A Studio 490 postcard

I send out a lot of birthday postcards.  It used to be a simple, inexpensive way to send a large quantity of birthday greetings.  It's still simple but not so inexpensive.  Here's the September version; it uses all Studio 490 stamps and Ranger archival inks.

This layered background technique was shown to me by my good friends over at Prairie Art Stamps who in turn learned it at Stampaway from ImpressionObsession*.  I've used a similar method in the past but not so much with a lot of background stamps.

All About Art (dots, sentiment): Crimson, Jet Black archival ink
Dimensional Rose Art (numbers background): Monarch archival ink
Be Inspired...Make Art (plaid background) Chrome archival ink
Nature's Art (leaf stems): Olive archival ink

Sakura Micron markers (squiggly border line)

*I couldn't find the tutorial but did find the 'cover-a-card' samples to be a big help in determining stamps and colors to use in a pleasing manner.  Their site offers quite a few samples of this technique; essentially you're making your own background papers.  Thank you, Judy and Pam, for sharing.  Sure wish I could have taken the class you offered on this technique.  IO has lots of really cool background stamps and I LOVE their mega mount stamp tool.

Kraft resist

I've not played with Tim's Kraft Resist paper much...not sure if it's my thing but always willing to try something new.  Over at Studio L3, Linda has chosen the Kraft Resist technique, found on p. 41 of Tim's 2nd book, for the latest CCCv2 challenge. 

After cutting out the tag using Tim's Sizzix Tag & Bookplate die I ran it through his Postcard embossing folder (see the top).  I used the Picket Fence Distress Marker to highlight the word. 



Ingredients: 

Kraft Resist paper

Stampers Anonymous:  Air Travel stamp set

Lucky Squirrel shrink plastic

Ranger:  Jet Black, Coffee, Pale Ochre archival inks; Peeled Paint, Broken China, Black Soot distress inks; Picket Fence distress marker; Glossy Accents; Broken China distress stain

Sizzix:  Tag & Bookplate die, Postcard embossing folder, Typeset decorative strip die

We've done a lot of traveling over the years and this set is perfect for scrapbook pages, tags, etc.

And yes, I was the lucky winner chosen by last week's sponsor, The Funkie Junkie Boutique.  Now to go shopping!

The writing on the wall

Oh boy!  I was so excited and thrilled to win Wendy's new Graffiti Art and coordinating brick wall stencil recently.  Not only did I use it on a chunky ATC but it will make excellent birthday cards as you can see here.

The brick wall was stamped in Slate Adirondack ink (discontinued) on reddish-brown cardstock.  The base and layer are shades of gray.

I stamped 'wish' in Snow Cap pigment ink but it didn't work like I wanted so I went over it with a white marker.   
Note to self: re-ink pad.

The longer sentiment was stamped in Jet Black Archival ink, cut apart and edged with Black Soot Distress ink.  The fella is from European Art.  I avoided inking up the 's' in the first word - she.  Instant male sentiment!  Distress markers were used to color the female version (my 16 year old niece is blonde- this is for her).

So if you like a sentiment and it doesn't quite work, try to cover up a letter or word or maybe replace a word with one from another set. 

Sewing two-fer

Haven't made a two-fer in quite some time.  While I really prefer to have different entries for challenges, often you can make one work for several.  This not only saves time but if your mojo is lacking it's a great way to enter more challenges with not as much work.

Here's the tag I'm submitting to the CCCv2 challenge over at Studio L3 and Simon Says Stamp and Show.  It features Tim's technique called 'Whitewash Stamping' and can be found on page 47 in the book.

When you participate in these challenges you'll be entered into drawings for gift certificates.  This week's sponsor at Studio L3 is The Funkie Junkie Boutique and they're offering a $25 shopping spree; Simon has a $50 shopping spree.  Both challenge winners are chosen randomly.  I really like this way of doing things because it doesn't pit newbies against those who have been creating art for a long time.  And there's always so much inspiration.  Look at a piece of art and see if you can't use that idea for another challenge but twist it to make your own. 

TH:  Haberdashery stamp set, Sewing Edge Sizzix die

Ranger:  #8 kraft tag; Picket Fence Distress Stain; Picked Raspberry, Ripe Persimmon, Squeezed Lemonade, Antique Linen, Pumice Stone, Black Soot Distress Inks; Coffee, Vermillion, Jet Black Archival Inks

Silver leafing pen (Krylon), chipboard circle, twine

Other projects are calling my name...see you later!

Chunky medium*

I used to love creating ATCs but after 7 3" binders were filled with art from around the world, I decided to cool my heels for a bit.  And then along comes the idea of making a chunky ATC.  A what?  It's a 2"x4" that really isn't 2"x4" at all.  It actually measures 1.5"x3.5" and if you cut a 2.5" length you have a chunky ATC.  I don't know who thought this up but it's lots of fun...4 sides and the top to decorate.  Guess you could include the bottom as another surface but since it's usually hidden from view I just use that space for my name and other pertinent info.

This month over on the EWV Yahoo group I am hosting a swap for this newer medium.  They needed to be received by the end of the month but I was waiting to get my hands on Wendy Vecchi's new brick stencil so I could create mine.  I was super lucky and won it on Wendy's blog last week so today I had to get my act together and get busy.

Without further ado, here is the one I will be mailing Deb.  The young lady in the window (from Tim's 'Lost & Found' paper stash) reminds me of Deb.

Front

Side 1

Back

Side 2

Studio 490 stamp sets:  Ticket To Art (leaf stem), Seriously Art (eyes), The Essence Of Art (side view, sentiments), Art Of Inspiration (woodgrain); brick stencil, Outdoor Art Art Parts (fence cut into sections), Scallop Trim (cut into sections)

Blossom Bucket:  door, window

Ranger:  Lake Mist, Sandal, Pebble paint dabbers (grout); Walnut Stain, Peeled Paint, Black Soot distress inks; Olive, Jet Black archival inks; Vintage Photo distress marker (used on door and window frame); Sticky Back Canvas; Picket Fence distress stain; clear embossing ink and powder; Antique Linen distress stickles (shingles); Black Enamel Accents; Matte Multi Medium

Tim Holtz/Sizzix:  mini butterfly die; Damask embossing folder

Ten Seconds Studio: periwinkle metal sheet (butterfly)

Misc.:  DecoArt Country Red Texture Magic (bricks), flower, shrink plastic (eyes, leaf stem), colored pencils (leaf stem), clear packaging (window on door, floor plans on side view), black cardstock, house number

This was the first time I had played with the Blossom Bucket pieces and it won't be the last!  They take color from Tim's distress markers so well...no need to leave them the original color.

It was hard to hold the stencil on the wood block so some of the brick paste got under the stencil - I'd make a poor bricklayer if this was my only opportunity to share it with the world.  Like using any other stencil, you need to apply it carefully.  The red really stands out if there's an 'oops'.  Heavy sigh.

*chunky medium sounds like a contradiction in terms, doesn't it?  oh well.

Perfect Pearls Mist

So I let the deadline slip by for the CCCv2 #16 challenge (Perfect Pearls Mist, p. 54) over on the Studio L3 blog.  I really didn't have any idea for art so I was okay with it.  Not going to force an idea; I generally am not happy with my work when I do that.

Then I got an idea from some items laying around on my desk...more leftovers from other projects and decided to make a tag for my collection.  The flowers are lace glued with Matte Multi-Medium to clear Clearly For Art.  I saw this originally on my friend Wanda's blog.  I don't have the date when she shared the idea but you really ought to scroll through her blog anyway because she's another one with gorgeous art to share.

My black tag was embossed with the Damask Sizzix embossing folder and lightly painted with Picket Fence Distress Stain before hitting it with Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mist.  There's a chipboard medallion that was painted black and some dotted background stamp was used with Gold Paint Dabber.  Some white and gold trims cross it.  The flowers I mentioned above were spritzed with Biscotti and Pearl Perfect Pearls Mists.  The buttons were covered with Black Paint Dabber then wiped off.  The leaves were cut from DecoArt's Perfect Paper and aged with green and brown distress inks then hit with one of the mists.

The Sizzix mini butterfly was cut from white cardstock (sprayed with Pearl PPM) and several layers of white tule.  The body has tiny Hero Arts gemstones; the antenna is an old Christmas ornament hanger. 

I am definitely not a glittery person but with just a touch of grunge I'm satisfied with the results.

Leftovers - it's what's on my art

So my good friend Lynne has a really cool technique tag up on her blog and I decided to see if I couldn't use it for inspiration. 

I started out with a 'plaid gone bad' tag and lots of leftovers from various playtimes and stuff on hand.  The stem is an old zipper, the leaves were cut from some PaperPerfect (DecoArt) that I had spread and let dry on my craft sheet, produce netting, chipboard belt buckle, torn paper scraps...you get the picture.

So next time you need some inspiration, check out some techniques on other blogs or websites and start pulling out stuff from the bottoms of your drawers...and get creative!

Is there anything that can't be used to make art?  Okay, besides pure garbage, medical waste, etc. and even then you could probably argue that given the right venue that, too, could be art.  Ick!

Live your dream

My artistic juices were flowing Saturday afternoon.  Seems like they're working OT on the weekends and taking off during the week.  Whatever.  No sense forcing something that isn't meant to be.

Here's the 2nd project I made; it's for the challenge on the Wendy Vecchi Yahoo group.  This is the last challenge to come from Wendy's 3rd book...look on page 41 and you'll see the inspiration piece.  Lori chose the elements of a watch face, tissue tape and of course, at least one of Wendy's stamps that need to be included in your entry.

I started out with a 5" chipboard circle and stamped the leafy background (Rose Art Part 2) on it using Picket Fence distress stain and a spritz of something yellowy-brown.  It was in a misting bottle and left from a previous project so I have no idea what color or medium was used.
Several distress markers were used to outline/doodle around the leaves, stems and berries.  I went around the edge with a brown distress ink, Gold Paint Dabber and a black Sharpie.

Some of Tim's tissue tape was pleated and glued (multi-medium) to a strip of Bazzill cardstock that had been cut with decorative scissors then run through a Martha Stewart ribbon threader punch.

The leaves (RAP2) were stamped in Olive Archival Ink then dunked in clear embossing powder.  Heat set and cooled so I could carefully cut out the center portions from them.  Don't they look lacy?

Again from RAP2, I stamped the smaller flower onto Bazzill cardstock using Jet Black Archival Ink on the back side, overstamped (Flower Art, Art From The Heart, Art Rules - all backgrounds) on the front in Rose Madder Archival Ink.  Once cut out, the petals were curled and edged with the Gold Paint Dabber.

The watch face is also from RAP2 and was stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink on a light lavender Bazzill cardstock.  It was also embossed with clear powder.  Cut out then edged with the Gold Paint Dabber.  A medium brad was used to hold the 3 flower layers and watch face in place.  A few whacks with Tim's hammer dinged up the flower center just the way I wanted.

'Live Your Dream' (Live & Make Art) was stamped in Rose Madder Archival Ink and clear embossed.  The words were cut apart and edged with the Gold Paint Dabber. 

Narrow ribbon was threaded through the green strip while a wider piece of coordinating grosgrain ribbon works for the bow at the top. 

Am I living my dream?  Trying to!

Halloween totem pole

Time for another Compendium of Curiosities v.2 challenge.  Number 17 is all about being creative with core'dinations cardstock, which can be found on p. 61 of the book.  This week's challenge is sponsored by Simon Says Stamp and they're offering a $25 gift certificate to one lucky, randomly picked, winner.

As you know, I can't tell you exactly how I made this but I can share with you the products I used.

Sizzix/Tim Holtz:  pumpkin, branch, crow, cat mini dies; Halloween background embossing folder

core'dinations:  distress and kraft

Ranger:  Black Soot, Seedless Preserves, Gathered Twigs distress inks; CH matte multi-medium

Halloween tag token, jump rings, purple/white twine

It's only the middle of August but it's looked like fall for quite some time.  Might as well be creating for it I guess.

Card-making Sunday

I needed to spend some quality time in my art space today.  Our next door neighbors had 2 losses in their families this past week so I whipped up a sympathy card for each loss.  I balanced the sad occasions with a congratulatory card for friends who have opened their own riding stables in New Jersey.  This has been a long-time dream of theirs come true.  Just wish we could have been there opening day to help them celebrate.

ProvoCraft 'Bird Call' embossing folder; DCVW (Die Cuts With a View) white core cardstock; Bazzill cardstock; TH small oval diffuser; My Sentiments Exactly (sentiment); Jet Black Archival Ink

Stampin' Up 'Quilt Quips'; Jet Black Archival Ink; Bazzill cardstock; special ingredient*

Have you ever needed a fabric scrap but didn't have one on hand?  Or maybe you did but the color wasn't quite right?  There's no fabric on this card.  It's a *baby wipe that was used to wipe my craft sheet from a past project. 

Stampin' Up 'Wanted'; ProvoCraft 'Perfect Paisley' embossing folder; DCVW white core cardstock; Coffee and Rose Madder Archival Inks; brown distress inks; Inkadinkado sentiment; misc silk ribbon, twine













Going back to my art space now so I can work on some other projects!

Vintage Christmas

It's the first day of August...why not work on Christmas art?  Tim's posted his August tag for the 12 Tags of 2012.  His inspiration comes from his recent trip to Disney and features his new silhouette & frame stamps and his Tattered Pinecone die. 

Now if you've not played with this die, it does have a bit of a learning curve and practice does make perfect.  Or at least acceptable.  lol  Watch his video, it does help.  While Tim used his pinecone die to make roses, I opted to keep mine as pinecones.  Maybe I should have gone for the roses, the pinecones can be contrary and fiddly.

Here are the supplies I used.

Ranger:  Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mist; Gold, Snow Cap, Cranberry Paint Dabbers; Old Paper, Gathered Twigs, Walnut Stain, Black Soot Distress Inks; Sepia, Jet Black Archival Inks; clear embossing ink and powder

Stampers Anonymous:  Mini Holidays 3 (Santa), Urban Grunge (frame)

Sizzix:  branch - mini die, Tattered Pinecone - Bigz die, Brackets -On The Edge die; Christmas Background Texture Fade; Large Oval Frame Diffuser

core'dinations:  dark green and brown Kraft Core 

Advantus:  grungeboard

Idea-ology:  trinket pin, token

Misc.:  'found' star ornament, torn tissue paper from my box I use for spraying inks/mists, Martha Stewart silk ribbon



My 400th post...wow!  When I finally gave in to this avenue of sharing my creations I never dreamed of making this much art.  Thank you to all who have challenged and inspired me, and to the readers and followers of my blog.  And last but not least, a b-i-g 'thank you' goes to my husband who puts up with me and critiques my work before it is shared with you.  I value his opinions and he's had some darned good ideas along the way.