STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 125: ONE LAYER

Seems like I was just here, but another Wednesday and another Stampotique Designers' Challenge today!  Samantha Read is our host this week, and she has challenged us--as well as herself--to make a one-layer creation.  Here's the detail:

"Hi, Stampotiquers! I'm so excited to be your host this week and I'm inviting you to make a creation using just one layer. It doesn't necessarily have to be clean and simple, that's the challenge! I love lots and lots of layers but to achieve a sense of depth to a creation using no embellishments etc can really get you scratching your head and rubbing your chin! 

Most importantly, have fun ;)"

I have chosen to make a card poking a bit of fun at having to deal with all the different languages encountered on the blogs of contributing Stampotique members!  While most of the international sites have a conversion option, allowing the reader to translate the original language into English (or other language), the translation is often less than perfect. Sometimes, I just scratch my head and think the tranlation to English might just as well have been to Greek!

Here's my card:

I printed the title directly onto my card on my computer, then masked that space with a scrap of paper.  Next, I stamped Stampotique Originals' Miss Snottie onto another scrap, cut her out, then used that to mask a space for me to stamp the image again directly onto the card.  With the masks in place, I used a large (unintelligible) text stamp for my background.

If you would like to play along with the challenge this week, grab a stamp (does not have to be a Stampotique Originals' stamp) and get started creating a one-layer project!  Each month, two lucky people will win a $30 gift certificate for Stampotique Originals products!  Submission details are here.

Thanks for stopping by today and for leaving a comment--both are important to me!

Cheers!

STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLANGE 124: WORKING WITH GESSO

This Stampotique Designers' Challenge has been up since Wednesday, but my life has been rather full of late, so today is my day to play!  Sarinda Jones is the hostess this week, and here's her challenging challenge:

Hello Creatives. Sarinda here and I am asking you to rethink Gesso in this challenge. I find that I use Gesso a lot in my work and feel it is an amazing tool to utilize. Yes, tool. Not only does is serve as a basic prep to your substrate, it picks up texture of a stencil, use it with a pallet knife, layer it. And if you are using it with inks, sprays, or stains, it will create unique depth to your backgrounds. Even try it on top of lace, fabric, tulle. Play and be free. 

Sarinda has created a video with several ways of using gesso:

First, my project, then the detail: 

Mary, the Stampotique Originals' image I have used here was the first one I purchased, and remains one of my favorites.  For this project, I followed a tutorial I found on YouTube, that of Gisele Grenier, although I stopped short of covering all the gesso with paint, as Gisele did.  This technique shows engraving into gesso before it is dry, allowing that to dry, then scraping paint over the rough surface with a credit card (or similar tool).  I hope you will find time to watch both Sarinda's (above) and Gisele's (below) tutorials.  You will find a world of information in both!

I hope you will participate in this week's Stampotique Designers' Challenge and play with some gesso and a stamp (it does not have to be a Stampotique Originals' stamp).  Two lucky winners will be randomly drawn at the end of the month and will win a $30 gift certificate toward Stampotique products.

I am pleased that you stopped by today.  Both your visits and your comments are important to me.

Cheers!

STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 123: FABULOUS FOLDS

The whole Design Team is challenging us today on the Stampotique Designers' Challenge!  In a nutshell, here's what they had to say:

Today, we want to see you try your hand at some fabulous folds.  Use more than one fold on your card, get all fancy on us and use multiple folds.

When you talk about being outside of one's "comfort zone," it is not a stretch to say this challenge is so far outside of my comfort zone that I cannot even see it!  While I like the card style I chose, I am somewhere short of 100% satisfied with the outcome.  A fold or two would have been okay, but when I started folding the folds, well...let's say the one below is my third attempt!  If you would like to try one, the written directions are here.  I will share with you that these directions do caution you to have the side of the paper you want to show most facing you...what the directions do not tell you is that if it has a pattern, you should work with it upside down! (Hmmmmmm!  Will they notice that my pattern is upside down?) 

I used two Stampotique images that I have not used before, Oh My Dear and Santa Baby, and one I seem to use over and over--that being France Papillon's Design Cube--for the tag backgrounds.

I will stop short of wishing you a Merry Christmas, since I refuse to think Christmas until after the Thanksgiving dishes are done! Instead, here's a bit of Halloween humor I created a while back:

Thanks for visiting today and for taking a minute to leave a comment.  Your words of encouragement inspire me!

Cheers!

STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 122: FABRIC OR LACE

Wednesday always brings a smile to my face, as I love the challenge (fun) of working with my Stampotique Originals' stamps.  The Stampotique Designers' Challenge this week is hosted by France Papillon, who is not only a Design Team member, but also one of the stamp designers!  Here's her challenge:

When stuck while making a project, it's often adding texture that gets me rolling again. But lace or fabric is often the last thing i think about when searching for texture. So, I thought it would be fun to have all of you lovely peeps make art using fabric or lace. And all those fab creations would make one awesome inspiration board!

I decided that today I would make a tag.  I began by spritzing my craft mat with Dylusions inks in Pure Sunshine and Fresh Lime (I watered them down just a bit).  I stamped Miss Snottie onto another tag, colored her with Ranger Distress Markers and crayons.  

 I used a technique shared with me by fellow blogger Corrie Herriman, and that is to clear emboss the stamped image for a dramatic shine and color enhancement!  You can visit Corrie's blog here.  Tell her "Kay sent me!"

Next, I stamped the image a second time onto my original tag, so you could see any tiny bits of the image I lost in cutting it out.  Then, I adhered Ms. Snottie over that.  She needed a title, so I made her a DIVA for today!  I still needed more background, so I used France Papillon's new Design Cube!

Now, to that challenge!  I have had cheese cloth for about 3 years and have never used it.  Since it does classify as "fabric," I decided to use it today.  I have used it here to soften the look of the flower against the tag.  Here's Ms. Snottie:

I had fun making the tag today, which is the whole point of the Stampotique Designers' challenges.  If you would like to take part, all you need is a rubber stamp (does not have to be a Stampotique Originals' stamp) and have some fun.  You can create anything you like!  At the end of each month, two lucky winners are drawn and receive a $30 gift certificate for Stampotique Originals products!

I appreciate you visit today.  Please leave a comment so that I will know you were here (and because they make me feel good, too!).

Cheers,

STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 121: HALLOWEEN

It's Wednesday and, by now you know, I am doing the Stampotique "happy dance!"  The Stampotique Designers' Challenge today is hosted by Carol Fox, who is somewhat of a Halloween buff, so...

"I particularly chose the month of October to host the challenge as I love Halloween. It was the quirky off beat stamps of Daniel Torrente that first drew me to Stampotique all those years ago, as it then seemed to me that I could make Halloween themed items all year with his gothic style stamps and no one would realize that was what I was doing. I think I may have broken the record on my make for the challenge with the most rubber stamps used on one item, but it was hard as there were just so many to choose from. Hope you all enjoy the challenge and get your spook on for the whole month."

Since I have three grandchildren and only one card made, it was easy for me to decide to make a Halloween card.  This one is for my granddaughter Angie.  The play on words in the quote may escape her since she is only 3, but the shiny, sparkly, iridescent image and pumpkins will not!  I created all this pizzazz by using Wink of Stella in clear over the inked images.  (The scanning process took away the shimmer, but it's there!)  I have used Stampotique Originals' Relaxin' and the three pumpkin images from the Halloween Cube 2.

 

If you would like a chance to win one of two $30 gift certificates from Stampotique Originals this month, play along with this and other challenges.  Details here!  You do not have to use Stampotique Originals' stamps, but if you have them, why not! Digitally created art does not qualify for the gift certificates.

Cheers!

BLOG CANDY WINNER WAS DRAWN!

First, a big thank you to those of you who follow my blog!  I appreciate every visit and every comment!  

I am pleased to announce that Tamiko McCurry is the winner of my blog candy celebrating (now more than) 100 followers.  Here's what she had to say:

Tamiko McCurry September 27, 2013 at 10:09 PM

What an awesome giveaway!!! You'll reach another 100 soon I am sure! Congrats to you!!!

Thanks, Tamiko, for such inspiration!!

Cheers!

STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 120: HANDLES, HINGES, BUCKLES, FASTENERS, PULLS

Today's Stampotique Designers' Challenge is hosted by Valerie Wilson, who is really pushing our creative buttons with her proposal:

"This week I'd like to see your handles, hinges, buckles, fasteners, pulls - different ways to flip, fold, fasten, open, close and grasp! These could be used on cards, dimensional projects, envelopes or altered/recycled/found objects.... faux or real - anything goes!"

Since I like to create things with a purpose, I decided to make a Halloween card.  I recently purchased Dweeze from Absolutely Everything, my local scrapbooking and art store.  In my opinion, Dweeze is one of Stampotique Originals' more scary creatures.  He was on my desk and looked ready for a card!  My scary sentiment, Freakin' People Person, also from Stampotique Originals, was perfect!  A ribbon, a buckle, and done!  I just love it when a plan comes together this easily!  Here's my card for my older grandson.  He will think it is particularly funny that Grandma used the word freakin'!

Thank you for both your visits and your comments!  I read every one and they make me happy!  

Cheers!

STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 119: ATCs

My favorite day of the week again!  The Stampotique Designers' Challenge is up and Samantha Read is our host this week.  She loves making ATCs, and they are always a hit in my book.  In fact, I am lucky enough to own an original ATC created by Samantha!  But, I digress...here's her challenge to us today:

"I love making ATC's the 2.5 x 3.5 inch size is perfect for any media you wish to use and you can squeeze in lots of details and layers in a small space or keep it quite plain and simple. ATC's can be dramatic or just plain fun so I can't wait to see yours!"

I recently purchased some ever-so-creamy embossing paste from Studio 490, and used that with a Dylusions stencil over a background sprayed with Dylusions ink sprays in Squeezed Orange and Cherry Pie.  To complete my ATC, I used one of the new (September 2013) Stampotique Originals' images (by their newest designer Linda Peterson) called "Dance" and starring Hazel!  I will admit to "surgically" removing, then repositioning and shortening her arms so that she fit on my ATC.  I also cut her dress out of patterned paper.  The word "dance" was cut from a larger stamp called "Dance Text."

Without further ado, let me introduce HAZEL!

If you would like a chance to win one of two $30 gift certificates from Stampotique Originals this month, make an ATC and submit it here.  You don't have to use a Stampotique Originals' stamp, but you do need to use a rubber stamp (no digi images allowed in the drawing).  

Thanks for stopping by today!  Both your visits and comments inspire me.

Cheers!

100 BLOG FOLLOWERS GIVEAWAY!

I promised a blog giveaway when I reached 100 follows, and I am now over that number!  Thanks to the last few that joined, as well as the first few and all those in between!!  I am humbled by your presence.

So, here's the deal:

• If you have not already done so, sign up to follow my blog (must be a follower to win the giveaway).
• Leave a comment on this post, letting me know you were here (make sure I have contact information, in case you are the winner).
• On October 16, I will let random.com draw the winning person.
• I will announce the winner on my blog and also on Facebook.  If you have signed up also to "follow by e-mail," you won't miss the announcement!

Here's a picture of some of the items in the giveaway:

Everything is new, and there is something for scrappers and art journalists, as well!  OK, so the Simplicity dress pattern isn't new, but contains a lot of tissue paper!  I am also including an ATC created by the author of this blog...yep, that's me!  

My sincere thanks for taking the time to follow, visit and comment on my posts.  I find your interest inspiring!  Thank you!

Cheers!

THROWING MY HAT INTO THE STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE TEAM RING!

Recently, the Stampotique Originals website posted a Design Team call! My heart literally skipped a beat when I saw it!  If you have been following my blog (or my credit card!), you already know that I am a big fan of the Stampotique images--one might even say I am passionate about them!  I was curious about when I first referred to Stampotique in a post, so I looked through my archived blog posts and found this post.  It documents a sustained relationship between these (sometimes) quirky images and me.  Avid participation in the weekly Stampotique Designers' Challenges is evidenced in the succeeding posts.  I have been chosen as a Design Team Favorite on three occasions!

I think the "outside-of-the-box" project (a printer's tray) I have created to accompany my application for a Stampotique Designers' Challenge Design Team position (they are also calling for their Stampotique Blog/Facebook Design Team) exemplifies my "style," which is varied.  Although not evident in this piece, I generally love to incorporate humor into my artwork.

During my relationship with Stampotique, I have participated in their blog hop to show off the new releases this Fall, and also posted a submission to another site where Stampotique was the sponsor.  I am fully aware of the responsibilities of a Design Team Member, as I have served two terms on the Design Team of the international website "Let's Scrap" and serve now as a Contributing Design Team member.  I am also currently Author and Artist at Scrapbooking.com Magazine, and have been a Contributing Artist at Enchanting Creations Magazine.  I have been most recently published in Just Steampunk Magazine.

Commenting is something about which I feel very strongly.  I never post my own work without first commenting on all the work that has been posted before (and then after) mine.  I believe my comments are both thoughtful and appreciated.  I am inspired by comments and, therefore, like to inspire others.

I am also a good "linker," linking not only to the Stampotique Originals site, but to the SDC page, the host, and, perhaps most importantly, to the images themselves.

Now, a bit about the artful submission that accompanies my application:  I have a three-year-old granddaughter.  Since I will be celebrating my 70th birthday shortly, it has become painfully apparent that I might not be here when Angie goes through her teen years.  I recall my own teens as filled with indecision, insecurity and question, as well as wonder.  Through the art that I am creating for Angie, I hope to have "conversations" with her about her life when it appears to have been turned upside down. 

I have used 10 Stampotique rubber stamps to create my art for this submission:

Jasmin

Relaxin'
Hard Work

Even Silence Speaks

You're Strong

Wicked

Diva

When Heart Speaks (the word "heart")

Enjoy Today (the word "the")

Sun Design

Another example of thinking outside of the box (and with a bit of humor) is the cover picture on my Facebook page:

I would like to thank Kim Howard, Design Team Coordinator, for the opportunity to apply for the Stampotique Designers' Challenge Team position.  I know I would be joining a team of very talented, friendly and supporting ladies from around the world!  I am ready for this new challenge.

Cheers!