Thursday, December 10, 2009

12 Days of Christmas Tags - Day 3

All set for the next batch?  With any luck, I'm keeping up with the creating of these.  Hah!

And when I checked to see if this had posted... it hadn't.  So, by now I can say I'm not keeping up and I have a few more posts coming your way.

Day 3 - Tim Holtz style: Listen and Plaid Bird



Tim's did a double tag day on Day 3 with his fun and fast plaids.  Here is his original post.  Now, while this should have been fast, I labored over the plaids.  It took ages for me to get something that didn't look like a muddy mess or that I didn't mess up when I was stamping.  I did this so many times, I was plaiding in my sleep!  But I loved the results.

When I looked for the perfect Santa stamp for my tag, I only had one that was a polymer / clear stamp.  I found it didn't want to stamp easily on the glossy cardstock (hence the multiple repeats).  So, I took a different approach and did this gorgeous chickadee image.  One thing I did different from Tim's tags was to omit the stamped white flecks and add the opaque white pen ink as highlights to my images.  I love the pop of white against the plaids.  And doesn't the teal plaid remind you of a comfy blanket or shirt?  Also, one of the things that I think was a cool addition to my plaid was a "stripe" of gold mixative.  It looks so festive in real life.

Day 3 - the CLASSroom: Botanical Elegance


Lisa Strahl kicked it up a notch with a tag that is like no other!  Her tag can be seen HERE.  I didn't have the right supplies to copy hers, but I had a lot of fun trying!  My deer is a clear accent die-cut, but worked perfectly.  Lisa had also used a Heidi Swapp paper that is pre-embossed.  I used a cuttlebug folder, embossed and carefully inked with a wash to give a similar effect.

Thanks for visiting!
lise
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Supplies - Listen and Plaid Bird:
Stamps:
-The Pines and "winter" from Evergreen Holiday (All Things Considered) by CHF
Ink:
-Stream, Lettuce, Cranberry, Meadow, Slate and Gold mixative alcohol inks by Ranger
-Jet Black Archival ink by Ranger
-Vintage Photo ink, Pine Needles, and Aged Mahogany Distress inks by Ranger
Paper:
-Manilla tags
-teal by Prism
-Glossy cardstock
Other:
-opaque white pen by Inkssentials
-pen nibs, x-mas red Stickles, felt applicators, alcohol blending solution, and fragment by Ranger
-ribbon by May Arts and Basic Grey

Supplies - Botanical Elegance:
Stamps:
-none (can you believe it?!?!)
Ink:
-Tattered Rose and Vintage Photo Distress inks by Ranger
Paper:
-Manilla tag
-White prismatic by Prism
Patterned paper:
-Holiday Collection petite papers by Webster's Pages
Other:
-Pearls by Prima Marketing
-25 Days 'deer' by Little Yellow Bicycle
-taffeta ribbon by May Arts
-Holly Ribbon Cuttlebug folder by Provo Craft
-glossy accents by Ranger

Monday, December 7, 2009

12 Days of Christmas Tags - Day 2

So... are you in the spirit yet?  I have another set of tags to share.  So without further ado...

Day 2 - Tim Holtz style: Merry Christmas




I tried to follow Tim's tag pretty closely... I think it's a good attempt anyway - you can see his HERE.  It's amazing with all the stuff I have in my stamping supplies and I didn't really have the right image.  Again.  Oh well... And Tim outlined this amazing technique of creating a metal rose.  I didn't have his flowers, so I used this lovely flower from Flourishes I'd been hoarding saving.  When creating these tags, I jotted a few notes and headed upstairs... these really were from memory and my own flair.  It was SO enjoyable to stamp!

Day 2 - the CLASSroom: Flakes


Becky Olsen outlined the most amazing tag called "Dashing Through the Snow", which you can see HERE.  I did a simple and girlie version in rose and brown.  While not a traditional holiay color scheme, I loved the warmth.  My tag is very different from Bek's, but it was clearly inspired by hers.

Thanks for visiting!  I'll have more posts for you this week.  I'm hoping to get them all written and scheduled since this has the makings of a very stressful work week.  I have two days that I'll be starting at 4 am (or earlier) for meetings with India.  Good times.

Thanks!
lise
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Supplies - Merry Christmas:
Stamps:
-Night Before Christmas by CHF

Ink:
-Aged Mahogany, Pine Needles, and Vintage Photo Distress inks by Ranger
-Jet Black Archival ink by Ranger

Paper:
-Manilla tag

Other:
-Silver flower by Flourishes
-Silver Lining corner by We R Memory Keepers
-Clear embossing powder, opaque white pen, Tim Hotlz ruler and pewter perfect pearls by Ranger
-paint brush
-ribbon by May Arts

Supplies - Flakes:
Stamps:
-Joyeux Noel by CHF
Ink:
-Versmark pad and pen and Moonlight White Brilliance ink by Tsukineko
-Tattered Rose and Vintage Photo Distress inks by Ranger
Paper:
-Manilla tags
Patterned Paper:
-Holiday Collection petite papers by Webster's Pages
Other:
-Grungeboard, clear embossing powder, seafoam white embossing powder by Ranger
-sewing machine
-jewel sticker by Little Yellw Bicycle
-ribbon by May Arts
-lace by Prima Marketing

Sunday, December 6, 2009

12 Days of Christmas Tags - Day 1

I've decided to join the creative challenge this year to follow both Tim Holtz and Lisa Strahl / Becky Olsen and their holiday tags.  And this weekend, I've had a chance to catch up and complete the first six days of each.

Day 1 - Tim Holtz style: Warm Wishes



Tim's tag also have a snowman on Day 1.  I opted for a more feminine color scheme.  You can see Tim's tag ---> HERE.  Of course, it's funny... I have a bazillion stamps and couldn't find one snowman stamp that was a perfect fit.  But the solid surface snowman from Winter Wishes worked just fine.  What isn't captured well is all the shimmer to this tag.  I painted the whole tag with Rock Candy Distress Crackle paint after laying in the base color.  And I loved how Tim made icicles at the top of his tag, so I did the same.  It's shimmer and texture is wonderful.

Day 1 - the CLASSroom: Season's Greetings


This tag was inspired by Lisa Strahl's tag at the CLASSroom.  You can see her tag right HERE.  Lisa's tag began with a based of Distress crackle paint.  I decided to do the same for my tag base.  I used Picket Fence white Disress paint on the tag and let it dry. Then, I swiped my tag with Vintage Photo... it reminded me of a birch tree / bark - perfect for a little bird.  Since I didn't have the angel image that Lisa used, I decided to create my own focal point from this beautiful chickadee image from Impression Obsession.  I stamped the bird on glossy cardstock, used Distress inks to tint the image and sanded over the whole thing.  I inked with Old Paper and Vintage Photo inks to create a faux linen image.  The tag and ribbon keep with the holly theme too.

I'll be prepping my posts for the other 5 x 2 tags that I've finished... and promise to post again tomorrow.
Thanks for visiting!
lise

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Supplies - Warm Wishes:
Stamps:
-Warm Wishes snowman and flakes (Kim Hughes Collection) by CHF
Ink:
-Faded Jeans, Dusty Concord, and Broken China Distress inks by Ranger
Paper:
-Manilla tags
Other:
-Dymo labeler
-Glossy Accents, Rock Candy Distress paint, Frosted Lace Stickles, plain Grungeboard and flourish, tiny attacher and staples, and Perfect Pearls by Ranger
-Studio paint by C. Hellmuth
-Diamond Dust glitter
-Ribbon by May Arts, wire and tape for a wired ribbon

Supplies - Season's Greetings:
Stamps:
-Chickadee by Impression Obsession
-Vintage Christmas Expressions by CHF
Ink:
-Jet Black Archival ink by Ranger
-Vintage Photo, Old Paper, Aged Mahogany, Pine Needles, Antique Linen, and Spiced Marmalade Distress inks by Ranger
Paper:
-Glossy cardstock and Manilla tags
Other:
-ribbon by Prima Marketing
-lace by May Arts
-mini pin
-white opaque pen, pen nibs, x-mas red Stickles, sanding block, White Picket Distress Crackle paint, clear embossing powder by Ranger
-1-3/8" circle punch by EK Success

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Bouncing with Glee!

What a banner day this has been!  It's not often that I can say I'm caught up on "most" things, my house isn't disgusting (it's never really super clean, but sometimes a shovel is my only hope), and that I've stamped just for fun!  That's right... I actually stamped!  I promise to get pictures up here tomorrow.  I was so inspired by the 12 Days of Christmas tag projects that Tim Holtz (on his blog), Lisa Strahl and Becky Olsen (at Ellen's CLASSroom) are all doing that I decided to do a few too.  More to come...

And I have some great news to share.  I've been chosen, along with 4 other new members, to be a part of the CPS Design Team!  I'm really excited to join such a talented bunch of stamping rock stars!  Seriously... did you see the names on that list??

Thanks for letting me share and I promise to post again soon.
I appreciate the visits!
lise

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Wishing You Well...

Sorry it's been a few days since I've posted.  For some crazy reason, I've decided to take on the 25 Days of Christmas / December Daily.  I think I've mentioned I'm not a scrapbooker.  Umm... yeah... I must be mad.  Of course, I'm already behind.  And it's only day 2!  DAY 2!!!  OK.  Breathe.  Slowly...

I do promise to add pictures of my project, if it's not embarrassing.  :-)

Onto the subject at hand, though...

The vintage / retro art in the soon-to-be released set called Common Cold from the Saturday Evening Post line at Cornish Heritage Farms is just my style!  In fact, my mom had several of the SEP prints framed and hanging in our home when I was growing up... and I just love them.

Wishing You Well



I never seem to have "get well" or sympathy cards when I need them.  You'd think I'd make a stack of them and keep some on hand, since they seem to be the first to run out in my stash.  I quickly created this card for a colleague of mine that underwent surgery and is recovering at home.  In fact, he was a live donor for part of his liver, as his friend was in need.  Isn't he inspiring?!  While the images aren't really surgery related (thank heavens!), I thought it was perfect to let him know we're thinking of him.

I kept the images really simple.  I colored with Prismacolor pencils and only dry blended with a stump to pull a bit of color into lighter areas for shading.  The bolder coloring style seemed to fit the retro appeal and reminded me a bit of the "technicolor" effect.

Thanks for visiting... and I wish you well too!
lise

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Supplies:
Stamps:
-Common Cold (Saturday Evening Post collection) by Cornish Heritage Farms

Ink:
-Rich Cocoa Memento ink by Tsukineko
-Vintage Photo Distress ink by Ranger

Paper:
-Natural White by Neenah
-Suede Brown dark and Kraft by Prism Papers

Pattered Paper:
-My Mind's Eye

Other:
-prismacolor pencils and blending stumps (dry)
-piercing tool and template

-ink blending tool by Inkssentials