Stampfest At Lynette's, June 20, 2026

We visited Lynette yesterday and had a great time! Enjoyed the summer activities with food specialites of the area. And we had lots of fun stamping! Above are the cards we made.

Our moon tags were inspired by a YouTube by Jenny Card Designs...called 

Simple Nature Scene-Ink Blending and Stamping

from May 30, 2026

LINK:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgCJ-LBOwk0 

We cut our own tags with white cardstock, 6-1/4 by 3-1/8 inches. Then we made our own circle mask for the moon area using Hero Arts infinity dies-the same diameter as our moon stamp from Gina K (To the moon and back).

We used blending brushes with  Distress Antique Linen to add color to the circle/moon. Then we stamped the features of the moon with the "To the moon and back" Gina K stamp using the same Distress Antique Linen.  When done, we covered the moon with our circle mask to create the blue sky on the rest of the tag. We used Distress ink and blending brushes. 

Starting at the bottom of the tag Lynette ink blended with Faded Jeans ink, then Broken China and Weathered Wood at the top. I think I used Weathered Wood at the bottom, then Broken China, then Stormy Sky at the top.  

The rest of the stamping was done with Versafine Onyx Black. We stamped a wood mounted Hero Arts stamp, #K5517, retired Tall Wheat (sometimes referred to as Large Cattails). We used a stamp from the Stampin' Up! set called Garden Silhouettes, a Tim Holtz clear stamp from the Flights of Fancy set. The birds are from a Tim Holtz clear stamp set called Lost and Found.

This group of cards is inspired by Natasha Foote's 

6 Splotches Technique: Use ANY Materials for Amazing Card Backgrounds! (#1290)

from January 26, 2026

LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SglTDkNu8fw&t=2s

Lynette's card are the two above. Mine are the two below.

Lynette had some metallic watercolors in her stash, so we used those. We had to set the panels aside to let them dry. We used her sweet Waffle Flower Lake Sunset and Beach Days stamp sets and Versafine Black Onyx ink to stamp the "squares". Immediately after stampin the summer images, we used clear embossing powder with a heat tool to set the black ink.  I love using those very fun summer images! Thank you, Lynette!!

My paper warped quite a bit. Lynette's not so much. We decided to run the layers through her old crimper, which saved the day. The corrugated look and it hid the warping! Next time will use watercolor paper or maybe my Tim Holtz multi media paper, which I keep forgetting about!

Above you see the result of trying Natasha Foote's debossing technique. Her YouTube is called,

1000 VIDEOS!! Let's Celebrate With a Freebie FOR YOU! Debossing In Card Making(#1000) 

from March 22, 2024  

LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3XwgSUEd4w

We used a Cuttlebug embossing folder called Stylized Flowers.
On the debossed side (indented part of the flowers, leaves and stems, we ink blended with Stampin Up's Pink Passion and Green Galore. 

Then using Distress Chipped Saphire, we swiped the ink directly from the inkpad onto the entire surface of the panel, going backand forth till all the white areas were gone. The result was dramatic!

Our final card is from Natasha Foote's 

SCRAPS into TORN ELEGANCE (#1337)

from May 15, 2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_rzhDBOj6Q&t=490s

We were inspired by a flower card like this created by a member of Natasha's Facebook. It was rough going at first. We were not sure how to do the paper piecing. Finally decided to create a 5 petal sketch on computer paper. We didn't have scraps of printed paper, so we tore into Lynette's stash. It sure looked like a "hot mess" at first (as Natasha would say!). But we were happy with the results. The stitching lines really help it come together. 

Thank you for visitng!

Peace and all good!

Wednesday Card of the Day

Today's card features the small seahorse from Michael Strong's Cloisonne Seahorse stamp set.

My inspiration is from Kim Undseth's card.

My card base is Stampin' Up cardstock from my stash. Using a Time Holtz stencil from a Distress Mixed Media Spray Stain kit, I stenciled the circles and numbers with Artist's Loft Acrylic modeling paste and let it dry thoroughly. 

My tag is made with watercolor paper from my stash. Used distress ink smooshed onto acrylic block plus water and a paintbrush to add color to the tag: abandoned coral, crushed olive, carved pumpkin. Used a corner punch and a 1/4 inch hole punch on the top, then added twine.

The edges of a doily and torn sheet music are sponged with frayed burlap distress ink.

Stamped Mike's seahorse and sentiment (by Momenta) with distress barn door ink.

Thanks for visiting!

Sweet Girl Tags

I was inspired to make these two tags after finding Rays and Clockwork stencils

by Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous on clearance at Michaels recently. 

Materials

 #8 manilla tag by Ranger

6-1/4 inches (16 cm) long by 3-1/8 inches (8 cm) high

Stamps: Sweet (girl) SBB567 by I Brake For Stamps

The Mind Determines GG0137  by Prickley Pear

Distress inks: fossilized amber, vintage photo, oxide faded jeans

Also used muslin fabric, 2 yellow eyelets and fibers drawn through tag opening.

Closer look at fibers.

Variation using the clockwork stencil with distress inks:

candied apple, fossilized amber and twisted citron.

Added a Stampin' Up stamp also.

View showing entire tag including fibers.

Thank you for visiting!

Bird Talk Tag and Card

Just love these little birdies from Tim Holtz' Bird Talk clear stamp set.

My friend, Lynette, let me stamp up some on old book paper when I was at her house awhile ago.

Used her colored pencils to color them. Then they sat on my stamping table for a long time.

I found a partially made tag in my stash and used this birdie on it.

Using a recycled a coffee cup liner/wrapper, I cut my own little branch.

For the sky, I cut a my own cloud template, then sponged with distress broken china.

Here is a light purple card using another one of  Tim Holtz' Bird Talk Birds.

On each side of a white layer, I dry embossed a zig zag design

using Patterns & Stitches, a long narrow embossing folder by Tim Holtz/Sizzix.

Sponged with distress seedless preserves.

Created the same type of branch as in tag, added twine fibers and another Bird Talk birdie.

The sentiment is by Wendy Vecchi, A Form of Art-LCS048.

Thanks for visiting!

Card Captain Day 4

Happy Technique Thursday! to my Enjoy Michael Strong Stamps Friends!

 These my little "techniques" today:
* making my own "tag reinforcement"

 * using an aqua painter to color stamped images 

* making my own "hill stencil".

 Here you see a close up of my "tag reinforcement".

I cut my own tag 7 x 3-1/2 inches from white cardstock.

Trimmed the top corners as shown and used a 1/4 inch punch for the center hole.

I added a home made "reinforcement" by punching a 1/4 inch circle
into a separate piece of cardstock. 

Then I punched a 5/8 inch circle around that.
Glued my reinforcement onto my tag.

To make a "hill" stencil simply cut a curvy line on cardstock scraps-Super simple.
Using this, I sponged mowed lawn ink to create my hills.

Coloring with Aqua Painter...
For the Vase, I stamped it on a separate piece of paper using Versafine black onyx ink.

When it was thoroughly dry, I used an aqua painter and distress inks to color it.
Just dab your inkpad to a craft sheet or similar surface.
Dip your aqua painter brush into the ink to pick up color.
Have scrap paper handy to test out the color's intensity.
Use a paper towel or old rag to pinch the brush and remove color
before going on to the next color.
I fussy cut the vase and attached it with foam tape.
I used the aqua painter to color the  the dragonfly and the cat.

To finish off my tag, I added assorted fibers from my stash!
Thanks, Lynette for sharing your fibers with me!

STAMPS-Michael Strong, Stampers Anonymous

INKS

Distress-mowed lawn, scattered straw, tumbled glass,
rusty hinge, seedless preserves, spiced marmalade, tea dye

2013 Peace Tag Swap

Here are the 2013 holiday PEACE tags from the swap hosted by Hetty Sanders and created by members of the Creative Stamping Friends Yahoo group.

...and for a closer look

 

2013 CSF Christmas Tag Swap

This year's Christmas Tag Swap from the Yahoo Group, Creative Stamping Friends, was hosted by Maggie Jones. The theme: MERRY CHRISTMAS

Altered Books Stampfest

Lynette and I worked on our altered books at our most recent Stampfest on August 12th. Lynette started with photos of her granddaughter, Anella. Initially she worked on a tag with the Lonely Girl Stamp by Dina Wakley. Before she was done, however, she switched to a Julie Nutting doll design stamp and made a new tag.

I fell in love with the Lonely Girl tag. Graciously, Lynette not only let me copy her tag, but she shared all her supplies with me...the tulle for the dress, the mica sheet to place over the stamped image, the green fabric trim as well as the black cord for the "balloon", the fibers, ribbon and the pink crepe paper for the fringe. It was super easy for me because all the planning was already done by Lynette! Thanks, my friend!!

Lynette's made cutouts of her granddaughter, Anella on her journal layout.
Some of the stamps Lynette used are from Hero Arts and other stamps.

Above you can see the artist, Lynette, at work!

Here is my art journal layout. Some of the stamps I used:
Stampers Anonymous: Winged Things, Spring Sprung, Blueprint Light Bulb
Paper Artsy:  Kids-Plate 2 (Boy with fish)
 and other stamps.

A close up of Lynette's original Lonely Girl tag.

And here we are at the end of our fun stampfest!

Click on any images for a more detailed view.

Wedding Card & Tag

I continue to use old book pages as layers in my cards. Here's a wedding card I made for our neighbors:

Stamps:  Hero Arts ClearDesign-Treasure the Moments CL15, Stampers Anonymous Bitty Grunge CMS089
Ink: Distress pumice stone, Stampin' Up! Rose Romance
Used Gesso for the circles on the front
Cuttlebug Embossing folders: Allegro, D'Vine Swirl, Script
Fiskars scallop border punch
Zig Pigment Ink Pen: Rose
Used left over heart shapes from my stash.

And here is a tag I made for the May Challenge at the Enjoy Michael Strong Yahoo Group:

I cut cream cardstock  3-1/4 x 6-1/8 inches, trimming the top corners and adding a 1/4" hole in the top center. For my background I used direct to paper adding distress inks, Broken China, Shabby Shutters and a dab of Peeled Paint to my craft sheet. Spritzed that with a water. Before placing my tag onto the craft sheet, I drew some random lines on the tag with a hunk of beeswax-white crayon works too. This resists the ink. Smooshed the paper onto the craft sheet to apply the inks. Dried the tag with a heat tool. I made my own "reinforcement" for the tag with a 1/4" punch then a 1/2 in circle punch. I distressed a rectangle of an old book page. I stamped the cat in Rusty Hinge and the dog with Brushed Corduroy and clear embossed those. I wrote "My Best Friends" in black permanent marker on blue paper and layered that on cream that I distressed with blue ink.  Adhered ruffled eyelet to the bottom and cut a strip of blue lace for the top tie.

Tag Card

Anita Houston's Giant Tag Cards at The Artful Maven Haven have been on my mind. She has a great tutorial there!

Here is my "rendition". I used white cardstock, cut to 5-1/8 x 10-1/2 inches, scoring at 2-3/4 inches from both sides as Anita has shown. I was glad to use some of my new Tim Holtz tissue tape! Embossed the front left flap. I did not do the beautiful "spritzed distress ink technique on craft sheet"--saving that idea for another card!

Supplies:
Stamps: Dina Wakley, Hero Arts, PrintWorks, Stampendous
Cuttlebug embossing folder
Tim Holtz Tissue Tape
Tim Holtz Distress inks: broken china, tumbled glass, spun sugar, worn lipstick, wild honey scattered straw, shabby shutters
Caramel Twine

2012 CSF Winter Tag Swap

We have a tradition of swapping winter themed tags at Christmastime on the Creative Stamping Friends Yahoo Group. This year's swap was hosted by Sue Erickson. Our theme is:  PEACE   LOVE   JOY

November Stampfest with Lynette

Lynette and I spent the day stamping. She helped me with my Christmas tags. We each made a Christmas tag inspired by Nancy Burke's tag

st

We also tried out a new technique shared by Theresa's blog, inking the non-labeled, "debossed" side of the embossing folder directly with distress ink pads. Then we spritzed with water till the ink "beaded up". Added white card stock and ran it through the Cuttlebug. Dried the paper with a heat tool. As you can see, we were on a roll. This technique does not work in lettered or numbered folders because the inverse letter or number is highlighted with the ink.

2012 CSF Valentine Tag Swap

Creative Stamping Friends, a yahoo group, has a most talented group of artistic stampers. I have been a member for about 10 years. Here are the results of the 2012 Valentine Tag Swap, the first swap that I've hosted. Click image for a larger view.