A successful Attempt

Almost everyone in the stamping world has heard of Michelle Zindorf.  And if you haven't, you must check out her blog.  She is an amazing artist.  She works magic with a brayer and ink.  And her work inspired my to try out the brayer technique.  So I browsed through her cards and chose one that I thought would be an easy start.  I chose a card that used an old hostess stamp set, Asian Artistry.  It was one of my favorites and I used it a lot.  I do wish hostess sets would show up in future catalogues.  Here is the tutorial for the card, Farewell Asian Artisty.

It is my first attempt and I think I did a very good job.  Of course there is always room for practice, and practice I shall.  What I love about Michelle's work is that she creates scenes with just ink.  Then she adds stamped images.  I also love this color combo, very bold.  I don't usually go bold but I liked this one.  

I recommend browsing her blog and trying out this beautiful technique.  I believe she has a tutorial for all skill levels.  

Take care

Kristy

Lazy...Sorry

So sorry for not posting.  I've been a little lazy due to a bed rest order.  That order has now been lifted and some much needed stamping is coming this way.  I'm lacking some inspiration, but I'll find it.  Looking out my window at the beautiful snow (don't shoot me) isn't inspiring me.  All I can think about is spring and golfing.  But thats a few months away.  Any ideas to inspire me would be greatly appreciated.  

But before I went on bed rest, I did create some cute candles.  Candle stamping makes such a great gift.   I just love doing it.  So here are 2 candles that I stamped.

This candle uses the Asian Artistry hostess stamp set. (You can earn this stamp set when you host a workshop with minimum sales of $395, contact me today.)

I really love working with this stamp set.  I colored the stamp set with Melon Mambo (bird) and Soft Suede.  I used hemp twine to wrap around the candle.

These are close up images of the details.  I also stamped my name on the back.  I would give this candle to someone special and with a coordinating card.

For the next candle I  used the Good Neighbor  stamp set. I stamped a little scene of nice home.  This candle would make a perfect housewarming gift.

 

                                                                                    

The scene on this candle wraps around the front half. I used the Pumpkin Pie striped ribbon to add a finishing touch.  I really love the colors.  The sentiment is from the Warm Words stamp set. 

If you have never done candle stamping, don't worry.  It's super easy and quick.  Here's how you do it.

Supplies:

Candle:  a white or vanilla candle works best.  Solid color ones have white inside and this shows through if you heat it too much.  If you want to use a colored candle, use one that is marbled.      

White Tissue paper:  cut to the size of the image you are stamping.  Make sure the tissue is flat.

Heat tool

Stamp set and inks

Embellisments: ribbon, tags, brads, etc

Directions:

Stamp your image on the white tissue.

Place the tissue on the candle in the position you would like it.

Using the heat tool, lightly heat the wax until the tissue paper settles into the wax.  Be careful not to heat it too fast or it starts to run.  This may take practice, but be patient.   The tissue paper looks like its disappearing, but the image stays.

Once the wax has cooled, you can decorate the candle with a ribbon, a tag, or whatever you would like.

Voila, you have a beautiful hand made gift.

Thats all for today. 
Have a great day stamping.  

Kristy

 

                                                      

Poppin' Pastel art

Yesterday I decided to spend the day making cards using a new technique.  Most of you probably have used this technique many times, but it was my first time.  I decided to use my pastels and do the Poppin' Pastels technique.  WOW!!! I can't believe how amazing these cards turned out.  I had so much fun doing them.  I'm going to be going through my stamp sets and looking for more stamps to use this technique with.  Here are the cards

I used Asian Artistry for both the cards.  I really do love this set.  You can earn this stamp set by hosting a workshop of $395 or more.  Right now, during Sale-A-Bration, you can another stamp set on top of the hostess one.  If you're interested in hosting a workshop, just email me or visit my website Here.

On this card, I stamped the Dragonfly image on the base card (Lavendar Lace) and used the Lavendar Lace pastel to color the image.  On So Saffron, I stamped the Grass image and used Old Olive and Lavendar Lace pastels to color it.  Doesn't the image just pop out.  WOW!! I used Not Quite Navy and Old Olive as the background layers.  On the bottom I stamped the quote on So Saffron, colored it with Not Quite Navy pastel and punched it out with the Modern Label.  I stamped Confucius name on the base and used Not Quite Navy to color it.  These pastels make the images glow with color and I love the effect it has on words.

I really really love this card.  It turned out way better than I expected.  I used the following color combination  (from the Color Wheel).
        Sage Shadow (base)
        Bravo Burgundy (bottom layer)
        Pretty in Pink (middle layer)
        Whisper White (image layer)

I used Sage Shadow and Bravo Burgundy to color the image.

On the bottom of the card I stamped the quote and colored it with Bravo Burgundy.

 All you really can say is WOW!!


This card was so simple to make.  The best part about pastels is that you have all 48 colors to work with.  Its a must have when first starting out.  I can't believe I waited this long to really use them.

For those of you that don't know the technique, here are the directions.

1. Stamped the image with Versamark.
2. Using a sponge dauber (you can purchase these through SU), color the image with the pastels.
3. Blow of the excess powder.
4. You're done.  Sit back and admire.

Before I leave I will show you a few other cards I made using this technique.

Have a wonderful day.

Kristy

Asian Artistry

I just love the Asian Artistry hostess set from Stampin' Up.  I just got in the other day and am having lots of fun with it.  Its a perfect set for watercoloring and using markers.  So here are a few cards I made with this set.

 

The first card uses a different fold.  I'm not sure what the correct name for this fold is, but I'm calling it a tri-fold.  As you can see the card has two flaps, which cause the card to open in the front.

The measurements for the cardstock are 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and score at 2 1/8" from either end.  

I stamped the flower image from Asian Artistry on to Sahara Sand cardstock with Basic Black Classic ink.  I then colored it in using Stampin Write markers from the In Color set.  

The dimensions for the cardstock are as follows:

Sahara Sand:  2 1/2" by 2 1/2"

Crushed Curry and Dusty Durango: 2 1/4" x 2 1/4"

The Crushed Curry square is not whole. I trimmed one corner off so that the card stock was flush with the edge of the card face. 

I used the Elegant Bouquet Impressions Embossing folder to add texture to the front flaps.  I embossed one flap at a time.

To finish the card off, I stamped Happy Birthday on the top left corner.

This next card uses layers.  I used Sahara Sand for the base, Old Olive for the back layers, and Good Neighbor DSP (from SAB) for the top layer.  I stamped the grass image from Asian Artistry on to Very Vanilla with Old Olive.  Before stamping the image, I wiped away the ink on the flower portion of the image.  I then used the Melon Mambo Stampin Write marker to ink the flower image.  I then stamped the image on the card stock.

 I used Melon Mambo to stamp the greeting, then punched it out with the Modern Label Punch.  

Here are the dimensions for the layers:

Top left layer:  Old Olive:  2 1/4" x 2 1/2"

DSP:   2" x 2 1/4"

Top Right layer: Old Olive:  1 3/4" x 1 3/4"

 DSP:   1 1/2" x 1 1/2"

Bottom layer:  Old Olive:  4" x 3"

DSP:  3 3/4" x 2 3/4"

 Image layer:  Old Olive:  2 1/2" x 3"

 DSP:  2 1/4" x 2 3/4"

I placed the greeting on to Old Olive punched out with Designer Label punch.  You can use any sentiment for this card and any color combination.

I'm going back to the drawing table to come up with more gorgeous cards.  Let me know what you come up with.

Have a great day stamping.

Kristy