Monday, March 18, 2024

To This

When my former priest Father Gregory had a massive heart attack early in the year, it was gratifying to see the results of prayer at work.  His recovery began the very next day and has steadily continued, to the great relief of all who love him.  So my card’s layout was very specific . . .


I figured a battered heart followed by a perky, healthy one would tell the story of his wonderful recovery.  There were many miraculous incidents that took place throughout this serious event and we are deeply grateful to God for all of them.

Cardstock:   Neenah Desert Storm, Little Black Dress patterned paper,

Scraps Red, Orange, Green        

Dies:            Darice Nesting Hearts, Simon Says Sketch Heart,

Lil Inker Stitched Mats Squares, DieVersions A Hint of

Lime font, Carl punches Leaf, Flower                  

Doo Dads:    Wink of Stella Clear

Thursday, March 14, 2024

St Patrick

I love the stitched, multiple window dies that are very popular right now and decided to use one of them for my St Patrick’s Day card . . .


If it weren’t for the MISTI, I would never have attempted the placement of all of the individual text stamps.  I ran a sample cut of the die, put it into my MISTI and used it to place the text in the windows.  I inked up a practice run or two on scrap paper to make sure the words were properly centered and then was off to the races with cardstock.

LOVE THAT MISTI!  It has opened up scores of creative possibilities I never would have dreamed trying before . . . 

HAPPY ST PATRICK’S DAY!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Green, Strathmore Ultimate White         

Stamps:       Studio G Series 29

Inks:             Superior India Ink Black

Dies:            InLoveArts Splicing Rectangular Background,

Poppy Crafts Bunch of Four Leaf Clovers                   

Doo Dads:    American Ribbon Shamrock Tie, Sparkle & Sprinkle

glitter Gold, Marvy Liquid Gold Paint Marker: Gold      

Monday, March 11, 2024

Soar

This is the last of my current run with Lydia Fiedler’s wonderful assemblage of tinfoil, Gesso, alcohol inks, and 3D embossing folders.  There will be hundreds more of this method in future posts as this technique tops the list of favorites for me . . .


I plan to do up one of these for submission to our annual NJ Fair in August.  Meanwhile, there are scores of colors, designs, multiple media highlights, and layouts that this technique can use and I plan to try them all!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Typhoon      

Stamps:       Judith Dots

Inks:             Adirondack Alcohol Ink Latte, Slate, Pitch Black

Colorants:    Deco Art Acrylic Paint Pot ‘O Gold

Emb Pwdr:   Ranger Gold

Dies:            DieNamics Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle,

 Love Nicole Dragonfly, Tim Holtz Alphanumeric

Tiny Type Upper             

Emb Fldr:     Tim Holtz 3D Entangled

Doo Dads:    Liquitex White Gesso, Bob Ross Black Gesso  

Thursday, March 7, 2024

Dream

We’ve now arrived at the third sample of the alcohol ink and Gesso technique recently demo’d by Lydia Fiedler on Splitcoast Stampers.  This one just might be my favorite of the four . . .

 


After applying paint with a brayer to the raised parts of the design, I decided to scatter on some silver embossing powder and then heated it.  The result turned out to be a little heavy handed but I like the idea and will play with it again.  I think I’ll try using a hard brayer instead of a soft one – that should keep the ink’s contact to a more desirable minimum . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Jade, Ranger Alcohol Ink Cardstock Brushed

Silver 

Inks:             Adirondack Alcohol Ink Meadow, Bottle, Denim, Marabu

Alcohol Ink Deep White

Colorants:    DecoArts Acrylic Paint Shimmering Silver

Emb Pwdr:   Stamp A Mania Silver Dollar

Dies:            TEMU Lovely Tree Leaves, Reverse Confetti Wild Words

Set: Dream  

Emb Fldr:     Sizzix 3D Leaves

Doo Dads:    DMC Coton Perle #5 Dark Green 

Monday, March 4, 2024

Blessings

We’re moving right along to the second example of Lydia Fiedler’s technique I first posted last Thursday.  Scroll down for the details on that day.  Lydia has fancifully titled this method, “Drunken Embossed Foil” and while alcohol is indeed involved, it’s not the kind you drink.  Rather, you make ART with it!


Gesso, 3D embossing folders, liquid alcohol inks, and kitchen foil are the four main ingredients that open the door to a lot of fun, and not long thereafter, some beautifully dramatic results.  This one is at the top of my list for multiple repeats!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Crimson         

Inks:             Adirondack Alcohol Ink Terra Cotta, Butterscotch,

Gold Mixatives

Colorants:    Deco Art Acrylic Paint Pot ‘O Gold

Dies:            Impression Obsession Bare Branch, Memory Box

Butterflies Pippi, Isabella, Spellbinders Blessings

Vine Frame Set: “Blessings”               

Emb Fldr:     Open Studio 3D Chrysanthemum Field

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Cheers

Lydia Fiedler of Splitcoast Stampers published another one of her marvelous techniques recently and I was hot to give it a try.  

Here is the first of four results . . .


While time for drying has to be allowed, the actual doing is quick and easy.  I like to do the first three quick-and-easy steps the night before and then I’m ready to proceed the next morning.  Here’s the process:

1. Attach a piece of aluminum foil to a piece of cardstock with double-sided sticky tape.

2. Insert into a 3D embossing folder and run through your die cutting machine.

3. Cover the whole design with a thin layer of Gesso and let dry.  Vary the direction of your brushstrokes as these will show when dry and provide interesting texture.  Tiny glints of the foil will show through when the Gesso is dry – this adds to the fun for sure!

4. Wearing gloves (unless you’d like to have inky pinkies for a week), drizzle on your choice of alcohol ink colors, tilting the paper to let them spread.  Spritz with alcohol if desired to move and blend the colors.  Let dry.

5. Brayer with a contrasting color of paint to bring out the highlights of the design.

5. Trim to size and finish your card.

Liquid alcohol inks are ordinarily translucent – but as Lydia states, the layer of white Gesso makes them opaque!  This gives you rich color you wouldn’t get otherwise. 

I’ve three more samples on the way – prepare yourselves . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Typhoon, Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth,

Ranger Alcohol Ink Cardstock Silver Sparkle    

Inks:             Adirondack Alcohol Ink Eggplant, Denim

Colorants:    Deco Art Titanium (Snow) White

Dies:            Simon Says Butterfly Tendrils, Cheers             

Emb Fldr:     Tim Holtz 3D Kaleidoscope

Doo Dads:    Perfect Pearls mist Silver 

Monday, February 26, 2024

Celebrate

My explorations with OLO alcohol markers continues . . .


It’s true that the choice of cardstocks does make a lot of difference, especially when it comes to blending.  I used X-Press for this card and will be trying Taylored Expressions’ Sugar Cube as soon as it arrives.  Meanwhile, more practice is certainly on the menu, but I’m happy to note that my results with OLO’s are far better (and easier to obtain) than they ever were with Copics.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Dark Denim, X-Press-It     

Stamps:       Stamp La Jolla Satin Flower Square

Inks:             Gina K Amalgam Black

Colorants:    OLO Alcohol Inks Royal Purple, Hyacinth, Blueberry,

Violet, Butterscotch

Dies:            Spellbinders Hem Stitch Squares, Impression Obsession

Congrats Word Set 

Doo Dads:    Glass Glitter Lemon Yellow