Irresistible Embossed Background

The main image on this card is an ATC-sized piece that features a technique called embossing resist. It's such a simple technique yet it adds depth and texture to any project. I need to remember to use it more often.












We finally hit 40 degrees yesterday (after a record 94 days!), so it feels like spring really is on the horizon. I noticed the squirrels scampering around in the backyard this morning. I'm sure they're just as glad as we humans are that the snow is finally melting.

I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend.
Happy Birthday, Dad!

Supplies:
Stamps: Artistic Outpost; Bazzill brown cardstock; Stampin' Up! kraft cardstock; decorative papers by 7 Gypsies; Versamark ink; clear embossing powder; peeled paint and walnut stain distress ink; Archival jet black ink; Stampin' Up! small oval and scalloped oval punch; Karen Foster scrapbooker's floss; old button from my stash; Fiskars border punch; pop-dots.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

My dad's birthday is just around the corner so I made this card to send to him. He was a cute toe-headed blond when he was a little boy.

I used some of the new 7 Gypsies decorative paper I bought while on vacation.

Have a great day!





Supplies:
Stamp: Artistic Outpost; Archival ink jet black, walnut stain distress ink, and peeled paint distress ink; Bazzill brown cardstock; whisper white cardstock by Stampin' Up!; Prismacolor Premier pencils; Mona Lisa odorless mineral spirits; decorative papers by 7 Gypsies and the Paper Loft; embossed frame by K & Company; Grungeboard hinges; gold mini brads; scrap of corrugated cardboard; old button from my stash; dimensionals by Stampin' Up!

Gothic Arches Challenge: Paris Exposition

This week I combined my quest to use up some scrap paper with my new stamps from Artistic Outpost to complete the Gothic Arches Challenge titled Paris Exposition.

The more I look at this card, the more I wish I had made the layer with the balloon image an arch, also. Not only do I think it would have made this piece more aesthetically pleasing, but then one could see more of the decorative paper underneath that features advertisements in French. Oh well. Or should I say, c'est la vie!

This final day of February is a cold but sunny one. March is predicted to come in like a lamb, and March means we're getting closer to spring!

I hope you're having a great weekend. Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies:
Stamps: Artistic Outpost; black cardstock by Bazzill; red shimmery paper from Target (seasonal Christmas item); very vanilla cardstock from Stampin' Up!; decorative paper by GCD; Archival jet black ink; Stazon dove gray ink; Prismacolor Premier Pencils; Mona Lisa odorless mineral spirits; border punch by Fiskars; miniature black brads; dimensionals by Stampin' Up!

The Gothic Arches Challenge website is located here.

For more information about Artistic Outpost stamps, please visit their website.

Vacation in Mesa

As I mentioned previously, I was recently on vacation in Mesa, Arizona. My parents are snow-birds who spend five months of the year there. It was cooler than average while I was there, with daytime temperatures "only" in the low 60s. But that was still a lot warmer than the 17 degrees and snow-covered ground I returned home to. It was fun to meet my parents' winter friends, watch my dad play softball, and see all the lovely mountain scenery in the Phoenix area. I also got to see my brother who lives in California. He drove over and spent three days with us.

I won't make you all sit through a long, boring slide show of vacation photos, but here are a few of my favorite snapshots from the week.

The Superstition Mountains

Batter up!

My brother is a big Green Bay Packer fan,
so of course we had to stop and take his picture
beside this Packer hearse (parked outside a tavern!).

While I was there I visited three specialty stamping and scrapping stores as well as Hobby Lobby. By far my favorite shop was the quaint Mystic Paper in downtown Mesa. I was thrilled to see so many altered art and vintage ephemera items! I also love how the store incorporates antiques and collectibles into their displays. I am so glad we chose to go downtown that day rather than to the flea market, as across the street from Mystic Paper is a large antique mall where I picked up some items to alter and a couple of old books.

The owner of Mystic Paper was very friendly and graciously allowed me to take pictures of the store and any projects. I highly recommend a stop there if you are into altered arts, heritage scrapbooking, and vintage or retro paper crafting supplies.

This bold rooster and mixed-media project right inside
the front door told me I was going to like this store!

A display featuring a gorgeous piece of oak furniture.

A white painted-metal doll bed serves as a backdrop for
a display of baby-related scrapbooking items.

I am so glad that I had the opportunity to visit my parents at their winter playground. It was also fun to see and to buy some crafting items that are unavailable in my area. All in all, it was a wonderful vacation and I hope to return next year!

Thanks for popping in!

Just One Month Until Spring!

We may be preparing for another snow storm, but I'm trying to think spring. That's hard to do when we still have several feet of snow on the ground and more on the way. But it's nice and cozy inside and nothing makes me happier than playing with new art supplies.












This card features images from Artistic Outpost stamped on decorative paper from Crafty Secrets and colored with Prismacolor pencils.

I bought the Crafty Secrets papers while I was on vacation. The lovely designs in their "Earthy" collection look wonderful with the vintage images I like to use. Stay tuned for photographs of Mystic Paper, the delightful store in Mesa, Arizona, where I spent a little (just a little) money.

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend! Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies:
Stamps: Artistic Outpost; dark blue cardstock by Bazzill; naturals ivory cardstock from Stampin' Up!; decorative papers from Crafty Secrets; Archival jet black ink; tea dye distress ink; Prismacolor pencils; Mona Lisa Odorless Mineral Spirits; blending stumps; Nestabilities Labels Four; lace ribbon from Michaels; vintage ivory buttons from my stash; ochre embroidery thread; Stampin' Up! dimensionals; Janome Sew Mini.

Steely-Eyed Dan

This is another card I created using papers from my scrap pile. I found one small piece of "drip and smash" background that I stamped my main image on. I then created a larger background piece using the same method. I love the color combinations you can create with the Adirondack inks.

If you think the guy on the right has spooky-looking eyes, it's because they consist of watch parts! Hence, he is "steely-eyed" Dan. (Fans of '70s rock will understand the reference.)

This card features stamps from Artistic Outpost, a great little company with fabulous vintage-themed designs. Just last night I cut and mounted two new sets that I hope to ink up very soon.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Artistic Outpost; black and chartreuse cardstock by Bazzill; eggplant cardstock unknown manufacturer; Ranger glossy white cardstock; black Stazon; Adirondack alcohol inks; Adirondack silver mixative ink; Tim Holtz film strip ribbon; screw brads; watch parts; pop dots.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I didn't have much time for crafting before vacation because I was working extra hours in preparation for being gone a week. But I still plan to make a few Valentines this year and will send them belatedly.

In the meantime, here is a Valentine card I made last year. It's a matchbook-style card in a lovely salmon pink. I thought it was a sweet card.

It was difficult to leave the warm temperatures of Arizona (60s during the day) to return to the cold temperatures of home (17 degrees today). But I'm looking forward to playing with the new supplies I bought while on my trip. Once I get all of my photos downloaded and processed, I'll share some of them.

I hope you are having a great Valentine's Day!

Supplies:
Pink, white and tan cardstock by Bazzill; glossy white cardstock by Stampin' Up!; heart image and sentiment by Stampin' Up!; inks: black Stazon, aged mahogany, frayed burlap, and black soot distress inks; clear embossing powder; Inkssentials Cut-n-Dry Pen Nibs; Swiss Dot Cuttlebug embossing folder; oval and scalloped oval Nestabilities; scalloped-edge scissors; sheer ribbon; pop-dots.