October Stamping Challenge #16

Hello!  Here's the card I made yesterday, but didn't get to posting till now.  I had some Dylusion-sprayed paper that was stamped with a Curlicue flower and embossed with a sandy coloured embossing powder that really didn't suit.  Still, I kept the paper around and decided that my October Stamping Challenge was the time to turn it into something.  I used a flower die (Tim Holtz - Sizzix) to cut some flowers out of it and tried various arrangements.  The card base was a reject from another stamping challenge (despite my efforts not to create more scraps than I can use!) and the strip underneath was another scrap from a different Dylusion-sprayed experiment.  The card base is stamped with a script stamp (I think it's one from Cornish Heritage Farms) stamped in some sort of olive ink.  I popped up the flower with foam tape, added Dark Blue stickles on the dots, and added a button and some Avocado liquid pearls.  I fear these additional embellishments are a bit over the top.  This is not my favourite project, but it did use all scrappy stuff that was on my desk, it did take less than fifteen minutes, but did not use a new stamp. 

This has been a fun challenge!  I don't think I can keep up the pace at the moment.  I am gearing up for the church bazaar where I am coordinating the sewing and knitting table.  I have a few projects on my knitting needles and I am taking a quilting class so have a sampler quilt underway.  I am absolutely not complaining, just not very good at juggling and balancing.  Still, this challenge has reminded me that it is always mentally and creative restorative to make time for stamping.  It is also satisfying to use up the scraps and bits and bobs that are cluttering my stamping desk.  I think if I kept this challenge up until the end of December, I would have a clean desk out of it.  December 2018 that is!!! Hahahahaaa!

Hope you get some stamping in this weekend!

October Stamping Challenge #15

Hello!  Here's another quick tag for my October stamping challenge.  I was experimenting with different ways to use this holly stamp (Penny Black) combined with Tombow markers so I cut this one out and mounted it on some scraps of paper leftover from layout auditions for my November class.  The focal image here is embossed in black, watercoloured with Tombows and accented with stickles and Wink of Stella brush pen.  I used my new Pine stickles - Ranger has some new colours out.  They have needed a new green for a while - Lime Green and Crystal are fabulous, but I was ready to have something that could go on darker colours.  I really love this new colour and can't wait to see the rest of them when Heather gets them in.

Thanks for stopping by. One more day of my stamping challenge!

Thanks for stopping by!

October Stamping Challenge #14

Hello!  Here's my latest stamping challenge project - a quick little tag.  I used some leftover parts from my explorations in making my samples for my November class at Heather's Stamping Haven.  The class will be on November 30 from 2-5 pm. The class projects are show below and my class is called Wink of Christmas because I have been trying out the Wink of Stella glitter brushes! They are a lot of fun and add a different sort of shimmer than stickles or twinks.  I quite like them.  My class also uses a great set of Christmas stamps from Penny Black.  Hope you can join us!

The other stamping things I have been doing this weekend are Krista's classes!  I haven't taken a picture (yet) of all my projects, but you can see them on Krista's website here.  If you click on one of the thumbnails, it expands the picture to a see-able size and you can scroll through.  We had such a good time!  Krista teaches a variety of colouring techniques: Tombows, Distress markers, Copics, and Inktense pencils.  It was a blast and the other ladies always make it such a special time.  A great big thank you to Krista, Heather, and all the other ladies for a wonderful weekend!

Well, all this stamping goodness is the reason I have been away from my stamping challenge.  I gave myself a pass since I was spending so much time doing other sorts of stamping.  I think my family might have really rebelled if I had spent any more time stamping and blogging!

Well, time to dash off to work here.  Hope you had a good weekend too and found some time to get inky!

Happy stamping!

October Stamping Challenge #14

Hello!  Does this layout look familiar!  Hahahaha.  It's my last medallion from my ready-made stack.  I should mention that these medallions are from Holly Berry House.  They are a single stamp, which I stamp on many different pieces of cardstock and emboss with the same embossing powder (in this case it's gold).  I choose my cardstock to be a mix of light, medium and dark tones, as well as a mix of shimmer and regular, and maybe some linen in there too.  I like the effect here of a tight colour palette (shades of brown and gold) but a mix of textures (matte, linen and shimmer).

Then I cut out different parts of the image, being careful to cut just beside the embossing line.  Then, I layer them back together again.  I like to keep a "big" piece for the back.  It's also fun to apply Art Institute Glitter to the various design elements of the image.  This is easiest to do before they are assembled because the glue takes a while to dry.  I get a bunch of them on the go at once and then I get my glitter out and do it assembly-line style.  I also embellish them with stickles and liquid pearls too.  This particular one is mounted to a piece of textured cardstock (Sahara Sand).

Thanks for reading!

October Stamping Challenge #12

Hello!  Here's my next stamping challenge.   I know I missed a day, but I was working on class samples for my September class and progress was slower than I anticipated. I was having way too much fun playing with my new Penny Black Christmas stamps and Wink of Stella glitter brushes.  I'll have those samples done soon, but they did mean I didn't get a scrappy challenge one done.

Here's the next one - I have a stack of these medallions (Holly Berry House) all assembled and waiting for a card.  I chose a Creamy Caramel card base (one of the layers) and stamped it with one side of the Marble Textures cube (Stampendous).  The medallion had been stamped on a variety of papers (shimmer and ordinary) and trimmed out, and layered with foam tape.  A number of the layers are embellished with coordinating colours of Art Institute glitter.  I added some gold Viva Decor pearls too.

In other stamping news, this weekend Krista Schneider comes!  I love this time of year and the happy anticipation of her classes.  This year's multimedia class is a gorgeous fall birch tree.  She walks you through all the steps so anyone can make their own gorgeous original artwork.  The samples are on Heather's website (www.heathersstamping.com) and on Krista's blog (link on the right hand side bar - Red is my Favorite Color)

Thanks for stopping by!

Heather's Stamping Haven

Hello!  As many of my readers will know, I teach classes at Heather's Stamping Haven in Ottawa.  I have been a customer for many, many years and Heather and her store are very dear to my heart.  It was with very mixed emotions that I learned of her intentions to retire this winter (click here for the post on her blog).  I am so pleased for her that she will be starting this new direction in her life and enjoy the freedoms that come with retirement.  That said, I will really miss her at the store!  It really has been a haven, in so many ways, and I have had such good times there with so many very dear people.

I know Heather is looking for a buyer for the store, so if you are someone with an entrepreneurial streak or know someone who has one that is looking for an active business with great growth potential, please connect with Heather.  I am sure I am not the only one hoping that someone takes over the business and keeps a wonderful stamping store in Ottawa!

October Stamping Challenge #11

Hello!  This card came together in a flash because the focal panel was already in my scrap box.  All I had to do was cut a card base and tape it on (foam tape for dimension).  I also added a small pearl to the centre of the medallion.  If I recall (from too long ago than I care to admit), this panel was sponged with various shades of pink, coral and burgundy.  All stamps and paper are by Stampin' Up.

Thanks for reading!  Hope you find some time to stamp this weekend.