Grungy Monday 14 - Distress Inks and Perfect Pearls

Can't believe I missed my favorite technique last week while I was enjoying some much needed family time at the beach. Looks like I've got some catching up to do! Linda, over at Studio L3 has offered up yet another fun technique (from the 2008 archives of the ever so talented King of Distress - Tim Holtz) for us this week. If you do wander over to Tim's site today - check out the fabulous 4th of July card he made. I thought I could include the photo below, but obviously - I have alot to learn about blogger.

Now, on to today's challenges. Linda tempted us to get back into using our mini misters with some favorite inks and powders. Simon Says Stamp and Show has challenged us to use a Flourish, and Hels of the Sunday Stampers fame, has added words to her challenge this week.  I thought both fit well in my card today.  I used 2 combinations - Spiced Marlamade DI/Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls, and Scattered Straw DI/Green Patina Perfect Pearls. I first stamped one of my favorite 'rockin' heart stamps using picket fence dabber to create a resist for the sprays. I sprayed the maralade color on top, the scattered straw on the bottom. I also colored my ribbon with the marmalade spray. I love the color combo and the intensity of the color. This is definitely something I will try again. The sentiment stamp is from Wendy Vecchi, flouris - Stampington and Company.

I'll share the 4th of July idea in a few minutes. Happy Freedom day to all my stamping buddies - I am proud of all our military and thankful to be living the life I am.

Ribbons and Bows - Outlines RS Challenge

If you love the wonderful stamps from Outlines, then you are sure to enjoy their new weekly stamping challenge. This week was Ribbons and bows. I stamped and embossed the J-986 Ellason Background with Peeled paint Distress Ink and embossing powder. I used some flowers from their new mix and match flower series: E-1031 Jagged Posy Med., E-1043 Pointed Posy Med., E-1039 Round Posy Med. Be sure to check out the blog for many more card submissions. Last weeks were simply gorgeous!

Grungy Monday 11 - can you believe it?

The lovely Linda over at Studio L3 challenges us each week with a technique from Tim Holtz. Ya know how photos don't always show the real deal or maybe it is more that the concept didn't quite turn out how you expected? Now that I am looking at this - it kind of looks like chicken scratch :-( But - it is really a faux batik look that the amazing Tim Holtz taught us in January of 2008. It is loads of fun - you stamp your base image, emboss with clear powder. Then you get to smoosh all your favorite Distress Inks over the top. You take some brown paper bag and cover the card - iron to remove the embossing powder, and wala - Batik. I used Tim Holtz Spring Sprung set with the kind of crazy wildflowers. I used shabby shutters, crushed olive peeled paint, tumbled glass, stormy sky, and broken china to get the grass and sky look. I guess you'll have to use your imagine this week to see a field of wildflowers with a butterfly fluttering by...

Sunday Stampers Steampunk

It has been a busy busy day in my craft room. So many challenges, so many ideas running through my head. I started with the Sunday Stampers Challenge by the lovely Hels Sheridan. She just celebrated her birthday, so she is especially excited and joyful this week. Her theme this week was Steampunk. I had to really do some looking up for this one. I had no idea really what it is. I just realized I forgot to add on my gears that I so carefully die cut this afternoon. Oops :-) I used some crushed olive, frayed burlap, and black soot DI on the background, using the crumpling, dipping, swiping, and drying method. I got to finally put ink on my Tim Holtz Steampunk stamp set. That certainly made this challenge a little easier! Check out her blog for all the details about the challenges. They are always fun.

Outlines Challenge - My favorite colors...

This is one of my all time favorite color combinations! How fun is it that it's also the challenge over at the Outlines Rubber Stamp Blog. I have been an admirer of their stamps for quite some time. I am thrilled to have discovered they started a weekly challenge. Be sure to check out everyone else's artwork. There are some very talented artists submitting their art.

Products used:

E-657 Striped Petals Lg

D-658 Striped Petals Md

B-350 Scatter joy

Cuttlebug texture plate

Grungy Monday 10 - Distress Inks

Do you LOVE Distress Inks as much as I do? I simply cannot do a project without them. SO...this weeks challenge from Studio L3, was to use, just that DI. Check out her blog and not only get the details, but see all the amazing artwork fellow Tim Holtz addicts have posted. I got to use my new favorite stamp set, Papillon, in the new TH collection. Also, some of my favorite DI colors: Broken China, Peeled Paint, Stormy Sky, and Tumbled Glass. Added to my tag is a tissue tape ribbon across the bottom and some lost and found stickers and tags. I am also entering this in a couple of my newly discovered challenges: Sunday Stampers - Anything that makes you happy with the amazing Hels Sheridan, and also a newly discovered challenges, Use it Tuesday, Tag it on, Winged Things, Just for Fun. And last but not least, Simon Says Stamp challenge Tags. Whew - Fun week, fun challenges. I'd love to hear your comments.

Outlines Challenge - Black and White + one

New territory for me. I have been an Outlines RS admirer for many years, and just found their weekly challenge. This week, we were challenged to create a black and white piece of art, adding one color for accent. Oh how hard it was to not color the leaves too :-) If you don't know what I'm talking about - hop on over to their blog and get all the details. You will also get a chance to peek at the wonderful cards that have been posted by others joining the challenge. It's a great way to see how to use all those stamps in your 'collection'. I'm glad I found this blog, and a reason to dust of some much loved stamps. enjoy everyone.

Stamps used: Swirly Leaf - small, C-136, Striped Poppy - Med, D-106.