Love Potion!

Hello and welcome to this week's addition of Artistic Outpost! Valentine's Day is fast approaching and I thought I would share a little love using Apothecary, Birds of a Feather and Paperboy stamps. For all the details if you wish, click HERE.

Hopefully things will return to somewhat normal in a month or soon as then I will be a more active blogger, but keep with me! Thank you so much for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!

Robins!

Happy Fall to all of you! We certainly are not enjoying the cooler days and temperatures, but hopefully soon!

This is a little altered cheap birdhouse that I decided to make all pretty and used those fabulous "Birds of a Feather" stamps from Artistic Outpost! Will be joining the challenge at Simon Says Wednesday Stamp Challenge "No Designer Paper."

For all the details on how this was born, please pop on over to AO right HERE and have a look.

Sorry I am still lagging in blog visits, but I am trying to catch up as quickly as I can! Oh and for fun Verizon decided to breakdown again, so I had no home phone or Internet for two days, how fun! Have a beautiful weekend and thank you visiting today!

Birds of A Feather

Hello to all of you wonderful blogging friends, who are probably wondering if I have fallen off the face of the earth! No, I am still here and have just been so busy and not having much blogging time! Hope you all are doing well and enjoying life and what remains of summer!

This little sneaky peak using Bluebird and Birds of A Feather can be found at Artistic Outpost with all the details, so if you have some time, pop on over and say hello!

Thank you for stopping by and have a fabulous day!

Spring Is Here!

"Spring Is Here" in my neck of the woods (or desert) and I hope you are enjoying some warm and lovely springtime weather as well! Today I am using Artistic Outpost stamps from Flower Market and Birds of A Feather for my little tag.

The tag was cut from vanilla card stock and Distress Peacock Feathers and Squeezed Lemonade were inked through the Lattice stencil. Next I inked over the entire tag with Antique Linen and shaded the edges with Vintage Photo and then distressed the edges. The little butterflies and dragonflies were stamped in Black Archival.

The frame was cut from a burlap sheet using ODBD Vintage Labels and also shaded with Vintage Photo.  The sweet little butterfly catcher, along with the butterflies were stamped in Black Archival and watercolored using the above inks as well. Her skin tone was done with Spun Sugar. The sentiment was stamped and cut apart! "Everything Goes" at Inspiration Journal, so we are going!

Thank you for stopping by for a visit today. I have been taking advantage of a little yard duty before it becomes too hot here!      

Merry Christmas!

It certainly is beginning to look a lot like Christmas and I still am not ready! Are you? I did package up gift boxes to send out to family, which will go to the Post Office tomorrow along with Christmas cards and I did manage to wrap my hubby's gifts, but still so much to do. I do hope you are further along than I am and if not, don't stress it! Now before I give you the details on my collaged Christmas tag,  Artist Outpost, ODBD, and NCC are running a "Gift Certicate Special" through December 20th. With every $50 gift certificate purchased, the consumer will be given a $5.00 gift certificate, so it is like the gift that keeps giving! For more details just click the links above. The December "Show Us You AO Art" is now a that middle point, but you still have time to join in! Will enter this at Simon Says Stamp Monday for their "Anything Goes" and Inspiration Journal's "Sing, Sing it Loud."

I don't do very many collages and not sure why, but I am not in my comfort zone putting those together. Yesterday I started working on Tim's December tag and just was not enjoying it, so off in another direction totally. I love the sweet little AO sisters from "Birds of a Feather" and have used them a couple of times for Christmas. So using up some of the spray that was left on the craft mat from the start of Tim's tag, I applied color with the water brush. The remaining colors were applied directing from the ink pads (Festive Berry, Brushed Corduroy, Tattered Rose). Then the little darlings were fussy cut just waiting for their placement. The kraft tag background was inked in Archival Red Geranium from "Ephemera Backgrounds" and this reminded me of Santa's list. The little torn sheet of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" is from ODBD Christmas Paper 2013. This was shaded with leftover ink on my foam applicators. Merry Christmas and the package were stamped and cut from "Christmas Chalk." Next I added some little bits or Rick Rac trim, snowflakes cut and misted with gold and a couple more Tim type goodies. And there you have it!

Hope you are having a wonderful week and thank you so much for stopping by today!

The Meeting!

Hello to all of you lovely people! Today is about friendship and mostly the ones we make though our little blogging world. I also am sharing the card below at Artistic Outpost if you would like to have a closer look and more details. Another blast from the past!

Now onto the "meeting" with my dear friend, Brenda! This is our third year of meeting and we became friends almost instantly in 2010 when we both became bloggers and connected via Gingersnap Creations at that time, I do believe! There were a few of us who started blogging around the same time and none of us ever thought of design teams or any thing of the sort! It just kind of happens as the natural course!

Here we are at Michael's, doing what we crafters do best!  There is a little bit of a funny story to add as Brenda and Ken were driving up from Garden Grove where they were staying with longtime friends. We were driving from the High Desert of Antelope Valley and I had sent Brenda our mobile numbers, but silly me never thought to get one they might be using! Well we got caught in traffic and it must have been an accident and in the Los Angeles area that can be really bad news. Well my phone was totally not behaving and not keeping a charge, so I rushed to FB to leave Brenda a message that we would be late and of course not thinking she has no WiFi or way to actually check her message! Duh, Duh, Duh! Then my phone is so getting ready to die and as luck would have it, Brenda calls! At that point we were only a few minutes away and they also were caught up in a little traffic, so all worked out and we had a great time!

Steve and Ken having quite the conversation while we were shopping! Brenda and I thought they sure had a lot to talk about and in fact they may have been more chatty that us!!! What a great feeling knowing they get along so well.

From Michael's we went on to share a meal at the Olive Garden, before heading off to JoAnn's Fabric and Crafts store. We actually did not go overboard with shopping as we did the first time we met! I am looking at Ken and Brenda at Steve. We never knew who to look at during the photo shoot!

And to balance the photo taken in the shade, here is one in the sun! It was a short visit, but we all still had a great time and even squeezed in a little coffee time, before heading back to our destinations! I know Brenda will be sharing more photos and I will have to check my hubby's phone camera as well. We were a little busy having fun, but did manage a few photos!

Our little blogging world becomes so much more real when we actually meet and share the stories of the other bloggers we have met and now are friends with IRL! So many of you I feel as if I have known for so long and I am blessed and more blessed as time allows the more personal touch! Oh and yes, Brenda gave me many UK hugs from so many of my DT Sisters and friends! I sure hope to meet you all one day! Thank you for sharing this visit with me and I hope your day is wonderful!

Birds of A Feather!

We are on our way to Spring and I can't wait to see all the new little birdies, bulbs and perennials revealing their beauty! While I was working on Tim's March Tag, all I could think about was how perfect Artistic Outpost's "Birds of A Feather" would be for this technique!

Since I am sharing this over at AO as part of my DT commitment, if you would like all the details and more pictures, please stop over HERE!

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you are enjoying the beginning of Spring and all the renewal of the season! If you have missed my blog candy offer, there is still time and the link is HERE.

A First!

Yes this is my first attempt at a journal page! I will admit that I am clueless as to what a journal is and that may be, because I just am not a journaling type person! The odd thing is that this page was started months back with the stenciling, glass beads and mesh! All painted white and left blank!!  Since Astrid (who is nearing 2,000 followers and has a giveaway), started her Positivity Journal, I really liked the idea and have wanted to start! So a few days ago, I decided to spray on some color!

A Little Bright From Mr. Sun!

Well once we played with our colors, toning it down with White Linen, misting with water and letting it drip and blend a bit, I let it dry and then highlighted with Treasure Gold White Fire. Then a girl has to figure out what on earth she will put down! I am very open to any suggestions - really!

The thought of Spring crossed my mind and I grabbed the "Birds of A Feather" lovely stamps.

I knew I wanted to use a POSITIVE sentiment from Artistic Outpost and so it was. The sentiment was stamped on manila card stock with clear embossing ink and clear embossing, inked, splattered with water and dressed with gold! I then ironed away the EP and further inked a little. This is being linked to Inspiration Journal's "Show It With Words" for their February challenge!

A little lace and flowers with more glass beads were added to finish. This is the start of a new month and that also means a new "Monthly Referral Program" at AO, so join in!

Many thanks for stopping by today and I hope you are enjoying the week! Oh and the winner of my stamp set giveaway is, by random folded paper in a cup drawing........

Oh Christmas Tree!

How are you all doing? All caught up and ready to enjoy the Christmas season? I am still working on it and need to finish up my cards/tags will be traveling a distance! Hey, at least I finally went out and did a little Christmas shopping this last weekend! Seriously, where does time go??

As you can see, I am still having some fun with snowy effects! It is so cold here and I mean really cold and yet there is not a snowflake to be found! I feel if it is going to be that kind of cold, at least let there be snow!  I do believe these lovely little "Birds Of A Feather" Artist Outpost sweeties are pretty excited about their Christmas tree and can't wait to open up the packages! Lisa's Bloggers Challenge is "Joyeux Noel" and this will be linked over there!

I first inked the background with Distress Inks (Antique Linen, Old Paper, Brushed Corduroy) then did a spritz and flick with water and added a little snow! Next was to use my new Hollybough stencil and Bundled Sage, Fired Brick and Brushed Corduroy was applied.

The tree was cut from a greenish paper, but further inked and snow applied on the branches with whit paint and some flicks for fun. It is not a Christmas tree if not decorated and the lovely girls wanted some lights and garland and a star for good measure (which was colored with red alcohol ink).

The girls were stamped in Coffee archival and watered colored. I use Tattered Rose for flesh tones! And of course they were fussy cut. I stamped part of the sentiment from Christmas Chalk in Coffee Archival.

I do believe it was the younger of the two, who suggested standing of the box for a closer view of the decorated Christmas tree. Doesn't it appear as if they are enjoying the festive moment?

The packages were cut using my new die from Mr. Tim! Love that die!

Well I do thank you for visiting me today and I know you are all busy with your Christmas preparations. I will be finishing my inky part of Christmas this week, but will be around during breaks to visit you! The current challenge at Artistic Outpost is still "Anything Goes" and there is a random gift certificate to be given to someone, so come on over and join in!

I Believe!

Welcome to April's Artistic Outpost Blog Hop!  It is all about Women and or Flowers and just in time for Mother's Day!  My lovely teammates have plenty of inspiration to share, so be sure to stop by and have a treat!  Gerrie, Lisa, Sue, Tracy, Linda, Alison, Terry (Me), Kate.

For my tribute to "woman," I decided to go with the Flapper Fashions and Quotes and Quotables as focal point.  Both were stamped using Black Archival and the lovely Flapper was colored with sponge applicators using Tattered Rose and Spun Sugar.  Don't you just love the power in Believing?

The backgrounds were created using a swirly floral from Birds of a Feather, first stamped with Tattered Rose to cover the entire white background and then in a random fashion using Spun Sugar.  For the sentiment, I decide to add splatters by thinning out Tattered Rose and Spun Sugar reinkers, using an old toothbrush.  I will be linking this up to Simon Says Stamp and Show - Background.

There is still plenty of time to join in the "Anything Goes" April Referral Program using those AO stamps.  Thank you for stopping by today's blog hop and I hope you have a wonderful day and remember to "Believe."

Stamps:  Artistic Outpost, Flapper Fashions, Quotes and Quotables, Birds of A Feather
Ink:  Archival Black, Distress Tattered Rose, Spun Sugar, Black
Reinkers Tattered Rose and Spun Sugar 

Life Is Good!

We are "journaling" at Fashionable Stamping Challenges and this fun theme was chosen by Ellie!  Now I don't really journal, so run over and check out what inspiration my "journaling" DT Sisters have for you!  There will be a random draw for a prize of $20 from Flonzcraft.  Here is my attempt!  Oh and we have a very special guest designer, Kate Crane, so stop by and give a hello!

First I started with my background "YIKES."  It was sprayed and thinned with water, sponged here and there over a piece of mesh.  Pulled out a couple of stencils and played around, added paint through some leaves.  Sponges on some Distress ink!  Never quite knowing what I was doing, but when I thought I was happy and enough was enough, we went on to the little sweeties from Artistic Outpost and if you use their stamps, link your project up to the Monthly Referral Program.

The girls were stamped with Black Archival and colored using Dylusions Spray and a water brush.  For the skin tone, I used Tattered Rose! 

The mesh (not in the photo) is what gave some of the texture in the background and I just sprayed over that with the brown.  Not sure if I did this correctly, but I did it!  Hope to see you join in the "journaling" challenge at FSC! 

Linking this up to:
Bloggers Challenge:  Backgrounds
Simon Says Stamp and Show:  A Very Strict Challenge
Inspiration Journal:  Marvelous Masks & Spectacular Stencils

Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Stamps:  Artistic Outpost, Birds of a Feather, Typography

Birds

It is all about "BIRDS" at Fashionable Stamping Challenges for the current theme chosen by Meggymay!  Come on and join us with your lovely stamping creations celebrating one of natures most beautiful gifts the lovely "Bird."  My lovely DT sisters have so much beauty to share with you, so please have a visit at FSC.

This was more than a challenge to me as I worked on this at the same time as keeping my pet bird, Fred, of more than 25 years company.  So this is a tribute to my Fred, who did pass away this morning and I will miss him dearly!  Now this sweet bird does not look at all like my Fred, who was pretty good size and green, but it is one of my favorite images.   "Birds of A Feather" and "Quotes and Quotables" are the stamps I used from Artistic Outpost and I found the quote I used so true and appropriate with how I feel at the moment. 

The bird and sentiment were stamped with Archival Sepia, heat set and then colored with Antique Linen and, Tattered Rose and Festive Berries, Squeezed Lemonade, Stampin Up Barely Banana for the beak and little feets.  The metal pieces were colored with Metallic Stain.  For both embossed panels, I used Cuttlebug folders and highlighted with Tattered Rose and touches of Festive Berry. 

Thank you for stopping by today and I hope you pull out some birdy stamps and join in the fun at FSC!  Also Artistic Outpost has a February Referral Program and that is anything goes using AO stamps!  I hope you have a wonderful week!