Sunflower Studio

VAN GOGH TECHNIQUE & STARVING ARTISTSTAMPS

So, a while back, IRENE SILVA, the artist who creates the DOODLEFACTORY line of stamps for STARVING ARTISTSTAMPS, made this amazing card using the DOODLEFACTORY COUNTRYSIDE BACKDROP.  It was over the top artistic...I mean, yes, Irene is an artist and we should expect no less but this was combined with stamping.  I fell in love with her card.

Now, a few months down the road, and Irene's technique is being featured in the June/July 2009 issue of PAT HUNTOON'S TECHNIQUE JUNKIE NEWSLETER.  All of the members of the SA design team contributed cards using the technique and they are terrific.  YOU just must check them out at the STARVING ARTISTSTAMPS BLOG.  As for the technique, you can learn all about it by becoming a subscriber to the TECHNIQUE JUNKIE NEWSLETTER.  I promise you won't be disappointed and you'll be inspired to use all of your "must have" stamping supplies in new and unusual ways.

In addition, there's a little VAN GOGH challenge goin' on at the SA Blog.  You can find all of the details HERE but, basically, you create a card using the technique and you can win stamps, of course, from STARVING ARTISTSTAMPS and  a year's subscription to the TECHNIQUE JUNKIE NEWSLETTER.  How excellent is that?!

Here's my card...I also used the COUTRYSIDE BACKDROP and a kitty kat, Tobias, from the DOODLEFACTORY ANIMALS sheet.  I really can't compete with Irene but it was fun to try.  Poor Tobias seems to be lost in the wilderness...floating on his boat...and he's not very happy about that.  Crack me up!

FRIGHTFULLY DELIGHTFUL FREAKY FRIDAY CHALLENGE - #2

So, we're off to a slow start.  COME ON!  I only have one happy stamper that wants to win some really great HALLOWEEN prizes?  That's hard to believe.  Well, let me entice you by revealing a little more about the big prize...

Hmmm....how about Halloween stamps from Storage Units, Ink & More?  And, maybeeee...a terrific goodie package from The Cat's Pajamas with stamps and other excellent spooky stamping treats?  Would you turn down a sheet of Halloween stamps by Doodle Factory at Starving Artiststamps?  I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T!  And then, perhaps, a nifty little something from Whipper Snapper Designs by Anna Wight?  AND...in addition to the Technique Junkie Newsletter CD6, I do have a set of Copic Atyou Spica Glitter pens.  JEESH...maybe I'll forget the whole thing and keep it all for myself!!!  Kidding!

Anyway, you have until noon on Monday, October 13th to leave me a post HERE with a link to your Halloween card created using non-Halloween stamps.  WON'TCHA JON ME?!?  (Full details on the challenge can be found by clicking on the Frankenstein logo on the left sidebar.)

Now for next week's challenge - Week 2 - Friday, October 10, 2008

Use any HALLOWEEN stamp to create a NON-HALLOWEEN card or project.
Post link by 12 noon (eastern time) on Friday, October 17.  Keyword: FFC02

I might have stretched this one just a week but...oh well...as long as it's fun!  Just pretend that you have a new neighbor moving in this month or a friend bought a new house in October (yea right...in this economy?), you might give them this card.  I used this spooky haunted house from the Doodle Factory Graveyard Shift set with a sentiment from Papertrey Ink.  It didn't start of being all "Halloweeny" but I decided to use the Splitcoast color challenge this week.  It's CC187 - Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango, and Kiwi Kiss.  (That Tangerine is a really bright colored paper...I think the jury is still out on that one for me.)  I masked out the little ghost that is included in the stamp with the house since I didn't set out to be this spooky.  My Copic coloring just kept getting darker and darker and somehow ended up dark and mysterous.  Anyhooo...Welcome to your new home!  Bwahahahahahahahh

Notice the lacing at the bottom of the card?  That's a nifty new technique included in the October/November 2008 Technique Junkie newsletter.  It's called Spiral Strip.  You'll just have to subscribe to get all the deets.  Already a subscriber?  Good for you!  Not yet subscribed?  WHAT??? Get on that, would ya?

Supplies: Stamps - Doodle Factory Graveyard Shift set from Starving Artiststamps, sentiment by Papertrey Ink; Paper - SU! Choc. Chip, Tangerine Tango, and Kiwi Kiss, Papertrey White, KI Memories patterned paper; Ink - Tuxedo Black Memento ink, Onyx Black Versafine ink, Ranger Walnut Distress ink, Ranger Mushroom Adirondack ink; Other - SU! Spiral Punch, Copic Markers & Multiliner, American Crafts brads, Nestabilities tag die, Ranger sponge applicator

SUGARPLUM DREAMS

Ready for Christmas yet?  WHAT!  ME NEITHER!  I wouldn't want to miss Halloween and Thanksgiving...that's for sure!  BUT, if you are already gearing up for Christmas, here's something for you...another card using the new FAIRY CHRISTMAS set from The Cat's Pajamas.

This card uses the Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #37 from Mary Jo Price-Williams (Technostamper).  I love that the sketch layers lead you to the center of the card and the central image.  And I used a Glitter Window (a technique from Technique Junkies, I think) so that the viewer is peering in at the fairy and sleeping girl through the "frosty" window.  And don'tcha just love that big felt ric rack?  That's from Creative Imaginations.  I only bought it in green but I might have to go back for more...it's really cool!

Don't have this stamp set yet?  Well, it's still on sale as part of the Kitty Kat Pack at The Cat's Pajamas.  Go now and get it!

Supplies:  Stamps - Fairy Christmas set by The Cat's Pajamas; Paper - red textured by Bazzill, green and pink textured by Coredinations, Papertrey White, patterned papers by ATD; Ink - Tuxedo Black Memento ink, Onyx Black Versafine; Other - Copic Markers, self adhesive laminating sheet, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Nestabilities dies, felt ric rack by Creative Imaginations, Dew Drops.  

CAT'S PAJAMAS STAMPS ON SALE and NEW TECHNIQUE JUNKIE CD!

 

Just wanted to let everyone know that The Cat's Pajamas is having a SALE July 25-27. It’s 25% off everything on the website.  Head over there now...I mean RIGHT NOW!!  (You want to make your wish list before the sale starts so that you're ready!)

 

The 6th Edition Technique Junkie CD contains over 70 techniques — all the techniques from the 10-07 through 08-08 issues, the online bonus techniques, PLUS 10 NEW techniques, exclusive to the CD!

• Techniques are presented as step-by-step pictorials like the subscriber-only tutorials.
• The CDs are in .pdf format, so they are friendly to PC and MAC users alike.
• Each are formatted to print on 8-1/2” x 11” pages!
• CDs are $14.95 for subscribers ($16.95 for non-US addresses), with additional copies available for $11.95 ($14.95 non-US).
• CDs may be ordered through PayPal or through the mail.
• Send PayPal payments to: phuntoon@optonline.net
  Make checks payable to: Pat Huntoon, and send to: PO Box 16547, Stamford CT 06905.
• Need to renew? Renew & buy the CD for $29.95*!
  *Offer valid until October 1, 2008

TECHNIQUE JUNKIE NEWSLETTER SALE!

Pat Huntoon is having a sale on back issues of the Technique Junkie Newletter and technique CD compilations.  Here are the details from her blog...

BOGO is HERE!

For the first time ever -- Buy One, Get One Half Off!

Buy any previously published item: a year of newsletters, any CD, any issue -- and receive half-off any item of equal or greater value! What a great way to purchase the back issues and/or the CDs!

E-mail Pat (phuntoon@optonline.net) for information on pricing or for an invoice TODAY!

Note: Offer good on previously published Back Issues (paper) or CD items only. Not valid on future publications.

ROBOT BIRTHDAY - DOUBLE POCKET CARD

I could not resist buying this way cool set of stamps from Starving Artiststamps!  It's called Urban DoodleFactory.  (I bought the Halloween DoodleFactory set too!)  I love these edgy illustrations and the bold lines and I knew that they'd be terrific colored in.  Since they came this week, I had to play with them immediately.

I had purchased some fun Cosmo Cricket Cogsmo paper a couple of months ago.  It's perfect for these little robot stamps.  I wanted to color my bots with the same bold colors that are so FAB in the patterned paper, and that's easy with the Copic and Prismacolor Markers.  I have so many colors to choose from...see, now, doesn't it just make sense to get ALL of the colors or everything?  You know you'll need them eventually.

 This is a Double Pocket card.  The tutorial with complete instructions was the online bonus technique in the October/November 2007 Technique Junkie newsletter.  WHAT?  You still haven't subscribed?  What the heck are you waiting for?  You've missed so much.  Go HERE to sign up now!

Supplies:  Stamps - Urban Doodlefactory by Starving Artiststamps, Simple Alphabet by Papertrey Ink; CS - Wild Wasabi, Not Quite Navy, Ruby Red from SU!, white from Papertrey, double-sided patterned paper by Cosmo Cricket; Ink - Palette Noir Hybrid Ink; Other - Prismacolor and Copic markers, screw-head brads by Paper Studio, SU! stitched ribbon, SU! Silver cord, MM silver eyelets.

THE CUTEST KNIGHT

   

    I have to profess that I think this is THE cutest stamp that I have seen in....FOREVER!  He's so adorable!!  He's a newer image from Stamping Bella.  I've been on a little stamp spending spree lately...(uh-oh...don't tell the DH!)...and I couldn't resist him. 
    I used the Faux Brick technique for the card base - information on that is in my last post.  And, to me, it just screamed 'castle walls'.  And the mirror idea came about and this is the result.  I think this is my best watercoloring to date.  I'm so trying to be able to keep up with the big girls...Anna Wight is the master, isn't she?  I was so proud of myself....I'm not sure I could give this away...although, I didn't really have a purpose for the card when I started other than making cards featuring this technique.
    Oooh...one other cool thing...the Bella stamps are unmounted.  In the past I've added the foam cling to them to use them with my acrylic blocks.  My friend, and stamping guru, Pat Huntoon, clued me in to using a glue stick on the back of the rubber UM stamp and using that to adhere it to the acrylic block.  Stamp your images.  Pull the stamp off and clean the stamp and block.  This little trick worked perfectly and I didn't have to trim around all of that sticky mounting foam.  Yippeee!
    Anyway, if you like this little guy, be sure and visit Stamping Bella...they have lots more images than just Bellas these days and they're so fun.  Have a great Sunday!

TECHNIQUE JUNKIE - COTM MAY - FAUX BRICK

It's time again to try a new technique!  For the subscribers to the Technique Junkie newsletter, it's time for another Card of the Month challenge.  The May Card of the Month challenge is the FAUX BRICK technique.  I love techniques that are simple but give your eye-catching results.  You can't go wrong with this one!

As for the details...each month we will be encouraging subscribers to try out a new technique and then to enter their creations in the Card Of The Month challenge.  Entries will be voted upon by the members of the group and three artists will be chosen to have their cards featured on the TJ Yahoo Group homepages.  It's fun...it's easy...and it encourages you to break out the supplies and get to work!  Subscribe now and give it a try.

CAPTURE THE STARS - MASTERBOARD

    Come on...you know you can't resist those vehicles, Sprinkle, Fifi, and Poochie from the new It's A Mod, Mod World clear set from The Cat's Pajamas - available this Friday.  I'm here to tempt you a little more....
    If I remember correctly, the technique here is called Masterboard.  You create a large stamped sheet of images that you then cut apart and use in other cards/projects.  Would you believe that the stamped sheet here started out as a piece of Vanilla 12x12 paper?  I really wanted my stamped piece to coordinate with these fun papers from Crate Paper's Zoom line.  As you can see in the picture, I used a bunch of different inks and lots of stamps from the new set.  I did some masking to add the animals to their vehicles.  I also added lots of ink using color dusters and some spritzing with my Inkworx tool.  Layer, layer, layer until you like what you see!  I loved the finished masterboard.
    Then I cut that piece apart to make these Capture The Stars cards.  I'm not sure that the masterboard transferred over as well to the finished cards - a little of the fun of the larger vehicles gets lost when you cut it down.  I'm thinking that this would work great for a scrapbook page though.

Supplies:  Stamps - It's A Mod, Mod World and Captured (C-4207) from The Cat's Pajamas; CS - Vanilla and Old Olive from SU!, textured CS by DCWV, Zoom patterned paper by Crate Paper; Ink - Yellow Cadmium Colorbox Chalk ink, VersaMagic chalk in in Red Brick, Midnight Black, Ocean Depth, Tea Leaves, Niagra Mist, Colorbox Pigment ink in Whisper Grey, Walnut Ranger Distress ink, Butterscotch and Mushroom Ranger Adirondack inks, Onyx Black Versafine; Other - Martha Stewart seam binding ribbon, American Crafts brads, Nestabilities dies, Inkworx Tool & black marker, Color Dusters. 

TECHNIQUE JUNKIE - CARD OF THE MONTH - APRIL - WAXY CUTTLEBUG

It's time again to try a new technique!  For the subscribers to the Technique Junkie newsletter, it's time for another Card of the Month challenge.  And look at how vibrant and colorful these backgrounds are...so fun! The April Card of the Month challenge will be the WAXY CUTTLEBUG technique.  As for the details...each month we will be encouraging subscribers to try out a new technique and then to enter their creations in the Card Of The Month challenge.  Entries will be voted upon by the members of the group and three artists will be chosen to have their cards featured on the TJ Yahoo Group homepages.  It's fun...it's easy...and it forces you to break out the supplies and get to work!  Subscribe now and give it a try.