My Dear

When I think of birds, I rarely think of hens, but I had to pull this old bird out for the Birds and the Bees challenge at Fashionable Stamping Challenges. I should use this stamp more--she's fun, but need to find more sentiments that go with her. I am also entering this into Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge I Ought to Use this More!, Word Art Wednesday #138 Anything Goes, Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Anything Goes and Little Tangles Challenge #39 Watercolor.

I  was a lucky winner of Tim Holtz' Mini Distress Inks, so I wanted to make something using them. I ought to and will use them more. Here's my entry.

Products used:  Mini Distress Inks--Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Frayed Burlap and Walnut, water color paper and pen, card blank, Distress tool by Ranger and  Stamps by Stampin' Up and Art Impressions.

I stamped images and sentiment in Archival Ink. I tapped the Mini Distress Ink pad on my craft sheet and spritzed with water. The panel was pressed down into the puddle, removed and dried with a heat gun. Then I  painted the hen and shadow with a water color pen and Distress Inks.  I distressed the panel edges with a Distress Tool and applied walnut ink direct to edges.  Glued panel onto card blank.

I love the colors of the Distress Inks--so vivid, and they make great watercolors.What I love most about using water color is you never know what you're going to end up with!

If I had a rose...

When I saw the challenge at Simon Says Stamp "I Ought to Use This More!",  I knew it was going to be fun!  So many choices, so little time!

My first thought was to use some designer paper I keep collecting but never use, and I came upon this Paper Purses  punch out card stock pack by K and Company on my shelf. The front of the pack says "Make a gift box that's a gift!"  I was reminded of my friend's 13 year old son telling me, "When you make us a card, it's more like a gift!".

 As is usually the case when I am in my closet, one thing led to another, and here you have it!

This is constructed of all products that I really ought to use more often, but I haven't used most of them in years!  To give an example, the purse card stock was purchased when my daughter was about 7 years old--she's almost 16 now!  I thought she would enjoy crafting them with me then...NOT!

 I have a weakness for seam binding and other vintage trim, and I must have it in every color. I have been collecting this for years and never use it (thanks to Tim Holtz' crinkled ribbon and Distress stains).  So I dragged it through some Picket Fence DS spritzed with water, rolled in a ball, let it dry, and made a bow out of that...I really should use my colored trims more often. (Psst!!  I like the TH crinkled ribbon SO much better!)

The flowers are leftover pieces from Mother's Day flowers my family made for the mother's in our Church's congregation 2 years ago! (We made over 200 corsages each with many layers of flowers using coffee filters (dyed with diluted acrylic paint and spritzed with Perfect Pearls Mist) and Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Die.) Yes, I save EVERYTHING! I glued 6 or 7 of the smallest layers together and scrunched them up.  I centered them with Rangers Liquid Pearls.

 Speaking of pearls, I haven't used that roll of pearl trim in a long time--so I  used that, too!

 Those leaves?  They are stickers from an unopened package by Stickopotamus purchased when my kids were born!  No, they don't stick anymore, but with the help of a glue gun (something else I never use and really ought to use more often) they work fine. In fact, I used that glue gun to assemble the entire project.  

Now here's something new to me: the butterfly stamp is one I bought at a yard sale this weekend.  They are from Basic Grey.  I stamped it in Perfect Medium and dusted it with Perfect Pearls by Ranger (something else I rarely use) and cut it out. The pearl doesn't show up in the photo, but it's there! 

The buttons are from my stash, and started out clear.  I colored them with Tim Holltz Adirondack alcohol inks by Ranger. I need to use these clear buttons and the inks more often.  I attached them using a little bit of wire, so they dance around like flowers in a breeze.

The sentiment is one from a booklet of vellum sentiments I also got at a yard sale--this one, years ago, with the cover torn off, so I don't know who to credit.  I cut it up to fit the tiny box and taped it on with vellum tape.

I think I'll send this to my sister, who grows and sells flowers at her Hilltop Farms. She needs to know I think of her often.

It was so great to pull out some old stuff and to see how it all came together.

I wish to enter this in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp "I Ought to Use This More!"

Loves Rubberstamps #109 Handmade Flowers

Word Art Wednesday #138 Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Anything Goes

Paper crafting Challenge #12 In Summer

Craft For the Craic Something Summery or With Flowers

Crafthazelnut's Patterned Paper June Challenge

Allsorts Challenge How Does Your Garden Grow

Thank You

I just made this card for my neighbors, who invited us to join them for their family Father's Day lunch.  We had such a good time, and the food and fellowship was outstanding.  I just wanted to thank them as soon as possible, and I know they enjoy my handmade cards.

 For the background I chose a piece of patterned scrap paper from the bin and stamped it randomly with Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz sets--Seamless Experience and Urban Grunge, using Archival ink.  Distressed  with Distress inks and glued to card blank.

I stamped the dressform in Archival ink, cut out, and distressed with Distress ink.  Stamped and distressed spool with Distress Ink, cut out and popped both up off the background with varied thicknesses of pop dots.
Stamped seam binding with Fabrico ink and a Stampin' Up sentiment and tied and glued this around the waist of the dressform. Notched ends and wrinkled it a bit.

I'm entering this at the last minute (phew!) in Eureka Stamps Challenge 93 Thank You.

Good Times

I was inspired to make this card by Simon Says Stamp Monday Paint Challenge. This will be a Father's Day card from the kids.

To start, I dry embossed Sizziz Tim Holltz Compass Texture Fade onto card stock.  I painted it  in random areas with white acrylic paint (stash) using a palette knife.  Let that dry and used the palette knife to drag various Distress paints down, then misted a cloth with water and wiped areas to blend. Dried with a heat tool.

I knotted the cord with a nautical knot and glued this on.

I stamped the image from Stampin' Up Seaside Sketches in Archival ink on watercolor paper (stash) and painted with a water brush and Distress markers, which I smudged on my craft sheet. Dried with a heat tool and used Nestabilities dies to cut out.  I die cut the mat, as well, from a scrap. Assembled and popped up with foam squares (stash) off the background.

I edged Tim Holtz Chit Chat stickers with Distress Ink and a blending tool and stuck them on.  Added  completed panel to a card blank.

  And then in different light, but wanted to show closer detail.

I'm entering this into the following challenges: Simon Says Stamp Monday Paint Challenge, Paper Crafting Magic Challenge 12 In Summer, Craft Room Challenge Sun Sand and Surf, Mod Squad Challenge In Ocean Or On Sea, Unruly Paper Arts By the Sea Challenge, and Fantasy Stampers For the Boys Challenge.

Queen Anne's Lace

Here is a card I made for Allsorts Challenges A One Layered Card Challenge. I used Inkadinkado's Clear Meadow stamp, Versa Mark and Distress Inks,and clear embossing powder on a water color paper panel. I used the  Spritz and Flick technique after the ink dried and removed embossing with a hot iron over newsprint.  I popped the panel off the card blank with foam squares.

Another one layer

I have just finished 2 more cards for the Allsorts Challenges A One Layer Card Challenge.   Here is one of them. I have under one hour to get them linked.  No pressure or anything...

I was inspired by Tim Holtz' stamp set Nature's Elements by Stamper's Anonymous and by his yummy Distress Inks (such wonderful colors!).

Sorry, a little blurry.  This uses the crayon resist technique using one of those clear ones you get with Easter egg dye kits and Distress inks.  After it was all inked up I used the Spritz and Flick Distress technique and glued it to my card blank.  Stamps:  Large butterfly by PSX and small butterfly by Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Nature's Elements.

Also entering: A Vintage Journey Challenge 8 Wings and Things

Rain Dance

This card started out in a whole other direction than which it went.  I stamped the Umbrella Man (Tim Holtz-Life's Possibilities) with Broken China Distress Ink pounced on it then combed with a combing tool I have, intending to cut him out and use on another card.But I had the Rays stencil  (Tim Holtz) out on my workspace.  One thing led to another, as is usually the case.

I know this looks green, but it is actually a lemon yellow card blank, and  for the rays, I used Mustard Seed Distress marker painted on with a water pen. I really need to get better lighting to photograph in. So then I threw 2 more stencils at this using an ink blending tool with Faded Jeans DI. (Prima Raindrops and Tim Holtz Burlap)  I made a little watercolor puddle for Umbrella Man to stand in ( I used a mixture of Mowed Lawn and Broken China Distress markers and a water pen for this.) I pictured the rain-then-sun-then-rain weather we had today, and decided this needed one of those heavy clouds we had.  I stenciled the cloud by tearing a paper towel and using a bending tool with Faded Jeans DI over it.

Added sentiment (Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Good Thoughts) in Jet Black Archival ink.

For the finishing touch I edged the card with Chipped Sapphire Distress Paint and glued to card blank

I'm entering this in www.challenges.papercraftingmagic.com,  Allsorts Challenge Week 262 One Layer Cards, Country View Challenge Only Men Allowed, Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Stencils and Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Paint.

One Layer Butterfly

I just got this stencil  (Mini Climbing Vine-- The Crafters Workshop) and wanted to try it out.  I had the butterfly stamp on my worktable from another project and my Distress inks were out. Since I needed a quick card to send to my sister, I pulled out a card blank and made it all one layer right on the blank.

I started with taping the stencil down and using an ink blending tool with Shabby Shutters and Mowed Lawn DIs.   I carefully removed the stencil, spritzed with a Mini Mister to blend the colors a little and then dried it with my heat gun.  I then turned my still wet stencil over, put it on the background and pressed down with a clean towel.  The second (reversed) image does not show up well in the photo (you can see it just a bit to the right of the right wing), but is very clear, but light, in person.

Next I stamped the butterfly (Outlines Rubber Stamp Co.) with Archival Jet Black and colored using a water pen and Distress markers (Mustard Seed and Peeled Paint).  I had a little Peeled Paint on the brush and added the shadow with it. Done and ready to send!

I am entering this inwww.challenges.papercraftingmagic.com, Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Stencils and Allsorts Challenge 262 One Layer Cards.

Time

While all the masculine things are out, I made another guy card...seem to be doing that a lot lately.

I started with manila card stock  and stamped with a wood grain stamp by All Night Media in Archival Ink.  Distressed with Ranger Distress Ink. Stamped Sentiment (Indadinkado Large Alphabet), clocks, filmstrip and Tim Holtz sentiment (Life's Possibilities, Lost and Found, and The Journey sets) with Archival Ink on background.  Outlined "Time" with Sharpie pen.  Stamped the finger on card stock, colored with  Ranger Distress Markers and cut out. Added tissue tape over filmstrip.

I die cut a gear, clock and alarm clock out of grunge paper--all from Tim Holtz. (Weathered Clock, Gadget Gears, and Vintage Alarm Clock Movers and Shapers).  Used copper Distress Paint Dabber (Ranger) on clock and silver on alarm clock. To get a rusted look I used Rusty Hinge DI followed by  Antique Linen Distress Embossing Powder (Ranger) on the gear. See my previous post for another "rusting" technique by Tim Holtz-his is much better, even though I had to modify it a bit.

I cut out a clock from Tim Holtz Paper stash-Lost and Found to fit the alarm clock, assembled the card, using a Tim Holtz clock and spinner with a brad on the gear.  Well, I'm out of "Time".

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Father's Day/ Masculine Challenge

It's All About the Vintage and Beauty Challenge #70 Use Dies

Filly and Funky For All Our Fathers Challenge

Country View Challenge Only Men Allowed

Fashionable Stamping Challenge #74 Like Clockwork

Happy Father's Day

Here's my card for my husband on Father's Day.  Inside it simply says Happy Father's Day, and I'm sure I'll write something mushy, too.  Anyway, he is at a career crossroads now, so this is appropriate.

I used  card stock, glossy card stock, Ranger Alcohol Inks and  silver mixative, Archival ink,  some fibers, a Tim Holtz spinner and gears and Tim Holtz Life's Possibilities stamp set.  Obviously, I'm inspired by Tim Holtz here, and learned how to use alcohol inks from his tutorial.  I love these inks, because you never know what you're going to get when you're done. And nothing says Tim like the Umbrella Man.

Now turn your head sideways, because I could not get this photo to rotate.  I think the images and color look better in this shot.  Even my son says this card is really cool. What a complement!

I'm entering this in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Father's Day/Masculine Challenge
Frilly and Funkie Challenge For All Our Fathers
Country View Challenge Only Men Allowed
Fasionable Stamping Challenge #74 Like Clockwork

Special Day

Thank you for stopping by.  Today I made a Father's Day card of sorts for my step-father, Earl, who passed away  four years ago.  It seems like yesterday, and I miss his slow, kind, gentle manner a lot. I will send his card to my Mom, and have her put it on his final resting place in Florida.  The inside reads "Time heals the sadness in my heart, but does not erase the memory of you".

I was inspired by the great Tim Holtz after re-reading his Compendium of Curiosities One and Two for the hundredth time (I don't have Vol. Three yet, but would make a great gift...hint, hint).I used his Extreme Masking technique, Perfect Distress technique, and Rusted Grunge technique (slightly modified) from Vol. One and Faded Layers from Vol. Two.  Oh, I also used the Spritz and Flick Distress technique (Vol. Two). I'm sure I used more of his techniques, but I've probably been using them so long I've forgotten they are his. (Sorry, Tim.)

                                             

I've used many stamping images on this piece, but my main image is a pocket watch stamp from an unknown source.  I started organizing my stamps long before I ever knew I would be letting the world see my work, and discarded the packaging. Other stamps are Pocket Watch (Stampa Rosa), The Car (Stampington & Co.), Post Mark (Stampcraft), Sentiments (Stampin' Up and Kelly Panacci-Time Flies) and Tim Holtz Urban Grunge and Grunge Cirque (Stampers Anonymous).

Dies used:  Tim Holtz Bigz Old Jalopy and Weathered Clock.

I've used several Ranger products on this, as well, including Distress Inks, Stains, and Embossing Powder, Adirondack embossing powder, Perfect Pearls powders, Mini Mister, Distressing Tool, and Ink Blending Tool.

Other Products:  Versa Mark ink, TH Tissue Tape and masks and masking material, manila cardstock, mesh fiber purchased at a yardsale, watch crystal and old chain. Somehow, I always seem to find junk lying around my closet that is just the thing to finish off a piece (found the watch crystal and chain when looking for the clock hands in my junk drawer).

I used the Extreme Masking technique for my background. This is the first time I've used this technique and the first time I've made my own mask using the masking material. I used the Old Jalopy die to make the mask--very simple.  I used the pre-made Flourish mask at the top of the panel.You can read about this masking technique in Tim's book. I might have tweaked his technique just a tiny bit...you know, you get going...I think the masking gives my card a lot of depth, but I should have probably gone a little darker on the bottom of the jalopy to give more definition.  I had more definition on my first attempt, but I also had a big dark spot of unknown origin, so into the round file that went.

I stained the Tissue Tape with Distress Peeled Paint stain, and "rusted"  the die cut clock hands using the Rusted Grunge (modified) technique. I already had these in my junk drawer, and they were not made out of grunge. I did not have Vintage Photo Distress embossing powder, so I substituted Antique Linen Distress e.p. and double embossed using the Adirondack clay e.p. on the top. Followed the rest of the directions to the letter. I think it looks rusty. Points for trying. (It actually looks a little green, but then all the colors seem to be a little off in these photos.)

The clock was made using the Perfect Distress technique, and I added the watch crystal.  I assembled the clock hands, clock, chain and black mesh-like stuff (I had to squish that so the sentiment, other pocket watch and post mark would show. I distressed the edge of the panel with the Distress Tool and added it to a parchment card base.  Curled one corner--saw this on another blog, but I honestly cannot remember who to give credit to.  You know who you are.

I really enjoyed the challenge of trying new (to me) techniques, but rushed through more than I would have liked, so I can get this card in the mail to make it in time for Father's Day.  Earl, I hope you know I'm thinking about you, and I love you. (Sniff). I miss you so much!

I'm entering this in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge-Father's Day/Masculine
Vintage Journey Challenge 7 Get Some Texture
Frilly and Funky For All Our Fathers Challenge
It's All About the Vintage and Beauty Challenge #70 Uses Dies
Country View Challenge Only Men Allowed
Fashionable Stamping Challenge #74 Like Clockwork

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Pixie

When I think of magic, the first thing to come to mind are pixies and fairies.  When I am creating, I think Perfect Pearl powders and Tim Holtz Picket Fence Distress markers work like magic.  It seems appropriate to use them in this challenge piece.

What I love most about this piece is I had NO IDEA what I was going to do, but as 8 p.m. turned into 1 a.m., things started happening.  It must have been magic! That's what happens in Sara's closet.

When I was a child, my sister and I would go to the woods on the edge of our farm and look for signs of pixies and fairies.  It was a magical place, and our imaginations ran wild. When I saw this stamp Willow Flower Fairy from Stamps Happen, Inc., it reminded me of that magical time.

Here's what I did to create this:

Background panel:  Several Distress Paints on craft mat spritzed with water.  Dragged cardstock throught the puddle.  Dried with heat gun and misted with several different colors of Perfect Pearls mists. Set aside.

Middle panel:  Swiped Distress ink pad on Cuttlebug swirls embossing folder, put card stock in the folder and ran through Bick Kick. After removing it from the folder, I used a palette knife to spread gold Distress paint over the raised swirls.  Set aside.

Focal panel:  Dropped some Dylusions ink sprays onto craft sheet, spritzed with water and dragged cardstock through the puddle.  Dried with a heat gun.  Stamped image noted above with Archival Jet Black ink on the background. Used a water brush and Dylusions sprays and Distress markers to paint in details. (Isn't the Picket Fence marker magical?)  Spritzed with Dylusions White Linen spray and highlighted the wings with Perfect Medium and Perfect Pearls pigment powder. Photos just don't pick up how her wings seem to glow. Sentiment is a rub-on from NRN Designs.  "Water droplets" are Glossy Accents (the one on her wing shows up the best in the photo above).  Edged panel with gold Distress paint.

The background, middle panel and focal panel were assembled in a yard sale frame that didn't have any glass. I added the vellum foliage pieces (clearance package from Michaels). I made a flower from some "droppings" from a flower arrangement I stored in my attic. I tinted them with Distress stains and water puddled on the craft mat and dried with a heat gun which made them curl up a bit.  Added a pearl, gold thread and micro beads after gluing them on the piece.

I filled 2 glass vials with pixie dust--I mean glitter--and capped them off with pearls (also found on the floor--in a closet this size you never have to look far for your next embellishment!).  I used Tim Holtz Little Labels for the, uh, labels and distressed them with Distress ink.  I glued these onto the frame and added some micro beads here and there (at the top).  What a mess--they are so bouncy!

It's great how you can use things that are just lying around to come together to make one magical scene.

I am entering this in three challenges:  Simon Says Stamp Magic Challenge, Craft Room Challenge Things With Wings, and Loves Rubber Stamps Anything Goes #106.

Magical Snow

In the south it's very rare we get snow, so on those occasions when it does, it is so magical.  It it happen to snow at night, I love to stay up late after the house is quiet and look out into the night which has magically lightened and glistened by the falling snow.

I tried to portray this in my card.  I used Perfect Pearl mist through a tree stencil, let it dry and removed the stencil.  Then I slowly spritzed the panel with Dylusions White Linen spray ink to get the little "snowflakes". Close to My Heart sentiment stamped in Brilliance silver ink.  Tied with silver fibers and embellished with a Michael's snowflake.  Backed with a white card base.

You can almost hear the hush of a winter's night snowfall.  Magical!

I'm entering this in Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Magic.

Magic of Santa

Who could be more magical than Santa? He brings joy to everyone who knows him, he can be at so many places at one time, and so many people believe in him, yet they may have never seen him. That's the magic of Santa.

                                           
                                                                             (Front)

                       
                                                                            (Inside)

                                                                             (Back)

                                                   
                                             (this one is blurry, but get a better idea of the image)

I altered this Altoid tin to hold a small gift.  I used gesso, card stock, Distress Inks, Stickles, Distress Paints and markers, and Perfect Pearls mist on the front and Versamark ink, clear embossing powder, Distress Inks, Archival Ink, and  alcohol ink on tissue paper on the back. I cut an old Christmas carol out of a music book for the inside and altered with heat embossing, Distress Ink and Perfect Pearls mist. I used Tim Holtz Merry Christmas stamp set for all images and plastic letters, alcohol ink and Glossy Accents for the sentiment.

This was so much fun to make! I'm entering him in Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Magic and Here Comes Santa Challenge at Christmas at Sweet Stampin.