Bigfoot Sighting...

Hello Crafty friends

Bigfoot, also known as the "Ohio grass man" in my neck of the woods (along with many other names), has always been a creature of lore, but you will see him for sure on the card below. 

Clearly someone has been gathering evidence?!

Stamps Used: 

Sasquatch

Evidence Label

Coffee Ring Stain

Double Coffee Rings

Start by stamping out bigfoot and distress

Same for your "evidence label"

Next you can see a scarp from my junk box I pulled out, it has vintage photo distress spray ink on it and texture paste.

I combined all these peces plus a tag with some rub-on's (Tim Holtz "remnant rubs") to create the card below. Super Easy! Embellish with more remnant rubs, faux stitching pen marks, staples and metal clips. 

I hope you all enjoy this!

This is actually a gag card for my father-in law. 

What do you Believe? 

Ignore Reality

Hello Again, 

Happy April Fool's Day and Mail Art Monday!!!






Stamps Used:
Man with Tea Cup
Double Coffee Rings
Doodle Frame
Cow in your face
Deliver To

I started with an A2 Envelope and card base.

I forgot to take pictures until a few steps in, so I hope you understand my description.
I started by inking my man with tea cup (when inking I masked off the head on the stamp). I stamped the body in memento ink. With the body stamped and dried, I masked this area off.

Next, I stamped the cows head in memento black and masked it off too.

On the envelope, I stamped my scalloped boarder "Doodle frame", and deliver to. I masked off the address area with a small block of paper, and masked off my boarder.

(Below you can see all the pieces masked off)

With everything masked off, I used Distress Oxide inks in: mustard seed, fossilized amber, ripe persimmon, and spiced marmalade. The stencils used were the Tim Holtz layering stencils. 

The best part... removing the masks....

And coloring the base pieces.

Now, the finishing touches...

I stamped my coffee ring stamp. I added a few flicks of distress stain inks in black soot, and picket fence. I also added a matching cactus stamp.

Below on my matching card, I added a Tim Holtz snarky sticker.

I hope you all enjoy this set. This was made special for a new friend whom is also a coffee lover as well as a fan of cows. 

How do you drink your coffee? 
Mine is usually 90% milk and sugar with a hint of coffee...
AKA cappuccino, frappes and lattes

Living on the Fringe...

Hello Again! 

Today I'm going to share some super fun inspiration for the
Viva Las VegaStamps Monthly Challenge

Stamps Used:
Plate 1510
Evidence Label

Top secret 
Fringe Scientist
Circulatory system
Coffee ring stain
Double coffee ring

Other products used:
Archival ink- jet black
Distress ink-gathered twigs, ground espresso
Versafine ink- vintage sepia
Tim Holtz-index clips and mini paper clips
Tim Holtz- remnant runs
Mica Tiles
A2 sized file card

Starting with my file card base, I stamped my main image "circulatory system" in versafine ink.

I used some ink smushing to distress my card with distress ink. I also edged the card using a blending tool.

On a separate piece of cardstock I stamped the top secret,  and fringe scientist. I used distress ink to grunge them up.



To add extra depth,  I stamped my evidence stamp lightly  as well as my 2 coffee ring stamps (See stamp list above).




Lastly, I added used various remnant runs, clips, and my sheet of mica to finish the card off.

Thank you for visiting!
Hope you are all warm and safe.

"Failure to give a shit" art journal spread | Sue Plumb

Hi everyone!

Sue Plumb here today to share a spread I created in my altered book art journal recently. I use this journal not only as a creative outlet, but also as a way of expressing my thoughts and feelings. This spread was created on one of "those days" - you know, the ones when you are just over worrying about all the insignificant things in life? 

I felt like working with acrylic paints for this project, so I pulled out my Flutterby Designs Flutter Colour paints. I used a medium sized brush and randomly spread some paint across the pages.

Once I had the colour down and dry; I decided to tone down the remaining print a bit, so I used some Colour Blast white heavy gesso over the text, which I applied simply with a brush.

After I was happy with the colour, it was time to add some depth and structure to my background with stamps. 

I used Staz On ink and the following stamps:

- Stitching Lines

- Stitching

- Measuring Tape Section

- Coffee Ring Stain

I then used some purple acrylic paint (applied with my finger) to add some colour to the centre of my coffee ring stains.

For my focal image I used the Fed Up Vintage Lady stamp. I smeared some ink acrylic pant onto some cardstock and then stamped the image over the top before cutting it out. (Confession time: after stamping and cutting the image I decided I wanted less colour, so I re-did it.)
I also stamped out a few copies of the quote I was using with the What We Have Here stamp; which I cut into small strips.

I decided my page need some more contrast, so I added a few areas of contrast using Colour Blast black heavy gesso; and a few smears of the pink paint where my quotes were going to be placed. I also added a little bit of light stamping with my favourite Doodle Dots stamp.
I then stuck down my quotes and feature image.

To finish my spread, I added a few highlights using a Flutterby Designs stencil; white paint pens (Posca and Sharpie); and also a black Sharpie.

Here's a closer look at the finished details...

Thanks for stopping by so I could share this with you. I hope I have inspired you to get inky too!

Stamps used:
- Stitching Lines
- Stitching
- Measuring Tape Section
- Coffee Ring Stain
- Fed Up Vintage Lady
- What We Have Here
- Doodle Dots

Other materials:
- Miracle Tape
- Flutterby Designs Flutter Colour paints
- Color Blast white and black heavy gesso
- Staz On ink
- Flutterby Designs 'Bubble O'Fun' stencil
- Sharpie pens
- Posca pen

Mail Art Monday!!

Hello Again....
and welcome back for another fabulous
Mail Art Monday!!!

Today I want to share a fun envelope that I made using my new distress oxide inks, distress layering stencils and some of my favorite Stamps from VLVS! 

(you know I love these art journal style stamps... 

so when trying any medium they are usually what I grab for 1st!  Especially the numbers!) 

Stamps Used:

Numbers Set

Double Coffee Rings

Squiggle Heart

Six Staples

Distress oxide inks:

Broken China

Wilted Violet

Cracked Pistachio

To start I used stencils to add some detail to my blank A2 envelope. when I felt I had enough pattern, I added some ink to me craft mat so that I could "smoosh" my envelope in to get a more distressed blotchy effect.  to finish the background I used my ink blending tools to edge around the envelope. 

(below you can see my envelope before I added any stamps or detail)

Next I stamped the Squiggle heart off of the left of the envelope. 

(remember to leave room for an address)

To add even more visual interest to the background I decided to stamp my numbers set randomly... 

(It tends to be one of my go to stamps for backgrounds.)

The next steps I forgot to photograph ... (Sorry, but I'll explain what I did)

I used a black pen and scribbled around the area that I wanted to be my address box. It still looked a tad plain, so I then stamped my staples around that. (which was exactly what it needed)

I also decided to stamp the coffee ring stains... 

(Love these... yes I know I used these a ton too!) 

The final steps to make everything pop, I used Pan pastels in Ultra soft course glitter black to edge my card (the glitter doesn't show in the scan, its very subtle)... I also used it to shadow my address space and heart.  To help the staples to pop I used a white gel pen to add highlights. 

Well, there you have it! Nice and easy and super fun to mail anyone!

(Also some of you may notice I went WAY outside my comfort zone here... I used PURPLE!!!! I know, i'm shocked too!!! 

I couldn't believe I was buying purple ink... let alone reaching for it for an envelope... )

Coffee Time!

Hello Again!!!

Who else here is a Coffee Addict?
Some of you know I am!!!

In Honor of my love of coffee, I have decided to make a set of 3 ATC's. 

Stamps Used:

Coffee Ring Stain

Fancy A Cuppa

Lady with Cuppa

Man with Tea Cup

I stamped these all with black stayzon ink, and versa fine sepia ink.  

(I also used the verafine to edge everything) 

Love Banner

February, the LOVE month...and Valentines Day is right around the corner.
Michele here today sharing a mixed media banner inspired by the colors of love.

I started with some canvas banners, did some random samping with archival ink and sprayed with Distress Spray Stain in Wild Raspberry, Abandoned Coral and Fossilized Amber.  The stamps I used were:  Writing Circles Background, Writing Triangles, Coffee Ring Stain, Numbers Set, Bubble Wrap Texture and Stitching.

I covered some chipboard letters with gesso, stamped with Writing Circles Background and Coffee Ring Stain then sprayed with the Wild Raspberry spray and water.

I also stamped a couple of white flowers with Numbers Set and cut out some Writing Triangles.  Then the fun began...

Yep! The embellishing, I also had to have some Prima flowers too!!

I put the banners on a wooden dowl that I painted white and finished with some scrumptious May Arts Ribbons.

Now, how am I going to hang my LOVE banner??  Any ideas?  Let me know what you think.

Until next time, get inky!!