A Soaring Heart

Quickie post today.  I'm not sure what to call this little doo-dad.  It's ATC-sized but with wings flying off the side.

I used stamps from two of my fave companies - Stampotique (Lovely Wings) and Rubber Dance Art Stamps (Arty Heart).  I'm entering this in the SDC 201 - Give Wings and Rubber Dance's June challenges.

Cheers!

VLVS June Challenge

Love these colors for the VLVS challenge this month.  I participate in a monthly bizarre holidays ATC swap and decided to use this challenge as inspiration for one of my July ATCs.

Looking at the inspiration piece from the VLVS blog you can (hopefully) see how I used it above.

The dog in a dress image makes me chuckle.  Hope you have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

12 "Tags" of 2015 (or Julie Can't Follow Rules...)

Greetings!

I saw Redanne's post this afternoon of her lovely June 2015 tag and was inspired to use hers and Tim's as inspiration for an ATC.  (Tim's tag and step-by-step are HERE.)  I really did first think of doing a tag - it's been so long - but I do owe somebody an "under the sea" ATC so this project won out.

I tried to follow Tim's instructions, and if you use your imagination you'll see where he inspired me.  I followed his lead with the background using Distress Stains followed by a stencil as a stamp.  After that I distressed the edges with the side of my scissors and some Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  I also used corrugated cardstock for the starfish and a bit of twine.

My 'sand' is actually old sandpaper and I cut the die cut seaweed and coral from cardstock covered in metal tape and then colored them with alcohol inks.  "Discover" is from his remnant rubs.

Thanks for peeking.  Maybe in July I'll actually make a tag.  ;)

Heat Wave

Ooo-wee, it's toasty in some parts of the country right now.  Thankfully, here in the Pacific NW the temps are just right.  Even so, in sympathy with those in warmer climes I was inspired to make this ATC for the Lost Coast Designs number challenge.

I started out with swirly background border stamp (that usually reminds me of water, but not today!) stamped with orange over a background of Distress Stains (Abandoned Coral and Fossilized Amber).  The sun was going to be the numbers part of the challenge (I stenciled numbers over the paper before I cut it out), but you can't really tell so instead I stamped temperatures on the background 100-110 - that's hot!).  A little crackly, dried texture paste finished it off.

Happy stamping!

Inappropriate Birthday Card - SDC 200

The Stampotique Designers Challenge is celebrating its 200th challenge this week!  A celebration is certainly in order.  I decided to create a birthday card.  Unfortunately The Muse was being a tad mischievous and risque.

Ha ha!  Oh, Eric...

Busy Behind the Scenes

Good morning!  I am still here and have been busily arting but not posting as much lately.  Here's a quick wrap-up of what's been on my desk.

She did double-duty as an entry in the Sweet Pea Stamps Progressive Challenge and gifted to somebody requesting a mythical creature ATC.  I hope fairies count...I think they do.

I made her just for fun using Dylusions and Rubber Dance Art Stamps.  She ended up winging her way across the Great Blue to a friend in Belgium.

An ATC-trading friend is going through a bit of a messy divorce.  This made her smile.

Mmmm...warm summer evenings.  I made this for a trade requiring the word 'July' on it.

The latest card for the Village series: Millinery

These dudes crack me up.  I tried to resist getting this stamp, but every time I saw somebody use it, it beckoned to me.  Eventually I caved.

I saw this Dina Wakley stamp set and had a coupon...couldn't help myself.  I'm loving the Distress pens too.  Used them quite a bit here.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Craft Mat Clean-Up

You know those moments when the mental clouds part, beams of sunlight illuminate the room and a choir of angels bursts into song?  Just had one of those moments and I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself.  No doubt some smart crafty person has thought of this already, but this was new to me.

I was arting up an envelope for a crafty friend and pulled out my little 5'x7' gelli plate.  I happily went about my business and when finished stuffed my envie, which needed some extra sealing assistance from packing tape.  Now typically I wipe off my craft mat as soon as I'm finished but I didn't this time so there was some dried paint left on it.

  As I was sealing up the envie I was trying to avoid getting the packing tape on my craft mat because I didn't want it to pick up any of the dried paint.  Say what??!!  (Here is where the clouds parted and the angels sang.)

"What if", I said to myself, "I purposely cleaned up the mat with packing tape?"  Oh, the glee and pure joy that filled my soul as I eagerly stuck and lifted.  My gelli plate was still a little grungy too so I slapped some tape on there.  It worked.  Cool!

I always have blank ATC-sized papers sitting around so I stuck and lifted to my heart's content and then stuck the tape to my ATCs blanks.  Backgrounds.  All ready to go.  For something.

Isn't that a fun, random discovery?  It's going to be a good day...

Under the Sea

Every time I see 'under the sea' I start humming "Under the sea.  Under the sea.  Darling it's better down where it's wetter, take it from me." from The Little Mermaid.  Such a happy song.

Last week I went on a mermaid ATC-making binge.  Yesterday and today I was inspired by seahorses.  Seems I'm ready for summer and days at the beach.  (We're still counting down until school's out.  12 more days.)

This one was made for a 'Make Me Happy' swap where the receiver asked for an 'Under the Sea' themed ATC.  I was happy to oblige.

The seahorse on this one was intended for the original ATC but I got impatient waiting for the UTEE to get good and solid (I knew I wanted the crackled appearance).  This morning when I came back to my desk and saw it laying there The Muse was quite demanding in suggesting that I use it.

I hope you're having a splendid day.  Thanks for coming by!

SDC 198: Favorite Stamp

Favorite stamp?  That's like asking me to pick me favorite child - can't be done.  Instead I blindly reached into my pile and grabbed one.  She fit perfectly with some wonky tags that I gelli'd a few weeks ago and that I've been shuffling to and fro on my desk.

In addition to my gelli plated tag, I used some washi tape and old watch parts that have been in my stash for ages.  The fibers are also dusted off from my stash.  I love digging in and re-discovering my 'must-haves' that somehow got set aside and forgotten.

I am entering this in the SDC favorite stamp and Left of Center upcycle/recycle challenges (first time joining one of their challenges - woot woot!)

Thanks for popping by!