Looking Glass

Today we are going through the looking glass. The Vintage Journey challenge this month was about the looking glass and you could interpret a variety of ways.  I decided to play with an acetate tag as my looking glass inspiration.

 As always I am in the middle of three to four started projects which are in stuck mode.  I decided to stop and play along with the challenge by creating a tag to try to get the creative juices flowing.   This tag started with acetate but I pulled out some bronze paint and started applying paint to the acetate.  I didn't like that so I added a layer of mica flakes which I thought would look cool with the bronze.  Not so much... :) 

So I covered everything with a coat of gold paint and then spritzed yellow/orange spray ink over that.  You end up with this mix you see of golden tones, yellow, orange and a touch of bronze underlying it all. 

I then wiped out my center with a baby wipe and stamped the face on white cardstock which I placed behind the acetate.  I dug around looking for some accessories to frame her with that were already in gold but only found the spray so I used the black flowers and just accented them with gold.

Products:  Ranger Distress Paint (Bronze, Gold), Stampers Anonymous, Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Black Soot, Dylusions - Yellow/Orange Spray, Stampendous Mica Flakes 

Hope you are having a lovely week!

Suzz

Fly

This week at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.  anything goes... That means whatever inspires you.  I happen to have some new stamps and fun things sitting on my desk and was inspired to just play around with a piece of leftover cardboard.

Hence the unusual shape of my project as it was a four up of these shapes attached together with something packaged on top of the cardboard.  I always take those pieces and store them by my craft desk for future use.  This one already was broken into pieces as I let the puppy chew on some of it to distract him in the morning while I tried to craft.

I painted the surface with white gesso and put on a few coats to cover the printing on the cardboard. After that dried, I applied Wendy Vecchi white embossing paste through the stencil on areas of the cardboard.

I enlarged this so you can see that I added a sprinkling of ultra fine crystal glitter to the surface.  I let the embossing paste dry and then came and sprayed blue distress stain over the surface.  I repeated to add some darker areas.  I left it to dry.

I next stamped the focal image on tissue paper using blue ink and decoupaged the image to the surface. The rest was stamping directly onto the surface and using a white gel pen for highlights.  I added a touch more bling with the sequins mixed in.

Product:  Ranger Distress Stain Spray (Broken China,   Mermaid Lagoon), Prima Don't Forget to Fly Finnabair Stamps,  Wendy Vecchi White Embossing Paste, Memory Box - Heartwood Designer Stencil, Stazon - Azure Ink , Signo Uni-Ball White Gel Pen,  Ultra-Fine Crystal Glitter, Simon Says Stamp - Sequins, White Gesso

The ever generous Simon Says Stamp is offering a gift voucher to a randomly selected participant in the challenge. Come share your art!

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Purple

This is a project focused on one color, one stencil and one stamp and the challenge is from the Mixed Media Place - Creative Gym Exercise - The Power of One.  

I had a hard time choosing my color as I really love color.  I thought I would do something different and use words for my stencil and my stamp. 

I started with a white paper bag leftover from something we purchased.  I decided to stencil words onto the paper bag with white embossing paste.  I then put layers of Ranger Distress Stain Sprays (Milled Lavender and Dusty Concord) with sprinkles of white paint.

After I finished the background I cut a few dies in white cardstock and layered them over the background.  The dragonfly was covered in glitter to add a touch of glistening.  I added a few flowers and stamped my sentiment in two layers one in white and one in purple.

Have a great weekend!

Suzz

Love

Verses Rubber Stamps has some of the loveliest quote stamps.  I was playing around this weekend on another project and had a leftover quote on vellum and decided to try something outside my comfort zone with a more CAS design.

This was designed by using leftovers sitting on my desk from other projects you will see in the next couple of weeks. :)   I used the Versus Rubber Stamps quote on vellum using Ranger Archival Ink. (You need to make sure to heat set it. Normally I use StazOn on the vellum. 

I then used up some die cuts form Memory Box (leafy branch) and Simon Says Stamp Exclusives Let's Go Fly a Kite, and sequins.   

I am not sure if I like it as I have a desire to add more but I left it as is and I will see if it grows on me. :) 

Have a lovely Wednesday!


Suzz

Golden Girl

Due Dates is the challenge this week at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.  You couldn't pick anything closer to my heart.  I loved checking books out at the library and of course that is what I thought of when I heard the words due date. That idea had me pulling out a pre-printed tag with a date column.  I created my layout inspired by the tag.

Once I decided on the tag the rest of the layout became a lovely set of neutrals including printing a sepia colored photo of my daughter.

I started this layout and worked on it over a period of 3 weeks.  In the meantime new stamps, stencils and sprays kept showing up and I kept adding them into my layout.

I love this stamp from Impression Obsession and it worked beautifully with the Sizzix Butterfly and my canvas tags.

I started with a sheet of white cardstock.  I stenciled the flourishes over the background using Wendy's White embossing paste.  I let it dry and sprayed a mix of Vintage Photo and Antique Linen Ranger Distress Stain Sprays over the background.

 I die cut flourishes and butterfly.  The butterfly got embossed with the typewriter letters and sponged with a touch of vintage photo. I stamped some sentiments form the new Prima Finnabair sets and used them to accent the layout.

Product:  Ranger Distress Stain Spray (Vintage Photo, Antique Linen), Sizzix Layered Butterfly Die & Embossing Folder, Graphic 45 Key Hole Staples, Prima Don't Forget to Fly Finnabair Stamps, Tim Holtz Layering Stencil, Wendy Vecchi White Embossing Paste, Memory Box - Elegant Scroll work Die, Ranger Archival Ink, Typewriter & Keyboard Texture Fades Embossing Folder, Flowers, Ranger Alcohol Ink - Butterscotch, TIm Holtz Compass Coins, Metal Knobs, Graphic 45 Ornate Key, Alcohol Blending Solution

The ever generous Simon Says Stamp is offering a gift voucher to a randomly selected participant in the challenge. Hope you play along with us!

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Spring Trip?

A quick share partially inspired by all the spring color challenges that  are out there right now.  I started with an ATC travel inspired but used the spring colors.

Perhaps a spring trip?

This was all I had time for this morning!  I hope you have a great Saturday!

Suzz

In The Middle

We’re right in the middle of the month. Not quite to the middle of the year.  Whether you craft something where your focal point is in the middle, you journal about what you’re in the middle of, or perhaps select a stamp or sticker from the middle of the set this week we’re all about being in the middle of things this week at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. 

I decided to do a focal point in the middle of my card.

 I started with this tag that I decided needed to be the focal point of a card and built the card around it with the same flowers and bees.

The background of the cardstock was sprayed with Antique Linen over the card and tag.  I stamped flowers over both and colored them with watercolor pencil and waterbrush.  I added a fee bees with acetate wings.  I accented the card with a died seam binding ribbon to coordinate.

Product:   Stampers Anonymous - Flowers 2015, Stampers Anonymous - Time to Flourish, Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Antique Linen, Spiced Marmalade, StazOn - Jet Black  Black Embossing Powder, Ranger Archival Ink - Black, Seam Binding, Acetate, Waterbrush, STAEDTLER watercolor pencils


The ever generous Simon Says Stamp is offering a gift voucher to a randomly selected participant in the challenge, so come share how you are inspired by the middle.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Live in Our Heart to Stay

Hello!  I am back again with more Sympathy cards.  I now will have quite a few on hand and hopefully I will not need them.

 I had quite a time again mixing inks and layers to see if I could get the right amount of color in the sentiment and the background.

 I used the Ranger Archival Ink Blue Violet and Hydrangea for the next two cards but the color by itself was too strong. I tried stamping off but didn't get an even color.  So I stamped them and then gave them a coat of whitewash to tone down the background.  I then stamped the sentiment with a gray ink to keep it softer.

 On this one I used the black ink to be stronger as the background was darker.

 This was one of my first done in a very light gray ink in the background and a darker gray ink for the sentiment. I added a hint of watercolor to the background image and sponged the edges. I wish I hadn't sponged the edges on this one.

This is the Milled Lavender Ink a very soft image and very faded. But a lovely soft card. I always feel like on my sympathy card there should be no embellishments so I kept them all simple from a design perspective.

Stamps: Darkroom Door - Quote Memory,  Darkroom Door - Butterfly Garden, Darkroom Door - Floral Garden Background Stamp, Darkroom Door - Texture Floral, Ranger Distress Ink - Milled Lavender, Memento London Fog, STAEDTLER watercolor pencils, Ranger Archival Ink - Blue Violet, Hydrangea, Watering Can, StazOn - Dove Gray

Have a blessed Sunday!

Suzz

Memories

Good Saturday to you!  I got up early this morning (puppy's choice not mine)  and decided to play with a few new Darkroom Door Quote stamps.  The Memory stamp inspired my whole session this morning.

 Isn't that a beautiful quote.  I unfortunately have needed more sympathy cards lately than I have wanted.  This is the perfect stamp and I decided to create two of the same card slightly changing up the way I created my background and my accents.

I started with first just inking up the embossing folder on the flat side with Cool Peri ink and spritzing it with water and pressing my cardstock onto the open folder.  After I did that I decided to do the same thing but run it through the embossing folder closed in the Big Shot.

 It is hard to see in the photo but the image becomes more pronounced and the ink pools more around the image making it pop.  The quote was stamped with the Ranger Archival Blue Violet. 

After that I had to keep making more prints in different colors.

 I mixed the shabby shutters with the new mermaid lagoon. I love this one and I will have to save it for a future card.

Then I decided to move onto the Butterfly. 

 I had this little girl stamped on my desk and hadn't used her yet so I decided to put her one of my backgrounds.  The colors are abandoned coral and squeezed lemonade.

 Here is worn lipstick top left corner and abandoned coral bottom right corner.

And another mix of Squeeze Lemonade and Abandoned Coral without embossing in the machine.

Have a great day!

Suzz

Trading Post

Good morning!  Today I am trying out a challenge at the Artist Trading Post.  The challenge is to create an ATC inspired by the Trading Posts.  I love creating ATC's and love the idea of the old Trading Posts. 

I started with a reference card from the library.  When we were in Phoenix for vacation recently I was able to go out looking for local stamp stores and one of the stores I found had a selection of antique ephemera and bits and pieces.  There was a handful of library reference cards which I just love!  I spent so many hours as a child in the library looking up books with these cards!  It has me wondering what happened to all those cards when they put it online! 

Well these particular cards actually describe reference materials for Southwest American Indians which I think is just perfect for the inspiration of Trading Posts.

I used the Wendy Vecchi stencil to add a few lines with the Abandoned Coral overlaid with Walnut stain sponged onto the background.  I then used a few different Stampers Anonymous stamps in the background.

I finished off with tying some twine through the hole on the index card. I added a rusty heart and wing.  The words are from the chit chat stickers.

I hope your week is going well. I didn't realize it was Wednesday!  Yeah! 

Suzz

Arches

The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge  this week is to be inspired by the letter "A".  That means you have free reign to use the letter "A".  I had all kinds of ideas running through my head but the thought of using arches intrigued me.

I wanted to see if I could create the feel of an old wooden church showcasing some beautiful stained glass windows.

I started with die cutting three arches from some scrap cardboard.  I keep all the backs of pads of paper so when they get used up I have a nice sturdy chipboard/cardboard for projects like this. 

I applied several coats of white acrylic paint and then finished it off with rock candy paint to get the weathered effect.   I let that dry and then took my finger and picked up grey pigment ink and rubbed it into the cracks to enhance the crackle.

Next up was to create my stain glass effect. 

I traced the shape of the inside of the arch onto tissue paper.  I cut it slightly larger (hence the funny edges).  I stamped the mosaic pattern using black ink and heat embossed with black embossing powder.

I flipped over the paper and colored the back side of the tissue paper with watercolor pencils.  After I had finished coloring I spritzed it with water to soften the coloring.   I could have colored with any medium (distress dye inks, watercolor markers, etc)  Just keep in mind the wetter the medium the more likely it will tear the tissue paper.

After it dried I applied versamark ink over the entire surface and coated it with clear embossing powder.  I then heated it up and melted it to give it a shiny coat.  After it cooled down I flipped it over and repeated the process.  I did the front side two times to give it a double coat.  You can decide what texture and how shiny.

After I finished that I attached it to the back side of the arch.

I took this photo in the sunlight so you can see the faux stained glass effect. 

I created a panel from cardboard following the same weathering process as the arches to place my arches on:

After that I added just a few more touches for my finished art:

Product:    White acrylic paint , Ranger Archival Ink - Watering Can,  Stampers Anonymous - Cracks, Maya Road Art Journaling Stamps, Spellbinders Arched Window Die,(I used Memory Boxes but any Arch will do),  Moss, Hero Arts Three Artistic Butterflies,  Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint, Versamark Watermark Ink, Clear Embossing Powder, Black Embossing Powder, Ranger Archival Ink - Black, Tissue Paper


The ever generous Simon Says Stamp is offering a gift voucher to a randomly selected participant in the challenge, so come join in on the fun.

Thanks for stopping by!


Suzz

Easter Blessings!

Happy Easter!  I have a sweet Easter card to share with you.  This card is being entered into the Mixed Media Card Challenge #10 - Flowers.

 I was playing with that lovely Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Milled Lavender and mixed it the Heidi Swapp Gold spray to create a soft background.  I mixed in the Simon Says Stamp flowers with a touch of seed beads in the center. 

Can guess why there is a window in my card?   That would be improperly stamping the sentiment after everything else was finished! !  I could have cut my card short at that point or layer up which didn't look good with my misted background so I decided to mist the inside of my card and create a window to see the stamped sentiment.

I hate when you get that far down the path of creativity and you blow it with a mistake!  Anyways, Happy Easter to you!

Suzz

Adore & Discover

I can't believe I have actually posted three days in a row. It feels so good to be creating every day and sharing them. :)  I am inspired today by Tim's April Tag.  Flowers are one of my favorites and his tags are just beautiful with a few cool tips and techniques as always.

 Tim created two tags with different flowers from the Stampers Anonymous 2015 - Flowers so I followed along and created two myself.

 I wanted to color on the kraft so I flipped my layers and put the flowers on the kraft and the white as the background of my tag.  I used my STAEDTLER Karat Aquarell watercolor pencils instead of the markers.

I also don't have the lovely die cut words to cut out on the bottom which by the way is very cool!  I am going to think about how to do that with the dies I do have on the pocket of a card/tag in the future.

Happy Saturday!  I  have a card for Easter planned for tomorrow. (Which makes me very happy to have something to share.)

Suzz

Create Magic

Good Friday to you.  I am here to share a project which I have been struggling with for over a week. I was going to show you my first attempt but I just can't. :)  The Mixed Media Place Creative Gym Exercise is  one of my favorite new challenges because the team is very inspirational and they are challenging me to explore new ideas.   I am playing along with their current exercise #6 which is about Typography.

 I started with a full journal page and ending cutting it up to salvage what was left of my background and creating this card.

I decided to layer in two types of typography in the background.  I heat embossed clear stamped letters onto the background with embossing powder and stenciled larger letters using embossing paste.  I also had tissue tape in the background which was painted and misted over many times so you can't see it.

After much tussling about with my background I ended up added the Sizzix dragonfly die cut from a failed piece of this background and highlighted with gold paint.  I used a few flower gems and turned them dark with a touch of a black copic marker and painted a touch of gold on the surface.  The lace was died with brown ink sprays which look purple in this light. The sentiments are from the new Finnabair stamps which I have been playing with.

Have a lovely Friday!

Sue

Simple

Hello!  I have been struggling with a few projects on my desk and decided to challenge myself to create something for The Vintage Journey Challenge "Anything Tim" celebrating their 1 year birthday.  I only had a little time this morning so I did a quick (for me) card using a few new favorite stamps. 

I just received my new Ranger Distress Ink Abandoned Coral and couldn't wait to play with it and since Tim is the king of the distress inks it was my inspiration for the Tim Inspired challenge.

I used a mix of the new Stampers Anonymous 2015 stamps with an old favorite of the stitching stamp.

Hope your day is fabulous!

Suzz