Happy Birthday

For this guy card, I used another masking tape background . . .

A couple of greens plus some soft grey made a good backdrop for the tree, I thought. The balloon was a little touch of whimsy that I highlighted with some Glossy Accents for shine and dimension.  But for the first time, it didn't dry crystal clear and remained a little cloudy in the center.  I wonder if that means it's old and I should get a new bottle . . . if anyone knows the solution, I'd love to hear back from you!

Cardstock:   Strathmore Bright White, Bazzill Rain Forest     

Stamps:       Lil Inker Balloon Builders

Inks:             Stampin Up Going Gray, Lucky Limeade,

                     Always Artichoke

Dies:            Goodculler Stitched Rectangles, Marianne Tree,

                     Lil Inker Balloon Builders           

Doo Dads:   NUVO Glitter Gloss, Glossy Accents       

Happy Birthday

Thanks to Pinterest, an older technique has been getting some attention lately and I decided to go back to my stamping roots and have me some fun with it . . .

The technique is called Masking Tape Stamping and via Google, you'll find plenty of short and very useful videos to get you started.  This is quick, easy, has no learning curve, is not necessarily messy, and you'll love the results right off the bat.  The look is artsy, wonderfully textured, and you'll wind up with a stack of backgrounds in mere moments.

This card was my first attempt and I wish I'd shown a whole lot more restraint with the stenciled dots.  WHEW - talk about overkill . . . how come I never see these things until it's too late to do anything about it?

One request:  if anyone knows of a truly pure white embossing paste, would they please let me know the brand name?  All of my white pastes dry to a cream color and I very much want a crisp, chalk-white finish.  Thank you!

Cardstock:   Generic Aqua, Bazzill Leapfrog, Strathmore Ultimate White   

Stamps:       Wordsworth Vertical Happy Birthday

Inks:             Ancient Page Jade, Leaf Green, ColorBox Frost White

Emb Pwdr:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            Tim Holtz Stitched Rectangles, Kat Scrappiness Stitched 

                     Fishtail Banner   

Stencil:        Simon Says Bokeh Lights

Doo Dads:    Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste White, Vippies Crystals      

Happy Birthday

For a dramatic background, it's hard to beat alcohol inks and an ink blower 

tool . . .

Put down a few drops of alcohol ink on some Yupo paper and have fun puffing it around the surface.  Add a drop or two of ink blending solution and a smidge of something metallic.  The drama is intense and so is the excitement because you'll never know what you're gonna get!

The palm tree focal point is easier to see in real life:  I love dramatic backgrounds, although they do tend to overwhelm the main object.  

I need to work on that . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Pear, Tim Holtz Watercolor Yupo

Inks:             Adirondack Alcohol Ink Oregano, Mushroom, Jacquard

                     Piñata Brass

Dies:            Mama Elephant Femme Frames, Spellbinders Layered

                     Palm Tree, TRoyal Room “Happy Birthday”     

Doo Dads:    Mark Richards Gold Stickers        

DUDE

More fun with Tyvek scraps left over from an earlier card . . .

It was fun to use the painted and heated Tyvek for the shirt because it retains its softness and has some of the feel of fabric.  I poked a tiny hole in the hat, stuck in the feather, and propped it up with a foam dot so that it would look perky.  The lenses of the sunglasses were enhanced with Glossy Accents which gives them such a realistic look.

I made two of these and I hope they bring a smile to the faces of the dudes who are going to get one . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Pauley Poo, Nicole #100 Bristol Smooth, USPS

                     Tyvek mailing envelope, Hanko Gold

Inks:             ColorBox Black

Colorants:    Lumiere Grape, Pearl Blue, Pearl Emerald Green, True Gold

Emb Pwdr:   Judikins Detail Black

Dies:            Spellbinders Basic Lattice, Clearly Besotted Super Dad,

                     DieNamics Bright Lights Alpha, Tim Holtz Crazy Things

                     (hat,) Top Dog Photo Props (glasses), Memory Box Tiny 

                     Feathers                     

Doo Dads:    Nicole Wire Hangar, Glossy Accents

Journey

More wild and woolly fun with alcohol inks . . .

I found Tim's Ink Blower tool at almost 1/2 off (JoAnn's) so I got it and am glad I did.  The sizeable bulb makes it so much easier to blow alcohol ink around and get it where you want it.  When you like the arrangement, aim your hair dryer at it on its low heat setting and that will dry up the sticky edges of the ink blobs in no time.  Happily, the low heat setting will not curl your Yupo paper . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Rain Forest, Hanko Designs Echizen Gold,

                     Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink Yupo, Strathmore Ultimate White

Inks:             Adirondack Alcohol Ink Terra Cotta, Butterscotch,

                     Meadow, Jacquard Piñata Brass

Dies:            Spellbinders Victorian Tassels, Ultimate Crafts Drifting

                     Feather, Impression Obsession Vase Set, Frantic Stamper                                  “Journey”                   

Doo Dads:    Sparkle & Sprinkle Fantasy Gold 

Blessings

I hadn't played with rolled die cut flowers in awhile so it was time . . .

But the real fun was the background which is so simple that any newbie can do it.  It's also very quick.  The stamper calls the technique "Collaged Backgrounds" and you can see it in action HERE.  You simply take any one or two texture-image stamps you have, ink it up, and start repeatedly tapping around the edges of your pre-cut layer.  Do not re-ink: this will give you lots of depth with darks and lights. 

After you cover about 1-2", re-ink and keep going around the perimeter.  You can go for distinct images via less tapping, or you can get a diffused look with more tapping.  Switch to another texture and overstamp if desired.  It's easy to track your progress and figure out if you want to keep going or if it's time to stop.

I think this would work with so many images besides textured ones - I plan to do lots of experiments to see which ones I like best.  Give it a try!

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Nicole #100 Bristol, Colored scraps         

Stamps:       Stampers Anonymous Mosaic Scrap, Raindrops on

                     Roses “Smudge”, The Artful Stamper Biblical:

                     Authentic Werdz

Inks:             Papertrey Ink Classic Kraft

Emb Pwdr:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            Crafters Companion Mon Amour             

Emb Fldr:     Cuttlebug Mesh

Doo Dads:    Glitter, twine, Viva Pearl Pen Cream       

A Wish

Something simple and summery - perfect for a June birthday . . .

A couple of alcohol ink blues + a single spritz of alcohol from a mister = a cool and bubbly background.  And the fun part is that the alcohol did all the work! 

A little help is always welcome around here . . .

Cardstock:   Strathmore Bright White, Tim Holtz Yupo, Generic

                     Turquoise

Stamps:       Studio G “A big birthday wish”

Inks:             Adirondack Alcohol Ink Stream, Denim

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:            Lil Inkers Stitched Mats Rectangles, Simon Says

                     Fresh Daisies                   

Emb Fldr:     Darice Multi Circles

Doo Dads:    Inkssentials Enamel Accents White        

Loving Thoughts

This card is for the wife of a New York City judge who has just succumbed to Corona.  By all accounts, he was a superb jurist and a favorite neighbor in our condo building.  He will be greatly missed . . .

I wanted something soft and gentle and hope that's what I got, despite the fact that I probably overdid it with the pearls . . .

Rest in peace, Judge Gerry . . .

Cardstock:   Strathmore Ultimate White, Bright White

Stamps:       Impression Obsession Foliage, Unknown "With loving

                     thoughts and prayers"

Inks:             Hero Shadow Soft Brown, ColorBox Frost White

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:            Elizabeth Craft Leafy Branch, DieNamics Collage 

                     Cover-up               

Doo Dads:    Nuvo Glitter Gloss, pearls  

All the Best

Every now and then, I get a yen to stick some twigs on a card.  As this one goes to a neighbor just up the street, I can hand deliver and not worry about sending it through the mail . . .

This was also my first attempt at ink lifting.  The process was quick and easy and went very well.  But I think that larger areas of color would have made a less-busy background and allowed the image to show up better.  Next time!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Saltillo, Tim Holtz Yupo, Hanko Echizen Gold  

Stamps:       Stampers Anonymous Art Deco Palm Fronds

Inks:             Adirondack Alcohol Ink Terra Cotta, Bottle, Pinata Brass,

                     Tim Holtz Alcohol Lift Ink

Emb Pwdr:   Ranger Gold

Dies:            Impression Obsession All the Best, Vase Set                

Doo Dads:    Twigs