Saturday, May 30, 2015

Playing with Embossing Powder

I am sorry to see the Online Card Class Mask-erade end...it has really gotten my creative juices going!  I am going to have to go back to previous classes and rewatch lessons!



I had fun pulling out my watercolor paper today!  I used three different embossing powders--clear, white, and Ranger Pearl Silver.  (The last one is shown in the photo below--it has a beautiful pearl shine.)  One word of caution--clear embossing powder does not behave well with regular watercolor paper--it takes on the yellowish cast of the paper.

 
Below are the four different pieces after watercoloring:






I haven't decided how to finish them off yet...











For the card above, I stamped a sentiment on vellum and heat embossed with Ranger Platinum embossing powder.

Since the card was a bit warped, I mounted it on a piece of fun foam and then adhered to the card base.

I added a few butterflies colored with the same colors.

Thanks for taking a look!

Dies:  Sizzix/Hero Arts Antique Flowers and ButterfliesImpression Obsession Butterfly Set

Stamp:  Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz Phrases 1 cling stamps

Friday, May 29, 2015

More Sentiment Making Fun!

I am blown away by how quickly a card can be put together using a freezer paper mask.

This was watercolored with Distress Ink reinkers (Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean, Mermaid Lagoon.)  To add a bit more interest I cut it in half and popped it off the layer paper with foam tape.  A few sequins did it for this card. 

Here is a close-up of the depth of the card.


Thanks for looking!

Die:  My Favorite Things Die-Namics Many Thanks

Bird Crazy Masking

I am going back and catching up with the Day 1 lesson from Online Card Class Mask-erade.  Since I am crazy about the Bird Crazy stamp set, one of the birds had to show up on this card.


The masking and stamping was done on watercolor paper.  Distress Ink colors used:  Picked Raspberry and Peacock Feathers.  The card was sponged around the edges with the same colors and then spritzed with water for a matching border.

For this look, the masked hexagon seemed to need a border so that was hand drawn with a Faber Castell Pitt Pen.

Thanks for taking a look!

Dies:  Spellbinder Hexagon
Stamps:  Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz Bird Crazy, SimonSaysStamp Apothecary Labels (looks like stamp set is no longer available...sorry)

Birthday Masking

Oooh, I am learning plenty of tricks in the Online Card Class Mask-erade!  Today (Day 4), was a real eye opener!

This card went together very quickly thanks to the freezer paper mask.  I used Fossilized Amber and Mermaid Lagoon Distress Stains to spray the card after lightly wetting the surface.

The balloons were colored with the same two colors of Distress Ink.

Thanks for looking!

Dies:  Memory Box Grand Happy Birthday, C.C. Designs Balloons

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Liquid Masking

I have been looking forward to today's lesson on liquid masking at Online Card Class Mask-erade!  I knew that it was a product that I probably wasn't using enough.


One of the things I like about these classes is forcing me to go outside of my comfort zone.  I took an image that I had already colored and applied Dick Blick Liquid Frisket.  (Keeping my fingers crossed that the masking wouldn't impact the coloring...it didn't)

This is what he looked like partway through the process.
I then proceeded to play.  I smooshed Tumbled Glass, Broken China and Mermaid Lagoon Distress Inks on the background; stamped with Tumbled Glass and then added some stenciling with Pumice Stone.  I need some more practice on mixing colors and patterns but I think the result is fun.  I picture the bear floating through a jumble of emotions thinking about the person that he misses!

Thanks for looking...back to getting inky!

Stamps:  Penny Black Up and Away (bear...the girl accompanying him is charming!), Impression Obsession Cover a Card Rolling Waves, Paper Smooches Sentiment Sampler

Stencil:  Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Bubble

Stenciling & Masking

I continue to be inspired by the Online Card Class Mask-erade!  This card mixed stenciling and masking. 


I received by SimonSaysStamp June 2015 Card Kit in the mail so I had to try out the fabulous die cut included in the kit!  (Great kit this month!!)

I am trying out different possibilities to use with my stencils.  Today I used Liquitex Flexible Modeling Paste and colored it with Distress Inks (Squeezed Lemonade, Wild Honey and Spiced Marmalade)  It mixed with the colors well.  I actually sponged some additional Spiced Marmalade over the top of the paste after it dried and that also seemed to work great.  I left a space for the die to take center stage.

I wanted to let the texture and die shine so kept it simple with some twine and a layer to match the die cut.  Here is a close-up of the texture from the modeling paste:

Thanks for looking!

Die:  SimonSaysStamp Smile Circle
Stencil:  Heidi Swapp

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

A Watercolor Variation on Flowery Butterfly




I am fascinated by this masking technique so had to try a variation from this card.  This time I stamped the Rubber Stamp Tapestry peg stamps with Distress Ink onto watercolor paper. (I used Worn Lipstick, Seedless Preserves, Chipped Sapphire, Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Old Paper and Pumice Stone.)  After removing the mask, I moved the ink around to give a watercolor effect.  Here is a close-up of the butterfly.

After drying, I applied the the mask over the butterfly and stamped a background image in Distress Ink (Old Paper.)  I dropped water on the background and let it move a bit.

The edges were inked with Old Paper Distress Ink and a sentiment and sequins added.  It was mounted on a card made from the same paper as the sentiment. 

Now....I have to try something else from the Online Card Class Mask-erade!

Thanks for taking a look!

Stamps:  Various Rubber Stamp Tapestry peg stamp, Impression Obsession Cover A Card Music
Die:  Limitations (for the butterfly mask) and Celebrate both from Sizzix/Time Holtz

Flowery Butterfly!

Today I am combining two of my favorite types of stamps--butterflies and flowers.  I pulled out my Rubber Stamp Tapestry peg stamps and had fun filling up a butterfly mask! 


I added a die cut sentiment from Tim Holtz...I was so excited to receive the dies yesterday.  I pre-ordered them back in February!

This card was inspired by the ongoing Online Card Class Mask-erade.

Dies:  Celebrate, Limitations (for the mask)--both from Sizzix/Tim Holtz, MyFavoriteThings Blueprints 20 (for the stitched rectangle)
Stamps:  SimonSaysStamp Happy, a variety of Rubber Stamp Tapestry peg stamps

Thanks for taking a look!

Monday, May 25, 2015

Another Thank You Card

While I had the die out, I decided to use another image that I had recently colored.  I  watercolored the flowers (love this new Tim Holtz stamp!) with Abandoned Coral and Worn Lipstick Distress Markers so I carried that theme throughout the card.




The "Thanks" was sponged with the same two colors of Distress Ink then spritzed with water and Brushed Pewter Distress Stain.  I mounted the flowers on a sheet of fun foam and raised a portion of the "Thanks" block with fun foam as well.


The silver section was embossed with a new folder...I have never gotten such a deep impression.  It is truly spectacular!  ...and it is 6X6 to provide maximum flexibility!  I added a couple of strips cut from the "Thanks" block for the top and the bottom of the card.

I will be entering this in the SimonSaysStamp Monday Challenge to make a thank you card.

Thanks for taking a look!

Irene

Die:  My Favorite Things Many Thanks
Stamp:  Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz Flower Garden
Embossing Folder: WeR Memory Keepers Next Level Woven

Inspired to Die Cut


 

I saw this challenge last week and was very inspired by the Muse photo with the inlaid die cuts.  Life then got busy and I am scrambling to post this before the link closes! 

I am also submitting this for the SimonSaysStamp Monday Challenge to make a thank you card.





Here is my card:

The background was the result of playing on watercolor paper with Twinkling H2Os, Distress Ink and finally a spritz of Distress markers.

The butterflies are from a favorite stamp and die cut set.  They were stamped on watercolor paper and Distress Ink was blended to match the background.

I mounted the sentiment on fun foam and then added the black drop shadow.

Thanks for taking a look!

Stamp:  Hero Arts/Sizzix Antique Flowers and Butterflies

Die:  My Favorite Things Many Thanks

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Blue Christmas

I was introduced to another Christmas challenge, Muse: Christmas Visions.  What fun to get a card for inspiration and let the imagination run wild!

Here is the inspiration card:




 ...and here is my interpretation.  I was inspired by the blue poinsettia paired with metallic.

I embossed my image with Ranger Platinum embossing powder.

I went a bit lighter with Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink to watercolor my flower.  The holly is a combination of Peeled Paint and Evergreen Bough.  The berries are shaded with Pumice Stone and the background is Fossilized Amber...because I just have to play with the new colors!

To finish the card, I covered a small sheet of paper with the same Platinum embossing powder and die cut "happy" and embossed the remainder of the sentiment with the same powder.  The blue layer was created by inking the edges with Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink (my favorite strategy to get everything to coordinate!)

Thanks for taking a look!

Stamps:  Penny Black Festive Florals, Simon Says Stamp Happy (sentiment)
Die:  Simon Says Stamp Happy



Monday, May 11, 2015

Focusing on the Sentiment

This card started out with a nod to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge to let the sentiment take center stage.  But then I had opportunity to watch Tim Holtz on Friday and was reminded of a lot of great techniques...and I was off.
I used a piece of watercolor paper with wonderful texture to create a Distress Ink background.  This continues to be one of my favorite techniques with Distress Inks.  Press multiple pads to a craft sheet, spritz with water and press the paper into this inky goodness.  Dry and repeat until the desired effect is achieved...such fun!

The sentiment uses a chalkboard technique that Tim Holtz featured on his February 2014 tag.  I just got my Tim Holtz Bird Crazy stamp set, so of course, one of them found its way onto the card.  Love the eyes looking at the sentiment...and the bird was very easy to watercolor!  I grounded him with a Pumice Stone Distress Marker base.

Thanks for looking!

Stamps:   Tim Holtz Bird Crazy, Tim Holtz Phrases 1   (both from Stampers Anonymous)
Die:  Spellbinders Label 8

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Christmas Embossing

I am continuing my quest to get a head start on Christmas cards!  The Merry Monday Challenge for this week is any kind of embossing.  My last Christmas post was dry embossing so I thought I would focus on heat embossing this time.





Santa was stamped with Watering Can Archival Ink on watercolor paper and colored with watercolor.  Love this stamp...it was so easy to add a little color and call it ready to mount!

The sentiment was heat embossed with Ranger Liquid Platinum Embossing Powder.  Because I wanted to carry that color across Santa's layering paper, I inked the edges with Versamark and then heat embossed for the shiny matching layer!

The DP is printed with "Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus" so I was careful about the strategic placement.  I inked around the edges of the DP with Distress Ink and mounted on a Kraft card base.

I also had to try it out in a different color scheme...since the DP came in multiple colors!  All of the other details are the same.
Thanks for taking a look!

Stamps:  Rubber Stampede Santa Collage, Tim Holtz Joyful Song (sentiment)

Design Paper:  DCWX Christmsa & Winter Combo Cardstock Stack

Happy Abandoned Coral

The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge got me inspired to pull out my Abandoned Coral distress ink and markers and now I have my Mother's Day card ready to mail!

I used Abandoned Coral, Crushed Olive, and Fossilized Amber Distress Markers to color on Pretty Peonies stamps and stamp on watercolor paper.  A little water to move the colors around gave me a nice result with little effort.  I scribbled Tumbled Glass on my craft mat and picked up with plenty of water to add the light background.

The sentiment was stamped with Watering Can Archival Ink and I added some depth with a grey Pitt pen.

The silver layer is colored with Inka Gold for a smooth metallic look.

I had a lot of fun with the background.  It was sponged with Abandoned Coral Distress Ink and then more heavily inked through a Heidi Swapp stencil.  A flourish stamp dipped in Perfect Pearls and water added the loose shine.

My sewing machine saw some action with silver metallic thread to attach it all together.  Hope Mom likes it!

Thanks for looking!

Stamps:  WPlus9 Pretty Peonies, Simon Says Stamp Very Special



Monday, May 4, 2015

Merry Inka Gold!


 When I saw the Merry Monday Challenge features embossing, I headed to my box of embossing folders that have gone largely ignored for several months.  Although I got the Sizzix Winter Botanical embossing folder a few years ago, I am not certain that it ever made it to a finished card...I loved the design but couldn't figure out what to do with it.  Enter Inka Golds!

Viva Inka Gold is a beeswax product that comes in a number of beautiful colors.  (I am fortunate that my local cardmaking store stocks all of the colors.)  After it is rubbed on and polished with a paper towel, it has the loveliest smooth metallic shine.  I apply it with an applicator that looks like a marshmallow.  It allows me to apply the color to only the raised areas.

I colored my watercolor paper and then embossed it.  I found that I got the best results if the paper was still just a bit damp...then there were no worries of the paper cracking.
 

After applying the Inka Gold on the embossed paper, I also cut a layering paper out of white cardstock and used the same Inka Gold color on the edges.  Both cards were mounted on a white card base and then stitched with metallic thread.  I wish that my photo could truly capture the beautiful metallic shine!

I decided to just go simple on the outside and will add a personalized sentiment inside.


I also did one with just plain watercolor paper and platinum Inka Gold.  The sentiment is stamped on vellum and stitched into place.

Thanks for looking!  I am so excited to be getting a jump on my Christmas cards this year!

Saturday, May 2, 2015

More Fun with Christmas


As I continued to think about the Merry Monday challenge, I found this Martha Stewart stamp set.  I believe it has been discontinued...unfortunately.  The stamp has the greens and pine cones in the tree and I added the word "Believe" cut twice from my Cricut.  I used a gold paint pen to edge the cardstock.  I kept looking for ways to add more to the card but in the end decided that less was more for this card.

Thanks for looking!

Watercolor Pine Cone

My apologies but I am pulling out of some of my discontinued stamps for the Merry Monday challenge.  The challenge was to include pine cones, greens and the word "Believe."




I stamped with Archival Ink and then watercolored with a combination of Dr. Ph Martin watercolors and Distress Ink reinkers.

I stitched the watercolor to a dark layered piece and then onto Kraft cardstock.  The sentiment seemed like enough to finish it off.

Sentiment Stamp:  Hero Arts Miracle of the Holiday.