Camo Knight

A quick note. I received my Tuxedo Black Memento ink pad from Pez-A-Doodle and had to try it out. I used it on both of these cards. Result? No smearing while I was using my COPIC markers! I like the blackness (as apposed to the purple tinge of some blacks.) and the coverage was really good, not splotchy or light. It worked great! This may just become my favorite black ink pad, replacing my Black Onxy by VersaFine. Now, on to the cards!

I really like this Camouflage technique! Troy was invited to a dual birthday party on Saturday. The party was for a boy and a girl, both live in our neighborhood. So I needed two cards. Since I had already this finished Camo background I used it with this new knight stamp set I have from Sweet & Sassy Stamps.

Stamps: Knight in Shining Armor (S&SS); Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Paper: Old Olive, Sahara Sand, Going Gray; Accessories: brads (SU), COPIC markers, bleach, cotton ball.

For the girl's card I reached for my Dreams & Dragons (SU). It is quick and simple. I love being able to use my Nestabilities to make quick layers.

Stamps: Dreams & Dragons (SU), Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento); Paper: Pixie Pink, Whisper White; Accessories: Nestabilities, COPIC markers.

I just thought I'd take a moment to show a picture of my son today. He stayed home from school because his stomach hurt. Good thing I decided to go ahead and keep him home, he was sick. He very rarely ever gets sick like this. He asked to take a nap, but didn't want to go up to his room so I put the blanket over him, leaving a peeking hole so he could continue to watch TV. He didn't last too long before he was out. Hopefully, he'll be feeling a lot better in the morning.

ISC Tag

ISCC16 is to alter a tag using a Tim Holtz technique. Tim is sooo incredible talented and creative that I am always a bit intimidated to try one of his techniques. David is out of town for a couple of days so I charged ahead to distract myself. I decided to use this technique. He doesn't name his techniques so he just labels it July Technique Challenge. I know I've seen versions of this technique around, it is basically a resist technique. It is the first time that I have used my craft iron and melted the embossing powder from my c/s. I also used some grunge board! Orginally, I used the Ranger Archival ink BUT I just don't care for how it turned out so I used my SAMJ and restamped in Onxy Black and embossed to help the writing to stand out more. Much better! Without further adu:
Stamps: Natures Sillhouette I, Friendship, Marvels of Nature (ISC); Ink: VersaMark, Onxy Black (VersaFine); Paper: Whisper White; Accessories: Black Detail EP, packing paper (to use to lift the heated EP), grunge board, crackle paint; Color Wash: Eggplant, Bottle, Cranberry.

I wanted to try MJ's TechnoStamper's card sketch #40 and decided that my tag would be a perfect fit. I did make this card larger than my usual A2 to fit my tag. For the embellishment I used my CB and cut a butterfly from acetate and used one of the butterfly folder to emboss the butterfly. Then I colored the acetate with alcohol inks to match the colorwash sprays I used on the tag. I used a mini black brad to attach it to the tag. This type of work is so outside of my comfort zone. Now the question is, who do I send this to? :)

Stamps: Natures Sillhouette I, Friendship, Marvels of Nature (ISC); Ink: VersaMark, Onxy Black (VersaFine); Paper: Handsome Hunter, Wild Asperagus DP, Whisper White; Accessories: Black Detail EP, packing paper (to use to lift the heated EP), grunge board, crackle paint; Color Wash: Eggplant, Bottle, Cranberry, CB Butterfly die & folder, acetate, alcohol ink: Stream, Bottle, Wild Plum, mini black brad.

TJ Just One Shimmer Resist

I had made this for a TJ Just One swap. My partner has received her card so I thought I'd go ahead and post it. I really love this technique, it always seems to come out so elegant. Since it has been awhile (and I didn't write down the recipe) I'll have to try to remember everything. :)

Stamps: Upsy Daisy, Baroque Motifs (SU); Ink: Groovy Guava, CRAFT White, Onxy Black (VersaFine); Paper: Goovy Guava, Basic Black, Appricot Appeal; Accessories: Perfect Pearls, spray bottle, pearls, Nestabilities, Ticket Courner punch (SU), Organdy & Grosgrain ribbons.

So Far Away Camo

I have had in mind to try this new TJ technique (called Camouflage) with this new stamp set So Far Away from Firecracker Designs by Pamela (FDP).  I saw this stamp and just fell in love with it.  The set has some wonderful sentiments that allow you to tailor your card many different ways.  Pamela is a Junkie as well and offers a special discount to TJ members, so I jumped on the wagon and bought this set.  Thanks Pamela!

The easy part was doing the technique and embossing the soldier stamp on the c/s.  I decided to layer onto Basic Black and again on Chocolate Chip.  Then was stumped.  Then I decided to go with the flow of the stamped image and round the corners at the top and I put the brass brads at the bottom corners.  Then I was really stumped because it just didn't look finished.  I decided to add the brass eyelets and then leave it alone! 

I have a friend who's husband recently left for a six month deployment.  I think I'll send this to him.

Stamps: So Far Away (FCD); Ink: CRAFT Basic Black, Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip; Paper: Basic Black, Chocolate Chip, Handsome Hunter; Accessories: bleach, Basic Black MARKER, CAD, 1/16th hole punch, brads, eyelets, Detail Black EP, heat gun, corner rounder (SU).

ISCC14

I kept thinking about this challenge. Not real sure what to do with it. The ISC challenge was to use this card sketch. She when I'm not sure what to do I just start surfing.

I was checking out the other cards submitted and saw Melanie's gorgeous card using patterned paper, thinking about the pads of paper that I have hardly touched (and feeling a bit guilty) I decided to find some to use here. I also checked out Chris' card using a stamp from Majestic Women. She did a wonderful job! As I was trying to figure out what stamp was the right size for my squares I kept coming back to this Friendship stamp. Thank you Melanie and Chris for the inspiration. This is what I came up with.


I stamped the swirl from Flair of Summer I onto the patterned paper. The black scalloped squares were punched using my Marvy Giga Scalloped Square punch, then I just cut two 2" squares from Brocade Blue c/s. The sentiment was printed on my computer using Fine Hand font. The embellishment was taken from my stash.

Stamps: Flair of Summer I & Friendship (both ISC); Ink: Black Onyx (VersaFine); Paper: Basic Black, Wild Asparagus (MME), Brocade Blue; Accessories: Giga Scallop Square punch, Rock the Kasbah (Imaginisce), Pop Up Glue Dot.