Birds of A Feather

The current challenge at A Vintage Journey is "Birds of A Feather," chosen by the lovely Chris. The challenge will run two weeks and for more Tim inspiration my fabulous DT sisters have so much to share. There is also a store voucher for some lucky winner from Country View Crafts, so come on and join in.

Tim inspiration and style does not mean you cannot use other stamps or products and my stamps of choice were I Brake For Stamps from a few collections. Obviously I went with the birds! I inked by backgrounds first using, Shabby Shutters, Old Paper, Vintage Photo and Fired Brick and then the images were stamped using Archival Sepia. It took a little time to fussy cut the bird postage!!! The leaf matter was water colored using Shabby Shutters. I wanted just a touch of color.

The card background panel is from Tim's lovely Wallflower paper and I trimmed and shaded around the edges and inked a little Fired Brick through the Latticework stencil. A few little rubs and some metal wings treated with Treasure Gold Indigo and White Fire and we are off!

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you are having a wonderful week. For those in the USA, have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Red, White and Blue!

Happy 4th of July to the USA and boy will it be a hot one or at least here! We are still in the upper 100's and with humidity.  So many people will be hitting the roads or staying at home, but everyone will be celebrating and I hope safely! We will be going to friends for a big BBQ party and that is always such great fun! And speaking of hitting the road, today I have my "Road Trip" over at Artistic Outpost, if you want to have a look. I was certainly inspired by Tim's July tag for 2013!

I just wanted to do a simple tag to celebrate the 4th and all the freedoms I have! The awesome flag is from I Brake For Stamps and I colored the stamp with Distress Markers, cut and shaded with Vintage Photo. Don't you just love my flagpole? It is a coffee stir stick from Southwest Airline that I saved.

The background was stamped using Tim's star and embossed, then inked in a striped fashion and of course that water hit the tag! And between the stars on the flag and tag, we have all 50 baby!

We are taking our Patriotic Celebration to visit the following lovely challenge blogs:

Country View Crafts - Summer Sizzler
Inspiration Journal - Happy B-Day America or Other B-Day Celebration
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Anything Goes

Thank you for visiting me today and I hope you have a wonderful week and weekend!

Happy Spring!

Well not everyone is seeing that season, but it will arrive!!  The current challenge at Fashionable Stamping Challenges is Paper Piecing, by my DT sister, Claire.  Now this can be elaborate or simple, but more than anything it has to be stamping fun!  You won't want to miss out on all the inspiration the team has in store for you, so please stop by FSC!  Flonz Crafts is our new sponsor and the prize is a $20 store credit.  Now that is pretty nice, so come on and join in!

The stamped image is from I Brake For Stamps and was stamped in Archival Coffee.  The berries and some of the foliage was colored with Distress markers and then I inked over the entire surface with Peeled Paint and shaded with Vintage Photo. 

The butterfly was my Paper Piece and was stamped a second (OK third) time on glossy card stock, which was inked with various shades of alcohol inks (greens, some yellow and blue).  After this was heat set, I cut out and glued over the original image.  I just felt the need for a second butterfly and now I am think I may just need one more!  I felt little bling eyes were in order and I also inked over the berries with a Spica Clear Glitter pen.

Wishing you all the warmth of Spring and thank you so much for visiting me today! 

Baby Shower

This was just a quick, well sort of, baby shower card.  All stamps are from I Brake For Stamps.  I inked the images with different shades of pink and then clear embossed. Filled in some areas with several pink colored markers and then highlighted with Spica clear glitter pen.  Nothing fancy at all in this one, but it does actually look better IRL!

Just a reminder if you are interested in a chance to win a One-Year Online Subscription to the Technique Junkies  Newsletter, click here!

Have a great day and thank you kindly for the visit!

Christmas in July!

Fridays mean Lisa has a new Bloggers Challenge for us and this week we are Embossing!  All stamps are from I Brake For Stamps, who is just so having a Christmas in July challenge.  This will also be linked to Simon Says Stamp and Show "Anything Goes."

The pine cone collage was embossed with gold, red and garnet.  A little tricky, but worth the effort!  After it was heat set, I colored the open area of the corners and the pine cone.  The printed area was lightly distressed with Pumice Stone to tone it down.  All panels were distressed and shaded with Vintage Photo. 

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.  Not sure what we will be doing, but that is just fine with me!  Thank you for visiting!

IBFSCC4, Color of Summer and Pink Saturday!

Double Sided Tag makes three posts for me this week!  Mind you the arm still hurts, but too bad!  So you know, I Brake For Stamps now has a challenge blog and if you use at least one IBFS stamp, you will be entered to win a prize.  This week's challenge is Happy Birthday and I made a double sided birthday tag, which will be used as a bookmark!  I stamped 10 roses for each year that I have known my friend!  This friend is actually the main culprit in my stamping addiction, as it was she who had the first workshop I attended!  We are also linking this to Pink Saturday and the Color of Summer!  All stamps are from I Brake for Stamps.

The flowers were inked with Distress Inks, Worn Lipstick and Forest Moss and then clear embossed.  I added color using markers to the roses and leaves.  I then distress the tag, keeping the center lighter.  Gave a quick spray of Glimmer Mist and then removed the embossing.  This is actually the backside of the tag or could be the front, but that is the side I will write on!  The backside has a Bingo card that I alcohol inked a background and then black embossed.  The tag backgrounds I did using the Antique Glimmers from the Technique Junkies.

My DH is taking all of next week off, so my play time will be limited.  We actually need to get some work done around here.  In fact I was suppose to call the window people for an estimate and I did not do that!  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and for those who celebrate July 4th, have a safe and happy one! Thank you for the visit and I do enjoy your comments!

IBFS #3 and Summer of Color!

I needed a little inspiration to finally create a baby card for my niece who just had a sweet little girl.  When I saw I Brake For Stamps challenge this week and using polka dots for inspiration, I knew what needed to be done.  The picture was copied off my niece's Facebook page, so the quality is not the best, but I think she will just love the idea!  One of my sweet blogging friend's Nan, told me about The Summer of Color, "Pink" challenge, so we are having our visit over there! 

I did the Cuttlebug Highlights technique from the Technique Junkies.  When I saw the reverse side of the embossed and colored folder, I actually liked that better and thought the stamped image would be more detailed.  The baby frame stamp is from I Brake For Stamps and so perfect for welcoming a cutie pie into the world. 

Our cute inspiration!

Thank you for stopping by and there is still time to get in on this weeks challenge.  BTW, I thought the commenting issue was resolved on Blogger, but I noticed I am having problems once again.  Anyone else still battling the comment thing?

Winging it with Grungy Monday!

Well I finally got around to creating something this week, thanks to a swap invite from The BrakeFast Club, "Wings."  The Dragonfly stamps are from I Brake For Stamps and there are four different sizes I believe.  I used one of the new Tim Holtz Texture Fades embossing folder and did the Cuttlebug Highlight technique from the Technique Junkies.  IBFS also has a new challenge blog and this week it is for "techniques" and so we are off for our first visit there.  There is also a random prize at the new IBFS challenge blog, so stop by!  Our Grundy Monday adventure with Linda has us taking a technique trip back to January 2008 with Mr. Holtz, who we all just adore.  Vicki's Cheerful Stamp Pad challenge is "Things with Wings." so we buzzing by there also.  Last but not least on the challenge flight, Simon Says Stamp and Show Your Distressed/Torn Edges.

I inked the center dragonfly with several colors and then gave it a quick spray with Iridescent Gold, Glimmer Mist.  Once dried, I embossed with clear EP.  During the background creation, I also gave quick sprays of the Glimmer Mist, including over the final embossing step.

Sorry I have not been as active with blogging, but I just have had to keep my computer/typing time to a minimum.  So if I have not been visiting as much, I am still around and thinking of you!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Paper is Stampin Up, Cool Caribbean, Mellow Moss, Whisper White, Glimmer Mist, Distress Inks Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky, Bundled Sage, Forest Green, Mustard Seed, Walnut Stain, Close to Cocoa Ink Marker. 

For the Little Boys!

Today I am sharing two cards I made for very young boys!  In fact both are for Nephews! 

This was made for the nephew of a friend who is battling cancer.  Since I usually create with grunge on my mind and more on an adult level, it was a little difficult for me to get into a kid mode!  I had this all set to go on different background paper and then thought, think kid!  I remembered some Minds Eye paper I won from Jan and thought, OK, I can grunge and be cute cherry at the same time.  I sure hope this will cheer him up while he wins this big battle!  The "Old Jalopy" is of course from Tim Holtz new Sizzix line! 

Next is for my own Great-Nephew!!  He was premature, but I am happy to say doing very well and is at home with his parents.  The frame is from I Brake For Stamps and Della was so quick in sending this out.  I don't have very many baby stamps, so really needed one.  She also threw in some "freebies" and you know how we love that!!  The frame was another challenge as I did not know what I wanted to do, other than framing the tiny one!  Oh, I printed the picture from a photo taken at the hospital a few days after he was born.  I tried a couple of things with the frame, but decided to go with boyish type colors and did a technique from the Technique Junkies, Antique Glimmers.  The sheen is gorgeous and I did want a more vintage feel to the frame.  This was not easy to cut out both inside and out!  After I cut it out, I used markers to add extra color to the alphabet and other little sweet things.  I keep thinking I might add some bling around the rattle top, but not sure.  What do you think???  I wanted a more lively background, so used some striped paper with the color I used in the baby block frame.  I really like this frame and hope the parents do!!!

Thank you much for your visit today.  If you have not commented on my giveaway below, you might want to.  The winners will be announced on April's Fool Day!  He!He!

CCC #34 Flies with I Brake For Stamps!

When Linda from Studio L3 mentioned that Della from I Brake For Stamps was this week's generous sponsor, to me it was the best of both worlds.  I knew I had to play with Della's stamps using a Tim Holtz Technique.  You can't get better than that!  So you know, if you don't have Tim's book, "Compendium of Curiosities," IBFS has a wonderful price on this book in their clearance section and this would also make a wonderful gift for a crafting friend. While you are there, take a look at some wonderful stamps!

Where to start!  I used a designer paper with very subtle print, I then used IBFS large crackle stamp over the print and a few feathers.  You hardly see those images!  The egg and feather collage elements are 7 Gypsies paper and were cut out and I used the crackle stamp on the egg.  The sentiment (I love that one), was stamped on mulberry paper and inked.  I torn around the edges.  The tab background uses the Antique Glimmers from the Technique Junkies and I stamped more feathers.  All stamps are from IBFS.  This was way more fun than it should have been.  I just wish I could keep glue off my stuff!!!

I can't believe we are at CCC#34 and next week we have finished the book!  I have done every challenge from week #1 and have learned to enjoy Monday's!!!  Linda you rock in so many ways!

CCC#32, Simon Says Stamp and Show a Tag, GC#88

Wow, it is hard to believe that we are at week 32 of Linda's Compendium of Curiosities challenges.  I am already feeling the withdrawal symptoms.  Thank you again Linda for taking us on this amazing journey.  We have almost reached our destination. OK, so I am being just a little silly!  Linda has us inking and stamping masks, Simon Says Stamp and Show a Tag, which sure made this easy.  Gingersnap Creations is looking for "coffee and cream" and although there are a couple of other subtle colors, I think this will work.    This was truly a fun tag to create!  I did masking on the "Umbrella" guy, soon to be a Tim Holtz Sizzix die cut and the rustic old truck.  The cobble/brick background is a stamp from I Brake For Stamps, which I thought made a pretty cool old time road.  All other stamps are from Tim Holtz.  I also made a little baby tag using two more stamps from Mr. Holtz.

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend and have plans for a delightful weekend!  Sounds like many places are being blessed with some warmer weather, so enjoy it!  As always thank you for taking the time to visit and comment! 

CCC#28, Vicki's "Let's Relax" and GC85

Gingersnap Creations challenge is "Hot Beverages." I had remembered seeing a very lovely stamp plate from I Brake For Stamps, so I had no choice but to send Della an order!  I also ordered the new Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities, Labels Four and boy are they grand!  For this wideload bookmark/tag, I used the two smallest dies!  And speaking of coffee, Vicki's current challenge is let's relax and what a better way to relax than with a nice cup of coffee!

We are on week 28 of the CCC at Linda's and we did "Colorful Layered Fragments."  I would have to say that three times is a charm and ended up with a partial cheat.  I say partial, because the background paper is glossy white, but was a leftover from a previous technique.  The fragment mug was stamped and inked as directed!  Now I did three fragments!  The first one was all fine and dandy and then I added the back and was trimming away excess paper, somehow my thumb removed the stamped image!  I am a medical marvel!  I know it was dry, so I guess it was the lotion on my hands.  I was quite shocked to see that, but not as shocked as last weeks ink all over carpet trick.  The 2nd fragment, who cares!  The coffee cup and saucer was cut out after stamped on yet another technique called "Alcohol Splatter" and I liked the look!  And you can't have coffee without the beans, so we embossed and cut them out!

I used Whisped Frames from the Technique Junkies on both die cuts.  Now I suppose I should actually do something not craft related and earn my keep!  Thank you for stopping by to see what I am up to!

Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful!

This weeks challenge at Gingersnap Creations GC83 is Polar Animals!  Well I was all excited, because I knew I had just the perfect Penguin stamps - NOT!  Apparently that was all in my imagination, because I looked at least three times and not a one!  Some how I did not think the GC DT would fall for a black and white owl!!  So my third project as a visiting artist is my very first attempt using graphics off the computer.  We are also entering this with the Artistic Stamper's Christmas challenge.

This adorable Penguin image is from Karen at The Graphics Fairy.  Thank you Karen!!!  I printed a second image, because I knew I would cut out the Penguin and put him on pop dots for added dimension.  I did a little icing in all the areas that the large and smaller Penguins stand and this was done with several layers of clear embossing powder and one layer of iridescent ice.  The only coloring I did on this one is the feet and beak!  The sentiment is from I Brake For Stamps.

During this especially busy time of the year, your taking the time to visit and comment is truly appreciated.  Wishing all of you the Happiest of Holidays!

CCC Week 21 and Simon Says Stamp and Show!

Today our 21st lesson is "Perfect Distress" at Studio L3. I learned that the more detail a stamp is with finer lines, the more difficult this is to do. Can't go into the details, but those of you following the Compendium of Curiosities challenges, know what I mean! Too much, too little and it does matter. This is making the rounds over at Simon Says Stamp and Show for the "Your Favorite" Tim Stamps. Well like most others, I have not a favorite, but some I find a little more out there!

For fun I also played with an adorable Peacock and feather stamp from I Brake For Stamps. I picked this and the larger version up quite some time ago. Again you can't see all the different colors of shimmer.  These will be finished and given to my G-Daughter for bookmarks and hopefully she wears them out!!! The colors are prettier than on the camera and there is some pretty blue in there. I don't know if it is my camera or me, but I can't quite seem to capture the true colors. We also used a technique called "Antique Glimmers" from The Technique Junkies.

Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative week!

Tag Tuesday Challenge #57 - - Postage

Another Tag Tuesday and this was an easy choice as to the postage to use.  My DH gave me "create a stamp" postage gift and I knew I wanted a picture of my parents on the stamp.  It was my way of sending them all over the country and to somehow keep their spirit always flying!  The stamp is from I Brake for Stamps.

I used the Antique Glimmers from the Technique Junkies on the background of the stamped image.  Here is an actual close up of the postage stamp.  Thank you for stopping by for a visit!

GC55: Random Redhead - Quotes

Gingersnap Creations challenge ending today is "Quotes." This is such a fun group and I am so glad that I joined! This card was created based on the floral ribbon trim I purchased yesterday! I am not a ribbon type person, but when I saw this, I knew I had to use it. The background technique is from the current TJ Newsletter - Antique Wallpaper.

The waiting ladies is a stamp from Lost Coast Designs and the quote is from I Brake For Stamps.

I almost did not make the deadline, but here it is and thank you for taking a peek!

Welcome Baby!

My daughter asked me to make a card for her friend, who was having her first baby. They knew the baby would be a boy and the friend is also a photographer. The baby image is from "I Brake for Stamps" and I used the Artwork Marker Water Coloring technique from the TJ Newsletter. Alphabet Die, Filmstrip and Filmstrip Die are Tim Holtz. I also made the envelops with some wonderful paper I found at JoAnn's and thought it was so appropriate! The "BABY" letters in the filmstrip were cut from leftover envelop paper. It was actually a fun card to make and a challenge for me!