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, [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Easy Collage Card for the Adventurer

By: Melanie Smith, Artistic Guide
Finished Size: 4.25″ x 5.5″
This card was inspired by the grapes that grow in the beautiful Hawkes Bay region where I live.  There are vineyards absolutely everywhere – even on the former site of our local 1/4 mile drag strip (much to my husband’s dismay).  But so many people get such [...]

Black and White Flower Card for the Discoverer

By: Michael A. Trent, Artistic Guide 
Finished card size:6.5” x 5” 
Something else I enjoy doing when using black and white images, papers, etc.  is to add just a dash of color to a project that is 99% black and white.  In this project the emphasis is black and white but I added some color to the [...]

Be Fabulous Matted Art for the Adventurer

Be Fabulous Matted Art
By: Regena, Artistic Guide
Finished size:  8″ x 10″
Supplies:
Stamps:
Monica and Jillian (Rubbernecker Stamp Co)
Eiffel Tower (Limited Edition)
Tres  and Chic (Luni Stamps)
Style is Eternal and Fern (Hero Arts)
Mini Sunglasses and Lipstick (Dawn Hauser)
Be Fabulous (Paper Candy)
Leaf Background Cube (Stampendous)
Retro Circles (Inkadinkado) 
Paper:
8.5″ x 11″ matte coated white cardstock (Marco’s Paper)
12″ x 12″ Black Glimmer cardstock (The [...]

Black and White Tulips Matted Art for the Inventor

Black and White Tulips Matted Art
Regena, Artistic Guide
Finished size:  11″ x 14”
Supplies:
Stamps:
Vase with Tulips (Inkadinkado)
Paper Texture Cube (Stampendous)
Tapestry (Great Impressions) 
Paper:
8.5″ x 11″ matte coated white cardstock (Marco’s Paper)
12″ x 12″ Black Glimmer cardstock (The Paper Company)
Ink:
Coal Black Ancient Page ink (Clearsnap)
Other:
11″ x 14″ White on Black Mat  with 2 two 5″ x 7″ openings (Michaels)
11″ x14″ [...]

Fairy Happy for the Adventurer

Fairy Happy
By: Sue Trembeth, Artistic Guide
Finished Card Size: 4.5″ x 5.5″
Supplies:
Stamps:
Is here – 2710E (Penny Black)
Flower fairy – B1174 (Close to my Heart)
Papers: 
White card stock, 5.5″ x 8.5″, folded in half to form 4.25″ x 5.5″  base card
Glossy white paper,  3.5″ x 2.75″ (unknown)
Black cardstock, 3.625″ x 2.875″(unknown)
Red card stock 3.875″ x 3.125″(unknown)
Black card stock 4.5″ x [...]

Not-Your-Average Gift Box for the Inventor

Not-Your-Average Gift Box & Card
By: Christine Candora-Hickey, Artistic Guide

Finished card size:  2″ wide x  4.5″ long x 1″ high

A special gift deserves a special presentation!  This is the perfect house for handmade jewelry or candies.  It’s a box and card all rolled into one – a gift in itself!
Supplies:
Stamps:          
All stamps Raindrops on Roses
Paper:            
Glossy cardstock (Paper [...]

Addicted to ATCs

By: Chris Herrmann, Artistic Guide
Okay, now my secret is out. I am an ATC addict. Wow, now I feel much better! Seriously, I really looooove creating ATCs, so you can imagine my happiness when I discovered  a fantastic book all about making them. The book is called Artist Trading Card Workshop by Bernie Berlin. If [...]

Color Blocked Butterflies for the Discoverer

Color Blocked Butterflies
By: Jennifer Willis, Artistic Guide
Finished card size: 6″ x 6″
Supplies:
Stamps:
Small Butterfly (Northwoods)
Friendship Text (Auntie Amy)
Paper:
Bright Pink Card Stock (Unknown)
Bright Green Card Stock (Unknown)
Bright Yellow Card Stock (Unknown)
Bright Turquoise Card Stock (Unknown)
White Card Stock (Unknown)
Ink:
Versa Color – Lagoon Blue (Tsukineko)
Other:
Double Sided Tape (Tombow)
Scissors (EK Success)
Paper Trimmer (Purple Cow)
Directions:

Cut a 6″ x 6″ card from [...]

March Guest Artist – Sherre Hulbert

Sherre has always loved creative pursuits. Her love of the arts include painting, quilting, photography, embroidery, journaling, digital art, and jewelry-making. She has tried almost every form of craft at some point or another. Working on a Heritage scrapbook led her to submit a page to Somerset Studio. The page was published and this led [...]

Soft Flowers for the Adventurer

Soft Flowers
By:  Kittie Caracciolo, Artistic Guide 
Finished card size: 5.25″ x 5.25″ 
This scene full of flowers reminds me of spring where I grew up in West Virginia. I love the soft texture of the Flower Soft.
Supplies:
Stamps:
Cause a Scene Outdoor Master (Kittie Kits-Rubbernecker)
Cause a Scene In My Garden (Kittie Kits-Rubbernecker)
Paper:
Watercolor Paper (Arches)
Regal Rose (Stampin’ Up!)
Old Olive (Stampin’ [...]

Embellished Lamp for the Inventor

Embellished Lamp
By: Stephanie Loomis, Artistic Guide
Supplies:
Stamps:         
Stephanie Standing at the Window (StampLand Chicago)
Paper:
Vellum (source unknown) four 5.5″ x 4.25″ pieces 
Ink:
Palette Noir (Tsukineko)
Other:
1 mm. Ball Tipped Embossing tool (SAR)
Grid-Fine Mesh (Pergamano)
Perforating Mat (Pergamano)
Perforating tools: arrow and needle (Pergamano)
Painter’s tape
I kan’ dee chalks: earth tones (Pebbles Inc.)
Matte acrylic sealer (Krylon)
Xyron 500 sticker maker (or similar)
Rectangle lamp (IKEA)
16″ length [...]

Product Review – Evo Templates

Evo Templates by Evolving Images
By:  Susan Caplan, Product Guru
 
Evo Rectangle Templates

Evo Square Templates
Ever hear of Evo Templates by a company called Evolving Images? If you haven’t, then I have a treat in store for you.  I have been using these marvelous acrylic templates for years and don’t know what I would do without them.
Evo Templates [...]

February Card Sketch

Regena created a dandy of a card sketch for you this month, and our Artistic Guides followed suit with awesome samples to inspire your creative muse!
This versatile sketch lent itself to a wide variety of samples. We love uploading your art into our Sketchbook for everyone to oooooh and ahhhhh over, so  send your interpretation [...]

My Heart Has Wings Project for the Discoverer

My Heart Has Wings
By: Michael A. Trent, Artistic Guide
 Finished card size: 8.5” x 4”
Sometimes an image talks to you but you have no idea how to use it, or it is out of your “comfort zone.”  This image, although it was whispering to me “Michael, buy me, use me.  I’m funky,” was totally out of [...]

Good Things Come In Small Boxes for the Inventor

Good Things Come In Small Boxes
By: Michael A. Trent, Artistic Guide
As they say, good things come in small packages.  Or, in this case, small boxes.  Each of these boxes measures 1.5” on all sides and can be decorated to your liking.  Fill them with Valentine’s Day candy hearts, M&M candies, Hershey Kisses, a small gift, [...]

My Sparkly Valentine for the Adventurer

My Sparkly Valentine for the Adventurer
By: Christine Candora-Hickey, Artistic Guide
Finished card size:  6″ x 6″
Supplies:
Stamps:          
Heart Medallion (Holly Berry House)
Papers:                       
Red, burgundy, pink (two shades) textured cardstock (Bazzil)
White ultrasmooth cardstock (Stampin’ Up!)
Inks:
Embossing Ink (Ranger)
Other:
White embossing powder (Stampin’ Up!)
Pink and red glitters (Stampin’ Up!)
Pop dots (All Night Media)
2-in-1 Glue pen (Sailor)
Scissors (Tonic)
Heat Gun (Milwaukee)
Decorative Scissors (Fiskars)
Wax paper
Removable tape [...]