Happiness and Butterflies

Hello!  I am popping in to share a quick card created yesterday as I needed to get it sent out to a friend. 

I started from the beautiful wildflowers form Darkroom Door: 

I inked up the wildflower with Ranger Distress Oxide Worn Lipstick and then colored the stem with a watercolor marker.  Gave it a spritz of water and then stamped.  I did the same process on my die cut butterfly along with the lovely sentiment from Impression Obsession.

I hope you are having a blessed Sunday!

Suzz

Friday Focus at The Funkie Junkie Boutique

Hi! Happy Black Friday!  In the spirit of sales today I wanted to mention that I am sharing a Grateful Mini-Book over on the Funkie Junkie Blog.  It is Friday Focus which means that a group of products (this time the Yvonne Blair stamps by Impression Obsession)  have an extra discount for the next two weeks.  Hop over to the Frilly and Funkie blog for all the details.  In addition The Funkie Junkie Boutique is having a Black Friday Sale as well and everything in the store is on sale.  

You will have to head over to the blog to see all the pages inside the journal.  Have a lovely Friday! 

Suzz

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!  All of our kids have gotten to old to Trick or Treat but not too old to get a card from mom and dad on Halloween.

 I didn't have any idea of what I wanted to create other than a card, but I had plenty of Halloween stamps that I have collected and that had not been inked up yet!  

I laid out all my stamp sets and just started playing. I started with this fun clock from the Hampton Arts Graphic 45 collection and decided to make it into a mini shaker.  I stamped it multiple times on acetate and cardstock.

I cut out the clock and then cut out the center. I used that to draw where I wanted the opening on the front of  card.  I filled it with some rich colored sequins.  That determined the colors I added to the front of the card.

I spent some time masking to get the layered effect of the definition and the owl.

 My next one was inspired by the skull. I wanted to stamp him as my focal point.  I then stamped the newspaper background using rusty hinge and a little spritz of water. 

I wanted the skull to pop a little more so he received some shading with a watercolor pencil and waterbrush.   I still wanted him to pop even more so I drew a rectangle around him with a permanent marker and then added more shading with the watercolor pencil and waterbrush.

I sponged the black on either side as the stamp didn't quite cover the front of the card.  I stamped the sentiment on another piece of cardstock and coordinated the colors to blend in.

Have a spooktacular and safe Halloween!

Suzz

See the Light

Happy Friday!  Things have been a whirlwind here with my day job and family activities. My poor craft room might even be gathering dust!  (The only room in the house that usually doesn't collect any. :)

I saw something on pinterest today which peaked my interest and this project was inspired by an idea of how to re-create the effect.

The project on pinterest was a layout which looked like stripes of color behind a photograph.  That had me thinking how I could create a faux tissue tape of color. 

Here is how I achieved the stripes of color in the background or my faux washi tape:

 I took a piece of cardstock and cut it to the approximate size I wanted my background. (I ended up cutting it down further after I finished stamping and everything else)

I used tissue tape and tore it up to give me rough edges.  I framed the edges of the cardstock with tissue tape.  I put two full length strip of tissue tape on the sides to keep a clean edge.  Along the top and bottom I added layers of torn tissue tape to create the faux tape edges.

I left a few gaps in between the pieces along the top and bottom to allow a bit of color to seep through.  I then came back with a thinner tissue tape and taped off a few stripes in the middle. I would have liked even a thinner strip but was pleased with the end result.

After all the tape was laid out I just started sponging in the different distress inks to get a variety of colors blended together.  (Worn Lipstick, Festive Berries, Antique Linen, Fossilized Amber)

After I was happy with my colors I pulled up all the tape. Now I had a background for my stamping.  I also took a few pieces of tissue tape and went the other direction and tore pieces to apply on the background.

 I added splatters of the distress inks and some paint in the background to add additional colors and spots.

I hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Suzz

Wish upon a star

I was in a hurry to finish up a journal page that I started awhile ago for the Words & Paintery June Challenge.   I also mixed in circles and stars because of the Mixed Media Monthly - Reach for the Stars and the Country View Challenge to use Circles. 

I started with using the edge of the acrylic block and running it through acrylic paints.  I dragged them down the mixed media cardstock to create streaks of paint. 

 After that I wanted a focal point so I created a big circle by dipping in paint the bottom of a pail sitting on my desk.  I repeated a couple times to give multiple circles.   I added lots of splattering over the background with the same paints.

 I then pulled out this sentiment from Yvonne Blair/Impression Obsession and stamped it on tissue paper to put over the top of my background with decoupage medium.  I stamped a fine text randomly in the background which includes the definition of dreams.

I used crackle embossing paste to add a smattering of small stars in the corner and waited for them to dry and sprayed them with distress stain spray.  Then it sat for a week while I tried to think what I wanted to use to add layering.  I decided on die cut stars to layer and ink up in coordinating colors.

Products: PaperArtsy Fresco Paints, Memory Box - Stars Stencil, Memory Box - Dreams Stamp, Sizzix Stars, Impression Obsession - Yvonne Blair - Sentiment, Idea-Ology - Chit Chat Stickers


Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Photos:

 

Coloring Outside the Lines

Do you ever feel like you have created something before?  This card is definitely a repeat or similar to something I did before. :)  I started with an idea I wanted to try with stamping the outline flowers but only coloring outside the lines.

 So what happened?  I couldn't take it.. It was too plain...

I ended up adding the colors in the lines and the lovely sentiment to pop in the corner.  I probably will try again but maybe masking the flowers so I can sponge on a really dark color around the flowers and see if I can make it flower outside the flowers more strongly.

Products:  Stampers Anonymous - Flower Gardens, Yvonne Blair - Impression Obsession, STAEDTLER watercolor pencils, Ranger Distress Inks

I hope you are having wonderful weekend!

Suzz

Star Spangled Banner

Because Monday was Memorial Day I wanted to create something to honor the holiday. I was busy creating my fun houses and put the idea on hold.  Then I saw Tim's June tag for 2016 and he mixed up a few fun techniques which had me thinking of what to do.

The techniques involved cutting out a die image and showing a plaid pattern through the die.   I was trying to think of which die I had that would  work well with this technique and I remembered Zoe's fabulous take on Tim's tag from a previous month. 

I dug in my stamps to find this Impression Obsession stamp that is the words to the star spangled banner. It was perfect for the Tissue stamping and I love the collage medium with the tint. Perfectly aged with just a few swipes of the medium. 

I actually tried my tag without the outlines and with the outlines. I loved both effects.  I also tried using the stencils in the background on canvas and on tissue paper which was then glued wit the same medium.

The tissue paper gave it a more aged look but the canvas was a cool effect too.

Products:  Impression Obsession, Memory Box, Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste, Ranger Collage Medium, Ranger Distress inks - barn door, faded jeans, ground expresso, Idea-Ology - stickers

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Our House

Happy Tuesday! I was inspired yesterday by the PaperArtsy Challenge #11 which focuses on the idea of houses created in all kinds of mediums.  I happily created little paper houses in a variety of styles.

I have been doing a little and I mean little bit of cleaning in my craft room. (I need a big clean again to keep it under control)  In doing so I went through my background scraps and tried to decrease the scraps pile.  I re-organized my recent scraps and die cuts and pulled them out to try to make an eclectic series of houses.  I tried to keep in the same color schemes for my backgrounds to coordinate the look and feel.

Beyond that the houses all began to take on a life of their own and changed the cohesiveness. As I worked through them I also began to use the inspiration of other challenges.  This particular house is based on the glam grunge challenge at Mixed Media World and the Butterflies and Blossoms Challenge at Mixed Media Monthly.

The next house started from a scrap and incorporated some beautiful gears that were sent to me as part of a purchase from the Funkie Junkie Boutique. There is always a lovely little gift included with each purchase and this time it was the gears.  I decided to let that be part of my focal point and the gent seemed like a perfect image to imbed behind the gears.  The gears and my previous house used a mix of inking up the gears with dye ink and while it was still moist sprinkling on Stampendous Aged Bronze embossing powder giving a nice chunky gold effect.

The next two came from two scraps left over from some project where I had the citron color sprinkled with touches of silver.  I didn't highlight the silver in this house as I used tissue tape instead along with a touch of black embossing paste and powder to create striking black texture and images.

For my final one I had this beautiful Memory Box Arch already cut and thought it would be pretty to do more of a church interpretation on my house.  I added the silver embossing around the edges and bottom of the house. I then embossed the arch in silver.  The rest were bits and pieces of leftover projects pulled together. 

I had fun but I think I am going to try play a little bit more with the houses but create a painted village.  I am loving the Paperartsy challenges as they have me thinking about different types of art mediums and how to use those ideas in papercrafting. 

The MMM Challenge 

Have a wonderful day! 

Suzz

Darkness

Good Morning!  I wanted to share an art journal that I recently decorated the cover on and started a new fun project with.

The art journal is from Basically Bare 6" x 9" Artful Journal collection.  

I was lucky enough to be able to pick out this journal from my many choices at the Basically Bare Shop.    The journal has these beautiful pages inside that take the colors and ink beautifully.

To create my cover I started with a few other ideas that went bad in a big way.  I ended up creating my cover with a page from inside the journal and then attaching it over my mistakes on the cover.  The cover is a lovely chipboard which gives you the chance to try lots of fun techniques.

For my cover I started with this color combination if you can believe it. :)

I smeared them in varying amounts on my craft mat and spritzed them with water and then laid my paper on the inky mess.  I heat set it and repeated that process about 10 times.

Next I stenciled mini stars all over the cover using Wendy Vecchi Gold Embossing Paste.  I let those dry.

While they were drying I took the Basically Bare Celestial Shapes Acetate stars and added color using Alcohol Inks - Caramel, Rust, Alcohol Blending solution.  While the ink was still wet on my applicator I dabbed a bunch of clear sequins to coordinate.

I then died my twine by dragging the Tsukineko Delicata Gold Glitz ink over the twine. (I heat set this as well)

I stamped Darkroom Door Eclectic Script over the background and the stars using the same gold ink.

I have been wanting to use this beautiful sentiment from Impression Obsession and I placed that in the center using black ink.

Putting the colors down on the paper had me thinking of other color combos and started me down the path of putting together different combinations.

I ended up making quite a selection of color chips.  I will share those at a later time.

I am entering my art journal in the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #18 - Texture.   I love the texture I introduced with the embossed stars and the random swirls of the twine.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Watercolor

If you asked me what my favorite medium is I would have to say that watercolor and sprays are probably at the top of the list.

and guess what?

 

it's a watercolor challenge at  Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.

 

I have to say this is one of my favorite projects I have created in a while.  The background just came together and then the butterfly is always on the top of my list to stamp.

I started with a nice heavy watercolor paper in the background and then I used some pretty sprays on a project which I pooled up the color on the water color paper and let them dry.  After that it was a matter of creating circles in various sizes by outlining them with watercolor pencils and adding shading with water color pencils on the circles.

I stamped the butterfly onto the background and it didn't get stamped as dark as I wanted it to so I quick threw on black embossing powder and heat set it.  This did a couple of things it helped make the image pop and it filled in where the stamping was a touch uneven. 

TIP:  The sentiment was stamped on tissue paper and decoupaged to the surface. This helps in a couple of ways:  some of us (namely me) like to stamp our sentiments at the end and oops it ends up crooked.  With stamping it on the tissue paper you get a chance to place it on and visually see where  you want it and align it.  The second thing it fixes is if you don't get enough ink or pressure and your sentiment doesn't get a good enough image. By doing it first on the tissue paper you can repeat as needed until you get your image you desire.

Products:  Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Fossilized Amber, Barn Door, Beacon Fast Finish Decoupage, Simon Says Stamp Nested Wafer Circle Dies,  Black Embossing Powder, Ranger Archival Ink - Black,  Strathmore Watercolor Paper, watercolor pencil,   fine tipped waterbrush,   Stampers Anonymous Perspective, Impression Obsession

As always Simon Says Stamp will be giving away $50 voucher to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store

So now it's YOUR turn, come play along and show us your stamp and punch combination. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in

Suzz

Follow Simon Says Stamp on Instagram

If you use instagram add  #sssmchallenge to your challenge entry uploads so we can see them on there too!

Misty Garden

Stencils + sprays/mists  + flowers = Misty Garden!   A mix of cards made with these combinations.  I love sentiment stamps and used some of my favorites garden inspired sentiments by Impression Obsession on these cards. 

Although I see I have been in a summery color kick with lots of yellows and oranges. I was trying to pair it with the grays to give it a soft color and new edge.

I even added a layer of paste on this one to raise up the texture in the background.

and three more scraps that didn't finish up on a card.

The stencil is from Memory Box.  The sprays were a mix of Dylusions, Ranger Distress Stain Sprays and Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists.  The embossing paste is Wendy Vecchi.  The sentiments from Impression Obsession.  The tiny words is from Stampers Anonymous. The shadows on the images are from STAEDTLER watercolor Pencils.   I did use Darkroom Door - Texture stamp- Script, Background Stamp - WoodGrain, Texture Stamp - Splatter on the different cards.

Have a wonderful Saturday!  Off to play with my inks!

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