Published

The new Stampers Sampler just came out and is now going to be a quarterly publication rather than six times a year.  I have to say this issue was filled with gorgeous art!  I was honored to have one of my pieces included, something I created for the Artistic Outpost Design Team.

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Stop by tomorrow for some very exciting news!

Long Time No Post -- So A Long Post

A dreary, dreary March day around here yesterday led me to my local Archiver's for a little pick-me-up.  Here's a few of the things that came home with me:

Love this cheerful paper from October Afternoon!  Just the thing to get my mind off the gloomy weather and onto spring!

I've been able to resist the last few offerings of paper from Graphic 45, but their new line, "Olde Curiosity Shoppe, was irresistible.

This paper from Simple Stories called Documented will go fast.

Two new stamps sets, the one above is a Tim Holtz set which was from Archivers.  The one below is something I ordered on-line, but which I know will get a lot of use.

Love these mini alphabet playing cards from Tim Holtz, too!

Saving the best of my purchases for last -- Tim Holtz' new Distress Markers.  Along with the detailer water pen.  I already played around with these a bit and I'll just say that I absolutely adore them!   Been having fun playing with different colors on stamps -- wow, it's been a long time since I felt like doing that.  They are very easy to blend with the watercolor pen and there's a great variety of looks I think one can achieve with these.  Nice spring colors, too!

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Jacqueline has been showing off some wine labels here son gave her (we should all have sons who bring home stampable ephemera:)    She was nice enough to send me some and so I played around with the wine label and my new Distress Markers to create the card below. 

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Finally, the spring edition of Take Ten arrived recently with a card I had created as a designer for Artistic Outpost using one of their stamps from Huck Finn set.

Happy New Year!

Stamps by:  Artistic Outpost

Wishing everyone a happy and creative New Year!  Hoping this year brings more time for me to create and visit my blogging buddies!  The busy-ness of this past year really cut into that and I miss it!

French Flight Matchbook

A matchbox accordian booklet I created using the new French Flight stamps from Artistic Outpost.  Love these stamps for collage work!

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Artistic Outpost has a special going on now until November 30th!

For every $25 you spend, we'll send you a special gift code for $5 (GC must be used by March of 2012). Better yet! These gift codes stack! If you spend $50 you will get a $10 certificate, spend $100 get a $20 certificate! Remember, in the US you get free shipping when your order totals $50 ($250 internationally). Offer ends November 30th, 2011.

New Stamps From Artistic Outpost

French Flight is the newest addition to Artistic Outpost's catalogue of unique vintage inspired stamp collections.

In the late 1700's , two French brothers, Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier launched the first manned ballon from the from the center of Paris and flew for a period of 20 minutes. In 1793, Jean Pierre Blanchard became the first to fly a hot air balloon in North America, yet another French adventurer!

This stamp collection pay homage to these adventurers.  It is available in both unmounted rubber sheets or pre-mounted on EZMount cling foam and hand trimmed on a clear cling storage card

I created this mini book with a pull out tag from the new stamps.

To see more great art using French Flight check out these designers:

Gerrie Johnnic Lisa Somerville Judy Hayes Lynn Stevens Barbara Washington Stephanie Severin Suzanne Czosek.

Hold Fast to That Which Is Good

A set of mini note cards I made using the new Whimical Melange set and the Typography set from Artistic Outpost.

This is the outside of one of the mini notes. (Couldn't help but add the tiny snap to where it says "hold fast.")

And this is the inisde. I held the two sides together with some decorative tape down the middle.

As today is the ten-year anniversary of 9/11, I think this simple sentiment is very appropriate.

Whimsical Canvas

A simple canvas made using background stamps from the new Whimsical Melange set from Artistic Outpost.  The banner stamp is from that set, too.  Sentiment is from the new Typography Set.

Image is from Paper Whimsey.

This just makes me happy -- and reminds me of something important, too!

New Releases from Artistic Outpost

Wow, Artistic Outpost has been cranking out the new stamp sets it seems at lightening speed.  Three new releases today -- and I am really excited about them. 

Check this out:

Whimsical Melange

This is just one of my favorites!  Can't you see all the possibilities in this set for ATC's, house shaped cards or books, little doors opening as I've shown here to reveal all kinds of surprises?   I also love the banners -- in a larger and smaller size.  I've wanted banner stamps forever, and really like the grungy kind of appearance these have.  I've been using that on everything!   I know this set will get lots of use.

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Typography

You can never have to many sentiments or sayings so I love seeing this new set. Lots of variety in style and font here.

I created some acrylic tags which I colored with alcohol inks and then stamped several of these sentiments on.

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My Favorite Book

 This wall hanging was easy to create with these adorable images from the My Favorite Book set.  The reading themed frame is another great idea -- to use with the quote as shown or insert others.

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For more ideas check out the Gallery at Artistic Outpost as well as these fabulous designers:

Gerrie Johnnic * Lisa Somerville * Judy Hayes * Lynn Stevens * Barbara Washington * Stephanie Severin * Suzanne Czosek *

Christmas in July

Whew!  I just made it -- for a Christmas in July post, that is.   I really love these retro Christmas/ winter images in the new Frosty & Friends set from Artistic Outpost.  I paired them with gorgeous new Christmas paper from Authentique.  If you haven't seen any of these papers yet, you have to check them out. 

Chunky ATC

Another Chunky ATC I created.  This time I used stamps from Artistic Outpost's new London releases to create a background sheet from which I cut the face for this ATC as well as the rosettes at the top.  Those were cut using the new Tim Holtz die.  I also added some of Tim's filmstrip ribbon, gears and spinner to embellish it.

Basically, the reminds me it's time to get my butt in gear and take that trip to London which I've always wanted to do :):)

London Journal

These new London stamps from Artistic Outpost work together so wonderfully -- both sets!  I had fun making this jounal and just collaging them all together.   Above are the cover,  the inside front and then the last page of the inside  Between are blank pages to write on.

Father's Day Canvas

To create the background for this chipboard canvas I started out by layering color from the new Distress Strains from Tim Holtz.  Love these for covering large areas!  And so much easier on my hands then using the Distress Ink with the applicator. 

I added some white gesso over that to mute the color.   I then applied a variety of stamps in various colors of Staz-On using the Generation Redux set from Artistic Outpost.

The rusty flourish was created by first applying some pumpkin Staz-On.  Over that I layered Distress Embossing Powder from Tim Holtz.

Memorial Day

I almost captioned this post "Happy Memorial Day" and then stopped myself.  I know it's a day where people celebrate the start of summer, having the day off from work and getting together with family and friends, but it's more importantly a day to remember those who have given their lives for our country.   (It's kind of like saying "Happy Veteran's Day" when for most  veterans it's a very difficult day.).  

So today is a day I remember someone in my family who gave his life during the 2nd World War, my mother's brother, John.  I've shared his picture here before, but today is the day to do it again.  As the card above says, he is a Hero.

Card Details:  Card created from Artistic Outposts "Heros" set.

Altered Jean Pocket

I've been holding on to this blue jean pocket for a while after having confiscated it from a pair of my son's old blue jeans.  It's unique in that it has a zipper (covered by the flap).    Finally this pocket, some Sticky-Back Canvas from Claudine Hellmuth/Ranger, and the Huck Finn set from Artistic Outpost came together!
.I stamped onto the canvas with Staz-on and then colored the edges with distress ink.  I added more color to the images with Copics.  To ensure it stayed onto the pocket I actually pulled out a needle and thread to add three buttons (I'm not one to sew if I don't have to).  I stamped the word Dream from that same stamp set onto metal tag to embellish the top.
I don't have many little boy stamps and I'm not into cutesy type stamps, so I just love this Huck Finn set.

Flapper Fashions

More Flapper Fashions from the new Artistic Outpost release.  I created a collage background from that stamp set and then stamped on the flappers on an oval as a focal point.  I thought these little art deco earrings I had made the perfect embellishment.

New Releases from Artistic Outpost

These four beautiful plates are being released today at Artistic Outpost!

Gatsby features the main characters of the novel in photograph style with deco backgrounds.
Flapper Fashions is a wonderful collection of "flappers" wearing their fabulous stylish outfits!
Huck Finn is a collection of collage and illustration images featuring Huck, paddle boats his friend Tom Sawyer.
Windows and Doors features some beautiful background and focal images along with lovely sentiments.

All of the new stamp sets are available both as unmounted red rubber sheets for $14.00 or pre-cut and mounted on EZMount cling foam for $22.99.

I created this altered book using the Huck Finnn set.  I never have enough masculine stamps, so I am crazy about this one. 
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This altered jar was created from the Flapper Fashions set.  So fun!

The design team has created some really fantastic projects and cards which you can go see in the Artistic Outpost Gallery. The design team is also sharing wonderful projects on their blogs:

Lisa Somerville
Gerrie Johnnic
Lynn Stevens
Barbara Washington
Connie Paxman
Stephanie Severin
Judy Hayes
Suzanne Czosek

For a limited time, if you purchase all four of these sets, you'll receive a 15% discount. Please note you must purchase all four to be eligible for the discounted price. Simply use the code: GATSBY during check out.

Another Tag on a Tag

I guess I liked my own theme this week because when I started this Alice In Wonderland inspired tag, I found myself gravitating back to this week's Tag Tuesday challenge, A Tag on a Tag.

The sentiment I stamped on my smaller tag (from Studio G) just went so well with my Artistic Outpost Wonderland Collage stamps (background stamps and main image).  I added a little playing card border at the bottom as well.

We all know somebody this tag would suit perfectly, don't you think?

Vintage Valentines

Being snowbound this week -- we had 21 inches of snow here -- gave me some time to create some Vintage Valentines using some of my Artistic Outpost stamps.
I used this little football player (very appropriate for this Superbowl Sunday) from the Cutie Pie stamp set for this Valentine.  I used the word Valentine
from this set, too, and then used a variety of alphabet stamps to create my greeting.

This beauty pageant winner also came from the Cutie Pie set.  I had fun creating a Miss Valentine scene for her.

For this Valentine I used the Tin Man stamp from the Oz Collage set.  I thought this worked very well as a Valentine.  I created a movable part by place a heart over the clock face and then writing "You Are Loved" on it.

Tag Tuesday Challenge -- Valentines

My Christmas crafting mess is still not fully cleared way, but it's not too early to start on Valentines.  So for this week's challenge we will be making Valentine Tags. 
Please feel free to use any medium you'd like or create any style of Valentine.
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I used to love passing out Valentines in school when I was a child.  We'd always have to bring a shoe box to school which we would decorate and then use to hold all our Valentines.
The stamps I used for my tag come from Artistic Outposts Cutie Pie plate.  The stamps on that plate all remind me of the Valentines we'd swap in school.