Spooky

 Halloween cards are always so much fun to do . . . lots of drama!

 The roiling background was done by smooshing on three colors of Distress Stains and then misting for a mottled look.  The inside message reads, "I'd turn back if I were you."

OOH, shiver!

 

Cardstock:   Dorset Black Diamond, Strathmore #90 Mixed Media,

                     Tim Holtz Silver Sparkle    

Inks:             Distress Stains Chipped Sapphire, Dusty Concord,

                     Faded Jeans, Wink of Stella Black, Gelly Roll Clear

Dies:            Impression Obsession Mid-size Frame, Little B

                     Halloween:  “Spooky”, Gina Marie Raven on a Branch           

Poppy

This was my first attempt at working with liquid watercolors.  I think it turned out a lot better than my second attempt which will be posted next Thursday . . .

  . . . the petals on this one are quite a bit smaller than those on my second experiment and I think that may have helped me with the shading in some way.  I'll keep playing around with different designs and see what I can learn . . .

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Cinder, Aquarelle #140 Multi Media,

Stamps:       Stamp La Jolla Satin Flower Square

Inks:             ColorBox Frost White, Wink of Stella Gold

Colorants:    Jacquard Piñata Brass

Waterclrs:    Concord&9th Liquid Watercolor Sorbet, Dove,

                     Buttercup

Emb Pwdr:  Hero White

Dies:            Gina Marie Stitched Rounded Squares, Memory Box

                     Grove Branch, DieVersions font Noodles: “Poppy”                 

Doo Dads:    Mini Beads Gold     

Camellia

An early attempt with my new liquid watercolors . . .

I think it turned out way better than expected and I believe the credit goes to the design of the stamp!  It's basically a line image with a few leaf veins that helped route the watercolor in interesting ways.  Also, the image was heat embossed, so the raised edges certainly played a useful part in keeping things contained.  Starting with leaves and feathers, I plan to go through my stamp stash to see how many other images will offer the same advantages. 

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Classic Red, #140 Legion Coventry Rag

Stamps:       Anita’s Camellia

Inks:             ColorBox Frost White

Waterclrs:    Concord&9th Liquid Watercolor Poppy, Parsley

Emb Pwdr:  Hero White

Dies:            Spellbinders Card Creator Basics A, DieVersions

                     font A Hint of Lime 

Doo Dads:    various fabric tracing wheels, Viva Pearl Pen Cream   

Inspiring

I tried out a new idea I learned from a recent video by Jennifer McGuire and absolutely love it . . .

 . . . it's another great way to use the fabulous sets of coordinating stencils and embossing folders that are so popular right now - 3D folders will give the most dramatic results.  The first step is to emboss your cardstock.  Then, place the stencil over the embossed image and it will fit like a glove.  Ink with the Life Changing brushes in your choice of colors. 

The embossed design will survive the inking quite well, but once dry, you can always put it back into the embossing folder for another run-through.  This really freshens and crisps the embossed dimension.

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Palo Verde, Strathmore #90 Mixed Media        

Stamps:       Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Friendship: “Your

                     strength is inspiring”

Inks:             Distress Oxide Iced Spruce, Mustard Seed, Fossilized

                     Amber, Hero Black

Colorants:    Bob Ross Gesso Black

Dies:            Memory Box Stitched Rectangle Trimmings, Slender

                     Leaves, Taylored Expressions Simple Strips                           

Stencil:        Crafters Companion Poppies

Emb Fldr:    Crafters Companion Poppies

Doo Dads:    Inkssentials Enamel Accents Black        

Here With You

With this card, I have re-discovered the beauty of Encore inks.  They are a pigment ink that will dry without being heated and they have a glorious, fine-grained metallic sheen to them that is quite unique.  Too bad the camera doesn't do them justice . . .

 Sadly, they've been out of production for several years, but my pads are in good shape and I'm fully stocked with reinkers.  So, marketing decisions be damned - I'm still in business!

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Parakeet, Strathmore Bright White, Ultimate

                     White 

Stamps:       Pink Fresh Sweet Blooms, Taylored Expressions Simple

                     Strips Friendship: “Wish I could be there with you”

Inks:             Encore Purple, Pink, Honeydew, Hero Black

Dies:            Impression Obsession Large Frame, Taylored

                     Expressions Simple Strips  

Stencil:        Pink Fresh Sweet Blooms

Doo Dads:    American Crafts Jute Green        

Bloom

 Having fun with a new gatefold die I lucked onto at half price! 

The set comes with everything needed to make the decorated card itself along with the layered embellishment for the belly band.  There are even extra flowers and leaves to play with.  I cut two of the solid blue background and glued one in place for the inside sentiment.  The other I cut in half and attached the pieces behind the gate flaps.  The branches are openwork and without the backing, you would be able to see partially through to the sentiment. 

It was a fun card to make and I've already started another version of it . . . stay tuned!

 

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Scrap Aqua, Forest Green

Inks:             Distress Vintage Photo

Colorants:    Pinata Alcohol Ink Brass

Dies:            Sizzix Gatefold Card & Tree, Frantic Stamper “Bloom”          

Emb Fldr:    Spellbinders Bricks & Bark

Doo Dads:    Mark Richards Metals Gold         

Happy Birthday

Here's another version of my current favorite design trio of matching stamps, stencils, and dies:

As funds permit, I will be adding to my small collection of such wonderful collaborations that make layouts so easy to put together.  Because coloring is not everyone's strong suit, having the layered stencils puts great results within anyone's reach . . .

 

Cardstock:   Strathmore Pastells Bright White, Ultimate White, Bazzill

                     Purple Pizzazz

Stamps:       Pink Fresh Sweet Friend Floral, Stampin’ Up Happy

                     Birthday

Inks:             Distress Wilted Violet, Twisted Citron, Dusty Concord,

                     Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, ColorBox Black

Emb Pwdr:  Judikins Detail Black

Dies:            Pink Fresh Sweet Friend Floral, Poppy Grosgrain Bow          

Stencil:        Pink Fresh Sweet Friend Floral

Doo Dads:    American Crafts jute Green, Flower Soft Gold   

Happy Anniversary

 I'm going wild with Altenew's leaf die sets . . .

 . . . there are two sets and each one contains fourteen of the most innovatively designed leaf images imaginable.  The sets coordinate with each other and the layering options are without limit.  I expect to have me an absolute field day with both of these sets for months to come!

For this anniversary card, the object was to keep it fairly simple as I wanted to showcase the leaves.  However, I found the openwork frames in my stash and decided to back them with some double-sided glue strips so that I could scatter on some antique-y gold glitter. So much for simple.

At the last minute, I squeezed on some black enamel accents which turned out to be too shiny for the look I was after.  So I dusted them with black embossing powder while the enamel was still wet.  Voila - texture with no shine.  Yes!

 

 

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute 

Stamps:       Hero “Happy Anniversary”

Inks:             Hero Black

Dies:            Altenew Leaf Mix, Tropical Leaf Mix, Papertrey Ink

                     Leaf & Sprig Frames

Stencil:        The Crafters Workshop Mini Texturized

Doo Dads:    Stamp’n Around Gold Dust , Inkssentials Enamel

                     Accents Black