Stampscapes Scenic Route

As we head into a new year, thought this card offers some good advice for how to plan for what's ahead.  Life sure offers us so many choices and it's good to remember we can choose what direction we travel.  Hope that includes some stamping this year.  I've been busy but am definately getting the "itch" to get back into my stamp room and get back to trying out new ideas.  This card was made with Stampscapes stamps and inks from ink pads.  Stampscapes is coming out with some brand new images so that's good news for those who enjoy the lovely scenes you can make with these stamps.

Good Wishes

We had a full and busy day yesterday.  Hoping you had a great Christmas.  It's a world of white around here.  We are safe at home and having a lovely day of rest!  Not sure I'll get to any stamping today, but I'll post something new soon.  For now, enjoy one last look back at one of the cards from Christmas past.

Stampendous Christmas card

  This certainly seemed like the right card to share on the day that Jesus was born.  The image was stamped in black and then the background was watercolored in blue.  The star was filled in with a yellow marker.  Hope you have a lovely day and can share in the joy of knowing God has given us the gift of Himself in Jesus.  It's a great day to go find a Bible and read of this incredable story.  Merry Christmas!

Three Kings

Well, we're coming up to the big day very quickly.  So, it seemed right to post this 3 Kings card since they were travelling towards the birth of Jesus as well.  This image was stamped in black and the colored in with dry chalk.  Then a two way glue pen went over numerous spots to create a tacky surface.  Then loose glitter was poured over the glue.  Creates a lovely sparkle.  Then with an exacto knife the image was spliced along the outline of the kings.  This enabled the card to be folded along the edge of the kings and covers up an inside message the says, "They followed the star". 

La Blanche New Year Card

This was the last Make It Take It card we did at Angela's Happy Stamper Store.  So, even though it's right before Christmas, it seemed a good card to end the year on at the store.  The stamp is by La Blanche and was stamped with a Pearlized Crimson pad by Brillance.  The clockworks is an embossing folder by Tim Holtz and had a Platinum Planet Brillance pad rubbed over the raised areas.  The words were stamped in black and slid into the watch with the help of a slit made with an exacto knife.  I always like making a few New Year cards this time of year for anyone I didn't quite get a Christmas card  sent to in time. 

Stampscapes Church

This is one of my favorite Christmas cards.  We did this as a Make It Take It at the store last year.  It's very easy to do.  The church was stamped in blue on a white paper and then an oval punch centered the picture in the hole and was punched out.  A sponge application tool sponged more blue around the image.  This was then mounted onto the white piece which was die cut and run again through the Cuttle but to embosse the edges.  Words at the bottom were done with Versa Fine Blue.  The star was also die cut and a dot of irridescent glitter added to the middle of the star.

Memory Box Ballerina

Memory Box put out dies this year to go with the Twelve Days of Christmas.  This is one of the "Ladies Dancing".  There are some wonderful cards using this die and the additional die that comes with it that creates her dress.  I used just the basic die here to create a shilloute and mounted it onto the new snowflake paper Memory Box just brought out.  The words are one stamp and were inked in embossing powder that matched perfectly with the paper.

Impression Obsession Jingle Card

Another blast from the past.  The nice thing about IO is that they don't discontinue old images.  So, if you like this, it's still available.  Words and image both came from IO.  The image was stamped in black and set to dry.  Using a resevoir brush, a wet base was laid down.  Then the water color paint was added.  The ribbon on the bell was colored in with a water color marker.  Then let dry and it was mounted onto the paper and the ribbon added last.

Embossed Poisettias by Paper Ispiration

Can you tell I've been into my embossing powder stash?  It takes a little more time to do embossing powders which is why I periodically have to remind myself to go pull them out and use them.  Always worth the effort.  One poinsetta was used on this card.  It was reinked 3 times with the Versmark pad and then the white embossing powder was poured over them was well as the edges of the card.  Words are inked with a blue Versfine pad onto a white card.  All stamps are by Paper Inspiration.

Liquid Applique Card

Am sending this card to my dad.  Thought it would put a smile on his face.  He was always a good caregiver of his home.  The chimney by A Muse was colored with Copic markers.  Then some liquid applique was added to the snow.   A heat gun cooked the applique while wet and caused it to bubble.  Some loose glitter was sprinkled over the applique then, and it stuck to the surface.  Words were inked in black Momento.

Coffee Tree

My Starbucks people know me so well that when I walk in the store they start making my drink without me having to ask.  I try to give a card each Christmas as a show of appreciation.  This Impression Obsession image seemed perfect.  It was inked in a dark green and then colored in with dry chalks.  Words are by Memory Box.  

Glittery Embossed Tree

Took a tried and true Judikins tree and embossed it with pink embossing powder.  Reinked the tree and embossed it a second time with a light green embossing powder.  Cut out both trees and intermixed the colors to make this one image.  The pieces were mounted with foam tape to the metallic silver paper.  Clear gems were added to the dots on the tree.  All this was mounted to metallic pink paper, and then onto the green Memory Box card.  Words are by Hero Arts and were inked with a silver ColorBox.

Embossing Powder/ Spray Stencil Card

It may be a bit hard to see, but a stencil was placed on the card and spritzed over with a pewter spray.
Once it was dry, this Inkadinkado image was stamped on top with a pigment blue ink.  The stamp was placed with a stamp positioner.  The image was then reinked with a Versamark pad and stamped again.  Then irridescent embossing powder went over the whole image and was heat set.  The words are by Memory Box.  They were inked with Versafine blue ink.  This was mounted onto silver paper and then onto a dark blue card. 

Masked Angel

An oldie but goodie today.  This card was made with one stamp and a whole lot of masking!  Can you tell which one I started with?  It's the one in the center at the bottom of the card.  She is the whole image.  After inking her, I reinked each time and stamped once the mask was over the previous image.  Not hard, and really didn't take that much time.  Once all the images were done, I highlighted the images with a fine metallic pen.  Then took a two way pen over some of the areas and added loose glitter.  The edge was cut along the wings and attached to a dark blue card. 

Holiday Card

Hmmm, it's escaping me who makes this paper, but isn't it great?  Just cut and mount.  The words are by Memory Box.  A piece of satin ribbon was wrapped around the bottom.  Nice, quick card.  Just what we need at this point in time.

Art Impressions Copic Card

As I've been wrapping gifts to mail, I've been missing some of my friends.  I loved doing this card because this stamp makes me think of all the fun times I've had with my "buds".  The more I colored, the more I just wanted to get all my chums together and have a sleep over.  Who doesn't need a night of good laughs?  Just looking at this card makes me smile.

All coloring was done with Copic markers.  The bottom of the card was scored three times.  A green Marvy circle punch was used on the pink.  No need for any word stamps.  The image says it all.

Thank you Card

Had  another one of those nights where I woke up wide eyed as a hootie owl at 3 am.  Thanks goodness for stamping!  Got up and worked out my energy by making a few cards.  Still filling my "thank you" stash.  Used some printed paper that has a sheen to it as you can see at the top of the card.  Punched out two circles the same size and then trimmed off the bottoms and layered them onto the card.  Added gems and a row of black lace.  Words are stamped in black dye ink.

Christmas Past Card

Another post today of a Christmas card from a past season.  This is all one stamp.  It was inked in black and then colored in with dry chalks.  Red brads are placed in the corners.  Chalk always makes for a quick color choice, and is forgiving since it can be changed with an art eraser.

Thanks

Took some left over parts from one of the" Make It Take Its" at the store and combined them with this "Thanks" tag.  The green piece was embossed with an embossing folder.  The other pieces were punched out.  Added a green paper flower and a felt flower sticker and a black brad to secure the flowers.  A white pen was used to add the white dots to the black circle.  Black and white twine was threaded through the tag.

IO Die Cut Tree Variation

Yesterday this tree was posted.  It was done on mirrored paper.  Today it was done on preprinted paper.  The star at the top was colored in with  a gold metallic pen.  The oval is gold metallic paper,  the dotted paper was embossed and then an "Old Paper" distress ink was sponged over the raised parts.  The words are by Hero Arts and are inked with a Color Box metallic gold pad.

Impression Obsession Die cut Tree

A sleek and simple card here for the holidays.  The tree is made with blue mirror paper and is a die cut from IO.  The white dots were made with an embossing folder by Cuttle Bug.  The oval is a punch by Marvy and done on metallic gray Bazzill paper.  The ribbon is a metallic material.  Base card is a Memory Box gray.   You could easily switch out the ribbon for a saying if you want words on the front of your card.

Word Tree

This word tree is one I sent a couple of years ago.  It's all one stamp inked in a Versafine green.  the color was added with self adhesive gems.  Then a Krylon outlined the gold edge around the white card. 

Stampscapes River Mist Card

Am showing a card from my Intro to Stampscapes class.  This card uses only 3 stamps, but uses two of them multiple times.  Color was added with a stylis tool.  Once all the color is down,  mist is applied with white pigment ink.  The ink is added slowly with time to dry  in between applications.

Rubber Tapestry Joy

Thought I'd share some previous Christmas cards through out the month.  Here's one I sent out a while ago.  The word is one stamp and then the berries and leaves are small peg stamps that you fill in where you want them.  It was a pretty labor intensive card.  The background was another stamped image, and as you can see, lots of layers.  The velvet ribbon stretched enough red tape was needed to keep it in place on the card.  Hard to see, but a little bit of red glitter glue was added to the red berries. 

Dreamweaver Crackle Paste Poinsettia

Here is one of the samples I'll be showing today at the demo on stencils and paste.  Stop by and see how to do this poinsettia.  Besides the pastes, used some dye base red inks to color in the flower and then added gold glitter glue to the center and along the lines of the petals.  The word is from a clear set by Technique Tuesday.  The demo will by at Angela's Happy Stamper store from 12-2.

Dreamweaver Koi

Spent the day getting ready for the demo I'll be doing on Tuesday at Angela's Happy Stamper store.  We have so many folks asking about the embossing paste I'm doing a recap of my demo from the Open House we did in September.  This card also uses red embossing powder as well as gold paste. I'll be showing some examples of the use of paste and embossing powders together as well as the use of paste and Perfect Pearls.  Come join us during 12-2 on Tuesday to see the many ways you can use paste and stencils together.

Hero Arts Thankful Stamp

When I made my friend's birthday card recently with this stamp, I stamped out extra images.  Put one of them to work here.  The torn edges and the edges of the printed paper were sponged with "Creamy Brown" by Color Box.   Some material tape was placed between the paper and the punched out strip at the bottom of the printed paper.  The punch is by Fiskars.  A butterfly pin was stuck into the foam tape behind the words.  Got an extra day at home this weekend.  That is rare for me and I'm very thankful for that.  Got the stamp room straightend up a bit, and was able to get ready for a demo I'm doing on Tuesday at Angela's Happy Stamper Store.  Will show some of my samples soon.

Memory Box Die Cut Card

We got in some great Holiday paper from SEI.  It was paired up here with some gold metallic paper and layered onto a Memory Box brown card.  The rosette die was used and then a small star punch made the center image.  Inside it says, "A star led the way" by Impressions Obsessions.

HoneyPop Birthday Card

Still working on December birthdays.  This is a card I did for my sister-in-law.  The printed paper on the front was also used inside-it was just on the reverse side of the print.  Copics added color to the images.  A red smooth gem was added to the top of the cake.  This is a clear set by Inky Antics.

Zentangle Pear

Things were a little quiet in the store yesterday.  So I used the time to take a Dreamweaver stencil and create a Zentangle.  Once I was done with the free hand design, color was added with Copic markers.  The background was made with a long stamp from Savvy inked with a dark brown.  Felt brown brads were added at the bottom.

Sympathy Card

Memory Box was a big help with this sympathy card.  The printed paper was added and then the words by Hero Arts were stamped in gray onto a cream card.  Once stamped out, extra purple was sponged around the edges.  The ribbon goes around the card and ended near the middle of the card.  It is held on with red line tape.  The leaves are pressed and have words printed on two of them.  I like to keep sympathy cards streamlined.

Memory Box Thank You

Getting Christmas cards ready and buying presents reminded me I'll be needing some "thank you" cards very quickly after the holidays.  Found some left over Christmas paper by Memory Box and I ran it through the Cuttlebug.  After stamping the words in black on white paper, a hole was punched and red ribbon was knotted on the side.  This was attached with foam tape to the card. 

Printworks Birthday Truck

Well I guess my willingness to add more color to my cards has reached new hights with this card.  The bed of the truck is filled with cupcakes by Hero Arts.  They were colored in with Copics and glitter was added with the help of a two way glue pen. The truck was inked with a black pad and cut out and attached with the help of foam tape.  The all white flowers were colored with dye inks.    Yellow brads were used in the center holes of the flowers. Next, they were added to felt green sticker flowers.

Cat's Life Press Birthday Bunny

Feel bad for my friends who have birthdays in December.  It's easy to forget about birthdays with all the bustle and focus on holidays.  So I'm working on cards now before it gets too busy.  The backgound to this card is actually an Impression Obsession stamp.  It was inked in a darker pink than the paper.  The bunny, cake, and words are colored with Copic markes.  Dots of stickles were added to the flames.  Extra pink was sponged around the edges of the circle. 

Embossed PSX Christmas Card

Ok, now on to Christmas!  We'll be home decorating the house this weekend. Thought this house card was a good reminder of my mantra, "Simple is good" as some of you are  figuring out what to make for Christmas cards.  This is all one stamp that was inked with Versamark and then white embossing powder was added.  The top layer was cut a little shorter than the back of the card and a layer of red was added.  Red Stickles was dotted onto the wreaths and allow time to dry.  A star brad was added above the house.

Dreamweaver Crackle Paste Thanksgiving Card

Well it's here!  My favorite day of the year.  Hope you all have a day to be thankful for all your blessings. Here's a card wishing you many more blessings!  We'll be celebrating with our folks and with any luck, I'll get a chance to watch some of the parades.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Hero Arts Thankful Moments

A friend has a November birthday so this stamp by Hero Arts seemed fitting.  It was inked onto cream paper wth a Color Box "Chanti" pad.  Then "Tea Dye" Distress ink was sponged on top.
The ribbon is by Stampn' Up! and was origionally white and red.  It was stained with a Distress "Tumble Glass" blue and then Hero Arts "Sand".  It was gathered with a brass brad which was glued onto the card with white glue.  The two corners are from a punch by Stampn'UP!

Outlines Sympathy Card

Center on center long cards are not what I usually do, but the words were the driving force for this card.  The words were inked in black on light paper and then pink was sponged over it.  A Copic marker was used to color the edge in gray.  Memory Box printed paper is under the words, and an EKsuccess punch was used on a light gray paper.  Everything went onto a dark gray Memory Box paper.

Twinks Hero Flower Card

Used to do this card for my Techniques class.  Sadly, Hero Arts discontinued the stamp.  The flower was a great way to show off  how nicely Twinkling H20's look when you color them onto a stamp.  Went with another company that carries stamps they don't discontinue.  Oh well.  The dragonfly is by Magenta and the words are by Verses.

Big Thanks

This was a quick and easy card.  Had this square of printed paper all ready cut.  The stamp fit perfectly above it.  Added bright colors to complete the card.  Am enjoying stretching myself with the use of more color contrast on cards than I normally would pick.  Am finding it's hard to go wrong with bright and cheerful.

Graphic 45 Car Card

Here's another "Dad" card.  I keep all my Graphic 45 paper together so when I go to make a card all their paper is handy to mix and match.  Added a couple of brads to the highway sign.  The striped background paper is by Canvas Corps.

Embossing Paste Thank You

Used the copper metallic embossing paste on this Dreamweaver template to create the "Thank you".  Then layered it onto Graphic 45 Asian paper.  The flowers were inked with black Versa Fine and stamped onto cream paper that had been colored with one of the Distress Daubers. Two small black gems were placed in between the flowers. 

Printworks Truck

There are lots of truck stamps out there, but this one from Printworks is one of my favorites.  The focus is on the back bed and is big enough to fill the front of a card.  Picked pumpkins to fill in the bed of the truck since it fit in so well with Thanksgiving.  The saying is also by Printworks and goes perfectly with the truck.  By inking the truck in black and stamping on brown paper I didn't need to do much coloring.  Did use a colored pencil just to add a few high lights.  No need to color the pumpkins since they were stamped on orange paper.  Used an exacto knife to cut some space for the pumpkins and then just slid them in.  As the card says, loads of fun!

Graphic 45 Card

Here's another card done with the Asian theme paper.  I love doing blank cards with Graphic 45 paper so when an occasion arrives I can fill in an appropriate quote.  Added some paper flowers by Petaloo to the one corner.  Otherwise, it's all from the Asian paper.

Hero Arts Peace Card

Sooooo, not to be causing any stress, but how are your holiday cards going?  We did this one last week as a Make It Take It at Angela's Happy Stamper store.  A relatively simple card which at this point- is a really good way to go.  All the pieces here are from two clear sets.  Just used one Momento pad and a little bit of blue paper and you are done.  It's turned rather cold here so this card seems really appropriate to be working on right now.  Hope you all are keeping warm. 

Gratitude Card

You know those cards you make and then you look at them and think- really?  You're just not sure if it's one you like.  This is that card for me.  I was following a template from Splitcoast Stampers and using paper from the same line, but then I got done and... -it just didn't seem to hit me well.  Got some suggestions?  Feel free to comment.

Graphic 45 Thank You

Have you seen the new Asian line by Graphic 45?  It's lovely.  Mixed some of the papers here to make a "Thank You" card.  Added some black gems once done.  Think this is "girly" enough my husband won't steal it when he needs a "thank you" card. 

Simplicity Thank You

A couple of days ago a card was posted that was inspired from a card shown on the "Simplicity" blog.  I had added a few things to it.  Today I'm showing the card more in keeping to the one that was the inspiration.  The one difference here is the use of the brown paper rather than white.  It definately gives it a very modern feel.  Will definately be doing more of these for "thank you" cards.  Quick, easy, and looks great.  My husband has been pilfering my stash of cards, and I think these will be ones he'll want to use.

Hero Arts Fall Card

We do a similar card to this in my Techniques I class.  It shows how to brayer onto glossy paper and how to create a mask and reverse mask.  Kalidacolor "Melon Melody" was brayed onto this paper over the circle mask.  Then a reverse mask is placed over the card and yellow is sponged onto the sun with a round sponge which creates the textured look.  The Hero grass stamp was next.  Then the Stampscapes birds stamp was used.  It was inked twice.  The word "Fly" is by Impression Obsession.