Gothic Arch -- Vintage Women

Vintage Women is the theme at today's Gothic Arches challenge.

I played around with distress inks for the background of this arch. I then used my vintage women stamp from Queens Dresser Drawers which I embossed in black.

The coupons are from Tim Holtz. The adventure definition is from Michael's $1 stamps.

TMTA

I found this lovely perfume bottle in an ad in a Sunday paper. I really liked the shape, so I cut it out and saved it.

Today's theme at Think Monday, Think ATC was "dance," and I thought my Queens Dresser Drawers stamp of this dancing couple would look just right sitting inside that perfume bottle.

I hope it still appears the couple is dancing!

TMTA

I just happened to have this ticket with a crown on it -- which fit perfectly with my ACT and this week's theme of tickets from Think Monday, Think ATC. Stamp is by Queens Dresser Drawers. Background paper is by Basic Grey.

Happy Father's Day

My Father's Day Arch for Gothic Arch's open theme.

The twine I used on my tag is not only one of my favorite crafting embellishments to use, it's also the most economical one I ever bought. The spool I bought at the hardware store three years ago is still going strong.

I also love this stamp by Queens Dresser Drawers.

Background paper and tag by K&Co.

Measuring tape paper by 7 Gypsies.

TGIF

Thank God It's Friday's challenge gave me yet another idea for my puzzle pieces. When I saw that their challenge this week was "paper rests" I confess I was not sure what it was. Which makes it a real challenge! After looking at some of the participants' creations, I assume it's what I consider paper piecing. If I'm wrong, forgive me.
The challenger assumes everyone has stashes of scraps they keep. I also have a separate box I keep my "favorite" scraps in. So I dug into that to create this piece. I also used stamps by Queens Dresser Drawers (two girls) and Inque Boutique.

It's amazing how much you can accomplish when you are wide awake at 3:30 in the morning -- gotta love menopause! Today I created for two challenges before even getting ready for work. I actually do some of my best work in the morning because by the time the sun is setting I'm ready to crash. It's a vicious cycle I can't seem to break.

TMTA

Using transparencies was a challenge from Think Monday, Think ATC. I used the "smoosh" technique to create my background on this transparency by applying alcohol inks directly onto the transparency and then "smooshing" it with another sheet of the same. When it dried I applied my image (Queens Dresser Drawers) with Staz-on ink. I also found a transparency of this insect which actually comes from the packaging of one of my favorite paper companies, so I added that to my ATC.

Make a Moo

Made a couple moos for the challenge at Make A Moo or Two. The challenge was to use numbers in your moo.

Stamps used include Autumn Leaves, Queens Dresser Drawers, Hero Arts, Technique Tuesday.

Friendship Card

I've been playing around with applying chalk ink onto glossy cardstock which is how I created the background for this stamped image from Queens Dresser Drawers. The rather wild background paper came in a pack of scraps I bought at my LSS. It has a nice felt like texture to it.

I'm really a big fan of stamps by Queens Dresser Drawers. Here's one I had yet to use. I created a background by applying chalk ink with a foam pad to glossy cardstock. Then I stamped my image over that with Brown Staz-On. The paper is by K&Co. I added a close-up of a lovely gemstone flower by Marah Johnson.

Arch Card

The theme over at Gothic Arch Challenge was friends this week which inspired this winter arch card. I created the background by silver embossing some branches (Stamps by Judith) and then stamping a crackle pattern (PSX) in Brilliance white over that. The birds are from Crafty Secrets. The sentiment is part of a stamp from Queens Dresser Drawers.

Christmas Card Challenge Day 1

Well, I didn't bring out my biggest stamps to begin my Christmas Card Challenge (which is to make at least one card using every single Christmas stamp I own as opposed to buying more).
The small angel squares are actually an inchie stamp from Queens Dresser Drawers. They have a line of stamps made specifically 1x1. So I stamped it four times and embossed it in black. The Noel stamp is from Art Impressions. The black flourishes are from Making Memories.

Friends ATC

Friends was the theme for the challenge at Think Monday, Think ATC. I love universal themes like this. Makes it easy to crank one out before going to work!

The stamps I used were from a Stamp in the Hand (background foliage); Queens Dresser Drawers (musical girls and sentiment). The little frame is from K&Co.

Challenges

Three different challenges the past couple weeks from Stampin D'Amour

I couldn't pass up this challenge for a card with a Can-Can dancer seeing as I had this great stamp from Inkadinkado (which I really don't have that many opportunities to use). To create the background for the stamp I swiped distress inks on cardstock. There's a couple of personal details on this card -- can you spot them? You'd probably have to click on the card.

Another challenge, this one calling for inchies again (that one was my idea!). I used these great inchie stamps from Queens Dresser Drawers for this one, stamping them on some bright background paper. The "remember" is part of a stamp from Rubber Stampede. The chipboard book label is from Heidi Swapp.

This last one is a "scary cat" challenge. I stamped my cat and moon on a background I created with alcohol inks. I then layered that on some background paper from Basic Grey (Mellow).

Wednesday Stamper -- Inchies

Could not resist making some inchies for the challenge this week at Wednesday Stamper. I'm very excited I finally found a one inch punch! Those things are not as easy to find as you would think. I used a mixture of stamps here from Queens Dresser Drawers, Technique Tuesday.

The stamps from Queens Dresser Drawers which I used are actually for inchies, so I had fun stamping and cutting those up. The stamps from Technique Tuesday are from a set called Old World which is just the perfect size for inchies.

Smile - TMTA

Think Monday, Think ATC's theme this week was "Smile." Not something that's so easy for me to do when someone is taking a picture of me in my bathing suit, but these ladies seem to be able to pull it off. Bathing beauty stamp by Queens Dresser Drawers; fringe on side by Brenda Walton clear stamps.

Gothic Arch Challenge

It's all about fall -- even the challenge for Gothic Arches this week. This is one challenge I enjoy so much I am waiting for it to appear on Sundays. I was able to make my arch using stamps from Queens Dresser Drawers (dancing couple) which I stamped on vellum and pumpkins and leaves are $1 stamps from Joanne's.

Gothic Arch Challenge

There's a new challenge starting out this week called Gothic Arch Challenge. Really lots of fun to make. For their first ever challenge Nancy Maxwell James has chosen the theme "school days." Very appropriate for this time of year. Here's my submission.

Stampers Sampler

Got my complimentary issue of Stampers Sampler as I had a card published in the August issue. It's one I made for their Halloween challenge.

Musical girls are by Queens Dresser Drawers; pumpkin stamp by StampinUp.

Sentiments are rub-ons.

I also got my copy of the Fall Take Ten yesterday. Even though Kris, from the Inspiration Team at StampinD'Amour had given me the heads up, my jaw dropped when I saw the work of mine they had published -- oh, my goodness. I will be posting some of it later this week. They did a two-page feature on some inchies I made and the cards I made using them. What a pick-me-up that was!

Imagine Bliss

This card started with my ruled paper from Crafty Secrets. I cannot tell you how much I LOVE this paper. It comes in 6x12 pads with 32 double-sided sheets. The collection of papers in each series (there's four themes in all) is just amazing. It's not available in stores, but I got mine at the StampinD'Amour Boutique. Click here to see these paper pads.

After distressing the edges with distress ink I added my stamped image (Queens Dresser Drawers) and inked up those edges, too. I colored her dress in with Prismacolor pencil. I stamped the "imagine" from Heidi Swapp with chalk ink. The ruler image (Limited Edition) was stamped along the side. The bird I cut out froma 12x12 scrapbook transparency I bought by mistake, but decided to cut up and use. "Bliss" is stamped out with my PSX alphabet (one of my favorite alphabets by the way) with chalk ink. I then placed the card against the brown and pink patterned paper from K&Co.

Thrift Shop Finds

Oftentimes I have more fun scrounging around in thrift/resale type shops for card elements than I do at Archivers or other nicely laid out stores. Well, I enjoy doing that as well, but also really like rummaging around not so nicely laid out stores seeking a bargain or some unique item to incorporate into cardmaking.
This card is a perfect example. The manila index card dividers I found in a tattered old box -- which meant the dividers themselves were already distressed!
The small book of poems I found at a bargain book store for $1. What a treasure. Great for copying or using right out of the book. I ripped out the one I wanted to use and distressed that with some red distress ink.
The vintage rose I found as a pack in an antique store years ago. I've used them many times. This one I sanded a bit and added some distress ink to it.
There's also so old tissue paper which I stamped my image on (the music notes and couple). I then restamped the couple and cut them out before adding it to my card.


The couple stamp is by Queens Dresser Drawers and the "Love" is by Art Impressions.