Golden Days Art Journal

      Hello and happy Wednesday! I'm back with an art journal page reflecting these Golden August Days, which have been pretty hot here in Reno, Nevada! 

     I took inspiration from the gorgeous August Mood Board at Art Daily Cafe.

     The brown background of a hill was transferred from a magazine using Prima Soft Matte Gel, and was the very first step. Then I stamped some script with the Script Background Stamp from Red Rubber Designs. Wanting to use one of the new Finnabair Stencils, I chose the Oriental Wall, and applied Prima Heavy White Gesso to it. Once dry, I painted a light yellow wash over the whole page with Art Alchemy Paints, mixing (Pure Sunshine, Dragon's Eye, and White Pearl). The sun rays were then embossed with the Rays of Hope stamp, using Ranger Clear Embossing Powder, before painting the rest of the page. But because I added that clear embossing powder, and also embossed the leafy flourish with Emerald Creek (Onyx Frost) EP, it smudged the design where the two embossing powders met. Had I known, I would've just stamped it with black ink. Lesson learned. Lol!

     To paint the rest of the background, I used Art Alchemy Paints (Pure Sunshine, Dragon's Eye, Ginger Magic, and Fresh Orange). Then I went over the stenciling with Finnabair Metallique Wax (Vintage Gold). 

     Some of the bundles of wheat were stamped with Ranger Archival (Potting Soil) Ink, and the rest were embossed with Emerald Creek (Ancient Amber) Baked Texture. The sunflowers were embossed with Ranger Distress Embossing Powder (Walnut Stain) using the My Sunshine Stamp from Red Rubber Designs. Then I added Finnabair Mini Art Stones to the centers with Soft Matte Gel for some texture. Again I used Art Alchemy Paints to paint them (Pure Sunshine, Fresh Orange, Rustic Brown, Red Wine, Ginger Magic, Golden Moss, and Fairy Wings), and went over the centers with Finnabair Metallique Wax (Vintage Gold). Wanting more sparkle, I added Stickles (Golden Rod).

     The tag is made from muslin, and had been in my stash for awhile now. It was colored with Distress Spray Stains (Wild Honey and Fossilized Amber). Then I embossed it with the Finnabair (Rust & Dust) Stamp using Ranger Distress Embossing Powders (Walnut Stain and Aged Mahogany). The 8, for August, was done with the Tim Holtz (Numbered) Stencil, using Finnabair Rust Effect Pastes (Red and Brown) with a touch of Wax (Vintage Gold). The calendar page was stamped with a Prima Stamp from 2009, which just happens to align for 2020. I highlighted the 11th, for my 19th wedding anniversary, with Stickles (Golden Rod), also added to the butterflies and bees, embossed with Emerald Creek (Onyx Frost) EP, using the Finnabair (Rust & Dust) Stamp for the butterflies, and the Be Fabulous Unmounted Stamp from Red Rubber Designs for the bees. 

      Thanks for looking, and take care! 

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Challenges Entered:

Art Daily Cafe ~ August Mood Board

The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog ~ Stencilmania

Try it on Tuesday ~ Words or Numbers

Art Journal Journey ~ Pockets and Tags

The Artistic Stamper ~ August Anything Goes

Let's Craft and Create ~ #162 Lots of Layers

Mix It Up ~ #40 Anything Goes + Embossing

Anniversary Card ~ Red Rubber Designs DT

     Today I happily celebrate 18 years of marriage with my husband, and made this mixed media card for him, featuring some stamps from Red Rubber Designs!

     My design inspiration came from the 400th sketch celebration at Freshly Made Sketches using their first sketch, which I'm pretty sure I've used before, also for my anniversary.

     

     The background was colored onto a piece of white cardstock with Lindy's Gang Sprays (Brushed Nickel, Black Orchid Silver, Tiffany Lou Blue) and Magical Shaker (Stormy Silver). After spritzing with water and swirling my colors together, I let it dry, and did it again. I used the same colors on some torn white tissue paper, before embossing the script with the Vintage Script and Script Background Stamps, using Emerald Creek (Mirror Platinum) Embossing Powder. 

     The heart was a leftover die cut that had been cut from purple cardstock. So I gave it new life with this cool metal effect, also used on the key, keyhole, and screws made from Creative paper clay with the Finnabair Moulds (Keys and Mechanica). 

     The first step was a coat of Prima Black Gesso, followed by Art Alchemy Sparks Paints (Raven Black and Mermaid Sparkle), and Art Alchemy Metallique (Silver Spoon) Paint, letting each coat dry before adding the next. Then I added EC (Fractured Ice) Embossing Powder, also used to mask a swirly heart border along the bottom, and around the card edges. 

     I love the texture and sparkle it gives around the black card base and the screws from the Finnabair Mechanica Mould!

          Behind the keyhole, the recycled netting, and sentiment stamped with the Contemporary Greetings Unmounted Rubber Stamp, I used EC (Onyx Frost) Embossing Powder. As you can see it melted some of the netting, but I still like the results.

     I hope you do too! Thanks for looking!

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Featured Red Rubber Designs Stamps:

Vintage Script

Script Background

Contemporary Greetings

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Challenges Entered:

Freshly Made Sketches ~ 400th Sketch Celebration

Emerald Creek Dares ~ High Hopes #ecaugust2019 (I've always had high hopes for my marriage, and feel so happy and blessed to celebrate 18 years together)

Emerald Creek Products Used:
Embossing Powders (Mirror Platinum, Fractured Ice, and Onyx Frost)

The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog ~ Marvelous Metallics!

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge ~ Add A Die Cut

Travel Collage Art Journal ~ Red Rubber Designs DT

     Red Rubber Designs has a great assortment of travel stamps, which I featured on this art journal page! 

     The colors and bricks were inspired by the Lindy's Gang July Color Challenge.

     I started with some background stamping using the Script Background and the Ancient Map Unmounted Rubber Stamps. Then I embossed the travel images onto white tissue paper using Jet Black Archival Ink and Lindy's Black Forest Black Embossing Powder, adhered with Prima Soft Matte Gel. The Paris Collage and Triomphe Collage were layered together, anchored by the Fleur de Lis, (no longer available) stamped onto paper clay. 

     The bricks were done with a stencil and white gesso. Then I colored them and the rest of the page with Lindy's Sprays (Black Orchid Silver, Autumn Maple Crimson, and Cajun Carnelian Red) and Magicals (Oom Pah Pah Pink and Black Forest Black). The red sprays were also added to Prima Rust Paste (Red) and applied to the bricks for some texture. 

     Unlike the other images, the Liberty one, was adhered over the bricks. 

     
     The wooden embellishments are from My Mind's Eye (Hello World), with the destination arrow over the Tower of Pisa.

         I stamped the Fiore Dollar Stamp (no longer available) onto paper clay. Then I colored it with Black Orchid Silver Spray and Oom Pah Pah Pink Magical Shaker, followed by a coat of Queen Sheba's Silver Embossing Powder. 

     Buttons were the finishing touch, with hand-stitching added to them! 

     Thanks for looking!

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Featured Red Rubber Designs Stamps:

Paris Collage

Triomphe Collage

Pyramid Collage

Tower of Pisa

Ancient Map

Liberty

Script Background

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Challenges Entered:

Lindy's Gang ~ July Color Challenge

Lindy's Products: Sprays (Black Orchid Silver, Autumn Maple Crimson)

Magicals (Black Forest Black, Oom Pah Pah Pink) 

Embossing Powders (Queen Sheba's Silver, Black Forest Black)

Art Journal Journey ~ We're All Going

More Mixed Media Challenge ~ Anything Goes with Optional Pastel

Simon Says Monday ~ Not A Card

Bee Happy ~ Red Rubber Designs DT

     I'm always happy when I'm working with color, and of course using my Red Rubber Designs Stamps, featuring quite a few on this double spread in my art journal!

     After coloring the background with Lindy's Gang Magicals and Sprays, I used Lindy's Purely White Embossing Powder with the Script Background Unmounted Stamp over both pages. The rest of the stamping was embossed with Midnight Pewter Embossing Powder. Then I used the Distressed Typewriter Bet Stamp (no longer available) to spell "Bee", framed with one of the Rose Wine Labels, that I backed with clear acetate colored with Butterscotch Alcohol Ink.

     "Happy" was embossed with the Vintage Greetings Stamp (also unavailable), and colored like the rest of the stamping, with Lindy's Magicals and Sprays. The Beautiful Butterflies and bees were curled for dimension, with some Clear Wink of Stella added to the wings for a touch of sparkle.

   

     The bees and flowers with the beads added to them, were stamped with the Be Fabulous Unmounted Rubber Stamp.

     Then I stamped the other flowers with the Floral Collage Cling Mounted Stamp, to go with the script on the background. The lattice design behind them was embossed with the For Everything Unmounted Stamp.

     I had so much fun creating this happy spread! Thanks for looking!

   

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Featured Red Rubber Designs Stamps:

Be Fabulous 

Beautiful Butterflies

Floral Collage

Rose Wine Labels

For Everything

Script Background

Distressed Typewriter Bet

Vintage Greetings

Challenges Entered:

Lindy's Gang Blog

Lindy's Gang Products:

Sprays

Sidewalk Chalk Flat Spray

Delphinium Turquoise Shimmer Spray

Cosmopolitan Pink Shimmer Spray

Witch's Potion Purple Shimmer Spray

Magicals

Drop Dead Diva Shimmer Magicals

Sassy Sapphire

Prima Donna Purple

Drop Dead Gorgeous Green

Hi Maintenance Magenta

Bling-y Blonde

Embossing Powders

Purely White
Midnight Pewter

Frilly and Funkie ~ "B" Happy

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday ~ Fun In The Sun

Allsorts Challenge ~ In My Garden

Country View Challenges ~ In the Summer Garden

Stamping Sensations ~ In My Garden

Blue Vase Birthday Card ~ Red Rubber Designs DT

     I had a lot of inspiration while making this card, using some fabulous stamps from Red Rubber Designs!

     

     I was first inspired by this beautiful sketch # 126 @ Cardabilities, which I flipped.  

     Then came the vase which was inspired by The Mixed Media Card Challenge #13 to use the color blue, with an optional vase element. 

     I cut my vase out of white cardstock with my Cricut Expression using the Serenade cartridge. Then I stamped the blue design using two shades of blue and the Victorian Embellishments stamp. To give it some shine, I applied the rest of my Glossy Accents, afraid it wouldn't be enough, which along the top of the vase I did miss a few spots. But it makes it look aged, so in this case it worked fine! 

     I also used white cardstock for the background, and started with the Script Background stamp. Then I used a stencil and some gesso to create the horizontal stripes behind the vase. Once that dried I used three different blue mists to spray all over the card. Next came the leaves, which I embossed with Ranger Blue Glass embossing powder, using the Happily Grateful stamp, which I also used to make the flowers. So that you could see more of the leaf design I decided to hand-stitch more stems to attach my flowers to. I added some light blue bling to the centers, and darker blue bling to the punched flowers along the right. The sentiment was also embossed onto blue vellum using the Darling stamp. 

Stamps from Red Rubber Designs:

Happily Grateful

Victorian Embellishments

Script Background

Darling

Challenges:

Cardabilities Sketch #126

The Mixed Media Card Challenge

Love Rubber Stamps Challenge Blog #158 Celebrations
Crafty Cardmakers and More #141 Sentiment

Thanks for looking!

Oahu Blue ~ Mixed Media Tissue Paper Background

     I just LOVE the gorgeous teals and blues in this photo that my sister took of the Hawaiian coast! It gave me the perfect opportunity to get messy with my stamps and sprays.

This month's color challenge at Lindy's Stamp Gang really sets the mood for this photo.

     I started this page by stamping the Script Background onto cream tissue paper using permanent black ink. Ranger's Archival Jet Black Ink works great, and is what I used!  Then I tore it into strips and used a spray adhesive to apply it to cream cardstock.  Next I used the Texturized Stencil from TCW with some gesso. 

     Once the gesso dried, I sprayed the whole background with some Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays. Starting at the bottom of the page, I used Clam Bake Beige and Treasure Island Aqua. Then working my up I used Tiffany's Blue, Delphinium Turquoise, Tibetan Poppy Teal, and Cotton Candy Pink on top. I wish you could see all of the beautiful shimmer that these sprays leave!

     For my design inspiration I used sketch #138 from Sketchabilities!

   All of the papers are some older Tim Holtz (Lost and Found), and the Heidi Swapp tags were a RAK from my friend Lisa. Thanks Lisa! Although they already had the misted look on them, I added some more Lindy's sprays to give them some shimmer. I used the Reinforcers stamp on the tags, embossing them with Lindy's Stamp Gang Midnight Pewter Embossing Powder. I also embossed the Fern Fronds and distressing around the photo with the Background Soup stamp set, all from Red Rubber Designs. You can really see the awesome texture that the Lindy's embossing powder leaves on these Alpha Thickers that I used to spell Oahu. I also used Thickers (Rainboots) to spell "blue" applying (Stream) Alcohol Ink to them. 

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend!

Inspirational #206 ~ Love is in the air

     Love is in the air this week, with Inspirational #206, hosted by Lynda, for Red Rubber Inspirationals! The challenge is to stamp a heart, so I created this card for my dear husband!

     I started by stamping the Script Background onto white and black cardstock. Then I stamped the hearts using the I Heart You set, and cut around them with some scallop scissors. I folded them in half and machine stitched them down the middle, adding the silver embossed buttons from the Sew Thoughtful set, in between. I also used silver embossing powder for "I" and "YOU", which is also from the I Heart You set, and can be found at Red Rubber Designs.

Thanks for your visit! I hope you'll join us at Red Rubber Inspirationals!

Love this beautiful life ~ Inspirational # 128

   Since anything goes for this week's Inspirational #128, hosted by Lynda, for Red Rubber Inspirationals, I decided to scrap this photo of Fanny Bridge, in Tahoe City, for a few other challenges as well.

   I was instantly drawn to these beautiful, summer, colors used for the July Design Seeds Challenge @ Scrapbook.com!

My design inspiration came from this fabulous Sketch # 118 from Sketchabilities!

    I got messy with some mixed media for category 1, for the July Four Categories Challenge @ Scrapbook.com. I started by smearing gesso on the background, creating little waves with a plastic fork, and then spraying over it with some Glimmer Mists, (Bahama Blue and Bubble Light Green) and Lindy's Stamp Gang Spray (Tibetan Poppy Teal). Then I tore around the edges of the white brick paper, (KaiserCraft  ~BaseCoat) and painted them a green color that I mixed myself. I used my sewing machine to create the wavy border, and for the butterfly antennae, which I printed from Swirlydoos. From Red Rubber Designs, I stamped Tree Silhouettes along the top of the photo. 

I made the frame on the bottom, sprayed it with some mists, and then added Ranger Verdigris Embossing powder. I used Ranger seafoam white embossing powder on the So Splattered stamps. The Script Background was inked with Burnt Umber Palette Ink. I used Mini Bet to stamp Fanny Bridge, Tahoe City, and CA. 

Enjoy your weekend!