Technique Junkies - Altered Designer Paper

Altered Designer Paper (from the April/May '09 Technique Junkie newsletter) is one of those techniques that is so handy to have in your repertoire. It is a great way to use paper that you love, but doesn't quite fit the mood of the card you'd like to create.

The Birds of a Feather stamp collection from Artistic Outpost is perfect for Spring cards. I created the tissue paper flowers out of necessity - I wanted something light and airy to echo the feeling of softness I was trying to achieve and regular paper or silk flowers just looked too heavy. I love the softness these give the card!

Theme Thursday - Flourish!

This past weekend I was thrilled to see that our local Archivers had the new Distress ink colors. I bought the two that I was most anxious to try out - Rusty Hinge and Forest Moss (is that self-control or what?!).

I was really inspired when I saw Linda's tag. Actually, I think I was more than inspired, I didn't realize it at the time, but I pretty much CASE'd the whole thing (it's a beautiful tag, what can I say?)! My tag uses the Antiqued Shimmers technique from the Dec/Jan issue of the Technique Junkie newsletter. I also added a little gesso resist to the mix. The stamps are all from one of the clear stamp sets from Tim Holtz. The bit of flourish at the top at bottom make it fit the Theme Thursday Flourish challenge perfectly.

Do you have the new Distress inks? Which are your favorites? I am making up my shopping list......

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!

Gothic Arches - Steampunk

I was really excited to see the Gothic Arches challenge theme for today was Steampunk. I have been in love with this style since first hearing about it a couple years ago. From that time it seems it has become more and more mainstream and I'm seeing it everywhere now!

For my arch, I decided to go all out and make something substantial that I could load up with all the junk I've been collecting. First, I traced the template onto a scrap of 2 x 6 and cut it out with a jig saw. Then I stained it with various Distress inks and sealed it with Mod Podge. After that it was just a matter of digging through boxes and bins to find the right junk.

 

It's so hard to show the dimension in something like this in photos. The man is a photo stamp from The Family Man collection by Oxford Impressions. He seemed to have the perfect vintage look for the Steampunk era.

My favorite part of this is the alligator clip holding the optical lens. I have been dying for AGES to use the lens this way, but have just never had the right project for it. Oxford Impressions has a great selection of these found here. The quote is from Alluring Impressions. It's stamped on an aluminum circle that I found at Navel Jelly Studios.

Thanks to Martina for coming up with such an awesome theme! Make sure you check out the other fantastic artwork on the Gothic Arches Challenge blog.

Tag Tuesday - Cutesy!

 

 Is this cutesy? I don't know, but it's just about as close as I can get! Cutesy is the theme over at Tag Tuesday. I love this challenge, but I don't even think I own ONE stamp that could be called cutesy. Ok, there are a couple House Mouse stamps that I bought my daughter when she used to stamp with me, but c'mon. That is too much to ask, Louise!

I thought this stamp from Artistic Outpost's Send in the Clowns collection was pretty cute! I have been dying to try this color combination since I got the latest Anthropologie catalog - it's a vintage circus theme and the colors are so unusual. I love the faded look. My tent background was created using the Faux Painted Paneling technique from the Oct/Nov '09 issue of the Technique Junkie newsletter. The red cardstock is from Paper Temptress.

Louise, I hope I get points for trying! :-)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Image from Twisted Papers.

Stamps by Oxford Impressions and Inkadinkado.