Teaspoons and Teacups Birthday Card

Wow!  These Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop days are passing fast!  I've tried to come up with new ideas for my same old stamps.  It had been ages since I inked up my mom's Stampington teaspoons stamp.  I played around with a paper palette (vintage Basic Grey) and decided to stamp the spoon handles onto vellum.  I only inked the handles, not the labels and stamped twice.

I layered over a panel cut with my new Sizzix borders and doilies set my friend Madelyn gave me for Christmas - thanks Mad!  You're the best!  I thought this Tim Holtz chipboard sentiment was perfect and added some staples for a touch of grunge.  ;0  I used the doily from the same set to layer with my stamped teacup.  I've told you before, this stamp is by Prima and I cut the words off of the stamp and glued them to the side of my wood block to make the image more versatile.  I hope you like my design!

To see my other coffee creations click HERE.

In other news, I am working on a new mini album and was going through some of the albums I have made and was delighted to flip through this album first blogged HERE.  The video can be found HERE, just in case it doesn't load for you.  The entire album is tea party themed and uses the same collection of stamps I've used in my card today.  I hope to upload some other flip through videos for you of my albums soon, so let me know if you'd like that.  Thanks!!!  <3

I'm sharing with:

Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

A Bit More Time to Craft: Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft: Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments: Anything Goes

Tuesday Throwdown: Creative Borders

Fashionable Stamping: Make it Feminine

Penny Black and More: Anything Goes

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Mary and Child Inky Christmas Card

Happy November everyone!  I'm still going at it with my Christmas card making.  I'm not sure if this card really came together as I had hoped, but the individual pieces really make me happy, so here it is.  I started by sponging Distress ink onto a tag, then stamping with an old Stampington & Company stamp.  The splashes of water add a lot of interest.  I really loved this panel!  But somehow decided not to make a tag and cut it down for this card.

I embossed the IndigoBlu vintage scroll in copper onto kraft and sponged brown over the edges.  I layered with a Fiskars punched border, sponged as well.  The pine branch dies are cut from copper kraft core paper.  I layered several flat Prima flowers together to make this one dimensional flower.  The Madonna stamp is also by Stampington.  How's your Christmas card making going?  Do tell.

I'm sharing with:

Word Art Wednesday: Anything Goes

Allsorts: Let's Make a Start on Christmas

Sparkles and Sprinkle: ATG w/ loose glitter, embossing powder, or flocking

The Merry Christmas Challenge: Anything Goes Christmas

ABC Christmas Challenge: V is for Vertical

Addicted to Stamps: Holiday

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge: Anything Goes Christmas

Metallic Elegance Mary and Child 12 Tags of Christmas

I'm back with you sharing my Christmas card inspired by The Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas.  For my week 3 card, I was inspired by Linda's use of black and gold.  I did not have any products similar to those Linda used but I tried to keep the regal feel.

I thought I would play and develop a new background technique, so I started by spritzing my watercolor panel with water then quickly brushing IndigoBlu's Metallic Acrylic Paint in Goldfinger over the panel.  I had planned to lay a sheet of scrap paper over it and couldn't grab one quick enough so I pulled this plastic wrap packaging from the trash and quickly wrinkled it onto my paint.  Next I dipped my loaded paintbrush into water and mixed on my craft mat and splattered my panel.  I further cleaned my brush by wiping any excess paint along the edges of my panel.  I used gold texture paste through a Prima stencil for texture.  Then I sprayed both black & gold Glimmer Mist and Brown Lindy's Stamp Gang spray to darken it up.

You know those projects that are impossible to photograph, well this is one of them!  I just wish you could hold this in your hands to see the beautiful color variation and metallic shine - BUT - since you can't, imagine with me and trust me that this is so much prettier in person.

I stamped this Stampington & Company stamp in black onto inky paper.  I layered it over a prima doily die in brown.  I also stamped the IndigoBlu Script Background stamp in black in the open areas of my background.

The sentiment is also an oldie, but I love it!  Perfect for the season.  I wanted to try and keep an elegant feel so I layered a neutral bow and flower by Recollections.  The photos turned the flower pink, but it's not IRL.  The card base is metallic brown, a bit lighter than the doily.

To see all of my 12 Tags of Christmas click HERE.

Find these amazing products at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Today!

Prima Delightfully Thin Doily Die

Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black Pad #3

Ranger Tim Holtz Mini Distress Ink Pad - Vintage Photo

Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste - Gold

I'm sharing with:

The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas: Week 3

Card Mania: Let it Shine

Creative Artiste: Anything Goes

Addicted To Stamps: Embossing

Christmas Card Challenges: Optional Color Inspiration

Glitter 'N' Sparkle: Anything Goes

Love to Create: Anything Mixed Media Goes

My Tim Holtz July 2016 Tag

Tim's July 2016 tag has to be one of my favorites.  The whole slit and layered concept just makes me smile!  :)  I have about a zillion ideas for this tag, but settled on a beach themed tag because I can't get enough of playing with these Christine Adolph sea stamps.  

Lately, one of my favorite things is to sit and paint folders with watercolor.  I use my painted paper for everything and decided it would make a great backdrop for this embossed sand dollar.  I used Adirondack denim by Ranger.  The back tag was inked with Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink.  I stamped some watermarks onto it for texture.

I have had this charm for ages and connected it to some leftover dyed cheese cloth for my topper.  This was fun and super relaxing, what's your take?

I'm sharing with:

Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2016: July

Scrappy Land: Emboss It!

Retro Rubber: Summertime (These stamps are from 2004)

Simon Says Stamp: Nautical/By the Sea

Happy Little Stampers: Anything Goes w/Diecut

Great Impressions: Anything Goes

The Corrosive Challenge: Nature/Animals

Mixed Media Mojo Summertime Canvas

I am sharing a tutorial with Mixed Media Mojo today on this sea inspired mixed media canvas.  This month's theme is Summertime with an option to use Shells.  To join in the challenge click HERE.

I won't give away all of the details, to find out more visit Mixed Media Mojo, but here are some closeups for you.  I used Christine Adolph shell stamps by Stampington & Co., from 2005.  The boat stamp is by Coronado Island Stamping circa 2004.

I definitely added the fluff back into my work, no?  LOL!

I had such a great time creating this project and appreciate your support and kind comments.  <3

I'm also sharing with:

Simon Says Stamp: Nautical/By the Sea

Simon Says Stamp: Create a Scene

Finnabair: Inspired by Denim

Mixed Media World: Under the Sea

Fashionable Stamping: Under the Sea

More Mixed Media: Anything Goes

Retro Rubber: Summertime

Using Stamps to Create a 3D Wall Hanging

Today I am sharing a sea themed mixed media wall hanging created with stamps and stencils over at Anything But Cute.  When it comes to summer, my thoughts are solely set on being in the water!  With that in mind, I used an old collection of stamps by Christine Adolph to create this hangie from scrap mat board.

Our challenge this month is hosted by the marvelous Anne, the sweetest of souls with an invincible summer in her heart.  Thank you Anne!  She says, "What does Summertime fun mean to you?  Spending time by the seaside, foreign travel, camping in the great outdoors or simply enjoying time in the garden?  Create a MIXED MEDIA project focusing on how you like to spend your Summertime.  Don't forget to tell us how your project relates to our theme."

I'm sure you won't be shocked to know that I first gessoed my panel (on both sides so it wouldn't warp much) and then went to town creating a watercolored background with various shades of blue.  Her is my tip: Use scraps of papers and give them washes in your coordinating colors and use them for your dies and building of layers in your focal grouping.  You can see I stamped some of my paper with a map to add a different print in the mix.

The background was stenciled with this script stamp using light modeling paste.  While the paste was wet, I added PSX Cobalt Tapestry embossing powder.

I also embossed the row of starfish across the bottom in off white, and embossed the edge of the entire panel to create a "frame."

 On this shot you can see a peek of the thick cardboard I glued between my layers to add heavy dimension.  The Tim Holtz die from his Christmas greenery set is used as "coral" and the long skinny die is from his new summer floral die.

I wasn't too sure about using the same embossing powder for my focal, but everything else was too faint compared to the dynamic background with those striking powders.  Lastly, I added the sentiment made with my Dymo label maker.  This is a reminder to me to live in the moment and not stress about my busy summer schedule.  Thanks for looking and we would love to see your mixed media Summertime Fun creation linked to our challenge.

Finally, I want to share with you a friend's Summertime Fun rendition of my Bird Canvas Shadow Box Class.  Karin Guthrie created this beachy wonder and used netting in place of the wire.  Her combination of 3D elements with beautiful patterned paper against the amazing textured blue background make for one truly amazing project!  Well done Karin!  Your project is truly clever and inspiring.  <3

I'm sharing my stamped wall hanging with:

A Vintage Journey: Monochromatic

Rhedd's Creative Spirit: Anything Goes Altered/Mixed Media

The Artistic Stamper: All Things Bright & Beautiful

Work it Wednesday: Anything Goes w/a Stencil or Wafer Die

Craft Stamper Magazine: Make it Take it Anything Goes

Mixed Media World: Scrap to Masterpiece 

(every single piece was from my scrap stash, down to the mat board)

Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes

Stamped Angel Distress Tag

 My local art group does a monthly swap and I created this tag for one of the girls, who requested an angel theme.  The only stamps I have with angels are for Christmas, but I tried to make it work.  This one is by Stampington & Co.  I layered it over my new Tim Holtz Ornate Frame 2 die painted.  The background was one of my favorite distress ink backgrounds.  I stamped over the wet ink with more blue ink and it created the prettiest faded image of the ornate design, also by Tim.  I lightly embossed the edges of the tag with gold EP and flecked some watery Perfect Pearls over the tag.

 I have had these brass wings for over 10 years, and thought it would be cool to use them behind the handmade flower.  I really liked the effect.  The flowers were made with the Tattered Florals die using printed scrapbook paper.  I wasn't into the color, so I spritzed it with spray ink, then rubbed it with watery Perfect Pearls to make some highlights.  The center is a blue rhinestone.

 The always stamp was stolen borrowed from my mom and I just love the script.  It's Penny Black.  I hope you enjoyed seeing this sweet little project.  It's fun to make things specifically for people, sometimes.  Don' you think?

I'm sharing with:

Emerald Creek Dares: Anything Goes

The Artistic Stamper: All Things Distress

Scrappy Land: Anything Goes

Through the Purple Haze: Layers

It's Just Fun: Handmade Flowers

The Creative Artiste: Anything Goes w/Flowers

Butterfly Card With Distress Inks

Hi everyone, this will be my last project with a butterfly focal point for a while.  I hope not to bore you.  Don't know what has gotten into me.  But I just had to share this card today before I switch directions.  I made all the pieces for this card, but the layout was terrible, so I let it sit for a day or so and came back and cut and swapped and turned it into this.

Lots of Distress Inks.  The Tim Holtz die was painted with Distress Crackle paint, then inked purple to match this project.  The splatters are a result of mixing my DI on my dirty craft paint and some other brand of watercolor mixing in - how cool - if only I could recreate the effect.  The color seemed to separate...

Another project based on this verse that I have been meditating on.  "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."  John 16:33 NIV.  Thanks so much for your visit.  I appreciate every single blogging buddy I have made and ever last comment.  <3

I'm sharing my card with:

Fashionable Stamping Challenges: Butterflies

The Artistic Stamper: Springtime

That Craft Place: Anything Goes

Scrappy Land: Anything Goes

Sisterhood of Crafters: Use Your Dies & Punches

SSS: Make Your Own Background

Emerald Creek Dares: Ring in Spring

Penny Black: Feature a Creature

Tim Holtz January 2016 Tag

I finally quit procrastinating over Tim's January tag.  I absolutely could not figure out what stamp to use.  So I started digging and came across this gem of a stamp from ages ago that I've used countless times by Stampington & Co.

The embossing folder is Tim's and was the first one I ever purchased.  Awe...  I liked that it had the crown and time piece.  I was out of adhesive foil so I slopped some Mod Podge onto a piece of card and carefully dropped regular old aluminum foil over it.  There were some small bubbles and creases, but when I ran it through the machine they worked out.  I will definitely be doing this again!

I aged the foil with black gesso.  The numbers are some cool magnets that my friend Bonnie found and shared with me.

I'm sharing with Tim's January 2016 tag post HERE.