Valentine, Steampunk Style

My card today celebrates Valentines Day in the steampunk style. I used my Sizzix diamond flip-it die to cut the card base. The designer paper is from Graphic 45. The gorgeous steampunk lady is stamped using a Hampton Arts stamp. The hearts and chain border are cut using Cheery Lynn dies. These dies are the newest in my collection. They just arrived in the mail. I guess they qualify as new stash! The sentiment is cut using a Tim Holtz die.

Card front (closed)

Card inside (open)

My card will be entered into these challenges:  SanDee and Amelie's Steampunk challenge -- new stash; Inspiration Journal -- die cuts; and City Crafter's challenge -- Valentine love story.

Share a Smile

Here is something I haven't done for a long time -- make an ATC. However, when the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge theme was the letter A, I knew it was time to make another ATC. A is for ATC...get it! [smile] I used the sketch from the Mojo Monday challenge as a basis for my layout. I just had to use the flying pig stamp (Hampton Arts); it does make me smile. That goes along with the Wednesday challenge at Simon Says Stamp which is let's have a laugh.

To make the ATC I used sticky back canvas for the background panel. I used Tim Holtz's distress paint marbling technique for the coloring. I hope you're smiling too!

Love Letter

Today I had some extra time to spend in my studio, so there will be several posts. I decided to try a new TJ technique, washi shapes which just happens to be this week's Try This Technique challenge. Since I just bought some roles of washi tape a short while ago (which I  have never used) today seemed like the perfect time to try them out. To make my card I started with a red base card. I die cut the background panel using a stamp frame and then I die cut the sentiment "love". I also used an embossing folder to add the Valentine word background. The Cupid, heart and flower were all die cut using washi tape covered cardstock.

These are the blog challenges I am entering: Technique Junkies Try This Technique -- washi shapes; Mark's Finest Papers Color Thursday challenge -- bright colors; Flourishes Timeless Tuesday -- in with the new; Fashionable Stamping -- hearts and flowers

Only One

This week the challenge at Bloggers Challenge is backgrounds. I love a backgrounds challenge; however, it's always difficult to decide which way to go.  My background today is the result of my trying to catch up with the lessons in Creative Chemistry 102. In one of the lessons Tim showed how to use a stencil to dry emboss. In this card I used my chevron stencil to emboss a piece of Core'dinations cardstock. Once I embossed it, I sanded the embossing. I have a background with lots of texture. The stamp I used is from SweetStamps. I stamped it several times. First I stamped it on white cardstock and heat embossed the frame with silver. I stamped it on kraft and then again on designer paper so I could paper piece her clothes. The flowers are flower soft with Viva Decor painted leaves. The sentiment comes from a Heartfelt Creations paper pad.

I am also entering this card in these challenges: Ink on My Fingers Sunday Challenge -- use violet; Take a Word -- Hats & Things; Sweet Stamps -- anything goes.

Creative Chemistry 102 - Day 2

Mixed-Media Layering and Embossing with Stencils

Embossing through Stencils and Stencil Stamping

Stencil Sketching and Ink Monoprint

Paint Monoprint

Today I spent my studio time working on the tags for day 2 of Creative Chemistry 102 (Tim Holtz). Even though the techniques have often been introduced by Tim, I've learned a lot. I especially love that Tim provided labels for each technique, so each tag is a reminder of how to do the technique and what the technique looks like.

Je t'aime

I had so much fun creating this card. First, I used one of my favorite stamps (from Rogue Redhead Designs) for the focal image. Their fashionable clothing is paper pieced. (The current RRD rebel challenge is paper piecing.) This adorable couple is framed by a Cheery Lynn die cut heart and is featured against a Cheery Lynn die cut doily. The sentiment is also from Rogue Redhead Designs. The background is a piece of glittery design paper from my stash. Everything is adhered to a white base card. Wouldn't this make a great Valentine or a great anniversary card?

I am entering my card into the Cheery Lynn Designs challenge -- sweetheart and the Artistic Stamper monthly challenge -- Love is in the air.

Snowflake and Mittens

When will they make a scanner that will let ME scan white items clearly. My center snowflake is a SweetStamps stamp that I heat embossed with white detail embossing powder. I even highlighted it with a light touch of tumbled glass distress ink. If you look real hard on the image you can see some detail. The real image is very clear and effective. I used last week's Mojo Monday challenge as a layout base. However, a new challenge has been posted, so I won't post the sketch here. The under panel is designer paper stamped with mittens from Rogue Redhead's Candy Kisses stamp set. The background is designer paper from my stash. I am trying to use more designer paper in my work. Sometimes I even remember to do so.

My card will be entered into these challenges: SweetStamps -- winter blues; Tuesday Throwdown -- stripes; Frilly and Funkie -- warmth of winter; and Mark's finest Papers Thursday color challenge -- shades of blue.

Snow

Here in Chicago, "the snow is snowing; the wind is blowing..." What better day to share a snowy card! My card starts with a white card base. The blue panel is Core'dinations paper, dry embossed with a Cuttlebug folder and then sanded. The tree is a Cornish Heritage Farms stamp which I heat embossed with Powder Keg embossing powder and then fussy cut. The snowflakes are cut using Cheery Lynn dies (Snow Flowers 1 and 2). I added a tiny bit of Rock Candy clear glitter to the snowflakes for a hint of sparkle.

I am entering my card into these challenges: Cheery Lynn Designs -- snowflakes; City Crafter -- artsy trees; and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge -- any embossing.

Friends

This week the Bloggers Challenge is friendship. This theme gave me a chance to use one of my Tim Holtz dies for the first time...the friends cut-out die. What better set of friends is there to use than Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer (Artistic Outpost stamps). I decided to keep my card CAS. To a background panel of designer paper with the word "Friends" cut out, I added Tom and Huck over a die cut from Spellbinders. The boys are colored using distress markers.
I am also entering my card into the Addicted to CAS challenge which is die cuts, into the Great Impressions challenge which is something new; and into the Artistic Outpost referral challenge which is anything goes using Artistic Outpost stamps.

12 Tags of 2014 - January

2014 is a new year which means a new set of monthly Tim Holtz Tags. Here is the tag for Januaary. Can I say that I really love this tag. There is dimension and detail, yet it was a fairly easy tag to make. I love the pocket watch die along with the visible gears. I look forward to each month for the new tag.

Life is Good

The SweetStamps monthly challenge for Dec 15 - Jan 14 is to make an easel card. The focal floral frame stamp is from SweetStamps and is colored using distress markers. The sentiment stamps are from Artistic Outpost. The base card and sentiment panels are kraft.
I am also entering this card in the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge which is anything goes and in the Kraft Journal challenge which is a color challenge using pastel pink, yellow, blue, white and green. I don't usually do color challenges, but these colors worked so well with the floral frame.

Creative Chemistry 102 Day 1

Distress Paint Marbling and Colored Crackle

Altered Surface and Eroded Metallic

Stamping Resist and Industrial

Since the start of Creative Chemistry 102 with Tim Holtz coincided with the start of my long hospital stay, I wasn't able to do any of the techniques until now. The class was 5 days in length and featured 30 techniques. Today I finished the last of the first day's techniques. I am so glad that even though I had to miss the fun of participation as the class progressed, at least I am able to follow the classes and participate after the fact.

Perfection

Flowers are what the doctor ordered for this dreary day. I think that this oval frame die from Tim Holtz is quickly becoming one of my favorites. And to think, I thought I didn't need it.

To make my card I started with a kraft base card and the frame cut out of kraft paper. The inside of the frame is cut from a Tim Holtz metal foil tape sheet to represent a mirror. The flowers and vase is a SweetStamps stamp which I colored using distress markers. The sentiment is from Dyan Reaveley. The design paper and lace border is from my stash.

I am entering my card in the Kraft Journal challenge which is lace it up and in the SweetStamps challenge which is kraft paper.

Snow Snow Snow

This will be the last posting for today. I have to say that I was a little nervous about using the TJ technique, shadow tiles. I had seen several cards using this technique and they looked so difficult. Since the Try That Technique challenge this week is shadow tiles, it seemed like the perfect time to take the plunge. I used my Martha Stewart scoring board and the technique was a piece of cake.
I love this little snowman from Serendipity. I bought him months ago, but never got a chance to use him.  I pulled him out today and had fun with him. The challenge this month at Serendipity is buttons. Every snowman needs buttons on his outfit. (The snowflakes are also buttons.) Tuesday Throwdown challenged us to feature a snowman. I guess no explanation is necessary here.

Winter Whtes

I had a wonderful day today working in my studio. My card here is layered in whites. I always have difficulty with the white on white challenges because of the scanning. I cheated a little here since I used a silver layer (silver is a white metallic). That and a few strategically placed pop dots gave me enough shadow so that my card scanned. All of the die cuts are from Cheery Lynn (Mexican tile, ivy corner flourish, vase).
I am entering my card into the following challenges: Cheery Lynn Designs -- winter whites; V's Sweet Ideas challenge -- anything goes.

This Day

Wow, it's been ages since I played with the Bloggers Challenge. My long hospital stayed sure played havoc with my art creation. However, this week the challenge is quotes and here is my card. One thing about the time I spent in the hospital -- I had lots of time to think. My New Year resolution is to appreciate life a lot more and to be more aware of my health. This quote by Goethe says it all.

I based my layout on the Mojo Monday sketch challenge 327. I started with a background of designer paper. The quote is done in the chalkboard technique from Tim Holtz. The flowers and leaves are Cheery Lynn die cuts. I added a ribbon of lace.
I am also entering my card in these additional challenges: Word Art Wednesday which is anything goes; Friends of Speedy (MFP) which is New Year's resolution; Simple Salutations (MFP) which is a sentiment plus black/white; and Frilly & Funkie which is New Year's resolutions.

Winter Blues

The weather in Chicago has been cold and snowy for days. That's the inspiration for this card. I pulled out my Rogue Redhead Designs Candy Kisses stamps and using the overstamped bands technique from Technique Junkies, I created this shades of blue card. That's the challenge this week at Simon Says Stamp - Monday --shades of blue.

Snow Fairy

Baby, it's cold outside and the snow is covering everything. What better day to share a card featuring the snow fairy. I started my card with a white 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 card base. The background panel is beautiful blue metallic. The fairy and all of the snowflakes are from Cheery Lynn dies (One Free Wish, Snow Flowers 1 and 2, and Lace Corner Deco D) Of course, the scan doesn't show the white base nor the shine of the background, but believe me, it's there.
I'm entering my card in the Cheery Lynn contest for the e-bosser Die Cut Machine give-away.

12 Tags of 2013 - October

At last... Here's the October tag for Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2013 challenge. I remember that this was posted on Tim's blog right before I went in the hospital. I loved the tag and couldn't wait to try my hand at it. Well, it took me three months to be able to get to it. I really enjoyed making it and love how it turned out. It's the only Halloween piece I was able to make. Wait til next year!!!

12 Tags of 2013 - November

I'm still catching up with Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2013. This is the November tag. This tag uses the chalkboard stamping technique. It's an easy technique with the right supplies. I didn't have the stamp/framelit die set for the tag, but I had the matching stamp, so I had to do a little fussy cutting. Fortunately, the leaf wasn't very complicated. Amazingly, I had the antiquities embossing powder, frosted crystal. This is an example of why we stampers collect so many supplies. Several years ago, some group had raved about the Antiquities embossing powders. Of course I had to buy a few jars. One of the jars was the frosted crystal. There it was with my other embossing powders still sealed. As a result of my hoarding, I was able to complete the tag with no trouble. I did have to borrow the piece of chalk from my grandchildren...I doubt that they will miss it.