Saturday, March 29, 2014

Stamping after Raking

I spent two hours this morning raking up all the leaves, branches and other debris left on our lawn from this never ending winter!  I was out early (8:30 am) and it was in the 40's and sunny and the birds were singing - and I was getting good exercise - so I was happy to be out there - I always feel good when the yard looks nicely 'combed'!  By the time I decided to stop and come in before I dropped dead - the sky had clouded over and a few hours later it began to rain.

So, to reward myself for my hard work - I spent the rest of the morning and afternoon in my craft room (Yay!) trying to get some challenges done before the deadlines.  I made 5 cards - two that I will share today.

Someone at work asked me if I could make a boy Christening card for them.  I only have one set of stamps with sentiments specifically for Baptism -  Special Blessings from Stampin' Up - so those are the stamps I used.  The blue papers are Bazzill and Coredinations so there is a nice texture on both and I embossed the white panel.
My design was inspired by this weeks Freshly Made Sketch 
Sketches are SO helpful to jump start my creative process.  Sometimes I just don't know where to start and a Sketch shows me how.
My 2nd card is a Get Well card.  I used water color paper for the top panel so it has nice texture as does the colored papers I used for the flowers and stem.
I die cut a Nestability square out of the front panel, popped that frame panel up on the card base with foam tape, then layered my die cut pieces on the cut out and adhered that inside the frame.  My stamps and dies are Petals 'N Posies from Reverse Confetti.  I love how the little dot centers look when you just stamp them on the background - like splatter only controlled!! LOL!! (when I 'splatter' it usually doesn't do what I want it to do!)
I'm entering this card in 3 challenges:

House of Cards - add a button
 Reverse Confetti  March Color Challenge - Yellow, Green and Navy

Baptism Card
Stamps:  Special Blessings - SU
Paper:  white - PTI, dark blue - Coredinations, light blue - Bazzill
Ink:  Watering Can - Archival
Accessories:  Spring Rain Saddle Stitched Ribbon - PTI, Caribben Blend sequins - Avery Elle, Square Lattice Embossing Folder - SU, tiny Twinkles - Taylored Expressions, word window punch - SU, foam dots, ScorTape.

Wishing You Well
Stamps:  Petals 'N Posies - Reverse Confetti
Paper:  White - PTI, water color white - Ranger, Green - Coredinations, butter yellow - Bazzill Basics, blue - Prismatics
Ink:  Ranger Distress Mustard Seed and Chipped Sapphire
Accessories:  dies - Petals 'N Posies - Reverse Confetti, square Nestability, foam dots, Glue N Seal - Ranger, vintage button - PTI


Friday, March 28, 2014

Christmas Joy - Grey, Red and White

Back to Christmas again -  today I used mostly stencils on my card - things I picked up at the Mixed Media Tag Art Journal class last weekend.  They are both from Wendy Vecchi's Studio 490 - Create a Wreath and Dots and Stripes.  The Christmas sentiment is from Seasonal Flourish by Waltzingmouse.  The inks are Adirondack Lake Mist and Archival Sienna.     So pretty and yet nice and flat for mailing!
 What a beautiful inspiration photo, isn't it?!

I'm entering this into the Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge  -  Holiday
and Moxie Fab World Stencils Challenge.
Stamps:  Seasonal Flourish - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  White - PTI
Ink:  Adirondack Lake Mist, Archival Sienna
Accessories:  stencils - Create A Wreath, Dots and Stripes - Wendy Vecchi Studio 490

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Fusion Card Challenge - March 27th

It's another Thursday and that brings us a new Fusion Challenge!  Look at the cool inspiration photo we have today - AND the terrific sketch!  We continue to have a wonderful response to the Fusion challenges with so many beautiful creations linked up and I think this one will inspire as well!
I'm so proud of myself this week (!?!) - I actually combined the photo and sketch on my card!  (Yay me!)  The dress form in the picture reminded me I had a stamp set and die from PTI  that would be perfect to use for my card.
I started my card by cutting the base with a stitched mat rectangle die which I then sponged using a brick wall stencil from MFT with both Pumice Stone and Fired Brick Distress inks.  I cut another smaller stitched rectangle out of both card stock and Terminology Tissue Wrap - and adhered them together.  I then die cut an oval Nestability placing the dress form die inside the oval when I cut it.   I sponged the edges of the oval with Pumice Stone Distress Ink and layered it over the text panel.  As a nod to the orange scarf in the image - I layered a piece of orange burlap behind the text panel.  I stamped the sentiment on a stitched mat gray panel and tucked it under the edge of the text panel.
How does this photo and sketch inspire you?!!  I can't wait to see it linked up over at Fusion!
  You'll find lots of inspiration on the Design Team's blogs linked below!


Sindhu
Stephanie Severin

I'm also linking this card to Moxie Fab World - Stencils

Stamps:   Signature Series - Dress Form - PTI
Paper:  Vintage Cream - PTI, Basic Grey - SU, Terminology Tissue Wrap - Tim Holtz Terminology.
Ink:  Ranger Distress Pumice Stone and Fired Brick, Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories:  Dress Form Die - PTI, Stitched Mat Rectangles - Lil' Inker Designs, Classic Oval Neatabilities, Brick Wall Stencil - MFT, burlap - Burlap Mat Stack/DCWV, foam dots, enamel dots - My Mind's Eye.  

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Home Sweet Home

I used a newly learned technique on my card background today.  
Over this past weekend I attended 2 workshops by Wendy Vecchi (see this post and this post) and one of the myriad of techniques she taught us was this wonderful 'marble-look' background.  To make it you first need Ranger Specialty Stamping Paper - that is somewhat like glossy card stock - but not as glossy (it may work on glossy card stock - I haven't tried it yet!).  You pour a puddle of rubbing alcohol on a non-stick craft mat and mix a drop of Archival Reinker into it (I used Cornflower blue - you can use more colors if you want).  Then you drag your paper through it and dry it with your heat gun tilting it to move the drips around and dropping more alcohol right on the paper if you want to change the look.  Then you dry it completely with the heat gun
I then used Ranger Distress Stains to color two of my chipboard houses and one I inked with Cornflower Blue Archival Ink.  I layered them to the panel with foam dots.   I stamped the sentiment from Waltzingmouse on white card stock and punched it with a circle punch.  Then I simply layered the panel to a white panel and then to the blue card base.

I was inspired by the following challenges for my card today:
The Jugs Inspiration Photo - I was inspired by the blues and the patterns of the sky
Less is More - to use 3 of something -  I used 3 houses and 3 colors of blue.

Stamps:  A Cottage Home - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  White, Blueberry Sky - PTI, Specialty Stamping Paper - Ranger.
Ink:  Cornflower Blue ink pad and re-inker - Archival, Ranger Distress Stains - Salty Ocean, Tumbled Glass.
Accessories:  Rubbing alcohol, foam dots, Glue N Seal - Ranger, 1 1/4" circle EK Success, non-stick Craft Mat - Ranger, heat gun, chipboard mini houses - Maya Road.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

High Gloss March PTI Blog Hop

Today I'm joining in on  the March PTI Blog Hop - High Gloss!
 I used the Buttons Stack Set dies, cutting them in Pure Poppy, Harvest Gold and the new Tropical Teal (love that color!).  I covered each piece in Glossy Accents then layered them in mixed colors, popping them up on foam dots.
I had some dots washi tape from Michaels that just happened to match all my colors, so I laid that down under the flowers.  My sentiments are from the wonderful new Wet Paint set.
I'm hoping I'll be able to link my post to the blog hop at 10 am from work -  but if not - I'll be linking it when I get home tonight!

I'm sure there are going to be lots of wonderful High Gloss creations posted over on Nicole's Blog today!

Stamps:  Wet Paint - PTI
Paper:  Pure Poppy, Harvest Gold, Tropical Teal - PTI
Ink:  Tropical Teal - PTI
Accessories:  Buttons Stack Set dies - PTI, foam dots, washi tape - Michaels.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Mixed Media Tag Art Journal

I'm excited to share with you the most wonderful Mixed Media Tag Art Journal I made at Wendy Vecchi's Workshop at Ecclectic Paperie on Saturday!  As most of you know - my regular 'mode of operendi' for my cards is Clean and Simple - but I guess there is a piece of me that loves this mixed media style as well since I LOVE MY TAG JOURNAL!!!  I have lots of photos to share and I'll write a little bit above each one to try and explain what technique we used on that tag.

First is the front of our journal - where we stamped on the Art Parts Tag using Archival Inks and sponged the edges with Ranger Distress Inks.  We inked the Art Parts Flowers and then stamped on them.  The checkerboard, the wreath, the sentiment and the + inside the wreath are all stencils.  We stamped the Arts Parts woman and then colored her with Ranger Distress Markers
  For the inside front and back covers - we stamped backgrounds and sentiments and sponged the edges with Ranger Distress Inks.  All of the stamps are Wendy Vecchi's Studio 490.  The inside cover is stamped holding the tag upside down so you can read it when you flip open the Journal.
 For the first tag on the left below, we were stenciling with Archival Inks.  The flowers are stenciled on Clearly for Art Modeling Film that Wendy had adhered a page of text to.  The Modeling Film will curl when you heat it with a heat gun so the petals stick out and won't press down unless you heat it again.  The top and bottom is a honey comb stencil inked in black. We sprayed water on our craft mat, pressed a background stamp into the water and then stamped it on the tag - the water will take away the Distress Ink bur not the Archival ink.  You can just see the watermark honeycomb design on the blue ink.
For the tag on the right we were doing selective embossing - we used an embossing pen to emboss just the center of the flower.  I also embossed one little leaf (not obvious in my photo!)  The star is from Blossom Bucket.
 
 For the tag on the left below we stenciled the Layered Tree  with Archival inks.  Then we stamped a background ( I used Vintage Mesh) and sponged the tag with Ranger Distress Inks.   I used a  Stabilo pencil for the lines under the stenciled top and bottom - rubbing it with my finger to blur it a little.

For the tag on the right below we inked the stencil flower using Archival ink and then stenciled it again on a piece of  Clearly for Art Modeling Film that had a text sheet adhered to it (like the flower above).  We cut out just the center of the flower and layered it to the inked flower to give a little dimension.  We stamped background stamps along the top and bottom.  I used a plaid background.  Then we sponged the background and flicked it with water.  I doodled the faux stitched edge with a fine black marker.
 
 For the tag on the left below we stamped the geranium on a tag cut from distress watercolor paper with Watering Can Archival Ink - (the BEST gray ink ever!)  Then we colored the blossom and leaves with Ranger Distress Markers and went over it with a water brush.  I used my favorite of Wendy's background stamps (Ornate Dots) along the top and bottom of the tag.  We brushed some Distress marker on our craft mats, added some water from our water brush, and then flicked the color onto the tag using the waterbrush.

For the tag on the right we first stenciled the  Horizontal line stencil on the tag using Translucent Embossing paste. (this is SO cool!) After it dried we inked it with Distress Paint that we placed on our craft mat then used our finger to ink over the stenciling..  We also used our finger to add Distress Paint to  the Arts Parts Wings and then stamped the wings with a text stamp using Archival ink.  We colored the yellow Blossom from Blossom Bucket with a a little blue Distress Paint using our finger.  The crow is die cut from Clearly For Art Blackout Modeling Film.
 For the tag on the left below - we used Distress Paints to color our background - putting two colors of Distress Paints onto our craft mats, spritzing with water and swiping our tag through it.  We heat gun dryed it and stamped a background stamp over the tag and another one on the ends. Then stenciled our blossom and leaf on the tag.  After everything was stamped and dry - we replaced the stencil over the blossom and spread Translucent Embossing Paste over the flower so it's really shiny and has a raised texture.

For the tag on the left we used the reverse stencil technique - inking the stencil with Distress Inks, spritzing the stencil with water then pressing it on the tag.  You can see a few little + on my tag  background from the stencil.
For the tag on the left below we created a beautiful background using Archival Reinkers, rubbing Alcohol, and a tag cut from Ranger Specialty Stamping Paper. (which is kind of shiny and smooth to the touch) Isn't that the coolest background?  We put a puddle of rubbing alcohol onto our craft mat and put 1 small drop of Archival Re-Inker in one color and one small drop of another color (I used Fern Green and Corn Flower).  We swirled it to mix with a palette knife then dragged the tag through it.  You let the ink drip across the tag - and start drying it with a heat tool - dropping on more alcohol, tipping and heating until you like the way it looks - then dry it completely.  Then you can stamp on it. I used a Stencil/Stamp set Darling Daisys(so cool - you stamp it, lay the stencil over the stamping and sponge on the color!  Easy Peasy!!)

 For the tag on the right below we used a stamp in a different way - stamping the geranium blossom twice (from the watercolor tag above) coloring them with Distress Markers and a water brush.  We cut them out and layered them over each other so it looks totally different than the geranium plant.  We stamped backgrounds and a sentiment and stenciled leaves - adding a ruler from Blossom Bucket at the bottom.
 
 I'm almost done - just two more tags and the back cover to show you!   
For the tag on the left below we used a flower stencil on Clearly for Art Blackout  Modeling film spreading Metalic Gold Embossing Paste over the stencil. While it was drying (it takes a while) we inked the tag by putting some Metallic Distress Stain and 2 colors of Distress Stain on our craft mat, spritzing with water and dragging the tag through it. Then we stenciled a background and the leaves, adding a Blossum Bucket Crow and flower.
For this final tag below right - we used the Faux Metal Technique created by rubbing a small amount of both Metalic Gold and Metalic Silver Embossing Paste over the tag - leaving some places clear for sponging.  After drying the tag with a heat gun - we sponged the edges with Distress Inks -  I used Rusty Hinge and Walnut Stain.  The stripes are a stencil and the flower is from Blossom Bucket - we colored the blossoms with Distress Markers.
  And here is the back of the tag - where we used the Faux Metal technique (from above tag) on the Art Parts flowers.  We did some stampings and stenciling with Archival Inks and sponged the tag all over with some Ranger Distress Inks. 
 If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me! I know there's probably more here than you wanted to know?!!  And thanks for taking the time to look at my Tag Art Journal!
Here I am with Wendy - from the workshop on Friday -  you'll find pictures of what we did at that workshop below this one!


Thursday, March 20, 2014

Greetings!

I'm so excited about my card today -  it's another one for Christmas (I'm really getting my stash built up for December!)  
I stamped the pine branch from Festive Foliage by Waltzingmouse on a white panel - then layered a piece of vellum over it.  I silver embossed snowflakes from Two Feet Deep by PTI on a white piece die cut with the stitched mat rectangle and stamped the sentiment along the bottom.  I used the gem brads to attach the panel to the vellum and the pinebranch panel.  I adhered it all to the card base with foam dots.
My design was inspired by the Festive Friday challenge.  I wanted to re-create the soft out-of-focus look of the branch in this photo - and I think I achieved it layering the vellum over the pine stampings on my card.
I'm going to be attending two workshops run by Wendy Vecchi on Friday and Saturday at Eclectic Paperie in Exeter, NH (the brick and mortar shop of the Eclectic Paperie Web site store!)
We're going to be learning how to use all kinds of Ranger Products at both workshops.
 and on Saturday it's Mixed Media Tag Art Journal
Wow -  I'm excited just looking at these samples!  I can't wait to get all inky.  I'll share some pictures soon!

Greetings:
Stamps:  Pine branches - Festive Foliage/Waltzingmouse, snowflakes & Greetings - Two Feet Deep/Papertrey Ink.
Paper:  White - PTI, Vellum - SU
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Versamark, Ranger Distress Evergreen Bough
Accessories:  Stitched Mat Rectangld Die - Lil' Inker Designs, gem brads - American Crafts, silver embossing powder, heat gun.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Spring and Winter

Today I have a Spring card and a Winter/Christmas card - oddly enough using similar colors!
First is my Easter Tag Card -  I used a Stitched Mat Rectangle die (again!) for my base and die cut the Tag Sale #8 dies from PTI in green and white.  I stamped the eggs and sentiment from Nestie Eggs by Waltzingmouse on the white portion and layered it onto the green with foam dots.  To finish off the tag I looped a piece of green/white striped ribbon through the hole and layered that to the yellow panel with foam dots.
I actually made 4 of these cuties for the Easter sale at my church - I love the different designs on the eggs - and the bright colors are SO Easter-y!
I'm entering these in the Paper Players Challenge -  Clean and Simple "Spring"
and the Inkspirational Challenge - I was inspired by all the colors of the sheep!

And now for my Christmas card - made for the 100th Merry Monday Challenge
 The colors in this inspiration photo made me run the other way - NOT in my comfort zone at all - especially for a Christmas card.   Then I sat down and made myself do it!  I used a lot of white to minimize my discomfort!  The door is from Home Made and the little pine branches, bow, berries and sentiments are from Two Feet Deep (which I finally broke down and bought a couple of months ago! - LOVE the sled and skis in this set!)
I stamped the door in Grout Grey because I wanted the focus on the sweet little pine branches!  See how cute it is?!
So - I was able to make a card that I actually like with these bright non-tradtional Christmas colors!  That's what challenges will do for you!

Easter Tag Card
Stamps: Nestie Eggs - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  White, Simply Chartreuse, Harvest Gold - PTI
Ink:  Ranger Distress Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves, Picked Raspberry, Ripe Persimmon, Festive Berries, Mustard Seed.
Accessories:  Stitched Mat Rectangle Die - Lil' Inker Designs, Ribbon - May Arts, Tag Sale #8 dies - PTI.

Christmas Door Card
Stamps:  Home Made, Two Feet Deep - PTI
Paper:  White - PTI, Certainly Celery - SU
Ink:  Adirondack Mountain Rose, Memento Pear Tart, Grout Grey  - Color Box/MFT
Accessories:  Stitched Mat Rectangle Die - Lil' Inker Designs, foam dots.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Bee Well Soon

I've got one simple card for a whole slew of challenges today!   I love when I can work several of them in on one creation!  Sometimes it just doesn't work out and I end up with a card full of junk (!)  and I have to start over and maybe just get in a couple of challenges - but today I think it worked out well!
First I sponged a chicken wire stencil on a white panel with More Mustard Ink. Then I stamped some stems, the bee and a sentiment all from PTI in black on the panel.  Then I die cut the panel with a stitched mat rectangle die (I seem to be using these stitched mats on EVERYTHING I create lately! - I just LOVE them!)   I was going to stamp flowers but then remembered my really old SU flower punch whose flowers were the perfect size - so I punched them then stamped a center on them and adhered them on the stem.

If you follow the weekly challenges out there you probably know many of the challenges I hit with this card:

Dynamic Duos - Black and More Mustard
Less is More - Masking or Stenciling
Curtain Call -   I was inspired by the colors and the jars of honey!
Addicted to CAS Code Word Luck - (lucky enough to get well!)




 
Stamps:  Honey Bee, Honey Bee Sentiments - PTI
Paper:  white - PTI, More Mustard - SU
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, More Mustard -SU
Accessories:  mini chicken wire stencil - The Crafters Workshop, blending tool - Ranger, flower punch - SU, stitched Mat rectangle die - Lil' Inker Designs.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Grey on Gray

I have 2 cards to share today - both done in shades of grey (or gray if you prefer!).   I chose to use greys for the Cas-ual Fridays challenge.  
For my first card I used a stitched mat rectangle to cut the Soft Stone cardstock panel.  I stamped the sentiment and frame using Grey Grout and Pumice Stone inks and added some shimmery enamel dots. Greys are great for sympathy cards - so quiet, soft and comforting.
For my second card I used the Seize the Sketch for my design - and although I used all grays (and white) and it is CLEAN -  I'm not sure if it's CAS enough for the Cas-ual Friday challenge with all the layers.
I used my newly purchased Buttons Stack dies, a stitched mat circle, and chevron die along with some more of the shimmery gray enamel dots.

I love how both of these came out!

Praying for you
Stamps:  Boutique Borders Sympathy - PTI
Paper:  White, Soft Stone -PTI
Ink:  Grey Grout - Color Box (MFT), Ranger Distress Ink Pumice Stone
Accessories:  Stitched Mat Rectangle - Lil' Inker Designs, Enamel Dots - My Mind's Eye

Happy Birthday
Stamps:  Birthday Basics - PTI
Paper:  White, Soft Stone - PTI, Basic Grey - SU, textured grey - Coredinations, DP - Sn@p/Simple Stories
Ink:  Archival Onyx Black
Accessories:  enamel dots - My Mind's Eye, grey bakers twine, chevron die - MFT, foam tape, Stitched Mat Circle die - Lil'Inker Designs, button stack set die - PTI