Autumn Thanks by Trina Pham

Hello and happy Sunday. Thanksgiving is tomorrow here in Canada, so that was the inspiration for this simple watercolor thank you card.  I don’t make autumn themed cards very often, but the beautiful Grateful Autumn stamp set from the holiday release sure makes it easy when the need arises.

Started by diecutting a rectangle panel from mixed media paper using the second largest die from Recrangle Basics die set. Ink smooshed Fossilized Amber, Wild Honey and Gathered Twigs distress oxide inks in the top right corner, ensuring to dry with a heat tool in between each color.  Stamped in VersaMark and heat embossed the Grateful Autumn image with Liquid Platinum embosding powder. 

I love rich vivid autumn colors, so watercolored with red and orange Zig markers without adding too much extra water.  For some texture, spritz with water and splattered with white gouache paint.  I thought gold splatters would have gotten lost in all that yellow.

The Thanks Jotted script sentiment was die cut from gold foil paper and its shadow from black.  Assembled the panel onto a split black/white card base to finish.  Very simple.  Before I go I want to wish my fellow Canadians a happy thanksgiving, and everyone a wonderful week.  Thank you for stopping by.

Supplies

 

CL5243 Grateful Autumn clear stamp set

94011 Thanks Jotted Script craft die

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

Mistletoe Swag by Trina Pham

Hello there.  Today is going to be a quick post since the Christmas card I’m sharing is super easy.

Started by watercoloring the stripe background on watercolor paper alternating between Shaded Lilac and Salty Ocean distress inks.  Used a heat tool to speed up the drying process.  Spritz with a Sparkle spray for some shimmer, then splattered with white gouache paint.  Set aside to dry.

In the meantime, the mistletoe from Mistletoe Swag was white heat embossed on vellum then fussy cut out.  The Christmas sentiment from the same set was white heat embossed on black. The Wishes Jotted script sentiment was die cut from black foil paper and its shadow from white.  Assembled the card onto a white card base, and added clear glitter drops on the berries to finish.  

Attaching the vellum mistletoe without the adhesive showing was a bit tricky, but a matte liquid glue applied behind the embossed lines worked just fine.  I think vellum is so pretty and makes it so easy to create beautiful cards. Instead of creating your own background you could use pattern paper.  And that's it from me.  Thank you for visiting.  Enjoy the rest of your week.

Supplies

 

CL5247 Mistletoe Swag clear stamp set

94122 Wishes Jotted Script craft die

Pine Tree Frame by Trina Pham

Hello there.  I have (surprise, surprise) another Christmas card to share today.  I love Christmas, but you probably can’t tell. 😂  So last month at a crafty get together, we played with alcohol inks (AI).  Instead of using yupo paper, we tried them on vellum! Not only did it work, it’s a more cost-effective alternative to yupo.  

It is best to use thick vellum.  The process is exactly the same as working with yupo, except more blending solution was needed to move the inks.  I also used a marker spritzer to blow air and assist in the ink movement.  To finish the snowy background, white gouache paint splatters were added.

To complete the card, started by die cutting the frame from Pine Tree Frame out of Bristol paper three times.  Took the three resulting inner rectangles and die cut them with the tree image.  Stacked the frames and trees for dimension.

Assembled the card onto a textured cardstock panel.  A frame was die cut from silver foil paper to go between the trees an outer frame.

The Peace Cheshire Script sentiment and the bird from Birds and Blossoms were die cut from blue foil paper to finish.  And with that, I wanted to remind you there is still time to enter our Framed challenge ending September 29 EST.  Thank you for stopping by.  Have a wonderful week.

 

 

Supplies

 

94280 Pine Tree Frame craft die

94017 Peace Cheshire Script craft die

94243 Birds and Blossoms craft die

Merry Mistletoe by Trina Pham

Hello there.  Today I am sharing another simple Christmas card.  It used a technique I was intimidated by, but I finally tried it at a retreat back in May thanks to Susan.  The smell was what put me off, but then Susan recommended the splashless type.  Problem solved!  I barely even notice the smell.

Started by ink blending with blending brushes on hot press watercolor paper to create an ombré monochromatic background.  Stamped the mistletoe from Merry and Bright Mistletoe with Archival black ink.

Next, applied bleach to the image with a small brush.  The bleach will lift the color.

It’s a good idea to use a stamping tool, so the image can be re-stamped, if needed.  The image can be left as is or colored in.  

As you can see, I did both.  Left the leaves and only colored the berries with a red water-based marker.  For some shine and dimension, added Crystal Glaze to the berries.  And lately, I love my splatters, so added some to the upper part using white gouache paint. The sentiment from Mistletoe Swag was white heat embossed on a black strip to finish.

 You can save yourself a step by using color cardstock instead of coloring your own.  Keep in mind, the bleaching will not be immediate and will be noticeable only after some drying time.  And that does it for me.  Thank you for stopping by.  Have a wonderful week.

 

 

Supplies

 

CL5246 Merry and Bright Mistletoe clear stamp set

CL5247 Mistletoe Swag clear stamp set

Spotlight Christmas Cards by Trina Pham

Hello there.  I was doing a little re-organizing of my craft space and found some color cardstock I didn’t think I had any more.  I almost grabbed the blue color one (my favorite color), but decided to go “outside the box” and go for colors I rarely use.  I did some spotlight ink blending and made these Christmas cards with the fabulous new products from the Holiday release.

This blending technique gives a glow effect.  With most ombré ink blending, I like to use three gradient colors (light, medium, dark).  But by using a light color cardstock, it served as the light color and only the medium and dark ink colors were needed.

Started by die cutting the Gilded Wide Candle from white cardstock and adhering it to the panel.  

Using a blending brush, laid down the medium color around the candle, leaving the middle area untouched.  Doesn’t matter if ink gets on the  die cut because it will be covered up later. 

The darkest color was added around the medium color next.  

To emphasize the glow effect, applied black ink around the edges.  I did work the panel a little more after the process photos were taken. 

To complete the card, the candle was painted with white gouache paint.   The candle die cut was then stacked with another white and a gold foil die cut for dimension.  

The sentiment from Merry and Bright Mistletoe was heat embossed with white embossing powder directly on the panel.  The panel must be completely dry for this step (don’t ask me how I know 😂).  Or I would suggest doing any heat embossing first and just do some emboss resist.  Finished off with some white gouache paint splatters.

My second card was much easier.  There was no heat embossing directly on the panel involved, so no drying time was required.  I was also able to get a smoother blend for some reason.  

This technique can be done with darker cardstock as long as the ink colors are darker.  It would have a more dramatic look.  If I make them, Halloween cards would be perfect for this technique.  And that is it for today.  Thank you for hanging with me.  Enjoy your day.

 

 

Supplies

 

94293 Gilded Wide Candle craft die

94325 Joy Airy Script craft die

94285 Ornate Holly craft die

CL5246 Merry and Bright Mistletoe clear stamp set

Holiday Blog Blitz Day 3 Winter Tree Oval Frame by Trina Pham

Hello everyone and welcome to day three of the Holiday Blog Blitz!  Christmas is my favorite holiday so I’m so excited for this release!  And no surprise, I have a very clean and simple Christmas card to share today.  It features the Winter Tree Oval Frame die.

Started by die cutting the oval frame twice from mixed media paper.  This resulted in two frames and two oval pieces.  Took one of the oval pieces and die cut the tree from it.

 

On the other oval, Tumbled Glass, Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon and Blueprint Sketch distress oxide inks were blended on with blending brushes.  Didn’t end up using the frames, so saved those for a future project.  

Next, spritz with water then dabbed off with a paper towel.   To create the falling snow, splattered with white gouache paint.  For some shimmer, spritz it with a Sparkle spray (sorry, couldn’t capture it in the photo).  White heat embossed the sentiment from the new Merry and Bright Mistletoe stamp set on black cardstock, then assembled the card onto a white top folding card base to finish. 

Giveaway time!  This die is so versatile and can be used for both fall and winter projects.  For your chance to win it, leave a comment on this blog post by 11:59 pm EST Sunday, September 1.  The winner will be randomly selected and announced right here on this blog the next day on Monday, September 2.  Good luck and thank you for stopping by.

Supplies

 

94309 Winter Tree Oval Frame craft die

CL5246 Merry and Bright Mistletoe clear stamp set

Roses in a Mug by Trina Pham

Hi everyone.  I have not received the new Holiday goodies yet, so I have a birthday card to share today.  I decided to use the smaller images in the Rose Bouquet stamp set and one of my favourite techniques to create this.

Most of my cards I make are clean and simple (CAS), and one of my favorite techniques to help preserve white space is masking.  Created my masks by stamping the images onto masking paper and fussy cutting them out.  The mug from Cozy Mugs was die cut from Copic friendly paper.  

Arranged those pieces to create the bouquet and use it as a guide.  Stamped the foremost image first then masked it.  Repeated these steps, working from front to back.  Once completed, it looked like a  hot mess, but here comes my favorite part... remove the masks to reveal the image!

Colored the image in with Copics then fussy cut it out. Adhered it to the mug then added shading with cool grey Copic markers.  Next, masked the bottom of a Bristol panel and blended Spiced Marmalade and Scattered Straw distress inks for the background.

Attached the flowering mug onto the panel and added shading under the cup to ground it.  Perky Happy Birthday was then die cut twice from thick white cardstock and stacked for dimension.  

Mounted the panel to a white top folding card base with fun foam.  Added clear shimmer to the roses and Crystal Glaze on the sentiment to finish (sorry, couldn’t quite capture the sparkle and shine in the photos).  As you may have noticed, the colors were inspired by this month’s warm colors challenge.  There is still time to play along.  Thank you for dropping by.  Enjoy your day.

Supplies

 

CL5241 Rose Bouquet clear stamp set

CL5197 Watching the World Bloom clear stamp set

99788 Cozy Mugs

99761 Perky Happy Birthday

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

Acrylic Block Stamping by Trina Pham

Hello there.  I’m still playing with my water-based markers and created a clean and simple (CAS) thank you card inspired by this month’s warm colors challenge.

I used the markers this time to do some simple acrylic block stamping.  Took a red, orange and yellow marker and randomly scribbled onto a long acrylic block.  Spritz it with water until droplets pooled (4 or 5 times) then stamped onto a piece of watercolor paper.  Because these colors are analogous (they are next to each other on the color wheel), I “wiggled” the block back and forth slightly to get the colors to blend better.  Left the block sitting on top and set it aside for several minutes so the colors absorbed into the paper.

In the meantime, the large daisy from Daisy Silhouette was die cut three times from Bristol paper.  A square die from Square Basics was used to die cut the three windows from a Bristol panel.  Drew lines on the back to help with alignment.  Used the square die one size up with that die to create the frames. 

Adhered the watercolor background piece to a white top folding card base, then popped the panel and daisies over top with mounting tape for some dimension.  White heat embossed the sentiment from Springtime Typewriter Sentiments on a black cardstock strip to finish.  And that does it for me.  Thank you for dropping by... and extra thanks for those who take the time to leave such kind comments.  I really appreciate it.  Have a super day.

 

Supplies

 

94249 Daisy Silhouette craft die

CL5239 Springtime Typewriter Sentiments clear stamp set

30088 Square Basics Set

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