Spring Trees

Here is another card I made with my new Spring Trees stamp set. Sometimes less is more and this is one of those times. I concentrated on the cute little trio of trees image. I'll let you in on a little secret... I didn't mask the trees! Instead, I "overstamped" 2 of them and then just stamped and colored on a scrap piece of paper and paper pieced them with some glue dots. It adds a bit of dimension and was easy to boot!

The trees were stamped in Memento black and colored with Copic markers. I used the rag/blender solution technique to texturize the trees and trunks. I used a mixture of colorless blender and BG10 to make a faint blur around the trees.

I couldn't bear to bring in another color, so I stuck with the bright green/brown/white combo. The sentiment was stamped using the omitting method (cover section you don't want inked with scotch tape, ink stamp, remove tape, stamp) and then punched with a small oval punch. I stitched the edge of the card stock. I couldn't help it. :) The button embellishment was inspired by Joanne, Jen and Susan. All three of them do such cute things with buttons!

I added a couple different ribbons and called it done. The polka dot organdy was a bit unruly, so I tamed it with a couple mini glue dots.

Stamps: Kim Hughes Spring Trees

Ink: Memento black

Paper: white, brown

Accessories: Janome sew mini, button (Hobby Lobby), ribbon, copper brads, copic markers, blender solution, ink refill, oval punch, twill, ribbon, rag, red line dimensional dots

Welcome Spring

I must have been feeling bright and cheery when I made this card! LOL Yoyo yellow? Bright green and orange? Huh? You know, sometimes the images themselves inspire me and this card definitely is a good example of that. As much as I would love to make a pink tree... LOL

Speaking of inspiring images... Kim Hughes has an AWESOME line of stamps. I am "closet" Kim Hughes fan and have lots of her stamps. :) Today, I decided that one of my newest sets would NOT be put away until I actually stamped with it. I am SO glad I did. This is a fun set. :)


The image was stamped in Memento black and colored with Copic markers. The texture was achieved using one of my dish rags and colorless blender solution. I am not sure I was able to capture the sky in the photo, but I wanted something really wispy and light. I mixed blender and BG10 in the cap of a squirt bottle and used that for my sky.

The background is stamped in Versamark with a houndstooth BG stamp. The yellow layer was embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing strip thingy. I was annoyed that the edge of the embossing folder showed on my card stock, but decided to roll with it and just used my Scorpal to further define the lines. It was one of those "ummm, YA... I MEANT to do that" moments. *wink*

I refrained from sewing on this card. Proud? LOL I was excited to use my newish Nestabilities to die cut the sentiment for this card. It just fit so well. The little clip serves no purpose except to sit there and look cute. :)

Of course there is lots of dimension courtesy of my red line dimensional dots. I just LOVE them!

I have many more cards to share in the coming days, so see you soon. :)

Stamps: Kim Hughes Spring Trees, Houndstooth CHF

Ink: Versamark, Memento black

Paper: white, brown, tangerine, yoyo yellow

Accessories: silver brads, Copic markers, blender solution, copic refill, silver clip, Nestabilities, ribbon, twill, dimensional dots, rag, Cuttlebug embossing folder, white gel pen

Masterpiece

Here is another card I made with the technique I learned over on the Eclectic Paperie blog. After I made the card I posted yesterday (if you missed it click HERE to check it out), I wanted to give the technique another try without using solution to mute out the colors. I tried this technique on several different card stocks and you definitely want to use glossy card stock when you do it. The other card stocks soak up the ink too fast and you don't get a good splattered look. Know what else is glossy and resists the ink soaking in too quickly? ACETATE!

Since I wanted the focus if this card to be my "masterpiece" (splattered alcohol inks), I chose this fitting sentiment. LOL To make the background, I got a large piece of acetate (transparency) and dropped alcohol ink on it and then moved it around with my can of air. If you watch the video you'll see what I mean. :) Because the transparency is SO resistant to the ink, you really can spread it around and gets lots of cool little "strands" running all over the place. I found with this material, less is more, so don't over-do it or you'll have a big blob of MESS! LOL After I was done with my background piece, I cut it down and layered it over the same sized white card stock. Instead of attaching it with adhesive, I stitched it on. You have to be careful or your acetate will slide around, but it's a great way to add a clear sheet without having to creatively place adhesive or brads to hold it all together.

I needed to add some sort of embellishment! I found this Prima flower which matched PERFECTLY and added a ribbon-threaded button to the center to tie in the mat and ribbon.

I hope you all are having a wonderful day!

Stamps: CHF Inspirational sentiments

Ink: Alcohol ink, Basic Gray

Paper: White, Basic Gray

Accessories: can of air, Prima flower, acetate, button, ribbon, red line dimensionals, silver brads, Janome sew mini

Friends and a Flower

I spent the better part of this past weekend stamping. I had SO much fun! I have plenty to share with you over the next MANY days! :)

This card was made with Jen's SFYTT (Sketch for you to try). Want to play along? Click HERE to be directed to her post with the sketch and the details. :)


When I started this card, I had a technique in mind. I had seen a really cool video over at the Eclectic Paperie blog (click HERE to check it out). I must admit, I am not much of a technique stamper. When I first started stamping 6 years ago, I tried it all from bleach, to marbles rolling around in ink, to sandpaper, masking tape and rubber bands... but these days I stay away from most of that and just stamp! LOL This technique however, got me itching for a trip to Walmart to buy what I needed... :) A can of air! LOL I sat down and began creating and had a great time. :) It was fun. It took me several tries to get it "right", but I am happy with this piece. I went for a muted, earthy color palette. The ink is spattered on glossy card stock and the flowers were stamped in Stazon over the background.


Here is the flower I created using my new Nestabilities dies. I just LOVE it! YUM YUM! I snipped between each "petal" and then rolled the petals up to create lots of dimension. To keep the petals from laying directly on one another, I placed a 1 inch dimensional dot (can be found HERE) between each layer. It really helps to give it a boost and make it look more substantial. I stamped on the 2nd and 4th layers of my card with background stamps using Versamark Dazzle ink and spattered all the pieces with my SU air art tool.

This card is GIANT! LOL I let the pieces be my guide and to stay within the sketch, use as much of my artistic piece as possible, AND use my gargantuan flower... the card needed to be a whopping 8 1/2 X 5 1/2! (an 8 1/2 X 11 piece of card stock folded in half) I guess it will be going in a BOX! LOL OOPS!

Stamps: Kim Hughes flower silhouettes, scrapblocks

Ink: Versamark Dazzle, black stazon, alcohol inks

Paper: rust, kiwi, going grey, black, glossy white

Accessories: Nestabilities, grey button, ribbon, oval punch, scalloped oval punch, can of air, blending solution, dimensional dots and red line dimensionals, Janome sew mini, silver brads

It's been a while...

I am still playing with my Peerless Water Colors. I was so inspired by my friends, Joanne and Michele that I HAD to work with these and I am SO glad I did! :)

I free-handed the "horizon" using my Peerless.

Did you catch yesterday's Peerless Water Colors tutorial? If not, HERE it is. :) You can also view 2 other tutorials using these (authored by Michele and Joanne) HERE in the MFT HTDT forum.

Stamps: Kim Hughes Silhouettes sets

Ink: chocolate chip, Versamark, Memento brown

Paper: white, brown, saffron, aqua mist, SU watercolor paper

Accessories: pom pom ribbon, May Arts ribbon, water brush, Peerless Water Colors, silver brads, Janome sew mini, palette, Nesties label, red line dimensionals

Missing You Bunches: Peerless Water Colors Tutorial

This is a card using Flopsey's Flowers. I pulled out a product I had purchased some time ago and decided today was the day to play with it! I KNOW I am not alone in buying things and then just putting them away and staring at them longingly until at last I decide to USE it. :) LOL

I am SO glad I finally tried it out, because I am in love! LOL Stampy love anyway!

I chronicled the process because a.) it's fun b.) this is a curious product that you have to SEE to understand. LOL

This is my booklet of Peerless Water Colors. It is a booklet of 15 colors. (There are other color options available. This is the most basic) This is not your ordinary set of Crayola watercolors. I am sure you are wondering how water colors can be in a BOOKLET? Right?

Here it is. This is what the water colors look like. This is brilliant yellow. See all the splotchy stuff that is in sheet form? That is concentrated water color stuck to a sheet. It is an interesting concept, so read on...

I followed the directions (need I remind you why? one word: LIQUID APPLIQUE) and snipped a small piece off the sheet. I actually used a 1/4 inch square punch because it looks neater than scissors. LOL I placed the 1/4" square of Peerless into my little plastic palette (Wal Mart $1).Note: you need not be neat (or crazy) like I was... seriously, scissors are fine. LMBO

Next, you just pour some water over it. This photo was taken immediately after pouring the water.

Here is what it looks like just a couple seconds later (literally). See the concentrated water color start seeping from the film? COOL, DUDE! LOL

Here is what it looks like a couple seconds after that.

Just to show you what the "film" looks like after the water color seeps out, I am showing you BLUE "post-seepage". Once the water color concentrate has seeped, you can remove the little piece of film.

I stamped my Flopsey image in Stazon black (make SURE your ink is waterproof) on SU watercolor paper.

I knew I would need some green for the stems of the flowers and for "grass" so I chose LIGHT GREEN. Here is what the complete sheet looks like with the 1/4" square punched out of it. You can see that this stuff will go a LONG way!

Here is the back side of the Peerless Water Color. It is tinted so you can see what basic color it is. You can darken or lighten that color based on the amount of water you use and whether you pour water over it (as I have shown) or use a brush direct to the film (more on that later).

Here are all the colors I prepared for my image. This is just a couple seconds after pouring all the water in.

Here is what they look like "seeped". LOL You can see I added a couple more snips of brown to make it darker. You can also see I left the film in. For the record, the directions say to remove the film. I REALLY don't see how it would differ the end result by leaving them in so against my better judgment (LIQUID APPLIQUE) I ignored that portion of the directions and left them floating in there. LOL

First, I shadowed Flopsey with some yellow. There is really no rhyme or reason to this for me. I just kinda blob some on there.

Next, I colored my Flopsey in brown. MAKE SURE YOU DRY YOUR IMAGE BETWEEN COLORS!

I wanted to darken Flopsey a bit, so I punched a piece of brown and touched my waterbrush to it (I was using an EMPTY water brush that I dipped in water). Doing this gives you dark pigment on your brush. When I picked up the brush, I grabbed the camera and took a picture so you could see the ink on the brush and the UNTHINKABLE happened! Do you see it?

DO YOU SEE IT? Ugh! Brown spots on my cute little Flopsey! I sighed heavily and then decided to go with it...

I picked up my water brush and made some MORE spatters. You know... to make it look intentional. If you can't beat em', join em'! *wink*

OK, now that my spot making hissy fit was over, I continued coloring my image with the more pigmented brown direct from the film. I found it easier to dampen the area I wanted to color on with a CLEAN waterbrush prior to going in with the darker color. It kinda shades itself that way and there is more margin for error. :)

Next, I gave Flopsey some blushing cheeks. I added pink, then went over it with my watered down brown again just to blend it out. Before I blended it, Flopsey looked like Bozo the Clown. LOL

I colored the stems and flowers. Notice how I am leaving some white area? I don't want to color out of the lines and I like that look. If you look at REAL water colored things, that look is present. Note: I am NOT a REAL water colorer, nor am I an expert, so go with what you like. LOL

Next, I drew in the "grass line" and colored it light green (with shading direct to film) and colored the sky blue (washed out a bunch with a clean water brush).

Here is the finished image on my card.

A close up of the details and coloring.

See that flower? I got that die TODAY and I used it TODAY! I shocked myself with that move! LOL

So, what do you think? Isn't it a cool product? Want to try for yourself?

The Peerless Water Colors are on sale this week (through Friday ONLY) for 25% off! For the booklet I showed today that contains 15 colors HERE, it is only $9.75! There is also another option available with smaller sheets, but 40 additional colors for $15.75 and you can get that one HERE. You'll be getting them cheaper than I did! :) LUCKY! LOL You can find them HERE.

If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me, or leave a comment here. Just MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS. :)

Stamps: Flopsey's Flowers

Ink: Stazon black

Paper: SU watercolor paper, white, black, regal rose

Accessories: Daisies #2 Sizzix die (SU), SU jumbo brad, silver brads, May Arts ribbon, water brush, Peerless Water Colors, Janome sewing machine, palette, red line dimensionals

What's the 411?

Know what that means? Just in case you don't, it means, "what's the info", or "what's the deal" or "what's up?". :)

This card is something I made for Celebrate MFT Day. Want to play along and link your creation? Click HERE to be directed to the challenge thread and to read all the details. :) The challenge is actually to use your favorite Flopsey, but I guess I am feeling like a rebel this month. LOL

This is the newest BC Dzyns (by MFT) stamp sets, Text Ya Later.

The image was stamped in Memento brown on a Perfect Paper Panel and colored with Copic markers. I used some Spica glitter pen to add some sparkle to the image on the cell phone and her earrings.

Stamps: Text Ya Later MFT
Ink: Memento brown
Paper: brown, cream, Perfect Paper Panels (MFT)
Accessories: Button, Prima, cream ribbon, sheer ribbon, copper brads, red line dimensionals, Copic markers, Spica glitter pen, glue dots