Group of Seven Cardmakers - May Technique - Ink Blending on Colored Card

 The May Group of Seven Cardmakers post is up!  This month Loll has chosen the technique for us to play with -  Ink Blending on Colored Card.  You'll find full instructions as well as a link to a YouTube Video over on the blog.

I found that I had to try a lot of different outline images to find ones that worked the best.  I also tried light and dark colors of card stock - and found the lighter colors worked best as we then blend darker ink over the panel and blend around the outside edges with black ink.  If your base card is too dark - the blended ink won't show up.

My first two samples (these are actually my 3rd and 4th try with the technique!) are the same image, embossed in gold on Hawaiian Shores cardstock (a light tealy/blue).  I sponged over the panel with a darker blue, starting from the outside edges up to, but not over, the embossing.  Then I sponged just over the edges of the panel with black ink.  I splattered white with a POSCA pen, embossed the sentiment in white on a black strip and adhered it over the card with foam dots.  You also can splatter with water but I didn't do that on any of my cards today.

Here's the exact same embossed stamping on the exact same Hawaiian Shores card panel and sponged with the same inks as above.  This time I sponged more over the embossed flowers (not on purpose!) so there's just a small bit of light in the center.  I sponged around the edge with black, splattered white with a POSCA pen, and this time, gold embossed the sentiment on a black strip.

This card below was the first card I tried with the technique - the base is a a light yellow, but as you can see, I sponged entirely too much Russet Orange over the gold embossed image so there is hardly any noticeable lightness in the center!  I sponged black around the edges, splattered with a white POSCA pen, layered it over a metallic gold panel and layered that over a Hammered white panel with foam dots.

This was my second attempt at the technique.  I started with a light pink panel, embossed the image in gold, and then sponged with a darker pink inside the rose by mistake (!) and also around the edges, totally forgetting the black!  I splattered this one with Metallic Gold water color paint. 

So - you don't have to follow the instructions exactly if you don't want to! 

The point is to experiment with the technique!

You'll find full instructions, inspiration from the rest of the team and a link to the video over at The Group Of Seven Cardmakers blog here.  

We invite you to try this fun technique for yourselves and you can link your card over at the blog just so everyone can come and see them!

I'm linking my sympathy card to:

Path of Positivity Challenge

Inspired by Nature

Linking my Birthday card to:

Try it on Tuesday

Keep it Simple

easy to make - emboss image, sponge, layer to panels

We Love Stamping

Anything stamped - In the Garden option

Gold embossed stamped flower

Sympathy Cards

Stamps:  Layered Poppy Stamp - Rubbernecker, sentiment from Beyond Basic Borders - PTI (retired).

Paper:  Hawaiian Shores, True Black - PTI

Ink:  Blue Lagoon Elements - Lavinia, Nocturne Versafine Clair, Versamark

Accessories:  White POSCA Pen, foam dots, Gold Embossing Powder, heat tool, sponges.

Sunflower Birthday

Stamps: Botanical Blocks, Birthday Basics - PTI 

Paper:  Harvest Gold - PTI, Kraft Stock Gold - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology, Hammered White card - Amazon.

Ink:  Russet Orange - Elements Lavinia, Versafine Clair Nocturne, Versamark.

Accessories:  Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, foam strips, white POSCA Pen, sponges.

Rose Birthday

Stamps:  Botanical Blocks, Birthday Basics - PTI

Paper:  Pale Peony - PTI, Kraft Stock Gold - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology, Hammered white card - Amazon.

Ink:  Picked Raspberry - Ranger Distress, Versamark, Versafine Clair Nocturne.

Accessories:  Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, foam strips, Metallic Gold Watercolor paint for splatter, sponges.

Oh Holy Night

 Yes, I have to get going on my Christmas cards!  I created this one card for five different challenges.

A very simple design using designer paper for the background, a die frame and sentiment cut from gold metallic paper.

I layered both the frame and sentiment over a sturdier white card die cut and they are both up on foam.

I say a simple design but it took me about 2 hours to find a piece of DP with the Kick Start Challenge colors in it!!  And I die cut the frame and sentiment out of 4 different colors before settling on gold!

Here are the challenges I'm linking to:

Christmas Throwdown

Music (Oh Holy Night is a Christmas Carol)

The Holly and Ivy

Anything Goes Christmas

Jingle Belles

No Stamping

Christmas Kick Start

Color Palette

NBUS

first time using this Oh Holy Night die even though I bought it 4 or so years ago??!!

Paper: Kraft Stock Metallic Gold - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology, DP Alluring Blooms Paper Pad - Altenew, white card  - PTI
Accessories: Oh Holy Night die - Cut-plorations, Nested Rectangle with Square Holes die - Rubbernecker, foam strips and dots.

Inkspirational #290 - Mood Board

 There's a new challenge up at Inkspirational today -  #290 and it's a lovely Moodboard!

I was inspired by the colors and the green tulip buds!

The tulip dies, bow dies, arch die, Elegant Arches stamp and Fond of Foliage stamp,  are all from The Greetery. (yes, I kind of love all their products!) The sentiment is from Stampotique.

I sponged the edges of the tulip and bow pieces with green ink.  The arch panel and tulips are popped up on foam dots.

Please check out all of the inspiration from the rest of the DT over at Inkspirational!

Link up your inspired card by June 2nd!

Also linking my card to:

Double D. Challenges: Flowers

The Card Concept:

Spring Flowers - Clean and Layered

Path of Positivity

Inspired by Nature

Cut It Up Challenge

Send Me Flowers

Stamps:  Elegant Arches, Fond of Foliage - The Greetery, Plant Kindness - Stampotique.

Paper:  Carmel Apple, Light Green - Bazzill, Melon Berry - Papertrey Ink.

Ink:  Lime Punch - Elements/Lavinia, Ranger Distress Mowed Lawn, Nocturne Versafine Clair.

Accessories:  Botanicuts: Tulips, Fit to be Tied, A2 Arches - The Greetery, foam dots.

Inkspirational Challenge - #289 - Mini

 The first May challenge is up over at Inkspirational today.  

It's a word prompt challenge and the word is Mini!

I interpreted "Mini" as both a small image (it's stamped on a 2" x 2" square) 

and a small card - my card base is 3 3/4" x 3 3/4"

I stamped the Make a Wish Mini image from Colorado Craft onto a die cut square of water color paper using Nocturne Versafine Clair ink.  I made sure the ink was dry, and then water colored the image also creating a ground and sky around it.

I die cut two size squares using Cross Stitch Nesting Squares from Tutti Design.  I used a Nestability Square die to cut out the middle of the smaller square and used that for my image.

The square around the image is up on foam strips.

I die cut the card base using Noted: Scalloped Square die from Papertrey Ink.

So what does 'Mini' make you think of for a card?  Please join us over at Inkspirational - where you will find more inspiration from the Team as well as Mr. Linky to link up your creation! Can't wait to see what you create!

You have until May 19th to link up your card!

I'm linking my card to:

NBUS

First time using the Make a Wish Mini Image

Stamps: Make a Wish Mini - Colorado Craft
Ink: Nocturne Versafine Clair
Paper: Water color - Canson Cold Press
Accessories: Square Nestability Die, Cross Stitch Nesting Square Dies - Tutti Design, Noted: Scalloped Square Die - Papertrey Ink (retired), foam dots, Winsor and Newton Watercolor paints, brush, water.

Anniversary Tulips

 Another card made for several lovely challenges out there.  

I just purchased this tulip layering stencil and was happy to use it right away to create this beautiful anniversary card for my college roommate and her husband.  

I was 5 months pregnant with my son, Josh, when I was a bridesmaid in their wedding, so I always remember what year anniversary it is for them (46th this year!)

This is a slim line stencil, so my card measures 8 1/4" x 3 1/4"  And aren't they beautiful! 

 

The Slimline Layering Tulips Stencil is from Unity and it's half price right now! (just sayin')

  Unity actually has a lot of items on sale right now if you're looking! Sale ends 5/15/23.

I used blender brushes to ink over the stencil.  The first stencil is the green leaves, the 2nd stencil is the full tulips inked in a lighter hue of chosen color, the 3rd stencil is tulip highlights inked in a darker hue of the color chosen.  

I die cut the stenciled panel using Slimline Nested Stitch die from Rubbernecker and layered it over a slightly larger panel of Berry Sorbet card. I stamped the sentiment, from The Greetery, on a die cut strip and layered it over the tulips with foam dots.

You could do more to this to dress this up - outline the leaves and tulips in gold or black, add some glitter or shimmer with various products - but I left mine clean and simple in all of it's natural beauty for this, my first try using it!

I'm linking my card to:

The Stencil Fun Challenge

Flowers

The Flower Challenge

Pretty Pastels

Crafting Happiness

Flowers

NBUS

First time using tulip stencil

Stamps:  Sentiment Suite: Love - The Greetery

Paper:  White, Berry Sorbet - PTI

Ink:  Light Spruce, Light Carnation, Medium Carnation - Gina K Designs.

Accessories:  Slim Line Layering Tulips Stencil - Unity, blender brushes, Slimline Nested Stitch Dies - Rubbernecker, Simple Strips Die - Taylored Expression, foam dots.

Balloons in the Window

 I made this card for a few challenges out there in blogland.

I used an older window die from Poppy Stamps, older birthday stamps and balloon die from PTI and a brand new Sparkler Background stamp from the Greetery, that I just purchased.

I'm linking my card to:

Addicted to CAS

AAA Birthday

Seize the Birthday

NBUS

New Sparkler Background Stamp

Stamps:  Birthday Basics, Birthday Balloons - PTI, Sparkler Background Stamp - The Greetery,

Paper:  White - PTI

Ink:  Caribbean Sky, Dusk - Altenew

Accessories:  Small Gothic Window Die - Poppy Stamps, Balloon Die - PTI, gold thread, foam dots, Single Strips Die - Taylored Expressions.

Card Chain Challenge - April Reveal Post

 The April Reveal post of all cards exchanged is up over at The Card Chain Challenge.

This month I sent a card to Michaela in Austria and I received a card from Carol in the UK!

 I used the suggested colors (sort of) charcoal, lime and yellow (I got a little orange in there too!) and  the theme options Spring.

I stamped the background using two background stamps, Fond of Foliage and Windowpane Plaid.    The watering can is stamps and die called Sprinkled with Kindness, Sentiment stamps and dies are Buzzworthy Sentiments, and Honey Bee Dies - all from The Greetery!  One stop shopping!

I inked the stamps then spritzed with water before stamping on a watercolor paper panel.  The bees are colored with Copics with their wings sponged with Distress Tea Dye Ink.  The watering can, bees and sentiment are up on foam dots.

Come join us over at The Card Chain Challenge and sign up to send and receive a card.  You have until May 6th to sign up for the May Exchange.  Find all the details over at The Card Chain Challenge Blog!

You'll also find all the beautiful cards sent and received by everyone for the month of April!

I'm linking my card to:

NBUS

first time using the Windowpane background stamp and Buzzworthy stamps and dies.

Linking this just under the wire to:

Cut it Up

What's in Your Garden?

Path of Positivity

Stamps:  Fond of Foliage and Windowpane Plaid background stamps, Buzzworthy Sentiments, Sprinkled With Kindness - The Greetery

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair, Ranger Distress Oxide Peeled Paint, Ranger Distress Rusty Hinge and Tea Dye.

Paper:  Water color paper - Canson Cold Press, white - Papertrey Ink.

Accessories:  Honey Bee Dies, Buzzworthy Dies, Sprinkled With Kindness Die - The Greetery, black and yellow Copics, foam dots.