Stampscapes Starry Night Card

Another year is at its end and a new year is just around the corner.  Here's hoping for good things for you all in the new year.   I am glad I got to put together a new Stampscapes class this past year.  Hope to do another one this year.  Whatever your year holds, hope stamping and art are a part of it.  I know I am better when pursuing my card making.  But if you are making cards, let me just remind you that it's an activity not just for you, but for others as well.  So once you make those cards, share the joy!  It will brighten to lives of others as well.  I am always happily surprised by folks when they share how much a simple card sent to them brings them so much joy. 

Art Journaling

There was no greater joy than my Art Journaling this year.  This is the place where I try new things and allow myself to be stretched out of my comfort zone.  So much I could share, but moving into Abstract art was no doubt my biggest jump.  And you know what?  It's totally fun!  It has broaden my horizons in ways I never would have guessed.  I hope as you head into this new year you will allow yourself the freedom to try out new things in the art and stamping world.  Enjoy!

Classes are so helpful for growth and change for me.  I made sure this year to make classes a priority.  I then "shared the joy" of what I had learned by using the information in demos, Make It Take Its" and classes of my own.  This was a canvas we did in a class I offered after learning all about Faber Castel items from our rep.  Paste, gelatos, Big Pens, stencils, gesso, and matte medium were all used to create this project.

After the holidays and before the new year, I tend to be reflective of the year that we had.  This year got off to a most significant start for me when I got the phone call that my dad had suddenly passed away.  This card reflects my feelings about that well.  It was made with stencils and some gelli prints, and Dina's stamps.

Die cut Christmas card

Here is the other handmade Christmas card that I mentioned yesterday.  The background was also dry embossed.  The bird is silver and it and the words were die cut.  Such a simple, yet lovely card.  It's always such a pleasure to get a handmade card!

Embossed Christmas card

Hi folks, hope you had a grand day yesterday.  I was happy to get a couple more handmade cards which I wanted to share with you.  Loved how this one was simple, yet so elegant.  Both types of embossing were used.  Then some gem stickers finished off the card so nicely.  Will show the other card tomorrow.

It's almost here!  Hope you and your loved ones have a blessed holiday with many good memories.  This will be the first one without any parents.  We have many happy memories to put a smile on our faces of all the good times we shared with them.  Merry Christmas. 

Hero Arts stamp

This message by Hero Arts was one that caught my eye when I first saw it.  Great for any good occasion and it makes a great message for Christmas.  This is a card I did for a Make It Take It at Angela's Happy Stamper store.  If you want to take a break from all the hustle and bustle do come in to the store today and make it for free!  I love how you can use this card as a "thank you" card as well if you already have all the cards you need for Christmas.

Great Impressions Snowman

Have you received any handmade cards for the holiday?  Here is one I liked.  After it was stamped the snowman was colored in with a white pencil.  Thought it was really nice.  The bunnies were stamped and then popped up. 

Dylusion spay and Stencil Card

Here was a relatively easy card to make but it does involve some time and steps.  Dylusion  colors were sprayed on a wet paper surface and then the stencil was put down and more water was sprayed.  After running a towel over the stencil it was removed and the paper was dried.  The word stamp by Penny Black, was embossed in white in the corner of the card.  It's didn't show up, but a Stardust pen was traced aroud some of the stars to give it some shimmer.  Then it was mounted onto a white card.

Stampendous Christmas Card

A little bit of watercolor and a copic  yellow star finishes off this image.  Simple and nice.

Gelliplate wrapping

Speaking of Gelli plate wrapping (look at yesterday's post) I saw this idea on the gelli website and thought it was worth sharing.  All you need is the mini triangular gelli plate from one of the new sets.  I loved this!

Gelli Plate wrapping paper

Had a fun demo at Angela's Happy Stamper yesterday demo-ing how to use the gelli plate to make wrapping paper.  We took wide strips of the brown paper here and made prints on them.  You can then wrap them around a package.  I also did some printing on newspaper that can be used as wrapping paper.  There was also a long box completely done with printed paper that I left at the shop.  These samples are also at the shop.  Feel free to stop by and see them.

Memory Box Ornament Die #2

If you look at yesterday's post you will see a very similar ornament.  Here is the second one I made amidst my sleepless night.  3D paint was on this paper but here blues and greens were used.  They were surprisingly quick to make. 

Memory Box Ornament die

Had one of those nights the other night when I couldn't sleep.  Doodling seemed a relaxing option!  The paper had already been painted with Viva Décor 3D paint in several colors.  This was run through the die cut machine with the ornament die.  (The ribbon die was made with metallic silver)  Then a fine tip Sharpie was used to create the design.  

Sweetn'Sassy Candle Card

There was a box of Christmas items I found in the basement.  It's always nice when you can find some cards you made but haven't sent from previous years.  This was one of my favorites.  To create the light for the candle two pieces of vellum were used.  One regular and one gold.  The color for the candle was done with Copic markers. 

Christmas Card

This card was started by taking a page from a paper back book and covering it with a green distress ink dauber.  Once dry, the tree was stamped and embossed.  Washi tape was then added to the sides of the card. 

Taylor Expressions Christmas Card

Well I did get to this card today.  Book club is this Friday and I really wanted to make cards for the ladies.  The sides have metallic washi tape on them, and silver mirror paper behind the words.  The card seemed to need some texture so a background stamp by Penny Black worked well.  Rather than highlight any of the words a gem was added to the "o" in "joy". 

Inkadinkado Dedication Card

Well I thought I would be posting Christmas cards I have done.  However, we have not escaped another holiday time without yet another good-bye.  We spent yesterday in PA at the funeral of my sister-in-law's husband.  He was a "salt of the earth" kind of guy.  Always doing for others and a rock to his family and friends.  He will be greatly missed.  He was also a man of great faith who loved God and served him all his life in his every day actions and at his church.  So I have dedicated this card to his memory.  He loved the outdoors so I think he would have liked this card.

Stampscapes Scene

We are busy here getting ready for an Open House.  Now that our renovations are done, it seemed a good time to have folks in.  Lots of baking and cooking being done so not much time for stamping.  Once the big ta-do is done, hope to sit and kick out some new cards.  Till then, enjoy this peaceful stampscapes scene from my Nightscapes class.

Memory Box Christmas Die

More and more I've taken to doing embossed and die cut cards when doing multiples of an image.  It's just so much quicker!  After doing the die cut, red mirror paper was used which shows up nicely through the white paper.  The word die was cut on gold mirror paper. 

Embossed and die cut Card

While at the demo yesterday, Dee also showed us this card.  She embossed metallic paper and then die cut the leaves.  She used black foam under the leaves which were also die cut, to pop them up, A very easy card to do but so striking I had to share it.

Rosie's Roadshow

On Tuesdays at Angela's Happy Stamper, there is a free Demo and chance to make a card.  I stopped by yesterday because Dee was demo-ing the use of thin foam for backing on a card.  It can be used instead of foam tape and gives a more uniform look to the card.  Got to make this cute little card.  Loved it so wanted to share it.

Three Kings Card

Came across an old favorite of mine.  The kings were colored with dry chalk.  Using a glue pen, loose glitter was applied.  With an exacto knife, a fold in the card was created by cutting along the edge of the kings.  You can see the fold at the top of the card.  Once open, you can see the stamped phrase "0 Come let us adore Him".  I try to keep one card each year so I remember what I've sent to folks. It's fun to go through and see what all has been done over the years.

Dreamweaver Poinsettia

Well, the tree is up, the house is decorated, and it's time to tackle cards.  This card was done with a stencil and paste with glitter added while the paste was wet.  Once dry, pearls were added to the center of the flower.  One done.

Photo Transfer

Took time out from Christmas decorating to take advantage of a class by Jen Starr.  She was at Angela's Happy Stamper store on Saturday to teach two classes on photo transfers.  The morning class was so good, I ran out and signed up the afternoon one as well!  This canvas was done in the afternoon class using the amazing 3-D paint by Viva Décor and some photo transfer gel from Viva Décor as well.  Think I finally get how to do the transfers.  Oh happy day!  One of the things I learned is that all matte gel mediums are NOT the same.  She has used many, so when she says the Viva Décor is the best one she's used, I am listening! 

Thanksgiving Card

Here is one of my favorite Thanksgiving cards.  It was done on glossy paper with Marvy markers.  Not many cards done this way anymore.  But I think a good card stands the test of time.  Hope today is a day filled with food, family, friends and fond remembrances of good times and blessings.  This will be our first holiday without any parents so it's a bittersweet one for me.  We have many good memories though, and we are grateful to spend the first Thanksgiving home in 15 years.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Birthday card

Do you stamp alone or with others?  Or do you do both?  I'm getting together today with a group of ladies that meet once a week to stamp together.  I try to join them as often as I can.  I mostly stamp by myself, but I really enjoy getting together with others.  I have found that if I am traveling with my stamping, it's best to pick an activity to work on so I don't take too many supplies.  Today I'm working on birthday cards.  What is it about November that there are so many birthdays this month?

Impression Obsession

We took a walk yesterday around the nearby lake.  It was crisp and cool.  Most of the leaves are off the trees, but there were still a few gloriously colored that really stood out in the sunlight.  This card is a reflection of what we saw.  It was done with colored chalks which I always love because it's so quick, easy, and forgiving.  Chalks also blend well as you can see here.  Hope it's been a lovely a fall where you are as it has been here.

Gelli Print

After printing on a gelli plate, I took some pieces and cut them up and used them on this card.  The stamp was inked with a Versafine pad and showed up nicely as you can see.  Black gems are used in the corner.

Hero Arts Thanksgiving Card

I really like how this card reflects the up coming holiday.  Plain and simple yet nice.  The words and image are all one stamp.  This card shows how much a nice ribbon can add to a card.  The button was glued onto the knot after some waxed thread was added.

Mini Gellis Prints

After class yesterday, Angela was demo-ing how to use the new mini Gelli plates with dye ink pads.  We inked up the round plate with three colors and then stamped it onto the white paper.  Then we took the tree stamp and inked it and stamped over the round image.  Loved it!  I love my Gelli plates and am so happy to know that inks work just as well as paints.

A friend is coming to visit over the weekend.  It's her birthday and we'll get to help her celebrate.  We have known each other since our youth, so this quote seemed very appropriate.  The white part of this card was embossed with an embossing folder and then a dark pad was rubbed over the raised surface.  I thought the colors worked well for a November birthday.

Art Journaling

Got a new set I've been waiting on at the store yesterday.  Can't wait to use it, but first I need to get ready for my Art Journaling class at the store on Tuesday.  If you haven't signed up, there is still room.  Just call the store (Angela's Happy Stamper).  This page was fun to make and there is lots of textures. 

Sea Card

I'm back from my vacation and as you can see, I'm having a hard time letting go of the warm waters we were in.  This card captured some of the colors of the waters and made a great background for the image.  Have to gear up quickly since I'm teaching a class tomorrow though.  Have to get off island time.

On vacation

Much to my husband's delight, we are off for a little adventure to a warm and sandy place.  This is his big vacation for the year and I'm happy to be able to join him for some R&R.  Will be back in a week. 

Thanksgiving Card

Had an odd experience.  A relative of mine was moving recently, and cleaning out her house.  She came to me with a big bag.  In it was all the cards I had sent her over the years.   She thought I might want them back.  It was an interesting journey through time to see what all I had sent.  This was definitely one of my favorites.  The front of the card opens around the edge of the maiden and reveals the message.  An actual feather is glued on the front.  The image is colored with Copics.

Memory Box Embossed Card

On Tuesdays there is a free demo at Angela's Happy Stamper store.  This new stamp by Memory Box was used to demo how to take a variety of embossing powders and use them together on a card.  (One at a time!)  I loved this card so I went in to the demo on Tuesday and made one to use as a Thanksgiving day card.  It's so easy since it was all one stamp!

Fall Garland

I love fall.  It's very apparent when you see my paper stash.  The abundance of fall papers filled a whole 12X12 container.  I made some use of those fall papers by making this fall garland.  The leaves and acorns were traced onto the paper from a stencil and then cut out.  The edges of each item were then sponged with a dark brown dye.  A clear adhesive worked for gluing them to the ribbon.  Ready to decorate!

Paper Leaf tree

Still using up fall paper!  In this project, leaves were drawn on the paper and cut out and taped to wire.(Two paper pieces are back to back so the wire doesn't show.)  The wire was wrapped around several wire stems stuck in the base.  The base is foam core covered with burlap.  Put all this into a glass tea light cup and tied some raffia around it. 

Dreamweaver Pumpkin Stencil

Here is a variation of the pumpkin stencil done on yesterday's card.  The layout is basically the same.  Just a paper change.  The word here is a die by Hero Arts.  The pumpkin this time was created with Ferro orange paste rather than the crackle paste.  A little shading was added at the top with a metallic Pan Pastel Gold.   I stretched myself by using brighter colors on this card.  Do think it worked out well.

Dreamweaver Pumpkin

Happy November!  I love doing Thanksgiving cards so I'm thrilled to be able to focus on the season.  The card here was done with crackle paste spread over a pumpkin stencil.  I didn't do a base coat first of regular paste, so the paper crinkled up quite a bit.  Loads of foam tape underneath helped to keep it firm in place.  The words are by Rubbermoon and were heat embossed with an orange pearlized embossing powder.  The leaves are a type of silk ribbon that was cut apart and glued on.  Will show a variation of this stencil card tomorrow.

Halloween Card

For  this holiday card I went back in my files to find a favorite card to share from a yester year.  Don't you just love these little jack-o-lantern bells?  Hope it's a fun and safe day for you all.

Apple Bag

Had some fun the other night with a lovely group of ladies.  Took and idea I saw on Pinterest to make a new grocery bag.  We cut up apples two ways.  One way was crosswise, and one way was straight down the middle of an apple.  We painted one half one color, and the other the second color. Each time we stamped we repainted before stamping again.  I particularly liked how my friend's bag turned out here.  One thing we found out quickly, less is more when using the paint.  It also is good to line the bag so the paint doesn't go through to the back side.  All in all, quick, easy, and fun!

Stampendous Harvest Wishes

I really liked this stamp that fits for anytime all fall.  It was stamped on cream paper and colored in with Copic pens.  Then it was cut and added to the printed paper.  A few sequins finished off the card.

Viva Decor Inka Gold

This started out to be a leaf print, but I didn't like the print.  So I just pressed the leaf in some spots of paint, added some Inka Gold  and attached it to the text with a lot of foam tape.  The frame was a very bright green, so it was toned down with some Inka Gold Bronze rubbed over it.  A nice, seasonal decoration.

Art Journal Entry

This is the journal page for our November class.  Sometimes things come quickly, and sometimes it takes a while to get a good page.  This one took a while, but the results were worth it.  We'll be using stamps, embossing folders, and Viva Decor's 3D paint.  And lots of tags! 

Felt

One of the latest fads to invade us is felt.  The nice thing about it is that you can die cut the felt.  It's flat enough to use on cards with glue.  However, I took some of my felt and made air freshners out of them.  The pumpkin here is die cut.  A slip stitch was used to put the pieces together after doing a regular stich to make the lines down the pumpkin.  The owl was made by hand by me, but the white and black pieces were die cut.

Glitter paste

Viva Décor has many glitter pastes.  This one is red and has a lot more fire when you see this in person.  Their glitter paste over all has lots of sparkle and shine and spreads well.