Monday, August 30, 2010

Try That Technique--Fossil Stone and Sunday Stamper 118

Often a technique challenge works well with a theme challenge, and this week is one of those times. The challenge for Try That Technique is Fossil Stone from the April 2006 Technique Junkies newsletter. The background of this card (behind the finger prints) is the fossil stone technique. I really love how this turned out, although at first I had my doubts. The coolness of the technique wasn't evident until the brayering step...then WOW.
The content of this card is the result of the Sunday Stamper challenge at the Ink on my Fingers blog. I just discovered this blog and challenge over the weekend because of the artwork of two of my friends, Lisa and Gerrie. If you've never been to the Ink on my Fingers blog, it is definitely worth a few minutes of your time. I guarantee a fun time. The challenge theme was secrets. As soon as I saw the theme, I knew I wanted to play and use the Private Eye stamps from Club Scrap. I also had an optical glass which worked perfectly here.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Play Date Cafe Challenge 44

This week the challenge at Play Date Cafe went bonkers. The theme was colour horribilis and the colors were hot pink, navy blue, and mustard. Now that was a challenge, but a fun one. I decided to put Tim Holtz to the test. He always says that his distress inks can be used together in any combination, so I took mustard and pink lipstick distress inks and applied them to a small tag. Hmmm, kinda cool. I then stamped one of his atc stamps for the focal image in Club Scrap blue sapphire (as close to navy as I could get). I added a few distress stamps in black to add dimension. The background was stamped in the blue sapphire using a portion of a very large Bugawumps stamp. The rest of the embellishments and fibers were used for additional interest. I think the result is unique, but definitely not "horribilis".

Color Throwdown Challenge 107

This week's challenge at Color Throwdown was to use the colors pretty in pink, rose red, so saffron, and pear pizzazz. This was a refreshing change from the recent rash of autumn colors challenges. Now don't get me wrong, autumn colors are favorites of mine...I just don't like to think of autumn coming since winter can't be far behind. Anyway, the colors reminded me of a spring bouquet. My background was done using the Glimmer Lace technique from the current Technique Junkies newsletter. I think it makes a pretty background and it goes so well with flowers. My focal image is from Club Scrap. I stamped it once on the background and then again on a separate piece of paper. I cut out the rectangle and colored the flowers using Creative Inspirations paint for the stems and flower soft for the flowers. A simple "Just Because" sentiment and a crystal butterfly finished it off.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Critter Sketch Challenge 28

This week at Critter Sketch, the challenge had multiple parts. Our creation had to have something red, stripes, and be summery.  I used this image from Stampotique of these adorable children. They are sitting on their front stoop maybe, perhaps having their picture taken. The sun is bright and the stoop is red and striped (faux painted paneling from the Technique Junkies newsletter, Oct/Nov 2009). I thought the combination made a sweet friendship card.

Bloggers Challenge 166 and Created Byhand

This week Bloggers Challenge is a color challenge. We are to use the colors red, green, and yellow in our creation. I decided to use the Background Whimsy technique from the June/July 2010 Technique Junkies newsletter. I did make one change. Instead of Copics or dye ink, I used Pan Pastels for the color. I used a background stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms. The flower is from Heartfelt Creations. Both of the sentiments are from Club Scrap. I thought that these colors were so bright and cheery. They were perfect for a birthday card.
Since the challenge at Created Byhand is to create art using the theme , “You say It’s your Birthday” in some way, shape, or fashion, this card seemed perfect for the challenge.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Simon Says Stamp and Show the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 11

This week Simon Says Stamp and Show  and the Compendium of Curiosities challenges went hand-in-hand. The Simon Says Stamp challenge was to create anything Lord Tim of Holtz inspired! The CCC challenge was the Blended Batik technique from p. 36 of Tim's great book.
Everything on this card is from the Tim Holtz line of products. The background is inked with chipped sapphire and stormy sky distress inks. The postal card stamp is from Stampers Anonymous, Tim's line as is the sentiment. I stamped the saying and then cut it into the individual word blocks. The bird cage is die cut using grungepaper and inked with rusty hinge. All of the hardware embellishments are from the Idea-ology line. The fragments are glued over Tim's tissue tape.
It is so great to be doing all of these techniques from Tim's book. This will be another page for my technique sample book.

Autumn Leaves

This week Creative Inspirations Design Team B has the theme Autumn Stroll. What would you expect to see as you take an autumn stroll, but leaves falling from the trees. Here our leaf is falling off the tree, but she is somewhat special and has a message for us..."Be-leaf in yourself".
In hand this card is very shimmery and vibrant. The scan pulls out the red more than the actual card. The Creative Inspirations paints have so many wonderful colors. I love the pumpkin, rustic red, buttercup, and evergreen for fall colors.
Don't forget that Creative Inspirations has a special anniversary set of four colors--denim, burgundy, ivory, and beige--which will only be available until December 31st. There is a special price if you buy the set of four colors of $8.00. Individual paints sell for $2.25.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Oh Alice Challenge Chapter 27

This week's challenge at Oh Alice is an inspiration theme. We were to create "SPARKLY FABULOUSNESS (yes, include some BLING, please!)" as inspired by the photo on the right. My image is a digital from Moonlight Journey. The sentiment is computer created. The scan does no justice to the bling on the card. The background is the glitter lace technique. The entire background is red and sparkly white ice glitter. The sparkle is unbelievable on the real card. I also used four cool brads from Club Scrap to add even more bling.

Try That Technique--Herringbone Technique

Oh what fun I had with this card! This week's Try That Technique challenge was to use the herringbone technique from the December 2009 Technique Junkies newsletter. I love this technique and it uses up a lot of scraps from cut paper and makes the coolest backgrounds. I chose this adorable witch from the new Artistic Outpost release, Haunted Halloweenas my main image and used oranges, browns, and blacks for the background.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Just for Fun Challenge #25

Just for Fun challenged us this week to use the colors orange, olive, and rust in our creation. Well, these colors just seemed to call for fall leaves. I used a stamp from Club Scrap for the leaves. The coloring was done using Creative Inspirations paints. In real life, the leaves on the card are vibrant and shimmer beautifully. the button is chipboard, also painted with CI.

Color Throwdown Challenge 106

This week the challenge at Color Throwdown was to use the colors soft sky, chocolate chip, kraft, and certainly celery. With these soft colors I decided to try the Chalk Magic technique from the current Technique Junkies newsletter. For my flowers I used chalk inks in bisque, soft blue, and citrus green. As you see, they create a fairly subtle background. All of the stamps used are from Club Scrap.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Created By Hand Challenge 08-16-10

This week's challenge at Created Byhand is "Take a hike/stitching". I chose a stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms and combined it with the patchwork technique from the June/July 2010 Technique Junkies newsletter. I just love the stitching stamp from Stampers Anonymous, the Tim Holtz collection. I think it looks like what I would do if I tried to sew by hand...well almost, anyway.

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 10 in the Style of Wendy Vecchi

Okay, I admit that I am in just under the deadline. This is especially troublesome when so much of the technique has to dry. My final project is dimensional and almost dry, therefore I had to use the camera instead of the flatbed scanner. Have I mentioned that I'm closeup camera challenged?
This week the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge is Distress Stickles. The challenge at Simon Says Stamp and Show is to create artwork using the Wendy Vecchi, Studio 490 style.
My creation meets the criteria from both challenges and fills a need I had because of the CCC challenges. Since I started with the first challenge, I decided to put my challenges into a book format. I needed a cover for the book and the Wendy Vecchi style was the perfect answer. Distress Stickles is a wonderful embellishment for this style.
I use one of Wendy's tutorials to guide me. To begin with I made two epoxy embellishments using Tim's memo pins. The actual cover base is book board and is painted using dimensional pearls in mushroom. I used the corners from Tim's line and sanded the front to bring out the design. All of the die cuts are grungeboard and grungepaper and are from the alterations line . The label was colored with rusty hinge distress ink and bordered with pumice stone and then vintage photo distress stickles. The letters are grungeboard and inked with black archival ink and covered with rock candy distress stickles. I used wings for leaves. They are colored using forest moss distress ink and covered with peeled paint distress stickles. The larger flower part is colored with spiced marmalade distress ink, stamped with a crackle stamp, and covered with spiced marmalade distress stickles. The smaller flower part is colored with mustard seed, stamped with the crackle stamp, and covered with rock candy distress stickles. The center is a large brad covered with vintage photo distress stickles.
When the challenges are over, I will add fiber and ribbons to the rings.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Critter Sketch Challenge 27

This week the challenge at Critter Sketch is to create a boy card using glitter on it somewhere. As I was looking for a good "boy" stamp I found this gecko and I knew I had my card. I used the woodgrain texture fade from Tim Holtz on medium brown cardstock and highlighted the raised areas with Expresso dye ink. I stamped the gecko on a piece of double sided adhesive and cut it out. I adhered him to the tree and then used the glitter on the other side of the adhesive. I stamped the Happy birthday on a small piece of white paper and put it in the embossing folder where the knot hole is. I then glued it over the knot hole in the tree. My grandson will be four in a few weeks. I may have his birthday card finished early.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Oh Alice Challenge Chapter 26

This week the challenge at Oh Alice was a sketch with the main panel to be three inches high, to please the caterpillar you know. I combined images. Alice is from Oxford Impressions and the bottle is from Club Scrap. I stamped them on a piece of designer paper I had and then used Creative Impressions paints to color them. I chose the CI paints because of the color and shimmer, but also because they have a transparent quality to them. When you use them lightly, you can see the detailed stamp lines through them. The sentiment is from TJ (Tweety Jill) Designs. The crackle stamp used on the background is from All Night Media.The flower was highlighted with turquoise CI paints.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Bloggers Challenge 165


The theme for Bloggers Challenge this week is "Back to School". And what symbolizes the beginning of school more that the yellow school bus and numbers on the chalkboard. The bus image and the sentiment are from Club Scrap. The background is Core'dination paper embossed using a Cuttlebug folder and then sanded. I love the sentiment. It's a message we all can learn from.

Play Date Cafe Challenge 43

This week in Play Date Cafe the challenge is to use the colors turquoise, light green, and dark green in your art while keeping with the inspiration image. When I first saw the image (left), even before I read any of the blog text, I saw an image reflecting the idea of refreshing. The background image from Stampland is one of flowing water. How refreshing is that. The images across the card from Club Scrap which say "Rest, Refresh, Revive" and the sentiment "A Good Rest is Half the Work" say it all.

This week's sponsor at Play Date Cafe is Creative Inspirations Paints. The prize is your choice of 12 jars of the paints. Creative Inspirations is a family owned business which sells Inspirations,  an iridescent water based paint that will add brilliance and sparkle to any of your creations. They are so easy to use just shake, open, and play! There are 55 vivid colors (plus four limited edition colors) to choose from. The paints dry quickly on most surfaces including vellum and acetate. The flowing water on the background of my card is painted with the paints. The shimmer is wonderful. It seems like the sun is shining on the water.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Two New Artistic Outpost Stamp Sheets

Exciting news -- Artistic Outpost Stamps is releasing two new stamp sheets today.

Neverland features images from the fairytale land that is home to Peter Pan. The Darling children are also featured with a lovely ATC sized collage of Wendy and a perfect flying illustration of John and Michael. Think of the scenes you create with these adorable kiddos including an intense conversation between Wendy and Peter. Don't ever grow up!!!

I had so much fun working with these stamps. For my card I brayered my colors on the cardstock using a large circle to make the moon. Then I used a mortise mask to brayer the moon. I stamped John and Michael flying over the stamped buildings. The tree tops were part of the tree stamp from The Outpost.

Haunted Halloween is a Victorian inspired collection with a vintage witch illustration, a cane-swinging dapper skeleton, and a haunted home that could be used without the scary subtext. Other collage images include a bat border collage and sentiments.

On my card I used the haunted house and stamped the flying bats in the corner. The background was created with Glimmer Mists which were pulled and blended with a paper towel. (Pulled Glimmers from Technique Junkies). I think it created a kind of eerie look to the scene. The background paper is from Graphics 45. These Halloween images are so much fun to use. Don't you think that the skeleton is a handsome fellow? Haunted Halloween will also coordinate really well with the other Artistic Outpost stamp set Vintage Halloween.

Both of my cards are embellished with wonderful vintage lace or ribbon. There is a new department at Artistic Outpost called Outpost Attic Findings. Currently some truly vintage style finding kits are being featured that include beautiful ribbons and trims. In these kits, you will receive 1.5 yards of each color of hand dyed rayon vintage style seam binding as well as 2 yards each of the vintage style crocheted trim. Also included are a heaping scoop of vintage mother of pearl buttons perfect for embellishing your prized project. Kits retail for $6.99.

Each of the other design team members will be featuring their artwork using these new sets of stamps. Why don't you visit each of their blogs and see the wonderful things they have created.

-Lisa
-Gerrie
-Lynn
-Judy
-Toni
-Stephanie
-Connie


Happy stamping!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Just for Fun Challenge #24

This week the challenge for Just for Fun calls for the colors olive, cranberry, and yellow. I decided to use the Splash 'n Stick technique from the current Technique Junkies newsletter so I could really play with the colors. the background is glossy black cardstock strips over the yellow card base. I used alcohol inks for the colors on the dragonflies and butterflies as called for in the technique. For the flower I used Creative Inspirations paints over white prima flowers. I wanted the flower to shimmer like the rest of the card.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Play Date Cafe Challenge 42

This week the Play Date Cafe Challenge incorporated the colors dark brown, green, and beige and travelled to the desert (perhaps in Africa). I chose to take a safari to visit one of the most fascinating animals to me -- the giraffe. The color palette seemed to fit so well. The stamp is from I Brake for Stamps. I used my Creative Inspirations paints to color the image.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Critter Sketch Challenge 26 and Color Throwdown 105

Critter Sketch Challenge sketch
Color Throwdown colors
The challenges at Critter Sketch and at Color Throwdown went so well together this week. When I decided to use these stamps from Artistic Outpost stamps, Bloom and Grow set, everything just came together. I used a technique from the June/July Technique Junkies newsletter called Copic Expressions. Using Copic markers and alcohol you get a watercolored look to the image.The colors from the Color Throwdown -- always artichoke, elegant eggplant, and soft suede went so well with the image. The name soft suede also inspired my to use grungepaper for the side panel and color it with pan pastels. I just think the result feels and looks like suede. The eggplant layer was embossed using a Sizzix embossing folder. The brads are from my stash.

Created By Hand Challenge 08-09-10

This week the challenge at Created Byhand was "Welcome/Yellow". I always try to feature both parts of the challenge whenever possible. I guess the yellow part of the challenge is obvious in my card. The welcome part is a little more subtle. First, I thought this image from Beeswax just looked like she was offering a welcome to someone. I also felt that the sentiment from Club Scrap had the feeling of welcome in it. And that's my story.

Creative Inspirations Blog Hop

CI Blog Hop Prize
Glad to have you join us for the Creative Inspirations Paint Blog Hop. If you arrived here from Lisa's blog, you're in the right place. If you arrived from somewhere else, start from the Creative Inspirations Blog so that you can collect the clues in order. Once you have collected all the clues, just add your answer to the comments on the Creative Inspirations blog before midnight on Wednesday, August 18, 2010. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing and posted on the blog on Thursday.. The winner will be free to choose their own color mix of 12 paints and will receive other wonderful items.

Creative Inspirations is an iridescent water based paint that adds brilliance and sparkle to any of your creations. They are easy to use -- just shake, open, and play! There are 55 vivid colors to choose from and they dry quickly on most surfaces including vellum and acetate.Today we are introducing four new colors to the Creative Inspiration line for a limited time. The new colors -- IVORY, BEIGE, BURGUNDY, and DENIM -- are available now and will be available through December 31, 2010. And there is a special. For the limited colors, if you buy them as a set of four, the cost is only $8.00 plus shipping. Individually the jars will be the normal price of $2.25.

My card utilizes the paints in a few different ways. First note the beautiful DENIM skirt, the lovely IVORY blouse, the cool BEIGE pallette, and the woman on the painting in BURGUNDY Aren't these temporary new colors wonderful! The image was painted totally with Creative Inspirations paint. The background was created using a sea sponge to pounce on paint. A fun embellishment is the lace which was highlighted with the ivory paint. The whole card has a wonderful shimmer. easel.

Here is my clue for you. U

Next you should head over to Ashley's blog for your next clue. Good luck and happy, shimmery creating!

Stamps: Artist--Stampland, Scene--Talkabout Images

Friday, August 13, 2010

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 9 -- Distress Crackle -- Wings

This week the Compendium of Curiosities challenge at Studio L3 is Crackle Distress on p. 42 of Tim's book. In addition both Simon Says Stamp (first challenge) and Stampotique Designers had "Wings" as the challenge theme. For my card I used the Fanciful Flight die from Tim's Alterations line and a stamp from his collection. The wings are cut from grungeboard.I used both clear and tinted distress crackle on my card. On the DP background I used the clear Rock Candy to highlight the flowers and leaves. The clear leaves a fine crackle. On the wings of the butterfly I used spiced marmalade and mustard seed. The cracks show much more here. The outline of the wings is done in tarnished brass crackle.

Bloggers Challenge 164 using Try That Technique Gated Tag technique

This week the Bloggers Challenge was to create a birthday card. The challenge from Try That Technique was to use the Gated Tag technique from the February 2008 newsletter. This theme and the technique were made for each other. My birthday card is a gated card. When you open the card, there are four pockets each containing a tag. Because it was a birthday card challenge, each of my tags has a birthday sentiment stamped on it. The first two tags have a distressed ink background. The third was sprayed with glimmer mists, and the fourth has a star stamped background.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Oh Alice Challenge Chapter 25

The challenge at Oh Alice this week was fun, but extremely hard for me to capture on a scan. Actually I ended up taking a picture with my camera which showed more detail, but the picture still wasn't up to my standards. I love the actual card. Oh yes, the challenge was to create (WITH the exception of the main image panel) an ALL WHITE card or project! My cheshire cat image comes from a digital from Moonlight Journey. He is placed in the knot hole of the tree from the woodgrain embossing folder from Tim Holtz.

Glorious Gift Boxes


This week the Creative Inspirations Paints Design Team B had the challenge of making gift boxes decorated using the paints. My first box was a box created to hold a travel journal (also colored using Creative Inspirations Paints.) The box and book were part of a kit from Club Scrap. The stamps are also Club Scrap stamps. The box (behind the book) has the images stamped in black on squares of paper. Each of the squares were painted in corresponding colors. This creates a lovely shimmer to the squares. Unfortunately a scan does not show the shimmer as well as the real thing. On the book I stamped a Club Scrap image and used the paints to color the image. Again the shimmer is unbelievable.
The second box is a die cut from Sizzix. It was supposed to be a box for a wedding, but my daughter was having a birthday and it was the perfect size for her gift. She love the color purple, so of course the box had to be decorated in purple. The flowers are all stamped and colored with amethyst paint. The rose was cut in pink cardstock and painted with royal purple. The leaves were painted over with spring green.
Visit the Creative Inspirations Blog to see what some of the other designers have created. If you create something using the Creative Inspirations paints, share your creations on the blog using Inlinkz.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Just for Fun Challenge #23

Just for Fun challenged us this week with the colors kraft, red, and white. I chose this image from Cornish Heritage Farms because I love it and because I knew the colors would work with it.  I used Copics and the Ranger white gel pen to color the images. The sentiment is from Club Scrap.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Play Date Cafe Challenge 41

The Challenge at Play Date Cafe this week was to use colors close to butterscotch, white, and terra cotta red with an Italian flare. Some how this architecture stamp spoke to me and the woman and the lion completed the thought.  They just said Rome. I apologise because I can't remember which stamp company these are from. I was stamping with a group of friends for several days and was using someone else's stamps. I forgot to note the companies. The images were colored with Copics.

Try That Technique -- Textured Tape

This week for Try That Technique challenge, the technique was textured tape from the October 2005 issue of the Technique Junkies newsletter. I did morph the technique slightly. Instead of overlapping the colors, I separated the blues from the greens since I knew I wanted to  make a kind of scene. My stamps are from Cornish Heritage Farms -- tree, Club Scrap -- chair and sentiment, and Stampscapes -- additional grass. The theme of this 4x4 is summer fun. And what better fun in summer than sitting under a cool tree to relax.

Created By Hand Challenge 08-02-10

The challenge at Created Byhand this week was to create art using the theme, "Fairy romp/beads, pearls" in some way shape, or fashion. I chose this Whiff of Joy fairy as my main image. I thought she was so cute in her blue jeans. To follow the butterfly theme I die cut one of my Spellbinders butterflies and decorated it with pearls. The image is colored using Creative Inspirations paints. Their shimmer seemed so appropriate for the fairy theme.