Groovy Snowpeople

I spent the day playing with snowmen (and women). With it being so hot here in Florida, it was nice to use stamps that gave me the feel that it was actually colder outside. This month at the Make It, Take It Claire is spotlighting some of the new sets from JustRite. (click on any picture to see a larger image)

The card above is the one I will be teaching. I began by using my Labels 12 die and cut a shape through the patterned paper and cardstock. I stamped the image with Memento ink and colored with Prisma pencils and gamesol. The pp is from Bo Bunny and it really glitters. A few strips of cardstock and some cream ribbon from May Arts are across the top. I used metallic pens on the hat and snowflake for some bling. The small snowflakes are from Hero Arts.

Claire likes us to prepare an alternate card to show the versatility of the stamp or set in this case. The following are the other stamps in the Groovy Snowman set:

The top left was made with a scalloped card by Paper Cuts. I colored the image with Copics. The outer ring is popped up on foam squares and the bow is made with some red cord. The card on the right used some Basic Gray Eskimo Kisses paper. The image is also colored with Copics. I layered a few scalloped circles under the image and each one is popped on foam squares. I found a bit of old SEI ribbon and was determined to use it on this card so I made a few loops and added a snowflake in the middle to hold it together.

For the fourth image, I made this tag inspired by Tim Holtz. I stamped the images with Vintage Sepia ink. Other than the snowman, the images are from Inkadinkadoo. Using a blending tool, I sponged Fired Brick, Antique Linen, Bundled Sage, Tea Dye and Walnut Stain. I distressed the edges with my TH tool and rubbed the Walnut Stain along the edge. I added a tree brad, stickles in Holly and Christmas Red and fiber (the fiber looked so much better than the white string that came on the tag).

My goal was to show how versatile the stamps are with the four different looks I created. Hopefully it was achieved :)

Revisiting Thinking Inking week 1

 A good friend of mine has decided to revisit the Thinking Inking Challenge from last year. Originally posted by Jennifer McGuire last year on 2peas, Jan (Far North) has brought the challenge back to life this summer. To get all the information in case you would like to follow along, click here and it will take you to Jan’s challenge post.

       (click the image for a larger picture)

The challenge is centered around using Distress Inks which I have plenty of. They sit there quietly stacked on top of each other with their neat label affixed. Sadly, they don’t come out very often to play. With my creative mojo absent lately, I thought this would be a stress-free venture.  The first three videos are the basics of what the inks are capable of. My tag is fairly simple. I used the following inks on it: Black Soot, Wild Honey, Broken China and Bundled Sage. I took the picture so you could see the full image on the stamp. I stamped and embossed the image with clear powder first. After using the blending tool to apply the inks, I spritzed the tag with water, but I guess not enough because I don’t really see the splotches. Next I sprinkled Kiwi perfect pearls and hit it with the heat gun.  I choose the sentiment to go along with the butterfly image because what better to represent a change than a butterfly! I stamped partial images of the stamp on the tag and added a few black rhinestones. The flower began as a white flower but I sponged broken china and bundled sage so it would match the tag. I also sponged ink on my twine for the top of the tag.

While my card mojo is on hiatus, I am busy with my cross-stitching. I am about to begin an afghan. Guess what design will be on it? Butterflies! I have been eyeing the Zweigart Butterfly Garden kit in magazines these last few months. I refused to pay the $80. After doing a google search, I found the booklet for $9, only had to buy 8 colors of yarn (i have a huge stash of colors that I never got rid of) and got the afghan at Joann’s with my 40% coupon for $17.99! I was stoked. If I finish it by Christmas, it will be my present to myself :)