Beginning to Bloom

Have you noticed a strange tag on some of the new projects and posts? *B2B* is your clue that the project meets our 2010 goal of taking you “back to basics” frequently! Any time you see *B2B*in the title, you’ll know that the article you’re about to read contains information that may be new to you [...]

Inspiration….and how to get it

 
    Welcome to my world…. a place where there always seems to be some kind of deadline looming, whether it be a card for someone special, or a swap deadline that is just around the corner.  Most times, I get my projects done with time to spare, but there are times I seem to be fresh out of  ideas. Inspiration has [...]

The Cuttlebug–It’s Love

 I have recently come into possession of a Cuttlebug. No, it isn’t an insect or a cute new pet. It is a die cutting and embossing  machine manufactured by Provo Craft that I really didn’t think I would have any use for.  My niece owned it but wanted a different machine that Stampin’ Up! carries. She insisted [...]

Basically, Thank You. *Back2Basics*

Fly-By Thanks
by Stephanie Loomis, Artistic Guide and Editor
Finished card size: 5.5″ x 4.25″ 
As promised, Stamper’s Quest will bring periodic “Back2Basics” projects to our readers so that we may all remember why we chose this art form! This particular card takes us to the very element of rubber stamp art. It requires four things: stamps, paper, [...]

Back to Basics

Y2K plus 10. Remember the madness that accompanied the dawn of the 21st century? People stocked up on bottled water and canned foods, gathered family close around, and waited for…nothing. All the talk of a cyber-meltdown and disaster proved to be all hot air speculation. However, in the ten years since, the mood and the [...]

Holiday Splendor Joy Card

 
 
 
 
By Marcia Mattos, Artistic Guide 
Finished card size: 4” x 6”
 
 
 
 
 
 
Supplies:
Stamps:
Christmas Tree (Unknown)
Alphabet Set Stamp (All Night Media)
Ink:
Versamark (Tsukinelo)
Paper:
Ivory, Red and Green Cardstock (The Paper Company)
Other supplies:
Fine Detail gold Embossing Powder (Ranger Industries)
Embossing heat gun (Marvy)
Pop Dots (Ranger)
Golden Ribbon (Brazilian)
1” Circle Punch (Marvy)
Directions:

Using the Versamark inkpad, stamp the tree image and the letters on ivory cardstock.
Add [...]

Holiday Splendor: Whimsical Sun Ornament

  
 
 
 
Whimsical Sun Hanger
By: Jennifer Willis, Artistic Guide
Finished size: 4″ x 6″
  
  
  
  
Supplies:
Stamps:
Fairy Wishes Whimsical Sun Stamp (Faerie Song Art Stamps)
Ink:
Dark Mulberry Dye Ink (Memories)
Other:
Purple Polymer Clay* (Sculpey)
Diamond Glaze (Judikins)
Earth Tones #2 Mini-Metallics Rub-Ons (Craf-T Products)
Omni-Stick (Hammerhead America)
18 gauge Copper Wire (Unknown)
Beads (Blue Moon)
Craft Knife (X-Acto)
Round Nosed Pliers (Craftsman)
Directions: 

Condition the clay by working it in your [...]

Holiday Splendor Penguin Card

 
 
 
 
By Marcia Mattos, Artistic Guide 
 Finished card size: 4” x 6”
 
 
 
 
 
 
Supplies:
Stamps:
Perky Penguins (The Angel Company)
Ink:
Jet Black StazOn (Tsukineko)
Red StazOn (Tsukineko)
Paper:
Christmas Patterned Paper (Angel Company)
Red and Green Mi Teintes Paper (Canson)
White Cardstock (Bazzil)
Other supplies:
Watercolor pencils (Derwent and CaranD’Ache)
Pop Dots (Ranger)
Red Voil Ribbon
Red glittered brads (Making Memories)
Stickles (Ranger Industries)
Adhesive Stones (Brazilian)
Directions:

Cover the card front with a piece of [...]

December Sketch Card

 
 
 
 
Have some last minute holiday cards to make up for those special folks in your life?  Why not give our December sketch a try? What a card Regena has created for you this month. Long with many different shaped layers to show off all those gorgeous papers in your stash! The bonus…adding those stamped images that will really make them pop.
 
 
 
 
 
Check [...]

Holiday Splendor: Santa’s Girl Card

Santa’s Little Girl

 
 
 
 
Santa’s Girl Card
By: Jennifer Willis, Artistic Guide
Finished card size: 4.25″  x  5.5″
 
 
 
 
 
Santa, I’ve been good this year!
Supplies:
Stamps:
Valentine Girl (Auntie Amy’s)
Paper:
Vintage Red Printed Paper (Daisy D’s)
Red Printed Papers (Unknown)
Green Printed Paper (Unknown)
Red and White Cardstock (Unknown)
Ink:
Black Archival Ink (Close To My Heart)
Other:
Green .5″  Satin Ribbon (Offray)
Red, Yellow and Peach Markers (Unknown)
Double Sided [...]

Gratitude Card for the Discoverer

Gratitude Card for the Discoverer
By: Stephanie Loomis, Artistic Guide
Finished card size: A2 (5.5” x 4.25”) 
Supplies:
Stamps: 
G is for Gratitude (The Angel Company)
Paper:                       
A2 note card: 5.5” x 4.25” (Georgia Pacific cardstock)
White cardstock: 2.5” x 2.875” (Georgia Pacific)
Patterned paper A: 3.25” x 3.5” (unknown source—pulled from scrap box)
Patterned paper B: 3.25” x 5.5” (unknown source—pulled from scrap box)
Patterned [...]

Using Your Brayer for the Discoverer

Do you have a brayer that sits in your drawer because you don’t quite know what to do with it?  I generally use mine with the multi-colored ink pads, such as the Kaleidacolors because it’s easy to create great backgrounds.  There are so many other things you can do with a brayer!  Don’t want to [...]

Miniature Gratitude Journal for the Inventor

 
 
 
 
By: Stephanie Loomis, Artistic Guide 
Sometimes I forget to be grateful for the little things. To help me keep an attitude of gratitude, I created a mini journal that will fit into my purse. When I see something or think of something for which I am thankful, I jot it down. Then on the days when [...]

Holiday Blizzard Project – Peace Canvas with Photo Transfer

Peace Canvas
Photo Transfer Mixed Media
By: Stephanie Loomis, Artistic Guide
Finished size: 12”x4”
Supplies:
Stamps:
Peace (Ruth’s Rubber Stamps)
Paper:
Matte Photo paper (International Paper)
Acetate (unknown)   
Ink:
 Black VersaMark (Tsukineko)
Mustard Seed Distressed ink pad (Ranger)
Other:
12”x4” canvas (Dick Blick)
Gel Medium, semi-gloss or matte (Golden)
Photo editing software (I use Adobe Photoshop Elements 7.0)
GAC 100 polymer (Golden)
Brayer
Digital Ground for Non-Porous Surfaces (Golden)
Foam brushes
Small detail paint brushes
Page from an [...]

More Mygrafico Digital Designs

 
 
Mygrafico is owned and operated by partners, Burcu Arat Sup (a.k.a. MUJKA) and Judy Sanqunetti.  Both women are illustrators. 
 
 

 
 
Burcu creates designs mostly for stationery companies and the commercial market. You can check out Burcu’s beautiful work at her website,  Mujka Chic.
 

 
Judy creates designs mainly for the kid’s market. Judy’s wonderful children’s design work can be found at Sanqunetti [...]

When it rains…

…it pours! And it POURED  here in the Atlanta area recently! The climatologists called it a “100 year event” with good reason. I had my own waterfall running from my backyard, through the gate, and down the retaining wall into the neighbor’s driveway. Eventually the wall gave out from the deluge, but no real damage–just a [...]

September Product Review – Copic Markers

Copic Markers
By: Susan Wolf Caplan, Product Guru

Copic Markers are professional illustration markers.  They are double ended, low odor and alcohol based.  These markers are also refillable and come in over 200 colors.  Sounds pretty interesting, don’t they?
The one thing stopping me from buying a few to test for this review was their cost.  My local [...]

Thoughts on Going to a Stamp Convention

Yes, I admit it, I am a hopelessly addicted rubber stamper, and have been, ever since coming across it back in ‘92. Paper, inkpads, glitter and embossing powder, these things had become my passion, and I began to dream of the day that I attended a rubber stamp convention with my stamping pal, Jill.  But [...]

Photos On Cards

 
Photos On Cards
By: Shelly Newkirk, Artistic Guide
Finished Card Size: 5.5″ x 4.25″
Supplies:
Stamps:
“Just For You”  (River City Rubber Works)
Paper:
11″ x 8.5″ scrapbook paper (K & Company, Studio K, Meadow & Breeze paper pad)
Gray-green cardstock (unknown)
Ink:
Library Green Archival Ink (Ranger)
Jet Black Archival Ink (Ranger)
VersaMark (Tsukineko)
Other:
Black fine line embossing powder
Ticket punch (Stampin’ Up!)
Directions:

Attach the scrapbook paper of your [...]

Military Remembrance for the Discoverer

Remembering Our Military
By: Janice Ellis, Artistic Guide
Finished Card size: 4.25″ x 5.5″
Supplies:
Stamps:
Thinking of You (Rubber Stampede)
Paper:
Green and beige textured cardstock (DCWV Neutrals Stack)
Beige matte paper for words (Marco’s paper)
Background camouflage paper (craft store purchase)
Inks:
None
Other:
Markers: (Marvy)
     Green
     Dark Brown
Sakura Crystal Lacquer
Army stickers (Sticko)
Regular scissors
Glue stick or double sided mounting tape
Directions:

Remove stickers from adhesive sheet and apply to the camouflage background.
Cut [...]