June Group of Seven Cardmakers - Second Generation Stamping

 Here is my 1st card for the June Group of Seven Cardmakers post.  

This month we are playing with Second Generation Stamping -  when you stamp an image fully inked then stamp it again without reinking either once or twice.  You'll find a link to Videos on the technique over at the GO7 Blog.

 It creates a wonderful depth to your card design.

I went very CAS with this card, simply stamping the image on the left fully inked with Portobello Versafine Clair Ink then stamping again to the right of that stamping and a bit higher, without reinking.

Next,  I stamped the image off the bottom and half off the right side fully inked - then stamped above it (only the left half of the stamp) again way over to the left off the edge with the right half of the stamp.

   My card base is watercolor paper and the sentiment is from Paper Artsy.

Trees seem to be the first thing I grab when I think of Generation Stamping (or off stamping) so I wanted to stretch myself and use other stamps and also add some color!

   

So this card was born (after about 5 aborted attempts using various Lavinia stamps!)

I started by stamping a text background - inking the stamp and stamping it off on paper before stamping on the card panel as I wanted it just to be a shadow.

Then I stamped the dandelion in black and off stamped it - repeating again and the same with the leaf.  And finally I stamped and off stamped the Orchard Grass along the bottom.

To add color (after I made sure the black ink was dry!) -  I sponged over the top with Distress Speckled Egg and over the bottom with Shabby Shutters.

I stamped the sentiment on white card and punched it with an oval punch.  I sponged the edges with the Speckled Egg and popped it up on the card with foam dots.

We hope you'll give this technique a try 

(you probably have done this already at some point in your stamping career?! but maybe not for a while?)

   

You'll find Mr. Linky and lovely inspiration from the rest of the GO7 team over at the blog.

We'd love to see how you use this technique!

Also sending my card to:

IDEAS Calendar

4th week - A - Anything Goes

We Love Stamping

Nature Inspired ends 7/1

AAA Cards

CAS  ends 7/5

Tree Card

Stamps:  Silhouette Trees #1 - Rubbernecker (retired), Sentiment from Paper Artsy Alison Bomber set EAB01.

Paper:  Water color paper - Canson Cold Press

Ink:  Portobello Versafine Clair

Dandelion Card

Stamps:  Background Script, Orchard Grass, Tall Dandelion - Lavinia, Dandelion Wishes Sentiment set - Papertrey Ink.

Paper:  White - Papertrey Ink

Ink:  Nocturne, Morning Mist - Versafine Clair, Ranger Distress Speckled Egg and Shabby Shutters.

Other Supplies:  oval punch - SU, foam dots, blender brushes.

Inkspirational Challenge #338 - Word Prompt/Sentiments 2 or More

Today I'm sharing my DT card for Inkspirational Challenge #338

I used 2 sentiments as the 'fortune' in the two die cut fortune cookies.    

I made this card for a friend who lost her 34 yr old youngest daughter a few weeks ago.  She had no health issues but died in her sleep from a pulmonary embolism.   

I've been sending encouragement cards to my friend every week since, as she comes to terms with this sudden terrible loss.

So please join us and create a card with at least 2 sentiments on it!  You'll find creative inspiration from the rest of the Ink team as well as Mr. Linky over at the Inkspirational Blog! 

This challenge ends on April 11!

FYI -  I had surgery on my right shoulder for a torn rotator cuff on March 26th and I'm 6 weeks in a sling so can't stamp or leave lengthy comments on your blogs for a bit!  I've made all my DT posts for the next two months ahead of time so you will see me on the blog! 

Also sending my card to:

Cardz 4 Gals

Spring ends 4/1

Love those Pretty Papers

ends 3/31

Paper: Water Color Paper - Canson Cold Press, White, DP Bitty Big Soft Stone - PTI, CP Morning Memories 6x6 - Paper Rose
Ink: Antique Linen Ranger Distress
Other Supplies: Coaster Die - The Greetery, Fortune Cookie Die - Ellen Hutson (retired), Metallic Stickers:Quotations - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology, foam dots.

June 2024 Card Chain Challenge Reveal - Be You Bravely

 Today's the reveal of all the cards sent and received for the June Card Chain Challenge.  This month I sent a card to Carol in the UK and I received a card from Dee in Kenya.

Each month there are options for colors, sketch, theme and product/techniques.  You can use as many options as you want but only have to use at least one.

I used the colors - but only on my blooms -  just couldn't get one of these colors to look good as stems!!??  So just partial credit for that!

And I used the themes of Friendship with the encouraging sentiment, and Summer with the flowers and little buzzing bee.

The flowers are Fresh Picked Anemones dies from Spell Binders, the bee is a firefly die from The Greetery (colored to look like a bee!), the sentiment is a Label Sticker Sentiment from 

Tim Holtz/Idea-ology.

Instead of an opening card - I added a die cut easel to the back of the panel so it stands up for display.

Would you like to send and receive a card to/from anywhere in the world?  

There have been over 4,360 cards exchanged by participants so far,  from 41 of the 50 United States and 33 countries.

    

Please join in for the July challenge - you have until July 6 to sign up.  All the details are posted on the blog.

Also linking my card to:

Allsorts Challenge

Way to Grow/flowers  Ends 7/5

Tic Tac Toe

Center horizontal row - Die cuts, flowers, Stripes (in honeycomb background)

ends 7/5

Paper:  White, Honey Nut, Blueberry Sky, Enchanted Evening - Papertrey Ink, DP The Bees Knees - Honey Bee Stamps.

Accessories:  Fresh Picked Anemones dies - Spellbinders, Firefly Die - The Greetery, Small Easel Die - Sizzix, Label Stickers Sentiments - Tim Holt/Idea-ology, Copics black, orange, Gloss Simply White Drops - Nuvo, Black POSCA Pen.

Card Chain Challenge - May 2024 Reveal

 Today's the day all the cards exchanged in May over at the Card Chain Challenge are being revealed.  This month I sent a card to Mia in Greece and I received a lovely card from Jeanne in Minnesota!

This month I used the option of two of the themes: Men in Hats and Friendship and the sketch (sort of!)

Theme Options: Men in Hats / Cake / Friendship

Here's my card:

I purchased the elf/gnome die on Amazon, the sentiment is from Graduation Gnome from Unity, the DP is Forest by Stamperia.  I added black pearls for eyes and tuxedo hearts.

We hope you will join us for June - sign up to send and receive a card from someone anywhere in the world!   You'll find all the details on how to join in over at The Card Chain Challenge as well as seeing all the cards exchanged!   

You just sign up for one month at a time. You can join in whenever you like.  

You sign up on the Link - and you send to the person before you and the person signed up after you sends to you!

You have until June 6th to sign up for the June card exchange!

Linking my card to:

Krafty Chicks

ends 6/5

NBUS

First time using the gnome die and sentiment

Cut it Up

anything goes using dies  ends June 12

Stamps: sentiment from Graduation Gnome - Unity.

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair

Paper:  Cocoa Bean, True Black, Pine Feather, Soft Stone - Papertrey Ink, Hammered white - Amazon, Place Rose - Bazzill, DO Forest - Stamperia.

Accessories:  Elf/gnome die - Amazon, black pearls, Tuxedo Hearts - Honey Bee,  Copic W2.

Group of Seven April Technique - Coloring with an Elegant Writer Pen

 It's time for the April Group of Seven Cardmakers Post -  this month we are using an Elegant Writer Pen to color our images.

There are two YouTube Videos linked over at Group of Seven for techniques and I'm sure there are others available as well.

For my first try, I used 2 of the 4 floral images in the Bold Botanicals stamp set from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous.  I inked the stamps with Nocturne Ink and most of the image is black when you stamp it.  I wrote over most of the lines with the Elegant Writer then I started brushing water over the image, which pretty much, turns blue.  I like to have some pink, so I dab over the watery blue and, like magic, some of the area turns pinkish!  You can get a greenish tinge as well.

For my third try, I found this really large funky kind of floral image Doodle Bouquet from Lavinia and used the same process on this.  I then stenciled around the image with the Bubble Layering Stencil from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous with Iceberg Ink.

I forgot the step of fine misting the panel from a distance to be sure that all of the Elegant write ink has been activated - I'm going back and doing it now!!

You can find the Elegant Writer pens at most craft stores and on Amazon.  They are not expensive.  I used a 2.0 mm because that's what I had, but the video recommends a 1.3 mm extra fine tip.

So check out the rest of the GO7 team over at the GO7 blog and then get your own Elegant Writer and try it out -  then link it up so we can see it!

I'm linking my cards to:

NBUS

first time using the both the Bold Botanicals and the Doodle Bouquet Stamp 

Linking my daisy card to:

We Love Stamping:  spring/garden ends 5/1

Linking my rose card to:

The Card Concept

CAS card  ends 5/13

a rose with subtle blue and pink

Stamps:  Bold Botanicals - Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous, Doodle Bouquet - Altenew

Paper:  Water color paper - Canson Cold Press

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair, Iceberg - Altenew

Accessories:  Elegant Writer 2.0 mm, water, #3 paint brush, paper towel, Bubble Layering Stencil- Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous, blender brush.

March 2024 Card Chain Challenge Reveal - You Make Me Snort

Today's the day for the March Card Chain Challenge Reveal -  I sent a card to Jo in the United Kingdom and received a card from Gail in British Columbia, Canada.

Here is my card:

Every month there are options for designing your card -  you can use all of the options but just have to use one of them.

For my card, I used the color options - black, white and one other color (I used pink),  and I used the theme 'on the farm' - using a pig image.

First, I stamped the pig from Piggies Crushed It in the center of a white card panel.  I colored the image with pink and black Copics.  Then I stenciled around the image with Milky Way Stencil using a blender brush with pink ink.  I  die cut the Polaroid frame and layered it over the image, popping it up on foam dots.  

 I stamped the balloon again on a piece of white card, colored it, cut it out and layered it over the stamped balloon and over the frame.  I die cut the FRIEND from Fun with Words die set and adhered it to the lower edge of the Polaroid die cut.  I colored in the heart on the 'I' of FRIEND with a pink Copic and added 3 black Tuxedo hearts around the card.  Instead of adhering the panel to a folded card - I adhered a die cut easel to the back of the panel.

Please join us in this fun monthly challenge where we send and receive a card to places all over the world!  You'll find all the details about signing up for April at The Card Chain Challenge Blog.  You have until April 6th to sign up!

I'm linking my card to:

NBUS

First time using the stamps

Just Us Girls  ends 4/2

Tic Tac Toe

Middle Horizontal - Spring Colors/Free/stencil  ends 4/11

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Anything Goes  ends 4/3

Stamps:  Piggies Crushed It - Whimsy Stamps.

Paper:  White, True Black - PTI, Hammered White - Amazon

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair, Blush - Altenew

Accessories:  Fun With Words Die, Polaroid Die - Whimsy Stamps, Small Easel Die - Sizzix, Milky Way Stencil - A Colorful Life Designs, Copics R20, N10, foam dots, Tuxedo Hearts - Honey Bee.

Feb 2024 Card Chain Challenge Reveal

 It's time for the Feb 2024 Card Chain Challenge Reveal!   For February, I sent a card to Viv in the UK and I received a card from Hilary in the UK!

This is a fun world wide card exchange challenge, where each month you can sign up to send a card and receive a card.   We are given options to use on our card design each month -  we only have to use one of the options but can use as many as we want.

This month, I used several:  the colors, the sketch, theme options of Balloons and Friendship and Product option of Twine!  

And here is my card:

The parakeet is a multi stamp/and die from Papertrey Ink both called Feathered Friends Mini 5.  They are older sets but still available (and on sale!).  The paper is from Petite Places Patterned Paper Pad (no longer available).

I die cut the Woodland Branch from Memory Box out of brown card and adhered it across the landscape.

I popped up the bird over the branch on foam dots.

I die cut the balloon, sponged it with ink, tied the twine around it and popped it up in the sky with foam dots.  I looped the twine under the birds feet so the balloon won't fly away!

I stamped the sentiment from the bird set in the corner and added 3 enamel dots in the colors along the roll of the hillside.

I sponged around the edge of the panel with Gold Pigment ink to add definition.

As I have been doing with many of my Card Chain Challenge cards lately, I adhered the panel to a mini easel so it stands up rather than having it on a folded card.

A couple of side notes:  

We feed the wild birds in our backyard year round - and one day, several years ago,  I looked out and saw the bright colors of a  parakeet, like this one, on one of our feeders. I knew it must have escaped from someone's home and his wings were probably clipped so he wouldn't be able to fly very well - but I was unable to catch him.  I felt badly for the family that would be missing him. 

I originally bought the stamps and die because my niece and her family bought a parakeet (because their daughter is allergic to dogs).  I made them a welcome Rocky card and haven't used the bird again until I made this card!  And since I had all the colors and stamps out to make the bird- I made 4 cards this time for my stash!

So please check out all the cards exchanged in February - and sign up to participate in March!  You'll find all the details over at the Card Chain Challenge!.

Also linking my card to:

Double D Challenges - Patterned Paper

ends 3/3

Die Cut Divas: Anything Goes Ends 3/31

Krafty Chicks - Anything Goes  ends 3/6

Stamps:  Feathered Friends Mini 5 - Papertrey Ink.

Paper:  white, Dark Chocolate, DP Petite Places Patterned Paper - Papertrey Ink.

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair, Teal Cove, Lime, Fresh Lemon, Cloudy Sky, Marigold, Chamomile - Altenew, Gold Pigment Ink - Color Box.

Accessories:  Feather Friends Mini 5 die, Birthday Balloon Die - Papertrey Ink, Woodland Branch die - Memory Box, Small Easel Bigz Die - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, yellow twine, foam dots, Enamel Dots - Altenew.

January Group of Seven Cardmakers - Alcohol Inks with Gilding Flakes

 It's time for the January post by the Group of Seven Cardmakers!   This month we are playing with Alcohol Inks and Gilding Flakes!

I used an 8"x10" piece of Yupo for the technique and so was able to cut 4 card panels 4"x5" to make my 4 cards below.

Here are a few photos of how I created my panel.

Supplies:  8"x10" Yupo Cardstock, Alcohol Inks: Latte, Pistachio, Sail Boat Blue, 91% Rubbing Alcohol, Ranger Ink Blower, heat tool that has a low or cool setting, gilding flakes

I applied quite a bit of 91% rubbing alcohol all over the Yupo Sheet.  Then I dropped Sailboat Blue AI into the alcohol and blew it around with the Ink Blower.

I added some more rubbing alcohol and dropped Pistachio AI onto the panel and blew the ink around again with the blower.  

(I wish I had stopped with this result below!)

I repeated the same steps adding Latte Alcohol Ink.  

I kept blowing the ink around, adding rubbing alcohol and more ink until I felt I was done.  Then I dried the panel with a cool setting on my heat tool.  You want to dry the AI but not where the colors have pooled because you want the Gilding Flakes to stick to those edges.

Then I spread Red Blaze Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Flakes over the panel of Yupo and pressed it down onto the sheet with my fingers.   Then I let it sit for 20 minutes or so.  Then I brushed it off the panel with my fingers.

The Gilding Flakes didn't end up sticking to too many places  - but there is some on each of the panels I cut for cards.

Sorry, my post is going to be a bit longer!

I decided to make another panel using different Alcohol Inks - Stone Washed and Citrus and the gluing technique for the gilding flakes on the 2nd video.  

I dribbled the rubbing alcohol over the panel of Yupo and added one row of color and moved it around with the bulb, then added a row of the 2nd color and moved it around - alternating the 2 colors until I filled the panel.  I didn't drop more rubbing alcohol over the ink, just on empty areas as I moved along as I didn't want all the circles I created on the panel above.

I like the results of smoother swirls of color below. 

 (This photo was taken when the inks were still wet - some of the mixed colors are turning yellow

and check out how more pink showed up when it was dry on the third photo down!) 

I dried the panel with my heat tool (not too hot!) Then I added little beads of glue along some of the edges of colors and pressed some larger pieces of gilding flakes over the glue and let it sit overnight.

The next day, I rubbed over the flakes to get all the loose bits off - and I like the results.  I had more gilding flakes stuck on the panel using this technique than my first one above.

Notice how the blue and citrus created some areas of pink and yellow as it dried?

I cut the panel into 4 pieces.  Here is a card I've made with one of the panels so far. 

I just purchased the wonderful hot air balloon and clouds dies from Magnolia.

Below you can see the shiny look of the gilding flakes a little better.

Final impression:  Alcohol ink backgrounds are beautiful - the gilding flakes are really messy and it's a little hit or miss with them sticking - using glue seems to work better than trying to get it to stick to wet AI.  When it sticks - it looks wonderful!

Here are the two videos from the GO7 blog.  

Whispy Alcohol Inks Effects and Gilding Flakes by Tiffany Solorio (18:48)

Alcohol Inks + Gilding Flakes by Neat and Tangled (11:03)

So please check out the Group of Seven Cardmakers blog and see how the rest of the Group of 7 created using this technique! 

 

And we hope you'll try this out yourself - we'd love to see how the techniques work for you!  You can link up your creations over at the blog so we all can see them!

I'm linking my hot air balloon card to:

Die Cut Divas  

Never before Used Stuff

first time using the beautiful hot air balloon die.

ends 1/31

NBUS

First time using hot air balloon die

Hello Friend 

Paper:  Yupo - Ranger, White, Tropical Teal - PTI, metallic brass from stash.

Ink:  Alcohol Inks Sail Boat Blue, Pistachio, Latte - Ranger

Accessories:  Ink Blower - Ranger, 91% Rubbing Alcohol - CVS, heat tool, Red Blaze Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Flakes - Creative Expressions, Hello Friend Posh Script die - Memory Box, Simple Stacks frame die - Penny Black, foam dots.

Happy Birthday

Paper:  Yupo - Ranger, White, True Black - PTI, metallic brass from stash.

Ink:  Alcohol Inks Sail Boat Blue, Pistachio, Latte - Ranger

Accessories:  Ink Blower - Ranger, 91% Rubbing Alcohol - CVS, heat tool, Red Blaze Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Flakes - Creative Expressions, printed sentiment, Celebration Words Script die - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, Nested Rectangle with Square Holes die - Rubbernecker, foam dots

Feel Better Soon

Paper:  Yupo - Ranger, White, Tropical Teal - PTI, metallic brass from stash.

Ink:  Alcohol Inks Sail Boat Blue, Pistachio, Latte - Ranger

Accessories:  Ink Blower - Ranger, 91% Rubbing Alcohol - CVS, heat tool, Red Blaze Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Flakes - Creative Expressions, Mid Century Frame Die - Altenew, Nested Rectangle with Square Holes die - Rubbernecker, enamel dots - Altenew, printed sentiment, foam dots.

With Sympathy

Paper:  Yupo - Ranger, Hammered White - Amazon, metallic brass from stash.

Ink:  Alcohol Inks Sail Boat Blue, Pistachio, Latte - Ranger

Accessories:  Ink Blower - Ranger, 91% Rubbing Alcohol - CVS, heat tool, Red Blaze Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Flakes - Creative Expressions, With Sympathy die - Simon Says Stamp, enamel dots - Altenew, Lacey Frame - Gina Marie Designs, foam dots.

Be Fearless

Paper:  Yupo - Ranger, Hammered White - Amazon.

Ink:  Alcohol Inks Citrus and Stone Washed , Ranger Distress Oxide - Old Paper, Gold Pigment Ink - Color Box.

Accessories:  Ink Blower - Ranger, 91% Rubbing Alcohol - CVS, heat tool, Gilding Flakes from stash, Le Balloon and Basket Die, Le Balloon Clouds and Flowers Die - Magnolia Ink (UK), Small Talk Sticker - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology, foam dots..