Praierie Papier Ponderer

Artistic Outpost's "Snowy Woods" on Sale NOW!

2008-11-22T11:40:34-07:00

I know, I know, it seems like forever since I've posted...and it has been three weeks, which is a long time in the blogging world!

But, I had to jump in and announce that Artistic Outpost is having a sale on one of it's newest plates, Snowy Woods, for a limited time...a full 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of rubber! It's only $19.99, and I have to tell you that this sheet is beautiful, versatile, and lends itself to so many fabulous techniques!

Be sure to check out Artistic Outpost's blog and store web site for some fantastically creative ideas for using this plate!

Artistic Outpost also sells mounting supplies (acrylic blocks, Kai scissors, and EZ Mount Cling foam)...one of the best prices on EZ mount that I've found...you get get three sheets for only $9.99!

Stuff:

Stamp: Snowy Woods (AO)

Paper: Core' dinations, Memory Box (Twiggy), Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)

Ink: Hybrid Palette Burnt Sienna, Pine Needles (Distress), Vintage Photo (Distress)

Other "Stuff": rectangle Nesties, sandpaper block for distressing Core'dinations cardstock, Pine Needles Distress embossing powder, heat gun, metallic organdy ribbon (Pink Hedgehog Papercrafts), self-adhesive rhinestones (Me and My Big Ideas from Jacksonbelle Embellishments)

The Christmas tree was embossed with Tim Holtz Distress embossing powder. Here are a few tips on getting the best results because these are not your ordinary EP (from Ranger Ink)!

1. Shake jar before each use to evenly distribute the release crystals.

2. As with regular embossing, use a well-inked stamp to apply ink to your surface, sprinkle Distress Powder onto image and tap off excess. Emboss using heat tool until powder turns a slightly deeper tone – unlike traditional powders these will not turn shiny.

3. For best results it is recommended you emboss with Distress inks, or Distress Embossing Ink. Note: If embossing with watermark or pigment inks, you will still get the matte, textured look and feel from the Distress Powders, but you will have less or no rub off.

4. To distress, emboss image and allow to cool for a few seconds. Lightly rub embossed image with your finger to remove the special release crystals. Some colors release more than others, so don’t worry if some rub off more or less …it’s part of the “aged” look.

5. Because some Distress Embossing Powder colors only change slightly when heated, here is tip for knowing when the embossing is complete: if the feel of the embossing when cooled is like sandpaper, it has been heated enough. If it is too loose like sand on the beach, heat it some more.

How gorgeous is this set!!

Thanks for looking, and I'll try to be back soon...things have been a bit busy for me lately, but I'm hoping for some major studio time today...and tomorrow...

Bloggers Challenge #71 - Halloween

2008-10-31T02:51:32-06:00

This week's Bloggers Challenge was Halloween...not too difficult...but I also participated in an ATC swap, so I created two projects...

Stuff: Stamps: Vintage Halloween (Artistic Outpost); Paper: Yoyo Yellow, Basic Black (Stampin' Up!), patterned Halloween (Daisy D's); Ink: Palette Black Noir; Other Stuff: black organdy ribbon, Prima Collage flower, rhinestone brad, Ranger Stickles, white gel pen

It's been forever since I've made an ATC (artist trading card), but it was fun...This was pretty easy...

Stuff: clip art (printed on my computer and printer); Paper: Only Orange (SU!), black (Core'dintions); Ink: Palette Black Noir; Other Stuff: Rectangle Scallop Nesties, sandpaper, Ranger Stickles, Spica Glitter pens, rhinestones, spider web satin ribbon

Thanks for looking, and be sure to check out the other Bloggers' Challenges by clicking on the badge in the sidebar!

Have a safe, happy, fun Halloween!

Creative Workshops - "Home for the Holidays"

2008-10-29T23:44:13-06:00

Isn't she cute?! Not only is she cute, everytime I look at this picture those cookies make me hungry!

This is one of the images from the Home for the Holidays workshop over at Creative Workshops that started Monday October 27. Already the participants are having fun and are excited about their project as we create a personal keepsake memory book for the holidays, with mixed media artist Sherry Smyth as their guide and teacher. Sherry, who a lot of you know through the wonderful artist interviews on Mind Wide Open, is over there, already evoking a mood of the senses, and getting people in the mood for the upcoming holidays. And she is going to do this 3 times a week for the next 4 weeks!

There is still room left in the workshop and still some of the great kits left. You don't even have to worry about missing anything if you come to the "party" a tad late, or even very late. The way the workshops are set up, all the information is available for saving to your computer and will continue to be available for a period of time even after the workshop is officially finished. Once you join the workshop you can begin to save all the information, while part of the kit is shipped to you and part is digitally emailed to you. So time is not an issue as far as when you begin the workshop. Everything has been set up so that it is convenient for you and your schedule!

So come on over! Get inspired and get a taste of the holidays to come before they actually get here, and the crazy whirlwind begins! The kit is just just plain fun, and the digital papers, etc., are gorgeous! Please join me-this workshop is just delicious!

Artistic Outpost Guest Designer Team Call!

2008-10-29T13:39:13-06:00

Artistic Outpost is looking for Guest Designers for our upcoming releases. We are looking for people who love our images and want to inspire our customers.

You must be able to:

Take good clear digital photos or scans of your finished projects
You must be able to meet deadlines, enjoy challenges and work well with others
You must be willing to promote via the Internet (forums/online galleries/and your blog) by posting samples made with Artistic Outpost images, or posting company specials when applicable while you are a Guest Designer

If being a Guest Designer for Artistic Outpost is something you'd like to do, send an email to Somerville4@aol.com AND info@artisticoutpost.com. Please put Artistic Outpost Design Team Application in the subject line and include:

Name, Email address, Home address
A brief paragraph on why you would like to be Guest Designer for Artistic Outpost
A link to your blog (if you have one) or any online galleries that you display your work
Current or past design team positions, and publication information - if any
Send photos or scans of 3 projects – if you have Artistic Outpost images, we encourage you to use them (each image should be no larger than 80kb)

Applications due by November 5th, 2008 - those accepted will be notified by November 7th, 2008

The fine print:

Your Guest Design position with Artistic Outpost will be for one release - month will be assigned to you after confirmation of position.
For each plate you receive as a Guest Designer, you are required to make at least four projects, sometimes on a tight deadline, and provide high quality scans or photographs for use in the Artistic Outpost Gallery. In addition you should be sharing your artwork via your blog/online groups or galleries
You may be required to send your projects in for use on our display boards to be used at stamp shows

There is no monetary payment for work, only the free Artistic Outpost stamp sheets you receive during your month as a Guest Designer

Bloggers Challenge #69 - Color Challenge (Old Olive, Really Rust, Riding Hood Red)

2008-10-17T06:43:52-06:00

This week's Bloggers Challenge was a color challenge using Old Olive, Really Rust, and Riding Hood Red.

I always have a lot of fun doing the color challenges...and decided to use one of my favorite Artistic Outpost stamp sets...

Stuff:

Stamps: Serenity (Artistic Outpost)

Paper: Old Olive, Really Rust, and Riding Hood Red (Stampin' Up!), Phoebe (Basic Grey)

Ink: Palette Black Noir, Old Straw (Distress Ink), and Classic Really Rust (SU!), Encore Copper

Other "Stuff": Grungeboard, sponge for antiquing card stock, Poppy self-adhesive rhinestones (Me and My Big Ideas), square and long rectangle Nestibilities

I used Really Rust ink to color the Grungeboard swirls, and then used a little Encore Copper ink on top of that. I used SU! glue stick to adhere them to the card front.

Today is the last day for Artistic Outpost's anniversary sale...be sure to visit their blog and leave a comment for the blog candy!

Click on the Bloggers Challenge badge on the sidebar to check out the other challengers' designs!

Thanks for looking...and have a wonderful weekend. We'll be traveling to the other side of the state to spend the weekend with family...this is our yearly "Van Hal" get-together...we used to get together this weekend every year to celebrate my now deceased mother-in-law's birthday, and now we just make it a special day for all the siblings, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren to visit and share memories...it should be a lot of fun.

Artistic Outpost - The Anniversary Celebration Continues with MORE Blog Candy!

2008-10-14T15:22:22-06:00

Great news! Artistic Outpost's anniversary sale has been extended and includes the very cool Vintage Halloween plate:

Stuff: Stamps: Vintage Halloween (AO); Paper: Basic Black, Purely Pumpkin, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!); Ink: Palette Black Noir, Vintage Photo and Concord Grape (Ranger); Other Stuff: White gel pen, Eclipse masking tape, organdy ribbon, tag die (Nestibilities), sponge

I stamped and masked the girl, then stamped the fence, and using a sponge and Distress inks I colored the background with Vintage Photo and Concord Grape Distress inks. the pumpkins were stamped on Purely Pumpkin card stock, and the eyes colored in with a white gel pen. They were cut out and mounted on the card front. The sentiment was stamped with Black Noir, and that tag was mounted on another Nestibilities tag made with a scrap of Daisy D's Halloween paper. The ribbon was melted with my heat gun...

This news just in from Artistic Outpost's blog:

Let the celebration continue!

Our Anniversary sale has been extended through October 17th!

You will find our original "8" collections are all on sale for $9.99. They include: Thai Buddha, Chinese Proverbs, Singing Cowboy, Distant Generations, Polaroid Cutie, Hair is Important, Christmas Stories, and Ave Maria.

We also have bundled together our last release Vintage Halloween and Route 66, for a limited time, you can get both plates together for $19.99.

New Release Specials: We are also pleased to introduce two new stamp collections: Snowy Woods & BlueBird.

Snowy Woods is a larger collection of unmounted stamps measuring 8.5" x 11". This plate is full of vintage images of Santa and peaceful winter scenes. For a limited time, this plate is on sale for $19.99.

BlueBird is designed to reflect both winter and spring. We hope that it provides creative inspiration for you throughout the winter months. For a limited time, the Bluebird plate is on sale for $9.99.

As an added bonus, you can purchase both new plates for $28 in our Bundled Special. That's a $36retail value!!!

This weeks Blog Candy!
This week one lucky winner will receive both the Vintage Halloween and Route 66 plates! Already have them? No problem, we'll swap them out for two half sheets of your choice!

How do you enter to win?
Simply leave a comment on Artistic Outpost's blog here telling us what you'd like to see offered as a future plate by Artistic Outpost by 11:59 CST on October 18th. When you leave your comment, be sure to put your NAME in the comment -- if you enter your comment as "Anonymous", we cannot give you the prize as Blogger does not record your email address for us. You'll need to check back to find out if you have won. We will have the random number generator pick one number from the comments to select the winner and post the winner on October 19th. Please remember only 1 entry per person. Good Luck!

Thanks for looking, and be sure to leave a comment on AO's blog!

Creative Souls

2008-10-13T16:07:53-06:00

Anita Van Hal