Lavinia Stamps Card with Topflight Stamps

Hello, I love creating with Lavinia stamps and I have this card to share with you today! I think it is neat how the stamps all work together for scene building.

I started off creating a background using PaperArtsy Infusions Dye Stains. These are intense color crystals that react with water and create wonderful inky pools of color. Once the background was dry, I made a monoprint on it with the Squirrel Trees stencil from Carabelle.

The stamping is all done with the always lovely Lavinia brand of stamps. I like to use a stamp press for the main images so I can repeat stamp to get even, dark coverage.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out the Topflight Stamps store for a wide selection of different and hard to find stamps, stencils and other paper crafting supplies from all around the world! Also keep an eye on the Topflight Stamps blog. There is new inspiration posted daily!

Topflight Stamps Supplies Used:

Lavinia Stamps - Josie

Lavinia Stamps - Flora Set

Lavinia Stamps - Tall Dandelion

Prism Ink - Smoked Paprika

Carabelle stencil - Squirrel Trees MA60079

Versafine Ink - Black Onyx

PaperArtsy Infusions - Emerald Isle, Terracotta

Funky Junkie Challenge - Inky in October

Hello Funkie Junkie fans, we have a new product inspiration theme for you – Inky in October. Hope you aren't afraid of dirty fingers! Our hostess is Janna and here is what she has to say about the theme,

"Today I want to challenge you to get out your Distress Inks, Sprays, and Mediums. Create a vintage or shabby chic project featuring Distress products. Let’s have some creative fun and get our fingers inky this month, happy crafting!"

FYI, we will no longer be having bi-weekly challenges on the Funkie Junkie blog but there is still a chance to win a $25 gift certificate at the Funkie Junkie Boutique! Just create a project using the products from each product showcase cycle, share it on social media and tag us at #thefunkiejunkie. You can read all about it here.

For the last Saturday Showcase, I shared the cover (and how-to) of a Halloween journal project I am working on. I'm continuing the project with this new challenge and creating delightfully inky pages to go inside! I got out a huge pile of Distress sprays, ink pads and Halloween Mica Stains old and new to create backgrounds and inky parts for the pages. (Still more to go!)

Scroll on to see the pages and the supplies and techniques I used! There is a LOT to see so get comfy.

As a general note, I created a whole pile of inky backgrounds using Distress Sprays, inks, Mica Stains etc. before I began. That way I had a stash to draw from as I used them for page bases and for die cutting shapes out of. It streamlined the whole creative process and compartmentalized the mess ha ha. Media mess first and then die/stamp mess. ;-)

For this first page, I used the Moon Mask set to create the spooky moon within the inky background. Fun die cuts and embossing finished off the page.

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sooo long ago, lol

The new Distress Watercolor Pencils and a tried and true double stamping technique were perfect for this page. The stamp set used is the new The Scarecrow set.

Use a stamp platform and stamp your initial image with archival ink onto your paper. Paint or color in the image and then re-stamp over the top to bring back the details of the image. Easy peasy!

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Interactive flap so I could include more photos!

You'll see the Graphic 45 'Charmed' Collection Patterns & Solids paper pack used throughout the journal pages. The fold out flap on this page is from this pack. I love the vintage vibe and it blends well with all the Distress media and Tim Holtz designs.

I used the '22 Halloween Design Tape to form the hinge for the flap. I added a little Distress Collage Medium underneath for a more secure hold.

I used the new Leaf Prints 2 stamp set along with 'watercolor stamping' to cover the inside with leaves. Watercolor stamping works best using stamps without intricate detail. Ink the stamp with Distress Ink and spritz lightly once with water. Stamp, lift and let it dry naturally. You get a neat watercolored look.

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I also mixed in bits from the Graphic 45 'Charmed' Ephemera Pack.

On the plain background, I first used the Hocus Pocus Layering Stencil and Distress Texture Paste Opaque to add the stars to the background. Once it was dry I added all the sprays and stains. As a final step when everything was dry, I highlighted the stars with Sizzix Gold Luster Wax.

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Pumpkin Patch, Colorize die set

You will see throughout all the pages that I make use of the Specimen, Collector and Postale Die Sets to add dates and other fun details. Such handy dies to add that final touch!

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Behold the wonderful Specimen Die Set!

plus the Twisted Layering Stencil on the background

More pages, keep going, you can do it!

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Oldie but goodie technique - Distress paint works great on metal! I put metal foil tape onto a piece of cardstock and then cut it into the pennant shape. Then I embossed it. I recommend wiping the metal down with rubbing alcohol as well. It helps the paint go on more smoothly.

I painted the metal with Villainous Potion Distress Paint and let it dry slightly, then wiped off most of it with a paper towel. 

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Snarky Cat Halloween and Bold Frights stamp sets used here. 

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Last (for now) page! The page substrate is Distress Kraft Heavystock and I used a brayer to first lightly add patches of grey acrylic paint to the base. Then I used Crypt Grit Paste and the Linked Circles & Mechanical Element Stencils to add more texture to the background.

Once everything was dry, I added Distress sprays and Mica Stains (yum!)

I needed an orc for the page so I changed the vampire from the Costume Party die set into one.

Whew! You made it to the end! Believe it or not, I have more pages to share with you soon. I might even manage to film a flip through of the completed journal. We'll see how that goes ha ha. Keep your eyes on the Funkie Junkie blog for inspiration from the fabulous Design Team.

Lynne Perrella PaperArtsy Card with Topflight Stamps

Hello, I had a chance to play with some of my favorite Lynne Perrella PaperArtsy stamps and created this card to share with you today.

The background is a Gel Press print. (Warning: gel printing is highly addictive!)

I used a double stamping technique with the main image. This is a great technique to have in your toolbox. Take a look:

You need a stamp platform. Stamp an initial image with waterproof ink. I then used PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Paint to paint in the stamp design. I like using Fresco paint because the chalk finish is really easy to stamp on top of. Plus there are so many beautiful colors!

Once painted and dry, stamp back over the top to get the details back. Easy peasy!

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out the Topflight Stamps store for a wide selection of different and hard to find stamps, stencils and other paper crafting supplies from all around the world! Also keep an eye on the Topflight Stamps blog. There is new inspiration posted daily!

Topflight Stamps Supplies Used:

PaperArtsy Lynne Perrella stamp set - LPC043

PaperArtsy Seth Apter stamp set - ESA08

Prism Ink - Thundercloud, Smoked Paprika

PaperArtsy Jofy stencil - PS165

Versafine Ink - Black Onyx

Gel Press plate

Fresco Paint - Sour Grapes, Pumpkin Soup, Very Berry, Winter Green, Peach Nectar, Stone, Banana, Smoked Paprika

Eileen Hull's Sizzix Chapter 4 Release Party!

 

Welcome to the Sizzix Chapter 4 Release Party of Eileen Hull's newest dies. We are celebrating with a Live party and this Blog Hop! Eileen's Teams have been hard at work creating with Eileen's new products and have quite a lineup of inspiration for you. Here is what Eileen has to say,

"Chapter 4 is finally here! Each release is so exciting and it never gets old…

The Geometric Box is a different kind of design for me. I love the ease of assembly, the unique shape and and the possibility of expanding the box into larger containers! This is a ScoreBoards die so it may be cut from sturdy materials like matboard, chipboard, metal, leather and fabric. 

The Sunflower is a Bigz L steel rule die – designed to cut and score a myriad of materials. The Sunflower is BIG – it measures about 4" across and comes with a leaf, three sizes of petals and a flower center! 

I love the whimsical patterns of vintage cutlery and that's why I created this Silverware 3D Embossing Folder! The design is so detailed you can actually see a tiny bride and groom on the handle of a cake server.

I hope you will give these dies a try. Please remember to share them in the Eileen Hull Fan Club Facebook group so we can all be inspired!"

Don't miss the Sizzix Chapter 4 Release Party on Tuesday, October 4th at 12pm EST!

Find the live Sizzix Chapter 4 Release Party on Eileen's YouTube channel or her FaceBook page! It will be streaming concurrently on both platforms. Eileen will be joined by several of the designers from her Teams so it will be a fun time!

Yes, there is a giveaway!

Enter the giveaway! Comment below the Release Party video and answer this question, "What would you create with these dies?" We loved hearing all your amazing ideas last time and want to hear more! Extra points for creativity. There will be two winners – one on Facebook and one on YouTube. Entries closed at 5:00 pm on Oct. 10. Winners will be announced on my Tuesday 10/11 livestream.

Find the list of links to all the Designers' blog posts on Eileen's blog!

Whew! Now that the business is out of the way, let's take a look at the projects I made using Eileen's new dies and 3D Embossing Folder. I'll have a tutorial post later in the month.

I made a Halloween themed flower arrangement using the Geometric Box for the vase and the Sunflower Die for the flowers! Eileen's Twist and Style Tool is perfect for making flower stems from wire.

I also had some fun with the new Silverware 3D Embossing Folder and made a card. I envision it as an invitation to come to a tea party.

Be sure to visit the blogs of the other designers and see all the inspiration! Tune in for the Live Release Party too. It will be fun as always!

Funkie Junkie Saturday Showcase – Halloween Journal Cover

Happy Halloween! October is almost upon us and it's time to get crafty. Today you can find a tutorial post for my Halloween journal cover over on The Funkie Junkie Boutique blog. Let's get our creep on! ;-)

Head on over to the blog to check it out and see all the details. Have a great weekend!

New Funkie Junkie challenge – Celebrate Friendship

Hello there, our new challenge at the Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog is live and you won't want to miss out! Our hostess is Laura Gilhuly and the theme is Celebrate Friendship. 

I created a birthday card for a good friend of ours. We have known him for decades so he is indeed an "old friend" ha ha. Scroll on to take a peek at some of my design process...

Step 1 - I had some fun creating backgrounds for the various layers. The star layer (which showed through the star cutouts) was Iron Gate Halloween Mica Stain sprayed onto white cardstock. The night sky was an inky combo of Uncharted Mariner Distress Spray (regular and oxide) with a dash of Oxide Villainous Potion spray spritzed in.

Step 2 - I wanted to experiment with using the new Distress Watercolor Pencils for coloring the layers of a Sizzix Colorize Die. I really like the new pencils. I used them to layer on the color and then blended them out with water and a paintbrush. I will definitely be playing more with these great new pencils!

I gave the combined yellow layers a very light mist of Harvest Moon Mica Stain to give it a little glimmer.

Perfect! I'll definitely be using this technique on other layered dies like Otis.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you check out the fun challenges we have on the Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog. They are always good for sparking your creativity! You have two weeks to join the current challenge so I hope you give it a go.

Supplies used:

Tim Holtz die set - Colorize Otis

Tim Holtz die set - Tree Line

Tim Holtz die set - Swirling Stars

Tim Holtz die set - Alphanumeric Label #664177 retired

Distress Watercolor Pencils

Halloween Distress Mica Stain - Iron Gate, Harvest Moon

Distress Oxide Spray Stains - Uncharted Mariner, Villainous Potion

Distress Spray Stains - Uncharted Mariner

Ranger Archival Inks - Black Soot

Distress Collage Medium Matte