CWS Challenge #43 - Tree

The challenge this month at the Creative With Stamps card challenge blog is:

I am really excited how my one layer card turned out. Let me start by saying, I rarely make one layer cards. They seem like they'd be easier to make, but they aren't! Or at least they aren't to me.

I started this card by spritzing Green Olive Color Splash (spray ink) to a large acrylic block and then adding some water to soften it.

Then I pressed the front side of the card base to the acrylic block and smooshed it around a little. There was left over ink on the block so I dripped some of the leftover to the card to create some drops. (I also added some of this leftover ink to the inside of one of my junk journals - but that's a whole other project!)

I really needed to be careful on this step because I didn't want color on the back of the card. I used my heat gun to help it dry and once it dried, I added some Heidi Swapp Gold Ink Spray to it. Once those drops dried, I let it sit overnight under a stack of acrylic blocks so it would flatten.

I ended up using my Cricut Easy Press to iron it a little because it was still a little more warped than I wanted.

I used the MISTI to stamp the tree to the card front. It took three impressions to get it nice and dark. The stamp is from Bloom Art (now Lila Grey).

I added some washi tapes that I have in my stash and was going to call it done, but I felt like it needed something...

So I added a quote from one of my Tim Holtz small talk booklet. I used a fine point black pen to outline the rectangles.

Now it's your turn. Create a card using a tree or trees and link it up to the Creative With Stamps (CWS) challenge site.  The challenge runs from October 1st through October 31st.  Good luck!

August Flower of the Month

August Flower of the Month is poppies.  I had a hard time coloring in the poppies.  I started with using multiple mediums of red, orange, yellow but many of the blends looked more like purple.  So I put it aside.  I then ended up using red acrylic paint to paint the flowers.  Then I stamped with a sentiment stamp for a small detail.  I decided to add white pen to the flower lines but instantly hated it.  So I grabbed a wet wipe and rubbed it off.  I loved the faded white details so I did the same thing to the second flower.

The background was a background piece I did awhile ago and had in my stash.  Basically it's yellow, orange and purple ink sprays along with a Tim Holtz stencil and white acrylic paint, black splatter and some script stamping.  The little circles were made by using a straw and white acrylic paint.

I drew a border around the edges and made it a striped border.

To see more of the FOM designs, check out LILA GREY STAMPS

ICAD #25, 26 and 27

Week Four is done
Some of the prompts were a little hard to follow, but it's good to push yourself when creating.

Prompt #25
Song
You'd think I'd do a card with one of my favorite songs but I took the easy way out and used this stamp from Unity.

The blue background was a blot-off of some watercolor paint and I added some black paint splatters, yellow stamped circles using the Lila Grey Elements 2 stamp set and colored in the birds on the stamp from Unity.  Easy

Prompt #26
Space Invader

This cute stamp was from Rubber Paws.  I haven't had the chance to use it but it was the first thing I grabbed when I saw this prompt.  Spritzed the card with water and then colored in the images with watercolor markers.  Added shadow and black marks around the card.  HA HA HA!  Love this stamp!

Prompt #27
Motel (I changed to Crayons)
I was stumped on this one so I just did some mixed media on the card and then found this cute sentiment stamp that my friend Cristina bought for me.

Prompt #28
Cat or Dog
This card was simple as I just put black watercolor paint on my craft mat, added water and then smooched the card into the paint.  Then added some white splatter.  I also added some watered down yellow acrylic paint to shadow the dog stamp. I had this sentiment stamp from Rubber Paws and never used it.  I think it's hilarious!  The poodle is also from Rubber Paws.

That completes week #4.  This one was a little harder to complete but I still plan on getting to Prompt #61.
Here's a photo of all the cards so far:

Beary Much

I love these little bears!  The bears are a digi stamp from Stamp Prints/Leaf Studio.  I made some cute tags for baby shower favors last week and had some bears left over.  I decided to make another pop up box card. 
The bears were colored in using tombow watercolor markers and a water brush.  I then created a mask for the bear with only the dress portion cut out.  I stamped with white acrylic paint and bubble wrap Elements stamp set.  Some of these cuties I added collars.  The paper is from the DCWV Collage Sheets paper stack.  I LOVE the mixed media feel to these papers.  Hearts were punched and flower was drawn on the left over paper.

So CUTE!

Click HERE to get directions on how to make the box cards.  Since I used a patterned piece of paper for the base, I didn't need to add the extra layer of paper on the outside.  I did, however, add them in the inside of the box since this paper was not double sided.

Digi Stamp:  Beary Cute

DT Decorate to Celebrate; WOYWW#374

I'm excited to announce that I'm now part of the DECORATE TO CELEBRATE Design Team.  The whole thing came about with some confusion on my part, but it all worked out.  If you follow my blog at all, you know that I love to make 3D items especially if there's a party involved.

This week's sponsor is Lilian from Stamp Prints . She will be giving away some digital stamps to one lucky winner for this challenge #16 so make sure you link your projects to the Decorate to Celebrate site.

Here's my project:

I used the Beary Cute digital stamp set from Stamp Prints.  I sized this cute bear to about 2".  I made a whole sheet of them for these cute straw tags.  I water colored the bears using my skin tone Tom Bow markers and a water brush.  Then I painted in the dresses with pink watercolor paint.  Once that dried, I made a mask for the bear leaving the dress area open.  I then stamped white acrylic paint with a bubblewrap stamp (Elements for Lila Grey).  On some of the dresses, I drew scalloped collars.  The rest of the tag is pretty easy to figure out.  I matted the sentiment (also included in the digi set) on black cardstock and then again on this gold print paper.  Attached a portion of a white doily to the back.  Added a clear button, gold ribbon scrap and white twine.  Easy Peasy! 

Kenny brought home about two dozen of these mason jars with the straw holes from work one day (someone was giving them away - WHAT?!).  I was so proud that he snagged them for me.  He almost never does that!  The gold striped straws were left over from the engagement party last month.

I made a dozen of these for my coworkers' baby shower this week.  It may be hard to tell, but these jars have chalkboard labels on them.  Again...who wouldn't want these??

Be sure to head over to the https://decoratetocelebrate.blogspot.com/ blog to check out other projects and link your own.  Challenge #15 deadline is August 16th at 11:59 (EST).

Digi Stamp:  Stamp Prints

Elements Stamp:  Lila Grey

I'm also posting this on the WOYWW site.  I stumbled across this site awhile back and I love the community and variety of crafters/artists that link there every Wednesday.  We get a peek in the work desk of people all over the world.  No competition...no contests...just friendship among each other.  I haven't been linking very long, but already found some favorites.  If you get a chance, go over to Stamping Ground which is where the linkage is.  Take a peek, leave some comments and be inspired.

ICAD Week 4

Good morning peeps!

I finally spent some time in the Command Center and finished some of these index cards. I'm so glad to be starting Week #4!!

Prompt #22

Neon Sign

Well, I didn't fully follow the prompt on this one. I found the "forward" sticker while watering at work and knew I wanted to use it somehow.  So, I made a sign, just not a neon sign.  The background on this index card started with pink/black & white but slowing morphed into what you see below.

Prompt #23

Winter

It's pretty hard to come up with Winter ideas when it's 106 degrees outside, but this was quick index card to make.  I grabbed some watercolor markers in two different colors of blue and then spritzed water to blend them together.  I like how you can still see the pen marks on the card. Then I just splatted while acrylic paint and also spread some along the bottom.  The house is made from scrap paper.  The black lace and other black marks are from the Elements stamp sets from Lila Grey.

Prompt #24

Magenta

Ok...maybe not magenta, but pinks in the same family so it counts, right?  The background was a brush off piece of pink watercolors.  I added some black and dk. pink splatters.  This cute little bear is a digi stamp from http://www.theleafstudio.com/.  I won on the Decorate to Celebrate challenge site and (long story short) they offered me a spot on their Design Team. 

I watercolored the bear with some tombow markers & a water brush.  Then I used pink watercolor marker to color in the dress.  Once dried, I used white acrylic paint and one of the Elements (bubble wrap) stamps to add the details.  I also added the ruffled collar with a black BIC pen.  She's adorable!!

To finish the card, I added a doily, washi tape and a scrap pink cut out and circle.

ICAD #18-21; Week Three - DONE

Week Three down and I'm still going strong.  I figured if I can do these index cards each day in the midst of my crazy schedule these past couple of weeks, the next few weeks are gonna be a breeze!

Prompt #18:
Orange
One of my favorite colors!  I directly stamped the Only Orange ink pad onto the card.  Then I used orange paint and white correction pen to add details in the back.  I fussy cut the Lila Grey digi stamp daisies.  Colored it with white acrylic paint and orange in the center.  I love this sentiment stamp from SU!.

Prompt #19:
Snowflakes
I had a bunch of punched snowflakes on my desk so I glued them down.  Once the glue dried, I covered the card with blue glimmer mist, stamped snowflakes in silver ink and added white paint spray.  I wanted to add a quote/sentiment, but nothing popped in my head.  I may add something later.

Prompt #20:

1960's

I love those photos of sophisticated ladies with sarcastic/raunchy sayings and since I cut these silhouettes awhile ago, I thought I'd do the same.  The background is a piece of patterned flower paper that I sanded to remove some color and then used a homemade circle stencil and added white acrylic paint.  I used a black watercolor marker to draw circles around these white circles.  Sprayed with water to have it run.  Once that dried, I added some gelatos here and there.  I love how the background turned out.  The bubble quote is a stamp that I received from Rubber Paws and have never used.  I think this card is so fun!



Prompt #21:

Our own

UGH!  At first I was going to do "doodling" as my prompt so I grabbed an index card that I've been using as a brush off piece and doodled rows of little circles to cover the card.  Then I didn't like it so I smeared white acrylic paint all over it.  After that, I stamped a retro stamp background to cover the card completely.  It needed more color so I stamped Tempting Teal ink pad directly to it and then added some re-inker drops and let the colors blend together.  It looked a little like spray paint and then realized I LOVED the look.  So, now what?!  I decided to handwrite the word a black Sharpie.

To see more of my ICAD contributions, click on the ICAD label to the right.  To learn more about the challenge, go to http://daisyyellowart.com/ to read all about it and how you can get started.  You can also check Pinterest.  Many people have shared their creations there.

I was thinking the other day, what am I going to do with these once the challenge is over?  Some I think I will make into postcards/cards; others I may frame individually or in sets.  I have an old frame that will probably fit at least 20 of these.  It may be fun to make a quilt-like display out of them.  Either way, I'll keep you posted.  It'll be hard to pick my favs when doing a framed project.

I'm excited to see what Week Four prompts will be!

Cricut Cartridge:  Suburbia

Digi Stamp:  Lila Grey April Flower of the Month

To read more about Rubber Paws, click here

NOTE:  So I realized that I stopped doing the ICADs a couple of days as we were doing final prep for the party we hosted last Saturday.  So instead of going back and trying to catch up, I'm going to start Week Four, Prompt# 22 today.  I'm not giving up...this is too much fun!

ICAD #11, #12, #13 and #14

Wow!  Two weeks down and many more to go!
I have to be honest that this week wasn't as easy to complete all the cards.  I really had to force myself to complete some of them.  But that's ok.  It's still fun to do and I'm looking forward to Week Three.

Prompt #11:
Baseball
Here's the scenario:  I'm sitting with my family watching the Giants play the Diamondbacks.  Madison Bumgarner is on the mound and he's pitching a no hitter into the 7th inning.  Nobody is saying it out loud, but we feel the tension even from our family room.  Two outs, still striking out the side, but then the next batter gets a base hit.  UGH!  He strikes out the next batter and eventually wins the game with a shut out and only one hit.  I really wanted to do my index card all about a no-hitter, but I did write on the back about his performance since it was still noteworthy.
I drew the home plate in the center and then watercolored the background.  I used my Sahara Sand inkpad to add some color around home plate.  I also used some walnut ink around the edges.  Handwrote the quote.  Used the Lila Grey Elements #2 stamp set and a variety of green inks to add some marks around the piece.  Then used white acrylic paint too.  LOVE!

Prompt #12:
TV
I grabbed red, blue and green acrylic paint to fingerpaint circles around the card.  Black ink and a toilet tissue roll for the black circles.  White correction pen for the white dots and marks.  I know, this has nothing to do with T.V., but I wasn't really inspired by this prompt so I just played and then I added the words to keep with the theme.

Prompt #13:
Playground
I grabbed these rectangle and square stamps that I haven't used in forever!  A variety of bright ink colors and just stamped.  Added more circle shapes around the index card and used a white pen to draw circles in the larger dots.  I wrote the words very loopy with a black BIC pen & highlighted in white.  I started with squares since it reminded me of four-square and hopscotch.

Prompt #14:

Venn Diagram

This one is pretty basic.  I colored in one side with a yellow watercolor marker and the other with a bright pink marker.  Although if I would have mixed these two, it would have gave me an orange color, but instead of actually mixing them, I just used an orange marker.  I used blue watercolor paint around the edge and outlined the circles with a black watercolor marker.  I spritzed it with water and it ran way too much.  So I blotched it and drew it again.  I wrote the words "you, me, us".  Not much to this one but I do like the way the watercolor gives a blotched background.  I wonder if you get this because of the gesso'd base??

To learn more about ICAD go to the DAISY YELLOW website.  You can learn more about it and get the prompts in order to participate.

Have fun!!

July Flower of the Month; Larkspurs

I love July's Flower of the Month digi stamp! 

I know my flowers are a little less bright than larkspurs probably are in real life, but I love the way this piece turned out.

The background was created as a brush off piece of other projects.  Originally it was covered in gesso and then just had the blue marks (in the center).  Those marks were made because I had paint on my fingers and I was too lazy to look for a baby wipe. 

The pistachio ink spray was sprayed to test the color before adding to another project.

Then the larger circles were added when I was creating one of the ICAD projects. 

The silver spots and white circles were from different markers.

I like mopping up, wiping, stamping off, whatever it takes to use all products.  Having my blank journal next to me helps me do this.  It's amazing what backgrounds can come out of it.

White splatter was using a new technique I learned from K Werner Design's Youtube channel.  You place acrylic paint on the edge of an acrylic block, add some water and using a paint brush, flick it toward the place you want the splatter.  It controls the splatter to where you want it.  I've used this on many other projects and it's a GREAT little tip.  (By the way, if you get a chance, check out her galaxy with watercolor paints video...too cool!  I hope to try this soon.)

I fussy cut the larkspur after water coloring the flowers and added yellow acrylic paint on the background to serve as a shadow before adhering the flowers to it.

Oh yeah, I forgot that at some point I decided to use a pencil and write summer and other words randomly on the page.

Lila Grey has amazing digi stamps.  http://lilagreystamps.com You can get the larkspur as well as many other flowers and images.  

While you're at Lila Grey's website, check out the clear stamps that are also available.  Yes, those three Elements stamps are designed by little ol' me.  I use these stamps ALL the time and these kinds of stamps are so popular right now.

Products Used:

Gesso

Acrylic Paint:  Too Blue, Baby Blue, Lt. Pink, Sunny Yellow, White

Ink:  Basic Black Re-inker

Markers:  Silver Paint Marker and White Correction Ink Pen

Ink Spray:  Ranger's Pistachio

Watercolor Paint: Crayola (purple & blue and green & brown)

#2 Pencil

Tools Used:  Fingers, Toilet Tissue Roll & a Paint Brush

ICAD #5 & 6

SO MUCH FUN!  I'm really enjoying the Index Card A Day challenge.  The size of the cards makes it a quick project.  If you want to see past posts, click on the ICAD label.  To read more about the challenge, go HERE

Prompt #5: Clouds
I'm sure most of you do this, but I scan and print copies of my original master boards for future projects.  I grabbed one of these sheets and cut clouds from it.  First I painted the card with blue watercolor paint.  Then adhered the clouds to it.  I cut the definition of cloud from an old dictionary and adhered to the largest cloud.  I used a silver pen to give each cloud a silver lining and used two images from the Lila Grey Elements #1 stamps (white acrylic paint circles and the black archival ink marks).  I drew a messy border around the edge and also added some silver paint marker drops here and there.  I used my finger to add more watercolor paint around the clouds.  I dipped in the drying pot so the color was more intense and added only a little bit of water.

Prompt #6:  Top Ten

All day I was thinking about what would be my list and then I decided to use my top ten materials in mixed media.  Can you guess what they are?  Watercolor markers, distress spray inks, script stamp, archival black ink, gesso, acrylic paint, stencil, white-out pen, black fine-point BIC pen and water spray bottle!

I'm entering this on the STAMPlorations blog stencil Sunday #53 & mixed media challenge. 

Check it out HERE

Cards #5 and 6

ICAD #1 and #2

Index Card A Day Challenge:
Can I do it?  It seems easy enough, but I also know me.  Well, I'm gonna try it.  Here's my Day 1 card:

The prompt is words and mixtape. I wasn't sure what I was going to do, but then thought of a song that I love.  One from back in the day when we were making mixed tapes.  My all time favorite song is "Some Kind of Wonderful" but this is one of my long time favorites too.  The other detail for the first week is to use yellow.  Click on the link below to learn more about the challenge and to get the list.  You can start anytime!

Another photo of the finished index card.  I used the images on this stamp set (Elements #3 from Lila Grey, designed by little ol' me!)  Those great pink circles are also from this stamp set.  I took a photo of the journal page since I was using it as my "brush off" piece.

Day Two:  Pyramid

I was at a loss, but then thought I'd place words in a pyramid shape.  I like it!

I used images from this set.

Both together.

HERE for more info on Index Card A Day challenge.

We'll see how far I go.  I have to tell you, creating these little masterpieces is pretty quick.  I did today's (pyramid) in about 20 minutes this morning before getting ready for work.

Details on the cards:

Card #1:  I saw this video about using gesso through a stencil before adding any paint.  I used a rose stencil.  Then used lt. pink acrylic paint over the top and used a baby wipe to wipe away the rose images.  Used the Elements #3 stamp set to stamp yellow acrylic paint to the right side.  I then used the same "bubble wrap" stamp to add some teal ink in the same corner.  Added bright pink with my finger around the left side.  Drew the heart with gelatos and lined it with black licorice gelato as well.  Used water to smudge.  Added a little bit of teal too.  The white dots are from a white correction pen.  The black lines on the right side are also from the Elements stamp set.  Handwrote the words on white cardstock and lined with black BIC pen.

Card #2:  Covered card with gray acrylic paint.  Used a homemade glue gun stencil on top and sprayed yellow distress ink.  It came out a little more green than it should have, but that's ok.  I used SU! pink ink and another image from Element #2 set.  I also used black acrylic ink and the sunburst stamp.  I wrote the words on white cardstock and lined with a SU! grey marker.  I still felt like it needed something so I added some teal gelato border around the card and smudged with a water brush.  I then added another stamp image from the same Elements #2 set with white acrylic paint.

Ok, I know I designed them, but did I tell you how much I LOVE those Element stamp sets!?!  They are so fun and make it so easy to add random marks to your designs.

I'm thinking these index cards might make some great postcards...hmmm...

WOYWW 368

I sure am enjoying the site WOYWW!  Not only is it super cool to check out other people's work desks, it keeps me on track too.

If you read my blog, you know I've been preparing for a Christmas in July event in our town.  It's a small event sponsored by Business Woman Connection.  I'm excited to be a part of it since local contacts/customers are always a good thing!

So...welcome to my work desk:

I ordered notecards using my original mixed media artwork.  I love the way they turned out.  Here's a photo of the cards I have so far.  I do plan on making some holiday themed cards as well but that's for another Wednesday LOL!

I put together two different sets.  One set will have one of each floral design and the other will have one each of the "misc" cards.  They will be available to purchase individually as well.

The embellishments: 
2 x 5" scalloped strip of patterned paper                            Ribbon
2 x 4" dry embossed cardstock with fishtail cut                 Paper Strip w/glitter Washi
Stamped sentiments                                                            Binder Clips

I just layered all these things together and ended up with something I liked.  The white paper strips with glitter Washi were scraps from a tag project I made awhile ago.  I just couldn't throw them out.  I had them on my desktop and decided to use them.  I used all scraps for this except the ribbon.

For those of you who saw my desk last Wednesday, here's a photo of the pop up cards that I was working on.  They turned out so cute!  I love using my Cricut...it just keeps paying for itself.  I made three of each of these designs.  If I have time, I will make more.  (Stay tuned for an instructional post on how to put these together.)

If you are interested in purchasing, send me an email at doorknocker3@yahoo.com

Remember to click here to check out other WOYWW linkers and leave some love.

Summer Reading Marathon XVII

Fun Fact:  Carly and I have been challenging ourselves with a Summer Reading Marathon for 17 years now!  We started when Carly was six years old and now she's pushing the old age of 23!  Right now she's ahead of me by one book, but I'm determined to push past her soon.  We always start the first day after the last day of school (since we both work for the school district, this date still works for us) and the day before the start of the new school year. 
The person who reads the most books gets treated by the other to Baskin Robbins.  I know it's not much, but hey, it's the little things.  AND we're talking ice cream which is the answer to everything.
I love this time of year because I'm a total book nerd and LOVE going to the library.  It has always been one of my favorite things to do.  I remember as a girl, my sisters, neighborhood friends and I would go to the library and stock up with tons of books.  We loved the Nancy Drew mysteries, Judy Bloom, Ramona Quimby and of course, the Little House on the Prairie books which will always be my favorite series.  We would hang out and participate in all the Summer activities and of course, checked out music, magazines and other fun stuff available back in the 70's.
I'm so happy that my daughter also loves reading.  The boys...not so much...but they do have a few that they love.

In honor of Summer Reading Marathon, here are some bookmarks that I'm making for a Christmas in July event at one of our local churches.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE how they turned out.  I purchased these plastic sleeves awhile ago but wasn't sure when or what I was going to do with them.  The tassels were part of the stash of items I received from Rubber Paws.  I made master boards on 8 1/2 x 11 pieces of white cardstock and just sprayed a variety of inks all over.  On one master board, I stamped floral images (SU!) and the other I used the Elements I images (Lila Grey) all over.  Once I cut them into strips, I matted with a piece of solid cardstock and embossed versus/quotes on them.  Now I can kick myself for not buying more of the sleeves - I only bought 25.

Rubber Paws; My sister's Sister-in-Law - read more about her.
Lila Grey Stamps
Stampin' Up; My demonstrator is Carole Parson from South Carolina.  If you don't have a demonstrator, visit her "store" and shop there!  Check out her blog HERE

2016 Fiesta Entries

I skipped a year, but decided to enter a couple of pieces this year.  The first one is a mixed media piece featuring Lila Grey's daisy Flower of the Month and the second was in photography.  Anyone who knows me, knows I am one of the worst photographers, but I took a great photo of the Grand Tetons from the Elk Reserve in Jacksonhole Wyoming.  I love this photo so I decided to take a chance and enter it.

Third Place for the mixed media piece and Honorable Mention for the photo.  

At first I thought, ok, honorable mention is the same as "participant", but then realized that not every piece entered had a ribbon.  So, yes it really is a Honorary Mention and something to be proud of!  So, even though it wasn't a First Place, I'm still 3 for 3 on my Fiesta entries.

Now I need to custom frame the photo and display it proudly.