More Thomas Kinkade!

Hi All...
Hope you are all having a wonderful week! As this week winds down, I realize I have far more in the way of Thomas Kinkade creations than one card a day! So, look for "a Thomas Kinkade Friday Frenzy" tomorrow when I put the rest of my cards up. If you get a chance, you need to go to my list of Impression Obsession Design Team members and check out the latest Thomas Kinkade images on both Asela Hopkin's and Debbie Olson's site. They are not only awesome images, they are really well designed cards!

This card was created by stamping the Forest Chapel in Chocolate ink and then coloring the image with chalks. I covered the image with Versamark ink and then used my Deep Impression embossing powder to create the cracked glass effect. Any kind of ultra thick powder will work. After three layers of powder, I cracked the embossing powder and then covered the image with Vintage Photo Distress Ink making sure the ink really seeped down into the cracks. After it dried, I took my heat gun and "erased" my cracks. I think sometimes when you do the cracked glass technique, there are times when the embossing powder will flake off. So, this gave the impression of cracked glass without actually leaving the embossing powder coating cracked. I really hope I am making sense here!!!!

One other cool thing I did was use the Forest Chapel as an actual background for my green mat piece. It was a fun and easy card to create!

Happy Thursday.....

Thomas Kinkade... day 4!

Hello All!
This was one of my favorite techniques with Thomas Kinkade stamps! I stamped the image on glossy card stock with black Staz-On ink, heat set it,and then colored in the areas I wanted to stay white with snow with a white crayon. Using direct to paper, I slid and "smooshed" (dontcha just love the word smooshed) my distress vintage photo ink pad all over the image. I wiped off the excess ink with a paper towel. This really make my white snow "pop!" After that, I used a very pale blue marker to color in some light blue into the sky and on the snow. I also wiped off the excess so that this color would appear very soft. After that, I went to town coloring in the windows with a golden glow. I colored the door green and added the green, red and yellow Christmas lights at the roof line. Don't forget the lanterns! I matted this image onto a light blue piece of card stock,tied a sheer blue ribbon around it and stuck it to the front of a kraft card stock card base! This is one of those cards that looks like it took some time to create---but didn't!

Have a happy Wednesday!!!

Thomas Kinkade.... day three!

Hello All! This Thomas Kinkade technique is one of the coolest new techniques I have tried. I stamped my Christmas Vignette on acetate using Staz-on ink. I then used Duo adhesive to paint the entire back of my stamped image. Then, I let my chalks go to town coloring the street, cars, light posts and adding a splash of color in the windows and in the light posts. Once you chalk the color of choice in the places you want it,switch to Pearl Ex. I used Micro Pearl for the snow and Duo Red-Blue for the sunset sky. After applying these colors, I covered the whole back of the image with Brilliant Gold Pearl Ex. At this point, you can seal it with a workable fixative or matte sealer spray. I didn't however, I just used double stick tape to stick this to a piece of white card stock to bring out the color, trimmed up the edges and matted this on a piece of red card stock that I had edged with gold leaf pen. I stamped a background image from Impression Obsession on the green piece, edged it with gold leaf and then set the entire image on the red card front. It was, believe it or not, a relatively quick technique that reminds me of those gold foil cards seen decades ago!

Thomas Kinkade Continues.....

Thomas Kinkade continues! This card is one of the easiest there is to create. I stamped the Village Christmas Vignette onto white cardstock with Sky Blue Vivid ink, cut it out, and matted it on pearl Bazzil card stock. I punched the corners with the Stampin' Up ticket corner punch. After tying a sheer white ribbon, I put this on the front of my cornflower blue card stock and added some "bling" wtih crystal rhinetones! The sentiment is also Thomas Kinkade stamped in Sky Blue ink.

Until tomorrow!

It's a small world....

It's funny, when my stamp store asked me to do a demo on the new Thomas Kinkade stamps, I couldn't help but laugh. After all, some of my fellow design team members for Impression Obsession, also design for Cornish Heritage Farms! They've been posting their creations with these awesome stamps ---for months! So, it was an easy thing to say "yes" to with all of that creative inspiration out there. I have to admit, some of my designs are "influenced" by things they did that I loved. Other things, were techniques I special fit to these stamps. So check back all this week for what I guess we could call "Thomas Kinkade week!"

This first image is the super easy way to become a painter of light like the artist himself. Instead of coloring on the front of the image, I chose to stamp it on vellum using Staz-On ink and then color from the back with Prismacolor pencils. I found that the black lines on the front of the vellum helped to keep the image defined when adding the vibrant color. I started with the lightest colors first and then shaded with darker hues. I think this technique is an easy way to bring out the artist in us all! After I finished putting on my layers of color, I matted this on a vellum piece onto a piece of white card stock to help bring the colors out to their fullest. I then matted this onto a piece of burgundy card stock. I stamped the word "dream" on a piece of cream speckled card stock, cut it out and mounted it in the metal frame. I strung some burgundy ribbon through it and taped this not only to the back of the card, but used some mini glue dots to really tack this embellishment down. After mounting this to the front of your card... you're done!

I'm Back.... for now!

I decided I have a love/hate relationship with computers. One day, they work. The next, they have you in a half nelson doing a number on you! Well, after rebuilding a hard drive, I have been beaten into submission again and am in the process of computer shopping! Ick.

This week, however, was a productive one for stamping! I had my Christmas Card Club class and cranked out some cute cards with a new Christmas set from Hero Arts. One of the cards I posted awhile ago, here are a few others! Not much to explain here, just stamping and cutting is all!

Have a good weekend!

Rubber Stamper Magazine

Ok, just got TERRIBLE news today. Christine Chatten, Assistant Editor of Rubber Stamper Magazine emailed me this little note....

"As you may not have heard, The Rubber Stamper Magazine has been sold. Amos
Craft Publishing, publishers of Pack o Fun and Crafts n Things has bought
the magazine. To my knowledge, they plan to roll TRS into Crafts n Things
instead of keeping it as a separate magazine.

All of the submissions that have been written are currently being sent to
them, as well as any cards for "future issues." The design team is no longer. I'm not sure what they will be doing with the projects-which are all written up."

If you love the magazine, now is your chance to let the ladies know that the work they delivered for years influenced all of our lives!

Christine's email is : cchatten@hobbypub.com
Jill, the editor, who is just an awesome lady can be emailed at: jwentz@hobbypub.com

Come Friday, these ladies will be looking for another job.
How sad!!!!!!

I'm going to go cry now.
Julie

Off the charts... literally

Ok, apologies! My computer died last week and I just now have it up and running! Promise to make it up a bit this week! They say patience is a virtue. Unfortunately, it's not one I have learned yet. :-) Catch ya later!

Halloweeni-Tini!

Ok, this is just about one of the cutest images for Halloween I have seen! I can see making up invites for a "grown up" kind of shin dig with this one! This is part of a stamp set from Impression Obsession and is called Halloween Party. I used my Spellbinders Wizard circle dies to make the big circles on the front of the card. The little tag is acutally a die cut that I used from Cuttlebug. I love the little space for ribbon. Fun! On the main part of the card, I chalked around the Hallow-tini glass with orange, colored it with watercolor pencils and blended with my Dove Blender. I matted this piece onto a orange plaid paper, mounted this onto a black piece. I used the ticket corner punch from SU to get the little notches out of the corners, then I matted this onto a 4-1/4" by 4-1/4" square card. Done! Hallow-tini anyone???????

Forecast - 80 degrees and snowy!

Well, today is supposed to be one of the last nice days for awhile - 82 degrees and sunny. I thought I'd cool things off a bit with another winter creation! This one was super easy to make and, I think, elegant! I stamped the snowflake (Leigh Hannan, Impression Obsession) in Sky Blue Vivid ink and then brushed Pearl Ex in Micro Pearl over the top to give it a muted, shimmery look. I used my Wizard die cut machine to cut a circle out of the center of the card front, matted it with my snowflake, & added a rhinestone to the center. I matted this on a piece of white pearl paper. The saying was just stamped on a strip of paper that I corner-rounded and matted on a pearl piece of paper. I added a loopy, rhinestone brad with some sheer ribbon & viola... done! Simple & shimmery!

Warm fuzzies....

This card is one to warm the heart on the coldest days! I struggled actually with the design a bit. I wanted those little strings hanging off and connecting the mittens, but no matter what I did, it didn't seem to look right! Thus, the ribbon came into play. I think it works. The background was created with Versamark Ink and Pearl Ex Micro Pearl. I just stamped with the ink and then brushed on the powder than burnished it with a soft felt rag that I keep in my stamping stash. I love this technique for winter cards because it is such a soft and shimmery look. All stamps are Impression Obsession The snowflake is actually a red rubber stamp from Leah Hannon's line. The mittens come from a clear set called Warmest Holiday Wishes and the saying is from a awesome clear set that features only holiday sayings called Christmas Sentiments. It's nice when the hardest part of the card is cutting out mittens!

Off for now! Have a good one!

Funky 'lil notebook...

This notebook was a ton of fun to create because I got the chance to use so many different things/techniques at the same time. This was actually a class I took called "WOW!" My stamp store, Stampressions, has classes for those of us who love the Wizard! I honestly can't remember what WOW stands for Wonderful Owners of Wizards??!!?? :-) Any who, in this class we used the Bind-It-All system, and some Cuttlebug embossing folders for starters. We embossed not only the cover but the matting too. We did some DTP on the embossing matting, edged it with silver leaf and then embellished with punched out pieces, paper flowers, rhinestones etc. I would say, if you are a scrap booker, the Bind-It-All system would be a must. think of how many personalized books you can make... in any size you want!

Happy Monday!!

Hello....

This card is one that I think actually smiles. If you got it in the mail, how could you help not feel a little sunnier??? I love the Mod Flowers clear set from Impression Obsession I have used it so many times, I feel like a complete "groupie" with it! This one I did by layering the different flower elements. I used the Borders set to create the "stems." This is simply the dotted line border that I bent in different directions to make each stem. Don't cha just love clear stamps for that very reason??? I used a scalloped punch to create the bottom border. The flowers were also embellished a bit with a clear pebble, some rhinestones and a punched flower. The words are also a clear set and is called Circle Greetings. Tie a bow and you're done!

Until tomorrow....

Everything's Coming Up Flowers...

This card has been in my stack of "done" cards forever. I thought I'd show it because it really is a super easy card to do. Better yet, if you have some fun patterned paper and paper flowers in different colors, you could really mass produce this! This card was designed by my friend, Phyl, It's done with vellum and a Cuttlebug embossing sheet. Once you run the embossing sheet through your die cut machine, you can accent the raised part of the vellum with chalk. Layer it over a piece of patterned paper, layer this piece onto your card stock card, add a ribbon and this part is done! The next step was to use a pocket template by Spellbinders . This was also cut out of vellum. Make a tag to stick inside. I used a fun flourish to stamp on my tag. I honestly have no idea, however, what company makes it. It was one of those dollar stamps from, believe it or not, Target. The small saying is one from Hero Arts. The flower was embellished with a rhinestone.... and... you're done!

Delivering Christmas

It seems I am really liking the "North Pole." That is the set from Impression Obsession that I keep moving toward while knocking off Christmas cards left and right! This one I just stamped and chalked around the edge and on the sleigh. I used watercolor pencils to color the presents, & added some silver leaf marker on the sleigh's runners. I did add the stars from the set to the red strip of paper using Versamark ink. The other pieces were antiqued using the Tim Holtz distress ink in "Tea Stain." I added some mini gold brads.... and was done!

Until tomorrow....

By The Sea

Ok.... I went to a really cool demo at my LSS. My friend Phyl was showcasing some of the new Hero Arts collage stamps and one of the things she did was to stamp the collage on acetate and then "feature" a photo as a background. Well, the wheels started spinning. You have to capture those moments when it happens! I knew I had one image that would work perfectly with this technique! So, I stamped the Seashell Collage on acetate using Staz-On black ink. I then did something really fun. I took some Duo adhesive and I painted all the pearls on the back side of the acetate. Why? Because when the adhesive dried to a tacky state I "painted" them with Micro Pearl Pearl Ex. It turned out really cool! They really look like pearls. Then all I needed was a sea scene to put as my background. Well, when my husband wasn't looking, I stole one from his Sports Illustrated. How long do you think it will take him to figure that out??? Hopefully never! :-) I attached the acetate to the magazine photo with silver mini brads. Then, I found some fun metallic paper to tear and use as a mat. I took my Versamark Ink pad and put musical notes (Impression Obsession) and a torn canvas background (Hero Arts) all over the cardstock card to add a little dimension. I love the way it turned out. Thanks Phyl!

Ramblings on Christmas

Ok... this is still strange... making Christmas cards now! Anyone that knows me---KNOWS-- I wait until the week before Thanksging and I panic. This sends me into a tizzy with paper and embellishments flying. My husband won't even come near me because he is afraid he'll lose an eye! So, I will sit and pump out 40-50 cards. Amazingly, these cards will sit on a table waiting to address themselves! When December 15th hits and the news starts talking about the "busiest mailing day of the year!" I again panic. Those darn cards didn't address themselves. They didn't even sign my name! So, I remember the old sage advice of my dear mother. "If you want something done right, do it yourself." Darn cards. So, I address them and send them on their way. This is my tradition. Well, this year was different. Thanks to Impression Obsession sending me Christmas stamps in, well, July, I now have about a dozen Christmas samples done and waiting to address themselves on the table. It's kind of fun. HHHHHHHmmmmmm.... Where is the stress? No paper flying. No husband with a hockey mask on. This could be the start of something good!

This card is one that I actually did with Hero Arts new clear stamp holiday line. I love that little birdie!!! It will be a part of a class I am doing at my LSS. It's a Christmas Card club. Yes, me teaching a Christmas Card Club! We're going to meet the first Weds. of each month and make 15 cards - 5 each of 3 designs. By the end of the 3 month club, we'll have 45 cards! What could be better than stamping with your gal pals and getting something that huge out of the way!

Well, gotta run.. a few more Christmas cards await!!

Until next time.....

The Feeling of Fall

A few weeks ago, I picked up this stamp by Art Impressions at my LSS to get ready for a class on watercolor. I spent today painting in the colors of fall and thought---that time of year isn't all that far away! This card was done, not with traditional watercolor, but by "scribbling" watercolor pencils in areas and using an Aquaflow brush to blend and move the color on the watercolor paper. I can't wait until the summer, winter and spring images come in!

T.G.I.F.!

Gotta Have Hope...

Today's post is an easy card idea that I think I might just copy and use with other sayings, colors and ribbon. It was incredibly easy, but I love the result. I used one of the tea bag folding tiles from Impression Obsession and stamped it twice. Once in green for the bottom layer and once in brown for the top. I cut out part of the image, glued it down, added some brads, matted it and then went to town on the actual card. I used the Filagree clear set from IO as well and some brown ink. Then I stamped and embossed the word "HOPE" from IO's word frames set. Put on a brown ribbon & you're done! This is one of those simple "every occassion" kind of card that I'll keep in my stash for just the right moment!

Good News To Report!!!!

The Design Team pages are up at www.impression-obsession.com! It was really worth the wait. Mitra did a great job and I think that you'll see the variety of styles with IO's wonderful images! Have fun surfing!!!

Until tomorrow....

Here Comes Santa Claus

OK, It was 93 degrees here today and what was I doing? Getting a little Christmas in my heart! This card was fun to make. It was from a brand new Impression Obsession Clear Stamp Set full of fun little images! The Santa was stamped, chalked around the face with light blue and then colored with a mix of chalks and watercolor markers. I used chalks to color the face so that Santa wouldn't look freakish! After I colored him, I added glitter to the fluffy part of the hat and was done. The fake envelope was created by just making a small flap out of a folded piece of card stock. The fun "North Pole" stamp was also part of this set! You can't tell, but I also used a background stamp on the red piece of card stock. It's actually kind of a vine-like background also made by Impression Obsession. The "believe" is from a word frames set. But, can you "believe" this? The stamp set comes with a word believe but, I kid you not, I didn't see it until after I stamped the other one. Here I thought I was being all clever!!! Oh well. What can I say???!!??

Until tomorrow......