More Vellum for Gof7

Hi everyone.  Another card for August's Group of Seven Product Focus - Embossing with Vellum.

I stamped Statement Flowers (Altenew) onto a piece of vellum from my stash which had been smooshed with Alcohol Inks.  The image was heat embossed in white and then framed (Sewing Stackers - Penny Black), popped up over top of my card base.  Popping it up lets the translucent qualities of vellum show in the card.  A simple die-cut sentiment (Heartfelt - Penny Black), cut from black card stock is added at the bottom to finish the card.  Quick and easy card, using a vellum panel from my stash! :)

Close-up ...

Sending the above card to Triple B (Birds, Butterflies & Blooms) September Challenge - Anything Triple B Goes.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Statement Flowers (Altenew)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Vellum (Oplymio Thick); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Alcohol Inks (Ranger); Versamark
Accessories:   Blending Solution, White embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Sewing Stackers frame dies (Penny Black); Heartfelt sentiment die (smile) - Penny Black

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Vellum - Product Focus

Triple B Sept. Challenge

IDEAS Aug. - Anything Goes

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for the IDEAS Challenge with Darnell.  This week is "A - Anything Goes".

For my Anything Goes, I'm using a long neglected starfish and fun octopus die, along with an underwater scene. :)  Jer asked me to make a birthday card for his friend's daughter who is turning 5.  She loves the sea and this is to go with some beach toys she is getting as a gift. :)  She also loves the colour purple, so it is prominent on the card. 

I started by adding some drops of blending solution and alcohol inks (sailboat blue, stream, raspberry) to create the water behind the die-cuts.  I then die-cut the underwater scene (x 2), octopus, and starfish from mixed media paper and watercoloured using distress re-inkers.  I added a few details with a white acrylic pen.

I layered up the underwater scene to make a thicker die and secured it to the aperture for my card front.  I slipped in the starfish and taped it to the back and added the octupus on top.  I finished with a simple stamped sentiment from a retired set from Stampin' Up!  This card makes me happy and I hope Eve will love it too. 

Close-up ...

Sending the above card to Seize the Birthday #290 - Retro - no toppings this time. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Endless Birthday Wishes (SU! - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Alcohol Inks:  Sailboat blue, Stream, Raspberry (Ranger); Distress Re-inkers:  Wilted Violet, Flamingo, Brushed Corduroy, Cracked Pistacio, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz); Black (Versafine Clair)
Accessories:   Underwater Scene (Memory Box); Octopus and Starfish dies (AliExpress), blending solution (Ranger), watercolour brushes, White acrylic pen (Posca)

Challenges:

IDEAS Challenge - August - Anything Goes

Seize the Birthday #290 - Anything Birthday Goes

In the Studio with Frances

Hi everyone.  Last month, my dear friend Frances, came over for a day of playing with alcohol inks.  We made some lovely backgrounds on different types of substraits, using different techniques.  I finally got around to using one of the backgrounds I made that day ... pearl alcohol inks smooshed on vellum.  I folded the excess over the edge of a white card stock panel and taped it down.  I added a simple white die-cut flower (Ascending - Penny Black), and a white heat embossed sentiment (Happy Messages - retired - Stampendous).   A pretty card that was simple to make.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to:

- Simply Clean & Simple July Challenge

- Paper Players Challenge #699 - Clean & Simple from Joanne

Thanks for stopping by!

* * * * *

On a personal note ... I'm scheduled for more surgery tomorrow.  I thought last year would be my last surgery for a long time, but I was wrong.  I have scheduled a couple of posts that will go live while I'm away.  Hopefully I'll be back making cards soon!

Stamps:  Happy Messages - retired (Stampendous)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Vellum
Ink:   Alcohol Inks:  Yellow, green, and blue Pearl AIs (Ranger); Versamark
Accessories:   Blending solution, Ascending die (Penny Black), White embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:

Simply Clean & Simple July Challenge 

IDEAS July - Anything Goes

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for the IDEAS Challenge with Darnell.  This week is "A - Anything Goes".

For my Anything Goes, I've tried a new-to-me technique.  Thanks to Tiffany Solorio for this great video.  I used a panel of alcohol inked yupo from my stash, ran it through my Gemini with the Vine Canopy embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp).  I then used a sanding block to sand off the top of the raised design, which turns white.  I love the effect and will try this with more of my AI panels that have been collecting dust. :)

I popped it up on my card front which has been stamped with a sentiment from Happy Snippets (Penny Black).

I die-cut the Ascending die (Penny Black) from black card stock and adhered it on top.

Easy peasy card using a panel from my stash. :)

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

IDEAS Challenge - July - Anything Goes

Can you Handle the Pressure? - Anything Goes with an optional twist of Stripes and/or Checks

  

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Happy Snippets (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Yupo; Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Alcohol Inks (turquoise, green, purple) - Ranger
Accessories:   Blending Solution, Vine Canopy embossing folder, Ascending die (Penny Black)

Challenges:

IDEAS July Challenge - Anything Goes

Can You Handle the Pressure? - Anything Embossing Goes

Metallic Birthday

Hi everyone.  Today's card is a CASE of a card I made way back in 2014.  This is one of my favourite cards I've made in the many years I have been crafting, and it popped into my head recently.  I dug through my dies and found that I still had some leaves cut from leftover copper with alcohol inks pounced on top.  Awesome!  This means I'm getting to use up come long neglected die-cuts ... as well as some old patterned paper.  :)

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Sending this card to Seize the Birthday #284 - which was my inspiration!  Thanks Ashwini!

Also sending to IDEAS - "Anything Goes" week, self challenge by Dolly.  I've used some long neglected papers and copper! :)

This card is very close to the original card I made ... a little more CAS. :)  Always good to have masculine cards on hand. 

* * * * *

Jessie and Violeta's walk in the park

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Simply Sentiments (Lawn Fawn

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); River Rock (SU!); Early Espresso (SU!)
Ink:   Alcohol inks:  Red, Green, Yellow; Distress Oxides (Ground Espresso, Walnut Stain) Tim Holtz
Accessories:  Copper sheets, Leaf dies, branch die 

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday #284 - Use Metallics (optional)

IDEAS - May Anything Goes

IDEAS - Inks / Colour Mediums

Hi everyone.  I'm back with another card following Darnell's IDEAS Challenge.

Today is "I" - Inks / Color Mediums.

I recently bought two different sizes of 8 colours of POSCA pens (acrylic paint pens).  These pens are opaque and this is the first time I've used them to colour an image.  They are easy to use ... and they definitely cover over a dark or busy background with solid colours.  

I used a leftover smooshed panel of pearl alcohol inks as my background, stamped with Delicate Beauty (Penny Black) in black ink and clear heat embossed.  It's the first time I've used this stamp as well. :)  Coloured the image and then cut a piece from my panel to use as the sentiment banner, stamping from the same stamp set as above.

Close-up ...

I have used two NBUS items, so I'm sending this card to NBUS Challenge #60.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Delicate Beauty (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Coated card stock
Ink:   Black (Memento); POSCA paint pens (red, green, white)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #60

More Alcohol Inks with Gilding Flakes for Gof7

Hi everyone.  Another card for January's Group of Seven technique - Alcohol Inks with Gilding Flakes.

Today I'm sharing hubby's Valentine's Day card. :)

I used an alcohol ink panel from my stash, adding thin lines of glue and then adding gilding flakes over top; letting it dry before brushing off the excess flakes.  I cut the heart die (Streaming Heart - Simon Says Stamp) from black card stock and again from my alcohol ink panel and then pieced them together. 

The heart is popped up with foam over a black card base to give it some dimension.  To finish, the sentiment is heat embossed with Princess Gold embossing powder.  I love the vibrancy of these alcohol ink colours! :)  

Sending this to Simply Clean & Simple February Challenge - optional theme - Pink.

... and to Double D Challenge - Heartfelt.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  From the Garden (Penny Black)

Paper:   Black card stock (SU!); Yupo paper
Ink:   Alcohol Inks (Ranger); Versamark
Accessories:   Streaming Heart die (Simon Says Stamp); Princess Gold embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Alcohol Inks with Gilding Flakes

Simply Clean & Simple February Challenge - optional theme - Pink

Double D Challenges - Heartfelt

Alcohol Inks with Gilding Flakes - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  I LOVE alcohol inks for their vibrancy ... add gilding flakes and you have a winning combination!  

Please check out the details for the technique and link to video on the blog ...

Group of Seven Cardmakers

* * * * *

Here's what I learned when I experimented with this technique ...

• It's best to stick with 2 colours of Alcohol Inks (or 3 colours in the same colour family) so that the background doesn't become too busy (my first card was really busy, but I found something that complimented it.  Took me a while to figure it out. :)
• I found using a fine-tip glue bottle to add random lines of thin glue and then pressing gilding flakes lightly into the glue, worked the best to get the gilding flakes to stick.  You need to let the glue dry completely before burnishing them to remove the excess.  Only the last card in this post uses glue to stick the gilding flakes.

* * * * *

For the card above ...

When the gilding flakes wouldn't stick to my panel above, I added more rubbing alcohol and moved the ink around with my puffer tool, then quickly added flakes.  Just a few stuck (silver) that you might see on the background.  This piece turned out to be a very busy design even though I only used three colours of alcohol inks.  Adding the large die-cut Laurel Leaves Background Plate (Simon Says Stamp), seemed to tone it down a bit.  I'm happy with the finished card.

I'm sending the above card to Seize the Birthday Challenge #276 - Anything Birthday Goes.

Below is a Christmas card using Poppfield, Watermelon, and Shell Pink alcohol inks to create this design.  I added Verdigris gilding flakes as soon as I finished with the AIs and lots stuck this time.  A die-cut (Layered Poinsettia from Penny Black) cut from real red card stock and sponged with real red ink around the edges finishes the card, along with sentiment (My Favorite Things - retired) stamped in delicata gold ink.

Sending this Christmas card to Rudolph Days January Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes.  Sadly this is the last challenge for Rudolph Days as Maureen is closing it's doors.  Thank you Maureen, for all your hard work running this challenge.  I have enjoyed playing along.  All the best to you and Al for your future and I hope you find the perfect new home soon. Take care.

And, my last card ... I used Black Metallic Card for the base of my alcohol inks panel, smooshed with Pearl Alcohol inks.  I used my fine-tip bottle to apply really thin lines of glue, pressed gilding flakes overtop (pressing lightly) and then left it to dry for an hour.  Brushed off the excess and am happy with how it turned out.  Definitely an easier way for me to get the gilding flakes to stick. :)

The Lake Loon die - Gina Marie Designs is cut from gold metallic card stock.  It is popped up with foam and placed over the AI/Gilding Flakes panel onto a black card base.  To finish I stamped Happy Birthday and heat embossed with Princess Gold embossing powder.

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1

Stamps:  Happy Birthday (Cavallini & Co)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Yupo Paper; Silver Foil card stock (SU!); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Alcohol Inks:  Mermaid Lagoon, Sunset Orange, Teakwood (Ranger)
Accessories:   Rubbing Alcohol, Puffer Tool, Persian Dawn Gilding Flakes (Cosmic Shimmer); Laurel Leaves Background Plate (Simon Says Stamp), Silver Embossing Powder, heat tool

  

Card #2

Stamps:  Snowglobe Sayings (My Favorite Things - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Yupo Paper
Ink:   Alcohol Inks:  Poppyfield, Watermelon, Shell Pink (Ranger); Real Red (SU!); Delicata Gold (Tsukineko)
Accessories:  Rubbing Alcohol, Hair Dryer, Verdigris Gilding Flakes (Cosmic Shimmer); Layered Poinsettia die (Penny Black), gold beads  

Card #3:

Stamps:  Greetings (Cavallini & Co.)

Paper:   Black card stock (SU!); Black Metallic card stock (Tonic); Gold Metallic card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Pearl Alcohol Inks (Ranger); Versamark
Accessories:   Lake Loon die (Gina Marie Designs); Fine-tip Glue applicator, Tombow Mono glue, Persian Dawn Gilding Flakes (Cosmic Shimmer), Princess Gold embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Alcohol Inks with Gilding Flakes

Seize the Birthday Challenge #276 - Anything Birthday Goes

Rudolph Days January Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

One more Guest Designing for Seize the Birthday!

Hi everyone.  I'm back with my last card as Surprise Party Guest for Seize the Birthday.  I've had such a wonderful time joining the team for November and January!

 

Today challenge (#276) is so fun (Kraft and Another Color), plus you can use neutrals.  I found the closest ink colour to kraft  and used it along with shades of orange for a smooshed background on white mixed media paper (Distress Inks:  Gathered Twigs, Ripe Persimmon, Crackling Campfire).  I die-cut the Fresh Foliage (Memory Box) in gold metallic card stock and then added shades of orange alcohol inks on top.  To finish, I stamped the birthday sentiment in white pigment ink and heat embossed in white. 

Close-up ...

I hope you'll join us with your Happy Birthday card(s).  As always, Anything Birthday goes with optional theme.  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Birthday Blowout - retired (Poppy Stamps)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Kraft card stock (Carta Bella)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Gathered Twigs, Ripe Persimmon, Crackling Campfire (Tim Holtz); Unicorn white pigment ink (Hero Arts); Alcohol Inks (Ranger)
Accessories:   water mister, Fresh Foliage die (Memory Box), White embossing powder, Heat tool

Challenges:

STB #276 - Kraft and Another Color

More Smooshing with Cling Wrap

Hi everyone.  A few more cards for October's Group of Seven technique - Smooshing with Cling Wrap.

For the card above, I used hot press watercolour paper and Distress Re-inkers (peacock feathers, wilted violet) following the instructions on the Group of Seven Cardmakers blog.  I do love the background, but you can see that it's more subtle then when I used mixed media paper (click here).

To finish the card, I cut the panel in two (making two small panels for two cards), splattered with diluted white acrylic paint to mimic snow falling, added a torn snow hill, and added a snowman die-cut that I received from a friend many years ago (he's popped up for added dimension).  I stamped the sentiment (Christmas Sentiments - Gina Marie Designs) in Villainous Potion distress ink.  The panel is popped up on the card base for added dimension.

Sending this card to Peace on Earth Challenge #53 - inspired by the mood board top left ...

Close-up ...

... and one more, this time using alcohol inks on coated card stock ...

This is the second pull from the cling wrap.  I set aside my first piece that turned out beautiful, to be used at a later time.  I took the cling wrap with leftover ink and added a few drops of rubbing alcohol before smooshing it on top of a piece of coated card stock.  Weighted it down for several hours (the cling wrap didn't want to stick to this paper, probably because it's coated and a bit slippery).  Removed the cling warp and I just LOVED the soft colours of the second pull.  Added a die-cut reindeer (Inspired - Penny Black) over top with torn snowhills below.  Used my Clear Wink of Stella pen to add some sparkle on the reindeer's antlers and the tops of the snow hills.  

Sorry for the poor quality photos ... my camera needs replacing.

Thanks for stopping by!

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Card #1:

Stamps:  Christimas Sentiments (Gina Marie Designs)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Hot Press Watercolour Paper (Arches 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Re-inkers:  Peacock Feathers, Wilted Violet; Villainous Potion Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Water mister, cling wrap, diluted white acrylic paint, splatter brush, Snowman die (gift from a friend)

Card #2:

Stamps:  Merry Up (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Coated card stock
Ink:  Alcohol Inks:  Mermaid, Botanical (Ranger); Black Memento
Accessories:   Rubbing Alcohol, Cling Wrap, Inspired die (Penny Black), Clear Wink of Stella

Challenges:

Group of Seven Cardmakers - Smooshing with Cling Wrap

Peace on Earth Challenge #53