Ferns and Florals

 Hello Everyone,

Hope you are having a great day. I have been making lots of cards lately. Most will go to friends that need cards to send out.  I always make extras for myself too. I find it so fun to just get the creativity going and make a stack of cards.  I have a few new stamp sets that I want to try out too.  Everybody is happy. LOL 

I made hand stamped backgrounds for all of the cards. The first card has a script stamped background which was distressed with inks.

Stamps: All from Stampin' Up except large script which is from AMuse stamps

The second card has the script stamping with more distressing with distress inks.

On the next card I used smaller stamps to create the background and then large leaf designs were stamped.  And then I did the distressing.

This card uses different stamps with the same technique.  I continued the red and pink color scheme and added some purple.

The cards were fun to make and will make great all occasion cards.  You may have noticed that there are no sentiments on the cards.  My BFF did not want any sentiments.  She said that then she could use any card for any occasion.  She will write a message on the inside.  

So glad you topped by today.  See you next time!!

Karen 

Steampunk Lady With Lost Coast Designs

Hi Dreamers!
Lost Coast Designs Challenge time!!  This is challenge #2 and the theme is use Blue and Green....with a Lost Coast Design stamp.  There are some fun prizes too.
I made a card using a LCD stamp and added lots of Distress ink.  The overall design is very clean and I am tempted to call it CAS-Vintage....if there is such a thing.  Take a look.

Materials List:

Stamp: Steampunk Bicycle Lady-Lost Coast Designs

CS: White; Tobacco Brown - Bazzill

Ink: Black Archival

Distress Inks: Peacock Feathers and Vintage Photo

Spray inks on scrap paper

Instructions:

• Make a card from the Tobacco Brown CS and layer with White CS
• Add a strip of paper that has been sprayed with multiple layers of spray inks

Note:  I tore a strip of paper from a scrap I had laid down while spraying inks onto another project.  The scrap paper looked so interesting that I did not want to throw it away.  I put it in my background papers box for use on some other project.  It worked perfectly with my Steampunk Lady.

• Stamp the Steampunk Lady on white CS with Black ink
• Tear out the image
• Add the Distress inks; applying heavily on the torn edges
• Add to the card base

A super fun card I can use to send to someone special!

How about a few Challenges for my Steampunk Lady??!!
Cards Und More: Vintage
Craft Your Passion: on the move
Simon's Monday: start from scratch
Snarky stampers: steampunk
Charisma Cards: anything goes


I hope you will get out your Lost Coast Design stamps and try out the second challenge!!
Coming up in Dreamland: a grad card and some cards I made using washi tape.  Should be fun and exciting!!  See you soon!   Love ya.
Karen

Grungeboard Pins

Hi Dreamers!
This month the Blockheads Design Team will be showcasing projects using Grungeboard.  So, for today, I have two pins made with grungeboard to share with you.  I used letters, a butterfly, and pre-cut striped shapes, and dots embossed grungeboard to build the pins.

 Materials List:

Grungeboard letters and shapes

Distress Inks- Vintage Photo, Barn Door, Fired Brick, Spiced Marmalade, Scattered Straw, Dusty Concord, Tumbled Glass, Faded Jeans

Embossing Ink ( I used Emboss It -Ranger.  Versa Mark would work too)

Gesso

UTTE embossing enamel

Metallic Pen

 The first pin is called "B is for Butterfly"

"Art" Pin

Instructions:

• Coat all the pieces with gesso or white paint - something to to act a s a base coat.  Molly at the Blockheads store used Picket Fence Stain from Ranger.
• Let Dry
• Apply Distress ink to all the pieces.  I rubbed the pads across the pieces to get maximum coverage

1. "B" is Butterfly- Faded Jeans on base circle, Dusty Concord on B, Tumbled Glass on butterfly
2. "Art" Pin -Scattered Straw on square base, Spiced Marmalade on A, Fired Brick on R, Barn Door on T.

• Heat set the Distress ink
• Cover the pieces with Embossing Ink
• Heat emboss with UTTE embossing enamel

Nice glossy look with the UTTE

• Let the UTTE cool
• Distress each piece with Vintage Photo Distress ink--I found that this really bought the colors to life.  So, don't skip this step.

• Draw around the outside of the pieces for the "B is for Butterfly" pin with a metallic marker
• Glue the pieces to the base using a strong glue.  I used Fabri-Tac.  Hot glue would work too.
• Glue a pin to the back of each pin--I picked up the pins from the jewelry section of the craft store

Challenges for my Grungeboard Pins:
Simon Says Stamp and show: anything goes
Country View: butterflies
Desert Island: use three
1 - Make it colourful (lots of colours
6 - Shiny
7 - 2 dies or more
Emma's Cards: butterflies
Unstampa Belles: anything but a card-no stamping
Craft Embellies: anything goes-3-D projects

Okay, hope everyone had a great Holiday weekend.  We had a nice family dinner on Sunday.  Temps have gone way back down into the 30's!  Burr!  Going for a walk anyway!  I hope your day is super nice!  Love ya.
Karen

Ready For Take Off -Steampunk Owl with Blockheads Stamps

Hi Dreamers!
Back today with a bit of whimsy.  To finish up our month of travel themed projects on the Blockheads Design Blog, I have made a fun card using one of my favs--the Steampunk owl from Blockheads Stamps.  He is ready to take off in his magical flying machine for places unknown!  I added a shimmery background  with some metallic distress stains.  

Materials List:

Blockhead Stamps: Steampunk Owl from Fringe Folktales set

Flyer from Victorian Inventions

Dot from Retro Shapes

Inks: Onyx Black Versa Fine; Black Soot and Frayed Burlap Distress ink

Distress Stains: Brushed Pewter Metallic and Pumice Stone

CS: white, Kraft, gray textured, Glossy Black

Watercolor Pencils

Black Wire

Black Brads

3-D Zots

Instructions:

• On a piece of Kraft CS, stamp the Flyer with Onyx Black ink
• Add shadowing under the Flyer with Pumice Stone Stain
• Add the shimmery sky above the Flyer with Brushed Pewter Stain
• Stamp the dots with Frayed Burlap Distress ink and distress edges with Black Soot
• Add to layer of glossy black CS
• Add brads to corners
• Add to gray card base with 3-D Zots

• On white CS, stamp the Owl with Onyx Black ink.
• Color with watercolor pencils
• Cut out the Owl
• Add to card with 3-D Zots
• Curl the wire and tuck under the Owl and sticking it into the 3-D Zots to secure

Oh, LOL.  Isn't this a fun card!?  Love this little Steampunk Owl!!

How about a few Challenges for my Steampunk Pilot:

Creative Moments: animals
Crafty Ribbons: one for the boys
613 Avenue: anything goes
Artistic Inspirations: fantasy
Creative Card Crew: masculine

Next month The Blockheads Design team will be working with Grungeboard.  Stay tuned for that.  I have some pins planned!  I hope you have a great day!!  Love ya
Karen

Steampunk Owl and Distress Embossing with Blockhead Stamps

Hi Dreamers!
Happy Saturday!  Long live the weekend!  I am continuing my new found love for Distress Embossing Powder today.   Today's project has a "not in the real world" kind of theme.  Let's enter the realm of fantasy with this Steampunk Owl.

Materials List:

Stamps: All From Blockheads Stamps

Steampunk Owl - Fringe Folktales

Pen Nib - Victorian Invention

Sexton - Stargazer

Inks:

Embossing Ink

Dusty Concord and Frayed Burlap Distress Inks

Cobalt Archival Ranger

Distress Markers

Distress Embossing Powder

Pre-cut white tag (3 1/8 x 6 1/4")

Black Satin Fabric scraps

Jewelry Findings

Mini Safety Pin

Instructions:

• On a pre- cut white tag or a tag cut from CS (3 1/8 x 6 1/4") stamp the sexton with embossing ink.
• Heat emboss with Distress Embossing Powder.
• Let cool completely and then rub off the granules that don't melt.  Gives a nice distressed looking image.  
• Distress the entire surface of the tag with Distress inks.

• Stamp the Steampunk Owl with Cobalt ink
• Color the owl with Distress Markers
• Stamp the Pen nibs with Frayed Burlap Distress ink

• Add a strip of black satin fabric tied in  knot to the bottom of tag
• Tie another strip in a knot at the top threading the fabric through the hole
• Pin a clock to the black satin with a mini safety pin

And, how about a few fun challenges for my Other worldly Steampunk Owl??!!

Creative Moments bloggers challenge: neutral colors and anything goes

Corrosive challenge: put a pin in it

Crafts and Me: vintage

Paper Play time: use some brown

Simon Says stamp and show: what are you known for!---always use fibers.

Isn't this owl just the greatest!  I love it.    So totally whimsical!!  Have a great weekend!!  Love ya.

Karen

Blockheads Stamps with Distressed Embossing

Hi Dreamers!
We are experiencing very cold temperatures here in good old Michigan.  Sooo, I wanted to make something sun shiny and warm.  And, I am in a "tag" making mood lately.   I made these three using Blockhead stamps and Distress Embossing Powder.  Actual size of the tag is 2 1/2" x 5".

Materials List:

Stamps: Whimsical- Take Flight Set from Blockheads

Inks:Embossing ink

Distress Ink: Frayed Burlap and Crushed Olive

Distress Embossing Powder

#5 Size Manila Tags -Inksentials

Fabric Scraps

Jewelry Pieces

Brad

Instructions:

• Stamp the Moth and script stamps  on the tags with Embossing ink
• Heat Emboss with Distress Embossing powder.  It will turn a lighter color when it is heated.

• Let the powder cool
• When cool, brush off the pieces of the powder that don't melt.  The Distress powder is designed to do this.
• I used two colors of embossing powder on the tag below

•  Apply the Distress ink to the tag

• Add strips of fabric to  the tags.  Tie them in knots or bows through the holes in the tags.
• Add some jewelry pieces and a large brad

The Distress Embossing powder gives a really muted look.  The colors get lighter when heated so keep that in mind when selecting your colors. 

Here is a mega close up so you can see how the Distress embossing looks.   I love this look...it is just perfect for vintagey projects.

And, how about a few super fun Challenges!!
Simon Says Stamp and Show: what are you known for--I almost always add fibers/fabric/ribbon!
Anything but a Card: tie it up
365 Cards: skewed
Crafty Catz Weekly: anything but a card
Craft-room Challenge: monochromatic
Papertake Weekly:Tie up loose ends-a bow on card

Well, that's it for me today.  I will be back tomorrow with some cards that went to Operation Write Home.  See you then!!  Love ya.
Karen

Butterflies with Embossed Script with Blockheads

Hi Dreamers!
I am back after a few days off from blogging.  I have been making cards for charities.  I made 30 Valentines' Day cards for "Cards from the Heart Drive"  --Which, by the way, is being sponsored by Blockheads Paper Arts!!!! 
 I made 30 children's cards for Operation Write Home, and 10 for Card Care Connection.  Whewww!  I'm tired!  LOL.  (I will be showing you the cards through out the month-and probably next month too--there are quite a few cards!)

So,today I am back with more butterflies!!   The Blockheads Designers are going all out showcasing butterflies for the month of January.  For my project, I used several stamps and heat embossing to create a card and tag set.  Perfect for a birthday!

Materials List:

Stamps: 

Lepidoptera Large, Medium, and Small single stamps with cling.  (Also available on a half sheet-Grunge Collage)

Script Background

 Travel Documents

Ink:

Versa Mark

Vintage Photo, Scattered Straw, and Dried Marigold Distress Ink

Coffee and Sienna Archival ink

Other:

Clear Embossing Powder

 Pre-cut Tag

CS: cream and dark green

Wired copper and wide green ribbon

Rhinestones

Instructions:

• On the Manila pre-cut tag and cream CS stamp the Script stamp with Versa Mark ink and heat emboss with clear powder.
• Cover the tag and CS with Scattered straw Distress ink.  Wipe the ink off the embossed image with a soft cloth or paper towel
• Cover the right side with the Dried Marigold ink leaving the far left with just the yellow ink.  Wipe the ink off the embossed image.

• Stamp the butterflies and Travel Document  with coffee Archival ink
• Wrap the green ribbon around this piece
• Stamp additional butterflies with Coffee and Sienna ink - cut out 

• Make a card base from dark green CS
• Add the stamped piece to the card base
• Add the cut out butterflies to the card front with dimensional adhesive
• Wrap the wired ribbon around the card and secure with glue.  
• Add rhinestones and Green ribbon

Tag

I just love the way the embossed image peeks out from the two colors of Distress ink!!  And, all the butterfly action is so sweet!  This will go in my card giving box for someone's birthday.

Well, let's enter a few challenges too!!
Pause, Joy, Dream: use ribbon
Incy Wincy: tic tac toe--I used embossing, anything but a card , and add a tag
Crazy Challenge: no decorative paper
Use your Stuff: collage
Flonz Craft: vintage
613 Avenue: anything goes

Tomorrow, I will have some super cute cards from the Operation Write Home cards!  I used a pretty little dress digi--see you later for that!!  I hope you have a super day.  Love ya.
Karen

Steampunk Tin Man

Hi Dreamers,
I have been so busy all week making cards for submissions.  ----I have 3 tags in the new Just Cards Steampunk II---- Hope you will check them out.  To stick with the Steampunk theme, I have a card to share with you today.  The main image is The Tin Man from Artistic Outpost.  I used images from Blockheads Paper Arts, and Stampin' Up.    Here is my Steampunk Tin Man.

Instructions:

• Make card from Kraft CS.  Layer the card front with Soft Suede CS(Stampin Up).  Cut a piece of the Kraft CS. Stamp Tin Man with Stazon ink.  
• Stamp again on a scrap piece of CS and cut out: this will be the Tin Man mask.  
• Put the Tin Man mask in place on the Kraft CS.  Stamp the Frame with Vintage Sepia ink.  Leave the Tin Man mask in place.  
• Place the Compass Mask (Ranger) down.  With Forest Moss and Vintage Photo Distress ink, add lots of distressing around the edges and the two masks.  Keep adding more ink until the original color of the Kraft CS is gone.  Remove both masks.  

• Stamp the Stripes with Vintage Sepia ink.  Stamp the Flying Machine with Black Soot ink and sprinkle clear embossing powder over the Flying Machine only (this will add a little shine to the Flying Machine).  Heat emboss.  Stamp the Prof Camus sentiment with Stazon ink.  
• Add the stamped piece to the card front.  Place the brad in the hole of the metal washer.  Glue the washer to the card front using Fabri-Tac Glue. 

• On inside: Layer with CS.  Stamp the Tin Man and Stripes.  Use the Tin Man mask again and add the Distress inks.  Stamp sentiment in Stazon.

Some really fun challenges for my Steampunk Tin Man Card:
Artistic Outpost: anything goes
365 Cards: say it with flair
Artistic Stamper: anything goes
The Stamp Man: embossing

Ho-ray for the weekend!  Going to hang with my bud, Sharon tomorrow and make a card.  Then back to work on the submissions!  Hope you have a great weekend with lots of creative moments!!  Love ya.
Karen