Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Skeleton Tag

This is a quick skeleton tag I created with Artistic Outpost's Haunted Halloween set.
I sprayed the tag with Glimmer Mist.....I can't remember what colors.  Then I stamped all the images.  The house is stamped off once before stamping to keep it lighter.  I clear embossed the verse, bats and the scarecrow after stamping with Versafine Black Onyx. 
I added some thin black yarn  to the top......voila! done!
This could easily be adapted for a quick Halloween card.

Have a super day!
-judy

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Christmas Tags

......created with Artistic Outpost's Sleigh Ride stamps.

 
I used small manilla tags (1 3/8" x 2 3/4") to make these gift tags.

I used the pine cone  and "Merry Christmas" for this tag.  All the coloring is Distress inks rubbed on with Cut n Dry foam.  One of my favorite techniques!
I stamped just a portion of the little girl and boy on this tag.  I used Copic markers to color them.  I added Antique Linen and a touch of Vintage Photo Distress inks to "age" it.

       My favorite, the trees are on this one. I used Distress Tumbled Glass to color the sky. I added snowflakes embossed in white over top.  I used white EP for "snowy woods", too.  I had no intention to make it look like icicles hanging from it!  I made the mistake of brushing over it when it was still warm.....voila "icicles"! 

  I used just the faces of the kids with the sleigh for this tag.  I used Distress inks for all my coloring and  stamping the snowflakes.
Have a super Saturday!
I'm working at the Fond Memories workshop all day.  It's always fun! We have 107 stampers coming! 
If you'd like to see the cards they'll be making, check out Fond Memories blog.
Until next time, have a creative day!
-judy

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Artistic Outpost Sleigh Ride

A new wintery Christmas set from Artistic Outpost...Sleigh Ride!
Hooray! I love Christmas stamps!

Sleigh RideSleigh Ride features nostalgic images of children in their coats and finery, perfect for your winter or holiday projects. We also feature a versatile background stamp of glistening pine trees and holiday sentiments and collage elements.
These stamps are available both as an unmounted sheet of red rubber measuring 8.5" x 5.5" or mounted on EZMount clingfoam, pre-trimmed, and stored on a printed cling card.

Here's one of the cards I created with these beautiful stamps!
I started with the children and sleigh stamped on white paper.  I masked them to stamp the trees in the background.  I used Ranger Pesto and Bottle to ink the trees.  Because they didn't stamp quite up to the edges of the children, I filled in the space with Copics.  I also added a bit of shading to the trees.  The children were colored with the Copics you see in the photo except for the greens.
 
I used a very dark green mat to frame the image, then dark red and another dark green one.  There are little brads in each corner.

I stamped the verse with Ranger Raisin on white paper.  I colored the background with Copics using several grays and B60.  To create the frame shape, I first cut out the verse with a Spellbinders S4-138 Petite Ovals LG #2.  Then I trimmed straight across the top of the verse.  I cut the dark green mat with S4-140 Petite Ovals SM #3.  I trimmed it to match the verse leaving a 1/8" edge at the top.  I tucked it under the mat of my main image so it looks almost like it's all one piece.  I like the curve of the oval frame with the curve of the sleigh runners. The card front is pale bluish purple Bazzill. 

For more inspiration, check out my fellow Design Team members blogs to see what lovely creations they made:


 I know you'll find lots of inspiration from all these talented ladies!
Have a stamping great day!
-judy

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Joyeux Noel

Today, I have a Christmas gift tag to share. 
Come December, I always appreciate all the Christmas tags and cards I've made throughout the year.  I never seem to have time to make tags then.

I started with a #8 manilla tag.  The surface of tags is a little different than most card stock.  I really like using Distress inks on them.  I scored it 7/8" from the hole end and just under 2 3/8" from the opposite end.  I did all the stamping before I fastened the top edge down.

I used just a portion of the stamp for the Santa stamped with Espresso ink.  The stamp has words in the lower right area which I masked because they wouldn't all fit on the tag.  Instead, I stamped "joyeux noel" with Adirondack Raisin and clear embossed it.  

The Santa is colored with Copics (see photo for colors).  I added Distress Antique Linen and Vintage Photo over it.




I stamped branches on the back and inside with Pesto ink.  I also used Anitique Linen and Vintage Photo. 
I wrote "to" and "from" with a black pen.  "Happy Christmas" is stamped with Raisin and clear embossed.






This photo shows the outside of the tag as it looks open.







 I used red line tape to fasten the top fold leaving the edge free.  The bottom of the tag (Santa) tucks under the flap like a matchbook.  I repunched the hole through the back so I could add my ribbon ties.

The manilla tag seemed so appropriate for the vintage feel of the Snowy Woods stamps but his tag could easily be created with other Christmas stamps! 

This was a fun little project!


 I think I'm back on track for creating......thank goodness!  It's so hard to get projects done when nothing seems to work!

Happy to have you visit!  I hope you enjoyed my Noel tag!
-judy

Thursday, September 16, 2010

......it's been awhile!

It's certainly been awhile.  I sometimes wonder how the time can go by so fast.

Sorry to say, I just haven't been very creative the last couple weeks......sort of in a creative slump. 
I even struggled to get a couple projects done for the Fond Memories workshop coning up on Saturday, Sept. 25th. I have a few finishing touches on one card left.  Then I'll be helping with all the paper cutting.  I'll be able to share the projects after that day.

I'm also working on projects for a new Artistic Outpost stamp set coming out soon!  Watch for more info!

Throw in a big family weekend and a few other things........and I'm finally getting back to my blog!


So, I went searching through my photos and found
this card created for Spellbinders.
It could easily be for Valentine's Day....I know it's a bit early for that!   Or it's perfect anytime for a special someone!
The embossed foil heart was cut with Spellbinders new S4-296 Nested Hearts.  I used the smallest and medium die templates of the 3 hearts.  I cut the heart out of craft foil and embossed it.  The pretty pink color was air brushed on with my Copic air brush system using RV17 and R89 markers. I sanded the embossed areas to reveal the silver  color.  The navy frame and background paper were embossed with Fleur de Lis Impressabilities and inked, too.  The DP is from KaiserCraft Gypsy Sisters collection.  I created the little tag with a tiny strip of paper with rounded corners.  The verse is from Waltzing Mouse.

Supplies:
S4-291 Labels Fifteen #5, 7

S4-247 Labels Twelve #5
S4-126 Classic Squares LG #7
S4-295 Lacey Squares #5
S4-296 Nested Hearts #1, 2

12.014 Fleur de Lis Impressabilities
Craft Foil
Waltzing Mouse Seasons of Love stamp
KaiserCraft Gypsy Sisters Collection
Copic RV17, R80
Airbrush System
Distress Shattered Saphire
Worldwin Beargreass Linen

Have a creative day!
~judy

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Congrats Spellbinders!

Did you see the Spellbinders Blog yesterday?
Spellbinders has been named one of Inc. 500 fastest growing private companies in America! 
Congrats, Spellbinders! 

Here's the info:


Spellbinders Listed as One of America’s Fastest Growing Companies


Peoria, AZ – August 31, 2010 — Spellbinders™ Paper Arts, LLC, an award-winning inventor, manufacturer and marketer of cutting edge tools for crafters, announced today it has been named to the Inc. 500, a list of the fastest growing private companies in America. With an extraordinary three-year growth rate of 673%, Spellbinders Paper Arts is ranked 446 on this year’s list, No. 5 in the Phoenix Metro area and No. 25 in the Consumer Products & Services category. With over 27 million businesses registered in the United States, the Inc. 500 list represents the top-tier businesses in America today.

“Fast growth at any time is a big achievement; fast growth during the past few years is just short of miraculous,” said Inc. editor Jane Berentson. “The Inc. 500 consists of these just-short-of miraculous companies, the ones that through ingenuity and ambition have increased revenue, hired employees, and grown fast in difficult economic times.”

Each year, Inc. magazine ranks U.S.-based, privately held companies according to percentage growth. The fastest-growing list is an exclusive ranking of entrepreneurs nationwide – a group Inc. magazine refers to as the most important segment of the U.S. economy. “It is an honor to be included in this year’s Inc. 500 list and recognized for our entrepreneurial achievements,” said Stacey Caron, Spellbinders’ President. “Our focus has always been on manufacturing innovative, quality products for crafters. This confirmation of our success is the ultimate recognition of our efforts to grow a business that is both rewarding and fulfilling.”


Spellbinders embraces Web 2.0 marketing methods. They have assembled a team of the best designers in the industry to share their expertise online through a variety of web communities.

About Spellbinders Paper Arts

Spellbinders entered the craft and hobby market in 2003 with the introduction of the Wizard® Universal Craft Tool and a unique, patented collection of dies unlike any introduced before - or since. Always on the cutting edge in introducing innovative tools to the market, the Grand Calibur™ and Presto Punch™ are the company’s latest offerings for crafters. Spellbinders product lines include more than 250 patented and patent-pending products, allowing crafters, hobbyists, artists and teachers to create one-of-a-kind, beautiful paper art projects. Visit http://www.spellbinderspaperarts.com/ or e-mail info@spellbinders.us for more information.
 Copyright 2010 Spellbinders Paper Arts LLC. All rights reserved. Spellbinders and the Spellbinders logo are trademarks of Spellbinders Paper Arts LLC. Spellbinders product specifications are subject to change without notice. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.

Winter Beauty

I have a scrapbook layout to share today!  This is one of my Spellbinders projects.  It's one of my favorite layouts so far!
I chose photos of my daughter taken on a beautiful snowy Christmas Day.  It was one of those perfect snowfalls.....big flakes, no wind and fairly warm.....rare in Minnesota.  Perfect for photos!

I've used lots of new Spellbinders die templates: Classic Diamonds, Labels Fifteen, 2010 Snowflake Pendants, and Nested Mittens.  I also used Standard Circles and Classic Squares.  I chose papers from KaiserCraft Peachy Keen Collection plus Oceanside Golden Post-It paper from 3M.  The snowflakes and mittens are cut from Core'dinations paper and sanded.  I cut the title with Presto Punch Nobel Roman punch templates.

I can actually say this was a fun layout to put together!  I may come to enjoy scrapbooking yet!

Happy Creating!
-judy