Monday, September 29, 2014

A Vintage Journey - The Colours of Autumn

Today I have a card to share (actually 3 of them in variations of the same theme!) that I made for Challenge 15 over at A Vintage Journey.  The theme is The Colours of Autumn and you also must show a strong Tim Holtz influence in your creation.   I used patterned papers from Tim's Wallflowers Paper Stack for my card backgrounds - sponging them with Archival Potting Soil Ink.  The sentiment and frame are from Tim's Acorn Blueprint die and stamp set.
I die cut the leaves using Tim's Tattered Leaves die.  I pressed veins in the leaves using a rounded end tool.  I inked the leaves with Archival inks - using Orange Blossom on this maple leaf.  Then I heat embossed them using Wendy Vecchi's new embossing powders.  I used Orange Blossom on this one with a sprinkle of Tree Branch and Fern Green.  I let the leaf cool and then sponged Archival Potting Soil over it.  (Wendy Vecchi has a wonderful post on how to use her new embossing powders here.)
My plan was to use all three leaves from the Tattered Leaves Die on one card -  but they were really too much for a regular 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card -  so I decided to use just one leaf on each card.  I'm making Halloween and Thanksgiving cards to sell at our Fall Church Fair so I was happy to get 3 cards done in one fell swoop!
I inked the aspen leaf with Archival Fern Green and then embossed it with Wendy Vecchi's Fern Green embossing powder - sprinkling a little bit of Tree Branch on top.  I inked a piece of Idea-ology Linen Ribbon for each leaf and knotted it around the stem pulling apart the ends.
I added Chit Chat Stickers to each card, drawing a frame around each one with a Black Stabilo pencil and then rubbing it with my finger to blend it a little bit.
I inked the oak leaf with Tree Branch Archival ink - and then embossed it with Wendy Vecchi's Tree Branch Embossing Power - I added a sprinkle of Orange Blossom on top.
 I love the look of Wendy's embossing powders on the leaves!
The Colours of Autumn challenge is open until Oct 2nd if you'd like to join in!

Stamps:  Acorn Blue Print Die/Stamps - Alterations/Ranger
Paper:  Rustic Cream and Dark Chocolate - PTI, DP - Wallflower Paper Stash - Idea-ology
Ink:  Archival Fern Green, Orange Blossom, Potting Soil and Tree Branch
Accessories:  Stabilo Black Pencil, Chit Chat Stickers and Linen Ribbon - Idea-ology, Wendy Vecchi Embossing Powder - Orange Blossom, Tree Branch, Fern Green, foam dots.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Waltzingmouse September Release Day - DT Blog Hop

Welcome to the Waltzingmouse September Release Day!  Today Claire has all three of the new sets - Little Deer, Frosty in the Pines and Warm Fuzzies as well as the beautiful snow flake dies in the WMS shop!

You should start the hop at Laurie Schmidlin's Blog -  if you came here from  Lynn Mercurio's blog - you are in the right place!   You can also check Claire's WMS blog for the complete list.

For my final September Release Day projects,  I made 3 Christmas Tags using two of the new sets and the snowflake dies.  I love to put special tags on special gifts at Christmas and these are simple one layer tags - that are quick and easy to put together.  I used the Stitched Tag Dies for each of them.

This one uses stamps from Little Deer
Look at the lovely details on this sweet bird house - all decked out for the Christmas with holly!  I added Tiny Twinkles for berries and scattered some white/clear sequins around and looped three colors of twine through the hole at the top.
I made this pretty tag in blue and cream using stamps from Frosty in the Pines - the cute little houses, the largest of the trees and the pretty snowflakes
I scattered some white/clear sequins around this tag as well.  And looped two colors of twine through the hole at the top.
And for my third tag - I used Snowflake #1 and Snowflake #2 - cutting them out of a super sparkly Glitter Cardstock from Michaels in two shades of pink.
Because this Glitter Card Stock is thicker because of the glitter  -  all the detail pieces didn't die cut all the way through - but the outside edges did  - and you can see the lovely lines of the design
I'm linking my snowflake tag to the Keep It Simple Challenge -  No stamps


I stamped to: and from: on the back of each tag using stamps from a previously released set called Tag Collection 1.

I'm the last one on the hop - so you've made it through all the inspiration!  Now off you go to order up your favorite sets over at the WMS shop!  You can also win some WMS goodies -  check out all the details at Claire's WMS blog.

Seasons Tweetings Tag
Stamps:  Little Deer, Tag Collection 1 (on the back) - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  Rustic Cream, Pure Poppy- PTI
Ink:  Archival Watering Can, Jet Black, Tree Branch,  Ranger Distress Bundled Sage and Pumice Stone.
Accessories:  Stitched Tag Die - Waltzingmouse, Winter Blend Sequins - Avery Elle, Maraschino, Peapod and Cappuccino Twine - The Twinery, Copic: G28, Tiny Twinkles - Taylored Expressions, Glossy Accents, Glue Pen.

Believe Tag
Stamps:  Frosty in the Pines, Tag Collection 1 (on the back) - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  Rustic Cream, Enchanted Evening - PTI
Ink:  Archival Watering Can, Jet Black and Cornflower Blue,  Ranger Distress Stormy Sky.
Accessories: Stitched Tag Die - Waltzingmouse, Winter Blend Sequins - Avery Elle, Ocean Twine - the Twinery, Black/Kraft Twine - from my stash.

Pink Snowflake Tag:
Paper:  Glitter Paper - Michaels, Rustic Cream - PTI
Accessories:  Stitched Tag Dies, Snowflake #1 and Snowflake #2 dies - Waltzingmouse, wrinkled seam tape and glitter cord - The Prairie Bird Boutique Etsy Shop, foam dots, Sugar Blend Sequins - Avery Elle. 

Saturday, September 27, 2014

WMS Sneak Peek Day 3 - Warm Fuzzies

Wow - we're already at Day 3 of the Waltzingmouse September Release Sneak Peeks!  Tomorrow is the big day when you'll be able to purchase all of the new sets!  Today we are showing you Warm Fuzzies - a set with two cute little Robins all set for winter and fun sentiments to go with them!  I made a treat/gift bag using the stamps, and two beautiful snowflake dies being released with the Sept stamps and the Stitched Tag dies.
I stamped the snowflakes and trees on the bag and sponged with Ranger Distress Aged Mahogany ink.  I used two of the Stitched Tags Dies and layered them over each other.  I colored the Robin with Copics and scattered some Winter Blend Sequins over the tags.
I die cut SnowFlake #2, sponged it and tied it onto the handle using some gray/white twine.
I die cut Snowflake #1, sponged it and layered it over the tag with a foam dot - I added a clear sequin to the center of it.
I also made a CAS winter card in pinks - using one of the snowflake stamps and sentiments from this set - as well as the new snow flake dies.
I die cut the snowflakes out of a Glitter Cardstock - which is heavy - so the edges cut - but the smaller detail inside the snowflake got etched but didn't die cut through (and it still looks beautiful!).  I stamped the snowflake randomly on the background panel in a light pink.
I'm linking this card to the City Crafter Challenge - Focus on the sentiment.

You'll find lots of lovely projects using Warm Fuzzies at the following DT links!
Anya Schrier
Becca Feeken
Jeanne Jachna
Julia Aston - Me!
Karin Ã…kesdotter
Laurie Schmidlin
Lynn Mercurio
Sandie Dunne
Tosha Leyendekker
Claire Brennan - Owner/Designer

Thanks so much for stopping by today -  tomorrow is Release day - at 2 pm EST and the Design Team will be having a blog hop.  There will also be details on the WMS blog as to how you might win some stamps!
Tweets for You Bag
 Stamps:  Warm Fuzzies - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  Vintage Cream, Rustic Cream - PTI, Kraft Bag - Michaels
Ink:  Archival Jet Black and Watering Can, Ranger Distress Aged Mahogany
Accessories:  Copics: R59, W6, YR21, E33, BG10, Stitched Tag Dies, Snowflake #1 die, Snowflake #2 die- Waltzingmouse, foam dots, Winter Blend Sequins - Avery Elle, Glue N Seal - Ranger, Twine - Timeless Twine.

Happy Winter
Stamps:  Warm Fuzzies - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  Vintage Cream, Sweet Blush - PTI,  Glitter Paper - Michaels
Ink:  Ranger Distress Spun Sugar, Archival Jet Black
Accessories:  Snowflake Die #1 - Waltzingmouse, foam dots.

Friday, September 26, 2014

WMS Sneak Peek Day 2 - Frosty in the Pines

Welcome to day 2 of the Waltzingmouse September Release Sneak Peeks!  Today the Design Team is working with a wonderful snowman set called Frosty in the Pines.
I paper pieced the hat, scarf and cardinal on Frosty, coloring in his nose and the birds beak with a Copic - and coloring over his button eyes, mouth and buttons with a Glaze Pen - so they're shiny!  I used the large and middle size trees from the set on  my background - as well as 3 snowflakes - plus a scattering of sequins!  I fussy cut Frosty  and popped him up over the forest with foam dots.
You'll find lots of lovely projects using Frosty in the Pines at the following DT links!
Anya Schrier
Becca Feeken
Jeanne Jachna
Julia Aston - Me!
Karin Ã…kesdotter
Laurie Schmidlin
Lynn Mercurio
Sandie Dunne
Tosha Leyendekker
Claire Brennan - Owner/Designer

Stamps:  Frosty in the Pines - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  White, True Black, Enchanted Evening - PTI, DP Pyrus Paper Pad- Basic Grey
Ink:  Archival Watering Can and Jet Black
Accessories:  Copics YR04, BG10, Black Gelly Roll Glaze Pen - Sakura, Winter Blend Sequins - Avery Elle, foam tape, Modern Label Punch - SU

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Waltzingmouse - Sneak Peek Day 1 - Little Deer

To see my Fusion Challenge Post - please scroll down or click here.

Today is the first day of Sneak Peeks for the Waltzingmouse September Release.   Members of the Design Team will be highlighting a new set each day for 3 days and then we will have a DT Blog Hop on the release day - Sunday 9/28.  Today we are using a sweet set called Little Deer.
I stamped the trees from the set on a piece of patterned paper and layered it to a piece of chocolate card stock.  I stamped the sweet little deer on Rustic Cream, coloring her with Copics and fussy cutting her.  I popped her up on the panel with foam dots and added a sprinkle of sequins.  I stamped two of the sentiments in the set on a sentiment ribbon die from A Good Egg Die Set.
I'm linking my card to the Addicted to CAS challenge - Cuddly

You'll find lots of lovely projects using Little Deer at the following DT links!


Stamps:  Little Deer - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  Dark Chocolate, Rustic Cream - PTI, DP Pyrus Paper Pad Basic Grey
Ink:  Archival Jet Black and Potting Soil
Accessories:  Copics: E37, YR24, YR00, Chocolate Sundae Sequins - My Craft Spot, foam dots, Banner die from A Good Egg Die Set - Waltzingmouse.

Fusion Card Challenge - September 25th

Hurray - it's Thursday!  And time once again for a new Fusion Challenge -  Isn't this a bright and sunny inspiration photo!  I can just feel the warmth -  and that sketch is clean and simple - just the way I like them - so easy to create a card with.
Oddly enough -  I turned this summer flower inspiration into a Thanksgiving card!  And I used the sketch as well - using a slightly larger circle to accommodate my stenciled bloom!
I stenciled the bloom and foliage using Wendy Vecchi's From the Garden stencil inking it with Archival inks, Orange Blossom, Dandelion, Leaf Green and Fern Green.  I die cut the circle with a Nestability and sponged the edges with Ranger Distress Rusty Hinge.  I added the Blossom Bucket Gold Berry flower center to the middle of the bloom.  The two panels are DP from Autumn Abundance - PTI.  I die cut the leaf panel with Stitched Mat Rectangle from Lil' Inker Designs.  The sentiment is from Thanksgiving Wishes - stamped on a stitched banner die - both from Lil' Inker Designs.
I hope you will be inspired to join us in this Fusion Challenge!   Here are links to the Design Team so you can see what they have created!

Stephanie Severin

I'm also linking this to the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge
 I was inspired by the colorful pointed tip bloom.  I stenciled, sponged, and used die cuts.


Stamps:  Thanksgiving Wishes - Lil Inker Designs
Paper:  Rustic White, Terracotta Tile, DP Text Style Autumn Abundance - PTI
Ink:  Archival - Orange Blossom, Dandelion, Leaf Green, Fern Green, Potting Soil; Ranger Distress - Rusty Hinge.
Accessories:  Stencil - From the Garden/Wendy Vecchi Studio 490, dies - Stitched Mat Rectangle and Banner - Lil Inker Designs, Gold Berry Flower Center - Wendy Vecchi Blossom Bucket, foam dots, Mini Blending Tool and non Stick Craft Mat - Ranger.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

CC3 Challenge #10 - Effect Powders

The newest Compendium of Curiosities 3 challenge is from page 52 of Tim's book -  Effect Powders.  We cannot disclose the technique used as the ladies wish you to use your own copy of Tim's book to play along.
For this challenge - I worked on a burlap panel.  I used the technique on some pieces I cut from Grunge Board using Alterations dies - Layered Bee, Arch Frame and Pediments.  I also randomly rubbed some Distress Clear Rock Candy Crackle paint over these pieces.
First, I brushed Gesso over the panel and while it was still wet - I layered a piece of Tissue Wrap Melange over it.  Then I layered on my grunge die cut pieces after using the technique on them.
I added a Word Band looped with Linen Ribbon over the Pediment, an Arrow and Philosopy Tag knotted with Linen Ribbon over the Arch Frame after I rubbed Bundled Sage Distress Paint on them. 
I dabbed the base of the Light Bulb with Bundled Sage Distress Paint and the top of the bulb with Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle.  I added some Chit Chat Stickers on the base and below the bulb. I pushed Memo Pins into the sides of the top of the Burlap Panel and knotted a piece of Trimmings/Naturals/Black Cream through them so I could hang my panel up.
The word band says "reality has limits - imagination is boundless"


This week's challenge is sponsored by the Inspiration Emporium and one lucky entry will will a $50 gift certificate from them!   So get out your Compendium of Curiosities 3 and get creating!  In the meantime you can check out all of the ladies wonderful inspiration here.

I'm also linking this to Darnell's NBUS challenge - the light bulb, bee and Distress Embossing Powders are NBUS items!
and to the Sizzix Challenge which is an inspiration photo -   The Tim dies I used  are all from Sizzix AND I used a light bulb!


Paper:  Grunge,  Tissue Wrap/Melange - Ranger
Ink:  Ranger Embossing Ink, Ranger Distress Walnut Stain
Accessories:  Idea-ology - Burlap Panel, Word Bands, Linen Ribbon, Black Paper String, Adormnents/Arrows, Philosophy Tags, Memeo Pins, Trimmings/Naturals/Black/Cream, Chit Chat Stickers, Light Bulb;  rhinestones - Kaiser Craft, Glue N Seal, Blending tool, Gesso, ScorTape, Ranger Distress Paint Bundled Sage,  Ranger Distress Powders Antique Linen, Faded Jeans, Shabby Shutters, Tattered Rose.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

A Vintage Journey - with a Flourish

I almost missed getting this into the latest A Vintage Journey challenge -  With a Flourish.  Not having any of Tim's flourish stamps or dies - I was going to go with one of his embossing folders I had that had vines on it - thinking that could stand as a flourish -  then my eyes fell on the packaging from a recently opened pack of grunge board - and as Jennie mentioned on her challenge - Tim uses flourishes on many of his packaging boards -  SO.........  I made a tag using it.  Even the color of it works for my Halloween design! (see the flourish?!)
I used several newly acquired items on my tag -  the letters are Alpha Parts/Ransom, the owl, tree and bats are from the Sizzlets die Halloween Shadows
The fence is from the Halloween Shadows die as well - and the spooky gravestones are from the Alterations die - Graveyard.   I cut it out of Stone Wash cardstock and swiped it through a mix of Black Soot, Bundled Sage and Picket Fence Distress Paints spritzed with water. 
I popped the graveyard up on the tag using thick foam dots and added some orange rhinestones
I added one of my favorite little Idea-ology items - the Corked vial.  I labeled it with a Remnant Rub/Apothecary - and filled it with the little black pieces that punched out of the fence die to use as 'bat wings'. 
I ran my Black Soot Distress Paint along the edges of the tag -  the packaging has a shine to it so the paint sort of beaded up as I dabbed it on -  so I hit it with my heat tool and it dried nicely!
Since I used NBUS on this - I'm also linking this to Darnell's challenge:

Paper:  Soft Stone, True Black - PTI,  tag cut from Ranger Packaging.
Accessories:  Ranger Distress Paint - Black Soot, Picket Fence, Bundled Sage, Glossy Accents, Rhinestones - Kaiser, Idea-ology - Alpha Parts/Ransom, Remnant Rubs/Apothecary, Corked Vials, Trimmings Naturals Black/Cream, Jute String, Film Strip Ribbon; Mini Attacher - Ranger, foam tape.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

12 Tags of 2014 - September

I've been playing along with the Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2014 - and here is my tag for Sept.  I used leaves instead of butterflies and a face stamp from Face in the Crowd by Dina Wakley.  I looped some Jute String through the hole in the tag.
I had quite a bit of trouble trying to recreate his technique for the background -  and after 5 tries - this final effort was the best I could get of it.  Here is his tutorial for the tag he created.  You use Alcohol Blending solution on a stencil on Ranger glossy card stock -  then drag the piece through some light colored Alcohol ink squirted on a craft mat - and you are supposed to be able to see the stencil design sort of like a resist. This is Tim's tag below.
 I used the Christmas Stencil (which is words). I thought I might make a Christmas theme tag - but then, since the words didn't really show anyway - I made a fall tag!  You can see a little shadow of letters next to the N in NOTEWORTHY and a few other places but it didn't come out the way his did.  This was the lightest Alcohol Ink I had -  maybe it would have worked better with a lighter ink.
I used Alterations Autumn Gathering die for the leaves.  Per Tim's technique - you color some gloss card stock with several alcohol inks and then die cut the panels.  Then you stamp some of the shapes with a text stamp.  I used  Remnant Rubs Life Quotes for all the sentiments.  
I love how this came out even though I wasn't successful with his technique for the background.

I'm also entering my tag in the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge
 
This is also a reminder that there's still time to join in the September Mixed Media Card Challenge 
the theme is Autumn Colors.


Stamps:  Face in the Crowd - Dina Wakley,  text stamp from Steam Punk - Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz'
Paper:  Black - PTI, Gloss Card Stock - Ranger
Ink:  Archival Jet Black, Adirondack Stonewashed, Butterscotch, Wild Plum and Lettuce Alcohol Inks and Alcohol Blending Solution
Accessories:  Christmas Stencil - Tim Holtz/Ranger,  nonstick craft mat, Remnant Rubs/Life Quotes, Jute String - Idea-ology