>

Thursday, August 29, 2019

STRETCH YOUR STAMPS

This month our challenge at A Blog Named Hero is "Stretch Your Stamps" and I must admit this had me really stretching my brain!  I finally decided to use my Teacup Flowers as Christmas flowers as I thought one of the larger flowers looked like a poinsettia.


I began by stamping and die cutting multiples of the flowers and leaves - then coloring them with copic markers.  To arrange my flowers I used an acetate jig as I was going for a symmetrical balanced arrangement.


After figuring all that out, I used some Press 'N Seal to lift it up and then attach to my card.  Added this to a gold mat and then onto a navy card base.  Used some gold Nuvo drops and gold sequins to complete.  I'm pleased with the way it turned out and think it has a rather folk art look.

How are you going to stretch your stamps?  Have a go and enter your card here in our challenge this month - you'll have a chance at winning one of two Hero Arts gift certificates!!

Thanks for visiting today and always love to read your kind comments.


Monday, August 26, 2019

ALTENEW ACADEMY RUNWAY INSPIRED

After going through my stash and doing a huge clean out and then a sale of it all and donating the leftovers to a school, I needed a little something to get me going again.  Altenew's Runway class was the perfect remedy.  It's sort of a combination of the old Runway challenge and Carissa Wiley's Muse class.  Over the weekend, I managed to do a card for each day's lesson - don't think I've ever finished my homework so early!!  Since I have six cards, I'm not going into much detail for each one.

Day 1 - Line

I used a Winnie & Walter stencil and Desert Night ink to created the background.  Vellum for the band and enamel dots mimic the belt on the jacket.  The sentiment is from SSS - You Matter.

Day 2 - Color

Altenew's Wallpaper Art stamps were used for the flower - orange Nuvo for the stamen to pick up the orange in the model's purse and a black border for the color in her scarf and boots.

Day 3 - Print

I couldn't help but use the leafy cover plate for my card after seeing this gorgeous gown.

Day 4 - Texture
  
The sheer flowered top called for vellum flowers - Wallpaper Art flowers embossed in white.

Day 5 - Shape and Form

When I saw this creation I immediately thought of Mid-Century frame die - the die cut was embossed in silver and the card base is silver metallic to recreate the shininess of the outfit.  Also rounded the corners of the card base to follow the form of the shoulders and sleeves.

Day 6 - Anything Goes

Jennifer used this design for inspiration today - used the flower and leaves from Adore You and pp from Enchanted Washes - flower and leaves were die cut and paper positioned in back.  Had a few smudges so covered them up with the sequins.

Thanks for enduring this lengthy post and love to read your kind comments.




Thursday, August 15, 2019

CAS MIX-UP REMINDER

Have you tried the fun paper towel technique for this month's challenge yet? 



On my first card as guest designer, I used the imprint from the paper towel as my background.  Today I am using the actual paper towel.  

I

The paper towel was two ply so I carefully separated it.  Then I put a thin layer of glue on a piece of white cardstock and adhered the paper towel.  Was able to do this twice since there were two pieces.  I put three of the infinity wood frames together with some washi tape and die cut.  Put these on a piece of fun foam and adhered to the card base.  Added the magnolia die cuts, the little sentiment and some raindrops and done.
 
There is still time to enter your card here.  Thanks for stopping by and always love to read your kind comments.

.



Wednesday, August 14, 2019

GLIMMER INKS AND A POINSETTIA

I have used my Hero Arts metallic glimmer inks only a few times since I bought them last year - not good 'cause they give such lovely results.  So found a refresher from Jennifer McGuire on using them and went to town!


Stenciled the background with texture paste and set aside to dry.  Stamped in black ink and die cut the poinsettia (retired HA) and leaves and then watercolored.  Used the red, green and gold along with a bit of water.  To give a more yellow/green tint to the leaves, I mixed the green and gold together.  Put it all together on a little nest of gold thread and few sequins on a navy card base.  It all has such a pretty shine - but impossible to capture in the photo.

A new challenge begins tomorrow on A Blog Named Hero so be sure to stop by and check it out.

Thanks for dropping by and always love to read your kind comments.


Sunday, August 11, 2019

CHRISTMAS TREES

Whenever I decide it's time to destash my stamps, I get sidetracked by stuff I forgot I had.  Yesterday it was Pine Trees by Penny Black that I bought on sale after Christmas.  It was the end of destashing for this weekend!!  Had to try it out for the Christmas Kickstart Challenge with the theme of trees and an added challenge from Darnell to do a twofer!



For my first card I stamped the trees in gold pigment ink on a 5.5x4.25 piece of black cardstock.  Then I die cut a piece from the center and cut a gold frame for it.  Put the original piece on a black card base, added black fun foam to the back of the framed piece and put it all together.  The little sentiment is gold embossed and the whole card was spattered with some gold metallic paint.

I first used a blending brush to make the blue sky on my second card.  I randomly added distress inks to the pine tree stamp and stamped - did this a couple of times until I had enough color.  Then I used a watercolor brush and not very much water to blend the colors.  Kristina Werner gave me the idea for this.  The area under the trees was also done this way.  Finally, I used white gouache to spatter some "snow" around my little scene.

Thanks for visiting today and love to read your kind comments.

Thursday, August 1, 2019

CAS MIX-UP GD

I am so pleased to be the CAS Mix-Up guest designer this month.  Awhile back when Loll first showed her paper towel technique for making backgrounds, I gave it a try and just gave up on it.  So when Bonnie told me what the challenge was my first thought was that I had to figure out how to make a background that looked good and that I liked.  This time I couldn't give up!!  You really need LOTS of ink to make this work.

First I liberally smooshed broken china, salty ocean and peeled paint distress inks on my work surface and spritzed with water.  Blotted it all up with my paper towel and just kept doing that until there was a lot of color absorbed.  I let the paper towel dry and then continued the way Loll shows in her video.  On the left is the paper towel and on the right is my background.


I made a shaker using my new wood frame infinity dies and icicle sequins from Hero Arts with magnolia die cuts.  I'm really happy with the results - even had a large enough piece to make several cards.  I also managed to use the actual paper towel on a card - check back on 15 August to see my card.

Be sure to have a go at this fun technique and enter your card here.  Besides stamping and the technique, my mix-up items are die cutting and the shaker with sequins.


Thanks for visiting today and love to read your kind comments.