Celebrate!

Here's a festive card featuring Good Morning Sunshine from the fabulous and funny Humorous Senior Collection of stamps (I Brake for Stamps). FYI, IBFS ships internationally!

Good Morning Sunshine was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts) and colored with Copic markers, that were chosen to match the colors of the patterned papers from the Time to Celebrate collection (Graphic 45).

Patterned paper was die-cut with one of the dies from the Rectangle Frames die set (Die-Namics) and a nameplate die (Spellbinders). White cardstock was die-cut with a "celebrate" die from the Handwritten die set (Little B), then adhered atop the nameplate.

The image panel was adhered behind the frame die-cut. The patterned paper was layered, the image panel, and sentiment nameplate were adhered to the card front, the card front was adhered to a white card, and then white pearls were added to Good Morning Sunshine's ear and the die-cut to finish the card.

I Brake for Stamps is the home for the Humorous Senior Collection of stamps, which you ought to check out right now. IBFS also has a huge and varied collection of rubber stamps where you're sure to find something you like! Click HERE to check out all of the goodies! Best of all, if you buy something, you can get a 10% discount off of your purchase if you use this code: SAVE10KATHI!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers: Y is for Yippee
• Simon Says Monday Challenges: It's a Frame Up
• Corrosive Challenges: Anything Goes

Inspired by a TV Show

Kristen Catalano is the hostess this week at Stampotique Designer's Challenges. Her challenge is "Inspired by a TV Show or a Movie". Here's what she had to say about her challenge.

"This week I want to see what you can create that is inspired by one of your favorite TV shows or movie."

If you'd like the chance to win your choice of $30 worth of Stampotique stamps, you should play along with this challenge. Visit Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and be sure to read the rules so that you'll have the chance to win that great prize!!! Remember to check to see the deadline for all of this month's Stampotique Designers Challenges!

My card  was inspired by a National Geographic special about the birds of the rain forest. As I watched it, I was joined by a feline friend, who got very involved with the show.

Here's my card with the cockatoo from Stampotique's Birdy Up (Kira Nichols) and Happy Bird-Day (Carol's Collection) .

Here's the photo of Flash, our Tuxedo cat watching the Nature special.

Birdy Up is one of my favorite stamps because it has four wonderful birds on it. It's incredibly versatile because you can use all four of the birds, of the birds, or any combination. Birdy Up was stamped five times with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts). The cockatoo or cockatiel (I honestly don't know which it is) was fussy-cut from each impression and the other birds were put aside for another day. The birdies were colored with Copic markers, then edged with Black Pitt Artist pen (Faber Castell).

Black cardstock was die-cut with two of the dies from the Card Creator Nestabilities die set (Spellbinders) to form the frame of the television. A small rectangle was also die-cut to become the base of the television set. Blue cardstock was die-cut to become the television screen and rope-patterned Washi tape (Little B) was added for a perch. The fussy-cut birds were adhered to the blue cardstock, which was then placed behind the frame. I would have added an acrylic overlay, but I wasn't feeling up to the challenge of getting a decent photo of a highly reflective surface.

Vellum was cut and adhered to a card base. Black cardstock was die-cut with my Curious Cat die (Poppy Stamps). White Pitt Artist pen was used to add white socks, nose, and chest to the cat die-cut. Green glitter pen (Sakura) was used to add the eye to the cat!

The TV set was adhered to the card front and the detailed cat die-cut was added to create teh scene.

Happy Bird-Day was stamped with Jet Black StazOn ink (Imagine Crafts) onto vellum. The sentiment was cut apart and adhered to the card front. All the vellum bits were outlined with a Grey Multi-liner (Copic) to make them stand out a bit more.

I had added a sparkly green circle to the lower left of the television to become the on/off sensor, but it seems to have gone missing. Bummer.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Show Us Your Pussies Challenges: Furrything Goes
• Come and Get It Challenges: Things with Wings
• Animal Friends Challenges: Birds

Feeling Lucky?

I know that it's a bit early for St. Patrick's Day, but I figured that I might as well get into the spirit. This card features the very versatile Marcie, one of the Divas by Rubber Romance that is available at I Brake for Stamps. What I like about Marcie is that you can change the color of her dress and her hair, plus add the perfect sentiment to her sign to fit your card's occasion!

Marcie was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts), colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, then edged with a Black Pitt Artist pen (Faber Castell). The sentiment was added with Life Quotes Remnant Rubs (Idea-ology). Marcie was set aside while I created a suitable background for her.

Green cardstock was die-cut with the A2 Scalloped Card die (Top Dog Dies). I found the perfect patterned paper in my stash. It's from the Tell Your Story 6x6 pad (Webster's Pages). Both the card front and the patterned paper were edged with a Gold Leafing pen (Krylon). Gold Foil Green Stripes Washi tape (Little B) was used to add a bit more gold and green to the card and to give Marcie somewhere to stand!

I Brake for Stamps is where you'll find great selections of Rubber Romance stamps plus lots of other stamp companies. Click on my badge below to be whisked over there to check out all of the goodies! Best of all, if you buy something, you can get a 10% discount off of your purchase if you use this code: SAVE10KATHI!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Open-Minded Crafting Challenges: St. Patrick's Day
• Crafty Girls Creations Challenges: Anything Goes
• Craft for the Craic Challenges: Luck of the Irish

Cheers!

This week's the challenge at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is Cooking and/or Food. My Outlawz Coloring Challenge teammates, Carla, Penny, ,Vannessa, and I challenge you to use create a project for this challenge. You should check out my teammates' blogs to see their gorgeous artwork. 
Our November sponsor at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is Vera Lane Studios, who is offering our lucky winner the choice of one of four sets used by our design team during November.  Play along with our challenge and share your artwork with us for your chance to win!

I interpreted the Food part of the challenge to be Food and/or Wine and used Vera Lane Studios' Petite Syrah and Boutique Hats digital stamp sets.

Here it is!

 

Syrah from the Petite Syrah set was resized in PhotoElements. One of the hats from the Boutique Hats was resized, squished, slightly rotated, and positioned on Syrah's head. The wine bottle was resized and positioned next to Syrah. The scene was saved,  printed out onto Solar Crest White cardstock (Neenah) using my laser printer. The scene was colored with Copic markers. Chalk pencils (Derwent) were used to add some shading to Syrah's face. I used a die to die-cut the image panel, but the die-cut slipped and cut askew (user error), so the bottle and Syrah were fussy-cut, then edged with a Black Pitt Artist Brush pen (Faber Castell). White gel pen (Sakura) was used to add highlights to the wine bottle and the wine glass.

I remembered that I had some faux cork specialty paper from my old dt gig with FiberMark.  Labels 17 and Decorative Labels Eight Nestabilities dies (Spellbinder) were used to die-cut the cork specialty paper. Black shimmery cardstock was die-cut with Labels Eight Nestabilities dies. The cork Label 17 die-cut was layered onto the black shimmery Label Eight die-cut. 

Two rows of thin red Washi tape (Little B)) was added to the bottom of the matted die-cuts, then Syrah and her bottle were adhered. This was then adhered to the Decorative Labels Eight die-cut, then adhered to black cardstock. The image panel was adhered to a brown card. The same Washi tape was  used to cover some cardstock, then die-cut with the Cheers die (Elizabeth Craft Designs). The sentiment was added to the card to finish it up.

Thanks for visiting today! 

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Chalk N Stock Challenges: Anything Goes 
• Cute Card Thursdays: Food or Drink 
• Fab 'n' Funky Challenges: Diecuts or Punches 
• Scrapy Land Challenges: Anything Goes 

SCACD and Friends New Release Blog Hop

SCACD is celebrating ten newly released exclusive digital stamps. SCACD Artist Carmen Medlin and Susana collaborated on the images and we are happy to be showcasing them to you now. There are some new cute animal stacks — stacks of kittens, puppies, and birds, as well as some Steampunk additions and more!!!

So go check out the collection since SCACD's digital stamps are really cute, fun and unique. These digital stamps are now available for purchase in the USA HERE .

All Our EU International Friends can purchase them HERE .

If you are from a none EU country, you can purchase direct from SCACD HERE.

You should have arrived at my blog from Donna's blog, where I'm sure she wowed you with some fabulous artwork.

Here's my card with the fabulous new Cupcake Owl.

Cupcake Owl was resized in PhotoElements, printed out onto Classic Solar Crest cardstock (Neenah), colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, and edged with my Black Pitt Artist Brush marker (Faber Castell). Cupcake Owl's eyes, beak, and talon received several layers of Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) to make them dimensional and shiny.

One of the dies from the A2 Card Creator Nestabilities die set (Spellbinders) was positioned on a piece of patterned paper from the old retired Phoebe 6x6 pad (Basic Grey) and die-cut to form a frame. Pink patterned paper from the same pad was die-cut with the next smallest die from the set, then lined up and adhered under the aperture in the patterned paper.

Brown paper from Phoebe pad was die-cut with SCACD's Breezy Branches Statement Corner die, cut apart, and positioned along the framed opening. Dimension foam adhesive was used to adhere the framed piece of patterned paper to the same piece of patterned paper.  Cupcake Owl was positioned on the branches in the recessed area.

Pink patterned paper from the Phoebe 6x6 pad was die-cut with the one of the Nested Sentiment dies (Spellbinders for Just-Rite) and "for you" from the Handwritten die set (Little B). Brown cardstock from the same pad was die-cut with one of the dies from the Framed Fancy Tags Two die set (Spellbinders).  The sentiment die-cut was assembled and adhered to the card front.

Flower and plain pink rhinestones (KaiserCraft) were used to finish the card.

Thanks for visiting today! Your next stop in the hop is Susan's blog and I'm quite sure she has some special eye candy! If you want to make sure you saw all the Designers showcasing the stamps then head back to the SCACD Store Blog HERE for the complete blog list.

Please note SCACD is having a SALE so check it out HERE!

Snow White is a Zombie!

Arwen McCullen is the hostess at Stampotique Designers Challenge Blog and her theme is Scary Confusion. Here's what she had to say about her challenge.

"I  love creepy things and I like weird. Combine in your work a little scary and a little confused."

If you'd like the chance to win your choice of $30 worth of Stampotique stamps, you should play along with this challenge. Visit Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and be sure to read the rules so that you'll have the chance to win that great prize!!!  Remember to check to see the deadline for all of this month's Stampotique Designers Challenges!

                   Here's my card with Skull Moon Small (Arwen McCullen), Snowy (Kira Nichols), and Owl Tree (Kira Nichols).

In honor of Halloween, the most wonderful time of the year, I decided that Snowy needed to be zombi-fied and freshly dug up from the graveyard, presided over by some spooky owls and the Skull Moon.

Black and white cardstock was die-cut with dies from my new Basic Step-Up Framelits die set (Sizzix). Snowy was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts) onto the front panel and onto Eclipse Tape (Judikins). The Eclipse Tape version was fussy-cut and positioned over her counterpart on the image panel. Owl Tree was overstamped using Jet Black Archival ink (Ranger). 

Snowy's mask was lifted and Snowy and the owls' eyes were colored with Copic markers. I went over the owls' eyes and Snowy's apple with a VersaMarker (Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts), then heat set with Filagree Clear Fine Detail embossing powder (Stewart Superior). 

The Graveyard Border die (Cottage Cutz) was used to die-cut white cardstock and Eclipse Tape. Snowy's mask was replaced, the Eclipse Tape Graveyard Border die-cut, was positioned, and Removable Scotch Tape (3M) was used to mask off the bottom portion of the image panel. Blueprint and Chipped Sapphire Distress ink (Ranger) were sponged over Snowy, the Owl Tree, and the Graveyard Border. The embossed eyes served to resist the Distress inks.

The masks were lifted and the Removable Scotch Tape was repositioned at the base of the Graveyard Border. Forest Moss and Mowed Lawn Distress inks were sponged over the bottom part of the panel. The tape was lifted and a T01 Copic marker was used to color the tombstones. A Forest Moss Distress marker was used to touch up the area and to add blades of grass to the tombstones. The die-cut cardstock was colored with a variety of Toner Grey Copic markers plus a gold gel pen and set aside. 

A Red Glaze pen (Sakura) was used to add some bloody touches to Snowy and her apple. Espresso Distress ink was used to add some touches of "dirt" to Snowy's hair, face, dress, and shoes. 

The primary image panel was edged with Black Soot Distress ink, the die-cut, colored Graveyard Border was adhered behind it, and the combined pieces were adhered to the cardfront. 

White cardstock was sponged with Blueprint and Chipped Sapphire Distress ink, die-cut with the smaller panel dies from the Step-Up Framelets die set, and added to the card front.

Skull Moon Small was stamped with Jet Black Archival ink (Ranger), colored with Distress markers (Ranger), and fussy-cut. A touch of A Red Glaze pen was used to add some gore to the Skull Moon 's fang and then Skull Moon was adhered to the card. Some bats were die-cut from the Halloween die set (Impression Obsession) and the Halloween set (Little B) to finish the card.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Die Cuttin' Divas Challenges: Halloween 
• Forever Dark Challenges  
• Papertake Weekly Challenges: Take Your Pick -- I picked Halloween Hues.
• Haunted Design House Challenges: Holy Hell, It's Halloween! 
• Scrapy Land Challenges: Use Heat Embossing and Dies -- The owls' eyes are embossed.

Twist: Anything Goes!

This week's the challenge at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is Anything Goes and/or Christmas. My Outlawz Coloring Challenge teammates, Carla, Penny, Karen, Vannessa, and I challenge you to use create a project for this challenge. You should check out their blogs to see their gorgeous artwork. 

Our August sponsor at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is Sweet Pea Stamps, who is offering our lucky winner three digis of his/her choice from the Sweet Pea Digi Stamp Store.  Play along with us for your chance to win!

Here's a gift tag with Gabriella Szabo's Goth Fairy (Sweet Pea Stamps).

Goth Fairy was reduced in PhotoElements, printed out with my laser printer onto Neenah cardstock, colored with Copic markers, then die-cut with one of the dies from the 5x7 Card Creator Nestabilities die set (Spellbinders). 

Plaid patterned paper from the old, but well loved (hoarded) Black Tie collection (Basic Grey) was die-cut with the next largest die from the 5x7 Card Creator Nestabilities die set. This was edged with Aged Mahogany Distress ink (Ranger) then matted with shimmery black cardstock. This was adhered to another sheet from the Black Tie collection, also edged with Aged Mahogany Distress ink, leaving the top part of the matted image panel free from adhesive. 

Dark red cardstock was die-cut with a Fancy Floral Lace Border die (Cottage Cutz) and adhered at the base of the image panel. Barbed Wire Fence border die (Die-namics) was used to die-cut flashing tape, which was adhered over the lace die-cut border.

My Tiny Attacher (Idea-ology) was used to secure the image panel/pocket to the tag front. Grey roses (Recollections?) were also attached to the tag front with the Tiny Attacher. 

Red cardstock was cut to size, then the top corners were punched with the Ticket and Tag Duo Corner punch (Tonic Studios). A hole was punched in the center. The tag front was adhered the red card. Silver Foil Corners (Stampendous) were added to the top corners of the tag front. "For You" from the Handwritten die set (Little B) was used to die-cut flashing tape. The sentiment was adhered to the tag. Sheer black ribbon was threaded through the hole in the tag. A hand charm was added to the tag with silver thread.

Thanks for visiting today.

I shall enter this tag into the following challenges:
• Scrapy Land Challenges: Tags and Pockets
• Crafting By Designs Challenges: Things with Wings 
• Fab and Funky Challenges: Things with Wings
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenges: Anything Goes 

Color Challenge!

This week's the challenge at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is a color challenge. My Outlawz Coloring Challenge teammates, Carla, Penny, Karen, Vannessa, and I challenge you to use create a project for this challenge. You should check out their blogs to see their gorgeous artwork.

Our August sponsor at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is Sweet Pea Stamps, who is offering our lucky winner three digis of his/her choice from the Sweet Pea Digi Stamp Store.  Play along with us for your chance to win!

Here's the color palette, courtesy of Design Seeds.

 

Here's my card with Marina (Teresa Sherman/Sweet Pea Stamps).

I should mention that Teresa's Marina is available in both rubber and as a digital stamp. I used the rubber version. Marina was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts) and colored with Copic markers. Turquoise Spica Glitter pen (Sakura) was used on the swirls in her hair. White Gelly Roll Glaze pen (Sakura) was used on the pearls in her hair. Clear Gelly Roll Glaze pen (Sakura) was used on her bracelet, the coral, and the miscellaneous water droplets/bubbles.

The image panel was die-cut and matching cardstock was die-cut with dies from the A2 Card Creator Nestabilities set (Spellbinders). One of the dies from the 5" x 7" Card Creator Nestabilities set (Spellbinders) was used to die-cut the darkest aqua/teal paper, which then took a ride through my Big Kick inside the Waterfall 5" x 7" embossing folder (Couture Creations). Cardstock was also die-cut with two of the three dies from the Grommet Tag die (Spellbinders). "Hello" from the Handwritten Sentiments die set (Little B) was die-cut from the tannish cardstock. The starfish and shell were die-cut and enhanced with my VersaMarker pen (Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts). A Crab punch (Punch Bunch) was ued to punch a tiny crab to adorn the sentiment tag.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Deep Ocean Challenges: Maritime
• Papertake Weekly Challenges: To Die For
• Fashionable Stamping Challenges: Seaside or Beach
• Stamping Sensations Challenges: Anything Goes with a Stamp or a Die

Celebration!

Kim Howard, Stampotique's Design Team Coordinator, is the hostess this week at Stampotique Designers Challenge Blog. We're celebrating our 200th challenge, so Kim is challenging you to create a celebratory card! Here's what she has to say about her challenge.

"Join us for our 200th challenge this week by celebrating. Create with a celebration, anniversary or best wishes creation. We thank you all for joining us each week at our challenges and hope you have a much fun creating with Stampotique as we do!!!"

If you'd like the chance to win your choice of $30 worth of Stampotique stamps, you should play along with this challenge. Visit Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and be sure to read the rules so that you'll have the chance to win that great prize!!

Here's my card with Cocoa Bird (Kira Nichols), Baby Cthulhu (Kira Nichols), Happy Lion (Kira Nichols), and Happy Head Appliances (Daniel Torrente).

Cocoa Bird, Baby Cthulhu, Happy Lion, and Happy Head Appliances were stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts), colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, edged, with black markers, and set aside while I worked on a background for them.

Aside from making a scene (on my card), one of my favorite ways to use die-cuts is to add them to a scene, then paint over them to add dimension and interest. 

The following words, the champagne bottle, and glasses were die-cut from white cardstock using a variety of different dies from different companies. I'm just going to list the dies below because it's easier!

The die-cut words were adhered to 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock using Matte Glue n' Seal (Ranger). The cardstock was then brushed with a layer of White Media Gesso (DecoArt). When that was dry, Media Modeling Paste (DecoArt) was applied over the star portion of Punchinella Quintet stencil (Joggles) and allowed to dry.

Cerulean Blue, Translucent White, and Primary Magenta Media Fluid Acrylic (MFA) paints were randomly sponged and dabbed over the surface. Primary Yellow and Green Gold MFA paints were stippled here and there to add additional color and interest.

Primary Magenta MFA paint was sponged over the star portion of the Punchinella Quintet stencil and Tranlucent White MFA paint was sponged over the circles portion.

When I was happyish with the background,  Black Pitt Artist pens were used to outline the words to give them more visual weight.

The champagne bottle die was also used to die-cut thin gold foil paper and off-white cardstock. The champagne bottle and champagne glasses die-cuts were colored with Copic markers. The foil was adhered to the neck of the bottle and the off-white die-cut was cut down and doodled with a label from my fictitious winery, The Grapes of Kath. My beloved Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) was used to go over the glass portion of the bottle, the entirety of both glasses, and the Cocoa Bird's beak, talons, Happy Lion's nose, and the eyes of all three creatures.

A craft knife was used to cut slits in the fussy-cut Cocoa Bird, Baby Cthulhu, and Happy Lion so that they could hold the bottle and glasses. The bottles and glasses were adhered to the corresponding creature. Washi tape was added as a grounding element, then Cocoa Bird, Baby Cthulhu, and Happy Lion were adhered to the background. The Happy Head Appliances hats were adhered and Pink, Green, Blue, and Gold Stardust pens (Sakura) were used to add a touch of glitter to the hats pom-poms.

The entire piece was edged with Jet Black StazOn ink (Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts) after sniffing the ink pad, then adhered to a black card.

By the way, Arwen McCullen, one of Stampotique's stamp designers and a dt member, is giving away her Goth Cake stamp. Click here for more information!

I used the following die-cuts.
• "You're" and "party): Handwritten Sentiments (Little B)
• "So": Accessory Words 3 (Frantic Stamper)
• fantastic (Frantic Stamper)
• Enjoy (Cherry Lynn)
• celebrate (Spellbinders?)
• Cheers (Elizabeth Craft Designs)
• Celebrate (Die-Versions)
• laugh (?)
• Champagne Bottle: (Memory Box?)
• Champagne Glass (larger): Cheers Glass Charms (Die-namics)
• Champagne Glass (small): Let's Toast Die-namics)

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Through the Purple Haze Challenges: Bright Colors
• Simon Says Monday Challenges: Don't Cut, Paste
• Stamping Sensations Challenges: Die Cuts and Punches
• We Love to Create Challenges: Anything Mixed Media
• Simon Says Wednesday Challenges: Use your Favorite

Fairies!

This week's challenge at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is "Fairies"  My Outlawz Coloring Challenge Teammates, Carla, Penny, Laine, and I challenge you to use create a project for this challenge. You can use any color medium you like, just as long as you color! 

Our April sponsor at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is Sweet Pea Stamps, who is offering our lucky winner four digis of his/her choice from the Sweet Pea Digi Stamp Store.  Play along with us for your chance to win!

Here's my card with Sweet Pea/Teresa Sherman Fern the Forest Fairy.

Fern the Forest Fairy was resized in Photo Elements and printed out onto Neenah cardstock using my laser printer. After checking Google Images to learn about the colors of trumpet flowersspring oak leaves, and spring acorns, the scene was colored with Copic markers. The bird's eyes, beak, and talons were coated with several layers of Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) to add dimension and shine. White Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) was used to add white to the dots on the mushrooms.

Since the Fern the Forest Fairy scene was very colorful, I opted to use kraft cardstock  to create a neutral background. However, I wanted it to have visual interest, so I put my Big Kick to work! The Fern the Forest Fairy scene and two mat layers were die-cut with dies from my Card Creator die set (Spellbinders).  The kraft  rectangles were edged with Frayed Burlap Distress ink (Ranger). One of the two dies in SCACD's Classic Corner die set was used to cut four corner die-cuts, which were sponged with Frayed Burlap Distress ink.

The card front layer was run through my Big Kick inside a Couture Creations 5x7 embossing folder, then the edges were sponged with Frayed Burlap Distress ink.

The Flower Chain Border die (Cherry Lynn Designs), Ribbon Tags Trio One (Spellbinders),  "hello" from the Handwritten sentiment die set (Little B), and the Autumn Gatherings Alterations Decorative Strip die (Sizzix) were used to die-cut kraft cardstock. Frayed Burlap Distress ink was used to sponge the inside of the tag die, the larger oak leaves, and the acorn. Frayed Burlap Distress marker was used to add some detailing to the oak leaves. Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) was used to make the acorn shiny.

All the elements were layered and adhered, the sentiment tag was popped up on foam adhesive, then the card front was added to a kraft card and I called it done!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Scrapy Land Challenge #15: Anything Goes
• Country View Challenges: Use Kraft Card
• Die Cut Divas: In the Garden

Lotus Trio!

I'm quite taken with SCACD's new Blank Lotus Pair from the new Eclectic Collection #2 and decided to do an experiment with them.

I stamped the Blank Lotus Large once and the Blank Lotus Small twice onto map-printed vellum using Jet Black StazOn ink. The vellum was flipped over and the lotuses were colored with pink, violet, and blue colored pencils (Polychromos). When I was done, all three were fussy-cut and set aside.

A flat canvas was layered with torn printed tissue paper (Idea-ology) that was adhered with Matte Multi-Medium (Ranger). When it was dry, Texture Sand Paste (DecoArt) was spread along the bottom of the canvas and two Buddha charms and a coin were pressed into it and allowed to dry.

Meanwhile white cardstock was die-cut with SCACD's Contempo Compass Statement Corner die,  Peace (Impression Obsession), love (Little B), Believe, Create, Hope, Dream, and Wish dies (Elizabeth Craft Design). These die-cuts were adhered to the canvas with Matte Multi-Medium. More Matte Multi-Medium was brushed over the canvas and allowed to dry.
  
Burnt Sienna Media Fluid Acrylic (MFA) paint (DecoArt) was dry brushed over the Texture Sand Paste and allowed to dry. Watered down Pthalo Green-Blue and Pthalo Blue MFA paints were brushed over the bottom part of the canvas, then watered down Cobalt Blue Hue and Cobalt Turquoise Hue MFA paints were stippled over them to deepen the color.

Titanium White and Cobalt Blue Hue MFA paints were mixed, watered down, then brushed across the top portion of the canvas. Streaks of watered down Titanium White were added.

When the MFA paints were very dry, several layers of Matte Multi-Medium were brushed over the entire canvas. While the MMM was wet, the three colored lotuses were adhered to the canvas, then more MMM was sponged over top. Whereas there was a bit of puckering, the vellum stayed down, though the colors of the flowers seemed to change a bit. The pink became redder, the blue became greener, and the violet darkened. 

The Texture Sand Paste was sanded back a bit to reveal some of the sandy colors and the metal charms were also sanded back to show more texture. 

The wings of three dragonfly charms were painted with Blue Green Light and Interference Green. A black Sharpie pen was used to color the dragonflies' bodies. The dragonflies were adhered to the canvas.

The last step was to add a bit of silvery rub stuff (whose name escapes me) to the raised corner and words.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this canvas into the following challenges:
• Craft Your Passion Challenges: Anything Goes 
• Not Just Cards Challenges: Anything Goes 
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenges: B is for (Buddhas, Blue) 
• 613 Avenue Create Challenges: Anything Goes/Aquamarine 
• Scrapy Land Challenge #13: Anything Goes 

It's All Love & Hearts!

Kristen Catalano is our hostess this week at Stampotique Designers Challenge Blog. Her challenge is "It's All Love and Hearts"!

This is what she had to say about her challenge.

"February 14th is Valentine's Day, so why not create something that is surrounded with hearts and love..."

If you'd like the chance to win your choice of $30 worth of Stampotique stamps, you should play along with this challenge. Visit Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and be sure to read the rules so that you'll have the chance to win that great prize!!!

Here's my card, which uses Stampotique's Agatha Heart (Magda Polakow), Daniel's Hearts (Daniel Torrente), Romantic Text (France Papillon), and Smiling Sun (Janet Klein).

Agatha Heart was stamped three times using Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto Neenah cardstock. One image was completely colored with Copic markers, then fussy-cut. The heart on the second Agatha Heart was colored with Shinhan Touch R1 and R10 markers, then fussy-cut, flipped over, and puffed out using an embossing stylus. The hands and the wings on the third Agatha Heart were colored with Copic markers, the wings were highlighted with various colors of Spica Glitter pens (Copic), and both the hands and wings were fussy-cut. Agatha Heart was paper pieced back together and set aside while I created a background for her.

A sheet of 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock (Strathmore) was sponged with Titanium White mixed with Primary Cyan Media Fluid Acrylic (MFA) paints by DecoArt. Titanium White MFA paint was brayered onto Daniel's Hearts stamp and then stamped over the blue background randomly until the entire sheet was mostly covered with hearts. Titanium White MFA paint was thinned with water and the inside of the hearts were painted to make them look a bit like heart shaped clouds. A drop or two of Primary Magenta MFA paint was added to the diluted Titanium White MFA paint, then painted onto some of the clouds.

Romantic Text was stamped several times onto tissue paper with Jet Black Archival ink. Blue Green Light MFA paint was mixed with Primary Yellow MFA paint and brushed over the reverse (non-stamped side) of the tissue paper. A metal protractor (which finally proved its usefulness!) and craft knife were used to cut hills from the green tissue paper.

Smiling Sun was stamped onto tissue paper with Jet Black Archival ink. Primary Yellow and Diarylide Yellow MFA paints were used to color the reverse side of the stamped Smiling Sun. The sun was fussy-cut.

Multi-Medium was brushed over the "sky" panel to adhere the Romantic Text hills and Smiling Sun to the piece. The entire panel received another layer of Multi-Medium to ensure the tissue paper's adhesion and seal the piece. When dry, the hills were sponged lightly with Watering Can and Emerald Green Archival ink.

The image panel was die-cut with one of the dies from the 5" x 7" Card Creator Nestabilities die set (Spellbinders). The hills part of the piece was edged with Emerald Green Archival ink and the sky portion was edged with Cornflower Blue Archival ink. Agatha Heart was adhered to the piece.

Love, from the Handwritten set of dies (Little B) was combined with die-cut letters from the Daisy font set (QuicKutz) onto a fishtail flag die-cut from a Fishtails set of dies (Die-namics). The sentiment was adhered over the hills, the image panel was matted with white cardstock that was die-cut with a die from the Card Creator Nestabilities die set, then added to the card front.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
• The Artistic Stamper Creative Challenge: Love
• Quirky Crafts Challenges: Love is in the Air
• Glitter n' Sparkle Challenges: Love is in the Air
• Come and Get It Challenges: Love is in the Air
• Tuesday Throwdown Challenges: Love is in the Air

A Chanukah Gift-Pocket Tag Book

Now that I've shown you how to change SCACD's Kathi's Menorah, Unlit for each night of Chanukah, I'm going to share my latest project that I created with this fun digital stamp!

I created a gift pocket-tag style gift book that is perfect for those who have teenagers who just want gift cards, for spouses that would like a coupon book, and for those distant friends or family who get a gift each and every night of Chanukah! The pocket size is perfect to fit a gift card, tickets, cash, coupons, or a check!

Here are three views of it!

The Cover

The gift-pocket tags for the first four nights

The gift-pocket tags for the last four nights

As in the tutorial below, I created nine different versions of SCACD's Kathi's Menorah, Unlit using PhotoElements. I reduced each of them, then ganged 'em onto a standard letter size, which was then printed out with my laser printer onto Neenah cardstock.

The menorah was relatively small, so I was worried about staying within the lines using my Copic markers and I'm to Virgo to deal with going out of 'em. I wasn't feeling like using colored pencils either, so I was elated to discover that Copic At You Spica glitter pens (also available individually), Wink of Stella glitter markers, Sakura Stardust Pure Glitter pens, and Gelly Roll Glaze pens worked wonderfully. So, I used various combinations of these pens to color all the images. Sadly, you probably can't see the glitter on the Menorahs or the glossy texture of the candles on these photos. You'll have to take my word for it!

The tags were die-cut from black cardstock using the Tag and Bookplates Alterations die. I was able to cut several at a time, which was great.  Each tag was scored at 2 3/8" (big enough for a gift card). 1/8" red-liner tape was used to adhere the bottom and left side of each tag. These were set aside, while I created a background paper for them. Yes. I know I could have used some of my sizeable huge stash of patterned paper, but I felt like making a mess wanted to try something new!

I had recently seen Andy Skinner's brilliant video, Mixed Media Backgrounds, that shows how he creates fabulous backgrounds using Media Fluid Acrylic (MFA) paints by DecoArt and isopropyl alcohol. I wanted to give this technique a try, but guess what? My results are almost completely different than his! However, I was still stoked by the result.

Since I'm a verbose kind of person, I'll explain what I did and where I think I went awry. 

140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock was coated with DecoArt's Media Gesso, which dries quickly. I brushed a wash of Cobalt Blue Hue MFA over it, then dripped and spritzed isopropyl alcohol over the paint and left it to dry. A wash of Primary Magenta MFA was brushed over the previous layer and alcohol was dripped/spritzed over it. The same process was repeated with Dioxazine Purple, then Diarylide Yellow MFAs. I toyed with adding a wash of Titanium White MFA, but my bottle is emptying rapidly, so I opted against it. I also toyed with the idea of stenciling and adding various textural elements, but since so much of the background was going to be covered, I decided against it. Next time.

I must say that I was relatively happy with my background though it bears very little resemblance to the gorgeousness created in Mr. Skinner's video. 

I *think* that I didn't let each layer of paint and alcohol dry thoroughly, which might be why I didn't get the mottled look he achieved. I also used a spritzer in addition to just dripping and maybe there was just too much alcohol involved (isopropyl – as I don't drink and craft), but I'm not at all sure.

Back to the project! The next step was to cut up the painted background to be placed behind each Menorah. I was able to get all nine panels from the 9" x 12" sheet of cardstock with enough left over so that I could die-cut the ring/hole reinforcements.

The edges of the reinforcement, background panels, and image panels were sponged with either Archival ink by Ranger or Memento ink by Tsukineko.

The title page tag was trimmed to be a bit larger than the pocket pages. The image panel was edged with Black Soot Distress ink, then matted on shimmery black vellum. This vellum was also die-cut with dies from the Handwritten set of dies by Little B.

The booklet was bound with a binding ring and a Hamsa charm was added using ribbon and jump rings.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this booklet into the following challenges:
• The Crafter's Cafe Challenges: Christmas/ Holiday Season
• Altered Eclectics: Anything Goes
• Party Time Tuesdays: Anything Goes
• Scrapy Land Challenge #7: Anything Goes

Books and Cats

This week's challenge over at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is a color challenge.

The East Wind Digital Stamps is sponsoring Outlawz Coloring Challenges during November.

You should definitely enter this challenge. All you need to do is color an open line image with any colorant you choose! You should also visit my Outlawz Coloring Challenge Teamies' blogs for inspiration! Carla, Dawn, Penny, and Laine are seriously talented!

Here's the autumnal color palette and photo inspiration, courtesy of Fresh Hues/Design Seeds.

Here's my card, using East Wind's 'Lucy Loo' Bookaholic.

I must admit that color challenges aren't my favorite because my cards always end up looking different than my teammates. I'll attribute that to my printer and/or monitor. I do try to match colors as closely as possible, but my project always ends up looking like an epic fail from a color-matching standpoint.

Anyway, enough of that. I really like this image, though the hair was a bit of a challenge. But, I love books and I love cats, so I had to love this digital stamp, right? Right!

So, I reduced 'Lucy Loo' Bookaholic in PhotoElements, printed it onto Neenah cardstock using my laser printer, and colored the image with Copic markers. I chose to match the image to the color palette and actually recorded the markers I used, though the list is upstairs and I'm feeling lazy.

When I was done coloring the image, it took a ride through my Big Kick inside a Spellbinders Card Creator die. I kept the image panel in the die and got a bit carried away sponging Pumice Stone Distress ink over the die onto the image. Oh well. So I extended the yellow outline marker to the sponging, which helped to soften it a bit.

The patterned papers are from a very old collection by Crate Paper. The Gorey quote was computer generated and added to the image panel. The sentiment is a from the Handwritten set of dies by Little B, which is ever so useful. I figure that a gift certificate to the book store would work very well inside this card.

A rhinestone was used to dot the i in birthday and two rhinestone trios were used to add emphasis to the quote.

Thanks for visiting today!

A Thank You card

This week's challenge over at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is "Thanks or Thanksgiving".

The East Wind Digital Stamps is sponsoring Outlawz Coloring Challenges during November.

You should definitely enter this challenge. All you need to do is color an open line image with any colorant you choose! You should also visit my Outlawz Coloring Challenge Teamies' blogs for inspiration! Carla, Dawn, Penny, and Laine  are seriously talented!

Here's my card.

I opted to create a Thank You card because it's great to have a stash of those on hand, especially at this time of the year with the upcoming gift-giving holidays!

Floral Lady by Stampendous was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Copic markers. Her cheeks received a touch of pink chalk pencil to give them a touch more color. Clear Gelly Glaze pen was used to give her pearls dimension and shine. I used a Nestabilities Petite Oval die to die-cut the image panel and a Nestabilities Petite Scalloped Oval to die-cut a mat for the image.

You might recognize these papers as I used the same 6x6 pad by My Mind's Eye within the few weeks. Apparently I'm in a green sort of mood. Actually, I chose the main paper because it had flowers that were similarly shaped to the ones in Floral Lady's hair. I call that style of flowers "blobby flowers". Which you didn't really need to know. Anyway both the green and reddish patterned papers have blobby flowers, like Floral Lady's.

The patterned papers were layered according to a sketch from Stella Says Sketch at Catching the Bug Challenge blog. I love to use sketches because then I don't have to think. I can slavishly follow the sketch and end up with a nicely designed card. I created sketches for about five years and eventually will have a page on my blog for them. The operative word there is eventually. I have lots of plans. Some happen. Some don't.

Ooh. Big digression. Now you see why thinking can be troublesome. Anyway, the edges of most of the card's layers were sponged with Potting Soil Archival ink from Wendy Vecchi's collection for Ranger. It's a nice brown.

The sentiment is a from the Handwritten set of dies by Little B, which is a fabulous set of dies with great and useful sentiments. Gotta love that. And I do.

Here's the sketch so you can decide how I did with it.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card in the following challenges!
• Stella Says Sketch #218 at Catching the Bug Challenge blog
• Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers: T is for Thanks (For Nothing)  [sadly my card isn't snarky. :( ]
• MilkCoffee Challenge: Hand colored Image
• The House That Stamps Built: Time to Give Thanks
• 7 Kids College Fund Challenge Blog: Anything Goes