L-O-V-E

I am now full bore into Valentine's projects.  Just when I think I've found my favorite season, another one comes along and I love creating for that one just as much as the last!

I love this vintage "LOVE" word art from Free Vintage Digital Stamps...be sure to visit and browse the site, she's got some lovely images.  I've been quite inspired there lately.

I went back to basics on this card, nothing too elaborate.  I wanted the word art to be the focus and I think that mission is accomplished due to its size and position.  The only detail that you don't get credit for in the overall photo is that the bottom edge has been cut with decorative scissors, revealing a bit of the inside, and "stitched" with fiber ribbon.

Challenges:

Paper Make-up Stamps: Digi Makeover Challenge #21 - Be My Valentine

One Stop Craft Challenge: #167 Stitching - Faux or Real

Fussy & Fancy Challenge: #55 - Polka Dots

Aud Sentiments Challenge: #46 - Love

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge: #139 Recipe - Digital Image, Ribbon, Buttons

Shelley's Images: Terrifically Thrilling Thursday #26 - Text Me (text or sentiment on front of project)

Supplies:
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink ‘Kraft’, ‘Sweet Blush’
Pattern Paper: My Mind’s Eye Lost & Found ‘Madison Avenue’
Image: Free Vintage Digital Stamps
Inks: Martha Stewart craft markers
Embellishments: Tim Holtz tissue tape ‘Symphony’; fiber ribbon; flowers; button
Tools: ink jet printer; Krylon Workable Fixatif; glue dots; decorative scissors; hole punch

Free Kisses

This little wooden plaque has been squirreled away for several years now.  I rediscovered it a few months ago, but still it lingered on my craft table...primed white, but still blank...waiting for me to give it life.  This weekend I was inspired by a cute vintage Valentine image found at Vintage Holiday Crafts and the little wooden plaque has finally come alive!

Just a Few Details:

• I am loving Claudine Hellmuth Studio Matte Multi-Medium lately!  It adheres incredibly well, provides a nice thickness and protective layer to paper embellishments, and the matte finish is just right.  On this piece, I decopaged the background paper and the central image using the Matte Multi-Medium.  I also coated the ticket and the banner with it to give them more substance since this is a decorative piece that I want to last for many years.

• The red heart is chipboard that has been colored with Barn Door Distress Stain and glittered.  The Tim Holtz heart charm was painted pink, sanded, then covered in Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel for a worn/chipped enamel appearance.

Isn't the saying on the stamped ticket just perfect for the image?  So cute...  The little wooden plaque languishes no longer!  :-)

Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes

Anything Goes Challenge Blog: #59 - To the One I Love

Drunken Stampers: #81 - Love

Sugar Creek Hollow: Go Girly

Supplies:
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink ‘Aqua Mist’
Pattern Paper: My Mind’s Eye Lost & Found ‘Market Street’
Image: Vintage Holiday Crafts
Stamps: My Mind’s Eye Lost & Found Blush ‘Princess’; Inkadinkado ‘Tickets & Tags’
Inks: SU! craft ‘Real Red’, classic ‘Sahara Sand’; Distress Stain ‘Barn Door’, ‘Tumbled Glass’; Distress Ink ‘Old Paper’; VersaMark; Delta acrylic paint ‘Rose Cloud’
Embellishments: Martha Stewart glitter ‘Crystal Fine’; a la Mode glitter; chipboard heart; Tim Holtz heart charm adornment; PTI baker’s twine; fiber; Glossy Accents; Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel ‘Clear’; Distress Stickles ‘Tattered Rose’; pearls
Tools: TH paper distresser; Claudine Hellmuth Studio Matte Multi-Medium; scallop scissors; hole punch; foam ink blending tool; foam tape; steel wool; heat gun; glue dots; tweezers; Krylon Crystal Clear; emery board
Misc: wooden plaque

Skating on Thin Ice

I'm really behind on featuring the Ice Skate digi from a couple weeks ago, but the "skating on thin ice" idea struck and I wanted to see where it would take me.  It led me to play with aluminum tape and plastic packaging to create two distinct icy elements on this tag.

A Couple Details

• The cracked ice background was created by layering aluminum duct tape (found in the heating and cooling section of your local hardware store) on top of a manila tag and embossing it using Tim Holtz's "Cracked" texture fade.  I then used swirls of Picket Fence Distress Stain and pounces of Snow Cap Adirondack Paint Dabber to cover the entire tag.  Once dry, rubbing with steel wool reveals the metallic shine of the aluminum tape on just the "cracks".  Finally, a generous spritzing of Perfect Pearl Mist gives the surface a luminous glow that you just don't get credit for in the photo.

• The icy snowflakes were created by embossing plastic packaging using Tim Holtz's "Snowflakes" border texture fade.  I then colored the plastic with a little Aqua and Silver Mixative Alcohol Ink and cut around the flakes with deckle scissors.  I wanted the flakes to surround my skate image, so I cut the border into three pieces, then layered them as desired and attached them with glue dots.

Challenges:

Crafty Bloggers Network: Challenge #10 - Distressing

Simon Says Stamp & Show: A Song Title (Jethro Tull's "Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day")

Crafting When We Can Challenges: #10 - Something Not Intending for Crafting (Aluminum Duct Tape)

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge: #116 - Buttons & Bows

Supplies:
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up! ‘Naturals Ivory’; manila tag
Pattern Paper: My Mind’s Eye Lost & Found ‘Portobello Road’
Image: ‘Ice Skate’ by Paper Squirrel
Inks: Distress Ink ‘Old Paper’; Alcohol Ink ‘Aqua’, ‘Silver Mixative’; SU! watercolor pencils; Perfect Pearls Mist ‘Perfect Pearl’, ‘Heirloom Gold’; Distress Stain ‘Picket Fence’; Adirondack Paint Dabber ‘Snow Cap’
Embellishments: Hug Snug seam binding ‘Ivory’; crepe paper; Tim Holtz tissue tape ‘Nostalgic’; buttons; aluminum tape; Distress Stickles ‘Rock Candy’; corsage pin; packaging plastic
Tools: heat gun; Zots glue dots; Fiskars deckle scissors; foam tape; foam ink blending tool; felt ink blending tool; circle punch; TH paper distresser; scallop scissors; steel wool; Sizzix texture boutique; TH texture fade ‘Cracked’, ‘Snowflakes’

Free Digi Friday: Mittens

We really need mittens around here lately!  These coordinate well with last week's Ice Skate for your winter-themed projects...have fun creating!

**EDITED**

Friday Free Digis are free for one week. This digital stamp is now available for purchase. To order, go to the side bar, enter the stamp name shown below and click 'buy now' to pay via Pay Pal.

Cost: $2.00

Stamp Name: Mittens

I will email you the file within 24 hours of receiving payment.

Winter Fun

I'm still on the winter decor kick and was quite inspired by a recent image offered by The Graphics Fairy of some old-fashioned ice skaters.  This one is a bit larger than Glittered Snow and a richer shade of icy aqua.  I really love how it turned out!

The Details:

• The background is patterned paper on cardboard, approx 6"x9".  I printed the ice skaters image from the Graphics Fairy onto Papertrey Ink Aqua Mist cardstock, aligning it in the lower left corner and tearing the excess cardstock from the top and right side.
• Once my patterned paper and skaters image were adhered to the cardboard base, I randomly stamped snowflakes in VersaMark, making sure to position some overlapping the torn edge of the skaters image.  I then embossed the snowflakes with clear Zing embossing powder.  
• After the embossing powder was cool to the touch, I applied Picket Fence Distress Stain over the background using a circular motion, carefully avoiding the skaters.  I then applied some Snow Cap Adirondack paint dabber toward the edges and corners to get a more opaque white.  Once everything was dry, I took a damp baby wipe and lightly rubbed the Distress Stain and paint off of the embossed snowflakes, revealing a beautiful frosty background design!

• Chipboard "winter" letters were covered in spray adhesive and Martha Stewart White Gold glitter...loving that stuff!  To ensure the glitter stays put, I coated the letters in Krylon Crystal Clear.
• I love how the pennant garland adds some festivity to the scene and really joins things together visually.  The pennants were stamped in Iced Spruce Distress Ink, covered in a layer of Matte Multi-Medium, and glittered with Rock Candy Distress Stickles.  They "hang" from PTI rustic button twine.

• To distinguish between the ice and sky, I colored the far edge of the ice in white colored pencil.  The ice also has a layer of Rock Candy Distress Stickles for some sparkle.  Isn't the image adorable?  Of course, I would be the one landing on my bum on that cold ice!

• I love this Maya Road chiffon flower...so soft and dreamy.  I dug the glittery snowflake from my Christmas stash...you can buy these by the dozen for pretty cheap...and layered that with the flower, glittered chipboard flourish, bridal pick, button, and "Fun" ticket.

• Shockingly, none of Tim's adage tickets seemed to say the right thing, so I made my own using an stamp from My Mind's Eye.  I LOVE to layer ribbon...one is just rarely enough for me!  Here you can see that I layered a crepe paper ruffle, bright aqua satin ribbon, then my favorite crocheted lace ribbon.

• The edges needed something to finish them off and Tim's metal corners were just too big and clunky looking, so I just simply added strips of Symphony tissue tape...just enough!

Challenges:

The Graphics Fairy - Brag Monday #119

Gingersnap Creations: GC134 Spicy Supply Challenge - Ribbon

Our Daily Bread Designs: ODBDSLC92 - Winter Word Play  (White, Ink, Embossing, Ribbon)

Samuel Taylors: January Blog Challenge - Distress  (chance to win 4 bottles of Distress ink!)

Supplies:
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink ‘Aqua Mist’; Stampin’ Up! ‘Naturals Ivory’
Image: The Graphics Fairy ‘SkatingVintage Image’
Stamps: SU! ‘Snowflakes’; My Mind’s Eye Union Square ‘Perfect’, Market Street ‘Adore’
Inks: Distress Stain ‘Tumbled Glass’, ‘Pumice Stone’, ‘Picket Fence’; Adirondack paint dabber ‘Snow Cap’; Distress Ink ‘Old Paper’, ‘Iced Spruce’; StazOn ‘Jet Black’; VersaMark; white colored pencil
Embellishments: Martha Stewart glitter ‘White Gold’, ‘Crystal Fine’; Hobby Lobby bridal pick; plastic snowflake ornament; pearl; Tim Holtz tissue tape ‘Symphony’; PTI rustic button twine; Zing embossing powder ‘Clear’; Distress Stickles ‘Rock Candy’; Maya road chiffon flower; button; chipboard letters; chipboard flourish; SU! hardware; ribbon; crocheted lace ribbon; crepe paper; TH memo pin
Tools: heat gun; hole punches; tweezers; Glossy Accents; Claudine Hellmuth Studio Matte Multi-Medium; foam ink blending tool; Zots glue dots; TH paper distresser; inkjet printer; Krylon Workable Fixatif
Misc: cardboard

Free Digi Friday: Ice Skate

An item of winter decor inspired today's Ice Skate image.  This should be a fun one for winter activities scrapbook layouts, cards, and other winter projects.  Enjoy!

**EDITED**

Friday Free Digis are free for one week. This digital stamp is now available for purchase. To order, go to the side bar, enter the stamp name shown below and click 'buy now' to pay via Pay Pal.

Cost: $2.00

Stamp Name: Ice Skate

I will email you the file within 24 hours of receiving payment.

We finally got some snow today and it looks like it actually might stick around...oh, yay (she said in a sarcastic voice).  

Glittered Snow

Although we have no snow here yet, I know it's coming and I like to decorate in a snow theme for the winter months.  When I pulled out my decor this year, I realized that I really don't have very much...(not that I want a lot, less seems to be more after all the Christmas stuff is stowed again). Sticking with the snow theme, icy blue tones, and of course lots of sparkle, I created this hanging piece for my winter collection.

The Details:

• I used tons of chip board on this piece because I wanted dimension and for elements to extend past the 4"x6" rectangle base. "Snow" is glittered with Martha Stewart's 'White Gold' glitter. I purchased this color after Tim Holtz mentioned that it's his favorite color and I figured that if Sir Tim was recommending a product not his own, it had to be good! And of course, he's right...it's a wonderful, slightly tarnished silver that has a beautifully vintage feel.

• The snowflakes have a lot of layers.  First, I colored the raw chipboard with Tumbled Glass Distress Stain, then highlighted with Picket Fence.  Next, I added a thick layer of Rock Candy Distress Paint.  Once that was dry, I accented with a Snow Cap Adirondack paint dabber and while the paint was still wet, I sprinkled on some crystal glitter.  The centers are embellished with gauzy flowers and a button on the large and pearl on the small.  That still didn't seem like quite enough, so I also added some dots of Old Paper Distress Stickles.

• The snowman is much simpler.  He too, has a base of Tumbled Glass and Picket Fence stains and is accented with Snow Cap paint dabber.  His sparkle, however, comes from a layer of Rock Candy Distress Stickles.  He's finished off with some pearl "buttons" and a gingham ribbon "scarf".

• I also colored the Tim Holtz 'Play' adage ticket with Tumbled Glass stain, plus a little Pumice Stone along the edges for depth.  I wanted this to look a bit frosty too, so I accented the top edges with Snow Cap paint dabber and added crystal glitter to the wet paint.  The ticket is pierced with a crystal headed corsage pin and is actually adhered tho the base with foam tape to give it dimension.

• I love this new lacy trim I purchased from Hobby Lobby...I can just get lost in their ribbon department.  To make sure the lace stayed put, I adhered it with Wondertape.  Because the lace is an open design, some of the sticky Wondertape was exposed, so I sprinkled on more White Gold glitter and voila!, no more stickiness and wow, does that look pretty!

I think I might enjoy making winter projects just as much a Christmas ones.  I can still use a ton of glitter and fancy trimmings!

Challenges:
Going Grey with Scrap-Creations: Glitter
Shopping Our Stash Challenge 34: All That Glitters, Sparkles or Shines
The Cheerful Stamp Pad: Challenge #33 - "Let it Snow"
The Hybrid Chick: Card Caravan Challenge #10 - Sparkle


Supplies:
Pattern Paper: My Mind’s Eye Lost & Found ‘Portobello Road’
Inks: Distress Stain ‘Tumbled Glass’, ‘Picket Fence’, ‘Pumice Stone’; Adirondack paint dabber ‘Snow Cap’
Embellishments: chipboard letters, snowman, snowflakes, flourish; Martha Stewart glitter ‘White Gold’, ‘Crystal Fine’; pearls; Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint ‘Rock Candy’; 7 Gypsies clips; Making Memories rick rack ‘Animal Crackers’; Distress Stickles ‘Rock Candy’, ‘Old Paper’; JoAnn flowers; corsage pin; ribbon; lace; TH adage ticket; TH button accoutrement
Tools: Claudine Hellmuth Studio Matte Multi-Medium; glue dots; Wondertape; 3M foam tape; emery board; heat tool
Misc: cardboard

Hello, Love

I'm baaack!  It wasn't my intention to stay away so long, but I came down with a cold around New Year's and I had no inclination to do much but sleep once I got home from work each day last week.  Anyway, I'm on the mend now and it's on to a fresh new year!

It's my turn as guest designer over at Card A Day Blog for this week's Valentine theme.  I just recently got the retro-fun 'So Sweet' stamp set from My Mind's Eye Stella & Rose collection.  The vintage telephone was my inspiration, and it ties in beautifully with the background created from a recycled directory page!

The Details:

• To create the background, I sized a section of a telephone directory page to be just a bit smaller than my cardstock base, then roughly tore the right edge.  I crinkled the directory page a bit, then used spray adhesive to affix it to my base, purposely adding in some wrinkles.  
• I applied light brushstrokes of Picket Fence Distress Stain over the entire directory page and the exposed cardstock base, adding heavier applications at the corners and wrinkled areas.

• I stamped the Glitz Design 'Vintage Blue' word art heart onto MME Lost & Found 'Union Square' patterned paper using Stampin' Up! Bravo Burgundy craft ink, cut out the design leaving about 1/8" border, and then inked the edges with Black Soot Distress Ink.

• The telephone is stamped on the same paper as the card base using StazOn Jet Black.  I fussy cut the image, adhered it to the card with foam tape and then added a layer of Glossy Accents.

• "HELLO" is stamped on SU! Confetti White cardstock using StazOn Jet Black.  "Love" is stamped in SU! Ruby Red craft ink.  I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to ensure that my stamps were perfectly positioned (especially since "Love" is stamped directly onto my finished card base!).

It seems so odd to be working on Valentines already, but can you believe it's just over a month away?! 

Challenges:

Crazy 4 Challenges: C4C118 - Do or Use Something NEW (new stamp set)

Fab 'n' Funky Challenges: #102 - Something New (new stamp set)

Simon Says Stamp: Simon Says...NEW Something (new stamp set)

Supplies:
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up! ‘Sahara Sand’, ‘Confetti White’
Pattern Paper: My Mind’s Eye Lost & Found ‘Union Square’; recycled telephone directory page
Stamps: Glitz Design ‘Vintage Blue’; K&Co. Amy Butler ‘Lotus Greeting’; MME Stella & Rose Mabel ‘So Sweet’; SU! ‘Wonderful Words’
Inks: SU! craft ‘Ruby Red’, ‘Bravo Burgundy’; Distress Stain ‘Picket Fence’, ‘Pumice Stone’; Distress Ink ‘Black Soot’; StazOn ‘Jet Black’
Embellishments: Glossy Accents
Tools: Stamp-a-ma-jig; foam ink blending tool; spray adhesive; foam tape; deckle scissors; ruler