Mad Hatter Tea Party Card

All the best people are bonkers! I've never identified with a Disney phrase more than I have that one, which was spouted by the Mad Hatter in Alice and Wonderland. 

Visible Image just unveiled a whole new Wonderland stamp line featuring Alice in Wonderland characters and they're all so much fun. 

I got to have a play with The Mad Hatter set and, as you can see, added some googly eyes for the full crazy effect. 

I stamped and masked Mr. Hatter so that I could add some of the crazy laughter to the background. 

Ensue laughter stamps. And more laughter stamps. I went a little overboard haha! 

Next, I used some Spectrum Noir alcohol markers to color in my image and smudged up my outside edges with black Faber Castell Gelatos. 

I added a sentiment phrase using the same set, and some pretty patterned paper to match - glued on the googly eyes and viola! One crazy mad hatter. 

Thanks for popping by! Make sure to go check out the full Wonderland release and prepare to be amazed! 

Unicorns and Gelatos and Circles - Oh My!

Magic was in the air of my craft studio - mostly because I broke out the mythical creatures (namely in the form of a glorious unicorn from the Visible Image Believe in Unicorns stamp set).

Just look at that majesticness!

 To make this shimmering creation, I started with a good base of black and grunged it up a bit using the Fibonacci background stamp. This stamp has quickly become one of my faves because it is so big and covers the whole background of a design perfectly. 

Next, I created my own patterned panel using a sheet of white cardstock and the Universal stamp set, which has all these scribbly circles.

I used three colors of extra bright gelatos to add a pop of color to my creation. 

I love working with Gelatos - there are so many ways to use them. If you haven't tried them, they're a sort of gel-like crayon that is water soluble. So you can use them as crayons, or mix them with water for unique watercolor effects.

 For this technique, I applied a thick layer and let the colors overlap as I was scribbling, then I used my fingers to blend the colors together.

I put everything all together, and created a my unicorn focal circle, then added a sentiment from the Go To Words stamp set. 

Products Used:

 

Thank you all for popping by!

Sunshine on a Rainy Day Stamped Card

March in North Dakota usually means blustery snow and cold. But this week, right before we got walloped by a blizzard, there was a thunderstorm and tons of rain! Mother nature acted a little bipolar. 

In honor of our rainstorm, I busted out the Sparkle in the Rain stamp set by Visible Image and let my inner optimist shine with this card design.

I began by embossing the umbrella girl in black and then scribbled over her with shades of yellow gelatos. 

I blended the gelatos with my fingers and then used a damp paper towel to wipe off the excess gelato from the embossed image. 

I masked over my image and most of the yellow portions of my card and then stamped some raindrops using blue Distress Inks. 

I thought the card paired perfectly with this big ol' happy sentiment from the Express Yourself set. 

I embossed it on black paper and then painted in the sunshine with a bit of yellow Distress Oxides, followed by a healthy does of Spectrum Noir sparkle markers - because who doesn't love all things GLITTER!?

A little background of patterned paper and viola! My design was complete!

I'm going to play along in a few challenges: 
Just Add Ink - Just Add Water
Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes plus a sentiment
TIME OUT Challenges - Bold (I used lots of bold colors)

Thanks for popping by, my friends and be sure to head over to the Visible Image blog to check out some awesome inspiration!
 

Growing in Unity Day 5 + PRIZES

All good things must come to an end. It's my last day as a guest designer for Unity Stamp Co. as a Growing in Unity Gal. *cue violin* music.

I've had a blast exploring watercoloring mediums with you all week, and am SO grateful for the new bloggy friends I've made! Thank you for helping me get to 300 blog followers. YOU ROCK! Here's to 400. :) 

Today, I've got a super CAS design to share using one last watercolor-esque technique: gelatos. 

I've discussed tons of different ways to use gelatos on my blog (if you want to see more, just click on the little "gelatos" tag at the bottom of this posting) but I definitely like watercoloring with them. 

If you haven't worked with gelatos in the past, they are waxy crayons that react with water. They are perfect for smudging, too! 

I scribbled some bright green onto my craft mat...

...then picked up the pigment using a wet paintbrush. 

As you can see, it made a lovely little wash for my grass. This sweet bicycle and sentiment is from the For the Guys stamp set. 

Thank you all for tuning in this week! I hope you had as much fun as I did. Don't forget to leave a comment below for your chance to win some sweet Unity swag. I'll be doing drawings sometime tomorrow!

Glitter, Gelatos & Butterflies - Oh My!

Friday! I don't know about you, but I'm pretty excited for the weekend. I'm volunteering at our first Art & Wine walk of the season (a downtown crawl with 20 locations where you get to visit with artists and drink wine at every location!) And next month, I'm going to be one of the featured artists in the walk!!! EEee!! We also have a live music festival going on this weekend, too. So yep - pretty hoppin'.

But you didn't come here to hear me blather, you came here to see some card-making action! I'm happy to acquiesce because today is the day I also remind you to go play along at STAMPlorations theme & sketch challenge. 

I went for the theme this time around (because you can choose either theme OR sketch OR combine them - and also win fun prizes - and you can you ANY kind/brand of stamp you want). 

I began my card by scribbling some Faber Castell Gelatos in concentric circles on a piece of white cardstock. 

I smeared the colors together using my fingers, to blend. 

Next, I wanted to add a little bit of texture, so I broke out the Faber Castell Glass Bead Glitter Gel and applied it through the Tribal Swirls ARTplorations stencil. 

I also wanted to incorporate all the colors from the Color Throwdown's latest scheme, so I stamped a big ol' purple butterfly from the STAMPlorations Trendy Butterflies 2 stamp set and cut it out using the coordinating dies. 

I decided I wanted to tie in my purple butterfly more, so I stamped a border using the Artsy Border Maker stamp set, and completed my look by stamping a sentiment (also from the Trendy Butterflies 2 set). 

Taaadaaa - glittery, grungy, artsy and oh-so-vibrant!

I'm also going to play along in the 4 Crafty Chicks - Butterflies challenge. 


Pssstt - if you want any of the products used in my card, you can use my personal discount code STAMPGIRLBECCA in the STAMPlorations shop to get 20% off your ENTIRE order. :o 


Thanks for popping by! I hope you'll come play along in the STAMPlorations Theme & Sketch challenge!

Starry Birthday Card

Nah nah  - nah nah nah. It's Fusion Time!
Please sing that in your best MC Hammer voice and then enjoy the rest of your day.

Ahem...Anyways, what I meant to say is that there is a new challenge on the old Fusion block.

Love the sketch? Then use it. Love the inspiration image? Then use it! Can't choose between the two? Then use them both! So many options!

I was immediately inspired by the backs on those funky chairs and I had a cool star die cut from Winnie and Walter.

 I used the a blue Gelato stick that matched one of the chairs and started coloring away. I smudged it with my finger once I was done, and left little rough patches on the star for some added texture.

To finish my look, I stamped a festive sentiment and added some bright papers from DCWV's Birthday stack.

Party on a card! Boom! 

I am going to link my card up to the following challenges:

Crafty Gals Corner - Die Cut Punches

Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes

I hope you'll head on over to Fusion and play along in our new challenge that runs for the next week. There's some amazing inspiration on the blog, so go check it out! 

Messy Stars - Mixed Media Card

Ok, so ya'll know I love a good process photoshow explanation for my blog posts, but I'm gonna apologize here because while I was making this card I SUCKED at taking any photos. 

Do you ever just get in the mood to play and then totally lose yourself in the artsy process? That's what happened here and it was soooooo liberating. So... sorry not sorry? Ok, I am a little bit sorry. But also not. 

If you want to talk about an explosion of fun, that's sort of what happened here. I just kept adding and adding and adding layers of mixed media until I was happy with what was going on. 

I made the background using Distress Spray Stains, frantage, starry washi tape, gesso, stamps from the Balloons and Banners STAMPloration set, and a gel pen.  

Since the theme of the month over at STAMPlortions challenge is STAMPS and STARS, you can tell why this is ridden with starry wonderment. 

 If you haven't played along at STAMPlorations yet - consider this  your reminder to get your but in gear! You can use either the theme or the sketch OR both! 

My center star was made by coloring with yellow gelatos. I hated that so I dipped it in distress ink. Still wasn't what I was going for so I added Blue Patina Perfect Pearls and then I was happy!! Mixed media cards are cool like that. Just keep adding til you're happy. 

The coolest part of the card was this bubbly little center piece. I had some black gemstone adhesive paper from DCWV and I gessoed over it. Then I sprayed it with Distress Spray stains and darkened the border of it with a gelato crayon. 

All in all I think it's wicked cool. 

I'm also going to play along in the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge where their theme is also Stars, Aud Sentiments (anything goes), and the Male Room (Blue, Red + One Color - My color is  hints of yellow!)

 

 Thanks for popping by!!

------------------------------------------

PSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSTTTT - 

Have you played along in my

30th Birthday Challenge

yet?? 

I'm giving away over $100 in prizes! 

My Latest Stamp Set - Strong Women!! + GIVEAWAY

It's here! It's here! It's here! 

Can you tell that I am jumping up and down with excitement?! WHAT is here, you ask? Well, the release of my newest (and new favorite) STAMPlorations stamp set Strong Women - designed by yours truly! 

 Actually, this is one of FOUR new sets being released this week at STAMPlorations. They are all super awesome and the cool thing is we are giving them all away!!! That's right, one lucky commenter on the release posts will win the whole kit & kaboodle - all four sets!!

I designed three cards for the release. The first two were more clean and simple, and I decided to try my hand at the pop up technique (which I've never done before.) I'm pretty chuffed at how they turned out.

Both of these cards were colored with Faber Castell Gelatos and smudged with my finger. 
Then I embossed the sentiments. 

My last design is a COMPLETE departure from the first two arsty beauties, but more in line with my love of all things shabby chic & distressed. 

I layered a bunch of BoBunny papers and added a swath of flowers. A gold ribbon from Paper Temptress finished off the look. 

______________

A Bit About the Inspiration for this Stamp Set:

I thought about all the women in my life who've helped me to become who I am. My sisters and my cousin, Amber, who've been with me through highs and lows. My friends who've endured my craziness. My aunts and my grandma who helped to shape me. Shery from STAMPlorations, who has given me an opportunity I've never dreamed of having. 

I am so blessed.

I want to give a special shoutout to my momma and the ways she's always enabled me to be a strong, independent woman. 

My mom (much like myself) is a wee bit of a workaholic, often spending 10-12 hours a day working, if you included her commute times. While she had 4 kiddos, she went back to school full time and double majored in 4 years. She's always been driven and strong and I know those qualities are what inspire me to be who I am today. She never blinks twice at saying what needs to be said (and some things that don't) and I love her so, so much. 

 

One of the sentiments in the set is "I Hope You Dance Like No One is Watching". This is my mom's song for all of her children. She's so proud of all of our successes, and I'm so proud to be able to admit that dreaded event: yep - I am turning into my mother. Happy (early) Mother's Day, momma! 

______________

And now - back to the regularly scheduled programming. Strong Women is now available in the STAMPlorations shop at a special discounted price! 
 

I hope you'll go stop by the STAMPlorations blog, leave a comment and try to win the release for yourself! Plus I LOVE reading your comments cheering me on. Because, after all, YOU are all strong women in my life, too!

Mixed Media Card Challenge - Trees

It is officially the end of winter!! Welp, meteorological winter anyhow... I wish Mother Nature would get on board because yesterday it was -18 degrees here in North Dakota. Sigh*

But at least I can pretend everything is green and delightful, right?! If I can't grow trees and green things in my back yard, at least I can color them on a card! Wooo! 

That's because over at the Mixed Media Card Challenge our theme o' the month is TREES with the option of birds. 

I started out thinking I'd make this a bright, happy summery card... and you may have noticed that didn't work out so well for me. 

It's still bright and happy, mind you, but as soon as I scribbled on some Gelatos, I thought it looked more like night time than a summery day. And so, a plan was born! 

In addition to the Mixed Media Card Challenge, I wanted to play along with Ms. Darnell-the-Fantastic's NBUS (Never-Been-Used-Schtuff) challenge. 

I have used these adorable houses from Shirley Bampton's Bee's Knees - Houses stamp set before, but I'd purchased the accessory pack with cute trees and mailboxes and roads and they've just been sitting about unused for months! Thanks for the impetus, Darnell!

Once I'd blended the gelatos with my fingers, I used the Big Bang Sci-Fi Screening (stencil) from Winnie and Walter along with a baby wipe to pick up some of the gelatos.  

When I was satisfied, I repositioned the stencil and added some texture paste to give my night sky some texture. I also changed the house color to be more purpley because I wasn't totally in love with how the pink was meshing with my colors.

Then I added some finishing touches - graphic washi tape and a stripey chipboard sentiment - which makes it perfect for the Allsorts challenge of "Sentiment in Focus".

Et voila! This little number is going to go to a friend who is buying a house tomorrow. Awww! :)