Artistic Outpost Blog Hop

Good morning all!

Hooray, it's blog hop day for Artistic Outpost!!!
Today, we're featuring 3 new stamp releases - Old Grist Mill, The Outpost and Generation Redux.
We're not linking the blogs from one to another, rather all the Designers names are listed below so you can click on each one to see their wonderful uses of these stamp sets. Have fun!

Lisa Somerville
Gerrie Johnnic
Kelly Burton
Cathy Edgar
Debby Boltman
Judy Hayes
Lynn Stevens
Robin Willis
Sharon Briss
Susan Conrad
Toni Tessler

I had the privilege to work with Old Grist Mill and The Outpost. What awesome stamp sets!

This is my favorite project of all that I made for the new releases......

What do you think?

I started this whole project with the central collage. I stamped the pocket watch with black ink on a piece of file folder.....love working on them because they have a different absorbency.....and heat embossed it with clear EP. I cut a mask for the watch but not the stem & loop. Once it was in place, I stamped the tree/fence over it using Adirondack Latte ink. I positioned the stamp so the building was over the masked watch, I just wanted the tree and fence to show....it worked out great. I again heat embossed the tree with clear EP. Next I stamped the script writing, same ink, same embossing. Then I added some leaves around the edges using various Adirondack inks: Oregano, Terra Cotta, Red Pepper, Ginger, Caramel; heat embossed again. The clear embossing protects the colors when I add Distress inks.

You guessed it! The next step is to add Distress inks! I actually started with Antique Linen......my usual first step. It wasn't dark enough. I then used Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain and Black Soot all applied with Cut n Dry foam. If you try this, I think you could skip the Anitque Linen and start with Vintage Photo to get the same results. I even added some Red Pepper for red tones. Once I was satisfied with the color, I removed the embossing. To do this, lay it face down on plain newsprint or a paper towel. Press a hot iron on the back until the embossing melts into the newsprint, repeat as needed. Magic! Now all the colors pop on the dark background.

To elevate the pocket watch face, I rubbed a paper stump over the back side with the paper face down on a foam pad (fun foam works or even a Coluzzle pad). I cut a thin piece of chipboard the size of the watch (stamp it for the exact shape). I glued it behind the watch to keep that area raised/embossed.

I added Ranger Crackle accents to the face of the watch but it didn't crackle much. I was to impatient to wait so I used my heat gun to dry it. I also added Ranger Matte Accents to watch case, stem & loop. For some reason the loop looks glossy instead of matte. It adds just a tiny bit more dimension.

Now for the assembly.......

I matted it on black, then on a 6x6" dark red Bazzill paper. I added very narrow tan pieces on each edge. The paper was the "perfect" color but not big enough for a full mat......so the pieces don't quite reach each corner.

The verse was stamped and embossed on a scrap of file folder, edges torn, and distressed with Antique Linen, Vintage Photo and Black Soot. It's layered onto a narrow strip of black card stock with corners rounded. Since it's so narrow, rounding the corners produced a nice point. I added a hole at each end. The ribbon is threaded in each hole & back to the edge.....not under the label. There's a bit of black yarn tied and knotted around the ribbon.

Now for more fun! I stamped and embossed 12 maple leaves, again on a file folder. I used various Adirondack inks and heat embossed them with clear EP. Same trick........add Walnut Stain and Black Soot, iron out the embossing and......Voila! Beautiful leaves to cut out! The paper has a nice finish from the embossing and curls well.

I placed the leaves around the edges and near the verse. They're just spot glued with Crafter's Pick The Ultimate glue..........my favorite glue.

My original idea was to make a card. Once I got it put together, it seemed too nice for a card! I searched through all my frames but didn't have a square one to fit. I did find a piece of black mat board that I cut to 8 x 8". I stamped maple leaves all around the edges using Versamark. I fastened the collage in the center of the mat board. I hope to find a frame for it.

Wow, that was a lot of directions..... As always, any questions, please email me.

Supplies:

Artistic Outpost The Outpost
Distress inks: Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain, Black Soot
Adirondack inks: Red Pepper, Oregano, Ginger, Caramel, Terra Cotta, Latte
Versamark ink
File folder
Paper: Bazzill dark red, tan, black
Clear EP
Ranger Crackle Accents, Matte Accents

I hope you enjoy the rest of the AO blog hop! Check out the Gallery, too! Awesome projects created by the Design Team!

Thanks for stopping at my blog! Enjoy your visit and come back soon!

Smiles!
-judy