Thanks!

One of the things that I look forward to every year is the flowering of the wisteria down the street. It's absolutely beautiful! Sadly, it hasn't bloomed yet because spring weather is late this year!

Here's my card with the lovely new Wisteria Circle Stamp and Big Word Thanks Perfectly Clear@ Stamp Set.

Supplies:

Stampendous Products:

Wisteria Circle Stamp

Big Words Thanks Perfectly Clear™ Stamp set

Memento™ Tuxedo Black Inkpad by Tsukineko®

Onyx Black VersaFine Instant Dry Pigment Ink by Tsukineko®

Other Supplies:

Copic Markers: V20, V22, BV02, BV04, YG63, YG67, E74, E77, E79, E89

White cardstock

Green cardstock

Circle Nestabilities dies by Spellbinders®

Instructions:

1. Create a 5" x 7" card from dark green cardstock.
2. Stamp image with Memento™ Tuxedo Black onto white cardstock and color with Copic markers.
3. Cut a piece of lighter green cardstock to 4.75" x 6.75". 
4. Position a circle die equidistant from the top and both sides. Secure the die with tape and run through a die-cut machine.
5. Using VersaFine ink, stamp the sentiments onto the green cardstock below the circle.
6. Adhere the stamped image behind the green cardstock so that the circle aperture is framing the image.
7. Mount the image panel onto the green card.

Thanks for visiting today!

Enjoy Spring!

The Stampendous Design Team and some friends are sharing projects using the versatile Window Messages Perfectly Clear™ Stamp Set. Click HERE to see who is participating, then visit each blog  for inspiration!

Here's my card using the Enjoy stamp which I used because we've finally got spring-like weather here in the Northeast!

Supplies:

Stampendous Products used:

Window Messages Perfectly Clear™ Stamp Set

Spring Borders Cutting Dies Set

Other Products used:

Jet Black Archival ink by Ranger

Tim Holtz® Black Soot Distress ink by Ranger

140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock by Strathmore

Zig® Clean Color Pens by Kuretake

Lady Bug Ribbon (Source unknown)

ATC Nestabilities set by Spellbinders

Very Vintage Double Dot Designs by BoBunny

Dot Grid Daisy Stripe Rainbow Petite Prints by Doodlebug Designs™

Instructions:

1. Stamp the image onto cardstock. 
2. Color with watercolor pens.
3. Die-cut the image panel, set aside.
4. Cut green Very Vintage Double Dot paper to 3.25" x 4.75".
5. Cut orange Very Vintage Double Dot paper to 2.75" x 4.75"
6. Sponge the edge of the orange paper with Black Soot Distress ink, then adhere to orange patterned paper to create your card front. 
7. Sponge all four edges of the card front with Distress ink
8. Cut a piece of yellow Daisy paper to 5/8" wide, tape the dotted scallop die from the to the edge, and run the patterned paper through a die-cut machine. Remove tape and the die-cut paper. 
9. Trim the scalloped border to 3.25" wide, then edge the straight edge with Black Soot Distress ink.
10. Adhere the ribbon to the die-cut border, then adhere to the card front.
11. Adhere the image panel to your card front.
12. Adhere to card front to a 3.5" x 5" card.

Thanks for visiting today!

Merci!

This week, the Stampendous Design Team is sharing projects using the fabulous new Paris Bonjour Cling Stamps and Stencil Set and the Paris Bonjour Die Set. Click HERE to see who is participating, then visit each blog and comment for a chance to win this great set!

Here's a festive card using these great new sets.

Supplies:
Stampendous Products used:
Paris Bonjour Cling Stamps and Stencil Set
Paris Bonjour Die Set
6x6 Cling Paris Map
Crystal Sparkly Embossing Powder
Aqua Tinsel Embossing Powder
Mushroom Opaque Embossing Powder
Fitted Frames B Die Cut Set

VersaMark™ Watermark Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

Other Products used:

Navy and white cardstock

Zig® Clean Color pens by Kuretake: Green, May Green, Deep Green, and Blue 

Yellow, Cold Grey IV, Brown Pitt Artist pens by Faber Castell

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of navy cardstock in half. Score and fold to form an A2 card.
2. Cut the remaining piece of navy cardstock in half.
3. Using VersaMark ink, stamp the fireworks stamp, from the Paris Bonjour Cling Stamps and Stencil Set), onto the top part of one half of the navy cardstock. Heat emboss with Aqua Tinsel embossing powder. Repeat to add more bursts of firework. Trim to 3" x 4.5". Set aside.
4. Using VersaMark ink, stamp the Merci sentiment from the Paris Bonjour Cling Stamps and Stencil Set onto a remaining scrap of navy paper. Heat emboss the sentiment with Aqua Tinsel.
5. Using VersaMark ink, stamp the 6x6 Cling Paris Map onto the remaining 4.25" x 5.5" piece of Navy cardstock. Heat set with Crystal Sparkly Embossing Powder. Trim to 4" x 5.25".
6. Drag all edges of both the Fireworks piece and the Paris map piece onto your VersaMark pad, then drag them through Crystal embossing powder. Heat set.
7. Die-cut the sentiment with one of the dies from the enormously versatile Fitted Frames B Die Cut Set. Smoosh the entire die-cut into the VersaMark pad, then while holding it with tweezers, dip it into the jar of Crystal Embossing powder, pull it out and heat emboss it.
8. Stamp the Eiffel Tower from the Paris Bonjour Cling Stamps and Stencil Set with VersaMark ink. Heat emboss it with Mushroom Opaque Embossing Powder, then color it yellow. Add some shading if you'd like with the Brown and Grey Pitt pens.
9. Die-cut the stamped, colored Eiffel Tower with the matching die from the Paris Bonjour Die Set.
10. Stamp the shrubbery from the Paris Bonjour Cling Stamps and Stencil Set, color it with markers, and die-cut it with the matching die.
11. Assemble the card as shown.

Thanks for visiting today!

Travel Journal Mini-Book!

This week, the Stampendous Design Team is sharing projects using the fabulous new Paris Bonjour Cling Stamps and Stencil Set and the Paris Bonjour Die Set. Click HERE to see who is participating, then comment for a chance to win this great set!

When I saw Stampendous' wonderful new Paris Bonjour Cling Stamps and Stencil Set,  Paris Bonjour Die Set  the new Sassy Travel Perfectly Clear™ Set, and the new Sassy City Perfectly Clear™ Set,  I knew that I had to create a travel journal.

This is going to be a long post, so go grab a cuppa and settle in!

Here's the cover of the Travel Journal!

 The Paris Spread

The Rome Spread

The Holland Spread

The New York City Spread

Supplies:

Stampendous: 

Paris Bonjour Cling Stamps and Stencil Set

Paris Bonjour Die Set

6x6 Cling Paris Map

Sassy Travel Perfectly Clear™ Set

Sassy City Perfectly Clear™ Set

Cling Clock Collage Stamp

Cling Crackle Stamp

Decor Cling Script Stamp

Cling Dutch Tulip Stamp Set

Frantage Aged Bronze Embossing Enamel

Clear Detail Embossing Powder

VersaMark™ Watermark Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

Other Supplies:

Passport Scoreboards XL Die by Sizzix

Black Chipboard

140 lb. Mixed Media Paper by Strathmore

Cerulean Blue, and Titan Buff Media Fluid® Acrylic paint by DecoArt®

Media® Matte Medium by DecoArt®

VersaMark™ Pen by Tsukineko®

Tim Holtz® Mowed Lawn, Forest Moss, Pine Needles Distress Inks by Ranger

Tim Holtz® Worn Lipstick, Broken China, Salty Ocean, and Antique Linen Distress Oxide Inks by Ranger

Tim Holtz® Mowed Lawn, Forest Moss, Pine Needles, Vintage Photo, Fired Brick, Barn Door, Faded Jeans, and Blueprint Sketch Distress Pens by Ranger

Sepia, Leaf Green, Emerald Green, Shadow Grey, Watering Can, Jet Black Archival™ Ink by Ranger

Warm Grey IV, Warm Grey III, Dark Sepia, and Sanguine Pitt Artist Pens by Faber Castell

Tim Holtz® Idea-ology Words Remnant Rubs by Advantus

Tim Holtz® Idea-ology Adage Tickets by Advantus

Travel Voyage and Notebook Stickers by 7 Gypsies

City Scapes, Curtain Call 8x8 Patterned Paper Pads by Graphic 45

Basics Manila 6x6 Patterned Paper Pads by Basic Grey

Uncharted  Patterned Paper Pad by Paper Studios

Tim Holtz® Idea-ology Destinations Paper Stash by Advantus

Sookwang Tape

Misti Stamping Tool by My Sweet Petunia

Directions for the covers:

1. Die-cut the chipboard twice to create the covers and the spine.
2. Die-cut Mixed Media paper several times for both sides of the covers and the spine.
3. Stamp the Cling Clock Collage with Sepia Archival™ ink onto one sheet for the front cover.
4. Stamp the Cling Crackle onto the other three covers and the spine.
5. Mix Cerulean Blue and Titan Buff Media Fluid™, thin slightly with water, then sponge over the stamped covers, spine, and scraps of Mixed Media cardstock. Use a baby wipe to wipe back as necessary to reveal the clocks. Heat set. 
6. Add Remnant Rub sentiment along the top of the front cover as shown, then seal with Media® Matte Medium.
7. Adhere the painted Mixed Media papers to the chipboard covers and spine and set aside.
8. Ink the Eiffel Tower Stamp with VersaMark, then immediately re-ink with Sepia Archival™ ink. Stamp onto Mixed Media Cardstock, sprinkle on Clear Detail Embossing Powder, dump off excess, and heat set.
9. Die-cut the Eiffel Tower.
10. Using Jet Black Archival™ ink, stamp the Trees twice onto a scrap of the painted Mixed Media paper. 
11. Die-cut both images, then color the tree canopies with Leaf Green and Emerald Green Archival™ inks. Use the Dark Sepia Pitt Artist Pen to color the tree trunks.
12. Using a strong adhesive, adhere the Eiffel Tower to cover, then adhere the tree backgrounds.
13. Pour some Frantage Aged Bronze Embossing Enamel onto a folded sheet of scrap paper.
14. Press all four edges of each cover into VersaMark ink, then run them through the Frantage Aged Bronze Embossing Enamel. Heat set. Repeat this step until you're happy with the coverage.
15. Assemble the cover of the Passport mini-book using Sookwang Tape.

Directions for the pages:

1. Die-cut Mixed media cardstock to form the pages, remembering that each die-cut creates a four pages.
2. Mix Cerulean Blue and Titan Buff Media Fluid™ paint, thin slightly with water, then sponge over the front and back of each spread. Heat set, then set aside.
3. Apply Broken China and Salty Ocean Distress Oxide ink to a craft mat, spray with water, then drag Mixed Media papers through the ink, heat set, and repeat until you're happy with the result. *Make more pages than you think you'll need as you can always use them later!
4. Apply Worn Lipstick to the craft mat and repeat the process above to add a touch of pink. Heat set.
5. Cut the papers down to fit the pages and sponge the edges with Sepia Archival™ ink
6. Mask off the top of each page. Sponge Mowed Lawn, Forest Moss, and Pine Needles Distress inks along the base of each page.
7. Using the Misti, position each of the Cityscapes and/or Windmill scene at the top of the green area, then stamp with Shadow Grey Archival™ ink. Repeat as necessary to get good ink coverage. 
8. Using the Misti, position the other scenic elements or people, and stamp with Watering Can Archival™ ink or Jet Black Archival™ ink.
9. Color any open elements using either Distress or Pitt Artist pens, though colored pencils would also work.
10. Cut stamps or other decorative elements from patterned paper or stickers, then adhere to the little scenic pages. 
11. Mat each page with black cardstock and adhere on the right hand page of the spread.

Directions for the pockets:

1. Apply Antique Linen Distress Oxide ink to a craft mat, spray with water, then drag Mixed Media papers through the ink, heat set, and repeat until you're happy with the result.
2. Stamp the Decor Cling Script with Sepia Archival™ ink onto each sheet.
3. Cut the stamped paper to pocket size, mat with black cardstock, add adhesive to three sides of each pocket, and adhere to the left hand page of the spread.
4. Cut down the *extra Distress Oxided pages to fit into the pocket. Add stickers and suchlike.

Create any additional spreads that you'd like. You can't see them (because I forgot to take photos), but there are pages that have little maps or city scenes on the front with line paper on the inside of each spread for notes and photos. The little pockets on the back of each spread can be used for tickets or other flat souvenirs.

Ribbons were used to secure all pages to the spine. The ribbons were braided and/or tied and a compass charm was added to complete the journal.

If you've made it through all the above, pat yourself on the back!

Thanks for visiting today!

Autism Awareness Blog Hop

April is National Autism Awareness month. The Stampendous Design Team and I are joining up with lots of other crafters for an Autism Awareness Blog Hop. 

Here's my card with Stampendous' adorable new Everyday Chicks Perfectly Clear™ Stamps and Cutting Dies Set, Big Words Happy Perfectly Clear™ Stamps, Fitted Frames B Die Cut Set, and the Spring Borders Cutting Dies Set.

Supplies:

Stampendous products used:

Everyday Chicks Perfectly Clear™ Stamps and Cutting Dies Set

Big Words Happy Perfectly Clear™ Stamps

Fitted Frames B Die Cut Set

Spring Borders Cutting Dies Set

Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

Other products used:

Copic markers: R17, R29, YR04, YR16, YR27, Y02, Y13, G05, G16, B05, B16, B121, B63, B66, FB2, V09, FV2, C4, C6, E23, E35, RV0000, RV000, BV0000, YR03, YR13, YR17

Solar Crest White cardstock by Neenah

Black and Blue My Colors cardstock by My Mind's Eye

Puzzle Die by QuicKutz

Clear Glaze Gel pen by Sakura

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of 12x12 blue cardstock to 10" x 7", fold, and score to form a 5x7 card. 
2. Cut a piece of black cardstock to 4.75" x 6.75".
3. Using a hand-held stamp positioned and Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink, stamp the smallest chick from the Everyday Chick set to create a pyramid. 
4. Color the chicks in ROYGBIV to create a rainbow of chicks. Use Cool Grey and Violet to color the bottom row of chicks as shown. 
5. Color the sky and grass with Copic marker.
6. Add little hatch marks around the chicks' feet and wings to make them look as though they are fluttering in place.
7. Use Clear Glaze pen to add dimension to the chicks' beaks.
8. Trim the image panel and mat with black cardstock.
9. Die-cut the puzzle and the floral border from the Spring Borders Cutting Dies Set from white cardstock, then color with the same markers used for the chicks.
10. Cut a piece of black cardstock to 1" wide. Adhere the colored floral border to the black strip.
11. Adhere the matted floral border to the base of the large scrap of blue cardstock left over from when you created the card and then trim to 4 5/8" x 6 5/8".
12. Stamp the sentiments from the Big Words Happy Perfectly Clear™ Stamp set onto blue cardstock, then die-cut with one of the dies from the set.
13. Adhere the sentiment and image panel to complete the card.

Thanks for visiting today!

Steampunk Tag

I finally have a new project to share with you! And it's not an April Fool's joke! I'm hosting a Steampunk Tag swap on the ART-EXchange group on Facebook, so I created a mixed media tag especially for it.

Here is my rather large chipboard tag that measuring 8 5/8" x 3 3/4", which gave me lots of space to fill with Steampunkery!

Supply List:
Stampendous products used:
Steampunk Clock Metal Stencil
Quest Texture Cube stamp
Skeleton Style Perfectly Clear™ Stamp set
Silver Detail Embossing Powder
VersaMark™ Watermark Ink by Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts®
Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink by Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts®

Other products used:
Large Chipboard Tag by Prima Marketing
Media™ Black Gesso by DecoArt®
Media™ Black Modeling Paste by DecoArt®
Pthalo Turquoise, Metallic Gold, Quinacridone Red, Quinacridone Gold, Transparent Iron Oxide, Ultramarine Blue, Napthol Red Light, Dioxazine Purple, and Blue Green Light Media™ Fluid Acrylic (MFA) paints by DecoArt
Copic Markers: T0, T1, E40, E41, E42, B34, B37, B39, R35, R37, R39, R59,YG01, YG21
Classic, Aquamarine, Onyxite, Ruby, White Fire, Emerald, Amethyst Treasure Gold Wax by PaperArtsy
Pewter, Verdigris, Platinum, Iron Oxide, and Copper Liquid Metal Color Bursts by Ken Oliver
Gold Metallic Sunburst™gel pen by Pentel®
Copper Serasa gel pen by Zebra Pens
Clear Gel Glaze® pen by Sakura
Clear Gelly Roll® Stardust® Glitter pen by Sakura
Cheers Charm dies by Die-Namics
Frames and Trims Industrious stickers by Idea-ology
Snarky Small Talk stickers by Idea-ology
Tiny gear and a larger one from my huge stash of Steamy goodness
Small clock hands from my huge stash of Steamy goodness
Screw Top Brad by Idea-ology

Instructions:

1. Apply black gesso to both sides of the tag and let dry.
2. Using VersaMark ink, stamp the diamond-plate side of the Quest Texture Cube,  down both sides of the tag, add Silver Detail embossing powder, dump of the excess, and heat set. Use a Post-It® Note to mask the heat-set embossing, then repeat until the tag is mostly covered. 
3. Remove the mask, grab an old credit card, press it into the VersaMark ink pad, then stamp the edge onto the gaps in the pattern. Heat emboss.
4. Scrape Media™ Black Modeling Paste over the Steampunk Clock Metal Stencil onto the embossed tag. Wash the stencil immediately! Let dry.
5. Create a wash of Pthalo Turquoise MFA and brush across the tag, then wipe back with a baby wipe to remove the paint from the silver embossing.  Repeat with the other colors of MFA until you're happy with the result.
6. Apply Treasure Gold waxes to the select raised areas created with the Modeling Paste through the Steampunk Clock Metal stencil.
7. Use gel pens to highlight other areas.
8. Since I was not happy with the look of the Treasure Gold, I went to Plan B and applied the Liquid Metal Color Bursts with a paintbrush. That proved to make me much happier. Set the tag aside.
9. Using Memento™ Tuxedo Black ink, stamp the skeleton and the top hat from the Skeleton Style Perfectly Clear™ Stamp set onto Copic friendly cardstock.
10. Fussy-cut both images, edge with a black marker, and color with Copic markers.
11. Die-cut the Margarita Glass Circle from the Cheers Charms die set from white cardstock. Remove the Margarita Glass from the circle, color with Copic markers, then add several layers of Clear Gelly Glaze® pen over the glass, letting the gel ink dry between each application. When the final layer is dry, use the Clear Stardust® pen to add a glittery rim to the glass.
12. Glue a tiny gear to the ribbon on the Top Hat.
13. Adhere a border from the Frames and Trims Industrious Sticker set to the bottom of the tag, the trim to fit.
14. Add the Snarky Small Talk sticker above it, then add the other half of the border above the sentiment sticker.
15. Using a wet glue, adhere the colored skeleton over the border. While the glue is still wet, adhere the margarita glass as shown. Adhere the Top Hat to the skeleton's head (which is a sentence I never thought I'd write).
16. Poke a hole in the center of the clock and use a screw-top brad to adhere the clock hands.
17. Adhere the larger metal gear over the hole in the tag and call it done!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this tag into the following challenges:

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenges: Anything Goes
• A Perfect Time To Craft Challenges: Anything Goes
• SanDee and Amelie's Steampunk Challenges: Anything Goes

Sneak Peek of Stampendous' New Release! Paris Tag

It's Stampendous' April Catalog Sneak Peek week and the design team is sharing sneak peeks of our favorites!

My favorite from Stampendous' new release is the Paris Bonjour Cling Stamp and Stencil set!

Here's my tag using the Paris Bonjour Cling Stamp and Stencil set, the matching Paris Bonjour Die Set, and the Cling 6x6 Paris Map!

Supplies:
Stampendous Products:
Paris Bonjour Cling Stamp Set
Paris Bonjour Die Set
Clear Detail Embossing Powder
Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko®
VersaMark Watermark Ink Pad by Tsukineko®

Other Products:
Copic Markers: RV52, 55, B04, B06, B21, B23, E33, YR03, YR05, Y13, Y19, R17, V22, V25, R29, C09
Tim Holtz® Tag and Bookplates Movers and Shapers Alterations die by Sizzix
Cerulean Blue, Titanium White, Quinacridone Magenta Media Fluid™ Acrylics by DecoArt®
Jet Black, Sepia, Fern Green, Emerald Green Archival™ Inks by Ranger
Fantastix® by Tsukineko®
Mini Blending Tool and Foam by Ranger
Dark Sepia Pitt Artist Pen
140 lb. Mixed Media paper by Strathmore®
Black Chipboard
Removable tape

Instructions:

1. Die-cut black chipboard with the tag die.
2. Mix Cerulean Blue and Titanium White paint, then spray the paint with water to create a wash. Sponge over the mixed media tag. Heat set.
3. Thin Quinacridone Magenta paint with water, then randomly sponge over the tag. Heat set.
4. Die-cut the painted paper with the tag die. Reserve the excess.
5. Place removable tape over the top part of the tag, then stamp Paris Map with Sepia Archival™ ink. Lift the tape and heat set. 
6. Cover the bottom portion of the tag.
7. Sponge Sepia ink over the Fleur de Lis stencil (comes with the the Paris Bonjour Cling Stamp set) onto the tag. Lift the cover, then edge the entire tag with Sepia ink.
8. Adhere the stamped, stenciled tag to the chipboard tag, then set aside.
9. Take the Eiffel Tower stamp from the Paris Bonjour set, ink with VersaMark ink, ink immediately with the Sepia Archival™ ink, and stamp onto a scrap of Mixed Media paper. 
10. Add embossing powder, heat set, then die-cut with the corresponding Eiffel Tower die. 
11. Using Memento ink, stamp three balloons,  die-cut them, color with Copic Markers, and edge with a black pen.
12. Using Jet Black Archival ink, stamp the trees twice onto scraps of the reserved painted paper. Die-cut with the corresponding die from the set.
13. Using Fantastic, color the trees with Fern Green and Emerald Green Archival™ ink. Heat set.
14. Use the Dark Sepia pen to color the tree trunks.
15. Adhere all the elements to the tag as shown and add some matching ribbon.

Thanks for visiting today! 

Be sure to visit Stampendous Design Team's Blog and check out my team mates creations! I'm sure that you'll find inspiration as well as some new "must have" favorites too!