Flowers and Sunshine

How about some flowers today?  I have this beautiful bouquet of flower stamps from Stampendous from the April release and why not spread a little flower sunshine!

I had a metal wall hanging purchased awhile ago waiting in my alterable stash.  I wanted to see the effect of the stamped image with a painted background on the metal surface.  I added a coat of yellow acrylic paint to create a base area for my image. 

I stamped the Daisy Cluster using Stazon ink to ensure they would stamp even if they were on the metal.  I then used a mix of STAEDTLER Watercolor pencils and Markers to add the color.  I added the perfect sentiment  Stampendous Flower Path to vellum and tore it to add to the corners.

Have a wonderful day!

Suzz

Passport to....

I have to say I have a real fondness for Elephant stamps. I don't know what it is but they always look so charming to me.  This week at Simon Says Stamp and Show the challenge is Passport to Fun.

 This little guy was my starting point and kicked off the idea to create a travel themed flip journal.

We are planning a road trip this summer and I thought it would be fun to create a flip book with pages for photos and pockets to store the mementos.

I started with this to make my flip book: 

 I cut a few pieces of the back of the notepad and the ring binder to create the back of the flip book.

 I covered the back of the chipboard with brown cardstock. I added a piece of white cardstock stamped with greens and blues.  I distressed the edges of the white cardstock and sponged with a touch of brown dye ink.

on the second page I created a pocket and added a few more stamped images and stamps.

The front is a mix of stamps and charms.  Now I am ready to capture all the bits and pieces we pick up along the way. . 

Products: Stampers Anonymous Tiny Things , Hero Arts - Postcard Collage,  Hero Arts - Friends Collage.   Tim Holtz Large Ring Binder ,  chain.,  Memento Blue Bahama, Memento Pear Tart, Stampendous Aged Gold Embossing Enamel, Ranger Distress Inks  Vintage Photo, Round Calendar Studio Calico, Tim Holtz Word Sticks

Simon Says Stamp is offering a  $50.00 gift voucher for one randomly selected participant in the challenge, so come join in on the Passport to Fun this week.

Thanks for stopping by! 

 

 

Suzz

Stampendous April Release

The new Stampendous stamps are up and available on the Stampendous web-site.  There is a new stamp artist this release, Lisa Hindsley!  She created a super sweet set of Oz themed stamps for this release.  You need to take a peek at all the new stamps.  Beautiful flowers, fun Oz, new Kiddos and vintage telephones, sewing machines and more...

I wanted to share one of my favorite images from the new release:

In every release there is an image that speaks to me "Ink me up first!"  This time around it was this stately Lion.  I think he reminds me of Alsan in the Chronicles of Narnia.  I paired him with a lovely background Royal Insignia Background Stamp.  I used Ranger Archival Brown Ink along with the gold tones from the Versafine Toffee.  I added Aged Gold Embossing Enamel to give him texture and embossed with Champagne Embossing Powder.

Hope your day is wonderful! Our weather is looking perfect for our family party.  I am looking forward to visiting with everyone.

Suzz

Full of Blessings

Happy Friday!  We are having a family party this weekend for the kids birthday. Lots of cleaning today to get prepared.  I took a little creative time and created this:

 

I received this lovely pack of 12 x 12 Pink Paislee Hope Chest papers form Simon Says Stamp.  I love the neutrals and patterns on these papers.  I took a corner piece of the paper and cut it to fit my card and then layered in the girls from the Artistic Outpost Paperboy plate.  I stamped them on ivory cardstock using Ranger Archival Ink - Coffee and colored them with a hint of STAEDTLER watercolor pencils.  I then stamped the birds on a wire along the edge of the text.  I added a row of trees along the back.  To finish it off I took my pink watercolor pencils and added a hint of pink along the tree line. 

Products: Artistic Outpost - Home,  Paperboy, Bluebird,  Flower Market, Pink Paislee - Hope Chest, STAEDTLER Karat Aquarell & Ergosoft watercolor pencils, Ranger Archival - Coffee, Tattered Angels - Chalkboard Glimmer Mist - Sprout

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Fleet & Sons

Today is my last post over at PaperArtsy!  I have really enjoyed playing with the wonderful stamps and paints.  Thanks Leandra for providing me with the stamps and paints and substrates!  Thanks to Gillian for all her help! 

I decided to make a card using the wonderful Fleet & Sons bus. I love this image. I mixed in several of the different sets to create my collage of images on my tag card.

Go here for all the details on how to create my card.  There is still time to play along in the challenge for a chance to win some of the lovely Fresco paints.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Happiness

I am back today with my second project this week for PaperArtsy.  I was working with the wonderful Metal card and  Fresco Paints to create a wall hanging. 

I describe the process on the PaperArtsy blog with a few step out photos. After I had finished my wall hanging I thought it would be cool to add a few charms along the bottom.  I went back and redid it with the charms.

Product:  Hot Pick 1009, Metal Card, Versafine Vintage Sepia,  Limelight,
HotPicks Xtra01 - Backgrounds,  Versamark Ink,  Chocolate Pudding,  Inky Pool, Translucent Shrink Plastic,Pearls, Gears and Clock pieces.


Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Mixed Media PaperArtsy Canvas

This week is my last week Guest Designing at PaperArtsy.  Leandra and Gillian have been wonderful and the products fantastic.  I played with a canvas and layering a few details in the background. 

I had tremendous fun playing with this canvas and was pleased with the effect.

Head over to the PaperArtsy blog to see all the details of how I created my canvas.

I used the following s on my project: Paperartsy: Fresco Paints: Honeydew, Snowflake, Ice Blue, Limelight,  Metal Card, Hot Pick Xtra01, Hot Pick 1205, Hot Pick Xtra 05, Ranger Archival Ink

There is a challenge as well over on the PaperArtsy blog. All you have to do is create something using PaperArtsy and link it up here for a chance to win three Fresco paints.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Art

The challenge this week at Simon Says Stamp and Show is Color Love. The challenge this week is simple - use any color medium (ink, pen, mist, paint, etc) on your project this week.

I started with my inky sprays as they really are a love of mine in the craft room.

I wanted to share a few of the steps I went through to create the background and for the butterflies:

First I sprayed the gold/yellow spray onto the white cardstock.  I usually do this on my craft mat but for purposes of the photos I sprayed on a leftover plastic package.

Then I added a touch of blue spray over the surface:

I finished with a touch of green:

I try not to ever leave any ink on the craft mat.  My next step was to stamp multiple butterflies in black ink. 

I painted them with the ink left on my craft mat with a waterbrush.   Then I inked up white seam binding.

Because I had the ink under the hot lamps used for my photos I had to spritz more water on the ink to refresh it.  I swirl the ribbon in the ink and repeat until coated.

Then to finish it off I drag the white cardstock through the remainder to pick up the rest of the ink:

I add water and repeat until I get the desired effect.

To create the stamped images I wait until the background is dry.  I then stamped the images on the background using water resistant ink.

I added additional colors using watercolor pencils and used a waterbrush to soften the colors.  I then came back with a white gel pen to add highlights. 

I colored the butterflies and cut them out. I added brush tips to the centers. 

 I stamped the sentiment on vellum using StazOn ink and attached to the left side.

Products: Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Chalkboard - Teal High Heel, Inchworm, and Heidi Swapp Color Shine - Mustard. Stampers Anonymous- artist tools,  Ranger Archival Ink,  Hero Arts Papillion, 
Stampendous - Life is Art, Signo Uni-Ball White Gel Pen, StazOn - Black Ink, STAEDTLER watercolor pencils. . 

Come play along with us for a chance to win a Simon Says Stamp  $50.00 gift voucher.

Thanks for stopping by! 

Suzz

A Stampendous Project Life

The Stampendous DT is having a hop using the Project Life and Stampendous products.  I was a little late in getting going with my project life project but didn't want you to miss out on a chance to win some great prizes.    Until Sunday night you can comment on the blogs of the participating Design Team Members and the Stampendous blog. . Each comment counts as one entry to win a Project Life/Stampendous prize package! Prize includes 12 assorted Project Life Page Protectors, and BRAND NEW (so new you can’t buy it at Stampendous until Monday) Stampendous Vintage Alphabet Upper Case and Lower Case Perfectly Clear Stamp Sets. This prize is a $50 retail value! And they are giving away 3 of them!!

I don't scrapbook much but I have to say the Becky Higgins Project Life Page Protectors make it easy.  All you have to do is pick the different size photos you want and slip them in.  Then use the other areas to type up or write your journalling along with a little stamping. and you have a memory captured forever. 

 This is the full page:

 I started from a bunch of photos taken last month from our Spring break:
 

Cut down the photos to fit the pockets: 

 Wrote up some blurbs in the computer and printed them out on cardstock:

 Added a few stamped images which I colored with my STAEDTLER watercolor pencils.

 Products: Stampendous Children Play, (NEW) Stampendous Alphabet - Big Top, Stampendous - Cherish Family,  STAEDTLER watercolor pencils, Ranger Distress Inks - Salty Ocean, Ranger Archival Ink - Black, May Arts - Twine, Becky Higgins Project Life Page Protectors

 I had fun creating this page.  I also have two more of the Project Life Page Protectors available to give away.  Leave me a comment by Sunday night and I will send them off with a few other goodies.

Don't forget to hop over to the other DT members for more chances to win:

Janelle Stollfus

Kristine Fossmeyer

Leadonna Kimmel

Kristine Reynolds

Cyndi Bundy

Tobi Crawford

Jamie Martin

Another reminder that the Stampendous  April Challenge is still going strong!! Use Micro Glitter on one of your creations and link it to the challenge! You’ll be entered to win some of our newest Micro Glitter colors! You can read all the details by clicking on the Challenge link HERE!


Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Happy Happy Happy

I saw Cath's inspiring Wonder of Watercolor post and knew I had to get out my watercolors and play. The bright colors I was playing this morning made the day a little brighter today as we are in the midst of lot's of rain and flooding.

 I started the process with my STAEDTLER Watercolor Crayons.  I wanted to try a few different techniques. This card features the Verses Rubber Stamps Happy Happy Stamp. The ink is Ranger Distress Ink.

I took a pencil sharpener and a scissors to my watercolor crayons to create shavings: 

 On the left side the shavings from the crayon which are must finer and on the right side the scrapings from the scissors which give a curled effect.

I did a few different things with the crayons:

The first background is on STAEDTLER Watercolor Paper..

I used the shavings from the scissors and mixed my STAEDTLER watercolor crayon colors.  I spritzed with water until the shavings blended together. I also held the paper up to allow it to flow in one direction. 

My second project using the watercolor paper and yellow and purple watercolor crayons. 

This background started with scissors shaving of the yellow crayons spritzed with water until it started to bleed.  I added pencil sharpener scraps of the purple watercolor crayon  to the wet surface and added additional spritzing to blend. 

For my cards backgrounds: I sprinkled pencil sharpener shavings of different colors onto regular cardstock.  I covered the cardstock full of shavings with a second sheet of white cardstock.  I heated up my iron and ironed the two pieces of cardstock for a minute.  (Just be careful to fully cover the shavings or you will end up with colors on your iron that will cause a problem next time you go to use it! :)

I then cut the two pieces to the size desired.  The background on my first card also was dragged through the extra spritzed yellow shavings on my craft mat which gave a soft 

The stamps on is from Verses Rubber Stamps and has a coordinating sentiment on the inside that says Congratulations on your Graduation.  I love the new Tim Holtz Belt buckle and added that because I love how it looks. The ink is Versafine Deep Lagoon. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Aprils Showers Brings May Flowers

Welcome to the monthly Artistic Outpost Design Team Blog Hop!  Today's hop features flowers or women.  I decided that since we are having a week full of rain that I should celebrate spring flower which are the benefit of all the rain we are receive.

I started with a  Memory Box die cut butterfly and stamped the lovely flowers from the Bloom & Grow Plate using black ink. I colored the flowers with STAEDTLER  watercolor pencils and watercolor markers.  I distressed the edges with brown dye ink.

I used the Prima - Hope Chest paper for my tag.  I stamped the butterflies from the Flower Market plate in the background along with a few of the words.  I colored the butterflies with the watercolor pencils and waterbrush.  I added a few highlights with a white gel pen.  I die cut a clock (Sizzix) and sponged it with brown dye ink.  I stamped the ledger from Ephemera Backgrounds over the clock.   I added one of my many favorite sentiments to the tag from Quote & Quotables.

Hop along to see all the fabulous projects by the DT:

Gerrie Johhnic 

Lisa Somerville

Suzanne Czosek (me) 

Tracy Evans

Linda Coughlin

Alison Bomber

Terry Horrall

Kate Yetter

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Butterfly Collage

Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge this weekend is about background stamps!  I love my background stamps and they have always been the first stamps I am drawn too.

I actually started this project from last weeks project.  Those frames I used in my project had to be misted. Whenever I am misting a shape I love to throw it on a piece of white cardstock so I can pick up the reverse image on the cardstock.

This was the leftover pieces from my previous project. I cut it down to use the portion of the background I wanted in my piece.

I stamped the background script stamp using Versamark watermark ink onto the background. I heat embossed the script with white embossing powder.

I then added a layer of poppies using versamark watermark ink and white embossing powder.  I also stamped a butterfly on the other misted scrap with no stencil.  I embossed the butterfly with white embossing powder.  I stamped the sentiment onto white cardstock and cut it into a shape of a banner. I decided to add a hint of orange to my pieces and used a sponge to apply orange dye ink.

The edges were distressed and added to a distressed cardbase. I spritzed a white flower with orange dye ink and added it to the center of the butterfly.

Products:  Ranger Distress Ink - Rusty Hinge, Versamark Watermark Ink, Stampers Anonyumous - Simple Sayings Tattered Angels - Glimmer Mist, Versafine - Deep Lagoon,  Hero Arts - Old French Writing,  white embossing powder,.   Hero Arts - Delicate Blossoms,  Stampendous Jumbo Cling Butterfly Trio,   Sizzix Weathered Clock Die 

Come play along with us for a chance to win a Simon Says Stamp  $50.00 gift voucher.

Thanks for stopping by! 

Suzz

Love

Good Morning!  I am back with a project spawned from trying to finish up my half finished project. Another thing that happens to me is that in trying to finish the first design I end up with a completely new project.

I was playing with Gold Embossing Paste from Wendi Vecchi. I love how it dries it is a rich gold color. 

 This started from the Gold Embossing Paste.  I used it with a Crafters Workshop template.  Over a spritzed background which is a mix of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist(Dijon) and Chalkbord Mist (Decadence).

After the embossing paste dried I had this beautiful background.  I ended up spraying Prima Flowers, Seam Binding to coordinate.  I stamped Verses Rubber Stamps Love & Music sentiment on a coordinating tag.  I then added the Flourish from Hero Arts and tiny checkered butterflies. The charm was in my odds and ends tray. 

Products: Wendy Vecchi Gold Embossing Paste, Crafter's Workshop Harlequin, Tattered Angels - Dijon, Tattered Angels Chalkboard - Decadence, Verses Rubber Stamps - Love & Music, StazOn - Timer Brown, EK Success Butterfly Punch, Seam Binding, Prima Flowers - Innocence,  Gems, Charm

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Suzz

Half Finished Projects

Good Day to You!  I hate half finished projects.  I started down a path yesterday with two different projects. One was another scrap pulled from the re-cycle bin and the other a brand new project. Now I have two projects half way there and I have no clue as to how to finish them.  Does that ever happen to you? 

Since those two projects are not going anywhere, I dug into my scraps and created a completely new card.  

 I thought I might trick my muse into letting me finish the other two by working on something completely different.  So far it isn't working. :)

I took a scrap of misted paper and stamped the Postcard stamp from Hero Arts collage set over the surface.  I had the Stampers Anonymous butterflies on my desk and decided to add them to the postcard and pulled the sentiment as well from a SA set.  I added a few flourishes from the Hero Arts collage set and done. 

The butterfly layers were stamped and colored but to make them sparkly I added a coat of the Stampendous Crystal Embossing Powder.  I really love the clear shimmer it gives.  I distressed the edges and mounted my image onto a black cardbase. 

Products: Hero Arts - Postcard Collage, Hero Arts - Friend Collage, Stampers Anonymous - Attic Treasures, Stampendous Crystal Embossing Powder,  Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Ranger Archival Ink - Black, Teal Gems, STAEDTLER Fineliner Plus Marker

Have a wonderful day!

Suzz

Life

Salutations!  Things are pretty busy around the household and probably going to get even busier. :)  I was sitting yesterday morning working on a few other projects and my inspiration feeling a little low.  I decided to clean out my background folder.  I store all leftover backgrounds in a file for future use.  I haven't' used any in awhile hence the purge. 

This background actually went into the recycle bag.  I was sitting at my desk trying to figure out what I  wanted to play with and this piece was sticking out and I thought hmm... I love that palette of soft neutrals with a hint of color and shimmer.  I think I must have added a bit of gold glimmer mist on this because the areas that are tan are a shimmery color in the light.  

Anyways that was it I decided to pull out a Verse from Verses Rubber Stamps and add the lovely Classic Tea Rose from Hero Arts. I decided that  I would play along with the Hero Arts Monthly Challenge.   All I had to do was add a hint of shading with my STAEDTLER watercolor pencils.  Mount it on brown cardstock and done.  Quick and easy card for me.  (Of course there had to be butterflies or dragonflies too!)

The only hard part was getting a photo. I took about 4 and they all look a little warped. Well I hope you have a lovely day. 

Suzz

Time to Fly

Simon Says Stamp and Show  Challenge is going to the birds. :)  The challenge is to use birds, feathers, or anything to do with flight!


Sometimes my mind pulls bits and pieces together of different ideas and rolls them up into a project and that is what happened this week:

My inspiration was from the nest and I wanted to showcase it in someway. I decided a three dimensional timepiece would be a lovely framework for the birds and the nest.

 I started by cutting three of the Weathered Sizzix Clock from cardboard.  I then painted them with white acrylic paint.  I sprayed them with Tattered Angels Patina Glimmer Mist.  I added a touch of the Aged Gold Embossing Enamel around the edges. I attached the three frames together with pop dots in between the layers. I attached the clock hands on either side of the frame and used a dragonfly brad to hold the hands together.   I had a piece of rusty metal that made the perfect stand. All I had to do was cover it in Versamark and heat emboss with the Aged Gold Embossing Enamel from Stampendous.

I stamped the sweet Stampendous Bluebirds using black ink on white cardstock and painted them with the same glimmer mist. I cut them out. 

I started with a base of a lace doily glued to the frame.  I added a mix of Prima flowers with the nest.  I then glued the clock faces into the flowers.  I added a key charm embossed in gold to the face of the one clock and the bird to the other clock.  I found the words time to fly in the Tim Holtz Chit Chat Stickers.

This artwork  brings a nice touch of spring to my desk!  
 
Come play along with us for a chance to win a Simon Says Stamp  $50.00 gift voucher.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Rose Bouquet

I am sharing a sneak peek of one of the new stamps from Stampendous being released this month.

I decided to play with my watercolor markers instead of my favorite watercolor pencils.  I used the STAEDTLER Watercolor Markers on watercolor paper and blended the colors with the waterbrush.

I stamped the image using Ranger Archival Ink on watercolor paper.  I outlined the edges with the watercolor markers and used the waterbrush to pull the colors into the center.  I added highlights with white gel pen.  I cut the circle around the image after it was done and hand cut the detail areas.

The background panels are stamped with the Stampendous Seed Background.  The edges are distressed with a distressing tool and a hint of the lavender brushed on with water.  I stamped the Happy Anniversary sentiment using black ink on the same watercolor paper and created a banner. 

The new release of stamps has some wonderful images with beautiful flowers!  They will be available online in the Stampendous store soon!

Have a fabulous weekend.

Suzz