Think

Do you follow Paula Cheney's blog (one lucky day)?  I found myself quite taken with the experiments her granddaughters were conducting one rainy day so I tried my hand at one.  Can't wait to get my own copy of Tim's Compendium of Curiosities Vol. 3 and get busy trying new things!

On a manilla tag I used Stampers Anonymous Burlap Layering Stencil and Barn Door, Wild Honey and Iced Spruce distress inks.  Other items found on the card:  Bazzill and black card stocks; Studio 490 'Card Art Essentials' LCS020; Jet Black Archival Ink; Sizzix (Fanciful Flight); DMC craft thread

I did play with this technique a few more times but I'll share the results at another time.  Isn't it fun to just play and try new things?

Tim's 12 Tags of 2014 - March

I was planning to work on Tim's March tag for 2014 last week when it was snowing and blowing but didn't get it done.  Between shoveling and making soup I was too busy. 

It's still too cold and still too much snow on the ground to think of birds, nests, spring....lol.  But we'll be  planning a road trip soon so I thought it would only be fitting to use the auto set from Stampers Anonymous.  Love the idea of smudging and 2nd generation prints...and what a great way to make use of residual ink on your stamp!

Here's what I used:  Stampers Anonymous 'Road Trip CMS128', Harlequin Layering Stencil; distress inks (Broken China, Vintage Photo, Antique Linen, Weathered Wood, Black Soot, Pumice Stone, Festive Berries, Mowed Lawn), Pumice Stone distress marker, Mowed Lawn distress paint; tissue tape; twine; ribbon; word bands

I can't decide which version I like best...which is your favorite?

Travelogue birthday card

I don't normally make such involved birthday cards but it happens on occasion and this is one of those.  The college recipient is majoring in tourism...I don't think any further explanations are necessary.

***Before I go any further, I have a Nikon camera that downloads the photos to ViewNx 2.  I have no idea how to successfully crop and resize there so I've tried Irfanview withvery little success.  I still get this black outline around the photos.  I used to use MS Picture but it doesn't work with Windows 8 and have not had any success getting it on my new computer.  

One day to posting...I have now found a new program that works so easy but I can't find where these are stored so I can edit them properly.  I'll probably find it the day after the post goes live.  Sigh.*** 

I did create a monogrammed tag to dangle from the suitcase as well as tiny tags inside with the recipient's name.  I punched 3 holes using my Crop-a-dile so that I could loosely create joints using jute.  The back cover is similar to the front but different travel labels were used.  On the back page I used some OLD Stampers Anonymous narrow kraft/black paper stencils for locations.  Over this I stamped the sentiment on tracing paper so the first layer is muted and in the background.  I used A Dymo labeler for comments on some of the pages.

Ingredients:  Tweed cardstock, white cardstock, Ranger (clear embossing ink, clear embossing ink, distress stains, distress inks, archival inks, Multi-Medium, Glossy Accents); Detail Brass embossing powder (PSX); Life's Journey decorative paper (K & Company), Stampers Anonymous (Travel Labels CMS108, Air Travel CMS102, Warehouse District CMS124, Road Trip CMS128, Travelways CMS162, On The Railroad CMS127, Remants CMS130, Tiny Things CMS164, Simple Sayings CMS155, Rays layering stencil, clockwork layering stencil); Vintage Valise die (Sizzix); Avery sticker paper; Printers' Type & Printers Lowercase alphabets, Brushstrokes Upper & Lower Case alphabets (Hero Arts); Sakura Micron Pen; tiny tag

So proud!

One of my nieces will be graduating from the University of Illinois this spring.  And now she knows what she'll be doing this fall...attending grad school so she can get her masters degree in social work!  She's so excited...and we're so proud of her determination and hard work. 

I think she'll be tickled to receive a card acknowledging her efforts.  Keeping the card in the school colors of orange and blue, here I am jumping for joy at her recent announcement.  lol

Ingredients:  "Millie" M1932 from Art Impressions; Prima Marketing Flowers; Bazzill cardstock; watercolor paper; distress markers; Stampers Anonymous CMS155 "Simple Sayings"; Jet Black Archival Ink; Spellbinders 'Labels  Four S4-190; Provocraft "Congratulations" embossing folder; Martha Stewart branch punch; Stickles

Meteorological spring

Today is meteorological spring.  Looking out my window you’d never know it.  Another snow storm hit yesterday and another is expected for tomorrow into Monday.  Never mind the arctic temperatures.  March has roared in like a lion.  East central Illinois has had such mild winters the past few years; we’ve really been spoiled.  But here’s my offering to Mother Nature…perhaps she’ll let up and start the cycling process towards the spring equinox on March 20.

I add plenty of distress inks to create my background then overstamped the bird and nest (after stamping off once onto scrap paper) using archival ink colors.  I love the lighter effect and really makes the black text pop.

Ingredients:  specialty stamping paper; Stampers Anonymous CMS181 Nature Walk; 'Spring' by Hero Arts; Spring colors...by Penny Black; archival inks (Jet Black, Fern Green, Cornflower BLue, Potting Soil); distress inks (Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, WIld Honey, Shabby Shutters, Crushed Olive, Peeled Paint); Sugar Cookie cardstock by Bazzill, green cardstock

Happy Valentine's Day!

Seems only fitting that I finally got this month's Tim tag done just in time for today.  I pretty much followed his lead.  My ingredients list is a bit different, but that's what makes it mine and not his.

While my husband and I are not romantics, we do leave love notes for each other through out the year...hiding them in unsuspecting places.  You just never know when or where one will pop up.

Created using:  distress stains (spiced marmalade, picked raspberry, peacock feathers), distress inks (spun sugar, worn lipstick, picked raspberry, peacock feathers, black soot), distress embossing ink, clear embossing powder, #8 tag, Hearts layering stencil, mini movers & shapers cupid, Nature Walk CMS181 stamp set, distress glitters (clear rock candy, antique linen), glossy accents, inustrious stickers (Cirque), black card stock, chalk, chipboard, white card stock, jet black archival ink, pencil I made from a toothpick, ribbon

Archival re-inker technique tag

Remember when I shared my first attempt following Wendy Vecchi's archival re-inker technique?  I finally turned it into art an put it on a tag.

Ingredients:  'From The Garden', '2 Fancy Flowers',  'Honeycomb' Studio 490 stencils, distress ink, 'Art-Fully Said', 'Art For You' Studio 490 stamp sets, archival ink, distress markers, Sakura Gelly Roll Glitter Pen, .005 Micron Black Pigment pen, clear packaging (wings), Black Superfine Detail Embossing Powder, clear embossing ink, foam tape

Can't wait to try more color combos!