Monday, February 27, 2017

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


Thursday, February 23, 2017

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)

Monday, February 20, 2017

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

Thursday, February 16, 2017

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 

Monday, February 13, 2017

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

Thursday, February 9, 2017

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

Monday, February 6, 2017

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


Thursday, February 2, 2017

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