Brushos and Bleach

Hi everyone.  Had another day of experimenting in my studio.  So fun! :)  Today I was trying out the bleaching technique on a brushos background that is a small part of this wonderful video from Dina of Splitcoaststampers.  Even though this video is almost a year old, I only saw it for the first time last night and was mesmerized by all the way Dina shows how to use Brushos (or Color Bursts, or Bister Powders). Worth watching!

Before I started making my card, I put on some grubby clothes that I didn't care about.  I have worked with bleach before.  Even though I'm really careful, I still end up with it everywhere.  Or so it seems. :)  Just a warning for anyone else that is messy like me. :)

I have some empty water brushes, so filled one with bleach and used on one of my Brushos backgrounds from my stash.  Didn't work the best.  Took a long time to get the bleach to soak in.  Then I remembered Dina mentioning about using it on "fresh" brushos to get more contrast and so created a smooshed Brushos background, dried it with my heat tool (not completely dry), stamped the flower sprig in Archival ink, and went over it lightly with a bleach filled waterbrush.  LOVE how it turned out.

Not sure why it worked better on a new background and not ones in my stash, but maybe the colour sets more over time??  Not sure.  This would be the same for the ghosting technique she shows in the video as well.  Where you place a stencil over top of the brushos background, spritz with water and then remove the excess water with a paper towel.  Doesn't show on backgrounds that have been made a while. :)

It's great to learn things.  I'll be trying out more of Dina's techniques ... so many fantastic ideas.

Thanks for visiting!

Stamps:  Delightful (Penny Black); Sentiment - Subway Art Builders Dare (STAMPlorations)
Paper:  Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. Hot Press)
Ink:  Archival Black (Ranger); Brushos (Lime Green, Lemon and Turquoise)
Accessories & Tools:  Water mister, heat tool, waterbrush filled with bleach

Inspired by Jules

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a new technique I played with after being inspired by my good friend, Jules (Crafted by Jules).  Thanks Jules!

Jules has made a few cards using the Wax Paper Emboss Resist technique.  Click HERE and HERE to see her cards.  She tried it after seeing a video on Stamp TV by Gina K.

Basic instructions are to cut out a piece of wax paper a bit larger than your card fronts.  You will use two card fronts for one piece of wax paper.  Scrunch the wax paper tightly and then smooth out to create lots of texture (I didn't do this step ... just used my piece plain).  Place the wax paper into an embossing folder and run it through your machine.  Remove, then sandwich the embossed wax paper between two card fronts, place inside a piece of scrap copy paper to protect your iron, and iron over top on a medium to high setting (NO steam).  You end up with an embossed image on one card front, and a debossed (opposite) on the other.  It's a very cool and easy to do technique.

I sponged two colours of distress inks randomly over top (Twisted Citron and Peacock Feathers) to reveal the design.  I cut an angled panel, added a die-cut white leaf sprig, stamped a simple sentiment and added three dew drops made by my good friend Hazel (My Card Attic).  Thanks Hazel!

Here's a close-up ...

Easy and fun card to make! :)  Thanks so much for dropping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Sentiment - Painted Butterflies (Altenew)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers (Distress Inks by Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Wax paper, Spring Leaves embossing folder (Elizabeth Craft Designs), Iron, sponges, Little Leaves die (Sizzix), Dew Drops (made by Hazel)

Glittery Snow Scene

Hi everyone.  Today I'm playing along with the Merry Monday challenge #203 - Ombre & glitter.  Such a fun challenge from Kristie!  Check out the DT cards at Merry Monday --- amazing inspiration!

I started by sponging four shades of blue distress ink onto my small font panel, starting at the bottom with my lightest shade and progressing to dark blue at the top.  I then sprayed the panel with a bit of water, let it sit for a few seconds and then dabbed with a paper towel.  This added lots of visual texture to my panel.

I inked the two trees with versamark, stamped and then heat embossed in white.  I ripped a piece of white card stock for my snow hill, coating the edge with a new-to-me product called Snow Writer.  This has been around a long time, but it's the first time I've used it. :)  I sprinkled dazzling diamonds glitter over top ... love the sparkle. Once dry, I splattered with diluted white acrylic paint and stamped the sentiment in Delicata Silver ink.  I also added little dots of dazzing detail glitter glue on the trees, but it's impossible to capture the glittery look with a camera.

Here's a close-up ...

My CAS Mix Up card has stamping, heat embossing, sponging, snow paint with glitter, and splattering. :)  I'm heading over to join in the gallery at CAS Mix Up! Come join us!!

Stamps:  Snowdust (Penny Black); Mixed Christmas Sentiments (Happy Little Stampers)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Distress inks:  Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz); Versamark; Silver (Delicata)
Accessories & Tools:  Sponges, water mister, white embossing powder, heat tool, Snow Writer (DecoArt), Dazzling Diamonds Glitter (SU!), Dazzing Details Glitter Glue (SU!)

Challenges:
Merry Monday #203 - Ombre & Glitter
CAS Mix Up May Challenge - Heat Embossing

CAS Mix Up May Challenge

Hi everyone.  It's the start of the CAS Mix Up May Challenge ... so exciting! :)

Bonnie and I were thrilled (AGAIN!) with the amount of creative and inspiring entries for CAS Mix Up's April Challenge - Stenciling.  :)  Thanks to everyone who shared their awesome cards with us!

Here's this month's challenge ...

There's lots of exciting news at CAS Mix Up, so I'll start with that first, and then share how I made my heat embossed card below that.

First, Bonnie and I are thrilled to welcome Nancy Littrell (scandinancy creates), and Susan Bridgman (CardmakersGarret) to the CAS Mix Up Design Team.  YAY!

Also, we have the amazing card artist, Karen (Snippets) as our Featured Designer for May.  Welcome Karen!

And ... we have Betty Keefe (created by bjk) joing us as our first Guest Designer. Betty was the winner of our CAS Mix Up challenge in March - Watercolouring with THIS AMAZING CARD.  Welcome Betty!

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On to my card ...

I white embossed a random bit of script for my background and then sponged over top with three colours of ink.  This technique is called Emboss Resist, where the embossing resists the inks.

I punched three small daisies, shaped them with my stylus and tweezers and then glued them together.  If you are interested in how I shape my daisy flowers, click HERE to see a written tutorial.

A small circle punch of yellow sponged card stock was glued to the center of the flower, and then coated with glossy accents.  Two small leaves where die-cut from green sponged card stock, and three tips of a die-cut sprig were added to enhance the daisy.  I added a little clear glitter glue to the rounded tips for a bit of sparkle. To finish, the sentiment was heat embossed in silver.

All in all it was an easy card to make.  My card has stamping, heat embossing and "my choice" is sponging and die-cuts with shaping. :)

Here's a close-up of the flower ...

I hope you'll come play along with our CAS Mix Up May Challenge - Heat Embossing.  See you in the gallery! :)

Stamps:  En Francais (SU!); Sentiment - Cosmos (Technique Tuesday)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Inks:  Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron, Tumbled Glass (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  White embossing powder, Silver embossing powder, heat tool, sponges, Medium Daisy Punch (Punch Bunch); stylus, mat and tweezers for shaping, Tender Leaves die (Memory Box), Beach Sprig die (Memory Box), dazzling details, glossy accents

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up May Challenge - Heat Embossing