ECS - Envelope Exchange May 2024 - Geri Arkell

Env: On Genoa Bond calligraphy paper stamped the hand made Notebook rubber stamp page inked with Distress Oxide pads and misted with water. Lettering in Wes Wilson style lettering using a Zig Writer for the outlines and Mattehop pens to color.

Card was made with some artwork I created a while back... (stencils and I think Distress pads). I added the "Hello My Friend and adhered to a cream toned card base.

BVCG June Galleria - My Boots On

This was the 1st piece I created for our next galleria "Under the Western Sky" which is the theme for Stampede this year. Definitely not happy with my cowboy lettering. Not clean enough... Hence the other piece I uploaded yesterday which was cleaner and I liked a whole lot better...

size: 6"w x 4"h
I used another rubber stamp I created of just a plain border, inked with various colors of Distress Oxide pads, misted with water and stamped onto Canson Mixed Media paper (I think...). A ZIG calligraphy pen which I couldn't get the clean lines like with a broad edge nib... Highlighted with a white Juice Up pen.
words:
I may not have much but I still have my boots on.

Scribbled Lives 2021 - Wk 17 - Impressions - Hello

Scribbled Lives 2021 - Wk 17 - Impressions - Hello. I've made quite a few rubber stamps, both eraser and clear rubber, but do you think I could find them sigh!!

So I cut out some letters from cardstock and ran them through my embossing machine then hit the high points with Distress pads. For the 2nd card I cut out an Art Deco Rose and stamped that. 

Click on any image for more details etc. Enjoy

Quill Cactus - ECD Always - Believe - HB

I needed to make a couple calligraphed cards to submit for our Guild's next journal... So I pulled out my hand carved Cactus stamps and some quilled flowers I made a while back... and I'm using Suzanne Cannon's "Chalkline Funk" (available on Silhouette onLine store in OTF format which works with Word, emails etc.)  exemplar for my monoline calligraphy.

I'm using an A Way With Words dies  "Always"  2pce set from Elizabeth Craft Designs, also available on Quietfire Design HERE

I'm also using a quote  stamp from Quietfire Design as well as a clear 8pce Birthday Collection stamp set also available on Elizabeth Craft Designs HERE

("Always Believe..."); ("Birthday Collection" 8pce set) 

Click on any card image to see all the details and descriptions etc. Enjoy

And it fits for these challenges:
Pile It On Challenge  #139 3D embellies
Sir Stamp A Lot Challenge  monthly Feb  Flowers

ANYTHING GOES:
Corrosive Challenges  #2
Scrappyland #83
Little Miss Muffet  #182
Crafty Catz Weekly  #403
JW Scrap Shack  #220
QKR Stampede  #282
We Love To Create Challenge  #5

MC Jan/18 - Easel Cacti - ECD Hugs & Kisses - Valentine

I needed to make a couple calligraphed cards to submit for our Guild's next journal... So I pulled out my hand carved Cactus stamps and some hand made flowers I made a while back...

I'm using an A Way With Words dies  "Sending Hugs Kisses" 3pce set, "Calligraphic Elements 2" 3pce set from Elizabeth Craft Designs, also available on Quietfire Design HERE and HERE

I'm also using a sentiment  stamp from Quietfire Design ("Calligraphic Love Bits" 6pce set);  

Click on any card image to see the details and descriptions etc. Enjoy

And it fits for these challenges:
MMM Challenge  #63 anything goes
Mod Squad Challenge  with love(used reds & pinks to decorate the paper for the flowers)
TTCRD  #23 - 30 anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown  #376 anything goes
Art Impressions Stamps  #224 feel the love
Crafty Creations Challenge  #359 anything goes
Pennys Challenges  #364 anything goes
The House That Stamps Built  J2418 anything goes
Scrapyland Challenge  #82 anything goes
Sunny Day Crafting  #4 D is for daisies or other flowers
Aud Sentiment Challenge  #195 anything goes

MC June/15 - Umbrellas - Invisible Tears

And using another of the newest stamps from Quietfire Design. This stamp "Invisible Tears..." originally came out in 2011, but now it has been slightly revamped and comes mounted on cling foam. Whether you have the older design or get the newest one it's still a great stamp.

I had one of those urges again... for some umbrellas. Umbrella stamps I do not own... so carved a couple from my favorite product - clear lino which I really love by Jack Richeson & Co available at Kensington art Supply here in Calgary. So easy to carve - I drew my design with a Bic black marker. Cut the umbrella out along it's outside edges. Then used my x-acto knife held at a 45º angle on either side of a rib line - voila - done. This is considered a solid or watercolor stamp which are the easiest to create.

I side folded my white card (5"w x 7"h). 

The first umbrella (lower left corner) I created a stencil from some paper, keeping the negative drop out as a mask for later. Placed the stencil on my card and stamped (Hero Arts "Flowing Flowers and Leaves" bkgr'd stamp) using Versamark, removed stencil and embossed with white embossing powder. Inked my umbrella stamp with Distress "Mermaid Lagoon" and "Black Soot" on the handle and tip.

Masked the first umbrella and stamped a smaller umbrella using "Worn Lipstick". Continued masking and stamping with various Distress colors. The large umbrella at the half way point on the right was stamped through the stencil using Impression Obsession "Bubbles", stencil removed and clear embossed prior stamping with the umbrella stamp inked with "Picked Raspberry" and touched a bit with the Lagoon.

carved umbrellas

After all the umbrellas were stamped, I stamped the raindrops (Designs By Ryn "Water Droplets) using Versafine Black Onyx.

Stamped the quote using the black onyx and clear embossed.

Created the paper umbrella from this tutorial (http://tutorialesminis.blogspot.com.ar/2013/01/paraguas-cerrado.html). I must admit, it's not as easy as it looks... mine just don't want to shape as neatly. Maybe the paper I'm using is too stiff... I will continue to try BIG GRIN but not loose any tears over it.

I used copy paper colored with Distress, die cut with Spellbinders Scalloped Circle die set, folded between the scallops, adhered to a piece of white floral wire with a bead at the top, then tied it with a narrow pink ribbon.

And fits for these challenges:
Crafty Sentiments  anything goes
Frilly and Funky  summer (rain is what we've been having in Calgary...)
Inky Impressions  #214 summertime
Simon Says Stamp Challenge  favorite tech or product (clear lino)
Crafty Ribbon Challenge  #121 rainbow of color + ribbon
Cute Card Thursday  #378 add a quote

MC Apr/15 - Quill - Cactus - Hugs - As You Dream

And I'm continuing to carve my own stamps, this time some cactus plants adding quilled elements... and eCut file by Suzanne availalble on the Silhouette (Hugs & Kisses) onLine store, and some quote/sentiment (As You Dream; Twirl & Enjoy; Just For You) stamps from Quietfire Design.

You can see all the details and descriptions by clicking on any card image. Enjoy



And it fits for these challenges:
Sir Stamps a Lot  monthly April Pink
Loves to Scrap Challenge  #52 dots or stripes (used both)
Crafty Sentiments  lots of flowers
Creative Card Crew  #84 handmade flowers
Tuesday Throwdown  #239 friendship
The Paper Shelter  #198 BD with sentiment

MC Apr/15 - Quill Water Lilly - Hello - A Smile - HB

I started carving rubber stamps again... I needed a big lily pad leaf BIG GRIN, so carved it from Clear Carve Lino. It's good stuff, love that its clear and I can see where I'm stamping.

Also using water droplet stamp from Designs by Ryn. She's got really nice stamps.

The Water Lily was a take on one my quilling friend was trying to make, so I thought I'd try making one too. Love the way it turned out, although I don't see myself making too many of them. Takes quite a bit of quilling paper and time, plus it's 5/8" high...



I'm using one of Suzanne's (Quietfire Design) newest dies "Hello". A birthday sentiment stamp ("Happy Birthday Plain and Simple" 7pce set). And parts of 2 other stamps for the quote ("A Smile is the Best" & "Always Be My Friend" 3pce set);

Anyway to see all the details and descriptions for this easel card just click on any image. Enjoy

and it fits for these challenges:
Gloria Designs Challenge  monthly Green
Frosted Designs  drip drip April showers
Crafty Calendar Challenge  monthly April add a sentiment
Penny Black at All Sorts  monthly April  Birthday
Craftin Desert Divas  #54  Anything goes

Craft Your Passion  #256 anything goes
Hiding in My Craft Room  #194 spring
Corrosive Challenges  #221 spring
Pan Pastels UK  #7 spring colors
Pile It On Challenge  #63  dies/punches
Fantastic Tuesdays  #80  dies or punches
Loves Rubber Stamps  #146 anything goes
Papertake Weekly  anything goes
TTCRD  #7 - 14 anything goes
Designs By Ryn  monthly  April anything goes using Ryn's stamps

MC July/13 - Sugar Free Lollipops - HB

click on card to enlarge. Enjoy

I acquired some design element stamps from gg designs and new right away they reminded me of the swirls in lollipops BIG GRIN... it's something I don't eat anymore - too much disgusting sugar content. but these as I say are sugar free and 0 calories. ROFL. It's also my friends birthday - she's a Leo...

I side folded a 4.25"w x 5.5"h white card. stamped the centers of the lollipops with Versafine Black Onyx and clear embossed.

I didn't have a circle rubber stamp the right size, so cut one out from some Speedball "Speedy carve" rubber. You could also use fun foam for a quick stamp.

Inked up the round stamp with Distress Mustard Seed, Worn Lipstick & Persimmon.

Drew in the candy holders with a grey brush pen and outlined it with a black fine tip pen. Tied tiny peg bows in matching colors and adhered to card.

Wrote in the words with a pointed pen and Sumi ink in my Fickle font.

Stamped the "Happy Birthday" (Happy Family Days set) one of the newest stamps from Quietfire Design

As a final detail, used a yellow and red colored pencil to create a border.

And it fits for these challenges:
Crafty Cardmakers  #96 birthday
Craft Your Passion  #172  birthday
Kaboodle Doodles  #181  anything goes
The House That Stamps Built  humorous

VSN March/11 issue

This month's (March 2011) issue of VSN had a theme of Alcohol markers. I'm not that in to them - give me a good watercolor marker and I'm much happier. The card on the left is on the back cover duly noted using Quietfire Design rubber stamps (the Italic Caps and Minuscule alphabet set). The card on the right didn't make it into the magazine, but is on their online gallery, it also uses one of my own calligraphic stamps.

Click on either card to see descriptions and details for that card. Enjoy.

Poinsettias

Aren't these poinsettias gorgeous. I love them. I came across a sample of them the other day and it stuck in my head. I've done 3D flowers with punched or die cut elements, but then had to dry emboss a design, or hand paint vein lines etc. What was so nice about the flower I saw, was the petals were stamped, and heat embossed and then cut out and assembled.

So today I finally had some time to create and play (finished all my current commitments, packed up my stuff for a show and sale I'm attending this year and all the other little things that needed doing) and decided to open my newest purchase - a Therese Collins stamp making machine. I figured this was the perfect thing to try in the machine to "get my toe wet" - big grin. Anyway, I hand drew some petals with veins on the clear plastic that comes with the machine. Used a Sumi ink pen that worked like a charm. I could have printed it with an ink jet printer, but I don't get the best results from printers on plastic - so opted for hand coloring. I was surprised at the deep etch I got in the rubber, although the negative part of the rubber seems to be very thin and papery feeling. Of course I might have left it to cure about 30seconds too long, so will see what happens next time. But even so, the rubber works well. Just not a rubber I could sell. sigh!! I had plans of selling my rubber to a small group of people. But for this card it worked wonderfully.

My next plan is to do something calligraphic, maybe for my Xmas cards...

Anyway, click on cards to see details and descriptions etc. And I used Quietfire Design rubber quote stamps.

It also fits for these challenges:
A Spoon Full of Sugar #125 Winter Wonderland
ABC challenge F is for Flower

All Sorts Challenge #74 Bingo choose a line - Brads, lace & pearls

Clean & Simple Stamping #FTL112 Sketch