sbartist : painting in the dark

Bringing Candy Cane Wishes...Festive Friday Bloghop

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:01:00 +0000

Welcome to the second installment of Terri Sproul's 2012 Festive Friday Bloghop! You should have arrived here from Amanda's Page. To get back to the beginning of the bloghop CLICK HERE.

Have you been Naughty -or- Nice?

This whimsical candy cane gal is all decked out

for Christmas in sparkly red and green.

I just love coloring in stamped images using my Marvy Markers

and my water brush pen to get the effects of watercolor.

DID YOU SEE MY FIRST POST for Festive Friday on January 13th???

{CLICK HERE to see}

As a gift on the First Festive Friday of 2012... I shared a FREE DIGI of my Melted Frosty for personal use to get a jumpstart on your Holiday Cards.

This DIGI is free for personal use only. It may not be sold or distributed in any other manner. This is a black and white printable that you can color yourself however you want! To download, click on the image, right-click and select “save image as”.

Enjoy!!! I'd love to see what you create. Please add your creation via inLinkz HERE. I will be having a giveaway of fun festive goodies to the submission with the most votes by Feb. 23, 2012 {voting to begin on Feb 10}. I will announce winner on Feb. 24th's Festive Friday post. : ) Sb

The next stop on the Festive Friday Bloghop

is Laura at Scrappin' Daphne - CLICK HERE.

CHA - SNEEK PEEK!!! Steampunkery with Amazing Mold Putty CHA Booth #2252

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:24:00 +0000

I'm sharing a little project I created in Steampunk style that will be showcased as part of the Amazing Mold Putty Design Team's works at Allumilite Corp. booth #2252 at CHA in Anaheim, CA starting on Sunday! I am so excited that I am actually going there to see it on Saturday...and YES - I will be sharing pix with all of you.

Here is my how-to on this project...

Let me start off with saying, I have never created anything in the "Steampunk" style previously and it was a fun challenge - and I am addicted. I have tons of neat things in my crafty stash of junk and this silver shield pin was what I decided to use. I wanted to mount it to chipboard wings, except it had a huge pin clasp on the back and it was soldered on pretty good. So I had a "LIGHTBULB" moment...make another cast with Amazing Mold Putty.

So here it goes. I am sharing with you some of my trials and tribulations as I am playing with these AMAZING products. I mixed up my mold putty according to directions, and as it turned out, I made quite a lot in relation to the size of the piece I was casting. After pressing it into the mold putty I decided I had too much extra so I carved some away to try and use for casting something else....it was already too late, it was already curing and no longer moldable. NOTE TO SELF - this sets-up real quick - quicker than I can change my mind. So I let the mold sit and finish curing for about 20 minutes since it was a little thick and prepared my resin.

So I made up some quick set Amazing Casting Resin and poured the mold. Because I had carved some of the mold edges away, some of the resin ran out the side. As a result, one side of my cast piece was a lot thinner than the other. I used the piece anyway - I didn't want to waste it and it wasn't at all noticable from the front. I want to make another, so I will modify my mold by adding some "gutters" to the original casted mold, so I can prevent the runoff.

On the left, the original pin - on the right, my AMAZING decorated casted pin. I really like how the casted resin piece looks much more aged and weathered than the original.

I painted the cured resin shield with a variety of things and building up color was a layering process. I began with colored with alcohol inks in a dabbing fashion. I found out relatively quick that the blending fluid removes color. I then used the metallic color alcohol inks - these are great. Then added back in some rust and soot colors. After the alcohol inks dried, I dry brushed in some acrylic black and gold acrylic paints to really bring out the patina and details. The wings are hammered chipboard that I embossed with gold embossing powder, then added depth in color with alcohol inks and acrylic paint. I finished it off with suspending some beads, pearls and an old key and also some adhesive gems for a little bling. The finishing touch a pin back hot glued to the back.

This really came out pretty fantastic. I'm not one who makes jewelry - but I have a new found passion! Thanks for dropping by! My next AMAZING Mold Putty adventure to share with you will be on February 22nd.

Save the Date for a special Novella... "Love Cast in Clay" Bloghop on Feb. 1st!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:15:00 +0000

Please join me and the combined talents

of the Amazing Mold Putty and

Creative Paperclay® Design Teams

for "Love Cast in Clay" Bloghop

on Feb. 1st, 2012

Come and see wonderful Valentine's Day craft projects!!! There will be blog candy to be won as well. A winner for the Amazing Mold Putty blog and the Creative Paperclay® blog will be chosen to receive on 16 oz. package of Creative Paperclay® and a package of Amazing Mold Putty {retail value is $25}. RULES to enter to win blog candy prize....just leave a comment at each and every blog stop and become a follower of all partipating blogs...easy as pie. See you there : ) Sb

All is Golden - Holiday Tag with Pocket using Unscripted Sketches #142

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:25:00 +0000

Happy Saturday!!! I'm bringing you my regularly scheduled Sketch-it Saturday with Unscripted Sketches creation. This week's sketch #142 also has a "Piggyback Challenge" of using a pocket. AND...I AM FOUR WEEKS IN AND STILL CREATING FOR CHRISTMAS!!!

How about a close-up...

The tag is made from a scrap of fancy-schmancy, expensive Gold Currency Cover Stock {a perk of working at a commercial printshop - sometimes, but rarely I get offcuts of something really nice}. It really looks like gold coins when embossed! I stamped the "Have a Blessed Christmas" sentiment from Viva Las Vegastamps! Plate 1363 stamped in Regal Burgundy Memories Pigment ink from Stewart Superior embossed with VLVS clear ultra high gloss embossing powder. I used two cuttlebug embossing borders then distressed with a couple of cats eye chalk inks. I finished it off with reclaimed piece of red and gold ribbon. So simple, but so rich and regal : )

Then to complete the piggyback challenge, I created a pocket to hold this elegant tag. The pocket is made from a folded over piece of gold currency cover cardstock that is lined with a scrap of wrapping paper {you know those small pieces we ALL save that are too small to wrap anything}. This paper is a beautiful red and gold checkered pattern that matched perfectly. Using another scrap of patterned paper matted with plain red wrapping paper and the gold and red checkered, I finished off with a to:/from: sentiment and a Sandy Lion snowflake embellishment. This tag is ready to include a gift card or adhere to a package!

What is Sketch it Saturdays at Unscripted Sketches? Every Saturday morning a new sketch is posted for the week. Flip the sketch, rotate it… create a card, a scrapbook page, a wall hanging, digital, paper, fabric, paint, anything your imagination comes up with! There is no right or wrong way, as long as you are using the Unscripted sketch as the inspiration for your creation! And everyone is invited to join in the fun...and post your creation on their page for all the world to see!

It's only one week until CHA!!! My projects are in California to be displayed with all the Amazing Mold Putty Design Team in Booth #2252. If you will be at CHA - please drop by and see our creations in person. I will be there Sunday and Monday - if you want to meetup - please message me on Facebook {CLICK HERE to go to my profile}. I want to meet with all of my crafty friends that I can! I will be giving CHA sneek peeks of my projects that will be featured over the next 10 days.

I have some extra projects coming up this week. Tomorrow, Jan. 20th, I have a guest post over at the Amazing Mold Putty Blog; and my second installment of Terri Sproul's 2012 Festive Friday Bloghop will be Friday, Jan. 27th. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
: ) Sb

Get Crafty! Come and Dance at CHA for Charity...

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:04:00 +0000

She's Crafty for Charity Wings Flash Mob info & Dance

865 views

Uploaded by CharityWings on Jan 9, 2012

Participate in the "She's Crafty for Charity Wings Craft Flash Mob" January 29, 2012 approx 9 am. you will receive a She's Crafty Charity Wings Craft Flash Mob Apron. Sign up at www.Charitywings.org. Raising money and awareness for worthy causes!

IF you are having trouble viewing...

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE CLIP!

I will be there with my sister! It will be fun...see you in CA!

: ) Sb

Attend CHA from HOME - A Chance to...

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:49:00 +0000

Win free tickets to LIVE from CHA!

Get excited. Get pumped for LIVE from CHA.

LIVE from CHA is an ONLINE STREAMING EVENT. It’s an interactive look into what’s happening at the Craft & Hobby Association’s Winter Trade Show in Anaheim, CA.

Witness for yourself WHAT’S HOT in 2012. You’ll get an insider’s look at the trade show floor, see new product releases, and complete a progressive 6x6 mini book/art journal with incredible manufactures and designers.

January 29-30th, 2012 10am-6pm PST

Live streaming and an interactive chat OR watch the recorded footage whenever you like!

Open to anyone and everyone that enjoys mixed media, scrapbooking, and arts and crafts. All you need is an internet connection.

Exclusive 2-Day All Access Pass

$39.00 (non-refundable) + shipping*

Before LIVE from CHA, you will be shipped a kit that will include your progressive make-n-take, which has exclusive products from designers and manufactures that we will demo from a live show.

WIN FREE TICKETS!!!

EXCLUSIVE!!! These designers are giving away FREE tickets to this event! If you want to be one of the lucky winners, all you need to do is follow the designer’s link and apply to win.

Susan Pyrcz Weckesser

Marisa Pawelko

Michelle Cummings

Eileen Hull

For more information or details, click HERE or visit our website at charitywings.org

*We can only ship kits to continental US addresses. If you would like to pay additional shipping, we can ship to you anywhere! Contact us at info@charitywings.org for additional shipping costs.

Winter Wishes! Holiday Card Number 3 using Unscripted Sketches #141

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:28:00 +0000

Happy Monday Morning!!! Welcome to my weekly Sketch-it Saturday with Unscripted Sketches creation. Doing my new found crafty morning ritual before heading off to work. I am sharing this "Winter Wishes" card - a fun and festive card with some adorable characters.

Using this week's sketch #141, I started with the leftover background DCVW paper from last weeks creation...remember my "ONE TOUCH" rule. This wintery white/creme paper is speckled with a flurry of glittery snowflakes. Now for the elements. The snow base is torn textured cardstock rubbed with shimmer dewdrop inks. The penguin from this adorable set of holiday gift tags that I have been hoarding in my craft stash. I removed the silver cord from his hat. The snowflake is leftover from another project layered over an MS snowflake punch I scored on clearance two weeks ago. I finished the card off with these super cute Sticko stickers that have six different glittery snowglobes epoxys, complete with phrases and colorful snowflakes. I put a "Let it Snow" sticker in center of snowflake. I layered snowman snowglobe {so silly} over the penguin and buried it's base in the layered snow, then overlapped the snowflake which covers the "to...from..." on the penguin's belly. This is finished off with the colorful snowflake stickers...one to cover up the hole in the hat and the rest randomly sprinkled about. I just love this card!!! It is so fun : )

Wow it's the middle of January already and less than two weeks until CHA!!! I'm so glad my day job is sooooo busy to help qualm my anxiety of flying across country alone and my sheer excitement and delight to meet up with my new creative friends. Coming up on Jan. 20th I will have a guest post over at the Amazing Mold Putty Blog; and my second installment of Terri Sproul's 2012 Festive Friday Bloghop will be Jan. 27th. I have been doing something creative and crafty each day and I'm closing in on 21 days...so I will officially have a new HABIT added to my daily routine. YAY! Hope you all have a wonderfully creative week : ) Sb

Wouldn't you love to WIN Tons of MIRACLE TAPE from Viva Las Vegastamps!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:45:00 +0000

Viva Las Vegastamps is having a give away!

Want to win a prize??? How about a sampler package of Miracle Tape. YES!!! I said a Miracle Tape Sampler Pack!!! This is all the tape you could ever want & more! Valued at $50.00

Here's what you need to do...
1) share this post on Facebook

2) Like the Viva Las Vegastamps! Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/vlvstamps

3) Follow the VLVS blog http://www.vivalas.blogspot.com/

4) Leave a comment on the post at this link to let VLVS know you did all of these. Here is the link for that. http://www.vlvstamps.com/miracle-tape-sampler.html

A winner will be chosen on Monday 1/16/12 to win a sampler package of Miracle tape. YAY!!!

Having A Holiday Heatwave...Welcome to the 2012 Festive Friday Bloghop!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:01:00 +0000

Welcome to my first post for Terri Sproul's 2012 Festive Friday Bloghop! You should have arrived here from Amanda's Page. To get back to the beginning of the bloghop CLICK HERE.

Living in South Florida, this past Christmas was in the mid-80s...not particularly the kind of weather that inspires all things Christmas...hence the Melted Frosty. So today's creation is all about a "Holiday Heatwave"!

This is what happened when Santa and Frosty went on vacation in the tropics the Day after Christmas!

This is a drawing I created to make a bunch of handmade Christmas cards many years ago. As a gift on this First Festive Friday of 2012... I am sharing a FREE DIGI of my Melted Frosty for personal use to get a jumpstart on your Holiday Cards. I have colored this in with watercolor pencils, double matted on green cardstock and finished off with a photo corner, Sandy Lion sticker sentiment and two blue sticker gems.

Enjoy!!! I'd love to see what you create. I will be having a giveaway of fun festive goodies to the submission with the most votes by Feb. 23, 2012 {voting to begin on Feb 10}. I will announce winner on Feb. 24th's Festive Friday post. : ) Sb

The next stop on the Festive Friday Bloghop
is Laura at Scrappin' Daphne - CLICK HERE.

Christmas Card Number 2 using Unscripted Sketches #140

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 15:34:00 +0000

I would like to start out by saying that I started off not making a Christmas theme creation for this weeks project. I wanted use this queen bee stamp from VLVS along with this sketch. Let me explain my work process...sometimes I can see the end result immediately and set out to it - AND is not what usually occurs. USUALLY I just start rifleling through things, tools and supplies and start - not knowing where things are going - and follow it to where creation leads. After starting to create and make all the pieces, my original project has evolved into a QUEEN BEE of an altered project. As a result, project number two started...and the one touch rule strikes again. Today I present Christmas card number #2.

Okay...Okay! I am going to try and stay committed to Christmas cards all year. To assist in this effort - beginning next Friday, January 13th, I will be participating in the biweekly 2012 Festive Friday Bloghop hosted by Terri Sproul. This just adds more stuff to my never ending mess on the craft table. One upside, I have worked on something crafty every day before work or leaving the house for about 10 days now. And this new sprouting habit is making me very happy. This morning I have been a busy bee {hehe}...I have stamped texture to a bunch of cut-out hexagons and arranged in a pattern {please nobody touch it}. I've also been researching encaustic/beeswax painting...to see how to best complete my evolving bee project.

Using this week's sketch #140, I created this fun and shimmery ornament card. I had some leftover alcohol ink painted paper from my New Year's Card {CLICK HERE to see this project}. I embossed this with the Cuttlebug collage ornaments embossing folder. I cut out the ornaments and rubbed them with antique gold pearlescent dewdrop ink. I also have a 5x7 Christmas countdown Cuttlebug folder - this is where I got the star shape with number. **TIP** I didn't have a lot of this painted paper, so I cut pieces to fit over the parts of the embossing folder needed. I rubbed the star with gold ink and mounted to a piece of shimmery blue paper and trimmed leaving a thin border. I mounted all to card base of a DCVW paper using VLVS Miracle Tape. The star is raised using 3-D dots. The ornaments are topped of with small bows of blue ribbon {yes - I tied each of these}. This card is colorful, festive and full of texture -and not screaming SANTA!

I don't have anything going on this weekend, but my January is pretty busy. I color coded everything into a dollar calendar from the craft store. I needed to keep track of all of my design teams, clubs and other events. Next weekend I have the Festive Friday bloghop, and a Soapmaking workshop on Saturday. I can't wait until the last weekend of the month. I am going to CHA in CA! My work {along with my fellow AMP design team members} will be on display at the Amazing Mold Putty booth! Have great weekend!!!

: ) Sb

AND...We Have Another Winner!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:10:00 +0000

Thank you to everyone for joining us for the Viva Las Vegastamps! New Year's Celebration Bloghop!!! I loved reading all of you wonderful comments. Thank you all for your excitement and enthusiasm. To choose my winner I used RANDOM.ORG. Out of 65 comments...it drew NUMBER 37!!!

Congratulations to JOCELYN!!! Woo-Hoo!!

Jocelyn said..."NICE site. Love what you do!"
January 1, 2012 9:44 PM

You have won a $15 gift certificate to VLVS online store and still to be annouced will be one lucky winner who's visited and commented on each stop to win the $25 to the VLVS online store...WOW!!!
Please send me an email to sbartist1107 at yahoo dot com for info to claim your prize.

If you want to revisit any of the creations... CLICK HERE to get back to the beginning.

As a gift to myself for completing a riduculous amount of craftiness in December, I went out an splurged on a webcam. I am going to attempt to make a how-to video...the first being how to make your own embossing folder. For all who are anxious and can't wait...here is a visual how-to I did a while back that will hopefully satisfy your curiosity. CLICK HERE to view that post over on my SalonDArte Studio Blog.

Thanks again to everyone for dropping by and Happy New Year! You all have made mine start off wonderfully : ) Sb

Ringing in the New Year!!! A Celebrationwith the Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:01:00 +0000

Welcome to New Year's Celebration Bloghop and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! You should have arrived here from Terri's page...if you have arrived in the middle of the hop, CLICK HERE to get back to the beginning.

Can you believe it's 2012 - last year flew by and today is the new beginning...a clean slate so to speak. Everyone makes resolutions, I just want to be creative more and work less {a nice dream, but certainly something to daydream about}. Here is my creation to ring in the New Year!

This is an alcohol ink painted glossy paper using blues and purples then blended over with silver and pearl. Before I added the metallics, I added some circle masks with removable sticker paper and then blended the metallics over. When dry I gently peeled off the masks to reveal lovely contrasting bubbles. I stamped the VLVS "Happy New Year" #9611 in Purple Staz-On ink. I finished it off by embossing it with a homemade embossing plate I created out of chipboard {yes I said made my own embossing folder}. As a result... I broke my "C" plate in 2 separate places trying to get the layers right. Well I guess that means since my DH is at the football game, I'm off to the craft store...you don't have to twist my arm. Have a bright and shiny day!!!

Every stop on the hop will be giving away $15 to VLVS online store and one lucky winner who's visited and commented on each stop will win $25 to the VLVS online store...WOW!!! What a way to see out the old and RING in the NEW!!! BTW...this is nine separate chances to win - YES - I said NINE {9} prizes. I will select the winner of comments left here at end of day Tuesday Jan. 3rd. GOOD LUCK!

Now hop on over to see what

DeeDee is up to at UmWowStudio...

Who Ate My Gingerbread Man?Unscripted Sketches #139 Reveal

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:01:00 +0000

Welcome to my last regularly scheduled Sketch-it Saturday creation for the year 2011!!! I know you are probably scratching your head saying to yourself - why another Christmas card??? This girl is off her rocker!!! Well, I am, admittedly a few crayons short, but only in a fun & creative way. I have been challenged to go all year by my crafty friend SK {aka Christmas Countdown Lady}, to do Christmas cards all year. So here it goes this being #1.

ALSO - to up the ANTE {hope I'm spelling this right}, I have joined Terri Sprouls bi-weekly Festive Friday Blog Hop which is a group bringing you all things Christmas starting January 13th. I must have had too much spiked eggnog! Please be on the lookout for the new things going around here in the New Year.

Using this week's sketch #139, I created this cute little card with this stamped and Gold embossed gingerbread man who has a bite taken out of his head. These were some pieces left over from a card class and REMEMBER my one touch rule...this was first out of the baggie of Christmas patterned stuff. So it's in. This cute little guy is an Imaginesce snag-em stamp. He has a bite taken out of his head because when trimming him out, a big chunk of the gold embossing flaked off and I couldn't salvage it. So with my 1/8" hole punch, chomp...chomp...

The two background papers are Bo-Bunny and this is finished off with some festive teal satin ribbon bows and mounted on a cream cardstock card. Short and SWEET!

I hope everyone has a Happy and Healthy fresh start in the NEW YEAR! Please join me tomorrow along with the Design Team of Viva Las Vegastamps! for a New Year's Day Celebration Blog Hop! There are 9 chances to win blog candy, too!!! One day only this time, I promise.

Thanks to everyone for following along here, and also to those who I have gotten to know and work with over the past year. It has gone by pretty fast and I am having a fantastic adventure on the three design teams. I don't know what the New Year will bring, but January is shaping up to be full of surprises...some of my work {along with my fellow AMP design team members} will be on display at the CHA in California, too! I can't wait to share it all with you.

: ) Sb

Project featured at Viva Las Vegastamps! today...

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:20:00 +0000

Here's a little teaser for my post over at Viva Las Vegastamps! Blog today... It's a good one : )

Click HERE to see it. SUNDAY is the big New Year's Bloghop...don't forget to visit. Every stop on the hop will be giving away $15 to VLVS online store and one lucky winner who's visited & commented on each stop will win $25 to the VLVS online store...WOW!!! What a way to see out the old and RING in the NEW!!!

Below is the Hop order so you can get ready!

Join me for a Bloghop this Saturday - NEW YEAR'S EVE!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 22:31:00 +0000

Glitter Snowflake Card using Unscripted Sketches #138

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 15:01:00 +0000

First let me start by answering the looming question...what happened to sketch 137? Well, due to working regular job, having two freelance projects and a custom order of 35 kinetic Christmas Cards that had to shop last Friday, this elf had to take a break. I will post it next week. So here is the my regularly scheduled Sketch-it Saturday creation!!!

Using this week's sketch #138, I created this glittery snowflake card using a piece of reclaimed wrapping paper from last year. Remember - my one touch rule! Since I'm in the middle of gift wrapping and trimmings are strewn all over the dining room table, this paper ended up in my hand. OK - now it's in the project. It's one of those lovely holographic papers that has snowflakes on it in blue and white.

I wrapped a piece of it around chipboard and mounted it to a piece of blue cardstock scrap. Then, with a whale of a punch, I punched 3 scalloped circles out of cardstock and 3 out of the wrapping paper. Now the fun begins...I have all these new Martha Stewart punches from my HSN autoship program and I broke open the winter set that has one of those new "ANYWHERE" punches {I couldn't resist - it was a great deal...4 punches for less than 1/2 of retail price and free shipping and flexpay}. This one punches a snowflake out of a circle - very lovely. I took the scallop punched wrapping paper, put a dab of adhesive on the punch to hold it in place and punched the snowflake out of the shape. SO COOL!!! Then I mounted these onto the cardstock scallops. The strips are Basic Grey and the center horizontal stripe is a speckled stamped white cardstock that I smudged with pearlescent blue dew drop ink. I finished the center of each snowflake with a gem brad and adhered with 3D pop dots! Sorry that the scanner is making interference in the hologram - but it's so wintery...I just love it!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas! Hope you have a great weekend with your loved ones. That's where I will be. Check back next week for my regular end of the month Viva Las Vegastamps! post and a New Year's Day Blog Hop special post, too! So three times the fun!

: ) Sb

Guest project over at Amazing Mold Putty

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 06:26:00 +0000

Hello everyone...hope everyone is done with all the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations - and well into the enjoying of the holidays. I certainly am. I have a special "FUNctional" project today over at the Amazing Mold Putty Blog. And for all my crafty STAMPER friends...this is right up your alley.

CLICK HERE to go check it out!

Kinderstampo Ornaments, Ornaments...AND MORE ORNAMENTS BlogHOP

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:01:00 +0000

Thanks for visiting!!! I am so excited to be part of the Kinderstampo Ornaments, Ornaments and MORE Ornaments blog hop. Christmas is a very special time and I enjoy collecting and making ornaments. This bloghop is so unique, as you could win one of each of the ornaments on this hop - INCLUDING MINE!!! So leave on comment on each and every stop on the hop to secure your entry to win each ornament to be drawn at the end of the hop - 11:59pm on Dec. 18th. If you arrived here in the middle of the hop CLICK HERE to return to the start.
ALSO - there will be ONE GRAND PRIZE winner that will be picked from all the comments left on all the blogs...A stocking full of suprises - Some Lindy's Stamp Gang, KinderStampO, Karlas001, Helmar, PYMII and Unity Stamps...YAY!
I LOVE making handmade things, too. Each year I create a handmade ornament for my Grandmother to give to two dozen of her painting students. This has become a tradition for us and this year's creation just safely arrived in Chicago two days ago. This ornament I am sharing today was my very first creation for her...a folded paper origami ornament.

A perfect compliment to silver bell or glass ball ornaments.

This is made using retired Anna Griffin AG1095 patterned paper - a lovely light blue, white, & grey pattern with touches of gold. The ornament is approximately 5" high from top to bottom of tassel, has a white 1/8" satin ribbon loop to hang from {approx. 2 1/2"}, and finished with silver plated filigree cone. A silver lined glass bead adorns a handmade embroidery floss tassel.
I make and sell these in different colors and patterned papers in my Etsy shoppe, SalonDArte. I also create larger size paper lanterns and create many by custom order.
Next stop is with Jessica Baker at That'z Uneek - CLICK HERE!

Just in case you get lost along the way...here is the complete bloghop list.

KinderStampO: www.KinderStampO.com

Karlas001: http://karlasloveblog.blogspot.com/

Angie Blom: http://angieblomdesigns.blogspot.com/

Liz Mullen: Scrapiliciouslife.Blogspot.com

My Quilling Nest: www.myquillingnest.com

Shelley: http://heartstring-designs.blogspot.com/

Tanya: http://evilscrapper.blogspot.com/

Celine: http://ptitesmimines.blogspot.com/

Canadian Nickel Scrapn: http://canadiannickelscrapn.blogspot.com/

Pam Bray: http://pammejo-scrapbookflair.blogspot.com/

Kristina Byers: http://yourmemorieshere.blogspot.com/

Elisa Kammerdiener: http://www.perpetualstew.blogspot.com/

Corri Garza: www.buglvr.blogspot.com

Angela: http://delightfuldoings.blogspot.com/

Sigrid Martin: http://www.lovescrapreflect.blogspot.com/

Funky Cards: http://www.funkycards.blogspot.com/

Nicolette Simpson: www.beyondscrapin.blogspot.com

Lilli: http://crazycardmaker.blogspot.com/

YOU ARE HERE Susan Brown: http://sbartist.blogspot.com/

Jessica Baker: http://thatzuneek.blogspot.com/

Sandy Jones: http://teardrop-loveandbeloved.blogspot.com/

Kari Sanchez: http://purplefuntastickcreations.blogspot.com/

Scrappinpinkpiglet: http://scrappinpinkpiglet.blogspot.com/

Sandra Rosario: http://365daysofcricut.blogspot.com/

Thanks for visiting! Please don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win my ornament. Also, you can sign up to receive my posts in your inbox with the widget at the top right of my page. I am always up in the wee hours creating...perhaps an altered book project, ATCs, ornaments, or projects for the Unscripted Sketches, Viva Las Vegastamps! & Amazing Mold Putty Design Teams.

Twelve Tags of Christmas....Whooooaaaaa!Something happened on the way to Santa's Village

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 03:46:00 +0000

"Whoooaaahhhh!!!!"

On the way to Santa's Village with the special bonus tag, this crafty elf was ambushed by Bumble the Abominable Snowman. "HELP!!!!!" He says he won't give up the 13th tag until Friday, Dec 16th...so that all his friends at the Island of Misfit Toys can have a chance to view all of the 12 tags of Christmas with the Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team and enter to win the Blog Candy.

So here's how you can help... CLICK HERE to go and check out the 12 Tags of Christmas Bloghop and leave comments to enter for the blog candy Also visit the Viva Las Vegastamps! online store where there is a 20% off sale now until December 26th including FREE shipping.

This is BLOG CANDY!!! AND there is still time...YOU can still WIN these stamps, too! All you have to do is go back to day one and leave a comment on each the bloghop posts {this is for all 12 days times 6 players}. Winner will be drawn randomly on SATURDAY. I know you will just have to have these after seeing all of the fantastic creations we have shared.

VLVS Plate 1363 of stamps is 8 1/2" x 6" and has TWELVE stamps {retail value $21.95}.

Please help save the 13th Tag!!!

Check back Friday to see my rescued creation : )

Twelve Tags of Christmas with Viva Las Vegastamps! - Day #12

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:46:00 +0000

It's Day #12...the end is here!!!

Twelve Tags of Christmas with
Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team!!!

Thanks for stopping by! To get back to the top of the hop,

CLICK HERE.

Thanks so much for joining us today and the previous eleven days, too! We hope you enjoyed our creations as much as we enjoyed creating them. Want more creative ideas? Checkout the Viva Las Vegastamps! blog for fantastic projects each Monday, Wednesday and Friday {and an occasional Saturday}. Make sure you sign up to follow the page so you do not miss out on the fun.

There is BLOG CANDY!!! AND there is still time...YOU can still WIN these stamps, too! All you have to do is go back to day one and leave a comment on each the bloghop posts {this is for all 12 days times 6 players}. Winner will be drawn randomly after completion of event. HURRY - today is the last day of the bloghop! I know you just have to have these after all of the fantastic creations we have shared.

VLVS Plate 1363 of stamps is 8 1/2" x 6" and has TWELVE stamps {retail value $21.95}.

Pssst... There is also a double chance for you to win...if you win this plate from the bloghop, you can also create something to submit to the VLVS monthly theme challenge {which happens to be Christmas} for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to the Viva Las Vegastamps! online store - YIPPEE!!!

Here is my creation for today...

AND this isn't even the last of my ideas!!!

Can you believe it - I still have a few up my sleeve.

This tag uses Viva Las Vegastamps! "Have a great Christmas" and Shopping Cart Santa from plate 1363 and also "Let's Celebrate Christmas" #11126. As soon as I joined this bloghop, I knew I was going to pair these stamps up.

Today I was inspired by T!m Holtz day 11 tag on his 12 tags extravaganza. I always wanted to play along...and today I did - finally! Following along his tag, I made a background using 4 colors of blue and a blending tool on glossy paper. Then I gently splatted a little water on it which gave a neat bleach spot look, like big chunky snow. You have to heat set this so that nothing smears off. I also went back and added a little weathered wood and walnut ink softly blended to give a ground for my shopping spree Santa. Also on glossy paper, I stamped my three images with black ink. I cut out image and quotes and colored similar to Tim's sample using the blending tool and various inks.

I have to admit, there is a method to this tool and this was my very first time breaking it out of it's package {I have had it for quite some time now}. I will have to practice with the blending tool a little more to get the hang of it. Lucky for me, the glossy paper is pretty forgiving since the distress inks stay fluid on it long enough to fix an area that may be to dark or not as softly blended. I meant to keep the center of the image white like T!m's, but I blended colors in too far. It would be nice to have some different size blending tools. I went back and added back in the white areas and added some gelly hologram pen on the shopping cart and he came to life. I popped up everything with 3-D dots and finished off with a pretty plaid ribbon and a reclaimed holly with berry cluster. I have to admit, I am pretty impressed with this tag - reminds me of the old K-mart blue light special ads.

The 12 tags bloghop contributors from

Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team are:

This isn't the end - I am always creating with my crafty friends at Viva Las Vegastamps!!! Want to keep up with what I'm doing...sign up to receive my posts in your inbox with the widget at the top right of my blogpage. This will send you an email when I have a post {a little secret...I am on three - yes three - design teams.}. There are plenty of exciting things to come. ALSO...are you still reading???? I will have a special BAKER'S DOZEN post on December 13th in the spirit of cookie baking & I'm throwing in an extra tag for good measure! See you tomorrow : )

Twelve Tags of Christmas with Viva Las Vegastamps! - Day #11

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 05:01:00 +0000

It's Day Eleven - just one day left!!!
Twelve Tags of Christmas with
Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team!!!

Myself along with members of the Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team

will each be making tags every day December 1st thru 12th,

all using the same plate of stamps

{plate 1363 from Viva Las Vegastamps!}.

Thanks for stopping by! To get back to the top of the hop,

CLICK HERE.

Here is my creation for today....

It has been so fun making this tags every day. The icing on the cake is that I have all these scribbles and ideas I have jotted down {I can't remember anything these days}, and that I get to visualize them. This is one of these "BRIGHT" ideas. This is the second attempt - the first attempt didn't come out, because I stamped it in green and embossed and it looked like a blurry mess. OK - so try...try again. Stamping is a constant evolving experiment. When you try new things, you never know what you will get...the fun is in the playing.

OK - so this looks pretty elaborate, right??? Nope. Really simple. First I took a piece of green patterned paper by My Minds Eye and stamped the "Have a Great Christmas" from plate 1363 in black cats eye pigment ink and embossed with Viva Las Vegastamps! Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder. Before I stamped I rubbed the ink off of the light bulbs {they are larger then my mini strand bulbs}. I kept the strand and the base of the lights.

Then I made the background more interesting...

Know what this is??? YES a clipping from a 9 foot piece of pine garland from the Dollar Tree {I'm waiting for my royalty check Dollar Tree...hehe}. So I took the branch and used it as a stamp and pressed it into my green distress ink. You may want to wear gloves for this. I pressed it into the ink and then press it onto the paper, sort of like you would make a leaf print. I kept it really flat and changed angles for each pressing. It really gives the effect of tree bristles. YAY! Easy peasy...just a little messy.

You will need a piece of faux pine garland/branch.

Try out technique on scrap paper first.

After completing my pine needle texture, I colored in the bulbs and made glow with markers and my water brush, then clipped mini bulbs from these Darice mini lights. I love these and I have this pack in my stash so I always have some when I need them. These are about 8 years old left over from some reindeer heads I made out of popsicle sticks. CLICK HERE to see that project. I clipped the bulbs off the string and super glued them to my tag. Why super glue??? Because they are too tiny for glue dots and hot glue, they roll around, and most importantly, I didn't want to stand there holding them while anything else dried. These made this stamp come to life. I finished it off with a pretty bow. Enjoy!! Hope you try the technique : )

The 12 tags bloghop contributors from

Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team are:

Thanks so much for joining us today! We hope you enjoyed our creations. Want more creative ideas? Checkout the Viva Las Vegastamps! blog for fantastic projects each Monday, Wednesday and Friday {and an occasional Saturday}. Make sure you sign up to follow the page so you do not miss out on the fun.

How about some blog candy??? You can WIN these stamps, too! All you have to do is leaving a comment every day on each of the bloghop posts {this is for all 12 days}. Winner will be drawn randomly after completion of event.

VLVS Plate 1363 of stamps is 8 1/2" x 6" and has TWELVE stamps {retail value $21.95}.

See you again tomorrow!!! The bloghop each day will begin with Terri HERE. Looking forward to seeing you there and what everybody dreams up!

Twelve Tags of Christmas with Viva Las Vegastamps! - Day #10

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 05:01:00 +0000

It's Day #10 and all is Golden and Bright!
Twelve Tags of Christmas with
Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team!!!

Myself along with members of the Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team

will each be making tags every day December 1st thru 12th,

all using the same plate of stamps

{plate 1363 from Viva Las Vegastamps!}.

Thanks for stopping by! To get back to the top of the hop,

CLICK HERE.

Here is my creation for today....

I used these VLVS stamps: "Have a Blessed Christmas" sentiment from Plate 1363, Holly Leaf #3760, Leafy Border #6292, and Angel Blowing Horn #6303.

All stamps used are from Viva Las Vegastamps!

Close-up view of raised sentiment and richness achieved
with gold embossing powder.

This is a pretty simple tag. I selected a dark holly patterned paper by My Minds Eye and I stamped each of the stamps, one at a time, then applied gold embossing powder. I did not heat until I was done with all stamping so I didn't overcook any of the embossing powder from repeated heating. Then I rubbed the background with antique gold and silver pearlescent dew drop ink. I duplicated the saying again and trimmed out, used a corner punch on the top corners and adhered with Miracle tape. I achieved the raised look by adhering a layer of paper underneath. I finished off with a green organza ribbon bow. Simple design with a stunning result.

The 12 tags bloghop contributors from

Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team are:

VLVS Plate 1363 of stamps is 8 1/2" x 6" and has TWELVE stamps {retail value $21.95}.

See you again tomorrow!!! The bloghop each day will begin with Terri HERE. Looking forward to seeing you there and what everybody dreams up!

Twelve Tags of Christmas with Viva Las Vegastamps! - Day #9

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 05:01:00 +0000

It's Day #9 and three days to go!!!

Twelve Tags of Christmas with
Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team!!!

Myself along with members of the Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team

will each be making tags every day December 1st thru 12th,

all using the same plate of stamps

{plate 1363 from Viva Las Vegastamps!}.

Thanks for stopping by! To get back to the top of the hop,

CLICK HERE.

Here is my creation for today....

Detail of center circle. "Santa on stool" from plate 1363.

Again my favorite "Snoozin' Elf" from plate 1363.

This tag is fun and festive using stamps from plate 1363 and Christmas Alphabet #7560 from Viva Las Vegastamps! I had a piece of a holiday My Minds Eyes patterned paper with small wreaths everywhere and I wanted to do something circular with the Santa heads. So, I stamped the two Santa heads within the wreaths and cut out. Any parts overlapping wreath were covered up by cutting out pieces of another wreath and gluing on top. I colored faces and elf in with watercolor technique using Marvy markers and a water brush. The background of my tag is a leftover scrap of hologram wrapping paper {you know - that stash we all have leftover after all the gifts are wrapped...I admit I am guilty}. The letters are stamped with Versamark ink and embossed with white embossing powder. This looks so sweet! To finish off Santa wreaths, I mounted them to rimmed tags that I colored the edges gold with a permanent marker. This was a fun idea I sketched at work yesterday and I'm so pleased with how it turned out. See you tomorrow : )

The 12 tags bloghop contributors from

Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team are:

VLVS Plate 1363 of stamps is 8 1/2" x 6" and has TWELVE stamps {retail value $21.95}.

See you again tomorrow!!! The bloghop each day will begin with Terri HERE. Looking forward to seeing you there and what everybody dreams up!

Twelve Tags of Christmas with Viva Las Vegastamps! - Day #8

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 05:01:00 +0000

It's Day #8 and Eight is GREAT!!!

Twelve Tags of Christmas with
Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team!!!

Myself along with members of the Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team

will each be making tags every day December 1st thru 12th,

all using the same plate of stamps

{plate 1363 from Viva Las Vegastamps!}.

Thanks for stopping by! To get back to the top of the hop,

CLICK HERE.

Here is my creation for today....

Back to something a little more Merry and traditional today...the man in the red suit. I used two stamps by Viva Las Vegastamps!, "Santa's Coming" sentiment from plate 1363 and Santa Foot through Ceiling #5395. The background is a creme cardstock run through cuttlebug with distressed brick embossing folder and then rubbed with a variety of distress inks to bring out the detail. Sentiment is stamped in red ink and embossed and rubbed with my gelly hologram pen for some extra shimmer. The edges torn and distressed with distress inks and antique gold dew drop ink. The santa foot is stamped on gloss cardstock and colored with Marvy markers using watercolor technique with water brush. I stamped an additional one to cut out the top where ceiling is broken to layer up on 3-D dots for added dimension. Both Santa foot and sentiment are popped up on 3-D dots. Ceiling is finished off with a great find from Dollar Tree - small pipe cleaner size faux tree branches [love it!!!]. A sheer organza bow tops off this gorgeous tag. I just love all the detail the embossing adds!

The 12 tags bloghop contributors from

Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team are:

VLVS Plate 1363 of stamps is 8 1/2" x 6" and has TWELVE stamps {retail value $21.95}.

See you again tomorrow!!! The bloghop each day will begin with Terri HERE. Looking forward to seeing you there and what everybody dreams up!

Twelve Tags of Christmas with Viva Las Vegastamps! - Day #7

noreply@blogger.com (Susan M. Brown {sbartist}) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:01:00 +0000

It's Day Seven!!! Welcome to the Twelve Tags of Christmas
with Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team!!!

Myself along with members of the Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team

will each be making tags every day December 1st thru 12th,

all using the same plate of stamps

{plate 1363 from Viva Las Vegastamps!}.

Thanks for stopping by! To get back to the top of the hop,

CLICK HERE.

Here is my creation for today....

Today I took a little different direction. I made something for the family mascot. I was inspired by the Weiner Dog Tags so I made this JUMBO tag {this is approx. 9" wide x 7" tall}. I used the "There's no Place Like Home for the Holidays" sentiment from plate 1363, "Star" #7178 and "Dog in Square" #3539 from Viva Las Vegastamps! The base paper is Basic Grey and the yellow stripe heart paws is from DCWV pet stack. I stamped sentiment in brown on tan cardstock and paper pieced a dog house from scratch out of red and black cardstock. The star on top is stamped in antique gold on green cardstock, trimme out and edged with chalk inks. The dog is stamped in black on green paper, colored and edges with cat eye chalk inks and mounted on a metal rim tag. I finished off with a green organza bow. Simply adorable!

The 12 tags bloghop contributors from

Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team are:

VLVS Plate 1363 of stamps is 8 1/2" x 6" and has TWELVE stamps {retail value $21.95}.

See you again tomorrow!!! The bloghop each day will begin with Terri HERE. Looking forward to seeing you there and what everybody dreams up!