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.

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.

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.

Friends in Fashion

I thought I would try the Technique Junkies Punched Border Stand-up card technique. It was last weeks TJ try that technique challenge. I didn't get a chance last week to try it...better late than never!
My focal image and sentiment are from the Rogue Redhead Designs Milliner Misses plate. (By the way this plate is on sale this month!) The side cut outs border was done using the Spellbinders borders. I have a bunch of them, but hardly ever remember to use them. They worked perfectly for this card.
I am entering my card into these challenges: Ink on My Fingers Sunday challenge -- pink; Three Muses -- positive affirmation.

Machines and Nature

Today my card is a little steam-y...steampunk that is. I found a quote from Antoine de Saint- Exupery which I thought was appropriate to use here. "The machine does not isolate man from the great problems of nature, but plunges him more deeply into them. My card started with a panel of Steampunk word design paper from Graphic 45. I then cut a panel of transparent packing, colored it with alcohol inks, and dry embossed it. I attached the two panels by using brads in the corners.  The die cut leaves and bicycle were cut from Cheery Lynn dies. The hat was off stamped over the typed quote.
This card is being entered into these challenges. SanDee & Amelie's Steampunk challenge -- transparency; Three Muses -- age of steam; Mark's Finest Papers Friends of Speedy challenge -- 3 or more brads; and Simon Says Monday Challenge -- transparent .

Spring is Here

Today is the first full day of spring and for one day we are scheduled to actually have spring temperatures in Chicago. Today's Bloggers Challenge -- celebrates the coming of spring by wanting us to think spring.
My card starts with a spring green background on which I stenciled alphabet letters for interest. I then added the French Lattice Cheery Lynn die cut. the flower packet, stamped flowers, and sentiment are all stamps from Artistic Outpost. The die cut butterfly and flower are from Cheery Lynn.
My card is also being entered into these challenges:Cheery Lynn Designs -- think spring; Classy Cards 'n Such --flutterbys (Classy Cards 'n Such is a great place to order Cheery Lynn Design dies); City Crafter -- spring in the garden; Three Muses -- spring; Marks Finest Papers Simple Salutations -- things with wings; Artistic Outpost monthly referral challenge -- anything goes with Artistic Outpost stamps; and The Artistic Stamper --letters, words, numbers (background alphabet letters, sentiment and seed packet words, and 15 cents).

Birthday Circle

Today I decided to play with offset dies technique from the current Technique Junkies newsletter. I also used the out of the box technique (Oct/Nov 2004).I used a kraft basecard. I chose several colors of cardstock for the frame and offset circles. I stamped the background frame and the brown circle with background stamps from Rogue Redhead Designs behind the scenes plate. The image and sentiment are from RRD Winter Women. The lime and orange circles were dry embossed using a Sizzix (Tim Holtz) embossing folder.
This card is being entered into these challenges: Technique Junkies Try This Technique -- offset die cuts; Flourishes Timeless Tuesday -- lotta polka dots; Three Muses -- out of bounds; and Mark's Finest Papers Simple Salutations challenge -- stamped background.

Love is a Promise That Lasts Forever

It seems like Christmas was just yesterday, and now we're days away from Valentine's Day.  So many challenges are looking for Valentine's Day type themes. Here's another Valentine with red, pink, white and hearts and love for you to see.
For my image I used a larger SweetStamps stamp which I die cut into a heart shape. I then overlaid the sentiment (rub-on). The background is a fun red with white polka dot design paper. I used the Club Scrap Love stencil painted with white distress paint across the bottom of the card and added a little heart and bling..
I am entering my card in these challenges: SweetStamps -- pink, white, and red; Three Muses -- love; Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge -- have a heart; Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge -- red and love; Great Impressions -- floral image; and Mark's Finest Papers Sketch with a Twist -- sketch and hearts.

Isn't Life Beautiful?

For a change of pace, I decided to do something other than a card. Several challenges have a flower theme and an altered frame seemed like the perfect canvas for flowers. I had this wood frame from Michael's sitting in my stash. I used my walnut stain to stain the wood. My die cut flowers are from Cheery Lynn Designs--gardenia strip (makes a great rose) and large rose strip. They are layered on Cheery Lynn Designs ivy corner flourish. The sentiment oval is also Cheery Lynn. The framed image is done using the parchment craft technique. The stamp is from SweetStamps. The sentiment (Club Scrap) makes me smile.
I am entering my project into these challenges: SweetStamps challenge is roses; Cheery Lynn Designs has the challenge of die cut flowers; City Crafter is looking for flower power; Three Muses wants to see altered art; and Word Art Wednesday has an anything goes challenge.

Notion Box in Steampunk

What do you get when you combine two metallic atc sized cards with two small match boxes and then add the flavor of steampunk. You get a great little metallic steampunk notions box with drawers.
To make this box, I started with two Ranger metallic atc blanks and two small  matchboxes. I then dry embossed the atc blanks using the riveted sheet embossing folder (Sizzix). A little black soot alcohol ink was added around the edges for distress and contrast. The corset is die cut using a Cheery Lynn die. Pearls were added as fasteners for the corset. The handsome guy is Mercius from the SB Collection. The stamp image is from Graphic 45. The matchboxes were painted with antique bronze distress paint -- both the outsides and inserts, inside and out. I attached a brad to the front of each insert to serve as drawer pulls. The two painted match boxes are glued together along one side. I added tissue tape along the outer sides of the boxes to give a nice finish. The two atc cards are glued to the top and bottom of the match boxes. The completed box with its two drawers makes a great little notions box and is easy and fun to make.
I am entering my box into several challenges. Ink on my Fingers Sunday challenge had the theme, Titanium, and we were to use metal. Three Muses wants a steampunk theme. MFP Friends of Speedy is challenging us to use metal as is Simply Steampunk. SanDee and Amelie's Steampunk August challenge is matchbox steampunk.

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.

Thinking of You with Spring Flowers

The last challenge of the month at Mojo Monday is always a sketch choice of round or square. Obviously I went square. I combined the sketch with several other challenges. At Cheery Lynn Designs the challenge is die cut flowers. (Dies used are Build a flower 2 and embellishments along with mesh border.) At the Kraft Journal, the challenge is to use any sketch. Tuesday Throwdown wants a thinking of you card. and Three Muses has rustle of spring as the theme.

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).

Happy Valentines Day

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Valentines Day. I'm sharing cards I made for my grandchildren to celebrate the day. Unfortunately, the sunlight was poor and the photos do not have their sharp colors. Suffice it to say, there's a lot of red and purple on the cards.
I'm entering Joshua's card into the Tuesday Throwdown challenge which is anything goes, into the Cornish Heritage Farms challenge which is Valentine, and into Mark's finest Papers Speedy Fox and Friends challenge which is love.
Jayda's card is being entered into Critter Challenge which is red and purple and into Three Muses which is red.

Night Creatures

I mentioned in my earlier post that I had some time today to play in my studio. It was a perfect time to create a page in my art journal. This piece just developed one step at a time. I started with my Dylusions sprays and a stencil from Club Scrap. Since one of the challenges (81) at Stampotique is a journal page, I knew I would be using my Stampotique stamps. Three Muses also challenges us to do a journal page. 
The darkness of the page and the unique look of some of the Stampotique stamps gave me the idea for Night Creatures. The owls, starry head, Leopard Queen on the mushroom, fireflies (formerly bees), and the  heads shadows fit right into the night scene. Baby Cthulhu flies above reminding us that "Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it." 

Christmas Cardinal

I know I've been MIA from my blog and from challenges lately. I have been trying to keep up with my 2 year old granddaughter more than usual, but on the art front I have a great announcement. I was invited to join the Scrapbook News Review team as a staffer. I've been spending a bit of time trying to get up to speed with them. It's exciting that my cards and art will be published on a regular basis and I'll be doing a few tutorials too.
Now back to my card. I had a peaceful day today, so I finally was able to catch up with my Blogger's Challenge card. The theme this week is birds of a feather. I'll also be able to share my card in a number of other challenges. Hels at Ink on my Fingers also had a bird challenge. Three Muses is looking for animals. Marks Finest Papers Speedy Fox and Friends challenge is pop it up (use pop dots). Both the bow and the cardinal are popped.  Artistic Stamper has an anything goes challenge. Great Impressions wants to see holiday creativity.
To create my card I used design paper from My Mind's Eye for the background panel. The cardinal is from Heartfelt Creations. I stamped and embossed him on red cardstock. The wreath and bow are die cut using Tim Holtz's die. The sentiment is an Outlines Sticker and was placed on a label die cut using a Spellbinders die.

Being Happy

I decided to try a change of pace this afternoon. Instead of doing my usual and making a card, I would work in my art journal. I will be able to enter these pages in a few challenges. Hels' Sunday challenge at Ink on My Fingers is what makes you happy. At Three Muses the challenge is a journal quote. The Sketch With a Twist challenge at Mark's Finest Papers is a sketch and the theme anything but a square or rectangular card.

Every once in a while it's fun to just play. After covering the pages with gesso, I pulled out my Dylusions sprays and stencils and sprayed away. I used the sketch from Sketch with a Twist for the basic layout. I pulled out stencils from various sources that I hadn't seen in ages and stenciled away. My bird stamp from Club Scrap hadn't seen the light of day for years. I even added a zentangle flower (one of my latest interests). I love the sentiment from Dyan Reaveley's Dylusions collection. "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect. It means you decide to see beyond the imperfections." Can you tell I really enjoyed myself today?

Halloween Kisses

It's Friday again and time for another Blogger's Challenge. This week Lisa has challenged us with the theme countdown to Halloween.  Halloween cardmaking is so much fun. My card today is a shaped card. I used the Pumpkin Jack die for the shape of my card. All of my stamps are from Artistic Outpost. That witch is my all time favorite witch image. The background pumpkin was cut from orange paper and then covered with rock candy crackle paint. Join the challenge this week. Have fun and  add your work to the linky below/
I am also entering this card in these challenges: City Crafter -- an early boo; Three Muses -- bird; and the September Artistic Outpost challenge -- anything goes.

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.

Resists

The Compendium of Curiosities II challenge last week was kraft resist from p. 41 of Tim Holtz's book. Fortunately for me, Linda, the challenge mom, extended the challenge for another week. Hooray, I can play now. Coincidentally, the Frilly and Funkie challenge is resist. At Take a Word, the challenge is clockwork. At Three Muses the challenge is masculine.
The background panel on my card is from Tim's kraft resist paper stash. Check out Tim's book or Tim's blog for lots of ideas on using his kraft resist paper. I used distress inks to color my background and I used picket fence distress stain on the upper left hand corner before the distress inks. I wanted to see how the color varied with and without the picket fence base. The colors are definitely brighter where I placed the picket fence. Also the resist on the paper is much more evident on my card than on the scan. I also used the distress embossing powder resist on my card. The clock was stamped with embossing ink and I used pine needles distress embossing powder to emboss the clock. The embossing resists the distress ink too. My sentiment is from the Dylusions stamp collection. To finish off the look of the card I used Tim's technique of rolling parts of stamps on the paper. (I forget his official title for this technique.) I think everything worked together well. The result is definitely a funkie card fit for a man.