Sketch Flower Spray on a Stripey Alcohol Ink Background by Anne Thompson

I've been experimenting again with alcohol inks to create different backgrounds for die cut images.  Today's technique is a lot of fun to do and sort of looks like finger painting though it is done with a brush.  

I started with Alcohol Ink Cardstock and Ranger Alcohol Pearl inks in Sublime (lime green) and Tranquil (blue), just dropping blots of ink onto the coated paper.

I then added drops of blending solution using a brush to spatter it onto the paper.  I do have a cheap paintbrush that I dedicate to using only with blending solution and alcohol inks and keep it in the box with those bottles.

This started the ink moving around and blending the blue and green together.  I wet the brush with more of the blending solution and started drawing lines on the paper.  And look what happened!

Next I auditioned some die cuts to see what I might like against this  stripey background.  I chose the SKETCH FLOWER SPRAY 94248.  I cut it from a linen-textured white cardstock and tried it against the bright green inky background.

I liked this orientation so I chose a white top-folded notecard, cut the inked paper to 4 X 5.25, and adhered it to the notecard using Scor-Tape.  I decided that I wanted color on the blossoms so I popped the flowers out of the spray and inked them with Dandelion and Lady Bug Memento inks.  I glued the leafy spray outline to the background and used Glue Dots to secure the flowers in place.  I then added some white pearls to the flower centers.

Because alcohol inks dry so quickly, this card came together in no time.

Happy Crafting!

Whale Hello by Trina Pham

Whale hello everyone!  As you might have guessed, I have a punny nautical card to share today.  It was inspired by Sandy Allnock and her collection of porthole cards.

The background was created with blue, aqua and green alcohol inks on yupo paper.  Spritz it with rubbing alcohol to give it a bubbles texture.  Went in with a Copic Colorless Blender to add even more bubbles. The large whale from Wonderful Whale Frame was die cut three times from mixed media paper and colored with Copics.  

Two circle dies from Circle Basics were then used to die cut from mixed media paper twice and from silver foil paper once.  They were stacked for dimension to form the porthole frame.  The sentiment from Oceanside Typewriter Sentiments was stamped in blue on a mixed media panel, then heat embossed with clear embossing powder.

Mounted the panel onto a white card base with fun foam for more dimension and drew in the nails on the silver porthole frame with a black Copic marker to finish.  And that is all.  Thank you for dropping in.  Have a wonderful week.

Supplies

 

94228 Wonderful Whale Frame craft die

CL5240 Oceanside Typewriter Sentiments clear stamp set

30087 Circle Basics Set

Perched Bird on a Painterly Alcohol Ink Background by Anne Thompson

I used a painterly alcohol ink technique to create a background for the PERCHED BIRD 94244 on today's card.

how I created the background

• I started with a piece of Alcohol Ink Cardstock (Tim Holtz for Ranger).
• I added some drops of Alcohol Blending Solution (Tim Holtz for Ranger) on the top third or so of the paper.
• Then I added drops of alcohol ink on top of the blending solution (Tim Holtz for Ranger).  I started with Aquamarine.
• I used a paintbrush to move the ink around into horizontal lines of color.  (I have one dedicated for use with alcohol inks only.)  I had to work really quickly and still had some blotchy spots which I kind of liked.  Alcohol inks dry really fast!  

• Continuing to work down the paper, I added more blending solution and Stream ink, overlapping the Aquamarine. 
• For the next section, I added more blending solution and Pesto ink, blending it into the blue layer.
• For the bottom I used Sepia ink blended into the green.
• I added a few more drops of ink where I thought more color was needed and blended it in with the paintbrush.

• Alcohol inks dry very quickly, in just seconds.  And this technique is not as messy as some...only one blue blotch on my thumb!
• I chose a light blue notecard and used Scor-tape to adhere the trimmed 4 X 5.25 panel to it.

For the Perched Bird, I chose another notecard in the same color to die cut it.  I chose not to use the dotted rayed background because I wanted more of the inky colors to show.  I used some white glue to attach it to the alcohol ink background.

All in all, this was a pretty quick card to put together.  Another day when I have a bit more time and more alcohol ink cardstock I plan to make a pile of these backgrounds in a variety of colors to have on hand.

Happy Crafting!

94244

Just a Little Note with the Rose Bouquet by Jean Okimoto

Combine leaves and blossoms from the Rose Bouquet Clear Stamps and Die Set with improvised "stems" from the Wave Ribbon Collage.  It's another design featuring the versatile Rose Bouquet stamps and die.  Hello, Jean Okimoto here - with a simple design that works for any occasion.

Cut Wave Ribbon Collage from black cardstock.  Trim the edges to about ⅛" wide.      

Stamp the individual blossoms and leaves from the Rose Bouquet Clear Stamps with Nocturne.   Dry the ink, then diecut the pieces.  Add highlights to the center of the blossoms with Imagine Crafts Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Stix.  Shake it (cap on, top down!) vigorously about 20 times - then press it onto the centers to add a sparkly shimmer.

Stamp the greeting - also from the Rose Bouquet Clear Stamp set - with Nocturne and emboss it with detail clear powder.

Attach everything to a top-folded A-2 card of pale gray cardstock - use foam dots for the greeting and top center flower.  Attach green gem stickers. 

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the August 11 AWESOME BLOSSOM(s) class at Impress!  We're making colorful floral cards with our favorite dies, stamps and papers - and several of the newest designs from Poppystamps and Birch Press Designs.  See you!

Thanks for visiting...see  you again next week!

 

 

CL5241-D Rose Bouquet clear stamp and die set

94005 Wave Ribbon Collage craft die

 

Some Like It Hot Rose Bouquet by Anne Thompson

Some Like It Hot is the name of this month's Memory Box Challenge with a focus on red, orange, and yellow.  You can find the information so you can participate here.  I decided to play along, using the Rose Bouquet stamp and die and some Distress Inks.

I started with a piece of watercolor paper and Distress Inks in Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, and Ripe Persimmon.  I used the smoosh technique-- I just smooshed some of each color onto the watercolor paper and spritzed with water.  I reused a gold shimmer mist bottle so there is some sheen to the dried inks.

I stamped the Rose Bouquet on the inked paper using VersaFine Clair Pinecone Ink.

I took the outline die and placed it over the image and ran it through my die cutting machine.

 I placed the die cut on top of a yellow notecard and aligned the cut edges with the top folded edge and the right edge.

I snipped off the pieces that hung over the edges of the notecard.  Then I used a waterbrush and Ripe Persimmon and Mustard Seed Distress Inks to fill in the unpainted leaves.

To finish the card I added a crisp orange satin ribbon tied in a simple bow.

Join the Challenge!  I look forward to seeing what you will create!

Happy Crafting!

CL5241-D

 

 

 

Hello Jotted Script With the Rose Bouquet by Jean Okimoto

 
Watercolor the Rose Bouquet and diecut it for a bright, flowery summer card.  Add a simple greeting - from the Jotted collection - and finish it with gem stickers.  Hello, Jean Okimoto here with another design featuring the popular Rose Bouquet Clear Stamps and Die set.  

Stamp Rose Bouquet on the smoother side of watercolor paper with Memento Luxe Wedding Dress.  Emboss it with detail clear powder.  

Press the inks from the Desert Heat Kaleidacolor inkpad onto a large acrylic stamp block.  Spritz it lightly with a fine mist of water.  Colorwash the embossed image with diluted pink ink so the image is visible for detailed painting.  Paint it with diluted inks from the inkpad.  Dry it, then diecut it with the bouquet die from the coordinating set.  

Trim the diecut with the 4-¼" x 5-½"  Rectangle Basics die.

Diecut Hello Jotted Script from dark brown and coral creme cardstock.  Attach the diecuts to a side-folded A-2 textured natural notecard.  Add orange gem stickers.

Hope you'll try this design in other colors too - yellow, red, lavender or lilac are just a few suggestions.  Assemble the cards and have them ready for any occasion.  The simple greeting is quick and easy to add later.

Thanks for visiting...have a great weekend, see you again next week!

 

 

Supplies

 

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

CL5241-D Rose Bouquet clear stamp and die set

94069 Hello Jotted Script craft die

Large Double Peony and Little Dragonflies by Jean Okimoto

A trio of Little Dragonflies and a Large Double Peony create a simple summer card today.  Soft peach tones, gold and gray highlight the pressure-embossed peony.  Hello, Jean Okimoto here with a quick card you can use for any occasion.

Cut arroyo cardstock with the 2" x 3-¼" Rectangle Basics die.  Round the top right and bottom left corners.  

Pressure-emboss Large Double Peony using the embossing mat and plates required for your machine.  Attach the diecut to the embossed background, slightly offset for dimenson and shadows.

Cut Little Dragonflies from gold mirror cardstock.

Cut accent strips - ¾" x 3" of arroyo cardstock, ¾" x 3-¾" of textured gold paper from Shizen Design and ¾" x 4-½" of flintstone cardstock.

Score and fold a side-folded A-2 card of coral creme cardstock.  Round the top right and bottom left corners.

Attach the diecuts and strips to the card.

Big thanks to everyone from last weekend's HOLIDAY FAVORITES class at Impress - I appreciate that you drove, flew and ferried to join the group!   We discovered many new ways to use our Memory Box, Birch Press and Poppystamps dies and stamps.  Hope you'll find them in your stash too!  Special thanks too - Erin and Lynne - for always being there on Saturdays to help us fill those shopping baskets!

No classes this weekend - I'll be prepping for the August 11 AWESOME BLOSSOMS class.  We'll use the several of the just-released Birch Press and Poppystamps designs too...love the Sidekicks and Stacking Dies!  

Thanks for visiting - see you in August!

 

Supplies

 

94266 Large Double Peony craft die

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

99751 Little Dragonflies

A Simple Hello by Melissa Rusk

Happy Friday! Today I have fun card using one of my favorite techniques, paper weaving.

I started with 1/4 inch wide strips of paper, I cut 7 blue and 7 yellow. I placed the yellow strips close together and taped the top of them to the table with washi tape. Then I took each of the blue strips and wove them into the yellow one by one. Once the weaving was finished I took the tape off and used some liquid glue to secure it before gluing it down to the card.

On top of my paper weaving I placed the pretty Layered Poppy that I die cut in white paper. I die cut it twice and glued them together to give the flower some more dimension. I finished the card with the stamped hello from the Big and Little words stamp set and glued down some little dew drop gems.

I hope you have a great weekend!

 

Supplies

 

94251 Layered Poppy craft die

CL5242 Big and Little Words lear stamp set

Say Hello with Scribble Roses and Scribble Fronds by Jean Okimoto

Say hello with embossed, layered Scribble Roses and Scribble Fronds...it's quick and easy and perfect for a simple summer greeting.  Hello, Jean Okimoto here with another design featuring the the versatile Scribble Roses Outline and Scribble Roses Background dies.  

Cut Scribble Roses background from watercolor paper.  Pressure-emboss the diecuts with the detailed Scribble Roses Outline dies using the embossing mat and plates required for your machine.

Brush Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide over the embossed diecuts.  Stack and adhere the three Scribble Roses.

Cut Scribble Frond Background and Scribble Frond Outline from Flintstone cardstock.

Cut the 2" x 3-¼" Wrapped Stitch Rectangle from white cardstock.

Cut ¾" x 4-¾" amd ¾" x 3-¾" strips of Coral Creme and Patina cardstock.

Stamp "hello" - from the Big and Little Words Clear Stamps Set - on white cardstock with VersaMark.  Heat-emboss it with detail clear powder.  Sponge the cooled cardstock with Morning Mist VersaFine Claire.  I think this is easier - and smoother - than white-embossing it on dark cardstock.  Trim the greeting.

Attach everything to a top-folded Kraft A-2 card - use foam dots for the greeting.  Add ¼" circles of silver glitter cardstock.

I love finding different ways to use my Memory Box dies - hope you do too!  We'll start making holiday cards at Impress this Satureday - and discover more ways to use the great holiday (and un-holiday) dies and stamps on unique cards.  Hope you'll join us if you're in the Seattle area.

Thanks for stopping by...see you again next week!

 

Supplies

 

94272 Scribble Frond Outline craft die

94273 Scribble Frond Background craft die

94271 Scribble Roses Background craft die

94270 Scribble Roses Outline craft die

CL5242 Big and Little Words lear stamp set

30094 Wrapped Stitch Rectangles

Raining Watercolors by Trina Pham

Hello there.  Today I have a clean and simple watercolor card to share.  Recent purchases of some water-based markers made me think of a fun and easy technique called Raining Watercolors.

Started by taping a piece of watercolor paper to a hardboard with painters tape.   On one end of the panel, high concentrations of each color were laid down.  So much so that the watercolor paper pilled.  No worries because that part can be cut away.

Next, held the board upright with a paper towel at the bottom to catch the drips and sprayed with water.  Water and gravity does all the work.  Sped up the drying process with a heat tool.

Because watercolors dry back, the process was repeated a couple more times to get the intensity I wanted.  

To complete the card, a panel was die cut from Bristol paper using Rectangle Basics.  A circle was die cut from that using Circle Basics.  Adhered the watercolor piece behind the opening.  The branch and boy silhouettes were die cut from black cardstock.  Confused where the boy came from?  He’s from Cupid with Swing with the wings trimmed off.

Black heat embossed the sentiment from Big and Little Words to finish.  Thank you for stopping in.  Have a wonderful week.

 

 

Supplies

 

94103 Cupid with Swing craft die

98187 Woodland Branch

CL5242 Big and Little Words lear stamp set

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

30087 Circle Basics Set