Under the Boardwalk!

Under the Boardwalk is exactly where I would like to be and so with a little help from Artistic Outpost and the Sound of the Sea, this girl is California Dreaming! OK, I hope this will help cool you down a bit if you are living in some heavy duty heat!! Before I start, AO is having a Dogs Day of Summer 20% off sale and it ends today, so best hurry up! All the details can be found by clicking the link.

First thing I did was to apply some DecoArt Traditions paints to a tag misted with water and then I sprinkled on some Color Bursts and further misted with water and let the colors run together by moving the tag. Once I had complete coverage, I misted a second jumbo tag and then swiped the original tag over this, used a baby wipe to blend and lift off excess.

To finish the background, I used Tim's Ray stencil and applied DecoArt Media Crackle Paint, wait a minute to let it set, removed the stencil and then quickly painted over the entire tag with the DA Crackle Paint. When it dried, I reapplied the stencil and inked over it with Salty Ocean, shaded in Black Soot and stamped the Beach Huts in Watering Can Archival.

The sentiment and sign were stamped in Black Archival and cut apart. The little beach goer was also stamped in Black Archival, fussy cut and watercolored using Distress Markers.

Your visit today and comments are very much appreciated and I hope you are having a wonderful finish to summer!

The Secret!

The first Monday of the month and that means another Product Focus from Artistic and all stamps in the "Verses and Greetings" category will be 20% off through Saturday, August 8th! This also brings on the new monthly "Show Us Your AO Art," so be sure to join in for a chance to win a $15 store voucher, but of course using those AO stamps! For more fabulous AO inspiration visit Tracy, Shari, Gerrie,

I think the Boardwalk bathing beauties were perfect to place on top of this so true sentiment from "Quotes and Quotables" all stamped in Black Archival and inked in Antique Linen, Pumice Stone and shaded in Vintage Photo and Black Soot.   Layered it up and distressed the edges and added some photo corners.

Now for my background I wanted something vintage and a little feminine, so I inked up the card stock with the inks above and shaded as well. Next I applied DecoArt Crackle Paint (thank you Brenda) using a painted brush over the Prima stencil. Once dried, I reapplied the stencil and inked over it with Vintage Photo. This is a pretty detailed stencil and my first time used the DecoArt Crackle Paint and I was pleased with the results!

Hope you have fun on the Blog Hop and thank you for taking the time to visit! Have a great day!

Sea!

Here we are with the fast approaching weekend and I am ready for it! How about you? We will be going out for Super Bowl and that should be fun! Now I am doing a little DT duty using one of the New Release single stamps from Artistic Outpost, "Sound of the Sea." I just think this is adorable and dreamy and this is what I did. Being this is new and freshly inked :-), I am linking this over at Inspiration Journal's "Fresh Start."

I stamped the image in Black Archival, and wiped away the black in the netting and sea shell area and patted on some Sepia. When that was good and dry, using a water brush and Stampin Up markers of Bashful Blue for the "SEA," and her dress, Creamy Caramel her hair and the seashell she is holding, Blush Blossom for her skin. The ocean behind her and the land were colored using chalks. Shaded the edges with Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain. Once I was happy with the colors, I gave a it a spray of matte sealer to set. Matted on black and distressed the edges.

I stamped and cut a second set of Seashells to add a little dimension using Sepia Archival, watercolored and shaded in Walnut Stain and Black Soot as was the image and sentiment from "Boardwalk."  For the background, I stained a piece of cheesecloth using Antique Linen stain and Vintage Photo, tore off a little extra to wrap partially around the focal image. This was adhere using gel medium as were the little tiny seashells in the corner.

This is also being shared at Artistic Outpost, so if you would like to stop by for a visit, that would be lovely. There is also just a wee bit of time left to join in the January "Show Us Your AO Art." Thank you so much for visiting today and I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

TGIF!

Are you happy that Friday is finally here? I sure am! Friday's are now my day at AO and I am sharing yesterday's post over at Artistic Outpost today, so if you missed it you can find it right HERE for all the details.

Also if you weren't here yesterday or visiting one of the other DT members, you may not know that Artistic Outpost is now open and having their GRAND OPENING, so stop by for all the details. One change I love is all the stamps will now come on cling mounting and precut! I don't know about you, but having to mount and cut is really hard on these old hands and I have better things to do with them, like getting inky!  Anyway, stop on over!

Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to comment. Have a wonderful Friday and great weekend.

Down By The Sea!

I was so honored to have been chosen by the DT at Frilly and Funkie as a winner for their "Just Case It" and even more honored to have been asked to be a Guest Designer. The current challenge is "Cool Water" and here in the desert that would be quite a lovely treat! Here is my take on the challenge and I hope you will stop on over there! AND JUST TODAY ARTISTIC OUTPOST HAS ANNOUNCED THEIR GRAND OPENING, so talk about cool!

First I decided I would make and sky, ocean, sand background, so I started with the sand which was masked, inked using Gathered Twigs and then clear embossed. The embossing was to keep the next step of creating the blue ocean where it belonged and for the "cool water," I used Chipped Sapphire and Faded Jeans (worked darker at top to lighter on the sands edge) and again this was clear embossed. The sky was inked using Stormy Sky, Broken China, , Tumbled Glass and streaks of Peacock Feathers. Once I did the spritz and flick technique, I removed the embossing with an iron.

All stamps are from Artistic Outpost and I used the Boardwalk plate. The images were stamped with Archival Weathered Wood and Sentiments with Archival Black and then inked and or watercolored using Distress Inks. Great stamps for Summer Fun, which is the current challenge theme at Inspiration Emporium so off we go.

To finish it off I inked up some cheesecloth and had to add some seashells. Thank you for stopping by today and I hope whatever you are doing, you are keeping your cool!

Good Old Summer!

So is it hot enough for you? Well it is Summer and the temps are reaching the high 90's here and baby that is hot! This is also being shared (my day) over at Artistic Outpost, so if you would like more details and pictures, stop on over and say, HI.

I really wanted to do something to celebrate summer and all it's glory and as luck would have it, Linda's new challenge at Frilly and Funkie is, "Just Case It" and she is talking about one of her 12 Tags from Christmas 2013, but the fun part is that it must have a summer twist!

Linda's Tag

My "CASE" is Linda's tag of Week 10 and my inspiration was obviously Tim's Ornate Frame (Distress Ink no Glitter) and in place of the pretty red bow and holly leaves, cheesecloth and sea shells, a little black "Speckled" stenciling replaced the Holly. Since "Anything Goes" at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, we will be linking over there.

Thank you for stopping by today and I hope you have a wonderful weekend filled with summer fun!

Bathing Beauties Believe!

I hope this first day of April is finding you all well and happy! It is hard to believe we are already into April and that means summer should be fast approaching! And with summer around the corner, the Artistic Outpost's "Bathing Beauties" have a secret to share with all of you!

Got to love this sentiment from "Quotes and Quotables" and when I was looking at these lovely ladies, I thought what a fun combination!

The sentiment and bathing beauties were stamped in black Archival and heat seat. I also stamped the ladies a second time to make a mask.

After masking the ladies, I began to ink the manila card stock (cut to fix a large tag, which I painted black) with Distress inks, Broken China, Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy. A little bit of black paint was applied through one of Tim's stencils for a little extra interest!   Added a little subtle stamping in the background and of course had to flick on some good old water!

To finish the top of the tag, I inked over some cheesecloth and glued down some seashells. The "Believe" on Tim's key is also from "Quotes and Quotables" and cut to size. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is "Anything Goes," so the girls are on their way there!

Thank you all so much for stopping by and I hope you will have a wonderful April!

Summertime Fun!

So is it hot enough for you?? It certainly is for me and although I am staying out of the Sun, I decided today would be a nice day to have some "Summertime Fun" indoors!  "Summertime" is also the current theme at Frilly and Funkie and we are just in time and also linking to Country View Crafts "Summer Sizzler."

Using the cool summertime "Boardwalk" stamps from Artistic Outpost, we decided it would be nice to have a little romantic twist! We started by making a foldable cabinet die cut and cutting out a Spellbinders sunshine burst in the inside for a frame inside a frame!

Alcohol inks were applied to glossy white card stock and all images were stamped using Coffee Archival. The sentiments were stamped on tissue paper and inked with the same alcohol inks.

The lovely bathers were stamped on watercolor paper and colored with Distress Markers and Stains. After I cut the "sunshine" opening, I decided to combine to of the dies for a frame.

Adhered a little dyed cheesecloth with gel medium and added the seashells and the "Atlantic City" emblem, which was placed in Tim's bottlecap die. 

Today was very overcast, so picture quality was more off than usual for me!  Thank you for stopping by and there is still a good week to join in Artist Outpost's July Referral Program, so hope to see you there!

Boardwalk!

Hope you all are having a wonderful start to the week and enjoying the Summer! Yes, it is still hot here and this weather sure makes you think how nice it would be to live at the beach! The current challenge at Fashionable Stamping Challenges is "Mail Time" and there are still a few days left to join in for a chance to win a gift voucher from Flonzcraft or make the Top Three!  My DT Sisters have nailed "Mail Time" with some fabulous art, so stop by and have a look!

And speaking of the beach, I once again pulled out my Boardwalk stamps from Artistic Outpost for my Mail Time theme and it will actually be mailed!  I started by creating an inky background, a little stenciling, Spritz and Flick and subtle stamping of the little seashell.  The gentleman bather was first stamped and cut out! I did first mask, but managed when all was done to get some blue ink on his face! So not cool!

All main images were stamped using Sepia Archival and some were clear embossed. The Atlantic City was watered colored using markers and Distress Inks.  Such summer fun!

Will be linking this us to Lisa's Bloggers Challenge, "Create Your Own Background" and Simon Says Stamp and Show. "A Little Stamping."

I am so happy that you stopped by today and thank you for taking the time to comment! Enjoy the rest of the week!

Distress Inks: Stormy Sky, Peacock Feathers, Broken China, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain
Distress Markers: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Wild Honey, Broken China, Stormy Sky, Antique Linen
Distress Stains: Wild Honey, Broken China, Stormy Sky, Peeled Paint, Rusty Hinge, Vintage Photo

Summer Fun!

Happy Monday to you all and I hope you had a wonderful weekend! It is official and Summer is upon us, well most of us! The Boardwalk girls decided it was time for another trip to the beach for a day of sun and fun! 

For this tag, I decided on the giant size to give a little more open feel! The girls were stamped with Black Archival, color with Stampin Up Markers and masked! The background was inked with Antinque Linen, Faded Jeans, Salty Ocean and Stormy Sky. I also added a few streaks of acrylic paints in the sky area. The sandy area was also highlighted with a VersaMark pen and Perfect Pearls. Bits of Fragment Flakes and Sea Shells were added with gel medium and Glossy Accents.

There is still a good week left to join the Artistic Outpost, "Monthly Referral Program" for June and it is "anything goes" with your AO stamps! Hope to see you there!  I will be linking this "Summer Fun" up to Lisa's Bloggers Challenge, "At The Beach."

Thank you for taking the time to visit today and I hope you are having a fabulous week!

Seashells By The Seashore

Hope everyone is having a fabulous week and doing something wonderful! My hubby had a birthday on Monday and has taken the week off, so I have not had as much crafty time! This lovely "beach goer" from the new Artistic Outpost "Boardwalk" release, is enjoying her day on the Seashore. It is pretty hot here and I am thinking I might just join her! For all the details on the frame and background, stop by and visit me at Artistic Outpost for my Wednesday post.

Through June 8th all Artistic Outpost stamp sets, including this new release are on sale for 15% off, so now is a great time to add to your collection and join in on the Monthly Referral Program as well.

 A little bit of fussy cutting on the lady!

Love how the three little Seashells made such a nice background when masked and stamped individually.

My card is going to visit the following challenges:

 

Bloggers Challenge - To Die For

Country View Crafts - Die Cuts

Simon Says Stamp and Show -  The Letter S

 

I so appreciate your taking the time to visit today and I hope you are having a great start to the Summer season!

 

Stamps: Artistic Outpost: Boardwalk

Postal Die Cut

Inks: Archival: Coffee and Sepia, Distress:  Pumice Stone, Tea Dye, Antique Linen, Squeezed Lemonade, Tattered Rose, Dried Marigold, Vintage Photo

Distress Vintage Photo Stain, Gold Paint

Rock Candy Crackle

Gold UTEE, Stampendous Aged Gold and Silver

 

 

A Day At The Beach!

It is "Tag Time" at Fashionable Stamping Challenges as chosen by the lovely Claire!  The rest of the DT has some fabulous inspiration for you, so stop on by the blog and join in for some stamping fun on tags! There is a $20 random draw prize from Flonzcraft, our generous sponsor and chance to be in the Top Three!

For my tag, I am using the new Boardwalk release from Artistic Outpost, which this and all other stamps sets are on sale through June 8th at 15% off. My background was inked with Distress Inks, I placed a piece of fabric over the tag and with a dampened paper towel, pressed down on the tag to lift off color and then stamped the beach huts.

Used Tim's Pocket Watch die for a frame, which was cut from glassine adhered to grunge board. The gentleman swimmer was stamped on manila card stock using Archival Coffee, heat set and masked. The background was inked, spritz and flicked, and then the beach hut stamped. The emblem was colored with markers and die cut to size. The rusty key is from Brenda!

Now the bathing beauties also wanted to join in the beach fun. The Old Jalopy was alcohol inked on foil adhered to grunge board and the rusted treatment is from the copper fixative. Shading done with Archival Black. Now they wanted to pretty up the beach scene with a little bouquet of flowers, which Vada had sent to me!

The ladies were stamped, colored with markers and cut to fit for the windows. I added some seashells along the way and of course they gathered up some in a bottle to bring home.

Hope you enjoyed today's beachy blog post and I do thank you for stopping by and hope you have a most wonderful Summer!

Stamps: Artistic Outpost; Boardwalk
Inks: Distress; Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Stormy Sky, Rusty Hinge, Peeled Paint, Vintage Photo, Archival Coffee, Black
Alcohol Inks, Blues, Copper Fixative
Fishnet

Boardwalk Beauties!

Oh yes baby, we are talking a brand new stamp release from Artistic Outpost, "BOARDWALK" and it is a sizzling hot Summer beauty! Artistic Outpost is having a Memorial Day Sale and ALL STAMPS are 15% off through June 8th and that is one fabulous way to celebrate the arrival of Summer and the "Boardwalk." The sale price will be reflected in the cart.

Over the next several weeks, all of the design team will be showing off their "Boardwalk" creations, but for today here is the Blog Hop lineup! Gerrie, Lisa, Sue, Tracy, Linda, Alison, Terry (me) Kate.

I told you it was Sizzling Hot and sure to make a splash in Blogland!  For this I started with an inky background on a blue shade of card stock using Gathered Twigs, Squeezed Lemonade, Salty Ocean and Stormy Sky, did that Spritz and Flick thing, embossed with Tim's TF and highlighted the raised areas with Stormy Sky and Squeezed Lemonade.  The edges were then distressed and mounted on black and a piece of black mesh was applied.  Atlantic City ATC collage was stamped in Black Archival using the same Distress colors on vanilla card stock covered with Tim's Tissue wrap and then clear embossed.

The "Bathing Beauties" were again inked on vanilla card stock using the same colors and stamped with Black Archival and fussy cut! 

The "Atlantic City" emblem again used the same color palette, was cut with circle die and fit perfectly in a large bottle cap and a domed glass piece to cover!  Summer fun all the way around!

I will be linking this up to Simon Says Stamp and Show for their "Favorite Ink" and at the moment Distress Salty Ocean is one I seem to run. Although there are many favorites!  Hope you have enjoyed my "Bathing Beauties" and remember there is still time left for the AO "May Monthly Referral Program. Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful Memorial Day for those who are in the US and a wonderful weekend to all!

Stamps: Artistic Outpost, Boardwalk