12 Tags of 2014 -- December

There's nothing like meeting a deadline just under the wire. Today is more than just New Year's Eve; it's the last day of the last month of the year 2014. I've managed to keep up with Tim Holtz's 12 tags of 2014 and it seems I've made it again. This is such a pretty tag. I did have to adjust a few things, but the similarity is there.
I wish everyone reading this a wonderful holiday season and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Holiday Blessings

I've had the Tim Holtz/Sizzix die of the (angel) wings sitting out for a while looking for a reason to use them. Here is a Christmas card with the wings in all their glory. Although you can't really tell from the scan, there is a lot of texture on this card. The layers of the wings are embossed vellum, suede paper, and glittered paper. The star in the background and the sentiment frame are glitter paper. The background is letterpress (Sizzix) and sprayed with distress stain spray. All of this is mounted on a textured teal cardstock base. The sentiment is stamped using a SweetStamps stamp.

My card is being entered into several challenges: SweetStamps --non-traditional Christmas colors; Simon Says Monday challenge -- anything goes; Tuesday Throwdown -- Christmas;
Stampendous --holiday happiness; The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge -- tic tac toe (diagonal - die, glitter, star); Word Art Wednesday -- anything goes; and Dies R Us -- anything goes with a die cut.

Christmas Decor

I've been missing from Blogland for quite some time. Family matters have taken a lot of my time. My entry for Bloggers Challenge, although a bit late this month, is an example of what has kept me busy.The challenge this week is ornaments. My grandson (3rd grade) also needed ornaments to help decorate his classroom. So we spent some nana/grandson quality time making ornaments. The balls are made with clear floor wax and glitter. They are so easy to make, even an eight year old boy can do it. The stars are made using the Tim Holtz ruler texture fade. I must thank Shelly Hickox (Stamptramp) for the basic idea. When I saw her ornaments, a lightbulb popped in my head. I knew they would be the perfect ornament for a classroom. I cut the strips and punched the holes for the brads. My grandson inked the raised parts of the embossed rulers and inserted the brads. We had a fun afternoon making ornaments and the classroom got some pretty cool ornaments.

Joy to the World

It's been quite a while since I was able to post on my blog. I've been rather busy around the house since my daughter had surgery on her arm. She's fine, but it was her right arm and she is right handed. I've had to drive her and the grandkids and do other stuff she would normally do. I did get a chance to work in my studio for a little while. Here's a non-traditional Christmas card I was able to finish.My base card is yellow cardstock. The background is designer paper from Club Scrap. The carolers are Tim Holtz/Sizzix dies as is the sentiment.
I am entering this card into these challenges: Tuesday Throwdown -- family Christmas; Artistic Stamper -- anything goes; Inspiration Journal -- Sing It Loud; V's Sweet Ideas --Holiday theme; Art With Heart --holiday traditions (caroling).        

Thanks

This will be my last post today. It's been a while since I had time in my studio, so I kept working. As I look back, it seems that there were quite a few sketch challenges. This card follows the Kraft Journal sketch challenge. I used a different color palette for me -- grays and kraft/brown. My stamp is from Quietfire Designs. The background uses 2 shaded of gray and the banner is a dark shade of gray. The oval and the card base is kraft cardstock.
I am also entering this card in these challenges: City Crafter -- one word sentiment; SweetStamps -- Thanks; Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- thanks/ Thanksgiving; Marks Finest Papers Simple Salutations --at least two shades of gray.

Be Thankful

I had a wonderful and busy day in the studio today. I used the Mojo Monday sketch challenge as my layout inspiration. However, I made a few artistic prerogative changes. First I turned the sketch 90 degrees to the right. Then, instead of a card, I made a tag.
I started with a black tag cut using a Tim Holtz die. The layering panel was dry embossed and then highlighted with distress ink. My stamped top panel was made using the acorn blueprint framelits set from Tim Holtz ( a prize from Mario and Tim for the 12 Tags challenge)  That is really a fun set to use. The layered acorn represents the circle on the sketch. I added the sentiment on the ribbon hanging from the top.
My tag is being entered in these additional challenges: Ink on my Fingers Sunday challenge -- black; Word Art Wednesday -- anything goes; Mixed Media -- stamps.

Good Friends

 It's Friday and time for Bloggers Challenge. This week the challenge is friendship. I created this CAS card using the layout from the Addicted to CAS sketch challenge.
I started with a red card base. I pulled out a favorite stamp set from Rogue Redhead Designs, Milliner Misses. I love these ladies and the sentiment works so well with the challenge.

Season's Greetings

Today's project was a Christmas. I started by cutting my tag from kraft cardstock. I die cut the Season's Greetins ornament (Cheery Lynn Designs) twice once in green and once in gold so I could layer the gold season's greetings over the green. I die cut an oval (Cheery Lynn Designs) to use as a background panel. The sentiment (Artistic Outpost) was stamped in green pigment ink and heat embossed. It's a simple design, but sends the Christmas message.
I am entering my tag in these challenges: Cheery Lynn Designs -- tag, you're it; City Crafter -- Christmas CAS; Fashionable  Stamping -- Christmas tag; Dies R Us -- Christmas; Artistic Outpost -- anything goes using Artistic Outpost stamps; Word Art Wednesday -- anything goes.

12 Tags of 2014 -- November

Thanksgiving is in a few short weeks. The November tag for Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2014 is perfect for the season. I love the look of distressed corrugated cardboard and it's especially cool when the negative of a die cut is used. The distress paint and dry embossed leaf which shows through is a great touch.
I am also entering this tag in the Stampendous challenge which is so thankful.

Ornament Tag

As the weather forecast threatens a cold, arctic blast in Chicago, thoughts go to the Christmas season. Today I am sharing a CAS Christmas tag. The tag was die cut from green cardstock. The ornaments (Our Daily Bread Designs) were stamped on white card stock and heat embossed. Then they were die cut using Spellbinders dies (available at Classy Cards n such). "Peace on Earth" was stamped on the tag and embossed in silver.
I am entering this tag in these challenges:Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge -- ornaments;
Classy Cards n Such -- ornaments; Word Art Wednesday -- anything goes; Marks Finest Papers Friends of Speedy -- red, gold, green; Our Daily Bread Designs -- holiday; Addicted to CAS -- tag; Inspiration Journal -- happy holidays; Artistic Stamper -- Christmas is coming.

Woodsy Thinking of You

Today's card uses a die and stamp set from Sweet and Sassy. I've been looking for an excuse to use it.  It worked in so well with several of the current challenges, so I quickly grabbed it and went to work. I started with a blue background panel . I then stamped and die cut the trees, deer, and birds. For the lower background I tore a piece of shimmery cardstock, added a little glue, and sprinkled some distress glitter. The sentiment and frame is from Tim Holtz.
I am entering this card in these challenges: City Crafter -- my deer; Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge -- thinking of you; Marks Finest Papers Color challenge -- rust, blue, green; and Fashionable Stamping -- animals.

A Salute to Veterans

Today's Bloggers' Challenge is to use the colors red, white, and blue. My card is a salute to veterans in honor of Veteran's Day. I started with a white cardstock base. I used my Statue of Liberty stencil and Versamark. Then I heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder. I added the flag and stars die cuts (Tim Holtz) and the "Brave Hero" dog tag die cut (Cheery Lynn). And may I add, A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR BRAVE VETERANS!

Good Old Fun

I am a city girl and I do love the city. However, I have memories of spending summer vacations during my childhood at my great-grandparents farm. There my great-uncles would ride us around on the tractor and we could see the different crops they had growing. When Simon Says challenged us on Monday to remember the good old days, this is what I came up with. I used the layout from the Mojo Monday sketch challenge as the basis for my layout. All of the stamps used are from Artistic Outpost. Prisma colored pencils were used to color the images. This layout was a bit of a challenge since I had to use six masks to get every stamp where I wanted them to be.
I am entering this card into these challenges: Mojo Monday -- sketch; Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge -- Good Old Days; Artistic Outpost -- anything goes using Artistic Outpost stamps.

Give Thanks

To create my card I started with the beautiful Cheery Lynn Designs die, Fall Harvest 2. For the background I used watercolor paper. I used a light touch of Pan Pastels for the color. The pumpkins were colored with Tim Holtz's distress glitter. The sentiment "GIVE THANKS" was die cut with Tim Holtz letters.I love how the glitter emphasizes the die cut image.
 I am entering my card in these challenges: Cheery Lynn Designs -- give thanks; A Vintage Journey -- bountiful harvest; Dies R Us -- thankful.

Thankful

Today's card uses one of my favorite Cornish Heritage Farms stamps. I stamped the stamp on watercolor paper and used the distress marker watercolor technique (a Tim Holtz technique) to color it. I adhered the image to the stamp die cut from Tim Holtz and adhered the panel to a kraft base card. I die cut the wheat stalks and added them to the front as well as the numeral 4 at the top corner.
I am entering this card into these challenges: Cornish Heritage Farms -- show a pumpkin; A Vintage Journey -- bountiful harvest; Dies R Us -- thankful; Great Impressions -- thankful thoughts; V's Sweet Ideas -- anything goes.

Give Thanks to Him

This week the Bloggers Challenge is give thanks. I started with a Cheery Lynn die (Madrid Flourishes Rectangle Boutique Stackers Frame). I used the large border and part of the middle border. The sentiment is Psalm 100:4, an ODBD stamp. The background uses the embossed stains technique from the current Technique Junkies newsletter. although it's hard to see on the scan, the gold ink over the embossed leaves really gives a beautiful metallic glow.
I am also entering this card in these challenges: Cheery Lynn Designs --borders and edgers; Word Art Wednesday -- anything goes; Our Daily Bread Designs --Scripture inspiration; TJ Try That Technique -- embossed stains.

Trick or Treat

Tomorrow (Friday) is Halloween. I thought I'd share one more Halloween card. I started with a great piece of designer paper. I pulled out several sets of Halloween stamps from Artistic Outpost. I couldn't let the holiday go by without using the dapper skeleton all dressed up in his formal finest. I wanted to mask him, but he is quite skinny and difficult to cut out. Then I remembered that I had a jar of Masking Friskit. It was the perfect answer to mask my bony friend. I used a white gel pen to highlight his bones. The haunted mansion is another of my favorite stamps, along with the colony of bats. (Yes, that's what a group of bats is called.) Halloween was stamped in orange. The 'Trick or Treat" sentiment block is a part of  a larger stamp. I stamped it and then heat embossed it and cut out the part I wanted. Halloween Kisses--my treat to you!
Since this is the week and month of Halloween, there are a number of challenges met by my Halloween card: Tuesday Throwdown -- dressed up-costume; Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge -- treats; Sweet Stamps -- Spooky; 3 Muses -- Take Fright; Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge -- anything goes; Marks Finest Papers Simple Salutations -- Boo to You; Inspiration Emporium -- In Disguise; Art With Heart -- Tricks or Treats; Artistic Outpost -- anything goes with Artistic Outpost stamps.

Stripped Gears

My dear sister is recuperating from a recent knee operation, so I wanted to make a card for her. (Sorry, Diane, you'll see the card before it arrives, but it's on its way.) I thought that this bouquet of Steampunk flowers along with the sentiment (both Heartfelt Creations) was the perfect combination.
I'll be entering this card in several challenges. At SanDee & Amelie's Steampunk Challenge the challenge is Steampunk couture. Flowers play such a big part of fashion and  couture. I also added a few metallic stitches to complete the effect. Kraft Journal challenged us to use ugly paper. I actually thought the red paper was not the prettiest, but cut into flowers and highlighted with silver color, the result is just what I needed. City Crafter wanted to see stripes, and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday wants us to use kraft paper (base card and sentiment.)

12 Tags of 2014 -- October

Halloween is this Friday, so what better time is there to share my version of Tim Holtz's tag of the month. I had a lot of fun making this tag. I really love the texture paste on the background. Adding the distress sprays was so easy. I have had the monocle for ever so long. I had to have it and then never used it. You never know when something you have will be just the thing you need. (I'm not a hoarder, I'm just waiting for the perfect moment! lol) I didn't have a Jack-O-Lantern stamp, so I used the pumpkin from the blueprint series and added the face features. It worked. I like Tim's idea of adding Glossy Accents to the colored part of the pumpkin: it really gives a dimensional look to the Jack-O-Lantern. Halloween is such a fun art season.

Happy Halloween

It took me a year, but I finally got to use my Witch's Laundry die from Cheery Lynn. My card base is black cardstock. I cut the orange moon to fit the card and then stamped it with bats from Artistic Outpost's Haunted Halloween. The sentiment is also from that set. It looks like our witch friend will have clean clothes for her big night out!
I am entering my card into these challenges: Cheery Lynn Designs -- black and orange; Dies R Us Challenge -- Halloween; Marks Finest Paper Simple Salutations -- things with wings; A Vintage Journey -- Halloween to die for; Artistic Outpost --anything goes with Artistic Outpost stamps.

O is for ... Oriental

I'm back after a 3 day absence spent in the hospital. It felt good to spend a little time in the studio. Using the sketch layout from the Marks Finest Papers Oriental challenge, I created this card. The background panel is cut from a Chinese newspaper. The red panel was made by using a stencil and stencil paste and then spraying with distress spray. The bottom panel was stamped using an Oriental stamp from MFP..
I am also entering my card into these challenges: Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge -- O is for...; Three Muses -- printed word; Addicted to CAS -- stencil.

Golden Autumn Days

My card today is based on the Mojo Monday challenge sketch layout.  My image and sentiment are brand new stamps (to me) from Serendipity stamps. I was really happy to be able to use them. I stamped my image on watercolor paper. I used the distress marker watercolor technique to watercolor the pheasants. The top layering panel was perfect for the sentiment. My background was made by layering leaves which were die cut  (Tim Holtz/Sizix) from an old book page onto a cardstock panel. The leaves were edged with distress ink. I think that the leaves, colors, and image make a wonderful autumn card.
I am also entering my card into these challenges: Ink on my Fingers Sunday Challenge -- add leaves; City Crafter -- leaves; Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge -- use watercoloring; Word Art Wednesday -- anything goes; Fashionable Stamping -- anything goes; Frilly and Funkie --autumn colors; Great Impressions -- autumnal elegance; Serendipity Stamps -- fall.

Happy Halloween

Please don't think me weird, but I'm in a happy place because I am making Halloween cards this year. I'm not really a Halloween fanatic, but I love the fun that surrounds this holiday. As you may recall, last year I had health issues all during the fall season. I had new Halloween stamps and dies, but could never use them. This year I'm in the fun Halloween zone.
The base card is kraft cardstock. I then used a pewter backing panel. The background is orange cardstock with spider webs die cut from the pewter cardstock. The Halloween wreath and raven are cut from dark brown cardstock. The sentiment panel is orange cardstock with the sentiment in deep purple. All of the die cuts are done with Cheery Lynn dies.

I am entering my card into these challenges: Cheery Lynn Designs -- Halloween; Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge -- falling in love...with Halloween die cuts; Kraft Journal Monday -- no pattern paper; and SweetStamps -- dies.

Welcome Autumn

This will be the last card that I'm sharing today. I'm so happy that I got a chance to use my tree stamp from Kitchen Sink Stamps showing fall foliage. I have to use this stamp at least once every year. My card layout is based on the Mojo Monday tall and skinny sketch challenge. Fashionable Stamping challenged us to show a tree with autumn colors so I pulled out this stamp. Marks finest Papers Simple Salutations challenged us to use a metal embellishment on our card. I thought that the ribbons at the top could use a little embellishment.  The sentiment is an Artistic Outpost stamp.

Birthday Greetings

This is another card that I was able to finish today. I love it when I get extra time in my studio. I decided to use the time to participate in some challenges that I have not been able to play in for a while. Marks Finest Papers Oriental Sketch Challenge is this sketch. All of the stamps used are MFP stamps. The background was done using the TJ technique of the week challenge -- colored stone silk. I thought that it made a perfect background for an Oriental card.

Speedy Recovery

Today has been a fun and busy day. My card here is for the Addicted to CAS challenge which is cuddly. The minute I saw the challenge, I knew that I had to use this adorable and cuddly teddy bear stamp from Kitchen Sink Stamps.  Isn't he sweet!

Colors of autumn

This is a card that I've been thinking about for some time. It worked quite well with the sketch challenge from Mark's Finest Papers Sketch With a Twist. The twist is to stamp  the background. I used the leaf background stamp from Heartfelt Creations. The leaves were stamped on a piece of white cardstock with Versamark ink and then Pan Pastels were applied in fall colors over the inked surface. The leaf was cut and embossed (Sizzix/Tim Holtz) using Core'dinations paper and then sanded.The sentiment (Our Daily Bread Designs) was the perfect finishing touch to add to my card. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is to use a stamp as the finishing touch.

Our Daily Bread Designs challenged us to create a fall inspired card based on their picture. I followed the traditional fall colors as seen in the top left panel.  A Vintage Journey also wanted to see the colors of autumn.

Dawn Walk

This is the card I created using the sketch from the current Cornish Heritage Farms challenge. All of the stamps used are CHF stamps. My background uses two colors on the opposite side of the color wheel which fits in perfectly with the current Tuesday Throwdown challenge which is opposites attract (use color opposites). I really like the black and white image against the bold background.

12 Tags of 2014 -- September

September has come and almost gone. It's time to post my version of the September tag for Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2014. This time it's alcohol inks and butterflies. The effect is amazing. I actually used the same stamp as Tim did. I have had the stamp for quite a while. She needed to be inked. She is spectacular and looks great with the butterflies.The rub-onz are a wonderful touch.

Pumpkin Jack Goes Steampunk

Today I am sharing a wall hanging depicting Pumpkin Jack dressed in his Halloween costume. It seems that Jack is a great fan of steampunkery and chose his costume accordingly. I'll bet that he and his friends will have fun at all of the parties coming up.
I decided that I wanted to make a dimensional project. To create this piece, I started with one of the burlap panels. I then sprayed Dylusions over the panel in Halloween colors. The face was cut from Graphic 45 design paper, edged in spiced marmalade distress ink, and adhered to a matching piece of grungeboard for strength. The hat was a wooden embellishment that I had picked up at a craft store. I painted it with black soot distress paint. To make the eyes and monacle, nose and moustache, and goggles, I die cut the gears and moustache and followed the effect powders technique (p. 52 of Tim Holtz's book) from the current Compendium of Curiosities Challenge. I love how it adds texture to the items. The raven and owl and die cut using some of Tim's dies and colored using distress paints. The mouth is part of a Cheery Lynn Designs die cut.
I really enjoyed working on this project for the Compendium of Curiosities 3 challenge. This month the challenge is being sponsored by the generous Inspiration Emporium. There is also a great prize package from Tim and Mario. (See, even Jack has a big smile.)
This wall hanging works well with several other challenges: Take a word -- steampunkery; Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge -- anything goes; Frilly & Funkie -- haunting Halloween; Great Impressions -- get your spook on; SanDee & Amelie's Steampunk Challenges -- steampunk stories.

Crazy Enough

"Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do" What a fun truism expressed by this Artistic Outpost stamp! This week the Bloggers Challenge is black, white and a splash of color. It was the perfect challenge to use an unused Sizzix die which I had in my stash for a long time. What better technique is there to use for this kind of challenge than the chalkboard technique. You can't get much more black and white than that.
Besides Bloggers challenge, I am entering my card into these challenges: City Crafter -- focus on sentiment; Word Art Wednesday -- anything goes; SweetStamps Monthly Challenge -- chalkboard technique; Artistic Outpost -- anything goes using Artistic Outpost stamps.

Paper Roses

I was in the mood today to make a tag. I die cut a tag from kraft cardstock. Then for a change of pace, I pulled out my gelatos. I scribbled on the tag and then smoothed the color out by rubbing with a damp cloth. I then used a stencil and some Dylusions ink sprays. I die cut the lattice framework (Tim Holtz-Sizzix) twice--once from grunge paper and once from a sheet of cardstock that I had stamped with the Rogue Redhead music background. I colored the lattice with a silver gelato and used the diamond shapes with the stamped music for the inserts. The sentiment is a quote from the Word Art Wednesday challenge which I framed with a Sizzix frame colored with a gold gelato. The roses were made using the Cheery Lynn miniature rose die and a piece of cardstock from a Tim Holtz paper stash.
I am entering my tag in these challenges: Cheery Lynn Designs -- die cut flowers; Ink on my Fingers Sunday Challenge -- paper roses; 3 Muses -- roses; Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge -- Tag It; Word Art Wednesday -- anything goes.

Autumn

The first official day of Autumn 2014 is just around the corner, so why not a card celebrating autumn. My card layout is based on the Mojo Monday challenge sketch. My colors were all chosen to represent autumn. My background is a more current take on a technique I learned at my first stamp show, years ago. Then it was Versamark and chalk. For this card I pulled out my Pan Pastels. The colors are so much richer than any chalk I have in my stash and they work in a similar way. I stamped the background  on watercolor paper (for the tooth) with Versamark ink. Then I added the Pan Pastels. The technique is easy to do, and quite effective. All of the sunflower stamps are from the latest Heartfelt Creations release. I do love sunflowers! All of the die cuts were cut with Spellbinder dies.) All of the coloring was done with my Pan Pastels. The sentiment is a Club Scrap stamp.The diagonal design paper is from my stash.
I am also entering my card in these challenges: Bloggers Challenge -- fall colors; Simon Says Monday Challenge -- techniques; City Crafter -- diagonals; Dies R Us -- fall festival; Inspiration Journal -- fall is in the air; E-Play -- fall; Art With Heart -- fall back.

Set It Free

My card today is a double side step card. I'm still in summer mode, so I went with butterflies, birds and garden flowers. My birds are seen in a cage, but the door is open so they can fly free.
After cutting the base card in a blue-grey, I added a scripted design paper. The butterflies are from Tim Holtz's Butterfly Frenzy decorative strip die. They were colored using alcohol ink. The birds and floral stamps are from SweetStamps and were colored using distress markers. The bird cage is a Cheery Lynn Designs diecut. The sentiment is typed on the computer.
 I am entering my card into these challenges: SweetStamps Blog Monthly Technique Challenge -- double side step card; Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge -- use rubber stamps to celebrate Stamptember; Word Art Wednesday -- anything goes; Frilly and Funkie -- summer garden ( What says summer garden better than butterflies, flowers, and birds?)

Autumn Bloom

Today is Labor Day her in the U.S. It was a beautiful day here in my part of Chicago. My lovely daughter grilled, so I could enjoy some time in the studio followed by a great meal. It was the perfect set up for a brightly colored card.
My card layout is based on the Mojo Monday sketch challenge. The Mixed Media Monthly challenge wanted us to be inspired by the colors in their photo (above) When I looked at the inspiration photo my reaction was bright, bold, and floral. I started with a neutral, white cardbase. The background panel is burnt orange. The left panel is a piece of white cardstock which I colored metallic gold using the metallic pan pastels. I then took my marbled stencil (Prima)  and used embossing paste for the marbling. Over that I stenciled a border of leaves (Dylusions) with distress paint. The panel on the right is blue cardstock layered with mesh dry wall tape. The flower (Heartfelt Creations) which was stamped on watercolor paper and then was colored using the watercolor marker technique (Marvy markers). I added the ribbon and a pressed flower sticker (SEI Inc.) which I layered on a white background and then a burnt orange framing panel. I stamped the word "autumn" right on the sticker.
I am also entering my card in these challenges: Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge -- bold colors; Ink on my Fingers Sunday Challenge -- bright colors; Artistic Stamper -- fall colors.