HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!

Happy 4th 

to all of my American friends out there celebrating our wonderful country!!

Stamps - Carmen's Veranda - Pledge Angel

Deep Red Stamps - Star Spangled Banner

Imagine - VersaFine Clair - Tulip Red, Blue Belle, Nocturne, Acorn, Pinecone; On Point Glue

Colored Pencils, Foam Tape, Glitter

Wedding Anniversary Invitation

This month Imagine invited it's design team to create wedding themed projects. Invitations are a big part of weddings so I figured many of us were going to share ideas for different invites.  Me being me, I decided to do something a bit different.  I made a mockup of an invitation for our 35th wedding anniversary!

Mauve and Grey were the colors for our wedding. I wanted to keep the grey and add white on white for an updated classy look. I went with Shimmer Stix, Shimmer Spritz (both in Frost) and heat embossing through out.  I just love the subtle shimmer of those hearts don't you (Pewter = grey heart; Frost = white heart)?

I made the invitation a tri fold, it's just easier to get all of the information on a card like this rather than a traditional open card. I used a pretty nested die to cut out the info which was edged with VersaFine Clair ink called Morning Mist. It's a lovely shade of grey.  

The panel you see on the flap is a full sheet made just like the upper portion of the front of the card (shown above), the only difference was that I used the Shimmer Stix for the front of the card since I wanted just a specific area to shimmer where I used the Shimmer Spritz on the inside panel because I wanted the entire panel colored.  Both were then stamped with VersaMark Ink, sprinkled with white embossing powder and heat to set. Don't you just love the look?  

Something else I wanted to point out is that you might not think the Shimmer Spritz would make much of a difference when talking about white on white but here you can see there is an actual color shift from the stark white of the cardstock to the softened white of the Shimmer Spritz Frost. Of course the embossing powder yields a creamy white.

And finally I mounted the rest of the details on a double mat which were both sprayed with Shimmer Spritz; Frost for the upper mat and Pewter for the bottom mat.  I really do wish I could send you all one so you could see for yourself the beauty of the Shimmer Spritz paired with the white on white embossing.  It's just so lovely and it would make a perfect wedding invitation in addition to my anniversary invite.

I hope this inspires all you brides, bridesmaids, mother of the bride, etc out there to consider hand crafting your own wedding pieces...it really makes for an extra special time of it. 

Horsing Around

Happy Friday!!

Today I wanted to share a card I made recently for Morgan's Mom (for her b-day).

I started off by stamping the horse (Deep Red Stamps) using Pinecone VersaFine Clair ink as well as a second imagine on scrap paper - this will be my mask for the rest of the stamping/inking.  I positioned the mask over the horse then stamped the large trees (Deep Red Stamps).  I tore a piece of scrap paper and used it to create the hill behind the horse as well as the dirt path that the horse is running on. I wanted to play with my stipple brush so that's what I applied most of the color with on the path, grass, sky an the large trees in the background.  

I then stamped all of the foliage, pine trees, and flowers (all Rubber Stamp Tapestry stamps).  Next I watercolored the horse using Memento inks and a waterbrush.  I added a few white gel pen highlights to the hooves and some ink around the edge to really make it all pop.

I mounted it on a green card base and stamped a sentiment inside to finish the card off.

Hope you all have a wonderfully inky weekend!!

Halloween is coming!

I decided to just take a few moments and make a card even though I didn't really have time for it.  

This cute little witch is one of the newest stamps released from Deep Red Stamps...

She is stamped with VersaFine black in and colored in with an assortment of colored pencils. 

The background papers are Authentiques (from last year) I believe.

Christmas in July - Deep Red Stamps!

Wow, have you seen Deep Red Stamps newest stamp release?  In addition to their every day stamps, they have LOADS of fun new Christmas Stamps so I thought it would be fun to have my own little Christmas in July featuring 5 of their new Christmas stamps.

My first card features the stamp - Madonna & Child.  I flicked Delicata gold ink onto the back of a piece of vellum.  After the ink had dried I crumpled and mounted it on a card base.  I then stamped the image using Rhubarb Stalk Memento Dye Ink, matted & affixed it to the card with double stick foam tape.

The Gingerbread Man and Cocoa is a darling little stamp that I paper pieced on this card by stamping the image multiple times with different colors of ink on various colors of cardstock.

I love collage images and this is no exception.  The December Tree is a beautiful image that could be used in so many ways but today I chose to color the individual areas of the image with my Memento Dual Tip Markers.  Such a fun way to highlight the tree and other elements quickly and easily.

One of my favorite yet very simple cards features the Christmas Eve image which I stamped with Teal Zeal Memento Dye Ink.  I had this lovely pattern paper with the three owls that worked so well with the image.

Finally I stamped and embossed the Color-Me Poinsettia image then water colored it for a beautiful focal point for this card.

I'll be back soon with more from the DRS New Release.

A Simple Succulent Birthday & A Fun Chick!

Ha...how's that for a title... made you wonder didn't it???

Well today I'm back with a couple of fun cards made using a combination of Deep Red Stamps and Xyron adhesives and a reminder to post your comments to be entered into the giveaway for the $25.00 Gift Certificate to Deep Red Stamps!

My first card is a pretty little watercolor card made using this fun Potted Plants trio.  I started off by watercoloring a bit of green, yellow and blue on a piece of watercolor paper.  Once dry I flicked a bit more blue and a touch of gold watercolor paint over the panel.  That panel was mounted onto a green card base using the Xyron Tape Runner.  

I then stamped and watercolored the plants; trimmed the image and mounted it onto a green mat the the card using the Tape Runner.  I stamped the sentiment in the corner for the finishing touch.

I made this card with my Mom in mind...which is why I colored the end chicken purple.  The sentiment explains it all.   

I started off by stamping the grey blue card base with the chicken wire stamp.  I then stamped and colored the hen trio on a scrap of cream cardstock.  The hens and frame were both die-cut using a stitched die and adhered to the card base using the Tape Runner.   I finished off the card by stamping the amusing sentiment.

Deep Red Stamps GiveAway!!!

Be sure to post your comments to be entered into the Deep Red Stamps GiveAway!  You just might be the lucky reader to win a  $25.00 Gift Certificate to the Deep Red Stamps site!!  I will draw one lucky winners name from all of the comments on both Tuesday and today's post and announce it on Friday!!

Good Luck Friends!! 

Supplies:

Deep Red Stamps - Potted Plants, Hens, Chicken Wire

Xyron Tape Runner

Club Scrap -  Cardstock, Sentiment Stamps

Imagine Crafts - Memento Tuxedo Black, Delicata - Black Shimmer

Prima - Watercolor Confections

Misc. Colored Pencils

Deep Red Stamps + Xyron & Giveaway!

This week the Deep Red Stamps and the good folks at Xyron are combining their products to bring you a wonderful, inspiration filled week of projects.  I am lucky enough to have been asked to participate and I'm also going to be giving away a $25.00 Gift Certificate to Deep Red Stamps!

Today I created this fun masculine card using the Deep Red Stamp set - Chevelle and both my Xyron 5" Creative Station and 2.5" Create A Sticker Machines.  

Directions:

1. Cut a piece of rust colored cardstock 4 x 5.25"; run through the 5" Creative Station (perm adhesive) and mount it onto a black card base.

2. Trim turquoise pattern paper 1.5" x 5.25", cut border strip to the same dimension.  

3. Run both strips through the Creative Station and mount onto the rust panel.

4. Stamp the "Chevelle" text onto the rust panel using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.

5. Stamp the Chevelle card onto a scrap of turquoise cardstock.  

6. Fussy cut around the outside of the car; use a #15 PenBlade to cut away the cardstock in the window areas.  

7. Color the car using a combination of Memento Markers and a white Sakura Gelly Roll pen.

8. Feed the car through the 2.5" Create a Sticker Machine (perm. adhesive) and mount on the card.

And now for the give-away!

Would you like to win a gift certificate to 

DeepRedStamps.com?

Simply post a comment by Friday and you'll be entered to win...be sure to include some way for me to contact you in case you are the lucky winner!

Good Luck Friends!

Supplies Used:

Deep Red Stamps - Chevelle set

Xyron - 5" Creative Station; 2.5" Create A Sticker

ClubScrap.com - Creative License Cardstock, Pattern Paper

Imagine Crafts - Memento Dye Ink - Tuxedo Black; Memento Dual Tip Markers

Sakura - White GellyRoll Pen

PenBlade - #15 

Vintage Mixed Media Collage

My pc had a fit over the weekend so I've been using my lap-top for everything since Saturday.  It's my back-up computer that I used mainly for photo manipulation and taking it with on vacations.  It doesn't have office on it which I really need for lots of stuff.  You know that feeling when things just aren't right.  Well it's put me in a funk so I've not been feeling real creative.  

So today I thought I'd try something different.  I decided to try and create a vintage collage and limit it to a single color palette....

This is what I created so far....I had a few false starts but after I left it set for a bit I finally got to a point where I'm liking it.  It might be the colors that threw me at first.  I wanted to go browns leaning towards a vintage rose color in the flowers.

So here's what I did....

First I pounced VersaMark through some lace...

Then sprinkled on clear ep and heat set to melt.

Next I stamped on a few flowers

and set about painting with some Prima watercolors and stamped on the rest of the flower with StazOn inks.

Next to add the browns - I scribbled on Prima Water Soluble Oil Pastels.  I used a waterbrush to  blend and spread them over the canvas.  I used some of the pretty peach color (see the previous photo) in the large open area to blend it all together.

I pulled up some of the color in areas with a baby wipe through a stencil.

Here is one of my screw ups - sort of.  I thought it needed some gold so I applied some Creative Medium over my distress harlequin stencil.  As you can see when I hastily removed the stencil some of the CM came up with it...  @(*%&@(*&%#  That's when I left to take a break.

So I came back after supper and peeled the CM off completely - I really like how it looks now!  I stamped some text across the canvas and then stamped the bunch of roses.  Once the roses had dried I added a bit of watercolor to the flowers.

I stamped one down in the corner too.  I added some black modeling paste over a really pretty flourish stencil from Deco Art (one of my fav. stencils!)

I then took a black colored pencil and sketched a bit around each of the roses to make them pop a bit. 

And that's where I'm at with it at the moment.  I'm not sure what to put in the open area.  I thought about using a stamp to add an important word but all of my word stamps (dream, inspire, etc.) are all too small.  For a fleeting second I thought about attempting to write something but hand writing on an almost finished canvas scares the heck out of me.  Any suggestions?  

I did get word this evening that my computer is done!!!  YEAH :)  They had to replace something and re-install windows.  I may have lost some info but I don't care - it's done and I will be back in business tomorrow!!!  Can't  wait - it's like an old friend that has been missing

Supplies:

Blick Art - Canvas

Imagine Crafts - StazOn, VersaMark, Clear Embossing Powder, VersaFine

Deco Art - Stencil, Black Modeling Paste

Prima - Watercolor Paints, Water Soluble Oil Pastels

TCW - Stencils

JFF Stamps - Text Stamp

Deep Red Stamps - Rose Bunch

Altenew - Peony Stamps

PrismaColor - Colored Pencil

Deep Red Stamps - Watercolor Spring Challenge & Give Away!

Did you know that Deep Red Stamps is hosting a challenge this month? It's a Watercolor Spring Challenge - right up my alley and yours too!

Here are the details...

We're is hosting a challenge during the month of March. The inspiration for the challenge is SPRING and/or WATERCOLORS (pencils, paints or pastels count!) 

• Your project must contain at least one of our Deep Red Stamps. 
• Your blog post must feature the SPRING CHALLENGE graphic (above). 
• Link your blog POST for THIS challenge (no links that go to youtube, pinterest, general blog) 
• You can use your project in other challenges. 
• Enter as often as you like, one blog post per entry. 
• Challenge entries close March 31st, 11:55 EST. 

Winners receive $35 in Rewards Points to use at DeepRedStamps.com. At least 1 winner for every 20 entries will be chosen. Share this with your friends!

Well, you know how much I love watercoloring and DRS stamps so I decided to give it a go! I actually made 2 cards - I couldn't decide which I liked better. Which do you prefer?

DRS - Garden Doorway

This image was stamped with Memento Dye Ink then watercolored with InkTense watercolor pencils.

DRS - Wishing Well

This card was also stamped using Memento Dye Ink but I colored it with my Staedtler watercolor pencils. It doesn't really show in the photo but the wishing well is actually pop-dotted off the background away from the frame.

So, which do you like better?

Be sure to vote because I have 4 fun brand new Deep Red Stamps for one lucky Ink Stained Friend that casts a vote for their favorite design!

You have until March 19th to vote for your fav.!

Remember - Be sure to enter the DRS Spring/Watercolor Challenge TOO!!

DRS March Spring / Watercolor Challenge

Good Luck Everyone

and

Have an Ink Stained weekend!

Tea and Arts Pocket Letter

Well this weekend I was playing around with pocket letters.  Today I wanted to share one that I finished up this morning...

I'm calling it Tea and Arts (you'll see why) and it was made with a certain person in mind.  I am hoping that she enjoys it - I guess we'll see.  What do you all think.....

Here is the front with all of the cards in each pocket...

I wanted to coordinate the backs of each card for a nice finished look...

(club scrap sentiment stamp)

Paper pieced

And here are all of the cards.....

(Club Scrap stamp)

Watercolor & Markers

(Stamps - JFF Rubber Stamps)

Memento Dye Ink Watercolor & Markers

(Club Scrap Stamps)

Watercolored, Marker on the teapot, Stickles Glitter Glue for sugar.

(Unity Stamps)

Memento Stamped images over Gelli Plate Print

(Deep Red Stamps)

Stamped & Watercolored with Memento Dye Inks

(Stampendous Stamp)

Watercolored

(Crafty Individuals Stamp)

Watercolored

(Stampendous sentiment stamp)

Pan Pastel free-hand heart & background.

I also wanted to talk about how I filled the pockets.  I've been reading lots about these and it seems that many people have had issues with keeping their goodies tucked in behind the cards.  Seems as though most people ended up having to use washi tape to hold the pockets closed in order to keep everything in place.

I tested it and yes goodies do slide out very easily once you fold the page up so I decided to do something a bit different.  I pulled out some small glassine envelopes and tucked my goodies into the envelope, fold it over and tucked it behind each card.  PROBLEM SOLVED!!!  My goodies stayed in place, no washi tape needed and you can still see what's behind each card.

So there you go...Tea & Arts Pocket Letter...

now I just have to wait to hear how it goes over!

King of Cool Father's Day Card

Happy Father's Day!

I wanted to share a card I made for Dad which was posted 

on the IMAGINE Crafts Blog Friday!

Who could resist all that cool....

For a complete supply list and details on how I made it please see - 

Cool Daddy-O.

Memorial Day Thank You to our Service Men and Women...

My Memorial Day card is featured on the IMAGINE Crafts blog today!  You can see how I incorporated one of my favorite IMAGINE Crafts products - Antique Creative Medium to create this card - A Thank You to Our Service Members

Stamps: Deep Red Stamps - Sentiment & Soldiers; Old Glory - Unity

Have a safe and fun weekend to all!

Shake it up this St. Patty's Day!

Are you all ready for St. Patrick's Day tomorrow?  I wanted to share a fun St. Patrick's Day shaker card I made recently that was on the IMAGINE Crafts blog over the weekend with another SPD Project....

The front of the card was made using Gold Creative Medium over a stencil...the shine is amazing!  The inside of the shake and card were both made using a variety of Memento Inks (both pads & markers).  I finished off the inside of the card with a spritz of Pear Tart Fireworks! spray...I LOVE that color - I think it's my favorite green they offer.

For complete instructions you can go to: Superstitious Shaker Easel Card

Inks, Mediums, Markers, Sprays - IMAGINE Crafts

Stamps - Sentiment & Shamrock (shaker) - Just For Fun Rubber Stamps

Leprechaun, sentiment & shamrock (inside the card) - Deep Red Stamps

Hope you have a wonderful day friends - 

Stay Inky!

I would like to enter this in the following challenges...

Red Rubber Inspirationals #212 - Green with Envy
and
Unruly PaperArts - March 2015 Reader Art Quest

APC Challenge Week #2 - Card 2

Woo hoo...got home early and got to finish my second card!  I'm so excited about this one.  If you recall I shared the first card yesterday....

and here is how I left the second card....

Claudine's card held the sentiment "Expand your wings, learn new things and fly".  To me that intimated a journey so I went that route.  Her card also had a fairy on it but I don't have any fairy stamps that are really my style so I improvised!  I think the figure I used paired nicely with the sentiment I chose to use....

I started off by stamping an interesting texture stamp on the background with Peanut Brittle Luxe ink.  The nice thing about this ink is that it stays wet long enough that I was able to dab on copper & gold PanPastels for a beautiful shimmer effect.  I added some "travel" themed washi tape and a nifty compass die-cut from Susana's Custom Art & Card Design.  

Next I stamped Alice on white cardstock, colored with spectrum noir colored pencils and fussy cut her.

I added the pointing finger washi tape, the sentiment and stamped a compass in the corner.  The sentiment says, "Where ever you go.... Go with all your heart."

Stamps - Background Texture - Just For Fun Rubber Stamps; 

Alice & Compass - Deep Red Stamps

Sentiment Font  - Ornatique

and here they are both together....

I had lots of fun making these...I can't wait to see what is to come!