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.

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!

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:

Why do I have space tags today?

51 years ago today the first man went into space, Yuri Gagarin.  It doesn’t matter where you are on the political spectrum,  this was –  and is –  a reason to celebrate the scientific achievements of all mankind.

Yuri’s spaceflight was the culmination of centuries of progress in science and technology.  It needs to be celebrated.  Every bit of science known at the time contributed to this.  (Face it, the Soviet side and the American side were spying on one another constantly during this time and had many of each other’s scientific information.)

The bravery of Yuri Gagarin cannot be underestimated.  He got into a tin can on top of a missile with a rubber-type bumper on the bottom and a parachute to go into space.

What sciences did Yuri have to rely on? Which one didn’t he have to rely on?  Both basic science and applied sciences and technology from every field were needed to get him into space and return him safely to earth.

In honor of this incredible accomplishment, the world celebrates Yuri’s Night on April 12th (and the ensuing weekend) with parties and gatherings dedicated to science and space exploration.  We need to celebrate science more, and this is a great reason to!

I’m going to a friend’s small gathering with my 5 year old nephew to celebrate and teach his 5 year old and my nephew the value that science brings to us all when it is used to reach for the stars.

Tags were made by playing with various ink sprays (all water reactive), Technique Tuesday space set, and Amuse Studio (consultant ID: 1341) pigment inks and embossing powder.

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.

I colored the main part of the stamp –  save the egg –  with Copic Markers.  I then tried painting with pearls on the egg.  The red pearls are barely visible, but, honestly, I like the effect I got.

I then added some of the Distress Rock Crystal Candy sticklers to the egg and the pistils of the larger flowers.

I really enjoyed the sheen that came across from the sticklers.

• Paint Dabber Resist Technique
• Crackle Paint Resist Technique
• Shattered Stains Technique

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 used Nostalgic Batik Technique with Distress Ink Broken China with clear embossing powder on the first card.  Stamped some leaves Pine Needles and distressed with yellows and browns.

For Rusted Enamel Technique I used Broken China and clear embossing ink.  Waiting for the heat embossing in this technique takes awhile.

The Distress Powder Resist Technique is pictured last.

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.