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).        

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.

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.

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.

Dragonfly Birthday

Happy birthday to my beautiful daughter, Kerry. Enjoy your special day!

This is the card I made for Kerry. I used a print red cardstock for the cardbase. The background panel is cut from Kodomo paper. The sentiment is a Club Scrap stamp. (Inside I used a similar style stamp that says "Happiness".) The dragonfly is  the Tim Holtz layered dragonfly. I used some perfect pearls on the wings to add a little shimmer and sparkle. The red gems were added for some bling embellishment. 

I am entering this card into these challenges: SweetStamps -- bling; Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge -- Make it sparkle; MFP Simple Salutations -- oriental paper; Dies R Us -- birthday; Inspiration Journal -- everything goes; Great Inspirations -- birthday bash.

Christmas Greeting

It might be summer in Chicago, but Christmas challenges are here. My card today is for Cheery Lynn Designs challenge -- Christmas in July and for Inspiration Journal -- Christmas in June. I started with a red card base and dry embossed it with the December calendar folder (Tim Holtz). I used black soot distress ink to highlight the embossing  Both the tree and the train are die cuts from Cheery Lynn. The sentiment is an outline sticker.

A Man Among Boys

Today seems to have been a Tim Holtz inspired day. Before I go any further, I'd like to thank Linda Ledbetter for holding the Compendium of Curiosities III challenge. This is Tim's third Compendium and the third round of challenges. Thanks also to Inspiration Emporium for their sponsorship of this challenge.
Challenge #1 is paint marbling (p.43 in Tim's book) The background of my card shows the paint marbling technique. Over the background I stamped several Steampunk images (Hampton Arts and Artistic Outpost). Overlooking these images is Tim's man among boys, Umbrella Man.
The monthly  Inspiration Journal challenge is a few of my favorite things. The background technique is one of my favorite techniques. Steampunk is a favorite theme. And Umbrella Man is one of my favorite dies.
Other challenges fitting my card: Mark's Finest Papers Speedy Fox & Friends -- rain; Fashionable Stamping -- flying things; and SanDee and Amelie's Steampunk Challenge -- favorite technique goes steampunk.

Masquerade

My card today has the flair of Mardi Gras. The card base is gold metallic.The background is a favorite of mine. I used a piece of Shimmer Sheetz which is a kind of plastic. The colors are holographic and very shimmery. I die cut the oval from the panel and then dry embossed it with the fleur de lis pattern. The stamps are all from Rogue Redhead Designs, Carnival Dreams. The image was colored using watercolor pencils on watercolor paper. The layout is based on the Rogue Stampers sketch featured on the Rogue Stampers Facebook page.
I am entering my card in these challenges: Flourishes Timeless Tuesday -- MASKerade and Inspiration Journal -- bright colors.

Be a Good One

"Whatever you are, be a good one" is one of my favorite sayings.It's also a stamp from Artistic Outpost. Today is Friday which means it's time for the Bloggers Challenge. This week the challenge is black/white with a splash of color. Today the black and white pulled me in two directions (fortunately compatible). I immediately thought of the chalkboard technique and of newspapers or book pages. I used both on my card. The splash of color (gold) was inspired by the Ink on my Fingers Sunday challenge which is black and gold. 

To make my card I started with a page from an old book. I then added the gold by painting a stencil with gold distress paint and then laying it on the panel. This gave a reverse of the stencil and you can still see the words on the book page. I then stamped the sentiment on black cardstock with embossing ink and heat embossed with frosted crystal embossing powder. The chalk was rubbed over the embossing. Thanks Tim Holtz for that technique! The card was embellished with a white ribbon and three flower diecuts (Cheery Lynn) with gold brad centers.

I am also entering my card into these challenges: City Crafter -- splash of color; Word Art Wednesday challenge -- anything goes; Inspiration Journal challenge -- show with words; and Artistic Outpost monthly referral challenge -- anything goes with Artistic Outpost stamps.

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.

Whatever You Are

For my card I chose to use the faux silk technique from Technique Junkies for my background. Artistic Outpost has so many great sentiment stamps. I thought that this sentiment from AO Typography and a little bling  complemented the elegant background.
I am submitting my card to the following challenges: Artistic Outpost September referral challenge which is anything goes; Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge which is say it with stamps. and Inspiration Journal which is falling for faux.

All Packed and Ready to Go

Have packed suitcase, will travel. The top image shows the suitcase closed, with lots of travel stickers on it. When you open the suitcase, the clothes are all packed and ready to go. There's a bit of a story to my card. I started with kraft cardstock and cut out the suitcase using the Tim Holtz die. I made a second cut to cut out the trim. The travel stickers are pieces of scraps which I stamped using Stampsmith stamps. Of course the suitcase had to have lining inside. Once the suitcase was assembled, I started packing. For the clothing, I used the Stampsmith vintage paper doll set. I stamped the clothing pieces and parts of the two dolls on designer paper. I cut out the clothing pieces from the stamped images and highlighted parts with distress marker.

My card is being entered into several challenges. At Stampsmith the challenge is world traveller. Mark's Finest Paper Simple Salutations challenge is girl things. Frilly & Funkie has the challenge theme, my steamer trunk. Inspiration Journal's challenge is summer vacation. (While I actually spent my summer babysitting for grandchildren, a trip to Paris, or anywhere, would have been a wonderful adventure.)

Happy 4th of July

Happy Birthday America. It's a gorgeous day here in Chicago. Hope everyone is enjoying a lovely 4th of July.
My card today celebrates the holiday. I used the Designer Paper Starburst technique from the April/May 2013 Technique Junkies newsletter to make my background. It seemed like a perfect background for a 4th of July card. The stars are cut using a Sizzix die. All of the stamps used are from the Artistic Outpost stamp sheets, Heroes and She-roes.
This card is being entered into a number of challenges:
Tuesday Throwdown -- stars and stripes; Our Daily Bread Designs -- red, white, and blue; Creative Belli -- stars; Simon Says Stamp -- patriotic; Marks Finest Papers Inspiration Challenge -- red, white, and blue; Inspiration Journal -- Happy Birthday, America; and Artistic Outpost Monthly Referral -- 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.

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.

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.

Winter Joy

This month Tim Holtz shared two tags for his 12 Tags of 2012. One is for December and one is to make up for the one missed in January. Here is the first tag. I love doing Tim's tutorial tags. Often his tags are a great excuse to use stamps and other supplies from his collection that I just had to have, but never got around to using. This snowman is the perfect example. I love the dimension on this tag. By the way, the word "Joy" is cut from his mirror card. Wow, what a gorgeous shine in person.
I am also entering this tag in several challenges: Simon Says Stamp has the theme anything goes; Cornish Heritage Farms has a winter theme; Inspiration Journal wants to see the word Joy and using broken China ink is a plus. (Happy birthday, Joy.)

Guess What

All of the Rogue Redhead Designs unmounted rubber stamp plates are on sale until November 11, 2012! It's a great time to go Rogue with your stamping! Check out the website for more information - http://www.rogueredheaddesigns.com/
These low prices won't last long!  The full-size stamp plates are now available for US$15.40 (Reg. US$22.00), the half-size plates are on sale for US$10.50 (Reg. US$15.00) and the minis are now available for the low price of US$5.25 (Reg. US$7.50). Get in on the bargains while they last!
While you are getting these great savings, don't forget to stock up on EZ-Mount Cling Foam and EZ-Mount Storage Panels too!
For my card I used stamps from Rogue Redhead Designs Floriculture, Just Sayin', and Nature Notes. I do love how well these stamps mix and match.

I am entering this card in several challenges. The layout I chose to follow is the current Mojo Monday sketch. I am quite late for Friday's Bloggers Challenge. The theme is give thanks. Inspiration Journal also has a theme of gratitude. The Compendium of Curiosities II challenge is to use the Ink Pallette: Alcohol Ink technique from p. 52 of Tim's book. All of the coloring of the images and the metal flower was done using the alcohol inks from the pallette. Funkie Junkie is a great sponsor of this challenge. All of the paper used is from Club Scrap. I just love this fall paper.

Something Wicked

October brings out the Halloween in us. Here is a Halloween tag created for a few challenges. City Crafter has a color challenge using yellow, orange and green. Frilly and Funkie wants to see a different kind of tag with a Halloween or autumn theme. The Octopode Factory is looking for lime, orange, and yellow. Inspiration Journal wants to see some spooktacular decor.
To make my tag, I started with a large manila tag and die cut it using pumpkin Jack from Sizzix. I then used a splatter technique to add the yellow, orange, and green paint splatters (and some purple). The broom is a Northwoods stamp. The raven is from the Octopode factory. The sentiment is from Quietfire. This tag will be hanging on my door to greet all the little trick-or-treaters on Halloween this year.

ABC's

This card combines the challenges at Mojo Monday (round or square sketch), Ink on My Fingers Sunday Challenge (behind the mask/stencil), and Inspiration Journal (abc124 school time fun).
To create my card, I started with a 5 inch square piece of white cardstock. I first used the Dylusions stencil, dotted flowers, with milled lavendar distress ink and inked the dots. Then I used the Dylusions letter jumble stencil with chipped sapphire distress ink to ink the alphabet letters. I followed the sketch for the layers and used stamps from Rogue Redhead Designs' Relish Reading for my image and sentiment. by the way, check out their current challenge -- use the colors lilac, navy, and white. You might win some great stamps.