Joie De Vivre tag

Here's a tag I made using Artistic Outpost stamps.

I used Paperartsy paints and crackle glaze to paint the tag and then stamped over it with the text stamp from the Birds of a Feather plate. I also used the paint on cardstock over which I then stamped the girls from the Birds of a Feather stamp plate before cutting them out. I also did the same with the Joie De Vivre stamp from the Paris Expositions stamp plate. 

I used a small piece of sequin waste as a stencil to paint the stars on the tag and then used the sequin waste as an embellishment.

Materials used: Paperartsy Fresco paints and crackle, Artistic Outpost stamps, black Versafine ink, sequin waste, roses ribbon, washi tape, sequin waste, organza ribbon, bead and wire embellishment, fabric leaf, paper roses, Posca paint pen.

Inkspirational Challenge 47 - Live in the Sunshine

I only came across the Inkspirational blog recently and in order to try and keep the mojo flowing I've joined in with Challenge 47 which was a colour inspiration challenge to use any brown with any yellow. This was quite a challenge for me as they're definitely not my kind of colours!!

I stamped the stamp from the Artistic Outpost set The Outpost on to white card and then embossed it with clear embossing powder before adding distress inks in Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain. I then used an iron to remove the embossing powder.

I used the flower stamp from Artistic Outpost's set Old Grist Mill and stamped it using Versamark ink on to the kraft cardstock background.

Materials used: kraft cardstock, white card, Artistic outpost stamps, Versamark ink, clear embossing powder, Ranger Distress inks, twine, beaded string.

Artistic Outpost - Paris Exposition tag

I had fun with Dylusions ink sprays on watercolour paper last week and have used one of the pieces to make a tag with Artistic Outposts Paris Exposition stamps. 

I added a little bit of shading using Derwent Inktense pencils and the Faber Castell white brush pen and then added some lace, sequins and pleated ribbon.

I'm entering this in the monthly referral program on the Artistic Outpost blog.

Artistic Outpost - Huck Finn tag

I've been playing recently with tags and Dylusions inks and decided to use my Artistic Outpost stamps on today's tag.

I have a stack of tags ready dyed and another set ready that are distress-inked and chose some in a blue/green colour combo.

Materials used: Dylusions inks, Ranger Distress inks, brown Memento ink, Artistic Outpost Huck Finn stamps, twine, muslin, button and metal plate bought in a job lot from a friend.

Summer cabin hanging

I've made a wallhanging using the gorgeous summer cabin stamp from Artistic Outpost's Keeper stamp sheet available at Artistic Outpost.

I stamped the image on to calico (although in hindsight I should have primed it with gesso first!) and then sewed on some vintage velvet ribbon. I then used a variegated stranded cotton to embroider the plants at the side. I've never been a fan of french knots but I actually managed to complete quite a few of them here!!!

I then sewed the calico on to some gorgeous fabric which I embellished with beads before sewing it on to pink felt. I used some more of the patterned fabric to back the hanging and used some seat padding inside to plump it out a bit.

I then made some bead embellishments after rummaging through my bead stash:

Artistic Outpost - Shades of Red

Over on the Artistic Outpost blog the monthly referral programme has changed to a challenge and for this month it is "shades of red". Now, I love my Artistic Outpost stamps but haven't used them for a while so decided to have a play along.

I used a stamp from the Generation Redux plate to make my card:

Materials used: Ranger distress inks, Papermill and Papermania cardstock, Papermania paper, Chatterbox paper, Artistic Outpost stamp (as above), Magic Mesh, Prima lace, Ranger Distress Stickles, vintage buttons.

In "training"

I was lucky enough to win the March Referral Program on the Artistic Outpost blog and the stamps I ordered arrived on Saturday...woo-hoo!!!

I used a stamp from the Steampunk set from the Artistic Outpost shop to make this card:

Materials used: Papermania cardstock, HOTP papers, Artistic Outpost stamp, black Versafine ink, Tim Holtz film strip, corrugated cardboard, 7Gypsies photo anchor, Dovecraft brad, Promarkers.

Also used: printed twill.

"The Outpost" wallhanging

OK - I confess.......I've been playing with calico and fabrics again and made another wallhanging!! This one uses an Artistic Outpost stamp from the fab set - The Outpost (buy in the UK from Happy Daze).

I coloured some calico using alcohol inks and then stamped the image using black Stazon ink. This was then sewn on to a felt background which, in turn, was placed on to a piece of frayed raw silk. I added some hand sewing around the edge of the felt using some hand-dyed rayon thread.

I made the backing piece by "quilting" some cotton fabric with layers of felt in between and randomly sewing together.

The actual hanging part is some twill ribbon that had wording printed on but I sewed some satin ribbon over this to cover it.

Shades of blue

There's a challenge running at the Happy Daze blog here to make an item using "Shades of Blue" and which must contain at least one item from the Happy Daze shop (link to the right).

For my item I used a gorgeous Artistic Outpost stamp sold at Happy Daze.

I sprayed a piece of calico with Glimmer Mist then stamped the image using black Stazon ink. The calico was then machine sewn on to a piece of felt. I then added sequins and beaded trim. I then threaded various beads to use for hanging.

Materials used: calico, Glimmer Mist, Artistic Outpost stamp, black Stazon ink, beads, sequins, beaded trim.

VSN cards

Over at SCS this weekend they've been holding a Virtual Stamping Night and I managed to complete 3 of the challenges.

The first challenge was to make a clean and simple card (no more than 2 layers) with the theme of summer foods. I usually struggle with clean and simple but here's my card:

Materials used: Kraft recycled cardstock, Unity stamps, October Afternoon papers, white Versacolor ink, Bazzill ruffled ribbon, DCWV brads, black Signo pen.

The second challenge I completed was to make a card with a window theme or a shadowbox card. I went for the shadowbox card following the tutorial on SCS here.

Materials used: Kraft recycled cardstock, K&Co papers, Unity stamps (trees and clouds with rainbow), Promarkers, Making Memories tiny alphabet stickers, Prima flowers, Kaiser rhinestone, Stickles.

Also used: wooden bird embellishment.

The third card I made was for a challenge to make a card that is farm-related...be it animals, fruit, buildings etc.

Materials used: Papermill cardstock, Artistic Outpost stamps, brown Memento ink, Ranger distress inks, K&Co Blossomwood papers, HOTP buttons.

Also used: leather thong, various twines.

Wish I'd had the chance to complete more challenges but the timing was wrong LOL!! Maybe next time!

The Shabby Tea Room - week #13 - Just for Dad

The challenge at The Shabby Tea Room this week is to make a Father's Day or masculine card...here's mine:

Materials used: corrugated card, DCWV paper, Artistic Outpost stamp, Versafine sepia ink, Ranger Distress inks, MM clip.

Also used: leather thong, raffia, buttons and hemp thread.

2 sketches 4 You - Kazan's sketch 48 and Artistic Outpost

Here's my card for Kazan's sketch 48 and also for Artistic Outpost's March blog birthday challenge

Materials used: corrugated card, Papermania papers, Daisy D's paper, Artistic Outpost stamp, Archival sepia ink, Making Memories tiny alphabet stickers, party hat from Lisa's Altered Art.

Organza ribbon, rhinestones, pins and vintage lace from stash.

Another card

Here's another card using an Artistic Outpost stamp and some more Blossomwood papers: Materials used: Craft Creations card, K & Co Blossomwood papers, Artistic Outpost stamp, Promarkers, Distress inks, Prima flower. Brads, lace and vintage button from stash.

A card..

Today is the first day I've felt like being creative since both Jess and I got ill so I came up with a quick card using an Artistic Outpost stamp: Materials used: K & Co Blossomwood papers, Artistic Outpost stamp, Archival sepia ink, Distress inks, Prima flowers, Prima Say it in Pearls flower centre and Prima pearls.

Card Patterns sketch #50

Here's my card for Card Patterns sketch #50 , another fab site that I haven't played along with for ages! It gave me a chance to use one of my fab new Artistic Outpost stamps: Materials used: Papermill card, Karen Foster and My Mind's Eye papers, basic Grey chipboard, Distress inks, Artistic Outpost stamp, Archival sepia ink. Lace, buttons and hemp thread all from stash.

ICSketches #50

I can't believe I haven't blogged for a week!!! Here's this week's card for ICS sketch #50. we're being sponsored this week by our very own DT member Heather who owns Fresh Brewed Designs. I did have some of her digital images ready to make my card but having spent 2 hours trying to get my printer to work and wasting a whole colour cartridge trying to clean the nozzles I had to admit defeat and use a stamped image instead. Materials used: Papermill card, Cosmo Cricket papers, Artistic Outpost stamp, Bazzill cardstock, Versafine ink, Distress inks, Laura Ashley velvet rub-ons, Papermania brad, Prima flowers, punched mulberry paper flowers, distress Stickles. Beads and antique glass button from stash.

Today's card...

...and it's another Artistic Outpost one this time using the barn image from Home: Materials used: Papermill card, Chatterbox paper, Cosmo Cricket paper, Versafine sepia ink, Artistic Outpost stamp. Gingham ribbon, vintage buttons, hemp thread and beaded string from stash.

First card of the year...

....and it's an Artistic Outpost one using one of my new stamp sets I had for Christmas: Materials used: Kraft card, DCWV paper, Artistic Outpost stamps from The Outpost and Old Grist Mill sets, Ranger Alcohol inks, Prima flower, distress ink. Lace, rhinestones and vintage glass button from stash.

The Little Shabby Box Card Contest

On my blog hopping today I came across this card contest being held on The Little Shabby Box blog. The requirement is to make 2 cards using the 2 sketches on the site.There's a day left to get your cards made if you fancy having a go to win a fab card kit or 2 and the chance to be a Guest Designer. Anyway here are my 2 cards:

Materials used: Papermill card, My Mind's Eye papers, Artistic Outpost stamp, brown Versafine ink, Distress inks - old paper and peeled paint, Creative Cafe rub-on sentiment, My Mind's Eye flourish rub-on, Creative Imaginations chipboard, Alcohol inks - copper and peach, Prima flower, vintage glass button, Crafty Notions Rainbow Drop and ribbon from stash.

Materials used: Papermill card, K&Co Amy Butler papers, Basic Grey chipboard, DCWV paper, Amy Butler stamp, black Memento ink, Prima flowers, Crafty Notions Rainbow Drops, Stickles. Vintage buttons, rhinestones, lace and ribbon all from stash.

ICSketches #44

It's Tuesday so it's time for ICSketches #44 and I can show you the DT card I made with my new Artistic Outpost stamp. If you join in with us this week at ICSketches you could win a prize of 3 digital stamp images from Squigglefly. Don't forget to check out the rest of the DT cards: Materials used: Papermill card, K&Co Addison, Artistic Outpost stamp, black Versafine ink, Distress inks - mustard seed, peeled paint and broken china, Prima flowers, Distress Stickles, K&Co Amy Butler sentiment stamp. Vintage trim and glass button from stash.