Cat Tail's a la Zindorf

You may have noticed that I wasn't here yesterday??? I was dutifully sitting at my diningroom table pulling my hair out doing my taxes. I 'think' I'm done with the Federal but still need to do the State one and then review the Federal one more time. The forms are so absolutely rediculous aren't they??? - they drive me crazy. There has to be a more straightforward way for these to be done!

So - by hook or by crook - I was going to stamp today. And today is the Sketch challenge over on Split Coast which I always do.

Another thing I have been wanting to do is try out one of the terrific tutorials Michelle Zindorf does on her blog. She is a wonderful artist and shows how she creates her beautiful cards - step by step - so we all can recreate them ourselves !

Since the stamped panel on this sketch is only 1.5 inches wide I knew I would only be making a small sample of Michelles technique so it was less intimidating than trying to fill the whole panel on my first attempt!

Here is Michelle's tutorial for her Sunset Wheat card. I used my cat tails stamp from Stamps by Judith which I stamped using river rock and versamark inks and embossed in clear embossing powder. Then I sponged all the colors on according to Michelle's directions. I sponged rather than brayering as I cannot seem to get good coverage over embossing the way she does with her brayering. I masked for the moon and overstamped the wheat in black ink at the end. See her tutorial for full instructions on all these techniques.

I stamped a portion of the Cheesecloth backgrounder stamp by Cornish Heritage Farms on the back panel using Espresso ink by Adirondack. The sentiment and circle are by Verve Visual. The cat tails panel is up on dimensionals.

I am pleased with how my first attempt came out - I can't wait to have some more time to try out another of her tutorials on a full size card!

Thanks so much for dropping by - for those of you following such things - I have almost finished the retirement card for my sister's brother-in-law that I mentioned on Monday but I'm not totally happy with it yet - I'll post it as soon as I am!

I'm afraid I have to drag myself back to the diningroom table to attack the State Taxes - wish I could stay here longer!>>>>......

Stamps: cat tail - Stamps by Judith, Cheesecloth - Cornish Heritage Farms, Circle & Sentiment - Verve Visual Wonderful Wishes
Paper: River Rock, Really Rust, Black, PapertreyInk White
Ink: River Rock, Really Rust, More Mustard, Cranberry Crisp, Apricot Appeal, Pumpkin Pie, Versamark Embossing ink
Accessories: sponges, crop a dial, eyelets, dimensionals, clear EP
Techniques: embossing, sponging