Embossing with Templates Class

 

I just got the board up at Stampin' Cat for a new class called Embossing with Templates.  This is one of 4 cards we will be making in that class.  We will be embossing in a variety of ways, including dry embossing, heat embossing and paste embossing.  This card features the Blazonry template by The Crafters Workshop.
The blazonry shapes were stamped with the Marquise stamp from Impression Obsession.  I just got this stamp and I can tell that it is going to get lots and lots of use.  The butterfly was made using the Wonderful Wings die set by Spellbinders.

Tuesday Trigger and more...

Moxie Fab - Tuesday Trigger

The challenge today was to create a project using this picture to trigger the imagination...

I couldn't stop with just one project, so I've posted three here, and I may not be done yet.  I may still do one using the same kind of bright colors that were used on this dress.

This first card uses watercolor techniques with Distress Ink to create a fun background.

I masked the butterflies with some Heidi Swapp butterfly masks that I've had for a really long time.  I used lots of different colors of Distress Ink, primarily Victorian Velvet, Dried Marigold, Old Paper, and Frayed Burlap.

Stamps were:

Honeycomb background (Darcie's)

Garden Background (Stampendous)

Mesh Background (PSX)

and  the

Gratitude set (Penny Black)

I tried something new with this card.  First I created a soft background with Light and Bright Alcohol Inks.

Next, I laid down the butterfly masks and applied clear ink, then Frosted Crystal Embossing Antiquities powder.  When embossed, this powder has a bumpy, matte look.  I then applied Snow Cap paint dabber around the butterflies, and used the same paint to stamp a couple of designs in the two corners.  The cool thing it, the paint just wipes off of the smooth areas, but sticks down in the grooves of the bumpy embossing powder.

On this card I started with glossy cardstock.  I stamped a couple of designs with Archival ink, then masked the butterflies and began adding color to the background with Distress Ink.  I used water, ink,and lots of different stamps to create the background.  I used all of the same stamps and colors of Distress Ink as on the first card, but I also used the Old French Writing Background (Hero Arts).

And now, moving on to another project...

I had some scraps lying around from a previous project, so I thought I should try to put them to good use.

The stamp I used here is Balloon Ride by Hero Arts.  

Sentiment is from Impression Obsession.

Impression Obsession Challenge

The Impression Obsession Blog hosts ongoing challenges, and since the current challenge (Shades of Green) spoke to me I decided to participate. This card uses the Small Leaf Wreath and Accent Border stamps from Impression Obsessions' Alesa Baker Designs. I also added that super cute butterfly sticker from the Fabulous line by Chatter Box as well as some other stickers that I have had in my stash for quite some time. I used Bamboo Leaves Memento Ink for all of my stamping and to brayer over the piece that I used to mat the leaf wreath image.

It's Officially Summer Vacation!

In celebration of Matt (my husband) and Hannah (my daughter) finishing their last days of school, here is a refreshing, summery card for you.

This card was created by stamping all the oranges, masking them, then stamping the background. I love this background stamp by Kodomo Inc. The stamp is only 1 5/8" square, but it is so well designed that it is easy to line up the edges and create a seamless background.

Supplies used:
Kodomo Inc. - Oranges (Suiboku: Sumie-E 002),
Backgrounds (Asian Background I and Asian Background II)
Impression Obsession - Relax and Enjoy stamp
Tsukineko - Tuxedo Black Momento Ink
Judikins - Eclipse Masking Tape
Kraft Card (4 1/4" x 5 1/2")
Pink Cardstock
Button Brads (unknown)

Night Pier Card

I received this beautiful stamp from Impression Obsession at a class I took in San Francisco. I finally made some time to play with it.

If you have any interest in learning how this card was made, continue reading this paragraph...if not, just skip down to the next one. I stamped the image 4 different times, once each on regular matte cardstock, acetate, brown cardstock, and glossy white cardstock. The sky and sand were colored using Distress Ink and the Blending Tool. The shiny water was cut out of the acetate, and was colored using Aqua and Pearl Mixative Alcohol Inks. The pearlized quality didn't really show much in the photo, but is really neat in real life. The pier itself was embossed with Distress Embossing Powder before being cut out and layered over the other pieces. Lastly, the moon and the shell were painted using various new Light and Bright colors of Ranger Alcohol Ink. I used Matte Accents over the outside of the shell to make it more like a real shell...just the "inside" remains shiny.

We have been enjoying life around here lately. Up until a couple days ago, weather was sunny and beautiful. We were getting some important jobs done around here, like replanting our lawn. Now the storms and rain we are getting are giving the new grass some important time to establish itself, and it's starting to actually look like a lawn again. As I sit here, the birds are greeting each other very noisily as they feast on worms.

School is winding down, end of the year parties and field trips are in full swing, and Hannah is loving all of the extra excitement. We'll see how she handles summer at home this year. I have a feeling she'll be good and ready when school starts again in the fall.

Noah...well he is spending all of his time and energy growing. Seriously, like a weed! One day none of his pants fit (luckily he had some shorts, and it was warm weather), then shortly after that most of his shoes didn't fit anymore. When I went to measure his feet, he had skipped a size and I had to buy him size 10's. Hannah had times where she suddenly grew too, but not the extreme growth spurts that Noah has. A couple days ago I went and bought him size 4 jeans, and when he wore them yesterday, they really didn't look big on him at all. How can watching your kids grow up make you so proud and so sad at the same time?

This laid back Valentine card is going to be a part of the Be My Valentine card class to be held at Scrap-a-Latte next month.

This card began with the LOVE squares in the center. These are from a stamp set by Magenta called Floral Love. I've chosen to do one of my favorite techniques for vintage style stamps, the Shabby Chic technique. I started with dark brown paper, stamped and embossed with clear ink and powder, painted with the Pebble Adirondack Paint Dabber, then wiped the paint off of the embossed areas with a damp paper towel.

The background was created with the Butterfly Bliss stamp set by Impression Obsession. I stamped the swirly pattern with VersaMark Ink then stamped the butterflies with paint.
When I had finally done that much I was stumped. I just sat there and stared at it waiting for inspiration to come. I finally ended up coming back to my favorite standby embellishments...Maya Roads Metal Blossoms and Kaisercraft pearls. With my love for classic and vintagy (is that a word???) things it seems like those embellishments show up alot.

Speaking of loving Maya Road, check out some of the new items that will be coming out soon!
www.mayaroad.typepad.com/mayaroad
Wow! Loving it...can't wait to get my hands on some of those vintage leaf pins!

Check back tomorrow for more Valentine designs.
(Yes, I'm actually going to post two days in a row.)

Orange and Purple Christmas?

I believe that this is a color combo that I have never put together before, but I love it. My neighbor stopped by my house the other day, so I showed her some new stamps that I was working with, and asked her to look at each one and tell me what she thought of...color, feeling, etc. She gave me some great inspiration. Sometimes it's just great to look at things from someone else's perspective. Of course this is true of life as well as art. Thanks Amy!