CYA!

Hello!!  How is everyone?  I'm sure you know already but yes, it's Dare to Get Dirty Challenge time at Splitcoaststampers!! One of the best challenge series and such a fun time!  Our way of saying Thank You to all the wonderful Fan Club Members (if you're not a member, hop over and check it out now, great perks and it's a great way to support the #1 site for us papercrafters!!) who are such a big part of SCS's success!  I'm super excited to be hosting a challenge today! Check it out!

My card uses lots of my favorite supplies from The Cat's Pajamas, the Small Saying stamp set and the Glasses and Talk To Me CutUps dies.  I cut the glasses out of fun foam and then used it to stamp the glasses in the background but then I used the fun foam as my focal image - sweet!

A bit of washi tape and more hearts, voila!  Hope over to SCS and check out all the fun challenges.  AND there are prizes!! Yup - tons of great prizes sponsored by all your favorite companies, including The Cat's Pajamas!  You could win (among other things) one of 3 gift certificates for $25 to The Cat's Pajamas - you could pick up the supplies to make this card!

So come on over and join the fun - CYA there! :)

Cardstock: (Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Black) Papertrey Ink, (White) Neenah, Patterned Paper: Echo Park, Stamps: (Small Sayings) The Cat's Pajamas, Ink: (Rich Cocoa) Memento, Accessories: Fun Foam, (Talk To Me CutUps dies, Glasses CutUps die) The Cat's Pajamas, (Linen Thread) The Cat's Pajamas, (Button) Papertrey Ink, washi tape, (Corner Rounder) WRMK, (Rhinestones) Kaiser

Soar!

Seriously? I haven't posted for over a week?? Oh my!  Well, the stomach bug hit our family last week and over the weekend and it wasn't until Tuesday that we surfaced so I guess I haven't had much crafting time.  Feels good to be back! :)

Today's Mix Ability Challenge at Splitcoaststampers is to use the negative space from any of your die cuts - you can use it as a stencil or a window, lots of fun!!  I tried out several things before I hit of something that I liked - one of those days!

I took the Heart Swirl CutUps die from The Cat's Pajamas and used it to stencil all over a piece of vintage book paper.  It really did look pretty but it was too busy to use the whole sheet (I could have toned it down with a bit of paint or gesso before I stenciled, but . . . ).  Then I die cut hearts from it which I like much better!

I used The Tweetest Things from The Cat's Pajamas as well as the coordinating CutUps die, Home Tweet Home.  The background was stamped with the Lock & Heart background (love that stamp!!)

This weekend is going to be exciting - I'm running in my first ever 5K race -eeeeekkk!!  I'll let you know how it goes, until then, have a great Friday!

Cardstock: Cardstock: (Natural White) Neenah, (Pure Poppy, Black) Papertrey Ink, vintage book paper, Stamps: (Lock & Heart Background, The Tweetest Things) The Cat's Pajamas, Ink: (Black) Marvy, (Barn Door) Ranger, (Versamark) Tsukineko, (Vintage Cream) Papertrey Ink, Accessories: Washi tape, (Rhinestone Swirl) Prima, Tools: (Home Tweet Home CutUps, Heart Swirl CutUps) The Cat's Pajamas, (Hearts) Spellbinders, (embossing folder) Provo Craft

Key To My Heart

Good morning!  As promised, I'm back with a card I made for the Mix Ability Challenge yesterday at SCS. This week's challenge, Construction Zone, is to use metal with some other mixed medium.  I never got a chance to play with last week's challenge, Rip It, Paste It, Ink It so I thought I'd combine the two.

The idea came pretty quickly - The Cat's Pajamas latest release, which was just on Tuesday, included a CutUps die set called Key To Your Heart and 2 great coordinating stamp sets, Key Phrases and Lock & Heart Background.  Keys are metal so it seemed a no-brainer!

First, I used several different types of vintage book paper, tore them and glued them down using Decoupage to a piece cardstock.  Then I used white paint mixed with Acrylic Glazing (which makes the white semi-transparent) and painted over the piece to tone it down a bit. Next I used a new background stamps from The Cat's Pajamas, Lock & Heart Background and stamped directly over the whole sheet. The stamp was perfect!

The key is a new CutUps die from TCP - Key To Your HeartI cut it from a thin sheet brass which I then embossed with a wood-grain pattern. I used Linen Distress Paint on it, rubbed on some Fired Brick Distress Stain and a bit of Brown paint. Next, crackle medium and then a bit of white paint. Basically, lots of layers - but then I sanded it a bit and removed some to expose the brass beneath! :)  It came out looking like a great vintage key!

The sentiment is from TCP, Key Phrases and was stamped with Fresh Snow ink.  The little heart lock is another die cut from the Key To Your Heart CutUps set which I cut from a layer of book paper and cardboard.  I rubbed it with Distress Stain and gave it a layer of Gel Medium.

I hope you've been inspired to give the new challenges a try!  Mixed Media is really more about looking at your supplies differently, maybe trying out a few new ones and experimenting - you don't have to get all grungy or totally change your style.  Make it what YOU want! :)

Have a wonderful weekend my friends!

Cardstock: (Natural White) Neenah, (some red???), (Dark Chocolate) Papertrey Ink, Vintage book pages, 
Stamps: (Key Phrases, Lock & Heart Background) The Cat's Pajamas, Ink: (Frayed Burlap) Ranger, (Fresh Snow) Papertrey Ink, Accessories: (Hemp), (Seam Binding) The Cat's Pajamas, Tools: (Key To Your Heart CutUps) The Cat's Pajamas, (Fired Brick Distress Stain, Linen Distress Paint) Ranger, (Acrylic Glazing) Golden, craft paint, brass sheet

Key Phrases stamp set	Lock & Heart Background	Distress Stain - Fired Brick
Key To Your Heart CutUps dies	Tim Holtz Distress Paint - Antique Linen	Distress Ink: Frayed Burlap
Cream Seam Binding

InLinkz.com

Mixed Roses

Happy Monday!  We had such a beautiful weekend here - Spring is coming folks! :)  Another good thing is that I was able to get to the craft store, use my 40% off coupon and buy some gesso so that I could participate in the Mix Ability Challenge #6 on Splitcoaststampers!  This technique was so much fun, totally fun to play with "artsy" supplies!

I thought that mixing the gesso technique with Kitchen Sink Stamps would make a pretty card and I think it did!

I started with a page from a vintage Primer that I purchased for $1 a few weeks ago.  I gave it two thin-ish layers of gesso because I wanted the print to peek through. Then I used the script stamp from 3 Step Letters from the Past (from Kitchen Sink Stamps) and colored directly on the stamp using 2 pink Gelatos.  I then spritzed it with water and stamped - pretty!  I stamped the rose from 3 Step Hearts and Roses (also KSS) using the ink recipe below but on the last step I spritzed it lightly with water . . . which then made my layers blend together - lol!  So, I dried it a bit and restamped layers 3 and 4.  After I stamped the leaves and the sentiment I did give it a quick spray of a sealer, just in case.

Rose Ink Recipe:  Step 4 - (Rich Razzleberry) SU!, Step 3 - (Rhubarb Stalk) Memento, Step 2 - (Rhubarb Stalk), Step 1 - (Lady Bug Red) Memento

I love trying new things and this is something I will definitely be doing again!  I've been taking a couple of mixed media online courses and learning a TON! I'll start showing you some of the things I'm doing soon, it's been a wonderful experience!

Don't you forget to visit the other Kitchen Sink Stamps Crew members and I hope you have a wonderful Monday!

Connie • Lisa • Lynn • Maria

Cardstock: (Sahara Sand) SU!, vintage book page, Stamps: (3 Step Hearts and Roses, 3 Step Letters From the Past) Kitchen Sink Stamp, Ink: (Rich Razzleberry) SU!, (Rhubarb Stalk, Lady Bug Red, Bamboo Leaves, Olive Grove, Black) Memento, Accessories: (Seam Binding) The Cat's Pajamas, (Pearls) Want2Scrap, Tools: (Nestabilities) Spellbinders, (Gesso) Liquitex, (Gelatoes) Faber Castell

Gelli Printing

Today's Mix-Ability Challenge on SCS is Mask-erade Ball - to use the masking technique.  I had to give it a try and I even had an idea!   You see, I'm taking the most amazing class from Christy Tomlinson - She Art 3.  I cannot recommend this class enough - TONS of information, great stuff!!  One of the things she talks about and shows is gelli printing and I had no idea how much fun it was going to be!  Check out the neat video on the Gelli Plate page at eclectic Paperie - it's amazing!

So, for my card today I pulled out my paints and supplies and made a cool gelli print using masks and stamps for the background paper of my card. Isn't it pretty?  I love the subtle look and the pretty softness of it!

The sentiment is from a Wplus 9 set, it was perfect with the scripty font!

Check out that super cool woodgrain button!  The floral stamp is the one that was included in the Gelatos package.

So why not try some masking today?  Or maybe gelli printing!! eP has everything you'll need!  Have a great day!

Memento Tuxedo Black Full Size Pad	The Twinery - Honeydew	Speedball 4" Pop-In Rubber Brayer
Gelli Arts - Gelli Plate 6x6"	Claudine Hellmuth Studio Mini Acrylic Paint Sets - Metropolitan	Claudine Hellmuth Studio Mini Acrylic Paint Sets - Urban

InLinkz.com

Love Fest 2013 - TCP Day!

It's an exciting day today because it's The Cat's Pajamas day at Love Fest on Splitcoaststampers!!  If you haven't seen yet, SCS has dedicated one whole day since February 14th to their fabulous Member Companies.  Each day a Member Company is spotlighted and hosts a challenge. Today, it's TCP Day!

Our challenge is located HERE in the Member Company Forum and there are 2 prizes up for grabs - all you have to do is participate!  We also have a couple other fun "meet & greet" threads going and we'd love for you to pop over and join the fun!

Now to the challenge  - it's an Inspiration Challenge (you can view the picture in the challenge thread at SCS) and here is my take on it.

I chose to go with the color scheme - I love the black and white with a pop of yellow - and some of the design elements, the circles from the plates.  I haven't made a circular card in quite a while so this was fun!  When I thought of yellow I thought of the moon and pulled out this adorable Wish set from The Cat's Pajamas!

I also used the Star Rosette CutUps die, the sentiment flag from the Easy Rosette CutUps die and the 3x3 Stars CutUps die.

 I kept the coloring minimal to keep a sort of monochromatic look - except for the yellow. :)

I hope you'll come join the fun, make a card or two and chat with us a bit today - it's Love Fest 2013!  Thanks for visiting!



Cardstock: (White) Neenah, (Black) Papertrey, (YoYo Yellow) SU!, Patterned Paper: LilyBee Designs, Stamps: (Wish) The Cat's Pajamas, Ink: (Black) Marvy, Accessories: (rhinestones) Kaiser, (Black Licorice Divine Twine) The Cat's Pajamas, Tools: (Star Rosette CutUps, Easy Rosette CutUps, 3x3 Stars CutUps dies) The Cat's Pajamas

XOXO - Emboss Resist

Happy Friday!! We're in the process of getting a HUGE snow storm here today (at least that's what the weathermen are saying - so far, so good!), so what better time to clean the house a bit and then get crafty!  As I mentioned last week, the new Mix-Ability Challenge at SCS happens on Fridays so I played along.  Today's challenge is Emboss Resist which I haven't done in forever!

(All the supplies are from eclectic Paperie and will be linked up at the end of the post.)

I'm calling this my "dirty chalkboard" card - lol!  First, I stamped and embossed (with white ep) the images and sentiments using Cupid's Arrow from Wplus9 on black cardstock.  Then I used Picket Fence Distress Stain and swiped it all over my card to make it appear that the chalkboard was really chalky - you know, like those cheaper kinds of  blackboards that you can never seem to get clean?! :)  Then I heavily sprayed the whole thing with Light Pink Glimmer Mist which you can see better in the close-up photo.

I also used the emboss resist technique to make the "frame" - embossing a woodgrain pattern on kraft cardstock with clear embossing powder and then going over it with a sponge applicator and Distressed Walnut Ink.  The rest of the card was kept pretty simple.  I used pretty paper from the Love Story pad by Echo Park.  While I was in the embossing mode I embossed a chipboard heart several times with red ep, edged it with some antique lace and added a Rhinestone.

Thanks for visiting today, stay warm out there all my New England friends!

Wplus9 Design Studio - Cupid′s Arrow Stamp Set	Distress Stain - Picket Fence	Distress Ink Pad - Frayed Burlap
Echo Park - Love Story 6x6 Paper Pad	Self-Adhesive Rhinestones - Silver	Ranger Super Fine Embossing Powder - Clear
Ranger Embossing Powder - Seafoam White	Ranger Felt Applicator Tool	Ranger Felt Applicator Refill
Ranger Embossing Powder - Rich Red