Courage & Dreams

Here is my last project this week featured over on the PaperArtsy blog.  I had fun creating this little piece of art. 

I love how the Fresco snowflake paint mixes with the Dylusions ink. This little frame worked perfectly to create a chunky ATC.  I love the sentiment and works with the word dream perfectly.

There are a few more days to play along in the challenge over on the blog.  Leandra is generously offering up prizes for two of the participants in the challenge!

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Artistic Outpost - Feb 2013 Release

I am excited to share the new release from Artistic Outpost!  Paperboy is the newest plate from Artistic Outpost.  The plate has the sweetest images of "newsies", the paper boys selling papers on the corners of the city streets. Also included are a newsprint collage, a megaphone for announcing the latest and greatest, and sentiments professing that "you are the hero in your own story".

I created a series of wall hangings using a series of chipboard coasters:

I started with stamping the paper boy image onto newspaper and coloring him with watercolor pencils and a waterbrush. I tore the edges and added distress ink around the edges.

The background was painted white and stamped over with the background stamp using a blue ink. I added a few banners from the Country Life plate.  The muslin was stamped with the script from Secretary Pool

The second project uses the girls from the PaperBoy plate:

I kept singing the songs from Annie as these girls reminded me of the girls in the orphanage with Annie.  I placed them in front of the cityscape and added the sentiment from Kudzu Kafe.

The last image made me think of some of the big news days from different eras:

I used the images from the Hero plate for the backdrop behind the newspaper boy.  I added the rustic stars an the word Hero.

To see all the DT wonderful inspiration hop along to each of their blogs:

Gerrie Johnnic

Lisa Somerville

Suzanne Czosek 

Tracy Evans

Linda Coughlin 

Alison Bomber 

Terry Horrall

Kate Yetter

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Vintage Bottle

I love the look of beautiful vintage bottles and the PaperArtsy sets have several different styles.  I created a card using the beautiful flowers and bottle from the Hot Picks.

If you hop over to the PaperArtsy blog  you can see all the details and step outs on how to create the card. 

Come over and join in on the challenge, all the details are here.

Suzz

Joie de Vivre

It's my week over at the Paperartsy blog this week. I had so much fun creating with the lovely Fresco Paints, Paperartsy stamps and the Artemio wood shapes.    

I started with a lovely wooden box to create a shabby chic shadow box.  

All the details on how to create this project in my post on the  PaperArtsy blog.   I am having so much fun playing with the lovely stamps.


Come back tomorrow to see my next project! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

In the Birdhouse

The challenge this week at  Simon Says Challenge is Stamps you Love but don't use .  I was thrilled to play  with a bunch of stamps that don't get enough use!

I have been hoarding this sweet house waiting to use it for something special.

 I created rooms in my bird house for a variety of bird images that I love. 

The upstairs houses a birdcage with a few pen nibs and a little jar of flowers.  The other room contains the bird on a postcard and a few flowers and moss.  

Downstairs there is a birdhouse with a fence and a view to the outside.  The dining room has portraits hanging and a little sentiment and a heart.

The top of the house lifts off : 

The house was covered in white acrylic paint and sponged with a soft lavender dye ink.  I stamped the birds onto the doily and colored with the dye inks and a waterbrush. The doily was draped over the edge and glued down.

The bottom half:

Products: Ranger Adirondack - Snow Cap , Memento Sweet Plum, Hero Arts Tall Birdhouse, Maya Road House, Vintaj Bezels, Artistic Outpost - Songbirds,  Artistic Outpost - Bluebird Flowersoft, 7 Gypsies Apothecary Jars, TIm Holtz Idea-ology Pen Nibs, Stampendous Postcard Bird, Stampendous Vintage Birdcage, Stampendous Bluebird Branch, Ranger Archival Ink - Black, Ranger Distress Ink - Vintage Photo

I hope you are inspired to pull out some of your much loved but not used stamps and play along with the  DT  for a chance to win a $50.00 gift voucher from  Simon Says Stamp:

 

Thanks for stopping by! 

 

Suzz

Sydney

How about a trip to Sydney Australia?  I created a mini book using the newest images from DarkRoom Door.  To see the new release that Rachel just announced check it out here on the  DarkRoom Door blog.

I decided to play with the new Sydney collection of Photochips, Montage, Filmstrips and Wordstrips along with a beautiful chipboard book I received as a gift.

The images are striking photos of different focal points of Sydney. 

The chipboard was painted with white acrylic paint as a base coat.  I added a layer of  glimmer mists and Dylusions inks randomly across the background.  I cut out the photos and distressed the edges and added highlights to the photos with Copics. I love the effect of the Copic on the image as it adds a slight tint.

The next image made me smile:

I added the color to the face with the Copics and decided to add a touch of carnival fun with the dice from the Fun & Games set.   

My last page uses a stamped background using the Journey Word Block Stamp.

I stamped the same background onto white cardstock to layer behind the beautiful image of the bridge and the skyline.  I pulled the word travel from the wordstrips.

Products:  DarkRoom Door -Sydney - Photochips, Sydney - Filmstrip #1, Sydney - Montage, Journey Word Block Stamp,     Fun & Games, 

  Copic, Idea-ology - Plaquettes, Idea-ology - Hinge Clips, Idea-ology - Metal Word Bands,   

Bottlecap, Chipboard Book

Have a blessed Sunday!

Suzz

Oz

Welcome to the Artistic Outpost Design Team Monthly Blog hop!  This month the team is sharing literature and children books inspired projects.

I decided to share a book highlighting Oz:

The outside of the book got a white wash of white acrylic paint.  I added a touch of Versamark around the edges to apply Stampendous Aged Scarlet Embossing Enamel.  I used the same powder to cover the chipboard letters and to emboss my ruby slippers from the lovely Oz Collage plate.  I added a touch of flourish around the slippers from Flappers Fashions.

On the inside of the book there was a lovely alcove already built in:

I decided to take Dorothy and Toto and put them in the forest where they met the lion.  I stamped the images in black ink and colored with watercolor pencils.  I created a tree from brown tissue paper.  I coated the floor with a layer of Wee-Scapes green ground cover.  The background paper is from Graphic 45 Oz papers.

To go with the lovely sentiment about how much you are loved I put the people who loved Dorothy:

I die cut multiple hearts from white cardstock using Spellbinders Dies.  I stamped the various images from the Oz Collage plate along with the Kudzu Kafe woman who reminded me of Auntie Em and put behind her the farm from the Home plate.   The French Flight plate had a perfect image for the Fortune Teller or OZ and his Hot Air Balloon.  I colored the images with watercolor pencils and waterbrush. I sponged the background with a touch of blue dye ink and brown dye around the edges.

The design team has some fantastic inspiration for you to enjoy:

Gerrie Johnnic
Lisa Somerville
Suzanne Czosek
Tracy Evans
Linda Coughlin
Alison Bomber  
Terry Horrall
 Kate Yetter

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

The Golden Touch

The Simon Says Challenge this week is Metal-ology.  I have a great fondness for the metals whether it be the metal accents or using the metal embossing powders.  This challenge let me play with my embossing enamels and glitz up my project.

This project started with my melt pot.  I was creating with bees wax and thought how fun would it be to mix in some Aged Gold Embossing Enamel. 

To be able to use the embossing enamel and the bees wax I needed a strong image.  I leafed through my images and spied David.  he became the focal point for my wall hanging.

I stamped the image first in Versafine Toffee and then again with black ink slightly off center to give a gold shadow.  I tore the edges of the image. I poured the melted beeswax over the surface.

To finish the edges I melted Aged Gold Embossing powder in the melt pot and dripped it along the edges of the image. I stamped the sentiment along the right side using StaZon black ink.

I added metal accents which I covered the pieces using versamark watermark ink over the metal pieces and then dipped them in Aged Gold Embossing Enamel and heated them up.

The background is a piece of corrugated cardboard torn and painted with white paint.  I smeared with versamark and added a coat of gold embossing powder.

I finished off the eyes with a highlight with white gel pen and a touch of gold from a gold gel pen.

Products: Stampers Anonymous Artful Artifacts,  Idea-o-logy - Faucet Knobs, Regal Adornments,
Game Spinners,  Swivel Clasps,  White Acrylic Paint,  Ranger Distress Ink - Vintage Photo,  Stampendous Aged Gold Embossing Enamel, Melt Pot, Bees Wax, Versafine Toffee, StaZon Jet Black, Stampendous Life is Art

Come join the DT and our special guest this week the talented  Janeen  for a chance to win a $50.00 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp:

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Wine & Grapes

For the CHA Winter Show the Stampendous DT was asked to create a series of mirrors using the new release.  The mirrors were beautiful with a big frame for lots of stamping and embellishments.
I thought I would share it here for you to see as I had a lot of fun decorating my mirror.

The frame was a lovely white surface.  I started with the Cling Wine Labels which I stamped repeatedly over the surface using StaZon Black ink.  I added a hint of purple and gold to the frame using my STAEDTLER watercolor pencils.  I distressed the edges with a touch of gold dye ink. To finish the frame I covered the entire surface with Versamark Watermark Ink and heat embossed with the cool Crystal Embossing Powder. (I love the shimmer from this powder)

I then stamped the Beautiful Life verse onto tissue paper using StaZon black ink. I tore the edges around the verse.  I distressed with the gold ink.  I inked up the tissue paper with Versamark watermark ink.  I heat embossed the tissue paper using the same crystal embossing powder. .

I stamped the Jumbo Cling Grape Label two times onto tissue paper to give a lovely translucent effect.

I colored the image using watercolor pencils and a waterbrush.  I then followed the same steps as the sentiment. After it cooled off I crinkled the paper to give it more texture.

I used netting from fruit we purchased and added it around the edges of the frame. I layered the stamped images over the netting. To finish it off I created faux metal effect on pieces of wine corks to create a seal.  I used a piece of cork and covered it in Aged Wine Embossing Enamel.  While it was warm I pressed the seal stamp into the embossing enamel. The seal stamp was inked up with Versamark Ink before I stamped in the embossing enamel.  I let that cool off and pulled the stamp out.  I then sprinkled a thin layer of Champagne embossing powder into the grooves and reheat it carefully to keep the image but add a layer of gold.

Hope you are having a lovely weekend!

Suzz

Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentines Day!  Sharing the cards created for my kiddos for today!

 First up is a simple easel card for my son.  I wanted something masculine and fairly plain.

 I started with Authentique papers as the base and added a bit of stamping on the heart (Dark Room Door)  and the Valentine Wishes from Hero Arts.

The next card is for my youngest who loves robots.  Darkroom Door has these fun Montage papers which include a variety of images in a theme.  When I received the Robot Montage I knew I would be using them for my DD valentines.

 Click on image to enlarge

 I intermixed sentiments from the Hero Arts Valentines clear set to add words on the various images. I also accented with gem hearts.  I think she will be pleased. :)

Finally I have this adorable set from Simon Says Stamp which is an exclusive called: Simon in Love. 

 I used the sweet image stamped in Black ink and colored with the STAEDTLER watercolor pencils.  I added a heart and background using the Darkroom Door Love Word Block Stamp.

What is even cuter is the little paw print and sentiment which I stamped on the inside: 

Hope you have a lovely Valentines Day!

Suzz

Soar

Simon Says Stamp and Show challenges us this week to show our Messy Side.  I have to admit I am a messy stamper and enjoy getting my fingers inky.  The messiest technique that popped into mind for me was the shaving cream technique.  

I decided to create a triptych with gold embossing over a shaving cream backgrounds.

Background:

1. Spray shaving cream on craft mat. 
2. Spray into the shaving cream  glimmer mists (Blue, Yellow) 
3. Swirl glimmer mists together in shaving cream. 
4. Place cardstock onto inky shaving cream. pull up and scrape off excess shaving cream. I use my plastic ruler to shave my cardstock.  
5. Let dry. 

This is so messy but you end up smelling like shaving cream.

I ended up smearing gold paint over the surface as an accident but it actually gave it a nice soft color.  I then added liquid pearl drops around the edges that were silver.  I waited for them to dry and sponged the gold paint over them.

I stamped the lace stamp using Versamark across the bottom and heat embossed with gold embossing powder. I stamped the flowers using Versamark and heat emboss using gold embossing powder.

I stamped butterflies using Versamark on the same background paper. I heat embossed them using the gold embossing powder.

I decided I wanted the flowers to pop and thought I would try coloring them with white watercolor pencils and the effect reminded me of stain glass and I loved how it turned out.

I framed everything in black to make it pop and then added the sentiment using black ink. 

Products: Gold Embossing Powder, Stampendous Jumbo Clng Hollyhock, Artistic Outpost - Quote and Quotables, Liquid Pearls,  Hero Arts - Three Artistic Butterflies, Stampers Anonymous - Purely Random,
Versamark, Ranger Archival Ink - Black, Gold Paint Dabber

  Hope you join in and get  Messy with the DT for a chance to win a $50.00 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp:

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Live in the Moment

 Yeah it's Friday!  I am going on a little road trip today with my son to check out a college.  He is trying to decide between a couple of schools.  I am looking forward to spending time with him as he is always busy.  I think my card is appropriate. :) I decided to share a card I made using the new Hero Arts release.

I used the beautiful Antique Background:

 This was so easy to create as the stamp already has all the different segments. I spent time highlighting the areas of the image with STAEDTLER watercolor pencils and a waterbrush. I added a few stamps from the Hero Arts clear set as an accent piece.  I stamped on an aqua color button the compass image using StaZon ink. 

Hope you have a wonderful Friday!

Suzz

Gardening Gift

I have a really fun project on the Crafts N Things Blog that is a perfect gift for Mother's Day or for someone who loves gardening.  The project uses all new Stampendous flowers.  There also is an opportunity to win new Stampendous stamp!  All you have to do is pop over and leave a comment before Feb. 14th on the Crafts N Things Blog for a chance to win.

Here are a few sneak peaks of the project:

 

I had to go to the hardware store looking for clay pots while it is all cold and wintry. I got a great deal. :)

I wanted to create gardening stakes too:

The best part is my project involved  up-cycling of something I would have thrown out: 

Can you guess what that box contained?  It started me thinking of how to use it which inspired the gift set idea.  To see the full project head over to Crafts N Things.

Have a lovely day!

Suzz

Mirror Mirror On the Wall

Mirror Mirror On the Wall, Who's the Fairest of them All?  Can you guess what the challenge is this week at Simon Says Stamp and Show?  The challenge is Ever After!  Doesn't that get you thinking of all the different stories, movies and quotes from your favorites?  I started thinking about who didn't get their happily ever afters because of their wicked actions.. My idea was inspired by the evil Maleficent in Snow White.

I wanted to use an old mirror as my base for my project.  We only have one handheld mirror  in the house.  I decided to go purchase a mirror from the dollar store. After finishing this project and working with the plastic frame I definitely would have created this from Chipboard and Heidi Swapp Mirrors. or Simon Says Plastic Mirror Sheet.

I started with a vision of doing a faux metal effect on the back.  I embossed the surface with Stampendous Aged Gold Embossing Enamel.  I knew the plastic was going to get soft on the frame but because of the quality of my mirror it got a little bumpy. 

Since the Faux metal was going to be an option I decided to use one of my favorite stamps and stamp it over the gold embossing.  I stamped the damask pattern using versamark. I sprinkled  black Embossing Powder and heated it enough to melt the embossing powder.  The uneven surface (from heating the plastic) caused the uneven stamping. I actually like the effect as it looks like she has been using her mirror for so long it has shown the wear on the gold.  I used a stazon ink pad to smear around the edges of the mirror to help frame it out. 

I ran into a problem when I turned the mirror over to emboss.  The frame holding the mirror in melted and fell out.  

To solve the exposed area I embossed around the edges of the mirror in the gap. There still was a gap and I decided to improvise with the black feathers.  In my story the queen had black swans and she decided to use their feathers to decorate her magical mirror.  I then set about glimmer misting my ribbon and my flower accents with Black Magic(how appropriate was the name of the glimmer mist!).  I had to answer the queen's question in the mirror. I stamped the princess onto the mirror using StazOn jet black ink.  I thought about coloring her but since everything else was in gold, black, and gray, I left her as she was.  Of course the queen was furious that the mirror did not select her!

Products:  Stampendous Daffodil Girl, Tattered Angels Black Magic Glimmer Mist,  Prima White Soprano, Stampendous Aged Gold Embossing Enamel, Stampendous Black Embossing Powder, Hero Arts Classic Fabric Design, StaZon - Jet Black, 
Versamark Watermark Ink

I hope you have enjoyed my magical mirror.  Come join in the Ever After  challenge for a chance to win a $50.00 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp:

Have a magical day!

Suzz

Steampunk Love

Tim posted his lovely Valentine inspired  February Tag yesterday.  It inspired me to create my own version of his tag:

I started with embossing Coredination's Chocolate Box Cardstock using the Sizzix Tim Holtz Valentine  embossing folder. I sanded off the edges and embossing to expose the pink color underneath.  I used this to top the bottom and top of my tag.

I then had to create a coordinating background using Tim's spritz method.  I didn't have any distress stains that matched the color of my cardstock. Instead I pulled out my re-inkers and water spritzer and used them to create a pink background.  I then spied the gold paint dabber and decided to edge everything out in gold.  That had me pulling out the Stampendous Micro-glitter Gold and ended up all glittery and gold along with the browns and pinks. :)

The main image on my card took the longest time to find. I couldn't think of what to use as I didn't have the Queen of Hearts image.  I ended up getting inspired by a beautiful set from Chocolate Baroque called Punky Romance.  It had the perfect heart image.  I stamped it with brown ink on a pink background. I edged it out with the gold paint and added the glitter again.

I wanted to add the touch of twine to my tag to add texture. I ended up taking ivory twine and painting it with the gold paint. I loved how it ended up drying with the crinkles as I scrunched it up while it was wet. It added a fun texture. 

I used the seasonal stickers from Tim for the sentiment which also received the Midas touch.  Tim did the lovely detail of the tissue tape as the ribbon and I just added a hint of the gold paint.

Another Valentine's project off my list. :)

Thanks for stopping by.

Suzz

Pooh Bear

Last night my youngest said "my teacher is coming back tomorrow do you have that baby card?  and can it be Winnie the Pooh?"... I said "tomorrow?" 

In my stash of things I had saved a gift card holder which had the sweet vintage images of Pooh and Christopher.  That was the only Pooh Bear image I had on hand.  I decided to create a background which works with Cath's Moxie Fab World Challenge to create your own background paper.  

I stamped the trees first along the white cardstock using the Hero Arts stamp.  I colored the trees using STAEDTLER watercolor pencils.  I sponged in the background using green, brown, yellow, orange, and two shades of blue. 

The sentiment is one I have from Verses Rubber stamps called Wee bit of Heaven. I inked up the first half of the verse and stamped it along the top.  I thought it was a little too dark with the black against the blue so I added a few white highlights from a gel pen.  They were too bright so I softened them with a touch of water. I cleaned the stamp and  inked up the bottom half and stamped it on the inside of the card: 

Isn't that beautiful?  A last minute card thrown together this morning, and my daughter was very happy with it, so a success.

Have a great Friday!

Suzz