Deconstructing a Stamp

I found a cool site through the Fauxbonichi Journalers FB page.
It will blur your words or faces in a photo.
Here is the site http://www.facepixelizer.com
I have only used it this one time…so I am not an expert.
But it took me a bit to figure out how to get my photos on the page to alter, as I am used to using  http://www.picmonkey.com and love it.
I had also had trouble figuring out where my photo went once I saved it.
But I do like the effect that it gave my text and photo :)

I then used my iPhoto, Retouch in my edit program.
It may not look as nice….as my pages look like they are dirty, lol.
But it is so much easier for me to use.

I was looking for a large leaf stamp  to colour on my journal pages.
I had this stamp from Inkidinkado.
I didn't really care for the circle design behind the leaf…so decided to try and remove it.

So lots of cutting and snipping.
And then more snipping and even a bit of filing.

I was happy with the outcome of all of my work :)

I really liked this page even without me colouring up this stamp.

But aren't they so much prettier with some Autumn colours :)
I used my Blick's coloured pencils and mineral spirits to blend the colours.

Onto My Day:
We have been busy getting Wayne's "Man Cave" comfy for him.
We had to replace a couple of ceiling tiles and another light cover…as he broke the last 2 trying to put them up.
His new ginormous TV came in and so did his leather reclining love seat.
Awwww he thought of me when ordering it :)
So right now we are relaxing in his room watching The Dirt and then Gold Rush…a manly thing to be doing, lol.

I hope you all have a very Creative Day :)

Tracy :)

Christmas cards and all day of Walking Dead

It is now December, so I can share some Christmasy things with you now ;)
34 Christmas cards complete :)
Every year I make all my Christmas cards.

I make two batches.
Trash cards:
Those are the cards made with my scrap papers and are for the people, I know, will trash the cards at the end of the season.
Fancy cards:
Those are the cards that take a long time to create. Usually I colour the images with my Copic markers and use my prettiest of papers.

But this year I had seen this card on Pinterest (you know I always give credit to the original creator…if I can). I followed the link to Tamara's blog
Of course I didn't have the same stamp that she used, but had this one in my stash.
The blobs you see on the trees is wet stickles.
And yes that is my thumb in the photo, lol.

Since I took step by step photos, I might as well share them with you on how I mass produced these cards.
First off I did 3 cards and then figured…yup, these are going to be my cards for this year, so then  decided to assembly line these puppies.
I also did them in groups of 10 as I was still playing with the idea of doing a different type of card for the card keepers in my life ;)

Okay, so the first thing I did was cut my card stock up to make my card bases.
I always use 110 lb card stock from Staples. I purchase it in packages of 250.

Next step is to stamp all of my images.
This stamp is a wooden stamp from Inkadinkado, but doesn't have a name on it.
The reason they are stamped on the paper like this, is because when I make my 5.5" x 5.5" cards I am always left with a strip like this…so this was a perfect way to use them up :)

Next step…cut coloured card stock and mount the images on them.

Now to cut the flags.
I knew I had a lot to cut out, so I made this template to make things move along more quickly and easily :)

Like the original card, I liked that the stripes were on a diagonal.
I didn't have any paper like that (actually I didn't look to hard, teehee) so I cut this pattern paper on an angle to get the same or similar look.

I put the first flag on just perfectly, then I used that one as a template placement for the rest.
I put the flag onto the flag of the template.

I added some adhesive (my tape gun) to the back of the image piece and then placed it on top of the template image.
Because the adhesive is on the image piece it will pick up that flag perfectly straight :)

We are getting there people ;)

I then adhered the images onto the card bases…Lookin' good ;)

Second to last step…stamp on the sentiment.
I didn't have a dark enough blue ink for this, so I coloured on the sentiment with my Stampin' Up maker.
This sentiment came with the snowman blueprint stamp from Tim Holtz.

Here I used a sentiment stamp from the $1.50 bins at Michaels.
Last step is to add stickles to the ground and trees.
I don't think the original card had sparkle to it.

I love a stack of homemade cards, don't you?

I am following 2 photo challenges this month.
The first one is from my favourite creative magazine Canadian Scrapbookers.
I shared that on my post yesterday.
The prompt is: Warmth.
I chose my snuggle blankets.
I keep these two in my living room and you can find me under them every day or night,
I love my blankies ;)

The other photo a day challenge is with Hiedi Swapp
I am suppose to have a album made and share my pages daily.
Because I just found out about it today, I will make my album or journal tomorrow and share the page tomorrow.
The prompt for this challenge is "So it Begins".
"Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas"
This is a photo of Kristy and I putting up our outside Christmas decor.
This is the earliest I have ever put them up.
I usually am climbing up piles of snow to do this. And freezing my fingers off.
It was -4C today..so not to bad :)

We had a Walking Dead marathon and pig out day all day today.
Just finished watching the mid season finale of tonights episode and Oh My Goodness!!!
I won't spoil it, but intense!
I think I will be watching it again tonight.

Hope you all had a very creative Sunday :)

Tracy :)