Chill Out with Simon Says Stamp

I’m back!!! My project today was so much fun. I decided to work with a few of my favorite mediums - Brusho pigments along with Ken Oliver’s Liquid Metallics. Let’s get started!

On trimmed 6” by 6” Canson watercolor stock I stamped the Frozen Fractals clear stamps, included in Simon Says Stamp January Kit with Versamark ink and then embossing with white EP. I had Gina K Designs white EP close by. After the fractals cooled the fun began. I added Brusho Cobalt, let that move around, and then added the Violet on top. I let that air dry for a couple of minutes and then added Ken Oliver’s Metallic Amethyst. I love watching watercolor move and blend. Adding the metallic amethyst was perfect, but knowing me, I needed more shimmer. Shimmer Spritz to the rescue. When the air drying was complete, I trimmed the panel to 4¼” by 5½” and added it to my card base with strong double sided tape.

I needed a sentiment and another birthday card. I also did not want the sentiment to compete with the finished background. Cindy Echtinaw Designs “Say It Your Way Fancy” sentiments were the perfect fit. I stamped Happy Birthday with Versamark, embossed with silver EP on a scrap of 40# vellum, and trimmed that down to around 5” by ¾”. Before adhering it to my card front I added strips of white glitter paper to the top and bottom for added glitz. The final touch was adding the sequins that were included in the kit. My finished card is 4¼” by 5½” top fold A2 card.

Unfortunately Simon Says Stamp’s January Kit is sold out. Please click on my affiliated links below to check out some of the products still available. You will also find a link to subscribe to Simon Says Stamps monthly kits. You save a few bucks subscribing to the subs.

“Chill Out Happy Birthday” card will enter the following challenges.

Simon Says Stamps Monday Blog – Chill Out

Crafty Creations challenge – Anything Goes

A Snowflake’s Promise – Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by. If you have any questions, please ask. Until next time…

Happy creating,

Aletha Jane

AJ’s Design Artz

Some affiliated links are listed below at no cost to you. The supplies for making this project were purchased by me, but if you click on the pics below and make a purchase, I get a commission. I want to thank everyone for their continued support of my art.

Say It Your Way Fancy SS Crystal Katana Mini Snips Brusho Set Canson SSS-MISTI Original SS ORIGINAL MISTI SSS-Tsukineko Versamark EMBOSS INK PAD Watermark VM-001 SSS-January Kit-Snow Much Thanks Frozen Fractals Sequins-Frozen Fractals February Kit SSS Kit Subs Nuvo White Blizzard Glitter Drops AZ Perfect Paper Adhesive SSS Quilled Percision SSS PPA Glitter Paper GKD White #120 Base Weight Cardstock Spellbinders Tool-In-One Silver Detail EP GKD White Detail EP Shimmer Spritz Double Sided Tape

InLinkz.com

Angel Kisses for the Winter Holidays

Happy Saturday! I feel blessed to have found the time to get this project completed. It has been a very busy two months for me with family and health. I think that things are going to get a little easier for the remainder of the year. 2016 is almost here, so I thought this project would make a very special last piece for 2015. I do Copic coloring and some drawing when I need some time for relaxation (it also helps with depression). When it comes to getting in my studio and I am able to finish projects, that’s icing on the cake.

This past week I have created a holiday card with my very first Lacy Sunshine’s Candy Box. Heather Valentin, owner/artist of Lacy Sunshine, developed several kinds of crafty “Candy Boxes” for purchase. Within those candy boxes are enough supplies to make several projects, cards (designer papers, Lacy Sunshine glitters, flowers, feathers, several ribbon styles, embellishments, die cuts), etc., and you also receive an exclusive digital image with your purchase.

My project used the exclusive image mentioned above. This image is an addition, but exclusive, to Heather’s Angel Kisses line. This Angel Kisses name is “Snowflakes of Love.” Remember I said exclusive. “Snowflakes of Love” has been colored with Copics. After the coloring was complete, I trimmed her with Spellbinder’s Rectangles Grand Nestabilities. (Spellbinders has stopped manufacturing the Grands. I am so glad that I have the ones that I do have. I use them a lot in my mixed-media projects.) I distressed the edges and the surrounding white area with Hazelnut Blend ink (links are below) and then added the Frantage. I am still trying to get the hang of Frantage. I have seen some amazing pieces of art with this medium added. I look forward to the day that I have mastered it.

Heather included a green glitter paper pine needles die that was used at the bottom of my background. One of the designer papers that Heather included was a beautiful bronze handmade paper. With this paper I did some die cutting with the corner die from the Draping Vines Elements set. I cut the corner die four times and added them to the corners. The snowflakes are from the Create a Flake Six die and covered with the Distress Vintage Platinum Glitter Dust. This is the first time that I have created with this glitter dust and it will not be the last. It has amazing “shine” qualities that you do not find in the other Distress glitters.

As you can tell I was able to use a lot of the supplies that came in my candy box, but not all of them. With the remainder of the candy box supplies, I have enough for a couple more creative endeavors. 

• The links for the additional supplies that I used are:
• Fun Stampers Journey’s cardstock in Hazelnut Blend and Oatmeal Cookie;
• Fun Stampers Journey’s True Color Fusion Ink in Hazelnut blend;
• Spellbinder’s dies Draping Vines Elements, Create a Flake Six, and Rectangles Grand Nestabilities;
• Distress Stickles in Crushed Olive;
• Distress Vintage Platinum Glitter Dust;
• Frantage Encrusted Jewel White Kit.

“Snowflakes of Love” will be entered in the following challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge – Christmas Anything Goes

Brown Sugar Challenge – Anything Goes

Cardz 4 Galz – Vintage Christmas

Thanks so much for stopping by. If you have any questions, please contact me. I am wishing everyone a very merry Christmas and the happiest of holidays.

Aletha Jane

AJ’s Design Artz

Fun Stampers Journey Coach

Lacy Sunshine Colorist

A Winter Showcase with RSD

Happy Sunday everyone! Welcome to our second Rick St. Dennis MFA (RSD) Showcase at the Sparkle and Glitter blog. Some, and sometimes all, of Rick’s Elite Design Team (EDT) will be showcasing projects completed with some of Rick’s amazing digital images. Rick will be giving us a monthly theme and we will be picking our own images from his vast collection of images in his Etsy and Zibbet shops.

Snow Buddies was my image pick for this month’s RSD Showcase. You can find this adorable image in Rick's Zibbet shop. Snow Buddies was first colored with Copics and then trimmed with a Spellbinder’s A2 Matting Basics B die. The edges were distressed with Denim Days ink. After the ink was dry I layered the image with Stampin’ Up!’s (SU) Night of Navy cardstock and Fun Stampers Journey (FSJ) Whipped Cream cardstock.

Copics and pens/pencils used:

Skin: E000, 00, 04, 11, 21, and R20

Pups and Hair: C0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, white Prismacolor pencil

Coat: E31, 33, 35

Boots: E21, 23, 25, 27, 29, Blender for water marks

Pants, Mittens, and Eyes: B91, 93, 95, 97

Background: W00, 0, 1, 2, 4, and B91, white gel pen for faux snow

My snowflakes are from Spellbinder’s (they are listed below). They were just a little flat so I decided they needed some sparkle.  I added a glaze and glitter. Next time I want to do several layers of the glaze to give a little more 3D effect.

Supplies used and their links:

Cardstock: SU’s Night of Navy and Fun Stampers Journey Whipped Cream;

Designer paper: Heartfelt Creations Countryside Evening collection;

Dies: Spellbinder’s A2 Matting Basics B and Holly Motifs, 2013 Snowflake Pendent, Create a Flake 3, and Fun Stampers Journey Holiday Set;

Inks: FSJ Journey Denim Days;

Other: FSJ Journey Glaze and Journey Sparkle Dust, SU frosted finished embellishment.

There’s a lot happening within Rick’s camp. Are you participating in our monthly Progressive Challenge going on at our Sparkle and Glitter Blog? You have a couple of weeks to participate. The theme is “Anything Goes” and you must use an RSD image. Come check that out and hopefully you will join the fun. Also, in our RSD Facebook group our bi-weekly art contest has started again. If you missed the current one (you still have 24 hours to enter), don’t worry, a new contest will be posted tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Aletha Jane

AJ’s Design Artz

RSD EDT Member

Fun Stampers Journey

Challenge Time at Delicious Doodles

It’s Friday and time for a new challenge at the Delicious Doodles Challenge Blog. Our theme this week is “white on white.” This was a fun challenge for me because it got me out of my box. After I thought about it for a while I realized that it will be simple to come up with a project. Teri’s images are so beautiful, and already have some much depth, that whichever image I chose would be amazing just to add a few gray touches.

The image that I chose is Snow Cuddles. Isn’t this the cutest image? I love that little Polar bear. I blended Copics with a blender to make them very soft. After coloring, I trimmed and layered her on several pieces of cardstock. I accented the fur and snowflakes with a clear glitter pen.

Copics used:

Clothes, cape, bear: C00, 1, 3, 5

Skin: W00, 0, 1, 2, 3

My base cardstock is Stampin’ Up!’s Shimmer White. I embossed some Virtual Pearl cardstock from my stash with Spellbinder’s M-Bossabilities Holiday Magic. My top and bottom border is cut from Memory Box’s Frosty Boarder. For the final touch I added some clear rhinestones on the snowflakes and on the border.

Snow Cuddles will be entered in the following challenges:

Delightful Challenges – Add Dimension

Crafting by Designs – Anything Goes

Inky Impressions – Anything Goes

I hope you join us for this “White on White” Delicious Doodles challenge. When you do and if you use a Delicious Doodles image, (Why wouldn’t you?), come share it with us in our Delicious Doodles Facebook group.

Thanks again for stopping by. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Aletha Jane

AJ’s Design Artz
Delicious Doodles Designer

A Challenge at StampNation

We have our newest challenge ready for you at StampNation. This challenge is all about snowflakes and we have an inspirational photo to get the creativity flowing. There’s bound to be a wealth of little pieces of art from around the world. The cool thing about our challenges is that they never close.

Have you joined StampNation? If not, I hope that you do. I know that you will never be disappointed. Some of the advantages of being a Sistah at StampNation are:

• Over 370 exclusive video tutorials,
• Lessons in the CAS (clean & simple) classroom,
• Trend Articles,
• Weekly challenges (which I have already mentioned),
• And so much more!

Click here to register or learn more about StampNation. I know that you will not be disappointed.

Thanks for stopping by. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate asking.

Aletha Jane

AJ’s Design Artz

StampNation Design Team

Winter in White at Sparkle & Glitter

Have you been enjoying Rick St. Dennis “13 Day of Creepmas” blog hop? During this blog hop Rick has created many new images. You could win some of those images. If you have not started the hop, please start at Rick’s blog “Airless Chambers.”

Now let’s get on with our Challenge #5 at Sparkle andGlitter with Rick. We have another fun one for you! Our theme is “Winter inWhite.” With the unseasonably warm weather, I think that the majority of the United States is ready for a little colder weather. I did say “a little colder.” We want to see any piece of art that you want to create, but the theme must be visible. We want to see plenty of white on your project. Your deadline is Dec. 20. Take some time out from your busy schedule, relax, create something white, and join us for our 5^th Challenge “Winter in White.”

I created a winter card using Rick’s image “Isabella MakingSnow Friends.” This is my first time coloring one of Rick’s Isabella images. I think that I need more. This little girl is one of the cutest and so much fun to color.

I have used Copics and Spica pens for most of my coloring. I have accented the borders and dies cuts with Distress Ink in Stormy Sky. I have added die cuts and crystals to help with the winter in white feel.

My list of supplies are:
Copics: e000, 11; r20; c000, 0, 1, 2; b0000, 91, 95, 97, 99.
Dies: Spellbinder’s Create-A-Flake 3, Fleur De Lis Rectangles; Memory Box Frosty Border.
Ink: Stormy Sky Distress Ink.
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Night of Navy; Neenah white.

Isabella is going to be entered in the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps & More – Use Markers

Crafts & Me – Anything Goes

Divas by Design – Snow

Simon Says Stamp – Snowflakes

Thanks for stopping by. Contact me if you have any questions. Have a fantastic weekend!
Aletha