The Best

This was a good opportunity to use a wonderful stitched frame die that I got on the cheap from Amazon . . .

The delightful little butterflies came from the same source.  In addition to my 'stenciling with stencil paste addiction' of late, I am also drawn once again to spattering.  I absolutely love how it grounds an image (or a die cut) and makes a great transition/connection to its background. 

My favorite tool to use is a Kemper Spatter Brush - available practically everywhere - and my most-used medium is gesso:  I thin it with water only slightly; this results in spatters that are raised, providing some nice texture. I use a cut down cardboard box with one open end as a spray booth and this contains any potential mess beautifully.  A quick rinse right after spattering is all you need to keep things ship shape.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Purple, Strathmore Soft White, Generic scraps Black

Stamps:       Judikins Origami Background, All Night Media Foxglove, Simon

                       Says Tilted Banner Sayings: “Wishing you the best”

Inks:            Distress Mowed Lawn, Dusty Concord, Chipped Sapphire,

                       ColorBox Black

Watercolors:   Lyra Aquacolor Crayons 13067, 13074, 13037, 13048

Emb Powder:   Judikins Detail Black

Dies:            White Lotus Metal Frame, Simon Says Tilted Banners,  

                       Butterflies from the We-Buys Cute Chrysanthemum Set

Punches:     Various leaf shapes by Family Treasures, Punch Bunch

Doo Dads:    Studio Gesso Black

All Animals Go To Heaven

When my dear friend Anna's dog Zack died of complications from a long-dormant case of Lyme Disease, this was the card I sent her . . .

Zack was a great big lovely mooshy dog - a dear friend and worthy companion, and he will be deeply missed.

Cardstock:   Gilbert Oxford Path, Generic scraps Black

Stamps:       The Creative Mode Golden Retriever Paw Print, Our Daily Bread 

                        “All animals go to heaven . . .”

Inks:            Bob Ross Gesso Black

Emb Powder:   Distress Black Soot

Dies:            Memory Box Stitched Rectangle Trimmings, Lil Inker 

                          Stitched Mats: Dual Stitched Rectangles, Tim Holtz 

                          Crazy Things (hearts)

On Your Anniversary

Time for more fun with some of those wonderful dried dye ink powders . . .

When I first started stamping in 2000, I wouldn't have enjoyed working with a medium as uncontrolled as these powders.  Not knowing exactly what I was going to get would have spooked me.  Thankfully, I've tossed away such inhibiting restraints and I now gravitate towards all manner of dye powders and sprays.  It's an adventure to apply these and have no idea at all how they'll turn out:  and loving the results regardless!

Cardstock:   Gilbert Oxford Path, The Paper Cut Watercolor paper

Stamps:        Impression Obsession “On your Anniversary”, B&J’s Art

                           Stamps Dot Texture Medium

Inks:               VersaFine Majestic Blue

Colorants:    Ken Oliver Color Burst Merlot, Yellow Ochre, Indigo, Liquid

                           Metals Yellow Gold

Emb Powder:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:              Memory Box Stitched Rectangle Trimmings, Vivienne/Darla,

                        Pippi/Isabella butterflies, DieNamics Stitched Mini Scallop

                        Rectangle

Stencil:          Tim Holtz Speckles

Doo Dads:    Suze Weinberg paste Whipped Paper

Celebrate

After a boatload of heavy snow and dreary skies last week, it's time for some 

cheery wildflowers . . .

I don't really know what the green speckle-pasted background is supposed to represent:  I just liked the color and the texture . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Leapfrog, The Paper Cut Watercolor paper, Generic

                           Textured White, Black

Stamps:        Printworks “Celebrate”

Inks:               Distress Barn Door, Carved Pumpkin, Mustard Seed,

                           Shabby Shutters, ColorBox Black

Emb Powder:   Judikins Detail Black

Dies:              DieNamics Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle, Tim Holtz

                           Wildflowers, Memory Box Stitched Rectangle Trimmings,

                           We-Buys:  Three insects from the Cute Chrysanthemum set

Stencil:          Tim Holtz Speckles

Doo Dads:    Delta Texture Magic embossing paste Spring Green 

Love

I fell in love with these feathery wings just two weeks ago and thought that Valentine's Day was the perfect time to take them on their maiden flight . . .

The red stencil paste worked well with Tim's Doily stencil and all of the details in his intricate design came out beautifully.  

Bear with me, folks – still hooked on stenciling!

Cardstock    Neenah Dessert Storm, Bazzill Maraschino

Stamps:        Wordsworth “Love Love Love”, Will ‘n Way “XOXO”, Moon 

                            Rose “Love”

Inks:               VersaMark, Distress Brushed Corduroy

Emb Powder:   PSX Woven Tapestry

Dies:              Cheery Lynn Steampunk Wings, Spellbinders Hearts Two

Emb Folder: Spellbinders Bricks and Bark      

Stencil:          Tim Holtz Doily

Doo Dads:    Delta Texture Magic Dimensional Paint Country Red

Happy Birthday

Dried die ink powders always beckon to me due to their ease of use, their vibrant colors, and the excitement of never knowing exactly what you're going 

to get . . .

Am also very happy with the chicken wire background:  the minimal amount of embossing paste used meant that it dried very quickly which suits my impatient nature just fine.  The wiry pattern gives a delicate, airy look to the rather emphatic background and overall, I am pleased with the results . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Kachina, Tim Holtz Watercolor paper, Generic

                           Textured White

Stamps:        Flower sprig from Hero Frames with Sprigs,  Stampendous

                           “Happy Birthday”, B&J’s Art Stamps Dot Texture Medium

Inks:               Distress Peacock Feathers, ColorBox Frost White

Colorants:    Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical Luscious Lime, Urban Amethyst,

                           Tibetan Poppy Teal, Bachelor Button Blue

Emb Powder:   Vippies Transcendence, Sweet Stamps Fine Detail White

Dies:              Impression Obsession All-In-One Frames Rectangles Two,

                           Mama Elephant Peek A Frame, Hero Frames with Sprigs,

                           Memory Box butterflies Pippi, Isabella, Grove Tree

Stencil:          The Crafters Workshop Mini Chicken Wire Reversed

Doo Dads:    Suze Weinberg Embossing Paste Whipped Paper

Celebrate

This layout features a wonderful new source for truly inexpensive dies . . .

I found this chrysanthemum die on Amazon and it cost me a whopping $3!  The set includes the flower and the three tiny insect dies – perfect for small layouts.  This is one of several sets I ordered with a price range of $3-$5.  The performance reviews are excellent; each set cuts beautifully and I see no difference at all between these and the far pricier sets that are out there. 

To find these, go on Amazon and Search for "Craft Dies".  These inexpensive ones are salted throughout the pages that come up . . . enjoy the hunt!

Cardstock:   Generic Textured Pale Green, White

Stamps:        Printworks “Celebrate”

Inks:               VersaFine Olympia Green

Emb Powder:   Vippies Transcendence

Colorants:    Zig Clean Color Mid-Green, Pale Pink, Inktense Red Oxide

Dies:              DieNamics Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle, We-Buys Cute                                      Chrysanthemum, Spellbinders Framed Tags One

Stencil:          Tim Holtz Burlap

Doo Dads:    Delta  Texture Magic Green Whisper, Wink of Stella Clear,

                           American Crafts jute Green

Life

This one utilizes two of my favorite stamping toys:  stencils with stencil paste, and dried dye ink powders . . .

I used the dye powders on the background first, misted with water and then heat dried them.  Then I stenciled with the paste and let dry.  But I got a little surprise I hadn't anticipated:  as the dye powders are not permanent, they reactivated with the wet stencil paste which wicked up the colors.  While this might be a look I might go for on other layouts, it didn't work for this one:  the white text was no longer white and clearly looked like the mistake it was – so I traced over the letters with a white Sharpie marker in order to get back the crisp contrast I was after.  Quick fix!

Next time, I plan to spray the colored powders with a workable fixative before I stencil.

Cardstock:   Stedner Bright White, Tim Holtz Watercolor paper

Stamps:        Red Rubber “Life has got to be lived . . .”

Inks:               Sharpie pen White, Wink of Stella Clear, ColorBox Black

Colorants:    Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magicals Poppin’ Pink, Hag’s Wart

                           Orange, Mango Mania, Yellow Rose of Texas, Bonjour

                           Butter, Freaky Franken-Lime, Bachelor Button Blue, Urban

                           Amethyst, Witch’s Potion Purple

Emb Powder:   Judikins Detail Black

Dies:              Lil Inkers Stitched Mats Rectangles, Memory Box Fresh

                           Daisies, My Favorite Things In & Out Stitched Rounded

                           Squares

Stencil:          Stampers Anonymous Artful Words

Doo Dads:    Fanci Kwik Stencil Paste White, HyGlo Deco Eyelet Gold,

                          Black carpet thread