Artistic Outpost Yuletide Greetings

Don't be shocked. I am finally posting something unHalloweeny! I was inspired this past weekend by a card the fabulous Beate Johns had shared on Facebook, using the Glitter Window technique from Splitcoaststampers. I immediately thought of my new rubber stamps from Artistic Outpost's MidWinter collection and knew they would be perfect for this technique!

My tag background was made by swiping a Ranger manila tag through a combination of Picket Fence, Brushed Pewter, and Peeled Paint Distress Stain, plus a little bit of Evergreen Bough Distress ink. After it dried, I embossed the top and bottom with the snowflake border from the Sizzix Christmas Backgrounds and Borders Texture Fade set. I highlighted the snowflakes with a Snow Cap Paint Dabber.

Oooh, how pretty is that glitter technique?! It's also ridiculously easy. Packing tape would have been too narrow for this die, so I used a sheet of clear plastic that had adhesive on one side. My friend Cyndi gave it to me and I'm not sure what the brand is, but it worked perfectly. The top is coated with the new Ranger Rock Candy Dry Stickles - LOVE that stuff!! The cabin scene was stamped on white cardstock and colored with Distress Markers and a water brush.

To frame the scene, I used the Sizzix Baroque and Mini Baroque dies to cut a frame from chipboard. I added a generous coat of Brushed Pewter Distress Stain to give it a vintage-y silver look. To finish it, I added some elements cut from Kraft Core'dinations using the Festive Foliage die, and a length of Silver Tinsel Twine (another of my favorites from the new idea-ology release!). I topped the foliage with a little glittered bunny, also from AO's MidWinter collection.

Now is the perfect time to start thinking about wintertime projects! All the materials I used can be purchased from Inspiration Emporium via the links below. Be sure to use my coupon code - stamptramp - to save 10% off your order!

Inkssentials Manila Tag Rock Candy Dry Glitter Sizzix Christmas Background and Borders Sizzix Festive Greenery Die Sizzix Baroque Die Sizzix Mini Baroque Die Sizzix Little Sizzles Kraft Core Distress Markers Winter Distress Ink Weathered Wood Distress Ink Snow Cap Paint Dabber Picket Fence Distress Stain Brushed Pewter Distress Stain Peeled Paint Distress Stain Idea-ology Crinkle Ribbon Idea-ology Wire Pins idea-ology Christmas Muse Tokens idea-ology Tinsel Twine Silver Jet Black Archival Ink Idea-ology Sanding Grip Vagabond Inkssentials Glue N' Seal Zip Dry Glue

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I'm heading to Missouri to see my son before he deploys next month - I'm crossing my fingers for some beautiful Fall weather. I hope you all have a wonderful, creative weekend!

I almost forgot to add that I'm submitting this for Simon Says Stamp's Sparkle challenge!

Great Gifts CD Blog Hop!

Hi everyone! Today I'm excited to be part of a blog hop celebrating the release of Great Gifts, the latest CD from The Technique Junkie Newsletter. The CD contains 40 papercrafting projects with gifts for all occasions. There are boxes, bags, surprises, and even explosions on this CD!

If you arrived here from the Design Junkies blog, then you're in the right place. If not, you definitely need to start there, so you don't miss any of the fantastic artwork on display.

Let me tell you, it was so hard to pick just one project to share! I finally settled on this adorable treat holder called the Tall Window Box. Try not to notice that a few of those nuggets seem to have gone missing. ;)

I created my window by carefully cutting an opening using the Sizzix Hanging Sign die. It's definitely an unexpected use for that die, but I love the shape it creates. I used the eerily lovely skeleton cameo stamp from Artistic Outpost's Gothic 31 collection to decorate it.

The paper I used to decorate the box is from Authentique's Enchanted collection. I fell in love with it a couple weeks ago and bought a bunch. I even bought the stickers, which my friends all told me I would never use. Ha! The base of the box and lid were cut from black Kraft Core'dinations paper - I love the look of the sanded edges.

The lid was sanded and decorated with stickers from Authentique. A decorative edge was cut with the Sizzix Brackets On the Edge die. To finish it off I added some of Tim Holtz' new Striped Paper String and an idea-ology Muse Token.

I hope you've enjoyed my project - I had so much fun making it! If you'd like to purchase the CD, it is just $14.95 plus postage. A full list of what is on the CD - plus photos of each project - is available here: Great Gifts CD. You can use my special link below to order it, or any of the other Technique Junkie CDs. I know you will love it!!

Select One or More CDs to add to your order

Great Gifts CD $14.95 USD Mini Album Mania CD $14.95 USD 3D and Fun Folds CD $17.95 USD Fancy Folds and Motion CD $17.95 USD Emboss or Die CD $17.95 USD Stampbooking CD $17.95 USD Stampin' Companion CD $17.95 USD

Thanks so much for stopping by. Now, I'm sending you on to Nancy Dawson's fantastic blog - I can't wait for you to see what she's come up with!

If you'd like to order any of the products I used, they are available from Inspiration Emporium via the links below. Don't forget to use my coupon code - stamptramp - to save 10%.

Kraft Core Paper Sizzix Hanging Sign Die Sizzix Brackets On the Edge Die idea-ology Paper String - Stripes idea-ology Halloween Muse Tokens idea-ology Jump Rings Idea-ology Sanding Grip Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink Inkssentials Blending Tool

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Steampunk'n!

In my last post, I mentioned that I have a 'gift' for turning a theme into something Halloweeny. That is nothing compared to my ability to turn any theme into something Steampunky! This week's Compendium of Curiosities challenge is to create something using Tim Holtz's Riveted Patchwork technique. I decided that I would combine my favorites and make something Halloweeny and Steampunky!

And I do love my little guy...even if he looks a bit like a bell pepper instead of a pumpkin. His eyes were made with various idea-ology bits and the mouth was created with staples.

I replaced the stem with an idea-ology Clock Key and added some foil leaves (cut with the Sizzix Autumn Gatherings die) and some tendrils made from copper wire.

I'm sure Eileen Hull never imagined her adorable Cupcake Stand would end up holding a grungy pumpkin, but I thought it made the perfect pedestal for him! It was cut from chipboard and painted with Copper and Pitch Black Dabbers. Gears were cut from foil-covered chipboard to create a base.

Hope you like my transformed dollar store pumpkin! With the exception of the Cupcake Stand, all the supplies I used can be purchased at Inspiration Emporium via the links below. Don't forget to use my coupon code - stamptramp - to save 10%!

Compendium of Curiosities II Inkssentials Metal Foil Tape Sizzix Gadget Gears Sizzix Autumn Gatherings Die Copper Dabber Ranger Dabber - Pitch Black Idea-ology Sprocket Gears Idea-olgy Mini Gears idea-ology Clock Keys idea-ology Game Spinners Idea-ology Tiny Fasteners Idea-ology Long Fasteners

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Thanks so much to the Funkie Junkie Boutique for sponsoring this week's challenge. Have a great week, everyone!!