Bathing Beauties

Lately I've been on a summer kick. Today's card uses the Mojo Monday sketch as its layout. The gorgeous bathing beauties (and sentiment) are from the Artistic Outpost Boardwalk stamp set. The sand background is stamped using a Rogue Redhead Designs stamp from Beach Babes. Although the sparkle doesn't show very well on the scan, the deep teal background panel and the circle were die cut from glitter paper.
This card is being entered in these challenges: Mojo Monday -- sketch; Simon Says Stamp and Show -- anything goes; Artistic Stamper -- Ladies' Day; and Artistic Outpost referral program -- anything goes.

Let Us Begin

My card today started out as a piece of designer paper that I had pulled out to use on another project, but then went a different way.  Since Simon Says Stamp and Show challenged us to use a little paper, this was a great beginning. The paper was from a 6x6 pad from My Mind's Eye. I then laid a stencil over the panel and covered the rest with embossing ink. I used clear embossing powder to heat emboss the piece. Using a script background stamp from Rogue Redhead Designs, I stamped over the panel. I then sprayed the piece with key lime glitter mist. The embossed area resisted the stamping ink and the spray. The piece now has a shine and glimmer while maintaining the integrity of the background image. The sentiment is from the Our Daily Bread Designs Mother Theresa quotes. The frame was cut from wood paper. I did stain it with walnut distress stain to make it darker. The roses were made from a Spellbinders spiral flower die. I finished off with a pearl flourish to add a touch of bling.
I am entering this card into several other challenges: Ink on My Fingers Sunday challenge--irresistable; Tuesday Throwdown--Smell the Roses; Our Daily Bread Designs--wood or stone; Three Muses--quote; Inspiration Journal--Don't Quote Me; and Artistic Stamper--words.

Classic Beauty and Blooms

I'm back in the challenge arena. This week's Bloggers Challenge has the theme, In Bloom. Cheery Lynn wants to see pretty in purple. Simon Says Stamp and Show is looking at backgrounds. Ink on My fingers Sunday challenge is to use paints. Finally, Take a Word is looking for vintage beauty.
The background of my card was created on sticky back canvas. I put distress paints on my non-stick craft sheet, sprayed a little water, and pulled the canvas panel through the paint. I added a little silver metallic distress paint to the panel. All of the flower and doily die cuts are from Cheery Lynn. I used the following dies: spring flower burst doily, miniature rose, daisy strip,  Build a flower 1 & 2, and cutie fringe 2. The center image is from Chapel Road Stamps. I thought her face qualified as a vintage beauty. All of the cardstock used is in shades of purple.

Dragonfly

Whew! It's Sunday afternoon and challenge deadlines are closing in. I have had a fantastic week with my grandson while he was on spring break, so I'm even further behind than usual with my challenges. But here I am with my challenge card for the Mojo Monday sketch challenge, for the Cheery Lynn back to nature challenge, and the Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge of anything goes.
The background is a kraft panel on a white card base. All of the die cuts are from Cheery Lynn. I love the little dragonfly.

Hope

It's the end of the month, and of course, I have to catch up on all of my favorite monthly challenges so here I am again. This card qualifies for the Artistic Outpost monthly referral challenge. I used Stamps from Artistic Outpost Quotes and Quotables and Blue Bird.  I followed the square challenge sketch from Mojo Monday. Inspiration Journal had the challenge of pop-ups. I used my pop-up star from the Tim Holtz collection. Both Simon Says Stamp and Show and Mark's Finest Papers Simple Salutation challenge want to see a quotation on  the card.

Letters

This was a great card to make for me. I got to use a stamp that has never seen the black of ink and a texture fade that I have had for months. Tsk. Tsk. What is with me!? I also used a part of a tag that I have been using to pick up leftover distress paints and stains. This card meets the theme of three challenges. At Simon Says Stamp and Show the challenge is it's chic to be shabby. At Simon Says Stamp the challenge is to choose one of two sketches. The one I chose is at the left. The Ink on my Fingers Sunday challenge is you make me feel brand new -- use something new (or never used) in your stash.

Jubilee

Thank you Simon Says Stamp and Show for this weeks challenge. We are to use a stamp we love but never use. I probably could have created 100 cards that fit the theme. However, I went to my collection of wood mounted Club Scrap stamps and finally decided on this stamp. I love the happy, but distressed look of the stamp. It's the kind of card you can use for any celebration.
I'm also entering this card into the Creative Belli challenge which is red, white, and black and into the Mark's Finest Paper Simple Salutations challenge which is  anything goes (with a sentiment).

Featuring London

I love it when I have some creative time for myself and things come together. I started this card with the sketch from Mojo Monday and three sets of London stamps from Artistic Outpost (London Elements, London Underground, and Loverly London). I wanted something eyecatching for my background. When I found this piece of copper, I decided to use one of my favorite techniques of embossing the metal and highlighting it with Staz-on ink. I stamped the images on white cardstock and cut them into the circle shapes. The bird is popped up using a foam dot.
I am entering this card into several challenges. The Artistic Outpost monthly challenge is anything goes. Simon Says Stamp and Show has metal-ology as its theme. Three Muses has the theme of time to time. Fashionable Stamping wants to see a bird. Frilly & Funkie has the theme layer it on and share a word (London).

floral Tag

I had a little fun time this afternoon, so I thought I'd change up a little and work on a tag instead of a card. I started with a piece of kraft cardstock which I cut into a tag. Next I pulled out my Dylusions sprays and added color to the tag. I just received some new colors, so it was fun to try them out. I had to do a Tim Holtz on my Cuttlebug folder--I cut the top so that the tag would slip through. That way I could emboss the whole tag. I stamped a SweetStamp floral image on white cardstock and colored the image using distress markers. I used a Cheery Lynn die (Manon's Wedding Garland) as a frame for the flowers. I used their leaf edger die for the bottom edge. The letters are cut using a Tim Holtz die.
I am entering this tag into several challenges. Cheery Lynn Designs has the challenge frame it. Simon Says Stamp and Show wants us to get messy (using the sprays definitely qualifies.) SweetStamps wants to see romance. The Mark's Finest Papers Friends of Speedy challenge is to create a non-traditional Valentine. The Inspiration Journal challenge is to spread some L.O.V.E.

Stars and Stripes

It's impossible to believe that another month is ending.  I'm finally posting my submission for the Artistic Outpost monthly referral challenge which is anything goes this month.
The stamps on my card are from the Heroes and She-roes sets of Artistic Outpost stamps. I used the watercolor marker stamping technique on watercolor paper for my images. The layout is based on the current Mojo Monday sketch for round or square. In addition, I'm entering the Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge which is seeing stars.
I think that the recent inauguration activities and the upcoming Presidents' Day holiday influenced my choice of stamps for my card.  A little patriotic tribute is never out of order.

Art is...

Today is a holiday in the US (Martin Luther King's Day) so I didn't have to babysit for the grandkids. That meant a little more time in the studio to play. Today the challenge at Simon Says Stamp and Show was a thought provoking one. They asked "What are you known for?" At first I was stumped. However, when I was looking at the sketch challenge for Mojo Monday, it came to me. The sketch this week is rather CAS. My first reaction was what can I do to make the background pop. A naked background makes me somewhat uncomfortable. Then I realized that my art often means enhanced backgrounds using some kind of technique. So out came my Gelli Arts Printing Plate and play time began. I also tend to use a lot of texture in my work. I came across the rusted metal embellishments that I had purchased a while back. They were just perfect for making this card. I really like Tim Holtz products and used one of his stamps for the sentiment. Since the card had a very rustic feel to it, I finished it off with a piece of twine tied to the fold. Therefore I am also entering this card in the Marks Finest Papers, Speedy Fox and Friends challenge which is use twine.

Love

It's Sunday afternoon and I had a little time to play. I created a card for several challenges. Simon Says Stamp and Show challenged us to show lace, love. Tuesday Throwdown wants us to frame it. Our Daily Bread Designs has a  similar border it theme. Creative Belli wants to see purple and blue.
For this card I got a chance to use a frame from Cheery Lynn Designs that I hadn't used before. The background stamp and sentiment are both from ODBD.  I love the love sentiment. The purple and blue color scheme just developed. The colors worked together.

Floral Birthday

I couldn't pass up this week's Bloggers Challenge which is a color inspiration challenge since the colors are my favorite combination--or at least I thought they were. When I first saw the inspiration image, I saw the pillow stripes as teal, navy and sage. Now the sage looks grey. Oh well, sage goes great with teal and navy, so I'll stick to my original thoughts.
The technique used on the image panel of my card is Tim Holtz's dabber resist--a favorite of mine. The panel is sticky back canvas. The stamp is one from Judikens that I've had in my collection for years, but it has never been used. One of my resolutions this year is to try to use more stamps from my collection, especially some that haven't ever been used or that haven't been used in ages. The flowers were stamped with my white acrylic paint dabber and the background colors are from distress stains.
I am also entering this card in the Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge which is embrace the old. (I hope that using an old stamp and a technique from the past qualifies.) At Fashionable Stamping the challenge is surprise us. I hope that the canvas die cut, the flower stamped using acrylic paint, and the color combination are surprise enough.

CHAPTER 23: We're All Mad Here, So Anything Goes!

`In THAT direction,' the Cat said, waving its right paw round, `lives a Hatter: and in THAT direction,' waving the other paw, `lives a March Hare. Visit either you like: they're both mad.'

`But I don't want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked.

`Oh, you can't help that,' said the Cat: `we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.'

`How do you know I'm mad?' said Alice.

`You must be,' said the Cat, `or you wouldn't have come here.'

-- Chapter 6, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

"We're all mad here" is the favorite Alice quote of artist Rick St. Dennis, so in January, anything goes! Be mad! Get cute, get creepy, get crazy, because Rick St. Dennis has amazing digi stamps in all those styles, including many wonderful AIW images! Submit your creations on the Altered Alice blog site by Friday, January 25th for a chance to win three digital stamps from Rick St. Dennis. All projects are welcome, but those featuring Wonderland will have two chances at the prize instead of one. Multiple entries are welcome, but to be counted as separate entries they must be on separate posts.

[ Etsy Store | Rick's Blog | Sparkle and Glitter Challenge Blog | Facebook | Pinterest ]

Designer of over 100 theatrical productions, Rick St Dennis (Donald McAfee) is also the author of 4 books on decorative painting and contributor to at least a dozen national magazines on crafts and art. St. Dennis has appeared on such TV shows as Home Matters with Susan Powell, Aileen's Crafts and others. He was Crafts editor for Country Folk Art Magazine and sold his artwork nationally through galleries and shows. For a complete bio of his amazing career, see Rick's blog!

Here's what I created this month:

My first project is an accordian flip card (Sizzix die). I love cards that pop and I just knew that these wonderful images from Rick St Dennis would look great showcased in the card.  Alice with all her friends starts the grouping. Aren't these characters sweet.The next image is the Cheshire cat. He is quite dandy. Next comes the mad hatter. No question that he is a bit mad. And finally, is the Red Queen all decked out in her zentangle array. The images were all colored with Ranger distress markers.

My second project, a wallhanging, came about because I couldn't choose just four images to show. I had stamped, colored, and die cut the images so I could decide which ones to use in the card. I didn't want to leave any of them out, so the wall hanging was created. The first image is of Alice and the cat. The second image is  the Tweedles. don't you just want to give them a hug!. The third is the March Hare in all his mad glory. The fourth image is another version of the Red Queen all decked out in her hearts.

I am entering my projects into the Simon Says Stamp and Show the no rules totally mad tea party challenge and the Simon Says Challenge which is new something (my new die and new digi stamps). 



Thankful

This is my version of the November tag for 12 Tags of 2012. I thought that it was appropriate to post it as we prepare to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. I love everything about fall (except that winter is close behind). Tim's colors, stamps, and dies are perfect for autumn projects.
I am also entering my tag in the Simon Says Stamp and Show, the SweetStamps challenge of Thank You, and the challenge at Creative Belli which is thankful/gratitude.
Wishing everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving a happy and joyous holiday!

Give Thanks

The monthly Stampsmith challenge theme is give thanks. 
this week Cheery Lynn Designs wants to see vintage and Simon Says Stamp and Show says just add pearl. The Mojo Monday sketch is round or square.
To make my card, I followed the round sketch from Mojo Monday. My focal image is Miranda from Stampsmith's Julia's Friends. Isn't she lovely? I think she works very well with a vintage card. The sentiment is from Stampin' Up. It definitely works with the give thanks theme. From Cheery Lynn I used the pinwheel doily and angel wing dies and two circles from the mini pearl circles dies. My pearls are part of the bling as well as liquid pearls surrounding the card front.

Floral Wall Hanging

After a nice dinner at a restaurant where the coasters are rectangular instead of the usual round or square, what do you have? Well, now I have a pretty floral wall hanging to fit in a small area in my hallway. Both SweetStamps and Marks Finest Papers Friends of Speedy TV challenge want us to alter some item. Just combine a beer coaster, a little gesso, some Dylusions sprays and a floral stamp from SweetStamps with a stencil from Club Scrap and the result is a this wall hanging.
Simon Says Stamp and Show has favorites as the challenge. Dylusions sprays and the rock candy stickles I added along the edge qualify as my favorites.

Gather Love Together

I'm a little late in posting this card. Let's just say I was delayed and then chose a technique which took a little longer than I expected. But it's still Friday and I'm sharing my Blogger's Challenge card. The theme this week is falling for you (love theme with fall colors). The card also works with several other challenges: Simon Says Stamp and Show leaf-spiration; Mojo Monday sketch; I Brake for Challenges - fall; and Artistic Stamper - the Natural World.
The background of my card was made on my gelli plate using fall colors and maple leaves (part of the natural world) from my back yard . Actually it is the ghost print; the positive print will be showing up in the near future. The large, brown circle and the dark green circle die cuts are from Spellbinders. The leaf and branch are from Tim Holtz (Sizzix). All of the stamps are from Club Scrap. I've been wanting to try and use leaves from my tree with the gelli plate. I really like the results I got.
Please feel free to create some art and join in with this week's challenge.

Once Upon a Time

Fairy Tales and sparkles go so well together. That's what I decided when I made my card. Octopode Factory's challenge theme is books. Simon Says Stamp and Show is looking for the love of sparkle. So I created a sparkly background and a book with a fairy tale motif. My background is a piece of beautiful glitter paper. The book and label are cut using Spellbinder dies. The images are from the Octopode Factory. The sentiment is a Club Scrap stamp. In addition to the sparkly background, I also added a few rhinestones for even more bling.
I'm also entering this card in the Simon Says Stamp challenge which is anything goes.
Wishing everyone a "happily ever after!"

Autumn

Autumn is in the air and is the theme of a few challenges. Both SweetStamps and Three Muses have autumn as their theme. I  created my card with autumn in mind. My focal stamp is an autumn bouquet from Sweetstamps. I used the sketch design from Mojo Monday as my layout pattern.  Simon Says Stamp and Show challenged us to tape it up. My background was made by tearing pieces of Tim Holtz's tissue tape and layering it all over a panel of cardstock. I used distress ink to add some autumn orange to the panel.  Happy Autumn to all.