Vintage Halloween Wall Hanging

I've already sent this to Robyn, the owner of Artistic Outpost, and let me tell you, it was hard to part with! It's not that it was especially hard to make, it's just that I was pretty pleased with the way it turned out! Of course most of the images are from the Vintage Halloween plate, but I also added some Crafty Secrets stickers. I pretty much love everything from CS, and in this case, their Halloween stickers were a beautiful match for these adorable AO images. Just in case you didn't know, you can get a great price on the Vintage Halloween/Route 66 Bundle: BOTH plates for only $19.99! Now girls, that's just a smokin' hot deal!!

Those of you who stopped by yesterday saw a card I made using the new Bluebird plate and an upcoming CPS sketch. I did not know that I should not post that card yet, so I had to delete it. It will be back up at the right time!

New Artistic Outpost Plates, Reveal #2

This gorgeous Santa image comes complete with the Frost poem. This plate is called Snowy Woods, and it is a full 8 1/2 by 11!! It's jam packed with stunning vintage images just like this. They're exactly the kind of Christmas stamps you would expect from Artistic Outpost. The images have such depth, they're true eye candy!

I used some retired SU! DP for this card, and added a bunch of Prima Flowers and leaves. The Primas have Candy Cane Stickles on them. I painted the leaf with Antique Brass Glimmer Mist. I paint things when I forget to spray them before I mount them on the card. I didn't want the leaf to be matte when the flowers were glitzy. I just spray a couple of times into a small container and paint where I want shimmer.

For the SU! beads, I applied Crystal Effects to the card and poured on the beads. After I shook off the extras, I sprinkled the area with Dazzling Diamonds. I have started doing this when I use micro beads as well. I can never get complete coverage with the beads, and it bothers me to see the adhesive underneath, so I just sprinkle on a coordinating glitter. I love the little extra shine it adds.

Here are the deets on the new plates:

The wait is almost over!!! Artistic Outpost is releasing two new stamp plates. On October 1st, Snowy Woods and Bluebird will be available.

We're so excited about our Christmas plate this year, it features peaceful images of a loving Santa Claus who we believe is the real one. No mall Santa's helpers here!!! This is a full 8.5 x 11" unmounted stamp collection. Loads of beautiful images, and our first "full" plate.

Our Bluebird collection is once again the half plate size of 8.5 x 5.5". It is meant to be your solace this winter. You can see the reflections of winter and spring all in this one collection. Our peaceful collection of bird inspired images to take you through to spring.

Specials on these plates will be posted on October 1st. In addition, believe it our not, October marks our ONE year anniversary. Holy Cow! Has it been this long? With this milestone will come blog candy and additional specials on our one year old darling stamp sets. The ones that got us going and that we will always hold in our hearts.

Be sure to check back for a sneak peeks and samples from our Design Team.

If you haven't already signed up for blog updates - be sure you do, that way you won't miss out on our specials and anniversary celebration!

See everyone else's work here:

http://www.artisticoutpost.blogspot.com/

New Artistic Outpost Plates!!!

This is my first card with one of Artistic Outpost's new plates. It's called Bluebird, and is it ever gorgeous!!! They aren't available yet, but just a few more days and you can get yours, too!! These stamps are so much fun to work with! I started this card with a Blush Blossom base, added a little Basic Gray Two Scoops, and used one of SU!'s old frames. The little tag was a RAK from my bloging friend Carolina (Thanks, Carolina!). I embossed the little girl twice. Once on BG, and again on BB. I cut the BB girl out and layered her on top with pop dots. I embossed the bird with Certainly Celery and clear ep, cut it out and mounted it on foam tape. The dots are made out of Cotton Candy Stickles.

O Let Us cast Dull Care away...

Another card from Artistic Outpost's Vintage Halloween plate. I stamped the main image in VersaMark and embossed him in black. Then I sprayed the entire image with Sage Glimmer Mist. I used Basic Black and Rusty Pickle papers, and added a touch of Black Diamond Stickles. The sentiment is also embossed for a little extra shine and texture. The ribbon is SU! black grosgrain with a touch of satin mummy ribbon by who knows who. VERY simple card for me!

I use a lot of Stickles and Glimmer Mist, and I get them both at Creative Play Stamps. Yes, I design for them, but they have great prices and excellent service. Their inventory is so huge, I honestly can't keep track of everything they offer.

All five of the companies I design for are small, family run businesses. I know and like each one of the owners, and they would earn my business even if I weren't on their teams. If you'd like to toss a little business to the small guys, you can't miss with these companies!

Get your kicks on Route 66

I've posted other cards with this image where I made the image kind of blurry, on purpose, mind you! However, I didn't want to miss an opportunity to show how incredibly detailed this fun image actually is. I embossed it in black here, and it just looks so cool, or tuff as the immortal Ponyboy would say. This is from Artistic Outpost's Route 66 plate. Speaking of which, have I told you that I have TWO new AO plates in my possession? I think I have, but I want to get everyone whipped up into a fine froth. These two new plates are even better than the old ones! How do they keep doing that? The Christmas plate is HUGE. Both plates have literary references. ***SIGH*** I love me some Artistic Outpost stamps!

Sparkling Hedgie

Of course this is a Penny Black hedgehog. I colored him with my wc pencils. I put Crystal Effects on his tummy and sprinkled it with Dazzling Diamonds. The metallic paper is from WalMart. It isn't very nice quality, but the colors are pretty and they have a nice shimmer. The patterned paper is from a huge stack from some off brand. This is probably the least expensive card I've made in years! I would never buy this paper now, as I'm a bonafide paper snob, but I'm too cheap to throw this stuff away!

I'm NOT online!!

So, yesterday, within minutes of my post, my NEW computer crashed. I have to send it back. Even Billy the Kid from India couldn't fix it! So, my new, new computer should be here by the 24th. I have to wonder about my luck with computers. Is it true that some people can just foul up sensitive electronic equipment? Is it my overwhelmingly compelling personality? So, anywho, I'm on dh'S laptop, and I'm just going to have to use this until my new one comes in. Again.

This card is on one of SU!'s little notecards. I don't know if they are in the new catty or not, I got these years ago. They are such a cute size, 3.5x5. I've always enjoyed working with them. This is SU!'s sweet set, Carved and Candlelit. Rusty Pickle dp, HOTP brad buddy, Daisy D's sticker. I used some of the wire SU! used to sell. What was I thinking when I bought that? It was expensive, too. I probably use it once a year if that. I figure I'll have it all used up in about 440 years.