Kitties up to no good

I have been on bed rest patiently waiting for my twin girls to get closer to their due date and have not been able to climb the stairs to my studio for a few months. I decided that it wouldn't stop me from being able to stamp. I was inspired by some watercolored cards designer Dawn Mercedes had done a while back also using our Here Kitty, Kitty collections (http://starvingartistampsgallery.blogspot.com/search/label/Here%20Kitty%20Kitty%201)

And so here is my first of what will hopefully end up being several limited supply cards. I brought down a pad of watercolor papers, a pack of peerless watercolors, a few watercolor brushes and some adhesives. I think I have some more practice to put in with the watercolors but I did enjoy being able to create again and having so many colors at my disposal in a very limited amount of space.

Materials used:

Starving Artistamps Here kitty Kitty collection II, Up to no good set of 4 images

http://starvingartistamps.com/here_kitty_kitty_2.html

Stampers Magic POP tape to 3D all the kitties:

http://starvingartistamps.com/stampers_magic_pop_tape.html

1/4" Red Liner Tape for the fish tank and the torn layer

http://starvingartistamps.com/stampers_magic_red_liner_tape.html

Peerless watercolors

Black cardstock

140# Strathmore watercolor cold press

Exterior Elements

Stamps:

Juniper and Jupiter's Exterior Elements Wishing Well, Wheel Barrow and cats:

http://starvingartistamps.com/juniper_and_jupiter_exterior_elements.html

Birdie: Antidepresstamps Giggle Bears from Running bear set

http://starvingartistamps.com/ninas_giggle_bears_1.html

Flower Soft:

http://starvingartistamps.com/flower_soft1.html

Wishing well card colors: heather, shamrock green and ultrafine sage for the moss.

Wheelbarrow card colors: pale pink, lemon yellow, light green, powder blue, and shamrock green (for grass)

Backlit Blooms and Primas

Here are a handful of cards I made using our new backlit blooms. I really enjoyed making these cards. Their size makes them a pleasure to work with.

I made this card and the sketch for the September Sketch challenge on RSC www.rubberstampchat.net

Stamp recipe:

Orchid Backlit Bloom set

http://starvingartistamps.com/doodle..._blooms_1.html

Small Hypolymnus butterfly (item# P 4.7)

http://starvingartistamps.com/page_4_1.html

Glitter and Glass Ribbons:

Stampers Magic Red Liner tape (3/16" wide and 1/2" wide)

http://starvingartistamps.com/other_cool_stuff.html

Glitter and Glass Beads Martha Stewart

Cloisonne flowers from Prima

Pattern Paper: Basic Grey 6x6 pad and PTI boxes

Flowersoft ultra fine black for Butterfly bodies

I can't decide which I like better the white orchids or the greens. I love orchids they are seem so exotic and alien to me. I really enjoy working with these jumbo silhouette blooms. They are great for fast cards because they are very bold (see my Make n Take cards posted previously under label Tracey Berkey or DoodleFactory Backlit Blooms) and they are pretty fun to add all the bells and whistles too. You can stamp them in silhouette or use brush art markers on them. I have recently been experimenting with chalks over white embossing powder (cards coming soon!)

Orchid Cards recipe:

Orchids from Prima

Orchid stamp (for stem) from Backlit Bloom set

http://starvingartistamps.com/doodle..._blooms_1.html

Glitter and Glass Beads Martha Stewart

Stampers Magic Red Liner tape (1/4" wide)

http://starvingartistamps.com/other_cool_stuff.html

Pattern Paper: Basic Grey (?) 6x6 pad

Glitter and Glass Beads Martha Stewart

Card recipe:

Gallery Roses from Prima

Rose stamp (for stem) and Sentiment from Backlit Bloom set

http://starvingartistamps.com/doodle..._blooms_1.html

Glitter and Glass Beads Martha Stewart

Stampers Magic Red Liner tape 1/4" wide for flocked stripes and 3/16" wide tape for the glass bead trim

http://starvingartistamps.com/other_cool_stuff.html

How to make the flocked stripes:

Run strips of red liner tape onto kraft cardstock, dump flocking on to the stripes. Rub the flocking into the tape in a circular motion. I usually do a pretty big piece and then cut what I need.

Pattern Paper: Basic Grey scarlet letter 6x6

Lace punch, Glitter and Glass Beads all Martha Stewart

I made the background for this card a long time ago. Then it sat in my studio for months. I lifted the original idea from Julie on SCS. They are really fun and addicting to make and it's a great way to use busy background papers or scraps. Try it, you'll love it!

Card Recipe:

Prima: Burlap flowers

Backlit Bloom Dogwood stamps

http://starvingartistamps.com/doodle..._blooms_1.html

Basic Grey 6x6 paper

Acetate

Fast and Easy Mod Backlit Blooms

Here are a few super fast and easy cards for those times when you need a card in a hurry. These first two cards are sample cards we offered for our make n take in Novi, Michigan. This would also be a great card to do as a stamp club project, it's great for all ages and skill levels.

Stamps: Backlit Blooms Orchid set (my personal favorite!)

http://starvingartistamps.com/doodle..._blooms_1.html

Flowers: Prima

Stampers Magic 1/4" red liner tape and Stamper Magic POP! Tape

http://starvingartistamps.com/other_cool_stuff.html

I made the velvet stripes using Stampers Magic Red Liner Tape then I loaded the tape up with black flocking. Tip: you need to pile the flocking on the tape and then use your finger in circular motions to rub it in. It's really great and you can make lots and lots of stripes. Make enough stripes and you have yourself some awesome corduroy. I use this technique a lot.

I used Stampers Magic POP! tape to pop up each layer of the flower, try this out yo will love how much fuller your flowers look when you pop them up. The tiny black center is a micro punch I bought a million years ago from ABC distributers.

This project uses the Backlit Blooms Dogwood and sentiment

http://starvingartistamps.com/doodle..._blooms_1.html

This next one is probably one of the fastest cards you will ever make.

Stamps: Backlit Blooms Daisy set

http://starvingartistamps.com/doodle..._blooms_1.html

Memento Tuxedo black ink pad

White gel pen

Gourds and Pumpkins

Stamps used:

Gourds and Pumpkin stamps:
http://www.starvingartistamps.com/do..._pumpkins.html

Give Thanks sentiment:
http://starvingartistamps.com/holida...ts_page_1.html

Kai and Cort Tinsel Glitter card

I made the background to this card months ago and couldn't figure out exactly what to do with it once I made it. It sat and sat in my studio in a pile of other background cards just waiting for inspiration. Originally I was going to do a clown/circus theme with it but the black was a little too strong. Today I had an epiphany and this is what I came up with. I really love how this one came together.

Kai and Cort

Kai and Cort from DoodleFactory Ghoulies collection:

http://starvingartistamps.com/doodle..._ghoulies.html

Punches: Martha Stewart bat and rat border punch

Tape: Stampers Magic Red Liner 1/4" tape

http://starvingartistamps.com/other_cool_stuff.html

Tinsel Glitter Martha Stewart

How to do the tinsel stripes background:

Add stripes of 1/4" stampers magic red liner tape to a white panel. http://starvingartistamps.com/other_cool_stuff.html

Pick out the colors for your tinsel glitter. Count the colors so you know what stripes to make each color. Peel off the liner to the tape going by color and add the tinsel. Then go to the next stripe and add the tinsel for the new color and so on... easy and not too time consuming if you use a thick tape.

DoodleFactory People

Today kicks off the release for our two new DoodleFactory sets DoodleFactory Sophisticates and DoodleFactory Cutie Kids http://starvingartistamps.com/doodlefactory_people_take_a_seat.html. To see the full release and find information about our 3 day only sale visit our company blog. http://www.starvingartistamps.blogspot.com/

Images used Build a Cloud, DF Classic Decor, Boudoir, Dog from Here Kitty Kitty bombs away set and Simone from DF Sophisticates.

Images: Daphne from DF Sophisticates and Boudoir sentiments

Images: Casey from DF Cutie Kids and Fence from DF Into the Woods

3D mermaid cards

I made a variation of this card a long time ago. Since then it has traveled across the country many times over. All that traveling had put a bit too much wear on it and I needed to make a replacement. I figured I would share what is one of my favorite "old school" cards.

I also made an ATC version for designer Donna D. She received it yesterday so I think it's safe to share these with you all now.

I think this ATC came out better than the card.

How I made them:

I cut 3 acetate layers, stamped 2 with bold seaweed and one with our mermaid. I colored the mermaid from the back with galaxy markers (they are opaque). Those cute fish are actually polymer clay. I picked them up a while back from Sparkle and Sprinkle during one of the shows. For the last layer of water I used copic markers. The bubbles are diamond glaze. I dotted each acetate layer with hte diamond glaze to make the air bubbles and let them dry. Then I stacked it all up, punched the holes and added the eyelets in each corner.

Stamps used:

Mermaid and bold seaweed: http://starvingartistamps.com/all_things_fishy.html

Two very different cards!

I thought I would share with you a couple of cards I did while we were attending some stamp conventions.

This first one is a card featuring our new Antidepresstamps love bear, build a cloud and our velvet corduroy technique. This was our first make n take project. Everyone loved playing with our new stamps, Stampers Magic red liner tape and flocking.

I made this next one while demoing copic markers. This card features our DoodleFactory expecting Heidi (from DoodleFactory Oh Baby!), our DoodleFactory neighborhood, DoodleFactory hearts and our large topiaries.

Get your beach on

Here's a few more beach cards...

Stamps used: Build a Cloud http://starvingartistamps.com/clouds_8.html

Juniper and Jupiter go to the beach lighthouse

http://starvingartistamps.com/juniper_and_jupiter_go_to_the_beach.html

Stamps used:

Juniper and Jupiter go to the beach http://starvingartistamps.com/juniper_and_jupiter_go_to_the_beach.html

DoodleFactory Tropical background http://starvingartistamps.com/doodlefactory_set_the_scene_1_2_1.html

I had so much fun coloring this buoy background I decided not to cover it up.

Stamp used: http://starvingartistamps.com/buoys_lighthouse_and_more.html

Materials: watercolor paper and copic markers

just clowning around

I had submitted a couple of techniques to the Techniques Junkies http://www.techniquejunkies.com/ newsletter (corduroy and spellbinder mortise masks). Here are a couple of cards I did featuring the two techniques. I used our clown images, circus sentiments and circus background for both of these cards. You can find them here: http://starvingartistamps.com/circus_page.html I used the same stamps for both cards.

Technique Junkies "Corduroy" Rainbow butterflies card

I made this background a long time ago when I submitted this technique to the Technique Junkies Newsletter, which was just featured this month called "corduroy". If you are not a subscriber it is a great little monthly full color newsletter that is chock full of fun and exciting techniques, there's even an online only budget friendly option: http://www.patstamps.com/Newsletter.html

Here's a better shot of the wings in action:

How to:

line up stripes of 1/8" wide Stampers Magic tape on black cardstock, I just eyeballed it. Go from the top to the bottom of the cardstock, I like to do enough for more than one project.

Cut pre taped cardstock to the size you want before you start loading it with your glitters.

To start, remove tape liner from all stripes you want to be a certain color. Dump glitter, flocking, or anything else you want to make your stripes out of on to the strip of tape. Rub the stuff in to make sure its nice and stuck. Return excess back to the jar and then continue to do this for as many colors as you plan to use. (I do all stripes of a color at the same time)

Once all the stripes are done I cut the piece apart to make the various blocks. I spread them apart and mounted them to a black cardstock base.

For the butterflies I stamped (2) of each size. Colored them with copics and then attached the first one on top of the second one. I used Black 1/4" Stampers Magic Foam to keep the wings raised.

Products used:

http://starvingartistamps.com/page_3_1.html

Cethosia butterfly

http://starvingartistamps.com/page_4_1.html

Cethosia butterfly jumbo

http://starvingartistamps.com/other_cool_stuff.html

1/8" wide stampers magic tape

http://starvingartistamps.com/flower_soft.html

flower soft

Super Gary!

Stamps used:

Super Dad: http://starvingartistamps.com/doodlefactory_super_parents.html

Cityscape: http://starvingartistamps.com/doodlefactory_urban.html

Pigeon: http://starvingartistamps.com/doodlefactory_set_the_scene_1_2_1.html

Sentiment: http://starvingartistamps.com/sentiments_baby_.html

Welcoming baby new card call challenge!

We have just posted a new baby card call/challenge, visit our company blog for details on how to enter! http://starvingartistamps.blogspot.com/2010/01/presenting-welcoming-jenns-baby-card.html


Here's my card to get things started:

Close up of faux epoxy letters :



Signature on back of card:

Products used:
Stampers Magic tapes for flocking stripes 1/8", 1/4", 1/2" wide
Stampers Magic foam tape for pop ups
Copic Markers
Pink Flocking
Stamps and sentiments Starving Artistamps DoodleFactory Oh Baby!

New Release DoodleFactory Boudoir and a Sketch!

Today is the official release of our newest DoodleFactory collection....

DoodleFactory Boudoir

http://starvingartistamps.com/doodlefactory_boudoir.html

http://starvingartistamps.com/sentiments_awareness_and_boudoir_2.html

This new release brings us to the second room in our DoodleFactory home series. We are paying homage to one of my favorite rooms in the house to decorate, the bedroom. Here are a few samples to start off your day, look for more inspiration from our designers over the coming days. If you enjoy paper piecing you will love this set. Create mini bedroom scenes by coordinating throw rugs, bedding and curtains. If you already own our classic decor set you will appreciate how well these all work together, see for yourself:

Stamps used:

http://starvingartistamps.com/doodlefactory_boudoir.html (bed, neck roll, rug, phone, nightstand, curtains)

http://starvingartistamps.com/sentiments_awareness_and_boudoir_2.html (sentiment)

http://starvingartistamps.com/house_and_garden.html (suburbia for both the artwork and the window scene)

http://starvingartistamps.com/doodlefactory_classic_decor.html (window, frame wainscoting, outlet and switch)

http://starvingartistamps.com/doodlefactory_boudoir.html (fireplace, fire, books, plant, sconces, boxers and unmentionables)

http://starvingartistamps.com/sentiments_awareness_and_boudoir_2.html (sentiment)

http://starvingartistamps.com/doodlefactory_classic_decor.html (wainscoting, chair, wine bottle and glasses)

This week we are also sponsoring 2 sketches 4 you challenge blog

http://2sketches4you.blogspot.com

We are running a sentiment special and a giveaway for a complete

collection of our Starving Artistamps set Home and Garden

http://starvingartistamps.com/house_and_garden.html

Stamps used:

http://starvingartistamps.com/doodlefactory_boudoir.html(vanity, perfume bottles, stool, and rug) http://starvingartistamps.com/doodlefactory_classic_decor.html (Mrs. Poose)

http://starvingartistamps.com/sentiments_classic_decor.html (sentiment "sitting pretty")

stamps used:

DoodleFactory Urban http://starvingartistamps.com/doodlefactory_urban.html

Stamps used:

http://starvingartistamps.com/southwestern_backgrounds.html (Tooled leather fern leaf background)

http://starvingartistamps.com/flowers_and_leaves_6.html (large orchid)