Floral Ampersand Thanks

Freestyle collage is fairly new to me but I try! I think some of the journaling cards in the last SSS kit are so fun and lend themselves to this style.

I used more mirrored cardstock in the upper left corner of the journaling card. It looks green because it is reflecting a colour from the background. Try to disregard that will ya? I made the little paper clip flag using self-adhesive ribbon which made it so easy!

Enjoy, Rebecca

Entered in:

RECIPE
Stamps: SSS hearts and sentiment
Ink: angel pink-Memento, black archival-Ranger, soft stone-PTI
Paper: DP, &, card-My Mind’s eye, Card base-blushing bride-SU!
Accessories: cork-WRMK, sequins-Lucy’s Cards, Krylon gold leafing pen, ribbon-unknown

Rugged Sympathy Cards

My FIL passed away recently and while we weren’t close, it was hard to see my teenaged son and my husband so sad. So I made them both sympathy cards.

Of course, as with many of us, I struggle to make masculine cards that aren’t super boring. Sure it’s easy to layer a few papers but that’s so blah. I used some ephemera I’d been saving and a cool technique to jazz it up some.

The background is crumpled cardstock which I then smoothed and DTP added some light brown ink. I spritzed it with water to soften the look, let it dry then applied a slightly darker shade orange  ink with my fingers to really work it into the paper. It if was closer to the same shade, I might have been able to use a sponge applicator but this seemed to really bring out the texture in the paper. A sponge might have applied ink too evenly. My fingers were only orange for one day :).  I wish more of it showed.

I’m entering this in the Simon Monday challenge to make new friends but keep the old. I used an old technique to make the paper look like leather and an old stamp. I used ephemera I’ve been saving for ages and new veneers. I also used Mojo Monday 379 for the sketch. for Mojo Monday Judges: I’m entering both cards. But I can only link up one card for each URL. So I entered the other card by clicking on it then using the URL for hte photo. Sorry but no way to link back to the challenge for that card. HOpe that’s OK.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamp: Justrite Stamps
Ink: Ranger Archival brown
Paper: cardstock-PTI, DP-Authentique, ephemera envelope
Accessories: Veneers-Studio Calico, grommet-WRMK, twine-repurposed, Copic markers YR 68, BG75, E59

Spring has Arrived for Unscripted Sketches #241

Ok, I know, I am jumping the gun in a huge way. Most of us are locked in the grip of winter and struggling through snow and freezing temperatures. So I felt a pop of spring was a necessity to cheer me and everyone else up.

I really stretched the sketch this week. But it was fun to see the branches work as the grey strips on the sketch. Ok, so I know the ‘Spring’ looks crooked but I SWEAR it isn’t! I measured it twice! I think it’s the slant of the ‘r’, then the fact that the top line of the ‘n’ is low and the bottom of it dips down combined with ‘g’ tail dipping down too.

The centers of the flowers are made with a tiny dot of Viva paper pen. The branches are held with glue only at the thicker part of the branch so the thinner parts with the flowers sit off the paper a bit giving the, dimension. I cut some small bits off the upper branch and moved one smaller branch and relocated it to make it look different from the bottom branch so more  realistic.

I’d love to see what you would do with this sketch? Do you play it clean and simple? Jazz it up? Stick right to the sketch? or go outside the box? Please be sure to join us at Unscripted Sketches this week! Thanks so much to all of you who come back and play often or even every week!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Paper: kraft CS-PTI, DP-WRMK Spring, white CS-PTI
Accessories: cloud dies-PTI (airbrushing), alpha dies-Quickutz, branch die-Memory box, flower dies-Sizzix yarrow

Asian Lady Card for Unscripted Sketches

So this week I actually made something for Unscripted Sketches that has a full, proper name!! hee hee!! I got a gorgeous embossing folder but it was hard to use until I got some Asian paper to go along with it.

As you can see, this embossing folder wouldn’t suit a lot of designs as it is very Asian. But also very lovely! I needed a couple of get well cards for some classy ladies so this was a perfect design. The gold accents are just an ink pad swiped across the edges of the paper and over the embossing.

Here’s a tip for you. I didn’t want to raise the sentiment panel on two layers of foam dots. But the embossing underneath raised the lady panel up on one side so she would sit lopsided if adhered flat on the left. So I added scraps of the embossed panel under the lady panel on the left so it was balanced but still not higher than the foam raised panel above it.

I also used the WRMK envelope maker to make a matching envelope out of one of the busier patterns I’m less likely to use. I’m like most and have way too much paper so I’ve got to use it up! There’s always another new gorgeous paper pack on the horizon!

Please come on out and create something lovely with our super talented team this week at Unscripted Sketches! You can create anything your crafty heart desires from any type of artistic or creative endeavour! Just make sure we can still ‘see’ your use of our sketch. You can rotate, flip, turn and change proportions in any way you see fit and also change one shape for another. Have fun with it, take a pic and link it up! You don't have to have a blog to play!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: PTI
Ink: Encore gold pigment, rose shadow ink-HA
Paper: G45 Bird Song, Blushing Bride CS-SU!
Accessories: ribbon-American crafts, lace-vintage, Embossing folder-Spellbinders, rhinestones-TE, corner chomper, envelope maker-WRMK, foam dots-Jody Morrow

Snowflake Crocheted Bead Wreath Tag

I’m a bit bummed about the photo of the wreath on this tag; it’s so pretty IRL and so hard to see in the photo!

I would have made the crocheted strand much longer so the final wreath would be thicker but I ran out of time. Maybe if the background was solid it may have stood out better, in fact I'm pretty sure it would have, my bad.

It’s actually really easy to make, you thread your beads on thin wire, 26 gauge or thinner. Keep your wire on the spool, don’t pre-cut it. Then just start chain crocheting it. Every so many stitches, you have to decide what look you want (one bead every stitch, every second, third…), you slide a bead along and stitch it in. Easy Peasy! I wrapped mine twice but I think I should have wrapped it at least 4 times to make it more dense and stand out from the background more.

For the background, I used Sharon Harnist’s double embossing technique. You can find her tutorial at the Classroom as part of the 12 tags of Christmas. I started by using glitter embossing powder but I overheated it so I embossed over it with clear embossing powder. Then I used two blues, one was more turquoise-ish, and E77 to airbrush the background. Removing the colour from the embossing was the fun part; it is quite dramatic!

I’m also going to enter this in the Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge 62 to create anything!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Thanks All Ways-PTI (on back)
Ink: Teal Zeal-Memento (on back)
Paper: white CS-PTI, chocolate CS-SU!
Accessories: craft wire-Michaels, beads, lace, crochet hook-stash, metallic string, embossing folder-Cuttlebug, 1/2” hole punch-SU!, small hole punch-WRMK Cropadile, Hero Arts ultrafine embossing powder, iridescent ice embossing powder-SU!, Copic airbrush system

Dream Art Journal Page

I am new to mixed media and art journaling so be kind. Here is my first page in my new art journal. I kinda winged it with the only pre-requisite being the colours required for the new Mixed Media Colour Challenge. and an idea that I might satisfy another challenge by adding hexagons but I love them so much I’d probably have used them anyway!

ETA: I just noticed how grey the top right textured area looks. I PROMISE, it isn’t like that IRL. Somehow, between adding the gold paste and adjusting the levels to make the other colours look right it does that. I don’t know why. Sorry! It is more accurate in the close up below though brighter white IRL .

I had so many ideas that didn’t work out. Gotta love that gesso. It’s like an eraser or a Copic blender pen for art journals! I orignally had a yellow BG with peach bubble wrap over it and then added the texture paste ‘doily’ over it. Which was good because I didn’t love the bubble wrap look too much. Then I tried adding the hexagon stencil with coral spray mist. Ugh! The spray mist was too intense and looked like my page was bleeding. Plus, it soaked right into my texture paste so there was no wiping it off. So I started fresh with new gesso and a new coat of yellow paint. Ahh, that’s better!

But now I was really missing the white of the texture paste so I reapplied it in the opposite corner. I had also added some pink on it with my Copic airbrush system so I added that back also. To make the original texture stand out, I added some gilder’s paste.

This is the new area of texture paste. It was brighter white but I added a tiny bit of gilder’s paste. You have to be careful with that stuff. Lots looks shiny and pretty. A touch can look nice or it can look dirty. I wish I’d used a bit less; maybe only on the outer parts?

This butterfly was traced from a Studio Calico mask. I was going to layer the lighter butterfly on top but when I realized you wouldn’t see any of the mist on it, I decided to place them separately. I hand cut the blush butterfly. The next mask size down is a lot smaller. I don’t know why there is such a jump in sizes as the next 4 are closer in size to each other. It’s a LOT easier to size up by tracing around a mask than to try and size down!!

So in the end, here are my layers. Gesso, acrylic paint, dictionary page, texture paste, spray mist, gesso, acrylic paint, Copic airbrushing, embellishments, Gilder’s paste.

I’m entering this in Crazy for Challenges C4C192 to use Hexagons.

Also Really Reasonable Ribbon #75 challenge to create anything but a card with ribbon.

And last but not least A Mixed Media Colour Challenge to use yellow, peach and pink. Click graphic to visit the post.

ETA: I completely forgot, I meant to also enter this in the Simon Says Stamp and Show Blog. Anything Goes.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Ink: Mister Hueys-Studio Calico
Paper: Dictionary page
Accessories: homemade texture paste (white glue, MS pearl paint, baby powder), Copic markers and airbrush system, Studio Calico and various stencils and masks, jewelry wire, May Arts ribbon, Gelatos (title), Prisma micron pen, gilder’s paste, journal (actually a cheap sketchbook)-Michaels, washi tape-MME, WRMK

Relax Card

I had a BLAST making this card. I started with the Verve challenge going on right now but realized that it worked for several other challenges! Scroll down to see the other card I made for those challenges as well. 9 challenges in two posts, that is a record! Wahoo!

The Verve challenge was to combine the styles of two of their DT members, Jen, who is known for her colouring and Janelle, who is known to have  a paint brush in one hand and a Copic in the other. So combining those two styles is the goal but if you really want to make it challenging, add Jen’s love of kraft paper and Janelle’s love of mixed media.

Since I’ve been trying to add more mixed media to my work, I decided this was a challenge made for me. Especially since I won a Mojo Monday recently and had some brand spankin’ new Verve stamps to try out! And some new mists and masks… Yeah! I started by getting out my new Mister Huey’s mists but then I made the wise decision to cut some tags and test spray the mists. Sooo glad I did because they are so NOT the colours on the label!

Then I sprayed the background on my card base. Next time I will use some adhesive because the paper curls when the first few spritzes hit it but the mask doesn’t. I allowed it to dry while I prepared my tag. When I die cut the corrugated cardboard, the bumps got all squished so I lifted them back up with my bone folder. Then I applied two colours of paint, the turquoise you can see easily and a gold glimmer paint that is harder to see, along the edges. Then I added the sand and shell bits and while still wet I added some glitter. The rest is pretty easy to figure out.

I’m entering this in the following challenges.

Verve Dive Dare

Simon Says Stamp: Transport. I know a surfboard is a bit of a stretch but lifeguards use them to get to swimmers in danger so I figure that makes it count!

CAS-ual Fridays 105: Mapquest Summer Vacation

Ribbon Carousel 82 Fun in the Sun

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Verve
Ink: Mister Huey’s Bonny Blue, Memento black, teal zeal, Vintage photo Distress
Paper: reclaimed corrugated cardboard, kraft, aqua cs-PTI,
Accessories: mask-Crafters workshop, Copic markers, acrylic paint, Divine Twine, WRMK grommet, MuddPuddles shell bits, Malibu sand, foam dots-Jody Morrow, tag die-Spellbinders

PTI Blog Hop–Larkspur Sequinned Bookmark Card

This month’s theme is all about sequins. It was harder than I would have thought to find sequins. The ones at Michaels were horribly gaudy! I phoned to ask if they had any and the clerk went to look. I had already told her I wanted pastels and she came back to tell me they had two packs and where they were. When I found them, they were in super metallic Christmas colours – red, green, blue, silver and gold! Seriously, they need new staff!

I finally found a roll a white iridescent sequin trim in the bridal section and removed the string holding the sequins together then airbrushed them for colour. Unfortunately, they aren’t faceted like many I’ve seen people using lately and I wish they were but they will have to do.

I embossed and coloured the larkspur first without a clear idea what I was going to do to make it into a card. I used Distress markers to watercolour it using a loose, painterly technique and not necessarily staying in the lines. Though I have to admit, that is outside my comfort zone so I sort of coloured in the lines first then added some colour outside the lines after. Then while the colour outside the lines was still wet, I added the sky/background colour.

TIP: Leaving white around the outside of the image and not taking the paint to the edges of the paper adds to the ‘painterly’ effect. Sorry the picture is a bit dark, it was the only way you could see the lighter painted areas at all.

Once I trimmed out the image on the sides, I realized it was pretty tall and thin. I could have trimmed the top but I got the idea to make it into a bookmark. I needed a card for a young friend’s recent baptism and then thought about this sentiment and it all fell into place! (We baptize as teens or young adults, not as babies.) She is quite the artist and paints a lot so I knew she’d appreciate it. To hold the bookmark in, I used an old tool, the Basic Grey Notch and Die tool, to cut the circular notches.

I hope you have fun looking at the rest of the projects on the hop. If you’d like to visit again, be sure to sign up for RSS or email subscriptions on my sidebar. Thanks for visiting.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Out on a Limb Sentiments, Year of Flowers Larkspur-PTI
Ink: Versamark, Archival black-Ranger, lemon, lavender, wisteria, chartreuse, moss-PTI
Paper: watercolour paper-stash, rustic white-PTI
Accessories: Distress Markers-Ranger, sequins-Simplicity, Copics and airbrush system, Notch and Die tool, Masterstroke seam binding ribbon, white EP-stash, Crop-a-dile

Eiffel Tower Merci Card

I made a ton of thank you cards for my sister for all her wedding showers and engagement parties. Since there were so many multiples and I haven’t posted them until now, along with lots of swaps, I didn’t post much December and January. My kids and I also made lots of cards for Newtown but they didn’t turn out blog worthy as I was hurrying. I hadn’t noticed how bad those months were until recently and I’m so sorry. Bad blogger. Here’s what I was up to!

I don’t do CAS very well but I was proud of this. I usually hate when I make CAS but not this time, yeah! I can’t remember for the life of me what DP this is, maybe Echo park? A basics pack? Sorry. I feel like I am always apologizing on this blog. Bad photos, forgetting sources, not enough posts… I would help if I got a few more comments so I had some feedback that let me know what you guys think!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE

Stamps: a.muse
Ink: archival-Ranger
Paper: black CS-SU!, white CS-PTI, silver paper-stash, DP-Echo Park?
Accessories: rhinestones-Zva, foam dots- Jody Morrow, WRMK corner chomper, circle Nesties, Cuttlebug embossing folder

New Pets Card

My cousin got a new puppy and a new kitten so I wanted to say Congrats! Now this is where I KNOW my card making is an advantage. Try and find a card in Hallmark that’s a congrats on your new cat AND dog in the same card! Hah! Take that Hallmark!

I used Max and Whiskers paper, specifically half puppy and half kitty papers. The heart tags are those Making Memories frames to which you add your own paper in the centers. Worked out well except I wanted warmer coloured+-frames than the silver they come in. So I used a Copic marker on them tapping the side along the frame. So now it looks antiqued/distressed.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: puppy-CDS, kitty-H&M Stamps, sentiment-Clearly Sentimental About Pets-MFT, paw-PTI
Paper: DP-Max and Whiskers Basic Grey, chocolate CS-PTI, natural ivory-SU!
Ink: Memento black, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo distress
Accessories: Making Memories frames, foam dots- Jody Morrow, Copic, corner chomper WRMK