Saturday, September 28, 2024

Group of Seven Cardmakers - Stencil Monoprinting - Sept 2024

 It's time for the Group Of Seven Cardmakers September post.  This month we are playing with the technique of Stencil Monoprinting.  You will find links to how to videos over at The Group of Seven Cardmakers blog.

You can create beautiful backgrounds or focal points for your cards, depending on the design of the stencil.  Basically you are using the background of the stencil to create your panel.  You can leave it as is on your card, or you can place the stencil back over top to add different ink colors or embossing paste to fill in the design.

Due to the larger/longer sizes of the stencils I used, I made all my cards Mini Slimline size - 3" x 6".

Rosette Stencil from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous - Salty Ocean Ranger Distress Ink
Gondola dies are Alexandra Renke
Illusion Twist Stencil from Altenew - Scorched Timber Ranger Distress Ink
Succulent Stencil from Stencil Girl - Mowed Lawn and Forest Moss Ranger Distress Inks
A few photos of how I made my backgrounds.
  
Rub water reactive ink (like Ranger Distress inks) over stencil and spritz liberally with water. For this panel I used two colors - Mowed Lawn and Forest Moss.  
This stencil is  6"x6" so I was able to make 2 mini slim line cards from it (3"x6")
Flip the stencil over onto a panel of watercolor paper and press over the stencil to help the watery ink absorb into the paper.
Remove the stencil and again press over the panel with paper towel or cloth to absorb any pools of watery ink.

We hope you'll give this stenciling technique a try!  We have a Mr. linky over at The Group of Seven blog so you can share your card with everyone.  We'd love to see what you create!



I'm linking my Halloween card to:
Fall Frenzy - anything Fall ends 9/28

First time using the ghost dog die



Linking my Gondola card to:
red and blue colors
ends 10/1

Linking my plant card to:
ends 10/2





Gondola Ski Christmas Card

Stamps: Two Feet Deep - PTI (retired)
Paper: Watercolor - Canson Cold Press, White, Pure Poppy, True Black - PTI
Ink: Salty Ocean - Ranger Distress, Nocturne- Versarine Clair
Accessories: Rosette Stencil - Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous, Die - Small Cable Car - Alexander Renke, foam dots, twine, paper towels or cloth, water mister.

Dog Ghost Halloween Card

Paper: Watercolor - Canson Cold Press, Olive Twist, True Black - PTI, hammered white (on ghost) - Amazon.
Ink: Scorched Timber - Ranger Distress.
Accessories: Illusion Twist Stencil - Altenew, Ghost Dog die - Amazon, Halloween Shadows - Tim Holtz/Alterations, orange Copic, foam dots, tiny gold gems - Gina Marie Designs, white enamel dots - Altenew, Black sharpie pen (pupil on eye), water mister, paper towels or cloth.


Succulent Cards

Stamps: Plant Kindness - Stampotique, Way to Grow - The Greetery.
Paper: Water color - Canson Cold Press.
Ink: Mowed Lawn, Forest Moss - Ranger Distress, Nocturne - Versafine Clair
Accessories: Succulents Stencil - Stencil Girl, Dimensional Plant Stickers - Recollections, water mister, paper towels or cloth.

Saturday, September 21, 2024

Inkspirational #325 - Word Prompt - Headwear

 We've got a fun new challenge over at Inkspirational today -  #325  Headwear!


I decided to go for a masculine birthday card.


I pulled out the fun Tailored Dies from Tim Holtz/Sizzix which is a set of 3 hats and several options of ties and jacket shoulders!  I also used postage dies, stencils and stamps from Waffle Flower as well as a sentiment from My Kind of Guy, a retired stamp set from Waltzingmouse.  I added a red gem to the top hat.  The stamps and hats are all up on foam dots.

What does the word Headwear inspire in you?   Please join us and link up your cards over at Inkspirational!

The challenge ends on 10/4

Also sending my card to:

optional theme FALL
ends 9/30

Don't really need another one  ends 9/23
I buy way too many Tim Holtz dies! 
Center vertical row - Gems/free/die cut
ends 10/26




Stamps:  Postage Collage - Waffle Flower, My Kind of Guy - Waltzingmouse (retired)
Ink:  Antique Linen, Gathered Twigs - Ranger Distress, Nocturne - Versafine Clair.
Paper:  Water Color - Canson Cold PRess, Kraft Stock - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology, DP Pastel Deco 6x6 Pack - Brutus Monroe.
Accessories:  Postage Collage Coloring Stencil, Postage Collage Die  - Waffle Flower, Tailored dies - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, red gem, foam dots.

Sunday, September 15, 2024

An Embossed Stenciled Ornament

It's time to start making our Christmas cards right??!! If we haven't already!!  We don't want to be out straight when it gets to be December!

I made this card using the technique of embossing over stenciling.  First I inked over the Christmas Snowflake Flourish Bauble stencil from Sweet Poppy Stencils using Dusk ink from Altenew onto a white panel.  

Then I embossed the panel using an older Snow Flakes Embossing folder from Provo Craft.    I die cut a frame out of silver paper and adhered it over the panel.  I silver embossed and die cut the sentiment and popped it up on foam dots over the ornament,  I used a Silver Leafing Krylon Pen to color the top of the ornament.

I'll add this to my box of Christmas cards that is luckily filling up!

I'm joining in on the following challenges with my card:

ends 9/30

ends 9/20




Stamps: Penned Elegance: Christmas - PTI (retired).
Ink:  Dusk - Altenew, Versamark.
Paper:  White - PTI, Kraft Metallic - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology.
Accessories:  Penned Elegance dies - PTI (retired), Snow Flakes Embossing Folder - Provo Craft, Christmas Snowflake Flouish Bauble Stencil - Sweet Poppy Stencils, blender brushes, silver embossing powder, heat tool, foam dots, silver leafing Krylon Pen..

Saturday, September 7, 2024

Inkspirational #324 - Designer's Choice - Using Markers

 Here's my DT card for the newest Inkspirational Challenge #324 Designer's Choice  -  Nonni is the Designer  this time and she chose - Make Your Mark - use markers on your card design.   


I used a coloring on vellum technique I learned last month as a member of the Group of Seven Cardmakers - see my post here to see other ways to use vellum.

I stamped the images onto panels of vellum using Nocturne Versafine Clair Ink which I then heat embossed using clear embossing powder.  Then I flipped the panel over and colored over the open spaces with Copics.  I adhered the vellum to the white card base using  an Adhesive Sheet from Sizzix.

This shows the vellum panel flipped over after stamping in black and clear embossing.  Then I just colored over the clear spaces.  Because it's vellum - I went over the colors several times and kept checking the front to be sure the colors showed through dark enough.   
The Bold Botanicals stamp set I used has 4 images - 3 floral and one a pinecone and pine sprigs so I tried each stamp coloring with different colors.
The photos below show how I colored on the back of the vellum panels with Copics.
This pinecone one will be a Christmas card!
Here's the coloring on the back.

So how do you use markers on your cards??  Please join us over at Inkspirational!  

The challenge ends on 9/20.

I'm also linking my card to:

1st time using the Bold Botanicals

Hand Colored Image ends 9/30

Linking my pine cone card to
ends 9/18

ends 9/17

ends 9/25




Stamps:  Bold Botanicals - Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous, With Sympathy from Beyond Basic Borders - PTI (retired)
Paper:  vellum, white card base - PTI
Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair
Accessories:  Copics: E19, G28, YR23, YR09, RV06, RV19, YR23, Clear Embossing Powder, heat tool,  Adhesive Sheets - Tim Holtz/Sizzix

Monday, September 2, 2024

Aug 2024 Card Chain Challenge Reveal - Let's Play a Record!

 Today is reveal day for all the cards exchanged for the August Card Chain Challenge.  This time I sent my card to Mia in Greece and I received a card from Dagmara in Germany! (she sent me one last month too).  Mia hasn't received my card yet even though it was mailed from the US on Aug 8! So frustrating! Update:  Mia finally received my card on 9/9 - yay!!

I used the suggested colors and the themes of  Music and Friendship.



Here is my card closed.

And it opens to reveal a record player.  
You can really spin the record with your finger too!
(No music, but you can sing a tune as you spin it??!!)

I used dies from For the Record by My Favorite things (retired) but search Amazon for Record Player Die and there are a few non brand ones there.

To make the record player base - cut a strip of card stock or DP 4" x 12".  Score at 4", 7 1/2", 8" and 11 1/2".  Fold on all the score lines and adhere the 1/2" end to the 4" panel.  The card will fold flat for mailing in an A2 envelope when you close the 'cover'

To allow the record to spin - I punched a 1" circle, attaching it to the bottom of the record with a small brad put though the center of the record.  I added a few foam dots to the bottom of the circle (not between the record and the circle but on the bottom of the circle) and adhered the record to the player with those foam dots.  Then the record is raised and free to spin.  the SPIN and arrow are from Interactive Labels from MFT.


If you don't want it to spin don't add the circle - just adhere the record to the base with foam dots.

If you'd like to join in this fun card exchange challenge for Sept - you have until 9/6 to sign up.  

You'll find out all the details on how to participate at The Card  Chain Challenge here.

I'm also linking my card to:

First time using the Longfellow Quote stamp

ends 9/12

Just Because  ends 9/9

Add a Sentiment  ends 9/5






Stamps:  Longfellow Quote - Serendipity,  For the Record - Honey Bee Stamps, Interactive Labels - My Favorite Things.
Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair
Paper:  Raspberry Fizz - Papertrey Ink, Brushed Silver - Stampin' Up, black, green, orange - Kraft Core Core-dinations, DP - Elegant Jungle - DCWV.
Accessories:  For the Record Dies - My Favorite Things, Nested Stitched Scallop Frame - Amazon. foam dots, small brad,  Puffy Hearts - Michaels.