Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Color Throwdown Challenge 99

This week the Color Throwdown challenge was to use the colors cream, chocolate, and turquoise in an art piece. I chose this stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms Stamps because the colors fit so well. The image was colored using watercolor pencils on watercolor paper. The "Girl friends" stamps are from Kitchen Sink Stamps.

Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge 85

Through a series of Internet jumps, I discovered Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge blog. On this site the challenges are movie related. This week the theme was the movie "State Fair" and had to have pennants on the work somewhere. Although I haven't seen any of the versions of the movie, I did watch a couple of clips on Youtube and read the Wikipedia synopsis. This card is my take on the movie theme. My animals and pennants are all stamps from the Artistic Outpost stamp sheet "Country Life". The background stamp is from Club Scrap. The ground texture is enhanced with a stamp from Stampscapes. The images are colored with Creative Inspirations paints. The border frame is from my stash. I had purchased a huge set of printed frames several years ago. I just thought that this particular plaid had a very country feel to it.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Oh Alice Challenge 6-26-2010

"Twinkle, twinkle, twinkle, twinkle..." Thus the dormouse sang our challenge. We are to just use something Twinkling, Glittery, or Sparkly on our card or creation this week. When you ask for twinkle, I'll give you lots of twinkle. Of course, the scanner never shows the glimmer and glitter, but trust me, it's there. Let's start with the dodo.  He's from MadRat Rubber stamps, as is the sentiment. He is painted with Creative Inspirations paints, which are very beautiful and shimmery. Dodo sits on a background cut with a Spellbinders die out of the most sparkly, glittery paper. The paper is called Glitter Sheets from Petaloo.The mat behind the glittery die is dry embossed in a texture fade folder (Tim Holtz) and highlighted with Brilliance Galaxy gold--more shimmer. Yes, to view the card IRL you may want to wear your shades.

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 3 Alcohol Ink Monoprint

This weeks's Compendium of Curiosities challenge is to do the Alcohol Ink Monoprint found on p. 51 in Tim's book. I liked the combination of denim, lettuce, eggplant alcohol inks with silver. Mona called out to me when I was creating the background and I added other collage stamp elements to finish her look.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Critter Sketch Challenge 20


This week's Critter Sketch challenge was a fun one. There were several layers to play with. I chose this image from Stampsmith and decided to keep the card in the black and white genre. The image is stamped on glossy cardstock with Ranger archival jet black ink and is framed with white cryogen paper. The horizontal strip is core'dinations paper, black with white core. I embossed it with a texture fade folder and sanded it. The vertical layer is cardstock from Club Scrap. The sentiment is also from Club Scrap. The silver metallic dots are from my stash.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Created By Hand Challenge 06-22-2010

In the Created By Hand the challenge is to create art using the theme of “Songs We Sing” in some way, shape, or fashion. My challenge art is a postcard.  The background paper is from the Tim Holtz paper stack Vintage Shabby. I used the burnt edges technique from the Feb/March 2007 newsletter. The Elvis stamp is from Cornish Heritage Farms rubber stamps; Michael, Jim, and John are from Stampsmith, and the sentiment is from Club Scrap.

Play Date Cafe Challenge 35 with a Pointillism background


The challenge this week in the Play Date Cafe was a color challenge. We were to use the colors brown, turquoise, red, and orange. Design Junkies challenged us to use the Pointillism technique from the December 2006 newsletter. These challenges worked very well together. The background, in red, brown, and orange was created using the Pointillism technique. The stamps are from the Artistic Outpost Paris Exposition set with turquoise as the focal color.

Color Throwdown Challenge 98

The colors for Color Throwdown we had three pretty colors: blush blossom, chocolate chip, and mellow moss. I chose to use my Creative Inspirations paints in tutu pink, sage, and chocolate. The colors are close and the image is so shimmery. The image was made using the stencil Mini Cherry blossoms from Crafter's Workship. One word of advice is to be sure and use a tacky adhesive to hold the stencil down so paint doesn't creep under the stencil. For a change I used a sheet of canvas paper to stencil the image on. The background was cut with a Fiskars border/corner punch. The flower is the corner is highlighted with pink tutu paint. This gives such a pretty color and shimmer to the petals. The center is a large brad which I embossed with embossing powder.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Bloggers Challenge 157


It's Friday and time for another Blogger's Challenge. This week it was a color challenge. We were to use kiwi, blue, and white. My image is a Beeswax stamp that I have had for some time. I loved the image, but it is a bit dark and a little large, so I never had a chance to use it. Well, the colors of blue, kiwi, and white were perfect for the image. I decided to use my Creative Inspirations paint to color the image. These paints are bright and shimmery and are perfect for lightening up the overall image. The white card base front was dry embossed in one of my Cuttlebug embossing folders.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 2 Fragments

Another week, another technique from Tim Holtz's book Compendium of Curiosities. This week we are doing Fragments Basics on p. 62. For my piece I used stamp images from Quietfire and the sentiment from Club Scrap. I used my fragment over one of the stamped images. The background is copper which I embossed in one of the textured fades, bricked. I sanded the raised areas for a bit more of a distressed look.

Just for Fun Challenge #16

The Just for Fun Challenge this week was to use the colors green, blue and yellow in a card or project. I chose these images from the Artistic Outpost Thai Buddha set of stamps. I colored the images using watercolor crayons. The main image and mat were cut using the Spellbinders deckle edge rectangles die.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Critter Sketch Challenge 19


This week's Critter Sketch challenge was a sketch. We were to create a pocket card. I did take a few liberties with my creation in terms of the actual sketch, but it follows the challenge in that my card is definitely a pocket card. I have to say that I enjoyed making this card. I used some two sided paper that I had purchased from QVC a few years ago. It's printed on one side and metallic on the other. I love the paper--I think I was saving it for a rainy day. Yep, we even had tornado warnings here in Chicago, so it was a perfect day to use the paper. I used a two-pocket card technique from Technique Junkies. The tags were created with my Spellbinders nestabilities labels die. All of the stamps are from Stampers Anonymous, Tim Holtz's line. The second stamp was cut from a paper embossed with the patchwork set embossing folder from Sizzix, also Tim Holtz line. The leaf ribbon on the tags was part of a gift bag of ribbon from Auntie Amy. I think the leaves make a cool tag pull.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Oh Alice Challenge 6-19-2010



This week the challenge at Oh Alice was a sketch. The twist was that there was had to be a daisy as part of the art. Well, if one daisy was good, then a whole background of daisies should be better. I used Creative Inspirations paint to paint the centers. It gives them shimmer IRL. The image, from Rubber Stamp Avenue, is colored with Copics. The sentiment is created from sticker letters from my stash. The flourish swirls were cut using Elegant Flourishes from Tim Holtz's Alterations line of Sizzix Bigz Dies. I can't wait for next week's challenge.

Try That Technique -- Stenciled Collage


This week the Try That Technique Challenge from Design Junkies blog (Technique Junkies) is the Stenciled Collage Technique from the August 2008 issue of the Technique Junkies newsletter. This is a technique I love, but had forgotten about. The hardest part for me was deciding what background technique to use. I finally decided on a morphed Simple Green Spritz. I used distress inks and kind of splattered instead of spritzing. I actually liked the result for this card. The stencil is one I have had from Club Scrap for a long time. I like the way it goes in the corners. I used pigment white reinker and a dauber to apply the ink. The stamps are all from the May Blossom kit from Club Scrap.

If you don't have this issue of the Technique Junkies newsletter, it's no problem! All 7 of the Technique Junkie CDs are on sale this month for only $10.00 each (plus actual shipping to your location). These CDs are normally $14.95 for subscribers or $19.95 for non-subscribers, so this is a HUGE bargain. If you are interested in one or more CD, just send an email to phuntoon@optonline.net -- an invoice will be sent out to you. The Stenciled Collage technique is on CD6, which covers the October 2007 through August 2008 techniques.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Play Date Cafe Challenge 34

Meet Teddy and his girlfriend Anxious Annie. This week's challenge from the Play Date Cafe is a 'color splash' challenge. A 'color splash' challenge is simply black and white with a splash of color. This week the color is blue and the shade is our choice. The stamp image is from Stampland Stamps. I love the singles of Ted and of Anxious Annie, and I really love the image of them as a couple. I think Annie looks good in blue. Her dress was painted with Creative Inspirations paint. I decided that the simple black frame was the touch needed for this image.

Color Throwdown Challenge 97

This week's Color Throwdown challenge calls for the colors certainly celery, not quite navy, and cameo coral, or colors close to them. For this challenge I pulled out my Creative Inspiration paints in sapphire, mango, and sage. The stamps are from the Artistic Outpost set, Route 66. The embossing folder is from the Tim Holtz Alterations line and is highlighted with bundled sage distress ink. The cactus was stamped on grungepaper and cut out and popped a little. The challenge colors called for a retro image and this seemed to fit well. Ah, it brings back memories.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Bloggers Challenge 155 and KSS 26-3


This card is dedicated to all who need it.
This week our list mom for Bloggers Challenge, Lisa, has a sketch for us (as seen on the right). My card fills two challenges this week. Bloggers Challenge and the KSS  Crew Challenge which is to create a piece of art using KSS stamps and ribbon. My image and sentiment are from Kitchen Sink Stamps, Get Well Teddy. First I stamped the teddy bear and cut the oval using my nestibilities. I layered the oval on the shimmery brown paper. The card base is tan. I used the yellow layer to add a little cheerfulness to the card. The tan plaid ribbon seemed like a perfect embellishment for the card. The two gold buttons are from my stash. I thought the sentiment would cover a lot of needs.
To enjoy the sketch interpretation of the other members, click on the Bloggers Challenge badge on the right side of my blog.
Color recipe: (all inks used are Adirondack)
Bear -- 1 latte, 2 hazelnut, 3 ginger, 4 expresso

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Created By Hand Challenge 06-15


Gratitude is the theme of this week's Created Byhand challenge. I just love the sentiment (stamp from Club Scrap). I wanted an elegant background for it. The antique wallpaper technique from the latest Technique Junkies newsletter and the regal flourishes texture fades folder from the Tim Holtz Alterations line seemed perfect. Coloring was done with the crushed sage and weathered wood distress inks. A simple ribbon and a pretty button were all the embellishments I felt I needed.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 1

Linda Ledbetter in her blog, Studio L3, has started a series of technique challenges using Tim Holtz's new book, Compendium of Curiosities.  The first challenge is Water Stamping (p.35). I've decided that I will be creating a sample book with each of the challenge art pieces. This is my first page. The distress inks used are stormy sky, rusty hinge, and bundled sage. All stamps are from Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz line. I used the viny flourish from the Spring Sprung set for the waterstamping. The sentiment is one of my favorites; could it be describing me?

Monday, June 14, 2010

Critter Sketch Challenge 18 & Kitchen Sink Crew Challenge 26-2

Monday means Critter Sketch Challenge time. This week we are using a sketch and including ribbon somewhere on the art piece. I really like this sketch. Since the Kitchen Sink Crew Challenge is to use ribbon on the piece with Kitchen Sink Stamps, I decided to combine challenges. My images are from the KSS set Lilies and the sentiment is from the set Berries. The paper and ribbon are from Club Scrap. I'm in love with the background paper. This card reflects my backyard at this time of year. The day lilies are in full bloom with their rich colors of orange, yellow, and green. So a bouquet of lilies seemed appropriate.
Color recipes: (All inks used are Adirondack)
Lilies -- 1 lemonade, 2 sunshine yellow, 3 peach bellini, 4 sunset orange, 5 rust
Leaves -- 1 willow, 2 lettuce, 3 meadow

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Oh Alice Challenge

This is my first submission to the Oh Alice challenge site, but I'm sure it won't be my last. I am such an Alice fanatic. The challenge this week is an inspiration theme based on this image. Our art piece could be based on any part or all of the image. For the background of my card and for the sentiment, I used download images from Moonlight Journey. Lynne has lots of beautiful image sheets. I went to the site for the Steampunk images and ended up with them and several other sheets including a number of Alice items. My Alice is stamped with a stamp from Rubber Stamp Avenue and then cut out. The clock gears are die cuts from the Tim Holtz alterations line. The flower parts come from my stash. The base card is dry embossed using one of Tim Holtz's texture fades embossing folders.

Play Date Cafe Challenge 33

Raspberry, aqua, kraft and white are the colors for this week's Play Date Cafe challenge.  This stamp from I Brake for Stamps seemed a perfect stamp to use for the focal image. I used Adirondack inks in raspberry and aqua for the image. I applied the ink with a waterbrush. The cardbase and layer behind the image are kraft cardstock. The aqua layer was dry embossed using a cuttlebug embossing folder from the Asian collection.

Color Throwdown Challenge 96


This week the Color Throwdown challenge is to use the colors so saffron, cool caribbean, and pumpkin pie. For the butterfly I used my Tim Holtz Bigz die set Fanciful Flight. The outer wing is cut from pumpkin Core'dinations paper, dry embossed with a cuttlebug folder, and sanded. The under part of the wings is cut from music designer paper which was sprayed with lemon drop Radiant Rains. The white layer was dry embossed with the cuttlebug music folder. I used a Spellbinders die to cut out the area for the sentiment which was stamped on the base card.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Bloggers Challenge 155

This week's Bloggers Challenge was to make a Father's Day card. My dilemma about what kind of card to create was solved when I received my two new sets of stamps from Oxford Impressions--Steampunk and The Deep. I had to try my hand at Steampunk. I always think that the Steampunk style is cool when I see it done by someone else and it is definitely very masculine. I started with the background. I used the pulled glimmers from the Technique Junkies latest newsletter using metallic Radiant Rains--pewter, copper, and golden bamboo. All of the stamping was done with Versafine black ink. I took the sea captain and one of the boats from "The Deep" and altered them for the card. I masked the sea captain's hat when I stamped him. Then I added the top hat from the "Steampunk" set. I masked the smokestack from the boat and added two stampings of the TV tube. I then stamped the flying vehicle and the blimp. To complete the stamping, I added the other gears and gizmos. I distressed the image layer with my Distrezz-it-all and layered it on black and then on the green grid cardstock. I must say that describing Steampunk is harder than stamping it. It was my first attempt at Steampunk and I had fun combining all the odd images.
Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there.
If you want to see what the other members of the Bloggers Challenge group created, just click on the bloggers Challenge button on my sidebar. There is a lot of talent in our group.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Created By Hand Challenge 06-08

This week's Created Byhand Challenge is to create art using the theme of “Graduation with Bling” in some way, shape, or fashion. At first I wasn't sure how to go about this challenge. Well, today the answer came to me, literally. I received my Tim Holtz Bigz Alterations die set Heart Wings in the mail and I knew what I was going to do. I die cut the outer heart and wings from grunge paper. The heart was painted first with a gold Adirondack dauber and then sprayed with Radiant Rains solar gold. It's definitely shimmery. The wings were painted with an ivory acrylic. The mortar board was stamped with a Club Scrap stamp on grunge paper, cut out, and painted with an Adirondack silver dauber, and then sprayed with Radiant Rains pewter. Both the mortar board and the wings were highlighted with silver Stickles. The under heart was die cut from paper and stamped with a stamp from Club Scrap. The sentiment, a Club Scrap stamp, was stamped with Versamark and embossed with silver embossing powder. Even the black background paper is shimmery. Unfortunately, most of the glitz and shimmer is lost on the scan. Believe me, it is there.

Kitchen Sink Stamps Crew Challenge 26-1

There is a new Crew Challenge for Kitchen Sink Stamps for this month. The challenge is to use ribbon on our art piece along with Kitchen Sink Stamps. I chose to stamp peaches from the Peach stamp set (The sentiment is also from that set.). I used two kinds of orange ribbon, plain and plaid, and wove a background with it--a Technique Junkies Newsletter technique from October/November 2008. The paper is from Club Scrap.
Color recipes: (All inks used are Adirondack dye inks.)
Peaches -- 1 peach bellini stamped off, 2 peach bellini, 3 sunshine yellow stamped off, 4 mountain rose, 5 caramel
Leaves -- 1 willow, 2 lettuce, 3 meadow

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Just for Fun Challenge


This week the Just for Fun Challenge was to create a monochromatic (shades of any one color) card. When I saw the challenge, the first thought that went through my mind was the Delft blue pottery of the Netherlands. That brought to mind this adorable stamp set, "Lovely Day", from Artistic Outpost. All of the inks used are Adirondack. I stamped the girl in denim. I masked her and stamped the windmill and field in stonewashed. The sky was stippled with cloudy blue. The flowers were highlighted with frosty lace Stickles. All papers used are from club Scrap.

Monday, June 7, 2010

Critter Sketch Challenge 17

This weeks Critter Sketch challenge is to create a child's birthday card. It can be for a baby, toddler, or teen. I think a young Alice fan would love to receive a card like this one. All of the stamps used are from Artistic Outpost Rubber Stamps. The "Happy Birthday" is from Adventure: all the rest of the stamps are from Wonderland Collage. The background is done using the Technique Junkies Depth of Field technique from the June/July 2009 newsletter. The image is colored with Copic markers and Creative Inspiration paints.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Created By Hand Challenge 06-01

This week's Created By Hand challenge was to create art using the theme of “Connections” or “Circles” in some way, shape, or fashion. I found this quote by William Plomer by doing a search on the Internet. I thought it was a perfect quote for an art piece. I used stamps from the Club Scrap "Solstice" kit. I loved the emphasis on circles, yet it was not merely a circle. These circles are all interconnected. The background is done using a technique called Pulled Glimmers from the current Technique Junkies newsletter. In my variation I used Radiant Rains instead of Glimmer Mist.

Play Date Cafe Challenge 32


The challenge at Play Date Cafe this week was to use the colors lemon, pale peach, and peach. I must say that these colors presented a real challenge for me. I like the colors, but using them combined in one art piece is definitely outside my comfort zone. I was saved somewhat when I realized that this stamp from Paper Jewels would work nicely with the colors. To color the image I used both Copic markers and my peach Creative Inspirations paint. The background was done using a peach Core'dinations paper embossed using a Sizzix embossing folder and then sanding the raised areas.

Bloggers Challenge 154

This is graduation season, so this week's Bloggers Challenge is appropriately a graduation card. I love blue for graduation cards. All the paper, the stamp, and the brad and tassel are from Club Scrap. The gold frame is a small cuttlebug die and embossing folder. I started by stamping the top layer with a stamp full of happy words and phrases. I layered it on the navy cardstock with the embossed sentiment and then on the matching card base. I stamped the mortar board and cut it out. Then I attached the brad and the tassel. The frame was die cut from gold metallic paper and dry embossed. I attached the frame and used pop dots to attach the mortar board.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Color Throwdown Challenge 95



New stamps and a cool color challenge from Color Throwdown Blog Challenge resulted in this card. The challenge was to use these colors:  black, pink passion, green galore, and tempting turquoise.
I love this color combination and thought that the Warhol technique would showcase the colors well. The Origami crane stamp is from one of Michael Strong's stamp sets.