Bringing Girfts Of Joy

Hi everyone a shameless plug here first. Just a reminder that you still have time to join in the JFF challenge. The theme is Christmas in July with some sparkle. Details can be found here:http://justforfunrubberstamps.blogspot.com/2016/07/july-challenge-christmas-in-july.html

Going along with our theme here is my Christmas card.

The card base is a shimmery copper. On top of that is an experiment which I love how it turned out. I started by printing on my laser printer my Joy To The World sheet music. I didn't have We Three Kings sheet music to scan in and use. Then using Vintage Mod Podge which I've had for at least nine years I adhered the sheet music to a scrap of thin cardboard with a shiny white side. After it was dry I then dropped fossilized amber reinker on the cardboard and brushed it over my piece. I let it dry for a couple of minutes and then took a paper towel to wipe some of the ink off. Giving more of an antique look.

For my stamped piece I used my air brush with markers for the sky and sand. I also used the blender marker to give more dimension for the sand. After stamping with black Stazon ink I brushed iridescent medium over the stars. It doesn't really show in the photo but there is a subtle shimmer. Then used a Gelly Roll pen to color the large star.

Wishing you joy and Happy Frugal Crafting till we meet again!

Joy Ornament

Hi everyone over at JFF we are having a Christmas in July challenge. I love making Christmas cards as you can see from my last two posts and this challenge gives me a jump start. I love the Joy ornament stamp and can see a lot of possibilities using it. Here is my card using this stamp.

I love the vintage look I got creating my background. If you have been following me any length of time you know that I seldom use commercial backgrounds. I was experimenting with different mediums and using an embossing folder to do rubbings. I tried different papers and decided that I liked the deli square paper the best. (I have a box of about a thousand so I have to find some use for them ;-) ) I also discovered that I liked the result I got using an oil pastel stick to rub over the folder. After I did my rubbing I went ahead and turned the paper over and randomly drew lines using a Dollar Tree metallic gold marker. I then adhered my deli paper to vanilla card stock which shows through where it was not colored with marker.

I had wanted to stamp my ornament with chalk but it did not work out. I then tried watercolor markers and that did not work out. Nor did my glitter markers but I noticed there was still glitter ink on the stamp so took an old VersaMark stamp pad which ended up with embossing powder on it when I forgot to close the lid. After stamping I used clear embossing powder. I used the purple glitter marker to edge the image. Then brushed iridescent medium over the ornament. Because the marker was not waterproof I got a purple tint.  Unfortunately I could not get a good picture to show the sheen on the ornament.

I hope you will join in the fun for the challenge. Details can be found here:http://justforfunrubberstamps.blogspot.com/2016/07/july-challenge-christmas-in-july.html

Wishing you Happy Frugal Crafting till we meet again!

A Christmas Buck

Dashing through the snow! And what will we see but a Buck in the forest. Yes, it is Christmas in July over at the Just For Fun blog. I really hope you will get a jump start on your holiday cards and join in the fun. Details can be found here:http://justforfunrubberstamps.blogspot.com/2016/07/july-challenge-christmas-in-july.html

This card went through different layouts before I was happy and this is the one I liked the best. By the way I used all scraps in my stash so no cutting up of full sheets of card stock for this card. Here is the reveal!

I picked up a pine cone on one of my walks with my dogs. When experimenting I like to use scraps only I usually like my experimenting so well that I end up using the scrap. LOL! I dipped the pine cone in Artist Loft metallic paint and randomly stamped all over the white card stock.

I then decided to see how acrylic ink would work with a stamp. Taking another scrap of white card stock I brushed the ink on the pine forest stamp. In a few places I got the ink too heavy but in this case it was no big deal. After the ink was dry I painted Liquitex Iridescent Medium on the top of the trees and under them. While still wet I sprinkled crystal glitter lightly. Once that was dry I used chalked to give the sky a little bit of color. Since this was stamped on a weird shape scrape and I went ahead and cut it out with a Spellbinder die. LOL! I only have two basic sets of dies.

Originally I was going to stamp the Buck on pattern card stock with clear embossing powder. I realized it had not stamped well before I heat embossed. Being the frugal crafter I am I went ahead and re-stamped with Stazon Timber Brown ink. Where the VersaMark ink was on the card stock the Stazon ink was resisted.  The Buck is actually a solid stamp. I cut the Buck out and then tied a piece of yarn for a scarf.

The sentiment was one I had previously stamped  on scrap but was not totally happy with for the project I had in mind after cutting it out free form.

There you have it my Christmas Buck or should I say a Scrappy Christmas. If you use scraps for experimenting and like them see if you can use them in a project even if they are not the size for the one you are working on. Also don't be afraid to use something even if it did not turn out how you thought it was going.

Wishing you Happy Frugal Crafting till we meet again!

Happy Independence Day!

Hi everyone today is Independence day here in the states. I don't have any 4th of July stamps so thinking outside of the box used the Good Witch stamp trying to turn her wand into a spinner on a stick.

The background is a napkin. I stamped the Good witch and embossed her using holographic embossing powder which doesn't show that good against the white card stock so her face was modified using glaze pens. I used Spectrum Noir markers to color her along with color pencils. The sentiment was printed with a label maker.

If you celebrate the 4th stay safe.

With this being July there is a new challenge over at Just For Fun. This month theme is Christmas in July and with the months flying by so quickly do I dare say it will be here before we know it so none to early to start your holiday cards.

Wishing you Happy Frugal Crafting till we meet again!

Sparkly Christmas In July Challenge

Wow! July already and time for a new challenge over at the Just For Fun blog. This month the theme is Christmas in July with some sparkle. Details can be found here: http://justforfunrubberstamps.blogspot.com/2016/07/july-challenge-christmas-in-july.html

This is a great challenge to enter as it will motivate you to get a jump start on your cards because as fast as the months have been flying by the holidays will be here before we know it.

Here is my inspiration piece for the challenge.

 For the background I tore pieces of green and yellow tissue paper and adhered to plastic using acrylic floor wax. While still wet I sprinkled fine glitter. which doesn't really show up in the photo. After the wax was dry I embossed using a Darice embossing folder. Then brushed iridescent medium and dry brushed most  of it off the raised portions.  If you look carefully you may also see some wrinkles from the tissue wrapping paper. Using my tape runner I adhered the background to dark green card stock. Because the background is more transparent in places the darker green shows through. The less layers of tissue paper you use the more transparent your background will be.

My scene is the Winter Village stamp heat embossed with Recollection snow embossing powder. I don't know why it turns out with a silver cast.  The Merry Christmas was stamped on a scrap of the green which was heat embossed with the snow embossing powder and then stamped with black Stazon ink. The sentiment is one of the many Merry Christmas stamps which Just For Fun has.

I hope you will join in the challenge. I would love to see your creations. Also you can submit at any time your own crafty paper creations here: on the facebook page.

Wishing you Happy Frugal Crafting Till We Meet Again!