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.