Time Flies

Travel is the theme for the First Wednesday Dude Time Doodles challenge.  Ahoy Matey Matt, a Bonibleaux Designs image, wanted to show you his favorite way to travel - with time flying out the door (thanks to a bit of Capt. Morgan's rum).  Matt is technically retired, but came back special for this event.  So if you really like him, you need to go get him quickly as he will go back into retirement.  (He just couldn't help himself, wanting to share a bit o' the Captain with his friends.)

He's colored with Copics and cut with the Wonky Squares die from Spellbinders.  Glossy Accents and Liquid Applique were added to his mug of beer.  (Matt likes his mug o' beer followed by a rum chaser. Everyone has their own particular tastes.)

The post card is a rubber stamp (unknown manufacturer) as is the clock face in the background (Stampin Up).  The card base is Graphic 45.  The sentiment is part of this pirate set,  from Boniblaux Designs.

Now show us your favorite travel projects.  They can be anything, as long as it's for a dude.  You'll have one week to upload your creation to the Dude Time Doodles challenge blog.

Lord Money Man

It's the second Wednesday of the month.  Do you know what that means?  Yep, it's time for the Freebie/Guest Designer challenge at Dude Time Doodles.  Head on over and pick up Lord Money Man for free this week.  If you miss him, he's also available at the store, along with some fun sentiments.  As you can see, I used one of these sentiments on my card.

For the background, I used the Archival Resist technique taught in this class.  (You can still register and get all the materials.)  The rubber stamps used on the background are from Stampin' Up,  Stampers Anonymous, and 100 Proof Press.  All the edges are distressed with Distress Inks.  

Now, run on over to the Dude Time Doodles Challenge blog to pick up your very own Lord Money Man and enter our challenge.  You could be the next Dude or Dudette guest designer.  So very cool.....


Archival Inks: Saffron, Magananese Blue   Distress Inks: Frayed Burlap, Scattered Straw, Vintage Photo

Timeless Classic

It's the third Sunday of the month and that means it's time for the Stamping Challenge over at Ch{all}enge Masters.  It's free to join and there are lots of new challenges issued each week. 

My challenge to everyone is to make your own stamped metal accents.  I used this technique in two different places on this tag: the gears and the hub caps. 

I found this great video at Hero Arts that shows you how simple and easy these are to make.  I ended up making 6 layers, instead of the 4 that was recommended on the video for the gears (my base is larger than the one in the video though). Here's a close-up of the gears metal accent:

Using this same metal accents technique, I also made my "metal" hub caps for this antique car.  I created the hub caps using my Epiphany Crafts round shape tool 14 and bubble caps. 

I also experimented with a different technique.  I used my colorless Art Masking Fluid (which I've used before) to mask the car.  After that dried, I applied my Versamark pad over the entire surface of the tag and heat embossed with this cool Denim embossing powder.  What I wasn't sure about was if the heated powder would release with the masking fluid.  It did!  I had to rub a bit harder to get it off, but I'm really happy with the results. 

The car is a rubber stamp from Art Impressions and the gears and sentiment are rubber stamps from an older Stampin' Up set called Sense of Time.  The oval background for the metal accent was cut with Classic Ovals #3 Spellbinders die.  I distressed the edges of my sentiment and hung it with jump rings found in the jewelry aisle of your favorite craft chain.  

By the way, Ch{all}enge Masters is looking for several new Divas for the term beginning April 1st through September 30th, 2011.  If you are interested, please contact Terri at: terri@challengemastersonline.com for the details!!

I would love to see what you come up with using this fun technique.

Coffee and Friends

Today I created something a little different: a shaker card using coffee grounds in the shaker area.  This was a fun project and easy to do.  One of the tutorials I like for making shaker cards is found at StampTV.

Wonky Squares by Spellbinders were used to create my window.  The sentiment in the inside of the window (which says: Coffee & Friends are the perfect blend) is by Unity Stamps and the coffee pot image is from the Kind Thoughts set by Stampin' Up.  (It's not too easy to get a good photo without something reflecting off the acetate window.)

The shaker window was adhered to a subtly patterned piece of brown cardstock, which I then wrapped with twine.  The blue base cardstock edges were embossed using my Scor-Pal before adhering the shaker window layer.

F{all} into a Ch{all}enge Masters Blog Hop

Welcome to the Ch{all}enge Masters F{all} into a Ch{all}enge Blog Hop! The challenge Divas have gotten together to create some fantastic Fall themed projects for you to be inspired and enjoy. 

You should have arrived here from Marianne's blog (our Sketch Diva).   If not, then you need to start back at Tammy's blog (our Stash & Tag Diva).  All the details are on Tammy's blog.  We all have a secret word that you need to collect to spell an autumn phrase and to be entered to win one of the grand prizes at Ch{all}enge Masters.  You don't want to miss out on any great prizes along the way, as we all have something special that you can win!  Be sure to visit each person's blog for the secret word and to win goodies.

My F{all} project is this cute card and what a fun card to make.  First off, all the images except the sun are from a retired set called Loads of Love by Stampin' Up.  The sunburst is by 100 Proof Press.  I stamped the truck multiple times so I could pop dot the fenders. (In hindsight, you probably should die cut it before adding the foam dimensions - running it through the Big Kick flattened out the foam dots quite a bit.  Luckily, they were really tall to begin with.  : )  ).

I used the palette method technique to color the truck with my Copic markers - I wanted a faded, spotty  look.  The palette method just means you scribble (very technical) one color marker onto something plastic (like a CD case or piece of leftover packaging material) and then pick up bits of that color with a lighter marker.  This will not hurt the Copic markers at all (but I wouldn't suggest trying it with other brands).  If any residual color is left on the lighter marker tip, just scribble it onto a piece of scratch paper and it will come off.  The Copics I used were B21, B26 (for the truck), YR12, YR 15, YR16 (pumpkins), C2, C4, C7 (tires).  Both the Small (#4, if the smallest is #1) and Large Labels (#1, the smallest) from Spellbinders were used to die cut my image and my sentiment. (Again refer to note above about pop dotting after die cutting).  I also attached a bit of ribbon to the sentiment.


The first step in making the background paper is to stamp and heat emboss (with clear embossing power) the sunburst.  Next, take several Distress ink pads and stamp them onto your craft mat (wax paper works as well).  Spritz them several times with water and then lay your white cardstock on top.  This gives you a really cool effect.  The fun thing about this technique is that the Distress inks won't stick where you have embossed an image, so it shows up perfectly.  The final step was to adhere everything to a dark blue base.

 Each Diva will have some blog candy to give away.  Here's what you can win here at Anne-Made.  It's an 18 piece set or red rubber stamps and a dual ink pad.          

All you have to do is leave a little bit of love (aka comments) below and you will be entered into my drawing.  If you also decide to become a Follower of Anne-Made, your name will be entered twice. (yea!)  Leave some love at each Diva's blog to have a chance to win their blog candy too.  Be sure to check back here to see if you won my blog candy.  Good luck to everyone.

Now we are sending the ch{all}enge out to you!  We want to see your fall themed projects!  You can upload them to the Challenge Masters gallery.   Click on "Gallery", sign up, and post your creations!  You'll also want to sign up in the "Forum" and, while you are there,  have a look at all the great challenges we do every week!  (It's free to sign up.) You can enter as many times as you like, just as long as each project is a new project).  You have until midnight on Saturday September 25th to upload your project(s) on the Gallery and then the winner will be announced a few days later!  You can win a fantastic prize pack! 

Your next stop in the Ch{all}enge Masters F{all} into a Ch{all}enge Blog Hop is Suzann's blog to see what she's created for you and don't forget the word you are looking for from me is............

Thanks so much for playing along in our F{all} Blog Hop.  Now get those creative juices flowing and have lots of fun with this.  Can't wait to see what YOU come up with!!  Don't forget to leave a comment at each Diva's blog.

The Great Pumpkin

For the Great Pumpkin, I used and/or created a new alcohol ink & water technique.  At least I think I did, since I couldn't find it mentioned anywhere else on the web except that you shouldn't do it (but I read that after I had already done it).  It's just like the nail polish technique, except that you use alcohol inks and water.  The key though is that you use glossy cardstock.  Begin by using a metal pan (disposable works great), add a bit of water, and then a few drops of alcohol ink(s) on the surface (I used orange).  Dip the glossy cardstock under the water and act like you are scooping up the drops of alcohol ink.  Let dry.  I must admit, it's pretty unimpressive at this point - but don't throw it away.  Once it's dry, there was a residue left on top of the cardstock (still unimpressive).  I gently rubbed off the reside with my fingertip (you could probably use a tissue as well) and the finished result was very nice (if I do say so myself).  It had a soft and subtle feel /look to it.  It's very pretty in person; the pictures don't really do it justice.

Once I had my background paper made, I stamped my images several times and fussy cut them all out.  The smaller pumpkins are from Stampin' Up and the main pumpkin is from Unity Stamps.  I cut in-between the layers of The Great Pumpkin and pop dotted each layer for a much fuller look.  I used Copic markers to color in the stems, leaves, and the smaller buttons and I found two perfectly sized buttons in my stash for the other two buttons.  I also curled dark green strips of paper to make my vines for the pumpkins.

The dark green background paper was stamped with a leaf background stamp by Cornish Heritage Farms.  (They made great background stamps, and although they recently closed their doors, you can still find CHF stamps around.)  I corner rounded two of the opposite edges and adhered to a lighter green base.

I stamped my sentiment on my ribbon using one of the small alphabet stamp sets by Studio G stamps by Hampton Art.  Before actually stamping the letters onto the ribbon, I dusted it with the Perfect Printing Pouch by Scraperfect so the ink wouldn't bleed.  If you haven't tried this yet, or haven't heard of it before, definitely go check it out.  Very cool product!  None of my ink smeared (and I tested it right away).

So hopefully, the Great Pumpkin will come visit you this Halloween too (or at least show up on your TV).

Cornucopia

Fall is (hopefully) just around the corner.  Although it's hard to believe since we are still in the mid 90s.  This image is by The Artful Stamper and was just begging to be used today.  The saying is from a discontinued set by Stampin' Up.  I used Copic markers and Spica Glitter pens to color the image in.  I cut out the image and layered it onto a solid green cardstock that I stamped with a leaf background stamp by Cornish Heritage Farms using Forest Moss Distress Ink .  Although CHF recently closed their doors, you can still find some of their stamps.  I double stamped and colored a few pieces of the fruit so that I could pop dot them for added dimension.   Add a couple pieces of yarn (brown and green) and a few embellishments, and you're finished.

Here is a closer look so you can see the glitter pens and the dimensional aspect of the card:

Check out Raise The Bar (sketch) and Mark's Finest Papers (harvest) challenges this week.  You still have time to play along too.

Chef Louie

This was a thank you card I made for a friend who made my family dinner.  The images are from Stampin' Up!   I used Copic markers to color him in.  Dark shades of blue were used on the pants to make them look (almost) black and dark shades of Cool Grey was used on the shoes.  I highlighted the toes of the shoes with a white gel pen to make them look like they were patent leather.

My accent strip of burgundy is larger than the card base, just to give it a different visual look.  On the inside of the card, I stamped a large "THANKS".