A Masculine Touch

Wow, it's been a whole week since I posted!

I had good intentions except a whopper of a cold caught me on Monday.  By Wednesday, I had no energy.  Instead of creating, I slept or rested every night.  I'm still hacking off and on but feel much better.

I want to wish Artistic Outpost a Happy Anniversary!  They're celebrating their 3rd year of business this month!  WTG!  They also released a new stamp collection, Oz Collage.  Check out their blog post or website for more details.

Today, I posted this card on the Artistic Outpost blog:

I needed a card for my DH this week so I put this together very quickly after work on his day!  With me being sick, he didn't get much attention.  I managed to make him a cake and this card. 

Card details......

I stamped the barn image from Artistic Outpost's Country Life using StazOn Midnight Blue on white card stock.  I added just a touch of color to the sky with Distress Stormy Sky and Brushed Corduroy to the silo and ground. 

I cut and embossed the frame using Spellbinders Labels One #5 for the outer edge and Labels Sixteen #4 for the inner edge.

To create the textured paper that I used for the frame, I started by crumpling a piece of Kraft paper ( the kind paper bags are made out of ) several times to give it lots of wrinkles.  Then I ran it through my Xyron to add adhesive.  I stuck it to a piece of card stock.  I used Kraft color but it could be anything as it doesn't show.

This photo shows the Kraft paper after running it through my Xyron.....lots of wrinkles.  Some of the wrinkles do flatten when cutting and embossing the Spellbinders die templates yet the texture remains.

I cut the frame from the wrinkly paper and added touches of Stormy Sky and Brushed Corduroy for color.  The ink helps accent the texture.
The barn image in adhered to the back of the frame, then both are raised with foam squares to mount on the card front.

To cut my card, I used Spellbinders Grand Calibur, the new die cutting machine, and Grand Labels One #3.  If you haven't seen these, check them out!  The Grand Calibur can accommodate 8 1/2" x 11" paper.  It's very easy to use and cuts super well!  The largest Grand Labels One cuts 6 3/4" wide!  Imagine that for scrapbooking!  And for cutting card shapes!!!

For my card, I cut a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of Kraft card stock and folded it in half...typical A2 card.  Then I positioned the Grand Labels One over the card so a curved edge was along the open side.  I used small pieces of tape to keep it in place when I ran it through the Grand Calibur.  To get texture on the card front, I embossed it with the die template in place and a piece of metal window screen placed over the card and die template. Tip: move any tape holding the Spellbinders die template to the back of the card. It will emboss! I learned this the hard way! I had to use a little more Distress ink in those spots!  To highlight the texture and add color, I rubbed Brushed Corduroy and a touch Stormy Sky over the card front. 

To finish the card, I added a piece of seam binding with "happy birthday" stamped across it with StazOn Midnight Blue using JustRite's new alphabet called Myriad Pro, 50 pt.  I tied a button to each end with some string tinted with Midnight Blue ink.  A tiny foam dot holds each button in place to stretch the greeting across the card.

This card could easily be created with a different color scheme and a different image. Coordinating cards and frames could be cut and set aside, just waiting for that last minute card!  Add a quick stamped image and the greeting....even the message could be stamped ahead! 

I hope I've brought a touch of inspiration to your day! 

Thanks for stopping!

smiles...

judy

More Chickens

.....created with Artistic Outpost Country Life stamps.

I promised to show you 2 more chickens cards...........
Both scenes are watercolored. Both have the chickens stamped, masked and then the background farm scene stamped. 

This card done with red is basically the same stamped scene as the card that I posted a few days ago.  You can see it here.  I distressed the edges and placed it on a dark red mat.  There's a narrow dark brown mat and then the textured piece for the card front.  That paper is Core'dinations paper embossed with the Wizard over a piece of burlap.....yes, I like that technique!   I sanded it to reveal the under color and added Distress Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain.  I knotted each piece of twine for a touch of interest.

This 2nd card has more stamping......a little more difficult.  I again stamped and masked the chickens.  I stamped the farm scene the same as the other cards.  Then I cleaned the stamp and inked just the fence.  I didn't mount it on a block so I could curl the stamp to line it up with the already stamped fence.  I kept the stamp curled and rolled it to stamp just the fence.  I repeated that again to extend it even further.  I used a touch of watercolor to fill in any blank spaces.  It helped to have the chickens break the fence line.  Looks pretty good, huh?  I was really pleased with how well it turned out! 

I chose a horizontal layout for my card with the bigger farm scene.  The dark edge was stamped with the seed packet stamp from Bloom and Grow. I inked just the very edges to frame my scene.

That's all the chickens for awhile!

I'm really busy........overwhelmed more like it!.......with working on my June projects for Spellbinders plus CHA projects.  Remember the Spellbinders Blog Frenzy is coming up in July!  I always look forward to that!!!  Makes me  nervous thinking about it......only because I have a deadline soon approaching.

Thanks for visiting! 

Happy Creating!

-judy

Country Chickens

I really got hooked on these chickens this week!  I love coloring them!   I made this card for Fond Memories.  I'll show my other 2 cards another day.
The chickens and farm scene stamps are from Country Life by Artistic Outpost.  I stamped the chickens first using Versafine Black Onyx ink.  I created a mask with Eclipse tape to cover the chickens.  Then I stamped the farm scene.  Remove the mask and the chickens are in front of the barn!
I used watercolors for all the coloring.
I made the narrow dark brown frame with Spellbinders Deckled Rectangles LG S4-202 #5 and Classic Rectangles SM S4-130 #5.  The farm scene is mounted with foam squares over a light blue mat framed with a narrow dark brown edge.  The card front is Core'dinations paper sanded to reveal the lighter color.  I added 3 strips of thin dark brown twine.
For the title, I simply trimmed around "country life" with my scissors.  It may look rounded on the corners but actually the corners are just snipped off at an angle.

Happy Creating!
 -judy

County Fair

County Fair season will be here before we know it!  The summer seems to fly by once the weather warms up!
With fond memories of our county fair, I put this card together using stamps from Artistic Outpost's Country Life!
I stamped the barn scene first using Espresso ink on white card stock.   Then I masked it and stamped the boy.  I colored all parts with watercolors. I would usually use watercolor paper but didn't this time.  I had in mind to use Distress inks for coloring when I stamped it.  The trick with regular card stock is not to get it too wet or it starts to pill......I dab off the moisture as I work with a paper towel.
The pig, flags and "county fair" ticket were stamped separately and cut out.  I created the 1st place ribbon with Spellbinders Pinking Circles SM #1 die and the #1 die from Blossom Two.  I free hand cut the ribbon tails. I added a little metal number that I had in my stash.
I used my burlap again to emboss the reddish background mat....I love the texture it creates!  I rubbed Distress Fired Brick and Aged Mahogany inks over it to really accentuate the texture!  I used Distress Stormy Sky on the blue card stock for my card front.
A little twine across the bottom adds to the country feel!  I stamped "country life" on a piece of craft stick that I simply broke to size.  I added a touch of watercolor to "stain" it which also made the stamping wash out a bit.  Seemed appropriate for this card!
My favorite part?  The little pig.  He is just the cutest!

Supplies:
Artistic Outpost Country Life
Watercolors
White, royal blue card stock
Bazzill - blue, dk rust, brown
White, blue card stock
Metal "1"
Wood craft stick
Thin Twine

Three New Artistic Outpost Stamp Sets!

Today, Artistic Outpost is releasing three new stamp sets!  All wonderful collections!

Beyond the Sea was inspired by the Bobby Darin song, “Beyond the Sea”. It features interchangeable main images including the perfect lighthouse, alluring couple, and longing clam digger. Perfect for cards, shadow boxes, and scrapbooking your seashore visits.

Bloom and Grow and Country Life represent two halves of one whole.
Bloom and Grow features more feminine elements including a perfect seed frame that you can use with so many of our stamps.

Country Life includes a little more fun “boy” imagery including the cutest little pig, chickens, and little boy. Mix and match both of these collections together or with our other collections such as Lovely Day and Home.



Enjoy all three collections together for a special price. From now until June 4th, purchase all three sets together for $36, that’s a savings of 15%. Simply use coupon code: SUMMER2010 at the Artistic Outpost website when you check-out.

Now for some inspiration!

This is a card I created with Country Life.  The little pig is just so cute, so realistic.  My Dad raised pigs when I was growing up.  I often helped with chores.  This AO pig has that inquisitive look that is so like pigs!
I stamped the barn and pig separately, of course.  I watercolored each of them. I trimmed the barn along the left edge of the stamped image.  On the right side, I left some extra space and extended the color beyond the image.  The pig hides the edge of image.  The pig is mounted on foam squares to bring it forward.   I stamped the verse, added a touch of brown watercolor and free hand cut it out.  I wanted it to look a little irregular, rough hewn.  It's also mounted with foam squares. 
The red and dark brown paper is from Core'dinations.  I embossed the texture into it by laying a piece of burlap on my Wizard cutting mat.  I misted the paper and placed it over the burlap.  Over that I placed the Spellbinders embossing sheet and 2nd cutting mat.  I ran it through my Wizard just like an Impressabilities.  The texture of the burlap was pressed into the paper.  I sanded it to show the texture and red color.  What a great texture plate!  Or should I call it a texture fabric!
The red mat around the farm is the back side of the Core'dinations paper.  There's also a narrow green mat. The card front is dark brown paper from Bazzill.....I'm not sure of the name. 
I'll post another project using a different new release set later today.  Stop back for more inspiration!
Be sure to visit the other Designers to see what they've created!  I know you won't be dissappointed!   Just click on a name to go to their blog.

Lisa  -  Gerrie  -  Cathy  -  Lynn  -  Shelly  -  Toni

Remember to stop back!

-judy