Adding Dimension to Die-cuts - Group of Cardmakers

Hi everyone.  We are a small group now with several people moving on.  We decided that this will be our last post at Group of Cardmakers.  We appreciate those that have followed us, left wonderful comments, and shared their talents by playing along.

For out final technique this month at Group of Cardmakers,  we are playing with adding dimension to die-cuts.  There are several ways to do this ... layering, sponging edges, shaping, etc.

Group of Cardmakers - Adding Dimension to Die-cuts - Design Element

I started with a new-to-me die (Garden Cosmos Layering dies - Altenew), a gift from a very good friend ... thanks B!  I cut all the pieces from cold press w/c paper and watercoloured using distress re-inkers and distress inks.  I found it a challenge to put the pieces all together, but in the end it all worked.  I LOVE how my flowers turned out, even though I took creative license with the colour as Cosmos do not grow in a deep purple, but rather a pinky purple tone. :)

To create the card I started with the background.  I smooshed both Wild Honey and Spiced Marmalade distress inks with lots of water and smooshed my cold press w/c paper card front.  I used these colours for the centers of the flowers as well ... tying this together.  I watercoloured all the flower petals with wilted violet distress re-inker ... that's how the colour is so intense.  LOVE IT! :)  I used Villaneous Potion distress ink to add sponging around each petal, giving the flower visual depth.  After they were dry, I also shaped each petal using a stylus with my sponge mat ... adding even more depth.  For the stems / greenery, the pieces were watercolour with Mowed Lawn distress ink and sponged with Rustic Wilderness ink.  It's always good to have a variety of shades of green.

The flowers were assembled and then attached to the greenery.  I only used half the flowers from the set, so you will see another card with purple cosmos in the future.

The finishing touch is adding the stamped sentiment (SU - retired stamp - Endless Birthday Wishes), Villaneous Potion ink on white card.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 4 - Anything Goes - Inks / Dies / Sponging / Smooshing

NBUS Challenge #88 - first time using this Cosmos Die set

Simply Clean and Simple July Challenge - Birthday

AAA Birthday Challenge #87 - For the Girls

   

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Endless Birthday Wishes (SU! - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Re-inkers:  Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Distress Ink:  Villaneous Potion (Tim Holtz); Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Garden Cosmos Layering Dies (Altenew); watercolour brushes, stylus, foam mat

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 4 - Anything Goes

NBUS Challenge #88

Simply Clean and Simple July Challenge - Birthday

AAA Birthday Challenge #87 - For the Girls

Watercoloured Birthday Cake

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card I made for a wonderful friend of Jeremy's.  It's her birthday on Sunday, and I offered to try to make something artsy since the birthday girl was in the art program with Jer many years ago.  I followed a few videos to create the card.

To start, I followed the instructions on this video to create a layered cake and cake stand.  I used Kuretake Watercolours, cold press watercolour paper, and a flat paint brush for the majority of the cake, switching to a detail brush for the bottom of the cake stand.  

The video shows flowers on top of the cake.  I practised a few times on scrap watercolour paper, but in the end decided to follow this short video on an easy watercolour flower instead.  I added some splatters of yellow and violet to finish.  I'm not happy with the flowers, but Jer was happy to give this to his friend to celebrate her birthday.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 1 - Inks ... used my Kuretake Watercolour paints :)

AAA Birthday #87 - For the Girls

SCS WCW295 - A Freebie Week --- paint whatever you want

* * * * *

I will be off-line for a few days.

I'm having my files transferred to a new computer.  It is LONG overdue!

Hopefully I won't be off-line for too long.

See you soon.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  n/a

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Cold Press W/C Paper (Arches 140 lb.)
Ink: W/C Paints:  Kuretake  
Accessories:   Princeton W/C Paint Brushes:  Flat #4, Round #4, Liner #00

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 1 - Inks

AAA Birthday #87 - For the Girls

SCS WCW295 - A Freebie Week

Acrylic Block Stamping - Group of Cardmakers

Hi everyone.  This month at Group of Cardmakers, we are playing with an older technique (Acrylic Block Stamping), with a twist.

Please check out the details for this month's technique and link to videos on the blog, along with more card samples from Christine, Pat, & Susan.

Group of Cardmakers - Acrylic Block Stamping

For the card above, I used Lindy's Stamp Gang Magicals (powdered inks) with my smallest block to create a CAS card.  I sprinkled Magical powdered inks onto my acrylic block, spritzed with water, flipped it over onto my mixed media paper card front.  Once dry, I doodled the border using a .05 black fine point marker.  Next time I will use something a little thicker. :)  I stamped one of the images from the Floral Silhouette stamp set (Penny Black) in Black pigment ink, and stamped the sentiment (Banner Sentiments - Penny Black).  I cut my focal panel down and popped it up over top of my card base.

Close-up ...

* * * * *

For the next card, I used a medium-sized block and distress inks (mowed lawn, broken china) to create a soft coloured background, pressing the ink pads onto my acrylic block, spritzing with water, flipping over and stamping onto my mixed media card front.  I doodled a border using a 1.0 black fine point marker.  I then stamped one of the birds from Free as a Bird Stamp set (Jane Doodles) and sentiment in black pigment ink.  I stamped the bird image separately onto mixed media paper and watercoloured withmore distress inks.  I fussy-cut and adhered over top of my stamped image.  The panel was trimmed and popped it up on foam for added dimension.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

SCS - CAS9042 - Things that Walk 

* * * * *

Two more quick cards using this technique, both using Lindy's Magicals for the backgrounds.  You are not limited by the size of your acrylic blocks.  You can cut out your acrylic block backgrounds to whatever size fits your image to use as a stand-alone panel ... or place behind a frame.  This is a quick way of creating watercolour backgrounds with easy clean-up.

The card above is from a large block stamping.  I cut it out and stamped my silhouette image (Meadow - Inkadinkado - available at Amazon) and a simple sentiment (Special Sentiments - Penny Black).  Popped the panel up on my card front and it was done.

* * * * *

The card above is from another block stamping, adding it behind my frame (Double Stitched Square Frame - AliExpress).  Simple silhouette die-cut (Little Leaves - Stampin' Up!), shaped with a stylus, was added over top of the background.  I left off the sentiment for now and will add once I decide what to use this card for. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Floral Silhouette (Penny Black); Banner Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Lindy's Magicals; Obsidian black ink (Altenew)  
Accessories:  Small Acrylic Block, water mister, Fine black marker (.05)

Card #2:

Stamps:  Free as a Bird (Jane's Doodles)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Broken China (Tim Holtz); Obsidian black ink (Altenew)  
Accessories:  Medium Acrylic Block, water mister, watercolour brushes, Fine black marker (1.0)

Card #3:

Stamps:  Meadow (Inkadinkado); Special Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Magicals (Lindy's Stamp Gang); Obsidian Pigment (black - Altenew)
Accessories:  Large Acrylic block, water mister

Card #4:

Stamps:  n/a

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black cardstock (SU!)
Ink:  Magicals - Powders (Lindy's Stamp Gang)
Accessories:  Small acrylic block, water mister, Little Leaves die (SU!); Double Stitched Square Frame (AliExpress), stylus and foam pad for shaping leaves

Challenges:

Group of Cardmakers - Acrylic Block Stamping

SCS - CAS9042 - Things that Walk 

Watercoloured Tree for Jer

Hi everyone.  I experimented with watercolouring following a video link on the Wednesday Watercolor Challenge from a few weeks ago on Splitcoast Stampers.

I do not know how to draw, but I thought with all the cards I've made over the past 25 years+ using stamps and ink, that I could watercolour.  It's a lot different watercolouring your own image. :)  The video relied on a fan brush, which I couldn't get to work for me.  But the video did help me create my own way of watercolouring this tree. :)  In the end, I used distress re-inkers, along with a round brush and flat brush on cold press watercolour paper.

I'm hoping with lots of practice, I will improve.  I was happy with my first tree, so made it into a card for Jeremy's birthday. :)

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

SCS Watercolor Wednesday WCW308 - 60 second tree (video link - short)

SCS CAS Card Challenge CAS898 - Anything that Grows

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Happy Birthday stamp (Cavallini & Co.)

Paper:   Cold Press Watercolour paper (Arches 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Re-inkers:  Gathered Twigs, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Watercolour Brushes

Challenges:

SCS Watercolor Wednesday WCW308 - 60 second tree (video link - short)

SCS CAS Card Challenge CAS898 - Anything that Grows

Graceful Lily

Hi everyone.  I'm on a roll. :)  Having fun in my studio making lots of cards lately.  Hopefully this means my mojo is back in full swing and I'm hoping it stays for a long time. :)

This card is inspired by Splitcoast Stamper's "Inspiration Challenge - IC1064" and "CAS Challenge - CAS895".  The Inspiration challenge is to be inspired by one of Scully & Scully's products (see lily pillow below).  The CAS challenge is to CASE Yourself.  I changed the colour of the lilies, shape of the focal panel, and the background stencil.  The rest is the basically the same, CASEing this card from five years ago.

                                                                                                                       2021

 

The image (Graceful Lily - Penny Black)was stamped in black, clear heat embossed, and then watercoloured with distress inks.  I masked the image and sponged over a stencil for the background.  The panel was die-cut with Whirl Frames (Penny Black) and the inside piece gave me the reverse scallop edging.  The panel was popped up over the card base.  A simple sentiment (Super Day) was stamped in more black ink.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 1- Inks - I used inks to stencil the background and watercolour the lilies - 2nd entry 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Graceful Lily (Penny Black); Super Day (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Obsidian Black (Altenew); Distress Inks:  Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Shabby Shutters; Ground Espresso Distress Marker (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour brushes, Wander & Find stencil (Carta Bella), sponge

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 1- Inks

Split Card Design - Group of Cardmakers

Hi everyone.  This month at Group of Cardmakers, we are playing with Split Card Design techniques.  There are two techniques which show how to make two quick cards in just over the time it would normally take to make one.

Please check out the details for April's Technique (Split Card Designs) and link to videos on the blog, along with more card samples from Christine & Susan.

Group of Cardmakers

The technique used for this set of cards is to use a oversized  / large image.  I stamped Fragrant Florals (Altenew) in black ink and heat embossed with clear.  The matching stencils were used to sponge the image with distress inks.  Once the colouring was done, the matching die was used to cut out the image.  I used a white Posca pen to add a bit of detailing and then cut the image into two pieces.  

I mounted each piece onto an A2 white card base and finished off by stamping sentiments in more black ink.  These made lovely cards with only having to colour one image.  It is common sense, but I hadn't thought about doing this with my larger stamps before. :)  I'm really happy how these cards turned out!

If you don't have oversized stamps, a large stamp will make two cards with smaller focal panels ... see pink floral cards below. :)

Sending left card to:

Die Cut Divas March Challenge - Anniversary or Birthday Card (2nd Entry).  Used Altenew products.

Sending right card to:

Just Us Girls #820 - Stencing - Anything Goes (2nd entry).  Flowers are stenciled.

NBUS #85 - first time using this die.

* * * * *

This set of cards is stamped with Statement Flowers (Altenew).  I LOVE the size of these large, bold blooms.  I stamped onto mixed media paper, heat embossing in Liquid Platinum embossing powder.  The image was then watercoloured using distress inks before fussy-cutting.  The large image was split into two smaller ones and mounted on top of a panel / inside a frame.  It made two lovely CAS cards. :)

Here's the first card ...

Sending the above card to these challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 4 - Anything Goes - I used Watercolouring for my above image

Seize the Birthday #325 - Primarily Pink

SCS CAS896 - die-cuts - used a die-cut to create the dotty frame

Here's the second card ...

Sending the above (second) card to these challenges:

We Love Stamping April Challenge - Spring (2nd entry)

* * * * *

The other technique I'm sharing from this month's Group of Cardmakers is from Jennifer McGuire.  It's another great way to stamp two of the same image, colouring one and leaving the other with just the heat embossed outline, splitting the two in the same place and swapping out.  You get two unique and beautiful cards with just a little extra heat embossing and only having to colour one of them.  This helps build your stash of cards quicker ... especially if you use a CAS design for your cards.

Here is the first card that used half of the images from each stamping ...

Sending the above card to these challenges:

Rudolph Days April Challenge

And, here is the second card that uses the other pieces ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Card 1&2:

Stamps:  Fragrant Florals (Altenew); Super Day (sentiments - Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.) 
Ink:   Black (Versafine); Distress Inks:  Ripe Persimmon, Wilted Violet, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn, Villaneous Potion (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear Embossing Powder (Ranger); sponges, Fragrant Florals matching die (Altenew), white Posca acrylic paint pen

Card 3&4:

Stamps:  Statement Flowers (Altenew); Brushed Script Words (Stampendous); Happy Messages (Stampendous)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Versamark; Distress Inks:  Kitsch Flamingo, Picked Raspberry, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Liquid Platinum embossing powder (Ranger); Hemstitch Rectangles (Spellbinders); Small stitched rectangle frame (AliExpress)

Card 5&6:

Stamps:  Holiday Bouquet (Avery Elle)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Dark Red cardstock (Unknown)
Ink:   Versamark; Zig markers (Kuretake)
Accessories:   Liquid Platinum Embossing Powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour paint brushes

Challenges:

Die Cut Divas March Challenge - Anniversary or Birthday Card

Just Us Girls #820 - Stencing - Anything Goes

NBUS #85

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 4 - Anything Goes

Seize the Birthday #325 - Primarily Pink

We Love Stamping April Challenge - Spring

Rudolph Days April Challenge

SCS - CAS896 - Die-cuts

Spring Magic

Hi everyone.  Today's card uses my favourite Altenew stamp (Nature's Magic).  Love this set of flowers and was going to use the matching stencils but ... they somehow got lost in our last move and I hadn't noticed until yesterday.  So I watercoloured the flowers and leaves with distress inks, used the matching die to cut them out and popped them up in a wooden crate (Honey Bee) overtop of dry embossed leaves (Layered Leaves Folder - SU!).  I finished by stamping the sentiment (Special Sentiments - Penny Black) onto a strip of white card stock, adhered over the bottom of the card.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 3 - Embossing

Color Hues #131 - Coral and Green

Seize the Birthday #324 - Make a Spring Garden

Cut it Up #354 - Colors of Spring

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Nature's Magic (Altenew); Special Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Spiced Marmalade (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   watercolour paint brushes, Nature's Magic dies, Wooden Crate die (Honey Bee), Layered Leaves EF (SU!)

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 3 - Embossing

Color Hues #131 - Coral and Green

Seize the Birthday #324 - Make a Spring Garden

Cut it Up #354 - Colors of Spring