IF I WAS A BIRD by Fran Chalmers

Hi everyone!

Today I have made a postcard with some quirky characters and I hope you like it!

I made the background by smooshing distress inks in Mowed Lawn, Twisted Citron with water and blending Lucky Clover round the edges with a brush.

I then tore some words from a book and coloured them, and also randomly stamped with the bubble wrap texture stamp in Forest Moss distress ink.

I stamped the main images onto thick paper, which I then coloured and fussy cut out.

I stamped the sentiment on thick paper and drew a "thinking bubble" around it with a fine black liner, along with some small bubbles, and cut them out.  I stuck the main images onto the torn words.

Finally, I drew some scribbly lines round the edge of the postcard.

Stamps Used:

Creepy Cat 19869

Creepy rat with Cheese 19873

Bubble wrap texture 19566

Other Items Used:

Distress inks in Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Lucky Clover, Forest Moss

Book pages

Copic Pens

Memento ink in black

Black fine liner pen

See you next time.

Create your own card backgrounds with Josefine

Is it just me or do people send more cards nowadays? Especially during the last months. It probably helps with feeling closer. So, why not show some ideas on how to make a few quick cards, maybe even with a little humor?

I used the Grunge numbers to create two simple backgrounds that are full of texture.

For the first background, I used my stamp platform to stamp all the numbers at the same time. So, I mounted my paper into the platform, arranged the stamps randomly, and stamped using Distress Oxide. I had to rearrange the numbers and stamp again since they didn't quite fill the entire card base. 

Then I used Distress Ink in a slightly lighter color and blended it all over the background. I made sure to leave it splotchy and uneven. I didn't want to go for a perfect and even look.

Next up, I used the Mesh Texture, Bubble Wrap Texture, and actual bubble wrap to add more interest to the background. I used both ink colors to stamp those. I also splattered some water and Distress Oxide ink on top.

To finish it up, I added a frame around the border.

For the second background, I skipped the stamp platform. I wanted the numbers to be closer together, so it was easier to that by hand. Here, I used Distress Oxide again.

Now I blended two Distress Ink colors on top, used the same stamps and bubble wrap to add some texture, and finished it up with a few splatters of water and other inks.

Here are the two backgrounds next to each other.

Now I simply added a few sentiment stickers, paper dolls, and wings to the card and mounted it onto a 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 card base.

I hope you enjoyed my two cards and that you feel inspired to create some of your own :)

Stamps used:

Grunge numbers from Plate 1444

Mesh Texture

Bubble Wrap Texture

Ethos tags | Sue Plumb

Hi everyone!

It's Sue Plumb here to share my latest design team project with you. Today I have some mixed media tags to share that I created to showcase some of the fabulous "Ethos" stamps (from Plate #1502) designed by Tina Walker. 

I began by cutting my own tags from some smooth white cardstock using a tag die. I then used Ranger Distress Oxides to create a watercolour style background. I used a combination of three colours (Cracked Pistachio; Twisted Citron and Tumbled Glass) and swiped each of the pads onto my craft mat. I then added a little water using a spray bottle and used the tip of my finger to swirl and mix the colours a little before dabbing the tags face down to soak up the ink.

I then set the tags aside to dry. I love the effect that this technique gives, and the fact that each tag was different.

Once the background colour was in place, it was time to add some background detail. I chose a variety of stamps to use for the backgrounds, stamping each one with Stormy Sky Distress Oxide.

The stamps I used for the backgrounds were:

- Bubble Wrap Texture

- Typeset Scallop

- Row of Distressed Lines

- Cross Marks Background

- Carved Xs

I added a sentiment to the bottom of each tag using the Create Art Every Day stamp which I stamped using Faded Jeans Distress Oxide. I then used the same ink to stamp out each of the Ethos stamps I had chosen to feature on my tags. (You will see that many of the stamped images are "imperfect" - this is exactly the effect I was looking for by using the Distress Oxides and works well with the hand carved look of these stamps.)

With all of my feature images stamped out, I simply fussy cut around each one and then began constructing my tags. 

Using the Faded Jeans Distress Oxide gave me the inspiration to include a small amount of denim fabric on each of the tags. (I LOVE denim!) I simply cut some scraps from an old pair of jeans and used my Tim Holtz tiny attacher to secure the pieces onto the tags. 

I also added some messy white cotton thread onto each of the tags before using foam tape to mount each of the feature images on top. I finished off each tag by punching a larger hole at the top and tying another scrap of denim fabric through it.

The Ethos stamps I featured on my tags were:

- Ethos Hands (pictured above)

- Ethos Owl (at left, below)

- Ethos Flower (at right, below)

From left to right below:

- Ethos Woman

- Ethos Circular Eye

- Ethos Seeing Eye

And finally, Ethos Seeing Double (as shown below).

Thanks so much for stopping by today, I hope I have inspired you to get inky too!

Stamps used: 

- Bubble Wrap Texture

- Typeset Scallop

- Row of Distressed Lines

- Cross Marks Background

- Carved Xs

- Create Art Every Day 

- Ethos Hands

- Ethos Owl

- Ethos Flower

- Ethos Woman

- Ethos Circular Eye

- Ethos Seeing Eye

- Ethos Seeing Double

Other materials:

- Tag die

- White cardstock

- Ranger Distress Oxides

- Denim fabric

- Staples

- White cotton thread

- Foam tape

Art Journal Cover by Susanne Rose

Hi there!

I have an art journal cover to share today, which was made with the Eileen Hull Journal die from Sizzix. I used acrylic paints and some gorgeous Viva Las VegaStamps! to decorate it.

I have some process photos for you to see how I build up the layers.

I started with light olive green, dark blue and white acrylics. The polka dots are made with my fingers. I used pastel pencils to make some marks.

I added some stenciling (DecoArt) and the "Squiggly Star Collage" with StazOn Ink "Midnight Blue". 

... more stamping (I will list all stamps I've used at the end of this post)

I also made some marks with acrylic fineliners and uniPOSCA markers

I painted the inside of the journal in the same way

Here are some more close-ups:

Thank you for stopping by today! 

I hope you like my journal! 

Have a wonderful and crafty weekend!

xx Susanne.

Supplies:

Viva Las VegaStamps!

Squiggly Star Collage

Row of Chevrons

Mark Maker

Bubble Wrap Texture 

Art is Anything-Andy Warhol 

Others:

Eileen Hull Journal die (Sizzix)

Acrylic Paints

DecoArt stencil

uniPOSCA marker

Acrylic Fineliner

StazOn Inks

Hatch Your Dreams

Shanna here today with a new art journal spread. I have this fun little book I made of my gelli prints from using my Gelli Plate. I got the idea from DeeDee when she made her book on the Artist's Live uStream show. I AM LOVING THIS!!!

So I made this gelli print using some awesome VLVS stamps.

Then I enhanced the pages with more stamps and paint.

Want to see how I created this page. Check out the video below.

Viva Las VegaStamps Used:
Dictionary Page - 19015
Bull's Eye Open Target - 19193
Row of Chevrons - 19829
Bubble Wrap Texture - 19566
Expanding Rays Silhouette - 19896
Happy Moon - 19507


Other Items Used:
Staz On - Jet Black
Dina Wakely Paint - Cheddar and Lemon
Distress Paint - Broken China
Black Acrylic Paint
Stabilo Pencil

Thank you so much for stopping by! 

Mail Art Monday with Shanna

Hello to you stamp lovers out there! Shanna here and I am excited to share with you some Mail Art Monday inspiration.

Not sure where I got my inspiration from. I started with a envelope already and then just started playing with some of my favorite colors of Dina Wakely paints.

Then I grabbed my stamps and stamped a little on the envelope.  

I used a stabilo pencil to outline the mailing address box and colored the macarons with some gelatos.

Viva Las VegaStamps Used:
#Foodie - 20010
Double Coffee Rings - 19568
Stack of Macarons - 20014
Scribble Heart - 19645
Bubble Wrap Texture - 19566

Other Items Used:
Dina Wakely Paint - Turquoise, Lemon, Blushing, and White
Staz On Jet Black Ink
Stabilo Pencil

Thanks so much for stopping by today!
Shanna