Say it With Stamps

From phrases to words to simple alphabets, let’s not leave the words out of the Simon Says Stamp  STAMPtember celebration! We are embracing all those letter, word, and phrase sentiment stamps that we’ve got and sharing our creations with you this week at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. .

I really love to use verses and quotes so I was thrilled to pull out may stamps and start creating.

I started with a background created using a combination of mists and the stencil used last week from the new Art Journalling Kit.  You can purchase it separately here.

I then added in a mix of stamp all stamped in black archival ink over the surface with a pop of orange highlight from watercolor pencils.

My next tag picked up another piece of the same background.

I continued with the same color scheme and used a mix of nature inspired elements. 

I finished with a card:

I mixed in the stamps from the other pieces onto the card and used the same colors but added a touch of tissue tape and snaps.

Products: Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist blue, 
black,  Visual Artistry - French Connection,  Visual Artistry - Life's Possibilities,  Visual Artistry - The Journey,  Visual Artistry - Lost and Found, Watercolor Pencil, Waterbrush,  Tissue Tape,  Prima Junkyard Findings Jean, Ranger Archival Ink - Black,  Pearls, Art Journal Kit, Blocked Circles Stencil

Come join in and share your favorite sentiment, quote or verse with us at  Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge for a chance to win a $50 Gift voucher for  Simon Says Stamp.

P.S.  Remember that  Stamptember is still going on at  Simon Says Stamp:

There is a fabulous line up of guest designers, tutorials and giveaways.  Don't forget to check back everyday on the Simon Says Stamp blog!

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Happy Birthday Dad!

This is a birthday post for my Dad!  Happy Birthday Dad! My dad and my birthday are pretty close together so we will be getting together today to celebrate both our birthdays. 

I decided to create a very CAS card for my dad.

I usually like to use my Outpost stamps to create a card for my dad as he was raised on a farm and grew up in a small town. I decided to change it up today.  I pulled out some Echo Park paper called This & That which has all these fun masculine prints on it.  I cut a panel of the paper and stamped the birthday sentiment on the wood banner and the cardbase.  (Memory Box) I added a few screw tops and twine and done. 

So a quick post for a quick card!  Have a wonderful Sunday!

Suzz

Happy Howllaween!

I know it is too early for Halloween... Although my youngest would love to pull out the Halloween decorations already.  I even saw Christmas decorations are making their way into the stores.

I decided to pull out my STAEDTLER Karat Oil Pastels to create a background. I used a light pink, dark pink and orange pastel to create my background.

I smeared the oil pastels randomly over white cardstock.  I then took a foam bush and rubbed the oil pastels until they blended.  I loved the background and was looking for something to stamp over the background and I found this Halloween stamp which I haven't used. It is a Stampendous stamp and I believe it is a Michael's exclusive Stampendous stamp.   I loved the script behind the image and the owl with his witche's hat. 

I stamped him two times. Once over the background and a second time on white cardstock so I could color him using STAEDTLER Karat Aquarell Watercolor Pencil.

Since I am sharing a Halloween card I also thought why not share this cute burglar card created for the Stampendous Release. 

I think he looks cute in his Halloween costume.  The stamp is Stampendous Burglar Kiddo.  He is colored with the STAEDTLER watercolor pencils and sponged around the edges with dye ink. 

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Suzz

Stamptember Hop

Welcome to the Stamptember Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog Hop!  Today we are celebrating Stamptember and the new Simon Says Exclusive Art Journaling Kit by Shari Carroll!   The challenge this week is to use any of the Simon Exclusive Products and create a project to be entered to win a $50 Gift Voucher to Simon Says Stamp! If you arrived here from the extraordinary Candy Colwell you are in the right place.  If you haven't hopped along go to the Simon Says Stamp blog to start the hop from the beginning!

This kit is filled with so many goodies the inspiration was overflowing.

I decided to decorate the front of my journal:

I started with removing the elastic from the cover and snipped it off. I was inspired by the ruler ribbon and knew I wanted to create an old fashioned belt for my book. 

I painted the covers with white acrylic paint. I glued the vintage book pages to cover the edges on the front and back.  I softened the text and ribbon with  a smear of paint.

I laid the stencil over areas and sponged on brown dye ink over the stencil.   I spritzed black glimmer mist around the edges.

Inside the kit there were two new stamps and I used one of them as my main focal point on the cover.  I stamped it using Ranger archival ink. The image inspired me to create a travel theme.  I found a variety of  travel stamps to add more voyage themed details.

I took my scrabble piece and flipped it over and painted it white and used a few airmail stamps to decorate the surface.  I stamped airmail on the sticker and slid it into the little pocket.

I outlined my images with watercolor pencils to provide shadowing and make the images pop.

I applied a variety of postage stamps around the cover in coordinating colors.   I added double clips  with a key to dangle from the top.

Products: Stamptember Art Journalling Kit by Shari Carroll, Hero Arts Collage Postcard, DarkRoom Door New York Volume 2, Ranger Archival Ink, Idea-Ology Buckles, Ranger Distress Ink - Vintage Photo, Idea-Ology Ball Chain, Key, Tattered Angels Black Glimmer Mist

Don't forget to play along with us at  Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge for a chance to win a $50 Gift voucher for  Simon Says Stamp.

P.S.  Remember that  Stamptember is still going on at  Simon Says Stamp:

There is a fabulous line up of guest designers, tutorials and giveaways.  Don't forget to check back everyday on the Simon Says Stamp blog!

Simon Says Stamp was founded in 2002 with an interest in exclusively selling rubber stamps. It didn’t take long until we realized we couldn’t stop there. During the past 11 years we celebrate rubber stamping in its full glory by giving access to people around the world to a one stop shop. Rubber stamps still remain the heart of our business and we are celebrating by hosting a STAMPtember® event intended to inspire, educate, and celebrate the greatness of rubber stamping. Part of the enticement of rubber stamping is that stamps can be used in creating or complementing ANYTHING! From stamping dates on bank documents and postage parcels in the early 18th century, rubber stamping has dramatically expanded to include card making, scrapbooking, mixed media, life documenting, art journaling, and many forms of altering and expressing art.

Head over to fantastic Dan's blog to see what he created using the Art Journalling Kit!
Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Mixed Media Saturday

I was lacking interest in working on any crafty project this morning but had time to play so I decided to use the Mixed Media Challenge #8 colors to try to get my inspiration going.   I am pleased with the end result:

There is many layers of paint, glimmer mist, tape, and stenciled images on here.  I added a few images with stamped tissue paper followed up with cardstock stamped images. Colored with STAEDTLER Karat Aquarell watercolor pencils.

The sentiment is from Verses Rubber stamps - Rainbow Colors of Laughter I actually modified it a little as this is a birthday sentiment and I cut the birthday in half to say day.

The stamps are Stampers Anonymous - Classic Stamps #1,  and Stampendous Nasturtium. 

The inspiration photo:

Have a wonderful Saturday!

Suzz

Shades of Blue

City Crafter Challenge #177 has the most lovely soft serene photo in lovely soft shades of blue and it inspired me to use the Hero Arts Remember set to play along in their contest using Stamp Your Story.

I started playing around with glimmer mist and some new Hero Arts flowers with the lovely verse from Verses Rubber Stamps to create this card.

This took me four tries to get the effect I wanted.  Unfortunately it doesn't photograph as well as I had hoped so you are seeing a pumped up color from brightening to make it pop from the background.

Producst: Hero Arts - Remember, Verses Rubber Stamps - Rose Kennedy Quote, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist - Verdigras, EK Success Punch - Dragonfly, Ranger Distress Inks - Stormy Weather, Versamark, Stampendous Clear Embossing Powder.

Have a lovely Friday!

Suzz

Fall Layout

This is my mom as a little girl with her family. I think it is so sweet.  They look all dressed up and I decided to create a fall layout with this photo.

My fall layout uses a stencil, some gold leaves and a lovely sentiment

The background is a mix of pattern paper with paint smeared over the surface. I then added a layer of embossing paste with a brick stencil.  I sprinkled Aged Ochre over the surface and heat embossed. In parallel I made a series of leaves using Aged Gold embossing powder and tissue paper.  I embossed a few acorn tops with Aged Gold Embossing Enamel.  I then embossed some faux flower branches using the same Aged gold embossing enamel. I assembled together with a sprinkle of Bronze Crushed Glass Glitter.  .

Products: Stampendous Jumbo Leaves, Cherish Family, Aged Gold Embossing Enamel, Aged Ochre Embossing Enamel, Paper Artsy Paint, MFT Brick Stencil, Americana DecoArt Embossing Paste, Ranger Distress Ink - Aged Mahogany, Stampendous - Clear Embossing Powder,  Bronze Crushed Glitter

This is my mom and I think she just looks so cute in her little hat and matching coat!

Have a fabulous day!

Suzz

Inky Fun

I am sharing a tutorial over at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog  today.  I am sharing what inks to use on different surfaces with a few tips on how to overcome some of the everyday mistakes I make.

Head over to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge  for all the details!

Don't forget to play along with us at  Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge for a chance to win a $50 Gift voucher for  Simon Says Stamp.

P.S.  Remember that  Stamptember is still going on at  Simon Says Stamp:

There is a fabulous line up of guest designers, tutorials and giveaways.  Don't forget to check back everyday on the Simon Says Stamp blog! 


Suzz

It's Time for a Hayride

Today is release day for Artistic Outpost new September Release. The new sets include Hayride and Christmas Chalk. 

I am sharing a tag using the new Hayride set::

I started with a wood grain misted background.  I added the windmill from The Outpost and repeated the grass to finish the grass line.   I stamped the tractor and popped it up in the foreground.  I added the sentiment from the Old Grist Mill plate.

I was having fun with the plate and decided to create a pumpkin patch:

I used the boy image and pumpkins from the Hayride plate.  I added the farm from the Country Life plate.  I stretched the fence to the left.  I added the sentiment from the Typography plate.

The Christmas Chalk plate has some beautiful sentiments that make beautiful tags and easy Christmas cards::

I stamped the sentiment and other images on a wood grain pattern paper using Versamark.  I embossed the images  with white embossing powder.  I cut it out and layered the the image onto white cardstock. .  I added a touch of raffia and was done.  A quick and easy card for my holiday cards.

Hop along to see all the wonderful inspiration from the rest of the design team:

Gerrie *  Lisa * Suzanne * Tracy * Linda * Alison * Terry * Kate

Have a fabulous day!

Suzz

Just Stamp On It

This week's  Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge  is about stamping on anything but plain old cardstock. Fabric, vellum, patterned paper, canvas, or wood are just a few materials that you could stamp on! Grab a stamp and get to experimenting – it’s going to be a fun week  at Simon Says Stamp and Show!

I will be sharing a technique post over on Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog on Wednesday and this is a sneak peek of my finished project.

Come play along with us at  Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge for a chance to win a $50 Gift voucher for  Simon Says Stamp.

P.S.  Remember that  Stamptember is still going on at  Simon Says Stamp:

There is a fabulous line up of guest designers, tutorials and giveaways.  Don't forget to check back everyday on the Simon Says Stamp blog! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Birthday Cupcake

Blessed Sunday to you!   I went to my favorite LSS yesterday and they had a new shipment of Penny Black stamps in house.  I couldn't resist this cutie pie as I am pretty sure it is a Mo Manning illustration. I decided to create a oh so elusive (in my house)  cute and pretty birthday card.

My daughters are always looking for something not vintage, shabby chic or steampunk for birthday cards and it is hard to find here. :)  I love this image and decided to put together a card using him and some MME papers. I started creating banners and couldn't stop.  :) 

I stamped him using Ranger Archival Ink and colored him with STAEDTLER watercolor pencils. 

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Suzz

Butterflies are in the Air

Welcome back for the final day in the Maya Road and Stampendous blog hop! Remember to go leave some love along the way for opportunities to win prizes.

I took a canvas tag book and turned  it into a wall hanging:

I spent the longest time playing with the hanger and trying to get it into the right shape. :)

I painted over the surface with Gesso.  I stamped music across the background with a few other postage stamps.  I stamped the butterflies on tissue paper and colored them with STAEDTLER Karat Aquarell  watercolor pencils. I then used Americana Decoupage to apply the butterflies.

I accented with the Maya Road ribbons and trims.

Products: Stampendous Jumbo Cling Butterfly Trio, Music Score, Maya Road - Organza Rose Ribbon, Canvas Album, Twine, Burlap Trim, Gesso, Wire Hanger, Tulle

Hop along to all the other wonderful inspiration:

Asia King
Cyndi Bundy
Jamie Martin 

 Janelle Stollfus  
Jennifer Dove 
Krissy Fossmeyer 
Kristine Reynolds 
Lea Kimmel 
Stephanie Lee 
Suzanne Czosek 
Tenia Nelson 
Tobi Crawford  

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Christmas Mini Album

All this week the Stampendous Design Team is hopping with the Maya Road Design Team!  There are fun prizes and tons of inspiration.  Head over to the Stampendous Blog or the Maya Road Blog to find out who is hopping every day.  Make sure to leave comments along the way for a chance to win one of the prizes!

I started with a chipboard album.

I started with a coat of white paint and added texture with a woodgrain stencil.  I applied silver embossing paste over the stencil to create a wood grain effect.

I then stamped the stampendous birds using water resistant ink on white cardstock.  I colored the images using watercolor pencils. 

I accented the covers with burlap trim, twine and mini roses.  After I finished I decided to add snowflakes in the background.

Here is the mini album open to show back and front.

Products:  Stampendous Christmas Charms, Maya Road Burlap Trim, Maya Road Twine, Maya Road Organza Rose Ribbon, Maya Road Large Chipboard Coaster Book, STAEDTLER Karat Aquarell Watercolor pencil

Hop over to the Maya Road Design Team Blog for more inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Remember

In remembrance of all the people who lost their lives on this day in 2001.

Suzz

Home

Much of my extended family lives in Wisconsin.   As a child we would go to visit my grandparents and we would be driving through miles and miles of farmland.  I loved and still love to see the old farmhouses, silos and the occasional windmill. 

The new Darkroom Door Windmill stamp brings back all those memories. I couldn't wait to ink it up and create a few projects.

I have been seeing some beautiful paintings  on pinterest all created using Alcohol Inks.  I thought I would try that to create my background for the Windmill.

Steps for the background:

1. Drip 3 drops of black alcohol ink on felt applicator.  Add 2 drops of alcohol blending solution. 
2. Smear the black ink along the bottom half of the glossy cardstock. 
3. Drip 3 drips of rust alcohol ink on felt applicator. Add 2 drops of alcohol blending solution. 
4. Dab over black colored surface of glossy cardstock. 
5. Drip 3 drops of yellow alcohol ink on felt applicator.  Add 2 drops of alcohol blending solution. 
6. Smear yellow over top half of cardstock. Re-apply alcohol ink as needed to cover top half of glossy cardstock. 
7. Drip 3 drops of orange alcohol ink on felt applicator. Add 2 drops of alcohol blending solution. 
8. Dab orange ink across yellow surface. Re-apply alcohol ink as needed. 
9. Repeat process mixing in caramel, yellow and orange until the background is as desired. 
10. Drip 3 drops of black alcohol ink on felt applicator. Add a few drops of alcohol blending solution. 
11. Dab over bottom half and along the line between the orange and black. 
12. Stamp weeds/flowers using Black StazOn along top of black. 
13. Stamp the Corrugated Iron over the background using  StazOn - Timber Brown. 
14. Stamp the word Home using StazOn on acetate. Attach with clip on the side. 
15. Stamp the sentiment along the left side using StazOn. 

For my card I used the same background but added a house in the front.

I added a house colored with a hint of golden brown to my scene on the card. I also stamped the windmill on acetate using StazOn.  I cut out the top and pop dotted to attach. I then added a brad to cover the pop dot.

Products: Darkroom Door - Home Sweet Home, Country Windmill,  Corrugated Iron,
Ranger Alcohol Inks - Caramel, Rust, Black, Yellow, Orange,  Raffia, Watercolor Pencil, Waterbrush, Alcohol blending solution, StazOn - Black, Timber Brown, Ranger Distress Ink Walnut Stain, Brads

Thanks for stopping by!


Suzz

Beautiful Beginnings

Many of my projects start with inspiration from a particular tool, technique or image.  This week's project for Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge  was inspired by a gorgeous flowery embossing folder with a coordinating folder. 

I started with stamping the flower on vellum using Versamark Watermark Ink. I repeated this three times. I heat embossed the flower using white embossing powder. I then cut the flowers out. I layered the flowers together and attached them with glue dots.

I stamped the sentiment using gray ink on the card base. I embossed several pieces of cardstock and cut them and layered them with pop dots onto the front of the card.

From this angle you can see the layers.

The inside is blank and ready for a personalized greeting.  Now I just need someone to get married. :)

Products: Hero Arts Flower, Versamark Watermark Ink Pad,     Simon Says Stamp Clear Stamps - Beautiful Words, Cuttlebug - Embossing Folder - Poppy,      Vellum, White Embossing Powder, StazOn - Stone Gray Ink, Pearls

Put on your embossing hat and think of the many ways you can emboss and play along with us at  Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge for a chance to win a $50 Gift voucher for  Simon Says Stamp. 

P.S.  Remember that  Stamptember is still going on at  Simon Says Stamp:

There is a fabulous line up of guest designers, tutorials and giveaways.  Don't forget to check back everyday on the Simon Says Stamp blog! 

Thanks for stopping by..

Suzz

Art is the Window to the Soul

I was playing with the new Eclectic Fancy Flourish from Darkroom Door it inspired me to create a set of wings. The wings were so large I decided to use a heart in between them and create a wall hanging.

To get the effect of wings I used stamping on acetate to allow me to create two opposite wings. I used Pink StazOn ink to create one pair of wings and a Ranger Distress Paint Picket Fence to create the second set of wings.

The background was created with a mix of Dylusion Ink sprays spritzed randomly over a glossy cardstock. After it dried I inked up my Creativity Word Block Stamp using the white acrylic paint.    I stamped it repeatedly over the surface.  I embossed a piece of cardboard and cut it out using a heart die cut.  The heart was colored with a mix of the pink stazon ink and white paint.  I stamped the Creativity word block onto white cardstock using the pink ink and cut out the pieces.  I then stamped the house from the Home Sweet Home set and cut it out to mount on the heart.  I distressed the edges of the stamped background and mounted it onto a painted and distressed piece of cardboard.

I loved how this looked so I decided to add text to it and put it up on my blog as my blog header. 

Go off and create something to share a piece of your soul!

Suzz

Fall Leaves

I am enjoying our Indian Summer with the weather hovering in the 80's and beautiful sunny days.  I can wait to see the fall leaves but I was inspired by the Mojo Moday Sketch #309 and the new Stampendous Leaves stamps.

In the Stampendous release there are some beautiful Jumbo Cling Leaves.  They are beautiful  there is a Trees and Leaves charms set with the same leaves and a Leaf Background stamp that coordinates. . 

I used a combination of each of these sets along with stamping the beautiful Tree Poem.  I stamped the Tree Poem using Versafine Toffee on tissue paper in the background. 

The leaves are stamped on an Alcohol Ink background using Versamark and the Aged Spice Embossing Enamel.

The sketch:

Have a fabulous Thursday!

Suzz

Tags Galore

Tim's September tag uses his new stencils. I can't wait to get some of the new stencils. They look awesome.  I had to improvise with the stencils I had.  I was excited to play with the different techniques Tim shared.

 I ended up with three tags as I was having so much fun playing with the stencils and inks. I pulled out the Dylusion inks and sprayed different combinations of colors.

 My first tag uses pinks and oranges.

 I loved the effect of the sun shine stencil I ended up using it on each tag as my focal point.  My white painted stencils on the bottoms of the tags didn't work the way I wanted on any of my tags so it ended getting cut off on most of my tags.


 Next I moved onto greens and blues and yellows.

 I finished with a red and green tag.

I thought this one was going to look Christmassy but I love how it turned out.  A very different effect on each but similar look with the same stencils.

All the stamps are from various Stampers Anonymous sets.  The stencils are from Heidi Swapp and The Crafters Workshop.

Happy Inking.

Suzz.