It's Time To Ride

Today I am sharing a fun Halloween card using some of my Picket Fence Studios stamps. Brand new is the detailed ON AN AUTUMN COUNTYSIDE. This is a gorgeous background that can change looks with color and added images. The Design Team has made some amazing projects with this favorite from the August release.

I chose twilight colors for the background, and the flying witch from IF THE BROOM FITS for my "midnight ride" scene. I used my MISTI to get dark silhouette images by stamping a couple of times until everything was black as night.

A quick and easy card with a great look! 

This weekend there is a sale! Don't miss saving 20%. CLICK HERE to shop (affiliate link), then email me and I will send you a thank you card for using my link at no cost to you!

Freshly Made Sketches Celebrating #400!

It's Wednesday, and that means it's time for a new sketch! Last week, I was on a trip in Scandinavia, so I missed out on revisiting #300. This week, we have a brand new, "real" #400! And not only a sketch, but prizes too, from some amazing sponsors! Read on:

The FMS team is so thankful for the support of the crafting industry, and we are excited to be able to share these wonderful treats with you!

• CAS-ual Fridays Stamps: $25 Gift Code
• Concord & 9th:  $25 Gift Code
• Ellen Hutson:  $25 Gift Code
• Hero Arts:  $25 Gift Code
• Lawn Fawn:  $25 Gift Code
• Neat & Tangled:  $25 Gift Code
• Newton’s Nook Designs:  $25 Store Credit
• Reverse Confetti:  $25 Gift Code
• Simon Says Stamp:  $25 Gift Code
• Sugar Pea Designs:  $25 Gift Certificate
• Taylored Expressions:  $25 Gift Code
• Uniko:  Clear Stamp Set (In stock, any value)

Winners will be chosen randomly from those that play along. Come join in the fun! Here is our sketch for this week:

I decided to do a portrait layout, rather than landscape, so it changes the look slightly. But I wanted to use this adorable image from Picket Fence Studios.

I started with my favorite Classic Crest Solar White Cardstock (from CutCardStock) and stamped using VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink. Isn’t that cactus cute with his little spines? (A Pricking Break by Picket Fence Studios). It stamps beautifully on the Classic Crest smooth surface. I then heat embossed the image with WOW! Clear Embossing Powder. I decided I wanted a crazy look to the coloring, rather than “super blended,” to match the whimsical nature of the image, so I chose five Copics and colored with fast strokes to give the image a wild look.

I cut out the cactus with the matching die, a selfie frame (Stampin’ Up!), some cute patterned paper from my stash, and a little banner for the fun sentiment (also stamped with Nocturne, and popped up with Double Sided Foam Adhesive Strips). Everything is adhered together with 1/4″ Scor-Tape.

Our challenge is open until 3 PM EDT on Monday! Click on the links on the FMS blog by each photo to see what my teammates have created on their blogs!

Freshly Made Sketches #400

*To see my Picket Fence Studios Release Day cards, scroll down or click HERE.*

Freshly Made Sketches is celebrating EIGHT YEARS of fabulous sketches with an entire month of fun -- we are at #400! Last week's sketch was the very first #1 FMS sketch -- and was also #100! This week we are revisiting #200.

For this sketch, I chose some Concord & 9th favorites that hadn't seen ink yet. I purchased them when they were released, but hadn't yet gotten to play. So today is the day!

I absolutely love that skyline, and the hand drawn look. The sentiment is perfect, don't you think? I stamped the city in VersaFine Clair Morning Mist, the sentiment in Nocturne, and the heart and stars with Mermaid Hybrid (scrapbook.com).

Stay tuned for a month-long celebration, and play along with us each week to join in the fun! Our challenge is open until 3 PM EDT on Monday! Click on the links on the FMS blog by each photo to see what my teammates have created on their blogs!

It's August Release Day for Picket Fence Studios!

It's an exciting day for Picket Fence Studios - the August Release! There are so MANY amazing products in this release - new stencils, stamps, and coordinating dies - plus foiling plates!

Today I am sharing two cards that I made for Release Day, and over the next couple of days I will share two more. But I'm sure you want to see the ENTIRE release, so head over to the site and see it all! But after you get to the end here ha!

The adorable Trick or Treaters stamp set is one of my favorites of the release. The images are a wonderful size for coloring, and they are so cute that my young grandkids will love them!

I love how sweet their faces are. The sentiment is from If The Broom Fits.  The bat paper has been in my stash awhile. I love making Halloween cards, and I have an entire giant drawer just for that season's cards! The bat washi tape is foiled and has a fun shimmer.  I colored with Copic markers.

From the same set comes this adorable spider with its many eyes! I used an old Darice embossing folder on my DOX ink background. The Life Changing Blender Brushes make such an easy time of ink blending! 

 

I added a black velvet ribbon to hang him in his web, and a sentiment (again from If The Broom Fits) using a leftover background piece, which I hand cut into a banner. The spider web strip is from a retired K & Co. package - again in my Halloween stash! Copic markers matched the DOX ink for his eyes.

It's a fabulous release, so head over to Picket Fence Studios to see it all! There is so MUCH MORE to check out! And I will see you back tomorrow for more stamping fun!

Rainbow Cheer -- in a Kit!

Today's share is a fun cheery greeting from the Whimsy Stamps' August Paper Door Kit. It has oodles of amazing rainbow elements - like this awesome die and sentiment! 

 And isn't that "sky" amazing and perfect for the sentiment? It's one of the amazing patterned papers that come with the kit! Take a look at what's included:

• Each kit is a $50+ retail value for only $29.95 plus shipping
• EXCLUSIVE 6x6 Whimsy Stamps designer paper pack collections, fun and creative designs on heavy weight paper with a beautiful sheen - 24 double sided sheets
• TEN sheets of 8.5x5.5 heavy weight neutral card stock - in black and white
• SPECIAL EDITION 4x6 clear stamp set "Happy Sky" created exclusively for PAPER DOOR
• COMPLEMENTING "Happy Sky" outline die set to easily cut out the images from the 4 x 6 stamp set, designed exclusively for PAPER DOOR
• SPECIAL EDITION "Lots of Dots" mini background rubber stamp and "Rainbow Color Border" die set introduced especially for PAPER DOOR
• PRIVATE access to PDF files with step-by-step instructions for at least 4 different projects

Each kit is a LIMITED EDITION and individual items may or may not be released at a later date. Supplies are limited so order yours today, and unlock your creativity with Whimsy Stamps PAPER DOOR kits!

Be sure to check out the Whimsy Stamps and Inspiration Facebook page for so many beautiful samples using the Paper Door Kit!

Mixed Media With Visible Image Stamps

Wow, did summer ever fly! I am a Guest Designer with Visible Image for the summer, and I can see that's coming to an end soon! School starts here next week; what about where you live?

Today I am sharing a fun Mixed Media project using Glimmer of Light. It was especially fun, because whatever happened, even if it didn't work out like I thought it might, I just kept playing and adding, and ended up with a project that I love.

I first chose one of my monoprints that I made this summer with my sister. I used Liquitex paint and my GelPress for that. The second step was to use DOX ink in Squeezed Lemonade and the Two Tone Stencil (dots) and blend the ink randomly through the stencil using my small brush from my Life Changing Brushes. Paint and DOX don't mix well as far as drying ability, so I embossed the dots with WOW! Clear Embossing Powder. I stamped the hanging lights in VersaFine Clair Nocturne, and embossed those with Clear EP.

The moth was stamped on a "brayer cleaning sheet" (just rolling to get paint off during printmaking) with Nocturne ink, and then embossed with Clear EP. I fussy cut him out, and popped him up with Foam Mounting Tape.

I stamped the sentiment in two corners of the panel (Melon Mambo Ink/Stampin' Up!), and then sponged in color around the edges of the entire cardstock piece. I colored the bulbs with a Y06 Copic marker, and added Diamond Stickles to the electrical centers. I mounted it on a black cardstock panel, and then a gold cardstock panel. I finished the edges with sponging on Delightful Dijon ink (Stampin' Up!).

The inside of the card was stamped in Melon Mambo and Nocturne ink for a dual mixed media look.

Did you notice the skull on the moth's body? It's a Death's-head hawkmoth. Cool, huh? There are three different kinds out in the world, but here is a picture of one of them (Wikipedia):

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you enjoyed this step-out tutorial!

The August Paper Door Kit from Whimsy Stamps is Here!

The August Paper Door Kit from Whimsy Stamps is here! It's all about balloons and hearts and rainbows -- and there is even a little giraffe! Take a peek:

Isn't he sweet flying high above the puffy clouds? I have so much lovely felt that I haven't used for awhile, and decided to cut my clouds from it for some velvety texture.

I masked off the sides using Purple Tape, and then blended in a sky with my Blender Brushes and Tumbled Glass Oxide Ink. The balloon image is colored with Copic markers, and then cut out with the die in the kit. 

Here are the kit details:

• Each kit is a $50+ retail value for only $29.95 plus shipping
• EXCLUSIVE 6x6 Whimsy Stamps designer paper pack collections, fun and creative designs on heavy weight paper with a beautiful sheen - 24 double sided sheets
• TEN sheets of 8.5x5.5 heavy weight neutral card stock - in black and white
• SPECIAL EDITION 4x6 clear stamp set "Happy Sky" created exclusively for PAPER DOOR
• COMPLEMENTING "Happy Sky" outline die set to easily cut out the images from the 4 x 6 stamp set, designed exclusively for PAPER DOOR
• SPECIAL EDITION "Lots of Dots" mini background rubber stamp and "Rainbow Color Border" die set introduced especially for PAPER DOOR
• PRIVATE access to PDF files with step-by-step instructions for at least 4 different projects

Each kit is a LIMITED EDITION and individual items may or may not be released at a later date. Supplies are limited so order yours today, and unlock your creativity with Whimsy Stamps PAPER DOOR kits!

Be sure to check out the Whimsy Stamps and Inspiration Facebook page for so many beautiful samples using the Paper Door Kit! Thanks for stopping by!

Challenges:  
Animal Friends Challenge #77 - Lions and/or Giraffes
A Gem of a Challenge #15 - Anything Goes
Inkspirational #193 - Word Prompt: Travel  
Send a Smile for Kids - Thank You Cards 4 Kids or Anything Goes 4 Kids   
Polkadoodles - ALWAYS ANYTHING GOES  
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - #29 - Anything Goes with a Critter

Distress Oxide Background with Visible Image!

I have had the pleasure of Guest Designing for Visible Image Stamps this summer and want to share one of those creations with you today.

I used one of my favorite stamp sets, Into the Woods, and some Distress Oxide Inks for the background. My background started out as a "brush cleaning" piece of cardstock for another project, and then it started looking like a cool sky, so I saved it. For this project, I just added more ink until I liked how it looked, and then splattered with water for stars.

I stamped the silhouette images with VersaFine Clair Nocturne and Morning Mist. The sentiment was stamped on and cut from the extra background pieces. I wrapped the panel with rainbow colored thread from my stash for some fun sparkle, and to connect the two panel parts.

I love how it turned out. And I really love this stamp set! Thanks for taking a peek!

 

Freshly Made Sketches Anniversary Celebration!

Freshly Made Sketches is celebrating EIGHT YEARS of fabulous sketches with an entire month of fun! This week's sketch is the very first #1 FMS sketch -- and was also #100! It's time for another celebration -- we are at #400 this month! For the month of August we will be throwing back a few sketches, as well as having a brand new #400 coming up -- AND there might even be some prizes to look forward to later!

So stay tuned for a month-long celebration, and play along with us each week to join in the fun!

My card today is made with some adorable designer paper and other elements from My Mind's Eye.

I wrapped a length of Crosshatch on Peony Satin from Really Reasonable Ribbon, and then tied a single bow and added a textured button (Basic Grey) with Burlap String Natural.

The back Powder Pink (SU!) cardstock panel and the Old Olive (SU!) frames (Spellbinders) are embossed with folders from Sizzix. On the inside I added a strip of designer paper (MME) that says Meow (the "O is a cat silhouette!) and a black and white flower sticker from the same line.

All of my layers are held together with Scor-Tape and Tombow 3D Tabs.

I hope you will join us! Our challenge is open until 3 PM EDT on Monday! Click on the links on the FMS blog by each photo to see what my teammates have created on their blogs!