One Card 3 Different Ways

Hello and thanks for stopping by the blog today. I hope you are all ready for Christmas, it's coming pretty fast, can you believe how quickly it comes and then goes?

I was perusing Pinterest the other day, as I usually do and I found a great card that I wanted to take inspiration from. I can't give anyone credit for the inspiration because the photo doesn't link back to a blog or anything but whomever you are, thank you for the inspiration for this project.

I decided to make a similar card BUT I wanted to show the versatility of Stampotique stamps and make this card, three different but similar ways using Stampotique stamps.

The first one I did was this one, using Karen Hayselden's Safina Stamp

The gold paper in the background is Tim Holtz Deco Sheets, these are fabulous thin sheets of glittery paper with a self adhesive backing. The Ribbon is also a Tim Holtz product

The snowflake die comes from Memory Box and it's called Dazzling Snowflake

Next up I used a stamp by Kate Crane called Christmas Boots

This is the cutest bunny in a santa suit and I thought it worked so great on the card 

I also used words by Kate Crane, these words come on the side with Peace and Love Angel

The background was made exactly the same as the one above, the dimensions are different I made this card taller to accommodate the bunny

and lastly for this card I used the Hohoho words from the stamp by Karen Hayselden Holly Wally

Tracy Scott's Stamp called  Lola

Daniel Torrente's stamp called Christmas Cubed

This time I used silver Tim Holtz Deco Sheets behind the red and a blue card base.

I hope you enjoyed seeing how the same card can be done three different ways but still be so precious. I love how each one has it's own personality

Thanks for stopping by today. 
If your in the Colorado Springs area stop by Simple Pleasures and say Hi. We have all of these products in stock!!

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Word Up Weekend

Hello everyone and welcome back to the blog today. I've been working on more samples for my work AND Stampotique items.

We at Stampotique have this wonderful thing called "Word Up Weekend" where we are sharing words, phrases and alphabets that Stampotique carries in their line of fabulous stamps. We want  people to be aware of all the wonderful words and phrases that Stampotique carries. They have quite a diverse array of them.

The design team has been sharing these on the weekend on our Facebook Page, that is why we call it "Word Up Weekend"

I figured I'd take part in the fun this time. 

Here are my submissions:

A Card

Stamps Used:

God Loved by Terri Richardson

Kate's Angel - By Kate Crane

Ta-Dah - By Kate Crane (for the flowers on her head)

A Cell Phone Case

Stamps Used:

Florae Doodle Dolly - By Karen Hayselden

Circled Circle - By France Papillon

Barcode Text 2 - By France Papillon

Thanks so much for coming by, I hope that you have enjoyed my "Word Up Weekend" projects. 

CHEERS!!

Sorry it's been awhile!!! Pocket Letters

Wow, it's been way too long since I've updated my blog. So sorry.... I've had so much on my plate lately and just haven't had enough time in the day. 

If you haven't already seen the new release from Stampotique and taken a trip on the blog hop, you have to check it out HERE!

There are some fabulous new stamps and a new designer too!

We have a fun ATC swap going on too at the Facebook page

If you can I would encourage you to join us.

I wanted to show you a pocket letter that I created for a swap with one of the Stampotique design team members.

I love pocket pages but haven't made one just yet. I really don't have a clue what I'm doing haha!

Funny thing is, I ended up making two of the pocket letters haha!

I used loads of new stampotique stamps and also some older ones.

Stampotique stamps I used are:

Medium Bee with Tiny bee - By Jo Capper-Sandon

Bella and Lola by new designer - Tracy Scott

Small Homes Quote - By Janet Klein

Kassa's Bloom - By Karen Hayselden

Phrase Cube and Lightening Bug - By Terri Richardson

Beach Huts - By Kate Crane

Flower Cube, Animal Cube and Agatha Flower - By Magda Polokow

Take your Time - By Daniel Torrente

Whisker Monster - By Kira Nichols

Paisley Background - By Arwen McCullen

Whew!! That's a lot of stamps!!! These pocket letters were a lot of fun to put together and I hope my partner likes them :)

Thanks for stopping by and Have a wonderful day!!!

Stampotique Challenge 251 - Black and White Only

I am so glad that you stopped by again today. Thanks for all your support. Today marks another challenge over at Stampotique's Designer Blog and Nellie van Leeuwin is our hostess, she is challenging us to use "Only black and white"

This is always difficult for me because I just love color.

I decided to make a card for someone special

For this I used Stampotique stamps:

Ruff - By Artist Kate Crane

The splatter circle is a die by Seth Apter. So fun!

I am also so happy to announce that the store where I work "Simple Pleasures" is now carrying Stampotique stamps for the first time ever! Yay! and we SHIP!!! 

We put them out the other day with loads of fun samples created by the design team and some friends and wonderful teachers. 

I sure hope you will join us in this wonderful challenge this week at Stampotque's Blog. We always give away two lucky winners a 30.00 gift certificate.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.

Stampotique Challenge 246 - Anything But Black

Welcome back to another week and another new challenge over at Stampotique. This week Samantha Reed is our hostess and she is challenging us to a "Anything BUT Black" challenge.

Here is what she says about this challenge:

"The first thing I usually do after choosing which stamp I'm going to use is to reach for my black inkpad. So I'm challenging myself and you to make anything you fancy so long as there is no black ink or paint etc. Have fun!"

So let's see your best "non-black" creations. No black what-so-ever is going to be quite a challenge for me, I use black on everything I create, I think black is my most used color.

This week I created a dashboard cover for my Midori travelers notebook. This one is going to be the cover for my calendar insert

To begin I covered the entire page with gesso

I then used my DecoArt paint to paint the entire background an orange color
After that was dry I combined some DecoArt turquoise paint and this awesome stuff called Texture Powder (by Prima)
The powder essentially makes any paint into a texture paste when combined. It's the coolest stuff. I used the paste through a stencil onto my background

I then used my finger to apply some more of the paste here and there

So this part is actually funny, I stamped my image and then embossed it and realized that, out of habit, I stamped with black ink!! I had to go and re-stamp the image with a brown ink instead. LOL see how much I use black ink?
The bottom image was my black one LOL..

I then colored my brown embossed image with the copic markers and cut her out

After decorating my background, stamping, painting some more, inking and using some dies, it was finished. I love it!! and no black whatsoever! Those streaks on the bottom, sides and top are a dark brown, no black, I promise. :)

 For this project I used Stampotique stamps:
Ruff and Kate's Doodle Cube - By Artist Kate Crane
Comfort Zone  - by artist France Papillon

This was a super fun challenge, I really hope you will join us this week at the Stampotique Challenge Blog  and thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful week!

For more inspiration see us on

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and

Pinterest

Stampotique Challenge 245 - Circles

Good afternoon or morning or night to you all today. I am running a little late on this week's challenge. My daughter graduated from high school this passed Wednesday and we were celebrating with her. We also had family over to celebrate with us so it's been a very busy week/weekend

I did however have time to put something together for this challenge, it's just a bit late.

The theme this week is "Circles" and Kristen Catalano is our hostess. Here is what she says about this challenge:

"I love to use circles on my projects, so this week I'm asking you to get creative and show us what you can do with circles"

I worked in a tag book that a friend of mine sent to me

I can't tell you how much I love the Mabel stamp from Karen Hayselden, it's been a "goto" for me

I also used Stampotique stamps - Kate's Doodle Square by artist Kate Crane and also, Agatha Text #1 by artist Magda Polakow 

We hope you will come on over to the Stampotique Challenge Blog and join us this week.

For more inspiration see us on

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and

Pinterest

Stampotique Challenge 240 Crack Me Up

Welcome back to the blog today, it's Wednesday and that means a new challenge over at Stampotique. This week Kathi Rerek is our hostess and she is challenging you to us crackle texture make us laugh this week...

"Crack Me Up"

Here is what Kathi says about this challenge:

"Create a humorous project that also has a crackle texture" 

I decided to create a new cell phone background for my case. I use a clear gel case so it's really easy to just create something on paper - in the right size and put it in there

I used Dina Wakley paints for the blue background and added some white crackle paste here and there
I used Stampotique Stamps:

Under where,  Bla bla bla - both By Daniel Torrente

Kate's Doodle Cube - By Kate Crane

This was a fun challenge, I just love using humor in my projects. Laughter is the best medicine!!

Come on over to the Stampotique Challenge Blog and join us this week.

For more inspiration see us on

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and

Pinterest

Stampotique Challenge 233 - Use Squares in any form

Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog. It's Wednesday again and you know what that means. Another fun challenge over at Stampotique.

This week Corrie is our host and she is challenging us to "Use squares in any form"

Here is what Corrie says about this fun challenge:

"I am very fond of circles in my work, so I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and use squares for a change and I would like you to join me. Have fun this week!"

I too love using circles and I don't use squares often so this was a challenge for me

I worked in my art journal again this week

My background was painted with Dina Wakley paints and a sponge

I also used some washi tape that I just bought, it's one of my favorites of all my washi tapes now. haha! I figured it was perfect for this challenge because it's all different colors of squares

I used Stampotique Stamps:

Mushroom Forest, Large Fleurfly by artist Janet Klein

Peace and Love with words on the side (only used the words here) - By artist Kate Crane

Calendar Cube - By artist Daniel Torrente

Come on over to Stampotique's Challenge Blog this week and join us for the Square challenge.

For more inspiration see us on

Facebook

and

Pinterest

Stampotique Challenge 220 - Bright Colors

Welcome back to the blog today. I am so happy that you came by. It's Wednesday and that means another new challenge over at Stampotique's Challenge Blog

This week Carol Fox is our hostess and she is challenging us to "Bright Colors"

Here is what Carol says about this challenge:

"Bright eye popping colors to brighten up November"

For this challenge I am working in a tag book.....

Marjie Kemper came to the store where I work here in Colorado and she mentioned that she had an online class so I had bought the class awhile back from Marjie and I decided to make this tag book playing along with her class. 

(Marjie's Class Link)

I began with lesson 1 and used the techniques I learned on the cover of my tag book

This is what I came up with and it was perfect for this week's Stampotique Challenge.

I just love the bright bold colors and how the torn paper and stenciling look in my background. So fun!!

For this cover I used Stampotique Stamps:

Ta-dah with words on the side - By artist Kate Crane

Her Soul Danced - By artist Roc Nicholas

We really hope you will come on over to The Stampotique Designer's Challenge Blog and join us this week for a wonderfully bright challenge.

Two lucky winners will be chosen at the end of the month for a 30.00 gift certificate to the online store.

CHEERS!!!

SDC 211 - Perfectly Primary

Welcome back to the blog today, it's another Wednesday and you know what that means, another challenge over at:
Stampotique Challenge Blog

Sue Davies is our hostess this week and she's bringing us back to our childhood days:

Take 2 of the 3 primary colours (and the colours that they create when mixed) and just use these on your creation. You can also use black and white if you like. I'm looking forward to seeing what you create.

For my creation I decided to do an Art Journal Page
I used DecoArt media paints for my background
my blue didn't come out as bright as I had wanted but it was ok. I used the paint through a brick stencil

for my creation I used Stampotique Stamps:

Jester - By Artist Kate Crane
Capture the Magic - By Artist Roc Nicholas

Come on over to the blog and join us for this wonderfully fun challenge.
Cheers!

Stampotique New Release, Blog Hop and Giveaway

Welcome to the Stampotique New Release and Blog Hop...

You should have arrived from Coby's Blog and if you didn't, you may want to start the blog hop from the beginning at the  Designer's Challenge Blog

If you haven't had a chance to see what's new, you can do that over on the Stampotique's website HERE

We'll be giving away a $30 gift certificate for stamps and a grab bag of stamps on two of the blogs-but you won't know which ones they are, so stop by and visit them all and make sure to comment on each blog along the way. We will pick the winners on our first challenge in September.

For my projects today I did a few Altered Playing Cards

I used Stampotique new release stamps:

Just Keep On and Foxy by Kate Crane
Nina as Frankie and Reindeer By Magda Polakow
Swirlywurly (in the background of the second APC) and
 Tree-O By Jo Capper-Sandon

I also used pre-released stamps:

When I Grow Up - Carol's Collection
Front Door Shrubbery - By Daniel Torrente

I also have a BIG announcement to make, Kim Howard our wonderful and amazing Design Team Coordinator is stepping down after years of leading this wonderful team. 
She will be turning over the reigns to me and I am honored and thrilled to be taking over to lead this superb design team for Stampotique and I thank Kim for all the help and support as I prepare to take over. Kim isn't leaving us for good, she will still be lurking around behind the scenes. I'm sure I speak for everyone on this team when I say a heartfelt "THANK YOU" to Kim for the amazing job she has done.

And with that, I hope you have enjoyed my Altered Playing Cards, Your next stop on the blog hop is:
 Valerie's Blog 

Remember to leave a comment on each blog for your chance to win!! 

CHEERS!!!

Stampotique Challenge 208 - Animals

Hello and welcome back to the blog. It's Wednesday and that means it's time for another Stampotique Challenge. 

I get so excited when it's time for another challenge because I love working with my Stampotique Stamps.

This week Jackie Payne is our hostess and she has chosen the theme "Animals" here is what she says about this challenge

"We all love our animals... Incorporate an animal into your project this week"

I decided to make an ATC for this challenge, I love the size and simplicity of an ATC 

I used some of the newest released stamps on this one

Stampotique Stamps I used:

Approach with Caution - By Artist Kate Crane

Skunk - By Kira Nichols

Bee - By Jo Capper-Sandon

I sure hope you will join us this week for this fun challenge. You could win a 30.00 gift certificate to the online store.

CHEERS!!!

Stampotique Challenge 207 - Selfies and/or Photo Bomb

Hello all and welcome back to the blog, today is Wednesday and you know what that means......

it's time for another Stampotique challenge and this week I am the host!! How fun!

My challenge to you is "Selfies or Photo Bomb"

I think selfies can be so funny and I also know how much the Photo Bomb ATC trade was on the Facebook group so I challenge you to do something either with "Selfies" or "Photo Bomb" as your theme.

For my project this week, I decided to do a birthday card

I used Kate Crane's Sing with Words on Side stamp and sort of "tweaked" her a little so she was taking a selfie. I added a backpack for her best buddy (Dog Cube) and a hat from Daniel Torrente's Hat Cube - I drew my own little cell phone and put it in her hand. I wanted to go with mostly black and white for this card because I really love the simplicity and how there is a pop of color on the hat and pup. 

I hope you will come on over to the Designer's Challenge Blog this week and partake in this fun challenge. Make sure to check out the other design team members blogs too and get some good ideas. 

CHEERS!!!

Stampotique Challenge 203 - Use Attatchers

Welcome back to the blog today, we are into another challenge at Stampotique's Challenge Blog and Kathi is our hostess.

She is asking us to use Attachers on our projects this week.

Here is what Kathi says about this challenge:

"Use attachers, the older the better. Thinking of eyelets, brads, staples, etc. Bonus points if someone uses all three. Extra super bonus points if someone attaches Stampotique images to each other."

I decided to create a Birthday card for my mom, her birthday is on July the 4th and I always make her a red, white and blue card of some sort. 

This time I wanted to go in a completely different direction. She loves to garden and loves having flowers growing in her yard so I decided to do a card with that in mind

I used Stampotique Stamps:

Sing with words on the side and Kate's Angel - By Artist Kate Crane

I only used the wing from "Kate's Angel" I wanted my gal to have angel wings

Hat Cube - By Artist Daniel Torrente

I really love how this card came out and I simply attached my orange card stock to the yellow with the mini stapler by Tim Holtz. The sunflower is a Memory Box die that I just fell in love with.

I hope you will come by the Stampotique's Challenge Blog this week and join us for this fun challenge. 

Take care and Have a wonderful day!!

Stampotique Challenge 189 - Unusual Card

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY!!! I hope you have some fun in mind for today. 

It's Wednesday again and you know what that means.... a new Stampotique Challenge. This week over at Stampotique Designer's Blog our hostess is Arwen  and her challenge to us is "Unusual Card"

Here is what Arwen says about this challenge:

"Anyone can do a square card. I like unusual creations and would like to see other card types this week. Enjoy the implementation and I'm curious about your art works."

For this challenge I decided to do an Easter Egg shaped card for a friend of mine

I used Tim Holtz distress paints on the background and added some stenciling and stamping as well

For this project I used Stampotique Stamps:

Boots - By Artist Kate Crane

Mushroom Group - By Artist Jo Capper-Sandon

Daniel's Hearts - By Artist Daniel Torrente 

Design Cube 2 - By Artist France Papillon

If you look closely in my background you can see the Daniel's Hearts and the crackle stamp from the design cube 2.

Thanks so much for coming by the blog, I hope you will join us for the challenge this week. You might be the lucky winner of a 30.00 prize to Stampotique's online store.

CHEERS

Altered Playing Card Challenge Week 25

Thanks so much for coming by, I owe some of you an explanation from my absence last week. I know that most of you (on Facebook) already know that I was absent last week because I fell and ended up with a concussion. Those of you who are not members of the Facebook page had no idea and I apologize about that. I didn't come online at all last week due to the fall. I took a pretty scary spill down my basement's unfinished stairs and hit the back of my head pretty good. Had a baseball sized bump and went to the ER. Thankfully everything was ok and I didn't have any internal bleeding but I had a concussion and pretty serious bruise and lump. I'm much better now and feel more up to crafting and blogging. Thanks to everyone for the well wishes last week!!!

We are now onto week 25 of this challenge

If you have missed any of the previous week's here are the links

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6 
Week 7
Week 8

Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Week 17
Week 18
Week 19
Week 20
Week 21
Week 22
Week 23
Week 24

and our Facebook group

Facebook Group

and the Pinterest Board link

Pinterest Board

I figured that we would do something simple and not too tough this week
I have always loved the ideas and styles of Wendy Vecchi and this week our backgrounds are going to be inspired by her technique from last years CHA .... If you want to watch the video on how this is done click HERE she demos how to do this technique and with what supplies. 

You need some glossy paper for this technique and I used Ranger's glossy, I just cut a few pieces that were slightly larger than my playing cards

You will also need some different colors of Archival re-inkers and a bottle of alcohol or Ranger's blending solution

All you are going to do is add a few drops of the re-inkers onto your craft matt. For this one I also used Gold Mixative by Ranger and Tim Holtz

then add some alcohol or the blending solution

take a popsicle stick or paint stick and run it through the alcohol and the re-ink colors slightly

The simply run your glossy card stock through the colors

You can add more blending solution to your paper so that the colors run together even more if you want them to, just let the colors swirl together one your page, it's very pretty once it's dry

(I used the only colors I had in re-inkers LOL, I don't have many)

For the second card, I tried a different color combo and actually used silver fixative and black this time

So this one came out so cool and amazing and then I ruined it!! I had to toss it and start again and my second one didn't come out as good but I used it anyway

I then glued my pieces of colored paper onto my playing cards

and trimmed to size

First Card

second card

Playing with the first card I added some stenciling onto my background with a star stencil that I made myself
Using Archival Ink and a distress tool, I went to town
(I didn't have a start stencil that I liked, so I made my own with card stock and an exact knife lol, you should really try this one day, it's fun)

I really love how the archival ink goes onto this glossy background, it's almost transparent

Next I created some whimsy houses with printed card stock and  Janet Klein's new stamp Stitched Houses

I also used my gel pen to draw some "twinkles" around all my stars

Then I adhered my houses
I used permanent markers like Sharpie's and Bics
to draw stems and flowers

I used another permanent black marker by Faber Castell to draw a border around my card

and lastly I added my sentiment with Kate Crane's new stamp
Peace and Love
Here is my final card

For my second card, I used a stencil and archival green ink to create a background

I taped off the parts I didn't want on my card and used a distress tool to stencil

the green in the butterfly and grass really brings out the green in my background

Here I go using washi tape again LOL
I am going to use this thin washi tape around my edges

I got all carried away and forgot to take photos of the steps... so sorry
I added my washi tape around the edges and used a sentiment from a fortune cookie fortune
The Gnome guy is a stamp from Kira Nichols called 4 Dwarfy Gnomes - there are 4 of them but I only used one here
I just colored him with copic markers and cut him out
Here is my finished card

and here are my two cards together

This week was really fun, I bet it would be more fun with more re-inker colors, I need to get some more of them. 
Have fun and enjoy this week!!!
See you all next week, only a few more to go!!