Inkspirational #363 Visual Prompt

 Here is my DT project for the newest Inkspirational Challenge - The Challenge is a Visual Prompt.

I discovered Painted Stones through FB several months ago but until now I've just used Rub-On's to decorate them. (So much easier than actually having to draw!)

I decided it was time to try and paint a stone -so - being inspired by the greens and blue, the word Lucky and the white dots on the sign, and since it's St. Patrick's Day here in the US on March 17th,  I painted this stone with a simple shamrock!

This stone measures about 2 1/4"

I buy the stones on Amazon.  They need to be smooth stones and smaller (2"-3").

Some people live near beaches that have smooth stones so they just gather them up!

 

I used a stone already painted white on this project but I also use the plain stones.

You can use regular acrylic paints but I use POSCA Pens which are acrylic paint in a pen and easier to draw smoothly with and to fill in color.   

I lightly draw my design using a #2 pencil on the stone before painting. 

You'll find lots of inspiration for designs on Pinterest and YouTube.

After the paint is dry I spray the stones with Krylon Triple Thick Clear Glaze to protect them and it also makes them shiny.  They are a bit dull when the paint dries! 

(hence some glare on my stone photo above by the 'y' in Lucky.)

Below are stones I have made using Rub-Ons from Taperlogy.

I sell my stones at Craft Fairs along with my cards!  Egg cartons are the perfect display container!

 

So how will our visual prompt inspire you?   We'd love to see you link up over at Inkspirational!

This challenge ends on March 27!

Also linking my stone to:

NBUS

1st time painting a stone

Simon Says Stamp

A Bit of Green

Supplies:  Smooth Stones 2"-3" (white or plain stone) - Amazon,  POSCA Pens (larger for colors, smaller black one for outline and writing, Krylon Crystal Clear Glaze.

Card Chain Challenge - July Exchange Reveal

 It's time to reveal all the cards exchanged for July over at The Card Chain Challenge.  I sent a card to Imke in Germany and I received a card from Jeanne H in MN!

For my card this month, I chose one of the themes: Doors or Windows.   I have both on my card!  A lovely center opening door with windows!

Usually you would have the door (Elegant Entrance Arches) as if  you were looking at the outside of the home -  but I decorated mine to be showing the inside of the home - with wall paper around the door (Elegant Arches Stamp) and a potted plant.(Modern Planters and Botanicals: Forget Me Nots.)  All from The Greetery.

And when you open the door you are looking out onto the garden! 

I stenciled the background on the inside of the card using Leaves in the Wind from Carabelle Studio and overlaid the die cut greenery (Garden Tub Filler Die). The sentiment is from Bloom and Grow Sentiments both from The Greetery.

We'd love to have you join us for the August Card Chain Challenge - you send a card to the person signed up ahead of you and you receive a card from the person signed up after you - you'll find all the details on how to sign up at The Card Chain Challenge blog!

The last day to sign up for the August challenge is August 6th!

I'm also linking my card to:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

Summertime Blues  ends  8/4

Stamps:  Bloom and Grow Sentiments, Elegant Arches Background Stamp - The Greetery

Paper:  Hammered white - Amazon, White, Enchanted Evening, watercolor paper - Canson Cold Press, metallic gold - from stash.

Ink: Caribbean Sky - Altenew, Ranger Distress - Mowed Lawn and Speckled Egg, (other Distress inks used smooshed on mat for the flowers and water colored on the greenery - I had them in my stash already colored from a previous project)

Other Supplies: Modern Planters Die, Botanicals: Forget Me Nots die, A2 Arches Die, Elegant entrance Arches Die - The Greetery, Leaves in the Wind Stencil - Carabelle Studio, black POSCA pen, foam dots, tiny gems.

Inkspirational #347 Mood Board

 Today I'm sharing my DT card for the newest Inkspirational Challenge #347.

I used a mix of pink and orange Copics to color my flowers (with a touch of green) made using Mirrored Arch Blooms Press Plate.  I cut out the center using Mirrored Arch Labels from Spellbinders.  

I adhered the panel over my card base with foam dots and then adhered the die cut sentiment inside the opening.  I also added a sweet little butterfly (how cute is she??!) from This Calls for Confetti and black enamel dots from Altenew.

We'd love to have you show us your inspired card using this Mood Board!  You will find some lovely inspiration from the rest of the DT as well as Mr. Linky over at the Inkspirational blog!

This challenge ends on 8/15!

Also sending my card to:

NBUS

1st time using this Better Press Plate

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge

Anything goes ends 8/5

Passion for Markers

Dies or punches ends 8/5

Stamps:  All the Flowers - Verve (retired)

Paper:  Watercolor paper - Canson Cold Press.

Ink:  Better Press Black - Spellbinders

Other Supplies:  Mirrored Arch Blooms Press Plate - Better Press/Spellbinders, Mirrored Arch Labels Die - Spellbinders, Copics R20, RV23, YG03, YR61, Y38, YR02, Butterfly - This Calls for Confetti, foam dots.

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.

Group of Seven Cardmakers - Ink Blending with Dox Inks

This month, the Group of Seven Cardmakers is sharing a second way to do Ink Blending.  This time we are working with DOX Inks, embossing and water lifting! 

You will find links to several videos over at the GO7 blog showing this technique.

Basically, you blend 3 DOX inks over a white card panel.  Dry the ink panel, rub over the panel with an embossing pillow, stamp the image with Versafine add the embossing powder and heat (I used black embossing powder but several people used white).  Then you  'paint' over the inside of the images with water on a brush (a small section at a time) and press a clean towel over the watery section to 'lift' the ink, leaving a lighter shade of the color inside the image.

So I started planning by looking for outline flower stamps that filled a whole A2 panel - and found out I don't have any? How can that be?? 

 

So then I looked for any nature stamps that are outlined with open centers and I made the following three cards.

This card is 4"x4".  I used white card and blended DOX inks Seedless Preserves, Picked Raspberry and Crackling Campfire (top to bottom)

For this  A2 size card I used DOX inks Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry and Wilted Violet.

This A2 card has DOX inks Scattered Straw, Worn Lipstick and Festive Berries.

Then I tried using a more detailed block stamp to see how it would work.   It's a pretty stamp and I like the fall colors I used  - but you almost can't tell I tried to lift the ink with water and a brush on all the spaces inside of the frame.  These two are 4"x 4"

I think they are pretty cards - but it isn't obvious I used the technique??

Dox Inks Rustic Wilderness, Rusty Hinge, Crushed Olive

Dox Inks: Fired Brick, Ripe Persimmon, Dried Marigold.

NOTES:  

1.  On a couple of first tries -  I had trouble when embossing my image - the embossing powder stuck all over the panel even if I dried the panel with my heat tool and had used the powder pillow.   So I started just letting the inked panel sit for a couple of hours, Then used the powder pillow and embossed the image.

2.  One time I think my heat tool was too hot (I wanted to dry it quickly!) - and a smoky mist started coming off the panel - and brushing inside the image with water did not remove any of the ink color.  I started using a lower heat option on my heat tool.

3.  For unknown reasons - even when I created the panels the same - the ink did not noticeably come off with the water and brush on some of them (see my last two Give Thanks cards). 

4.  It's also been very humid here this summer, outside and in my craft room - so this makes all inks more juicy and take longer to dry - so that could be part of my issues.

You'll find lots of variations by the rest of the Group of Seven over at the blog where there is also a Mr. Linky where you can link your project showing everyone how you created with this technique!  

Let's go see how the rest of the Group of 7 used this technique!  

Hope to see you there!

I'm linking my Best Wishes card to

Simon Says Stamp

Wednesday Challenge - Bright and Cheerful

Best Wishes

Stamps: Watercolor Poppies (the outline stamp of a two stamp set) - Rubbernecker

Ink: Ranger DOX inks: Seedless Preserves, Picked Raspberry and Crackling Campfire, Versamark, Nocturne - Versafine Clair.

Paper: White - Papertrey Ink

Accessories: Blender brushes, paint brush, water, paper towel, black embossing powder, heat tool, embossing pillow.

Live in the Sunshine
Stamps: One With Nature - Simon Says Stamp
Ink:  Ranger DOX inks: Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry and Wilted Violet, Versamark.
Paper: white - Papertrey Ink
Accessories:  White POSCA Pen, Blender brushes, paint brush, water, paper towel, Black embossing powder, heat tool, embossing pillow.

Explore Nature

Stamps: Natures Wonder (leaves) Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous, sentiment from One With Nature - Simon Says Stamp
Ink:  Ranger DOX inks: Scattered Straw, Worn Lipstick and Festive Berries, Versamark
Paper: white - Papertrey Ink
Accessories:  White POSCA Pen, Enamel Dots - Altenew,  Blender brushes, paint brush, water, paper towel, Black embossing powder, heat tool, embossing pillow.

Give Thanks Cards

Stamps: Give Thanks - Peddlers Pack (red rubber on wood stamp)
Ink:  1st card Dox Inks Rustic Wilderness, Rusty Hinge, Crushed Olive;  2nd card Dox Inks: Fired Brick, Ripe Persimmon, Dried Marigold, Versamark
Paper: Bristol Smooth Surface Strathmore
Accessories:  Tiny Gems - Gina Marie Designs, Blender brushes, paint brush, water, paper towel, Black embossing powder, heat tool, embossing pillow.

March Group of Seven Cardmakers - Technique: Embossed Gilding Flakes

 It's time for the March Group of Seven Cardmakers Post!  This month we are playing with the Embossed Gilding Flakes technique.

Here are the two cards I created.  

This card uses the debossed panel.

I bought these Museum Bust Fancy dies from Hero Arts after Kent and I went to the King Tut Show in Boston last year.  I used the classic busts on these cards but the set includes two Egyptian busts as well.  I think they worked perfectly with the panels I created using the gilding flakes!

This card uses the embossed panel.

The black panels are embossed with Lumen Embossing Folder from Simon Says Stamp.

I die cut the statues out of Distress Woodgrain Card and then rubbed Lost Shadow Distress ink lightly over them to try to simulate marble.

Here are a few process photos creating the embossed gilding flakes panels.

I covered 2 panels of white card stock with Stick It, a double sided adhesive sheet.

I removed the top of the Stick it Sheet from the card panels and laid the panels, sticky side up, inside a pizza box to help contain the flying of the gilding flakes!  I spread the Autumn Gilding Flakes over the panels and pressed it onto the panel with my fingers.  Then I brushed the gilding flakes off with a stiff brush.  

Note:  She uses 3 colors of gilding flakes on the video but my Autumn Flakes are already a mix of colors so I just used that.

I took the gilded panels and put them together with the gilding flaked sides facing out and placed them inside the 3D Texture Fades Botanical folder from Sizzix.  Then I ran the embossing folder through my Big Shot twice to give a good impression.  That gave me an embossed panel and a debossed panel.

(The white line and spots on the panels below are places the double sided adhesive paper didn't stick- I colored over those spots with a gold metallic pen.)

I die cut arches out of the panels using A2 Arches from the Greetery.  

The final step is to rub a black ink over the panels.  On the embossed panel it hits the raised image and on the debossed panel it hits the background.  

Note:  The tutorial says to use a permanent ink like StazOn or Archival -  but I found those inks made the panels very sticky and it never seemed to dry, maybe due to whatever the flakes are made of?? maybe my inks were old?  Anyway, I decided to make two new panels.

So after trying ALL my various kinds of black inks unsuccessfully (ie they all felt sticky), I tried Memento Tuxedo Black ink and that seemed to dry. I also noticed that all the black inks seem to fade a little as they sit on the flakes.

You will find a link to a YouTube video with this technique over at The Group of Seven blog.

So please check out the rest of the Seven's creations, and if you decide to give this technique a try please link your card up over at The Group of Seven Blog! 

I'm interested to hear what black ink you were successful with on the embossed gilded panels!

I'm also linking my card to:

Time Out Challenges

my sentiment Make each day your masterpiece.

Die Cut Divas - Anything Goes 

die cuts

Path of Positivity

anything goes

Stamps:  Motivational Center Mona Lisa Moments - Cornish Heritage Farms (retired)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Lost Shadow Distress (rubbed over statures), Versamark.

Paper:  White Distress Woodgrain Card - Tim Holtz/Ranger, white and True Black - Papertrey Ink,  Metallic Gold - Parklane/JoAnn.

Accessories:  Stick It Double Sided Adhesive Sheets, Autumn Leaves Gilding Flakes - Cosmic Shimmer, Fancy Dies Museum Busts - Hero Arts, A2 Arches die - The Greetery, 3D Texture Fade Botanical Embossing Folder - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, Lumen Embossing Folder - Simon Says Stamp, Gold Embossing Powder (for sentiment), heat tool

February Group of Seven Cardmakers: Technique - Resist Debossed Background

It's time for the February Group of Seven Cardmakers post, playing with the Resist Debossed Background technique. 

Our group met for a zoom call in early February to try out a recent video tutorial from Splitcoaststampers (created by Anna-Karin Evaldsson).  

I love how this came out and I think blues and browns are my favorite colors to use with this technique!

So, basically, you lightly run a Versamark ink pad over the raised, inside, back of your embossing folder. (3D embossing folders seem to work best because they give a deeper impression).  

Take a piece of water color paper (or any water friendly paper like Mixed Media), rub over the paper with an Embossing Buddy (powder), put it in the embossing folder powder side down (over the Versamark inked side) and run it through your machine.

Take the panel out and cover the back side (the debossed side with the Versamark ink on it) with white embossing powder.  If the powder sticks to too much of your panel background, you can brush some off gently with a paint brush.  You want the powder to be on the design which is 'debossed' since you are using the back of your panel.

Then heat emboss the panel.  

To add color to the parts not white embossed on my panel, I pulled out two Distress Inks - Tumbled Glass and Frayed Burlap and two Distress Oxide Inks Salvaged Patina and Walnut Stain (DOX inks leave a darker color than the regular Distress inks).  You want to use water based inks.  I rubbed the inks (one at a time and do the Distress first, then the DOX since they are darker) onto my craft mat, spritzed with water and then pressed the panel randomly into the ink, then looking where there were open spaces and pressing that section into the ink.  

Notes: 

1.  You can just use one or two water based inks. 

2.  You should try several different embossing folders, as some work well and some not so well?!

A close up:

I added the die cut sentiment and some enamel dots to the panel.

I made a second card (below) using the same technique, embossing folder, white embossing powder and inks - and you can see it looks very different.  

The white embossing powder stuck to more of the card rather than just the debossed image and so just small bits of the panel absorbed the smooshed inks. (I didn't brush off the excess white powder on the flat bits!)  But it still makes for a pretty and interesting background I think?!

I'm linking my birthday card to:

Seize the Birthday

Three more cards I made using this technique.

Embossing folder:  Tree Rings - Tim Holtz/Sizzix.  White Embossing Powder/Distress Oxide Vintage Photo Ink.  The bird is Feathered Friends Thinlit dies - Tim Holtz/Sizzix covered with strips of DP.

I'm linking my tree ring card to:

Can you Handle the Pressure

anything embossed - optional things with wings

Embossing Folder:  Vintage Button - Eileen Hull/Sizzix.  White Embossing Powder, Distress Tumbled Glass and Frayed Burlap Inks.  The horse is an old wooden stamp by Judith, colored with markers.

I'm linking my Baby card to:

We Love Stamping

Feb - anything stamped

Embossing Folder: Circuit - Tim Holtz/Sizzix.  White Embossing Powder/Distress Lost Shadow Ink. Die: Voltage Bigz Die - Tim Holtz/Sizzix

I'm linking my voltage card to:

NBUS

First time using both the circuit Emb Folder and the Voltage Die

For the full tutorial of this Resist Debossed Background and inspiring samples from the rest of the Seven Cardmakers, please pop over to the Group of Seven Cardmakers Blog.

We post a new technique on the 28th of each month that we hope will inspire you to try it out as well!

  We've added a Mr. Linky to the post - so you can link up your creations if you try this technique -  It's not a challenge, just a place you can put your card so everyone can see it and be inspired! 

Birthday Card

Paper:  Water color - Canson Cold Press, Tropical Teal - Papertrey Ink.

Ink:  Ranger Distress Tumbled Glass, Frayed Burlap, Ranger Distress Oxide Ink Salvaged Patina, Walnut Stain, Versamark.

Accessories:  Gracious Leaves Embossing Folder - Memory Box, white embossing powder, heat tool, water mister, craft mat, Happy Birthday Die - Simon Says Stamp, Happy Birthday Poe Script Die - Poppy Stamps, Enamel Dots - Altenew.