Sail On!

Good Monday morning!  I hope you all enjoyed a nice weekend and are ready for the brand new week ahead, I know I am!  It's supposed to be hot and steamy here and we have some fun family activities planned!

But first, it's Kitchen Sink Stamps Monday and I'm here to share the another of the new KSS release sets, Sailboats.  This is a great mini set - a nice way to give KSS stamps a try if you're hesitant!  A great set for masculine cards, for your sailor friends, for those who love the water and it's a great add-on set for the Lighthouses set!

I played along with the Mix Ability Challenge at SCS this week for this card.  The challenge was to use some bold colors and then tone them down a bit with gesso or white paint.  There's a great video along with the challenge - check it out.  I basically used the technique from the video, it was so fun and gave me just the look I was going for!

I used only the Step 1 stamp from Sailboats to stamp my silhouette sailboats.  The sun was stamped with the sunflower center from Multi-Step Sunflowers.

Thanks for stopping in today, be sure to visit the rest of the KSS Crew and have a great Monday!

Connie • Lisa • Lynn • Maria • Tammy

Cardstock:  (White) Neenah, (Black) Papertrey Ink, Stamps: (Sailboats, Multi-Step Sunflowers) Kitchen Sink Stamps, Ink: (Salty Sea, Tumbled Glass, Wild Honey) Ranger, (Black) Accessories: Jute twine, Tools: White craft paint, (Craft sheet) Ranger

New Post at eP!

I'm posting on the eclectic Paperie blog today - pop over and take a look at my journal page!! :)

Sunshine!

Good morning! This is a project I posted last week on the eclectic Paperie blog. A bit of sunshine for you today! :)

I wanted to show you that you can do mixed media (which face it, is really popular now and spilling into everything!) in a CAS (clean and simple) style!  When I first started seeing and hearing about mixed media I resisted - after all, I thought it was all grunge and sponge and  that just isn't me.  But, then I started paying more attention, looking at other mixed media artists and finding out that it's really all about combining things you love and using anything that inspires you!

I used some of the new Pink Paislee She Art products (all the links are below) that are in the eP store.  This is a line of products designed by Christy Tomlinson - love her style!

I used the new Vintage Doily Mask, it's a big, beautiful mask that will go with everything!!  I simply layed the mask over my paper and sprayed it with Pure Sunshine  baby (Ink Spray that is)!  Love it!

I then pulled out the new Border Rub-ons from the same Pink Paislee She Art line and added a simple black line down one side for a bit of contrast and grounding. Since the sentiment is black it all seems to flow.  I added 2 stacked buttons tied with some Lemondrop Twine and a bit of bling (why not?!) - done!

There you have it, mixed media a la CAS style!  Wouldn't this be so pretty do with all different colors of ink sprays?! Oooooh, I might have to shop for more colors, think pretty chartreuse green, bright pink, turquoise . . . FUN!!  Have a great day my friends!

Pink Paislee - She Art (Christy Tomlinson) - Border Rub Ons	Vintage Doily Mask	The Twinery - Lemondrop
Dylusions Ink Spray - Pure Sunshine	Glue Dots

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Soar!

Seriously? I haven't posted for over a week?? Oh my!  Well, the stomach bug hit our family last week and over the weekend and it wasn't until Tuesday that we surfaced so I guess I haven't had much crafting time.  Feels good to be back! :)

Today's Mix Ability Challenge at Splitcoaststampers is to use the negative space from any of your die cuts - you can use it as a stencil or a window, lots of fun!!  I tried out several things before I hit of something that I liked - one of those days!

I took the Heart Swirl CutUps die from The Cat's Pajamas and used it to stencil all over a piece of vintage book paper.  It really did look pretty but it was too busy to use the whole sheet (I could have toned it down with a bit of paint or gesso before I stenciled, but . . . ).  Then I die cut hearts from it which I like much better!

I used The Tweetest Things from The Cat's Pajamas as well as the coordinating CutUps die, Home Tweet Home.  The background was stamped with the Lock & Heart background (love that stamp!!)

This weekend is going to be exciting - I'm running in my first ever 5K race -eeeeekkk!!  I'll let you know how it goes, until then, have a great Friday!

Cardstock: Cardstock: (Natural White) Neenah, (Pure Poppy, Black) Papertrey Ink, vintage book paper, Stamps: (Lock & Heart Background, The Tweetest Things) The Cat's Pajamas, Ink: (Black) Marvy, (Barn Door) Ranger, (Versamark) Tsukineko, (Vintage Cream) Papertrey Ink, Accessories: Washi tape, (Rhinestone Swirl) Prima, Tools: (Home Tweet Home CutUps, Heart Swirl CutUps) The Cat's Pajamas, (Hearts) Spellbinders, (embossing folder) Provo Craft

Key To My Heart

Good morning!  As promised, I'm back with a card I made for the Mix Ability Challenge yesterday at SCS. This week's challenge, Construction Zone, is to use metal with some other mixed medium.  I never got a chance to play with last week's challenge, Rip It, Paste It, Ink It so I thought I'd combine the two.

The idea came pretty quickly - The Cat's Pajamas latest release, which was just on Tuesday, included a CutUps die set called Key To Your Heart and 2 great coordinating stamp sets, Key Phrases and Lock & Heart Background.  Keys are metal so it seemed a no-brainer!

First, I used several different types of vintage book paper, tore them and glued them down using Decoupage to a piece cardstock.  Then I used white paint mixed with Acrylic Glazing (which makes the white semi-transparent) and painted over the piece to tone it down a bit. Next I used a new background stamps from The Cat's Pajamas, Lock & Heart Background and stamped directly over the whole sheet. The stamp was perfect!

The key is a new CutUps die from TCP - Key To Your HeartI cut it from a thin sheet brass which I then embossed with a wood-grain pattern. I used Linen Distress Paint on it, rubbed on some Fired Brick Distress Stain and a bit of Brown paint. Next, crackle medium and then a bit of white paint. Basically, lots of layers - but then I sanded it a bit and removed some to expose the brass beneath! :)  It came out looking like a great vintage key!

The sentiment is from TCP, Key Phrases and was stamped with Fresh Snow ink.  The little heart lock is another die cut from the Key To Your Heart CutUps set which I cut from a layer of book paper and cardboard.  I rubbed it with Distress Stain and gave it a layer of Gel Medium.

I hope you've been inspired to give the new challenges a try!  Mixed Media is really more about looking at your supplies differently, maybe trying out a few new ones and experimenting - you don't have to get all grungy or totally change your style.  Make it what YOU want! :)

Have a wonderful weekend my friends!

Cardstock: (Natural White) Neenah, (some red???), (Dark Chocolate) Papertrey Ink, Vintage book pages, 
Stamps: (Key Phrases, Lock & Heart Background) The Cat's Pajamas, Ink: (Frayed Burlap) Ranger, (Fresh Snow) Papertrey Ink, Accessories: (Hemp), (Seam Binding) The Cat's Pajamas, Tools: (Key To Your Heart CutUps) The Cat's Pajamas, (Fired Brick Distress Stain, Linen Distress Paint) Ranger, (Acrylic Glazing) Golden, craft paint, brass sheet

Key Phrases stamp set	Lock & Heart Background	Distress Stain - Fired Brick
Key To Your Heart CutUps dies	Tim Holtz Distress Paint - Antique Linen	Distress Ink: Frayed Burlap
Cream Seam Binding

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Mixed Roses

Happy Monday!  We had such a beautiful weekend here - Spring is coming folks! :)  Another good thing is that I was able to get to the craft store, use my 40% off coupon and buy some gesso so that I could participate in the Mix Ability Challenge #6 on Splitcoaststampers!  This technique was so much fun, totally fun to play with "artsy" supplies!

I thought that mixing the gesso technique with Kitchen Sink Stamps would make a pretty card and I think it did!

I started with a page from a vintage Primer that I purchased for $1 a few weeks ago.  I gave it two thin-ish layers of gesso because I wanted the print to peek through. Then I used the script stamp from 3 Step Letters from the Past (from Kitchen Sink Stamps) and colored directly on the stamp using 2 pink Gelatos.  I then spritzed it with water and stamped - pretty!  I stamped the rose from 3 Step Hearts and Roses (also KSS) using the ink recipe below but on the last step I spritzed it lightly with water . . . which then made my layers blend together - lol!  So, I dried it a bit and restamped layers 3 and 4.  After I stamped the leaves and the sentiment I did give it a quick spray of a sealer, just in case.

Rose Ink Recipe:  Step 4 - (Rich Razzleberry) SU!, Step 3 - (Rhubarb Stalk) Memento, Step 2 - (Rhubarb Stalk), Step 1 - (Lady Bug Red) Memento

I love trying new things and this is something I will definitely be doing again!  I've been taking a couple of mixed media online courses and learning a TON! I'll start showing you some of the things I'm doing soon, it's been a wonderful experience!

Don't you forget to visit the other Kitchen Sink Stamps Crew members and I hope you have a wonderful Monday!

Connie • Lisa • Lynn • Maria

Cardstock: (Sahara Sand) SU!, vintage book page, Stamps: (3 Step Hearts and Roses, 3 Step Letters From the Past) Kitchen Sink Stamp, Ink: (Rich Razzleberry) SU!, (Rhubarb Stalk, Lady Bug Red, Bamboo Leaves, Olive Grove, Black) Memento, Accessories: (Seam Binding) The Cat's Pajamas, (Pearls) Want2Scrap, Tools: (Nestabilities) Spellbinders, (Gesso) Liquitex, (Gelatoes) Faber Castell

Gelli Printing

Today's Mix-Ability Challenge on SCS is Mask-erade Ball - to use the masking technique.  I had to give it a try and I even had an idea!   You see, I'm taking the most amazing class from Christy Tomlinson - She Art 3.  I cannot recommend this class enough - TONS of information, great stuff!!  One of the things she talks about and shows is gelli printing and I had no idea how much fun it was going to be!  Check out the neat video on the Gelli Plate page at eclectic Paperie - it's amazing!

So, for my card today I pulled out my paints and supplies and made a cool gelli print using masks and stamps for the background paper of my card. Isn't it pretty?  I love the subtle look and the pretty softness of it!

The sentiment is from a Wplus 9 set, it was perfect with the scripty font!

Check out that super cool woodgrain button!  The floral stamp is the one that was included in the Gelatos package.

So why not try some masking today?  Or maybe gelli printing!! eP has everything you'll need!  Have a great day!

Memento Tuxedo Black Full Size Pad	The Twinery - Honeydew	Speedball 4" Pop-In Rubber Brayer
Gelli Arts - Gelli Plate 6x6"	Claudine Hellmuth Studio Mini Acrylic Paint Sets - Metropolitan	Claudine Hellmuth Studio Mini Acrylic Paint Sets - Urban

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XOXO - Emboss Resist

Happy Friday!! We're in the process of getting a HUGE snow storm here today (at least that's what the weathermen are saying - so far, so good!), so what better time to clean the house a bit and then get crafty!  As I mentioned last week, the new Mix-Ability Challenge at SCS happens on Fridays so I played along.  Today's challenge is Emboss Resist which I haven't done in forever!

(All the supplies are from eclectic Paperie and will be linked up at the end of the post.)

I'm calling this my "dirty chalkboard" card - lol!  First, I stamped and embossed (with white ep) the images and sentiments using Cupid's Arrow from Wplus9 on black cardstock.  Then I used Picket Fence Distress Stain and swiped it all over my card to make it appear that the chalkboard was really chalky - you know, like those cheaper kinds of  blackboards that you can never seem to get clean?! :)  Then I heavily sprayed the whole thing with Light Pink Glimmer Mist which you can see better in the close-up photo.

I also used the emboss resist technique to make the "frame" - embossing a woodgrain pattern on kraft cardstock with clear embossing powder and then going over it with a sponge applicator and Distressed Walnut Ink.  The rest of the card was kept pretty simple.  I used pretty paper from the Love Story pad by Echo Park.  While I was in the embossing mode I embossed a chipboard heart several times with red ep, edged it with some antique lace and added a Rhinestone.

Thanks for visiting today, stay warm out there all my New England friends!

Wplus9 Design Studio - Cupid′s Arrow Stamp Set	Distress Stain - Picket Fence	Distress Ink Pad - Frayed Burlap
Echo Park - Love Story 6x6 Paper Pad	Self-Adhesive Rhinestones - Silver	Ranger Super Fine Embossing Powder - Clear
Ranger Embossing Powder - Seafoam White	Ranger Felt Applicator Tool	Ranger Felt Applicator Refill
Ranger Embossing Powder - Rich Red