Topflight Stamps 1st Birthday Blog Hop!

*** SEE MY WINNER'S POST HERE to find out who my random draw winner is! ***

Welcome to the Topflight Stamps 1^st Birthday Blog Hop!!!  The past year has been more successful than we ever could have imagined and it’s all because of our amazing customers. We are so excited to celebrate with you and give you our 1^st Birthday Special Discount - 20% off ALL orders - use code BDAY20.

Topflight Stamps is a place you will find different and unique stamps from aroud the world. Today we have an AWESOME blog hop with some of the best paper crafters in the industry. They are each featuring some of our favorite stamps. Be sure to comment on this blog and all the blogs on the hop to be eligible for the GRAND PRIZE a $50 store credit!!!  PLUS - each of the designers on this blog hop are giving away a $10 gift certificate to one of the commenters on their post. I will announce my winner here on Monday, April 2.  The $50 Grand Prize winner will be announced on the Topflight Stamps Blog the same day.

I created a watery undersea world and used the Guinevere Mermaid stamp from Lavinia Stamps and PaperArtsy Infusions Dye for the background.

Now, be sure to check out all these blogs and comment for your chance to win the grand prize!!

•   TopflightStamps

•   Donna Bowman

•   LindsayWeirich

•   ClareMessenger

•   Julia Stainton

•   Jenny Colacicco

•   VeronicaZalis

•   TeniaNelson

•   LisaHoel  - You are here

•   TeriAnderson

•   JennyMarples

•   NathalieFournier

•   Karen Bearse

•   Kristina Song

Topflight Stamps Products:

Paperartsy Infusions Dyes - A Bit Jaded

Lavina Stamps: Guinevere Mermaid
Visible Image - Fibres Stencil

Dies:

AJVD - Stitched Sentiment Trio

Stencils:

TCW - Mini Kelp Forest, Mini Cell Theory

StencilGirl - Aidan's School

Other:

Emerald Creek Baked Texture Embossing Powder - Patina Oxide, Dirty Sand

Distress Mixed Media Heavystock

Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black

Distress Oxide Inks - Aged Mahogany, Antique Linen, Black Soot

Distress Inks - Forest Moss, Peacock Feathers, Gathered Twigs

Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher

Sizzix & Simon Says Stamp links in this post are affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also thanks you!)

Organizing with Eileen Hull Dies

For the month of March, Eileen Hull challenged us to create projects with her dies that could be used for organizing. The Inspiration Team has come up with quite a variety so far! I used the Book & Pages, Trinket Box & Frame Die to create a little steampunk container to hold some of my steampunk bits and bobs (ones just waiting for that perfect project!)

I stacked two Trinket Boxes to make this double-decker organizer!

...and the bottom section. You can fit quite a lot into these boxes!

The lid has an inset made with a little jar of magic. I recently got my order of the ever so popular Baked Texture Embossing Powders designed by Seth Apter. I was eager to try them out!

The inset has about six layers of Vintage Beeswax powder in it with die cut paper gears embedded within the layers. The top gear was embossed with Ancient Amber powder and then pressed into the top while it was still warm.

Well, let's get on with how the box goes together.

Step 1 – I cut out multiples of the box parts from Sizzix mat board.  (I forgot to cut out the scored spine parts at first so those aren't shown.)

I sprayed them all with Tea Dye Distress Stain and then added some Frayed Burlap Distress Oxide Ink over that. All stamping was done with Archival Inks so they would be water proof.

Step 2 – Assemble the boxes. I used a hot glue gun but you have to be fast and accurate with that. There's not much play time! The super strong red tape works well too.

There are the spine pieces!

Step 3 – Stack the boxes. The bottom edge of the spine gets glued in between the base and the box, and the top edge is glued underneath the lid. To stack it, I just glued the second spine edge onto the bottom section lid and then the top box on top of that. Once all the sections were attached (minus the very top lid) I brushed on a layer of Crazing Distress Collage Medium.

Step 4 – To complete the top lid I adhered a piece of kraft Motif Cardstock onto a thin piece of chipboard and then cut a lid piece out of it to be the bottom layer of my lid. (I forgot to take photos of this step, oops!) I traced the oval onto the chipboard layer so I could tell where I needed to add the embossing powder.

I glued some of my diecut gears down as the first layer. (I cut them out of paper and not cardstock so they would be thin.) I used an Emboss It Dabber to apply ink to the oval area and then embossed two layers of Vintage Beeswax over the top. I glued some more gears on the surface and added more layers of powder. I had about six layers total.

Baked Texture Embossing Powders at work!

Once the embossing was all done I glued the top layer (with the oval cutout) on and then glued the whole lid to the top spine part. I used elastic and Hitch Fasteners to make little closures for the two sections.

Whew! Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to head on over to Eileen's blog and see what everyone else is sharing. I hope you have a great week! ;-)

I am also entering this project into the SanDee & amelie's Steampunk Challenge for March. Check them out too; there is always fun stuff to see there!

Dies:
Eileen Hull Sizzix - Book & Pages, Trinket Box & Frame

Gearhead (Sizzix / SSS)
Movers & Shapers Gears

Stamps:
Tim Holtz Steampunk
Tim Holtz Remnants

Other:

Emerald Creek Baked Texture Embossing Powder - Ancient Amber, Vintage Beeswax
Tim Holtz Paper Stash Motif Cardstock

mat board

Distress Ink - Rusty Hinge, Barn Door
Distress Spray Stain - Tea Dye
Distress Oxide Ink - Carved Pumpkin, Spiced Marmalade, Frayed Burlap
Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black, Coffee
Tim Holtz Hitch Fastener
Distress Collage Medium - Crazing
Ranger Emboss It Dabber

Sizzix & Simon Says Stamp links in this post are affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also thanks you!)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Get your green on!! ;-) I hope you are having a lovely weekend and doing something festive. I have a post over at the A Jillian Vance Design Blog today so here is the little peek...

Thanks for stopping by!!

Mid-Month Inspiration for Mixed Media Monthly

Hello there! The March Challenge over at Mixed Media Monthly is going strong and it's not too late for you to join in! Share your project with us and you'll be in the running for our monthly prize.

Our sponsor this month is Marabu and they very generously sent the design team some of their products to play with. Here is what I received:

At the beginning of the month, I made a cheerful traveler's journal for the challenge. For some mid-month inspiration, I made a birthday card for a friend.

I used the Bird stencil and Art Spray to make a monoprint and then stenciled the flowers on with the Acryl Mousse.  The background is Distress Ink and I added details with my Inktense (water-soluble) pencils. The sentiment is stamped with foam stamps and paint and a traditional clear stamp. I used the Art Crayon to smudge a "frame" on the card base to make the front of the card stand out from the background.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out the MMM challenge! We've had lots of entries already and we want to see yours too!

Marabu Products:
Acryl Mousse - Vanilla
Art Spray - Chilli
Art Crayon - Terra Cotta
Stencil - Bird w/ Flowers

Stamps:

Tim Holtz foam stamps - Cutout Script

Other:

black gel pen

paint

Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black

Ranger Distress Inks - Iced Spruce, Broken China

Derwent Inktense Ink Pencils

Sizzix & Simon Says Stamp links in this post are affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also thanks you!)

Somebunny has a post over at A Jillian Vance Design…

Good morning everyone! Head on over to the AJVD blog to check out my latest project. It just might have something to do with Easter, just sayin' ;-)

Here's a little peek:

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Topflight Stamps – Fairytales with Lavinia Brand Stamps

Hello there! Today I'm sharing a project I made for Topflight Stamps. It's a divider for the Fairytale section in one of my ATC collection binders. This is the first one I've decorated; the rest are still plain and boring. Hopefully that will change in the not too distant future!

I'm really in love with the style of Lavinia Stamps from the UK and I have a lovely selection of them used here in this piece. To begin with though, I created a background layer with Paperartsy Infusions Dyes on the manila file folder base. Infusions Dyes are grains of pigments that react strongly with water. I carefully sprinkled some onto the base (Terracotta and Golden Sands) and then spritzed it with water. A little goes a long way, these pigments are concentrated! They make such a cool background I almost hated to cover it up with the tag.

Soooooo cool!!

But I did! I cut a tag out of Distress Heavystock and created my background on it with Distress Oxide inks (love them so much!!) I used the Tim Holtz Stamping Platform to stamp all the figures etc. That was really helpful to use because I did have to go back and re-stamp a few areas that didn't get enough ink coverage.

Thanks for stopping by! Below is a list of supplies I used. Be sure to check out the Topflight Stamps blog for more inspiration. There is always something fun to see there! Have a great weekend. =)


Topflight Stamps Products:
Paperartsy Infusions Dyes - Terracotta, Golden Sands

Lavina Stamps:
Dragonfly Keeper
Trees
Fairy Thistles
Whimsical Hares

Crafty Individuals - Crackle Background
Visible Image - Scripted Streets

Dies:
Tag Die (Sizzix ) retired

Other:

Distress Mixed Media Heavystock

Ranger Archival Ink - Plum, Tree Branch, Watering Can, Jet Black

Distress Oxide Inks - Faded Jeans, Forest Moss, Walnut Stain, Gathered Twigs, Aged Mahogany, Peeled Paint

Distress Inks - Forest Moss, Tea Dye

Tim Holtz Clippings Stickers

Sizzix & Simon Says Stamp links in this post are affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also thanks you!)

Mixed Media Monthly March Madness!

I mean Challenge! ;-) I just couldn't resist the alliteration ha ha. Anyway, welcome to March and another fun challenge over at the Mixed Media Monthly blog.

This month we'd like to see you use a stencil and at least three different mediums in your project. Be sure to tell us which ones you use! Our sponsor this month is Marabu and they very generously sent the design team some of their products to play with. Here is what I received:

I created a journal using Eileen Hull's Sizzix Journal Die!

I love the bright colors!

I made a closure from sari silk ribbon.

I used the Marabu bird stencil again to decorate the cover to the first signature:

Now for a quick tutorial about how this all came together!

Step 1 - First I covered my die cut Journal covers with some Tim Holtz Tissue Wrap:

I also covered the insides of the covers with some pages I cut out of a bird identification book.

Step 2 - I covered the Tissue Wrap with a light coat of gesso. I then sprayed the stencil with the red Art Spray (permanent when dry) and used it to make a monoprint on the front. Once that was dry, I used the Vanilla Acryl Mousse paint (it's dimensional!!) and the stencil to add the details.

Step 3 - I continued to add layers of misting and monoprinting. I also swiped on some areas of Mousse paint and then sprinkled yellow embossing over the wet paint. When it was dry, I embossed it! It adds a nice accent of color. Stamping with archival ink added more visual texture as well. This picture doesn't show it yet, but the last step was using black and white gel pens and the Art Crayon to add detail.

I also used the Art Spray to dye some white linen scalloped trim I had in my stash as well as pulling out some vintage eyelet trim to add along the bottom.

Step 4 - After gluing the covers together along the spine, I was ready to add the elastic binding. Using elastic makes it super easy to add in your signatures. All you have to do is open up the signature and slide one half under the elastic so it's running down the center fold. Easy peasy! You can also make up this Journal die to hold three signatures – I only wanted room for two in this one.

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to head on over to the Challenge post and check out what the design team has been up to! Join in the challenge and you'll be in the running to win a prize pack!

I am also adding this to the March challenge over at Mini Album Makers. Check out what their design team made for it! Gorgeous work. =)

Marabu Products:
Acryl Mousse - Vanilla
Art Spray - Chilli
Art Crayon - Terra Cotta
Stencil - Bird w/ Flowers

Dies:
Eileen Hull Sizzix - Journal Die (Sizzix / SSS )

Stamps:

Tim Holtz Mixed Media

Other:

mat board

trims

craft floss

Ranger Embossing Powder - Buttercup

white & black gel pens

Ranger Archival Ink - Dandelion, Leaf Green

Tim Holtz Quote Chips

Sizzix & Simon Says Stamp links in this post are affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also thanks you!)