Dry Embossed Highlights over Ink Blending - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  Today's technique is a combination of techniques (sponging, dry embossing, highlighting).  You have probably done this before, but it's a good reminder to use this technique again.  There are two videos ... one has a twist on the original technique.

Please check out the details for this month's technique and link to videos on the blog ...

Group of Seven Cardmakers - Dry Embossed Highlights over Ink Blending

This is how I made the card.  I started by sponging the a card front of regular Neenah white card stock.  I used three colours of Distress Oxide inks (Mustard Seed, Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry).  I did it in (sort of) vertical strips; left my card front overnight to dry, but you can use a heat tool to speed things up.

I then embossed my ink blended card front using the Floral Field embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp).  I used my white pigment ink pad (Glacier White - Ranger) to lightly tap over top of the embossing, which highlights the design.  I let it dry and then did a few more coats of white ink tapping, drying in-between each time.  The ink does take on the colour from underneath, but it gives a lovely muted look to the embossing.

To finish, I added a white die-cut of flowers (Painted Flower Stems die - Memory Box) and stamped a Simply Sentiment (Lawn Fawn) to finish.

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

• DOX inks work best to get a smooth blended transition between colours, but they also take longer to dry and bleed through more than dye inks
• Make sure to tap lightly with your white ink (or whatever colour you are using for highlights).  If too much pressure is applied, the colour will go through to the background of the embossed panel.
• Try this with patterned paper or coloured card stock as the base.

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I made some more cards with this fun technique.  This time I went tropical.  Info on what I used is below in the card supplies ...

.. and for Christmas ...

Sending the above card to Rudolph Days January Challenge.

... and Winter-inspired.  This time I randomly sponged the two colours instead of two separate colours that meet in the middle ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1: (Spring)

Stamps:  Simply Sentiments (Lawn Fawn)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Oxide Inks:  Mustard Seed, Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry (Tim Holtz); Glazier White pigment ink (Ranger)
Accessories:  sponges, Floral Field embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp); Painted Flower Stems die (Memory Box)

Card #2: (Tropical)

Stamps:  Simply Sentiments (Lawn Fawn)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Oxide Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Peacock Feathers (Tim Holtz); Glazier White pigment ink (Ranger); Black ink (Memento)
Accessories:  sponges, Areca Palm embossing folder (Altenew); Pam tree die (AliExpress)

Card #3: (Christmas)

Stamps: Christmas Sentiments (Gina Marie Designs)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Oxide Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz); Glazier White pigment ink (Ranger)
Accessories:  sponges, Gracious Leaves embossing folder (Memory Box); Pepperberry embossed and die-cuts (Simon Says Stamp)

Card #4: (Winter)

Stamps:  n/a

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Oxide Inks:  Speckled Egg, Iced Spruce (Tim Holtz); Glazier White pigment ink (Ranger)
Accessories:  sponges, Gracious Leaves embossing folder (Memory Box); trio of trees die (AliExpress); sentiment die-cut (gift from friend)

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Dry Embossed Highlights over Ink Blending

Rudolph Days January Challenge

Good Neighbours

I love this sweet flower garden image from Penny Black.  I had to buy it after seeing it coloured to perfection by Hannelie (click here to see her card).

I stamped in Archival Black ink and then watercoloured with my zigs.  I really enjoy this type of watercolouring. :)

I added a sentiment banner at the bottom, stamped in green to match the leaves on the image.

Here's a close-up ...

I made this card to play along with Penny Black Saturday Challenge where Anything Goes.

Come join in the fun.  Remember to use a Penny Black product as your main focal point of your card.

Stamps:  good neighbors (Penny Black); Sentiment - eloquence (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black Archival (Ranger); Zigs (Kuretake)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, clear wink of stella

Challenges:
Penny Black Saturday - Anything Goes

Spring is here!

Hi everyone.  I had a little time to play today, so I made a card for the Paper Players Challenge (#187 - CAS - Spring) that is being hosted by my friend and fellow DT member, Jaydee.  I love CAS ... and I love Spring :)  Perfect, right??!! :)  Also adding this to the Crazy For CAS Challenge #40 (photo inspiration below).

I thought this would be a fun and whimsical card with the bright colors, fun flower die-cuts and the sentiment that is almost like a child's printing.  But once it was paired with the window die-cut ... it took on a little more of an elegant look.  Funny how that happens.  I am loving all this gorgeous white space ... yummy!! ... and it just makes the bright flowers pop off the page.  I sponged around all the edges of the leaf sprigs, and flowers with corresponding inks.  I shaped them all as well, using my stylus and mat ... and I added white dots to the centers of the flowers.  Oh, and I glued the leaves and flowers in place using Crystal Effects ... this helps to keep the shaped flowers from flattening.  This card was fun to make! :)

I had some left over flower die-cuts and decided to make another card, this time using a wood grain embossed circle in place of the window.  Another fun and easy card.  I'd like to enter both into the Paper Players challenge, but haven't figured out how to do that when they are both in the same post, so I'll just pick one and hope their DT reads this post and considers both cards.

I'll include the details for these cards at the end of the post, but I have something else I want to share with you before I go ....

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Here's a few more cards made by friends of mine, using copper.  It's amazing how each one is so unique and the colors are just amazing.

Copper Birds by Bonnie (Stamping with Klass)

Copper Leaf by Lee-Anne (Creatively LA)

Copper Flower by Lee-Anne (Creatively LA)

Both these card markers are so talented ... if you haven't yet visited their blogs, I recommend you check them out ... I know you will be inspired!

Thanks Bonnie and Lee-Anne for letting me share your cards - you are AWESOME!!

Spring cards:

Stamps:  Spring is here (Penny Black)

Paper:  White (Neenah); Certainly Celery, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Regal Rose (SU!)
Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, Crushed Curry, Tangerine Tango, Regal Rose (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Five Point Flower die (C.C. Designs), Little Leaves die (Sizzix), Fresh Foliage die (Memory Box), Circle Nestability (Spellbinders), Woodgrain embossing folder (Sizzix), Small Madison Arched Window die (Poppy Stamps), sponges, stylus and mat, white gel pen, crystal effects

Challenge:
Paper Players #187 - CAS Spring
Crazy for CAS #40 - photo inspiraton

Spring is Here!

Hi everyone.  Here is my Design Team card for the latest Addicted to CAS challenge.  Each challenge has a code word (selected by the design team) to inspire your creations.

It's Harriet's turn (Ally Cat Cards) to be in charge of this challenge and she chose "Spring".  :)

The sponsor for this challenge is

I'm so happy to make a bright and cheerful card during all this miserable, rainy weather.  Looking forward to when the sun is shining and I can get out in the garden and play in the dirt! :)

Stamps:  Flower Fusion #6 (leaves) - Melissa J; Spring is Here (Penny Black)
Paper:  White; Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight and Mambo Melon polka-dot DPs (SU!)
Ink:  Garden Green (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Five Point Flowers die (C.C. Designs),  Lemondrop twine (the Twinery), stylus kit and mat, Stamp-a-ma-jig, glue dots, and dimensionals

This is a super simple card.  I die-cut two sizes of the flowers from each of the three polka-dot DPs and then used my stylus and mat to give the flowers some shape before gluing the centers in place.  I stamped the stems and leaves, using my Stamp-a-ma-jig to line them up (LOVE these plaid leaves!).  Then I glued the flower heads onto each stem.  The sentiment is a stamp I bought ages ago (but hadn't inked yet).  And a little twine with a knot to finish things off.


Here's a close-up of the main image:

I hope I have inspired you to join us for this fun challenge.  Check out the other fabulous creations by the Design Team members at ATCAS!

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Since I had all my papers out ... and the die-cut comes with three sizes of flowers (which I had cut a set of each), I decided to use the leftover large flowers and make another card.  So basically same papers, same die-cut and same sentiment.  Just changed up the layout and added some buttons!  Hope you like this version ...

I added some faux stitching around the edges of the four punched squares, which are popped up off the card front.  The flowers are also popped up on the squares, so there's lots of dimension.  Added twine to the centers of the buttons and used a glue dot to secure them in place.


Here's a close-up:

This card inspired me to create my own Card Candy which is featured in an earlier post (Mar. 21).  If you are interested in adding your name to a draw for a set of these cute flowers, please remember to leave me a comment on my Mar. 21st post before Mar. 29th.  Anyone that leaves a comment will be entered for a draw to win two packages of Loll's Card Candy - one with nine of these cute polka-dot, button centered flowers and one with nine polka-dot centered daisies.