The Artful Maven Haven

The Rite Of Spring...Punk?

2012-03-01T00:01:00.000-06:00

Hello crafty people! I've been really busy doing this project (and having too much fun doing it) for Artistic Outpost's Customer Referral Theme Challenge for March. The theme this time is SpringPunk. Just what is SpringPunk anyway??? Think of the typical Spring type images like butterflies, birds, flowers, etc. mixed with the edginess of SteamPunk, and there you go! All you have to do to win a fantastic prize, is to make a little something with this theme AND use Artistic Outpost images in the making, then upload your project to the Artistic Outpost site. You have a whole month to get it completed, so really go for it and have fun!

I decided to make a chunky ATC, as I have never done one before, because I had so many ideas swimming in my head for this project and I needed all the space I could get. I decided to use these two AO stamp plate sets for this because they had all the elements of Springtime that I wanted, Whimsical Melange and Serenity.

There is nothing like the smell of fresh cut wood...I think I could cut wood all day! This was cut ATC size, 2.5 x 3.5 inches.

The banner flag image was stamped in Walnut Stain and heat embossed with gold on Graphic 45 SteamPunk Debutante floral paper.

All of the images were stamped on Graphic 45 paper in Distress Inks. The leaves and flourishes were heat embossed in gold, and the grid images in silver. I also painted all the edges of the wood block in Espresso Acrylic paint.

The block was really pretty just like this, but what a nice canvas it made.

I used Gold Alcohol Ink to stain the wire beads. I strung the washers, crystal beads, and wire bead on a regular nail and then hammered it into the block. I did the handle basically the same way.

This was after a clean up, believe it or not. I misted white cardstock before heat embossing the sentiment and butterflies. To make the larger butterflies, I used 2 smaller ones. I used the gears from the Jolee's butterflies only. I could play all day in this stuff...this project was so fun for me!!!

I am also submitting this piece to Simon Says Stamp and Show's Challenge of "Idea-ology".
Supplies:
2 1/2 x 3 1/2 Inch wood block
From My Stash: blue beads, wire, gold leaf charms, round wire beads, tiny gold washers, handle piece, nail

Graphic 45 SteamPunk Debutante	Whimsical Melange Stamp Set	Serenity Stamp Set	Alterations Tag & Bookplate Bigz Die	Paint Dabbers - Espresso
Paint Dabber - Gold	Gold Mixative Alcohol Ink	Ranger Gold Embossing Powder	Ranger Silver Embossing Powder	Rusty Hinge Distress Ink
Walnut Stain - Distress Ink	Fall 2011 Limited Edition Distress Ink Trio	Broken china - Distress ink	Blue Patina Perfect Pearls Mist	Alcohol Ink Applicator
Idea-ology Corners	Idea-ology Hitch Fasteners	Idea-ology Swivel Clasps	Jump Rings - Idea-ology	Idea-ology Mini Fasteners
Idea-ology Long Fasteners	Idea-ology Game Spinners	Sprocket Gears - Idea-ology	Idea-ology Pen Nibs	Idea-ology Washers
7 Gypsies Industrial Gears	Eyelet Outlet Gear Brads	Prima Avon Roses	Jolee′s SteamPunk Butterflies	Spare Parts Metal Letters
Spare Parts Watch Face Icons

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

Clearly For Art Shadow Box

2012-02-29T00:20:00.002-06:00

I set before me a grand challenge of making a project that fit the criteria for four challenges for this week. The first was the Everything Wendy Vecchi Yahoo Group challenge of making something with "clearly for art modeling film". Check! The second was the Hels Sheridan Sunday Stamper challenge of "life". Check! The third was Lisa Somerville's Blogger's Color Challenge of "black, white, & red". Check! The fourth was the Gingersnap Creation's Random Redhead Challenge of "faux technique". Check! Phew!!! That's a lot of checks, but I did it, and I totally recycled as well!

I had this cute little box left over from Christmas chipboard letters. I spray painted it white, let that dry, and then spray painted it with black crackle spray paint....addicting!!!

I heat embossed Wendy's gorgeous background stamp onto black cardstock using Seafoam White Embossing Powder.

Remember my faux cracked glass technique ala Wendy, that I did on an empty plastic bottle. I saved the other half and decided to use it on this project. I wanted the bottle more white, so I applied Picket Fence Crackle Paint on it and let that dry.

I decided to make 3 roses using the Pinecone die. After diecutting them using Clearly For Art Whiteout, I stamped front and back with Wendy's script image using Blazing Red StazOn.

Using a little heat I folded in the tips of each petal. I used kraft wire to act as the flower stem by forming a hook and connecting that onto the beginning part of the rose. I love CFA...it really makes this super easy. I never had to go back and try again. All three of the roses were first time tries. I just applied a little heat from the heat gun every time I wanted a crisp fold.

I did not even have to use glue. I simply hooked the little barb on the end of the die cut around the stem. I love CFA! The stiffness really makes all the difference. Aren't these gorgeous???

I used a tiny metal tag for the sentiment about life, which by the way is so true! First I applied Red Pepper Alcohol Ink to the whole tag. Then I stamped the sentiment first in Jet Black StazOn to make it really stand out, then heat embossed the sentiment in Seafoam White on top of the black. I distressed the edges of the tag and inked it with Black Soot Distress Ink.

Time to assemble the flower arrangement. I tied ribbon to the tag and vase. I made curly q's in red wire and found some tiny filler flowers in my stash. I put it all together and voila!!!

Supplies:
Uline: mini metal tag
From My Stash: black cardstock, tiny red flowers, ribbon, tulle, box from chipboard letters, crackle spray paint, white spray paint, white kraft wire

Wendy Vecchi Live And Make Art Stamp Set	Sentimental Art Stamp Set	Wendy Vecchi Clearly For Art Whiteout Modeling Film	Alterations Pinecone Bigz Die	Distress Embossing Ink
Ranger Seafoam White Embossing Powder	Blazing Red Stazon	Jet Black Stazon	Black Soot Distress Ink	Ink Blending Tool
Picket Fence Distress Crackle Paint	Red Pepper Alcohol Ink	Snow Cap Mixative	ATC C Red Twist & Tie Cord Fiber Wire	Prima Crystal Flower Centers
Idea-ology Memo Pins	Glossy Accents

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

Flower Pin Tag

2012-02-25T18:00:00.000-06:00

I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the 2010 Tim Holtz cruise to New England. One of the projects we did one night was make three tags, one of which had a flower pin for us to wear. This was my absolute favorite tag of the three and I have since made countless flower pins as gifts. People are always amazed that I cut the material with the Vagabond. Since the challenge at Linda Ledbetter's Grungy Monday this week was "Tim Inspired Wearable Art", I decided to submit this tag and share it with you since I didn't blog way back then. I am also submitting this to Hels Sheridan's Sunday Stamper challenge of "stitches" since a little bit of sewing is necessary to make this beautiful little accessory.

Tag is just stamped randomly and then inked. The sentiment is stamped on canvas and inked, mounted, and embellished. The corsage pink is just layered material (largest to smallest) and stitched through to attached grunge, tulle, and button.

Supplies:
From My Stash: material, lace, tulle, ribbon, pin with back, thread, needle, black cardstock

#8 Manila Tag	Mini Artful Things Stamp Set	Mini Playful Journey Stamp Set	Love Struck Stamp Set	Mona′s Sketchbook Stamp Set
Artful Artifacts Stamp Set	Urban Tapestry Stamp Set	Alterations Tattered Florals Bigz Die	Claudine Hellmuth Studion Sticky Back Canvas	Mini Pins
Washers	Idea-ology Long Fasteners	Accoutrements 2 - Buttons	Grunge Paper 6x12	Ink Blending Tool
Crushed Olive - Distress ink	Worn Lipstick Distress Ink	Walnut Stain - Distress Ink

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

Not All Who Wander Are Lost

2012-02-25T00:01:00.000-06:00

...I love this phrase, mostly because I am a wanderer, and love to get off the beaten path. That's how discoveries are made and knowledge is gained. I think it fits perfectly with the Stamper's Anonymous image of the directional map. I have not had a chance to use this stamp before or the quote stamp, so I was excited to use them for Our Creative Corner's challenge this week of "Over the Edge" hosted by Tui Nathan. You are to create a card or paper craft item with a design element that flows off the edge of your card. If you have time, please visit the other OCC designers blogs and see their gorgeous creations as well on this theme.

Linda Coughlin- The Funkie Junkie

Vicki Burdick- It's a Stamp Thing

Sue Butler- Scrumplescrunch

Ann Marie Hile- Stampin' Anne

Wendy Janson- It's All About Stamping
Marcy Kaminski - En Papillote Arts
Holly Kean- Kean On Paper
Irena Kowalczyk (aka Rudlis) - Love, Life and Crafts
Meihsia Liu- Simply Paper Crafts
Tui Nathan- Stampin Time
Lori Rider- The Diva Stamper
Kristin Tierney- Lilly Beth Boutique
Sharon Wheet- Designs by Sharon

I had not gotten to use this stamp before, and I see so many possibilities for it.

After I stamped the image on Grunge, I inked each arrow a different color, then stamped the wood grain image on the whole this in Pumice Stone.

For the background, I used Alcohol Ink on Glossy Cardstock to create an abstract looking sky and sun.

I stamped the foliage images in various colors of StazOn randomly, and added a few dots of red to mimic wild flowers. I used Artist Outpost's image of the pigeon, and stamped the flock of birds as well. I stamped the sentiment on cardstock and applied Rock Candy Distress Crackle to it, then adhered it to the post and added a mini fastener. I wanted to do something else with the ribbon besides the typical tie to the tag hole, and instead added brads with attached holes and added the ribbon to those, so the tag could still be hung.

As luck would have it, I am also participating in a tag swap at the Creative Block - Stamper's Anonymous Yahoo Group, where you have to create tag with a stamp you haven't used before and half images of other stamps. I think I managed to do both on this tag.

Supplies:
Stamper's Anonymous: Wood Post Sign Stamp
Uchida Marvy: Artist Pigmented Marker (red)
From My Stash: ribbon, eyelet brads, white cardstock

World Traveler Stamp Set	Wallpaper and Wood Stamp Set	Clear Lost & Found Stamp Set	Clear Mini Nature′s Elements Stamp Set	Gloss Finish Paper
Grunge Paper 6x12	London Elements Stamp Set	Snow Cap Mixative	Alcohol ink - Stream	Sail Boat Blue Alcohol Ink
Denim Alcohol Ink	Sunshine Yellow Alcohol Ink	Alcohol Ink Applicator Tool	Jet Black Archival Ink	Sepia Archival Ink
Pumice Stone Distress Ink	Walnut Stain - Distress Ink	Barn Door - Distress ink	Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink	Mustard Seed Distress Ink
Peeled Paint Distress Ink	Broken china - Distress ink	Ink blending tool	Cotton White Stazon	Cactus Green StazOn
Timber Brown StazOn	Saddle Brown StazOn	Idea-ology Mini Fasteners	Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint	Glossy Accents

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

London In The Year Of The Dragon

2012-02-24T00:01:00.000-06:00

Have you ever ran across a design on paper, and it wasn't really your cup of tea, but for some reason it lingered in your mind? Strange sounding? Maybe to some, but I know there are a few of you out there who understand what I mean. Well, this has happened to me a few times, and one of these times involved a dragon image on a 7 Gypsies Paper Stack. I have never been into the dragon theme. Sure I can appreciate it, but it just wasn't me, so when I saw a sheet of paper with a dragon on it, I thought instantly to tear it out and put it into my give away pile, but I didn't. My naggy inside voice said to leave it because I just might need it someday (maybe I should call it my hoarding voice). Then 2012 rolled around, which is considered the year of the dragon by Chinese horoscopes, if you believe in that sort of thing, but I thought it would be cool to use that paper in a new year project, but I just never got around to it, until Artistic Outpost. Huh??? Sounds crazy I know, but in their new stamp release London Elements, there is an image of a coat of arms with two dragons on it. So I did some research and found out the the dragon is a big thing in the UK, especially Wales, where it even resides on the flag. Bingo! My dragon paper was perfect for this new stamp set and not strange at all.
I am also submitting this tag to the "London, Paris, or NYC" challenge at Simon Says Stamp & Show.

This is a postcard advertisement I received in the mail that I cut up and used on this tag.

Supplies:
Close To My Heart: gold embossing powder
Uline: Jumbo Tag
From My Stash: postcard advertisement, ribbon, white cardstock

7 Gypsies Gypsy Market Paper	Uniball Signo Gold Pen	Uni-ball pen - White	Black Soot Distress Embossing Powder	Big & Bossy Empossing Ink Pad	Fired Brick Distress Embossing Powder
Fall 2011 Limited Edition Distress Ink Trio	Crackle Accents	Ink Blending Tool	Black Soot Distress Ink	Distress Embossing Ink	Jet Black Archival Ink
Glossy Accents	London Elements Stamp Set	Loverly London Stamp Set

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

12 Tags Of 2012 - February

2012-02-23T00:01:00.000-06:00

As most of you know...because I am a week late in getting here...Tim has decided to retire the 12 Tags of Christmas, :0( and instead do a tag a month and call it 12 Tags of 2012 :0). I love this idea, although I will miss all the action at Christmastime, but maybe now I can finally get Christmas cards accomplished. I managed to get the February tag accomplished though, and that is saying something considering how I still feel...terrible! My sinus and cold problems tend to linger due to a nasty deviated septum...too much information? Sorry!!! I am looking forward to once again seeing tags from all over the world...thanks InLinkz, and thank you Tim!!!

I have the Cupid die and was just about to use it, but then the doorbell rang and the postman was delivering my new stamps. I opened them up immediately, and the second I saw the train, I started singing "Love Train", so I scratched the cupid and opted for the train. It puffs hearts instead of smoke! I love this stamp!!!

I stained the tag first with Spun Sugar. Since I like using a jumbo sized tag, I had to emboss this twice with the texture fade, but I left some space at the bottom to stamp my railroad tracks.

I gave the tag a few coats of Forever Red Perfect Pearl Mist for added contrast and shimmer, then ran the surface of a Walnut Stain pad over the tags raised images.

I did not have any honeycomb paper (on my list now) so I had to improvise. At first, I tried making my own from some instructions online, but I had no patience and gubbered it all up, so I had to make a new plan. I had a scrap piece of grunge of a not so perfect heart, so it was just right to cover up with tissue tape (shown below). I die cut 6 hearts with glittered paper.

I folded the hearts in half length wise and adhered them back to back. I inked the sides of all the pieces and then adhered the fanned heart onto the tissue taped heart. It's not even in the same field as Tim's, but it's 3D, and that is basically what I needed anyway.

Supplies:
Jolee's Boutique: Vintage Cupid
The Paper Studio: Christmas Glittered Cardstock
From My Stash: ribbon

On The Railroad Stamp Set	Walnut Stain - Distress Ink	Vintage Photo Distress Embossing Powder	Uniball Signo Gold Pen	Valentine Background & Borders Texture Fade
Forever Red Perfect Pearls Mist	Idea-ology Seasonal Salvage Stickers	Vintage Lace Die	Alterations Love Struck Bigz Die	Idea-ology Tissue Tape in Symphony
Philosophy Tags - Idea-ology

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

Artistic Outpost's February Stamp Releases

2012-02-22T00:01:00.000-06:00

Card Using AO London Elements, 7 Gypisies Journal Card, and Graphic 45 Embellishments

Card Using AO Diesel Punk & AO Industrial Chic, Graphic 45 Paper, Idea-ology Paper & Salvage Stickers

Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep...This Just In From Artistic Outpost:

The wait is finally over. Artistic Outpost is pleased to bring to you four brand new rubber stamp collections that are vintage, edgy, and extremely artful. We are happy to present: Diesel Punk, Charles & Amelia, Industrial Chic, and London Elements.
What is Diesel Punk? What happened to Steampunk? We still very much love the Victorian magic that is the rage of Steampunk, however, we decided to advance the timeline and the trend to a more modern look. It’s like Steampunk but with a combustion engine. To us, Diesel Punk is a style that blends the “edge” of Steampunk with the art and culture of the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. We think of motorcycles, roadsters, red lipstick, trench coats, jet packs, and jet engines. Three of our new releases evoke our interpretation of this style.

Diesel Punk

Includes images of good looking guys, a beautiful dame, a kid ready to be a rocketeer, and fast machines to tempt their fates.

Charles & Amelia

Images featuring the king and queen of the skies when flying was more than transportation – it was an adventure.

Industrial Chic

Backgrounds for any of your projects – steam, diesel, or any other kind of punk.

London Elements

More of our favorite images featuring the fun icons of London.

I will be showing you more projects using the new releases in the coming weeks, but in the meantime please visit the other AO Design Team members and be inspired by their awesome creations using the new stamps.

Gerrie Johnnic Lisa Somerville Suzanne Czosek Linda Coughlin Tracy Evans Yvonne Garner

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

Mardi Gras:Dare To Be Unique

2012-02-19T00:01:00.000-06:00

It's that time of year again...Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday (Carnival for some). The overindulgence of eating or other festivities, held before the fasting Lenten season, and heralded by the masses in New Orleans, and now in smaller stature in so many other places. People get all dressed up in costumes and masks and party down until the sun comes up for several days on end. I've never been or ever even partaken in any of these festivities, but I love to see the beautiful attire worn by the women. The sparkle, the color, the texture, the beading, are all wonderful! Once again, the J. Peterman Owner's Manual has inspired me, and I have found myself searching the TV guide for reruns of Seinfeld.

I've been sick most of the week, so it took me awhile but, I made this tag "dare to be unique" to reflect the over the top celebration using Wendy Vecchi Art Parts and stamps, and a few Tim dies. The current challenge on the Everything Wendy Vecchi Yahoo Group, is to make a "custom epoxy embellishment" using a memo pin. I made two using gold foil from a doily. One is in the top of the mask, and the other is the actual grip to the mask. I have never used the image of the eyes and mask before...hard to believe as it is super fantastic...but I will be utilizing it more after this. I had so much fun making this mask and creating Jade's face (yes, this is her name). The pictures are not showing this well. I tried all sorts of different lighting, locations, etc, and just couldn't manage to capture this the way I wanted.
I will be submitting this tag to the Simon Says Stamp & Show challenge of "anything goes".

I think I have had this paper over 15 years...honestly! I adhered this ancient paper to a jumbo sized tag (my fav because there is more space to fill up) I stamped Wendy's dots in Mustard Seed Distress Ink and heat embossed it with the same color.

All the Art Parts and die cut Grunge was painted, sanded, and inked with Pumice Stone. I punched holes in the lamppost's iron handles for a filigree look and also to hold a braided sash. I adhered yellow vellum to the back of it were the glass would go and covered it with Crackle Accents. The picture so do not do it justice.

Here is the background before I gaudied it all up. I love Wendy's parts!!!

The former plant/leaf/fern parts are now feathers. I wanted a more metallic and shiny look, so I also gave them a coat of Smooch Ink then Rock Candy Distress Stickles. Mr. Enamored was coated also.

Jade started to come to life, first with flesh color. After a coat of Snow Cap Acrylic Paint, I ran one coat of Tea Dye Distress Stain followed by Dried Marigold. The eyes and nose and mouth combination were stamped with Jet Black Archival Ink.The crown and wings were painted and then coated with Rock Candy Distress Crackle, then inked with Pumice Stone. I used the foil scrap to cover her head, give her a collar, and make the 2 epoxy embellishments (the cross is in the very center). I love that stuff! Her mask was covered in green rhinestones. I didn't have purple, so I used the Purple Twilight Alcohol Ink to color larger rhinestones for the mask, as well as the ones in the 2 black flower, AND the beaded chain for her necklace. The black flourishes are left over scraps from another project, and I coated them with Rock Candy Stickles. I added a swivel clasp to the watch handle, the stamped and handwritten sentiments, and some ribbon.

Supplies:
Wilton: Gold Doily
Petaloo: Dazzlers Florettes
From My Stash: ribbon, rhinestones, patterned paper, white cardstock, eyelet

Wendy Vecchi Art Parts Timely Pocket Watches Large	Wendy Vecchi Art Parts Leaves	Wendy Vecchi Art Parts Mustaches, Men, & More	Alterations On The Edge Iron Gate Die	Holiday Lamppost - Alterations	Alterations Weathered Clock Bigz Die
Heart Wings Bigz Die	Seriously Art Stamp Set	An Eye For Art Stamp Set	Picket Fence Distress Stain	Peeled Paint Distress Stain	Tea Dye Distress Stain
Dried Marigold Distress Stain	Pitch Black Acrylic Paint Dabber	Paint Dabber - Gold	Snow Cap Acrylic Paint Dabber	Gold Mixative Alcohol Ink	Adirondack Purple Twilight Alcohol Ink
Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint	Clear Rock Candy Distress Stickles	Maya Road Chipboard Wings	Maya Road Chipboard Crowns	Idea-ology Memo Pins	Glossy Accents
Pumice Stone Distress Ink	Ink Blending Tool	Grunge Paper	Uniball Signo Gold Pen	Uni-ball pen - White	Idea-ology Bead Chain
Idea-ology Swivel Clasps	Jet Black Archival Ink	Mustard Seed Distress Ink	Mustard Seed Distress Embossing Powder	Watercolor Pencils	Grape Soda Smooch Ink
Green Apple Smooch Ink

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

The Family Valentines

2012-02-18T00:01:00.000-06:00

You might be glad that Valentine's Day is over, so you don't have to see anymore of my cards, but I have four more to show you, and then that is it until next year...well, except for Tim's 12 Tags of 2012 monthly challenge Valentine tag, but that is for next week!!! These four tags are the ones I made for my own family this year (thought you might like to see the fam), and simultaneously for Our Creative Corner's color challenge theme of "black and white with a splash of another color", hosted by Tui Nathan. Through your hat in, and create something that follows the color challenge and link up. You can visit the other OCC designer's gorgeous creations as well, and drop them a comment. They would so appreciate that.

Linda Coughlin- The Funkie Junkie

Vicki Burdick- It's a Stamp Thing

Sue Butler- Scrumplescrunch

Ann Marie Hile- Stampin' Anne

I am also submitting this to Grungy Monday's challenge of "a Tim style Valentine", and the Sunday Stamper's challenge of "love".

This is Hubby's.

The black tag was first misted with Perfect Pearls, and then stamped with Tim's Love Definition image in Silver StazOn. The sentiment was also stamped with the silver. Red velvet fabric is backing the sentiment, and then backed again with a white doily. Flourishes, rhinestones, an accoutrement button, lace (paper and foil), and wire adorn the tag.

These are the kid's Valentines. I love these stickers from Tim's Seasonal Salvage Sticker Book. The initials are backed by a white doily that I cut out and misted with Forever Red Perfect Pearl Mist.

Supplies:
Wilton: doily
32 Degrees North: Dresden Foil Lace
The Paper Studio: Spare Parts Metal Sticker Letters

From My Stash: red velvet material, wire, rhinestone hearts, metal scrap, white cardstock

Surfaces Black #8 Tag	Love Struck Stamp Set	Vintage Lace Die	Alterations Elegant Flourishes Die	Idea-ology Seasonal Salvage Stickers	Forever Red Perfect Pearls Mist
Perfect Pearls Mist	Black Soot Distress Ink	Silver StazOn Ink	Accoutrements - Buttons	Ink Blending Tool	Winter 2011 Distress Ink Pack

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

Green Sympathy Card

2012-02-16T00:01:00.000-06:00

I never make sympathy or birthday cards before I know to whom I am sending it. I always want the card to reflect the person I am sending it to...to make it more personal. I had to make a sympathy card for a friend who is male and is married, so it couldn't be too feminine. Here is the very simple card I came up with. I am also submitting it to the Gingersnaps Creations color challenge for "glorious greens".

I did not end up using the flowers, as it looked too feminine. I love Prima packaging. It is great for repurposing. The little green tag was given to me with a charm on it from Nancy Arbuckle-Mayer, from the ATT Yahoo Group. It is too cute and perfectly colored and distressed not to use for something. Thanks Nancy!

I used corrugated paper to die cut the flourishes and lace. They were inked with Pumice Stone Distress Ink. I heat embossed the sentiment on the Prima packaging and then coated it in Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint. I applied gesso first and then stamped the green background with script in Evergreen Bough. The green mini tag was stamped and heat embossed with the Time sentiment using Archival Ink and Vintage Photo Embossing Powder.

Supplies:
My Sentiments Exactly: Innie & Outie Sympathy Stamp
From My Stash: corrugated paper, Prima packaging scrap

Core′dinations Nostalgia	Distressed Doily Die	Mini Flourish Movers & Shapers Die	Mini Playful Journey Stamp Set	Claudine Hellmuth Studio Gesso	Vintage Photo Distress Embossing Powder
Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint	Pumice Stone Distress Ink	Ink Blending Tool	Distress Embossing Ink	Glossy Accents	Winter 2011 Distress Ink Pack
Jet Black Archival Ink	Idea-ology Long Fasteners	Washers	Paper distresser

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

AO Designer February Blog Hop

2012-02-15T00:01:00.000-06:00

Artistic Outpost challenges it's designers to come up with a project based on a particular stamp theme each month. I have the privilege of being a guest designer, so I get to participate in this month's theme of "Using London Stamps"! The two stamp sets I have used are Loverly London and London Underground. I cannot stress enough how wonderfully detailed these stamps are, and the images are so unique and fun! You can use these on so many different themes besides a London one, as I have sort of done on my card titled "Mind the Love Gap". Isn't love so much fun? Well...most of the time!!!

The backgound images are all stamped in Mustard Seed Distress Ink. All the AO images are stamped in Walnut Stain Distress Ink. The kraft paper card is stamped with AO sentiments in Tea Dye Distress Ink. Everything on the card is border inked in Walnut Stain.

Graphic 45 paper is tucked behind each AO image die cut from Tim's Styled Labels Die. The regal lady's hat is embossed and layered with another image of the hat, and then adorned with Prima roses sprayed with Blue Patina Perfect Pearls Mist. She is also colored in with watercolor pencils. The right side up butterfly was coated in Glossy Accents and adhered to the butterfly strip.

The gorgeous gent is looking suave in that peacock blue tie and colored rose in his pocket. His hat is also double layered and embossed in Vintage Photo Embossing Powder. He is colored in with watercolor pencils as well.


I love these male and female chipboard pieces from Maya Road. They are covered with Graphic 45 paper and stamped with the AO London newspaper image in Rusty Hinge and Iced Spruce Distress Ink. The hardware is from Oriental Trading, and brads are Idea-ology. Mind The Gap is stamped with Walnut Stain on transparency and heat embossed with Vintage Photo Distress Powder.

This is a blog hop, of course, so just click on a designer's name below and get going while you nibble away on yesterday's gift chocolate...(I didn't get any...hubby's birthday, remember?!?) All comments are immensely appreciated by each of us! AO treasures each of you for taking the time the meander around, as do we!!! And...don't forget about the February Referral Challenge "shades of red". There is still time to join in for a chance at that wonderful prize.

Robyn Sharp
Gerrie Johnnic
Lisa Somerville
Suzanne Czosek
Linda Coughlin
Tracy Evans
Yvonne Garner

Supplies:
Maya Road: male/female chipboard pieces
Graphic 45: SteamPunk Debutante pape
Oriental Trading: lock and key brads
From My Stash: transparency film, white cardstock

Loverly London Stamp Set	London Underground Stamp Set	Craft Paper Card	Vintage Photo Distress Embossing Powder	Watercolor Pencils	Walnut Stain - Distress Ink
Mustard Seed Distress Ink	Tea Dye Distress Ink	Rusty Hinge Distress Ink	Winter 2011 Distress Ink Pack	Ink Blending Tool	Movers & Shapers Styled Labels Die
Parchment Petals Scroll - Prima Marketing Flowers	Glossy Accents	Washers	Idea-ology Mini Fasteners

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

2012-02-14T00:01:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone and HAPPY SHOW YOUR LOVE DAY!!! I cannot say it enough...I appreciate every single one of you who view this blog and comment on all the projects. I LOVE you for it, and LOVE all your wonderful comments! There has never been a negative word (hard to believe) and I can't express so well what that means to me!

I wish each and every one of you out there a wonderful chocolate filled day, with people you LOVE (or alone, as sometimes that is so nice)! Mine will be spent spoiling Hubby as it's his birthday...not Valentine's Day! He always says he won't give presents to anyone on HIS birthday, but I usually find a vase filled with gorgeous, red roses somewhere in the house. Oh how I love LOVE!!!

This is suppose to resemble a heart!?!

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon, while munching on chocolates and truffles, and smelling roses as well!!!

Creative Block Tags

2012-02-13T00:40:00.001-06:00

It's Monday...yay!!! Not! I need my weekend back, as I still have so much to get finished before V Day tomorrow. You see, it's hubby's birthday as well, and that's what we are really celebrating. So, I've got to crack the whip on myself....CRACK!!! Ouch!!! Here are the January swap tags I promised to show you from the Creative Block - Stamper's Anonymous Yahoo Group. Talk about some talent over there...wow!

Sandy A. (Amazing background color and perfect stamping, sewing, and pizazz! WOW!!!)

Linda DesGroseilliers (Most amazing metallic look I have ever seen...truly! I have to know how this was accomplished Linda...WOW!!!)

Beverly Hochstetler (Is that the most amazing image or what? The coloration is fabulous! The pictures do not do any of these justice. Wonderful texture here as well. This is a real work of art!)

Here is mine again.

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon, playing in a swap!!!

Fresh Breath, An ATC, & A Gift

2012-02-12T00:01:00.000-06:00

Hi crafty people! I have a long tutorial post, so you might want to make a snack and a cup of tea, or pour a glass of wine before sitting down to view this. I have made a Valentine gift for my children's teachers using empty Altoids tins, as well as an ATC using the same materials. The tin qualifies for Simon Says Stamp and Show's recipe challenge of "torn edges, distress ink, a button, and wings", and the ATC is for Grungy Monday's challenge of "an ATC Tim style". There is a whole lot of texture going on, so the tin will also be entered in the Stamp Man's "texture" challenge.

I gave the empty tins a couple of coats of red spray paint. Addicting!!! I wanted to paint a mural on the garage door, but the neighbors probably would hate that, and call the gang police unit to my house.

When it was completely dry after 24 hours, I sanded the corners, edges, and raised areas exposing the metal underneath. Using my fingers, I rubbed Pitch Black Acrylic Paint all over the tin, and especially focused on the sanded areas and scratches. Good thing I am not a manicure type girl (pedicures yes!) because I still had mechanic looking nails after 2 days. After a few hours of drying, I coated the the whole tin with Rust Sophisticated Finishes. After a another few hours, I repeated a coat. The next day, I had nicely aged tins.

Using wood grained image paper, I cut 1 inch strips and adhered them to Grunge Board using Glue N Seal. I did the same thing with 1 1/2 x 2 inch strips of button image paper. I cut each strip out and die cut the wood grain with the Mini Dress Form Die.

The bodice of the dress form would not be seen, so to save materials and time, I die cut the Mini Thread Spool using the dress form. The button strips were used to die cut only the bodice area of the dress form.

I trimmed the bodice and adhered it to the wooden dress form, then inked the whole thing with Fired Brick then Gathered Twigs. The spools also were inked with Gathered Twigs.

I did not have wings small enough to fit the dress form, so I altered the holly leaf from the Mini Pine Tree Die Set, using Grunge Paper...perfect size!!!

I painted the 'wings' gold and embossed them with the rays texture fade...it's my fav for all wings.

The wings got a coat of Rock Candy Crackle and after fully dried they were ink with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink then heat embossed with UTEE.

I little Inka Gold was rubbed into the wings for even more depth...love this stuff introduced to me by another blogger, but I have forgotten who...sorry (If you are out there drop me a note!). The winds were attached.

Here is my new favorite thing...mini Timmy scissors!!! I purchased these metal scissor charms on Ebay, and decided they needed to be tonic-fied! I used alcohol ink in Red Pepper for the handle and Pitch Black for the blades.

I rubbed the handle part in the Embossing Distress Ink and then stuck it in the Fired Brick Distress Embossing Powder until I was ready to heat it up.

I used pliers to hold it while heating so I would not get burned. It was easy to just pluck them out of the powder, heat, and them pluck back in until the desired thickness was reached, and there was no clean up...yay!!! Mini Timmy scissors...my new obsession!!!

This is a cork board I made on the Tim cruise with Wendy Vecchi in 2009. She taught us how to use patterns as collage background, which was something I had never seen before back then. I still had some scraps of the pattern pieces so I used them on the background for this project. Thank you Wendy!


I cut an ATC with a die and the other rectangles were cut to fit the lid on the tins (2 x 3 1/4 in.). I coated them with Glue N Seal and then mish-mashed the pattern over it allowing for lots of wrinkles. It was easy to just tear the pattern off the edges and it left a very nice distressed border to ink up.

I inked the background pieces with Gathered Twigs, clipped the corners, added some ruler pieces from Crowded Attic Salvage Stickers, and drew in a few stitches (it was too thick to machine stitch).

Assembly line! Tulle, wooden button, lace, snaps, safety pins, and a computer generated and stitched sentiment was added. Fun times!

The ATC

The tins (turned into sewing kits for the teachers).

Supplies:
Altoids: tins
Krylon: red spray paint
Triangle Crafts: Sophisticated Finishes Rust
Frances Meyer: Parquet Wood Paper
From My Stash: white cardstock, pattern form paper, red tulle, scissors charm, red cord, red rhinestone heart, snap, lace

Crowded Attic Paper Stash	ATC & Corners Die	Grunge Board	Grunge Paper 6x12	Movers & Shapers Mini Sewing Room	Movers & Shapers Mini Pine Tree & Holly Set
Crowded Attic Salvage Stickers	Ink Blending Tool	Glossy Accents	Fall 2011 Limited Edition Distress Ink Trio	Distress Embossing Ink	Black Soot Distress Ink
Fired Brick Distress Ink	Pitch Black Acrylic Paint Dabber	Paint Dabber - Gold	Playing Games Texture Fades Set	Prima Wooden Buttons	Fired Brick Distress Embossing Powder
Crop-a-dile Corner Chomper	Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint	UTEE - Clear	Red Pepper Alcohol Ink	Pitch Black Alcohol Ink	Alcohol Ink Applicator Tool
Uni-ball pen - White	Sanding Grip - Idea-ology	Inka Gold Polish

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

My Best Friend's Valentine

2012-02-11T00:01:00.000-06:00

Happy Saturday everyone! It's time for another weekly challenge at Our Creative Corner. Sharon Wheet, of Designs By Sharon, hosts again, and this week she wants you to create something for your "Best Friend", and be sure to have flowers on it. Make something for your bestie, and show them how much you care!
For my card I decided to go Graphic 45, as it matched my Whatnots image perfectly, after I added some red with a pigmented marker. I added background stamping and a sentiment with some Tim images. Crackle, stickles, and some bling finished it off. It fits my bestie Jen perfectly. She is simple, colorful, and fun, just some of the reasons why I love her so! I am also submitting this to the Gingersnap Creations Challenge for "words of wisdom".

Please visit the other OCC designers and check out their beautiful projects!

Linda Coughlin- The Funkie Junkie

Vicki Burdick- It's a Stamp Thing

Sue Butler- Scrumplescrunch

Ann Marie Hile- Stampin' Anne

Wendy Janson- It's All About Stamping
Marcy Kaminski - En Papillote Arts
Holly Kean- Kean On Paper
Irena Kowalczyk (aka Rudlis - Love, Life and Crafts
Meihsia Liu- Simply Paper Crafts
Tui Nathan- Stampin Time
Lori Rider- The Diva Stamper
Kristin Tierney- Lilly Beth Boutique
Sharon Wheet- Designs by Sharon

Supplies:
Uchida Marvy: Red Pigmented Artist Pen
From My Stash: red cardstock scrap, vellum scrap, heart brads, heart button, red thread, valentine stamp

Graphic 45 - An ABC Primer Paper Pack	Glitz Whatnots	Craft Paper Card	Tattered Elements Stamp Set	Mini Artful Things Stamp Set	Silver Stickles
Blazing Red Stazon	Jet Black Stazon	Crackle Accents	Fall 2011 Limited Edition Distress Ink Trio	Uniball Signo Silver Pen

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

An English Valentine

2012-02-07T22:18:00.000-06:00

Hello crafty people! I love long cards and they are so difficult to find in the stores anymore. It seems every funny card that I ever loved and saved was a long length card. There is just something unique and different about them. I thought this shape would be interesting to make into a Valentine, so I gave it a go. I made this card using three different sets of Artistic Outpost Stamps: London Underground, French Flight, and Loverly London. Their stamps really coordinate well together. Don't forget about their Monthly Referral Challenge for "shades of red". There is an awesome prize package giveaway that awaits a winner (yummy AO stamps and Tim goodies)!

I have a friend across the pond (you know who you are) that I am sending this very English Valentine to. I hope she likes it. I am also submitting this to the Sunday Stamper challenge for "hearts", and the monthly challenge at Inspiration Journal for "put a heart on it". Shelly Hickox, a DT member for Inspiration Journal has a tag with a similar kind of balloon on it, but I promise I didn't blog-lift her idea. Great minds think alike sometimes when they have awesome stamps to use!!!

I stamped the English flag image with Pumice Stone Distress Ink onto vellum, so the image would not be too dark for coloring, and the ink underneath would dissipate with water, as seen in the next photo.

I used watercolor pencils to color in the image. I dried it with a heat gun, and cut it out in the shape of a heart, then gave it an edge inking with Gathered Twigs.

I stamped more images with Archival Ink onto kraft paper, and cut those out (leaving out the ropes on the balloon man). All the edges were inked with Gathered Twigs.

I cut a 7 1/2 by 8 1/4 inch piece of Tim's lined Kraft Resist Paper (love this stuff). I inked it with Tumbled Glass and Broken China Distress Inks. I wiped off the ink from the embossed resist images with a moist towelette. Then I folded the paper in half long ways, and inked the edges with Gathered Twigs.

I attached the flag heart to the doily with the tiny attacher. I threaded the wire into the balloon basket and then into the doily and secured it. I adhered the images onto the card.

I stamped the Cheerio sentiment onto kraft paper with Festive Berries Distress Ink and heat embossed it with Fired Brick Distress Embossing Powder. I cut that out and adhered it to the card. Then I stamped the other sentiment directly onto the card using Archival Ink in Jet Black. Finally, I used a white pen and Christmas Red Stickles to embellish a few of the images.

Supplies:
Wilton: Foil Heart Doily
DMD Industries: Black Rafia Wrapped Wire
From My Stash: vellum scrap

Kraft Resist Paper Stash	Loverly London Stamp Set	London Underground Stamp Set	French Flight Stamp Set	Fired Brick Distress Embossing Powder	Watercolor Pencils
Tumbled Glass Distress Ink	Fall 2011 Limited Edition Distress Ink Trio	Ink Blending Tool	Christmas Red Stickles	Winter 2011 Distress Ink Pack	Jet Black Archival Ink
Broken china - Distress ink	Uni-ball pen - White	Mini Mister	Tiny Attacher - Idea-ology	Pumice Stone Distress Ink

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

January ATC's Arrive!

2012-02-05T00:01:00.000-06:00

Happy glorious Sunday everyone! I hope it's a lazy, fun, and family filled day...well, with a little creative time too! I wanted to share the ATC's I received back from the All Things Tim Yahoo Group for the January swap. This is why I play along...the receiving not the giving!!! I love to see other people's work. It's like going to a gallery and bringing home a wonderful piece of art to enjoy, except it's free...woohoo! It really is amazing to use the same products as everyone else, but turn out completely different projects!

Sandy Nolan (The bird and clock are metal, and the background is iridescent looking...fabulous!)

Pamela Preston (It's all fun and games...marvelous texture!)

Andrea M Gray (Layered and textured Liquid Pearl goodness...beautiful!)

This one and the bottom are from Claudine Criner. Her and I swap on the side. She is a fabulous ATC maker.

Here is mine again.

If you have the chance to join in a swap, do, it is great to get other people's work. I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

Mechanical Valentine

2012-02-04T00:30:00.000-06:00

Guess what I made! Another Valentine!!! Who would have thunk it! This one is for Our Creative Corner's Challenge "Love is in the Air". Sharon Wheet of Designs By Sharon, came up with the challenge and all you have to do is make a St. Valentine's Day paper craft item (card, scrapbook page layout, 3-D item, or an altered item) using the colors: pink, grey, and kraft. Then add some sparkle, (rhinestones, glitter, metal) anything that shines, and don't forget to include a heart shape.

This time I decided to get more mechanical and Steampunkish and less traditional with my Valentine.

No tutorial is needed here...no technique required. I stamped the background image on a craft paper card. I die cut the wings on corrugated paper, and also hand cut a heart from it as well. They were both inked and sprayed (the card as well) with Perfect Pearls Mist. The doily was inked with Worn Lipstick. All the layers were added and Glossy Accents adhered them all down.

Please visit the other designers and check out their beautiful cards!

Guest Designer - Noelle McAdams
Guest Designer - Marie at Ink'd Wings
Sue Butler - Scrumplescrunch
Marcy Kaminski - En Papillote Arts
Irena Kowalczyk (aka Rudlis) - Love, Life and Crafts
Vicki Burdick~~It's a Stamp Thing
Lori Rider - The Diva Stamper
Linda Coughlin - The Funkie Junkie
Sharon Wheet - Designs by Sharon
Meihsia Liu - Simply Paper Crafts

Supplies:
Wilton: Heart Doily (white)
Maya Road: Flower Trinket Pins
From My Stash: tulle, watch parts, lace scrap, corrugated paper, snaps

Craft Paper Card	Pumice Stone Distress Ink	Urban Grunge Stamp Set	Crackle Accents	Ink Blending Tool	Idea-ology Game Spinners
Glossy Accents	Worn Lipstick Distress Ink	Fired Brick Distress Ink	Sprocket Gears	Washers	Lace Chain
Mini Pins	Heart Wings Bigz Die	Maya Road Crystal Trinket Pin	Metal Crown Charm	7 Gypsies Mini Antique Keys	Perfect Pearls Mist

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

Mona Lisa's Smile???

2012-02-03T00:01:00.000-06:00

Ah Mona...that unforgettable face, that ambiguous smile. She really is a queen in her own right. After all, she is the most famous painting in all the world. But, just what was she smirking about anyway? Well, there is no doubt what this Mona is looking so bemused about here. It conjures up part of an old Rod Stewart tune...'even "Mona" needs a little passion'.

I designed this tag to be used in the "humorous challenge theme" over at the Everything Wendy Vecchi Yahoo Group, and then the Simon Says Stamp and Show posted their challenge this week of "kings and queens", so this was perfect, as well as The Artistic Stamper for "hearts".

I stamped both images on white cardstock using Pitch Black Acrylic Paint Dabber so I would get a nice, black, crisp image. I colored them in with watercolor pencils. I painted the Art Part Hand with Snow Cap Acrylic Paint Dabber and then colored it in with the pencils. The card was given a coat of Crackle Accents. Mona's hair was painted wtih Espresso Acrylic Paint Dabber.

I stamped the jumbo tag with the background image in Archival Ink. The heart was inked with Fired Brick Distressing Ink, stamped with Snow Cap Acrylic Paint Dabber (Wendy's dots image), crackled with Rock Candy, then inked over with Pumice stone. The Wendy sentiment was stamped with Snow Cap as well, and the spots that needed filled in were done with a white pen, then Glossy Accents covered it.

Supplies:
Stamper's Anonymous: Hand With King of Hearts
ULine: Jumbo Manilla Tag
Art Chix Studio: Gold Crown
Uchida Marvy: Red Pigment Marker
Faber-Castell: Watercolor Pencils
From My Stash: red velvet fabric, white cardstock, ribbon, lace

Sentimental Art Stamp Set	Seriously Art Stamp Set	Wendy Vecchi Believe In Art Stamp Set	Wendy Vecchi Art Parts Mustaches, Men, & More	Dress Forms and More Art Parts	Snow Cap Acrylic Paint Dabber
Pitch Black Acrylic Paint Dabber	Paint Dabbers - Espresso	Uni-ball pen - White	Archival Ink - Jet Black	Ink blending tool	Pumice Stone Distress Ink
Fired Brick Distress Ink	Glossy Accents	Crackle Accents	Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

Bubble Wrap For My Valentine!

2012-02-02T00:01:00.000-06:00

Are you sick of Valentine's cards already? Not me! I thoroughly enjoy making cards and things for my loved ones. No card is better than a handmade with love card! I started designing this card around Our Creative Corner's Sketch Challenge "hip to be square", and then I took a gander at Hels Sheridan's Sunday Stamper, where she had a "bubbles" challenge. I had no bubble stamps or images that I could think off, and the doily lace I chose to use on the card was perfect for four large bubbley, circley things. So being one in the morning and ready to give up, I decided to walk away and go to sleep, but a funny thing happened on the way to the bedroom. I stepped on a package of glass hearts (ironic...and phew, none broke) wrapped in B-U-B-B-L-E wrap. Epiphany!!!

I sanded the dots on the paper and distressed and inked the sides, then folded it in half. I trimmed the doily in a square shape, and stamped the letter image stamp on it in Pumice Stone.

The bubble wrap was cut into four circles and Pitch Black Alcohol Ink was applied.

I adhered the doily and bubble wrap to the card. I inked the heart with Brick Red Distress Ink, and stamped dots (Snow Cap Paint) and letter image (Black Soot Ink) on it. I applied Crackle Accents to the black portions.

The before and after.

The wings and crown were painted with paint dabber and crackled with Rock Candy, and inked with Pumice Stone. The numbers are coated with Crackle Accents.

Supplies:
Basic Grey: Laser-Cut Doilies

The Paper Studio: Metal Number Stickers

From My Stash: bubble wrap

Core′dinations Jenni Bowlin Brown & Cream Collection	Glitz Whatnots	Maya Road Chipboard Wings	Maya Road Chipboard Crowns	Accoutrements 2 - Buttons	Glitz Background Stamp Set
Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint	Pumice Stone Distress Ink	Black Soot Distress Ink	Fired Brick Distress Ink	Pitch Black Alcohol Ink	Alcohol Ink Applicator Tool
Glossy Accents	Crackle Accents	Ink Blending Tool	Snow Cap Acrylic Paint Dabber	Silver Acrylic Paint Dabber

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

Lovely, Little, Red Valentine Tag

2012-02-01T01:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Saturday crafters! The Artistic Outpost has a monthly challenge called the Referral Program. They have revamped the Referral Program for 2012, and it started today, February 1st. Each month they will post a challenge theme on the blog along with inspiration from the Design Team. To participate in the challenge, you'll need to use Artistic Outpost images along with the theme to create your project, and then add your link to the Monthly Referral Program post. The challenge will be open for the entire month, and you'll be able to enter as many times as you wish. At the end of the month they'll have the Random Number Generator pick the winner, and post the winners name on their blog. The winner of the monthly Referral Program will receive an Artistic Outpost Prize Package! The first Theme Challenge is "Shades of Red", and you have until February 28, 2012, to enter and hopefully win some yummy stamps!

Here is the tag I created for the Referral Theme Challenge (shucks, I can't win the prize). I used the Lovely Day stamp set. I am also submitting this little beauty (I named her Hannah) to the "embellish it" challenge at The Stamp Man.

I stamped Hannah and her bicycle images with Archival Ink in Jet Black and colored them in with Glaze Pens, Watercolor Pens, and a Marvy red marker, and then cut them out. The sentiment was stamped in Festive Berries Distress Ink and heat embossed with Fired Brick Distress Powder, then given a coat of Crackle Accents. For some reason the Crackle caused the sentiment to bleed and blur underneath. I think this was due to a Distress Ink reaction, but I am not entirely sure, and will have to research that. Any opinions, please let me know.

I had this scrap red paper that I tore out of a Somerset Studio Magazine. I embossed it with the Valentine Background texture fade, and then inked it with Black Soot Distress Ink. I adhered it to a tag, although I went with a black one instead of manilla.

I used Red Pepper Alcohol Ink to color the button rose.

Black paper lace die cut from Tim's Vintage Lace Die and a gold foil doily were added to the tag and trimmed off. I bunched a hole in it and adhered the button, and tied the wire to the button hole on the back making a loop. Hannah and her bicycle were adhered and embellishments (roses, glittered cut out hearts, ribbon) were added.

Supplies:
Wilton: Foil Gold Doily
The Paper Studio: glittered red cardstock
Uchida Marvy: Red Pigmented Marker
From My Stash: red wire, red and white cardstock, ribbon, wooden heart (given to me)

Lovely Day Stamp Set	Valentine Background & Borders Texture Fade	Accoutrements - Buttons	Fired Brick Distress Embossing Powder	Watercolor Pencils	Sepia Glaze Pen
Red Glaze Pen	Blue Glaze Pen	Crackle Accents	Ink Blending Tool	Black Soot Distress Ink	Vintage Lace Die
Glossy Accents	Jet Black Archival Ink	Winter 2011 Distress Ink Pack	Red Pepper Alcohol Ink	Black Glaze Pen	Surfaces Black #8 Tag

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

Cupid's Cracking Up!

2012-01-31T13:29:00.001-06:00

Hello everyone crafty out there! Valentines are still reigning strong here in my little bubble, and glitter, tulle, roses, and lace have exploded and left their remains all over the place. I have found scraps even in the lavatory, which is good because it ignites an idea in my head, and we all know some of best ideas start in the restroom! I have used bits of scraps on all sorts of things for Love Day. Here is a little Valentine tag that I used Tim's crackle resist on for Linda Ledbetter's Grungy Monday challenge. I crackled the Valentine background paper (scrap), which is one of my favorites from Tim's Seasonal Stack, as well as the cupid. I had a few issues with Mr. Cupid though. First, when I went to stamp him with Jet Black Archival Ink and emboss him with Fired Brick Embossing Powder, the powder was lost in the ink and it heated to a brownish color. So I also did a few using Festive Berries Distress Ink and the Fired Brick powder, and alas the result was what I wanted originally. However, I still liked the look of the other so I used them both. Second, I decided Mr. Cupid needed a loin cloth or something...cover that up...so after playing with many scraps and fabrics, I went with Liquid Pearls...love that stuff!!!

I am also submitting Cracked Cupid (not to be confused with Cupid on crack) to the challenge on Gingersnap Creations for "favorite designer paper". And speaking of "designer", I have the honor, privilege, and pleasure of now being a part of the design team at Our Creative Corner. I am feeling really blessed at the moment!

I stamped Mr. Cupid on Grunge in Archival Ink and applied Fired Brick Embossing Powder and ended up with the dark brown images instead of red. Here is the before and after.

Try and try again! This time I used Festive Berries Distress Ink and Grunge already coated in Gold paint and everything worked perfectly. Success!

I still like the dark brown Cupid, so I continued and coated him with Gold Paint Dabber and then used a baby wipe to clean the gold paint from the embossed image lines.

I cut Mr. Cupid out and applied a heavy coat of Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint, and allowed it to dry.

The brown and red Cupids were then inked with Pumice Stone Distress Ink. I really tried to get it into all the little cracks.

Mr. Cupid was coated in embossing ink and UTEE and heat embossed.

This is the before (right) and after (left) the heat embossing. Mr. Cupid is shiny and thick and actually shrunk a tiny bit which I really liked...more room!

The tag was inked in Festive Berries and Gathered Twigs, and then water drop spritz and dried. The Valentine paper was also coated in Rock Candy Crackle Paint, dried, and inked in Gathered Twigs. I stamped the heart image in Festive Berries. I stamped the sentiment in gold first then in Archival Ink. It gave it a nice shadow effect that I liked. Foil lace, metal roses (love love love), tulle, and a gold eyelet were added. Mr. Cupid was given a heart that was coated in Gold Acrylic Paint Dabber, and then clothed in Liquid Pearls. Really the pictures are not doing this little tag justice.

Supplies:
Art Chix Studio: mini red metal roses
32 Degrees North: Dresden Foil Trim
From My Stash: tulle, metal heart and gold eyelet

Love Struck Stamp Set	Winter 2011 Distress Ink Pack	Bisque Liquid Pearls	Vintage Photo Distress Embossing Powder	Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint	Fall 2011 Limited Edition Distress Ink Trio
Blazing Red Stazon	Jet Black Stazon	UTEE - Clear	Ink Blending Tool	Glossy Accents	Distress Embossing Ink
Fired Brick Distress Embossing Powder	#8 Craft Tags	Gold Acrylic Paint Dabber	Grunge Paper 6x12	Seasonal Paper Stack	Stuff To Say Stamp Set
Big & Bossy Empossing Ink Pad

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!