Spread Your Wings... Try Stampin on Tuesday #465

Things that fly!   This was the optional theme with the sketch challenge with Try Stampin' on Tuesday #465 here.
I immediately envisioned a majestic eagle soaring over the mountains....

This Eagle, from Stacey Stamps, called "Freedom", is coloured with watercolor pencils and a blender pen and then fussy cut.  Dimensionals are used to add this majestic bird over a mountain scene created using the Waterfront stamp, and die cut with a circle die.

The circle is adhered to a Gray Granite rectangle, matted with Basic Gray card stock.  This is added to the card front with dimensionals.

The card base is Basic Gray layered with Smoky Slate with a 2" strip of "In Good Taste" DSP on the left.

All edges have been sponged with Smoky Slate ink.

The sentiment is from a stamp called "Spread Your Wings" created by my friend Marie the owner of Frog's and Whiskers store in Campbellford. After stamping with Smoky Slate ink, it is added to the card front below the bird, using dimensionals.  Selective words from the rest of the sentiment (highlighted with a Basic Black marker) were stamped on the inside of the card.

Some linen thread tied into a bow is added to the top corner of the sentiment.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Freedom (Stacey Stamps), Spread Your Wings (Frog's Whiskers)

Inks:  Black Memento, 

          Eagle:  Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Basic Black

          Scenery:  Balmy Blue, Smoky Slate, Pear Pizzazz, 

          Sentiment:  Basic Black Marker

Papers:  Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, Gray Granite, Whisper White

Accessories:  Circle dies, Dimensionals, Linen thread, Blender Pen

Sending My Thoughts - a fun fold

Sale-a-bration is drawing to a close.  There are only 2 days left to take advantage of those wonderful free products with a purchase of $60.

One of the items going is the Lily Pad DSP, this paper coordinating the Lily Pad stamp and dies.  A new fun fold, inspired by Patty Bennett, is used to feature this paper for the last time. This is a great fold to exhibit the two sides of any DSP.

A 5 1/4 by 11 3/4" piece of the Lily Pad DSP is scored at 1 3/4,  4 3/4 and 7 3/4" and accordion folded and then added to a 5 1/2 by 4 1/4" Flirty Flamingo card base. The DSP between the second and third score line are adhered together to make a more compact fun fold.

Whisper White sentiment pieces, die cut with the Stitched Rectangle dies, are added to the various inside fold areas, and decorations done using the Lily Pad dies. 

The sentiment on the front is from "Well Said", with the word "you" highlighted with a Bermuda Bay marker.  Because they are individual stamps, the stamparatus was used for stamping.

Two of the smaller Lily flowers are stamped with Flirty Flamingo ink and sponged with Blackberry Bliss, die cut, and then added as embellishments for the front sentiment piece. Also added was some Bermuda Bay enamel dots.

Along both edges, and along the edge of the next fold is added a Flirty Flamingo die cut.

 Below, the card is opened at the first fold to expose the first two sentiment pieces and the pattern on the other side of the DSP.

Open up the final fold and the last 2 sentiment pieces are revealed.

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Waterfront, Positive Thoughts, Well Said, Lovely Lily Pad
Inks:  Bermuda Bay, Basic Black and Bermuda Bay markers, Flirty Flamingo, Blackberry Bliss
Papers:  Lily Pad DSP, Whisper White, Flirty Flamingo
Accessories:  Lily Pad dies, Bermuda Bay enamel Dies, Stamparatus

Here for You - Freshly Made Sketches #428

Everyone in self isolation or quarantine have been on my mind lately, and I chose this opportunity to make a card reflecting my feelings.  Although I cannot physically be near those individuals, I would like them to know that I am still "here for you"

This card was made using the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches #428

The image is from the "Waterfront" stamp set is die cut with a layering circle die (with a bit of one side trimmed off).

It is added to the card front which is Sea Foam Vellum (SAB) adhered to Whisper White card stock.  The card base is Pear Pizzazz. All layers of the card are die cut with the Stitched Rectangle Dies.

The sentiment, added with dimensionals, is from "By the Dock"

The inside also has some stamping from the Waterfront stamp set as well as a strip of Vellum at the bottom.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Waterfront, By the Dock

Inks:  Black Memento, Image (Basic Gray, Mossy Meadow, Crushed Curry, Balmy Blue)

Papers:  Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Vellum Specialty DSP (SAB) Soft Sea Foam

Accessories:  Layering Circle dies, Dimensionals

Life is a Beautiful Ride - Try Stampin on Tuesday #417

I am enjoying doing the challenges at Try Stampin on Tuesday or Not, and I particularly enjoyed this one as I was able to use a watercolor background I had made last week.

This week the theme of the sketch challenge is vacation fun.  I have always wanted to go up in a hot air balloon so this would be a perfect activity for a vacation.

Because i needed the height of  the card for my hot air balloons I turned the sketch on its side.

Last week I was in a "making backgrounds" mood, and one of the backgrounds I created was a watercolour wash on watercolour paper which was covered with wrinkled plastic wrap until dry.  The colours I used:  Gorgeous grape, Calypso Coral and Old Olive.  I loved the result, and today I used this background to create this card.

As much as I hated to, I cut the background into a 4 by 5 1/4" piece and this was cut into three 1 1/8 by 5" pieces.  But before I did this I stamped some trees on the bottom using the tree stamp from "Waterfront" using both Old Olive and Mossy Meadow inks as well as some small balloons floating off in the distance and some birds in the sky.

These three strips were evenly spaced and adhered to a Mossy Meadow background.  This in turn was adhered to a Ricotta Rose card stock base.

After applying a strip of Vellum card stock across the middle, I added 2 balloons I had stamped and punched out from the remnant of the watercolour background.  The baskets from both balloons, and the banner was also punched using the new Hot Air Balloon punch.  All edges were sponged with Basic Gray card stock to give them more definition.  The front balloon only was adhered using dimensionals. Clear wink of Stella was applied to each balloon.

The sentiment was die cut with a layering square die, matted with a Mossy Meadow slightly larger scallop square and added at an angle (as if it were attached) to the red balloon.  A bow made from two strands of Old Olive Baker's twine was added to the top corner of this square.

Wouldn't that be a wonderful ride on your vacation?

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Above the Clouds, Waterfront

Inks:  Basic Gray, Black Memento, Real Red, Blueberry Bliss, Old Olive, Mossy Meadow

Papers:  Watercolour wash background on watercolor paper, Whisper White, Mossy Meadow, Ricotta Rose,Vellum

Accessories:  Old Olive Bakers twine, Dimensionals, Layering Square Dies, Hot Air Balloon punch, Clear Wink of Stella

Best Catch in a Diorama card

Diorama a noun that means . A three-dimensional display of a scenery, often having a painted background in front of which models are arranged, or a small scaled replica of a scene.

There are a plethora of tutorials for Diorama cards but the one I found most helpful was made by Amanda Fowler, an Australian Demonstrator.  You can find her video tutorial here

There are also various types of Diorama cards. Some have two layers; some are three. All have an aperture through which the scene is viewed.

My Diorama card has three layers, a front and middle piece through which an opening is die cut and a back piece upon which the scene is built.

Although it looks bulky, it lies flat for mailing. But because this makes it a larger size, an envelope was made using the Envelope Punch Board.

From front to back, the layers are as follows:

Front layer:  Crumb Cake
Middle Layer:  Old Olive
Back Layer:  Thick Whisper White 

Two different sizes of the Stitched Rectangle framelits were used to die cut the apertures in the front and middle layers - the smaller framelit for the middle layer.

On the back layer, a mountain and water scene was created providing a lovely back drop for the fisherman who was casting his fishing line in the water. The Waterfront stamp was used to create the mountains.

This is a view from the left side of the Diorama card. You can see the 3 layers as well as the embellishments on the outside.

The 3 small fish were held in a bunch with Old Olive linen thread , the fishing hook  looks like its holding them up.

Above is the left side, which displays the 3D look of the card.  The cluster of reeds and bull rushes, adhered to the top and middle layer help to create this 3D look.  The rainbow trout adhered to the top of the card looks like it has jumped out of the water

Before entering the water, the fisherman left an extra hat which I placed on one corner of the sentiment, which was also die cut with the Stitched Rectangle Framelit.  The basket is waiting for his catch.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Best Catch, Waterfront
Inks:  Black Memento, Stampin' Blends, Basic Gray,  Balmy Blue, Pacific Point, Mossy Meadow, Soft Suede
Accessories:  Best Catch Framelit dies, Stitched Rectangle Framelit dies, Old Olive Linen Thread

Postcard Pals Shadow Box Card

A wonderful alternative to a décor item shadow box is a shadow box card. These come in many shapes and sizes, but the one I have made is a 5 1/2 by 5 1/2" square one.  There are many tutorials for shadow box cards but the tutorial I used was the one done by Ricas here

A shadow box card is a perfect way to show case a specific stamp set, and in this case, "Postcard Pals"

The base is Kraft card stock and the square frame made according to the directions in the tutorial, but decorating the box card was my own creation.  I must admit the miter corners on the box edges almost defeated me. They're not perfect but I did figure it out and it's the best I can do (this time).

On each of the box edges I added a 3/4 by 5" piece of Whisper White card stock, and measuring 1" from the edge at each end I first drew a line to the corner and then cut it with my trimmer.  One thing I found helpful was to make a template and use it to cut the other 3 sides. The Whisper White piece  was layered with the Botanical Butterfly DSP which was cut in a similar manner only 1/8" smaller.

The image from "Postcard Pals" was stamped using the Stamparatus, and coloured with  watercolour pencils and a blender pen.  I used the DSP  for inspiration for the colour palette for the image and the embellishments. After the image was coloured, the dot stamp from "Waterfront" was used to create the background.  I did not use the full strength of the Basic Gray ink, stamping off first and then stamping around the image.

The image was first die cut using the layering circle framelit and then layered with a scallop circle in Highland Heather. The two were adhered using dimensionals. This was adhered to the 3 1/2 by 3 1/2" piece of Kraft cardstock which was adhered to the bottom of the box.  Some rhinestones, coloured with the Blackberry Bliss blendability were added randomly around the image.

The flowers and leaves were made using the "Pop of Petals" stamp set and punched with the Four Petal Punch.  The leaves were fussy cut.

The butterfly was punched directly from the Botanical Butterfly Gala DSP

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Postcard Pals, Pop of Petals, Waterfront
Inks:  Black Memento, Watercolour Pencils, Highland Heather, Old Olive, Basic Gray, Mango Melody, Blackberry Bliss blendability
Papers:  Kraft card stock, Whisper White, Highland Heather, Botanical Butterfly DSP
Accessories:  Four Petal Punch, Duet Butterfly Punch, Layering Circle Framelits, Rhinestones, 1/4" Highland Heather Organza ribbon.

I mentioned in my post above that I learned how to miter corners.  In searching the internet I found a video tutorial on You Tube  here that I found useful and I was able to adapt the information to card making. The students were able to use this technique and were successful in making great mitered corners.

Here's a picture of them proudly holding up their shadow boxes.

Hello Spring - Folded Paper Frame Card

I know this is wishful thinking.  I know Spring is months away still.  Yes I wish for Spring.

The Fable Friends stamp set is really about Easter, and Easter this year is in April - a month where Spring is just around the corner.  So I made this Folded Paper Frame  card below with my wish for Spring on it.  I used the tutorial with Splitcoaststampers here to make the folded frame.

The chipmunk holding a flower, from "Fable Friends", was stamped on a 2 3/4" piece of Whisper White and coloured with blendabilities. The dots on the background are stamped in Pool Party and are from "Waterfront".

This art piece is mounted on a 3 by 3" piece of Pacific Point card stock and set aside while I made the frame.

Using the score board, a 4 1/4 by 4 1/4" piece of Gingham card stock, was laid on the board with two of the corners on the 3" score point.  Each corner, in turn, was scored at 1" and 1 1/2", then folded into the center after which the tip was folded back to form the frame.

The frame was unfolded and the image piece was inserted and adhered in the center.   Dimensionals were placed on the inside folds closest to the edge before they were folded to the center to give the frame more volume. Each tip was then folded back and held back with a dimensional.

The completed frame was mounted on a 3 1/4 by 3 1/4" square of Pacific Point card stock and mounted on the embossed Whisper White layer of the 5" square card front.  The Whisper White layer was embossed with the dot to dot embossing folder before it was added to the Pacific Point card base.

A double bow made with the SAB blue organza ribbon was added with a glue dot on the left side of the frame.

The sentiment, from "Fable Friends", was stamped with Pacific Point ink, matted with Pacific Point card stock and adhered to the card front under the folded paper frame.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Fable Friends, Waterfront

Inks:  Black Memento, Stampin' Blends (Daffodil Delight Light and Dark, Crumb Cake light and dark, Old Olive light and dark, Night of Navy light, Smokey Slate, Pool Party light)

Papers;  Pacific Point, Whisper White, Blue Gingham DSP

Accessories:  Blue Organza ribbon (SAB), Dot to Dot embossing folder, Dimensionals, Score Board

Thinking of You - FabFriday #151

Masculine Cards are traditionally difficult to make, so for the sketch challenge with Fab Friday #501
I used several stamps to make  this  "Thinking of You" card.

The card base is Soft Suede which I embossed using the Rooted in Nature framelits (the leaves) and the Big Shot Embossing Mats.  The Whisper White art piece matted with Crumb cake card stock was adhered to this card front using dimensionals.

The art piece was created using the following:

• Water - Bermuda Bay and Waterfront stamp set
• Shore rocks - Soft Suede and Waterfront stamp set
• Two trees - Rooted in Nature and Mossy Meadow ink
• Sun - Waterfront Stamp set and Crushed Curry ink.

At the bottom of the Whisper White art piece I added 2 pieces of  3/8" Shimmer basic gray ribbon, with some 1/16" braided twine tied in a bow at the left edge.

The sentiment was stamped in Soft Suede ink using Teeny Tiny wishes, & punched with the Classic Label punch.  Before adhering it to the art piece above the ribbons I sponged the edges with the same colored ink.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Waterfront, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Rooted in Nature

Inks:  Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede, Mossy Meadow, Crushed Curry

Papers:  Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Whisper White

Accessories:  Rooted in Nature framelits, Big Shot Embossing mats, Classic Label Punch, 3/8" shimmer Basic Gray ribbon, Braided Twine

Country Birthday

What first attracted me to the Country Ride Stamp set was the horse vane - then the wagon wheels.
The card I finally ended up making incorporated these wheels as well as several elements from other stamp set to create the country scene below

To make the fence I stamped the Hardwood background stamp with Soft Suede onto Crumb Cake card stock and cut it into 5/8" strips.  The upper and lower strip are 4 7/8" long; the 3 posts 2 1/8" long.  After sponging the edges the fence was constructed as shown and a black marker was used to make the nail marks.  It was set aside while the background was stamped.

The Waterfront stamp set  was used to stamp the mount mountains, sun and sky; Rooted in Nature to stamp the trees; the branches from Country Road; the grass from High Tide; and the black birds from Enjoy Life.

The fence was now added to the art piece, and two wheels, stamped on Crumb Cake and punch with a  1 3/4" circle punch, were slanted against it.  The two black birds were added to the top of the fence, and the sentiment on the lower strip. Two framelit elements were added above the sentiment.

The art piece was matted with Basic Black card stock, then Whisper White and finally onto a Mossy Meadow card front.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Country Road, Waterfront, High Tide, Enjoy Life, Hardwood

Inks: Soft Suede, Daffodil Delight, Mossy Meadow, Balmy Blue, Black Memento, Basic Black marker

Papers:  Mossy Meadow, Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories:  Dimensionals, 1 3/4" circle punch, Framelit Elements

Watercolor Rooted in Nature - a partial case

Now that my pre-order has finally arrived, I have some time to sit and play with probably my most favourite stamp set in the entire order, - "Rooted in Nature".

I did a partial case of a card I saw in Pinterest made by Cindy Elam

I borrowed the rocks and the sun from the Waterfront stamp set, both of which I stamped on Watercolor paper.

The tree was inked with Mossy Meadow ink and spritzed lightly prior to stamping.  The second tree was stamped without re-inking. To add some dimension to parts of the tree I used a Mossy Meadow marker especially on the lower branches.

An aqua painter was used to blend the water and the rocks.

Prior to added it to the card front with dimensionals I wrapped a piece of Baker's twine around the bottom and tied it in a knot.

This focal point was trimmed to  2 3/4 by 5 1/2" and added to a a 4 1/4 by 2" strip of watercolor paper embossed with two sizes of leaves.

 

Both pieces were adhered to a Soft Suede card base.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Rooted in Nature, Waterfront
Inks:  Soft Suede, Mossy Meadow, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Mossy Meadow marker
Papers:  Watercolor, Soft Suede
Accessories:  Aqua painter, Baker Twine, Dimensionals, Nature's Roots Framelits dies

Black Ice Technique with Waterfront

Another snowy day, but not as bad as what the East Coast is experiencing with another Nor-Easter, the 3rd in 2 weeks. With Spring just around the corner the sight of the snow is disappointing.  I guess we have to wait a little longer.

Today's blog post is about a new technique that I have seen on various Facebook groups and Pinterest,  called the Black Ice Technique,

It's a fun technique and so easy to do and the resultant card looks like an old photo.  After watching a number of videos on the subject I tried it for myself using a number of different SAB stamp sets.

Most samples I have seen use silver foil for this technique, and for my "trial" card I used this, but I wanted to see this technique using copper foil and I didso using the stamp set "Waterfront"

Isn't that beautiful?

Metallic elements on cards are difficult to photograph, and this card was no exception. But I love the effect of the final editing on this card. 

Below is a more typical example using Silver Foil with the Heartfelt stamp 

So how is this technique done?

Supplies:

Stamp:  Heartfelt

Ink:  Black Archival. This is the only ink that can be used on foil

Papers:

• Basic Black 4 1/2 by  5 1/2 (card base)
• Silver Foil  3 by 3 1/2"
• Whisper White 3 1/4 by 3 3/4" (first mat for Silver Foil)
• Basic Gray  3 3/4 by 4"  (mat for Whisper White)
• Basic Black 4 by 4 1/4"
• Basic Gray 4 by 5 1/4" (layer for card base)

1. Starting with the 4 by 5 1/4" and 3 3/4 by 4" piece of Basic Gray card stock using the direct ink to paper technique, apply ink in long streaks one side at a time from top to bottom. Protect the other side with a piece of copy paper.  Be sure to secure the paper to the work surface or else the ink lines will be wavy.  Turn the card stock and ink from top to bottom again.  Set aside
2. Repeat this process on the 3 by 3 1/2" silver foil (handle by edges only.  Fingermarks leave marks)
3. Dry with heating tool
4. Stamp image using Archival Ink.  Dry with heating tool
5. Apply Versa Mark very lightly one side at a time and emboss with clear embossing powder.

After the foil piece has cooled, mat with Whisper White, Basic Gray and Basic Black.

Add glitter black ribbon if desired.  I added it to the right side.

Adhere this to the Card Base which has been layered with the treated Basic Gray Layer.