Tuesday, December 8, 2015

SDC 225; Alpha

Kim is our hostess this week over at the Stampotique Designer's Challenge and is call for creations with an alpha letter made of Stampotique stamps.

My "C" is for Christmas and filled with holiday inspired images.  I traced a "C" stencil on sticky paper that was applied to white card stock.  I used and x-acto knife to create a mask to protect the background and stamped images in the opening of the C.  I left the mask on to color, creating harder edges for contrast.  The images are colored with Copics and layers of Polychomos pencils. 

I thought the image seemed a little too stark on the white background so I trimmed the letter out and adhered it to scrapbook paper.  Matted and framed on cardstock.  Faux gem snowflakes were added to creak up the background and add shimmer.

Stamps used in this card are:
Please join us in our last challenge of the year and a chance to win a voucher towards your favorite stamps.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

SDC224; "sequins"

Valerie is hostess this week and she is requesting sequins for SDC 224!
 
Verbena is floating on a soft cloud with Christmas  quote stamped with Versamark then dusted with a few layers of metallic pebbles chalk.

Sequins are set with diamond Stickles.  Verbena colored in Copic and Wink of Stella pens.

Please join is this week and a chance to win some of your wish list stamps!

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Black Friday Sale Event!

Black Friday Sale Event espires in 24 hours:
Vera Lane Studio Digi Stamps Offer details: Buy two sets in the VLS Etsy shop. Email your invoice no. with free set request of equal or lesser value to: janet@veralanestudio.com
Your free set will be mailed to you within 24 hours or less.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

SDC222; At the movies

Corrie had quite a challenge for us this week. Create a stamped project inspired by a  movie or a movie star.

I had wanted to use my little Phoebe Doo stamp of my precious Labradoodle.  She reminds me of the Old English Sheepdog I had as a child and the large shaggy pooch in the Doris Day film "Please
Don't Eat the Daisies."

I stamped Phoebe with Memento ink on a piece of cardstock and masked the image.  I also created a mask with Post-it Notes to maintain a white border.  Flower Block  was stamped and repeated in the background.   Carol's Flower, small was stamped three times on another piece of cardstock.  The image and background was colored with Copics in a very painterly style and accented with Wink of Stella pens.

The three additional flowers were cut and attached with Liquid Nails to raise off the card.  I used a Copic Multiliner to create some contrast to the border.

The title was printed on my computer and also attached with Liquid Nails. 

So pick some movie inspiration and join us in Corrie's challenge and a chance to win a gift certificate to your wish list stamps!




 

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

SDC220; Bright colors

Carol is requesting we use bright eye-popping colors for this weeks Stampotique Designer's Challenge.
The prompt reminded me of teaching the color wheel to grade school.  I would have children recite the colors in order on the wheel, asking them to go left or right.  The drill would usually take place while we waited for the classroom teacher to pick them up.  "The first color at the top of the color wheel is..."  Once the children called out "yellow" we'd select one student to pick a direction and "Go!"  It became a game to see who could go through the wheel quickly and correctly, hitting primary, secondary and intermediate colors.  These are the jewel tones, the bright colors!

I'm using a 8.5" x 5" Moleskine journal page that has been gessoed and collaged. I added scribbles and dabs of acrylic paint.  Kate Crane's Frock is featured in the layout.  The images is stamped in black Versafine and colored with Prismacolor pencils. I used a Persian Blue watercolor pencil with a waterbrush to add shadow to bring out Frock.

So take out your bright colors and come play with us!

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

SDC218; Blue and brown color challenge


Gez is hostess this week for the SDC 218 Stampotique Designer's Challenge.  She says her favorite color combination is blue and brown and she is asking for us to have fun with it!
 
I always find myself needing a birthday card so I selected this brown paper that had "happy birthday" repeated in it -- snipped that out and set it aside.  Then I went into my collage stash and found some blue tones and scraps to make an interesting background.  Kira Nichols little Owlseeyou image seemed the perfect stamped element to this background.  I stamped him on watercolor paper and used a waterbrush and Peerless watercolors to color him.  I know I have some other colors in this composition but this is my take on blue and brown!

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Put a bird on it: ATC Swap

Vera Lane Studio's closed FB Group is having it's third ATC swap. The theme for this swap is "Put a bird on it" using any Vera Lane Studio images.  We have lots of birds in our sets so there are plenty of whimsical, quirky and fun combinations to explore!  You'll even find a couple of free birds in our file section.

 You can join and register now. 
The actual swap calendar begins on October 30th, 2015.

Visit our Etsy Shop and let your imagination run wild!  Our sets integrate and there are unlimited possibilities to creating paper crafts with our versatile image sets.

Monday, October 12, 2015

Think Pink

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.  October is also the month of my wedding anniversary. 
One of my dearest friends just began her chemo treatments prior to my wedding date.  Her wish was to have her hair and be well enough to dance at our reception.  She did, and she did.

This digi stamp is to honor my dear friend for her courageous fight and all others who have come before and after her.  I hope this confident gal named "PINK" will cheer someone who can use a pick me up or a little motivation.



Tuesday, October 6, 2015

SDC216; Create a tag

Coby is our hostess this week for the Stampotique Designers Challenge and is requesting that we all create a tag.

I love this chubby character named "Lollipop" created by Kira Nichols and thought it would make an adorable tag.

I stamped her with black Versamark and clear embossed then colored with Copic markers.  The tag is made from Dylusions ® sprays and I added some scraps and doodles. 

A fun and colorful tag to hand on a gift bag for most any happy occasions. 

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

SDC 215; Card for a Child


So often we create to amuse ourselves or other adults.  Children love stamping and also enjoy what is created especially for them.  For this week’s Stampotique Designers Challenge I am challenging you to create a card that will have appeal for a child, be it a young one or teen.

I created a card to accompany a travel art kit for a young student of mine.  She will be taking a long flight next week and I wanted to make sure she could stay busy creating during the flight!  This card "inspire" will accompany her gift.

 I began by bleeding watercolors together to create a background.  This is a technique she had completed in a recent watercolor lesson.   I let the wet on wet colors bleed into each other.  The stamps are colored with markers and Prismacolor pencils.  I had another Kate Crane image colored and selected for this card but my dog ran off with it.  Since Frock was also colored I made the substitution.   The other two stamps in this creation are inspire and the flower from Agatha's Flower.  It's a simple card with bright cheerful colors and happy images.  I hope she likes it.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

SDC214; Early halloween

Carol is challenging us to create an early Halloween inspiration.  This simple card has giving me fits -- I have been coloring and fussy cutting all week which has resulted in major migraine and neck aches.  So I advise taking needed breaks!!!

My original card ripped when I pulled fibers around the edge. I hastily turned it into a tag -- which I was most unhappy with.  So with a new attitude and a little effort I returned it to the card it was meant to be, and perhaps this paper back is even a better choice!

The house is one of five in my stitched houses stamp. My Skullboy  is standing behind a portion of Daniel's Picket Fence.  The background was from an exercise I was doing with students, creating dry brush stripes in analogous colors.
The house is colored with Copics and Skullboy is a combination of Copic marker and Prismacolor.
Hope you enjoy this simple composition

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

SDC 212; Use only two stamps

Nellie is our hostess this week challenging us to use just two stamps.  Nellie says she likes to use lots of stamps in her creations.  I tend to use one or two and add collage elements.  We all have unique ways of working with these stamps which makes it all the more fun to join in on these designer challenges.

Even though Toto belongs to Dorothy in the land of OZ I though he'd look awfully cute along side of Nina.  I love finding random sentences in books to work into my cards and this copy, "I don't know what will happen" seems to fit perfectly with Toto's expression. 

My background is stenciled and stitched to cardstock.  Scrap cut into a scallop border and washi tape adds to the composition.   "Just for you" was typed on the computer and printed.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

SDC210; Anything goes


Kim says "anything goes" this week for SDC210.  For this challenge I am featuring two of Daniel's fantastic images Dwindled and Liaka in a somewhat offbeat anniversary card.
Amy's antique description is stamped over a swirl of dried Dylusions sprays.  Collage bits and a hand drawn border is added to complete the composition. "So good together" is printed from the computer.
Anything goes this week at the Stampotique Designer's challenge.  Enter today for a chance to win a voucher for some cool stamps in our monthly drawing.



 

Sunday, August 23, 2015

August 2015 Blog Hop


You have arrived at the new release blog hop to Stampotique's 2015 summer release.  The design team has some amazing samples ahead.  I hope you enjoy the hop.



My little mixed media card features Magda's darling Mr. Owl.  He's sure to be a Stampotique favorite. I had initially made this in a small art journal but decided to turn it into a card.  The wide open spaces in this little guy makes it a joy to color.


From here you will hop over to see 
Coby van Willigenburg  and continue the hop to see more examples from our amazing team.


As always, Stampotique will be giving away a $30 gift certificate for stamps and a grab bag of stamps on two of the blogs-but you won't know which ones they are so stop by and visit them all.  We will pick the winners on our first challenge in September.







 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

SDC 208; Animal

Stampotique has so many unique animal stamps. Jackie is our hostess this week and would like to see us use one in a stamped creation.

For this mini art journal page I began with drips from Inktense blocks. I layered my background with acrylic paints and scraps.  Stampotique stamps used are:
  1. Little bird
  2. Welcome to my garden
  3. Feline
Please grab your animal stamps and join us in Jackie's animal challenge,

Saturday, August 8, 2015

Remembering Lily Blog Hop

Like many of you, I did not have the pleasure of knowing Lily Chilvers, but one could not help knowing of her from the world she created in her art.  Learning of her passing struck deep emotions, someone so beautiful, so young, so creative -- we question why?  While we will never know those answers we hope that she continues to invent and create in a beautiful heaven we are yet to know.
"Hearts to heaven" is my tribute to Lily.  It represents the lives she has touched and the love we are sending her and her family in this tribute.  I think you will all agree that the world has lost a special person and talent.  As her family and close loved ones carry their grief, let us all take a moment to honor her in hope that it may lift their spirits and bring some comfort.

May Lily live on forever in her art.  Sending thoughts and comforting prayers to her loving family.

Today we are remembering Lily Chilvers a truly beautiful artist and soul taken from us too soon.
To honour Lily we are sharing projects we have made in her memory using the wonderful, whimsical and wacky art she shared with us all.
 


Blog Hop List

Laura Holland

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

SDC206; Under the Sea

Kristen is hostess for the SDC206 Stampotique Designer's Challenge.  Kristen says she loves the calm and soothing feeling of the ocean and finds this as her happy place.  I'm inclined to agree that the ocean creates a peace and calm life nothing else.

I began this piece with wet on wet Inktense blocks on watercolor paper.  Then I lightened the color up with layers of Gelatos wiped with a baby wipe.  Amy Wilson Wellenstein's Tangled was stamped on the background with white pigment and embossed to create a dreamy ocean.  Amy's fish images Caerleon and Gawan were stamped and colored with Copics.

Share your version of under the sea or ocean inspired art and have a chance to win a $30 voucher to perhaps some ocean themed stamps in our monthly drawing. 
 

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Simple prompt Sunday; Rotate, flip!


Today I have a teaching moment for Simple Prompt Sunday. 
Digi newbies are just learning how versatile digi stamps can be.  With the ability to resize to customize for your projects, ease of storage, economic sense, digis are becoming more popular.
But today I challenge you to have a little more fun.  Here is a link to my YouTube station where you will see how I rotate and flip images.

For today's image (again please excuse phone quality pic that is degraded by emailing to myself) I am using a 'morning doodle' that is a freebie located in the file section of the Vera Lane Studio FaceBook group.
I duplicated the image, rotated and added scraps and pen to create an address frame for an envelope.

Simple Prompt:
I am challenging you to change up any VLS image with a rotation or flip!  Feel free to use the digi provide in my file section on FB or any other VLS digi.
Happy Sunday.

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Simple prompt Sunday; Put a hat on it

Hat from #Realmen , Cat from #Girlandcatwithpartyhats
cloud from #allthings  (house is inactive)
This is our third Simple Prompt Sunday and I hope more of you will be playing along.  It wonderful to see how Vera Lane Studio sets are mixed and matched to create new scenes.  I love seeing your unique vision, style, coloring and techniques.  From newbies to advanced designers, the learning and sharing that is taking place is really quite lovely.


Simple Prompt: 
Put a hat on it! 
Be creative.  Pick a VLS character or your choice and add a hat, a headpiece, a crown or a bow.  Have FUN and don't forget to post!




 

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Twinchies! SDC 204

I am hostess this week over at the Stampotique Designer's Challenge and I am challenging you to create a set of Twinchies!

What exactly is a "twinchie" ?  If you have heard of inchies it's artworks that give you a little extra room to create -- exactly 2" x 2" of art!  To make your twinchies simple trim cardstock or lightweight watercolor paper in 2 x 2 inch squares.

Sift through your Stampotique stamps and find smaller images or use larger ones to offset.  Pick a common theme and balance your colors to create a cohesive set. 
 For my set I am using my quails cube - a versatile collection for four graphic inspired quails.

 I did the majority of my coloring with inexpensive BIC®  markers -- they don't blend as well as a COPIC® marker but they are great to make the most of your art budget and reasonable to use with children. I added detail with a small point PITT artist pen.

These are fun to create in sets and a great activity for children. With summer months still cooking grab your stamps and some pens and create sets for yourselves of with the kids.

 

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Simple prompt Sunday: Scribble it, just a little bit


For those of you who have joined us last week bravo and thanks for posting!

I stated these prompts would be simple for a creative quick fix.  Sometimes simple is hard -- does that make sense?  I heard some apologies out there. It's O.K. -- we are just having fun, right?

But today's prompt IS simple.

If you read the title you are probably now humming that obnoxious silly song that it's a near rip off from.  Let's scribble it.  Just a little bit.

Simple prompt:  Scribble a background for a tag.  Attach ONE Vera Lane Studio image of your choice and snap a pic.  Post it on our group page and mention what you liked or didn't like about the challenge.

I love to scribble. Pencil is my favorite media to scribble in but you can experiment.  I like to think of random thoughts or ideas and just let my hand move swiftly --- if words make no sense it doesn't matter, it's not meant to be read. Scribbles create a great visual texture and is a nice complement to a graphic image.

You can take it up a notch, scribble over Gesso and add a little colored media.  Or Gesso over your scribble to expose a tad of texture underneath.  Splash it with watercolor, color with Inktense and drip water on it, smear some Gelatos with baby wipes.  Play!  Invent! 

The image in my sample is from Buds and Birds.  It's a seven image digi stamp set with a couple of whimsical birds, a flower (as shown), a sun image (which can also be used as a flower) and a couple of sentiments.  As with all my sets images can be used together or alone.  Vera versatility!

 You never know when you need to pop a colorful and arty tag to a gift bag, bottle or wine, or cellophane bag of home baked goods.  So scribble, and make someone happy.

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Simple prompt Sunday; 5, 5, 5


from Good to be home set

Welcome to Simple Prompt Sunday.   Need a little art fix but don't have the time?  Join Vera Lane Studio Digi Stamps in a quick little layout.  You never know when it becomes that perfect little card to cheer someone's day.
PROMPT:  5-5-5
Since today is the 5th of July you will create a 5 x 5 card with FIVE elements. ONE must be a VLS digi stamp and FOUR must be random scraps from your stash.  Try not to cut anything.  You may have scraps or even tags that are precut, but the task is to find "as is" and arrange. 
Please post your creation to our FaceBook page and hashtag the set you used.
Have a happy Sunday!

Friday, July 3, 2015

A mother's love

New and improved!

"A mother's love" now has a son.  A mother-son image and single boy has been added to the set.  

Our BOGO offer in our Etsy shop ends July 4th.  Our sets are affordably priced (cheaper than greeting card), versatile, and often with sentiments. 
 

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

SDC 202; Use ribbon!

Corrie is hostess this week over at the Stampotique Designer's challenge and the topic of the week is "ribbons."
Incorporate some ribbon in your stamped project and enter your creation for our monthly drawing to win a $30.00 voucher to some stamps of your choice.

When I saw this challenge I immediately thought about making muslin ribbons dyed with Inktense® blocks.  I tore fabric into strips and wet them then applied color and pressed and twisted the fabric.

My background is a combination of sprays, Gelatos® and scribbles.  I stitched the fabric ribbons with a textured ribbon for the bottom of the card.  The Tweedles were stamped and clear embossed then colored with Copics®.  I wanted to dress them in swimsuits so I trimmed the image and drew new outfits.  "Marco and Polo" are placed in clip art speech bubbles printed from Microsoft Word®.  I added scraps dots and doodles.
Hope it gives you a giggle.

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

200th challenge celebration

Kim is hostess this week and is challenging us to celebrate!  That's right -- we are in our 200th challenge with the Stampotique Design Team!  This week we are creating an anniversary or best wishes card or project.

My entry for this week is celebration card revisiting my favorite  Beauties stamp.  This week I began with a watercolor card and blended Gelatos.  I added paint, paint pens, pencil, and scraps.  "Party" is printed from the computer. The "Beauties" are stamped and embossed with a touch of Copic coloring.  Party hats are added prior to mounting on foam to stand above the background.

To mark the 200th Challenge on Wednesday, Arwen is giving away her Goth Tiered Cake and her creation!

So create a celebration project of some kind and enter it for our monthly drawing for a $30.00 gift voucher for some great stamps from Stampotique and or a treat from Arwen!

Monday, June 15, 2015

Leading ladies

 Happy Monday!

Two new sets are live in the Vera Lane Studio Etsy shop!
"Queen of Hearts" and "Coyoacan".

These two sets are are in 300 dpi png format but are available in jpeg by request for tablet users.  The Queens scepter and dagger are designed to fit over the hand. Reverse the images and they can adapt to either the left or right -- use together, alone or without.  "Queen of Hearts" can be used with the other creepy Wonderland characters from Vera Lane Studios.

The Latina Collection is inspired by  a memorable summer living in Cuernavaca using it as a home base to travel.  Coyoacan is a beautiful village and home of Casa Azul, Frida Khalo's home.  This four image digi set is inspired by her love of animals. 


Both sets are open to your interpretation with your paper craft and coloring skills.  Use Vera Lane Studio versatile sets for your art journals, cards, ATCs and more.














 

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Favorite Stamp SDC198

Gez is hostess this week at the Stampotique Designer's Challenge and she is requesting creating with your favorite stamp.

I actually don't have a single favorite but this is one of them.  I love this because the pretty lady second from the left is my mom and I am missing her terribly this week.

The stamp is called "Beauties" (9127).  I stamped the image on cardstock and pasted with notebook scrap over a Gelli® print, stitched and painted a border.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Tin is in! SDC197

I'm hostess this week for the SDC197 challenge.  I am challenging you to use some form of tin in your artwork.  Consider incorporating craft tin, tin tape, an Altoid container, a repurposed tin can or any tin object to incorporate with your stamping.
Put on your "tinking" caps and join us in this challenge to have a chance to win some Stampotique stamps.

 My entry for this tin challenge is an assemblage art doll that I created for a friend.  I've included a variety of tin objects and three Stampotique stamps.

I began with a block of wood.  I cut a paint brush and a couple of chopsticks for limps and painted them accordingly with acrylics.  I added beads and a hand painted tin hand from Oaxaca Mexico.  I applied metal tape to one side of the doll that is buffed with Stazon ink. 

Amy Wilson Wellenstein "Femme Collage"  provides inspiration for the face. The image is glued behind the glass lid of a tin container.   Amy's "wish" stamp is stamped on tin scrap with Stazon and nailed to the wooden base.  A tin heart is glued in place.   My collage definition stamp is used to add a little texture to the doll's edge.  I predrilled small holes to accommodate wire attachments for limbs glued with E600.  I used to make assemblage
dolls with my fifth grade students.  It was fun to revisit this project with the addition of Stampotique stamps.

I hope your enjoy my tinny challenge!

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Stencils; SDC194

Corrie is hostess this week at the Stampotique Designer's Challenge and her request is to use stencils.  There are so many fun ones out on the market and I have also enjoyed making my own.

In this sample I used  Crafter's Workshop mini tile stencil and the edge from Dyan Reaveley's Dylusions Stencil,  Number Jumble  with acrylic paints on my Gelli Plate® printed onto deli paper.  
I cropped the deli paper and stitched it in place for my background on white cardstock.  I stamped my 2 nuage image and Roc's scalloped lace border on scrapbook paper.   One house of my stitched houses is stamped and colored with Copics. Midge is stamped on paint spattered paper.  Images are mounted with silicone dots. I used Posca and PITT pens to handwrite "hello."

Grab your stencils and join us this week.  Looking forward to seeing your submissions. 

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Springs for Spring! SDC192

Our first week of Spring is here and our SDC192 design hostess Valerie has requested we incorporate some kind of spring in our work! 

What could be more springy than creating a garden muse!
I began with a spring door stop and a piece of Gelli printed canvas.  I stamped the canvas with France's Vintage Bill and Ticket to Paris.

Fleur de Girl was stamped, colored, cut and clear embossed and attached to spring.  The canvas is stitched into a sleeve and filled with rice to give it weight and substance to stand.

I added eyelashes with my PITT pen to make her a little extra girly. 

So get springy and have a chance to win some of our terrific hand crafted rubber stamps.
 

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Lilacs for Sunday


Brought out some of the Fleur de Girls to play with.  Here's Lilac -- I stamped her with black Versafine on watercolor paper.  I painted her with a combination of children's watercolors and Peerless. 

I used a black liquid stylist pen to add the quote.  And it needed something.

I guess I must have been day dreaming because I got caught up in doodling and my XS Pitt pen wound up traveling all over the surface. 

If you are not familiar with the collection over at Stampotique there is an entire garden of whimsical "fleur" girls with quotes, backgrounds and accents.  Perfect for spring. Or anytime.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Stitches! SDC190

Coby is our design hostess this week at the Stampotique Designers Challenge #190 and the call is for stitches. 

I love to use a sewing machine for stitching my cards but I also like creating a faux stitch with my Pitt pens.  For this challenge I had taken some watercolor waste scraps that were trimmed on the paper cutter and machine stitched for my background.

My newest stamps, crowd and birch tree were arranged on top of the staggered stitched scraps.  The quote was printed from the computer and a Pitt pen boarder added.  BIC wite-out was dotted to create a sense of falling snow.  A tag from my husband's dry-cleaning seemed to display cool temperatures that many are wanting to warm up.

You have a chance to win a $30.00 credit for stamps from Stampotique so why not hop over and join us and start stitching!

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Welcome to my lovely garden...

Pandora is the newest character to appear on Vera Lane.  She comes with three flower stamps and a flying bird stamp image. 

Scale the digi images up or down for your paper craft needs.  Make thank you cards, birthday, or just a cheery hello.  The versatile image set can be used for your own interpretation.  Use for ATCs or your personal art journal. 

This digi set is available now for instant download.  Check out this set and others at the Vera Lane Studio Etsy shop today!

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Favorite background technique; SDC188

Nellie is hostess this week at the Stampotique Designer's Challenge.  Show us your favorite background technique and get a chance to win some of our lovely deeply etched stamps. 

My favorite background is anything mixed media.  For today's card I begin with gesso, scraped painted with a spend gift card, then  added bits of collage scraps.  I like to add pencil scribble and doodles.  Here I'm using Roc's bunny , my mini cube and collage definition.  Roc's bunny is paper pieced with acrylic detail.
I like the play of random and creating asymmetrical balance.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Neon card with homemade washi tape


Astrid is over at the Stampotique Designer's Challenge this week requesting the use of neon colors.  While it's not typical to use neon in my images, I do like to use it to add a punch in my backgrounds. 
This cards features "Peace and Love" from artist Kate Crane.
I hand wrote one of my favorite quotes with black gel pen, accented with white Signo. The top and bottom of the card has my homemade washi tape.

I had made a pile of gelli prints and the back of this card is made from the "waste" roll-out paint in-between prints.  While I had the colors out I also created very fast and funky washi tape using Micropore surgical tape. 
Here is a quick tutorial. 
You'll  need:
Micropore surgical tape, assorted acrylic paints, sheet of glass, Stampotique texture and text stamps, Stazon black pad,  shiny paper (freezer paper will work)


  1. Apply strips of tape to glass
  2. Select about three colors and smear on tape with fingertip.  Dry.
  3. Stamp randomly.
  4. Accent with white paint
  5. Store on freezer paper or other shiny paper.
  6. Use on future projects.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Stars! SDC 186

Our design hostess Carol is asking for us to feature stars this week.  I created a painterly background and added my stars with white Gelly Roll pen.  My starry night hangs above three of my stitched houses stamp.  My "Small homes" quote is stamped with black Versamark and clear embossed.

A scalloped cloud is cut from whitewashed book text.  Scraps and stitching complete the composition.

So stamp or draw your stars in a Stampotique featured composition and have a chance to win $30 credit in the Stampotique online shop.
 

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Wearing hats


Much of my inspiration comes from my years working with children.
One of my favorite lessons for my fifth graders were Modigliani portraits.  Students learned to exaggerate proportions with elongated necks and faces, often giving a lyrical tilt.  The digi stamp set, "Ladies who lunch"  come right from my lesson plan journal. 

The digi ladies are designed to wear their own personal hats.  With a little resizing, the hats can be customized to swap with any of the ladies in the set.  While none of these digi hats have the couture look a  Phillip Treacy , I found some of his quotes appropriate for some simple card and tag designs.

Fast Art Doll:  The image on the left is a quick art doll.  I painted some canvas, cut into a rectangle and sewed in an oval base.  It sewed quickly on machine but you can use hand stitching as well.  The body is filled with rice and the digi image (sized, colored and trimmed) is tucked in the opening and stapled shut.  Obscure staple with fabric, a ribbon or button.  How fun to create a set of tall and short ladies?

Reverse image, different hat:  The image on the right shows the same figure.  One is in reverse and pulled slightly to create a wider face.  Hats are adjusted to fit.  Their dress tops are paper pieced.  Just another way to play with this versatile digital stamp set.  Use the ladies with or without hats, swap them out, use the ladies together or alone,

This set and other images are available in my Etsy shop for instant download.  The six digi stamps are downloaded in 300dpi png format and will be clear of watermarks.  They are designed for unlimited personal use.
So make some cards and tags for the ladies and perhaps try some fast art dolls.

Thanks for taking a look!

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Bring on the sunshine! SDC 184

Our designer hostess this week is Kaz.  Brrrrrr... she says, living in the UK.  She has requested we being a little Stampotique sunshine to her with a "Bring me sunshine" theme.   So lets sunny up her days and also get a chance to win some lovely Stampotique stamps!

This theme makes me think of my friends and family in NYC.  It's been cold and they have been hit hard with snow.  So I used my NYNY! stamp and little taxi to create a bright and sunny NYC.

The city stamp was repeated and trimmed to create a 3-D layered city.  I stamped with Versafine onyx black and embossed.  Peerless watercolors and a waterbrush were used to color the images.

My background is layers of paint and collage scraps.  A piece of washi tape creates a street for the taxi to drive on.



  

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Stampotique 2015 New Image Blog Hop!

 Clock ShopBirch Tree,woman with dog from Crowd image
 
Today we are so excited about the new release for Stampotique Originals!!!  We've been keeping it under wraps for weeks now, but know that some of you got a sneak at one of our new stamp artists.  

Stampotique is thrilled to add to the line-up the designs one of our former team members and popular mixed media artist, Kate Crane (is that squealing we hear amongst you?).  We know you all won't be disappointed with the line-up of stamps from all our artists this go around.

Are you ready to see some wonderful artwork showcasing some of the new stamps?  There are 50+ new ones being released this time around, so plenty for everyone to choose from (or choose them all).

Hop along with the design team and 2 special guest bloggers leaving comments along the way.  We will choose 3 random winners from 3 selected blogs along the way to win some goodies.
 
We will choose our winners with our next challenge on February 25th.

You should have arrived here from the Stampotique Designer's Challenge blog. Your next stop along the way will be Coby vanWilligenburg.  If you get lost anywhere along the way you can come back to the Stampotique Designer's Challenge blog to find your way.

You are here now  Janet Klein

Hope you enjoy all the design team creations, 
we can't wait to hear what your favorite new stamps are!