Sunflowers & Dragonflies

Christmas already?

Just playing around and getting some Christmas cards made. After embossing gold onto the red paper, I restamped the image onto beige paper with black ink, cut out the “sheet music” on this collage style stamp, and adhered it on top of the red. Ribbon was added.

Look what I had a friend make for me. This unit houses my supplies in a very neat and tidy way. What doesn’t fit in here, gets stored in the basement in old kitchen cupboards filled with drawers.

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Scrappy Diva Doodle tagged me. Isn’t that blog name the coolest?

1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.
2. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of their middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.
3. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog-post containing your own middle name game facts.
4. At the end of your blog-post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag.
5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

Right-handed
Over-weight
Silly
Eclectic

I am having a hard time deciding who to chose. If you’re a scrapbooker, like me, take a peak at Scrappy Diva Doodle’s blog.

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Tutorial Tuesday

Today’s tutorial is on alcohol inks. They are quite versatile and have many uses. Today’s samples are an introduction to using the inks. Next Tuesday I will show you a few more wonderful ideas for using alcohol inks/reinkers.

Alcohol inks and reinkers are similar in nature. They contain the same type of ink, except alcohol inks have alcohol in them to speed up the drying time. Don’t hesitate to use one or the other, or even both, types of inks together. My first sample uses Cool Carribbean on the background, and Pinata alcohol inks on the flowers. Two popular brands of alcohol ink are Adirondak and Pinata. If you like bright and vibrant, then Pinata is the way to go. If you like more subtle and colours close to what is in autumn leaves, then Adirondak is for you. I also use the two brands together, depending on the look I want.

Painting with your alcohol inks

Supplies
Watercolour paper
Waterproof black ink pad
Alcohol inks/Reinkers
Water held blending pens

Stamp image onto watercolour paper. Drip ink onto a palatte. Take your blending pen and place it into the ink, and then colour your image.
Cleaning your brush in between colours by wiping off old colour onto a scrap of paper or paper towel, colour your image with a second colour.
Continue painting until your image is complete.
In my example, I cut out the smaller flowers and placed pop dots behind the image and placed flowers randomly on card. Don’t you just love the bright and vibrant results?

Direct to Paper

Supplies:
Alcohol inks (Pinata and/or Adirondak/Reinkers
Glossy paper
Felt pad with handle
Blending solution
Krylon gold leaf pen (optional)

Place alcohol ink drops randomly onto your felt. You can save money by using a cotton ball, but your results will not be the same as in these photos. Using blending solution, squeeze it onto your felt pad, being generous with the amount you place onto your pad.
Pounce your felt pad, randomly, onto glossy paper. Continue until your paper is filled. Don’t reink, simply add more ink to your felt pad, and pull your felt pad from top to bottom, turn your paper, and repeat from top to bottom, to make a plaid design. Reink, add more blending solution, and turn your felt pad in a circular motion for circles. Felt pads do not have to be replaced with each 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 paper. I get approximately five to six sheets done with each felt pad I use. Many people use rubbing alcohol in place of blending solution. Again, your results will not be the same.
Samples showing this technique, using a variety of different colours.
Don’t be afraid to experiment. Even I am surprised with each new paper I do. Why not make 20 samples at a time, to have on hand for use at a later time. Don’t be afraid to use Pinata and Adirondak inks together. Some of my favourite backgrounds came from using the two brands together. To mix things up a bit, randomly place gold or copper Krylon pen ink on the same pad as your alcohol ink. You can make your own felt pad holder by taking an unused stamp apart, and placing a piece of velcro onto your wood. Possibilities are endless with these techniques.

Baby Wipe Technique

Supplies:
Baby wipes
Variety of alcohol inks
Place a baby wipe onto a palatte, and place drops of alcohol ink randomly on your paper towel.
Press your stamp onto the ink.

Today’s tutorial showed you just a few examples of what can be done with alcohol inks/reinkers. Don’t be afraid to play–results are stunning. Stay tuned for next Tuesday’s tutorial where we will show you even more techniques. Results will amaze you.

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Where’s the Orange and Pink??

Where in the world is the orange and pink today? Is it even legal to stamp without these colours–LOL. Well, I thought I would turn things upside down a bit today and make a simple, and elegant, card just for you. Enjoy.

Script was embossed in gold. Tombow markers were coloured onto the stamp, misted with water, then stamped; Stamps: Hero Arts, www.heroarts.com Card embellished with ribbon

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Cardvaark Challenge – Lift It

What better way to brighten a day that is dreary and rainy outside, than a bright card. Yesterday I made five cards, and try as I might, I ended up with four were bright, bold, and vibrant cards. Really, folks, I do try to mix up my cards and offer a variety, but I just can’t help myself and pick up the same colours without even thinking about it. This colourful card was inspired from the Caardvark Lift It Challenge. Check out their site to see more wonderful samples. Want a hint for tomorrow’s card? Simple, clean and elegant.

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Another RAK

This cute card came from Sherri (Iloveflipflops) from the Stamp Shack. The triple layered mouse image is holding down the ribbon in a very unique, and new-to-me way. Very summery with the colours.

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Autumn Splendor

How is your weekend going? With a hint of cooler weather already upon us, we are reminded that school will be starting, sweaters will be worn, and the leaves will soon be changing. Yes, autumn is my favourite time of year. These two cards were prepared for an upcoming class that I will be teaching at Lasting Impressions suitably titled, “Autumn Splendor.” If you click on the photo you will get a close-up view of the details (Thank you, Cathie, for making this suggestion. My sister, Cathie, is such a wonderful “silent partner” of my blog–ha ha. Seriously, she gives me loads of good advice such as tweeking here and there, and also reminds me that I need to upload something new on my blog quick–he he, which is why this is posted today).

Autumn colours were used on this Tapestry of Life technique, using Adirondak Stream and Cranberry on the background, and white embossing powder on top. Don’t you just love the ribbon I used? It was pointed out by the owner of Lasting Impressions while I was shopping in her store. I guess everyone knows by now that I love ribbon and the more unique the better!

I have been spending a lot of time preparing for this Tuesday’s technique on alcohol inks. You won’t want to miss it. In fact, I have so many things to share with you, that the next two or three weeks’ tutorials will be on alcohol inks/reinkers, so stayed tuned and don’t forget to check it out.

Have yourself a splendid weekend!

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Christmas Tags

Look what I’ve been up to. Christie003, from the Stamp-Shack, is hosting a Christmas tag swap. Since January I have been in almost 20 swaps. Can you tell I like participating in swaps?

Stamps are from Sunshine Designs. This particular stamp is a cube and has four cute little elves on it. Using Stazon, the image was stamped onto watercolour paper, coloured with Tombow markers, and blended with brush and water. Paper is Basic Grey’s “Dasher” line. Tags were cut out with my Cricut.

Did you see the new addition to my bar on the right? Yup, that Christmas tree is counting down the days until Christmas. Have you started your cards yet?

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More RAK’s

Wow, look at all the stamping, my girlfriend, Sue did. The layout is very unique and has a metal charm holding the ribbon. I smiled when Sue told me that she used the metal on my card because she knew I would appreciate the added touch.

Sally’s adorable card (Firefly) came with scalloped squares for me to use on my cards. Thanks Sally. Background is run through the Cuttle Bug. Image shimmers with stickles.

This gem is from Pat, who runs a lot of swaps, and of course I just have to join them! I love the whiteness of this card, and how the cupcake is 3D. There is even the sparkle of Stickles on the icing.

Thanh made this stylish card. The layout she used is one I like to use. I do love how she added the flower.

This cute card is from Joanie (CCstampin 12). I really like how she added the ribbon at different angels as well as the placement of her two images. Very unique card.

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Cardvarks 1-2-3

Good morning. How is your week going? Mine is so busy with a project that will be submitted for a design team search, preparing for fall classes at Lasting Impressions (Sarnia’s scrapbooking and rubber stamp store), making Christmas tags and cards for swaps I’m signed up for, and creating cards for competitions.

Today’s card is my submission to Caardvarks 1-2-3 challenge. Rules were: cards to be made using two pattern papers, three flowers, and one embellishment. One embellishment! What are they thinking? That was a tough one for me. Caardvarks encourages the talent of paper crafting, which was another tought one for me. Stepping outside the box, I purchased an exacto knife for this project, and decided to leave all stamps in their drawers.

Using Basic Grey’s “Dasher” paper, I carefully cut out the bird and flowers. As you can see, I decided to place the paper flowers on top of silk flowers. Both the flowers and the bird’s tail were dampened with water and curled by rolling the paper around a pencil. The bird’s wing was cut from a contrasting sheet of “Dasher” and glued into place. My one embellishment is the word “Forever.” It seemed appropriate to use this phrase as my girlfriend is celebrating her 25th wedding anniversary.

I hope this inspires you to try paper art. If you do, I would love to see your project.

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