Smeared Ink Style - Are You Feeling Lucky?

Do you feel lucky?? Well...do ya?

This hardcore beauty is made from the Chicks Dig Guns set from Smeared Ink. I created my own background paper using a grungy style paper adding the bullet holes and slashes coloring them in with my Copic markers.

I then added my sentiment "Do You Feel Lucky Punk?" Stamped in black Momento ink. I rubbed the edges with my Tim Holtz distressing ink in Walnut for an added vintage feel.
I added a strip of taupe grosgrain ribbon that I'd stitched in a zig zag pattern down the center with chocolate brown thread. As a final touch I stamped the sentiment again on the same paper and trimmed out the "P" in the word Punk and popped it up on 3-D foam adhesive adding a tiny bit of bling in the center.

I hope you enjoy and have been inspired!!!

And don't forget to hit the shop at Smeared Ink to check out our fantastic sets along with our newly added SINGLES!!!

Also - Don't forget to come join us at our amazing forum!!! There is an amazing network of fellow artists who encourage, join in and chat away!! It's such a fun place to be!!

XOXO-

My Darling Sister - Wonderful Birthday

If you haven't noticed...I'm COMPLETELY addicted to this stamp. I bought it a couple of weeks ago from The Paper Source and I've used it at LEAST 20 times already!!!
This round was for my darling SIL - Audra. Her birthday was at the end of May and I wanted something that reflected who she is. She is extremely well read, very smart, simple, refined and elegant.

It was a fun birthday this year as she has recently gotten into the practice of Yoga so I had a BLAST (being a Yoga lover myself) getting her set up with a cool outfit from Athleta, 2 of my personal favorite Yoga DVD's from ExerciseTV, and a really good mat for her to practice on.

So like I said, I wanted the card to reflect her. I used a base of PTI's white cardstock, followed by Vintage Black Bookprint Designer Paper from The Paper Source to which I stamped the Lace Starburst Stamp in SU! Only Orange Ink.
I then stamped it again on the same DP, punched out the center using my SU! 1.5" circle punch and added it to the center with 3-D foam adhesive. I added a subtle twinkle to the center with a little rhinestone bling and that was that.
My SIL loved this as well as her gift!!

I'm so glad you had a fantastic birthday Audra!!!

LOVE YOU!!!

Here's a quick pic of the 2 of us as we headed out to meet a friend to go to a shwanky birthday dinner!!!

Thanks for popping by!!

XOXO-

Tiddly Inks Challenge #7 - Going Goth

It's no huge secret that I am a Tiddly Inks ADDICT!! I love love loveeeeeee TI!!! I need a bumper sticker...seriously!

But I digress...this week's challenge is RIGHT up my alley!! Going Goth. I am not a bit ashamed to say that I own every single one of the Goth Cutie images from TI!! I simply cannot help myself!!

This week I decided to work with Charles' Tulips. I've been wanting to use this image for a while and just needed THE right excuse!! Based on the size of the image I went with a tall card.
I started by coloring Charles, on PTI pure white cardstock with my Copic markers. I wanted him to be rather subdued so that the single tulip would simply pop with a burst of color. I was drawn to browns, greys, and quiet greens.

After coloring Charles, I matted him on a light grey cardstock followed by black. I stitched on the white with black thread and then paper pierced the grey for some added visual interest. I then added some crackle glaze to the tulip and set it all aside to dry.
I then looked through my stash and found the teal-ish polka dotted paper that had just a *touch* of red that would pull the color from the tulip.

So I layered and I played, not wanting to use TOO much of the DP as I love the crispness of the image and I like it to stand alone. I wanted it to be a little darker, however, so I grabbed my MS border punch and punched out the birds (crows - in my thought for this card) out of black cardstock. It was just the touch I needed to complete this creation.
I then sat back and looked. It was missing.....something. A sentiment! I went to my funky rub on letters and added the simple word..."why?".

Yes...that was what it needed. And then I was happy!

Thank you so much for popping by!!

Come play with us over at the TI challenge blog!!!

XOXO-

With Sympathy

They are without the most difficult cards to make. But sometimes they are necessary. This card was sent recently to darling friends of ours.
I used PTI's pure white cardstock as my card base. My main layer is PTI ivory cardstock, stamped with this gorgeous baroque design in Brilliance Pearlescent Black ink, coated with clear embossing powder and heat set.

I stitched around the edges with thick, taupe cotton thread and stamped my sentiment which is from PTI's Mega Mixed Messages set.

I then added 3 bronzeish, glass self-adhesive mosaic tiles and sponged the entire card to tone it down a bit as the white and ivory were bright. I wanted this to have a vintage vibe to it.
Like I said, these are very hard cards to make but I hope that it brought some brightness to our friends day during this most difficult time.

Thanks for viewing.

XOXO-

The Burtonesque Dolls Challenge #5 - Sleepy Hollow

Here I am...posting twice in a day!!! I could not resist this one!! The Burtonesque Dolls are having a challenge right now using TI stamps!!! Some of my FAVORITES!!!! I think I own every single one of their Goth Cutie line. I simply cannot help myself!!

However, I decided to use Autumn Bugg as I've had her printed waiting for just the right time to use her and here it is!!
My card base is PTI's Enchanted Evening which paired SO nicely with TI's Moon Digi Designer paper. The moon is also a TI image. I colored Autumn with my Copics and sparkly Sakura pens.

I used a scrap of the TI moon DP and paper pieced Autumn's skirt for added dimension. I rounded all of the top left and bottom right corners of the card.
I matted Autumn with simple black cardstock as I really wanted a crisp look. I worked on the moon to make it glow a little eerily and then to warm it up a tad, I took my Versamark pen and colored a few of the swirls, coated them with copper embossing powder and heat set it.
I then trimmed it out, distressed the edges and added it to my card using 3-D foam squares.
My last touch was to add a Hambly rub-on owl in the bottom left hand corner. I was thinking ribbon or twine but I just didn't want to fuss it up too much. So I put him there as he would be out on our dark night.

I hope you've enjoyed and have been inspired to join The Burtonesque Dolls Challenge!

XOXO-

Mo's Digital Challenge #34 - Merge It

I'm so glad to be back working with Mo's awesome images!! I've been super busy and have missed the last couple but thankfully I'm back! =) Today we're working with a fantastic challenge posted by Mo's DT Member Sheila!

The challenge is to merge one or more of Mo's images together to create a scene!! I chose to use Superduper Girl and Superduper Boy as they both remind me of my 5.5 year old Darling Daughter and my 4 year old Fabulous Son!
I was inspired by their 2 favorite marbles : as well as these gorgeous pins: that they made for me for Mother's Day. I pulled the blues, greens, yellows and golds from these darling trinkets that I treasure to make this card. I colored my images in with my Copic markers as well as my Sakura sparkly gel pens. I went with a 5 x 7 card, rounding simply the bottom left corner. I used glittery chipboard letters popped up on 3-D foam to accent the ABC's. I pulled both images into MS Word and resized the boy just a bit as my daughter is taller than he is. I then added the sentiment "My Dynamic Duo" in a fun little script and printed it out on PTI pure white cardstock.

Definitely come play along at Mo's!!!

Thanks for popping by!!

XOXO-

Off The Wall Craftiness Challenge #9

I am so excited to join in on this BEAUTIFUL and INSPIRING challenge!!!

You MUST visit Kim Wilson's gorgeous blog (she's one of my fellow DT members at SI!!) and she has just THE most fabulous challenges. This week is inspired by the photograph above. We're to use the colors raspberry, turquoise and orange. Some of my absolute favs!!
I poured through my stash and came out with a LOT!!! I wanted to use my new Robin stamps from The Paper Source and this paper was just the inspiration I needed! I didn't use a particular theme, layout or sketch. Just played around and colored and moved things here and there until I liked what I saw. Most of the time, that's how I work.
I used 3-D foam squares to pop up the bottom strips of Designer Paper leaving our Robin nested nicely at the top, matted with Hambly screen printed clear paper with that gorgeous robin's egg blue satin ribbon behind it to mimic the strips below.
I hope you have enjoyed and been inspired!!!

Kim has amazing sponsors!!!

This weeks sponsor is ICopic! Up for grabs is a set of 8 Copic Ciao Primary Color Markers!

Such a fantastic prize!!!

Thanks Kim for such wonderful inspiration!!!

XOXO-

Smeared Ink Blog Hop!!!

I'm SO thrilled to be hopping today with my my fantastic Design Team from Smeared Ink as WELL as our awesome artists who work with us on a regular basis! Our super, fantastic, and awesome fans!!!

This month I've been lucky enough to be working with the SI set Nymphs.
Today I busted out with the Bird Nymph. As some of you know a friend and I successfully rescued 4 orphaned, newborn Robins the week of Mother's Day so I have to tell you I have a new found respect for the species and a complete and utter "aweness" of them as well.

So when I got this image in my hand the creation literally just came to life in my hands. I know that may sound silly to some...but I can't explain it any other way.
I first inked my image up in Momento Tuxedo ink and colored her with my Copics. I wanted the grass to glow and seem firey and I think I accomplished this. (btw...Tori/Terra...the grass ROCKS on this...I love the scribbly edginess of it!)

I colored her wings and feathers in a dark maroon and coated them in crackle glaze (at the end of my coloring). I colored her feet and claws in similar tones and used crystal glaze on the talons on her feet and used my red Sakura sparkly gel pen to color her hand talons.
Her hair is done in a firey, brown/orangy glow embellished with a silvery Sakura pen.

I then set her aside to dry with all of the different glazes on her.

My cardbase is PTI Scarlet Jewel, followed by a layer of chocolate brown Basic Grey paper, followed by another layer of Basic Grey paper (the same style that the card is sitting on for the picture).

I then had some Cosmo Cricket paper with this awesome flower right in the center. I trimmed out the flower and by then my image was dry so I matted it to SU! True Thyme (retired). I stitched the two together using tan and brown threads and a leafy/feathery pattern that I have on my machine. I mounted the entire panel on 3-D foam adhesive and added it to my card. I had a strip of the gorgeous teal grosgrain ribbon that I made into a tiny loop for a little balance and added visual interest.

I then added tiny peridot colored rhinestones on each petal of the flower - very subtle yet effective. The last touch is the black cording that has the 2 silver beads hanging. It's actually an embellishment that I took off of a dress from a few summers ago. It just seemed to be the finishing touch that I really needed.

I am in just simple awe with this set. The female form is simply stunning and in it's raw natural beauty it's just intoxicating!!

I love how the crackle glaze set on her feathers. It really makes a statement.

I truly hope that you enjoy hopping today!! There are a TON of gorgeous creations to be seen!!!

Please leave some love!!!

XOXO-




Terra: http://moresmearedink.blogspot.com/

Kelli: http://cajunstampingqueen.blogspot.com

Steph: http://stephscreativechaos.blogspot.com

Ladybrayton71: http://ladybrayton71.blogspot.com

Lisa: http://ldfdesign.blogspot.com

Jean: http://etsysdarkside.ning.com

Kathi: http://kathstales.blogspot.com

Alison : http://alisonsrandomthoughts.blogspot.com

Sarah: http://sarahscrazycreations.blogspot.com

Meredith: http://www.papercanteen.com

Blackdragon: http://lynsblogger.blogspot.com

Kim: http://offthewallcraftiness.blogspot.com

Monica: http://www.giddygreetings.com

Tink: http://tinktime-tink.blogspot.com

QKD New Release Tuesday Hop!!!!

Oooooo do I love NEW RELEASE DAY!!! We've got a bevvy of new beautifulness for you today!!!

But before we begin, if you have arrived here from the WIS blog then you are on the right track!! If not, please start here!!
Here is the sketch that we worked with for today's release:

May I introduce to you White Rabbit. (she will be available in the store on Wednesday)

Ok, so I know I didn't use really ANY white in my creation but I simply could not help myself! There is so much gorgeous and intricate detail in this stamp and it was SO fun to color in.
As you know, QKD has shifted from polymer to grey, unmounted rubber stamps. I have mounted this on EZ-Foam that you can purchase from QKD along with your stamps. The clarity and crispness that comes out in the detailing in the stamps is gorgeous. I did this on one try...which I don't normally do with ANY stamp. It usually takes me 1 or 2 tries to get it perfect. This one...spot on the first time.
I inked her up with Momento ink in Tuxedo. It's my ink of choice these days. I ran with the pseudo-psychedelic theme playing on the white rabbit and worked the poppy flowers to really stand out. As well as our smoking caterpillar friend ;) His smoke rings are colored and then gone over in Crystal Glaze to really make them pop.

The water, necklace and ears of the White Rabbit are also glazed up for some added dimension.
I strayed a bit from the original sketch, replacing the ribbons and rivets on the sides of my image with stitching in the back. I tried to work it exactly and it just wasn't happening...so I went with what really did the image justice.

Wait until you see the rest of the gorgeousness that is in store for you!! Keep hopping along!! Off you scoot to Anita's blog to see what loveliness she's created for us today!!!

XOXO-