CASEing Linda

Hi everyone.  My friend Linda (Life in the Craft Lane) made a beautiful Christmas tree card with inlaid design.  I have the same die and was inspired to CASE (copy and share everything) Linda's card. :)

Linda used green and red glitter papers, which I didn't have.  So I substituted green and red metallic papers and I love how it turned out.  This die is called Corbel Tree Collage (Simon Says Stamp) and I paired it with a sentiment from Love Bug Christmas (Unity).  I stamped the sentiment in black pigment ink and then added silver embossing powder.  This gave it a slightly darker silver than embossing over Versamark.

It's hard to photograph metallic papers.  The close-up below shows truer colours.

Close-up ...

While I had my metallic papers out, I went through my Christmas dies and made another card using my green and red metallic paper.  

Close-up ...

The CAS design that really shows off this gorgeous Berry Branch die (Penny Black).

I'm sending the above card to Simply Clean & Simple December Challenge - Red and Green.

And also sending the card to Penny Black Saturday Challenge - December (2nd entry).

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I'm going to sign-off my blog until late December when I will be back with my Group of Seven technique on Dec. 28th.

Thanks for all your support this year with visits and wonderful comments.  I appreciate all of you!

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!

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Card #1:

Stamps:  Sentiment - Love Bug Christmas (Unity)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Green metallic and red metallic papers (Tonic)
Ink:   Black Obsidian Pigment ink (Altenew)
Accessories:   Corbel Tree Collage die (Simon Says Stamp), Silver embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Card #2:

Stamps:  Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Green metallic and red metallic papers (Tonic)
Ink:   Black Obsidian Pigment ink (Altenew)
Accessories:   Berry Branch die (Penny Black), Silver embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:

Simple Clean & Simple December Challenge - Red and Green

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - December

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

Smooshing with Cling Wrap - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  This month Group of Seven Cardmakers is Smooshing with Cling Wrap.  This is an older technique that most of us have tried.  But fast forward several years and there are so many new products on the market that would work with this easy technique that gives amazing results.  I hope you'll give it a try using a variety of substraits and mediums from your stash.  :)

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 with different substraits and mediums ...

• The card used made the most difference.  Mixed media paper, coated card stock or Bristol worked the best for me, giving me the most "cells" that really make this technique special.  Watercolour paper came in next with mixed results.  Regular card stock gave the least amount of "cells" and is better suited for just smooshing, in my opinion.

• When smooshing with powdered inks, the easiest way to get the card wet with colour is to let the misted powdered inks sit on your work mat for a couple of minutes so the crystals start to dissolve before smooshing with card and then adding cling wrap.  Brushos and Bister powdered inks gave me the most beautiful backgrounds.  Powdered inks with mica powders (shine) like Magicals and Perfect Pearls, usually let the shine ingredient show in the creases, which in most cases, resulted in a subtler look which is so pretty!  Everyone will have different results depending on their method of adding water and how much water ... so experiment to find what works best for you! :)  

For the card above, I used Bister powders (powdered inks with walnut stain).  Because of the walnut stain added to the colours, they all have a warmth about them.  I used Bister Blue, Bister Green, and Bister Dark Brown for my card above.  I sprinkled them onto my work mat, misted with water and let the crystals activate before smooshing with mixed media paper.  I flipped the card over and placed a piece of cling wrap over the wet ink, scrunching up the cling wrap to create lots of creases.  I left it to dry for a couple of hours before removing the cling wrap and then left the card to completely dry before finishing.

I stamped with a silhouette stamp I received from Maureen through the Rudolph Days Challenge --- isn't it fabulous??!!  I stamped in Black Memento ink and added a torn snowhill at the bottom before splattering with white acrylic paint for snow.  LOVE IT!

Close-up ...

I'm sending the above card to the Rudolph Days November challenge.  Thanks again Maureen!

... and here's more cards I made using this awesome technique.  Again I used mixed media card with Bisters (Red, Yellow, Natural).  I LOVE the natural colours of these powders.  I got two cards from the one panel. :)

I'm sending the above card to Seize the Birthday Challenge #274 - Fall Items (food, flowers, or leaves).  

I hope you'll check out the Group of Seven Cardmaker's blog to see the other beautiful cards from our group.  Come join us!

Thanks for stopping by!

If you would like to subscribe by email,

please fill out the subscription form in the upper right sidebar.

Make sure to add "subscribe" to the message.

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To unsubscribe, please use the same form making sure to add

"unsubscribe" to the message.

Thank you.

Card #1:

Stamps:  Stamp #391 (Studio Light Essentials)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Bister Powders:  Bister Blue, Bister Green, Bister Dark Brown; Versamark; Black (Memento) 
Accessories:   Water mister, cling wrap, clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, diluted white and black acrylic paint, splatter brush

Card #2 & #3:

Stamps:  Birthday Blowout (Poppy Stamps - retired); A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Bister Powders:  Bister Red, Bister Yellow, Bister Natural; Versamark; Black (Memento) 
Accessories:   Water mister, Cling Wrap, Freida Curve Die (Poppy Stamps), Black acrylic paint (diluted), Flower Frolic die (Penny Black), diluted black acrylic paint, splatter brush

 

Challenges:

Group of Seven - November - Smooshing with Cling Wrap

Rudolph Days November Challenge

Seize the Birthday Challenge #274 - Fall Items

CAS Challenges February Reminder

It's already half way through February, so time for reminder cards for both CAS Mix Up and CAS Christmas Challenges.

Starting off with CAS Mix Up reminder ...

Nancy is our host.

Started out with a piece of card from my stash.  I believe this was done with watercolour sprays and cling wrap to give a lovely design to the background.  I sponged a stencil (Peeking Sunflowers - STAMPlorations) - given to me by a dear friend, over top of the background using Distress inks (Ripe Persimmon, Crackling Campfire, Ground Espresso).  I then used Versamark to go over the stencil again, sprinkled UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel) over top and heat set.  I love the thick shiny finish of the sunflowers.  Stamped a sentiment in Ground Espresso and clear heat embossed to match the rest of the design.

Close-up ...

Sending this card over to the STAMPlorations February Stencil Challenge - Anything Goes.

Also this is a new to me stencil, so adding this to the NBUS #23 gallery as well ...

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Susan is our host.

This card uses a new-to-be stamp set called All Cats (Gerda Steiner).  I stamped the image in black, clear heat embossed and then did the same with the sentiment (Stampin' Up! retired stamp) except used red ink.  I fussy-cut the image and watercoloured with Distress Inks (Hickory Smoke; Black Soot; Spun Sugar)  Added cheeks with red chalk and  small white dots with my Posca pen; then crystal glaze for the eyes.  The background is done with a Snowflake Stencil (Paper Artsy), sponged in Tumbled Glass ink and then coated and heat set with Kaldeiscope Embossing Powder (Stampendous).  You can see the shimmer a little better in the close-up photo, but you can't see that the shimmer is iridescent with lots of colours.  So pretty!

Close-up ...

Since I heat embossed through the snowflake stencil, I'm adding this card to the CAS Mix Up challenge gallery!

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I hope you'll check out the challenge blogs to see the amazing cards from our Designers, Guest Designers, and participants.  If you haven't had time to play along, there's over a week left before both challenges close on 24th at midnight PST.  Come join us!

CAS Mix Up Reminder - Hey Sunshine!
Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink: Distress Inks:  Ripe Persimmon, Crackling Campfire, Ground Espresso (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  cling wrap, watercolour sprays, Peeking Sunflowers (STAMPlorations), UTEE, heat tool


CAS Christmas Reminder - Merry Christmas Cat    
Stamps:  All Cats (Gerda Steiner); Sentiment - retired (SU!)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Momentum); Distress Inks:  Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Spun Sugar, Tumbled Glass (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Snowflake Stencil (Paper Artsy), blending brush, Kaleidoscope embossing powder (Stampendous), heat tool, clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush, red chalk, white Posca acrylic paint pen, crystal glaze (Nuvo)


Challenges:
CAS Mix Up February Challenge - Stencil Heat Embossing
CAS Christmas February Challenge - Dogs and/or Cats

STAMPlorations Stencil Challenge - Anything Goes

NBUS#23 Challenge

Cold Winter's Night

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card with a background I made quite a while ago.  It's done on coated card stock that my friend Christine gave me.  It's a very thick card stock with a sort of plastic finish.  The ink doesn't absorb into the paper, instead it sits on top.  I think that's why I got such a wonderful finish with the Cling Wrap technique.

I first used spray starch over my card stock, then sprinkled with a few shades of Brushos.  I took a piece of cling wrap that was larger than my card, placed it on top and moved the colours around with my hands and then firmly pressed the cling wrap down.  I left it overnight, but I understand about 30 mins. will do.  I love how the creases leave such a beautiful pattern.

I heat embossed my trees image in white embossing powder, added a die-cut snow hill and stamped the sentiment in bright blue.

This will be my last post until the new year.

I want to thank all of you for supporting me over the past year.  I appreciate your visits, and always appreciate hearing from you either through comments or email.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful Holiday Season.  Merry Christmas!

Love,

Stamps:  Snow Dust (Penny Black); Frosty Sentiments (Amy R - retired)
Paper:  Coated card stock; White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Brushos:  Turquoise, Ultra Marine, Violet; Salty Ocean Distress Ink
Accessories & Tools:  Spray starch, cling wrap, white embossing powder, heat tool, Snowdrifts die (My Favorite Things)