Spring ATCs at the River of Creativity

I have done it AGAIN - this post is too early - the challenge doesn't start until tomorrow {4/5/22}!! So take the rest of today & create something for us :) I apologize for the confusion!!

Hello! Time for another challenge at River of Creativity! For challenge #12, our theme is spring as well as anything goes but a card - that's right, put away your card blanks and get inky with us!  I had planned on making something completely different than these Artist Trading Cards but nothing seemed to coalesce, so I listened to the universe and made a set of 6 ATCs instead of struggling to create something that just wasn't working! I've had a small box of scraps that I have amassed over the years {small die cuts, pieces of Dresden, punched patterns, stickers, scraps of paper, etc} and I decided to use what I had in the box to make set. I'd had the box for so long I really needed to go through all the things I had saved and figure out if I was truly ever going to use the pieces or not; so I went through the box, set aside what I really wanted to use and threw the rest away so a lot of what you see on these is from that scrap box and is almost vintage {grin - ok not really, but I have had it for a long time!}.  Enjoy!

 

I used a bunch of assorted products on these little guys, and I stuffed them full of bling! I used gems and sequin mixes from Picket Fence Studios, Dresden scraps from Alpha Stamps and many other sources, washi tape (and matching die) from Pinkfresh Studios as well from my stash, a ton of Dream Drops {I used  Indigo Eclipse, Cloud 9 and Love Potion} from Tonic Studios and many other bits and pieces, including stickers and more that are from my huge stash.  The background paper for these ATCs is from ModaScrap from the Fly and Scrap Collection, 6" x 6" paper {I could not find it on the ModaScrap site, but I did do a search and it is available}. I also used a bunch of small alphabet stickers and tiles, most from companies that aren't in business anymore, sadly.  All this stuff I've saved over the years

needs to be used so I can get new stuff! I had so much fun making these ATC's; I am finding myself using lots of bling and glitz in my work lately and I just went nuts with these. Knowing that if I really didn't like how something came out, I could just throw the paper away {I have so many blanks that I have amassed over the years, I could probably make an ATC a day for the next year!} and begin again with no harm.  Something about these little canvases is so freeing!

I was showing these to my roommate and explaining how "back in the

day" we'd make a bunch of ATCs, using the same design and bring them to stamp conventions and trade.  I think I still have a notebook full of traded ATCs. Do you remember those good old days? Hopefully, soon, we will be able to attend stamp conventions again - I miss the energy and all the cool products! Thanks for dropping in and get out your creative muse and create anything but a card and join us at the River of Creativity, optional theme of Spring - hope to see you there :) Christi

PS: To see the smaller pictures bigger, just click on them. If that doesn't work please let me know ~ Thanks!

I am entering my Spring ATCs in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Easter/Spring
Country View Challenges - Spring is Coming
We Love 2 Create - Anything Goes
Four Seasons Challenge - Spring Challenge
The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers, #207 - A is for ATC 

A Hero Arts Spooky Labels Halloween

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you know I'm not exactly a huge fan of digital stamps.  My discomfort working with digital stamps was a big reason I applied for the Design Team at a2z Scrapbooking; they are THE source for Hero Arts Digital Stamps.  You can't buy them anywhere else!

Following this month's theme of "Frightfully Fun," I used the digital set from Hero Arts called Spooky Labels. Here is my card:

What I Used to Make my Card:
Lime Green Card Base
Hero Arts Spooky Halloween Labels Digital Set, #DK110
Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Seventeen, #S5-025
Carta Bella Haunted House Paper Pad, #CBHH71015
White Card
Glitter Bat Sticker {Dollar Store}

For this card, I also broke out of my comfort zone with color.  Typically, for me, Halloween means black and orange; it's only been a few years since I've been able to incorporate purple!  Using this lime green card base is completely different for me.  But I figure why not go all the way out of my comfort zone; why just go out a little?

The first step for me was using Word to open the digital stamps.  A team mate of mine at a2z Scrapbooking shared a fabulous tutorial she found on how to use digi stamps in Word.  I followed that and I came up with my image.  I even isolated the spider web, which has more to it in the set, and got it to peek out of the corner of my label.  I probably won't ever be able to do it again!  I changed the color of the striped design and my sentiment, then printed the design on regular white card.

Another View

I set to work looking for the perfect background paper, which I found in an old set from Carta Bella.  Next I went through all my shapes dies {and I have a LOT of them} and found the Spellbinders set that I used to cut out the digital stamp and the background paper.  After I put all the elements together, the card still looked plain to me.  What do cardmakers do when something looks plain?  We add glitter; well, in this case, I added a glittery bat sticker.  I think the bat definitely makes this card better!  I've decided that if I want to continue playing with digital stamps, I need to invest in a better printer.  I need one that will print in waterproof ink and I've heard that laser printers work the best.  What do you think?  Do you use digital stamps?  I'd rather hear from you than a bunch of reviewers that I don't know.

You still have a few days to play at the a2z Scrapbooking October Challenge and

Sparkly Bat

if you use a Hero Arts and/or Sugar Tree product and get chosen as the winner, you'll receive a $20 gift certificate to the store!  You don't have to use Hero Arts and/or Sugar Tree, but why not?  If you don't have any Hero Arts {which I can't even imagine!} or Sugar Tree products, you can get a 15% discount at the a2z Scrapbooking store by using code CHRISTI15.  It's a win-win if you ask me. So drag out those Halloween stamps, or open up those digis, and get creating! We'd love to see you there! 

If this is your first time here, why not subscribe so you don't miss one of my spectacularly funny and informative posts?  You can even follow me on multiple social media platforms; all the info and links are on the right hand side.  I appreciate your visit and read every one of the comments left for me.  I'm terrible at commenting on comments, but I'd love to visit your blog and leave you your own bloggy love! Have a very Happy Halloween!

I am entering my Spooky Labels card in the following challenges:
Brown Sugar - M, Halloween or Autumn
My Time to Craft - Halloween and/or Cats
Crafty Catz - Halloween
Daring Cardmakers - Go Glitter {the bat is VERY glittery!}
Try it On Tuesday - Halloween
Crafty Gals Challenges - M, Halloween
Cardz for Galz - Let's go Digital

Join the Monster Mash at Stinkin' Inkers!

The challenge this month at Stinkin' Inkers is "Monster Mash" - you can use ghosts, monsters, or witches; basically anything Halloween-y and/or scary.  I had decided to throw a costume party with the help of Tim Holtz' Crazy Cats, Dogs and Birds.  I hope you enjoy! 

What I Used to Make my Card:
Vanilla Watercolor Card, 5 x 7 (this was the only size card onto which everything would fit and I have NO idea where I got them)
Tim Holtz Crazy Cats Stamps, #CMS251
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Crazy Cats Dies, #661209
Tim Holtz Bird Crazy Stamps, #CMS212
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Bird Crazy Dies, #660954
Tim Holtz Crazy Things Stamps, #CMS237
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Crazy Things Dies, #660953
Tim Holtz Mini Cats & Dogs Stamps, #CMS272
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Mini Cats & Dogs Dies, #661594
Tim Holtz Mini Bird Crazy & Things Stamps, #CMS250
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Bird Crazy & Things Dies, #660949
Happy Halloween Sticker from Stamp on It #DD7256
Hero Arts My Monthly Kit, April 2017 #HeroArts 
Red and Black Cardstock
Derwent Intense Pencils
Kuretake Zig Clean Color Markers
Watercolor Brush
Dove Blender Pen

Various Embellishments: Washi Tape, Sequins, Glitter, Bling on a Roll, Various Gems, Fabric Roses, and more.

I began by coloring and die cutting all the animals I wanted to use.  I have

Ms. Cat and
Little Tongue Out Dog

found that once my colored pencil dries it sometimes isn't as vibrant as I'd like, so I embellish the coloring further with the markers.  Sometimes it works out, sometimes not, but it is always fun!

There were a few "alterations" I had to do to make the costumes fit properly  First, Ms. Cat needed her front paws cut out again so they could be glued on the outside of her gown.  You couldn't see them otherwise.  And Diva Pink Bird also needed a new pair of wings to go over her sash.  

Diva Pink Bird and Slightly
Confused Dog

Now, there is a little story about this card.  Ms. Cat wanted to have a costume party for the neighborhood children so she invited Little Tongue Out Dog, Shy Orange Cat, Diva Pink Bird and Slightly Confused Small Dog. All of the invitees did a fabulous job with their costumes, as did Ms. Cat (she chose to wear a red dress made from the April 2017 collection of the House of Hero Arts and topped off the outfit with Silver/Silver Bling on a Roll earrings and choker, just be her glamorous self.)  Little Tongue Out Dog dressed himself up as a rose garden , using actual fabric roses as a headpiece  

The Crew

and an entire body rose.  Shy Orange Cat added bat wings to herself so if she felt nervous, she could just fly away.  Diva Pink Bird showed off her most recent pageant win, complete with glittery crown and sash.  If you look close, you can even see the sparkle in her eye.  Lastly, Slightly Confused Little Dog put on her star collar and witch hat that she customized by adding a matching star to the tip of the hat.  All of the kittens and puppies ate their fill of treats (no chocolate!) and had a grand time.  I hope you did, too! 

Another Look

I do hope you will join us this month at Stinkin' Inkers - I KNOW you are making Halloween cards, so you really have NO excuse not to join in the fun!  Thanks for visiting, and if you would, comment below on which costume you like the best.  If I get enough votes, I might give out a treat of my own, so please feel free to share this post! You don't need to follow my blog, but it is greatly appreciated (let me know in your comment so I can be sure to follow you back!)

** UPDATE: When I get 75 comments telling me which costume you like the best I will be doing a random drawing for a little prize. Open internationally! Please spread the word! (expires November 1, 2017)

I'd love to see your Monster Mash creations, so please join us at Stinkin' Inkers! Stay tuned for some more frightening fun Halloween creations! Hugs, Christi

I am entering my Monster Mash card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - A Walk on the Dark Side
Naughty or Nice Challenge - #44, Something Spooky
Frilly & Funky - Show Us Your Stamps 
Scrapy Land - #75, Anything Goes 
Double D Challenge - Fright Night Challenge
Creative Friday - #189, Die Cuts/Punches
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - #7, Anything Goes w/ a Critter

The Safest Day. . .

This card was born out of one of those ideas you have right before you go to sleep but you are too tired to turn on the light and write it down, and there is NO WAY you are dragging your butt out of bed to actually do something about your idea - the major difference is I remembered this one! I bought the Tim Holtz Shattered stencil as soon as it came out because a good friend recommended it to me. She knows how much I love Halloween and thought I would love this stencil and she was right!

What I Used to Make this Card:
White Card Base
Halloween Saying from So Suzy Stamps, Safest Day, # H01715
Tim Holtz Stencil, Shatter, #THS014
Distress Ink in Black Soot
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Mini Blending Tool
Pop Dots
Spider Sticker from Dollar Store (Dollar Tree)

This was a fast and easy card.  First thing I did was use the stencil.  I carefully placed it on the center of my card, taped it down with removable tape (I have an old fashioned tape holder - like from school - on my craft table and I use that tape all the time!) and using the blending tool, colored it in with the black soot ink.

I set the card aside and stamped my sentiment from So Suzy Stamps. I just ordered this stamp - and a few others - and I couldn't wait to use it. I think it is so funny and fits my humor perfectly! I stamped the sentiment using Archival Jet Black ink, trimmed it, edged it with the blending tool and black soot ink. Once the edging was dry, I pop dotted it on the card base, placing it in the middle of the area where I stenciled.  You can't really see that the sentiment was pop dotted, but trust me, I wouldn't lie to you.  

The last touch is the glitter spider.  He came from a sheet of Halloween stickers I got from the Dollar Tree. I've got a few different images and they come n orange, purple and black glitter.  Pretty good deal I'd say!  Now, I have to confess this card wasn't easy for me to make.  I am absolutely terrified of spiders. I've gotten better - I used to literally run out of the house if I saw one inside.  Now I try to "save" them by putting them outside, but, if they refuse to cooperate (like staying on the paper towel, calmly) and make a move toward me, they have to go.  I actually feel a teeny bit guilty about it, but I'm not going to their house and freaking them out.  This picture explains exactly how I feel about them, so it was a big step for me to put the spider on my card. Who knows at this rate maybe next year I can make 2 cards with spiders on them!

Thank you so much for stopping by and reading my tutorial.  I have been on a creative kick lately and I think it's because I'm going away the 22nd and I won't be back until November 1st - gotta get the Halloween craftiness out of my system.  I am trying to get 100 followers in the year 2015 and I am only about 20 shy. Please consider becoming a follower and I will dazzle you with my card making skills, awesome sense of humor, with a few projects thrown in, as well as follow you back. Regardless, I appreciate you taking the time to come by ~ Fondly, Christi 

Another Look

I would like to enter my The Safest Day card in the following challenges:
So Suzy Stamps (October) - Halloween (used my NEW Safest Day stamp) 
Artistic Inspirations (October) - #142, Halloween/Anything Goes
The Paper Girls - #90, Get Ready for Halloween
Haunted Design House - Holy Hell, it's Halloween
Glitter 'n Sparkle - #159, Halloween (spooky or cute)
AAA Cards - #50, CAS Halloween
Fantasy Stampers - #47, Fright Night (entry #2)
QKR Stampede - #161, Make Your Own Background
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - #102, Halloween
Dragon's Lair Designs (October) - Halloween

Looking for some challenges to enter?? Take a peek at Challenges for Days - the blog list is super easy to follow, no complicated codes and we add new challenges as much as we can.  But, before you leave here, don't forget to follow me, either on Google or Bloglovin', thanks!!

Thanks. . .

I hadn't been to a salon since I moved here to Colorado and my hair was getting so long and heavy it was making me insane.  I needed to get it styled very badly so I went to Google and looked up some hair salons.  Luckily, I found a GREAT one and I had such a great time, I decided to make my stylist a thank you card.

What I Used to Make My Card:
Glossy Cardstock
Kaleidacolor Ink Pad in Spectrum
IndigoBlu Stamp - Juliet, #J1
Core'dinations Dark Cardstock in Purple Grandeur
Mrs. Grossman Alphabet Stickers
Brayer

I've rediscovered my Kaleidacolor Ink Pads and I've been having a blast using them.  For this card, I inked up my brayer and brayered the ink directly on the rubber stamp and stamped it on glossy paper.  In my opinion, using these inks on glossy paper really makes the colors pop. But, you MUST be sure you use actual glossy cardstock, photo paper just doesn't work the same way or look as vibrant.  You can use them on regular cardstock, but, again, the vibrancy just isn't going to be there.  Once I stamped the image and trimmed it down I found a cardstock color that I felt complimented the colors in the image and made that my card base.

I didn't want to put my sentiment anywhere that would obscure the image and I fretted about that issue for a while.  I could make the whole card out of glossy cardstock, but I really wanted to use a colored card base, to frame the image, so that wouldn't work.  I didn't want to use another piece of cardstock for a stamped sentiment, so that was out.  I even debated using vellum but it is such a pain to adhere. . .then I remembered that I have a HUGE 12" x 12" plastic tote filled with alphabets, stickers and words. I must have every type of alphabet sticker ever made! So I dived into my stash and found this cute little alphabet. I liked that the letters were black but the sticker itself was clear. Again, I didn't want to detract from the image.  So I lined up the letters - which took me the absolute LONGEST time (and I wasted a few letters in the process) and stuck them down.  I adhered the white glossy panel to my purple card base and I was done!  And, since the alphabet stickers are a stash item (honestly, I have no idea how long I have had them) I gave myself extra points.

I tried like MAD to get this picture straight but I just could not get it to cooperate. I apologize for it being wonky!

I hope she likes the card. I'll be going back in about 6 or 8 weeks for lowlights (apparently, these lowlights help blend the grey but don't commit you to having to dye your hair when the roots begin to show - they are more subtle - we will see) and hopefully she will let me know if she likes the card. I only need 20 or so more followers to meet my goal of 100 new followers in 2015 so please consider giving me a hand and becoming a follower.  I would appreciate it SO much! Thanks for popping by! Christi

I am entering my Thanks card in the following challenges:
The Craft Barn - People
Alphabet Challenge Blog - Q for Quick & Simple
Craft Stamper - October Challenge - Take a Technique (I used Ink)
Creative Knockouts - #110, Thankful Thoughts
Through the Craft Room Door - October 6 - 12, 2015 - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - #248, Anything Goes
Glitter 'n Sparkle - #157, Anything Goes
Incy Wincy Designs Challenge - Thankful for You

My craft FAIL that became a craft SAVE!

I love trying new techniques.  And I will happily jump on the next bandwagon of “must have products” be it embossing powders or spray inks as well as the next embellishment craze from eyelets to birdcages.  I admit I have gotten a lot better than when I first started crafting.  Of course, since I was new, I started “behind” everyone else and I had to have everything that “they” were using because if I only had the right tools my art will be just as beautiful as theirs and I, too, will be making book deals, videos and appearances on Carol Duvall (I miss that show SO much!!).  Now I know that the chances of me being able to sustain myself purely on the items I make are slim to none – and I am very OK with that.  And I know that no matter how many cool art toys I have I will never be as good as my favorite artists.  And that’s cool, too, because they will never be as good as me, either. On that note I want to introduce you to a craft fail of mine.  Granted, there are a lot of these fails, but they rarely around long enough for me to photograph it or it is absolutely too horrendous to share. And I thought this fail was funny enough to share, especially since I saved it.

On Unruly PaperArts (one of my very favorite places) they have 2 challenges each month and I have been trying to participate in them (in fact, in 2014 I WILL participate in each of them) and one of last months challenges was to use a stencil in your project.  Easy peasy, especially since I have jumped on that bandwagon wholeheartedly and I have a few (really, just a few!) stencils.  One of the best things about Unruly PaperArts is the columnists – they write up tutorials and such to match the challenges and the first one of the month was The Neat Freak: Sharing her Fav technique using stencils (I have her permission to share this with you).  I could do this! Now, you really need to go read the article (should only take you a few) otherwise, the rest of this fail is not going to make sense.  Go ahead, I’ll wait.

See how nice her stenciling print came out? This is what mine looked like:

(the green spray was already on the paper, I thought it would make a very festive holiday card).

 If you look close you can kinda see the outline of the houses, kinda. But 
remember, this isn't the paper I used to make the card; I used the paper
that I sprayed on - this paper is the failed result of trying to duplicate
the print technique shown on Unruly PaperArts.

OK, so what do we do? How can I salvage this? I thought the houses came out fine so I decided to use them and turned a fail into a win!

This is what I used to make my “winning” card:

• The Crafters Workshop 6x6 stencil designed by Ronda Palzzari, Home Sweet Home
• Dylusion’s Ink Spray in Postbox Red
• Piece of white cardstock that has the actual stencil on it
• Watercolor paper for the background of the card (the sky)
• Off white base card
• Pigma Micron pen in Black, # 01 (or whatever size fits through your stencil)
• Various glitters & adhesives
• Ranger Stickles in Rainbow, Diamond, Crystal & Star Dust
• Distress Paints in Chipped Sapphire, Pickett Fence & Pewter
• Distress Ink in Black Soot
• Santa Stamp from Just For Fun
• Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
• Craft Sheet
• Water Spritzer 

After your houses dry, put the stencil back over them and outline them with the Micron pen.  Measure your houses so they fit the card size you are using (I always use A2 size, which is 4 ¼ x 5 ½, unless otherwise specified), I had to cut a house or 2 off but I saved them to use them later. Trim your houses as needed and add the glitter and Stickles to simulate snow.  I used Crystal Stickles on the bottom and Jones Tones glitter on the roof.  Set aside.

Using your craft sheet, dab a few dabs of the Chipped Sapphire & then tap the Black Soot Ink pad near it (I don’t have Black Soot paint, so I am using my ink pad – lovely how all the Distress products work together), spritz it with water and paint it on your watercolor paper (I always make my background paper a bit bigger than I need it because there is going to be a part that I will want to cut off).  The goal here was to make the sky look like night.  Once I was happy with the color, I used some Pewter paint and brushed it over the sky, lightly, to give it a nice bit of sparkle. Once that was dry, trim your background paper to fit your base card, I left a border around mine, but it’s up to you. Next, figure out where you want your Santa to go.  Since the sky was so dark, I took a wee bit of Pickett Fence and made an oval so you’d be able to see Santa better. 

I stamped my Santa with the Jet Black ink and glued my night sky and my houses to the base card.  I had these awesome star stickers so I used a few of those and a moon sticker as well.  Then to add more sparkle I put little random dots of Stickles all around the sky.  The card looks much better in person; you know how hard it is to capture sparkle on a picture.

I am sharing both photos because I think each one shows a different view of the card.  The image on the top shows a lighter version of the card which I think helps you see the different colors I used in the night sky and the image on the bottom is actually closer to what the card looks like in person. 

I hope you enjoyed my "Win" card - I try to use every scrap of my craft supplies and I am proud of myself that I didn't just toss this in the trash (I still have the failed red & green print paper, too!)

                                   

PS: If you'd like to see either of the photos larger, just click on the image.  This works on every photo on my blog (for some reason when I made the photos larger I ended up with a huge space between my text - I am still new at this blogging thing and the only way I could fix that space was make the pictures small)

 

I hope you enjoyed my little card and hopefully you won't look at your fails so harshly - there is always something you can make with your mistakes ~ Have a glorious holiday season!

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:

One Crazy Stamper -  Winter/Holiday Challenge
The Artistic Stamper - December Challenge Anything Goes
Make My Monday - A Frosty Theme
The Cheerful Stamp Pad - Challenge #75, Signs of Christmas