SDC 265 - Favorite Stamp

Hello, friends!

The challenge this fortnight over at the Stampotique Designers Challenge blog is to use your favorite stamp.  Ha!  Talk about an impossible task;  too many to choose.  I decided to go with one of the Stampotique boys who I reach for all the time, Eric.

I think the things I love most about Eric are his great smile and his snazzy wardrobe.  :)

See the challenge rules over on the blog and join us for a chance to win a $30 Stampotique store gift certificate.  :)

Magical Moments Card - Stampotique Word Up Weekend

Hello, friends!  I'm a smidge late blogging about Word Up Weekend this week - let's blame it on the US holiday on Monday.  :)  I decided to make a card with one of the sayings on the Bar Code Text 2 stamp.  I love the sayings on this - kinda fun and quirky.

I also love, love, love the image, Take Your Time.  Aren't they sweet?

I used watercolor paper for the background.  I stamped and embossed the main image.  Before brushing on the watercolors I covered the image with masking fluid - LOVE that stuff!  Next came the watercolors and, once dry, I sprinkled bits of concentrated color over the top. A little rip off the corner and stamping of 'magical moments' and, finito!

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope your day is fabulous.

52 Card Pick-up

I've seen a lot of posts about 52 Card Pick-Up over the last few years.  The idea is to take a deck of playing cards and alter them - one for each week of the year.  I've got a bunch of cards all gesso'ed and ready to alter sitting on my desk.  Finally, I'm playing along!

This first card I made using the colors for the Rubber Dance Art Stamps challenge for January.  (I used their stamps on the heart.)

 

The second card is a hot mess.  :)  I opened up my box of Neocolor watercolor crayons and picked the two pointiest (i.e. colors I never reach for) and made myself use them.

I hope I can get my buns into gear each week to finish up my whole deck by the end of the year.  :)

Ombre Miss You Card

I must be in a challenge-participating kind of mood this weekend.  I have another card to show you today for yet another challenge.  :)  This time I'm participating in the Less Is More ombre colour challenge.

The general theme of the Less is More blog is to encourage people to create clean and simple cards.  That is often difficult for moi - I think I have a subconscious fear of white space or something.  I went for it though to make this card.

I created the ombre effect using Distress inks (Worn Lipstick, Abandoned Coral, Barn Door and Fired Brick).  Now I just need to figure out who I'm missing so I can send this to someone.  Ha ha!

Memory Box Winter Blues Challenge

I don't think I've ever participated in one of Memory Box's challenges, but I've been a fan of their dies for a long time.  I made a card for the Winter Blues Challenge using the first MB die I bought - LOVE this flower.  I've had it for many years and I still reach for it often.

Wishing you a very happy 2017!

Stampotique Word Up Weekend: When Your Heart Speaks

Hellooo!

So, this card comes with a little story (if you've visited much you KNOW I love my stories...).  Initially, I intended this to be an ATC with an entirely different quote.  But alas, when my brilliant self decided to adhere it to a sturdier background I failed to measure the background.  Oops...too small for an ATC.  No worries...a card it is.

The background is a swatch nabbed off of a piece of Tyvek that had seen a few runs over the ol' gelli plate.  I simply stamped Kassa's Bloom over it a few times, glued on a piece of book page and topped that off with washi tape.  The blue flower is cut from watercolor paper and then pieced over the top of the stamping.

Isn't that flower gorgeous?  I blinged it up with a bit of Stickles on the yellow parts.  The quote I used, When Heart Speaks, is one of my faves, too.  I love a good all-purpose quote.

Check out more of the Word Up Weekend inspiration on the Stampotique Facebook page.

Happy Weekend!

SDC 264 - Anything Goes!

Happy New Year!  I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday season with friends and family.

We're easing into 2017 over at the Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and starting with a wide open 'Anything Goes' challenge this time.  I have been eyeballing the Big Bee stamp for so long.  I finally caved in and got it and I'm so glad I did.  Of course, as soon as it arrived I had to have a play with it and made a card.

The background that the stamp is on was created using alcohol inks on top of mineral paper.  'Queen' is stamped using Altered Alpha - love that set.  So versatile.

I had a hard time not getting a pic with the beautiful sheen taking over, but here are a couple of other views.

What strikes your fancy this week?  Anything goes...play along with us and post your creation on our Stampotique Facebook page and link up on the blog.

Happy 2017!