Artistic Outpost's 2nd Anniversary

October marks Artistic Outpost's 2nd Anniversary!

To celebrate they're having a Sketch Challenge.

Here's the info from AO......


Artistic Outpost is celebrating our 2nd Birthday! You have a chance to get a present from us by participating in our challenge. The challenge is pretty simple, just use this sketch and create a Fall or Birthday Themed card using Artistic Outpost images. You'll have until October 23rd to leave your link here on the Artistic Outpost Blog, using Mr. Linky.One winner will be chosen on October 31st, through the Random Number Generator, be sure to check back to see if you've won. The prize is a $25 gift certificate to the Artistic Outpost Store. Note: Artistic Outpost Designers are NOT eligible for the prize.

I decided to play along.........

This is my Fall card created with a bit of artistic license in interpreting the sketch.

I chose to turn the Sketch on it's side. I extended the narrow rectangle to the edge of the card yet still incorporated the brads. I replaced the small rectangle with leaves. And, of course, I added a few embellishments......brown narrow twine wound between the brads and "fall" spelled out with chipboard letters from Basic Grey.


The covered bridge and oak leaf are from AO's new set: Old Grist Mill.

To created this card, I first stamped the covered bridge with black ink on natural card stock. I colored it completely with Distress inks using Cut n Dry foam and Tiny Applicators. I stamped the leaves on cream card stock with various colors of Adirondack inks and clear heat embossed them. I rubbed Distress inks over them to color the background. Once I liked the color, I ironed the leaves between plain newsprint paper to remove the embossing. The result is wonderful color on a dark background and the leaves have a waxy finish and more body allowing the leaves to be shaped and curled. I used the leaf stamp with Versamark ink over the "fall" letters for some character. The texture on the brown band was created with a Cuttlebug embossing folder. I rubbed over it with Walnut Stain ink.

I encourage you to take the AO Sketch Challenge!

Get out your Artistic Outpost stamps.......see what you can create with a fall or birthday theme!

Happy Fall!

Supplies:
Memento Tuxedo Black
Distress Inks: Antique Linen, Peeled Paint, Fired Brick, Dried Marigold, Brushed Corduroy, Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo, Black Soot
Basic Grey Chipboard letters
Narrow Twine
Clear EP
Adirondack Inks: Caramel, Butterscotch, Cranberry, Oregano

A Pretty Sympathy Card

This is another card I created for Fond Memories' Workshop.

This sympathy card features a verse and border from JustRite "Thinking of You" set.

I chose to stamp with Adirondack Oregano ink to coordinate with Basic Grey Wisteria papers. The paper lace was cut with Spellbinders Classic Lace Border die. The center oval is popped up with foam squares. I used Old Paper Distress inks on the edges of the oval, over the vines, lace and card edges. The card is 3 7/8" x 5 3/8" which uses a Bar 5 envelope.

* * *

Supplies:

JustRite Thinking of You stamp set
JustRite Oval Block - 2 ¼ x 3 1/16”
Spellbinders Classic Ovals Small, Lace Border
Paper: Basic Grey Wisteria Fountain and Wind Chimes, Classic Crest Natural
Inks: Adirondack Oregano, Distress Old Paper
Cream Ribbon
Cut n Dry Foam
Envelope: Bar 5

A Birthday Flower

.....a fun card created with Grungepaper and Studio 490 stamps!

This is one of the cards I created for Fond Memories Workshop being held today. Check out their blog for all the projects!

Added September 27,2009:

Here's a close up of the Grungepaper flower.......so fun to shape!

Supplies:

Studio 490 stamps: Alpabetically Art, Card Art Essentials

Distress inks: Broken China, Peeled Paint, Dried Marigold, Black Soot

Grungepaper

Archival Black ink

Bazzill: Aqua, Canvas

Distress Stickles: Broken China

Cute Flower Name Tags...

I created these cute flower name tags for the demonstrators at the Fond Memories stamping workshop. FM is my LSS where I get all my supplies as well as help with samples and product selection. They hold a stamping workshop every Spring and Fall.

Tomorrow is the big day! We've been cutting paper and gathering supplies all this past week. We're ready!

We have 90 stampers coming to create 10-12 projects. I designed 4 of the cards. I always enjoy hearing what they all think of each project! I never seem to be able to predict the most popular. You can see all the projects on the FM blog starting at 10:00 a.m. and posting throughout the day on Saturday. You'll find more details about these name tags there, too.

Happy Stamping!

-judy

A Halloween Cat

This is one of my favorite stamps in Penny Black's Transparent set called "Spooky"!

Isn't he fun! So like a cat to sit prim and proper while watching for a chance to attack those bats!

I used a Spellbinders Circle die to cut him out. I cut the lower portion of the circle off. I cut another black circle the same size and mounted it behind the white circle. I trimmed it a little bigger so there's a border of black at the bottom.

I stamped the royal blue paper with stars from the"sentiments" transparent set from Penny Black using Versamark ink.
Two narrow ribbons create the lines across the bottom. It's mounted on a Bazzill orange paper (don't know the name of it).
"Happy Halloween"is also from "Spooky".


I used these Copic markers: B29,E31, E33, E42, E44, R30, W1, W3, W5, Y000, Y17, YR 20, YR68.


A fun card to make! I will use it for one of my grandchildren...........2 more to make.

I hope you enjoyed your visit!

Check out the Fond Memories blog on Saturday for Workshop project photos! Sneak peaks are posted until then. I'm busy every night after work this week helping with preparations. It's fun to see everything come together.

Saturday will be a fun day!

Enjoy!
judy

The Watch

........created with stamps from The Outpost from Artistic Outpost.

The big Outpost was stamped on cream cardstock with Espresso ink. I added script along the left edge. I used Distress Antique Linen and Vintage Photo along the edges leaving the tree and Outpost with less shading.

For the watch, I first stamped it on a piece of acetate.....cut from a Spellbinders package....using black StazOn. I added color on the back side with Copic markers.

The watch frame was stamped on Grungeboard with black ink (not sure what I used) and clear embossed. I cut it out with a craft knife. The acetate is glued behind the frame with a piece of white paper backing to show the colors better.

Live in the Sunshine was stamped on a scrap of paper that had been sprayed with TA Glimmer Mists.......no sure what colors were on it. It's mounted with foam tape. A narrow ribbon connects it to the watch.

Take time to create!

-judy

A Tree of Hope

I bought this Penny Black tree stamp, called "before the snow", a couple weeks ago. It's been setting on my work table just waiting for me to find time to play.


One night last week I stamped it with Adirondack Bottle ink on light blue paper. It stamped well but seeemed pretty pale. I don't give up easily or throw away a clear stamped image so I added dots of glue with a glue pen and then sprinkled Art Institute Crystal glitter over the glue. I could see potential.....


The next night I decided on the mats: green, white and navy. I also added dots of white with Ranger's white opaque pen. It was pretty but seemed to lack something. I set it aside.


The third day something triggered my mind to think of adding a verse over the tree......a light went on! Funny how my brain was working on a design element for this card while I was at work!!!

That night, I looked through my PB stamps in search of just the right verse. I wanted it to be script and big enough to make a statement. This verse, "hope is born", fit perfectly!

I stamped the verse with Versafine Majestic Blue and heat embossed it with clear. It's amazing it stamped so well over all the glitter specks! Wish the photo showed the true sparkle!

My advice though if you try stamping this card design.......stamp the verse before you add all the glitter! It will be much easier that way.

Thanks for stopping!

enjoy.......
judy

Enjoy Simple Beauty

I'm busy preparing for the Fond Memories Workshop.......coming up September 26th.

Wish I could show you the projects.........but not until September 26th. Be sure to check the Fond Memories blog that day for all the projects. I'll post the ones I created here.

For now.....

....this is a card I created for Artistic Outpost's new release, Old Grist Mill.

This card started with the background......multiple daisies stamped on cream card stock. Then I applied Distress inks.

The daisy is actually four stamped images. The first on Kraft paper. I stamped 3 more daisies on white paper, added a little color with Copic markers, then cut them out. I curled the petals for dimension and cupped the center.

Once I put them all together, you can see how real the petals look.

The faint daisies are colored with Prismacolor pencils including the white scribble over the verse.

......enjoy simple beauty!

smiles...

Sunshine Inchie Card

This card was posted on the Artistic Outpost blog over the past weekend......

All stamps are from The Outpost just released by Artistic Outpost.

When I first got the stamps, I stamped this Outpost inchie. I added color with Copic markers and matted it with a white scalloped square and a black square. Both were cut with Spellbinders dies. I really liked it but didn't have any idea what to do with it. I set it aside while I worked on other projects........waiting for inspiration to strike!

Once I got the idea to stamp the big Outpost tree as a background for the inchie, this card came together quickly.

I stamped the tree from the large Outpost image using StazOn Stone Gray ink on natural card stock. I trimmed it to 2 1/4" x 3 1/4". It's mounted on a narrow black mat.

I stamped the maple leaf across the gold Bazzill card front with Versamark ink.

"Live in the sunshine" was stamped with black ink on natural card stock. I think I colored it with Distress inks (I didn't make notes and can't remember for sure) and cut it apart to fit on the tree piece. The little inchie is mounted with foam tape.

I hope your day is filled with sunshine!

-judy

From the Pumpkin Patch

I created this card with the pumkins from the JustRite Autumn Blessings set. It's such a versatile set!

The pumkins were stamped with Memento Black Tuxedo ink on Classic Crest Solar White paper, then colored with Copic markers: C3, E35, E37, Y38, YR04, O

I shaped the pumkins for dimension by rubbing a paper stump on the back of each one. One advantage of Copics is that some of the color seeps through to the back......that's how I could tell where to shape the paper. Anyone coming to the Fond Memories Workshop on Sept 26 will get to try this technique.

The greeting is stamped in black and clear embossed on Kraft paper, then cut with a scalloped oval Spellbinders die. I cut another dark brown oval to layer behind it. The pumpkins are mounted with foam tape.

All printed papers are from My Mind's Eye: Boo to You Spooky Stripes (front & back) and Candy Dots. I rubbed a little Distress Antique Linen around all the edges of the card.

A few buttons, orange twill tape and a little scallop border finish the card.

This was a FUN card to put together. Even the coloring with Copics is easy with just a few colors.

Have a great day!

Smiles...

judy

A Card by Kathy

My sister, Kathy, created this card with stamps from Tim Holtz. I'm sure she stamped this quickly........that's her style! ....and it's so wonderful! What a great composition! WTG Kathy!

The inside says "enjoy the journey".

Enjoy!

-judy

Box Car Day

Here are a few photos from our local Labor Day celebration called Box Car Days. These first photos are from the Fly In breakfast held at the airport.

.
On this anniversary of 9-11, let us be reminded of what our flag stands for, all the freedoms we enjoy. It's a sad day of remembrance of the terrorist attacks 8 years ago......how that day stands out in my memory. Please honor those who lost their lives in some way today.

......2 of 4 planes ready to take off......

......all 4 planes in formation.............

The big parade.........

......the high school marching band.....

........DH driving his tractor pulling a float for our church.....

.......my favorite - the bagpipes.....

..........and there must be clowns......

.......a fun group of college drummers......

..........one of many fire trucks.......

........some friends and their antique tractor......

It was a beautiful day and a fun family weekend!

Stop by later for a card created by my sister........

Happy Patriot Day!

-judy

Windmill ATC

Happy Labor Day!

It's a busy family weekend for me. Our local hometown celebration, Box Car Days, is held over this weekend every year. Our kids come home.....so fun to have them here! We usually have one home cooked meal together. We take in the carnival, fly in breakfast and the highlight: the Labor Day parade....coming up today.

We drive some of our antique tractors to town for display......several trips to get 6 tractors there which includes some of my Dad's tractors. We didn't take as many this year.......not enough time to get them all ready. My DH drives one of his tractors in the parade pulling a float for our church.

Fun but very hectic at times!

I've got a bit of down time now.......got DH and one grandson off to the get ready for the parade, 3 others are napping, my granddaughter is coloring and chatting with me.



This is an ATC I created with a stamp from AO's The Outpost. I love this scene, so much like the countryside around here. I stamped it with black ink and used Distress inks (Peeled Paint, Broken China and Brushed Corduroy) to add color. The ATC back stamp is from AO Mini Masterpiece colored with Distress Broken China and Antique Linen. Ooops......I almost forgot I stamped the tree from the big Outpost image using Latte ink on the ATC back first. You can see it faintly in the background. Then added the border stamp and coloring.





The house image was trimmed close and matted on cream cardstock which is the back. I tried trimming it leaving a narrow border but it was too hard to try to mask it when applying the Distress colors. Much easier to add a slightly bigger mat/back.

I hope you're having a great Labor Day! It's time to head to the parade.

Smiles to all,
-judy

Frittered Away by Detail

........another card created with stamps from Old Grist Mill from Artistic Outpost

When I first received the Old Grist Mill stamp set, I stamped this background without adding the Distress inks. The oak leaf was repeatedly stamped with Ranger Adirondack Espresso on cream card stock. I set it aside and worked with other stamps. When I was putting together my projects for the AO new releases, I pulled it out again. I added distressing over the whole sheet starting with Antique Linen, then added Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain and Black Soot around the edges. What a difference that made! It brought the focal point to the center.

From there, the card design quickly fell into place. I stamped 3 leaves using Adirondack Caramel and Ginger inks on a piece of file folder, then heat embossed them with clear EP (same technique as Live in the Sunshine) I rubbed Distress Walnut Stain over the leaves and ironed out the EP. I cut them out leaving a border and curled them.

The verse is also stamped on a piece of file folder using Versafine Black Onyx. I cut it out with a Spellbinders Long Rectangles die also embossing the edges. It's distressed with Antique Linen and Vintage Photo with Black Soot just along the very edge.

The ribbon started as ivory.......it just wasn't the right color. To change the color, I placed the ribbon on my Ranger Craft Mat and rubbed various Distress inks over it. I misted it and rubbed the color in until I like the color. I ironed it to dry it. (If the ribbon gets wet, the colors will probably bleed.) I tied a bow and added the ribbon across the leaf paper with the ends glued in place on the back. The leaf paper is glued to the front of a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" cream card. I put a little Crafter's Pick The Ultimate glue on each leaf stem and tucked each one behind the bow. The verse is mounted on foam tape right over the ribbon.

* * * * *

Supplies:

AO Old Grist Mill

Distress inks: Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain, Black Soot

Ranger Adirondack Espresso ink

Silk Ribbon

Spellbinders Long Rectangles die

Clear Embossing Powder

Cream Card Stock, File Folder
* * * * *

I hope you enjoy this bit of creating...my style!

-judy

Joy

Greetings Blogger Friends!




Today, I'm sharing a card I made for Penny Black also posted on the Penny Black Blog. The stamp is "hand-mailed", one of a collection of stamps featuring this cute bear.

They are so fun to color with Copic markers!

I chose to color it in blues rather than traditional holiday greens and reds. Afterall, a U.S. mail box is blue! (Those of you who know where I work will understand!)



I started with my image stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on natural card stock. I used lots of Copic colors....

0, 100, C1, C3, C5, C7, B02, B05, B24, B26, B95, B97, B99, BG10, BG34, BG49, E31, E33, E35, E37, E42, R20, R29, R37, W3, W5
.......all in the photo below.

I added glue and glitter along the snow edges on the mail box and on the ground as well as on the snowflakes. There's Fun Flock on the cuff of the bear's cap & pompom. I layered it on a red mat with narrow edge to set off the little red heart on the envelope.

Next, I cut the blue mat and stamped "snow scroll" along all the edges using Adirondack Lights Aqua ink. I added spots and swirls of glitter with a glitter pen.



The blue card front also has "snow scroll" stamped repeatedly over it but no glitter.



I stamped "joy" (from "holly day critters" stamp set) with Memento Rhubarb Stalk ink on natural card stock. I used a Spellbinders Classic Oval for the shape.



For assembly, I fastened the aqua paper on a bit darker blue paper leaving just a narrow edge showing. That was glued to the darker blue. I tied a bow in silk ribbon and fastened it in place across the mats. The ribbon ends are fastened to the back. All of this is fastened to a natural card - 4 1/4"x 6 1/4". The main image with red mat is fastened over the ribbon. The little "joy" is fastened with a foam square.




Supplies:

4014K – hand-mailed
3892K – snow scroll
30-017 – holly day critters
Memento Tuxedo Black, Rhubarb Stalk ink (Tsukineko)
Adirondack Lights Aqua ink (Ranger)
Markers (Copic 0, 100, C1,3,5,7, W1,3,5, E31,33,35,37,42, R20,29,37, B02,05,24,26,95,97,99, BG10,34,49)
Paper: natural (Classic Crest), red, blues (Bazzill)
Silk Ribbon (Creative Impressions)
Glitter (Art Institute Ultra Fine Crystal)
Classic Oval Small (Spellbinders)
White Fun Flock
Glue



Sending you JOY!
-judy

Simple Beauty

A huge Thank You to all who visited for the Artistic Outpost Blog Hop! Thank you to everyone who left comments........I love reading them! It's so great to get feedback.


I have another AO design to share......a totally different style.

I used stamps from Old Grist Mill to create this simple card.

I stamped the daisy with Memento black ink on a plain white card with a rounded corner. I added the verse with the same ink. On another piece of white paper, I stamped the daisy 3 times. I cut out 2 daisies and one center. I cut some of the petals off one of the daisies.

I colored the daisies with Copic Markers: Y21, Y32, W1. I used E37 and touch of W1 for the center. I shaped the petals by rolling them over my scissors handle, between my thumb and the handle. I turned the daisy center over on a foam mat and rubbed a paper stump over it to give a cupped shape.

I assembled the daisy by gluing the complete daisy over the daisy on the card front, then adding the missing petals daisy and finally the center is fastened with a foam dot. You can see the dimension in the close up photo.


This was a quick & fun card to create.


Until next time.......I'll be working on my...style! Creating, that is!

Thanks for stopping!
-judy

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