Tribute to the 2012 Olympics

Well, the summer Olympic Games have begun in London, England. Here is my tribute card to the Summer Games.

This card was stamped with stamps from Paper Wings Productions, with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink. First off, I stamped the background with the Writings Background stamp that is the postcard, twice on my piece of coral cardstock. Next, I stamped the Tower and the word "London" from the London Clear Set. Then on a separate sheet of white stock I stamped the Papier Family and dressed them in their USA colors (even the funny beannie hat). Lastly, I punched out the five rings for the Olympic Rings and colored them with my copic markers. I then added a little USA banner on a toothpick and matted the whole thing on a black cardstock, before mounting it on a base red card.

I stayed up way too late last night watching the opening ceremonies, but luckily while watching I finished my card. I wish the best of luck to all the athletes participating in the games, at least we will have something different to watch on TV for the next week!  Keep Creating!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FLOWER CHILD

Hello Everyone!

I have two more cards to make for my birthday's in July. This card was very simple, yet elegant.  I first glued a piece of watercolor paper with one torn and chalked edge on the front of my card base. I then tied a piece of gold thin ribbon through the card and anchored a small bow on the front.  I stamped the "Girl with floral bouquet" from Magenta Stamps on a piece of card stock and colored her with my copic markers. Then I fussy cut the girl out, and used pop-up squares of foam tape to give the card dimension.  To finish, I stamped "happy birthday" with a Club Scrap stamp, and outlined the image with a Spica glitter pen.

The second card I made today, started with a pre-embossed kraft colored base card. I inked over the card with a Candied Yam colored Chalk Ink pad, and then used a baby wipe to remove the ink from the raised embossed design.  I then inked a tag I had decorated previously with the Candied Yam ink pad and adhered it to the front of the card. I tied a small bow from bright pink ribbon and glued it to the top of the tag where the hole is, and then adhered the lady in the lace dress to the left side of the card. The lady in the lace dress is from an Impression Obsession stamp called Intermission.  There are several ladies in the stamp, but sometimes when I color in stamps, I don't care for parts of my coloring.  I just cut out the parts I do like and throw the rest away. I have an envelope book that I made that I keep these images in, to add to a card that needs just a little something more. (I will show how to make one of these envelope books in a future post.) 

I believe I also described the tag in more detail in a previous post, "Tags-to-Go!"  I hope these cards have given you some ideas of cards you can make when you need one in a hurry. The weekend is right around the corner, so have a good one, and maybe be creative, you will feel so much better!

A Hug in Springtime!

Hello fellow bloggers!
This card, "A Hug in Springtime", was inspired by the flight plan challenge #004, from Paper Wings Productions Stamps.  I made a card for the challenge using their stamps, but since this card was just paper pieced with Graphic 45 "Once Upon a Springtime" paper, I decided to describe it here on my blog.

Several layers of coordinating papers were used for the background and side striped strip. I then added the green dotted strip with a striped ribbon on top as the next layer.  A cut-out poem from this Graphic 45 set was matted with a black and pink striped print, and then the photo with fairy and frog was applied with pop dots to add dimension.  The side tab was stamped with a phrase from a Hot off the Press set, titled "Heartfelt Greetings" and the sentiment was from this set also. The final touch was a bow tied with the striped ribbon and glued to the top of the ribbon strip.  The bow doesn't leave as big of a bump when you tie it separately and then glue it on, as it does when it is tied on.  Lays flatter, too, if the card needs to be mailed.

The rain outside is gently falling, and has been for the last two days. We finally have gotten some nice rain to give the outside plants a good drink. It is so relaxing to be able to stay indoors and make cards while the rain is gently falling outside. Have a GREAT day, and I will see you again soon.

"Good Friend" Collage Card

Good Day, friends! I hope everyone had a nice weekend. I know I sure did. Today I am starting on a month of serious card making. This is one busy birthday month for friends and family.

I am starting with a card for a good friend. This card starts with a 5inch square card base of watercolor paper.I then attached a 4 1/2 inch square of self adhesive cork paper. I purchased a roll of it at the Container Store several years ago, and I guess it's obvious purpose was for kitchen shelf liner. I thought it would be nice for a unique card surface.  Last week I picked up an issue of the Stampers Sampler Magazine at Stamp Antonio Arts, and in it were several cards made using this thin cork product. In some of their samples, they stamped directly on the cork with their rubber stamp. I layered several designs of printed papers on top of the cork, before stamping on the Manila tag in the top left corner.

I then added another layer of the cork, below the thin lavender ribbon. I then stapled the entire cork panel to the front of the card using my "Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher" in all four corners and at the end of the ribbon strip. I also stapled a tiny lavender bow to the top of the "sing" tag. To finish the card I tied a piece of ribbon through the hole in the manilla tag assembly, and stamped my phrase on the tag.

Now I just need to go find or make a square envelope for this card, before I can mail it. A square card costs more to mail than the regular size greeting cards, so I may have to make a trip out to the post office before it starts raining again.  Have a great day, and see you soon!

Alcohol Ink Layering on Glass

This is an ink layering technique I taught several years ago at Stamp Antonio, my  local rubber stamp store.

To start this project, get an inexpensive photo frame with a piece of glass in it. I like to shop the dollar stores for this type of frame, especially while I am practicing this inking technique.

The first step is to take a rubber stamp, and stamp it onto a piece of card stock the same size as your glass and frame.

Take the glass from your frame, and clean it with soap and water, or window cleaner to remove fingerprints and any foreign residue. Then take the glass, and drop multiple drops of alcohol ink reinkers on the glass. Then add several drops of the alcohol extender to your alcohol applicator and pounce it up and down on top of the color droplets to mix the colors up.(in other words, fill the glass with color.)  This alcohol ink dries almost immediately, so work quickly.  If you don't like what you have done, you can always put some of the extender on the glass and rub it off with a cloth or paper towel.  Keep the image you have stamped close-by so you can remember where  to leave the color a little lighter. For example, in the picture above  I left the colors light in the middle of the glass where the facial features of the stamp would show. I cannot tell you how much ink to use, that is something you will just have to play with and use your own judgement as to how you want your finished picture to look. The extender thins out the alcohol ink, so if you want your colors lighter, use the "light" line of alcohol inks or just a small amount of the regular alcohol inks. 

When you get your glass like you want it, you can then place your stamped piece on top (next to the ink) and enclose it in the frame, for a beautiful framed piece.  If you place the inked side of the glass on the outside, it might get scratched off, if your picture falls off the wall.

Once you master this technique, you can use it to make all kinds of jewelry, charms, wind chimes, sun catchers, and wall art.  If you want the sun or light to shine through the picture, be sure to stamp your image on a transparent medium, like plastic, vellum, or even another layer of glass.  Then when you hang it the light will shine through just like stained glass. Have fun creating, and I will be back with you soon.



July 2012- Artist Trading Card Group Exchange

Happy 4th Everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe 4th of July! Here are the results of out July ATC exchange at Stamp Antonio Arts.

First are the cards for the Water theme. It always amazes me that the cards are so unique, as are each individual artist that created them.

Next are the cards for the Cupcake theme. I was a little depressed that not more of our members chose to do this theme.

The themes for next months exchange are Steampunk,(using a bottlecap somewhere on the card) and
Cards using a Die-cut as the main element.  This meeting will be held the first Tuesday in August at 6:00 pm at  Stamp Antonio Arts, Loop 1604 at the Tradesman Dr.exit.  We are going to have an Open House
during our trade time, so that anyone interested may come by, see what it is all about, speak with our members, and join our group if you like.  You may check out the website of Stamp Antonio Arts,http://www.stampantonio.com/ for exact date, time, and driving directions.

July 2012- Artist Trading Cards

Here are MY two ATC's for this months trade at Stamp Antonio Arts. The themes for the July Trade were Water,and Cupcakes. My water, was a blue holographic background paper from Paper Wishes with the Mermaid stamp and waves and bubbles from the Mermaid Clear Set from Paper Wings Productions Stamps. The Mermaid was colored with copic markers, cut out, and adhered with pop dots to give depth and texture.

My cupcake card was celebrating Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee. The background was my version of the British flag done in watercolor pencils on watercolor paper. Then using the Cupcake Clear Stamp Set from Paper Wings Productions and the London Clear Stamp Set, I stamped out the large cupcake, colored, glittered and dimensionalized it along with the phrase "Hey there cupcake!"  The silhouette of the queen, along with the phrase "things would be different if I were Queen" came from the London set. I tried to layer emboss the silhouette, but most of it ran together and didn't give me a clean edge. I need to practice my embossing more, before I feel comfortable in doing it on a trade card again.