Rain, Rain!

Hello and Happy New Year! Guess what???? It is raining in sunny Southern California and it is raining big-time! It would be nice to have the lovely rain spread out to avoid flooding and damage, but that is not how it flows and we will take the much needed water!

And speaking of rain, I was inspired to pull out the "Springtime" collection from Artistic Outpost! I used a kraft type paper for my tag background, applied Tim's Rays stencil and inked over that with Hickory Smoke, next I inked over the entire tag with Antique Linen and flicked on some water spots. Wanting a little extra background texture, I applied a Boho Background die cut piece from Our Daily Bread Designs and again applied the Rays stencil and inked over. The "Playing in the Rain" children were stamped in Watering Can Archival as was the sentiment and then fussy cut. Next, just added some embellishments to finish and distressed the the tag.

Thank you for stopping by today, especially considering how MIA I have been. So much to do here, there and everywhere, but I am trying my best to visit all of you wonderful crafty and fabulous bloggers!

Christmas Joy!

Oh Christmas Joy and only one week away! Hello and hope you all are more caught up than I am! This little collection of cards uses Artistic Outpost's Toy Emporium and the Winter Collection 2014 from Our Daily Bread Designs!

If you would like all the details and some close up photos, just pop on over HERE as I am sharing these at AO.

Thank you so much for stopping by and have a fabulous weekend!

Santa's Coming!

Hello to all of you and thank you for stopping by! I also want to thank you for the good wishes and prayers concerning my recent skin cancer surgery and am thrilled to report the doctor removed it all! Now that is happy news! While still being careful, I went into my craft room to play with a little shadow box from a Hobby Lobby shopping day with Annie. I am thinking she picked up one as well. With a few challenges in full swing and of course some of the DT are among my favorite people, I had to join in!

My stamps of choice "Toy Emporium" from Artistic Outpost, were all inked in Black Archival and shaded with Distress Vintage Photo and fussy cut. All papers are ODBD "Winter Collection 2014."

The box was gessoed, sanded and then painted with a Delta silver metallic paint which is more of a glaze. Love that! I did a couple of coats. Cut the paper to size, glued down and sanded the edges and then shaded. Also using my fingers added a little of the silver paint and rubbed of the excess and then with a toothbrush flicked on some gold. The inside framing was glazed with both a silver and gold paint. I have had these cheesy colored foam snowflakes for some time and painted them gold to frame around that really cool Santa!

The outer edges were treated with DecoArt one step crackle and gold applied to fill the cracks.

All the tinsel sticks were cut to fit and hot glued down. Boy does that stuff get away from you and on you! Added bits and pieces I have collected.

Now for the fabulous challenges I am sending my little Christmas shadow box off to!

A Vintage Journey "Vintage Christmas" keeping it vintage and used Tim's Vintage Photo and Hickory Smoke Distress Inks, Holiday Word Band and Alpha Tiles.

Frilly and Funkie "Tis the Season" with vintage or shabby chic goodness!

Mixed Media Monthly Challenge "Silver and Gold" and I used both!

Hope you are having a wonderful start to the Christmas and holiday season. I have tons to do as usually, but what will get done will and what won't!!!! Thanks again for visiting! 

Au Bonheur Des Dames

Hello to all of you lovely bloggers! Today I am sharing a fashion tag using those fabulous Vintage Fashion stamps from Artistic Outpost.

The most fashionable lady was stamped in Watering Can Archival ink over the Antique Linen inked tag background shaded with Ground Espresso and Hickory Smoke (love those colors). The dress boots and logos were stamped as well with GE and HS. Using the Boho Background Die from ODBD, I cut and inked a piece of Crinoline, inked over with Ground Espresso, adhered to background and carefully and lightly stamped the lady image again.

The sentiment was stamped in Coffee and shaded and folded over a little hanger and the tie was dyed and crinkled using left over inks.

The mini tag was done again using the same inks and tied all up! Finished the edge using the Beautiful Borders Die from ODBD, shaded with Hickory Smoke. Now with this being the 1st of December the new monthly "Show Us Your AO Art" challenge is in full swing, so those of you who have these lovely stamps, please join in for a change to win a store voucher!

Thank you for stopping by today and have a fabulous start to December. I don't want any of you to think I have turned into a blog snob as I have not been visiting or commenting as much. It is easy to like on "FB" and not as easy to spend so much time typing. I had a biopsy done on my arm, near the elbow joint about a month ago and it came back positive for an aggressive from of Squamous Cell Carcinoma that had advanced into the skin tissue. No I was not happy about that and surgery was scheduled for the 20th and left me with a good size oval incision (excision) and also tissue was removed. Now I was told to pretty much do nothing and certainly no bending of the arm or lifting, but I can move it a bit better now, so here I am! Still waiting to hear if all the cancerous growth was removed, but this all fell around Thanksgiving, so delays! I get my stitches removed this Thursday and I think I will have a little more flexibility! Anyway my arm has been a bit out of commission with first the biopsy and then the surgery, but I have been using my eyes to enjoy all your wonderful artwork and will be getting back into the swing of creating and blogging!

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Well are you? It is football season and although I do not fully understand the game, I do love the excitement! Today I am sharing a tag using the New Release "Go Team" over at Artistic Outpost, so for all the details, please visit Here.

Hope you have a most fabulous weekend and thank you for stopping by!

Vintage Form!

I hope you all are doing well and want to remind everyone to get those yearly mammograms! We all hate them and have better things to do then go through the squeeze test, but it really is important. When the New Release "Vintage Form" came out, the first thing that came to my mind was to find a dress form or bust to share the importance of that yearly test!

I picked up this Styrofoam form at a craft store and gave it two coats of gesso and then a later of crackle paint from DecoArt. When good and dry a layer of DA Raw Umber Antiquing Cream was applied and the excess wiped off.

The images were stamped in Coffee Archival on tissue paper and colored with markers in pink shades. The sentiments were stamped in Tea Rose Archival and a Beautiful Border Trim from Our Daily Bread was cut and shaded and applied along the edge.

Have a most wonderful weekend and thank you for visiting today!

Artistic Outpost October New Release!

How exciting is this NEW RELEASE from Artistic Outpost for October??? I am so happy that you have stopped by today, because the design team has some really inspirational art to share with you and three random winners will have a chance to win a $15 AO Gift Certificate just by visiting and commenting on all the design team blogs. You have until October 9, 2015 at 10:00 PM CDT and winners will be announced on October 10, 2015. Also you can now order AO products as well as NCC and ODBD all from Our Daily Bread Designs website to save shipping!

Tracy, Shari, Kate, Lisa.

For my first project using "Vintage Fashion," I altered a cigar box. After I applied two coats of gesso, DecoArts Traditions Raw Sienna and Raw Umber were slip slapped on with a double loaded paint brush. While in the drying process, I cut a piece of card stock leaving some of the edge to show and covered with Distress Inks, embossed the panel using a buttons folder from Darice and highlighted the raised areas with Frayed Burlap and then shaded with Walnut Stain and Black Soot. Next I finished the surface of the cigar box by sponging on the same paints and some Delta Dresden Flesh.

The images were stamped in Coffee Archival and fussy cut, added some buttons along with other fashion elements and a bobbin for a little handled.

The sides were finished with some zipper trim with a little stamping on it and ODBD Beautiful Borders Trim.

A little McCall's magic for the box lining and some added little spool feet and all was done.

Now onto my second project for the New Release, "Go Team."

The fact that I love Green Bay, Wisconsin and am a Packers fan when I returned home from a visit there and saw this new release, it was like a sign! I obviously went with the colors of the Green Bay Packers for this and also used a souvenir beer mat from Titletown Brewery Company, making it a bit more personal! Using a sheet of ODBD Winter Collection paper, I stamped the trophies in Coffee Archival and the Footballs in Tree Branch

The young football player and sentiment were stamped in Coffee Archival. I cut the oval from ODBD Stitched Ovals from green paper and and threaded with gold. The banners were stamped in Olive Archival and inked over in Mustard Seed.

Thank you for visiting today and I hope you have enjoyed this New Release as much as I did!

Birds of A Feather

Hello to all of you wonderful blogging friends, who are probably wondering if I have fallen off the face of the earth! No, I am still here and have just been so busy and not having much blogging time! Hope you all are doing well and enjoying life and what remains of summer!

This little sneaky peak using Bluebird and Birds of A Feather can be found at Artistic Outpost with all the details, so if you have some time, pop on over and say hello!

Thank you for stopping by and have a fabulous day!

Merry Christmas!

Isn't it a little scary to think that Christmas is only 19 weeks away? Funny how you think there is so much time and then there is none, so I am getting a little ahead of the game! 

The focal image "Holly and the Ivy" from Artistic Outpost was stamped in Black Archival and then watercolored using markers from Stampin Up. I touched her hair trim with clear glitter pen and left some white edges to give a photo appearance and then added the photo corners. 

All the papers layers are from Our Daily Bread Designs "Christmas Paper 2013" collection and each layer was shaded in Brushed Corduroy. The Merry Christmas is a older Sizzix die and I cute the Ivy from one of Tim's Dies and inked over that in Shabby Shutters and shaded. 

Thank you for stopping by for a visit today and as a reminder the "Show Us Your AO Art" for August is so wanting to see you lovely works of art using of course, those AO fabulous stamps.

Holidays Blog Hop with AO!

It is time for the Holidays at AO and we have a festive Blog Hop in store for you! Visit all the DT for more Holiday Inspiration! Tracy, Shari, Kate, Gerrie, Lisa.

I so love that gorgeous Cardinal from the MidWinter collection and he looks even better on the Christmas Paper 2013 from Our Daily Bread Designs die cut using Tim's Carved Ornament. Stampin Up markers in Pretty in Pink, Going Gray, Crushed Curry (beak,feet) and Certainly celery were used to color in various areas. I stamped the image a second time and fussy cut the pine cones.

The Sentiments were stamped in Black Archival on the same Christmas Paper collection, torn and also layered on more torn CP.

The background was done first with a coat of tan paint and while still wet, I sprinkled on Color Burst (LOVE) in Pthalo Green and Alizarin Red and then I spritzed on water and allowed some to drip. Once this was completely dry, I applied a two step crackle and did allow the 2nd step to dry for 8 hours. Next I sprayed on Chalkboard Hot Chocolate Glimmer Mist and wiped off the excess. Stamped on the Pine Branches in Black Archival.

Thank you for your visit today and I hope you are having a great day! There are only a few days remaining to join in the "Show Us Your AO Art," so come on and play!

Springtime Play with AO!

Hello to all of you and welcome to the "Designers Choice Blog Hop" with Artistic Outpost! All of the team will be sharing their awesomeness with you, so don't miss a thing! Tracy, Shari, Lisa, Kate, Gerrie

I decided to use one of the projects I created with the New Release, "Springtime" and here is how this tag came about!

The little cuties were stamped in Black Archival and watercolored using Brushed Corduroy, Tattered Rose and Spun Sugar, masked off and next the tag background was inked over in Weathered Wood and Stormy Sky, flicked with a little water. Masked off the stamp to stamp on a few Umbrella's using Watering Can Archival and drew on the handles with a marker. I also inked over these a little with the tag background colors to set them back a little. The Fence was also stamped in Watering Can.

To Finish I added a die cut "Play" and that reminds me that there is only a few days remaining to PLAY along in the "Show Us Your AO Art" challenge for May. The sentiment was stamped in Black Archival and inked, then die cut using ODBD Vintage Labels. Finished off all the edges with distressing and inked with Vintage Photo and Black Soot. The ribbon was stained using Weathered Wood and Faded Jeans stain.

Thank you so much for visiting today and have a lovely day and go PLAY!

Spring Is Here!

"Spring Is Here" in my neck of the woods (or desert) and I hope you are enjoying some warm and lovely springtime weather as well! Today I am using Artistic Outpost stamps from Flower Market and Birds of A Feather for my little tag.

The tag was cut from vanilla card stock and Distress Peacock Feathers and Squeezed Lemonade were inked through the Lattice stencil. Next I inked over the entire tag with Antique Linen and shaded the edges with Vintage Photo and then distressed the edges. The little butterflies and dragonflies were stamped in Black Archival.

The frame was cut from a burlap sheet using ODBD Vintage Labels and also shaded with Vintage Photo.  The sweet little butterfly catcher, along with the butterflies were stamped in Black Archival and watercolored using the above inks as well. Her skin tone was done with Spun Sugar. The sentiment was stamped and cut apart! "Everything Goes" at Inspiration Journal, so we are going!

Thank you for stopping by for a visit today. I have been taking advantage of a little yard duty before it becomes too hot here!      

Spring Blog Hop at Artistic Outpost

Spring is in the air and I am sure many of you are very happy about that. It is a Blog Hop all about Spring at Artistic Outpost and the DT has some warming creations for your viewing pleasure, so come on and have a look! Shari, Kate, Tracy, Lisa.

My "Spring" started with some lovely Blooming Garden paper from ODBD, which was embossed with a tulip frame and highlighted using Walnut Stain and shaded around the edges. The Potted Daffodils and Butterflies from Flower Market were stamped in Coffee Archival and then colored in using markers. The sentiment was stamped and cut apart. It is so nice to have a few cards around that are easier for mailing! Will be linking this up to Inspiration Journal's "Spring Blooms."

Thank you for joining me on this beautiful day. Hope you are having a wonderful week!

Wish!

My "Wish" is for all of you to have a fabulous finish to 2014 and a most wonderful 2015! Wow, how time flies and next year, I am going to be ready early for Christmas! Since it is still Christmas here in the US, MERRY CHRISTMAS. Now on to the current challenge at A Vintage Journey is "Ring Out The Old, Ring In The New" as chosen my the talented and most lovely Brenda! Be sure to visit AVJ and treat your eyes to some real gorgeous work from the team! There is always a prize from Country View Crafts, so come on and join in the last challenge of 2014!

I decided I would combine this challenge to "Ring Out" the old craft year by finishing Tim's December Tag with a few improvisations! The tag background was done as directed and for the embossing I used his snowflakes and ice edge little folders. I sanded these slightly and then applied white paint with my finger. After all I am wanting a little snow effect.

Next I stamped the the MidWinter sentiment from Artistic Outpost in blue and clear embossed and then cut apart and shaded the edges. Again I was keeping in step with the Snow!

Not having the thinlits, I used the "Wish" movers and shapers and cut this from using ODBD Vintage Label Dies and sanded and then edged in white paint. Cut an oval in white and then did the glue n seal thing and added Rock Candy Glitter. Can't have enough snow and sparkle when you live in the desert!

Now I do not have that gorgeous Prancing Deer (but it is on the list) and I do have Tim's other deer, but I decided I really want to use the little movers and shapers and having them looking up at the "Wish". These were done using the guidelines and I just added a little more white paint and of course they have to have a nose to breathe! Finished off with the wintery greenery that also got a little snow treatment and added a few jingle bells and what a nice sounding tag. That is that!

Thank you so much for stopping by and will see you all in 2015! Well maybe before, but I am thinking I might take a week off and seriously organize my craft room. It is hard to venture out and try new things with such chaos!