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

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

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

New Artistic Outpost Stamp Sets!

Today, Artistic Outpost is releasing 3 new stamp sets! They're awesome images!

Here's an excerpt from AO about the new releases:

The newest three collections from Artistic Outpost have a very natural vintage style, an ode to simpler times. We were inspired by some of our favorite quotes of Henry David Thoreau. His simple advice to "simplify, simplify" are words we should use in our daily life - the hustle and bustle of work, home, and community - as well as in our art. How often do we just need to stamp! Just the act of simply putting ink to rubber is calming and rewarding. We hope you find simple inspiration to create something that makes you happy.

And, we know you will love and want all three. So for a limited time, we are offering 20% when you purchase all three stamp collections. Simply use coupon code: September2009 at check out.

The Outpost: This collection is inspired by our Serenity signature set and continues this theme with a much larger image of our "outpost". You will love the versatility of this collection including the ATC sized farm house, and the nostalgic pocket watch.

Old Grist Mill: We live in the South where covered bridges are not quite as common as they are in other parts of the US and Europe. However, we absolutely long to be driving through the countryside in the fall, stopping at each covered bridge, and just listening to the "clippety, clap" of the tires going over each floor board. Again, we are reminded to enjoy simple beauty.

Generation Redux: These vintage images are grunged up a bit in a unique collage style. They are designed to go with not only The Outpost and Old Grist Mill, but think of using them with Home as well. We love this generation and find that this style of photo stamp is a perfect versatile style to add that "human" element to your creations.

* * * * *

I had the opportunity to work with Old Grist Mill and The Outpost for this release. What wonderful images! I loved working with both of them. Both of these sets work well together. My favorite, though, is Old Grist Mill. I only touched on a few ways to use this set.

Here's my first project......



The grist mill......

......stamped with Adirondack Espresso ink on natural card stock. I colored it with Copic markers: C1, E31, E42, E44, G94, W1, W3, W5,YG03, YG11, YG65, YG91, YG93, 0
(photo below)


The green mat and cream card were cut with Spellbinders Curved Rectangles dies. Yes, the card started as natural color. I colored the edges with Copic YG91, W3, W5. I also stamped the grist mill advertising stamp around the edges of the card front using Espresso stamped off once. I think I added a bit of Antique Linen distressing, too......It was awhile ago when I created this card and I didn't make notes so I'm not positive.

The green mat has Distress Walnut Stain around the edges.

The brown mat started as a rectangle. Then I used a paper distressor on the edges for a worn look. I've added a bit of Black Soot to create a "burnt edge".

I stamped "simplify" with Espresso and cut it out with a Spellbinders tag. While the paper was still in the die, I colored it with Copic YG91 . I added 3 tiny brads in front of the word. It's mounted with foam tape.

To assemble, I glued the green curved mat to the card front. Then I slipped twine through the opening on the fold edge and around the card several times. It's knotted near the opening edge. The grist mill is glued to the dark brown paper and then fastened to the card front with thin foam dots. "Simplify" is attached with thicker foam tape.

If you'd like to see more wonderful projects using these new sets, visit the Artistic Outpost website and click on the Designers names to see their creations. Today, my ATC is pictured on the home page. Really exciting to see it featured there! I'll post it and the rest of my projects over the next few days.

Be sure to check out the AO Blog Hop on September 1st! I'm saving my best project for that day.

Thank you for stopping!

Smiles to you,

-judy