Hello!

This week at Stampotique Designers Challenges, we have a special challenge theme of Two celebrating the second anniversary of the Stampotique ATC Swap facilitated by the lovely Nikki Woodward. 

If you'd like the chance to win your choice of $30 worth of Stampotique stamps, you should 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 that great prize!!! Remember to check to see the deadline for all of this month's Stampotique Designers Challenges!

 Here's the card that will accompany an ATC on its voyage. It features Agatha's Parrot (Magda Polakow). 

Agatha's Parrot was stamped twice with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko), colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, and edged with a Black Multiliner pen. The parrots were set aside while I worked on a background for them.

A die from the Fishtail Flags die set (Die-namics was used to die-cut patterned paper from the Origins collection (Basic Grey). I'm so sad that they're closing! The flags were then edged with Potting Soil Archival ink (Ranger) and set aside. The image panel was also edged with Potting Soil Archival ink. I used a sticker from the Origins sticker sheet for the vines and die-cut patterned paper with the Hello Friend die (Spellbinders).  Agatha's Parrots were adhered onto the branches and the sentiment die-cut was adhered as well. The image panel was then coated with a layer of Matte Multi Medium (Ranger). When that was dry, several layers of Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) were added to Agatha's Parrots' beaks, eyes, and talons to add dimension and shine to them.

The patterned paper, die-cuts, and image panel were layered according to a sketch from Mojo Monday Challenges. A Paper Shaper Leaf punch (EK Success) was used to punch two leaves from one of the big flowers on the Origins Sticker sheet. The leaves were edged with a Copic marker. A flower from the same sticker sheet was adhered over the leaves, then the card front was adhered to an A2 card.

Here's the sketch so you can see how I did!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:

• Mojo Monday Challenges: Sketch#432

• Crafty Friends Challenges: Animals/Birds

• Just Us Girls Challenges: Tic, Tac, Toe -- mine  has die-cuts, stamping, and flower(s)

• Through The Purple Haze Challenges: Things with Wings

Stampendous Haul = Happy Mail!

I was lucky enough to have a few projects appear in Just Steampunk, Volume 7, which came out in November 2015. One of my projects used several of the stamps from the Steampunk cling rubber stamp set by Andy Skinner for Stampendous.

Stampendous has a very generous publication incentive, which you can find HERE on #Stampendous' blog.

Here's a photo of my gorgeous Stampendous Haul!

I wish I could share photos of my projects in Just Steampunk, Volume 7, but I know that this fabulous idea book is available now at AC Moore, Michael's, and at select Barnes and Noble stores.

Stay tuned to my blog to see some projects that use some of my gorgeous haul from Stampendous!

Dance!

This song was inspired by a few of David Bowie's songs, but being me, I mistook the "red shoes" in Let's Dance for "red dress". Oh well. At least I remembered that something was red. However, there are a lot of other songs where women wear red dresses, so maybe I was inspired by them. Who really knows?

Here's my card using the dancing woman and the clock/sentiment from The Old and The New Half Sheet (Stampinback) which you can purchase at I Brake for Stamps.

The woman from the The Old and The New set was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko), colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, and edged with a Black Multi-liner pen. A touch of blush was added with a pink chalk pencil (Derwent). She was set aside while I created a background for her.

Silver glitter paper (DCWV) was die-cut with the Star Flourish die (Memory Box) and set aside.

The clock/sentiment from The Old and The New set was stamped with Unicorn Hero Hues (Hero Arts) onto music-patterned paper from the DIY Shop 6x6 pad (American Crafts) then heat-set with Polysparkle embossing powder (Ranger).

Chipped Sapphire and Blueprint Sketch Distress inks (Ranger) were sponged over the heat embossed music paper. Faded Jeans Distress ink was sponged over the Tornado stencil (Andy Skinner/DecoArt). The card front was edged with Black Soot Distress ink.

The glittery die-cut was adhered, then the dancer from the The Old and The New set was adhered on the die-cut. The card front was adhered to a white card and I called it done.

I Brake for Stamps has a great selection of Stampinback Stamps stamps. Click on my badge below to be whisked over there to check out their fabulous images! Best of all, if you buy something, use this code: SAVE10KATHI for 10% off your purchase.

 

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Glitter and Sparkle Challenges: Say It With Music
• Stampinback Challenge Blog: A Wish
• Stamping Sensations Challenges: Anything Goes with a Stamp and a Die
• Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers: T is for Technique
• Crafty Cats Challenges: Girls Just Want to Have Fun

New Stamping Book!

RubberStampMadness has published a new rubber stamp art book entitled Stamping All Year Long. At 116 pages, it is filled with inspirational artwork.

If you'd like to order your copy, go to http://rsmadness.com/rsmstore.html and find the "New Book." US Price is $24.95. BTW, Stamping All Year Long is not available on Amazon or at Barnes and Noble.

Please mention my blog in the "special instructions" section, when you order. Once there are four mentions of my blog, RSM will send me a complimentary copy, which will make me happy!

Thanks for visiting today!

love u!

Now that the holidays are past and the days are slowly getting longer, retailers' and crafters' hearts turn to Valentine's Day.

Here's a card that uses Lil Love from the Lil Love Whimsical Girl digital stamp set from Vera Lane Studios's new Floral Park Collection.

Lil Love was resized in PhotoElements, printed out onto Neenah cardstock with my laser printer, colored with Copic markers, then edged with a Black Pitt Artist pen (Faber Castell). A touch of blush was added to her cheeks with a Pink Chalk pencil (Derwent). I added the u with a Doodlebug rub-on.

Patterned papers from old Sugar Rush and Kissing Booth (both Basic Grey) 6x6 pads and layered according to Sketch #395 from the Sketch Saturday Challenge Blog. I used a Card Creator 5x7 Nestabilties die (Spellbinders) to die-cut the rectangle. The Stitched Strip and Pierced Label dies from the Blueprints 2 die set (Die-namics) were used to die-cut the vertical strip and the two flags. One of the dies from the Dimensional Banners set (Die-namics) was used to create the sentiment banner. "with all my heart" from the Life Quotes Remnant Rubs sheet (Idea-ology). All edges were sponged with Worn Lipstick, Hickory Smoke, and/or Black Soot Distress inks (Ranger). Pink gemstones (Kaisercraft) were added to the top and bottom left and a floral gemstone (Kaisercraft) was added to her hair.

Here's the sketch so you can see how I did.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:

• Sketch Saturday Challenge Blog

• Mod Squad Challenge Blog: Love is in the Air

• Scrapy Land Challenges: Love is in the Air

LOVE'S TRUCK or LOVESTRUCK?

Sue Davies is the hostess at Stampotique Designers Challenge Blog and her theme is Red and Pink. Here's what she had to say about her challenge.

"With Valentine's day around the corner we have all seen the displays of red and pink -- red and pink -- I challenge you to create and Stampotique infused Valentine's day creation inspired using only hues of red and pink."

If you'd like the chance to win your choice of $30 worth of Stampotique stamps, you should 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 that great prize!!! Remember to check to see the deadline for all of this month's Stampotique Designers Challenges!

Here's my card with Flower Truck (Janet Klein), which uses a few more colors than just red and pink. What can I say? I'm a rebel.

Flower Truck was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko) onto Neenah cardstock. One of the hearts from the Classic Hearts Nestabilities die set (Spellbinders) was used to die-cut a scrap of paper. The heart-shaped aperture of the paper was placed over the Flower Truck's bed and traced with a Black Multi-liner pen (Copic). The truck and heart were fussy-cut, colored with Copic markers, in shades of red and pink, and edged with a black marker. Flower Truck (with heart) was set aside while I created a background for it.

A wash of Cerulean Blue Media Fluid Acrylic paint (DecoArt) was sponged over 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock (Strathmore). Primary Magenta and Translucent White MFA paints were mixed, diluted, then sponged across the pale blue background. Multi-Matte Medium (Ranger) was brushed over top. Titanium White MFA paint was sponged over the Cloudy Day stencil (My Favorite Things) and allowed to dry. A Primary Magenta and Translucent White MFA wash was sponged over the stenciled clouds, then wiped back. The Cloudy Day stencil was moved and diluted Titanium White MFA paint was sponged over the stencil again, then wiped back. This was allowed to dry.

Green cardstock was die-cut with the dies from the Stitched Scene Builder Edgers die set (Frantic Stamper). The die-cuts were layered and adhered to the painted, stenciled cardstock. Black cardstock was die-cut with the Alphabet Typewriter Upper Case dies (Impression Obsession). Pink and red adhesive cardstock was die-cut with the Layered Heart Border dies (Die-namics). The pink and red borders were layered and adhered to a strip of black cardstock. The sentiment letters were adhered onto the hearts to form the sentiment. Flower Truck was adhered in place. Several layers of Multi-Matte Medium were brushed over the scene to seal it. 

Flower Truck's windscreen, windows, headlight, and taillight glass were touched with Baby Blue Spica Glitter pen (Copic). The radiator, bumpers, running boards, wing mirror, and insignia thingy were lined with silver gel pen. All the glass and metal bits then received several layers of Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) to add dimension and shine. 

The piece was matted with white cardstock, then mounted on a red card.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:

• Die Cut Divas Challenges: New Technique, Die, Stamp, Colors

• Happy Little Stampers Mixed Media Challenges: Stencils

• Crafty Cat Challenges: Word Art

I *Heart* Cats!

You might not know, but I love cats. A lot. So much so, that Duchess, my 16 year old Ragdoll/American Shorthair mix, is my online avatar. I refer to her as my familiar as she is usually in close proximity and is a great companion. She's getting old, thin, and arthritic, but she still loves to cuddle with me. What's odd about this pair of cats is that they were very quiet, until they turned 14. Now they talk all the time. I've always talked to them and now they talk back! But unlike the spouse and the young adult, they're remarkably easy-going and not snarky at all (unless they're hungry)! Anyway, my love of cats is reflected in my stamp (and die) collection, both of which are rather large. One of my newest cat stamps is Large Feline Femme (Time to Stamp) from their fabulous Femmes Collection. 

Here's my card with my new Feline Femme stamp which you can purchase at I Brake for Stamps.

Feline Femme  was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko) and colored with Copic markers. Blush was added to her cheeks and her shoulders with a pink chalk pencil (Derwent). I opted to make the kitty a grey one. Next time I'll make the cat look like Duchess and will add some wrinkles and oddly colored hair to make the woman look like me. Perhaps I'll do a Tuxedo too for Flash. One can never tell.

I discovered that the papers in the Sweet Threads 6x6 pad (Basic Grey) matched the colors that I used really well. I used a sketch from The Cheerful Sketches Challenge Blog. You can see the sketch below to see how I did. The circle was die-cut with the circle die from one of the Blueprints die sets (Die-namics). I used an old Cuttlebug tool to add piercings, then used a Black Multiliner (Copic) to add faux stitches. All paper layers were sponged with Cracked Pistachio Distress ink. The outermost layers were sponged with Hickory Smoke Distress ink.

Here's the sketch so you can see how I did.

I Brake for Stamps has a great selection of Time to Stamp's stamps. Click on my badge below to be whisked over there to check out their fabulous images! Best of all,  if you buy something, use this code: SAVE10KATHI for 10% off your purchase.

 

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• The Cheerful Sketch Challenge Blog: January's sketch
• Show Us Your Pussies Challenges: Furrything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenges: Best Friends
• Dies R Us Challenges: Stitches: Real or Faux