Sail away...

Summer is winding down so I thought it would be fun to go sailing.  Sailing with cards that is!  A friend of mine has this sailboat die, think it is Memory Box die but if I'm wrong please let me know......anyway I die cut a bunch of the sailboats in white and black cardstock then brought them home and made a bunch of cards. My other friend lent me the saying for my cards.....I have very nice friends. One of the cards (sunset card) is going to my friend's daughter for her anniversary...hope her and her husband like it.

In the trees

This card has a lot of ink but only one stamp ......do you see it?  the bird landing on the horizon.  did use a couple of stencils and that birch trees die.  did a trick I saw on Jennifer McGuire blog where you die cut a delicate die and glue four of them together to make them stronger so that is what I did on this card.  Also used a lot of post it notes to create the moon, hills and horizon then added some self sticking gems.  I think this would make a good masculine card or winter card...what do you think?
card details:
stamps - Memory Box bird
die - Memory Box birch trees
inks - Ranger adirondack stonewash, demin and Ranger distress black soot
stencils - THS004 stripes, THS006 dot fade
post it notes for masking
self sticking gems
entering in the following challenges:
1.  Sweet Stamps blog - masculine
2.  Simon Wednesday challenge - anything goes
3.  Love to scrap! challenge blog - anything goes
4.  Addicted to stamps and more - photo inspiration - I used white for my inspiration

Faux layers and grid cards

Third night of stamping is all about faux layers and grid cards.  Faux layer cards always make a unique statement.  Grid cards allows you to let your imagination fly.
faux layer card details:
stamps by Memory Box
inks - Adirondack
grid card details:
stamps by Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Co. Home Page
inks - Encore and Adirondack

The night before the night before Christmas

 A couple more cards I did this year for the holiday.  to the left is a trio of birds from Memorybox stamps ...they are colored with my favorite medium Prisma color pencils.  to the right......I heat embossed!!!  yes, I did do a few cards that I embossed in gold this year.  haven't done that in ages!  I think that big flower is by Outlines stamps.

12 tags of 2013 - June

I finally got my tag done for June.  Think the last tag I did was back in April.  this is my version of Tim's tag using the distress markers to water color.  one basic difference is I don't like the ripped bottom of the stamped water color paper so what I did was do a faux ripped layer.   Hope you like my tag.

tag details:
stamps - butterfly collage from Memorybox Stamps , word collage from Stampers Anonymous
inks - Ranger distress ink pads, distress stain, distress paint, archival black ink pad
ribbon - May Arts
entering this tag in following challenge:
1.  Tim Holtz june tag - distress markers
2.  DLART-challenge blog - anything goes
3.  Fashionable Stamping Challenges - new technique (water coloring with distress markers)

Hearts

Here is a pop up card I saw years ago where you stamp a heart, mask it, stamp it again 3 more times masking as you stamp.  It's a small card but will still fit in note card envelope so no extra postage needed. 

entering this card in the following challenge:
1.  Great Impressions - anything with hearts
2.  Fashionable Stamping Challenges - show some love
card supplies:
stamps - Mark's Finest Papers Love, love, love stamp set and Judith mini heart peg stamp
inks - Colorbox warm red chalk ink pad,  Brilliance black ink pad
pattern paper - Memory Box
ribbon - May Arts

Fuzzy Colors

This is a fun background technique that I have been doing for years.  I have an article about this technique here .  Just thought I would show it here with a twist.

FUZZY COLORS REVISITED

Fuzzy Colors background technique came about because I was always pulling out my stipple brushes to add a little color to the edge of my cards. I starting thinking why not fill a whole sheet of cardstock with color using my stipple brushes. It looked like fuzzy colors to me so that is how the name for this technique came about years ago. Stipple brushes come in all sizes & shapes which I have several. I like to use one stipple brush for each color family. I've been saying for years, “Stipple brushes are a stampers' best friend!”
Basically what I do is stipple colors onto a full sheet of 8 ½ x 11 cardstock, this way you can cut it up when done to make up to four cards or just cut it up for any project. The first color is usually my main color another words if you start with red it is going to be seen the most. Stipple your next color randomly on the cardstock leaving spaces for other colors. Continue stippling colors. The more you stipple the fuzzier your colors will look. Stippling the darkest color last to give all the colors depth.
Any ink pads will work with this technique .... dye inks, pigment ink pads or chalk ink pads.
Experiment with whatever ink pads you own and have fun! Let's get started!

FUZZY COLORS! - full sheet of cardstock

supplies:
Stipple brushes – all sizes & shapes
double stick tape
Prisma color pencils


Inks:  any inks will work with this technique


Instructions:

1. On a full sheet of white cardstock stipple ink randomly all over cardstock.
Move onto next color Marvy Carribean Blue then Marvy Green and last Marvy Oriental Blue.
2. Once your sheet of white cardstock is covered with color it is time to stamp your image. It's that easy!
3. Stamp image with VersaFine Onyx Black inkpad.
4. Color in select sections of image with Prisma color pencils.
5. Layer black cardstock that has the four corners rounded with double stick tape onto turquoise square card.

FUZZY COLORS WITH A TWIST

The twist is stamping image first then masking with a post-it cut out a little bigger than the image itself. Cutting the mask bigger gives more white space for a more clearer view of image.

supplies:
Stipple brushes – all sizes & shapes
double stick tape
Post-Its

Inks:
Marvy Matchables dye ink pads – Carribean Blue, pale green & oriental blue
VersaFine Onyx Black

Instructions:

1. Stamp on white (4 x 5 1/4”) cardstock with VersaFine Onyx Black ink pad.
2. Stamp the same image on Post-It and cut it out a little bigger than the image itself. This is called a mask.
3. Place the mask over the stamped image on the white card.
4. Stipple ink just around the masked image.
5. Remove the mask from the image.
6.  The image itself is uncolored and stands out from the fuzzy colors.
Tip: 1. For more interest you can stipple some gold pigment sparely on fully colored cardstock.
2. Use as few as two colors or up to five colors of inks for this technique.
3. Use Fuzzy Color background paper as a background only or stamp directly onto the fuzzy colors background.

Couldn't resist Chandelier

This was a fun tag to create using ideas from Tim Holtz blog.  First cut out two tags one white cardstock, other clear plastic.  Get out Ranger blending tools and alcohol inks.  Cover clear plastic tag with alcohol inks...I find the darker the better for this technique.  allow alcohol inked tag to dry completely.  On the side with the alcohol inks stamp images with Ranger jet black archival ink (this is one time it pays to use what technique calls for).  dab off black ink with soft cloth.  it works like a resist technique...really cool.  Tape alcohol ink resist tag to cardstock tag.  Over stamp with same jet black archival ink with chandelier and sherlock penguin images from Memorybox Stamps. 
This tag is for chandelier challenge over on Gingersnap Creations. 

Happy Birthday to my friend!

Not only is it Thanksgiving this week here in U.S.A. but it's my friends' birthday!  so please wish her a BIG Happy Birthday!  would also like you to know that she is the one who got me hooked on Inky Antics Rubber Stamps honeycomb cards.  So I had to make an extra special one for her with all the trimmings.  On the outside of the card I stamped and colored the sweet bird with P R I S M A C O L O R color pencils as all the other images.  I think I over did it with Ranger Ink Stickles glitter glue for the frosting but hey, can't have too much frosting.  All the pattern papers are from Memorybox Stamps and Scrapbooking and ribbon is Stampin' Up.  Let's see did I forget anything on the front of the card.....oh yes, big dies are Spellbinders Nestabilities and label is punch from EK Success.  Now onto the inside of the card.......for the honeycomb cupcake I used orange for the frosting and brown for the paper lining of the cupcake.  Did these colors to have fall colors.  Check out the saying I changed it just a little by inking the stamp then removing ink from certain letters so I could make the saying read, "with cherries on top!"  clever, huh?!?

***not affiliated with any of the companies, just like to make it easy for my blog readers to find stamps and supplies I have used in my card.***

Another view of Halloween

Here are the last of my Halloween view master cards.  Turn the wheel and see all the different images.  It really is an easy card to create out of a regular note card.  If you want a tutorial just leave a comment and let me know and I'll be glad to post a tutorial.  Images on this card are from various companies but the white lace behind the Memorybox Stamps and Scrapbooking paper is from May Arts . 
While you are reading this post I will be on my way for a fun filled stamping weekend with friends!  I'll post pics when I get home.  Bet my husband will be glad to have a weekend to himself for sleeping in late and not having me going around the house making noise.  lol!

***just want to let you know I have no affiliation with any of the companies listed above ...... just like to add links to make it easy for you, my blog readers, to find the stamps or supplies if you like what you see here.***

Still Halloween

 Got a late start on making Halloween cards but I'm going strong switching from honey pop cards here
and here to View Master cards!  haven't made this type of card in years...sometimes it is fun to go back into the past and revisit old techniques.  Remember view master toy when you were a kid (dating myself)....do they still make view masters?  Anyway you turn the wheel to view different images.  These cards use various companies.  If there is one image showing you really need to know just ask me in a comment and I'll get back to you.  Used more of the Memorybox Stamps and Scrapbooking papers for the strips on three of these cards.  On the real orange card I stamped the spider web over and over.  Don't know if you can see in the scans but the ghosts and pumpkins are glittered with Ranger Ink stickle glues and used up more of May Arts black webbing ribbon.  It feels good to start using all the stuff I have accumulated over the years.  Think this will be my new motto......Stamp It!  Use It!  Create It!

Another Halloween honey pop & stripe challenge

  Over on Art Impressions Stamps-challenge blog it's stripes so thought this would work into thier challange.  Still making Inky Antics Rubber Stamps honey pop cards.  They are so much fun!  they take a little time to cut out the honey pop paper --- my tip: use a sharp pair of scissors.  See the witch she is colored in with ...... I'm sure you know if you read my blog on a regular basis......... P R I S M A C O L O R pencils.
All the images are by Inky Antics except for the little web from PSX an old company that unfortunately went out of business years ago.  The stripes for this challenge is the paper from Memorybox Stamps and that great ribbon that looks like black webbing is from May Arts a local ribbon company here in Connecticut......just wish they had a store.  They only sell wholesale.  Wouldn't it be great to have a store just with all thier ribbons!!!  Hey May Arts --- what do you think?  or maybe you could do like another company warehouse does.....a sale one day a year where they open up to the public.  wouldn't that be great!

***just want to let you know I have no affiliation with any of the companies listed above ...... just like to add links to make it easy for you, my blog readers, to find the stamps or supplies if you like what you see here.***

Oh Baby!

 I needed to make a baby card because I want to send to my neighbor who is having a baby soon.  I searched the web to find some type of baby card to make because I don't have any stamps for that theme....never needed them.  Anyway found this idea using punches!  Too adorable don't you think so?  An oval punch and circle punch is all that is needed to make these two cards except for an alphabet set to spell out baby and the inside I'll computer generate some saying.  A little sponging on the face for cheeks some white freckles with white gel pen (need a new one-had a devil of a time getting it to work), ladybug spots made with Ranger black Enamel accents and scroll image on sweet pea baby by Memorybox Stamps .  Let's see did I forget anything oh yeah, vellum wings for baby lady bug and the hands/feet are freeform cutting out. 

And I always tell my students, "there are no mistakes in stamping just happy accidents."  I'm reminding you of this saying because I smudge a couple of the black paint dots on baby ladybug card so had to do something to fix it.....can you find the fix? 

***just want to let you know I have no affiliation with any of the companies listed above ...... just like to add links to make it easy for you, my blog readers, to find the stamps or supplies if you like what you see here.***

Just a card

Like the title says....just a card...it's been a few days since I posted so thought I would just pop in and add a card for fun.  Actually this card started out for a challenge but then didn't think it fit the theme enough.  All the images are from Outlines Rubber stamps .  If you look closely you can see images stamped on Memorybox Stamps and Scrapbooking decorative papers with Ranger Distress inks for a subtle effect.  If you like it or just have any thoughts on this card leave me a comment.  appreciate all comments.

*****please join my following(members) and email list.  I'd like to see my following make it to 100 by the end of summer.  think you can help?*****

Christmas in April

Yes, I said in April!  LOL!  only reason it's Christmas in April here is because I'm teaching a class featuring only holiday cards. 

What do you think?  I will describe each card at a later date.

   I really like the way this scene card came out.

Two holiday cards

Two more holiday cards created with

Memorybox Stamps and Scrapbooking stamps.  The three birds on a branch are stamped with Brilliance black ink on a pearl cardstock.  The poinsettia is colored with twinkling H2O paints.  enjoy!

Christmas in August

Here are a couple of holiday cards I did in a class using mostly Memorybox Stamps and Scrapbooking images and papers.  On the green bird used Q-tip applicator and chalk inks.  On trio of birds used my Prisma color pencils. enjoy!

Explosion!

Explosion as in Explosion fold card.  I haven't made one of these cards in years but all of a sudden I got an urge to make a couple.  This is actually a card I sent out yesterday for a swap I'm in ...... a little sad because this swap is closing so this is the last card for this swap.  I wanted to do something different so I thought bring back the explosion fold card so I did.  The owl on the front is Perfect Pearls technique.     Now I want to see if anyone pays any attention to me here or are my posts just going out to cyber space so if you want to know how to do the explosion fold or want to know the Perfect Pearls technique please leave me a message.  I know I can count on one of my dear friends to let me know but I know she knows how to fold the explosion so anyone else interested? 
enjoy!

Watercolor

Here are three cards I did using watercolor paper and Twinkling H2o's at least I think that is what they are called.  Anyone who knows for sure please let me know.  These backgrounds are fast, fun and fabulous.  There are a couple of ways to do them first is to wet the watercolor paper then add color.  Second is drop a few drops of water into the Twinkling containers and work from there.  Either way I think they just come out great.  enjoy!

Oh yes, in case I forgot to mention all the above cards were made with Memory Box stamps......not affiliated in any way just like their images.

Created by Hand - Things that Fly

Here is my Things that Fly entry for Created Byhand Challenge-tues. challenge

enjoy!