Played 6x6 pad by Carta Bella. It's gone now, but you can find lots of other nifty pads HERE.

The sentiment die cut is a new one from Memory Box. It was edged with a silver leafing pen, which was also used to edge the card. The ribbon is from my stash.

Here's the sketch. 

Feel free to take it and make it your own. If you use Bombshell Stamps with it, be sure to share it with us on Bombshell's blog for a chance to win a fab prize.

What lurks beneath the surface?

What a profound question! Apparently strange scenes lurk in my brain.

This project uses three of the fish skeleton stamps from SCACD's Montage Set #1, a fabulous set that contains sixteen (16) stamps! However, if you don't want 'em all (why not?), the stamps ARE available in smaller sets. I used one of the stamps from the Fossilized Sea Shells set and three stamps from the Fish Frames set.

The first step was to sponge Jet Black and Watering Can Archival ink over the Skullduggery stencil (Andy Skinner for Tando Creative) onto 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock by Strathmore. I also sponged the ink over the stencil onto a piece of scrap paper, which I cut out to use for masking. When I was done sponging, I darkened the eye sockets with a Prismacolor marker.

The mask was positioned over the skull using removable adhesive. Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean, and Chipped Sapphire Distress inks were lightly sponged over the Brain Coral stencil by ArtistCellar. The Distress inks were heat set.

The skull's mask was removed and the temporary adhesive was erased. Three of fish skellies from the Fish Frames set were stamped using white pigment ink and embossed with White Filagree Fine Detail embossing powder. The bottom swordfish's tail has disappeared into the blackness of the skull's eyesocket. The long snaky fish has swum (is that a word?) behind the skull and is emerging through the nose hole. The shell has become cemented to the skull's forehead. And yes, this piece reveals a bit too much about my psyche.

The branches of the trees looked like coral to me, so the small tree from the Baobab Tree set was inked with Jet Black Archival ink and stamped along the bottom of the piece.

Old Paper, Black Soot Distress, and Watering Can Archival inks were sponged around the skull to age it and add dimension. The embossed areas resisted the ink as planned. Chalk pencils were used to add additional dimension and shading to the skull.

The skull mask was placed over the skull again and the Brain Coral stencil was taped in the same position. Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean, and Chipped Sapphire Distress inks were sponged more heavily over the Brain Coral stencil. The stencil was lifted and the entire piece was edged with the same colors of Distress ink, the Black Soot Distress ink was sponged along the edges to add additional contrast.

The last step was to add the sentiment using my rapidly diminishing supply of Doodlebug rub-on alphabets. 

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
• Craft A Scene: Use Your Favorite Technique -- I love stencils and ink sponging and masking :D
• Make It Monday #179: Anything Goes
• The Artistic Stamper Challenges: Use Distress 
• Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenges: Anything goes with the optional twist Triple Play Three fish, three colors of Distress ink sponged over the stencil.

Wine not see clearly!

Corrie is this week's host at the Stampotique Designers Challenge blog.  Her challenge is to use acetate in your artwork!

Here's what Corrie had to say about her challenge!

Now, if you are anything like me, you will keep all wrapping paper, cardboard and of course acetate (clear plastic). We all get lots of it : packaging. I particularly like acetate to use in my projects, whether it is to stamp on or use it in any other way. I just love it. So this week I would like YOU to use a bit of acetate. Let your imagination run wild and surprise me !!!

If you'd like to play along with this challenge, visit Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and be sure to read and follow the rules, so that you'll have the chance to win a great prize!!!

Here's my art journal page!

Stampotique's Carousel was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto Neenah cardstock, colored with Copic markers, then fussy-cut, and set aside. The Hand was stamped with Onyx Black VersaFine ink onto Neenah cardstock, heat set with Clear Detail embossing powder, colored with Copic markers, then fussy-cut. It lacked a bit of dimension, so I used some chalk pencils to add some shading. The nails were coated with a layer of Clear Stardust Glitter pen and a layer of Clear Gelly Roll Glaze pen. The nails still faded a bit into the background, so I colored over the Glaze pen with a Prismacolor marker and put another layer of Clear Gelly Roll Glaze pen over it! Much better. The hand was set aside.

Like Corrie, I keep/hoard all sorts of oddments, including most acetate packaging, which I find ever-so-useful for so many things. This time it was die-cut with Die-Namics wine glasses and bottles dies. Both the glasses and the bottle were painted with Fresco Finish Acrylic paint, then edged with a black Prismacolor marker. The goblets and bottle were flipped over and the wine bottle received a computer-generated label (from my fantasy winery) and a touch of gold Krylon ink for the seal.

It was time to create a background for my Carousel,  Hand, wine glasses, and bottle! Pieces of Idea-ology Terminology Tissue Wrap were adhered to a sheet of 5" x 8" 140 lb. Multi-Media media cardstock (Strathmore) with Matte Glue and Seal, and heat-set. Removable Scotch tape and self-stick notes were used to mask the path and the grass. The "sky" was painted with Stormy Sky Distress paint. Some watered-down Snowflake and Candy Floss Fresco Finish Acrylic paints were streaked across the Stormy Sky. The paint was heat-set, then Stormy Sky Distress ink was sponged over the Bubble Layering stencil and heat-set. Stormy Sky Distress ink was sponged over the Rays Layering stencil, sprinkled with Clear Detail embossing powder, and heat-set. A yellow Prismacolor marker was used to color the rays. The tape and self-stick note masks were lifted and the path and grass were painted respectively with Pumice Stone and Mowed Grass Distress paints.  The whole page was heat set, then Black Soot Distress ink was used to edge the sheet.

The Carousel, acetate wine glasses, and bottle were adhered to the painted, sponged background. A piece of lace was adhered to the Hand, which was then adhered to the upper right hand corner with the finger touching the top of the Carousel. This sheet was then adhered to a page in my journal. Washi tape was added along the left hand edge and very old, almost ancient rub-ons were used to add the sentiment.

Here are some close-ups of my journal page.

Thanks for visiting today.