I see you're another year older!

Happy birthday to a very good friend and our former attorney back in New Jersey!  This character looks a bit like him..not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing!  lol

Gray, orange, watercolor cardstocks

Marvy wet looks embossing marker (black)

Ranger:  clear embossing powder; Jet Black archival ink; distress crayons (Antique Linen, Rusty Hinge); distress ink (Frayed Burlap, Ground Espresso); Distress Oxide inks (Vintage Photo, Spiced Marmalade, Fossilized Amber, Walnut Stain); distress embossing powder (Antique Linen, Rusty Hinge); black embossing paste

Stampers Anonymous CMS288 Hipster; mini stencils (010, 072, 074)

Sakura Black Micron pen, size #01

Sentiment (Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers now belongs to Stamp Francisco - I think)

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This was my second attempt using the new Distress Oxide inks.  I haven't found them to be the most friendly for me...yet.  I did buy just a few colors as I liked the organic look (mossy, rusty, stony) that they could lend to my art.  They are okay on decent watercolor cardstock, terrible on Ranger's black tags, and pitiful on cheap watercolor paper.

Thank you, doc!

My brother-in-law is my husband's primary care physician.  Getting Walt to the doctor is quite the effort these days so I was beyond thrilled when he said he would see him on a Saturday morning to take care of some minor issues.  He also makes house calls (either here or there) so he's super special!

Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers (now offered by Stamp Francisco I believe) is the creator of all the images.  I stamped them on cheap watercolor paper (won't do that again...way too much bleedability) with Hickory Smoke archival ink.  The doctors were stamped on a separate sheet and cut out then had Hickory Smoke distress ink run around the edges to create more dimension than just using foam tape underneath them.

The images were colored using distress ink (Tattered Rose, Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Blueprint Sketch, Faded Jeans, Cracked Pistachio, and Lucky Clover).  'Thank you' was stamped in Hickory Smoke archival ink as well.  It's from Stampers Anonymous CMS236 'Crazy Talk'.

The top layer was also edged with Hickory Smoke distress ink before adhering it to a neutral card base.  Here I didn't care so much about the bleed factor (kind of appropriate given the nature of the card).

If you have a professional whatever in your family you know how handy they can be in your time of need.  Having that 'in' with them can be useful and we try very hard not to abuse that privilege.

Holy crap!

I'm pretty sure I got the general idea off Pinterest but when you have certain stamps by Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers just itching to be used...well, this came together pretty darned quick.  And I have quite a few upcoming birthdays when this can be used...age 45, 65, two 75 year-olds...especially since they have my sense of humor!

The image was stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink onto mixed media cardstock and colored with distress markers.  The plunger and toilet paper holder and yes, and extra sheet of toilet paper is a separate stamp(!!!) were stamped in JBAI and colored with distress markers.  And who doesn't have a stamp of poop with fumes?  Come on...surely there's someone else who has my sense of humor!

All this is layered onto a light blue sheet of Bazzill cardstock.  Perfect for the unsuspecting 65 year old!

Holy crap!  Look who's 65!!!

Cuckoo thank you

When I was a young girl my great-grandparents lived with us for awhile.  They spoke German much of the time and brought their cuckoo clock with them.  It was a special treat to be told you could pull the pinecones down to reset the clock for the next day.  Many, many moons and life experiences have happened since then and the cuckoo clock was discovered in my father's attic.  My younger sister initially asked for it but really had little recollection of it hanging in our home.  Just last week my sister brought it to me.  It now graces our dining room wall and brings back so many memories. 

I knew I had to make a special card to thank my sis for this wonderful gift.  Fortunately I just happen to have a rubber stamp of a cuckoo clock...now to bring it to life.

The image was stamped in Coffee Archival Ink onto watercolor cardstock and colored with distress markers.  From a scrap of w/c cardstock I die cut 'thank you' using "Celebrate" from Tim Holtz/Sizzix.  The open door and cuckoo were stamped and cut out; the cuckoo was elevated with foam tape.  The base card (fits into a #10 envelope) is greenish-brown.

Amazingly enough, my cuckoo clock looks quite similar to the stamped image.  Thank you, sis, for giving me such a wonderful gift!

Hoping for a better day

than the one this crazy bird is experiencing.  I saw a similar card on Pinterest and knew I had to recreate it.

The base card is red Bazzle; the next layer is white card stock that was run through the Checkerboard Texture Fade (inked with brown distress ink).  I edged the layer with more brown and black distress inks.

The bird was inked with Jet Black Archival and stamped twice onto watercolor cardstock.  I used the coordinating die to cut him out.  Clear Rock Candy distress stickles was used on his eyes; Fired Brick distress stickles on his wings and head feathers.  His beak and wings were elevated with tiny foam dots.

I colored white card stock with Hickory Smoke distress ink; heat set then colored again with Brushed Pewter distress ink; heat set again.  Stamped Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers can in Watering Can archival ink; cut out; edge with brown and black distress inks.

Using a small Vial Label I wrote 'chicken soup' with a black Fude Ball pen.  While cutting it down to size the ink smeared.  So I continued dabbing at the label so it would look intentional.  Then I heat set it before applying it to the can.

On a scrap of water color card stock I traced around a Claudine Hellmuth stencil of word bubbles.  I inked 'Marty???' using Hero Arts alphabet stamps and Jet Black archival ink.  I added a bit of brown and black distress ink to shade the edge.

I edged the Adage Ticket with brown and black distress inks then crumpled it before adding it behind the tin can.

A friend is going through a rough patch; I hope this brings a smile to her face.

Warm soup

I needed to send some Campbell's Soup Labels for Education to a friend but didn't want to just dump them in an envelope and post them.  Fall is a wonderful time for soup and my 'Autumn Type' Provocraft embossing folder happened to be at my fingertips...perfect for the occasion!  And I knew I had a tin can stamp (doesn't everybody???) from Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers that I use to celebrate Tin Can Day on January 18.  A card was born!

The base card is black Bazzill cardstock, the embossed layer gray, the tin can on white with silver embossing powder.  I highlighted 'warm soup' with a silver metallic marker.  The card fits into a small business-sized envelope (...maybe 3.5" x 6.25"?).

Altered puzzle - the last pieces

I can't believe another challenge has ended.  This one was for altered puzzle pieces.

13a

13b

13a
--Ranger:  distress paints (Dusty Concord, Milled Lavender, Shaded Lilac), archival inks (Jet Black, Potting Soil, Deep Purple), Glossy Accents
--misc.: cork paper, white cardstock scrap, Krylon 18kt Gold Leafing Pen
--Stamps: wine varieties background, cork (Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers), wine! (Ann-ticipations 9845E)

13b
--Ranger:  distress paints (Fossilized Amber, Abandoned Coral, Mermaid Lagoon), archival inks (Jet Black), watercolor paper, Glossy Accents
--stamps:  books (Anita's), text (Art Impressions P-2125)
--Martha Stewart: butterfly punch
--misc.:  white cardstock scrap, vellum, foam tape

My puzzle had 25 pieces so I used it as my title page.  On the last piece (lower right hand corner) I painted it with several coats of Antique Linen Distress Paint.  Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink was lightly applied around the edges then spritzed with water and dried.  Potting Soil Archival Ink was added around the edge and heat sealed.  I found an old Stampendous clear stamp (Journal Border SSC605) and stamped it in Cornflower Blue Archival Ink.  'Favorite', from an old Inque Boutique stamp set, was inked in Jet Black Archival Ink.  The rest of my title was handwritten using a Sakura Micron Black pen, #05.

It also came with its own frame so I altered it as well.  I applied a generous coat of gesso to seal in the bright, colorful colors then covered that with lots of brown distress paints (Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tea Dye, and Gathered Twigs).  I used Tim Holtz' Woodgrain stamp and Potting Soil and Tree Branch Archival Inks to make the frame look like it was real wood.  IRL you'd think it was!  Success!

Finished puzzle

Before alterations

Fictional characters

Leprechauns and Smurfs!  Do you know there really aren't any female leprechauns?  Chauvinists!

This week's challenge for the Altered Playing Cards is all about monochromatic color schemes.  It's week 26...just one more week to go!  I forgot that week 1 was spent applying gesso to the complete deck of playing cards.

Green:  Art Impressions sentiment; Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers female; Jet Black/Fern Green archival inks; distress inks; Eucalyptus Stickles; white card stock scraps; decorative green paper; Staedtler green fineliner pen; black Micron pen; Tim Holtz Wildflower stencil

Blue:  Auntie Amy sentiment (just had to buy this when I saw it!); Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers male; Jet Black/Manganese Blue archival inks; distress inks; Ice Blue Stickles; white card stock scraps; decorative blue paper; Staedtler blue fineliner pen; white Gelly Roll pen; Tim Holtz Rays stencil

Let's play with Elmer's Glue

That's what Claudine chose for this week's Altered Playing Cards.

Gesso, playing cards, all stamps by Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers (no longer in business), Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paints (Modern Red, Altered Orange, Yellow Pastel), Sakura pens (white gelly roll, black micron, red glaze), distress markers, filmstrip ribbon, Sizzix (Typeset and Brick wall decorative strip dies), washi tape, embroidery brocade, watercolor paper, Jet Black Archival Ink, Glossy Accents, book page scrap, Harlequin stencil

I didn't have to draw around the brick wall (card on right)...the acrylic paint over the glued surface dried like that.  Isn't that neat?

Sadly, Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers rubber stamp company is no longer in business.  They always had images that pushed the limits...for some people.

 

Take 3 and call me in the morning

I needed some health-related cards...general hospitalization and the other for a broken bone requiring surgery.  Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers produced some really great images; sure hate they're no longer around.  These docs are perfect for so many situations, aren't they?

The doctors and capsules are Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers while the sentiment and label are Studio 490's She Spoke Of Art.  Ranger archival inks in Jet Black and Crimson were used exclusively.  The capsules have Glossy Accents on them for added dimension.  I only had a Sizzix dog bone but I think it gets the job done.





Guess I'll head back to my messy space and see what speaks to me.