Rich reds and gold

I have been meaning to use more foil since I have finally acquired a glue actually designed for the purpose, and I wanted to use my very well liked but not often used Damask Letterpress (Lifestyle Crafts), so I used that as prompts for this card.

For my background, I letter-pressed with embossing ink and applied gold embossing powder.
The image is from a Joanna Sheen stamp and I stamped it with black Brilliance ink.

For embellishments, I die-cut a Memory Box corner and a Cuttlebug corner, applied glue and then foil (this is foil on a plastic sheet not proper foil). At which point I realised how garish the gold of the foil was against the more natural gold of the embossing powder.... I die-cut another corner, coloured it with markers in red so I could create a "shadow" for my first die-cut, isolating it slightly from the background. OK still not very good...

2 pieces of ribbon, one on top the other finish the card. I decided againt adding anything else because, as regular readers will know, I hate covering my backgrounds, never mind that the design would be better for it!

I am entering this card in the WOW! Embossing Powder challenge - Decadence and the Crafts-Too challenge - Texture with twist, since my embossed panel is textured and there is lots of shiny accents all around on this card!

Let me know how I can improve this card as I do know it's not quite right but can't come up with ideas on how to fix it!

Things that fly

The latest Impression Obsession challenge is about Things that fly... First thing I thought about was butterflies, but I did that for the previous challenge and I didn't want to bore my audience!
Bird it is then...

The image is Bird Collage 1 (E13043) which I stamped with wate rbased markers on my new Silk card (more on that in a later post).

Prompted by the Oldie but A goodie challenge I decided to use as many punches and old items as possible on the basis that I haven't used the punches in a long time and I need to use up old stash !

It would be quicker to mention the new items but here's a list of the old stash (older than 6 months):

• MS punches: 3 corner punches (the red embellishment is made with a corner punch) and 2 border punches used on the square mat and the Coredination  under the bird image.
• X-Cut Punch and Emboss Oak leave, Vine Corner slot.
• Core'dination : white wash
• Skeleton leave : I punched 2 leaves out of a gold embossed skeleton leave. I had to back them with another punched leave out of brown cardstock.
• Patterned Papers: from a Making Memories pad, bought in Lakeland when they were selling craft supplies... yes it is that old and what's worse hardly used!
• Anita sticky ribbon (black) 

The large Core'dination mat has been embossed with a fairly recent freebie folder .

This one is quite OTT for me and a big change from the CAS card I made in my last post !

Thanks for coming by,

Definitely challenged...

I was inspired by Joanne Wardle's post who is guesting this week on the Paper Artsy blog and I planned to make a CAS card with a stroke of paint. Should have been real quick and easy... But I decided to use acetate for that transparent quality knowing full well that stamping on it is delicate... obviously not challenged enough then!

I stamped a freebie acrylic stamp (the poppies) and a word stamp from Paper Artsy Eclectica ELB03 onto the transparency, inking with a Big brush pen (Faber Castell). I tried the Big Brush after testing with Archival ink which a) made the stamp slide and b) didn't look like it was going to dry anytime soon.
On the reverse I colored with alcohol markers, then I did my swipe with a mix of Fresco Limelight and South Pacific on the front. I am now thinking it might have been better to do it on the back as the paint wasn't as transparent as I expected (well it is applied more thickly than intended!).

I am also entering this card in the Craft Stamper, Sir Stampalot and SSS monday challenges.

With such a simple design it needed to be perfect and I find it wanting... but I got some experience stamping on acetate so I'm still happy!

Let me know your tricks about stamping on slippery surfaces,

Challenged By ... Alison Bomber

Alison is joining the Paper Artsy blog this semester and has kicked off with projects involving trios. I didn't get that far, and kept it to one piece,  taking my inspiration from this post.

I collaged 3 different pieces of leftover papers, 2 with inclusions and a piece of mulberry to use as "tissue" paper for the central image. The stamps are from Hot Pick 1204 and I tried to emboss with  the green distress ink... but most of the ink got absorbed into the paper, so the embossing is patchy to say the least. On the other hand... I'll call this distressed!!!

The cardboard base has been stamped in different inks and embossed with clear powder with varying degrees of success....

I am entering the Ladybug crafts challenge too.

Let me know what you think!

Second post today... All about the dies

I have made all the cards I need for specific people this year so any card I make now is for the emergency stash. For those, I try to limit the bulk/weight because I don't know if it will be mailed and I don't include a sentiment so the card can be used for multiple occasions.
But I wanted to participate in the Impression Obsession latest challenge which is all about the dies...

Although I could have used a few die-cuts without compromising the bulk constraint, I set about finding ways of using dies without creating extra layers and you will not actually find a die-cut on this card!

I created stencils with the Butterflies Die (DIE008-I). I used the large butterfly stencil with distress inks and stamps (Cover-a-Card Canvas - CC073, Cover-a-Card Newsprint - CC068  and Cover-a-Card Branches - CC031) over a designer paper.

With the small butterfly stencil I used Sparkle Gel Medium (Imagination Crafts) in Jade to create an embellishment that is still part of the layer whilst providing a bit of texture. Love using the medium instead of loose glitter because there is no shedding for the recipient and I don't have to deal with glitter for days on end afterwards!

The central butterfly has been partially die-cut with the Butterfly die so that the wings can be lifted. I added 2 gems to hide the holes cut by the die (I have the older style die that comes with placing holes).

I color matched a piece of white ribbon and left a space on the lower left for a sentiment.

I am also entering this card in the Imagination Crafts challenge, which is all about butterflies.

Thanks for coming by,

A second journal page...

Back from the holidays, although I was itching to craft, I was dithering, procrastinating... total creative block.
To snap myself out of it, I decided to join the Craft Barn challenge, and make a page for the letter Z, playing with whatever came to mind. The choice of words was relatively easy as there isn't so much choice... I decided on zig-zag because it's such a trendy graphic.

I took inspiration from the latest product launched by Tim Holtz' layered stencils and used different mediums, layer by layer to build the page.

First I used a resist medium, then sprays, then texture paste.

I added some stamping, the "Z" of course, then some bits of background stamps (Impression Obsession, Basic Grey) and some hand drawn zig-zags.

On top of the texture paste I tried different things to get a gold sheen : foil but the glue was difficult to apply, oil pastel and finally gel pen ! Gilding wax would have been better but in the right light it's not too bad.

I am entering this page in the Countryview Crafts challenge which is all about layers.


Hope you will like!

Paper Artsy #3UP challenge

I have been lucky enough to get selected in this round of #3UP #PAtwits week of show and tell with surprise Paper Artsy products, and this is what I have made :

Background:

 

I used the given substrate as a template to cut 2 additional pennants out of thick chipboard, and painted all 3 using Leandra’s method as showed in her video, including the reverse side.

I overstamped in black using ESN07 and managed to use all the stamps in the process!
Paints used: Gesso, Fresco South Pacific, Chocolate Pudding, and a beige acrylic paint.

Central pennant border:

I die-cut 4 borders out of metal (2 borders for the front and 2 for the back) and painted them with South Pacific, backing them with several layers of cardboard to match the thickness of the substrate.
I used red liner tape to stick the metal to the pennant and tacky glue on the cardboard backs before pressing them together for a more finished look.

Embellishments:

I received the ES03 chipboard set and used both flower shapes, stamping them with the matching flower stamp from ELB02, which was one of the 2 set of stamps in my package. I had also tried stamping the circle shape with the circle stamp from ELB03 but it didn’t make the cut. I added micro beads to the center of the brown flower.
I used a resist technique on the branch with punchinella waste, before applying distress inks and stamping in black with the music stamp from ESN07, the other set of stamps in my #3UP goodie bag.

I also had 2 spools given (from Bag of spools), and used the shorter one, adding a ribbon and letting it hang.
The spool gave me the idea of adding “sewing” related embellishments and I created a skirt from Smoothy cardstock by stamping the small tulip from ELB03, upside down and a coordinated top by stamping the tulip from ELB02 cut and mounted on a dress form die-cut.

I also added a scissors and a sewing machine die-cut, coloured with alcohol inks. The sewing machine is actually stamped and embossed with the Reflection stamp (from set ESN07).

 

 

All I had to do now was threading my pennants onto twine and adding the 4 fabric beads I was given.

 

Phew!!! I hope this banner won't disappoint, I have thoroughly enjoyed making it but only after much panicking...

 

Be sure to let me know what you think in your comments and visit the Paper Artsy blog for more #3UP projects by fellow #PAtwits!

 

Let's hear it for the boys

We are challenged by Impression Obsession to come up with something for the boys. I chose the Pig Bros. Birdhouse image (G1028), and surrounded it with Aluminium sheet to make it more masculine .

I stamped the image using pens and added some color with pencils.

I cut out the frame out of cardstock using 2 sizes of Spellbinder Nesties, applied aluminium tape on it before embossing with a Ten Seconds Studio Kabuka mold.

I embossed the sides of the base cardstock using a mix of powders and created an embellishment with the same mix. This was die-cut with a Spellbinder pinked circle from cardboard, then punched with a standard hole punch in the middle. Thought it looked more masculine than a button, which is my default male embellishment!

Hope you will like it,

Challenged by France Papillon

France has been back this week on the Paper Artsy blog with more gorgeous creations. My project is mainly based on her second post.

I followed France's technique but on a smaller scale (6x6 in) and used Tim Holtz Tissue Tape instead of Tissue Wrap. My colours were South Pacific, Limelight and Claret Fresco paints.
Since I didn't have a clock transparency, I substituted a die-cut circle and embossed it with a wooden grain folder. I applied black alcohol ink on the raised areas.

I tried smuding some oil pastel through punchinella, you can see a hint on the left hand side but this didn't work very well for me.

The central flower is made of 2 layers of navy cardstock stamped with a collage stamp from Hot Pick 1206 and embossed in gold. I used Spellbinders Peonies Nestabilities to cut the flower shapes.

For the texture paste areas I made up a stencil with 3 sizes of the Spellbinders Pinking circles and added an impression of a small chain (France did this in her first post), which I painted black.

Thanks for coming by,

Glossy paper, alcohol markers and gum arabic

Yep, I used all those in today's card and it wasn't even planned!

I have printed the image with my inkjet and embossed it with clear powder. Since I wasn't sure how well this would work, I maximised my chances by using glossy paper and increasing the ink volume setting on the printer. This did work very well... But now how to colour ? Glossy paper and watercolours are not the best bedfellows and I can't imagine pencils would work either... I had seen people using alcohol markers on glossy so I tried that with success.

On top of this first layer, I painted Mica powders (Imagination Crafts) in a related colour to give a shimmer to the piece. Depending on how the light is catching the image, you see it/you don't see it.
This is where the Gum arabic comes in... I tried painting the powder directly with a wet brush but the "paint" just pooled. I realised I needed some Magi Blend (Imagination Crafts) or some sort of acrylic medium, but having neither, I tried mixing with gum arabic (used in watercolour) instead.

I have no idea of the long term outcome of gum arabic on glossy though...


Having spent a fair amount of time just colouring the image, I kept the card simple and just mounted it on a standard cardbase.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Ladybug Crafts Something Floral
Imagination Crafts Flower Power
WOW!Embossing Powder Art Deco

Hope you'll like this,

Cushion Covers

My search for the perfect ink, one that would work on shrink plastic, as well as paper and fabrics turned up VersaCraft inks. I bought a few small pads but never got around to try them out on fabric in a big way. With some left over fabric I made up 2 cushion covers and picked some stamps to decorate them.

 

I first chose large stamps that would give an overall coverage with colour and, using masks, stamped a number of smaller images. I chose 2 different colour schemes for the front and the back so I would get 2 looks.

From Crafty Individuals I have used stamps from CI-207 and CI-237 as well as a freebie stamp from Craft Stamper designed by CI (the seashell).

From this detail picture you will see that this ink does print well enough on fabric, without any loss of detail.  I chose subtle colours to begin with but still, the colours aren't as dark as I would have liked. If you're thinking of buying these inks remember that the stamped colour is noticeably lighter than the colour in the pad, sadly there wasn't anything darker than Chocolate (bar black) that I used on the butterfly above.

I am entering the Crafty Individuals challenge so fingers crossed...

Thanks for coming by,

Nearly one layer card!

If I intend to mail a card, particularly if it's international mail, weight and thickness are important. But more than for this practical reason, I love one layer cards because it is all about the stamping...

Last week, I pulled out some travel inspired stamps and made a journal page in bright colours. I enjoyed myself so much I decided to create a card, but this time with a vintage, low key colour scheme (you might find this too drab...)

I have used 10 stamps for the imagery (+ 1 for the butterfly stamped on vellum) from varied brands and some that were made for me. For the background texture, I used the Impression Obsession Cover-a-card Grunge, which I inked with Antique Linen Distress ink, adding Walnut Stain along the borders. It provides effortless ageing!

Since I had some mail-related tissue tape I stuck a small piece cut into a flag shape to finish the card.

I am entering this card in the SSS Monday Challenge, The Artistic Stamper, Lisa.B.Designs, and Stamping Sensations challenges.

Thanks for coming by,