First Carve & New Sig Stamp

My youngest son, Lil Ewok, has been letterboxing since before he was born.  We started boxing in 2010 and he was born in 2012.  My other children were interested in boxing and stamp carving right away.  The Princess carved her first stamp when she was 4 years old.  For some reason, Lil Ewok has just now got the stamp carving bug.  He carved his first stamps this week.  He really likes turtles, so I transferred this image to rubber for him and he did the rest.  Then he got into my scrap bucket and carved 3 other stamps that he drew himself.  He is pretty proud :)

Lil Ewok has been using the same signature stamp forever.  In 2016, we went to a Homerdoodle event.  On the way home, my kids complained about having to stamp their stamps and write their trail names in all of the tabletop boxes.  I decided I would carve them new stamps with their names on them.  At this time, my 2 older kids changed their trail names and everyone got a new stamp but Lil Ewok.  We are going back to Homerdoodle this weekend and I have carved a new sig stamp for Lil Ewok.  Hopefully the rain they are forecasting will keep away. 

Anything Tim Holtz LTC

All the Ranger/TH stuff
I used on this card

I use a lot of Ranger/Tim Holtz (TH) products so I was excited to join Jaybirders, "Anything Tim Holtz" LTC swap.  I didn't do anything new for this card but it was fun to make.  I will walk you through it starting from the bottom and going up.

I like using text papers on my cards.  I found a Tim Holtz book of scrapbook paper that I loved.  I cut the papers to size and set them aside.  

While I was out looking for TH stuff, I found the film strip ribbon.  I thought it was cool and if the Magi would have had a camera, they would have taken pictures of their trip.  I cut ribbon in strips vertically and horizontally and glued them to the background.  Once the cards were totally finished, I realized that I like the ones where the film ribbon lined up with the star in the stamp best.  

Then I took TH watercolor cardstock and cut it to size.  I did a resist distress ink technique.  I stamped a music stamp on the paper with a VersaMark embossing ink pad, and I embossed it with Ranger white embossing powder.  I rubbed the distress inks (Chipped Sapphire, Blueprint Sketch, and Wilted Violet) on my craft mat and sprayed them with water.  Then I tapped a piece of acetate into the watered down ink and smeared it on my card.  One color at a time; drying the paper in between the colors.   

HERE is the video that I am trying to copy.  I have used this technique before and I wasn't totally happy with it.  The problem is, sometimes less is more.  I struggle with that and don't know when to stop.  I think these cards are much better than the last time I tried this.  

When that was dry I lightly sprayed the cards with Distress Mica Spray Tarnished Brass.

I roughed up the edge with the TH edge rougher.  Lol, what is the name of this silly tool?  I don't know.  It made a fluffy mess.  I glued that to my background.  (I Googled it and it is called a Thread Cutter/Paper Distresser.)

Now for my stamp.  I wanted to recarve a TH stamp but so many of them have tiny text that I knew I couldn't do it.  I saw some cards on Pinterest using a Wise Men die cut.  I love the image and carved it right up.  I stamped it on grey textured paper using a black VersaFine ink pad and fussy cut around the outside edge.  I stamped the star using Dew Drop Brilliance Galaxy Gold ink pad and Wow! Metallic Gold Rich Super Fine embossing powder.  I attached the Three Kings with foam squares and glued the star on with a craft glue stick.  

Anything Tim Holtz: We Three Kings

I was very happy with my cards but thought they needed something.  The bottom area of the stamp is plain and I went back out to the craft stores looking for the perfect TH thing to put there.  I thought about adding a brad but the cards were completely finished and I didn't want to tear them apart.  I found some TH paper clips.  I asked my daughter what she thought and she said they looked good.  

So, they are in the mail and I am looking forward to seeing the other cards and maybe learning a new TH technique :) 

Product Review: I wanted to add that I am not a fan of the Ranger Heat It Craft Tool.  It is ok for drying areas of ink but it stinks at embossing.  I bought it after watching video after video of bloggers using it.  I totally prefer my pink Paper Studio Embossing Heat Tool for embossing.  I included it in the first picture because I used to dry ink and not to emboss. 

TAP's March Madness

7c Worth of March Madness: Smile

This is the 2nd time Team Awesome Pants (TAP) has hosted a goofy paper swap. She bought some paper, cut it to size, and send it out to folks who signed up for her "7 cents Worth of March Madness" LTC swap.  

The paper I received this time was much better than last time.  HERE is the link to my blog post last time I participated.  For this paper, my first thought was Indian/Hindu.  I don't know much about that but I kept thinking about elephants.  I did an online search and this cute elephant popped up multiple times.  I decided to carve him and add the text.  

I stamped it on cream vellum with a gold ink pad and gold embossing powder.  I tried to use the embossing powder sparingly to make the cards look worn.  So, if you look at them and think, "Wendy needs to get a new embossing ink pad."  It was intentional.  And I'm not just saying that to cover a mistake.  The card that I kept for myself has minimal embossing.  I punched 2 of the corners, rubbed gold ink around the edge of the vellum, and added gold studs on the other corners.

I'm very happy with how my cards turned out and I'm looking forward to seeing the others. 

Disney LTC

This is my card for Disney Addict's "I Love All Things Disney" LTC swap.  Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012 for $4.05 billion. 

I struggled to carve this stamp.  I had a large Etsy stamp order and was burned out.  I couldn't motivate myself to carve anything.  But eventually, I got my act together and did it.  I'm very happy with the stamp.

I Love All Things Disney:
Droid Friends

I have made saving cream backgrounds multiple times.  They are fun and easy to do.  But this time I am disappointed with the results.  I used alcohol inks instead of food coloring. 

I wanted blue for R2-D2 and orange for BB-8.  I did not have orange food coloring, so I used alcohol ink.  The color is very muted and I'm not happy with the background.  But I was running out of time and just made the cards.   

The shaving cream background to mounted to black paper. 

Christmas Monsters LTC

School Mascot: Christmas Monsters

This is my card for SLeaves "School Mascot" LTC tracker. Early in the summmer we decided that if the kids had to wear masks at school, we would not send them back. We think it is not healthy and safe to wear face masks for long times. So, we are homeschooling 3 of our 4 kids. The oldest is in college and moved home because all his classes went online. 

 For the card, I rubbed Distress Inks (Wilted Violet, Blueprint Scetch, and Pine Needles) seperatly on my craft mat and sprayed them with water. Then I rubbed and tapped my paper in the ink. I stamped and embossed my stamp. When that was done, I cut out the monsters. Since it had to do with school, I added some old, torn, text papers to the background. I glued everything together with a glue stick. I ran out of the one I normally use and had to borrow one from the kids. I hope everything holds together. 

When finished, I mailed the stamp to Jiffy for a recap of 2020 event. I also sent her a dumpster fire that I craved just for fun. I may carve another and hide it here in town. I'm having a hard time thinking of a hiding place.

2020 Christmas Ornaments

Christmas Ornaments 2020:
Clothes Pin Nativity 

This is my 5th year to participate in the Christmas ornament swap hosted by Moose on the Loose.  I make something a little different each time but I have decided to start a series.  From now until whenever, I am going to make clothes pin ornaments.  They are cheap and easy.  

This year I made this nativity.  I got the idea from Pinterest and there are a TON of clothes pin ornaments there.  I'm thinking about making a snowman next year.  

The ornaments must have a stamp on the ornament or on a tag attached to it.  Mine was on the tag with my sig stamp and AQ number.  

After just 5 years my little Letterbox tree is really filling up :)

Secret Santa Stamps

I believe this is my 9th year to participate in the Secret Santa stamp swap.  Bungalow Boxer had my name and send a pinecone/needle stamp, an awesome logbook, and some chocolates.  

I actually met Bungalow Boxer early this year.  She was passing thru town on her way to an event, and asked if I wanted to get together for an exchange.  It was fun getting a surprise from someone I recently met.   While in the area, she planted some boxes and I got them on Spring Break.

I am looking for a good place with pine trees to hide my stamp.  I wanted to stop and look at a cemetery yesterday but my family said no :(

I had Sherlock Miles and her sent this detective stamp I carved and a few LTCs.

Merry Christmas to all!