Created Byhand - Things That Fly

I love making cards that combine my favorite things. This card, made for the Created Byhand challenge, uses the Brayered Impressions technique (my invention!) from the Dec/Jan '10 issue of the Technique Junkie newsletter, wonderful stamps from Artistic Outpost's Paris Exposition collection, and an adorable image from Twisted Papers.

I am still having trouble with my crepe paper ruffle addiction - it just seems to add such a nice touch!

Created Byhand Challenge - Stencils

I have been intrigued by Michelle Ward's latest Crusade - Come Over to the Dark Side. I love the idea of layering gesso and paint over a black background. When I saw the stencil challenge over at Created Byhand, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to experiment with this technique.

I started with black cardstock and scraped gesso over it randomly. Then I did the same thing with green and pearlized purple acrylic paints. When I was happy with it, I used the waste from a sheet of Grungeboard flourishes as a stencil and sprayed it with black paint. The bird is from Oxford Impressions. It's stamped on Grungeboard and cut out - it's a great way to get a nice, solid image. I added a bit of cheesecloth that's been dyed with distress ink and a few stems left over from a silk flower spray.

LOVE this technique and will be experimenting some more with it. Thanks for the inspiration Michelle!

Created Byhand Challenge - Inchies

One thing I have just never gotten into is inchies - they are just so small. When I saw that they were the theme for this week's Created Byhand challenge I was like, too bad for me! Then I remembered this bracelet I made a couple years ago for Innovative Stamp Creations.

I used the inchie stamp sheet to make little fabric charms for a bracelet. I also made a little box for it to go in. To make the charms I first stamped the images onto tissue paper which I then fused to felt. I think I'd also just got my Cuttlebug and was obsessed with cutting things out with it! The flowers are felt that was cut using a Quickutz die.

I think that was about the first and last time I ever made an inchie!

***Char and Ellen asked how you fuse paper to felt. I originally saw this in an issue of Cloth Paper Scissors. In it the artist stamped and painted tissue paper and then fused it to felt using fusible webbing. This is kind of a simplified version of that.

Created Byhand Challenge - Summer

Another tag, this time for the Created Byhand Summer challenge. I'm also submitting for the Ranger Yahoo group's monthly challenge.

This is one of my favorite stamps from Artistic Outpost's Keeper plate. The image was stamped, colored, and clear embossed. Next, I sponged on Distress inks and flicked water over the top to create a water-speckled look. To finish it off I added few more AO stamps and a measuring tape strip from Oxford Impressions' Measure Up collage sheet.

Created Byhand Challenge - French

Ok, something a bit more conventional for this week's Created Byhand French theme. This time I did use more scraps, but no oversized pointing hands or anything, lol!

I built this collage on top of a piece of torn cardboard. Most of the paper elements are held in place with beeswax. I wasn't sure what would happen when I put the beeswax over the image of the woman, but I like what it did. Makes her look a bit ghostly.

Stamps are all from the April in Paris plate by Oxford Impressions. Click on image to better see the detail - it looks so cool in real life!

Tag Tuesday - Mask, Created Byhand - Open

Tag Tuesday's challenge was to use a mask in your tag. I have had this set of Tim Holtz masks for awhile, but hadn't used the barbed wire (bobwar to you country girls) mask yet - it seemed to be a perfect fit with the Cowgirl Blues stamps from Oxford Impressions. Since it's a Free for All at Created Byhand, I am submitting it for that too!

Created Byhand Challenge - Father's Day

This week's Created Byhand challenge is Father's Day. I made this card a month or so ago using the Drywall Stitching technique from the April/May issue of the Technique Junkie newsletter. I used one of my favorite stamp sets from Oxford Impressions - Family Man. It's so hard to find good masculine stamps! I can't tell you how many times I've reached for this set. It is truly a must-have.

This is another card I did last year using this set. Again, another TJ technique - this time it's the Kaleidoscope Card tech from the April/May '08 issue. I sent this to my dad last year and he really loved it! It is really so much better in real life. It's so hard to show the 3-d quality of the inside - each frame is a separate layer. VERY fun card to make!

Front of card

Inside of Card

Created Byhand Challenge - Circles

Finally got around to doing a challenge card. I read that the theme over at Created Byhand was circles and I thought - ooh, what a perfect way to highlight a new Technique Junkies tech!

This one is from the latest newsletter and is called Scrappy Spots. Another fantastic idea from Nancy Judd!

Stamps are from Oxford Impressions and I Brake for Stamps/Time to Stamp.

We're finally getting caught up with all the activity that's been going on lately (chickens! ahhhh!) so hopefully I will be getting to post more frequently!

Created ByHand Challenge - Blobs & Spatters

For today's Created Byhand challenge I made a quick skinny. The background is made using the Simple Green Spritz technique from the Apr/May '08 Technique Junkie newsletter. I added stamps from Oxford Impressions and Tim Holtz.

Not sure if I'm loving the new TH clear stamps - they smell funky, I tore one getting it off the sheet (I've never done that, ever. Some of them are connected and I didn't realize that when I was peeling one off!), they stain instantly, and they're weirdly sticky. On the plus side, they're really thick, much thicker than normal acrylic stamps, and the images are fantastic. Maybe I just need to play around with them more. My problem is that I am very much a RUBBER stamp lover, but I couldn't resist all those sets!

Created By Hand Challenge - Blue & Sand

Today's Created Byhand Challenge was to use the colors blue and sand in your artwork. I had made this blue tag using the Cuttlebug Stamps technique from the latest TJ newsletter and then set it aside, not knowing what to do with it. When I read the challenge I pulled it out and decided to try to work with it again.

I added a gorgeous French background stamp from the latest release from Oxford Impressions. Next, I stamped the label (again, from OI) on cream paper and trimmed around it. I stamped the woman (OI) on cream paper and used my water pen and Broken China Distress ink to color her dress. Hint - acrylic blocks make great palettes when using this technique. Just smoosh your ink pad on the block and pick up the color with your pen. Finally, I added various vintage trims to complete my tag.

GIVEAWAY! Ok, even if you didn't read all the blah blah blah up there, hopefully you will see this! Right now I have 49 followers, if you are the 50th person to follow my blog I will send you this tag, plus some other goodies. But wait! If you are already a follower, or just someone who is dropping in, I will also choose a winner from the comments and send another prize! Not sure yet what it will be, but I guarantee it will be something that I've posted here plus a few more little treats. I will randomly choose a winner on Sunday, so you have lots of time to get your comments in. Make sure you leave your email addy so I can contact you.

Thanks to everyone who takes the time to stop by - I really appreciate your kind comments!

Created By Hand Challenge - Blue & Green Combo

When I saw today's Created Byhand challenge, I thought I might try Tim Holtz's Distress Crackle paint resist tech - when I went to his site to view the demo, I found the dabber paint resist tutorial and was totally intrigued! I don't have the dabbers, but I do have a sponge and lots of acrylic paint. :-)

The flourish was first stamped repeatedly on white cardstock with green paint. I then sponged over it (when it was dry) with Broken China and Faded Jeans Distress inks. I added another flourish, overstamped with gesso. Fun technique! Mine is totally different from his example, which shows you can interpret these techs any way you want!

My queen's dress is made from Dollar Store rose petals. Stamps are all from Oxford Impressions. The crown is from my one stop crown shop - RockCandy Studios.

Created ByHand - Letter of the Alphabet

Oooh, I had a happy mail day today! I got my new Marie Antoinette rubber stamps from Oxford Impressions! I put off making my Created Byhand challenge until I got them - I knew exactly what I wanted to do. For my background, I did the Faux Designer Paper technique from Technique Junkies. I used another Junkies tech - Faux Chipboard - for the initial. I embellished my queenly 4x4 with trim and a crown from RockCandy studios.

You NEED to get these stamps! I can't wait to play with them this week!

Wednesday Stamper - Hearts

I have really gotten out of the habit of participating in challenges, so I'm trying to force myself to get back into it. Today's Wednesday Stamper challenge was a tough one for me - use hearts in a different way. I started and discarded a few ideas before settling on this.

I have been dying to use some Faux Felt that I made this past weekend with my friends. This is a really fun technique from the latest Technique Junkie newsletter. I added some gesso, a torn French book page, some trim and stamps from Oxford Impressions. Oh, and I have been dying to use this gold thread that I've had for ages. Since the Created Byhand challenge was Gold, I thought that I would try it on this card and I love it!

If you can't tell, my hearts are bound together with the gold thread to make a little flower. Hope everyone is having a great week!

Wednesday Stamper - Openings

I was incredibly flattered when Belinda asked if she could use my ATC that I made for the Oxford Impressions swap as an inspiration piece for today's Wednesday Stamper. I absolutely love interactive art - from slider cards to pop-ups and everything in between. It takes something static and makes it more interesting.

Since I gave my muse the week off, I didn't participate in the Gothic Arches 'Grunge' challenge or the Created Byhand 'Love' challenge. I decided I'd try to incorporate both into my WS piece.

My background is made of pieces of aluminum I cut from cans and then ran through my Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder. Probably not the way most people use it! I think it looks really industrial. The heart, wings, hinges, and oval piece are all Grungeboard. The love stamp is from Oxford Impressions' My Story plate. This is definitely best viewed large.

I think my muse just needed a break. Now, if I could just get that Madonna song out of my mind. :-)

Created ByHand - Flourishes

Had to do a quickie for Created Byhand this morning - I'm headed here to eat here with her and then go here and maybe buy one of these.

Have a great day!

Created Byhand Challenge - Chalks/Pastels

This is my contribution for this week's Created Byhand Challenge. I am not a big user of chalks - that's what I love about challenges, they really force you to try something new.

For my background I scraped soft pastel crayons on an old piece of ledger paper that I adhered to a piece of cardstock for strength. After rubbing them in I was like, huh, this is really not very exciting. Then I noticed that, in one little spot, the chalks had adhered to a bit of glue that had got on the front (I'm a sloppy gluer, that's why everything I do has to be grunge/vintage, lol!). Anyway, it looked really neat so I dragged my glue stick over the paper in several places and scraped more pastel over that and rubbed it in. Ooooh, very cool! I did this several times until I was happy with it. I will definitely be using these crayons more often now.

I also used the pastels to color my little fairy, who is from the new Fairy Sweets collection by Oxford Impressions.

Created Byhand Challenge - Pattern Paper

After shopping all day (yes Kat, I am just now finishing my shopping!) I thought I would be too weary to participate in the Created Byhand challenge, but I decided some art time was just what I needed to liven me up after all that shopping!

When I saw we were to use patterned paper, I knew I had to find something to go with my new Fortune Teller stamps from Artistic Outpost. I found some sheets of Basic Grey (I think?) that I've had forever. They seemed to be a perfect complement to these stamps. As I was making it I kept thinking - am I channeling Kelly Burton or what? lol! To me it has a very 'Kelly Burton-esque' feel. I love the richness of her work so I was pretty happy with it! My favorite bits (in addition to the fab stamps) are the little jewel in his turban and the pretty black embellishment on the bottom, which is from my friends at RockCandy Studios.

Created Byhand Challenge - Tree Trio + Crazy Amigo - Keeping Warm

Today's Created Byhand Challenge was to use a trio of tree templates in our creations. As I cast my eye about it landed on a nice big bottle of Martha's glitter and an idea was born! I combined my glittery trees with the Faux Designer Paper technique from the latest Technique Junkie newsletter. This technique, created by Nancy Judd, should go into some kind of TJ Hall of Fame! It's just the coolest technique. The little girl stamp from Oxford Impressions finishes off the piece perfectly. Oh, and the tiny bird is from Lisa's Altered Art.

This also fits the Crazy Amigo Keeping Warm theme challenge. Thanks, Joanne, for mentioning that!

Created By Hand Challenge - Red & Green

I got so caught up in my Tim tag that I almost forgot about the Created By Hand Challenge! This week the theme is Red & Green. I kinda wanted to cheat and use the tag I made yesterday, but I decided I would give myself a quick hour to get something made.

I chose a Christmas collage image from Lisa's Altered Art as my focal point. Isn't she a cutie? I thought about doing a 4 x 4, then came across a rectangular wood plank that I thought would be fun to use. Inspired by Audrey Hernandez's article in the latest Somerset Studio, I created a long skinny plaque. I need to add some eye screws and ribbon to the top for a hanger and then it will be done!

Created By Hand Challenge - Christmas Music Cards

Another fantastic theme over at Created Byhand. I used the same music piece that I used on my Gothic Arch a couple days ago. It's from an old children's hymnal I found at an estate sale (where else?). The little girls are a rubber stamp from Lost Coast Designs. They don't have much to do with the music, but I just got this stamp and couldn't wait to use it! The whole thing is tied up with a beautiful silk ribbon from RockCandy Studios.

Here's a treat for you! I hope you can use this music in your Christmas creations. Let me know if you make something cool! To download large size, click on image, then right click and save.