Believe in yourself!

Here's a tag that I finished up this morning:

The gold!!!

Supplies:

• Ranger Distress tag embossed with Tim's Roses EF
• Inked with Color Bursts in Chartreuse, Orchid, and Fuchsia (this is a fave combo of mine...)
• DecoArt Metallic Lustre in Gold Rush rubbed all over the raised portion with my finger
• The wildflower (die by Tim, set 1 I believe) was cut from a scrap of deep blue/indigo paper and embossed with a smidge of blue Stampendous EP
• (This morning) I added the quotation (by Tim) with a little added Glossy Accents to ensure it sticks to the embossed paper
• (This morning) The bow is made from vintage seam binding.  I roughed it up by spraying it with a mix of Perfect Pearls and heating it thoroughly in a little teacup!  I affixed it by pinning it with one of Tim's Ideaology pins.

I'll give this to a teacher this week... they are all ready for state testing, but some of them get anxious.  But they are awesome!

I'll share this glorious tag at the following places:

• Make My Monday: Wet or dry embossing (there is both here!)
• Simon Says Stamp on Wednesday: Anything Goes (my 4th for this challenge...)
• Cupcake Inspirations:
  

Whaley good birthday...

Made this for a coworker who is obsessed with orcas:

Again I say: shimmer and sparkle is the craft-blogger's nemesis!  This just does not do the gloriousness justice!

Supplies:

• I painted the killer whale with Shaded Lilac and Wilted Violet DOx
• The background was painted with Salty Ocean (duh...) DOx
• The sentiment was brushed on using Finetec gold... I believe it was the Inca Gold
• The glitter was given to me recently by a friend who was cleaning out her daughter's room (grown daughter who had moved out long ago!)... so it looks to be a bottle from the 1980s or 1990s, and there is just a little left, but it is beautiful!  I added it with Glossy Accents.

I'd like to share this at the following challenges:

• Time Out: 

  

  When I looked up orcas to see how to draw them, there were all kinds of wild pictures of them (as well as the captivity pictures...).  I prefer the WILD!!!  

• Seize the Birthday: 
  
• Simon Says Stamp on Wednesday: Anything Goes (... this is my 3rd entry for this challenge...)

Christmas tag, no stamping

Was inspired by the current challenge at Merry Monday, and even managed to make the project appropriate for Jingle Belies!  Made this entirely this morning--often I work in pieces and finish things up as inspiration strikes, and in the interest of time-efficiency.  Not this one!  All in a moment of holiday inspiration!

I wanted to show the cool twine from my stash-- kept from a gift.  Normally, I might not keep red and white twine (ummm, 'cuz I have plenty...), but you can see the comparison above-- this stuff was kept because it is so nice and thick!

Supplies:

• I scribbled Picket Fence Distress Crayon on a Distress tag, then (tried) to coat it with Distress Stain in Broken China.  Well, the crayon resisted as I'd hoped, but the stain pad was getting "gunky" from the crayon, so I kind of just dabbed it around and then sprayed with water.
• After that, I went through a couple iterations of spritz-dry, which is how the awesome snowy scene was made!
• The car is a sticker from Carta Bella from last year
• The ground was cut using Tim's Home For The Holidays die set for the first time, as was the sentiment, both cut from scraps.
• The golden "snowflakes" are actually from a Fiskars flower stamen punch, but they look like retro little snowflakes to me!
• The twine was kept from a gift.

I'll share this tag with the following challenges:

• Jingle Belles: Recycle something (the twine was kept from a gift because of the quality of it-- something only us crafters could appreciate!)
• Merry Monday: 
  
• Watercooler Wednesday:
  

Rise Above

These words will be my mantra this week as state testing begins!

Click for even better inky goodness!

I just tried to show how shimmery the tag actually is... sparkle is the craft-blogger's nemesis! 

Supplies:

• Ranger Distress tag stamped with Inkadinkado stamps purchased over the weekend.  These are supposed to be used with some sort of "Stamping Gear" kit that allows you to arrange the stamps in an organized fashion, but I will be seeking no such kit.  Had a great time with them just on an acrylic block!
• I inked the stamps with DOx in Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers, Seedless Preserves, and Spiced Marmalade.
• After I heat-set the ink, I use a water brush to blend the DOx.  This was fun to do and looked neat, but it was a little *too neat* for me.  I used my mix of Perfect Pearls and did multiple rounds of spray-dry-spray-dry for the wonderful inky effect we have now.
• The Inkadinkado butterfly stamp was then added all over with Ranger Archival in Jet Black
• I added Tim's quotation to the center and topped it off with some vintage seam-binding.

I'd like to share this with the following folks:

• The House That Stamps Built/Repeat Impressions: Anything Goes
• Art Impressions: Winged Things
  
• Simon Says Stamp on Wednesday: Anything Goes (My second entry for this AG...)

Sitting side by side

This turned out so cute, I think:

It's pretty simple, really.

Supplies:

• Library catalog card base inked with Color Bursts through Tim Holtz's Roses stencil
• Tim's photo booth friends added with 3M dimensional adhesive
• Snippets from old books
• Lacy washi from the Tokyo store.  My best friend got this for me a few years ago at Christmas.

I'll share this with the folks at Simon Says Stamp on Wednesday: AG.  This week, they are showcasing MFT products... I don't believe I have ANY! Crazy!

Bon chance!

Made this"good luck" card:

Supplies:

• I painted the flowers and leaves with DOx in Shaded Lilac, Salty Ocean, Cracked Pistachio, and Evergreen Bough
• Accents and words added with Finetec in Luna Gold
• The background paper is from a paper doll kit my kids had. (I recently thinned out their crafty boom and they had these old DIY paper doll sets for various occasions, and I consolidated and took the scraps). 

I'll share this with the following challenges:

• Simon Says Stamp on Monday: Flower Power
• Papercraft: CAS

SOS: Mythical and magical!

Happy Tuesday, all!  This week at Shopping Our Stash, Donna is our hostess, and she is encouraging us to create a project with a Mythical or Magical flavor!

Some ideas: mermaids, bigfoot, unicorns, the Loch Ness monster, fairies, flying pigs... (my daughter added that last one, but I'm down!  Sounds magical to me!)

Here is my mermaid:

Supplies:

• All papers on this card were scraps of three types of paper-- it didn't show up in real life as much in pictures, but each scrap is actually a different hue of white, darnit.
• The background panel was colored using Color Bursts through a Heidi Swapp stencil, probably two years old
• The cheesecloth was just a scrap
• I drew the mermaid a few months ago... her hands look all funky, but oh well.  It was never planned to go on a card-- it was just doodling.  I painted her with various DIs and added Pebeo relief glitter to her hair.
• Stickles added on her eyes and lips
• The circle diecut was in my pre-cut container (blank CD cases) and written with a waterbrush in Color Bursts

I hope you are now thinking of magical and mythical things, and meet us over at Shopping Our Stash!

Jolly tag

How 'bout that?-- a holiday tag in April!

Supplies:

• Distress tag sprayed with Dylsuions first in Lemon Zest
• Tag then sprayed through Tim's Diamonds stencil with various Dylusions sprays
• "Jolly" is a Hero Arts stamp.  I double-embossed it with Distress Embossing Ink and Custer's Last Stamp silver EP
• I also inked Jolly Santa (by Stampendous) with the same inks and embossing powder.
• The yarn is a snippet that *I believe* came from some packaging of stamps purchased from Andrea at Snapping Monsters.

I'll share this at the following challenges:

• HLS April Xmas:
  
• Addicted To Stamps and More: Holiday:
  

Edith Piaf records were played...

... and I don't even know who that is.  But I just looked her up, and had an interesting life.

That clipping attached here was such a strange and interesting documentation of a party I just clipped it and kept it.

Supplies:

• Library catalog card base coated a long time ago with Lindy's Stamp Gang Magicals mixed with Teresa Collins modeling past through Tim's Roses stencil
• The card was then sprayed with Dylusions in Vibrant Turquoise and some water with Perfect Pearls in Heirloom Gold mixed  in
• The image is one of Tim's photobooth friends, and she's been coated with a thin coat of DecoArt paint in Rich Espresso
• The wood rose is from Michael's
• The clipping was from The New York Review of Books and I coated it with the thinnest possible layer of Distress Collage Medium in Vintage, with just a touch of Crazing.  Then I simple stapled it on!

I'll share with with the current challenge at Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers:

Hope

Library card art, made back a couple months ago and I just found it!  I like it too much not to share.

Supplies:

• Library card base inked with various DIs
• Stars are a Dylusions stamp inked with DOx
• Stickles at edges
• Tim's Treeline stamp inked in DOx
• Hope ticket (also Tim's) inked and aged with DI
• Tim's found relatives
• Old embroidering floss behind girls

I guess that's it.

I'll share this with the current Simon Says Wednesday challenge: "Sparkle & shine."

Embark for flight

Here is the first ATC that I made with plans to enter into Happy Litter Stampers' April ATC challenge... however, it did not go as planned.  Since I left it on my desk for two days, it has grown on me, but I still like the OTHER ONE better.

Supplies and notes:

• Old 7 Gypsies (I think) tag from a Rolodex-type set they had years and years ago, pre printed
• I used my hand-carved butterfly stamp with Distress Embossing Ink abd clear embossing powder
• The background is Mermaid Lagoon and Chipped Sapphire Distress Crayon smeared with water and my finger
• The wings were painted with Spiced Marmalade Distress Paint and scribbled on with Black Soot Distress Crayon, which caught on the embossed area nicely
• Tim's Chitchat stickers

I have to say, none of this was the plan, but it is done now.

I'll share this at the following challenges:

• Happy Little Stampers ATC:
  
• Stamps and Stencils: In the meadow
• Time Out: Spring 1-layer
  

Adventure tag

I made this tag with all kinds of supplies:

Supplies:

• Tag inked with DOx in Mermaid Lagoon, Broken China, and Salty Ocean
• Tag wiped with DecoArt Metallic Lustre in Gold Rush
• Tag edged with Glossy Accents and then I added Recollections Microbeads in Champagne
• Stamped with a NBUS hot air balloon by Inkadinkado (I think Autumn sent this to me a couple years ago??? If so, thanks!) in Versamark in Champagne but it wasn't shimmery enough so I added Green Patina Perfect Pearls-- not sure if I've ever used these!
• That map tape came in a set with the scale tape YEARS ago, and even then, I bought it on major clearance.  No idea the brand.  Martha Stewart?  Recollections???  But I love it and I use it sparingly.
• The "Adventure" wood piece is by Heidi Swapp, wiped with DecoArt metallic Lustre as well.
• Twine from a package from Target's "Hand Made Modern" line

I'd like to share this with the following challenge:

• Happy Little Stampers April MM:
  

Acetate double-tag

This came together in a moment of serendipity!

Of course this image does not do the glittery gold EP justice.

Supplies:

• I had accidentally ripped a Distress Tag while trying to wrap something around it... so of course I just kept the ripped tag on my desk top...
• The acetate is from an OLD K & Company pad (8-10 years I'd guess)
• I inked the tag with Distress Embossing Ink through a Heidi Swapp stencil then eat-embossed with Ranger Gold Tinsel embossing powder
• I chose a basic twine because every other ribbon or string I tried took away from the cool tag ensemble

I'd like to share this with Unstampabelles: Use acetate or vellum.  Glad to join-- I rarely use acetate!  Or vellum for that matter... I am always inspired by people who do, but I just pass it up in my stash.

Happy Little Stampers ATC

This is the second ATC I made for the current Happy Little Stampers ATC challenge, but it is my fave and therefore the first one I'll be posting-- possibly the only one of I run out of time today!

Supplies:

• The base is about 10 years old, and I believe it was from a 7 Gypsies packet, but the packaging is long gone.
• I stamped the base with a hand-carved stamp in Ranger Archival in Jet Black
• Then coated the card with Distress Collage Medium: Crazing
• Once dry, I attempted to ink within the cracks using Distress Stains but it really didn't penetrate to the card surface, so I went with Distress Crayons in Spiced Marmalade, Rusty Hinge, Tumbled Glass, and Mermaid Lagoon.
• Stickers are Tim's Chitchat stickers

That's about it! I'll share this at the following:

• Happy Little Stampers:
  
• Try It On Tuesday: Nature's Beauty

SOS: Yo, dude!

This week at Shopping Our Stash, Chris is our hostess and she is encouraging us to use our stashed items to create a card for the dudes in our lives! 

Here's mine for my main dude:

Supplies:

(I confess: I made this very last-minute-- I had my challenges mixed up.  Whoops. I have some more male-ish stash that I'd like to use up so I plan to add more later in the week!  For now, this is the stash I used...)

• Some old 110lb. paper (I think it is my last sheet)
• I used all my letter stamps that I generally skip past, but in the interest of using my stash, I used them, not minding the rough edges showing-- makes it look grungy and more manly, don't you agree?  Ha.
• I inked the letters with Distress Embossing Ink and heat embossed with Recollections EP in black
• The green paper was a scrap in my scrap box.  It's the LIME in my husband's drink!
• I sketched the glass with the ice cubes with a Pitt pen that is probably 2-3 years old.  I went over the ice lines with a grey Spectrum Noir marker and decided to use some Pebeo glitter relief liner to accent the ice.

Hope it's not too cheezy for you guys-- for AMAZING inspiration for dude cards, go see my teammates over at Shopping Our Stash!  They rock.

See you over there!

Tag Tuesday: Black, white, and green

...and here is a second tag that basically was the by-product of the first tag:

Supplies:

• The background was made by printing from the Tim Holtz stencil used on THIS original tag.  The black is Liquitex gesso, and out was used on Tim Holtz's Diamonds stencil.
•   The leaves were pre-cut using Tim's Tattered Leaves die on his paper.
• Leaves inked with Walnut Stain Distress Ink
• Sentiment stamped in the past using Tim Holtz stamps
• The coffee cup was actually a Verve freebie a couple years back.  I inked it a long time ago, and I just happened to come across it while looking for a suitable sentiment for this... Now it's a great tag! 

I wrote a note on the back to a friend who is a hard-working stepmom... been there. So I just told her I'm free for coffee any time she wants to talk.

I'll share this at Tag Tuesday as well.

Tag Tuesday: Black, white, and blue

This is the first tag I made to play along with the current Tag Tuesday challenge of Black + White + a spot of color:

Supplies:

• Ranger tag painted with a thin layer of Liquitex gesso
• Black Liquitex gesso coated through Tim's Diamonds stencil
• Distress Crayon in Mermaid Lagoon scribbled then sprayed with water in three spots
• Tim's Treeline die used in the past to cut  black  trees, glued to tag with matte Mod Podge
• Blue tree by Tim Holtz also cut in the past added (matched the Mermaid Lagoon perfectly... Pure luck)
• Stampendous Frantage in Aged Silver sprinkled over and heat embossed
• Tim's Quotation added.  My daydream at the time was that we were DONE with the snow! Geez! I'm over it.

I'll share this at Tag Tuesday. I guess my blue might be more than a pop, but I couldn't resist...