VSN - Rock 'n Roll and The Hustle

To continue with VSN card challenges - here are the last two entries I did on Friday night. "Rock 'n Roll" and "The Hustle".

The "rock 'n roll" technique is a very simple one. Using a solid stamp inked with one color. Then gentle roll the edges of the stamp in another color. Here I did SU! Green Galore and Pixie Pink.

After stamping I cut out the pine trees. The pink background "snow swirl" is from Cosmo Cricket's JOLLY BY GOLLY collection. I cut white paper in a curve and decorated with Stickles for some bling.

Stamps: SU! Patterned Pines; sentiment Elzybells
Paper: Cosmo Cricket JOLLY BY GOLLY, SU! Whisper White.
Ink: SU! Green Galore and Pixie Pink
Accessories: Creative Memories curved template, Making Memories FaLaLa snowflake, and Stickles.

"The Hustle" was a simple card recipe: 4 colors, 4 layers, and 8 embellishments. I've had this snowman paper collection on my desk for probably two months or better. The swirl background and printed snowman paper, as well as, solid card stock that matched. The one good thing about the VSN's 45 minute time limit is that you *have to use* what's on hand. The Whipper Snapper snowman was colored with Copics, but I decided I need to invest in some sagier greens. These greens are a bit lime for the olive paper.

4 colors: tan, olive, rust, and mustard - not traditional snowman colors but that's the patterned paper for you.
4 layers: background swirl; snowman strip w/rust cardstock border; ribbon; and snowman image w/brown cardstock border.
8 embellishments: 3 rusty snowflakes, ribbon, star rhinestone (on the pocket), and 3 mini pom-pom snowballs. The mini pom-pom's were airbrushed with my Copic airbrush system with a bit of brown.

Stamps: Whipper Snapper
Paper: Snowman paper - sorry I don't remember the company
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copics, rhinestones, mini pom-poms, airbrush system, rusty snowflakes, and ribbon.

VSN - Tri-fold Shutter card & Kissing

Over the weekend SCS (Splitcoast Stampers) hosted it's monthly "VIRTUAL STAMP NIGHT" or VSN. Once a quarter, they have a full weekend of VSN challenges but the other months it's a mini - 5 challenges issued on a Friday night. The main VSN is November 13 & 14th and I've been selected as a hostess for that round! The theme for both mini's (Sept 25th and Oct 24th) and the main event in November is "MASQUERADE". September was all about "dancing".

The 1st challenge was Chaconne - Dancing in Triple Time". Chaconne was a 17th century dance, but the challenge was a technique called TRI-FOLD SHUTTER card folding. I thought it would take me a good hour to fold and and cut - much less decorate. In fact, it took like 3 minutes to fold and cut!

Here's the card opened up. It was so much easier to make than it looks that I'll have to try again!

All the stamps came from the SOUTH OF THE BORDER set. All colored with Copics and highlighted with Stickles (like the salt on the margarita glass).

Stamps: Artful Inkables SOUTH OF THE BORDER; "Viva Margarita" from Stampa Fe
Paper: K & Company designer paper, SU! Bashful Blue
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copics, Primas, Nestablitites, ribbon, and Stickles.

I already posted Challenge #5 here (my crystal snowflake tutorial). This challenge was "A Kiss Good Night" or to use the Kiss technique. The snowboarder card was "kiss" technique. Using a solid stamp color with a light color ink - don't stamp yet. Then take a smaller stamp in a dark color ink and "kiss" the back of the solid stamp. Then stamp the solid stamp on paper.


The other two VSN challenges tomorrow!

The last Grunge Tags

Last night my SCS stamping buddy, Joanna, invited me to go to Archiver's with her for the Saturday evening crop. She told them that Friday was my birthday and they went all out. When I arrived I found a bunch of balloons tied to my spot. Later they gave me a huge cupcake and sang Happy Birthday (much to my embarrassment), and we had a GREAT time laughing and creating. I worked on cutting apart my niece's wedding invitation inserts and later my last two grunge tags (and a little shopping...).


This is my last number tag. I started with another "happy accident" background. This time I used Fired Brick, Pine Needles, and Old Paper for the base and CANDY APPLE RED Glimmer Mist over the mask. The rest of the tag is collaged starting with the Graphic 45 Santa and stamps from Oxford Impressions.

Stamps: Oxford Impressions WINTER SNOW
Paper: tag, Graphic 45
Ink: Distress Ink: Pine Needles, Fired Brick, Old Paper
Accessories: Glimmer Mist: Candy Apple Red, flower, Stitcher's Floss, silk ribbon, acetate overlay, and number beads.

This is my last alphabet tag - L is for LEAF. The tag is crumpled up gently to distress it. Then rubbed with a Distressed Ink (Vintage Photo) and misted with water. The ink runs into the distressed crevices and leaves a wonderful rumpled look. After it was dried, I ironed it to smooth the tag. Using Mustard Seed and Spiced Marmalade, I stamped maple leaves (both a line stamp and a solid stamp) randomly. Over that I layered stripes of brown and print paper. The chipboard leaf was covered with another tag I had distressed in the same manner as the background tag. After cutting out I sponged the edge of the leaf. The "L" is grungeboard covered with a copper dauber.

Stamps: Stamp Oasis (Rubbernecker) LEAF GROUP
Paper: tag, paper scraps
Ink: Distress Ink: Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, and Vintage Photo
Accessories: Grungeboard, rub-ons, ribbon, chipboard, Paint Dauber: Cooper, velvet leaves, and brads.


And finally last week I did this spooky tag for #31. The background tag is my favorite water spritz background. Stamped with the TRICK OR TREAT web. The skeleton was stamped and sponged on another tag and cut out.

Stamps: Stampers Anonymous: TRICK OR TREAT
Paper: tag
Ink: Distress Ink: Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmalade, Black Soot, and Vintage Photo
Accessories: metal numbers, metal photo corner, ribbon, and staples.

Snowflake Tutorial

A while ago, I showcased a crystal snowflake that I had made for a card with the promise of a tutorial at a later date. I first learned how to make these stunning snowflakes from Anne Wight's Sweet & Sassy blog, but I did make some changes on how I make them.

Choose 3 colors that will coordinate with your project. I always use Stampin UP! Whisper White because its a very smooth paper that allows the sponge dauber to glide easily. I do two area so I can find the perfect area to punch snowflakes from later.

I started with Bermuda Bay and Melon Mambo. Be sure to over lap the colors to blend them. I used Crushed Curry as the 3rd color and made sure to cover all the remaining white areas with some color (doesn't need to be full saturation). In fact, leaving a little less color in areas will give you a more interesting punch area.

Punch two snowflakes out. Move the punch around until you get a mix of colors you like. I use two different size snowflakes.

I also make sure that there is enough difference in colors that you will be able to see the smaller snowflake when it's placed on top of the larger snowflake.

Dab Diamond Glaze on the snowflake where you want the glass glitter to be. The Diamond Glaze is a quick drying glue that will also be clear. Dunk the Diamond Glaze areas into the glass glitter. I haven't tried other glitters for this technique because I like the sharp crystal effect you get from the glass glitter. It's a very course flake - like rock salt (vs table salt). Once both snowflakes are dry, stack with a pop dot.

Off set the arms of the snowflake and if you can, off set the colors so you get more visual interest. On this snowflake I also put glass glitter in the center but you could use a rhinestone, brad, button, or something else to "finish" the snowflake.

Attach the snowflake to your card with a pop dot or glue dot.

Stamps: Stampin UP! EXTREME SNOWBOARDER; Denami sentiment
Paper: Neenah Solar White (aka PTI White), Cosmo Cricket HOLLY BY JOLLY, SU! Whisper White
Ink: Stampin UP! Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry
Accessories: Martha Stewart snowflake punch; Marvy SUPER JUMBO snowflake punch, glass glitter, sponge daubers, Diamond Glaze, and pop dots.

Birthday Card Fairy - October

Last month I shared that I had joined the Wish RAK Birthday Fairy team - sending birthday cards to ladies in the group. I also plan to use the LARGE number of card kits I've gathered over the last year. These are the October cards.

I love watching the Food Network shows where they decorate cakes! And this Rubber Romance girl turned out to be my favorite card of this bunch! I *HATED* the paper that came with the image. In fact, the only part of this card kit I used was the image and the ribbon. The flowered paper came from a DCWV stack. I hoard paper and decided as long as I was using kits I should use paper I have on hand too. "Cake girl" was colored with Copics and glitter pens. Sentiment by Amuse stamped in SU! Handsome Hunter. This is a color combo I intend to use again (teal, dark green, and pink) - it's a YUMMY combo!



I love Magnolia Tilda stamps. This is Tilda with Lilacs (I think). She's colored with Copics and a glitter pen (center of the flowers). I cut her out - keeping close to the line but leaving about 1/8"border. The flowered paper was two-sided and I had a hard time picking which side to use. I used my EK Success border punch for the Fleur de Lis edge. The sentiment is by Amuse.



This cute kit included the dotted, stripped, and solid blue paper. It also include these cute plastic discs and squares (I didn't use them). They add just a bit of shine to the card. The image is Penny Black and was colored with Copics. The sentiment is Denami.



This was a very simple card kit with a Stamping Bella image. She was colored with Copics. The image was stamped in an ink that smeared even after I heat set it, but it wasn't extremely noticeable. I highlighted her with a clear glitter pen that gives her a shine but doesn't really change the color (see the spots on her dress).



TGIF!!

Random Acts of Kindness

I'm in a group on SCS, where you can post "wishes" for images or products. Which keeps me from buying EVERY stamp I see. (grin) Somebody else in the group will fulfill my wish, if they have the stamp. I earn wishes by filling other member wishes - RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS (Wish RAK). Every month one of the group leaders posts 3 challenges. The only rule is that you must use one of your Wish RAK gifts. These are my entries for the month.

This challenge was to use 1/4 cup of rice in a plastic bag or balloon as a "stamp" to make a background. I tried to follow the directions (really I did) but it was just a big mess. So I improvised. I used embossing ink and clear EP with the rice stamp. After it was heated and set - I sprayed Glimmer Mist on the paper to make this INCREDIBLE background. The picture does *NOT* do it justice. The white dandelion on black was my wish RAK. To finish I put the round Denami HAPPY BIRTHDAY sentiment and a few rhinestones.

Stamps: dandelion (Penny Black?); sentiment Denami Designs
Paper: Neenah Solar White (aka PTI white), black, olive green, and aqua cardstock.
Ink: White, SU! Bermuda Bay and Kiwi Kiss
Accessories: Glimmer Mist: Patina, Olive Green, Sapphire; rhinestones, clear EP, and round punches.

The hostess was inspired by the apple harvest in Michigan to create this color challenge: SU! Real Red, Barley Banana, and Certainly Celery (or Old Olive). I was inspired to use apples too! This EDWIN stamp was the Wish RAK (I think he looks like my nephew in his glasses). I colored Edwin with Copics. His sweater was colored and then using a wash cloth and blending solution I dabbed the sweater to give it texture. It really does look "fuzzy". I used this week's SCS Sketch Callenge #247. The apple core is punch art inspired by Julia Bettencourt. Red and cream cardstock is punched with SU! Rounded Tab punch. The cream is brushed with Creamy Caramel. The red is cut with decorative scissors. The seeds are Denami Raindrops. The sentiment is in a great set from Stampendous called LITTLE FRUIT. Die cut with my Nestabilities Labels and sponges with Summer Sun.

Stamps: Magnolia EDWIN, Stampendous LITTLE FRUIT, Denmani RAIN DROPS
Paper: SU! Real Red, Old Olive, and Barely Banana; SU! designer
Ink: SU! Summer Sun, Real Red, Creamy Caramel
Accessories: EK Success border punch, SU! Rounded tab punch, Fiskar scissors, Crystal Effects, Nestabilities, twine, and Copics.


The final challenge was a sketch. I just got the new Basic Grey's EERIE paper and I had to use it! The dotted paper and strip were busy enough not to need additional enhancement. The mummy (Wish RAK) was colored with SU! markers. And then I used my SU! color spritzer to give him a confetti background.

Stamps: Stampendous CHANGITO
Paper: Basic Grey EERIE
Ink: none
Accessories: Martha Stewart web border & corner punch, Making Memories label, SU! Markers, SU! color spritzer, and rhinestones.

More Grunge Tags: 5 o'clock and 9 Lives

Two more grunge tags! The Nine Lives' background is from my original Happy Accident paper, where I put masks over previously inked paper and then used Glimmer Mist to spray. I could not get a good picture of the color on Nine Lives - but it's a rich cranberry and blue/green. Yummy!
The cat is an Inkadinkado stamp stamped in Archival Black. Archival Black will stay on "top" of the Glimmer Mist background so it's a sharp black. I used rub-ons for the black swirl patterns and the LIVES letters. The nine is grungeboard sprayed with Glimmer Mist: Patina.

The paw print tag is another Tim Holtz technique from Day 11 of 2008 Christmas Tags. The fragment is sanded on one side. Sanded side is stamped and embossed with clear EP. The EP side is placed down against the colored paper.

Stamps: Inkadinkado CAT SET
Paper: tag
Ink: Archival Jet Black; Distress Ink: Pine Needles, Fired Brick, Old Paper
Accessories: Glimmer Mist: Candy Apple Red and Patina, Grungeboard, rub-ons, Fragment, clear EP, rhinestones, and ribbon.

"It must be 5 o'clock somewhere" is my next tag. It's just a collaged piece - no Tim Holtz goodness! (grin) I started with another Graphic 45 paper (the clocks). That paper is double sided so I tore a strip off and used the reverse side (under the lady). The lady is also cut from a Graphic 45 paper (Fashionista). All edges were sponged with Brushed Corduroy. I printed the title on my computer. If you notice none of the clocks on the tag are pointed at 5 o'clock. The five is a metal number from Making Memories.

Stamps: none
Paper: Tag and Graphic 45
Ink: Distress Ink: Brushed Corduroy
Accessories: Metal number, clock face, Prima flower, brad, and corner brad.

Queen of Hearts / Domestic Goddess

Two more tags for my Grunge Tag swap - the letters Q (for the Red Queen of Alice in Wonderland) and D & G (Domestic Goddess).

The King of Grunge is Tim Holtz - so I started with one of his techniques from April 2008. Patterned paper is stamped and embossed with clear embossing powder. Tim then covered with dark paint dauber. But when I did that it was too dark. So I just left the clear EP alone. It magnified the red color. Alice's Queen of Hearts was stamped in Fired Brick on another tag and cut out. Black/white papers were layered over the red diamond paper. Then I used some Grungeboard pieces. A heart covered in red Stickles and Crown painted with a silver metallic dauber

Stamps: Oxford Impressions CLASSIC ALICE
Paper: Basic Grey and Stampin Up! papers and tag
Ink: Distress Ink: Fired Brick
Accessories: Scrabble tile, Grungeboard, .Stickles, paint daubers, heart rhinestones, clear embossing powder, and ribbon.

Graphic 45 has a series of papers called DOMESTIC GODDESS but other than the title strips - I didn't use the paper. The background is another Tim Holtz technique from Day 7 of 2007 Christmas series. Here the entire tag is covered with Distress Ink and then clear embossing powder. When heated the EP creates an "orange peel" effect. The dents of the orange peel is rubbed with a darker color (Brushed Corduroy). The rest of the tag is collaged papers and clip art in celebration of the "cooking" Domestic Goddess.

Stay tuned for the laundress, seamstress, and many other talents of the 50's housewife... I'm really liking this topic and there's a lot more clipart to use!

Stamps: none
Paper: tag
Ink: Distress Ink: Broken China and Brushed Corduroy
Accessories: Crafty Secrets clipart, Scrabble tile, rope.

Route 66

Here's another tag for my Grungy Tag challenge on SCS. This time I did a number - 66. As in Route 66. Quite a few paper companies have put out lines of "travel" paper. Maybe because a lot of people are driving on their vacation this year instead of flying. Anyway, Graphic 45 has a sheet of different spots. I used the "apple ad" on yesterdays tag. Another spot was this class car on top of an old map of Route 66 between Needles, AZ and Los Angeles. I cut the car out and put Glossy Accents on the window and headlights. You can't really tell in the picture but it adds a nice detail. The background paper of cars pulling campers is from Cosmo Cricket's HAPPY CAMPER paper. It seemed like the perfect background for my collage. I stamped Saquaro catcuses in Shabby Shutters over the paper and "Road Trip" in Old Paper. Finally I stamped a Route 66 sign on another tag in Walnut Stain; cut out; and layered with a pop-dot. Last touch is an Idea-ology Philosophy tag (Journey).



Stamps: Artistic Outpost ROUTE 66
Paper: Graphic 45 paper; Cosmo Cricket paper, tag
Ink: Distress Ink: Old Paper, Shabby Shutters, and Walnut Stain.
Accessories: Glossy Accents, Idea-ology: Philosophy Tags and brad/rivet, and twine.

Finally, I had to share this picture of Jasmine - my 10 (almost 11) yr old Lab. I work from home 2-3 days a week. Today I got up to get something and found Jazz *RIGHT* behind my chair sleeping. She's so close that her head is almost under my chair. It's good to have somebody watch your back (while they snore up a storm)! (GRIN)

A is for Apple

One of my first posts was T is for, a tag for my grunge tag swap on SCS. A is for APPLE is the next tag in the "series". This is another Tim Holtz technique (found on his DVD An Altered Journey) using alcohol inks on flashing tape. Flashing tape can be found in the hardware store. It's a 2 inch foil tape with a very sticky back. The night before I had used cranberry, raisin, and wild plum AI and blending solution to give the flashing tape agate look. I let it completely dry overnight. The chipboard A went under the tape and was brayered on. Rubbing or burnishing will remove the color from the tape. Once the letter was "raised" I gently tried to remove the color with blending solution.

The fragment is another Tim Holtz technique. Glossy Accents is spread over the back of a Fragment and then placed over a patterned paper (in this case Graphics 45 paper). It dries quickly and then is cut out. Collaged elements and stamps are added to the tag to finish.

Stamps: swirls stamps
Paper: tag, flashing tape, paper scraps, Graphics 45 paper
Ink: Distress Ink: Fired Brick
Accessories: chipboard letter, Tim Holtz fragment, Ranger Alcohol Inks (cranberry, raisin, and wild plum), AI blending solution, brayer, felt dauber, button, twine, and Glossy Accents.

Living in the Mountains of Colorado

So I'm sitting in my recliner reading the mail tonight and I see a big black dog walking thru the backyard. The only trouble is my dog (a lab) is the only black dog in the neighborhood and this "dog" didn't really look like a dog. OMG!!! IT'S A BEAR!! I think these two live near my mom (on the other side of town). They've been thru her backyard all summer. But this is the first time I've seen them. I see deer and fox all the time.

Here they are walking between the houses directly behind me.





After they disappeared thru the trees, I jumped in the car and drove around the block.






Sorry for the blurry pictures. I was a bit excited! :D

Dem Bones ATC

This is another ATC swap on SCS - for Halloween (gasp!). Over Labor Day, we were in Taos and Santa Fe. As mentioned in an early posted, I stopped at STAMPA FE and bought a bunch of Day of the Dead stamps. Including this skeleton dog. The gals in the swap were "oooing and ahhing" over him, so I had to use him.

The background paper is a Tim Holtz technique. Different Distress Inks are rubbed on a Teflon craft sheet, spritzed with water, and then paper is rubbed over the craft sheet. This time I used Stampin Up Whisper White which absorbs a lot of water, so it's a very subtle look. It's one of my favorite backgrounds because it's always different. I stamped Inkadinkado stars in the upper corner with Spiced Marmalade. The dog is stamped in black ink and then I used a Souffle pen to give his bones "dimension".

I have one more Halloween ATC swap to do. More later!

Stamps: Rubber Soul SKELETON DOG; Inkadinkado SCARY NIGHT; and JustRite ALPHABET
Paper: Stampin Up! Lovely Lilac; black and white cardstock
Ink: Distress Ink: Dusty Concord, Shabby Shutters, Spiced Maralade
Accessories: Martha Stewart and Stampin Up! punches; rhinestones; white Souffle pen.

Stampin D'Amour - HALLOWEEN ATC

I've been in a year long swap with Stampin D'Amour for ATC's (Artist Trading Cards). The hostess selects a few categories each month for inspiration. This month's categories were: Halloween/Fall/Outdoors/Owls. I'm sure it's no surprise which theme I picked...

Long ago, I purchased a set of CDs with vintages images. And recently I found this great image of the lady with the curl. Not only did she have that great curl but she's wearing a zig-zag collar. It said "Halloween" to me. The first time I printed the image it came out purple. Even after I edited the photo to adjust the color she came out purple. So, I thought "why not", she can be purple for Halloween. But I did use red and black glitter pens "to do" her make-up. WICKED was originally stamped on a "ticket" but was too big for the collage so I cut it down. And finally, to finish her I used my new Martha Stewart mouse border punch. I love that the one mouse is on its hind legs look at her. True devotion!

Stamps: Amuse WICKED
Paper: Stampin Up! Morning Marigold, black, "Halloween" scrap paper and Amuse mini gingham.
Ink: Brilliance Black
Accessories: German paper scrap (purple lattice); glitter pens; Martha Stewart and EK Success punches; and purple rhinestones.

These are the previous month's ATCs:

April VENEZIA and May POIRE


June QUEEN BEE and July SUMMER FUN


August SALLY SELLS SEASHELLS