With Love

My love affair with Foamiran continues . . .

Foamiran is a unique thin-foam product that is fun to work with and gives reliably great results.  Do NOT confuse Foamiran with Fun Foam as they are not at all the same.  Foamiran makes great dimensional flowers which stay perky even after the post office gets their mechanical mitts on them.  It’s easily punched or die cut, can be colored with anything, and there are a number of online tutorials to coach you through the easy ways to work with it.

Many of the tutorials suggest using an iron to heat the flowers and make them even more shape-able.  I think it’s easier, quicker, and takes way less electricity to simply use my heat gun for 3-5 seconds on the die cut flower shapes.  The heat curves the petals up so they look more realistic.  Best of all, those curves are permanent, even after being squished in an envelope.  Therefore, I’ll never bother making paper flowers again . . .

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute 

Stamps:       Amuse Script Background

Inks:             Distress Mowed Lawn, Brushed Corduroy, American

Girl Blue, Green, Purple

Dies:            Spellbinders Floral Berry Accents, Papertrey Ink 

Swoosh Set: “With Love”, Scrapbook Bow Toppers       

Doo Dads:    Foamiran, Metalix Glitter Moondust, Wink of Stella 

                      Silver         

Journey

My very young friend Leon is a staunch practitioner of Taekwondo, a highly principled martial art that is instrumental in building character in those who pursue its many disciplines.  I bought a great Taekwondo die last year in anticipation of Leon’s Spring birthday this year and cannot find it for the life of me.  So I went with an Asian theme instead . . .

There are both Chinese and Japanese elements on this card and I thought these choices covered the martial art bases rather well.  Having just ordered a large collection of Taekwondo dies that I have no intention of misplacing, I will soon be well equipped to return to Taekwondo illustrations in future.

Cardstock:   Wausau Firecracker Red, Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth, Scraps Black  

Stamps:       Red Pearl Asian text: “I have loved this all my life”, 

MJ Barber Chinese Horseman, Glitz Distressing, 

Tin Can Mail Chinese Chop

Inks:             Gina K Amalgam Black, Copic Warm Gray #3, 

Distress Fired Brick

Emb Pwdr:  Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            Frantic Stamper Journey             

Doo Dads:    Chinese coin, American Crafts Jute Red

Memories

My friendship with Sandy dates back to the 7^th grade and I thank God we’ve stayed in close touch for lo these many decades.  She surprised me with a lovely gift card recently, hence the following Thank You note . . .

As she lives near the ocean in Southern California, I thought a beachy theme would work well.  The seashell background layer has been languishing in my scrap box for awhile, just waiting for the right use.  I think I found it . . .

Cardstock:   Neenah Desert Storm, Scraps Light and Dark Brown  

Inks:             Distress Ground Espresso, Gina K Charcoal Brown

Dies:            Taylored Expressions Stitched Frame Stacklets, 

Love Nicole Shells Scalloped, Nautilus, Elizabeth

Designs Words 4 Remember: “Memories”               

Stencil:        The Crafters Workshop Mini Nautilus

Doo Dads:    Metalix Glitter Moondust   

Hugs

This one was done with a brand new and ingeniously designed bundle from Taylored Expressions . . .

There are five different butterflies and they are all arranged on one stamp.  Once stamped, the three coordinating stencils are designed to color all of the butterflies at the same time.  After the coloring is done, the one-piece die fits perfectly over all of the butterflies.  The stencils are numbered and each piece includes a trio of tiny squares that align with stamped squares included on the image.  These make for easy and perfect alignment.

The butterflies were covered with Micro Glaze, a product I’ve had for decades but fell in love with only recently.  I’ve no idea as to why the delay.  That stuff is fabulous, especially on die inks that emerge looking flat and lifeless.  A sponge dauber works perfectly to apply the merest amount of Glaze in a swirling motion.  When done, buff lightly with a tissue.  The Glaze enriches the ink colors and provides a very subtle sheen with no shiny glare.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Puppy Love, Raven, Strathmore #100 Bristol

Smooth, Scrap Sage Green         

Stamps:       Taylored Expressions Whimsical Wings

Inks:             Superior India Ink Black, Distress Dusty Concord,

Fossilized Amber, Pine Needles

Dies:            Taylored Expressions Whimsical Wings, Memory Box 

Weeping Willow Branch, Recollections Word Fetti: “Hugs”     

Stencil:        Taylored Expressions Whimsical Wings

Emb Fldr:     Taylored Expressions Brick

Doo Dads:    Judikins Micro Glaze, Metalix Glitter Moondust 

Beech

This is one of those rare cards I’ve done that the more I look at it, the more I really like how it turned out . . .

The stenciled leaf and green sidebars were done with sprays which I love because you can get such wonderful, smooshy looks with them.  I love the varied depth of color that is easy to get with sprays.  This leaf is part of a set of four that include both the leaf and the mortise, which opens up a variety of creative options.  These leaves are beautiful and will be used many times in future . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Ivy, Strathmore #100 Bristol Vellum       

Stamps:       Lost Coast Vertical ABC, Stampin Up Itty Bitty

Backgrounds

Inks:             ColorBox Frost White

Colorants:    Stamp Zia Sprays Sapphire, Olive

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:            DieVersions font Noodles            

Stencil:        A Colorful Life Beech

Doo Dads:    My Mind’s Eye Wood Dots

Happy

While my own dear Mother is gone, that needn’t stop me from celebrating the Mothers among my friends . . .

Lately, I’m loving shredded edges, glitter sprinkled onto wet embossing paste, and Foamiran flowers.  Foamiran is a wonderful thin foam that takes inks and coloration of all kinds, die cuts easily, and when heated for 3-5 seconds, gets perky and actually survives the US Postal Service!  With the heat, the petals curve up, get a little firmer, and after mailing, they pop right back up when removed from the envelope.  Amazing stuff!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Fire Hearts, Strathmore #140 Watercolor         

Inks:             Distress Tattered Rose, Victorian Velvet, Worn Lipstick

Dies:            Taylored Expressions Stitched Frame Stacklets 1,

“Happy”, Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia, AccuCut

Tile Blocks #2

Stencil:        Hero Leaf & Flourish

Doo Dads:    Golden Light Molding Paste, Sparkle & Sprinkle

Fantasy Gold Glitter, Foamiran       

This is one of those layouts that started off in one direction and wound up in another . . .

 

It started with a layered stencil background that I came to decide was too intrusive.  So I covered most of it with a plain piece topped with a mesh texture.  Then I decided a single stemmed rose retired from the Spellbinders line ages ago would work.  I’m quite happy with the results . . . what say you?

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Neenah Desert Storm       

Stamps:       Taylored Expressions Flower Patch

Inks:             Distress Peeled Paint, Candied Apple, Forest Moss,

Spiced Marmalade

Emb Pwdr:   Whispers Clear Glitter

Dies:            Waffle Flower Lacy Layers, Cugap Flower (mesh)

Background, Spellbinders Rose, Memory Box Stitched

Rectangle Trimmings, TEMU Words Set: Happy Birthday            

Stencil:        Taylored Expressions Flower Patch

Doo Dads:    My Mind’s Eye Wood Dots

Doce No Mas

“Doce No Mas” means “Twelve No More” in Spanish.  He was a lovely cat and the twelfth of the strays and rescues that my friends have loved and cared for over many years.  The “No more” part of his name meant he would be the last of the rescues, as twelve cats were more than enough to take care of . . .

 

As the card will be hand delivered, I had fun with a square shape as the need for additional postage will not be necessary.  I went for a subtle ombre effect with the sun’s rays and am rather pleased how they turned out.

Doce No Mas was a real sweetie will be missed for a long time . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Capri Sea, Strathmore #140 Watercolor,

                     Scraps Black

Colorants:    Copic Cadmium Yellow, Napoli Yellow, Honey, Chrome

Orange, Mint Green

Dies:            TopUnder Sun’s Rays, Frantic Stamper Ten Fun Felines,

Memory Box Alphabet Soup, Tim Holtz Alphanumeric

Tiny Type Upper                       

Happy!

The die for the perforated background is a new one and I had a great time taking it on its maiden voyage atop my crafting table.  Best of all is the coordinating one-piece stencil (available separately) that lets you easily add color while keeping the perforated framing a pristine white – or whatever your original cardstock color is.   I loved how easy it was to brush on the soft frames, even though the color I wound up with was not what I was expecting . . .

  . . . I loaded the brush with Speckled Egg but wound up with a burnt mustard shade!  Evidently, I used a yellow ink the last time I worked with the brush and there was enough remaining to blend with the Speckled Egg.  I actually love the result, especially since I was serendipitously able to match the rogue color with some cardstock in my stash.  SCORE!

This is a one-off, of course . . . I’ll never be able to blunder my way into making that wonderful boo boo happen again.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Desert Sun, Neenah #110 Solar White   

Stamps:       Outlines “Have a Great Day”, Printworks “Celebrate”,

East Coast “Happy”

Inks:             Distress Speckled Egg, ColorBox Black

Emb Pwdr:   Judikins Detail Black

Dies:            Waffle Flower Postage Collage A6 Blocks,

Spellbinders Floral Berry Accents                    

Stencil:        Waffle Flower Postage Collage A6 Blocks

Doo Dads:    Foamiran     

Home

Dear friends have moved to a lovely home in the Pennsylvania countryside so it was time to put together a Housewarming card . . .

 

My order of Sugar Cube cardstock by Taylored Expressions had just arrived and I used it for my Maiden Voyage of this paper combined with OLO alcohol inks.  I am thrilled with it and will stick with it forever!  It’s amazing how the inks virtually self-blend – such a delight to sit and watch the inks lose their hard line and blend with the adjacent colors.  If this didn’t happen by itself, then it was easy to go over the area in circular motions with the lighter color.  Blending then took place quickly and easily.  I’m definitely hooked!  It’s true that cardstock choices can make ALL the difference . . .

Cardstock:   Taylored Expressions Sugar, Bazzill Leap Frog       

Stamps:       A Muse House & Tree

Inks:             Taylored Expressions Oreo

Colorants:    OLO Sky, Blue Sapphire, Avocado, Moss, Yellow

Ochre, Vermillion

Dies:            Frantic Stamper Striped Frame & Insert, Memory Box

Puffy Clouds, Impression Obsession Congrats Word

Set: “Home”              

Christ Is Risen

The most important event in the universe and I always wish I could do more to show the joy . . .

The background has a few smudges and some torn edges to suggest aging.  The palm fronds show life while the hymn speaks the truest words of all time:

                    Christ the Lord Has Risen Today! 

 May your lives be filled with His glory . . .

 Cardstock:   The Paper Cut Eames White, Strathmore #100 Bristol

Vellum, Stampin Up Lucky Limeade       

Stamps:       Brutus Monroe Watercolor Background, Our Daily Bread

Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, Craft Smart Cross

Inks:             Gina K Amalgam Black, ColorBox Gold, Distress

Brushed Corduroy

Emb Pwdr:   Ranger Gold

Dies:            Hero Palm Fancy Die, Gina Marie Peekaboo Square            

To This

When my former priest Father Gregory had a massive heart attack early in the year, it was gratifying to see the results of prayer at work.  His recovery began the very next day and has steadily continued, to the great relief of all who love him.  So my card’s layout was very specific . . .

I figured a battered heart followed by a perky, healthy one would tell the story of his wonderful recovery.  There were many miraculous incidents that took place throughout this serious event and we are deeply grateful to God for all of them.

Cardstock:   Neenah Desert Storm, Little Black Dress patterned paper,

Scraps Red, Orange, Green        

Dies:            Darice Nesting Hearts, Simon Says Sketch Heart,

Lil Inker Stitched Mats Squares, DieVersions A Hint of

Lime font, Carl punches Leaf, Flower                  

Doo Dads:    Wink of Stella Clear

St Patrick

I love the stitched, multiple window dies that are very popular right now and decided to use one of them for my St Patrick’s Day card . . .

If it weren’t for the MISTI, I would never have attempted the placement of all of the individual text stamps.  I ran a sample cut of the die, put it into my MISTI and used it to place the text in the windows.  I inked up a practice run or two on scrap paper to make sure the words were properly centered and then was off to the races with cardstock.

LOVE THAT MISTI!  It has opened up scores of creative possibilities I never would have dreamed trying before . . . 

HAPPY ST PATRICK’S DAY!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Green, Strathmore Ultimate White         

Stamps:       Studio G Series 29

Inks:             Superior India Ink Black

Dies:            InLoveArts Splicing Rectangular Background,

Poppy Crafts Bunch of Four Leaf Clovers                   

Doo Dads:    American Ribbon Shamrock Tie, Sparkle & Sprinkle

glitter Gold, Marvy Liquid Gold Paint Marker: Gold      

Soar

This is the last of my current run with Lydia Fiedler’s wonderful assemblage of tinfoil, Gesso, alcohol inks, and 3D embossing folders.  There will be hundreds more of this method in future posts as this technique tops the list of favorites for me . . .

I plan to do up one of these for submission to our annual NJ Fair in August.  Meanwhile, there are scores of colors, designs, multiple media highlights, and layouts that this technique can use and I plan to try them all!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Typhoon      

Stamps:       Judith Dots

Inks:             Adirondack Alcohol Ink Latte, Slate, Pitch Black

Colorants:    Deco Art Acrylic Paint Pot ‘O Gold

Emb Pwdr:   Ranger Gold

Dies:            DieNamics Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle,

 Love Nicole Dragonfly, Tim Holtz Alphanumeric

Tiny Type Upper             

Emb Fldr:     Tim Holtz 3D Entangled

Doo Dads:    Liquitex White Gesso, Bob Ross Black Gesso  

Dream

We’ve now arrived at the third sample of the alcohol ink and Gesso technique recently demo’d by Lydia Fiedler on Splitcoast Stampers.  This one just might be my favorite of the four . . .

 

After applying paint with a brayer to the raised parts of the design, I decided to scatter on some silver embossing powder and then heated it.  The result turned out to be a little heavy handed but I like the idea and will play with it again.  I think I’ll try using a hard brayer instead of a soft one – that should keep the ink’s contact to a more desirable minimum . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Jade, Ranger Alcohol Ink Cardstock Brushed

Silver 

Inks:             Adirondack Alcohol Ink Meadow, Bottle, Denim, Marabu

Alcohol Ink Deep White

Colorants:    DecoArts Acrylic Paint Shimmering Silver

Emb Pwdr:   Stamp A Mania Silver Dollar

Dies:            TEMU Lovely Tree Leaves, Reverse Confetti Wild Words

Set: Dream  

Emb Fldr:     Sizzix 3D Leaves

Doo Dads:    DMC Coton Perle #5 Dark Green 

Blessings

We’re moving right along to the second example of Lydia Fiedler’s technique I first posted last Thursday.  Scroll down for the details on that day.  Lydia has fancifully titled this method, “Drunken Embossed Foil” and while alcohol is indeed involved, it’s not the kind you drink.  Rather, you make ART with it!

Gesso, 3D embossing folders, liquid alcohol inks, and kitchen foil are the four main ingredients that open the door to a lot of fun, and not long thereafter, some beautifully dramatic results.  This one is at the top of my list for multiple repeats!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Crimson         

Inks:             Adirondack Alcohol Ink Terra Cotta, Butterscotch,

Gold Mixatives

Colorants:    Deco Art Acrylic Paint Pot ‘O Gold

Dies:            Impression Obsession Bare Branch, Memory Box

Butterflies Pippi, Isabella, Spellbinders Blessings

Vine Frame Set: “Blessings”               

Emb Fldr:     Open Studio 3D Chrysanthemum Field