Artistic Outpost November Release

I am so excited as today I get to share the newest plates from Artistic Outpost.   There are two new plates: Cowgirl Strength and Auld Lang Syne. 

Auld Lang Syne is a collection of turn of early twentieth century New Year related images.  Nine bold images make up this collection and were designed to complement the Picture Star rubber stamps featuring images from the same era.

Cowgirl Strength is all about girl power and knowing her own strength. Ten unique images complete this collection including bandanna trim and stitching as well as three fierce and gorgeous cowgirls. 

The cowgirls and sentiments are all irresistible.  I had a hard time picking which gal to stamp up first.  I finally decided on Annie Oakley (my nickname for her)

I paired or treyed her up with with a set of aces.  I smeared the card with a touch of acrylic paint to give a surface to stamp the image on.  I added a hint of color to the image using STAEDTLER karat Aquarell watercolor pencils.

I had this fantastic denim pattern paper which I edged with the stitching stamp.  I added a few stars, twine and burlap for texture.  Any of the sentiments would have been perfect with the image.


The Auld Lang Syne plate had me singing snippets of the song while creating Holiday Decor and cards:

This started with stars cut from shimmery pattern paper and the elegant lady and gentlemen stamped and colored in coordinating colors.  I added a touch of glamour in the background with some holiday picks.  I added this to the stick from the holiday picks to give me a decoration that can be set in a vase with flowers or in centerpiece arrangement.

Hop along and see the fantastic creations from the rest of the Design Team:

Gerrie Johnnic

Lisa Somerville

Suzanne Czosek 

Tracy Evans

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Wreath of Butterflies

This week the Stampendous DT  Team is showcasing the DIY Bangles  and Stampendous stamps. Every day there are new projects on the DT blogs.  Hop over to the Stampendous Blog for all the details of who is sharing projects each day.

I used this  wood wreath. to create my butterfly wreath: 

I spent some serious time cutting and coloring on this wreath. :)  The Stampendous Cling Jumbo Magnolia was stamped multiple times using Ranger Archival ink on yellow glimmer misted tissue paper. I attached a layer of roses around the wreath.

I then stamped the butterflies from these sets: Butterflies, Jumbo Cling Butterfly on cardstock using black archival ink.  I colored the butterflies using STAEDTLER - Karat Oil Pastels.   I blended the pastels using a soft nib.  To finish off the butterflies they were inked up with Versamark Ink pad and dipped in clear embossing powder and heated.  I repeated this three times with each butterfly.  I only used the versamark with the first coat.  I used my steel tweezers with a rubber handle to dip them while they were still hot into the embossing powder for the second and third coat. I added a touch of black glass glitter to the centers of the butterflies. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Heart in My Pocket

 This week at Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge we are sharing projects with heart.   I used a set of t Melissa Frances pockets with tags to create a mini album.We also have a spectacular guest designer this week: The Gentleman Crafter.

I took a bunch of different photos of my mini book.  This is the outside covers open flat to show you the front and back. 

I used some lovely roses paper and added a few bees stamped and colored.  The front of the mini book has  a sentiment from the Artistic Outpost Quote and Quotables.   I accented with a touch of lace and twine.  I used 7 Gypsies tape to tape the pockets together.

Here is the center of the book. You can see the twine that I wound around the center of the taped pages to hold the book together:

The theme for my pages is all based on flowers, bees, and nature.    The papers are all from two 6 x 6 pads of paper to help keep the color scheme coordinated.


I turned the page from the center to share one of the back pages and the back side of the middle page: 

The tags pulled out:

I was quite pleased with the end result and love the hearts as pull tabs on the top of the tags.  It is always fun to put together a mini album with different images in the same theme.

Products: Spellbinders Classic Heart Dies, 
My Minds Eye - Be Happy - Follow Your Heart ,  My Minds Eye - Honey - The Sweetest Thing, Artistic Outpost - Quotes and Quotable, 
Artistic Outpost - Flower Market, Hero Arts - 19th Century French Script,  Stampendous Queen Bee, Stampendous Thoughtful Wishes , Stampendous - Bluebird Branch, Artistic Outpost - Lovely Day, Artistic Outpost - Ephemera Background, Artistic Outpost - Bloom & Grow, Hero Arts - Delicate Leafs ,
Melissa Frances PAPER BAGS with Tags, 7 Gypsies Paper Tape - Global Ledger Numbers

Come share your heart inspired project for an opportunity to win a $50 voucher from Simon Says Stamp

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Angels we have heard on High

I decided to pull out some scraps and put together a card this morning.

 I had this scrap of music paper with the snowflakes and I don't remember what it was from but I loved the effect.  I decided to tear it and overlay it onto a sheet from a book.  The next step was to pull out this angel I stamped, colored and embossed yesterday and didn't use!  The angel is from one of my new favorite sets from Stampendous Excelsis Deo and she is colored using my STAEDTLER Karat Aquarell Watercolor Pencils.  I decided to put her along the torn edge and dug out my Hero Arts - Greatest Gifts set with the nativity and placed it along the bottom.  I then decided to stamp the Angels we have heard on high in the middle.  Look what happened:

ARGH!  I loved the design but blew it with the embossing powder and the smudgy letters.  So I stamped it on another sheet of the book and added it over.  I liked the original design but when you are working with scraps... :)  You can't always repeat the process.

Hope you have a lovely Sunday!

Suzz

Tin Soldier

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family. I have been busy creating but was fighting to find my inspiration and struggling through a few projects.  Today I am sharing a tag made for Linda's Twelve Tags Week #10. (Sponsored by her store The Funkie Junkie Boutique)  Her tag is lovely with a beautiful vintage image.

I was inspired by her brick background although my tag doesn't look anything like her tag. :)  I started with the background and then went looking for dies for the ornament.  Instead I found the tin soldier and had to try him out.  I cut him out in different papers.  Next time book text for him!  I stamped over the background using the Vintage Christmas from Memory Box.  I added Bo Bunny Timepiece pattern paper along the bottom. The Merry Christmas Sentiment is also Memory Box.  I stamped the clock from Hero Arts on acetate and embossed with Stampendous Aged Gold Embossing Enamel.

Hope your holiday was wonderful.

Suzz

Holiday Hop

Today the Artistic Outpost team is sharing Holiday creations featuring the beautiful Artistic Outpost Holiday Stamps.  There is also a 15% off sale on the Artistic Outpost Christmas stamps Wed. Nov. 21st through Monday November 26th use the code:  Christmas2012 when checking out.
 

 I like to shop after the holidays to see what is left over from  the holiday decorations.  This sled ornament was in a sale pile and I picked it up to hold onto for this year. I think it makes a wonderful base for my stamped Christmas Door.

I stamped the Christmas door from the Snowy Woods plate onto white cardstock.  I used the STAEDTLER Karat Aquarell color pencils to color my door.  I cut the door out from the door frame.  I taped the door to Kraft cardstock and added pop dots to the frame and added it to the kraft cardstock. 

After I finished my door I realized I wanted something to showcase my door and that is where the sled comes in. I dug around in my alterable shelf and realized that the door fit perfectly on the sled.  I placed the door on the sled and added my finishing touches with the glittery snowflake, ribbon and pine cones.

The sentiment is stamped from the Sleigh Ride plate onto a die cut.  I edged the die cut with the Stampendous Gold Tinsel Embossing powder.

To see the other Designers beautiful projects hop along to their blogs:

Lisa Somerville

Tracy Evans

Linda Coughlin 
Gerrie Johnnic 

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Home

Lately I have been thinking about how thankful I am that we have shelter, food, clothes, and power.  Sandy has caused so much destruction and it has made me more thankful for our basic needs.    This week the challenge at Simon Says Stamp and Show is Thank You.  My project uses the Darkroom Door  Home Sweet Home  which reflects my thoughts.

Here is a close up of each banner:

The base of my banners is a set of chipboard banners.  I painted them with white acrylic paint and spritzed them with blue glimmer mist. 

I added burlap to the bottoms and top.  I added lace trim. I then stamped the houses and sentiments and colored them to coordinate with the background.  I added touches of sweet wooden birds and created a little nest. 

Products: Darkroom Door Home Sweet Home,  Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Adirondack Paint Dabber - Snow Cap, Studio Calico - Wood Veneer Birds, 

Maya Road Wood Bingo Motifs, Canvas Corp Burlap Rectangle ,

Ranger Archival Ink - Black  , 7 Gypsies Board Kit

Come play along with us for an opportunity to win a $50 voucher from Simon Says Stamp

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

A little of this and a little of That

Hey there!  Been quiet on my blog. Been busy with life, samples, work, and projects that can't be shared yet!  This coming week is Thanksgiving and I have taken the week off from work to spend more time with the family and more inky time!  Yeah!  One of my projects this week was to create ATC's for a swap.

My first step in creating my ATC's is to pull out my scraps box to look for any stamped images, backgrounds or pieces that I can use on my ATCs.

My first ATC started from a scrap piece of background.  I had this lovely speckled piece of cardstock and used it for the base.

 I love this image from Artistic Outpost Keeper plate.  I stamped and colored her using my STAEDTLER Karat Aquarell Watercolor Pencils.  I stamped directly onto the background and stamped a second time on white cardstock.  I cut her off at the edge of the grass on the white cardstock and colored that image.  I stamped the ruler multiple times to create an edge.

My next ATC was all scraps except the sentiment:

 The Stampendous flowers are stamped on pattern paper and distressed with a touch of brown dye ink. I added a center of Bronze Crushed Glass Glitter.  The sentiment is from the Artistic Outpost Flapper Fashion Plate.  The Bee from the Artistic Outpost Bloom & Grow Plate.  The background was stamped with a Wood-grain stamp from Hero Arts.

And while I had my Flapper Plate out I decided to create a Fashion ATC:

 A combination of Paris, Flappers and Celebration using a few scraps and a few additions from Paris Exposition, Flapper Fashion and Gatsby.

My last ATC was inspired by the embossed background:

 I added a few clock faces and then used the Artistic Outpost Steampunk plate to finish the ATC. 

That is what I did yesterday morning and the night before.  :) Have a lovely Saturday!

Suzz

Country Christmas Tag

I love Linda's tag for this weeks twelve tags!  She used gingham bow and stars with little bells.  It just triggered the thought of an old fashioned Christmas decoration.  Her challenge is sponsored by her boutique The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

I loved her little metallic stars and that was the first thing I tried to replicate.  I luckily had tons of stars in my scrap envelopes and pulled them all out to look at.  I found a set of cardboard stars and they were perfect!  I embossed them with Stampendous Aged Silver Embossing Enamel.

 The background is painted white with acrylic paint and than you drag your Ranger Distress Ink Pad (Vintage Photo over the surface.  Repeat until you get the effect you want. I added a doily with a little sponging and script (Hero Arts).

The sentiment is from Penny Black and one of my favorites. I stamped in coordinating green to the beautiful gingham ribbon. Such a quick and easy tag and I really like it.  It will have to go on a package. :)

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Suzz

Frosty the Snowman

I thought I would share a card that is in this month's Crafts N Things magazine.  I provided a Holiday card which was quick and easy to put together.

A tip for your holiday cards  I did for my cards one year was I stamped and colored my image and then photo copied the colored image (you can get 4 to 6 on a page) and used that for the rest of my cards.  That way the time to create was a lot quicker but allowed me to use an image I had colored. :)

The December Crafts N Things is available in the stores right now.  The instructions are here on the Crafts N Things Magazine Patterns Tab.  

Have a happy Tuesday!

Suzz

Blog Candy Winner!

I was touched by the comments left by everyone on my blog candy.  Thank you all for leaving such heartfelt thanks.

I used the random org number generator and it picked right around the middle.  The winner is:

craftimamma said...I am so thankful that our family has been strong enough to see us through a most difficult year and for the support of great friends I have found through this online world of craft sharing.

Thank you Sue, for your generosity not only in offering this giveaway but also in sharing your awesome creative talents.

Thank you Lesley for your kind words and I know you have had a difficult year and I hope the new year will be blessed. I will send you an email to get your mailing info!

Thank you all for leaving your thoughts and gratitude!

Suzz

Dylusional Dragonfly

Sorry about the pun. :)  The challenge this week at Simon Says Stamp and Show is to stamp without ink.  I knew immediately I was going to be inking up my stamp with a spray.

I had just received my new Stampers Anonymous set with the beautiful dragonfly and decided to use the Dylusions ink spray to stamp the dragonfly.

For this version of the dragonfly I spritzed the spray on the craft mat and smooshed the stamp into the spray and stamped it off.  I practiced a few times to get the color and effect I wanted. 

After I had one of the images I liked I cleaned the stamp up and repeated the process with the yellow ink spray and created a shadow by stamping over the first image. 

I then used the sprays to create an inky background.  I finished off my card with some tulle and gems to add a bit of bling.

 I also tried stamping with spraying the ink over the stamp to see if the image was cleaner.  Here is one where I stamped from the sprizted ink: 

I think that they are cleaner lines on the images when spraying the ink onto the stamp, and it depends on the effect you want. :)
 

 This card is going to go to my niece, I thinks she will like the colors and the snaps bling! 

Products: Dylusions - Lemon Zest, Vibrant Turquoise, Stampers Anonymous - Classics #1, 

Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher, Stampendous Treasures Kit - Glitter

 

Come play along with us for an opportunity to win a $50 voucher from Simon Says Stamp

 
Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Christmas Blessings

Hoppity Hop today! The Stampendous DT is showcasing the Stampendous products along with the Beacon Adhesives.

I started with the idea of creating an ornament shaped Holiday decoration. I ended up creating a elegant circle card.

The background is some beautiful recycled silvery tissue paper.  It came in a package awhile ago and I stuffed it in with my tissue paper supplies.  I pulled it out and traces the size of the circle base.

I stamped the beautiful Stampendous Poinsettia Background using versamark ink onto the background.  I repeated until it was covered with the flowers.  I used the Stampendous Detail White embossing powder to heat emboss.

I applied Zip Dry Glue to the surface and attached my tissue paper.  I then applied a coat of Fast Finish over the surface. 

I used the same paper and ink to stamp my Poinsettia two times and cut them out. I layered them and added a nice dollop of Zip Dry in the center and poured a mix of Gold Glass Glitter and Silver Glitter.  To finish it off I added Fast Finish over the surface of the glitter.

The tag is stamped with versamark and heat embossed with Gold Embossing Powder.  I edged the tag and the circle with Aged Gold Embossing Enamel.

The whole team is playing along today, so be sure to visit all of the blogs and leave some comments. Stampendous will be giving a prize to a randomly selected comments with U.S. mailing address. 

Kristine Reynolds

Mary Dawn Quirindongo

Melinda Gleissner

Stephanie Lee (Arty Carty)

Suzanne Czosek

Janelle Stollfus

Krissy Fossmeyer

April Derrick

Lea Kimmel
Rhea Weigand

Wendy Price
Wendy Jordan

Tenia Nelson

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Fall Butterfly

The Stampendous DT is hopping this week showcasing the Stampendous products along with the Beacon Adhesives.

We were given an awesome selection of adhesives and they were all fantastic.  I used on this card a combination of Fast Finish (Decoupage) and Zip Dry Glue. 

 My butterfly is stamped in black ink and adding a mix of the color fragments to color the butterfly. I used the Zip dry to provide a layer of adhesive and then sprinkled my color fragments in bands of color. After this dried I covered the surface with Fast Finish to provide a glossy finish to my butterfly.  I then added a strip of Zip dry in the center and added the black glass glitter to the center of the butterfly.

I repeated the process with the color fragments on the corners of my card.

 I inked up the Decorative Grate stamp with yellow, orange and red dye inks and spritzed with water.  I stamped repeatedly until my background was finished. The edges were distressed with the distressing tool and a touch of the red dye ink. The sentiment was stamped in black ink and heat embossed using black embossing powder. The leaf and sprig was stamped with the deep red dye ink multiple times behind the butterfly.

Products: Stampendous Jumbo Cling Butterfly Trio, Cling Decorative Grate , Cling Life is Art Ochre Color Fragments, Burgundy Color Fragments, Caramel Color Fragments, Leaf Sprig ,  Black Glass Glitter Ranger Distress Inks - Scattered Straw, Rusty Hinge, Aged Mahogany, Vintage Photo, Beacon Adhesives - Fast Finish, Zip Dry

To see all the other inspiration hop along to:

 Kristine Reynolds

 Rhea Weigand

Melinda Gleissner

Stampendous will draw random comments from random blogs to win your own Fast Finish and stamps, so don't forget to leave comments for your opportunity to win! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Thanksgiving

Time for another tag today inspired by Linda's Twelve Tags - Week #8.  Her challenge is sponsored by her store The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

 I loved the soft background she created on her tag and the Santa image and pops of red.  The images I had for Christmas wouldn't have worked from a size or following her design.   So I dug through my seasonal images drawer and found this Thanksgiving turkey image which worked well with the design.

I distressed my background using all the different Metallic stains with a touch of dark brown dye ink sponged around the edges.

I stamped the Inkadinkado image using black ink on the tag.  I then stamped it again on a separate piece of white cardstock and colored it with the distress inks and a waterbrush.   I cut them out and layered them onto the tag.

I distressed burlap using the metallic inks and cut for trim. 

I added in the background the Thanks Definition from Hero Arts along with Memory Box leaves floating in the background.  The sentiment is from Hero Arts.  I cut the clear sentiment so I could align it along the side.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Blog Candy

Thank you!  This blog post is a thank you for all my online blogging friends and followers.  I have an assortment of goodies that I am giving away:

All you have to do is leave a comment of what you are thankful for.  We are fast approaching the U.S. Holiday for thanksgiving which is a time to give thanks.  I am thankful for my family, friends, our health, the food on our table and that we have shelter over our head. I am sending prayers for our East Coast families who are going without right now.


To have a chance to win my blog candy, leave a comment on this post by 11/11/2012 11:59 PM CST and I will randomly select one winner of my blog candy.  I will post the winner on my blog on 11/12/2012. 

Thank you!

Suzz

Paris

Bonjour!  This week the challenge at Simon Says Stamp and Show is "Inspiration France!  I decided to go to Paris with my creation:

The architecture of the Eiffel Tower is so beautiful in it's design that I decided to make that my focal point on my wall hanging.

I tried to re-create a tower from chipboard tiles.  I cut pieces of chipboard into 1" x 1" squares.  I kept the extra pieces and used them to build my structure.  After I cut the tiles I kept re-arranging the tiles to try to follow the shape of the Eiffel tower and checking with my in house architect (my son). 

After I had my layout for the tower decided I then picked out images that reflect France to me.  I mixed the blue and orange together just because the colors make me happy!

I stamped the images on each tile sometimes lining them up to continue the image across multiple tiles.  I colored all the images using my STAEDTLER watercolor pencils.  After the images were colored I enhanced the tile effect by adding a couple of layers of clear embossing powder.

The background is corrugated cardboard painted white and sponged with orange dye ink. There is a layer of tissue paper with blue and orange glimmer mist.

I hope you like my touch of Paris! 

Products: Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Attic Treasures,  Stampendous - Charm Collection, Flower Trim, Glimmer Mist,  Candy Corn Glimmer Mist, Idea-ology Baubles, Snow Cap Paint Dabber, Hero Arts - Rectangle Doily Lace, Artistic Outpost - Paris Exposition, Stampendous - Royal Butterfly, Artistic Outpost - Flower Market, TIm Holtz - Grungeboard Letters, Ranger Distress Inks - Rusty Hinge, Broken China

Come play along with us for an opportunity to win a $50 voucher from Simon Says Stamp

  Hope you are inspired to play along.

Suzz

Leaf and Sprig Resist

I spent some time last night playing with yes... another tag. :)  I saw Tim's Tag for November and loved the rich fall colors and resist with the distress stains.  I decided to try to create two tags one with the same lovely fall colors and the second in blues and purples.

My first tag using the fall colors: 

I wasn't happy with the fact that I didn't get a good resist effect and my leaves had splotches which led to my second tag: 

 I made sure I had better ink and resist on this tag.  I also switched out to my Broken China and Concord Grape distress stains.

The stamp is a new Stampendous Leaf Sprig for my main image.  I love how it shows up in the resist effect. 
The Postcard and script on my first tag is from the Stampers Anonymous Letter to Santa CMS053 set.  I also used the stitching from the Stampers Anonymous Spring Sprung CMS084 set.

The sentiment is Stampendous - Life is Art and the butterfly from Stampendous -Butterflies.

The little wood birds are from Studio Calico.  I keep buying their sets of wood pieces and they are fun to use for an added texture.  The charm is idea-ology as is the safety pin. I used Ranger Distress Stains - Broken China, Concord Grape, Wild Honey,     Vintage Photo  
Picket Fence

I just noticed this morning that I hit 600 followers. I am so humbled that there are that many of you that spend time visiting my blog. I am going to go through my craft room which is always overflowing with stamping goodies and put together some blog candy and post it up some time this week.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Joy to You

I haven't played in the Hero Arts Monthly Challenge in a long time.  But I had a piece of that same background I created left over from yesterday's tag.  I decided to create a Christmas card for the HA monthly challenge with the remnant.

 I stamped the snowflake and embossed with the bronze embossing powder.  I then added the definition and finished off with the flourishes in either corner.

I didn't add much as I wanted to leave the background showing through as I love how it swirls and looks like marble.

The stamps are all Hero Arts: Dazzling Snowflake, Flourish, Holiday Definitions.  Background is glossy cardstock, Tattered Angels Decadence Chalkboard Spray, Tattered Angels Denim Glimmer Mist, Ranger Perfect Pearls, Judikins Rustique Bent Nail. 

Have a wonderful Friday!

Suzz

Joyeux Noel

Week #7 of Linda's twelve tags.  She has a beauty this week with so many different details to be inspired by. The challenge is sponsored by her store The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

I was inspired by her deer, the snowflakes and the trees in the background:

 I started with this piece of scrap glossy cardstock.  Those flowers you saw on my Pearls and Feathers post were glimmer misted with blue, brown and perfect pearls.  They left a bit of mist and ink on my craft mat. After I pulled the flowers out of the mist I placed my glossy cardstock over the ink and picked it up.  I ended up with a beautiful shimmery background.

I decided to pull it out and play with it for the background on my tag.  I had intended a different technique for my background but it ended up wiping off my brown shimmer on my background.  I decided to pull out my Crafters Workshop stencil and sponge brown dye ink over it to create my trees.

I then found this deer from last years tags cut from music sheet and heat embossed him with a rustique embossing powder.

The snowflakes are a pair of earrings that I broke apart and placed in my scene.  I finished the edges with distressing and a coat of Tinsel embossing powder.  I wanted my deer looking up at something so I stamped a bird in red and added a  tuft and turned him into a cardinal.

The Joyeux Noel is from Artistic Outpost Snowy Woods. The bird from B Line Designs.

A closer view of the tag:

Have a wonderful Thursday!

Suzz