Winnie & Walter Leading Lady Final Performance

I'm thrilled to be back with my Final Performance as the Winnie & Walter January Leading Lady.  It's been a huge honor & I can't thank Shay enough.

I love shimmer & shine including foil.  For my final 3 cards I thought it'd be fun to show you ways to add foil without using a laminator.  First up is a festive birthday card with a rainbow color scheme.

I stamped images from Scenery: Dotty on the card front using a variety of Distress Inks that match the rainbow foil.  The In a Word: Happy Cutaway was die cut from self-adhesive foam so that the adhesive was on the top.  Then the foil was pressed onto the word & carefully peeled back to reveal the gorgeous results!

The little word from The Big, the Bold & the Happy was white embossed on a black scrap & trimmed into a label.  I added a scattering of shimmer dots for embellishment.  This really is my favorite way to use foil--super easy & fun!
For the next card I first made a plaid panel using 2 images from Scenery: Stripes stamped in Memento Lilac Posies & Teal Zeal.  Then I added strips of 1/8 inch score tape going both directions & pressed silver foil onto the adhesive.

I love how it totally changes the look!  The bloom & leaves from In Bloom: Addie's Garden were die cut, stamped & brushed with the same inks.  I also used a shimmer pen on the bloom & attached it with foam tape.  For the sentiment I used In a Word: Thanks Coordinating Cutaways.  The shadow was cut from white cardstock & the word from a medium gray.  I like how it stands out, but doesn't compete with the silver foil.
To finish up I made my most common type of card & that is one to keep in touch with a friend.  I  began by randomly stamping flowers from In Bloom: Eva's Favorite Flowers in 3 PTI inks:  Summer Sunrise, Canyon Clay & Bright Buttercup.  I added the dot from the same set using Classic Kraft.

Then I used my Quickie Glue pen to make dots in the flower centers.  When they turned tacky, I pressed on gold foil.  Almost looks like designer paper with foil accents, don't you think?!  I stamped the words from The Big, the Bold & the Happy in Versfine Vintage Sepia.  Originally it was a one layer card, but I decided to add a gold foil frame.  I cut the panel down slightly & brushed the edges of the card front with Flitter Glu.  When it dried to a tacky finish I pressed on the same gold foil & attached the floral panel.  The frame could also have been done using 1/4 inch Score Tape.
I hope you've been inspired in some way by my projects this month.  Winnie & Walter has given me a $30 gift certificate as a prize for the random drawing I'm doing on February 2.  All comments left on this post and my Take 1 post will be entered in the drawing.  For additional entries answer my questions in your comments on my posts for Take 2 and Take 3.

Thanks again to Shay for having me & I look forward to seeing all your Winnie & Walter projects in blogland.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

W&W Leading Lady Take 3

Thank you again to Shay for giving me this wonderful opportunity to share my love of Winnie & Walter products.  I hope you've found some inspiration for your own cardmaking.  The month is speeding by and it's time for Take 3. 

We all have times when it's hard to come up with an idea for a card.  One of my solutions to that problem is to use a favorite design element.  My choice is to mask off an area for inking.  There are many variations, so cards can all look different.  I generally use more solid images, but you will see today it really works with any stamps.

First is a sympathy card using A Tree for All Seasons.  I began by heat embossing the tree with a couple coats of embossing powder to obtain a thick, shiny image.  Then I masked off the area where I wanted color.  Distress Inks faded jeans and peeled paint were applied with stencil brushes for a softer look.  I heat embossed the sentiment and added brown splatters.  The panel was matted with light blue textured cardstock for a simple, flat card which, unfortunately, I need to get in the mail.

Next up is a fun winter notecard.  This is the first time I've used kraft cardstock for the technique, but it won't be the last!  I white embossed the front 2 trees from Yetitide Greetings & masked them before adding the tree in the background.  The matching dies were used to make the masks--so quick & easy.  Then I masked off a horizontal strip & used an ink cube direct to the paper.  The trick when using kraft cardstock is to use an ink with pigment properties, like the Delicata Emerald Green I used.  The white embossing picked up a hint of the green which I actually think adds to the effect for this card.  I stamped the sentiment using words from The Big, the Bold & Seasons and added a few white sequins for embellishment.  I'm entering Inkspirational.

For my final project the masked area is a rectangle in the center of the card.  Distress Inks bundled sage, milled lavender & spun sugar were sponged on beginning at the bottom right & moving to the top left, rather than straight across.  Instead of embossing, I stamped the bloom, stem and leaves from In Bloom: Eva's Favorite Flowers in Brilliance Starlite Black.  It's another ink with pigment properties giving me good coverage on top of the Distress Ink background.  I curved the straight stem onto my acrylic block and masked the card front to get the length I wanted.  The same ink was used for the beautiful word from Sentimental: Thanks and a single gray gem completes the card.  I'm entering CAS on Friday and SSS Wednesday.

Be sure to check my first Leading Lady post & my Take 2 post to leave comments and be entered in the random drawing for a $30 Winnie & Walter gift card.  You will get an additional entry by leaving a comment on today's post telling me which card is your favorite.  Yes, you have to pick one--haha!  I'll be back next Saturday for my final performance.

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Winnie & Walter Leading Lady Take 2

Thanks for all the positive comments on my initial Leading Lady post.  I'm so appreciative of your support.  Now it's time for Take 2.

This week I wanted to show you some ways to add color without the traditional art of coloring, since that's not one of my talents.  I often use solid images, but I'm not restricted to them.  Here are some cards with open images & techniques anyone can do.

First up is a card using the adorable snowman from Snowy Holiday. 

Using a couple solid circles from Scenery: Dotty, I stamped 3 times, overlapping the circles, with Distress Inks weathered wood & faded jeans on a watercolor panel.  Then I spritzed to make the ink run.  I used my heat tool before repeating the process & adding splatters.  When it was completely dry, I stamped the snowman in Delicata Sapphire Blue several times using a stamp positioner.  Then I stamped in Versafine Clair Morning Mist.  The gray ink didn't really change the blue, but just made the image a bit crisper.

I added Shimmer Pico Embellisher to parts of  the snowman for clear sparkly dimension.  The sentiment is from The Big, the Bold & the Happy & I added a few clear sequins.
Next is a fun Valentine's Day card using a die from Essentials: Tilda Cutaways that makes an opening for a gift card.

I began by white embossing Mini Scenery: Bed of Roses on Bristol paper so I could color with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers.  They are great for a messy watercolor technique that doesn't require staying in the lines or adding shadows--perfect for me!  I used 3 purple markers & a blue gray, mixing with a little water.  After it dried I cut out the gc holder & then spritzed with shimmer spray.

The white embossed sentiment strip made with words from The Big, the Bold & the Happy was mounted with foam tape.  The background is done with white dye ink & Scenery: Pennsylvania Polka Creative Screenings.  I didn't want the actual gift card to detract, so I covered the back of it with a scrap of Bristol paper colored with the blue gray Zig & dry embossed with little dots.
My last card is another example of messy watercoloring.  This time I stamped a beautiful leaf image from In Bloom: Renee's Leaves across the top of a white panel in Distress Inks pine needles & evergreen bough. 

Then I "stamped" the ink pads on a flat palette, added water & picked up the color with a small brush to paint the leaves--again not staying in the lines.  When it was dry, I stamped in a darker blue green dye ink for more definition & then in Delicata Silvery Shimmer purposely not lining up the stamp.  The sentiment from In a Word: Thanks was stamped in dark gray ink to match the mat.  I left off embellishments, but did add some silver splatters.
Hope I've given you some inspiration, even if you do traditional coloring.  Remember to leave a comment on my first post to be in the running for a $30 Winnie & Walter gift card.

Want an additional entry into the drawing?  Just leave a comment below telling me if you've used any of these coloring techniques.
I'll be back next Saturday for more fun with wonderful Winnie & Walter products!  Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment, I will visit you.

Big Surprise and Huge Honor!

I'm so excited to be Winnie & Walter's Leading Lady for January 2019!  This is a huge honor I truly never expected.  Thank you so much, Shay!

Each Saturday this month I get to take over the Winnie and Walter Blog.  Please check it out & leave a comment.  Hopefully you'll find some inspiration in my projects AND you have a chance to win a $30 gift certificate to the Winnie and Walter store!

I'll do a random drawing of all the comments left on my blog's Winnie & Walter Leading Lady posts starting with this one.
My love of Winnie & Walter products began a couple years ago when a friend sent me In a Word: Hello Cutaway.  I thought it only fitting to begin with a post focusing on this wonderfully versatile die.
For my first card I randomly stamped a solid leaf image from A Tree for All Seasons in Brilliance Pearlescent Ivy & Pearlescent Thyme.  Then I stamped the matching lined image in Versafine Clair Acorn purposely not lining it up exactly.

The panel was die cut with a rectangle from Essentials: Tilda Cutaways.  I love the fun edge plus the pierced border.  The word was die cut from the panel being careful to save the little bits which were glued in place after the panel was attached to a brown card front.

I stamped the little word from The Big, the Bold & the Happy in the same brown ink, trimmed it into a strip, matted it with brown cardstock & attached it with foam tape.  I didn't add any embellishments so this card could go to a guy or a gal.
Next up is a birthday card that lets the hello die be the star of the show, thanks to the new Scenery: Pennsylvania Polka Creative Screenings.  I used 6 Distress Oxide inks (picked raspberry, abandoned coral, fossilized amber, cracked pistachio, faded jeans & wilted violet) moving the stencil before going to each new color.  Doesn't it give a fun confetti look?

I stacked the die 3 high before attaching it to a white textured panel.  The little sentiment words from The Big, the Bold & the Happy were white embossed on black cardstock & trimmed into strips.  I love the look of adding them right on top of the large die cut word.  Black & white twine was tied into a bow before adding the panel to a black card front.
I have one more card for you and this one is floral and feminine--a favorite for me & hopefully you like it, too.  I stamped a wreath using flowers from In Bloom: Eva's Favorite Flowers along with leaves and dots from In Bloom: Frenchy's Festive Florals in Brilliance Pearlescent Lavender, Pearlescent Coral & Pearlescent Jade.

The hello die was cut from the center of the panel, stacked 3 high, brushed with shimmer & glued in place.  The larger, blocky font of this die is perfect for the hidden die cut technique as it doesn't totally disappear.

I darkened the photo so you can get an idea of the shimmer on the hello die cut.  Some little Wedding Dress Pico Embellisher dots were added and the panel was attached to a dark gray card front.
Now you can see why I love the In a Word: Hello Cutaway and hopefully you've gotten some inspiration for your own crafting.  I'll be back with another Winnie & Walter post next Saturday.  Be sure to leave a comment below to be in the running for the gift certificate.
Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment,
I will visit you.