Mixed Media Graduation Card

It's graduation season, and this year it seems like LOTS of my friends are graduating with their college degrees. Tomorrow I have >count them< THREE back-to-back grad parties. Which, of course means I need cards!

So I decided to take this month's Theme and Sketch challenge over at STAMPlorations and make some fancy dancy grad cards. 

If you're wondering how to play along in the STAMPlorations challenge, just use either the sketch OR the theme OR use both. You can make a card using any brand of stamps (although it's extra nice when you use STAMPlorations). 

For my design, I spritzed the back with a green Distress Spray Stain, flicked it with black Spray Stain to give it a little messier of a feel, and then stamped over that with some stamps from the Mixed Media Grunge set. 

The focal images aren't cupcakes (as you probably could tell by now). They're graduation caps from the Snarky Cap & Gown set. I'm always looking for good graduation sets and this one is awesome! It's designed by yours truly and if you order it you can get 20% off by using code STAMPGIRLBECCA at checkout. 

Last but not least, I die cut a big congrats twice and stacked them for a little bit of dimension. 

Thanks for popping by! I hope you'll come play along with us! 

Distressed Sunflower Card - STAMPlorations sketch challenge

As I laid in the grass gazing up at the sky bursting with fireworks last night, I was so grateful for my country and my family who'd come to visit. It was a quintessential summertime moment. I decided to capture that summery feeling on card stock with another quintessential summertime emblem - the sunflower.

Here in the midwest, those hot summer days make for big ol' sunflower blooms. I used the gorgeous sketchy sunflowers from The Birds and the Blooms STAMPlorations set and embossed them in white before filling them in with Spectrum Noir alcohol markers. (GB3, GB7, EB8, BGR4, TB6, TB5, TB4). 

There's a new sketch in town over at STAMPlorations, 

so I squared up to make a card today. 

Isn't it a beauty?! Sometimes I don't know what to do with a sketch, but this one gave me all sorts of ideas! 

To create the grunge background, I stamped a bunch of grungy stamps from the Mixed Media Grunge set. (Seriously makes mixed media soooooo easy). and then I used a stencil (Brackets ARTplorations stencil) and embossing paste to create texture. 

I used some Scattered Straw and Vintage Photo Distress Inks to sponge around the edges and a little over the top of the embossing paste. Then I stamped a sentiment from the Bloom Sketches set and, after a little gluing, had a completed card!  

I'm also going to join the fun over at:
Crafty Gals Corner - Rays of Sunshine
Simon Says Stamp Monday - Summer
Mixed Media Monthly - Summer Days

Inkspirational - Grunge


As for you all - You should definitely go play along with the sketch at STAMPlorations and check out what the rest of the designers made! 

Mixed Media Card with Washi - STAMPlorations June Challenge

This may be my favorite card I've ever made. Yes. That is a big statement. 

The challenge going on over at STAMPlorations is Stamps and Washi Tape. 

For some reason, washi always makes me think messy mixed media... oh darn... I HATE that. *Snicker*

First, I applied a layer of gesso to a piece of deep red card stock, let it dry, and then sprayed it with a concentrated burst of Festive Berries and Black Soot Distress Inks. 

Once that was dry, I added some layers of black and white washi tape, and some grungy stamps from the Mixed Media Grunge set. 

I added a black doily, some more grunge around the edges and one of the birds from 

SmallBirds - The Bee's Knees. To give the bird a more charcoally effect, I used Faber Castell Artist Pens and smudged as I went along the lines.  I also drew some sketchy circles using the same pens. 

Yeah - pretty much in love. 

This card is going over to the following challenges: 

Mixed Media Card Challenge - Collage

Mixed Media Monthly Challenge (HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!) (I'm choosing birds of a feather)

Quoth the Raven - Picture Inspiration

Make sure to play along over at STAMPlorations!! You have until the end of the month and we've got great prizes, along with some awesome guest designers, including Rahmat Gouse and Carol Dunham!

Thanks for taking the time to pop by! 

Stamps and Numbers - STAMPlorations April Challenge

Woop woop! Today marks a new challenge over at STAMPlorations and I am super excited to share my card because I totally embraced my grungy side. 

The challenge theme this month is 

STAMPS and NUMBERS

You can use ANY stamps you want to link up - no need to use STAMPlorations stamps (but we'd love it if you do!) 

For my card, I started by creating a really grungy mixed media background. 

How was this made? I'm glad you asked.

I smooshed some Distress Inks (Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, and Bundled Sage) onto a large acrylic block, spritzed it with water, and then pressed it onto card stock. 

Then I used the ARTplorations Foiled stencil and sponged some Bundled Sage ink through the background. 

I moved the stencil and sponged embossing ink through it, then added some rusty-colored powder and heat embossed.  I stamped some Grungy numbers from the Stamp Lab: Textured Big Numbers stamp and some arrows from the VIGNETTE: Chevron and arrows set. 

I added a stamped tag using sentiments from the VIGNETTE: Chevron and Arrows set. 

I added some metal embellies (and the one up top actually is a bookmark that comes off!) and finished off the completed grungy look. 

So - Go play at STAMPlorations. You could win a $15 gift card or a guest design gig! 

Speaking of Guest Design gigs - we've got some real rockstars playing with us at STAMPlorations:

Jerrie Mead from Coloring Outside the Linez

Pamellia Johnson from My Little Craft Things

and  Jo Nevill from Rambling Boots

As for me, I'm going to link my card up to the following great challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Birthday Theme

Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes Birthday

The Challenge - Anything Goes

Virginia's View - Layers and Dimension

By the way - I know I'm behind in my bloggy commenting and can only apologize profusely. I've been working on some community events and have had a meeting EVERY day this week. Whew! I have the next three days off so will be playing some catch up. You guys are the VERY best and I hope you know that. 

Also - On my previous blog post, you'll find a little info on some BLOG CANDY that I'm offering. Comment on that post before Sunday for your chance to win. :)