Tuesday 29 November 2011

Tick Tock by Emma

Hi everyone!

It's time to show you my final project of November and it's been made using some more fab Distress Stains, which until the end of this month, you can find on offer, here at The Artistic Stamper.

So, time to share my creation and I hope you like it...
...and, here's how I made it!

To begin with I dabbed some Weathered Wood, Broken China and Antique Linen Distress Stain onto my craft mat, misted the stains with water and then applied my 20cm x 9.5cm sized tag over the stains, moving it around slightly to soak up all the colour. When you take the tag away, it leaves you with this gorgeous marbled effect on the background. I then inked up the Sequin Waste Open background stamp with the Weathered Wood Distress Stain and stamped the pattern all over the tag. Next, I inked up the clock face from the Tick Tock stamp plate with black Archival Ink and stamped around the edges, masking off the previous stamped image, each time to create an overlap of clocks as a border to my tag.

I then stamped the Mabel Lucie Attwell - Large White Rabbit image onto a square piece of white card and then stamped the same image again onto a separate piece of white card. I coloured both of the images in with alcohol pens but cut around the outline of the second White Rabbit image, which I will eventually be decoupaging over the top of the base image.
Next, I used some Grungeboard to die cut the Tim Holtz Weathered Clock and then, coloured all the die cut pieces with Weathered Wood Distress Stain. Attach the die cut clock to your base image of the White Rabbit, making sure the rabbit is in the centre of the clock and then trim away any of the excess cardstock. Take the cut out rabbit and layer this directly over the top of your first background image, using 3D foam pads for dimension. Adhere this completed section to your tag.
Using some papers from my crafty stash, I made up a rosette with the Tim Holtz, Decorative Strip Rosette Die and stuck this to the bottom section of my tag. I then stamped another of the large clock faces from the Tick Tock Stamp Sheet onto white card and cut this out. Using the hands of the clock that you've previously die cut from the Grungeboard, attach these with a brad, to the centre of your stamped clock face. I made sure that the hands weren't attached too tightly to the clock face, allowing you to move the hands around, so they will always tell the exact time that you want.
I inked up the "Tick Tock' wording from the Tick Tock stamp sheet with Black Archival Ink and stamped onto cream card, trimmed each of the edges to give a banner shape and then added it to the top of my tag.

As a finishing touch I coloured cream seam binding with some more of the Weathered Wood Distress Stain and tied it into a bow, through the hole in my tag.

So, that's about it from me for this month.
Thank you for taking the time to come and look at my creation and I'll look forward to reading your comments.

Bye for now and happy creating.
Emma x

Monday 28 November 2011

Guest Artist

Hello friends

Wow I just can believe how quick this month has gone!

For my last guest post I decided to create a very simple box made out 2 pieces of 6x6 inch cardstock in white.  I scored the card and set to work using Tim Holtz Distress stain in vintage photo, spritz with perfect pearls in heirloom gold. Then using the mini dot Background  I stamped  randomly over the card using Distress ink in vintage photo,
when it was completely dry I then constructed the box.


Too create the flowers I used the Flower Power stamp set, I stamped onto some text from an old book and distressed them using the vintage photo ink.

While the flowers were drying I distressed a small tag, I used the word Imagine from the Journalling words #1 set I stamped in Rangers black Archival ink

To finish off the box I used Tim Holtz Idea-ology corners.
(The keys/vintage buttons are from my own stash)

I would really like to thank Jennie and her design team at Artistic Stamper Creative blog for letting me lose for the month of November.....its been so much fun!
I really hope you like this box, feel free to leave a comment.


Wishing you a great week
stay inky

Kazxx

Sunday 27 November 2011

A Page Turner!

Hi , it's the Chief Stamper here again, and this time, I have a little altered book page to show you. I have spent quite a bit of time this year going back to my altered book that I started well over 10 years ago. I thought I would show you a technique that is perfect for altered books, journaling, and even cards. It is a masking technique, and very simple and quite effective.I used some of the words and saying stamps to mask, and I simply stamped them onto the book pages,

and then stamped them again onto a piece of spare paper and tore them up , so that you have rough edges. You can make any shape you like, and it doesn't have to stamping underneath it.

 I covered up the words with the torn pieces of paper glued very lightly down with a glue stick.  and sprayed with Colorwash from Ranger over the whole page. 

Once the page is dry, over stamp with background stamps in Archival ink, and lift off the torn paper masks.



I highlighted some of the background stamp, and words with a fine black pen. I also used a couple of the stamped paper masks to add dimension to the page, attaching them with screw top brads.




Hoping you have a very creative day
Jennie x

Friday 25 November 2011

Find Your Wings & Fly

Hi all,
Kat here with my 3rd & final project for the month,
The focus this month is still on the very fab distress stains
on offer in the shop for this month only,

So straight onto my creation,
(love the size of these tags)

To start,
I squeezed the distress stains
onto my craft mat, then spritzed them with water
smooched my tag into the puddle
(this technique is called wrinkle free distress)
turned it over & dyed with a heat gun,
I continued to do this until I was happy with the background,


I then went round the tag with
gathered twig limited addition Distress Ink


next I added the stamps
I used mini polka dots & sequin waste open
backgrounds with plum & maroon archival inks


I finished by adding a few swirls from the
with pale ochre archival inks

With the background done,
it's on to the embellishing part,


I cut the cage from the caged bird die
using craft metal & embossed it with an
embossing folder,
next I stamped the leaves on to the metal
with black stazon & cut them out.
I then cut the bird from (caged bird die)
& the flowers from (tattered florals die)
with book pages glued to scraps of card,
I edged them with Victorian velvet Distress Ink
& added some snaps to the centres,


I shaped all the pieces
glued them down with silicone glue,
to finish I added a sentiment on to a scrap of card
& coloured it to match,
I added some fibers through the hole at the top,
& there you have it, another XL tag, done

Hope you like It!
Have a great day, until next time,
Kat x.


Thursday 24 November 2011

Dance Bookmark by Alison

Hello Stampers! Today I have an inky bookmark to share with you.

I cut a piece of Grungeboard, 20 x 6 cm, then applied Distress Stains in faded jeans, dusty concord & chipped sapphire to it. The Distress Stains are still on special offer HERE, on The Artistic Stamper Website. I spritzed with water to blend the colours, then dried with a heat gun.

Next, I used Black Archival Ink to stamp the words from the Journaling Words & Creative Art Thoughts Plates repeatedly down the bookmark, then I inked the edges with the black ink. I stamped the small dancer from the Dance Plate, 3 times onto white card, using faded jeans, dusty concord & chipped sapphire Distress Inks, then cut them all out. I glued them to the bookmark, as shown in the photo, using Glossy Accents.

I smeared Rock Candy Distress Stickles all over the bookmark, then dried this with a heat gun. I used dusty concord Distress Stains to colour some seam binding, then stamped the word Dance with the black Archival Ink. I punched a hole at the top of the bookmark, added an eyelet & some of the seam binding, leaving a piece to add to the bottom edge. Finally, I added some crystal beads to the top to finish.

Thanks for looking,
Alison xx

Wednesday 23 November 2011

A Triple Distressing Blog Candy!

Hi, it's the Chief Stamper here again, and this time, I am bringing you goodies to win, and a little ATC as well!I thought it was high time we had a BIG giveaway on the blog, so I have up for grabs to one lucky winner a Set of WINTER DISTRESS inks!



You can also win this ATC which I made in honour of the blog candy....



I made it using the Playing Games embossing folder, and inked the ATC with Iced Spruce, then inked one side of the embossing folder with Festive Berries, and ran it through the die machine. It has the effect of giving a raised look with the rays of the folder in two different colours .. that is really hard to describe, but I am sure you know what I mean!
I added a little rosette, and edged it in Festive Berries, and painted a Philosophy tag with Watermelon Dabber, and wiped it off a few seconds after putting it on. It stays in the crevices.


A little tiny bit of Bakers Twine, and my ATC is ready for you to win!
Now here is the easy part...leave a comment to be in it to win it, leave one on my blog for a second chance, and if you feel inclined, add it to your sidebar of your blog, and you have a third chance!
I will be picking the winner on the 3rd December, just so you have the inks in time to play with them for Christmas!
Have a brilliantly Creative and inky day!
Hugs
Jennie

Monday 21 November 2011

Imagine Picket Fence! by Sioux Jenneys

It's my final post for November and I did a bit of an experiment...
...so today I've got two tags for you :)


I have to say that if you are undecided about Distress Stains (and I certainly was!!! LOL) then I'd recommend buying the white Picket Fence even if it's the only one you ever buy!! ;)

I've tried to show how versatile just this one colour can be as it transforms any Distress Ink colours you may already have.....giving you even more variety!

Don't forget the Stains are on special offer this month here ;)

1. First I stamped the dragonfly from insects and butterflies 1.....(I love him dearly ;))....in Distress Ink black soot and heat embossed him with holographic powder then I coloured the wings with Distress Ink faded jeans using a cut and dry nib.....masked him and stamped the watch from time and keys in Archival black then coloured the casing with Distress Ink rusty hinge.......and masked that too.....then I inked the two tags with Distress Ink pine needles and aged mahogany....so far so much the same!


2. The masks stayed in place and I swiped Picket Fence distress stain all over one tag...
...you can see the colour change this made below...
...the red turns violet/purple and the pine needles turns a shade of bluesy green :)
I made a little happy dance at this discovery!!


3. Whilst the masks were still in place I stamped the calligraphic mat 13 background in Archival sepia on the top half of each tag and the mini polka dots on the bottom half in Archival coffee...

...I think you can see below that the picket fence one seems to soak up the Archival ink and even that becomes a slightly different colour ;)...

...look at the centre of the fob winder where the original pine needles is still showing as that had the mask in place whilst the picket fence was applied.


4. I stamped the word Imagine from journaling words 1 and the Time saying from time and keys in Archival black and aged the edges of both tags with Distress Ink vintage photo slightly colouring the watch face too.

5. I love that my Distress Ink colours have suddenly doubled overnight!! :)

Go on...experiment with that Picket Fence...I'm off to see what colour changes happen with the rest of my inks :) See you again soon!
xoxo Sioux

Friday 18 November 2011

Imagine by Emma

Hi everyone!

It's time for me to show you my second project of the month and once again, I've used some more of those gorgeous Distress Stains that are on offer here, at The Artistic Stamper, this month.

I chose to make a tag and combined the Distress Stains with another of those adorable Mabel Lucie Attwell stamps.
So how did I make it:

To begin with I dabbed some Peeled Paint and Antique Linen Distress Stain onto my craft mat and then pulled the tag that I made from Manila cardstock, measuring 20cm x 9.5cm, through the inks to give a marbled effect to the background. I then inked up the Dots background stamp with the Peeled Paint Distress Stain and stamped the dots all over the tag.
I then stamped the Mabel Lucie Attwell - Coming Up Daisies image onto white card and coloured it in with alcohol pens. I matted the image onto a piece of black card and adhered it to my tag.

Next, I die cut some petals from cream card, using the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die and using the same technique as I used for the background, I dabbed some Spiced Marmalade Distress Stain onto my craft mat and then dragged the plain cream die cuts through to give them colour. I then overstamped some of the petals using one of the Calligraphic Mat Background stamps, before then making all the coloured die cut petals into two 3D flowers. Next, I dipped the completed flowers into UTEE which was melted in the Melt Pot and once you've covered all the petals in the UTEE, it leaves you with this lovely enameled look.
Using some papers from my crafty stash, I made up two rosettes with the Tim Holtz Mini Rosettes Die and stacked them on top of one another. I then used an old beer bottle top, punched out a circle from some paper off cuts and stuck this in the centre of the bottle top, using a dab of Glossy Accents. I then covered the entire area of the inside of the bottle top, with some more Glossy Accents and set aside to dry completely before adding it to the top of my rosette stack.
To complete my tag creation, I arranged all the elements that I've made and clustered them all at the bottom of my tag. I inked up the "Imagine" stamp with Black Archival Ink and stamped onto cream card before adding this to the bottom of my tag. As a finishing touch I added one of Tim Holtz's die cut flourishes, together with some seam binding.
I hope you like what I've made and as always, I look forward to reading each, and every one of your comments.
Thank you for taking the time to look.

Bye for now and happy creating.
Emma x

Wednesday 16 November 2011

World Tour Tag by Alison

Hello Stampers! I have an inky tag to share with you today. And, of course, I've used those fabulous Distress Stains that are on special offer this month HERE, on The Artistic Stamper Website.


First I took a manilla tag, then I stamped various images from the Ephemera Plate all over it, using Coffee Archival Ink. Next, I embossed it using a Texture Fade. I then applied various Distress Stains (scattered straw, mustard seed, spiced marmalade, & vintage photo) all over, spritzed with water to blend the colours together, & dried them with a heat gun.

I stamped the Round The World balloon & a Label on manilla cardstock, using the Coffee Ink, then cut them out. I coloured the label with Vintage Photo Distress Stain, & attached it to my tag with a long fastener, a sprocket gear, & a game spinner.

To finish, I coloured some string with spiced marmalade Distress stain, tied it in a bow around the balloon, pinned a muse token to it, then attached the balloon to my tag.

Thanks for looking,
Alison xx


Tuesday 15 November 2011

A Quick Distress Stain Card - By Kat

Hi all, Kat here,with project number 2 for the month;

I have been trying out all different techniques with the
fab Distress Stains on offer for this month only HERE

Although there isn't a lot to say about making this card, the technique I used (direct to stamp)
amazes me every time, when you lift your stamp off the image is so crisp & clear.


I placed the background stamp
face up on my desk,
dabbed the distress stains
(Dusty Concord, Peeled Paint & Broken China)
onto the stamp, then spritz it with water
I then layered my card onto the stamp,
& pressed down gently with an acrylic block
I then peeled it off & dried it immediately with a heat gun,
I matted & layered it onto the card as shown in the picture,


I then used the same colours of distress stain to
colour the flower layers, once dry I glued them together
then added a vintage button,
I attached some velvet ribbon to the card
then added the flower,
lastly I added a rub on.

and there you have it!

I'll be back on the 25th
I think I'm going to make another XL tag,
I'm really liking them at the mo,

see you then Kat x.


Monday 14 November 2011

Guest Artist Second Post - By Kaz Hall

Hello friends

Its my second guest post for the Artistic Stamper Creative blog,
a huge thank you for all the lovely comments on my last post.

I'm excited to share with you my next make......
For the base colour of the tag I used Distress ink in Faded Jeans, I coloured two tags, one would will be cut to make the pocket later.

I then used stamps Calligraphic Mat#12 and Cogs background these were stamped with the distress ink.
I then stamped the wings and crown from the Crowning Glory set onto the tag using Archival ink in black. The Slow /fast was stamped onto some text from a page from an old book, I then secured it into place using Rangers glue and seal

I then stamped on a separate tag, The Keep Calm and Carry on Stamping stamp I used Archival ink in Black then distressed using Vintage photo distress ink I then stuck it onto the tag again using the glue and seal.
(The hinges, cogs and wire and are from my own stash)

To finish off the tag I added some Idea-ology corners and distressed some ribbon.
I added some cogs and a game spinner.
And wrapped wire around the tag.

I really hope you like......
I will be back soon,
feel free to leave a comment
Stay Inky

Kazx

Saturday 12 November 2011

It's November Giveaway Time...

Goodly Morning Stamp Fans!!! Tis that time of the month again when I do a taggy giveaway. This month I have made a Christmas style tag, combining the challenge theme for this month, which is backgrounds and also our "focus on" which is Distress Stains.



I have been playing about with different mediums recently and come up with a fabby use for Rock Candy Cracklepaint... all the deets on what I did will be on my own blog today... so I won't repeat myself here :O) So, once I had achieved the background look I liked, I used Weathered Wood Distress Stain to colour the background of the tag and then edged it with Faded Jeans DI. I used Cobalt Archival Ink to stamp some snowflakes in the background... which are from the Tim Holtz Christmas collection sets.



The snow man is cut from the Winter Wonder Alterations using mountboard, which I then overstamped with a sentiment (also Tim Holtz 2011 collection) in Jet Black Archival and then added an extra hat and nose to him that I had coloured with Pumice Stone Distress Ink. The little Ticket is cut from the Movers & Shapers Labels Set and stamped with Jet Black and Vermillion Archival Ink. Finally, I added some Idea-ology Trim and a Memo Pin to hold the ticket and added splodges of Picket Fence and Rock Candy Stickles to add some bling.




To win this tag all you need to do is leave me a comment here... and... if you pop over to my blog, leave a comment there too, you will be entered twice... simples! The winner will be chosen at random and announced on December 3rd 2011 so you will have the tag in time for Christmas. That's all from me... don't forget to nip across HERE to see the fabby special offer ... 20% off Distress Stains this month. Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

Friday 11 November 2011

Happy card by Sioux Jenneys

Hi Folks!

I've got an easy card to share with you today :)
With a couple of quick ways to use Distress Stains (on special offer this month here)



1. I usually use an ink blending tool and Distress Ink to colour any mats for my layers on a card but swiping the stains....broken china in this case.....on the edges of the mat is even quicker!!!

Don't forget to mop up that excess on the craft sheet on a spare piece of card....it makes the perfect starting point for another background ;)



2. Swipe dried marigold Distress Stain all over the main focal layer.
3. Ink up the lovely flower from Botanical Plate 1 using broken china Distress Stain and stamp.


5. Use a couple of offcuts from the Elegant Flourishes Sizzix die and cover with Ranger Distress Crackle Paint in tea dye....leave to dry and crack....always magic!
Then add a touch of diamond Stickles...which I am pleased to say shows really well on this image. :)


6. Layer up the mats....edging each layer with a black marker pen before adhering to the card.

7. Add a sentiment of your choice in the lower corner (in Archival coffee).



See you again soon ;)
xoxo Sioux