During the past couple weeks I had been working on samples to submit to Artistic Outpost. They were looking for two new design team members, and since I absolutely LOVE all their rubber stamp sets, I took the plunge, hunkered down with some courage and faith, and went to work. I must add that two of my sisters and fellow stampers were very encouraging and urged me on when I was struggling with my mojo (thanks Denise and Nancy!)…it wasn’t that I didn’t have any ideas, but rather trying to nail down only three was a real struggle for me. Nonetheless, I made the team, couldn’t be happier, and to add icing to the cake, found out that one of my sisters from the Sisterhood of the Blogging Stampers 8, Etha, was selected also! How cool is that!
This is one of my projects.
I used the beautiful set "My Knight" to create a collage of elements. Unfortunately, as I was creating I changed my mind many times, and forgot to write down everything I used for this card-I do know that I used almost all Ranger Distress products-Distress Ink, Distress Embossing Powder, and Distress Paint, and I used at least three colors-green (Shabby Shutters?), blue (Broken China?), and Black Soot. One tip about the Distress EP is that is does not get glossy like most, but instead has an almost sandpaper-like texture that resembles crushed velvet (I think so anyway). I’ve read others’ blogs and noticed that they haven’t been pleased with the results. I think that this product is one of those "think outside the box" kind of things-it’s a unique product that will yield unique results. I did dab Versamark ink on the top layer of card stock (not the stamped image), and took pinches of various colors of Distress EP, sprinkled it on the Versamark, shook off the excess, and heated it up. I was very pleased with the result.
I promise that the next time I use so many elements and "ingredients" to give more details of how I accomplished the look. It was a lot of fun to make a "manly" card, and yet incorporate some fun-to-use products. The keyhole is a piece of Tim Holtz’s Grungeboard-a totally cool product that has the appearance of chipboard yet most closely resembles leather although it is a paper product…it can be inked up, painted, embossed…and I did all three on this piece.
Be sure to check out Artistic Outpost-the two newest plates, "Happiness" and "Home" are now available (both of which are very cool), and when you purchase any two sets you’ll receive "Mini-Masterpieces" FREE! I’ll be posting samples of those soon-I just received them yesterday, and believe it or not, have them cut out already!
What say you?