Let Me Stamp

Elegant Stencil Framed Flower

When I was going through some old project pictures this week I realized I never posted my second 3-D Artisan Award entry from 2010 (I didn't enter the contest this year).  Congratulations to the talented stampers that won the title this month!

These shabby-chic layered flowers were created with a brayer and the "Elegant Trio Decor Stencils". 

I cut apart several stenciled flowers to get all the pieces that I needed.  Then, I painted on some accents with Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint to give them some glitz. 

The Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon border was very time consuming.  I had to knot thread around each section individually to to make sure each "pouf" of ribbon stayed the same size. 

I found the frame at Goodwill--already perfectly distressed! 

Sure wish I could get this project back from Stampin' Up!--it would go perfectly in the re-design of my craft room that I am planning....

 

Click HERE for another idea using the Elegant Trio Decor Stencil.

 

Have a great weekend!

 

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Almost Artisan - Share #8

This is the last of the scrapbook layouts (12"x12") that I submitted to the SU Artisan Award contest.  The paper and accents are from the Simply Scrappin Tailor Made kit (now retired).  I used a "faux tooled leather" technique for the large embellishments on the page.

 

Faux Tooled Leather Supplies:

Chipboard

White acrylic paint or White Craft Ink

Brown Craft Ink ( I used Close to Cocoa)

Dry Embossing Stylus

Varnish

Sponge/Foam Paint Brush

Optional: Brass Template

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Coat the chipboard with the white paint (or white craft ink) using a sponge or foam brush. 

~Before the chipboard gets too dry, use the Embossing Stylus to press a pattern into the surface.  I also used the Floral Frenzy Classy Brass Template to make the flowers (available in my clearance section!). Allow the chipboard to dry completely.

~Use  your foam brush to add a coat of brown craft ink over the entire piece of chipboard. Skim over the tooled areas so the brown ink does not go into the embossed designs. Allow the chipboard to dry completely.

~Add accent colors if desired (I painted the flowers with green acrylic paint).  Allow to dry.

~Coat the entire piece with varnish.  Allow to dry.

 

Each feather on the bird was cut by hand.  That sure took awhile!!

I seriously get asked the "twins" question every time we are out--but they are 2.5 years apart.  I guess Matthew needs to start growing faster so his "little" brother will look little again!!

Keep checking back to see the rest of my Artisan Award "losers"--2 more to go!  :-)  

See my previously posted AA projects HERE.

 

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Almost Artisan - Share #7

This is one of the cards I submitted to the 2010 Stampin' Up! Artisan Award contest.  Very vintage!  I distressed it to the max--even staining and ripping the ribbon. I used the great Curly Label Movers & Shapers die to place the window on the card.  It show through to the sentiment (Chit Chat Rub-On) placed on the inside of the card...

I added lots of texture by using a Sizzix Texturz plate on the Old Olive card stock and by splattering the card with custom-colored shimmer paint.  You can see the technique here.

Love the machine stitching!  It was the first time I had tried the free-flowing border and I was very pleased with the result.

Keep checking back to see the rest of my Artisan Award "losers"--3 more to go!  :-)  

See my previously posted AA projects HERE.

 

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Almost Artisan - Share #6

Here is the second of my scrapbook layouts for the 2010 Artisan Award contest.  This 12x12 layout was inspired by a page I did with these pictures 7 years ago.  I thought the title was appropriate--Matthew got so mad at the hose he decided to bite it!!

I used My Digital Studio to create templates for the "dirt" letters in the title--they are all cut out by hand.  Then I added some die cut flowers from the Eggcellent Eggs Kit (no longer available) to create a garden.  

I added fun embellishments like the punch art spade.  The flowers and trees are accented with glitter.

I loved this updated version of my "yard work" layout.  Wish I had it back!

Keep checking back to see the rest of my Artisan Award "losers"--4 more to go!  :-)  

See my previously posted AA projects HERE.

 

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Almost Artisan - Share #5

Moving on to one of my 3-D entries for the 2010 SU Artisan Award Contest....

Since all my scrapbook pages focused on my boys I wanted my 3-D to be something very "girly"....so  I decided to make a quilted door hanger for a little girl's room!

I had a feeling one of my projects should be completed mainly with "My Digital Studio"--no stamping on this one.  I printed the digital image from MDS onto some "printable 8.5x11 fabric sheets" that I found at a local craft store.  Honestly, I was shocked at how great it looked!  Very Pottery Barn if you ask me! :-)

First, I added a layer of batting under the front panel and stitched around the Top Note image and around the perimeter of the fabric. 

Then, I added the Flower Brads (covered with some Dazzling Diamonds Glitter) in a few places. 

Finally, I added the ribbon fringe and sewed the front and back together. The back of the wall hanging is the olive/white polka dot pattern.  I painted the dowel with an Olive paint first, then White.  After it dried I randomly sanded off the White to give it the Pottery Barn look.

Keep checking back to see the rest of my Artisan Award "losers"--6 more to go!  :-)  

See my previously posted AA projects HERE.

  

All supplies Stampin' Up!

 

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Almost Artisan - Share #4

This is another card (#3 out of 5) I submitted to the Stampin' Up! 2010 Artisan Award Contest.

This card is definitely not my usual style!  I started it with the stamped image in the center because I knew I wanted to use the rhinestones with this particular image.  After I added a few layers of Glassy Glaze Embossing Powder to the die cut, it looked like a piece of jewelry (a pin?) my Grandmother might have owned. 

So then I started thinking about the elements of Art Deco (such as aluminum, stainless steel, lacquer, Bakelite, Chrome and inlaid wood).  And the result was this card.

You might have noticed that I floated some Silver Embossing Powder in the Glassy Glaze.  I thought it gave the piece a vintage feel.  The white background layer on this card is also stamped and then covered with Glassy Glaze.  I used the Cracked Glass Technique to "age" the embossed pieces even more.

A tutorial for altering the Scallop Oval Frame is available HERE.

Keep checking back to see the rest of my Artisan Award "losers"--6 more to go!  :-)  

See my previously posted AA projects HERE.

 

All supplies Stampin' Up!

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Almost Artisan - Share #3

It's hard to believe my baby has finished Kindergarten. It went by waaaaay too quickly!  I used the picture from his very first day of school on one of my Scrapbook Layouts for the 2010 Artisan Award contest. 

Since the page was all about Joey, I scanned some of his schoolwork and added it across the top and bottom of the page.  Plus a little photo of him getting off the bus the first day and one of him receiving some academic awards. Then I asked him to write his name on the layout so it would look like a piece of schoolwork.  He messed up and wrote the "e" backwards and was quite upset.  I kept promising him I would cover it up somehow but I really loved it just like this.  Hmmm...some promises just can't be kept!  :-)

I've never been a fan of the SU Build-a-Brads but I wanted to use them in the middle of the stars.  I don't like the plastic piece that goes on top--mine always end up with air bubbles under them.  So--instead I covered the top of the brad with Crystal Effects.  Much better!

And, I added a bit of "stitching" to the photo using My Digital Studio:

 

Keep checking back to see the rest of my Artisan Award "losers"--7 more to go!  :-)  

See my previously posted AA projects HERE.

 

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Almost Artisan - Share #2

This "Get Whale Soon" card still makes me smile!  It's one of the cards I submitted for the SU Artisan Award contest and I needed something bright and whimsical.The inspiration for the card was the "Fox & Friends" stamp set.  I just stamped the whale on typing paper and then enlarged it on my copier to make the pattern for the denim.  I stuffed the fabric whale with some recycled foam to puff him out.

I had already embossed the white background when I realized it kinda looked like the spray from a whale....so I used Dazzling Diamonds and my Tempting Turquoise Marker to highlight part of the pattern.  I love it when SU products combine in unexpected ways!!

I put a circle of Window Sheet in the piece from the Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware to make it look more like glass in a ship's porthole. 

Keep checking back to see the rest of my Artisan Award "losers"--8 more to go!  :-)  

See my previously posted AA projects HERE.

 

All supplies Stampin' Up!

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Almost Artisan - Share #1

Over the next two weeks I will be sharing the projects that I submitted to Stampin' Up! for the 2010 Artisan Award contest.   A group called "Almost Artisan" has been posting their creations recently--I listed them in this post if you want to check them out. 

I put a LOT of time into my projects and would love to hear what you think of them! You can leave a comment by clicking on the blue title of any post and then scrolling to the bottom of the page.

First off is my Pretty in Pink Butterfly card....

This was actually the first AA project that I completed.  I liked the way the flourishes from the Tulipe Sizzix die fit perfectly onto the butterfly wings.  I sewed seed beads from the Pink Bead Duo onto the butterfly and stamped the two sections from the T in "Thank" to create the antennae.

The random patterned background of the card was created using the Rolling Marble Technique.  Then the silver swirls were stamped and heat embossed on a window sheet that you can see better in this picture:

I finished it off with sponging and distressing to give it that Shabby Chic look!

Products Retiring June 31--Order Now!:

• SU Tulipe Bigz Die
• Pink Bead Duo
• Soft Subtle Brads
  

Keep checking back to see the rest of my Artisan Award "losers".  :-)  See my other AA projects HERE.

 

All supplies Stampin' Up!

 VIEW THE PROJECT SUPPLY LIST

Almost Artisan

Last month I entered the yearly Stampin' Up! Artisan Award contest.  The Artisan Award is designed to recognize ten of SU's "most creative and talented demonstrators".  Demos submitted 10 projects (5 cards, 3 scrapbook pages, and two 3-D projects).  It's a fun challenge to take my art "all the way" for this contest.  I feel like my projects this year were far beyond what I submitted in 2009!

I now know that I was not chosen as a winner this year.  :-(  Last year I made it to the "finalist" group.  I'm not sure when they will announce the 2010 finalists--but I'm hoping I made it that far again! Big congrats to the 10 winners!

I'll be sharing the AA projects that I spent SO MANY hours on in a few weeks.  I'm very proud of them!  In the meantime, some other Artisan Award entrants are posting their art now and over the next few weeks.  Please visit and leave a comment--after all the time and effort we put into these projects we could use some love!

http://www.alattestampin.com/
http://www.saucystamper.blogspot.com/
http://jhurley90.blogspot.com/
http://www.stampspaperandink.typepad.com/
http://igotstamps.com/
http://jackietopa.typepad.com/
http://paperpatty.blogspot.com/
http://onyxstamps.com/
http://www.reneevs.blogspot.com/
http://monikastamp.wordpress.com/
http://www.inkspotsandgumdrops.blogspot.com/
http://stampingaddiction.blogspot.com/
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...&ppuser=162570
http://artisticavenger.wordpress.com/
http://letmestamp.com/
http://www.stamperbeth.blogspot.com/
http://stampinwithtina.blogspot.com/