I was asked to create a gratitude card recently and decided to give a really cool Penny Black Hidden Lane #40-416 stamp a try.  I played with this stamp once before with disastrous results.  Because I'm currently heavy in my water coloring phase, I gave this image another go.

Here's the result:

The water color panel was first spritzed with a mix of water and instant coffee and allowed to dry.  Next, I used my Misti to perfectly align the stamp over the watercolor paper.  The image was colored with Distress cubes, which were easier to use while adding color onto areas of the image, and then spritzed with water.  

​I kept the colors fairly simple applying color from light to dark:

Pine Tree:  Peeled Paint, Mowed Lawn
Grass Area:  Peeled Paint
Fence:  Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain
Foliage Tree:  Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade, Fired Brick, Seedless Preserves
​

Halloween Hauntings is my Dreamweaver Thursday card today!  I've used two stencils and created a shaker window.  The creepy spider is actually pasted onto acetate with glossy black paste and black crushed glass glitter was sprinkled onto the wet paste.  It looks like a tarantula, doesn't it???

Dreamweaver stash drawer to the rescue for my spider background paper!  The spider web stencil was pasted with Metallic Silver paste and set aside to dry.

I cut a piece of acetate 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 and pasted the spider in position near the center of the web.  While wet, I sprinkled black crushed glass glitter into the paste and set it aside to dry.  This was exactly the textural look I was going for in creating a creepy spider.

To create the shaker window, the layers from top to bottom were as follows:  The black frame, acetate, craft foam cut in a frame to match the size of the black frame, fragments and finally, the spider web panel.

Meanwhile, I created a Core'dinations frame with Spellbinder Celebra'tions rectangles and distressed the inside edge with a distressing tool.  The reverse side of the paper was used for the sentiment that was stamped in Versamark ink and detail black embossing powder.  I have some really cool quilling tools and used the smallest one to create the scrolled ends.  I created a little bendy curve to the sentiment when affixed to each side of the frame with foam mounting squares.  The bat was stamped with Versamark ink and detail black embossing powder and then fussy cut and mounted above the center of the sentiment strip.  Creepy eyes were created with a Uniball white pen.

​I absolutely love this time of year here in Upstate New York!  I live in the country and, though the terrain is pretty flat, I love watching the trees change colors, the crisp night air, getting out my fleece, and maybe even turning the fireplace on!  It's really all about the colors, the mums and the pumpkins!

​Here's today's pumpkin card:

​My card was first inspired by Fran Seiford's coffee spritz video.  I was so enamored by this simple recipe, I brought it to my Paper Arts Club this past Wednesday and everyone loved it, especially the lovely aroma of coffee as they spritzed their papers.  Mind you, I have done the entire vintage/aging paper thing with walnut crystals and baking the paper.  Honestly, Fran's method is absolutely better and takes no time at all!!!!

Once the coffee spritz was completely dry on Stampendous Mixed Media White Paper, I pasted it with the Dreamweaver LL515 Pumpkins in Metallic Gold.  After removing the tape and stencil, I sprinkled Dreamweaver FX mica powders randomly over the pasted image.  Using a Milwaukee heat tool, I heated the surface of the pasted image until it bubbled and then quickly moved to another area of the image.  This technique is called Molten Magic and it is quite magical.  I allowed it to cool and then used a Swiffer cloth to wipe away any stray mica powders.

Layering the card elements came next.  I went into my Dreamweaver stash drawer and found the perfect fall background paper to layer behind the pumpkins.  TIP:  Creating seasonal backgrounds in quantity comes in handy at times like this!  The next two layers of card stock (A Muse) coordinated beautifully with the pumpkins.  I did happen to have a Spellbinders Celebra'tions Pierced Rectangles die templates by Richard Garay that worked great for my two stitched layers and my two diecut layers.  Ribbon (May Arts) was added around one of the layers 'cuz I just love what ribbon can do to a card!!

All that was left was to add a sentiment!  I didn't want to interfere with the pumpkins, so a small punched tag (McGill) and sentiment seemed to work in the upper right corner.  I partially stenciled the Dreamweaver Four Seasons Stencil word FALL with Stampendous/Dreamweaver Copper Metallic Paste and a Palette Knife onto my stash background paper. 

Hope you enjoyed my card today!  I'd love your comment before hopping to the next designer's blog.  Thanks for stopping by!  I wanna go bake an apple pie now!

Stampendous Stamps

Laura Drahozal

Lyn Bernatovich

Pam Hornschu

Louise Healy

Pam Bray

Lea Fritts



Disclaimer:  I'm so happy to be a Stampendous Design Team Member and to help promote their wonderful products.  They generously supply us with many free goodies like the Dreamweaver Stencils, May Arts Ribbon and Spellbinders die template I'm using today.

May Arts ribbon is an extremely generous sponsor for us here at Stampendous and our Design Team is absolutely in love with their gorgeous ribbons, cords, strings and specialty items. You’ll find loads of beautiful May Arts on all our samples.

All week you’ve got a chance to check out our Design Team Inspiration as well as the Ribbonistas over at the May Arts Blog.  Be sure to comment and tell us where you’re from, because our Australian Distributor The Stencil Specialists are sponsoring a prize for one friend “down under” to win a Stampendous Stamp, a Dreamweaver Stencil and a surprise goodie from their terrific stock of Stampendous merchandise!

There are Stampendous prize packages up for grabs. THREE US commenters  will receive a prize of their choice in any one roll of ribbon from May Arts and a $20 reward card. Tell us what state you live in when you comment. Stampendous Official Rules.


This week's theme is by far my all time favorite!  I love my beach vacations and am totally enjoying my annual visit to Cape May as we speak!

Here's my card for today:

So, when I retrieved the above piece, here's what happened:  This background was originally meant for last week's Flowers and Fairies theme!  I used Gelatos (Faber Castell) to create background color.  It still looked a little blah, but once I added the drippage, it really gave me an impression of an under the sea feeling.  Funny how those experiments work!  

To create the drippage, I generously scribbled the purple Gelato at the top of the panel.  Here's the magic:  Spritz water directly onto the Gelato and watch it drip!  With the drippage, it looks like it should orientate as you see here, right?  Well, I turned it upside down because I wanted the darker color at the bottom.  Amazingly, it looks great turned that way.  TIP:  Rotate a background panel in all four directions just to see what happens at each rotation.  One side may work better for your project than you originally planned!

The fun part for me is the coloring!  I chose to use my favorite watercolor technique with Tombow markers scribbled onto a slick surface such as an acrylic block or Palette Paper.  I use a slim paint brush rather than a waterbrush for better control of the water.  I began the hair using 'light-to-dark' colors.  Keep in mind to create actual color layers, allow areas to dry before adding in the next color layer.  For added pretties, I glittered the shell, flower and her eyelid with Stampendous Crystal Glitter and Quickie Glue Pen (Sakura).  Additional bling was a variety of Stampendous Class-A-Peel Dot Sparklers (blue, gold, pink, violet).

I fussy cut the mermaid and where I didn't get completely around her hair, I simply added a background watercolor.

Isn't the sea horse precious?  It was a tiny little thing to cut out and mount with 3M Foam Mounting Tape!

Here's a coloring closeup of her fishtail.  With the raised heat embossed image, the barriers keep the different colors from bleeding and looking crisp.  I still let areas dry before I paint next to them.  You can see the sea glass pebbles are painted and some areas are glittered with a Quickie Glue Pen (Sakura) and Stampendous Crystal Glitter.  Some areas have added Stampendous Class-A-Peel Dot Sparklers (blue, gold, pink, violet).  I wanted to keep that section of the image as is, so I cut around it and colored the background area.

The Stampendous Cling sentiment was heat embossed with Stampendous White Opaque Embossing Powder on a colored scrap from my Dreamweaver scrap drawer.  May Arts Pink/Purple Iridescent 1/2" ribbon was tied around the card.  The Mermaid was mounted (3M Foam Mounting Tape) onto the card panel.  Stampendous Teal Encrusted Jewels were melted on for the finishing touch!

I hope you enjoyed my magical mermaid card today!  I'd love you to leave me a comment before you hop to the next designer's blog.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stampendous Blog

Amy Hurley-Purdie

Louise Healy

Asia King

Laura Drahozal

Pam Hornschu

Lyn Bernatovich (that's me!)

Jamie Martin

Pam Bray

Kristine Reynolds

Janelle Stollfus

Tenia Nelson

Lea Kimmel

Wendy Price

May Arts Blog


Disclaimer:  I'm so happy to be a Stampendous Design Team Member and to help promote their wonderful products. They generously supply us with many free goodies like these Stampendous Glitters, Encrusted Jewels, and Embossing Powders, Faber Castell Gelatoes, Dreamweaver Stencils, Bazill Papers, and May Arts Ribbon that I'm using today.

It’s summer time and we are hopping with some fabulous companies in the Summer Road Trip Partner Hop with Spellbinders.

Stampendous Stamps is hopping all three days with some fabulous summer inspiration from the design team and on Wednesday two of our designers will be featured a tutorial with some new Spellbinders products! How fun is that!

Prizes!  Spellbinders is having a great giveaway during this hop with three daily winners and one grand prize winner! Check out the details here.

My final project is a Christmas card.  I love these little gingerbread men dies.  They are just too cute!  Read further to see how to use the Spellbinders Die D-Lite Shapeabilities

Two Dreamweaver Stencils were dry embossed with Bazzil papers:  Chevron Background and Big Dots

Here's a quick rundown about working with these dies.  There's also a useful video on YouTube by Kazan Clark of the Spellbinders Imagination Team that helped me tremendously.

There are 3 steps to creating a finished Shapeabilities diecut shape.  My directions use the Spellbinders Grand Caliber machine.

1. Diecutting:  Lay the die near the edge of A Plate with the cutting side face up.  Lay a piece of wax paper over the die (very important step!).  Lay your cardstock over the wax paper.  Place Cutting Plate C over the paper and diecut. 

2.  Emboss:  Remove Cutting Plate C.  Remove the negative portion of the diecut paper and leave the rest in place inside the die.  Place the rubber mat over the die.  Place the Plate B over the rubber mat and crank through the machine.

3. Stencil:  Remove the Plate B and rubber mat.  Pop out the embossed diecut piece and remove the wax paper.  Return the diecut piece to the diecut.  Flip it over and lay it on the work surface.  You will see the raised (embossed) areas only through the 'stencil.'  Now you'll decide how you're going to decorate the raised areas.  For both the gingerbread men and candy cane, I colored the raised areas with a Coconut White Uniball Signo Pen and it worked great through the raised areas of the stencil!

It's just a matter of assembling the card beginning with a 5-1/2x4-1/4 inch kraft cardstock panel (A Muse).  I dry embossed it using a Dreamweaver Plaid stencil.   The red and blue panels were affixed and then edge distressed (Prima Tool) before affixing onto the kraft cardstock with 3M Scotch 1/4" ATG tape.  The gingham check May Arts ribbon was tied in a double bow.  
 
The red/white cording (May Arts) was coiled over the red chevron with a few buttons (A Muse) threaded onto the cording.  The gingerbread men were mounted over the cording with 3M foam mounting tape.  On the right side, a diecut label (my stash) was embossed with Stampendous white embossing powder onto kraft paper (A Muse) and distressed with Vintage Photo ink (Ranger) and held in place with a tiny clothespin (A Muse).  The Spellbinders candy cane was mounted onto the tag and a sweet punched heart (Marvy) on glitter paper (craft store)  was mounted onto the candy cane.  The edges were curled up and Stampendous Encrusted Jewels were heated from underneath to add extra pizzaz.

I hope you enjoyed my Christmas card today!  Before you go, I'd love you to leave me a comment.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stampendous Blog

Tenia Nelson

Lyn Bernatovich

Laura Drahozal

Janelle Stollfus

Lea Kimmel

Asia King

Spellbinders Blog

It’s summer time and we are hopping with some fabulous companies in the Summer Road Trip Partner Hop with Spellbinders.

Stampendous Stamps is hopping all three days with some fabulous summer inspiration from the design team and on Wednesday two of our designers will be featured a tutorial with some new Spellbinders products! How fun is that!

Prizes!  Spellbinders is having a great giveaway during this hop with three daily winners and one grand prize winner! Check out the details here.

I'm having so much fun with the Spellbinders Die D-Lite Shapeabilities!  Today's project is a sweet Christmas tag.  Read on to learn how these little cute dies work.

There are 3 steps to creating a finished Shapeabilities diecut shape.  My directions use the Spellbinders Grand Caliber machine.

1. Diecutting:  Lay the die near the edge of Platform A with the cutting side face up.  Lay a piece of wax paper over the die.  Lay your cardstock over the wax paper.  Place Cutting Plate B over the paper and diecut. 

2.  Emboss:  Remove Cutting Plate B.  Remove the negative portion of the diecut paper and leave the rest in place inside the die.  Place the rubber mat over the die.  Place the Embossing Plate over the rubber mat and crank through the machine.

3. Stencil:  Remove the Embossing Plate and rubber mat.  Pop out the embossed diecut piece and remove the wax paper.  Return the diecut piece to the diecut.  Flip it over and lay it on the work surface.  You will see the raised (embossed) areas only through the 'stencil.'  Now you'll decide how you're going to decorate the raised areas.  For the Christmas trees, I just used my Quickie Glue Pen and Stampendous Sea Green ultra fine glitter.

For the bottom red border, I dry embossed a piece of Bazill cardstock with the Dreamweaver Chevron Stencil.  I used my Sizzix Big Kick and made a 'sandwich' stack as follows:  platform with no tabs, stencil, cardstock, rubber mat, 2 cutting plates and cranked it through.  I simply followed the chevron pattern to cut the bottom border.  Holes were punched with a 1/8" hole punch, tiny jingle bells (A Muse) were inserted onto jump ring and mounted on the tag. 

For the body of the tag, I cut Bazill cardstock  3-1/2" x 5-1/2".  Stampendous Christmas Wishes Perfectly Clear stamp was inked with Versafine Onyx Black and stamped onto tag.  The sweet little holly images that are part of the set were stamped also with Versafine Onyx Black.  The leaves were colored with Copic      Olive and the berries were colored with Copic Crimson then covered with Quickie Glue Pen and Stampendous Ultra Fine Red Glitter.

The bow was diecut on gold (A Muse) cardstock.  I thought it was pretty as is and didn't add any stencil decorating to it.  It is mounted with a foam square (Scrapbook Adhesives).  Red/White cording (May Arts) was hot glued onto the back side of the tag.

The red Dreamweaver Stencil Chevron panel was affixed to the bottom portion of the green tag with a 3M Scotch ATG 1/4"  tape runner.  The ric rak (May Arts) was affixed with Scor-Tape (Scor-Pal).  Finally, the trees were added with foam squares (Scrapbook Adhesives).  For added depth, I distressed the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and a blending tool (Ranger).

Hope you enjoyed my little Christmas tag today!  Before you go to the next designer's blog, I'd love you to leave me a comment and thanks for stopping by!

Stampendous Blog

Amy Hurley-Purdie

Lyn Bernatovich

Pam Bray

Alison Heikkila

Spellbinders Blog

It’s summer time and we are hopping with some fabulous companies in the Summer Road Trip Partner Hop with Spellbinders.

Stampendous Stamps is hopping all three days with some fabulous summer inspiration from the design team and on Wednesday two of our designers will be featured a tutorial with some new Spellbinders products! How fun is that!

Prizes!  Spellbinders is having a great giveaway during this hop with three daily winners and one grand prize winner! Check out the details here.


For my project today, I was sent two sets of Spellbinders Shapeabilities holiday dies and boy did I have fun playing!  Since I wasn't familiar with this product, I found a great instructional video on YouTube.  I also found in my Dreamweaver stash drawer, a stenciled toilet paper roll that was begging to be used for today's project!

Toilet paper holders are a perfect size to hold gift cards!  Here's my simple pocket tag that is folded up to create the pocket and a paper 'band' is wrapped around to create the pocket!  Two sweet Stampendous Christmas Visions and Christmas Wishes (sneak peeks!) were used to embellish the tag.  Copic Crimson and Willow G24 were used to color the holly.