Powdered Inks with Versamark - Part 2

Hi everyone.  A continuation of my post from yesterday.  I experimented with this fun technique (thanks to Dianne's wonderful instructions) and made two more card fronts.  Again, I was able to get a second pull because there was so much ink left on the stamp after the first pull.  The card above is actually the second pull (lighter) version.  It has very intense colours.  I added a little bit of sponging to the background and then used a wet brush to move it around.  The yellow ended up being too bright, so I used a paper towel to lift some of the colour to lighten ... it worked well. :)

Close-up of second pull...

For my first pull of the image, I had very deep colours of red and brown.  I thought I'd just add a little gray sponging to the background in the center mostly behind the tree.  Well, the clear embossing I did on top didn't catch all of the Brusho crystals and when I added water to blend the sponged gray, quite a bit of red bled.  Again I used a damp paper towel to smooth out the colours.  Wasn't happy with the card as a whole, so cut it down and framed with an oval card front.  I was able to save it in the end. :)

First pull ...

Stamps:  Graceful Whisper (Penny Black); Sentiments - smile today! (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series)
Ink:  Versamark; Brushos:  Vermilion, Light brown; Early Espresso (SU!); Distress Inks:  Peacock Feathers, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  paint brush (cheap), water mister, spongges, clear embossing powder, heat tool, Oval Nestabilities die (Spellbinder)

Powdered Inks with Versamark

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a new-to-me technique that Susan, Christine and I did on our play day about a week ago.  We followed the technique written up on THIS BLOG.   Basically, inked up my silhouette stamp with Versamark; brushed on Brusho crystals with a damp paint brush (the brushos stick to the Versamark), then spritz with just a little water and stamp onto either watercolour paper or mixed media paper.

I was really happy with the intense colours.  Adding just a little water means the colours are not diluted.  I used Brushos, but this would work with any powdered inks.

Because there was still lots of ink left on my stamp after my first impression, I did a second pull.  Even the second pull has lots of colour.

Close-up of first pull ...

Close-up of second pull ...

I used the left over powdered inks on my palette, diluted with quite a bit of water and splattered over the images.  I stamped a sentiment in dark brown ink to match the stems.  To finish, I placed my card panel back in the misti and stamped the image again in Versamark and heat embossed in clear.

This was fun and a fairly easy technique to try.  I think the success is partly the image you use, so try a few different silhouette images.  I hope you'll give it a try.

Joining a few challenges with my cards.

Card 1:  Fusion - Fall Porch;  & CAS on Friday #144 - Fall.

Card 2:  Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes; & Penny Black & More Challenge - Autumn Splendor.

Stamps:  Berry Bramble (Penny Black); Sentiments - Smile Today! and Gratitude (both from Penny Black)
Paper:  Watercolour paper (Arches 140 lb. hot press)
Ink:  Versamark:  Brushos:  Vermilion, Orange, Light brown; Early Espresso (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  paint brush (cheap), water mister, clear embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
Fusion - Fall Porch
CAS on Friday - Fall
PBSC - Anything Goes
Penny Black & More - Autumn Splendor

October Rudolph Days

Hi everyone.  It's time for the Rudolph Days October Challenge which runs the 25th until end of month.  Come join us!

Today I'm sharing a couple of cards using some of the dirty pours that I did at a craft retreat in May.  Dirty pours are basically diluting acrylic paint with water (or flow medium) until they are pourable, adding a few drops of silicone oil to promote cell formation, and then layering those paints into a cup and pouring it quickly over canvas, wood, canvas paper, heavy card stock, etc.  Then tilt and let the colours flow off the sides.  It's messy, but oh-so fun!

The ones I did on heavy card stock and canvas paper make beautiful winter skies over this pretty die-cut village.

The second card is non-traditional colours for a sky ... but I love how the red and purples look with the winter village die ...

This is a great way to use up acrylic paints that may have been sitting around for a while in your studio.  I hope to do more of these as they make easy and fun cards.  There are several dirty pour videos on YouTube if you want to give this a try.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: banner sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:  White heavy card stock (140 lb.)
Ink:  Wilted Violet Distress Ink (Tim Holtz); Real Red (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  winter village die (Penny Black), acrylic paints, throw-away plastic cups for mixing, stir sticks, silicone oil

Challenges:
Rudolph Days - October - Anything Goes Christmas

Penny Black - Simplicity at its best

Hi everyone.  I'm back with another Penny Black card that is posted on the Simplicity at its best blog.  Here's a little sneak peek.  Click HERE to check out the full details and instructions on how I made the card above.

Hope you'll visit me at the PB blog.  Thank you!

Magnolia Rhapsody

Hi everyone.  One last card for the CAS Watercolour October Challenge - Orange, Green, and Brown, before it closes in a few days.

We are also celebrating our 2nd birthday this month! :)

I watercoloured a beautiful image from Penny Black called Magnolia Rhapsody.  I was happy with how it turned out until I stamped my sentiment.  It just didn't look right ... too long and narrow, or not in the right place, or something.  So I cut it down A LOT and ended up with two small pieces that I could use.  I used the smallest of the two today for my card.

I love these colours together (Distress Inks: Ripe Persimmon, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Tea Dye).  This is the first time using Tea Dye ... LOVE the medium reddy brown colour. :)  I have a few colours of distress inks that I haven't use ... always pull out my "favourites".  But how do I know if they are my favourites if I haven't given the others's a try?? :)  I need to play with the other colours ... tea dye was a success!

Here's a close-up ...

Come join the birthday celebration.

Stamps:  magnolia rhapsody (penny black); gratitude (penny black)
Paper:  Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. hot press)
Ink:  Distress Markers:  Ripe Persimmon, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Tea Dye (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Water mister, rectangle stitched frame (AliExpress)

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour October Challenge - Orange, Green, & Brown - 2nd Birthday Celebration!

Peace on Earth

Hi everyone.  One more card for the CAS Christmas October Challenge - Bird, hosted by Susan.

Speaking of Susan ... she gave me some card fronts with an embossed bird about 2 or 3 years ago.  I'm actually a little embarrassed about how long it's taken me to use one. :)

I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do, so I just started by sponging and then made up the rest as I went along.  Usually I have more of a plan.  I used peacock feathers and it looks so pretty over the bird.  I used a silver metallic pen to draw along the embossed edges and along the outside edge to add a silver frame.  I filled the bird and leaves with Crystal Glaze and sprinkled liberally with Diamond Dust.  I LOVE both these products.  The Crystal Glaze flows so easily and the Diamond Dust sparkles like nothing else.  It's hard to capture in a photo, but trust me ... it SUPER sparkly.

To finish the card, I popped up the image with foam and heat embossed the sentiment in silver to match.

Here's a close-up ...

... and here's an even closer view which shows just a little of the sparkle.

There's still three days left to play along in the challenge.  Hope to see you in the gallery.

Stamps:  Christmas Sampler (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Peacock Feathers Distress Ink; Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Embossed bird image (gift from Susan - unknow origin), sponge, silver metallic pen, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo), Diamond Dust (Twinklets), silver embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Christmas October Challenge - Bird

Tribute to Melissa

Today I'm joining in the Tribute for Melissa Lane of honeybeelane, being held on the STAMPlorations blog.

Melissa sadly and suddenly passed away on Oct. 2nd.  This tribute it to honour her and at the same time let her family know how much she was loved in the crafting community.

I worked with Melissa on the same design team for a year in 2015.  She was always positive and upbeat.  Melissa happily shared her love of her family, along with her amazing talents.  She was a shining light and will be missed.

Melissa loved butterflies, so I have made a card featuring a butterfly on a red (one of Melissa's favourite colours) and purple background.  I will be sending the card to the family via Shery's generous offer to collect cards and forward them on.

If you knew Melissa, please join in.  The linky is HERE.  There are also instructions for mailing the cards to Shery if you would like to do so.

Thank you.

Cardinals

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a watercoloured card of some cardinals as the reminder card for the CAS Christmas October Challenge - Bird.  I received this beautiful image from my dear friend MaryH, a long time ago.  So happy to finally have inked it up.

Susan is hosting ...

I stamped the image and heat embossed in liquid platinum and then watercoloured with dye ink markers.  I thought it needed some snow, so heat embossed with Shabby White Frantage which has a bit of texture.  I die-cut an oval on my card front and lined up part of the stamp behind.  The sentiment is also heat embossed in liquid platinum.  This image makes for a very elegant card.  I looked up the stamp from the manufacturer after I finished watercolouring and found out that the top bird is a blue jay. :)  Oh well, let's just say it's a different shaped cardinal instead. :)

Here's the close-up ...

Please check out the challenge blog to see the reminder cards from our amazing Designers, and from our wonderful Guest Designer, Sue (Sue's Card Craft).  Then come play along.  Time is ticking down to get all the Christmas cards finished and ready to mail out before the big day!

Stamps:  Cardinals (Northwood Rubber Stamps); Banner Sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card front and base (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Stampin' Write Markers:  Real Red, Sky Blue, Cherry Cobbler (SU!); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Liquid Platinum embossing powder (Ranger), water brush, Shabby White Frantage (Stampendous), Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinder)

Challenges:
CAS Christmas October Challenge - Bird

These are the moments ...

Hi everyone.  Back with a reminder card for the CAS Watercolour October Challenge - Orange, Green, and Brown, hosted by our wonderful Bonnie.

I'm playing with one of the new release stamps from Penny Black.  Just received this a couple of days ago and couldn't wait to play with it ... I just LOVE the image.  I used markers to add the ink directly to my stamp, spritzed with a little water and stamped onto hot press watercolour paper.  I repeated a couple more times until I was happy with the look.  Stamped the sentiment in dark brown ink and splattered more of the same colour, along with green, over the front of my card to finish the design.

Here's a close-up ...

It's our 2nd birthday celebration.  Come join the fun!

Stamps:  Winter Still (Penny Black); Noteworthy (STAMPlorations)
Paper:  Watercolour Paper (Arches 140 lb. Hot Press)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Gathered Twigs, Walnut Stain, Mowed Lawn, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Rusty Hinge (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Water brush, paint brush for splattering

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour October Challenge - Orange, Green, and Brown

Black Ice Technique

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a new-to-me technique that Susan, Christine and I tried out on one of our crafting days.  The technique is called Black Ice.  Click HERE for a video tutorial.  We all tried it with the silver and black ink, following the video.

On my second try, I wanted to do something a little different, so used gold foil paper and Archival Sepia which is a coppery colour.  I love how this turned out.

This is my reminder card for CAS Mix Up August Challenge - Metal, hosted by our mixed media expert, Mac.

I used gold foil paper, which is a metal, and the clear embossing over the sepia ink looks like copper ... also a metal. :)  To finish the card, I used a mini dot stencil, randomly sponging with gold delicata ink, popped up my main panel, and added a gold stamped sentiment.

I've had fun with this challenge!

Here's a close-up ...

I hope you'll check out the reminder post to see some new cards from our amazing Designers, and our wonderful Guest Designer, Pat (Colourful Creations).  I know you'll be inspired.  There's still 9 days left before the challenge closes ... come join us! :)

Stamps:  Insightful Meadows (Unity); Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Gold Foil card stock (SU!); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Archival Sepia (Ranger); Gold Delicata (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  Clear embossing powder, heat tool, Mini Dot stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), sponge

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up October Challenge - Metal

Pink Poinsettias

Hi everyone.  Had to make another pink Christmas card for Jingle Belles.  

This time I used cold press watercolour paper, which I tend to not use as much any more.  I really love the look and how it worked with the splash watercolour technique (click on link for video tutorial), so need to start using it again! :)  I love those pretty pink and white variegated poinsettias, so tried to recreate using Lindy's magicals (just one colour of pink) and quite a bit of water.

I die-cut the poinsettias in three sizes and layered them to create two different sized flowers.  I added a bit of sparkle to the centers, although that doesn't show in the photo.  I adhered them to a die-cut oval mesh and added a simple sentiment banner.  I mounted the main elements over top of a dry embossed background (folder came with my Gemini Jr. die-cutting machine).  I then popped the whole thing up onto a watercolour card base.  I used the same watercolour paper for all the parts of the card so they matched ... it's a very lovely soft cream colour.

Here's a close-up ...

There's still some time to play long with this challenge ... it's open until the 17th.  For every entry, Stephanie and Laurel will donate $2 to Breast Cancer Research.  Come play along and help to donate to charity!!

Stamps:  Short & Sweet (SU! - retired)
Paper:  Watercolour Paper (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Lindy's Magicals (pretty in pink); Brushed Corduroy
Accessories & Tools:  Water mister, Layered Poinsettia die (Penny Black); Floral Oval Etched dies (Spellbinders), Flourish Embossing Folder (Gemini), stylus and mat for shaping, diamond dust

Challenges:
Jingle Belles - Pink Christmas For the Cure!

Penny Black - Triptych Enjoy

Hi everyone.  Today I'm featuring the flower flourish die for a second time.  This design combines small snippets of the flowers along with the small frames die.  Aren't these little frames sweet??!! :)

Started by die-cutting the Flower Flourish die twice from white card stock, along with three small frames.  Different sections of the Flower Flourish die-cuts were cut apart and placed into the frames, creating three pretty pictures.

I used a piece of alcohol ink on acetate that I had in my stash, cutting just a few little pieces to fit into the background of the frames.  The colours are so vibrant that even these little pieces add a big punch of colour.  I popped the frames up on foam and adhered to my card base.  The sentiment is stamped in gold ink.

Here's a close-up ...

If you get a chance, pop over to the Simplicity at it's best blog to see some inspiring cards from my Simplicity Sisters.  Thank you!

Penny Black Products:

51-421 flower flourish

51-410 frames

30-024 enjoy

Stamps:  enjoy (Penny Black)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Alcohol Inks:  fieldpoppy (Ranger); Senorita Magenta (Pinata); Delicata Gold (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  flower flourish die (Penny Black); frames die (Penny Black), acetate

Twofer Challenge #10

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the start of the October Twofer Card Challenge #10 - Harvest!  I recently bought a stamp set from Inkadinkado that has this beautiful wheat image.  Thought it would be perfect for the theme this month. :)

Remember to follow the word prompt from the badge above using the instructions from the badge below.  And please include a picture on your blog (and in the link to the challenge) of the two cards together.  Thank you!

My first card uses a paper towel background that adds lots of visual texture from the soft colours and quilted design that transferred from my paper towel.   I stamped the wheat image (three stocks of wheat) twice in Antique Linen for the background.  The last stamping is done in a darker brown (Brushed Corduroy).  The sentiment is also stamped in Brushed Corduroy to finish.  The card front is popped up on foam for added dimension.

Here's a close-up ...

For the second card, I used a product for the background that isn't new, but new-to-me.  It's called Liquid Metallics.  I used purple and red, smooshing the purple first and then red on top.  I love how the colours did stay separate, but also blended beautifully into this dreamy looking background.  I stamped the same wheat image in Versamark and heat embossed in silver, along with the sentiment "Hello" which didn't want to photograph very clear.  I cut the panel down to about 2 1/4" by 3 1/2" so there's lots of white space in the background to balance the strong colours and popped it up on foam for more dimension.

Here's the close-up ...

Please check out the challenge blog to see the amazing Harvest cards from our talented Designers and wonderfully talented Guest Designers, Linby (Crafty Linby) and Liz (Crafty Sunflower).  Then come play along!  The challenge runs for two weeks - Oct. 10th-24th.  We'd love to see you in the gallery!


Card #1:  
Stamps:  Meadow (Inkadinkado); Fond Expressions2 (STAMPlorations)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy
Accessories & Tools:  Paper Towel Background print ... ink transferred from inky paper towels.

Card #2:  
Stamps:  Meadow (Inkadinkado); Hello sentiment - Bouquet of Thanks (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Mixed media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card base (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Liquid Metallics:  Metallic Quartz, Metallic Ruby (Ken Oliver); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, silver embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
Twofer Card Challenge #10 - Harvest