Monday, July 31, 2017

Thinking of You

Brace yourselves:  I'm reverting to my tie die days!  Yes, dear readers, I actually wore clothing that looked just like this . . .


After a recent post on Splitcoast Stampers here I had a terrific time experimenting with the technique.  It's quick, easy, fun and with minimal mess.

It uses coffee filters, baby wipes, and either dye ink pads or reinkers.  Coffee filters come in white or tan and I am having a ball with both.  To stabilize the flimsy filter after it is colored, it is glued to a piece of cardstock that has been cut to the desired size.  I use a glue stick for this which is the only reliable use of a glue stick I've ever found in card making.  White filters should be backed with white cardstock which really makes the open white areas stand out.  The tan filters look best when backed with Kraft cardstock, and then mounted onto a Kraft card front which really pulls the look together.

There's no way to fail with this technique - everything you do will work!  When the wrinkled filter is pressed down onto the stabilizer cardstock, the result looks just like fabric.  Awesome stuff, for sure.  I've made up quite a few samples in many colors, and I'll be posting all of them.  Enjoy!

Cardstock:   Marco’s Jute, Melitta coffee filter Tan      
Stamps:        Kaisercraft Marble, Stamp Pad “Thinking of you”
Inks:               Ancient page reinkers Cardinal, Mandarin, Lemon,
                           VersaMark
Emb Powder:   Stampendous Aged Gold
Dies:              Poppy Stick Frame Border, Prima Forest Leaves,
                           Hero Frame Cuts
Doo Dads:    American Crafts Jute Red  

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Congrats!

Being in need of some Guy Cards, my next few posts will feature some fun with masculine layouts.  This one is a birthday card . . .


A jazzed-up , super cool owl perched on a twiggy frame over a wood grain panel, some branches and a textured background.  Toss in a perky speech bubble and I think we're all set!

The message inside reads, "Another year older, another year wiser".  Made to order for the owl image, I'm thinking . . .

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute  
Stamps:        Hero Designer Woodgrain, Good Stamps Carved Owl,
                           Vap Scrap “Congrats!”       
Inks:               Gina K Charcoal Brown                 
Watercolors:   Intense pencils Poppy Red, Iris Blue, Sicilian Yellow,
                              Zig Clean Color Bright Yellow, Light Blue
Emb Powder:   Distress Black Soot
Dies:              Spellbinders A2 Distressed Edges, Simon Says Sketch
                           Frame, Simon Says Talk Bubble           
Emb Folder:   Spellbinders Blistered



Monday, July 24, 2017

A Day to Celebrate

I had some fun with Gelatos for this one . . .


After scribbling directly onto the Tiger Marble background stamp, I misted lightly and then stamped.  The result was a wonderfully mottled look with lots of variation in color intensity.  Just what I was after . . . how I love it when the look I want actually happens!

FYI - the card has a lot of sparkle to it which, unfortunately, the camera doesn't show.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Velvet, Champion Snow Day, Strathmore #90
                           Watercolor paper
Stamps:        Stamp Camp Tiger Marble, Hero Thanks, Day to Celebrate   
Inks:               Ancient Page Plum Wine
Colorants:    Gelatos Black Cherry
Emb Powder:   Judikins White Diamond
Dies:              Mama Elephant Peek a Frame, McGill punch Mini
                           Library Pocket, Penny Black Bamboo Foliage, Wplus9
                           Banner Trio, We-Buys Cute Chrysanthemum: 
                           the bugs only                    
Stencil:          Simon Says Mosaic Heart 
Doo Dads:    Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste White, USArt Effectz 
                           Opal Essence

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Love, Hope, Blessings

One of our tenants is moving on and as he took immaculate care of the place, we're sorry to be losing him.  Here's a little kindness to let him know he'll be missed . . .


If you've been following my blog for even just a week, it should be abundantly clear by now that texture is totally the name of my game.  Whether it is stamped, embossed, or added in the form of embellishments, I cannot resist bumping things up a bit and having something wonderful to run over with my fingers.

One of my favorite ways to add texture is shown on the cream layer (as well as with the words):  I've edged it with VersaMark and then dipped the edges into Ranger's Gold embossing powder.  That stuff is amazing!  While I frequently like the look of smooth embossing powder, it can get predictable and therefore boring.  Enter Ranger's gold powder, which cures to a grainy and pebbled finish.  The look is just awesome, especially on images that are larger and more solid.

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Beckett Moonlight, Generic Brown
Stamps:        MJ Barber Chevron Open, Fred Mullett Wild Ginger, Red
                           Rubber “Blessings”, Making Memories “Love”, “Hope”
Inks:               Gina K Charcoal Brown, Distress Brushed Corduroy,
                           Peeled Paint
Emb Powder:  Ranger Gold, Stampendous Shabby White
Dies:              Spellbinders A2 Distressed Edges                      
Emb Folder: Taylored Impressions Weathered


Monday, July 17, 2017

Congratulations

My young former neighbor Ashley, whom I used to babysit, is graduating high school this month.  Hard to believe how quickly she has grown up!


I went with her school colors which are navy and gold.  Wrapping the neck of the tassel with gold thread made it stand out more and kept with the color theme.  The diploma was lightly aged with Distress Old Paper ink to suggest parchment.  She's a very bright young woman and I am expecting great things from Ashley

Cardstock:   Bazzill Admiral, The Paper Cut White Matte Coate      
Inks:               VersaMark, ColorBox Gold, Distress Old Paper                
Emb Powder:   Ranger Gold  
Dies:              Darice Graduation Theme, Tim Holtz Alphanumeric,
                           Spellbinders Sentiments One: “Congratulations”                
Emb Folder: Spellbinders Blistered
Doo Dads:    Navy tassel, brad     

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Another Year Wiser

These beautifully drawn owls are loaded with wit, charm, and most assuredly, a ton of wisdom as well . . .

When it comes to using a rather delicate die cut - such as these thin-needled pine sprays, I like to use a double-thickness of cardstock for more body and greater dimension.  After cutting two equally-sized pieces of cardstock, I run one of them through my Xyron to apply an all-over coating of glue.  I then stick it to the other piece of cardstock and run the double layer through the die cutting machine.  This avoids the need to try and glue two delicate die cuts together - something I am no good at doing.  It also means one pass through the die cutter instead of two.  A time-saver for sure!

TIP:  Most dies will cut doubled  #80 cardstock with one or two passes.  Intricate designs will do better with a metal shim for added pressure . . .

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Generic Dark Green
Stamps:        Judikins Birch Trees Background, Sideshow Stamps
                           Owl Border, Endless Creations “Another year older . . .”      
Inks:               ColorBox Sepia Black, Gina K Charcoal Brown, VersaFine
                           Olympia Green
Pencil:           Prisma White
Emb Powder:   WOW Clear Matte Dull  
Dies:              Impression Obsession Pine Branch, Spellbinders Classic
                           Squares, Small 
            

Monday, July 10, 2017

Old Friends

This card features a used dryer sheet, a paper towel and a new dried die powder named Mango Blaze whose lovely claim to fame is that it contains mica.  So it shimmers and gleams wherever it's applied.  

Gorgeous stuff for sure . . .


Five more dried die powders were used on this card front.  They were scattered over a used dryer sheet which I wanted to use because I loved its texture.  I laid the sheet over a paper towel to absorb the extra water and color.  Yet the sheet was so thin and lacey, it didn't retain much color.  But the paper towel sure did, so after heat drying them, I used spray adhesive to attach the two.  To add more body, I attached them with more spray adhesive to a piece of cardstock, and then die cut the stack with a deckled-edged die.  I hope the camera picks up some of the glimmer . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Limeade, Dryer Sheet, Paper Towel, Generic
                           cardstock White         
Stamps:        My Sentiments Exactly Pear with Names, Stampers
                           Anonymous Pear, Red Rubber “It takes a long time . . .”
Inks:               Distress Pine Needles, Mowed Lawn, Twisted Citron, Forest
                           Moss, Vintage Photo            
Colorants:    Dried Die Powders:  Bister Green, Blue, Yellow, Nuance
                           Jade, Bright Yellow, Pixie Powder Mango Blaze
Emb Powder:   B’Muse Aztec Gold, Stampendous Ivory Pearl  
Dies:              Spellbinders A2 Distressed Edges, W+9 Pears, Spellbinders
                           Framed Tags One, Memory Box Cascadia Butterfly Trio 
Doo Dads:    Oriental Trading Pearl Bronze


Thursday, July 6, 2017

Just For You

This one was a major struggle to pull together and I have no idea why.  All of the elements are very beautiful, so I was thinking this would come together in a snap.  I worked with it off and on for a week and wasn't making any real progress.  But I have learned something significant in the process, so the struggle was entirely worthwhile . . .


Starting with a splotchy background I loved, I got a little glitzy with the border on the left.  After toning it down with a stick-like overlay, I was ready to add a design and some text to the rest of the card.  I tried several small trees, and two versions of some text. 

No go.  Very frustrating. 

For some reason, I pulled out an extremely large leafy die and slapped it down.  Voila!  That did it.  I can see now that my earlier attempts were on the timid side and they got lost in all the pattern and texture.  So the lesson I learned was essentially this: 
Go big or go home.

I shall remember this approach in future . . .

Cardstock:   Neenah Desert Storm, Generic Vellum, Dark Brown
Stamps:        Unknown “Just For You”
Inks:               ColorBox Gold, VersaMark, Gina K Charcoal Brown                
Colorants:    Copic T6 Toner Gray, E37 Sepia, E89 Pecan
Emb Powder:   Ranger Gold 
Dies:              Poppy Stick Frame Border, Hero Palm Fancy Die, 
                           Tattered Lace Everyday Sentiments: "Just for You"                   
Stencil:          The Crafters Workshop Mini Cubist
Doo Dads:    Sparkle ‘n Sprinkle Fantasy Gold, Dreamweaver Translucent 
                          Embossing Paste, Wink of Stella Gold

Monday, July 3, 2017

The Glorious Fourth

This one was a puzzler at first.  The statue, the fireworks, and the text were all fine on their own, but the combined result was disjointed and floaty - nothing seemed unified, until I got the idea to add the frame . . .


All of a sudden, that's what did the trick.  Such a simple addition, and yet I think the layout now looks well composed and complete.

Living in America is a blessing I try to be grateful for each and every day.  After eight years of un-Constitutional domination by a willful America-hating emperor, we seem to be on track to getting our beloved country back.  I pray for the safety of Trump and his team every single day - may he not fail in his efforts to return the rule of law to America.

Cardstock:   Generic Navy, Silver, The Paper Cut Matte White Coate        
Stamps:        Motivet “A glorious fourth”  
Inks:               VersaMark, ColorBox Frost White
Emb Powder:   Stamp A Mania Desert Fire, Judikins White Diamond
Dies:              Frantic Stamper Statue of Liberty, Momenta Thanks (label), 
                           Memory Box Stitched Rectangle Trimmings