Mixed media

stamps used:  Unity stamp co.

All this week at Unity one of their designers named Jolande from the Netherlands has been visiting.  That means week long lives on facebook and even Instagram this time.  Jolande designs some wonderful mixed media style stamps to use for cards, tags and more.  I created these two cards using a couple of her techniques but I had to improvise with some of the products, naturally because I don't have them.  She is using this week products from Candece a company in the Netherlands that she brought with her so needless to say, I improvised with products I have here.  

I started with a TH gears stencil ... now she used a product that she kept saying had a sandy texture so I  got out some black acrylic paint and mixed in some chunky silver glitter I had on hand.  I took this mixture and dabbed it through my stencil with my finger, like she did so you would have more texture.  Next she used some kind of colored wax so I got out my clear texture paste and mixed in some gold re-inker.  This time you use a baby wipe to spread the mixture through the stencil.  Let this all dry or use a heat tool to dry.  After the black section is dry you are supposed to dab spots of white paint, well, I did this but for some reason after my white paint was dry ..... it turned purple!  guess it was a reaction to the silver glitter mixed in the black paint.  Oh well, I went with it as you will see in the pic.  Next step is to over stamp the card with images and heat emboss, so I did.  Then she distress her project with browns but with my purple showing through I didn't think that would work for me, so I used purple distress inks.  Last you stamp and cut out (I punched out) the saying and mount to card.  O.K. done!  what do you think?

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fun with cards

 Yesterday spent the afternoon with friends ... stamping, laughing and eating!

 we made a total of six cards, two each of three designs. 

 1. variation on a gate fold card.
2.  card with a tag embellishment.
3.  used a background die.

stamps used:  Stampin' Up
Always a fun time!

Diorama cards

stamps used:  Me & Carrie Lou, Repeat Impressions

First I want to say these are old stamps in my collection and I'm not even sure if these two companies are still in business.  In fact, these stamps are so old (1997) that they are wood mounted.

This card is called Diorama cards because, I think you look into/through them like you were looking into a diorama ..... remember we made them out of shoe boxes back in school.  Oh boy, am I showing my age by stating that fact.  

measurements:

two at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" white cardstock

score 1/2" & 1" on both sides

instructions:

punch or die cut center of front card.

accordion fold both cards 

add adhesive to one end of each side of one card then tape together.

It's really a very easy card with a wow factor.

enjoy!

come back again soon.  comments are always welcome.

Purple wreaths

Still enjoying creating wreath builder cards.  here are purple cards.

 stamps used:  Gina K. designs

here is a photo of Gina K. designs wreath builder stencil template tool so you can see it.  I wrote with a sharpie the size in the corner so I know what size cardstock fits in it.  there are two stencil templates:  3 3/4" and 4" .  the 3 3/4" is showing in the photo.

thank you for stopping by and please come back soon.  Also please leave a comment and let me know what you think.

MIUCB #17 AG & layering

stamps used:  Unity stamp co.

It's the first of the month so that means MIUCB challenge time.  the challenge for September is AG (anything goes) and layering so that means you can do either or but remember to use a stamp somewhere on your card/project.  

Triple-time stamping

white layers:  2 1/8 x 3 1/8, 2 1/8 x 4, 2 1/8 x 4 3/4, 4 x 5 1/4

colored layers:  2 1/4 x 3 1/4, 2 1/4 x 4 1/4, 2 1/4 x 5

these are just the sizes I used but you can make this card in lots of variations that fit onto a note card.

Place all the white layers in whatever configuration you want with re-positional tape then stamp over all the layers.  when I'm done stamping I carefully take the stamped layers off and layer onto colored cardstock.  tip:  make a mark on the back of each stamped layer on the top so you remember how they fit back together.  tape them in order onto note card to complete the card.

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More on wreath builders

Here are several more samples of the wreath builder cards.  These were done on a piece of 3 3/4" x 5" white cardstock so they fit on an A2 card.  I like that better than square cards.

 stamps used:  Gina K. Designs

I think my favorites are the ones pictured in the bottom photo because I do like the color schemes better and they have dimension.  

what do you think?

thanks for stopping by and please come back again soon.

Wreath builder cards

stamps used:  Gina K. Designs, savvy stamps

inks:  Brutus Monroe surface inks, VersaFine clair nocturne

I had some play time so I got out my wreath builder stamp/stencil set and made these three cards.  Believe it or not it took a good two hours to make these cards.  It's not as easy as you might think.  There is a learning curve for this set and yes, you do need a stamp positioner ... I have the TH platform and it worked o.k. but I found I needed to use my magnets maybe when I practice some more I can do without them.  don't get me wrong I do like the way the cards came out and will play some more with this set in fact I want to try doing it as an A2 size card ... these are 4 1/4" square cards.  Oh yes, I also used some new ink pads I had just ordered ... Brutus Monroe surface ink cubes so that is the reason for the color schemes.  I tend to use what I can get my hands on at the time.
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Yes, more acrylic block stamping

 stamps used:  Unity stamps

Did some more acrylic block stamping.  it is an addictive technique and so easy!

Here are other posts with this technique here and here with a video.  you can also see video at my you tube channel along with other fun technique videos.

thanks for stopping by.  come back again soon.

Bokeh with video

Today I'm showing you a technique called Bokeh that is actually a photography term which in simple terms means ... out of focus.  But knowing us stampers we brought into the stamping world so here is my take on the Bokeh Technique.  

Please continue to the bottom of this post to watch my video or go to Sue's you-tube channel to see this video plus others.

here are a samples of the blended cardstock and the technique.

card samples using Unity stamps

stamps used:  HouseMouse by Stampendous! and Hot Potatoes

thank you for stopping by and remember to give a thumbs up to my video if you like it.  come back again soon.

More acrylic block stamping

 stamps used:  Unity stamp co.

Still having fun with acrylic block stamping.  I did this years ago and forgot how much fun it is to be so free with a background.  I used Ranger distress ink and oxide inks on these samples.  On the bowls and dragonfly cards (on white cards) I used a mix of regular distress ink and oxide ink pads.  You can't really see it in the photo but the oxides pop on the black cardstock.  The bottom photo with the feathers uses just the distress inks.

See more on acrylic block stamping on this post with a video or on Sue's you-tube channel along with other videos I have done.

thanks for stopping by and come back soon.

MIUCB August challenge with video

The challenge for August is anything goes/acrylic block stamping.

I choice to do acrylic block stamping and a video showing how I created my samples.

acrylic block stamping on different cards.

stamps used:  Unity stamp co.

inks used:  Ranger distress and distress oxide inks

Get out all your different size acrylic blocks and go crazy making lots of backgrounds on different cardstocks and watercolor paper.

basic instructions:

1.  tap inks onto acrylic block.

2.  spritz with water.

3.  press onto cardstock

4.  lift off and see the shapes of ink

5.  over stamp with images and create cards and postcards.

watch video here in this post or at Sue's you tube channel.

thank you for visiting.  come back again soon.

classic black and white

stamps used:  Unity stamp co.

inks used:  Ranger distress black soot and hickory smoke

Did acrylic block stamping then just stamped images over block stamping.

see video on acrylic block stamping at Sue's you tube channel

thanks for visiting.  come back soon