The Artful Maven

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Remember: Memorial Day

TWO POSTS IN ONE DAY! To see the Artistic Outpost May Release Set, Kudzu Kafe, please view it here.

It's time for the 'funkie' side to be shown at Frilly & Funkie's fortnightly challenge of "stencils & masks", hosted by the uber talented Marjie Kemper of She Who Stamps And Scraps. In case you have missed it, Marjie challenges you to use stencils or masks in your artwork. Use a purchased item or create your own stencil or mask using positive/negative space from die-cuts, stamps, or punches. You still have a week (May 29th) left to participate and upload your project. We can't wait to see your creations! And, if you need a little inspiration please visit the other members of the Design Team and ogle over their fantastic creations.

Linda Coughlin - The Funkie Junkie

Marjie Kemper - She Who Stamps and Scraps

Teresa Kline - Paperie Blooms

Terry Horrall - Terry's Work In Progress

Sue Carrington - Stamping Sue Style

Tammy Roberts - Paperie Sweetness

Since Memorial Day is just around the corner, I decided to make a tag to mark this extremely important occasion in the United States. My step father serve in WWII, Korea (where he was a prisoner of war), and Viet Nam. He is one of few still alive who have done so, so this tag is in honor of him and those who have served our country.

I decided to create my own mask of sorts by taping off an area that I didn't want my stencil misting to mar.

I misted Dylusions Ink Spray onto a sewing stitches stencil to create some funky stripes.

I removed the tape, and then blocked off the stripes so I could mist the blank space with Dylusions to create a blue field.

I did not want this is be a clean stenciled image, because I wanted this to be symbolic and war is not clean, so I misted this with water to create a water color effect.

I used a stencil with circles of dots to mimic stars, and I painted over it with Snow Cap Dabber.

I used Tim's Americana Silhouettes Stamp Set and the dabber to create a larger star and more definitive stripes

I stamped all the words from this except the July 4, using Pumice Stone, so the images didn't overpower the flag.

I support the DAV and they send me cards and stickers. One of the cards had this image that I loved, so I distressed and inked it, to be used as my focal image on the tag. I wrote 'remember' on it with a Glaze Pen, and covered the sentiment with Crackle Accents.

I am also submitting this tag to the Sunday Stamper for "circles", Simon Says Stamp & Show's Challenge of "summer holidays", and Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog challenge of "spots & stripes".

Supplies:

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

Artistic Outpost's May Release

It's a good day crafty folk! Artistic Outpost just released their new stamp set for May called Kudzu Kafe. Just in time for summer stamping, this Southern inspired collection pays homage to the lazy days of summer. This collection was inspired by a vintage kudzu seed packet that Robyn picked up from a flea market. It's kind of ironic to her because kudzu is like the plague to many that live in the Southern part of the US. It grows in the fields along most country roads and it covers EVERYTHING. The nostalgic images feature a roadside cafe, children from the early 1900's, and Thoreau sentiments that all will easily mix and stylistically go with so many of our other collections. Talk about vintage loveliness at it's best. The details are fabulous, especially when stamped on Specialty Stamping Paper. This stamp collection measure 8.5" x 5.5". It is available unmounted as a sheet of beautiful red rubber, or you can have it mounted for you on cling foam. The mounted stamp set comes with a plastic index sheet/card for ease of storage.
I decided to do a matching set of sorts. I just love the Lined Image (yes I'm strange). I just think there are so many uses for it...like here as the grass/road. It would be awesome as siding on a building, a design on clothing, hair, journaling lines, rows of crops on a farm, waves on a calm ocean...I could go on and on.

Born To Stand Out: Having a comical sentiment on a vintage image like this makes me happy. I love all those cards with the older people on it with funny quotes. All the images on both cards are from Kudzu Kafe and Serenity and are stamped in Jet Black Archival onto kraft paper. They are all colored in with Distress Markers or water colored with Distress Ink. The sentiments are from Think and Wonder.

Fun Is Good: This card was done basically the same way as the first, except the sign. I wanted to create a rusted and vintage looking sign, highlighting my favorite thing...homemade ice cream. I used Antiquities Rust Embossing Powder over silver embossing on top of Tim's Hanging Sign Die. Chain and jump rings attached the stained wooden veneer sign. It was stamped in Jet Black Archival and colored in with Distress Markers.