Zooming with Friends - September

Hi everyone.  A couple of weeks ago, we had our regular monthly group crafting session with Zoom.  This time we decided that we needed to pull out a long-neglected product to play with ... we chose Perfect Pearls.  Sharing four of my Perfect Pearl cards today that I made as samples for our crafting session.  And the rest of the group is sharing too - see below for links to their Perfect Pearl cards (Bonnie, Brenda, Christine, Darnell, Susan).

I only have four Perfect Pearls colours - all metallics (Pearl, Gold, Copper, Bronze) that I received as a gift ages ago from my dear friend, Mary.

Have to say it was fun to research and play with these lovely little pots of shimmer.  During our session, we covered several Perfect Pearl techniques. We had a LOT of fun. 

For the card above, I used Picked Raspberry Distress ink mixed with Pearl-coloured Perfect Pearls and water to watercolour this lovely image from Penny Black.  The image is heat embossed in Liquid Platinum and then watercoloured  That's it.  The colours shimmer from the added Pearl powder, which you can see a bit better in the close-up photo below.

Close-up ...

For our second technique, we smooshed a mixture of distress inks and Perfect Pearls. 

I used Mustard Seed and Carved Pumpkin Distress Inks, along with Pearl-coloured Perfect Pearls to create this shimmery, pearl background.  I then stamped my image in Versamark, dusted with Copper Perfect Pearls, and misted lightly with water to set the powder.

Close-up ... you can see the shimmer better from this angle.

Here's another card using the other half of my smooshed background.

This time Bronze Perfect Pearls were used to dust over the Vintage Photo Ink-stamped image.

Close-up shows shimmer must better ...

The last technique I'm sharing from our zoom meeting is watercolouring die-cuts with Perfect Pearls.

I used two colours of Perfect Pearls on the leaf sprig, Gold and Bronze.  I mixed the powders with water and painted two coats onto my leaves and stems, which creates an opaque look.  The sentiment is stamped in Versamark, dusted with gold Perfect Pearls, and set with a light mist of water.

Close-up ...

The group of us are all posting our cards today.  Would love for you to check out the links to the others blogs and leave them a comment as well.

Bonnie
Brenda

Christine
Darnell
Susan

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Tumbling Shells

Hi everyone.  I'm back today with another summery card using a fabulous new background called Tumbling Shells (Simon Says Stamp).  This is a large 6"x 6" background that I coloured and then cut up into two smaller pieces to make two cards.  I find photographing pastel colours so difficult.  The background has a pearl sheen, which adds another challenge to photographing.

I started by wetting my mixed media card front and sprinking with perfect pearls.  Used a brush to brush over the whole surface of the card creating a lovely pearl sheen for the background.  Stamped the seashells in versamark and heat embossed in white.  Then used diluted deep colours of distress inks to paint some of the shells and starfish (salty ocean, wild honey, aged mahogany).  Cut up my card to create this rectangle panel and popped it up over a stamped sentiment (tumbled glass).

I made a second card using part of the same panel.  This time I framed it with a stitched rectangle.  Used a different sentiment for this one.

Had fun using this background as the main part of my card and just adding a sentiment.  This is a new-to-me stamp, so I'm heading over to add to the NBUS #18 gallery.  Hope to see you there!

Stamps: Tumbling Shells (Simon Says Stamp); Feel Sand - retired (Stampendous); Life's a Beach - retired (STAMPlorations)
Paper: Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink: Versamark; Distress Inks:  Salty Ocean, Wild Honey, Aged Mahogany, Tumbled Glass (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Perfect Pearls - Pearl; brush, water mister, white embossing powder, heat tool, water brush

Challenges:
NBUS #18 Challenge

Golden Tulips

Hi everyone.  Time for the reminder for the CAS Stencil June Challenge hosted by Linda.

I started with a watercoloured background from my stash.  It was done with Liquid Watercolour Concentrates, so is very bold and vibrant.  A tulip stencil was placed over top and taped down.  Vermark pad was pressed over the stencil, making sure to get the clear ink through all the stencil openings.  I brushed over some gold Perfect Pearls, and once the Versamark was dry, a paper towel was used to brush off all the excess powder.  The sheen of the Perfect Pearls is gorgeous, although I couldn't capture it in the photo above.  The close-up shows it much better ...

My white frame was cut smaller than the card base and it is popped up for dimension.  A sentiment was stamped in Delicata Gold ink which matches the yellow gold of the Perfect Pearls perfectly.

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the new, inspiring cards from our Designers and our Guest Designer, Chrissie.

Challenge is open for another week ... come play along!

Second entry this month at Craft Stamper Magazine's Take It Make It Challenge.

Stamps:  happy snippets (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base and frame (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Liquid Watercolour Concentrate in Orange, pink and yellow (Blick Art Supplies); Versamark; Delicata Gold (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, tulip stencil (cut with Silhouette Cameo), Gold Perfect Pearls, brush, Rectangle frame (Spellbinders)

Challenges:
CAS Stencil June Challenge - Perfect Pearls / Pearl-Ex
Craft Stamper Magazine June's Take It Make It Challenge

Twofer Challenge #13

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the start of the Twofer February Challenge.  Today's challenge is another fun one.  Make sure to make two cards for different occasions with different designs, using the same stamp, die, or stencil.  Photograph the two cards together and then link up to the challenge.

Make sure to follow the challenge prompt from the above badge (stars), and follow the rules listed in the badge below.

I'm excited that Darnell has included stencils this year for the challenge.  This is my first time using a stencil for my Twofer cards.  It's a NBUS stencil that I bought from AliExpress.  The card on the left is a background I made several months ago with turquoise and gold perfect pearls on black ribbed cards stock.  I sponged a few stars in gold over top.  The snowbank is a torn piece of white card stock.  The baby polar bear is a stamp and matching die from a set given to me as a gift from Christine.  Thanks Christine!  Isn't he cute??!!  And the sentiment is perfect for the challenge.

Here's a close-up ...

The second card is all about the happy!  I do love rainbows.  This is a rainbow with a twist as the colours are up and down instead of side-to-side. :)  I sponged distress inks to create the rainbow and then let it dry thoroughly before adding white heat embossed stars with the same stencil as used in the above card.  I used a stitched curve die to cut out the bottom of the card.  The sentiment is stamped in black in to finish.

Here's a close-up ...

I hope you'll check out the Twofer Challenge blog to see the Star cards from the rest of our talented Designers, and from our two wonderful Guest Designers, Barb (Barb's Studio Creations) and Cat (Cat Luvs Paper).

The challenge is open for two weeks, closing on February 24th.  Come join us!

Card #1 - Wishing you a Star Bright Christmas:
Stamps: Christmas (Recollections)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black ribbed card stock (unknown)
Ink:  Versafine Black (Tsukineko); Gold Delicata (Tsukineko); Zigs (Kuretake)
Accessories & Tools:  Turquoise and Gold Perfect Pearls, brush, star stencil (AliExpress), water brush,

Card #2 - Happy Birthday Rainbow:
Stamps:  Sentiment stamp set (AliExpress)
Paper:  White card stock (base) (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Ripe Persimmon, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Broken China, Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Versamark; Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  sponges, star stencil (AliExpress), white embossing powder, heat tool; curved, stitched border die (AliExpress)

Challenges:
Twofer Card Challenge #13 - Stars

CAS Mix Up June Challenge

Hi everyone.  It's the beginning of June, which means time for a new CAS Mix Up Challenge.  This month it is hosted by me and I chose ...

I started by die-cutting one of my favourite leaf dies out of black.  I pressed it into my versamark pad and dipped it into my container of Gold Tinsel embossing powder.  I didn't cover the whole sprig, but most of it.  I placed the leaf on a hot plate to melt the embossing powder, but I could have easily just used my heat tool. :)  Once it had cooled a little, but was still warm, I pressed on a few gilding flakes.  I wanted to seal in the flakes, so placed the leaf back on my hot plate (again, a heat tool would work as well).  Sprinkled over top to cover the whole sprig with UTEE (ultra thick embossing enamel).  It melted, sealed everything and gave some dimension to the leaves.  So pretty!

I placed it over a background piece that I had repeat stamped a leaf image in Versamark.  I sprinkled a little pearl coloured Perfect Pearls over top and used a soft brush to brush it over the background.  It sticks to the Versamark to create a very soft and subtle background.  The panel was popped up on the card front, and a gold heat embossed black sentiment banner was popped up on top, catching the end of the leaf sprig to hold it in place.  A few more small pieces of pop dots were added to a couple of the leaves to secure it all.

Here's a close-up ...

... and a closer look ...

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the amazing inspiration cards from our talented Designers and our Guest Designer, Jane (Purplejet Loves Crafts).  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Stamps:  Artistic Fern small (Hero Arts); Sentiment - Bloom of Hope (Stampin' Up!)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb.); Black (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Perfect Pearls (pearl), brush, Little Leaves die (Sizzix for SU!), Gold tinsel embossing powder, heat tool, Red Blaze Gilding Flakes (Cosmic Shimmer), UTEE, gold embossing powder

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up June Challenge - Layered Embossing Powder