Happy New Year!!

Brand New Deep Red Stamps image!!!

Sneak Peek ;)

 

Happy 2014 Everyone!!!

1500 Followers by 2014?!?!?

Hi Guys....

 

Do you follow Ink Stains?

If not, now's the time to start!

 

I'd like to hit 1500 followers by the chime of midnight starting the brand new year 2014!  I think we can do it and if you do then I'll have a nice surprise goodie for an Ink Stained friend!  This is going to be a quicky - you only have until midnight 12-31-13 so hurry!

 

To be entered to win all you have to do is become a follower (only if you intend on sticking around) ...

If you already ARE a follower - THANK YOU!,

 just tell me so and spread the word.

 

If I hit 1500, you'll be entered to win a prize package which will include all sorts of fun stuff...

including stamps, pattern paper, ephemera (from my Etsy store), charms, ribbon, fibers and MORE!!!

 

Good Luck Everyone ~

You have until midnight to hit 1500 & be enter to win :)

2014 Calendar Info & Give A Way

Hi All!

 

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

It's getting to be that time again to start working on our new Technique Calendar for 2014!  If this is your first "new year" at Ink Stains I'll explain a bit...each January we work on creating a new calendar - a technique for each month. 

 

I try to choose a different shape ~ we've used CD's, ticket shape, pennant, house, etc.  Well, this year I've had several requests to use "shipping" shaped tags.  So, ask and ye shall receive!  Of course there are all sizes of shipping tags - everything from about 2" on up. 

 

Here is a list of the common shipping tag number and their sizes:

 

#1 (2¾" x 1-3/8") 

#2 (3¼" x 1-5/8")
#3 (3¾" x 1-7/8") 

#4 (4¼" x 2-1/8") 

#5 (4¾" x 2-3/8") 

#6 (5¼" x 2-5/8") 

#7 (5¾" x 2-7/8") 

#8 (6¼" x 3-1/8") 

#10 (7¼" x 3-5/8") 

#12 (8" x 4") 

 

I will be using the #8 tags. 

 

Now you'll also need a template for the mini calendars.  Here are a few places you can find them:

 

Creative Express - Split Coast Stampers

 

a colorful one...

 

Scrappystickyinkymess

 

Microsoft Calendar Creator

 

LOADS of calendar ideas....

 

Pinterest Calendar Board

 

Of course there will be 12 different techniques ~ one for each month but I can't tell you what they are going to be for sure....I have a list of way more than 12 so I'm going to have to narrow it down somehow - LOL!!  

 

I thought it would be fun to start the New Year off with a give away so I will be making up a few calendar sets which will include: 12 tags (manila, kraft & black tags), a book ring and mini tear off printed calendars to a few readers!

 

So, all you have to do is leave a comment and you'll be entered to win one of  5 sets of tags/ring & a tear off calendar. 

 

You have until 1-5-14 to enter to win!

 

Good Luck Everyone!!

December Club Scrap Aspen Blog Hop

Welcome to the final

Club Scrap Blog Hop

of 2013!

 

This months kit is

Aspen!

 

 

A beautiful kit consisting of aqua, pale blue, almond and forest green cardstocks (both plain and pattern designs) and a torn paper theme running through out.

 

When I saw the rubber stamps I knew I wanted to create a shadow box because the aspen trees would work perfectly for layering....

 

 

It just so happens I had the perfect box in my stash to create the shadow box....

it was actually filled with to/from labels when I bought it but it was such a nice box I couldn't throw it away.  It's been sitting in my cabinet just waiting for the right project.

 

 

And here it is....

I stamped the trees several times and mounted them with one, two or three layers of double stick foam tape to the background. I also added a pair of skis and the sentiment inside.

I added some highlights here and there with my clear Wink of Stella glitter pen.

 

 

I stamped 3 of the small leaves and a large leaf  which was paired with an aspen skeleton leaf (also from the kit) for the front of the lid. 

 

 

I took a photo w/o the flash to try and show some of the depth...

 

 

I also made a few cards as well...

 

 

 

This final card is something a bit different...

When I was playing with the stamps from the Gnomie kit I decided he was so much fun that I thought it would be fun to keep his magic going and incorporate him into a card or other project with future kits!  Here is the first of many....

 

 

LOL...fun isn't he?

 

The next stop on your Aspen journey is

Deb C.

 

If you get lost anywhere along the way there is a master list on the

Club Scrap Creates page.

 

Hope you all have a wonderful

New Year!!

 

Aspen Shadow Box - Trash to Treasure!

I'm sure by now you all know how much I love to take something that is destine for the trash bin and breath new life into it.  Well, tomorrow is the December Club Scrap Blog Hop and the base for my project comes from a box I bought that was full of to/from labels. 

 

 

I took the labels out and put them with my other labels and was left with this nifty box....  Of course I couldn't throw it away...I HAD to find something to do with it.  When I saw this month's Club Scrap Kit - Aspen, I knew it would make a perfect base for a shadow box!

 

 

I wanted to make the "window" a little bit rustic to match the Aspen theme so I die-cut a sheet of the wood vener - I wanted to use the negative piece instead of the actual die-cut frame. 

 

 

It just so happens it fit into the box lid perfectly!

So I glued it to the inside of the lid and let it dry.

 

 

I wanted to cover the black and in keeping with the kit design I tore strips of the forest green cardstock and glued it over top of the lid.

Now this matches the look of the kit!

 

 

I stamped up a storm using several of the images in the kit,

fussy cut & tore 'em; added them using layers of foam tape, highlighted it here and there with my clear Wink of Stella sparkle pen and....

 

 

You'll have to wait till tomorrow to see the finished project ;)

 

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Sending wishes for a lovely day with family and friends!

(((((HUGS)))))

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Sending you Wintery Christmas Greetings!

Droppin' a letter in the mail telling you just how much you mean to me this holiday season!

((((((HUGS)))))

to you all!!!

Merry Christmas Friends!

Back Porch Christmas Card

Today I wanted to share a Christmas card with you that uses one of my favorite Christmas stamps...

Just For Fun Rubber Stamps: Back Door;

Wonderful Christmas Sentiment

It has such a wonderful homey feel to it...

right from the heart and the sentiment is perfect.

The image was stamped with Archival Ink (black) then colored with a combination of Distress Inks, Niji Waterbrush, and a few Bic Markers.

Are you all ready for Christmas?

I went today and finished my shopping up.

YEAH!!!!!

I've got almost everything wrapped, ready for our first rounds of Christmas tomorrow.

I can't wait...I think I found some really great gifts for people ~

I hope they enjoy them as much as I had fun shopping for them.

I love giving to others so this season is so much fun for me :)

I know the weather is a bag of tricks the next few days so

take care and stay safe everyone...

Monochromatic Cracked Glass UTEE Snowman Card

Hi All...

I had a request for another Cracked Glass example so I decided to go with a wintery theme....

this fun snowman here was stamped using Archival Ink

then covered in multiple layers (about 4) of UTEE.

After he cooled I cracked him strategically then I rubbed Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink into the cracks.  The background is Stickles over a stamped snowflake design (which you can't really see).

Here's a closer look at the cracks....

Hope you're all taking time to smell

the peppermint candy canes this holiday season!

Ink Stained Birthday Winner -

Well, with so much going on over the weekend I totally forgot to draw the winner for the

Ink Stains Birthday Celebration.

 

Without further delay,

the winner is....

 

Brenda is SO Blessed

 

Brenda is SO BlessedDecember 2, 2013 at 7:35 PM

Faux Batik Technique from 12/10 (forgot the year already) is one of my favorite techs. I love it and have used it a number of times. I have also used lots of tips--the one about the scrap rubber making a stamp, the Mica book, the shrink plastic and the ones that gave tips on how to make charms and use the different tools have been especially helpful. I love your blog.

 

Congratulations Brenda!

(Please e-mail me your snail mail addy so I can post your goodies)

Ho Ho Ho.... Cracked (UTEE) Santa

Santa's almost here!

Well, actually he IS here....

I wanted to share this fun UTEE - Cracked Glass Santa card I made.

The background on the left is a tree stamped with Pine Needle Distress Stain and the right side was made using a combination of Barn Door & Peeled Paint Distress Stains.

Santa was colored with various Distress Markers then covered in multiple layers of UTEE, allowed to cool then cracked.

A closer look at Santa.  Someone once asked me how my cracks don't end up on the face.  I start off by cracking the edges first.  If you start off by cracking in the center that's where the cracks will show up the most, usually obliterating the face.  Start off with smaller cracks along the edge and sort of bend the image where you want your cracks to go.  After two or three attempts you'll get the hang of controlling (as best as possible) your cracking.

Hope you're all enjoying the season!

We have our first two Christmases this coming weekend!

Of course I'm not ready but hopefully by the time it rolls around I will be :)

How are you coming with YOUR preperations?

Canvas Photo Collage

My sister in law asked me to make a canvas collage for her mother for Christmas.  Her mom's dh passed away earlier this year so it's sort of  a high pressure (in my mind) thing.  I didn't even know the man so I didn't know which direction to go.  My mom said he liked travel & fishing so I went from there.  

I had been putting it off because there were so many other things going on I just hadn't had time and I was worried about doing it.  Well, the guys were both down with a cold and  due to the snow storm I wasn't going to go anywhere by myself so I decided it was a fine time to work on it...

I started off by gluing map bits down to my canvas. 

These pieces are all from an Indiana map :)

I then mixed up a wash of Burnt Umber & water...

Painted the entire surface

then dabbed it here and there to give a mottled effect.

Really tones down the bright white and gives a more uniform color.

I then arranged the photos till I got a lay out I liked and took a photo of it so I would be able to replicate it.

Now for these next several steps I was so into the creating mode I totally forgot to take pictures.

I printed out several collage images (from Altered Pages) with things relevant to the person...vintage travel, fishing and the letter "W".    I decoupage them onto the canvas in strategic areas and let it dry. 

I then applied a heavy body gesso with a spatula (embossing paste would do the same thing) to add texture here and there.   After the gesso was dry I applied another layer of the Burnt Umber wash.

Finally when that layer was dried I applied adhesive and gold leaf to various areas.

The leafing not only adds color and shimmer but it also highlights the textured areas as well.

Here is a different angle to show off a bit of the gold leaf.

Next I added the photos...I know a totally different lo than the one above.  By the time I matted the main photo it didn't fit in the area I had it so I had to rearrange the photos several times till I settled upon this design.  Adhered everything to the canvas, added black ribbon to the edge, and signed my name!

And here it is finished hanging on my wall...

A close up of a couple of the details....

I love how the wash gives a more even tone to the background images and keeps them in the background so they don't overpower the photos. 

You can see a bit of the texture on the right side...

So, there you go....

two wintery afternoons, some photos, collage images and lots and lots of glue!

What fun :)

My SIL is going to give it to her mom for Christmas so it will be a while before I hear the final verdict.  I sure hope she likes it.

Club Scrap Gnome for the Holidays Blog Hop!!

Welcome Everyone

to the

Club Scrap

Gnome for the Holidays

Blog Hop!!

I'm so excited to share my projects for this over the top fun kit.

I knew the minute I saw this little guy I had to have him.

Darling isn't he?

I thought he would look perfect paired with the papers from the Take Wing kit

so that's what I did to create these cards....

I was having so much fun,

I couldn't stop there....

So I went through my stash of Club Scrap papers and cut a bunch of tags

to make these cute and quick gift tags!

BUT then I had another idea....

A Gnome Candy Cane Holder/Ornament !!!!

I stamped this little guy on a piece of the nice white cardstock from the Take Wing kit. 

I colored him up using the included stencil which makes quick work of it then I mounted him on a piece of Grunge Paper so he was really durable.

I added an extra loop on the back of him so now he is able to hold a real candy cane!

I am going to make several of these in a variety of colors to hang on my Christmas tree so when guests visit they can choose their own little gnome friend to take home with them.

I hope you've had fun

checking out my little Gnome friends...

Your next stop on the hop is

Julie at Cape Cod Scrapper

but if you loose your way the complete

list of hoppers can be found at

Club Scrap Creates.

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A few Cards to Inspire...

Just a few cards to inspire you...

A mix of winter and Christmas.

Winter for those of you about to be hit with the white stuff ~ we have a winter storm warning...can't say as I'm excited about the cold (since the temp last night was in the negatives!!!!) but after the teases of less than in 1" at a time I'm ready for a good old snow storm!

And some Christmas

because only 12 more days!!!!

Hope you join me tomorrow for the Club Scrap Gnome Blog Hop!

This was an extra set of stamps/kit and I can't wait to share it with you...

this little guy is just darling!

Have a super weekend everyone!!

October Afternoon Sketch

This morning I got October Afternoons post sharing their Thursday Sketch and was so inspired I wanted to give it a try.

Here is the sketch this week....

I like the funky off-kilter lines.

So, it just so happens that I took advantage of a few of the Black Friday (on line) sales and bought two different October Afternoon paper pads... Make it Merry and Silent Night.

I pulled them out, made my template ~ I didn't down load the original sketch, I just winged it and made my own.

and I made a couple cards....

The "Jolly" gem is actually from the Glitz line but I thought it matched well.

and

The Santa is from the paper pad, the gems are just something I had in my stash.

I thought the black pearls played well against the white pearls.

Do you have a favorite blog with sketches?

I don't play along very often because I don't take the time but sometimes it's fun for a change of pace.