Military Themed Retirement Cards with The Stampsmith

Hi Dreamers,
I have something a bit different for you today.  My BF asked for some Military themed retirement cards.  She works with the National Guard and has some friends retiring this summer.  "Not a problem", I said, " I will pull out my new U.S.A. Patriotic Full Sheet from The Stampsmith!"   This is a great set for Fourth of July too.

For the first card, I used the Uncle Sam image and stamped with black dye ink on white glossy CS.  I used red, white, and blue for the color scheme...of course!   The gingham paper is from Karen Foster Designs.

I added some star shaped brads.   

On the second card, I stamped the eagle with Night of Navy (SU) dye ink on glossy white CS.  I used the same color scheme and papers.

The Navy CS is dry embossed and I added the star brads. 

On the inside, I used the same papers and added a sentiment from Stampin' Up.

On the third card, I used the eagle image again.  But, this time I stamped it with Copper pigment ink and used a mixture of clear and gold embossing powders.   Love the way this turned out!!

The striped paper is from Graphic 45 and I added more star brads and a sentiment from Stampin' Up.

I sent these off to my BF on Monday.  I hope she will be pleased with them.  I also included about 30 other all occasion cards.  She loves to send my cards and I keep her supplied.

How about a few fun Challenges for my Military Retirement card??!!
Crafting for All Seasons: Military
Paper Pretties: red, white,and blue
Simon Says stamp: patriotic
Sisterhood of crafters: stars
Loves Rubber Stamps: red, white,and blue
Shopping our Stash: red, white,and blue
Top Tip Tuesday:stars and stripes
Tuesday Throwdown: gingham
Use it Tuesday: patriotic- used the star brads and gingham paper which I have had for over a year

Coming up on the weekend!  The temps are going to be in the 90's here in Michigan!  Yuk!  Guess I will stay inside and make cards!  LOL  Like I need an excuse to make cards, right??!!  I even got the house cleaned this morning.  Yes!  Now, I have more time for cards.  LOL  Hope you are having a great day!  Love ya.
Karen

Blockhead's Technique Challenge -Stamping on Fabric

Hi Dreamers!
Oh my gosh, where have I been??!!   Finally back to write a new post.  I have been busy writing tutorials!  I will have an article in the up coming  Scrapbook News and Review!!  I will keep you posted on the publication date.
I have also been busy writing the tutorial for the NEW BLOCKHEAD'S CHALLENGE!  The new challenge is:

STAMPING ON FABRIC

To enter, make your project and link it up on the Blockheads Blog  by July 21st.

I made this cute little wall hanging by stamping on fabric and coloring with markers.

Materials List:

Stamp: Harried Housewife-Wash Day

Real Black Versa Color Ink

VersaMagic dew drop ink pad

Markers: Memento, Tom Bow, or Marvy   

Bleached Muslin 100% Cotton Fabric

Iron

Scrap Paper

Sewing Machine-Optional

I used a piece of corrugated cardboard for the background.  I went over the card board with a VersaMagic dew drop ink pad.    

I added some narrow ribbon, buttons, and mini clothes pins for accents.  

There is a great prize up for grabs --a $25 gift certificate or a free set of Blockheads stamps.  Get out your scraps and stamp away!!  Love ya.

Embossed Toilet Paper Challenge with Blockheads Final Project

Hi Dreamers!

The Embossed Toilet Paper Technique Challenge closes on June 21st.  So, still a few more days to get your projects posted.    For this sample, I used one of the smaller embossing folders (2 1/2" x 4 1/4").  This made a nice little frame within which I stamped.  

Materials List:

Toilet Paper (2ply)

Stamps:

Sea Shells with Rectangle Frame (Frame)

ATC Set-Honey Bees (Flower)

Verses-Feel Better (sentiment on the inside)

Inks:

Pesto Adirondack Reinker- Ranger

Frayed Burlap Distress Ink Reinker - Ranger

Pistachio,Olive Grove, and Tuxedo Black ink Pads - Memento

Small Embossing Folder

Dark Green CS

Colored Staples

I followed the Technique instructions.  I added the reinkers while the toilet paper was wet and before I closed  up  the Embossing Folder.  I added a few drops of reinker and then sprayed some water-repeat.  When the toilet paper was dry, I trimmed the piece a bit.  I stamped the Rectangle Frame with Pistachio ink and then the Flower with Olive Grove ink.  

The Embossed Toilet Paper piece was then stapled to a dark green card base.  I used some copper colored staples.  On the inside, I distressed White CS with Pesto and Frayed Burlap inks.  And, stamped another flower in Olive Grove.  The sentiment is stamped with Tuxedo Black.  

Inside:

I did a little sample on regular white CS to see if I like the Rectangle frame and the flower together.  And, as you can see above I did like the combo.  The sample looked really nice and I thought I could make a nice card with that too.  I grabbed some scraps that were laying around and put them together to make this nice little card (3 3/4 x 4 1/4").    Some small pearls were added and a pretty May Arts ribbon.  

Well, how about a few challenges:
Cheerful Stamp Pad: Garden
Fashionable Stamping: Nature
Tuesday Taggers: anything goes
Truly Madly Crafty: Monochromatic
Let's ink It Up: favorite embellishments -ribbon and pearls


I love  making cards!!  It is such fun.  Take some time to make a few today.  And, then send them to someone you love.   Have a great day!  Love ya.
Karen

Father's Day Cards

Hi Dreamers,

It's Father's Day!!  Don't forget Dad today.   I have three cards today that I made for the Dads in my life: my Dad, my Brother, and my Godfather.   I used Artistic Outpost stamps for all three cards.  The Artistic Outpost June Challenge is Masculine.  Well, I think all three of my cards quality fro that.  LOL. Very masculine indeed. Here is card number one.

The stamping is done with Archival ink and the colors are added with Distress inks. 

On the inside, I used a cute sentiment from Sweet N' Sassy Stamps.  

Cards numbers two and three use the same image.  I changed up the layout a bit on each.  I stamped with Soot Black Distress ink, color added with Distress Inks.

And, here is the inside.

And the last card:   I added some decorative paper and twine.  

And the inside:

Some Challenges for my Father's Day Cards:

Simon Says Stamp and Show: Anything goes
Marks Finest: Vintage
bloggers Challenge: Masculine
Card Making Mamas: Father's Day
Craft Punked: Father's Day
Chrisma Card: Masculine
Do You Stack Up: Men
Fab and Funky: Father's day
Paper Play: for a man with twine

Hope you have a great day!! Love ya
Karen

Pretty Bride Cards in Pink and Green

Hi Dreamers!

I have been working with my new Stampavie stamps.  Have you seen their new Suzi Blu line of stamps?  Oh, they are so cute.  The stamp I am using today is called Pretty Girl.  I stamped with Onyx Black Versa Fine ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder on both cards.  I stamped on decorative paper that I had in my stash.  Love this look!  Here is card number one.  Lovely Bride in green.  Oh, did  I mention that I think this stamp is great for bridal cards?  Well, I do.  (No pun intended).  LOL  

I stamped the image again on some coral pink (Cameo Coral from Stampin' Up) and cut out just the flowers.  I glued them to the main image with Fabric -Tac.  I just wanted the flowers to stand out a bit...not as much as dimensionals but, not flat.  Here is a close up of the flowers.  I added a sheer pink ribbon on the side.  I layered with light pink and Ruby Red (SU).

Well, don't you just love this image!!???  I think I would use this for a girl grad card too.  Here is one more look.  

For the second card, I stamped on the Cameo Coral colored decorative paper and cut with a Spellbinders die.  I layered with Cameo Coral, light pink and white.

 I added four pearls and kept this one really Clean and Simple.  

I have a whole series of cards made using the Suzi Blu stamps.  I will keep them coming to you over the next week or so.  Stop back and check them out.  Hope you are having a great day!  Love ya.

Karen

More Embossed Toilet Paper!

Hi Dreamers!
I have more of the embossed Toilet Paper today!!  There is still plenty of time to join in the Blockheads Technique Challenge.    I call this card "Dragonflies at Sunset".

I used the same technique as my first card.  But, this time I added ink to the wet Toilet paper.

Materials List:

Stamps:

Inspired By Nature Full Sheet

Toilet Paper 2 ply

Embossing Folder: Fancy and Floral Set Texture Fades

Reinkers:

Ginger Adirondack 

Rusty Hinge Distress Ink

Ink: 

Onyx Black Versafine

Peach and Rust CS

While layering the Toilet paper, I added drops of the reinkers and then sprayed more water on.    After the embossed TP was completely dry, I stamped the cattails and dragonflies with Onyx Black ink.   I applied the glue to the CS instead of the embossed TP.  I did not plan it, but the ink colors ended up looking just like a sunset.

I stamped the same images on the peach CS for the inside of the card as seen below.  This would be a great general thinking of you card or even a birthday card.

I hope you will join us for the challenge.  I know this technique looks hard, but it really is simple.  And you can make a whole stack at one time.
I hope you are having a great day.  We are having the most beautiful weather today here in Michigan.  I worked in the garden most of the day today.  I extended a bed.  I put a new rose bush and two hostas in the bed so far.  I may add a few more small things.   I will take some photos tomorrow and show you what I did.
 Love ya!
Karen

Embossed Toilet Paper Challenge with Blockheads

Hi Dreamers!
I have a project today that uses something we all have at home.  Toilet Paper!!  This month's Blockhead Challenge is brought to us by Leigh with her embossed Toilet Paper technique.     This technique is a lot easier than it looks.  The only thing I did differently was that I sprayed the tp while laying on the embossing folders with a large spray bottle.  Not a mister, but a regular big spray bottle.  I made four or five pieces and added color on some while wet and some later.  I made a total of four cards and this is the first card.

Materials list:

Stamp: Verses  Full Sheet

Two-Ply Toilet Paper

Embossing Folder

Inks:

Versa Magic Dew Drops- Niagara Mist and Wheat

Olive Grove Memento

Brads

Paper Flowers

Beige and Cream CS

I followed the tutorial and did not add any inks to the TP while it was wet.  Once it was dry, I used a direct to paper technique and added the Versa Magic inks.  The Niagara Mist was used all over and Wheat just on the edges.

I attached the Embossed TP to a beige gray CS with brads.  I put a small amount of glue on the back to hold the TP in place.   The Sentiment was stamped with Olive Grove ink (Memento) on cream CS.      I went around the edges of the stamped sentiment with Wheat Versa Magic.

I added three paper flowers held together with a brad.   So, what do you think of this toilet paper??  Pretty fun, isn't it??!!   I will share the other cards I made with my other embossed TP pieces over the next few weeks.  Each piece turned out totally different.  So stayed turned for that.   Okay, get out your TP and play along with the Challenge!!!  You have until June 21 to link up.  One project will be chosen for a $25 gift certificate.  Have fun!!!  Love ya.
Karen

June in my Garden

Hi Dreamers,
I wanted to share a few more photos from my garden.  The first two photos are of a stump I dug out.  I thought the shapes were very artistic and I have been thinking I would like to make something out of them.  Or maybe just use them as "Garden Art".  The largest piece would make a cool table.  What do you think?

Hope you are having a great weekend!!  Love ya.
Karen

Jane Austen card with The Stampsmith

Hi Dreamers,

I have been busy working in my garden, but still took some time to make a few cards this week.  I have some new stamps from The Stampsmith and one of the sets is called Floral Alphabet.  As I was looking at the set my mind was imagining what I would create with the stamps.  The "A" made me think of Jane Austen...my favorite author.

Really great set!!  I also used the Botanica Full Sheet for a little added drama.

                                                  

I started with Solar White Neenah CS and stamped the Large flower with Milled Lavender Distress Ink.  I stamped the "A" with black dye ink and colored the skin with a peach marker.

The white CS is distressed with Tea Dye Distress ink.  The letters are some ephemera that I cut out and distressed.  I drew a line along two edges with a Metallic Pen and added a row of pearls.  The CS is from Bazzill.

I made two additional cards in different color ways.  For the second card the flower is stamped with Soft Green Memories ink and distressed with Victorian Velvet.  I stamped the rest of the letters with small alphabet stamps.  The CS is from Stampin' Up.  

For the last  card, the flower was stamped and distressed with Victorian Velvet Distress Ink.  The CS is all from Bazzill.

I have already sent one of these out to my BBF.  She also is a lover of Jane Austen.   Love how the flower looks as a background.

Stop over to the Stampsmith Design blog to check all the other great projects by the Smithies Design Team.  And, the Stampsmith Challenge is currently running for the month of June-Humorous Birthday .  Hope you are having a great day!!  Love ya

Karen

Fabric Stamping - Poppy Wall Art

Hi Dreamers,

I have been so busy working in my yard.  I will share some photos of all my hard work in my next post.  Today I want to share a project I made by stamping on fabric.  I have a lot of great fabrics and love adding them to my cards and other paper artwork.  But, for this project, I also stamped on the fabric.  I added a ribbon hanger to this piece so it can be hung or sat on an easel.  Here we go.

Materials List:

Stamps:

Flowers Full Sheet (Poppy image) Blockheads Stamps

Inks:

Real Black Versa Magic 

All Purpose Ink - Tsukineko:

Tropical Lagoon

Celadon

Rose Pink

Burgundy

Oasis Green Versa Magic Dew Drop Pad

Fabric: 

Unbleached Muslin and Teal Cotton

Other:

Mat Board (or heavy card stock, chip board)

Fantastix Applicators

Narrow Ribbon

Iron

I used unbleached muslin to stamp on.  Any 100% cotton fabric will work too.  Keep in mind what color ink you would like to stamp with and pick a fabric that is lighter.  I have also had really good results with 100% silk.  Press the fabric before stamping.  Stamp the image with Real Black Versa Craft (designed for stamping on fabric).  

I found that I get better results if I heat set the black ink before coloring.  Place a piece of scrap paper on your ironing board and press with a hot iron.  This will set the black ink and it won't smear when you color.  To color the image I used All Purpose ink and Fantastix applicators. 

Dip the Fantastix in the ink.  Scribble a bit on scrap paper to remove some on the ink.  Then just color in the image.

To make the stems stand out more I mixed the Tropical Lagoon with Celadon to make a darker green.  

A paint brush can be used too.  I did like the results of the Fantastix better though.  I got a bit carried away with the brush as seen below.  I was thinking that the image might look cool with just a wash of color over it.  But, then I went back and filled in the flowers and leaves with more ink on the brush.  

Here are the two all colored.  Go back to the ironing board.  Use the scrap paper under and over the stamped and colored fabric.  Iron on a hot setting to set the inks.  

Tear your fabric to the desired size.  Pick out a complementary fabric and tear it slightly larger.   I mounted my fabric on a piece of white mat board.  I inked the edges with Oasis Green Versa Magic  ink.   Dry with a heat tool.   Now, the fabrics can be glued to this mat board.  

And, there you are!  Add some embellishments and ribbon.  I made the ribbon crinkly by running some hand stitches down the center of the ribbon and pulling the stitches just a bit.  Secure the thread.   Add a loop on the back with the same ribbon if you would like to hang your project.

Here is another look at the finished project.

My Fabric Poppy Wall art is entered in the  Simon Says Stamp is having a Anything goes Challenge!!

Stayed tuned for more garden pictures!!

Have a super Monday!  Love ya.

Karen