Create Magic

Anything Goes this week at  Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!  I used it as an opportunity to create a tag with layering in a variety of techniques.

I chose to feature the magical princess.

This tag started with playing with the tea dye sprays from last week's challenge.  I used it to mist up letters and stamp them in the background.

I then used a stencil with the peacock feather spray on another project which left a nice coat of ink on the stencil which I decided to flip over and press onto my tag to give the reverse pattern on my tag. 

I stamped the image on tissue paper and decoupaged her to the surface. I stamped the heart from the set onto another pieces colored it with pink and gold and cut it out.  I used a few other embellishments to finish the design.  I used a touch of watercolor pencils to add pink and gold to the tag background.

Products: Ranger Distress Ink - Tea Dye ,  Tim Holtz Crinkle Ribbon, Heidi Swapp - Tea Color Shine, Prima Screw Heads Tiny Junkyard, Twine, Prima - Trust the Magic, Idea-Ology Botanical Remnants, Tim Holtz Layering Stencil Latticework, Prima Flowers, The Crafters Workshop Sunburst Stencil, Wendy Vecchi Black Embossing Paste, Fast Finish Beacon Decoupage, Watercolor Pencil, Stampers Anonymous - Type Stampers, Ranger Archival Ink - Black, Ultrafine Crystal Glitter, Bee Charm, Ranger Distress Stain - Peacock Feather, Sequin,

Simon Says Stamp is offering a $50 gift voucher to a randomly selected participant in the challenge, come play along!

Thanks for stopping by!


Suzz

Don't Forget

Stamping and using sprays to mist are two of my favorite things. I was a very happy camper this week because that is the challenge at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge this week.  You can emboss or stamp an image and spray over it. Use mist to ‘ink’ a stamp. Apply mist color with a paintbrush to a stamped image. Any which way will do!  

I had my sprays out in shades of pink and decided to use those for my project.  I had a variety of pinks and a hint of lilac.

I started trying something new for me.  I took and unscrewed the top of my mister and pulled it out. Now usually I would flick the end and drip all over but I decided to push the head of the sprayer down therefore shooting out what was in the tube all over my paper.

I loved the splotchy effect and repeated a few times and then flicked some of the sprays across the paper.  To soften my pinks I did the same with my white pickets spray over my original pink spots. Of course it isn't an exact science so it partially covered it. 

I repeated this process on several pieces of cardstock and then came back and spritzed in a soft lavender color over the surfaces. 

When  that had dried I mixed up some white acrylic paint with water and flicked it over the surfaces.

I then stamped the butterflies in gray ink on some of the paper and cut them out.

I stamped the chicken wire over the background of the tag. Embossed the tiny safety pins by covering them with versamark and dipping them into white embossing powder and then holding them with my tweezers I heated them up. 

I used the top of some of them for my baby butterflies and the rest of it for my antennas! I thought they looked very clever.

By the way when pushing out the spray make sure to mask/cover the spray opening otherwise you will be sporting a lovely palm of pink like myself! :)


Products:   Ranger Distress Stain Picked Raspberry,  Dylusions Bubblegum Pink,  Ranger Distress Stain Picket Fence,   Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Milled Lavender,   Prima Marketing Finnabair Rust and Dust,  Ranger Archival Ink - Watering Can, Idea-Ology Filmstrip, Idea-ology - Safety Pins, Versamark Watermark Ink, White embossing powder, DarkRoom Door - Chicken Wire Stamp, Prima Marketing - Don't Forget to Fly,  Prima Marketing - Now is the Right Time

Simon Says Stamp is offering a $50 gift voucher to a randomly selected participant in the challenge, come play along!

Thanks for stopping by!


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

Catch the Trade Winds

Is it cloudy by you?  This time of the year we see more clouds than sunshine.  The  Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge  this week is up in the clouds.  I was out looking for cloudy inspiration and was inspired by so many gorgeous canvases showing a stormy sky.  I decided to get out the acrylic paints and create a background.

I layered in  paints onto a mixed media paper blending a variety of colors trying to achieve a stormy skyline over a restless sea.

After I had layered in my paints I sponged in some clouds.  When the canvas was complete I cut it into pieces and created a card and a bookmark.

 I ended up cutting down the background and adding in some spotting of paint along with a few more clouds.  I added the boat and sentiment by stamping them on tissue paper and adding them to the surface using decoupage.  The branches I stamped directly on and used a micron pen to fill in where the ink didn't apply with a solid line.

Products:  Gesso,  Mixed media paper,  Dina Wakely Acrylic Paints ,  DarkRoom Door – Sail Away ,  Memory Box Cloud Stencil,  Memento - London Fog ink,  Stampers Anonymous - Spring Sprung ,
Ranger Archival Ink - Black,  Decoupage, Prima Flowers Watches

  I hope you share your cloudy inspiration for a chance to win a $50 gift voucher at Simon Says Stamp.

I am started to enjoy painting a a bit more and am going to keep the brushes, canvas and paint out on the table. 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

All Zipped Up

Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge this week  is all about quotes. I do love to use verses and quotes.  I didn't have to look far to find one of my very favorite quotes.

This quote is from Emily Dickinson and  is such a lovely verse that I find myself using it quite often. There have been so many cool zipper projects on-line and I thought I would give it a try.

I used some lovely lavender paper from Graphic 45  Secret Garden collection. . I had bought a few old zippers and pulled out one of them to use on my card. 

I cut the paper down the center.  I ripped along the edges and taped the zipper to the inside of the paper. I folded the edges back to show the inside. This took several attempts to figure out how to open up my zipper enough to show some of the inside.  I layered this over the reverse side of the same paper.

I stamped the sentiment using a lavender ink on white cardstock. I cut the sentiment apart.  I die cut a coordinating bird to nestle in the array of white flowers, ribbon and leaves.

Products:
Graphic 45 Secret Garden, Artistic Outpost - Quote and Quotable, Prima Flowers, Prima Flowers - Fiesta,  Prima Leaves, Ribbon, Memory Box - Branches, Memory Box - Bird, Ranger Archival Ink - Blue Violet,

Don't forget to go check out all the other inspiration from the DT!

Come play along with us and share your favorite quote for a chance to win a Simon Says Stamp  $50.00 gift voucher.

Thanks for stopping by!


Suzz

Memories

Chic to be Shabby  is the challenge this week at Simon Says Stamp and Show.  

I was excited to play along as shabby chic is something I really enjoy..  I decided to create a wedding keepsake box.

The base of my project is a Graphics 45 Altered Art Box. 
I covered the surfaces with a variety of lovely soft pastel papers distressed and smeared with white paint. I coordinated with a variety of pinks, black, and soft greens.   The front is covered with a variety of roses which have been misted with pink glimmer mist. The ribbon was also died to pink color as well.

The box has two openings which allow for photos inside and out: 

Inside I mounted a frame die cut from pink vellum.  The frame is for additional photos or to add a keepsake.

Here is a picture of the box fully open. 

I added a pocket with the Hero Arts doily stamped using versamark and heat embossed with white embossing powder.  I created a tag to fit in the pocket with lace trim.

The box open standing up:

I love collecting papers and was happy to use them on this beautiful keepsake perfect for an anniversary gift.

Products: Authentique Festive, Authentique Lovely ,  Prima Flowers, 
Spellbinders Grand Ovals Die, Hero Arts Starburst Lace, White Embossing Powder, Ranger Dabber - Snow Cap, Ribbon, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist,Tim Holtz Idealogy Lavish Trim, Gem Flourishes

Come join in the challenge this week for a chance to win a $50.00 gift voucher from the ever generous Simon Says Stamp:

Thanks for stopping by!


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

Pearls & Feathers

This week at Simon Says Stamp and Show the challenge is Just Add a Pearl.  I took the opportunity to create a card for my sister's birthday. 

I used a lovely blue glimmer mist combined with a brown chalkboard mist.  I started with multiple layers of old book pages and music sheets. I sprayed them with blue glimmer mist and add a touch of yellow.  I then sprayed over the surface using perfect Pearls Mister.

I misted my flowers with the same combination of inks.  I added a stamped clock in the background and a flourish.  Then layered in pearls, flowers, feathers and wooden clocks.

The birds are stamped and colored to coordinate into the scene.  I think my Sis will like her card.

Products:  Hero Arts Fabulous Flourish, Big clock,  Artistic Outpost Birds of a Feather,.  Prima Flowers Clock,   Patina Glimmer Mist, Chalkboard Spray, Perfect Pearls Mister - Pearl  

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

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Clovers & Butterflies

 

The new Almanac Collection from Prima has such soft and pretty colors. I started with a sheet of the Cosmopolitan paper and the Mojo Monday Sketch #235 as  the inspiration for my card. 

I added the stamped sentiment from Memory Box and the Our Daily Bread Designs - Simple Things flowers.  

A quick card for me. :)  Still took a little time to add fussy details at the end.

Thanks for stopping by! 

Suzz

Soft Flourish

I have been working on cards using the stencils/templates from the Crafters Workshop... This is one of them.

I used a glimmer mist across the stencil on the cardstock.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Anytime Messages
• The Crafters Workshop
• Hero Arts - Old French Writing
• Glimmer Mist - Sweet Pea
• Martha Stewart Cornic Border Punch
• Hero Arts - Heart Winged Butterfly
• Adirondack Brights - Pool
• Prima Flowers
• Crystal Stickers - Teal

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

My mother...

I never do scrapbook layouts. The space is too intimidating for me. But a couple of things led to this layout. The challenge this week for Hero Arts is to use a photo in a project and my youngest sister Jodie had printed this adorable pictures of my mother and I wanted to honor my mother with a layout.



I didn't do any journaling and left a little spot for my sister to put in my mother's name.

I apologize for the picture. This is too big for my light box I created and it is gloomy outside today. So the lighting is limited. I used the flash but it lost the true colors so I stuck with this picture because it shows the real colors even if it is a little dark.

I used my copic markers on the black and white picture which was printed on glossy photo paper and was really pleased with the effect.

Products:

• Tattered Angels - Butterfly Chipboard
• Lace - (Provided my little Sis Jodie)
• Prima Flowers
• Hero Arts - Anytime Messages
• Hero Arts Raindrop Background, F4281 Petal Lace, K5232 Dot Flourish Border, F4321 Graceful Leaves, H2365 Old French Writing
• Stampers Anonymou s - U3-1414
• Rangers Distress Inks - Dusty Concord, Peeled Paint, Antique Linen
• Basic Grey - Wisteria
• Copics

Suzz

Window Cards...

The challenge on the Hero Arts Blog this week is window cards... I spent a little time today putting together a little book/card. This has 4 pages and the die cut was put through 3 of the pages to create 3 windows with acetate attached to the three pages. This gives you a window to the back of the card. This card was difficult to get a good picture of which wasn't helped by the gusts of wind we had today in addition to the clouds. :)

The middle and back of card looks like this:


Recipe:

1. Cut 2 rectangles from tan carsdtock 4" x 8". Score to form to mini cards 4" x 4"
2. Lay the 3 front pages centered on the diecut shape and cut out window.
3. Cut 3 pieces of transperancy 3 3/4" x 3 3/4".
4. Cut 3 pieces of tan cardstock 3 3/4" x 3 3/4". Cut out the center of the tan cardstock using the same diecut. This is to cover up the back of each page where the acetate is attached.
5. Stamp the front of the pages with wood grain using brown ink.
6. Attach the acetate to the pages.
7. Stamp the branches on each page using StazOn ink across the frame and acetate. (Tips: Start with Image on back and work forward by laying acetate over stamped image on back. This will help prevent too much overlap on images seen through acetate.)
8. Die-cut a white piece of cardstock in the same shape slightly larger for the back page.
9. Cut a piece of orange cardstock 3 3/4" x 3 3/4" to attach to the last page of the card.
10. Attach the two scored cards using glue dots.
11. Stamp owls and color and cut out to attach to the various pages on acetate.
12. Accent flowers on the stamped images with prima flowers.
13. Add color to stamped image using color pencils.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Sparkle Design - You Hoo Owls
• Hero Arts - Flower and Leaf Branch
• Hero Arts - Wood Finish
• StazOn - Timber Brown
• Versafine - Vintage Sepia
• Prima Flowers
• Primsa Color Pencils
• Nestabilities - Spellbinders Labels
• Gems

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

I'm back....

I went to CHA and had tremendous fun... I unfortunately did not take pictures! I spent most of my time doing make and takes for the store I was representing.

I also have some exciting news. I am going to be teaching classes at my local stamp store! They asked me if I would teach a few classes and now I am working on cards for the classes!

Here is something I have been playing with today. The background is made using a resist technique.

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

I was asked to provide products.. I usually do... Sorry about that...

Products:

• Hero Arts - Sparkle Clear - Mini Messages
• Hero Arts - Decorative Bamboo
• Hero Arts - Artistic Butterflies
• Prima Flowers
• StazOn - Olive Green, Pumpkin
• Ranger Distress Inks - Tea Dye
• Glossy Cardstock
• Gems - Crystal Stickers, Kaisers

Busy Busy Busy...

I had a really busy weekend and have been working on typing up instructions for cards. So I have made a few odds and ends but nothing too significant. I worked on multiple things yesterday which are now scraps to be pulled out at a later date I am sure... The Hero Arts Challenge this week is layers. http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2009/01/05/motivation-monday-layers/

Here is what I pulled together.... The inspiration for this was a picture of two wall panels that were wooden cut-outs of a white trees mounted on a pink wall.

Recipe:

1. Smear Worn Lipstick and Vintage Photo on transperancy and spritz with water until they blend together. Lay white cardstock on ink. Pull up and lay flat to dry.
2. After the background is dry stamp image using Versamark and emboss using white embossing powder.
3. Cut into 3 panels.
4. Mount on multiple layers of cardstock.
5. Stamp writing on flower using Pigment Ink.
6. Stamp sentiment on cardstock and cut out with punch. Cut slightly larger circle half to mount sentiment.
7. Tie ribbon and attach flower with button center and attach sentiment to top half of flower.

Products:

• Ranger Distress Inks - Worn Lipstick, Vintage Photo
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Ranger Seafoam White Embossing Powder
• Hero Arts Design Block - Butterfly
• Prima Flower
• Hero Arts - Sandra's Letter
• Versafine Vintage Sepia
• Ribbon Unknown
• Kaisers - Pearls

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Art Creations Friday Challenge...

The Art Creations Friday Challenge: http://artcreationsfriday.blogspot.com/ posted this beautiful lady as the challenge photo.

I left her pretty much the same but added a resist image ontop of her and sponged a light pink and brown around the edges.
I did mask her face because my first attempt I didn't and I didn't like the effect. I also tried using a chalking technique where you chalk first and then emboss with clear embossing powder. The effect didn't show enough color on the resist. I bunched the lace along the bottom with glue dots. I added flowers, hat pin and embossed a silver charm with bronze embossing powder to coordinate with the photo corners.

Products:

• Image - Art Creations Friday
• Flowers - Prima
• Lace - JoAnn's
• Hero Arts DesignBlock - Poinsettias and Birds
• Versacolor - Opera Pink
• Memento - Rich Cocoa
• Pearls - Unknown

Thanks for stopping by..

Suzz

One more card for the shabby chic challenge

One more shabby chic card... I really liked this challenge... I must have more shabby chic in my house than I know as I was very inspired by this and thinking of the colors and materials you find in shabby chic.

There is not a lot of complexity to this card but I will share all the products...

Products:

• Making Memories - Hat Pin
• Prima Flowers
• Crystal Stickers - Pearls
• Hero Arts Clear Design - Three Tree Christmas
• Hero Arts Gems
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folders - Border - Just My Type
• Ranger Distress Ink Peeled Paint
• Brilliance - Pearlescent Poppy
• Anna Griffen Paper

TFL!