Celebration Card

I'm participating in the Muse Challenge #106 this week.

I tried some new (to me) products on this card. The stamp set I used is from Mama Elephant and is called Make a Wish. I stamped my sentiment with Versamark ink and embossed with Liquid Platinum by Ranger. The stars are from the same set, and I tried a couple of newly purchased inks: Simon Says Stamp's Audrey Blue and Hero Arts' Fresh Peach.

The multicolored strip is cut from the Mama Elephant packaging. The colors seemed just right to use with this card. This is a very basic, simple card and it was a great opportunity to test drive some new things. I think this card will end up in a box sent to Operation Write Home.

Here is the inspiration image from the Muse blog:

As you can see, I borrowed multiple elements from this card. The simple panel to the left with all the stamping concentrated towards the bottom and also the stamping on the far right of the card front.

Happy crafting!

Immi

Stenciling + Stamping

I'm squeaking in under the wire here for a submission to this month's Make It Take It Challenge with Craft Stamper Magazine.

The only requirement is to incorporate stencils. I chose to use a couple of stencils to create the green and purple background. First, I used a piece of sequin waste. I applied Distress Peeled Paint ink with an ink blending tool through the holes to some white cardstock. Then I selected a Heidi Swapp stencil and sprayed her Color Shine spray in Amethyst on top of what I'd already stenciled.

The sentiment is from a new Mama Elephant stamp set I recently ordered (Merci). I stamped it on a smaller piece of white cardstock with Hero Arts Black dye ink. Then I stitched it down the left side of the panel onto some black paper. 

The Merci set also includes a few small flowers and leaves. I stamped those on a scrap of white cardstock, also using the Hero Arts Black ink. I cut them out and layered them onto my stenciled background using Glossy Accents.

To help my stenciled background stand out against the white cardstock base, I mounted it onto some black paper with a subtle grid pattern.

Till next time,

Immi

Friendship Card

I'm trying to squeeze more time in for art play in the evenings, and relying on challenges to give me ideas to try. Hero Arts currently has a challenge going with a nature theme. The only rule is to use at least one of their stamps. I decided to try a new stamp set I found on clearance at a local scrapbook store. (Somehow, if it's on clearance, I feel better about buying it!)

I started with a watercolor panel and inked it with two Distress Inks - Worn Lipstick and Wild Honey. I applied each color with a blending tool from the opposite edge, allowing them to blend together in the middle. I love the way the colors look together!

I stamped the floral design twice with Versamark ink and sprinkled it with Wow Opaque Bright White Super Fine embossing powder. (Since Distress ink stays wet longer than most dye inks, I was careful to heat set the blended ink in the background until it was completely dry. Otherwise, embossing powder would have stuck everywhere.) After heat setting the embossing powder, I stamped the butterfly from the same set (Hero Arts Butterflies & Wildflowers). This time I used Versafine Onyx Black and sprinkled clear embossing powder on top, heat setting afterwards.

The white embossing I'd done earlier really didn't look as good as I'd like in the middle of the stems. I decided to cover my boo-boo with a vellum strip. I used the Mini Scallop & Pinking die from Alterations to cut a scalloped edge on both sides of my strip. Then I stamped my sentiment from Hero Arts Friends, using Versafine Onyx Black. I used clear embossing powder again and heat set it. Since vellum is always tricky to adhere without seeing the adhesive through it, I chose to stitch it down with my sewing machine and white thread. I think this did a pretty good job of disguising my less-than-perfect stamping. I always try to find a way to salvage my work!

The watercolor panel was mounted onto a plain white card base and that was that! It was a fairly quick project and I'm happy with the way it looks.

Happy crafting!

Immi

Thanks!

Today I'm enjoying a day off from work. I recently started a new job, and I'm missing my craft time! I decided to make a "thank you" card today for a co-worker of mine. She made a little sign with my name for my work space as a welcoming gesture - so nice of her! I thought it would be fun to use the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge, A Piece of Paradise, to jump start my project.

I started with a piece of watercolor paper, cut to A2 size. I sprayed it with water, then had fun with several spray inks (Glimmer Mist & October Afternoon), letting the colors run and blend together. After drying it with my heat gun, I took a Tim Holtz stencil (Burlap), and spread Ranger's Texture Paste randomly through the stencil. I let that air dry for a little bit, then finished the drying with the heat tool. I used some Mini Distress inks and blending tools to add some color to the top of the texture paste. Next I die cut watercolor paper into flowers & leaves using Tattered Florals and Tattered Leaves dies from Sizzix. I sprayed those with inks as well, but they seemed a little blah. I added some interest to them by using various stencils & stamps. For the leaves, I used the Typewriter Background stamp from My Favorite Things and Mowed Lawn Distress Ink. For the purple flower layer, I used Tim Holtz' stencil, Dot Fade and Seedless Preserves Distress Ink. For the yellow flower layer, I stamped with Dandelion Archival Ink and a Penny Black stamp called Penmanship. The blue flower layer is stamped with Peacock Feathers Distress Ink and a mini script stamp from Prima. I also edged the leaves with a Black Soot Distress Marker to help them stand out more from the background. I glued the leaves & flower down with Perfect Paper adhesive. The sentiment is from Stampin' Up! (Many Thanks). That was stamped on a scrap of watercolor paper with Versafine Black Onyx, covered with clear embossing powder, and heated. I trimmed closely around it and sprayed it with Sea Glass Glimmer Mist. Then I mounted it on a scrap of purple cardstock, notched on the one edge. I tucked the opposite edge under the leaves when I glued it down. The finished panel was mounted on purple cardstock, using Tombow's Extreme Adhesive. For one last touch, I glued a clear gemstone from my stash as a center for the flower.

That's it for today - happy Monday to you all!

Immi