Penny Black - Dignified, Refresh, Ascending

Hi everyone.  I had a play with three new Penny Black dies (from the latest release):  Dignified, Refresh (second time posting a card with this fun die!), and Ascending.  I made the cards with the same technique, print making with die-cuts (click link for Group of Seven post on this technique).

Starting with Dignified (51-821), I cut two of the leafy stems from mixed media paper.  I coloured both with Distress Inks: Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn.  I misted one lightly with water and pressed the coloured side onto a mixed media panel, making a print with the die-cut.  A second panel with print was made for the inside of the card.  The second die-cut was added to my front panel over top of the print. 

I cut the front panel down and added it to a black card stock base.  I stamped "Happy Birthday to you" (Super Day (31-044) Penny Black) in black ink.  All three cards use sentiments from the same stamp set.

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Next, I followed the same steps with Refresh (51-817).  This time I used Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Saltwater Taffy, and Abandoned Coral.  I added two prints to my card front, using just the flower heads.  I adhered the die-cut flowers to the front of my card panel over top of the print background.  A simple sentiment "Wishing You a lovely day" (Super Day - Penny Black) was stamped in Abandoned Coral distress oxide ink.  I used a white Posca pen to add white centers to the flowers.  And I used the extra cut and coloured flowers for the inside of the card. :)

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For the third card I used Ascending (51-820), this time I used Distress Inks Salvage Patina and Wilted Violet; then misted with water and flipped it over, pressing it onto a mixed media panel to create a print.  I repeated the process to add a second print onto the same card front.  I stamped a simple "Have a beautiful Birthday" (Super Day - Penny Black) with Villanous Potion distress oxide ink.

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I'm sending the cards to the following challenges:

IDEAS Challenge - "D" is for Dies / Die-cuts - all three cards!

NBUS Challenge #63 - Cards 1 and 3 (first outing for both Dignified and Ascending dies)

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - June - Card 3

 

  

Thanks for stopping by!

Penny Black Products

  

Dignified (51-821)                       Refresh (51-817)                    Ascending (51-820)  

 

Super Day (31-044)

Stamps:  Super Day (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Salvaged Patina, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Distress Oxides:  Abandoned Coral, Villanous Potion (Tim Holtz); Black ink (Memento)
Accessories:   Penny Black dies:  Dignified, Refresh, Ascending; water mister

Challenges:

IDEAS Challenge - "D" is for Dies / Die-cuts

NBUS Challenge #63

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - June

Penny Black - Festive Finesse

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card using one of the new Christmas release from Penny Black.  This is a lovely die called Festive Finesse.

I'm sending this card to Merry Little Christmas Challenge #52 where Anything Goes Christmas!

... and since this is the first time using this wonderful die, I'm also entering this card into the NBUS Challenge #54 (second entry).  :)

I die-cut two of the greenery and berry twigs from Hot Press watercolour paper and then watercoloured them using Distress Inks (Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Crushed Olive, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany).  I removed the bottom stem from just one of the die-cuts before creating my prints.

For the card front, I used the same Hot Press watercolour paper, spritzing my print-making die-cut with lots of water, flipping it over the pressing down.  I repeated to get a second print.  Then I set aside the wet die-cut to dry ... I used it on the inside panel of the card.

The main die was watercoloured and then adhered over the prints (just adhering the stems so the leaves and berries are loose to create a bit of movement).

I stamped the sentiment (Full of Christmas - Penny Black) in black ink and added a few white dots on the berries to finish the card.

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I love this easy technique of print making, introduced to me by my dear friend Bonnie.   Thanks Bonnie!

Thanks for stopping by!

Penny Black Products

Festive Finesse

Full of Christmas

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Stamps:  Full of Christmas (Penny Black)

Paper:   Hot Press Watercolour paper (Arches 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Crushed Olive, Candied Apple, and Aged Mahogany (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Festive Finesse die (Penny Black); Watercolour Brushes, Water Mister, White acrylic paint pen (Posca)

Challenges:

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #52

NBUS Challenge #54

Cards of Thanks

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a few thank you cards that I made for my surgeon and nurses who cared for me during my recent hospital stay.

I'm still recovering and will be for a few more months.  In the meantime, my mojo is gone missing ... hopefully temporarily. :)  I decided it would be best if I CASED some of my previous cards, although I tried to add some changes to each of them.

The card above is for my surgeon that performed my heart valve replacement.  And below are a few more cards I made for some of the nurses that looked after me during my week stay at the hospital.  The rest of the cards I sent were from my stash.

... and ... this was a card I made for a playday with my friends Susan and Christine, that we had to postpone.  Smooshed distress inks and gesso with prints made from die-cuts.  LOVE these colours! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

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Penny Black - Whisper

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card that uses one of the new dies from Penny Black, Whisper (51-737).

A couple of years ago, my dear friend Bonnie introduced me to print making with die-cuts.  I love this technique.  Not only do you get an etheral looking background of the same die-cut image, but it's also a great way to stretch the use of your dies.

I started by die-cutting the flower twice from mixed media paper.  I flipped one over to the back (this is used for the print and will give you the same direction as the top die ... or you can used it right side up to have the flower pointing in the opposite direction).  Both were watercoloured with distress inks:  Abandoned Coral, Ripe Persimmon, Picked Raspberry, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint.  I used a little more colour on the die-cut I was using to make the background print.  I saturated the flipped die-cut with water and then placed it onto my watercolour paper card front.  I pressed down to transfer the ink.  Removed the die-cut and left both the die-cut and printed card front to dry.

For the card front, I added a lovely sentiment, Penny Black's Not Older, Better (30-896), stamped in the same Peeled Paint distress ink used for the stems.  I added the second die-cut on top, popping it up with pop dots for added dimension, and adding some gold pearls to the center of the large flower.  I used the die-cut from making my print, adding more inks from the same colour of distress inks and then let it dry.  I cut it down (about half) and placed it on the inside of my card.

Close-up ...

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Penny Black Products

Whisper (51-737)

Not Older, Better (30-896)

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Thank you.

Stamps:  Not Older, Better (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); Arches Watercolour Paper (Hot Press 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Abandoned Coral, Ripe Persimmon, Picked Raspberry, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Whisper die (Penny Black), paint brushes, water mister, gold pearls

Penny Black - Berry Sprig

Hi everyone.  Back today with another new Penny Black die (Berry Sprig 51-719) from the Making Spirits Bright release.  LOVE these large, gorgeous berries!

I started by die-cutting two of the berry branches from watercolour paper.  I watercoloured both of them using Distress re-inkers Candied Apple, Mowed Lawn; combining the two for the brown stems on the second branch only.  One of the branches was watercoloured on the back of the die, the other on the front.  I spritzed the back watercoloured branch with water and laid it over top of my background.  I did it a couple of times to create watery looking prints of the branch.  Using the back of the die for the prints ensures that the branches are all facing the same way.  Once dry, I die-cut the background using the Semi Circle Stackers frame die (51-706) to add some interest.  

The sentiment, Christmas Moments (30-731) was stamped in Versamark ink and heat embossed with red embossing powder.  The second watercoloured branch was shaped using a foam mat and stylus to give shape to the berries and leaves.  These were popped up with pop dots, while the stems were glued to the card front.  To finish, I added some white dots to the berries using a white Posca pen.

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I'm entering this card into the Merry Little Christmas Challenge #40 - Anything Christmas goes.

Thanks for coming by for a visit!!

Penny Black Product Links

Berry Sprig (51-719)

Christmas Moments (30-731)

Semi Circle Stackers (51-706)

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Stamps:  Christmas Moments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); Watercolour paper (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:   Distress Re-inkers:  Candied Apple, Mowed Lawn; Aged Mahogany distress ink (TimHoltz); Versamark
Accessories:   Berry Sprig die (Penny Black), Semi Circle Stackers frame die, paint brushes, foam mat, stylus, White Posca pen, Red embossing Powder (WOW!)

Challenges:

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #40 - Anything Christmas Goes

CAS Mix Up March Challenge

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the start of the March CAS Mix Up Challenge.  Our host for this month is Bonnie (Stamping with Klass).  She would like us to make prints using die-cuts.

It is also a special day as we celebrate our 5th birthday at

CAS Mix Up!

And a special welcome to our amazing Guest Designer this month, Ros (Mikey's Mom)!

I really enjoy this wonderful technique that Bonnie shared with me a while back, video instruction is HERE.  It's so much fun to add soft prints to the background and then add the die-cut on top.  Adds so much dimension to the card.  I die-cut two flowers, removing most of the stem from one of them.  They were both watercoloured with distress inks.  I used the one with the short stems for my prints, adding lots of water and then pressing them onto my card front.

My CAS Mixed Media card has print making, die-cutting, watercolouring, and stamping.

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I hope you'll come join us for this fun challenge and help us celebrate five years at CAS Mix Up!  And there are prizes as well.  See you in the gallery!

Products

Iris die (Penny Black)

Happy Snippets (Penny Black)

Stamps:  Happy Snippets (Penny Black)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Iris die (Penny Black), water mister

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up March Challenge - Print Making with Die-cuts

Two New-to-Me Techniques

Hi everyone.  Had a Zoom call with my Crafty girls a few days ago.  One of the techniques we tried was colouring stamps with powdered inks.  The card above is the second of the three prints I got from this technique.  

Used Hot Press Watercolour paper for the card above with the beautiful image Bejeweled - Penny Black).  Inked up the stamp with Versamark and then lightly brushed on Magical powders.  Spritzed with a light spray of water and stamped onto the watercolour paper.

It's a great technique.  One of the girls from our zoom call got eleven prints off one colouring of a stamp.  Amazing!

The second technique for this card is using that same stamp that still had a bit of colour on it, but not enough for a full print.  I spritzed the stamp with water and randomly stamped all over the background  to create a print background.  Have done with with die-cuts before, but not stamps.  Got a little carried away and wished I had not added so much to the background --- less is more! :)

Even though this is not a Christmas stamp, I thought the colours made it so.  Added a simple Christmas sentiment and voila!

Thanks for visiting.  Stay safe!

Stamps:  Bejeweled (Penny Black); Christmas Greetings - retired (Tim Holtz)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Watercolour (Arches Hot Press 140 lb.)
Ink:   Versamark; Lindy's Magicals:  Drop Dead Gorgeous Green, Bells of Ireland Green, Rambling Rose, Maple Autumn Crimson; Distress inks for Sentiments:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Fired Brick
Accessories:   Misti, Soft brush, water mister

Christmas Holly Print

Hi everyone.  Today I made another printed background using my die-cut holly (Holly & Berry Branch 51-404 from Penny Black) for the impressions.  It gives a very subtle design for the background with a bit of an artsy feel.  I "stamped" my die-cut and watercoloured holly twice before letting it dry and adding some more watercolour to intensify the colours before attaching to my card front.

The berries are coated with Clear Wink of Stella for a little sparkle, along with Crystal Glaze for a bit of shine.  The sentiment is stamped in red.

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I'm playing along for the first time at Merry Little Christmas challenge - October - Anything Christmas Goes!

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Art Deco Celebrate Christmas - retired (Poppy Stamps)
Paper:   White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Watercolour card front and die-cut (Arches Hot Press 140 lb.)
Ink: Distress Inks:  Fired Brick, Mowed Lawn, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz)   
Accessories:   water brush, water mister, Holly & Berry Branch die (Penny Black), Clear Wink of Stella, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)

Challenges:

Merry Little Christmas October Challenge - Anythng Christmas Goes!

Zooming with Friends

Hi everyone.  A couple of weeks ago, a group of us got together on Zoom to have a crafting session.  We followed Kathy Racoosin's video Print Making with Die-cuts.

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

Bonnie
Brenda

Christine
Darnell
Susan

I believe you get the best results from this technique using watercolour paper (Cold or Hot Press).  I used Arches 140 lb. Cold Press for both cards

For the card above I used a Penny Black die-cut, along with watercolouring with distress inks (rather than markers like Kathy used in her video).  Added a frame and stamped sentiment to match the colour of the leaves.  Happy how it turned out.

Second card ...

This time I used a fern die from AliExpress.  I found when using die-cuts with lots of openings, it's best to just add the prints from the die-cuts.  If I watercoloured the fern on top of my main panel, because of all the openings, I would end up with blobs of colour that distract from the design.  Ask me how I know this. :)  I cut my panel down and added the black sentiment border.  I'm really happy how this turned out as well.

I hope you'll give this technique a try.  It's fun and easy to do.  With it being more free flowing it always turns out to be a beautiful and arsty card.

Products

Flower Flourish Die (Penny Black)
Gratitude (Penny Black)

Fern die (AliExpress) *

Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)

* AliExpress links are temporary

Card #1 - Have a Wonderful Day
Stamps:  Gratitude (Penny Black)
Paper:  Watercolour paper (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Abandoned Coral, Fired Brick, (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Flower Flourish die (Penny Black); paint brushes, water mister, Rectangle die - retired (Spellbinders), white acrylic paint pen (Posca)

Card #2 - You're the Best
Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Watercolour paper (Arches 140 lb. cold press); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Crushed Olive, Forest Moss (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Fern die (AliExpress); paint brushes, water mister, white embossing powder, heat tool