CCC Reveal

Here's the card I sent to Jeanne for the March card exchange.  The panel had been sitting on my desk for a long time.  It was the 2nd one I made after watching Lydia's video using foil, gesso, an embossing folder and alcohol inks.

I let the colors bleed together too much, so it's looks like all I used was purple.  That worked great for the choice of black, white and one other color.  I used SSS Cherry Blossom 3D folder which includes  3 flower dies.  I used vellum for the flower diecuts and for the shadow layer of  Memory Box Friend Daily Script.  The letters were die cut from MB glossy black cardstock.  Love my newest PTI frame die called Reflections: November.  The stark white was distracting, so I lightly brushed it with Altenew Wisteria ink.  Tiny black dots for the vellum flowers finished it off.  I'm also entering DCD and WAW. 

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

Greta

Time Out Challenge #273

I think you're going to love Time Out Challenge #273 where we are inspired by these words:  "As long as autumn lasts, I shall not have hands, canvas and colors enough to paint the beautiful things I see."  Vincent Van Gogh

We're generously sponsored by Poppystamps who are giving a $20 store credit to the winner picked by the DT.

Autumn is probably my favorite season with cooler temperatures, changing colors and football!  You can be inspired by the whole quote or any of the words.  I tried a new technique after watching Lydia Fiedler's video.  

Basically, you attach foil to cardstock, emboss with a 3D folder, cover with gesso, add alcohol inks and cover the raised edges with gold.  Lydia brayered on gold paint, but I swiped with a gold ink pad.  I did find it tricky to not end up with the alcohol inks all mixed together, but this panel turned out like I wanted.  

I made it into a card using a sentiment and leaves from SSS Thankful for You.  Hope to see you in the gallery.  I'm entering SSS Wednesday and Double D.

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

Exchange Card and Thanksgiving

My August CCC card went to Tina in Slovenia and I used the friendship theme along with the suggested colors.

Many of you know I love wreaths, so this was really fun for me to make.  The stamps are Altenew Botanical Wreath Builder except for the tiny dots which are from Uniko.  I silver embossed the flower details and used CN9 Grapefruit and Pink Lemonade for the solid flowers.  

The leafy images are stamped in CN9 Sprout.  I silver embossed the sentiment from Altenew Sweet Bouquet and added an extra die cut for dimension.  I used a thin silver mat and put silver Stickles in the flower centers.  I'm going to have lots of fun with this stamp set.

I was unsuccessful trying something new with alcohol inks, so decided to use them on a piece of vellum.  It's easy and no mess.  

The colors are Lettuce, Stream, Ginger and Cranberry.  It just so happens that I have all of those (and a LOT more) of the Adirondack dye ink pads.  Maybe I'll use them next!  Anyway, while there were still sticky spots, I added some gold foil from a scrap on my table.  The leaves were cut with the small die from SSS Etched Laurel Leaves.  

I made a card from PTI Fine Linen and stamped MFT Geometric Grid in Fine Linen ink for a tone on tone background.  There are also gold splatters which show up in the video in my IG post.  The sentiment from SSS Full of Thanks was stamped on an Altenew oval diecut in Versafine Clair Acorn.  I'm entering SSS Flickr.

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

Copic Markers and Alcohol Inks

It's been awhile, but finally I'm back to show you some of my recent cards.  Surprise, surprise--I actually used my Copic markers & alcohol inks--yay!

I decided to try coloring SSS Cosmos Stem die cuts with Copics--not as intimidating as a stamped panel.  

Love the peachy colors with some yellow Stickles in the centers.  The background is made with the largest pieces of Birchpress Grace Layers A, B & C.  They're all colored with DO lucky clover.  I used a lighter hand for the top & clear embossed the bottom layer.  

I didn't like the stark, white background, so lightly sponged on some squeezed lemonade.  The white embossed sentiment is from SSS Thoughtful Messages & the dots are Pico Embellisher.

The CAS Mix Up challenge inspired me to try again to use my Alcohol Inks.  Not sure I've tried them on vellum before & the look is really pretty!  I did remember a tip to use fewer colors together & I think that is why my panels turned out this time.  For this card I used blue, green & silver fixative splatters.

A die from Mama Elephant Union Square was used to cut the vellum & a soft stone panel.  Then the vellum die cut was inlaid into the soft stone panel.  Poppystamps Powell Butterfly was die cut from white & silver scraps.  The body from a Memory Box butterfly die fit perfectly.  

The sentiment from SSS Thoughtful Messages was stamped in Versafine Clair Morning Mist.  We mailed this one to an elderly, extended family member facing heart valve replacement surgery.

Next is the card I made for GK Monthly Mix challenge.  I mixed pink & red AI & added some gold foil to this vellum panel.  I stamped the poinsettia from GK Festive Flowers in gold sparkle ep, but it didn't give enough definition to the image.

Luckily the stamp was still in my MISTI, so I inked it in black & stamped again.  Love how it turned out!  I stamped the double poinsettia from the set in Versamark on a pink, textured panel.  The thin SSS frame was die cut from the pink panel & from black cardstock, so I could inlay the black frame.

I stamped the sentiment from the set in black & used a deep, red cardstock for the mat.  Finished with a deep red gem & gold watercolor paint splatters.  I'm also entering CAS Mix Up & ModSquad.

Finally, another Christmas card made with more AI panels on vellum.  Hero Arts Paper Layering poinsettia was die cut from a panel with Crimson & Cranberry AI plus gold foil.  

I backed each piece with plain vellum & used foam tape to adhere the pieces.  Decided I needed green leaves, so made another vellum panel with Lettuce & Sublime Alcohol Inks plus gold foil.  The background is a Sizzix Tim Holtz poinsettia folder used with a deeper gold shimmer paper.  Winnie & Walter noel die was cut twice from black cardstock & brushed with a gold shimmer pen--really pretty in person.  I'm entering ABNH, ModSquad & SSS Wednesday.

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

Totally Different Cards

Lots of new items listed in my sale pages, in case you're looking for a bargain.
I have several C&9 Turnabout Stamp Alignment Guides I don't need & am happy to pass on to you at no cost.  Contact me to see if I have what you want.

I love heat & dry embossing, so didn't want to miss the May Memory Box Challenge.  One of my older dies is the MB Woodland Branch.  I haven't used it very much, although I really like it.  Decided to try dry embossing it on a kraft panel & just love the look.

I already have another card idea in mind.  I sponged the edges & over the branch with Distress Ink vintage photo.  The sentiment from Poppystamps Hope and Thanks was stamped in Versafine Clair Acorn.  I used a Zig to add brown splatters.  MB Kaleidoscope Butterfly was die cut 3 times, colored with Distress Marker picked raspberry & heat embossed with Hero Arts Sparkle embossing powder.

I attached the butterflies just in the center & gently bent the wings up.  Finished by matting the panel with brown cardstock close to the color of the sentiment & glued on brown sequins.  I'm also entering JUGs & SSS Wednesday

A craft store not too far from me had a big sale last weekend & it included pearl Alcohol Inks.  Even though I've barely used the AIs I have, couldn't resist getting a rainbow of colors.  Here's my first attempt using them on a piece of Yupo paper sent to me long ago by a friend.

I swiped with a green & a blue.  Really do need to practice, but at least there was enough usable for the background of the SSS Sweet Tulip die which I layered 3 high.  The sentiment from SSS Sketch Ranunculus was stamped in Brilliance Gamma Green & trimmed into a little flag.

The shine from the pearl ink is so pretty in person & changes depending on the light.  I didn't add any embellishments yet as I think this could even go to a guy who likes gardening.  I'm entering SSS Flickr Challenge 122, SSS Wednesday & Flickr Love Handmade Cards Challenge 41.

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

Couple Cards

I didn't want to miss Christmas Kickstart Challenge #4--Have a Heart.  Thought of making a wreath of hearts.  As I was looking for a variety of little heart stamps to use, I came across my PTI Trendy Tree Tops.  A lightbulb went on in my head & I decided to use the plaid circle with a heart in Christmas colors.

Kind of fun, I think.  The green ink is Delicata Emerald Green & the heart is covered in Christmas Red Stickles.  I love this very old Stampendous sentiment stamp & thought it worked for this unique card.


I printed a couple pictures & wanted to use the scraps of glossy photo paper.  I've not had a lot of success with my Alcohol Inks, but I'm not giving up--haha!  My first try was just blobs of color, as I forgot you need to do the blending before it dries.  Next try I used my felt applicator with Stream, Patina & Silver Mixative along with the blending solution.  I just dabbed on the blues & swiped a little with the silver.  Finally--a piece I really like!

The current PTI LFF challenge is to use your favorite stand alone die.  There are several I really love & one is definitely Window Works.  I chose the largest die to show as much of my beautiful background as possible.

The sentiment is another favorite die--SSS Painted Hugs.  I die cut it from 2 shades of blue cardstock & brushed it with a shimmer pen.  Ignore the lines on the right--shadows from the blinds as I held it in the sun to show the shimmer.  The mat is a dark gray which I really like with the blues.  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday & Die Cut Divas.
Edited to add: Also entering Virginia's February Show & Share.


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