Dear Santa...

Hello crafty friends!

Today I'm going to share some more inspiration for the last challenge of the Year year with Stampotique.

In case you missed it last week theme is snowy Christmas.

Stamps used:
Bertha
Alpha background 

 I made a cute and simple card I might have to put the word "ish" on the inside though.

I hope you join us in the challenge. The letter stamps or stamped out and then cut into words. And I used alcohol-based markers to color everything.

Have a Merry Christmas!

You know too much... MAM

Hello again crafty friends!

I'm still on a snarky/sarcastic kick...

Today I'm sharing a card and envelope set made for a friend...

Stamps used:

Ladies smoking cigars

Typeset Scallop

Three Staples

Staple X

These 2 ladies crack me up!

I started by stamping the ladies on the card base and envelope.  

Setting the  card aside for now, I created a mask of the 2 ladies using  scrap book paper. Once the ladies were masked off, I stamped my typeset scallop boarder on the right side of the envelope (yes, I realize that the text is upside down, but I do not care I'm going for an overall look...and if I let silly things like that limit me than my stamps have less uses) 

I added a mask over the boarder than chose a dylusions stencil and lucky clover distress ink to create my background. When I finished stenciling,  I used a black micron pen to roughly trace the shapes made from the stencil. 

Next, I removed the masks and colored everything using blick alcohol markers.
(This is what I used on the card as well)

The card was finished by adding it to the A2 card base, and applying some washi tape along with my snarky quote sticker

A Snowy Christmas

Hello Crafty Friends!!!

Have you all started making Christmas cards yet? 

I have been trying to get mine caught up and ready to mail out.

Today's is a double win... 

It doubles for the Stampotique Challenge and my Christmas card list!

SDC313- A Snowy Christmas

Stamps Used: 
Oh Christmas Tree
Snowman
Journey Collage

The background was created with dylusions paints, and distress ink. I created snow with distress grit paste. I used distress stain in picket fence to create the snow flecks.

I hope you all join the challenge!!

Ghost of Christmas Past...

Hello Crafty Friends!

Happy Wednesday! 

Time for week 2 of the Stampotique Originals Designers Challenge- Swaperoo

If you couldn't guess, the theme swaperoo, means use multiple stamps and swap parts and pieces... I chose to do a head swap!

Stamps Used: 

Weasel w/thank you

Halloween Cube 2

Spiral Daydream

I used the skull head from the Halloween cube, on Weasel's body. 

The background was created with Dylusions paints, texture paste, and dylusions stencils. I also added a few slicks of distress stains. I added distress oxide ink around the edges. 

I colored my stamped images with a combination of alcohol markers, and colored pencils.

I hope you all like my little ghost of Christmas past art journal page. 

Santa Claus is coming...

Hello crafty friends!

It's time for me to get to work on Christmas cards.  I wanted to create something simple and sort of grungy/vintage so it would be great for anyone. 

Stamps used:

Be filled with Joy

Santa smoking

Using archival ink in watering can grey.  I stamped Santa and my sentiment.  I used distress stains to "watercolor" everything.  The card is A2 sized with each matte being 1/4 in smaller than the layer below.

I hope you enjoy this fun and easy card!

Happy Holidays

Nothing means business like... MAM

Hello Crafty friends!!

Happy Mail Art Monday!

Today I have a super fun card and envelope set... I'm on a bit of a sarcastic/snarky kick using the Tim Holtz snarky stickers. 

Stamps used:

Dictionary page

Cross marks background

Color wheel lines

Doodle frame

Boys playing with shopping cart

Rows of Numbers

I started by stamping the kids with the cart on the A2 card and envelope.  Setting the card aside, I traced the playing card to create an address block.  I also added a "mask" of the kids with the cart. 

At the top of the envelope I stamped the scallops banner (aka Doodle frame) and makes it off.

With everything masked off, I used weathered wood distress ink to create my base background layer.

Next I randomly stamped my background details: dictionary page, color wheel, x, row of numbers

To finish everything I removed my masks, and used blick alcohol markers to color everything.

I also used white gel pen to add final details.

Thanks for visiting.

Bugging out mail art

Hello craft friends!

Today starts a new challenge over at Stampotique Originals designers challenge. 

The theme is "Bugging Out"

Join us HERE

Stamps used: 

Kassa's Bloom

Floating 

I started with an Envelope measuring approximately 8.5 x 4.75 inches. I the background was created with distress oxide ink in fossilized amber ink and the layering stencil (THS105). 

Next, I stamped Kassa's Bloom several times.  I used Blick brand alcohol markers to color the flowers.  On a separate piece of cardstock I stamped "floating" and drew wings and antenna with a micron pen.

I then colored this with block alcohol 8markers. I used Tim Holtz collage medium to glue him to the envelope.

I love this little guy, hes just so cute!

Thanks for visiting!

Learning to quilt

Hi again, 

Today I'm going to share my recently finished quilts. 

(This is my 2nd and 3rd ever... I am untrained and doing this as a hobby they are by no means professional and I sew a straight line even worse than my attempt to draw one)

Starting with my 2nd ever finished quilt...

This cross quilt is extra special because it is my husband's. This is just a small lap sized quilt for him to use at his computer desk. Blue is his favorite color so I used 2 jelly rolls from Joann fabric and some added fat quarters. The back is a blue and white.

(Here is him holding it the night I finished it, he'll probably kill me if he sees I posted the picture)

Next, is my 3rd ever finished quilt... this one is a 2 sided, coffee themed rag quilt for a charity benefit. (A friends/past coworker husband has stage 4 cancer in his stomach and she is having a very hard time). My amazing friend Terri sent me some of the beautiful coffee fabrics that inspired this whole piece! The rest are from joann fabric.

Front 

Back

I think this is considered a throw sized quilt ...  sorry I don't have better pictures as I have already given it to the ladies running the raffle.

Now to complete my 2 other work in progress quilts (hopefully before Christmas)

Thanks for visiting 

November Stampotique release...

Hello Crafty Friends!!!

It's that time again... the 1st of the month, so time for new releases!

Mail Art Envelope

Praise

Jillian

Sympathy Circle 

Mail Art Envelope

Kuruk kaola

Feather

Mail Art Envelope

Aunt Bertha

Kassa's Bloom

A2 Card

Rosie

Squares Background 

Mail Art Envelope and A2 card

Flora

Texture cube 1

Happiness

Mail Art Envelope

A2 Card

I hope you all feel inspired and crafty :)

Bright Ideas

Hello crafty friends!

I hope you are all doing well. Today I want to share and inky tag...
(this is one of the larger 3 x 6.25 in manila tags)

Stamps Used:
scribble circle
writing chevron
Large light bulb
row of numbers

Other Products:
Distress oxide ink- Fossilized Amber, Salty Ocean
manila tag (6.25 x 3)
Archival ink- Jet black
white Gelly roll pen
black ink pen
glass craft mat

I started by adding blue (salty ocean distress oxide) and yellow (fossilized amber distress oxide) ink on my glass work mat, then blotting it up with my tag. 

(you can set this aside to dry or use a heat tool)

I originally planned to go with an Alice in wonder land theme

(but like many bright ideas, my brain changed its mind and said no... lets try something else. )

(I'm sharing this so you can see we all have these moments where things just don't come together like we plan)

So you can see I next stamped my scribble circle and my /// in black archival ink. 

When my brain changed gears, I chose to add more blue edging around my tag with a blending tool. Next I added more details my stamping the chevron and adding details with a white Gelly roll pen. 

Ok, to finish my piece off I used a separate piece of card stock and stamped my light bulb. 

(I used distress ink to color the card stock before stamping on it)

I used pop dots to adhere my light and to give it depth. 

I hope you have all enjoyed this fun "bright ideas" tag! 

Halloween pocket letter

Hello crafty friends!

It's time for a little inspiration for week 2 of the Stampotique Originals designers challenge "use washi tape"

Join the challenge HERE or on Facebook 

I am a washi tape addict so this was right up my alley.... but, I will admit I tend to hoard more than I could possibly use. I wanted to create something special for Halloween and use a variety of tapes, so what better than a pocket letter?

I love creating pocket letters because they  can be several mini scenes in one big art piece!

(you know I love all forms of mail art)

This piece is going to be stuffed with goodies and sent off to a friend.

(Goodies not pictured so the surprise isn't completely ruined)

(Don't you just love this little mad hatter?!)

I just love this sequin shaker part of the card... and the glitter washi tape I used to seal it.

Mail Art from the Great Unknown

Hello Crafty Friends! 

Happy Mail Art Monday
and Columbus Day if you are here in the USA.

Now, Time for some explorer themed mail art... (with a hint of steam punk)

Stamps Used:
numbers set
the great unknown
Waybill/invoice
steampunk balloon
men in balloon basket
punchinella/sequin waste

I started by using an A2 envelope. I stamped my 2 foreground stamps and traced my mini playing card (address label block).  

Next I created a "cloud" background with scarp paper and ink in weathered wood, hickory smoke,  and broken china distress ink. 

Next, I used my waybill/ledger stamp to add random texture and detail to the background with cornflower blue archival ink.

I also stamped my numbers randomly in watering can archival ink.  Across the top, I also added a bit of texture with my punchinella stamp. (below you can see a close up of some detail for the numbers, ledger, and texture)... you can also see I added a few flecks of black stain, and glitter spray.... I also added white dots with a white gel pen. 

Below you can see the whole picture, I added color detail, and bits of washi tape, and glitter. 

More detail...

And even more details... 

I hope you have all enjoyed this explorer themed envelope.