Beginnings: My first design for Flossie Scrapper and some thoughts.

Hello again:

I have been working away on my first project for Flossie Scrapper.  It is a mixed media canvas with a coffee theme.  I am starting out the video with a discussion as to how I come up with theme and color scheme.  That first step in creating is often the most difficult.  So here are a few of my thoughts.

I start with a theme or an idea.  It can come from a stamp or theme that I recently have noticed and upsurge in or one that I am attracted to, say elephants.  Or more than not, as I am wandering through my stamps, I spy an image that begs to become something, little bits of inspiration.  Recently I found 3 stamps nestled together.  A flower, an rain boots and a stamp that related to spring rain.  I would not have put them together, but lying there they seemed to want to show up as such.  In the end the rain boots didn't make the cut, but the flower and saying stamp did!!I also wanted to use my watercolor pencils and try to blend with only a blending pencil, no water. worked well.  The image is not great but you get the idea..

Spring Rain always brings violets.  Saying stamp was used as a background stamp and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  Not sure I liked the pink paper with the violets, but oh well!

But Back on topic.  So my inspiration was Coffee.  There seems to be several coffee themed blogs, stamps and dies.  But oh what color to make this.  Well, once I have a theme, it generally "tells me" the color.  Then I go out and look for something that uses that color.  Most often this is pattern paper, or a package of embellishments.  In this case I used a package of Prima flowers.  Next step is chose my media.  So using the prima flowers, I matched to inks, dyes, paints that I had that worked with that scheme.  Next is the actual items to be used: Stamps, Stencils, Texture Media and tools to create the texture.  Once assembled I just start.  Between every layer I make sure that I seal that layer, so if I make a mistake it can be saved..  That has been my saving grace on more than one occasion.

So here is a sneak Peak of what is to come,  So, with a stack of distress inks, sprays, pain and stain I started.  I used stencils and texture paste to create a background and then "colored" each area.  The prima flowers in the corner were the inspiration.  They are not attatched, just there to keep me in line.

The basics.  background applied and colored, rough images added.  Don't you just love that Tim Holtz stamp!!

Here I have added a few more details, and am starting to prepare the middle cup.  I used several products to achieve that "whip" and there is even a plastic lid over it, curious!!  Wait for the Video.

Well what do you think?   I will be back with the final project and list of all the supplies that I used.  

Josette

I am on a Design Team!!! Thank you Flossie Scrapper. Oh and I do love elephants.

Well hello.  I have some very exciting news.  On my list for goals was to become a design team member.  Wasn't sure how to accomplish that goal.  But in all things I do, I put the wheels in motion and figured if it was to be it would be.  So, I started creating this blog and preparing to have my work critiqued by more than the recipient of my creative endeavor.

So!!!! I have been selected by Flossie Scrapper to become a design team member.  My focus will be mixed media, which I absolutely love and have not had anyone that I can just "give" my results to.  I must mail everything I create so have resorted to one or 2 layer cards that are more easily mailed.  But my true love is layers and layers, driven by inspiration more than thought.  "OH, I will try this, oops, well lets just add a little of this".  It was this creative style that inspired the title of my blog.  So, now I get to do what I love!!!  I have started my first project.  It will be posted here when complete.  I will be doing a video on You Tube with the process and results, so stay tuned.

Proudly representing !!!

Until my first project is posted, I will share some of my more simpler but adorable creations.

Today I am going to finish up with my watercolor experiments.  Used Wplus9 stamps and created these cards using their Unforgetable Stamp.  I do so love elephants!!!

Belated Birthday

Both cards were watercolored with Tim Holtz Distress Markers on Ranger water color paper..  Edging were created  using Marth Stewart punches and the doily was cut using a die from Marianne Design.  Spellbinders dies created the mats and die cut the water color paper.  A touch of Wink of Stella finished the look.   Of course the stamps are all from Wplus9 Unforgetable.  A few sequins for glits and a perfectly finished pair.

Bye for now, Happy Creating.

Josette

Interactive cards:

I love cards that move.  I am not overly fond of using a die for these as often my idea, the stamped image or both just doesn't play well with a specific die. If I can figure it out, then I move to using the die.   There is something satisfying about figuring out how to make them work "just right".  I am going to share 2 of my favorites.
The first is a card that was inspired by my having to fix the blinds in the house.  The cord somehow came undone.  As I was following thread after thread, I remembered seeing a card on a blog with a curtain.  Could I make a blind, well maybe?  I could not figure out how to create the slats, Then I considered blinds that were a solid sheet, that was pleated.  After another search, I found some inspiration, both on crafter's blogs and on actual blind sites.  As I got into the process, it seemed to just "take off.  I do admit that I did not want to give it up to the intended recipient, But I did, fortunately I still have the picture as it was one of a kind.  I think it turned out adorable.

The curtain is drawn.  You can see the ribbons on the side of the curtain.  They are looped onto the back of the card, you pull on them and voila!

The curtain is open!

closer view of the party goers. The inside was just plain white with a Happy Birthday wish and signature space. 

The second card is a slider.  Pull on one end of the tab and the image slides with a message revealed.  This is using my favorite stamps,  Mouse House.  I just love those little mice.  The artist does such an amazing job of making them so engaging.  The images were colored with Copics.  The card stock and other supplies are unknown.  Forgive my messy desk, these photos were not taken with intention of sharing, but I couldn't resist. The inspiration for this mechanism came from SplitCoast Stampers site.

Card closed, they way it would go into the envelope.  

slider being activated.

the message is revealed, and the secondary card is starting to appear at the back.

Front view of the card with "window opened"

slider fully extended with message.  The picture did not do this justice.  The inking was a blend of orange and yellows, distress to match the card stock and resemble a sun glow.

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Until next posting.  Will share another technique.  By next week, I should have some more cards using Fun Stampers Journey.  

Bye for now.

Funstampers Journey: A cupcake for your Birthday

I am ready to announce my involvement with Fun Stampers Journey and share a card made with their stamps.  I have been wanting to align myself with a stamp company for some time and have been researching various ones off and on for the past 2 years. There has always been a reason I did not jump in. Stamps, Ink, Paper, Time.   This company was different, and sucked me in from the start.  Let me tell you why I chose them.

•  First they manufacture their stamps in Red Rubber.  I love red rubber.  While I have clear stamps, I feel that I get a crisper clearer image with red rubber.  This stamp product has been around for some time and historically last "forever".  Clear stamps while nice in that you can see through them, I am not always happy with the stamped image.  I feel they are not reliably predictable in giving me the best results. .  I do believe that the inks and climate seems to be a factor with them more than with rubber.  Or perhaps it is the material they are made from. I have noticed that Photo polymer gives the closest result to rubber, but there is something about that thick rubber that makes me smile.
• .The second reason: I can use other products in my design.  I am not limited in my creative being with just FSJ supplies, thus my hoard of other products can still be used. 
•  The third reason: the ink!!  I love dye ink, but it is too transparent at times.  Pigment ink, while it gives a good vibrant ink, is messy and takes a long time to dry. I smear it more times than not, and unless I am going to emboss avoid it for the most part.   I, also  have trouble getting a decent image with pigment, I think I am too heavy handed.  FSJ inks are a true hybrid, vibrant, opaque and dries instantly. The crispness of dye, opacity and vibrance of picgment, and dries in a blink!! 

So this will officially begin my Stampers Journey and I will be sharing "Little Bits" of inspiration along my card/paper crafting journey.  So without adieu, my first card.

inside of card

outside of card, looking through the "window" to the inside.

This is a shaker card.  Created by using 2 pieces of acetate with foam between them and the space filled with sequins and beads.  The image is on the inside of the card, Thus the shaker is independent of the image and acts of a window.  I love this style of a shaker card.  Reason, I spend so much time coloring my copic image, I don't want it covered up by floating things.

Supplies used:

Stamp:  Birthday Sketch, SS-0013, both cupcake and sentiment.

Ink:       Black Licorice (FSJ)

Paper:   Candy Apple Red, Oatmeal Cookie (FSJ)

              Image colored on Neenah Solar White,

The image was colored with copic markers and then sprinkled with Journey Sparkle dust.

The dots on the frame were added with a Signo white pen and the bow is white seam tape.  Sequins, not sure where they came from but was a bulk buy from Michaels.  

So long for now, will post again soon.  Should have a regular schedule unfolding soon!!  I need to find a predictable way to get my photos to my IPad, so I have them ready when the time is right for posting.   If you would like more information, leave a reply or send an email.  Also, I have a link now where you can subscribe to a email notification of my postings. 

Josette

Visit me at Fun Stampers Journey.  

Boy Cards: Distressing and Inca Gold

It is a a fine Saturday in Texas.  The sun is shining, lawns are being mowed and the Bluebonnets are in full bloom.  We are heading out to Tyler for day 2 of the dressage show.  No crafting today and while I did finish 2 cards, decided to share some past cards.  The ones I am sharing today is using Tim Holtz big dies, embossing folders and Inca Gold metallic paste.  Just saying, I love Inca Gold!!, especially for that multicolor translucent effect.

If you look close you can see the corrosion on the bumper.

• The First card is using the old car die, and cogs by Tim Holtz.  This was for a man, no frills.  Embossing was highlighted with Inca Gold, The cogs were cut out and also inked with the Inca Gold in various colors to get that rusted metallic effect.  The car: a delight to make.  I used a silver embossing powder and layered it several times to get that raised effect.  Then I used    a thick clear embossing powder, almost like raw sugar in size and sprinkled that on.  It gave a corroded effect to the metal. The car was colored with the metallic paste as well.  This was layered onto yardstick that had been distress, a tag added with a Tim Holtz element and some brads, a little ribbon and finished.  One of these times I will photo the process, but until then, just eye candy.
• the second was using the clock die, also Tim Holtz.  Can you tell I love Tim and his distress line!!!  This too is a simple card.  There are die cuts, distressing, and inking with the metallic paste.  The embossing was highlighted with the metallic paste as well.  The tag was cut using a Spellbinders die, all layered onto printed card stock, then a brown card base and tied with a brown sparkling ribbon.  Simple and neat.  Not sure who the stamp was from, suspect Infinity Stamp Company.  I was needing something to tie in the clock and birthday, this worked just fine.  It was a man's card, no Frills.
• Until next time, happy stamping, crafting or enjoying a little bit of "something"

Tim Holtz clock die and metallic paste by Inca Gold

Elephants to make you Smile

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter.  We spent our weekend in San Antonio at a horse show.  My daughter Roxanne is a para-equestrian with hopes for a team spot on the Paralympic Team that will compete in Rio in 2016.  San Antonio is lovely this time of year.  Wildflowers blooming everywhere and beautiful rolling green hills.  Needless to say, I did not get any crafting done.  But I will share my card that I finished for a coworker that is having a baby in the next 2 weeks.
The inspiration was from Making Cards Fun Blog Hop.  I was not able to find the original posting.  I love the group blog hops from this group.  They use all the latest and come up with some very original ideas.
I am calling this card, Welcome Baby. .  This is a shaker card,  Each Ellie is a separate shaker window.   The stamp set is from Wplus9, Unforgetable.   The border is cut using spellbinders A2 Borders 1. Smile is a die cut from Paper Smoochies, smile and love.  This was cut from silver glitter paper, backed with a "smile" cut from black and then the whole card was "glitzed" with a shimmer spray in silver.  You can't really see it in the picture.   Peachy Pink Base Cardstock is Bazzel, The pattern paper, is unknown, a lose piece of paper separated from it's stack (I have so many of these),  Coloring was done with copics.   I really like this card, perfect for a baby girl.

Enjoy until Tomorrow!

Welcome Baby

Close up of coloring and Ellies.

A Water Coloring Experience: Flowers and Butterfly

Ok, I am on a roll.  Here is Day 3.  I am thinking I will limit my posting to 3 times per week until I am caught up with my last run of inspiration, and then as I create them, mostly on the weekends, sadly.  Anyway, I am enjoying documenting my progress!!

My next card is a continuation from yesterday's posting.  The flower from yesterday was suppose to bring Spring to mind.  I finally found the right ink and paper, mixed with stamps to create this card.  I did a series of these, in different colors.  They are small, A5 but sweet and will make nice thank you notes or just a "hello" card.  Technique is same: distress, Peerless, watercolor paper and inking after.  Stamped image.  the stamps are a combination of an old wood stamp (flower) unknown manufacturer and the butterfly from a set put out by Fiskar.  The greeting is from the straw flower stamp set by Technique Tuesday.

Watercolored with Peerless and distress markers on cold Press Watercolor paper.

Day 2 another card!

Today's card is interesting.  I was trying to water color flowers and this one came out dark and "fall like" not spring at all, which is what I was going for. The stamp is Straw-flowers, from Technique Tuesday,  I did have success in creating a spring flower with a later attempt, using  a different stamp, and a different set of water colors (will post that later),  but I needed to do something with this one, but what?.

I had a template for a swing card,   I had received a similar one in a kit at the Journey Coach meeting in March.  So I decided to try one on my own and only usea circle die.  All the papers were cut to fit, after I had the swing card base build.  I went with an antique or vintage theme.  I feel like it worked out well and "lightened it up at bit", not so dark and fall like, but still not spring!

I learned a lot about water coloring.  What works and what does not work in regards to paper selection and types of ink that work for water coloring.  In the end: I used Canson paper water color paper, 140# cold press, stamped in distress ink , pumice stone and water colored the image with  Peerless Watercolors.  After the main focus was completed, the background was inked in distress ink that had been  diluted and then was sprayed on (blue) and brown was dabbed on.  I believe these were tumbled glass and brushed corduroy.  One thing I like about distress is that when wet they produce a multicolored effect.  After drying, I  outlined with a copic multiliner and splattered ink spots using the same distress inks plus black soot.  I am not sure the title of the paper pack I used  as the cover and identifying marks are long lost, but I in know it was graphic 45.  Anyway, enjoy this "spark" and will post another soon.