Thursday, November 30, 2017

Dream, Sparkle

My love affair with gilding leaf continues . . .


I had a scrap left over from a previous card so I decided to overlay it with a spray of bamboo shoots that were also covered with the same gilding leaf.  I strongly recommend doing the leafing before the die cutting:  it's much easier to work with a solid piece of cardstock as opposed to a delicate cut out.

The background was going to be framed with one of the four frames that this one-piece die provides, but I forgot to use the metal plate needed for added pressure when cutting intricate dies.  Therefore, none of the cut out pieces in the frames were cut all the way through, so I decided to leave them in place for a textured look that didn't compete with the bamboo shoots.

There's a lot of glitz and glitter on this card and I'm debating about whether or not to tone some of it down.  We shall see, but for the moment, it's safe from the chopping block  . . .

Cardstock:   Generic Bronze Metallic 
Stamps:       So She Stamps “Dream”, Stampin’ Up “Sparkle”
Inks:             ColorBox Gold
Emb Powder:   Ranger Gold
Dies:            Frantic Stamper Fancy Frames #1, Memory Box
                        Bamboo Shoots                
Stencil:        The Crafters Workshop Mini Cubist
Doo Dads:    Amy’s Magic Leaf Sea Spray, Marigold glitter

Monday, November 27, 2017

So Special

The spectacular background on this card came from a serendipitous incident that Pat Huntoon of Technique Junkies stumbled across one day . . .


Pat calls this technique Stenciled Glittery Gilding Flakes and it's quick and easy to do.  Go here for the 10 minute video on how she did it. 

Here's a quick preview:  remove the liner paper from one side of a piece of double-sided glue tape and stick it down onto a piece of cards stock. Peel off the liner paper and lay a  stencil down over the sticky side.  Press firmly to secure, and spread gilding leaf over all.  Burnish with your fingers, then with a stiff brush.  Peel off the stencil and dust some glitter over the remaining sticky areas.  DONE!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Aqua 
Inks:             Wink of Stella Clear
Dies:            Spellbinders Classic Rectangles Large, DieNamics
                        Pierced Rectangle Frame, Mama Elephant Peek a Frame,
                        Spellbinders Floral Berry Accents, Tattered Lace
                        Everyday Sentiments: “So Special”, Papertrey Ink
                        Angled Labels                
Stencil:        The Crafters Workshop Mini Cubist
Doo Dads:    Amy’s Magic Leaf Sea Spray, Marigold glitter

Thursday, November 23, 2017

I Lift Up My Eyes

When encouragement in needed, it's hard to beat this verse from Psalms . . .


I tried a little 2nd generation stamping here with the mountain image.  After inking the stamp, I stamped it off once lightly and then stamped onto the 
deckle-edged panel.  The text was stamped full strength, and the slightly 
lighter mountain range makes the text pop.  It's subtle but in real life, it does make a difference.

The puffy white clouds were stamped with a marble patterned image which made for a nice wispy design.  They are very white and needed a little balance at the bottom of the layout, so I used a white Prisma pencil to emphasize some of the lighter surfaces in the mountain range.

Lastly, I know that these particular birds are more typically suited to be living at the ocean, but I'm hoping the recipient isn't into ornithology and will be just as pleased with this soaring trio of grace and freedom.

Cardstock:   Neenah Desert Storm        
Stamps:        Our Daily Bread Keep Climbing: mountains and text,
                           Waffle Flower Layering Marble
Inks:               VersaFine Onyx Black, Papertrey Ink Fresh Snow
Colorants:    Prisma pencil White
Emb Powder:   WOW White Puff
Dies:              Impression Obsession Sea Birds
Emb Folder: Taylored Expressions 

Monday, November 20, 2017

Fall

Fall is not my favorite time of the year, but I do love the colors . . .


The happy surprise for me was finding out that watercolors can actually be blended to some extent.  Working with just the right half of the maple leaf, I colored the lower part with Red, and then right away, did the tips with Yellow, continuing down into the Red and back up 2/3 of the way in order to blend.  Then I repeated on the left half of the leaf.  It worked much better than I thought it would.  Maybe I'm beginning to get the hang of this coloring gig after all!

To all who celebrate, a blessed Thanksgiving to each and every one of you . . .

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute  
Stamps:        Hero Autumn, Vippie’s Dotty Snow
Inks:               Papertrey Ink Classic Kraft, VersaFine Vintage Sepia,
                           Distress Gathered Twigs, Ground Espresso
Watercolors:   Zig Clean Color Geranium Red, Orange, Yellow,
                              Brick Beige, Blush
Emb Powder:   Distress Walnut Stain
Dies:              Hero Autumn, Goodculler Stitched Rectangles, Essentials by
                           Ellen Stitches Cover Plate, Impression Obsession Branch,
                           Arich Rounded Corners Stitched Rectangles

Thursday, November 16, 2017

From the heart

I'm working on December birthday cards at the moment and while there's usually a tendency to tie into the traditional holiday colors and images,  I always try to fight that.  People whose personal major events are right next to big holidays deserve to avoid getting lost in the shuffle . . .


So for this December birthday card, I used frosty white leaves touched with gold, some Kraft-colored cardstock to ground things, and a winter butterfly in burgundy and gold.  A little burgundy shimmer here and there, and done . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Crimson, Neenah Desert Storm, Strathmore
                           Soft White         
Stamps:        Marianne Banners & Text: “From the heart”
Inks:               VersaMark, Ancient Page Bordeaux
Emb Powder:   Ranger Fine Gold, Vippies Transcendence
Dies:              Sheena Geometric Cutout, DieNamics Falling Leaves,
                           Lil Inker Stitched Mats Rectangles, Elizabeth Small
                           Butterfly, Marianne Banners & Text 
Doo Dads:    The Art Institute Glitter Burgundy  

Monday, November 13, 2017

Explore, Nurture, Treasure

After our North NJ State Fair, I had the distinct pleasure of being interviewed about my work by our local newspaper.  Reporter Kathy Stevens did a wonderful job with the article and I'm hoping it encourages other potential stampers in the area to give this wonderful hobby a try.  During the interview, Kathy shared her love for leaves, so a couple of those were what I used for her card . . .


The treatment with the leaves was my first attempt with a technique Jennifer McGuire re-hashed from an earlier post a year ago.  The easy instructions and both videos can be found here . 

After setting up your die cutting machine to emboss - not cut - dust your piece of cardstock with anti-static powder and set it down on the embossing pad.  Then lightly tap a detailed die with a VersaMark pad.  Lay it down carefully onto your cardstock, being careful to not let it shift.  Roll through, remove the die, and sprinkle with metallic embossing power.  Tap off the excess and heat.  So easy, and so gorgeous!

To keep the leaves puffed up, I applied embossing paste to the backside and leveled it off with my palette knife

I also tried Jennifer's method of embossing with water spatters!  Just use a wet paintbrush and tap it against your finger to distribute the drops.  Then dust on your embossing powder.  The result is a light, lovely, and randomly artsy dispersal. Try it!     

Cardstock:   Bazzill Dark Olive, Marcos Aquarelle, Stedner Bright White   
Stamps:        Starving Artistamps Positive Words
Inks:               Distress Vintage Photo, Rusty Hinge, Festive Berries,
                           Fossilized Amber, Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters
Emb Powder:   Ranger Fine Gold
Dies:              Prima Forest Leaves, Memory Box Stitched Rectangle 
                          Trimmings               
Doo Dads:    Tulip Glitter Gold     


Thursday, November 9, 2017

Celebrate

While working on a couple of 9" x 12" projects I'm making for Christmas presents, I began wondering if I could translate some of the techniques into a smaller layout suitable for a card . . .



After gluing down some wrinkled tissue paper over the entire card front, I gessoed over the surface and let it dry.  Then I overstamped with a text background, and stenciled with a wonderfully gritty paste.  A few die cuts smooshed with some warm Distress colors, some fibers across the bottom, and I'm reasonably happy with the results . . .

Cardstock:   Strathmore Kid’s Paint Pad, Soft White, tissue paper   
Stamps:        Heartfelt Creations Large Elegant Word Background
Inks:               Gesso, Distress Barn Door, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard
                           Seed, Brushed Corduroy, Walnut Stain, Wink of Stella
                           Clear
Dies:              Tim Holtz Fall Foliage, Impression Obsession Grass, Banners
                           & Tails, DieVersions Hint of Lime              
Stencil:          The Crafters Workshop Mini Tile Texture
Doo Dads:    Glittered twig, various cords, Art Anthology Dimensional 
                         Paste Sandstone

Monday, November 6, 2017

What the?

Here's some more fun with Tim's Crazy Birds:  there are six in the set and I plan to play with all of them . . .


The most exciting discovery I made while working on this card was discovering the joy of Strathmore's Bristol paper.  That stuff is awesome, especially when it comes to moving color around.  The pad cover says that it's not designed for work with water, but you can toss that limitation right out the window.  Its heavy weight keeps it from warping and even after working the water brush extensively, it didn't pill. 

A couple of years ago, I tried coloring with Distress markers and then using my water brush to move the color around.  Mostly, none of the colors budged, even after trying them out on Beckett cardstock and watercolor paper.  But on the Bristol, they moved like a dream.  This method is the way I've always wanted to color and I am so excited to find that it actually works!  The cardstock really does make the difference . . .

And here's another perky look with a few changes in coloring and 
accessories . . .


The Yellow card:
Cardstock:   The Paper Cut Brown Umber, Strathmore #100 Bristol           
Stamps:        Tim Holtz Bird Crazy, Crazy Talk
Inks:               Distress Carved Pumpkin, Brushed Corduroy, Mustard
                           Seed, Gina K Charcoal Brown, Ancient Page Chocolate,
                           Pine, VersaMark 
Colorants:    Distress Markers Carved Pumpkin, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn,
                           Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain, Antique Linen          
Watercolors:   Inktense Cadmium Yellow, Zig Clean Color Yellow
Emb Powder:   Distress Walnut Stain, WOW Clear Matte Dull
Dies:              Lil Inkers Stitched Mats Rectangles, Tim Holtz Crazy 
                          Things             
Stencil:          The Crafters Workshop Mini Ledger + Golden Light Paste


The Orange card:
Tina’s card:
Cardstock:   The Paper Cut Brown Umber, Strathmore #110 Bristol           
Stamps:        Tim Holtz Bird Crazy, Crazy Talk
Inks:              Distress Carved Pumpkin, Brushed Corduroy, Gina K 
                          Charcoal Brown, Ancient Page Chocolate, Pine, VersaMark, 
                          VersaFine Olympia Green 
Colorants:    Distress Markers Carved Pumpkin, Mowed Lawn, Frayed Burlap, 
                          Walnut Stain, Antique Linen, Zig ColorBrush Leaf      
Emb Powder:   Distress Walnut Stain, WOW Clear Matte Dull
Dies:              Inkers Stitched Mats Rectangles, Tim Holtz Crazy Things
Stencil:          The Crafters Workshop Mini Ledger + Golden Light Paste



Thursday, November 2, 2017

Life

Here's another twist on the expensive men's shirt I saw last week . . .


My dear friend David is looking at right hip and left knee replacements and the pithy saying seems to cover those events rather well . . . sometimes, there's no way out of trouble and you simply have to go through it.

Love the colors on this:  black, tan, and cream just seem to do it, I think . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Strathmore Bristol, Generic scraps Black        
Stamps:        Stamp Oasis Four Square Graphics, Hampton Splatter,
                        Stamp Warehouse Squiggles, Magenta Leaf Row, Large
                        Dots Pattern, Starving Artistamps  Number Row, Stampa
                        Rosa Flower Weave, Stamp Diva Primitive Leaf, The Stamp
                        Bug Bubble Flourish, Red Rubber “Life has got to be lived…”
Inks:               Hero Black, VersaMark, StazOn Jet Black, Distress
                        Brushed Corduroy
Emb Powder:   Antiquities Ochre
Dies:              Gina Marie Stitched Rounded Squares              
Doo Dads:    Inkssentials Enamel Accents Black covered with 
                         Black embossing powder