Trisha's Challenge

Blog Candy Reminder: There are only a couple of days left to win some blog candy. Check out this post.

I recently participated in a challenge called "What would you make with my stuff?" set Trisha from Easily Amused, Hard to Offend (a fellow Gingersnaps DT member). She sent the participants an envelope full of goodies to play with and we had to incorporate at least three items that she'd given us.

Here's the card I made. I wound up using five of the items, although I'm embarrassed to see that the other participants use way more than I did.



The image is from Altered Pages and the patterned paper from Basic Grey. I added the sentiment, it's a retired SU set called Happy Harmony.

Check out what everyone else made - they look awesome.

Thanks for a great challenge, Trisha!

Splitcoast Color Challenge

I was asked by Betty to make a sample for today's Splitcoast color challenge - the colors are Rich Razzleberry, So Saffron and Tango Tangerine.

These colors screamed Halloween to me, so I dug out my Artistic Outpost Vintage Halloween set and made this card. Of course, the base is a Fabriano watercolor card and there's lots of white space!


The pumpkin was stamped onto a piece of bookpage background that I sponged with So Saffron and Pumpkin Pie inks (I didn't have Tango Tangerine). I double matted him onto Pumpkin Pie and Rich Razzleberry c/stock. I added some piercing and white gel pen to mimic the polka dot ribbon.

Hope you have time to play the challenge today.

Happy stamping,

Ali

Paper Peeling & Color Challenge

There's a new color challenge on Gingersnaps - GC64: Yellow, Orange and Red. I posted it last Wednesday, but have been a very flaky blogger and this is the first chance I've had to post my card here.

In fact, I made two cards with this color combination using the Peeled Paper technique (TJ newsletter April/May 2010). I used my favorite Fabriano watercolor cards for the bases and stamps from Crafty Individuals. I used Distress Inks to create the panels - Mustard Seed, Barn Door and Spiced Marmalade.


Here's a closer look at the peeled paper.


Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful weekend!

Ali

Paper Fringe

As promised here's the wall hanging I made for yesterday's Gingersnaps Challenge - Try a Tutorial. We have a boat load of fabulous tutorials on the site, they're really worth checking out. I followed Lynn Steven's tutorial on how to create a paper fringe for this piece. It was very straightforward and really fun.

I don't think I've ever made a hanging thing before - I think I've come under Hels' spell! The base is chipboard covered with patterned paper by Queen Bee and the flowers are Primas, which I've been hoarding for over a year! Here's a closer look:

This project came together a lot quicker than I thought and I'd definitely use this paper fringe technique again.

Have a super day!

Supplies:

• Stamps: Ghandi Quote (Impression Obsession)
• Paper: Queen Bee, kraft tissue paper
• Ink: Crushed Olive & Antique Linen Distress Inks, Cocoa by Memento
• Accessories: Flowers (Prima), Dew Drops, large metal eyelets (SU), ric rac
• Tools: Crop-a-Dile, sewing machine

Growth

Oops - long time, no post! I've been super busy with a myriad of projects both at home and stamping related. And I realized that I forgot to post the card I made for Gingersnaps Growth Challenge last week. And I posted another challenge today, which will be on my blog tomorrow. Yikes - I can't keep up!

For this card, I used a new poppy stamp (well new to me) from Penny Black and I just love it!

The poppy is stamped on watercolor paper and I used Stampin' Up! markers to watercolor it (Marker Watercoloring). The centers has black seed beads, which you can see better in this close up picture:

Tomorrow I'll share a wall hanging I made using a paper fringe.

Thanks for visiting!

Supplies:

• Stamps: Poppy Poem (Penny Black), Teeny Tiny Wishes (Stampin' Up!)
• C/stock: Watercolor paper, Old Olive c/stock & Fabriano card base
• Ink: Stazon, SU markers, Old Olive
• Accessories: Linen thread, black seed beads
• Tools: Word window punch

Fluffy Bunny

I'm hosting the Gingersnaps Spicy Supply challenge today, which is to use 'frosting' on your creations. This means any kind of embellishment or product that goes on top of the final piece, such as pearls, glitter, beads, stickles, etc.

I decided to use Flower Soft and this cute bunny image from I Brake For Stamps. Flower Soft is one of those products that was hot this time last year, so I bought a couple of pots and I used it only once or twice. It's not my favorite product to work with, but it makes a nice little spot for this little guy to sit on.

Here's a better look:

The background that the image is stamped was created on watercolor paper with Distress inks and the Watercolor Distress technique (TJs Feb/Mar 07). I made another card using the same technique late last year.

Have a great day!

Supplies:

• Stamps: I Brake For Stamps
• Paper: Fabriano watercolor card base, watercolor paper, chocolate chip c/stock
• Ink: Peeled Paint, Weathered Wood & Faded Jeans Distress Ink, Stazon, Primsa pencils
• Accessories: Green Flower Soft, brown sheer ribbon

Image Transfer ATCs

I want to share a few ATCs I created using image transfers made with packing tape. If you're not familiar with this technique, check out a tutorial I wrote about it on Gingersnaps today. I'm not sure why I'm in the mood for making ATCs, but I'm just going with the flow!

I'm entering the first ATC for Think Monday Think ATC (TMTA), which challenged readers to use metal in their creation. I used one of Tim Holtz' metal tags layered onto some sheet music and then an image transfer from an Oxford Impressions collage sheet.

This image transfer was created from the same Oxford Impressions collage sheet. It's layered onto a piece of Basic Grey paper that I inked, stamped and stitched.

This bird was taken directly from a home/lifestyle magazine. It's layered on a collage of inked vintage papers and the word was cut from an old love letter.

All these ATCs have birds as their theme to put you in the mood for Spring. I hope that wherever you live, Spring is on its way!

Thank you for visiting.

Glimmery, Shimmery ATCs

We had a taste of Spring in New England today. The sun was shining and the thermometer almost hit 50 degrees. After taking a really long walk along some new trails, I only had a short amount of time to make something. Still on my quest to try some different things this week, I decided upon a couple of ATCs.

The background of the first ATC was created by dabbing a mixture of reinkers and shimmer paint onto a piece of c/stock (Dabbed Shimmers technique - Feb/March '10 edition of TJ newlsetter). Once it was dry, I added the extra step of running it through an embossing folder.

I had an extra image left over from this tag - she's stamped on a vintage bridge score sheet. The word 'faith' and number 12 were cut from a Jenni Bowlin bingo card (love those things!) and a few latte pearls from Amuse finish it off.

I made this orange guy for Think Monday Think ATC, where they challenged readers to create an ATC that is predominantly orange. The background is a piece of white c/stock that I created using the Antiqued Glimmers technique (Dec '09/Jan '10 TJ newsletter). I also threw in a Tim Holz mask for good measure. Then I simply stamped the image over the top, spotlighted the word 'art' and added some printed twill tape to the bottom.

Have a fun weekend whatever your plans are!

Stamps: Oxford Impressions & Lost Coast Designs

Tag Challenge

I decided to take a little time this week to participate in some challenges. I've been feeling rusty and uninspired recently, so I thought doing some challenges might perk me up. And I have to say that I like this tag. I'm my own harshest critic, but this one turned out okay. You have it in writing!

I made it for Tag Tuesday Challenge #42, which is to use brown plus one other color on a tag and the color I chose to pair with brown is pink.

I can't tell you how I made the base of the tag because it's going to be in a tutorial on Gingersnaps next Tuesday - remember to check it out! But I can tell you that the woman is from an Oxford Impressions plate called Times Past. She's stamped onto a vintage bridge score sheet and I found the name Ella on one of the Kentucky cards also available on the Oxford site.

The other embellishments are old bone buttons, a flower from Maya Road, trim from Making Memories and a double-sided satin ribbon.

Thanks for visiting and have a happy day!

Sundial Calendar

I'm hosting the Random Redhead Challenge on Gingersnaps today and the theme is numbers. You should see the artwork the rest of the design team and the Serendipity design team created for this number theme - it's amazing.

My contribution is a calendar using a beautiful Sundial stamp from Serendipity. I used markers to watercolor the main image and a lot of sponging to soften the edges.

The calendar is available to members of the Gingersnap Creations Yahoo Group in the File sections - the group is open to all - we'd love to meet new members.

Thanks for stopping by my blog - have a wonderful day!

Supplies:

• Stamps: Sundial by Serendipity
• Paper: Chipboard, So Saffron c/stock and watercolor paper
• Ink: Brown Stazon, Linen & Scattered Straw Distress inks, SU markers
• Accessories: Certainly Celery brads & ribbon (SU)
• Tools: Big Shot, Top Note die, Cropadile, Aquapainter

Time Flies

Seriously, where has January gone? I've wanted to play the Gingersnaps Time challenge all month and now it's almost over. Yikes! But I managed to make it in time.

The technique I used to create the main image is a TJ technique called Alcohol Ink Press (April/May 07). I'm not a huge fan of alcohol inks, but every once in a while I get out my box and play. And this was super easy to do.

I stamped the Non Sequitur image on a piece of acetate with Stazon ink. Then I flipped over the acetate, poured a little blending solution on it and added several drops of alcohol ink. I placed another piece of acetate over the top and pushed it around with my finger tips. Once it was dry, I mounted it onto a piece of white c/stock.

Some dry embossed c/stock add texture to the card base and I added some embossed butterflies over the stamped butterflies for a little punch.

You have until the end of the month to play the challenge - why not give it a try?

Thanks for visiting!

Supplies:

• Stamps: Time & Space (Non Sequitur)
• Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise & Acetate
• Ink: black Stazon, white craft ink, Alcohol inks & blending solution
• Accessories: white satin ribbon (SU), black brads (American Crafts)
• Tools: Big Shot, script embossing folder, Beautiful Wings Embosslit (SU)

Embossing Challenge

It was my turn to set the Spicy Supply Challenge on Gingersnaps on Wednesday and this month we chose embossing powder. Here's the card I made using a beautiful floral image from Serendipity Stamps.

[Note: check out Sharon's awesome interview with Serendipity's owner, Mary Lee.]

I embossed the main image with black e/p on watercolor paper and the sentiment on vellum c/stock. The geraniums were watercolored with reinkers, the panel distressed and sponged around the edge. And I added some Creamy Caramel speckles on the main panel with a marker and a spritzer tool.

I hope you find time to join in the challenge!

Supplies:

• Stamps: large Geranium & sentiment (Serendipity)
• Ink: Versfine black, Creamy Caramel marker, Real Red, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss & Old Olive reinkers
• Paper: Riding Hood Red % Chocolate Chip c/stock, vellum c/stock, watercolor paper
• Accessories: Flat black pearls, black embossing powder
• Tools: Aquapainter, Color Spritzer Tool, Heat Tool

Winter Wonderland

I'm high in the sky right now on my way to England, but technology being such a wonderful thing, I can pre-schedule blog posts - yeah!

I made this card for the Gingersnaps Winter Wonderland challenge using a new Christmas plate from Hearts in Touch. 

I inked the image with a brayer and kaleidoscope pad and stamped it on Whisper White.  I covered the whole image with Versmark and heat embossed it with Iridescent Ice e/p from Stampin' Up!  The image is double matted on Whisper White and Night of Navy.  The card base is Classic Columns from PaperTemtress and the sheer navy ribbon came from the bottom of my ribbon jar.

Thanks for visiting!

Frame Challenge

Creating this torn frame card for the Gingersnaps Frame Challenge was a lot of fun.  It took a while to tease the layers of cardstock apart, but I love the effect.  The technique is from the Dec 08/Jan 09 Technique Junkies newsletter.  I don't have the specific distressing tool in the tutorial, so I used my bone folder to break down the edges of the c/stock before pulling them apart.

The beautiful green c/stock is a 100lb c/stock from PaperTemptress called Brawny, that I embossed in a Cuttlebug folder and the color is Citron - it's very vivid green - I love it!  The bingo card is from Jenni Bowlin and the leaf pin is Maya Road.  No stamps used - gasp!

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!

Time Inchie Challenge

Fiona over at Inchy By Inch asked me to be Guest Designer this week and I was delighted to accept.  I chose 'Time' as the theme and here are the inchies I came up with. 

The backgrounds are from a piece of collaged background paper I created myself with text from Non Sequitur stamped on top.  The clocks were stamped, cut out, mounted onto the squares and embellished with a rhinestone.

Head over to the blog and take the inchie challenge!

Stamp credits:

• Inchie Style by Cornish Heritage Farms


• Eternity by Non Sequitur Art Stamps

Inchie Challenge

I have a couple of inchies to share today.  The first is for this week's Inchy By Inch challenge with its theme of rain.  And now I'm totally embarrassed because Fiona, the owner of the site, used the same image on her inchie.  What a dummy I am!

The image in question is from a retired SU set and it was stamped on a piece of water color paper that had received a wash of pale blue ink.  I doodled the black and white frame around the edge and I'm not sure you can see on the picture, but I made some small raindrops with Art Gel.

 

And this set of inchies I made to celebrate Fall.  The backgrounds were made from c/stock I had left over from a sponge & shimmer panel I made (click on the link for a tutorial I wrote).  I stamped them with some script, edged them with brown ink, mounted them onto brown inchies and attached the metal leaf charms. 

 

Thanks for visiting - come again soon!

Triple Challenge Card & Altering Magazines

We did a 'Once in a Blue Moon' challenge today on Gingersnaps. Basically, you combine two or more previously issued challenges on the blog.  I combined the Journeys challenge, the Tags challenge and the yellow, brown and green challenge to make this Autumn card.  [The stamp is from Innovative Stamp Creations.]

The background is a page I tore from a magazine.  I removed some the surface with metal polish and sandpaper.  And then added highlights with acrylic paint.  Here's how it started out - I used the center page with the ferns:

I've been playing with magazines all month - here are a couple of tags I created in my journal:

The background was created by lifting off the surface with packing tape and then sponging on some ink. The chicken is a packing tape transfer from the same magazine.

The background on this tag was created by first sanding and then applying acrylic paint.  The butterflies (Oxford Impressions) were stamped with Perfect Medium and covered with Perfect Pearls.

Finally this little robin was created by rubbing the surface with metal polish and over stamping with some text.  

None of it's rocket science, but it sure is a lot of fun to take old magazines and turn them into something new.

Inchie Challenge

I actually made something this weekend - it's been a while!  I took this week's Small World of Inchies & Twinchies challenge, which was to use circles.  I immediately thought of clocks and time and created this card for a friend who's having a hard time.

I created a master board using my Inchie Collage Technique - click on the link to see a tutorial on Gingersnaps.

And then I created this accordion booklet with a quote by Theodore Roethke.  I got the idea for this from Terri at Artful Affirmations.  [Click on the photo to see a larger version.]

Thanks for stopping by - have a wonderful day!

Stamp credits: Non Sequitur, Cornish Heritage Farm

Vintage Bling

This is a double challenge ATC - Theme Thursday's challenge this week is Vintage Women and Gingersnap Creations monthly Spicy Supply Challenge is Bling.  I couldn't get a good photo of it today - it's cloudy and the planets were just not aligned.  Sorry it's a bit fuzzy.

The image is a transparency from ARTchix and it's layered over some
sheet music, then mounted onto some red mulberry paper. The bling around the edge of the image is Vintage Glass Glass from Art Glitter Institute.  The background is patterned paper that I overstamped with some French script and then wrapped some silver fibers around.  Pretty easy peasy!

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend,

All That Sparkles

This is the card I made for Gingersnap Creations Spicy Supply Challenge today.  The challenge is to use 'bling' and you can use anything that sparkles - glitter, paint, ink, brads, ribbon etc.  The nice thing about Gingersnaps is that there are very few rules - it's all about encouraging creativity.

The photo image from the Stampsmith was stamped onto whisper white with Memento ink and surrounded by Vintage Glass Glitter by Art Institute Glitter.  This is fun to work with, but watch out because it really is shards of glass and can cut you.  How do I know this?  I think you can guess!  It's definitely not something you'd let your kids play with.

Thanks for stopping by!

Recipe:

• Stamps: The Stampsmith
  


• Paper: Raspberry Fizz (PTI), Basic Black and Whisper White (SU)
  


• Ink: Memento black


• Accessories: Vintage Glass Glitter (Krystallos), Raspberry Fizz satin ribbon


• Tools: Embossing folder and Big Shot