Stacked Stencils, Anyone?

I had so much fun with this technique! I hope that you will give it a try. Today I am hosting the Splitcoaststampers Technique Challenge. I chose my lovely friend, Dina's, SCS Tutorial for the instructions, which you can find HERE.

I used two stencils - Altenew's Grid and Dylusions Alpha. I started by using washi tape to hold the Grid stencil in place and used my Life Changing Brushes from Picket Fence Studios, along with Tumbled Glass Distress ink. I then taped down the Alpha stencil on top of the Grid. I thought there would be no way I could get into those little spaces through two stencils, but those brushes are AMAZING! You simply must try them!

My Alpha stencil is in Salty Ocean ink. My little robot is a retired Printworks wood mounted stamp, but I just love him. 

Give this technique a whirl. It's a ton of fun to think of all the fabulous combinations you could make with just a few stencils!

Serendipity Technique - How Random!

Good morning! 

And restful Labor Day wishes to those in the U.S. and Canada!

"Serendipity ~ the occurrence and development of events 

by chance in a happy or beneficial way."

Today I want to share a technique with you called "Serendipity" that I learned from my friend Sabrina - basically called that because of the random nature of the technique. It's a little stamping, a little mixed media, and a ton of fun. While it may be time consuming, I really did enjoy making the squares, and the entire process, and felt so artsy! :)

I am using Dandelion Wishes from Picket Fence Studios and a few other supplies you should have on hand. Ready? Ok, here we go!

1: Choose some heavy paper/light cardstock for your base. It won’t really show, so the color doesn’t matter too much. Also pick out some scraps of patterned paper – they should coordinate with each other for the best end result. I worked with a half sheet of kraft.

The following photos are steps 2-4.

2: Tear your patterned papers into small pieces about the size of the top joint of a finger. I also used a monoprint I had made when I was learning (and I didn't like at all), and it really blended in nicely and gave my art a great texture! It may look like a total mess – don’t worry!!
3: This is the slow part – stick them all onto your base layer, overlapping them. A glue stick works well – if you have a large Xyron you could use that. I used the green Mono glue.
4: Start stamping and embossing randomly on it. I used one of the dandelions and embossed it three times, then stamped with Distress Oxide ink a couple of more times. If you emboss, make sure the ink on regular stamped parts is dry before you add the EP. I also used an embossing buddy and ran it over the entire project to catch any sticky glue before I embossed. If you end up with a bit of EP where you don't want it, that's no big deal, it's all part of the serendipity! 

Let your imagination run free here – you’re not limited to stamping or stenciling. It still looks a total mess – still don’t worry!!
5: Now – cut it into small pieces and all of a sudden your mess doesn’t look like a mess any more, each little piece is a work of art. They don’t have to be square – they can be any shape you like!

6: And finally -- you can design and put your little works of art into a bigger work of art, like this card! I stamped my image and sentiment with VersaFine Onyx Black (my favorite), and then adhered all of the layers. Lots of fun texture, shimmer, and art!

Painting With Coffee

This week's Splitcoaststampers Technique Challenge is COFFEE PAINTING! Come join us this week as we use coffee as a paint! (There are other options too!)

I once took a workshop at CHA from Fran (Stampendous) because I loved her style so much. That was a long time ago, but I still love her style and all of the different things she taught me to layer on one card. This week's tutorial was just the ticket to get me stamping/painting with coffee again!

Working with her was one of the first times I realized everything didn't have to line up and be perfect and be "pretty." So - here is a Fran-tâge inspired card, using coffee as my background color wash, as well as color for my "snowman" wizard (it's 95 degrees today, so snow is nice, but a wizard to wave his magic silver wand for cooler temps is better!).

I added several layers of embossing powders on the bottom, as well as some colored mica flakes (all mixed together).

A messy mixed media look that's tons of fun to make!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Crayon Rubbed Embossing

Today I want to share two cards (that are flat to mail!) using a technique called Crayon Rubbed Embossing. I shared these on Splitcoaststampers when I hosted this technique for our Technique Challenge 665.

The first was for a non-traditional Thanksgiving card that I mailed to my friend Lydia (UnderstandBlue).

I used a Sizzix embossing folder with branches and a bird for this crayon rubbing. I then brayered Broken China Distress Oxide over it several times until I got the depth of color that I wanted. I stamped my sentiment (Painted Harvest - SU!) with VersaFine Onyx Black, and then embossed with Clear Powder. I added a few sequins, and all done!

The second is a Christmas card that will go out today to another stamping friend (the recipient is a surprise still, obviously!).

I used the snowflake embossing folder for an over all design, using my white crayon for a "resist". I then brayered Broken China Distress Oxide over it several times until I got the depth of color that I wanted. I ran my red banner through the same embossing folder and my Big Shot, and matched it up to the Crayon Rubbing design. The sentiment is from Watercolor Christmas (SU!).

Both were fun to make! Give it a try. If you don't have a white crayon, a white candle works well too! 

Challenges: 
Crafting With An Attitude - Always Anything Goes 
Through the Purple Haze - #140 Anything Goes

Coffee Gift Card Holder

Good morning!
The last month has been filled with preparation for the opening of our Community Theatre show, "It's A Wonderful Life." It has been a huge success on its first weekend, and we have four more performances this weekend to sold out crowds. That being said, I have missed my crafting time, but got to play with a fun tutorial on Splitcoaststampers last night after the show.

The tutorial is HERE. I used some pretty foil and glitter papers from The Paper Studio for my gift card holder -- no stamping! So it came together pretty quickly.

I added a Prima flower and some gold thread (Stampin' Up!) to the belly band. This one will be hand delivered, but I have another one that can be mailed and will show that one soon!

Happy to be able to be a part of the Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!
Have a great week!

Brusho Backgrounds

Hey stamping friends!
Today I want to share a card you may have seen already with the fabulous new October release from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps -- and show how I made the background. (Scroll down one post for the new release!)

I used Brusho Crystal Colors (watercolor powdered pigments) for the entire background and it's so easy!

First, I stamped my dove from Name Above All Names in Archival Black Ink by Stampin' Up! Make sure you are using an ink that doesn't bleed when combined with water. I recommend this pad -- or India Ink for use with Brusho. You will notice I have a texture to my watercolor paper -- for that you will want Cold Press paper. If you want a smooth finish, you will need Hot Press.

Next I gathered my other supplies. I am using two colors today -- Turquoise and Ultramarine Blue.
I sprinkle tapped the Turquoise powder (a VERY SMALL amount - it's easier to add then take away!) on my paper and then misted with a fine spray (Ranger misters are widely available and work great, but any fine mist will do. You will see a couple of larger crystals above in the lower left photo. I took those off, as I knew it would be too much powder for what I wanted.

I misted and added until I got the look I wanted, then sprinkled the Ultramarine blue on top. I made a little blue branch for my dove to sit on by turning and tapping the powder down the side of the card.
I misted again, and then heat set with my heat gun.

The dove was watercolored with Sakura Koi watercolor paints and then cut out. I stamped the sentiment with Archival Black ink and adhered the dove with foam tape. I added a mat of violet cardstock behind the main panel. All done!

Once you try Brusho powders, you will LOVE them!

Hello Glitter!

Last month I hosted the Splitcoaststampers Technique Challenge with a technique called Negative Glitter (dubbed by me!).

Instructions for following my sample:
1. Choose your glitter colors. I chose four different pastels, but you could use different shades of the same color, or bolder contrasts. Adhere strips of Scor-Tape (or another brand) where you want the glitter. Press down tightly using your fingers or a bone folder. Remove the backing of one strip at a time, adding one color at a time. Press the glitter into the strip of adhesive, making sure it is covered. Continue until all strips are covered with glitter.
2. Cut your panel for the negative die slightly smaller than the card base. Position your die to show off the most color. Cut and adhere the panel using pop up squares (Dimensionals or another brand).
3. Embellish the rest of the card as you wish.
I kept mine CAS and added sequins using Glue Dots.
There are many ideas using this multi-glitter technique. Your die doesn't have to be a word - it could be some beautiful shape as well. The glitter doesn't have to be in strips either. Feel free to incorporate stamping on your panels too!

I adhered my glitter with individual strips of Scor-Tape. I cut my word and used the negative side of the die for the front panel, adding sequins for embellishments. I adhered the "inside" of each letter with Brushable Glue (Crystal Effects and the like would also work to adhere to the glitter well). Easy!

Paper: Poptone Sweet Tooth

Paper Size: A2

Accessories: Hello die (Technique Tuesday), sequins, Scor-Tape (1/4"), Waterfall, Lemonade, Aquamarine, Bubble Gum Glitter and Brushable Glue (Sparkle N Sprinkle)

Techniques: Negative Glitter

It's Monday -- Bee Sweet!

Today I am hosting the Splitcoaststampers Technique Challenge 464 and it's all about sewing! If you have never sewed on cards before, check out the challenge for a wonderful tutorial by Lori Craig. 

My cute little bear is wishing someone a sweet day! I embossed him using VersaFine Onyx and Clear EP on Ultrasmooth White CS and then colored with Spectrum Noir markers. The sentiment and star are stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black. The star is colored in with a Black Spica Glitter pen. All of these images are from Lawn Fawn's Critters in Costume -- and there are coordinating dies!! My designer paper (including the flower) is from Pebbles' Walnut Grove collection - perfect papers for this set!
 
I sewed around my main panel using white thread (should have used black!) and a fancy stitch. Everything is held together with 1/2" Scor-Tape and Zva Dimensionals. All linked supplies are available at i {heart} papers!

Stamps: Critters in Costume and coordinating dies (Lawn Fawn) - available at i {heart} papers
Paper: Kraft, Summer Sun, Walnut Grove DP (Pebbles)
Paper Size: 5" SQ
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black, Spica Glitter pen (Black), and Spectrum Noir markers
Accessories: natural string twine, button, distressing tool, Clear EP (Ranger), paper piercer, sewing machine, flower die (MFT), glitter (wings), black pearl (flower center)
Techniques: embossing, piercing, sewing

Challenges: 
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Stitching 
Crafty Cardmakers - Bears 
Sparkle N Sprinkle - Anything Goes with Glitter, Embossing Powder and/or Flocking

Glitter Embossing

A month from today Christmas will be over. Wow. Time fleets so quickly - make sure you are doing things each day that you LOVE! And I LOVE to stamp!

Today's Splitcoaststampers Technique Challenge I am hosting is all about sparkle! It's called "Glittery Embossing" and basically puts glitter glue on your dry embossed cardstock.  See details and instructions on how to do this HERE.

My sample is made using Hambo Stamps' adorable Snowmen (0316) and Let It Snow (1518) images.

I stamped on Georgia Pacific White cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and then colored in a little using Copic markers. I added Diamond Stickles to the sky for snowflakes. The sentiment is stamped with Baja Breeze (Stampin' Up!) ink and both were then cut out with Spellbinders Circle dies.

I hope you will check out the challenge and play along!

Stamps: Let It Snow - 1518 and Snowmen - 0316 by Hambo Stamps 
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Georgia Pacific White, Merry Little Christmas DP (MME) 
Ink: Baja Breeze, Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics 
Accessories: doily, pink gems (Studio G), Spellbinders dies, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Diamond Stickles 

Other challenges for this card:
Addicted to Stamps Challenge - Christmas Time
Eclectic Ellapu - Celebration with Sparkle  
Stamptacular Sunday - Must use a stamp - Winter Bliss  
The Crafty Pad - Add some Glitter   
The Squirrel & the Fox - Anything Goes
PanPastel UK Challenge - Frosty and Bright  
Penny Black and More - Any Die will Do
Stamping Sensations - Traditional Christmas   
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Winter 
Eureka Stamps - Holiday Fun   
Forever Friends - Glitter & Sparkle
Hooked on Craft - Christmas NO red/green 
House of Gilli - Die Cuts
Lexi's Creations - Christmas 
Love to Create - Non-Traditional Holiday Colors 
Squigglefly - Glitter & Bling 
Tammy's Scrapin Corner - Let It Snow 
The Cutie Pie Challenge - Use a Doily 
There's Magic in the Air - Sparkle 
Totally Stampalicious - Let It Snow   
The Ribbon Reel - Photo Inspiration + Cream, Baby Blue & Pink + Bling

  

Ric Rac Flowers - and a Tutorial!

First of all, Happy Thanksgiving to all U.S. ribbon lovers! I hope you are enjoying time with friends and family today! If you have time for some crafting, maybe you can try this easy ric rac flower!

Step 1: Cut your ric rac in two lengths. I used Light Pink from Really Reasonable Ribbon and cut two lengths of 20 inches each. I twisted them together every so often and sewed along one edge with my sewing machine. If you don't sew, you could use liquid or hot glue.

Step 2: Start rolling up your flower from one end, adding dots of hot glue every so often.

Step 3: Tuck the end underneath and glue to the bottom. You will have a little rosette!

 I wanted more of an open flower, so I spread out all of the "petals."

Step 4: I cut a small circle of matching felt and hot glued it to the bottom of the flower.

Step 5: Using a coordinating color of felt, I cut two leaves and glued those to the circle. I attached the flower to my card using Scor-Tape. And voila!

I added a row of the same ric rac along the bottom and added a flower button and some string. My sentiment is by Technique Tuesday and the designer paper is from the Everyday Eclectic Collection by Echo Park. There are a lot of beautiful ric rac colors in the RRR Store HERE. At a cost of about 30 cents for this flower (as opposed to much more pre-made in stores) you can make a whole garden full!

You could add a clip and make this a hair accessory, or attach it to a headband too!
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you will give this a try!

And on a fun note, this card won Third Place at Polka Doodles!

Challenges for this card:
Creative Moments - Anything Goes
Divas by Design - Use 2 or more Patterned Papers
WordArt Wednesdays - Anything goes
Cute Card Thursday - Girls only 
Forever Friends - Anything Goes 
Sassy Studio Designs - Felt or fabric 
Cards by Lady Anne / Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes

Another Folded Tree and a Holiday Recipe!

I loved the little Folded Christmas Tree that we did for last week's Technique Challenge so much that I decided to do one for a fall design too! You can see how to make the tree here. It's so fast and easy!

My images are from owls2love by The {Stamps} of Life with Stephanie Barnard. I stamped my images using Stephanie's Premium Ink in Licorice and then fussy cut the owl. I think he looks cute in his folded tree and thought this would make a fun Thanksgiving "thank you."

Have a great week! I am looking forward to Thanksgiving and stamping with my mom! Here is a little recipe I like to share around this time - fast and easy and elegant!

Cranberry-Pineapple Minis

INGREDIENTS
1 can (20 oz.) crushed pineapple, in juice
2 pkg. (3 oz. each) raspberry flavor gelatin
1 can (16 oz.) whole berry cranberry sauce
2/3 cup walnut pieces (optional)
1 apple, chopped

Drain pineapple, reserving juice. Add enough water to juice to measure 2-1/2 cups; pour into saucepan. Bring to boil. Pour over gelatin mixes in large bowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved.
Stir in pineapple, cranberry sauce, nuts and apple. Spoon into 24 paper-lined 2-1/2-inch muffin cups. Refrigerate 2-1/2 hours or until firm. Remove liners.

Stamps: owls2love (The {Stamps} of Life with Stephanie Barnard 
Paper: Kraft, Pumpkin Pie, Sage Shadow, Stella Rose DP (MME) 
Ink: Stephanie's Clearsnap/ColorBox Licorice 
Accessories: tag, jute string, slit punch, Fiskars grass punch, Sizzix embossing folder 

Other challenges for this card:

~Crafty Cardmakers - more than One Punch and/or Die Cut

~Ooh La La Creations - Someone Special 

~Use It Tuesday - be thankful (hoarded supply is the tag - I have tons of them that I bought on eBay before I had any die cuts!)

~Little Red Wagon - texturize

~Daisy Doodles - thanksgiving

~Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes

Holiday Blitz: Folded Christmas Trees

I love the Holiday Blitz Tutorials that are being shared each day in the Resources section at Splitcoaststampers. There are SO many fun ones that we will probably be doing a lot of them in my Technique Challenges up to the holidays! Every other Monday I host the Technique Lover's Challenge at SCS and today I chose FOLDED CHRISTMAS TREE.
 
The challenge is so much fun -- it looked so hard when I saw Beate's sample and even when I glanced at her amazing tutorial , but it is SO EASY! You have to try these. It took like two minutes to make the tree.

I used papers from Echo Park to make my tree and cut the circle with my circle cutter (about 5.5").  I scored each section with my Scor-Buddy. The layers are held together using i {stick} papers red-line tape. I added Kaiser Pearls along the bottom of the trunk and at each design change. The sentiment is from Flourishes' Cowboy Christmas, available at i {heart} papers. 

I hope you will try these fun trees. Come play along in the challenge today!

i {heart} papers is celebrating Black Friday every Friday in November with a sale each Friday-Sunday in November, with the culmination on Black Friday-Cyber Monday. Stay tuned each week!

Stamps: Cowboy Christmas by Flourishes (available at i {heart} papers) 
Paper: Winter Park DP by Echo Park, Naturals White, Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy 
Ink: Cherry Cobbler 
Accessories: MS branch punch, circle cutter, Lifestyle Crafts Nesting Doily dies, Spellbinders Oval die, Kaiser Pearls, silk flower, i {stick} papers red-line tape, Scor-Buddy

Always Love You

Today's creation incorporates three Splitcoast challenge! The Technique Challenge was to use layered scallops. The CAS Challenge had a Pinterest inspiration photo, and Lydia's HYCCT Challenge was to be inspired by A Walk in the Woods.

I used the adorable Autumn Owls die and stamp set by The Stamps of Life with Stephanie Barnard. I LOVE how there are dies for each stamp in the set!

I love scallops and since my owl has them on his tummy, he came to mind when I saw Joan's fun Technique challenge. I layered two different patterns from my designer paper choices - both chosen using the Pinterest photo provided in the CAS Challenge.

Lydia's HYCCT1231 Challenge: A Walk in the Woods, was to inspire us with something from nature. We have lots of turkeys in our neighborhood, but I have to travel a little to see an owl. :)

If you have not yet tried Stephanie's Premium Inks, I URGE you to get some ASAP. As she tells in her video, there is a smooth stamping surface on the ink, so what you get is a clean, solid image, rather than the pattern on the ink pad (linen, or criss cross or whatever). I absolutely LOVE these inks - and had no idea there was such a difference from what I had been using. I LOVE them!

Thanks for taking a peek!  

On a fun note, my S'Mores project won Top Five at Cupcake Inspirations~!

Stamps: Autumn Owls by The Stamps of Life with Stephanie Barnard 
Paper: The Paper Studio solid CS, Jack and Jill Quite Contrary MME DP 
Ink: Stephanie's Premium Inks (Colorbox) 
Accessories: Autumn Owls dies, buttons (Buttons Galore), Pink Sorbet Baker's Twine (The Twinery), scallop die (SNSS), Zig Zag EF (Lifestyle Crafts), paper piercer 

Other challenges for this card:
Gingerloft - No coloring Allowed 
That Craft Place - Tic Tac Toe - dies, buttons, scallop border
Penny Black and More - Any Die will Do
Challenges 4 Everybody - Always Anything Goes

Acrylic Block Collage

Last week on Splitcoaststampers, I shared a technique that I learned while I was at the Hambo Stamps retreat in Georgia at the end of September. You have to try it! It makes beautiful cards that look different every time! My friend, Melissa, was the one that showed it to our group, and we all fell in love!

Take a look:

I used Memento Markers to color (scribble, really!) on my acrylic block, then spritzed with water and immediately stamped onto my cardstock (Georgia Pacific White - nothing special!)

The color on this ended up being very solid, but I have made cards using the same technique where there is a lot of white space too. Sometimes the block makes a difference, and what ink you use (whether it's ink pads, markers, and what brand), but each way it turns out is beautiful!
Anyway, it's super easy to do.

Here are the steps:
1. Using markers or stamp pads, ink up an acrylic block (your choice in size - we used straight edged blocks as well as wavy edged) with 2-4 colors, beginning with the lightest color and moving to the darkest.

2. Spritz the block with water and immediately stamp onto cardstock (we used white most of the time - or kraft occasionally). Let dry (a few minutes at most).

3. Mask the rest of the cardstock so only the stamped block area is showing (we used 2 post it notes thick around the whole block area so the ink didn't bleed through to the rest of the card).

4. Stamp several other images using light and/or darker colors (your choice), filling as much or as little of your block area as you wish.

5. Remove the masks and stamp another image and/or sentiment in the darkest color (most of the time we used black ink for a good contrast).

6. Voila!

And yep -- ONE LAYER BEAUTIES! 

Unfortunately, I used my friends' stamps, and didn't write down who to credit, so I apologize for leaving out those details! I hope you will give it a try. Take a look HERE for inspiration!

Submitting to:
Color Q Challenge 160:

 

Recycling Into Beauty

Today I am hosting the Technique Challenge at Splitcoast. I would have to have you play along. We are recycling dryer sheets into beautiful flowers. You can read all about it HERE.

I used Cherry Cobbler reinker (I know it looks peach, but I really did use CC!) with some water in a spray bottle, and then sprayed with Pearl Glimmer Mist for my dryer sheet flower. It is more a background for my paper roses.

Click on the photo for a close-up view. The sentiment is Find Happiness by Rubber Stamp Tapestry.
I cut some Bubblegum felt using SNSS's Scallop Border die and added three rows of Penelope Natural Crocheted Lace from Really Reasonable Ribbon. The Crystal Stickles on the flower took a little time to dry, but I love the look! I hope you will give it a try!

A few wonderful awards I picked up last week:

I won this award for my Paris By Air card.

I won this award for my Paris By Air card.

I won this award with my Pretty Papers card.

Other challenges for my Dryer Sheet Flower card: 

Let`s Ink It Up - Use Your Favorite Embellishments (pearls and lace) 

Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Create something that reflects you. You are God's masterpiece! (lots of layers girly, something "old" made "new" again!) 

The Squirrel & the Fox - Make it Sparkle 

Sugar Creek Hollow  - More is Better  

Crafts and Me - Pearls & Roses  

Crafty Ann's - It's A Girl Thing 

Card Crafter's Circle - Sentiment

Stamps: Find Happiness by Rubber Stamp Tapestry 

Paper: Crumb Cake, Basic Grey DP 

Ink: Rose Red 

Accessories: Bubblegum Felt (Stamp School), Scallop Die (Sweet N Sassy), crocheted lace (Really Reasonable Ribbon), paper roses (Wild Orchid), Crystal Stickles, Blush Peals (Kaiser), dryer sheet, doily Techniques: Dryer Sheet Flower Technique