STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 117: BIRTHDAY THEME

Since I have been away from my creative "loft" for two weeks, I am playing a bit of catch-up today.  The Stampotique Designers' Challenge from last week was posted by Kim (aka "Basement Stamper") and, since it was her birthday, she chose a birthday theme:

Today, I'm the lucky hostess of our challenge and I was a little selfish when I picked the date and the challenge theme.  Our challenge this week is "BIRTHDAY" and, can you guess why I was selfish this week??  It is my birthday...today!  And it's not just any birthday, it's one of the big milestone birthdays and what better way to spend it then hopping around to see all the fabulous birthday creations from the SDC team and yourselves?

I have made a card for my son's birthday and chose masculine tones. This is full of layering and I am pleased with how it turned out.  The Stampotique stamp that I chose is called Dandelion Duo.

Thanks for stopping by today.  I appreciate both your visits and your comments!  I am very close to having 100 followers, so, if you have not already signed up as a follower, please do so today.  

Cheers!

STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 116: TRY SOMETHING NEW (TO YOU)!

I know, I know...it's Thursday, but some things take time!  The Stampotique Designers' Challenge was posted yesterday, but only today did I have time to play with something that I bought recently.  I realize that embossing paste is not new to many, but it is to me!  I recently took a class from Ranger's Signature Designer Wendy Vecchi, watched her demo embossing paste and was immediately hooked!  That day, I bought Wendy's Studio 490 embossing paste...today I used it for the first time.

What I am showing you here is part of a larger project (soon to be revealed), so, although it may look a bit sparse, it will all come together soon!  I used a Dylusions small stencil (DYS34230) and "pushed" the embossing paste through it with an old credit card.  My intention was to colorize the paste with a bit of soft orange ink after the paste had dried, but, since I had not properly cleaned my stencil the last time I used it, the paint on the stencil colored the paste for me!  Not exactly the color I would have chosen, but at least it wasn't purple!!

The Stampotique image I have used is called Relaxin', and she just perfectly supports my quote by Lee Damsky.  If you would like to participate in this month's Stampotique Designers' Challenge, check out the details here.  Two lucky contributors will win a $30 gift certificate from Stampotique Originals at the end of this period.  You are not required to use Stampotique stamps, but, if you have them, you are encouraged to do so.

Thanks for visiting today.  Both your visits and your comments mean a lot to me!

Cheers!

STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 115: LAYERS

It is indeed a happy Wednesday when I find myself in my studio inspired by a Stampotique Designers' Challenge.  Design Team member Sue Davies is hosting and here is her challenge to us:

I love to use layers on my projects, be it layers of paint and inks or layers of card, or both. I challenge you to use at least three layers on your creation. Have fun!

Last week, I received my order of stamps from Stampotique Originals, and I had a tough time deciding which of my new stamps to choose.  I had already decided on the sentiment I wanted to use, so that narrowed the field a bit--beautiful, thoughtful Jasmin won the honor!

Two layers of paint (created using my Gelli Plate) began this project in my "Judy Journal."  A third layer was added with Daisy, Daisy along the bottom.  I then stamped Jasmin on white cardstock and colored her using a combination of Ranger Distress Markers and, yep, Crayola Crayons!  I also stamped Daisy, Daisy over Jasmin so that she would appear to be in the field of daisies.  I applied Wink of Stella (clear) to create a bit of pizzazz on the lighter stripes of Jasmin's stockings.  Here's my completed submission:

If you would like to participate in this month's Stampotique Designers' challenges, check out the details here.  Two lucky contributors will win a $30 gift certificate from Stampotique Originals at the end of this month. You are not required to use Stampotique stamps, but, if you have them, why not?

Thanks for visiting today.  Both your visits and your comments mean a lot to me!

Cheers!

STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 114: 3 CIRCLES

Wednesday is generally my day to play in the studio, but yesterday was full of things other than artful pursuits.  Rather, today is my day to play! I am facing two challenges.  The first is my monthly challenge and exchange with my New York friend Susan--which is to use corrugated cardboard in a project, and, the second, the Stampotique Designers' Challenge--which is to use circles in a project.  With only limited time to complete both, I decided to combine them.  First, here's Kaz Boughton's challenge:

"I love using circles on things I make, as you may have noticed. If I get stuck for an idea, I generally start with a circle to help me out. I'd like you to use 3 circles on whatever you make this week. Just make sure you have fun!"

I used the flap of a corrugated box to create a tag, then ripped off the top layer of paper in random places.  To create more background interest, I used my "go to" script stamp.  Since Susan and I both love most all things vintage, I found online an old photo of a pensive young woman, then printed and matted that on some green-ish cardstock, tearing one edge to mimic the torn paper in the tag base.  I randomly used bits of DecoArt's Celery Green paint, then added Tim Holtz' Rusty Hinge Distress Paint as a contrast.  I used a sticker with the word "wisdom" as my title, then added a chain--rather than the more traditional ribbon, and I was done with time to spare.

Ah, but you ask, "Where are those circles?"  Actually, I interpreted the SDC loosely and added circle shapes by using three vintage buttons! Clever, yes?

Here's my tag:

If you would like a chance to win a $30 gift certificate from Stampotique Originals, you can do so by following the directions here.  It is not required that you use a Stampotique stamp (you will notice that I did not in this project), but you are encouraged to do so if you have them!

Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog today.  I appreciate both your visits and your comments!

Cheers!

STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 113: WEDDINGS

Even with my special announcement earlier today, I still want to acknowledge the Stampotique Designers' Challenge, where R. Maria Sabina is our host.  Here's her challenge to us:

Summer is the perfect season for weddings and special events. I personally don't like weddings so much. But I do enjoy making wedding cards and other handmade items. My challenge for you this weeks is: WEDDING! Create a card, layout, favor, anything you want.

You would think that after more than a decade of creating wedding layouts for others, this would have been a piece of cake (wedding pun intended) for me!  But I wanted to incorporate a bit of humor, as well as one of the images from my growing Stampotique Originals collection!  It was one of my favorites, Spykee, who came to my rescue...although she is hardly recognizable in her wedding dress!

If you would like a chance to win a $30 gift certificate from Stampotique Originals, you can do so by following the directions here.  It is not required that you use a Stampotique stamp, but you are encouraged to do so if you have them!

Thanks again for stopping by today.  I so appreciate both your visits and your comments!

Cheers!

PUBLISHED!

If you follow my art journey, you know that I have been published often in online art magazines, but my goal remained--at least ONCE--to be published in a hold-in-your-hands paper art journal. I am so proud, pleased and yet humbled to have my art work published in JUST STEAMPUNK! WooHoo!

Thanks for visiting today and celebrating with me!  I so appreciate both your visits and your comments.

Cheers!

STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 112: POLKA DOTS

It's Wednesday, and, by now, you know what that means!  The Stampotique Designers' Challenge is up!  Roc Nicholas is our host today, and here's her challenge:

"Hi everyone.  I am really happy to be hosting this week's challenge.  I'm asking you to create something with polka dots.  There is something about polka dots that makes me smile.  You can't be sad when you are creating them.  So make them big. Make them small.  Make them any size at all.  See how many polka dots you can work into your art, but most of all, have fun.  I can't wait to see what you come up with!"

I decided to surprise you today and make a card!  It's a card of encouragement that I made for a friend whose been in a bit of a slump lately.  Anais Nin's quote was perfect.

I used the "spidergrass stamp" designed for Stampotique Originals by Jo Capper-Sandon, which you can buy here.

If you would like a chance to win a $30 gift certificate from Stampotique Originals, you can do so by following the directions here.  It is not required that you use a Stampotique stamp, but you are encouraged to do so if you have them!

Thanks again for stopping by today.  I so appreciate both your visits and your comments!

Cheers!

FUN WITH WENDY VECCHI

I have long been a fan of one of the newest Ranger Signature Designers, Wendy Vecchi, so was delighted when I saw that she would be teaching a two-day class at Ink About It in Westford, MA!  Since I was already a "friend" of Wendy's on Facebook, the trepidation of attending a class without knowing anyone was absent and I was just going to meet a friend. Little did I know that I would be making more friends!

The first day of class was spent learning more than 20 techniques of using all kinds of Ranger projects, most that I already had, and was able to learn how to use them in new ways!  Here's one of my favorite tags we made that day using the Tim Holtz "burnt edge technique."

The stamps I used were designed by Wendy!

The second day was all about creating an art journal.  Here is my front cover, created using Wendy's "art parts."

Here's a photo with Wendy (standing on the right) and my new friends, Ali, Susan and Nancy:

Thanks for stopping by today!  I appreciate both your visits and your comments!

Cheers!

STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 111: A COLOR CHALLENGE

The much-anticipated Stampotique Designers' Challenge is indeed a challenge for me this week.  Jane Wetzel is the host and here's her request:

Jane here, asking you to use any shades of purple, orange and yellow together on your creation for this new Stampotique challenge!   I love color and these really talk to me. :)  Hope you will join us in making this Stampotique challenge one of the most colorful challenges yet!  Can't wait to see these colorful creations popping out all over blog-land in purples, oranges and yellows :)  After all..Summer is suppose to be hot and colorful right?  

I decided to make a tag, and plan to incorporate it into my "Judy Journal" as an embellishment.  I was able to use all three colors by layering and blending inks.  "Pigtails" is from Stampotique Originals.  I most often color my images, but decided today to stamp her directly onto my tag.  The sentiment is from Dyan Reaveley's collection.

If you would like a chance to win a $30 gift certificate from Stampotique Originals, you can do so by following the directions here.

Thanks for stopping by...I appreciate both your visits and your comments!

Cheers!

FREE TO CHOOSE

With great eagerness, I waited for the e-mail this morning from the Stampotique Designers' Challenge, only to discover that I had not read the "fine print" last week that noted it was a two-week challange!  I lamented only for a few minutes, then decided to challenge myself!  

I love working in my "Judy Journal" creating pages which one day will be read by my now almost 3-year-old granddaughter Angie.  The pages I am actually creating for myself, simply because I love creating art.  But, hopefully, the "wisdom" I am imparting in this journal will one day be of help, comfort and encouragement to Angie as she faces life's challenges.

So, here's my nugget of knowledge for today:  

YOU ARE FREE TO CHOOSE, BUT YOU ARE NOT FREE FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR CHOICE.

I think that is a pretty powerful message and, if it makes even one person stop and think before making a decision, it has been worth sharing!

So glad that you stopped by today.  I appreciate both your visit and your comments!

Cheers!