STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 106: NEW ADVENTURES

Oh, yes!  It's Wednesday and that means another Stampotique Designers' Challenge today.  Sarinda Jones is our hostess and has an interesting challenge for us:

This time of year always has me thinking about embarking on new adventures. This could be travel, new technique, new idea, something that you have tried for the first time. Anything that is branching out on a "new adventure."

When I think of adventure, I guess I have to agree with Sarinda in that, first, I think travel.  But, that is not necessarily always the case.  Sometimes, just getting through life can be an adventure.  When I think of the challenges that have faced me over the now almost 7 decades of life, I am amazed at the adventures along the way.  This is the thought that has inspired my next entry into my "Judy Journal" (you can see details on that journal here).

Your visit both pleases and inspires me, as do your comments!

Joy to you!

STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 105: ANYTHING BUT A CARD

Wednesday is always such a fun day for me because it is the day that the Stampotique Designers' Challenge is posted.  Today, Nellie van Leeuwen is the host and she has an interesting twist on the challenge:

“When I participate in challenges, especially when I’m short of time, I tend to make cards. They are usually a quick and easy thing to make. So this week I challenge you (and myself) to make ANYTHING BUT A CARD for the Stampotique designer’s challenge. I made  a double journal page in my little art journal. I’m very curious to see what you come up with!

Several weeks ago, I won a handmade art journal on the blog of artist Judy Shea called "The Key to My Art" (you can see the journal here). Take a moment to check out all of Judy's mixed media creations (as well as a few unusual recipes when the spirit moves her)!  I decided today was the day to break in Judy's journal.  I have some fun text stamps from Dyan Reaveley's Dylusions collection from Ranger, and that was my inspiration.  I am a Pinterest addict, so I went there and searched for "free vintage printables," and came up with this sassy lady--perfect for my journal page!  I used Collage Pauge from Traci Bautista to adhere musical tissue paper (another gift from a friend in Belgium), then adhered my lady.  A few rub-ons from Tim Holtz' Idea-ology Remnant Rubs, my quote, a date stamp and done!  Here's my entry for this week's Stampotique Challenge--and it is anything but a card!!

I appreciate your visit today, as well as your comments!  

Joy to you!

STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 104: FAUX METAL

The Stampotique Designers' Challenge this week is hosted by Maria Sabina.  Here's her creative challenge to us:

'' Metals are an amazing source for jewelry and other fine crafts. But,  how many of you like to use metals on handmade creations? I challenge you to create a faux-metal creation, using Stampotique stamps.  It can be anything, from jewelry to embellishments! Make it look real!''

I needed a graduation card, so that was my goal for this challenge.  I cut a piece of cardboard just slightly smaller than my card base, then covered it with aluminum foil.  Next, I ran this through my Big Kick embosser using a Cuttle Bug embossing folder.  The fun part was the creative part in my mind, and that consisted of the following steps:

• Using a foam brush, paint the entire surface with black acrylic paint; dry completely.
• Using a foam brush, paint the entire surface with gold acrylic paint; dry completely.
• Apply several dots of alcohol inks in blues and greens to your blending tool (with felt pad), adding just a touch of alcohol ink mixative in copper.
• Pounce repeatedly over the entire surface of the faux metal piece.
• At this point, not being totally satisfied with the result, I added quite a bit more of the copper mixative to my felt pad and more seriously rubbed my blending tool over the piece.

The result was that this rubbing actually rubbed off a bit of the gold paint, then a bit of the black paint, and I was then able to see a bit of the silver from the aluminum foil!  Now that I was happy with the result, I adhered the faux metal to my card base with double-sided tape.  For my stamp, I used Twinkie, one of my favorite Stampotique stamps, which you can purchase here.  In keeping with the metal theme, I stamped him on shiny gold paper, then cut him out with a margin and adhered him to the faux metal with pop dots.  For my sentiment, I chose gold letters to spell out the word "CONGRATS!" and adhered that to a strip of black cardstock and then that directly onto my finished card.    Here's the result:

I appreciate your visit today, as well as your comments!

Joy to you!

STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 103: USING AN ENVELOPE TO CREATE

This week, Stampotique Design Team Challenge hostess is Valerie, and she loves the idea of using every day objects for art.  She would like us to try creating an artful project that incorporates an envelope - any shape or size, new or used. You can flip, fold, score, tear, ink, paint, stamp, doodle, embellish or keep it clean and simple.

So, let's have some PRACTICAL fun!

When the recipients of your holiday, birthday or "just because" gifts are really young, it's pretty easy to shop for them. Just hit the toy store and pick out an "age appropriate" gift! It's just that simple. However, when the children and grandchildren start getting a bit older--and more particular, the once-fun job of shopping for a gift often becomes a bit of a chore. So, for many of us, we resort to giving a gift card.

I have found several creative ways of incorporating a gift card into a hand-made greeting card, but none as fun as this approach. The directions are simple, and you will use only your basic tools. However, there is one rule that cannot be broken: you may only use scraps. You may NOT, under ANY circumstances, cut up full-size sheets of paper!

Here we go!  First, my completed project (a housewarming card) for the Stampotique envelope challenge, then the directions.

Outside (stamp designed by France Papillon and sold here by Stampotique Originals)

Inside (heart stamp designed by France Papillon and sold here by Stampotique Originals)

How to Create the Gift Card Envelope!
I have found the perfect size envelope for this job to be a 5-3/4" wide envelope, which, when folded vertically in half creates a pocket that is just the right size for the gift card. The ones I use are from DCWV.

The first steps are all done with the back of the envelope facing you.

• Using your centering ruler, and with the envelope flap in the closed position, find the center of the envelope and mark it with a pencil at the top.
• Now, using the scoring blade on your paper trimmer, score the envelope down the center several times, applying a pretty heavy pressure.
• Open the envelope flap and cut it in half vertically to the fold line (A).
• Fold the left flap down and seal (B).
• Trim 1" off the flap on the right (C).

Shaping the card

• Trim the left side of the remaining flap to duplicate the angle on the right; round both corners (D).
• Close flap (do not seal) and fold envelope in half vertically along the scored line. Adhere a 15" length of 1/4" ribbon along the midsection, gluing it in place on both the front and back sides of the envelope (E). I have found a glue runner to be just a bit too wide, so I apply glue from a Zig Memory System 2- Way Glue Chisel Tip directly onto the ribbon. To accomplish this, I wrap the ribbon around the envelope and use a pencil to mark a "glue line" on the inside of the ribbon. When your project is complete and you have placed your gift card in the pocket, tie up the loose ends of the ribbon into a bow.
• Choose four scraps of coordinated paper and cut each 2-3/4" x 4-1/4" (F).

The creative stuff 

• Using a round punch, take a bite out of the piece of paper you will use for the front of your card insert (G). If you don't have a punch, just cut a V shape with your scissors.
• Stamp all sentiments (handwriting works, too) before you adhere your paper to the envelope (H).
• Adhere front, back and center pieces of paper to the envelope (I), leaving the top of the pocket open. I generally use a pretty plain paper for the back so that I can use my "handmade with love" stamp on it. Also, at this point, if I have enough scraps of paper, I will cover the front or both the front and back of the newly-created flap over the card pocket. The easiest way to do this is to trace the flap on your scrap and cut it out. Once you have adhered the scraps to the flap, you can trim away any irregularities.
• Cut another scrap of paper for the front of the card (2-1/4" x 3-3/4") and decorate it for the occasion (J). I like to use pop-dots under this smaller piece to give some depth to the front of the card. Another advantage of using pop-dots here is that it will allow you to use a brad without the prongs causing an unwanted bump.

Thanks for dropping by. If you are visiting for the first time, please take time to join as a follower. Let me know if you have any questions.  OK, go forth and create! 

STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 102: MAKE IT TRANSPARENT!

I am back from a two-week hiatus for family reasons, and I have missed crafting of all sorts!  However, I found the way to my art "loft" today just in time to participate in the Stampotique Designers' Challenge this week. Libby is the hostess, and here is her challenge:

Hi everyone! It's Libby here today, hosting the Stampotique Designer's Challenge. This week I'd like to challenge you to use something that makes you see your craft project in a whole different light. It can require you pull out supplies you don't typically use, or try new techniques. Or maybe it's something you use all the time! I'd like you to use a transparent element on your design. Whatever you'd like - acetate, glass, left-over plastic packaging - if it's clear, it's fair game! I'm excited to see what you come up with!

It was not too difficult to find transparent things in my studio, but I chose to upcycle a piece of acetate packaging material.  First, I created a background for my tag by using Dylusions ink sprays.  Next layer consists of my Tim Holtz stamps of Charlie Chaplin and the sentiment.   To adhere my acetate over top of my tag, I used Collage Pauge (by Traci Bautista). On top of the acetate, I used two additional stamps.  Here's my entry to the challenge:

Thanks for stopping by today.  I love reading your encouraging comments!

Joy to you!