A Masculine Birthday Card

I have a quick, masculine birthday card to share today!

At least, it was quick for me.

I stamped the barn scene from Country Life

on white cardstock with navy ink.

I added a touch of Distress inks to tinge the sky blue,

Stormy Sky, and the ground tan, Brushed Corduroy.  

I added a frame mounted with foam tape and centered it

on the front of a shaped kraft card, distressed a bit.

I stamped the greeting on seam binding, added a couple

buttons and string and mounted it across the frame.

This could be recreated in any color combination

with many other Artistic Outpost stamps!

Created by Judy Hayes

Flying with the Lion

Happy Friday! Suzz here.

The new Oz collage has so many wonderful images  and I loved all of them. This was the first card I created using the new plate.  I am enjoying creating cards using the set and they have been a big hit with the family. (Everyone wants them to give to their friends and to keep for themselves!) 

Have a Fab Friday!

Suzz

Designer: Suzanne Czosek

There is No Place Like Home

Hi Lisa here today, I'm just loving the new Oz Collage plate, the images are fun to create with! Taking inspiration from Dorothy's Gingham dress, I used some wonderful papers from Cosmo Cricket and the SCS Sketch 304, to create this really quick card.  Both Toto and Dorothy are colored using Markers and an H20 Brush.  I have another "fun" idea using this set combining it with some other Artistic Outpost images, hope to get that idea out of my head and share it with you soon!

If you missed yesterday's release post - just a reminder that Artistic Outpost is celebrating their 3rd Anniversary, and you get the presents!  ALL  rubber stamps are 20% off from now until November 5, 2010. That includes all unmounteds and mounteds. Simply use the code: Anniversary at check out to receive your discount.

PS - The October Referral Program ends Sunday - we'd love to see what you've been creating with Artistic Outpost images this month!

Thanks for stopping by - have a fabulous day!

Lisa Somerville

Artistic Outpost Releases Oz Collage

October is always a special month at Artistic Outpost. 

First, it's autumn, and where we live along the Mississippi Delta, we yearn for the cooler temperatures and the falling leaves just as much as the Tin Man years for a heart.  

Second, it's our anniversary month. We opened our "doors" 3 years ago, and it is so hard to believe how time truly does fly.  Thanks to the many of you that found us in the very beginning and have continued to inspire us all along the way. We love our customers, and we continue to be amazed by each and every one of you. 

Third, and most importantly, we are releasing a new collection of stamps inspired by Dorothy and Toto in that wonderful land of Oz.  Oz Collage features everything that we love about that whimsical tale:  the Tin Man, the ruby slippers, the Scarecrow, and of course Dorothy and Toto. Available in both unmounted sheets and pre-trimmed and mounted on EZMount cling foam, we know this one will soon be one of your favorites. All images are sized to work well together, and the Tin Man and Scarecrow collages are perfect 2.5" x 3.5" inches for all your ATCs and die cutting pleasures!  Visit the Oz Collage Gallery

Be sure to stop by the Design Team Blogs and see what out Designers Created with the new Oz Collage Plate:

Lisa Somerville *Gerrie Johnnic *Barbara Washington *Connie Paxman *Stephanie Severin*Suzanne Czosek


AND NOW to the really great news! In celebration of our anniversary, all rubber stamps are 20% off from now until November 5, 2010. That includes all unmounteds and mounteds. Simply use the code: Anniversary at check out to receive your discount.

There is no place like home, and each of you has sure made Artistic Outpost feel like the cozy cabin that we want it to be.

Best wishes,

Robyn, Steven, and Shelley

Marigold Bloom

This card for this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge (orange, pink & yellow) features stamps from Artistic Outpost's Bloom & Grow Plate. This is the first mounted set I've owned, and I absolutely love it. It comes mounted on EZMount cling foam, trimmed closely (no extra rubber to throw away or punch out), and comes with a pre-printed & indexed cling card for storage ... so nice.

I inked the Marigold Seed package with Yellow, Orange, and Pink chalk inks and then spritzed before stamping to blend the colors. I stamped a second time & punched out a circle form the image to spotlight the blooms (using this week's Sketch For You To Try). The sentiment was done by masking part of the Bloom & Grow sentiment from the set.

Guest Designer ~ Stephanie Severin

Sleigh Bells are Ringing and the Snow is Glistening

Sleigh Ride

Winter Wonderland Lyrics

Sleigh bells ring, snow is glistening,

A beautiful sight, We're happy tonight

Walking in a Winter Wonderland



The snowy forest,  children gathering trees and bringing presents; evoke  the feeling of longing for those Nostalgic days. 

I remember my brother and I wearing similar coats and recall the excitement of simple lifestyles:  falling snow, cousins to play with and the hububaloo of presents.  Artistic Outpost Sleigh Ride stamps set indeed channels the atmosphere of Christmas Past.

Techniques used on this card are: Masking, Technique Junkies:  Feathered Tye-Dye December 2008 edition and Bleach Swipes December 2009

thanks for stopping by Artistic Outpost blog

connie paxman





Sleigh Ride - Kinetic Spinner Card

Hi, Lisa here today and I have a FUN Motion card to share with you, using images from the Sleigh Ride plate.  The image is colored using the Marker Watercoloring Technique, the base card is created using the Kinetic Spinner Technique that can be found on the Technique Junkie Fancy Fold and Motions Papercraft CD. 

Designer - Lisa Somerville

Happy Halloween

Today, I have a quick Halloween card to share.

I used the house, bats and "Happy" from Haunted Halloween.

The pumpkins, tree, fence and "Halloween"

are from Vintage Halloween. 

These sets work so well together!

More details on my blog.

Happy Creating!

-  Judy Hayes, Designer  -

A few more Masculine Cards

Yeah it's Friday! Suzz here.

Here are three cards I will be teaching in my class. I decided to create cards for men. I always find them so difficult to do. 

First I used the Old Grist Mill which is such a beautiful set. I had a hard time deciding which image to use.

Then I had to use the Cracker Jack set as my husband and son are both big fans. My son has played for the past ten years and my DH has coached.

 Last but not least, I wanted to play with the Steam Punk set and loved the idea of a travelling man. This card combines some of the fabulous Graphic 45 Steampunk paper and the AO Steampunk.

Stamps used: Artistic Outpost - Steampunk,  Old Grist Mill, Cracker Jack

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

Suzz

Designer: Suzanne Czosek

Halloween Pendant

Lynn here with a special Halloween treat, perfect for your Trick or Treater.

A Halloween pendant made from copper sheeting. I stamped lots of fun images from the newest Halloween images on the Haunted Halloween plate. It hangs from some of the silk ribbon now available on the website. Happy Haunting! 

Happy Halloween!

I love this Victorian witch. I wish I had her costume for Halloween. I would feel so elegant.  Designed by Robyn Phelan Sharp.

Christmas Magic

I created this card using the trees from the beautiful and wonderful stamp sheet, Sleigh Ride. It was a simple card to make, but the stamp creates an awesome scene. For the image background I used the Pulled Glimmers technique with Dazzling Diamonds at the bottom, key lime in the middle, and midnight blue at the top. I pulled the colors from bottom to top leaving the bottom snow a sparkling white. For the snow on the branches I highlighted the trees with a pearl ice pearl pen from Viva Decor. It gives a dimensional look to the snow. The sentiment is from the Christmas Stories stamp sheet. The image is layered on a black layer. Behind is a narrow brown panel. The background is some beautiful design paper which was given to me.
Barbara Washington

Vintage Sledding

This winter card pairs handmade papers with these cute little girls going on a sleigh ride.

I stamped the image & sentiment in India ink and then used Egyptian Gold Twinkling H2Os to add gold glimmery accents to coordinate with the gold flecks in the handmade paper. I tore the edges and put my adhesive about 3/4" from the edges, so I could curl the edges after attaching.

I added some hand-dyed seam binding ribbon from Outpost Attic Finds and a tiny snowflake from the set (also accented in gold) as an embellishment.

Devotions of Neverland

Neverland

Wendy asks Peter, "What are your exact feelings for me"? And how do you think Peter responded...????  Peter said, "those of a devoted son". 

The characters portrayed in the Artistic Outpost ' Neverland ' stamp plate bring to life the personalities of Peter Pan and the Gang.

On this card I used a variety of Techniques from Technique Junkies Newsletter Subscription:  Word Frames, Createx andGlimmer Mist Water Colors.  The Bling Flowers are from Basic Grey.  The beautiful White cotton trim is from Outpost Attic Finds.

Thanks for stopping by Artistic Outpost Blog

connie paxman

Congratulations to Lisa Somerville, Lynn Stevens, Debbie Emmons, and Deb Lovett

We have the most talented stampers! We are so proud to congratulate Lisa Somerville, Lynn Stevens, Debbie Emmons, and Deb Lovett on recently being published in several publications using Artistic Outpost stamps.



Lisa was featured in a multi-page spread in the current issue of Crafts N' Things.


Debbie & Lynn were both featured numerous times in the Nov / Dec The Stampers' Sampler.


Deb Lovett has a lovely card in this quarter's Just Cards!


Be sure to pick up your issues today, get inspired by these talented ladies.

Have a wonderful weekend,
Robyn

A Different Viewpoint

Happy Friday! Suzz here.

I am working on a few cards for a class I will be teaching and I wanted to share one of the cards I made and how I changed it up on a second card.

Here is the card I created for my class:

Here  is my take on it for my Dad's birthday card. My dad grew up on a farm in Wisconsin and I knew he would love the look and feel of the Outpost as it would bring back some memories.

Same layout and similar design but different colors, shape of the card and placement of images.  The background of the first card is patterned paper.The second card I created a similar effect but using the words from The Outpost collection.  I love how the images are so versatile and can give a different look and feel with just a few changes in colors and shapes.

Stamps used: Artistic Outpost - The Outpost,  Old Grist Mill

Have a fabulous Friday!

P.S. He was really touched by the card and loved it!

Suzz

Designer: Suzanne Czosek

A Blue and Teal Christmas

Lynn here to share another card from the newest Christmas plate Sleigh Ride.

Lots of frosty blue and teal layers make for a bit of elegance.

Halloween Dance

"Give me that Old Soft Shoe..." Do skeletons wear shoes? I think not. But don't these dapper gentlemen look like they are ready for a song and dance routine. I've had more fun with the recently released Haunted Halloween stamp set. This was definitely a clean and simple card. I stamped the skeleton three times overlapping the hands on to white cardstock. This was layered on orange, then black. The Happy Halloween medallion was stamped on orange paper and cut out with a round paper punch. Ribbon from Outpost Attic Finds was attached to the medallion and the whole ribbon ensemble was attached to the card.
Barbara Washington--Guest Designer

Oh Christmas Trees

This card features the wonderful pine trees from the Sleigh Ride collection. I stamped them twice on ivory cardstock, overlapping the image in the center. I squirted stickles glitter glue on my finger and dabbed it all over the trees to provide some winter sparkle.

I distressed the edges and attached it to a handmade paper card base. I placed my adhesive about 1/3" in from the edges so I could curl and distress a bit more after attaching to the base.

The sentiment was stamped on the same ivory paper, distressed, and attached with foam tape for dimension.

Guest Designer ~ Stephanie Severin

I Do Believe in Fairies

 What's not to adore about the magic and charm of " Neverland"...Create and design as you may, with Peter Pan, Wendy Darling and her two brothers. These characters will  take you to that place of  enchantment.
I created this card using different techniques and mediums from the Technique Junkies newsletter:  Technicolor Dye Ink and Createx techniques. The lovely white trim is from the "Outpost Attic Finds" collections of lace and vintage ribbons.
Thank you for stopping by Artistic Outpost Blog
Connie Paxman  

Sleigh Ride - Gifts and Home Decor

Click to Enlarge

Hi, Lisa here today and I have some wonderful projects showcasing the Sleigh Ride Set!  This set makes wonderful vintage Cards, Ornaments and gifts.  Directions for all of these projects can be found in the December 2010 Issue of Crafts 'n Things on pages 62-63.

Designer - Lisa Somerville



Golden Christmas

Happy Friday to you!  

Love the sweet images from Sleigh Ride and decided to provide them a golden backdrop with the beautiful layers of pattern paper. The trees are stamped over a bingo card and embossed to give a glossy finish with a little sponging of yellow and orange.  The snowflakes have had a little glam added with some chunky glitter.

The children in their Christmas outfits are stamped with pigment ink, colored with watercolor pencils and painted with an water brush to blend the colors. They are then covered in clear embossing powder to make the colors pop.

Hope you have some inky time planned for this weekend!

Suzz

Designer: Suzanne Czosek

Scary Skelly

Lynn here with a fun Hallween card using the newest Haunted Halloween plate.

Bloom and Grow

I created this card for a challenge with the theme of "Plant a Seed/Friendship". As soon as I saw the challenge, I knew that Bloom and Grow was the perfect set of stamps. I kept it simple to emphasize the elements of the challenge. I love this set because of the the seed packet frame which allows you to insert any image. I stamped the sentiment and then cut the words apart to keep with the basket weave background. The background is a piece of design paper where I used rusty hinge distress ink along the edges.
Barbara Washington--Guest Designer

Beauty Shop Beauty

I use this vintage image from Hair Is Important to make a birthday card for a co-worker whose very first job was selling beauty supplies.

I stamped the image in Blackbird Chalk ink and added color highlights with Prismacolor pencils.

Guest Designer ~ Stephanie Severin

Sleigh Ride from the Past

Sleigh Ride

Hello to Artistic Outpost readers.  The  card I have to  share today, showcases the Sleigh Ride stamp set.  The little girl and boy, remind me, of the fond memories and fun  my brother and I had on our old  sleigh.

I used Basic Grey paper " Jovial"  Xmas line and flowers from Prima.

Thanks for stopping by Artistic Outpost

Connie Paxman

Artistic Outpost October Referral Program

When you create artwork with Artistic Outpost images and upload to an online gallery/album/or blog - you could win a $14.00 Gift Certificate to the Artistic Outpost Store . To be eligible for the Artistic Outpost Referral Program, each time you upload a creation using Artistic Outpost images, include stamp credits with an active link to http://www.artisticoutpost.com/  then leave a direct link to your creation using Link Tool feature on the months Referral Program post here on the Artistic Outpost Blog to be entered into our monthly drawing.

Note, links left here on the Artistic Outpost Blog need to include a direct link to the project you have uploaded. Projects can be posted on blogs or online galleries, but links left on the Referral Program post must be direct links to your projects. Links left with general links to galleries/albums/blogs will not qualify as our time is limited and we cannot search through pages of entries to see which upload uses Artistic Outpost images.

Please use this post to leave your links for October, all links must be posted by 10/31 to be eligible for the October Referral Program. The winner will be chosen through a random drawing and will be posted here on the Artistic Outpost Blog, be sure to check back in November to see if you've won. Remember entries must be for the current month in which you are posting. We're looking forward to seeing your creations using Artistic Outpost images.

**Artistic Outpost reserves the right to remove non direct blog links

September Referral Winner

Thanks to everyone who participated in the September Referral Program - we love to see what you are creating with our images!  We had the random number generator pick this months winner

Congrats Sally - please email me to claim your Gift Certificate*!

Watch for the October Referral Program to be posted soon!

*GC must be claimed by October 14, 2010

Christmas Wonder

Hello!  Suzz here, hope your day is going well.

I was so happy to use the beautiful Sleigh Ride stamp plate and create two pieces of home decor using non-traditional holiday colors.

These projects are both from a set of wooden coasters, which were painted with a couple of different colors of acrylic paint and stamped using various techniques.

The children are so sweet in their Christmas finery on their way visiting someone with holiday gifts in hand. 

The second wall hanging features the children on the sleigh ride and the lovely sentiment.

These were fun to paint, buff and add colors and embellishments and are lovely gifts to give.

Have a wonderful Friday!

Designer: Suzanne Czosek