Beware

Halloween is always one of the most fun card-making experiences of the year for me and probably for a lot of us . . .

This year, I had the pleasure of using another beautiful stamp that was gifted to me from The Peddler’s Pack - the background spider web.  When white-embossed over black, the multiple dots used for shading in the web also looked to me like a starry sky!  I didn’t expect that effect and I think it’s beautiful . . .

After die cutting a rectangular shape into the card front, the focal point was glued to the inside of the card below the message, which says,  “I’d turn back if I were you . . .”.

I need to do more cutouts – I really like the interesting effect they have . . .

 

Cardstock:   Beckett Cambric Linen New Black, Strathmore Ultimate

White        

Stamps:        Peddler’s Pack Halloween Spider Web, Picture Show

Haunted House, Vippies Jennifer Boo

Inks:               ColorBox Frost White, Gina K Amalgam Black

Waterclrs:     Zig Clean Color Yellow, Orange

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:              Spellbinders Classic Rectangles Large, Frantic Stamper

Scary Words: “Beware”               

Joy

Here is the 2^nd of four stenciled images I was gifted by Joyce Kurtz of the Peddler’s Pack . . .

As the ornament is on the large side and takes a lot of paste,  I decided to let the Gel Duo paste remain convex instead of using the palette knife to flatten it out.   That gives the ornament an outward curve that looks a lot more real than a flat one would have.  I also allowed the metal leaf to keep a little layered texture for added interest.

Careful though I was, a bit of the Gel Duo seeped under the inner edges of the brass stencil.  So I simply cut out the ornament which got rid of the smeary bits.  I used pop dots in the center back to retain the convex curve and red liner tape around the edges to fasten the ornament to the gold background.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Kachina, Strathmore Mixed Media #90, Scraps

Gold  

Dies:              Tim Holtz Holiday Words - Script: Joy, EK Success

Scalloped Corner Punch          

Stencil:          Dreamweaver Ornament

Doo Dads:    Deco Foil Gel Duo, Amy’s Gilding Leaf Ocean Blue,

Gold     

Winter

The generosity that flourishes in the world of rubber stamping never ceases to amaze me.  Once again, I have been gifted by The Peddler’s Pack owner Joyce Kurtz with new toys to play with.  She writes that she loves to share with the stamping community and indeed she has.  This time, the mailer contained four beautiful stencils and I’ve been having fun with them for a week.  Here’s the first result . . .

 

After stenciling one tree, I thought, “Why should I stop there?  Go for three!”  So I did.   The resulting triptych was a challenge to photograph but I hope the general idea gets across . . . 

Cardstock:   Strathmore Mixed Media #90, Bright White      

Inks:               Distress Faded Jeans, Stamp Zia Chroma Spray Iris,

ColorBox Gold

Emb Pwdr:   Ranger Gold

Dies:              Scrapbook Slim Nested Rounded Rectangles, Elizabeth

Craft Ribbons 1       

Stencil:          Dreamweaver Single Bare Tree, Simon Says

Falling Snow

Doo Dads:    Deco Foil Gel Duo, Fanci Kwik Stencil Paste     

Thinking of You

This is the third example of the Double Stamped Vellum technique . . .

  . . . there will be scores more.  My head is filled with ideas for variations and I can’t wait to get going on them.  I think this one is my favorite so far, probably due to the embossed background.  It makes a great foil for the stamped vellum.

 

Cardstock:   Strathmore Pastel Cover Bright White, Stampin Up Vellum   

Stamps:        Raindrops on Roses 7-Leaf Branch, Great Impressions

Leaves, Altenew With Gratitude (single leaf), Stampin Up

“Thinking of You”

Inks:               Gina K Charcoal Brown, ColorBox Frost White

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:              Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Film Strip, Altenew With

Gratitude (single leaf), Goodculler Stitched Rectangles

Emb Fldr:      Taylored Expressions Weathered        

Just for You

This is the second of three cards done using the Double Stamped Vellum technique . . .

See the previous post for the easy construction details. 

For some reason, my camera insists on adding a yellowish cast to what is actually a very clean white cardstock.  Very frustrating.  Maybe one day I’ll learn how to make my camera do what I want it to . . .

Cardstock:   Strathmore Natural White, Stampin’ Up Vellum

Stamps:       Raindrops on Roses 7-Leaf Branch, Great Impressions Leaves, 

                     Altenew With Gratitude (single leaf)

Inks:            Gina K Charcoal Brown, ColorBox Frost White

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:            Gina Marie Peekaboo Square, Lil Inker Stitched Mat Squares, 

                      Altenew With Gratitude (single leaf), Penny Black Just for 

                      You                  

Doo Dads:    Pearls

Moments

Stamper Chrissie Stokes recently posted a technique on Splitcoast Stampers that rocketed me over the moon.  Called “Double Stamped Vellum”, I immediately played around with it and came up with three cards – the first is below . . .

 

1. Using a dark color, stamp a mostly solid image on the back of a piece of vellum.

2. On the front, stamp a semi-detailed image in white and white-emboss.

3. Using white or natural white cardstock, frame the piece, or back a cut out window with it.

Pristine white cardstock used over the entire card front makes the dark images pop and adds an aura of elegance I cannot get enough of.  The more layers, the more dimension and shadows will be created to add interest.

Cardstock:   Strathmore Natural White, Stampin’ Up Vellum

Stamps:        Raindrops on Roses 7-Leaf Branch, Great Impressions

Leaves

Inks:             Gina K Charcoal Brown, ColorBox Frost White

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:              Gina Marie Peekaboo Square, Altenew With Gratitude

(single leaf)           

Emb Fldr:      Sizzix Floral Arch and Words: “Moments”

Doo Dads:    Pearls

Celebrate

Pat Huntoon of Technique Junkies posted a recent video on her blog.  It featured a lovely background in three colors and was overstamped with navy script.  I loved the look and put together my own version . . .

 I put some die cut trees in front for added dimension, but my favorite thing was the navy script in the background.  I’ve used script or text backgrounds scores of times but always in brown, black, or white.  These neutrals always look great, but the navy ink Pat used on her card opened a door for me.  Such a little thing, but I can’t wait to experiment with more colors on my script backgrounds.  Time to get out of the rut!

Cardstock:   Strathmore Bright White, Strathmore Mixed Media #90,

Scrap Navy         

Stamps:        Impression Obsession Script, Just For Fun Tree Line

Inks:              Distress Chipped Sapphire, Villainous Potion, Mowed

Lawn, ColorBox Frost White

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:             Tim Holtz Tree Line, Memory Box Little Pines, Alphabet

Soup “celebrate”   

Doo Dads:    Inkssentials Enamel Accents White, Gelly Roll Clear Star     

Cluck Cluck

The new owners of my former little lake house held an Open House for all who participated in their extensive and very beautiful renovations.  They knew I am a vegetarian and prepared some absolutely luscious faux chicken drumsticks.  After giving me an entire tray full of them to take home, a Thank You was certainly in order . . .

I thought a fanciful chicken, complete with a red heart and glammed up to the beak with decorative feathers, would be a fun way to convey my feelings of appreciation for their thoughtful gift.  I did the coloring with Zig’s Clean Color Markers and as I’ve not used them in awhile, I was delighted to re-discover how blendable they are.  Very intense color, even after using a water brush to blend and move it around.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Classic Yellow, Cutie, Strathmore Mixed

Media #90   

Stamps:        Carabelle Three Birds, Technique Junkies Keep

Chickens: “Cluck Cluck”, Purple Daisy Sand

Inks:               Gina K Amalgum Black

Waterclrs:     Zig Clean Color Geranium Red, Orange, Yellow,

Cobalt Blue, Violet

Dies:              Lil Inker Stitched Mats Squares, Kat Scrappiness

Woodgrain Framed Diamond Wire                  

Love

This one took awhile but was ever so much fun to put it all together . . .

I wanted the leaves to have just a bit of glimmer so I brought out my jar of Cosmic Shimmer, smeared just a bit onto my finger and lightly stroked each leaf.  I got just the effect I was after and can see myself trying this little trick again.

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill PaloVerde, Nicole Premiere #140 Watercolor,

Beckett Candlelight, Hanko Echizen Gold 

Inks:              Distress Peeled Paint, Worn Lipstick, Gelly Roll Clear Star

Dies:              Memory Box Lorelai Leaf, Pinpoint Leaf Plate, Marianne

Decorative Tags, Stampin’ Up Botanical Tags, Brutus &

Monroe Hearts, Mama Elephant Dainty Bow, DeeSee Love 

Doo Dads:    Cosmic Shimmer Sparkle Texture Paste Warm Gold