Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Altered Tea Can with Butterflies

Hi Dreamers!
Today's project is an altered item.   This item is one of those cans that hold fancy and delicious tea blends.  Here is what the can looked like before altering and after removing the manufacturer's label.  It has a black top which you will see in other photos.



And, here is what the can looks like after being altered.  



I put this whole project together with my favorite adhesive: Pioneer Extra Strong Glue Stick.  I use this glue for all my projects.  I  use it for my cards too.  I threw away those annoying tape runners once I started using this glue.  Okay, enough.  I just really like this product.  

Materials List
A Can of some kind to alter
Pioneer Extra Strong Glue Stick
Stamps:
Painted Butterflies
Verses- Full Sheet
Japanese Musicians
Inks: 
Rhubarb Stalk-Memento
Vintage Photo and Tattered Rose Distress Ink - Ranger
Crafter's Workshop Template - Mini Swirls
Spray inks
Ribbon 
White and Pink CS

I started this project with a piece of CS  that was made using the Mini Swirls template and Spray inks.  (See my tutorial here).  Cut the CS to fit round the can.  Next step is to stamp the Sentiments with Rhubarb Stalk ink on pale pink CS.  Distress with Tattered Rose and Vintage Photo.


Wrap around the bottom of the can.  Stamp the border from the Japanese Musicians with same ink on pale pink CS.  Distress with Tattered Rose and Vintage Photo.


Wrap the border around the top of the can.  Wrap ribbon around the top and bottom of the can.  Stamp six butterflies with all three inks and cut them out.  Glue the Butterflies to the can going around and leaving the wings free.  See the photos.  Place the butterflies so that there are butterflies all around the can.  Here views from all sides.
















Now, this isn't just a pretty can.  It is also utilitarian.  I use it to hold my paint brushes.  




And, how about a few Challenges for my Altered Tea Can with Butterflies:
Simon Says stamp and Show: What do you say?
Fashionable stamping: anything goes
It's all about the vintage: Anything goes
Incy Wincy: anything but a card
Take a Word: butterflies
Twisted Tuesday: anything goes

That's all for today.  Check back tomorrow for the new Stampsmith Challenge--we have selected a nice easy theme for the month of August.  Can you guess what it is???  See you then.  Love ya.
Karen

Monday, July 30, 2012

Flying Man Da Vinci-ish Sketches

Hi Dreamers,
Well, I have been playing with the spray inks again.  This time I used Tattered Angels in Forest Green, Driftwood, Arctic Blue, and Atlantic.    I sprayed two shades of blue and two of green onto  #5 Manila Tags from Ranger.



Once the tags were dry (heat tool), I stamped images on them from Lost Coast Design
 


The images: Steampunk Flier (Lost Coast Design) is stamped with Rich Cocoa Memento,   The Spiral and Antique Text Borders (LCD) in Oregano Ranger ink.   The Architectural detail is from the Greco Roman Full Sheet (Blockheads) and is stamped in Olive Grove Memento ink. Here is the second green tag.



The blue tags are made in the same way with the same stamps.  The main image is stamped with Versafine Onyx Black  and heat embossed with black powder (Ranger)  The other images are stamped with Stream Ranger ink.  I added rhinestones, wire and wired ribbon.





Too fun!!  I just love spray inks.  And, now for a few challenges!!

Frilly and Funkie: Renaissance Men
Fashionable stamping: anything goes
That Craft Place: steampunk
ATC's with Attitude: anything goes
Incy wincy: anything but a card

Tomorrow's post will feature an altered Tea Can.   Sneak Peek   How do I make this beautiful?? Check it out tomorrow!!


See you tomorrow!!  Love ya,
Karen

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Bluebird Card in Blue

Hi Dreamers!
Hope your Saturday morning is going well.  I have my dinner all taken card of....put a chicken in the slow cooker.  We are having a cooler day today....for a change!!!  I was out in the herb garden cutting a few herbs for the chicken and I did not feel like I was going to pass out from the heat, again, for a change.  Very pleasant.  Today's card is a collaboration by myself and Stacey  Stacey, very kindly, stamped up some Artistic Outpost images for me to use.   The Set is called "Bluebird"  





Stacey stamped with Tuxedo Black ink (Memento) on Solar White Neenah CS.   I added Broken China Distress Ink.      The birds are colored in with a Broken China Distress Marker.  Here is a closer look.  Great stamp set!!





 I layered onto Black and Dark Teal CS.  And I added a rhinestone flourish from Zva.  






And a few Challenges for my Bluebirds:
Poodle Parlour: anything goes
Simon Says Stamp: anything goes
Simply Create Too: use it two times---I used more than one bird and rhinestone.
Artistic Outpost Referral: Anything goes
Have a great weekend!!  Love ya.
Karen

Friday, July 27, 2012

Just one more Christmas in July card

Hi Dreamers,
This is defiantly my last post for the night.  This is one of the snowman cards I made earlier.  But, I wanted to enter the second card in the Third Coast Rubber Stamps Christmas in July Challenge.  So, if this seems like a rerun, it is.  Now, this is A-okay with Leigh at the TCRS blog.





The snowman is stamped with black dye ink and colored with Copic Markers.  The hat band is filled in with Stickles glitter glue.




If you would like to see the original post, go here.  Okay, now I really am going for the night.  Love ya.
Karen

More Christmas in July - with Frogs??

Hi Dreamers,
Happy Friday night!   I am celebrating a little Christmas in July here tonight.  I used a non-traditional Christmas image to make my "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" card.  I used a stamp from Third Coast Rubber Stamps called- Froggy Trio (AP-328-H).  




I imagine  that the Froggy Trio is playing "We Wish You A Merry Christmas".  Don't you?  I stamped the frogs with black ink and colored with Copic Markers.  The DP is from Webster's Pages and the CS is Real Red from Stampin' Up.  



The ribbon is Real Red from Stampin' up and I added a dimensional holly sticker.  




Challenges for the Merry Christmas Froggy Trio:
Third Coast Rubber stamps: Christmas in July
Simon Says Stamp: anything goes
Bloggers Challenge: Christmas in July
Crimbo Crackers: Christmas with an animal
Belli Challenge: Christmas
Clear it Out: use old stuff...holly sticker

Okay, just a quick post!  Have a great weekend!  Love ya
Karen
Bloggers Challenge blog Hop

Birthday Card in Three Colors

Hi Dreamers!
I am back with a few more of the birthday cards I made for my Brother.  This group of cards was made with  stamp sets from Gina K Designs called Branching Out and Block Greetings.  I made the cards in three different colors.



The images and sentiments are stamped with Pesto Adirondack Ranger ink.    The DP and CS is all from Anna Griffin.  I added a gold sheer ribbon and gold pearls.




Here is a  look at the inside.  All the cards are the same on the inside.



And, here are the other two colors.












My Birthday cards are entered into the following challenges
Stamp TV: Gold
Simon Says Stamp: anything goes
Charisma Cardz: monochromatic
Crafts for Eternity: Birthdays

Busy day today!  Have to run.  Have a great weekend.  Love ya.
Karen

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Distress Markers, Artistic Outpost Oh My---Part Two

Hi Dreamers!!
I am back today with the second installment ( See part one here.)  of the Blockheads Design Team Artistic Outpost extravaganza!!   Let's see...card-travaganza?  Or, maybe color-travaganza??  Well, anyway lots of fun projects using markers and Artistic Outpost stamps.  
 I used stamps from the set called "A Lovely Day".   I stamped, colored, and made watercolor backgrounds  with Distress Markers from Ranger.  Okay, so let's get started with project number one.  


Get out your Craft Sheet.   Start by applying  Black Soot Distress Marker right onto the stamp.  Spritz with a tiny bit of water.  Stamp onto Solar White CS by Neenah.  



Dry the image with a heat tool.   On the craft sheet, apply some ink from a Broken China Marker.   Spritz with water and press the CS into the inks.  Dry with heat tool  Distress the background with Broken China and Black Soot Distress ink pad.    Love the look of this background treatment!



The stamped piece is layered onto black CS and a blue card base.  I added some gems and a sheer black ribbon to complete the card.




Now, on to project number TWO!  I used the same stamp set - "A Lovely Day". 



To begin, stamp the windmill onto watercolor paper with Coffee Archival ink (Ranger).  Make the background by putting ink from the Stormy Sky Distress marker on the craft sheet....add water.  Pick up the ink with a paint brush and paint the area around the windmill.   I also added some Victorian Velvet marker.  



Color in the floral/grassy area with markers--blend with a slightly damp brush.





Now let's stamp the Bike.  Apply the ink (first Walnut stain and then Black Soot) right onto the stamp.   Stamp onto CS.  I tried stamping on Kraft and White.  I liked the way the white CS turned out better than the Kraft, so I went with white.
  




Color the background in the same manner as the windmill.  Layer both pieces with dark brown CS.  




Stamp the Sentiment on a scrap with Coffee ink and layer.   Make a card base from the same dark brown.   To create the blue layer piece:  Stamp the script stamp from the "French Flight" Artistic Outpost set with Broken China Distress Ink pad.  Distress the whole piece with Broken China DI pad.  



Then just put all the pieces together and you are done!!  Love how both cards turned out and I am having a  blast working with the Distress Markers.  



I also am entering this project into the Artistic Outpost July Referral Program---Anything goes.
All Sorts: distressing


Creative Card Crew: black CS---card #1
Fashionable stamping: let's get messy and inky
Paper Take Weekly: make your own.  I made my own background paper with CS and Inks.
Tuesday Alchemy: Very vintage



Hope you have enjoyed my color-travaganza!!!   I wish you a beautiful day ...love ya.
Karen

Distress Markers, Artistic Outpost Oh My

Hi Dreamers!
This week the Design Team at Blockheads is showcasing Artistic Outpost Stamps.  And, if that weren't enough, we are also showing fun ways to use your watercolor markers.   My projects are stamped and/or colored with Distress Markers from Ranger.   I have three projects and lots of pictures, so I have decided to break it down into two posts.  So, let's get going!!  I used one of the images from the set called "A Lovely Day". 




I used the Distress Markers to stamp the image.  I applied the markers directly onto the stamp and stamped on Solar White CS (Neemah)  NOTE:  The Solar White CS is great with the Distress Markers.  If you want to color in an image with the markers, this smooth CS works really well and you will get a nice image without streaks.  See the photo below for the colors I used directly on the stamp and how the stamped image looks.  I love how this turned out!!



I wanted to add more color, so I colored onto the stamped image.  This is how I added more coloring: Apply marker to a Craft Sheet or an Acrylic Block.  Pick up the color with an Aqua Flow Brush.    You can see the Tattered Rose marker in the photo below.  See the ink on the craft sheet?



I did not stop there and added even more color using the same method.  




Don't waste that ink on the Craft Sheet!!  Grab some scraps of CS and press them into the ink and make some beautiful water colored pieces to use for layering and backgrounds!!!  And here is a close up of the finished card.  Notice that the pink rectangle of CS is one of the pieces I made with the leftover ink on the Craft Sheet.




I also am entering this project into the Artistic Outpost July Referral Program---Anything goes.
Simon Says Stamp and Show: Hey Girl
Fashionable stamping: let's get messy and inky
Paper Take Weekly: make your own.  I made my own background paper with CS and Inks.
Tuesday Alchemy: Very vintage


Stayed turned for a second post and more Artistic Outpost and Distress Marker fun!!   Have a super fun day.  Love ya.
Karen

Monday, July 23, 2012

More Masculine Birthday Cards

Hi Dreamers!
I am back today with more masculine birthday inspiration!! I went a bit "western" with the two cards in this post.  The cards are among the cards I made for my brother.  He does not like to buy "store" cards.  Now, I  make all his cards.  He is so spoiled!   But, I love doing it.  It is what I do!!!  LOL  The first card uses an oldie but goodie wolf stamp from PSX.




The wolf is stamped on gray CS with Gray ink.   The frame is die cut with a Sizzix die.  The Card base is made from a sandy grey CS from Bazzill.




To make this embellishment, I tied knots in two strands of twine and one piece of narrow black ribbon.



On the inside, a birthday sentiment from Stampin' Up.  



The second card is made with a Cowboy stamp from  Magenta.  I stamped on blue CS from Stampin' Up with black ink.




I layered with two DP's from Basic Grey.  I wrapped baker's twine and twine around the card and tied in a knot.  Rhinestones were added on the top and bottom.




Challenges for my Masculine Birthday cards:
Craft your days away: Shades of gray--the wolf card
Card makin mamas: Recipe--the cowboy
Samuel taylors: die cuts--the wolf card
Truly madly crafty: animals
Cheerful stamp pad: give me five (a hand)---the cowboy
Charisma Cardz: favorite animal
Fat pages with attitude: anything goes
ATCs with attitude: anything goes