Today was shaped card day.
I decided to use a crown die I have from Spellbinders and some glittery paper to make a simple crown-shaped card:
I used stamps from Tim Holtz – I don’t remember the set name and distressed the crowns.
I embellished it by die-cutting a smaller crown and using Michael’s Recollections pearls.
I think this would make a good graduation card, personally.
Die cut windows!
I did a raised window where I offset blossoms from the Spellbinders group of Blossoms. I think the off-setting makes it look even more 3–dimensional.
I stamped with Amuse Studio (Consultant #1341) French Roast pigment ink. The stamp set I used is a retired Amuse Studio set called Good Fortune.
The papers and embellishments were random in my stash. I really need a better labeling system for my papers!
Online Card Classes is offering a new class A Cut Above about using die cut machines and the Silhouette Cameo machine.
The first week is all about traditional die cutting machines. Today the instructors covered layering die cut pieces and stamping with dies.
I used a retired sizzlits die and one of the new Hero Arts combination stamp and die sets:
I had some fun creating this background paper tag. I’m always looking for ways to make more masculine cards. Who isn’t? I sta
rted with the browns that come with the Distress Re-Inkers that Tim Holtz’s Ranger product line is famous for, added some Amuse Studio (my ID is 1341) French Roast pigment stamp pad (water-based pigment dye) with the Chevrons stamp set.
Please feel free to contact me to make an order – if your order is $150 USD or more (combine order with friends) – you qualify for free products from Amuse Studios!
Back to the class assignment:
I added the Perfect Pearl medium to the chevron stamps and then did some water distressing.
Finally, I added a layer of the Rock Crystal Candy Sticklers.
Today was all about paint. The techniques we did involved stamping with paint, creating tags with paint, and trying to stamp on paint.
The first tag shows my attempt at the Paint Dabber Technique. I went with a gold paint and then went wild with all sorts of stains.
The second tag is the Shattered Stains Technique. I decided to try it on a whole tag with the idea that I might be able to make some really nice stained glass cards by overlaying either a sticker or paper cutout of a stained glass window.
The third tag shown is my attempt at the Crackle Paint Resist Technique. I learned that detailed stamps – which I tend to be partial to – don’t show up well over crackle paint! i think I need more silhouettes in my collection. I know some are coming my way in an order I have coming soon.
I don’t have the the new Distress Markers so used my Marvy Le Plume II Markers instead. Using the colors #65 cherry, #39 ash grey, #36 manganese blue, #37 lt. cool grey, #5 yellow, #101 tropical, and #9 pink I did each of the techniques.
The first technique pictured I used was simply coloring with the markers and going over it with a watercolor brush. The second picture shows the same stamp from Great Impressions water colored by picking up the color with a waterbrush and painting the stamp.
The next group of pictures is from coloring the stamp itself with the markers. Once they are colored you breath on it to reinvigorate the the inks and stamp with it. By spraying water on the stamp you can get 3 more stamped images.
I wasn’t able to do the Stained Kraft Resist Technique and part of the Stamping with Stains technique because no one locally had the Picket Fence Stain. I’m going to have to order some!
What was I able to do? I was able to distress a tag with just a few stains I happened to have on hand. I was also able to do the Marbled Stains Technique.
I tried the techniques I was able to do on both regular and glossy card stock. I liked the results on glossy card stock (1 and 3) better.
Water coloring with Re-inkers, Layered Misting, and a Custom Stamp Pad!
On top I used a Michigan moth stamp from Gray Wolf Graphics and took lots of artistic license in coloring it with Ranger Distress Ink Re-inkers from the yellow and blue palettes.
The second card was done with the misting technique. I used a Dreamweaver stencil of an octopus. Again, Ranger Distress Ink Re-inkers mixed with water from the yellow, blue, and just a touch of red.
Finally, I made a custom stamp pad with a Lost & Found from My Mind’s Eye hot air balloon acrylic stamp. I had to “season” the stamp to make it work, though. And, you have to take the class to find out about that.
So, this little 10 day course has homework. But, the homework is the fun kind.
In today’s lesson, we learned a few Ranger Distress ink techniques:
The first card is my example of Blended Distress / Spritz & Flick, I used Scattered Straw, Seedless Preserves, Mustard Seed, and Dusty Concord. The spritzing didn’t show up in the photo – I’m still learning how to use my new camera. (You may find many pictures of SMR in the near future.)
The second card is the Brushless Watercolor Technique. I took Gray Wolf Graphics stamp of a Michigan-type Heron and painted it with Stormy Sky, Weathered Wood, Mustard Seed, Black Soot, and Pine Needles. The detail in the Gray Wolf Graphics stamp actually made for a gorgeous outcome – at least I think so.
The third card is Wrinkle-Free Distressing with just Mustard Seed and Seedless Preserves.
Why did I just use purples and yellows? Because I did the assignment on my Wedding Anniversary. I also had to add Emerald Green Archival Ink from Ranger and a Great Impressions stamp #E320 to all three because I liked the look.
I made my wonderful husband a card using some techniques I have picked up. Yes, the cardmaking was more for me, but he liked the sentiment inside.
Of course, this really needed the right cover:
The main image and inside of the card are from Bugaboo digital stamps. I adore her stamps for coloring with Copic Markers. And, well, this image just sang out to be used for an anniversary card. The other stamp is from Great Impressions – one of my absolute favorite rubber stamp companies.
I’m taking the online class Creative Chemistry 101 with Tim Holtz and actually used a bit of knowledge from the first lesson! It seems that pigment inks tend to have a more stable color across cardstocks due to their opaqueness than dye inks. Before I took the class, I wouldn’t have even thought about that! It is well worth the $35.00 just for the overview on dye types and how they act and react to different surfaces.
Since DH had to work today, I’m sticking with just pasta and steak. This weekend, however, an apple pie may be in his future.
He is a wonderful, wonderful man – even when I cant’ get near him after he comes back from the gym. :: shudder :: I’m glad he is working out, but please, please shower sooner than later!
I really can’t imagine my life without him – and I don’t want to! I love that man more and more each day – even when he is being “a man” if you know what I mean. 