Midnight magic again

Midnight magic again

The #altenewchallengelive with Jen Rzasa with Altenew stamp co. theme is Midnight Magic.  I am still having fun with this theme: Midnight Magic!  This time I did the technique called Reverse embossing blackout or Blackout embossing.  

Of course, if you know me, I had to do a couple of tags.  I also made a card.  I think this is my last entry for this Midnight magic theme.  I reason I did so many cards, and tags for this theme is because we had three weeks to enter this challenge.

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Midnight magic

 Midnight magic

The #altenewchallengelive by Jen Rzsa with Altenew stamp co. theme is Midnight Magic.  I am having a lot of fun with this theme, because I'm taking it in different directions.  Go here to see my first entry for this Midnight Magic theme.

First I couldn't resist doing tags for this theme with the technique called Northern lights.  

Here is one of my first posts back in 2013 doing the technique Northern lights.  If you type Northern lights in the search bar you will see more I did with this technique.

Of course, I had to also make several cards for this challenge. Believe it or not my favorite card is the one with the cheshire cat!

 I do like the bright colored jelly fish floating in the dark waters.  I saw different colored jelly fish at Mystic aquarium in Mystic, CT.  

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Black magic

 Black Magic

Black magic is a technique back is a technique I learned back in 2017, I think. It could have been earlier than that I don't remember. I did a blog post here with a video.  I'm bringing it back for Jen Rzasa midnight magic  #altenewchallengelive.  I used Altenew stamps for all of these tags, and bookmark.

 Basic instructions:

1.  stamp solid style images onto black cardstock with white pigment ink.  Let it dry.
2.  add color over pigment ink with color pencils.

My first entry are two tags.  

My second entry is a bookmark I did on dark blue cardstock.

It was fun doing this technique again.

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Soft Focus

 Soft Focus

This week Jen Rzasa  Altenew #altenewchallengelive theme is Soft Focus.  She explained Soft Focus as pastel colors ... that's not usually my style but sometimes you just need to get out of your comfort zone.

As I mentioned it was a little out of my comfort zone, but it was nice to play with pastel colors for a change.  My pastel colors were mostly a light pink.  I did stay in my comfort zone by making a couple of cards, and a bookmark.

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Scrap busters

Scrap busters

This week with Jen Rzasa from Altenew Tuesday #altenewchallengelive  I made tags.  Of course, if you know me if I'm not making cards I'm making tags.

I had fun making these tags with all my scraps ... but if you know me I have lots of scraps.  Basically what I did was put sticky sheet onto the tags, then lay different shaped scraps on the tag.  When I have enough scraps stuck to tag I then sprinkled on embossing powder to the sticky parts left on tag.  Heat set the embossing powder.  The embossing powder is supposed to represent grout in between the scrap pieces.  

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Duoprinting Chlorophyll cards

 Duoprinting chlorophyll cards

Here are pictures of my latest cards from my duoprinting chlorophyll fun. 

All the sayings are from Altenew stamp company.

To get instructions look back here for video, too.  If you type duoprinting chlorophyll in search bar you will see lots of posts.

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More tags

 More tags

Yes, I made more tags for #altenewchallengelive with Jen Rzasa on Tuesday Tag You're It challenge.

These two tags are my favorite of all the tags I created for this challenge.  First I stamped, stenciled color, then die cut the Altenew Dancing Poppies.  Next I glued the poppies to tag, then ran it through die cutting machine with embossing folder to get texture on the tags.

 

Here I collage printed tissue paper onto a manilla tag, glued paper collage pictures from CB Afternoon Tea junk journal & ephemera book ... that I cut out. Glued on one of the Dancing Poppies on it, too.

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Tag You're It!

 Tag You're It!

This week for Jen Rzasa Tuesday #altenewchallengelive  the theme is Tag You're It!  This is right up my alley ... because I really like to make tags ... any size and any shape.  To start off I did a 5 1/2" square tag, next is a layered arch tag.

The next two tags are again arch shaped tags.  For all four of these tags I used Altenew Dancing Poppies stamp/die/stencil set.  

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3 cards 1 stamp set

 3 cards 1 stamp set

 This challenge is for Altenew Fan group on Facebook for Niki's challenge .  She took over the Fan group this past Saturday, and showed us how she made 3 cards using only one stamp set.  So she challenged all of us, who were watching to do the same thing. 

 I used one stamp set,  Altenew Dancing Poppies for this challenge. For my 3 cards I did the spotlight technique.

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Blackout technique

 Blackout technique

This is a technique that blocks out all the white on a card.  Jen Rzasa from Altenew Tuesday #Altenewchallengelive with the theme White Out.  White out theme just means there is NO white anywhere on your card/project, so I did the Blackout technique.

Basically all you do is emboss a white panel with an embossing folder.  On the debossed side sponge on some color in the image.

Next take a black dye ink pad and lightly rub it across the card panel till the background is all black. You can see more of this blackout technique here back in 2024.  

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Shine on

 Shine on

A couple of cards for #altenewchallengelive  Jennifer Rzasa's Tuesday shine on challenge .  

Used Altenew stencils, dies on these two cards.  I did a fun idea, that Nicki from Nicki hearts card blog did with embossing paste, and embossing folder.  You can see it here.  Easier to see then explain.

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Metallic glow

 Metallic glow

I am obsessed right now with this technique using metallic colored cardstocks.  Don't know who orginated this technique so for now I am calling it Metallic Glow.  

            supplies used:  Altenew walnut branch embossing folder,                                     botanical 3D embossing folder

Basic instructions for this technique is to use metallic color cardstocks.  I found that TH metallic cardstocks that come in a pad worked the best for me.  I first tried this technique with inexpesive metallic cardstock from craft store, and they just didn't emboss well, or the cardstock cracked!  Sometimes it is just best to go for the brand name product, and this is one of those times.  

                        Altenew Magnalia dreams embossing folder

Run the metallic cardstock with embossing folder through your embossing/die cutting machine, I have Gina K machine, and I really like it. Use a sanding block to sand off the raised areas, then drag a pigment ink pad over the raised embossed image...this is what gives the image the glowing effect.  Much better in person.  For my cards I used Hero Arts unicorn white pigment ink, a couple of very old Encore copper, gold ink pads.  I tried Lisa Horton metallic ink pads but wasn't satified with the coverage of ink ... sometime new isn't better than old.  My Encore ink pads have to be at least 20 years old, and they are still juicy!  For this technique you need to keep in mind that pigment inks DO NOT want to dry on glossy metallic cardstock ... so I let them sit overnight then sprayed them with a fixative spray which work just fine for me.

This last card I am showing was done on regular white cardstock with copper ink.

Altenew Decorative florals embossing folder

In all my cards I used Altenew 3D embossing folders but I'm sure you could do this Metallic Glow technique with any company embossing folders.  Experiment with what you have in your stash.

Thank you for stopping by.  Come back soon.  Leave me a comment letting me know what you think of this technique.

Divide & design

 Divide & Design

Two more cards for Jen Rzasa #altenewchallengelive with the theme Divide & Design.

stencil used:  Altenew Stencil Art:  Aspen sky, Catherine Pooler ink pads

I did the stack, cut & shuffle technique for these two cards.  You can see more of this technique here.  It's a fun way to create more than one card at a time.  I used altenew Stencil Art: Aspen sky, and Catherine Pooler ink pads which are my favorite ink pads.  They have been my favorite ink pads since I discovered them at a crop years ago! 

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Fracture cards

 Fracture cards

Had fun making these two cards for Jen Rzasa #altenewchallengelive Divide & Design theme

All stamps are by Altenew stamp co., Papers by SU

   I decided to make fractured cards.  Fracture cards are an artistic technique that will give your handmade cards a one-of-a-kind look. I have made this style card before which you can see here.  If you type fracture in the search bar you can see more posts I did with this technique.

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Lots of texture

 Lots of texture

It's time for Jen Rzasa Tuesday Texture take over #altenewchallengelive .  For my card I used Altenew Woodland path bundle which is an embossing folder and stencil set.  Embossing folders add texture all on their own, but with set it has a stencil set to add color.  Besides color there is stickles glitter glue, and ribbon for more texture...along with foam tape on the back of the panel for more added texture.  Also on this card there is a strip of cardstock with enamel dots, and a saying that is also popped up with foam tape.

My tag uses Altenew Painted jellyfish stamp/die set.  First the tag has blended ink on it, next pattern papers that I cut waves, and glued onto the tag.  Mounted jellyfish with foam mounting tape.  Stamped sayings with black ink, next added enamel dots, and stickles glitter glue for more texture, and of course, sparkle.

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Take care

 Take care

I'm getting back into the swing of doing Jen Rzasa #altenewchallengelive Tuesday Altenew challenge.  This time the challenge is Frame It. 

supplies used:  Unity stamp co. Floral Tapestry, Waffle Flower co. Take care die set

I decided to do my own take on this Frame It theme. The saying is framed with the black die of the take care words. I believe you can also call this a take on the eclipse technique.  Hopefully Jen will see what I was trying to show with my take on the Frame It theme.

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Hello 2026!

 Hello 2026!

Happy New Year everyone!

I took a break from doing my blog, but I'm back!

supplies used:  Altenew Camellia Build a flower, Color pop Hello die

Today I'm getting back in the swing of doing my blog posts, by doing Altenew Tuesday  #Altenewchallengelive with Jen Rzasa.  This week the challenge is Hello 2026, which just means you need to use Hello somewhere on your project.  My first project is a tag ... and if you follow me here on my blog you know I do like to make tags.

I am also an avid cardmaker!  Most of my cards are A2 size, which is 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" (folded).  The background on both my tag, and card are done with Altenew Camellia build a flower.  It's actually a stamp layering flower set, but I just used one of the images, and repeated it on the cream cardstock panel.  Next I die cut the color pop Hello die, which doesn't cut out the word completely.  I put black cardstock behind the cut out Hello to make it stand out more.  Added leaves I already had die cut (I keep a bunch of die cuts in a container for when I need something extra on my project) out with foam mounting tape.  I have used lots of mounting tapes over the years but for the past few years my favorite one is by Altenew.  For the sparkle on the leaves I used stickles glitter glue.  

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Tic tac toe

 Tic tac toe

It's December, and time for the creative card crew group I belong to; to have our monthly meeting.  

stamps/die/stencils used:  Altenew stencil art: nature splashes, Stampin' Up saying

We had to choose a line from a tic tac toe board this time.  I chose on of the diagonal lines:  die cut/punch - matching envelope - sponging. If you take a look I sponged colors using Altenew Stencil Art: Nature Splashes set, which has layering stencils, and I used the leaf dies in the same set for the die cuts.  Look to the left of the picture to see the envelope, which I stenciled plus used one of the die cut leaves.  This was a different theme for us, but it was fun to do.

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Crafting with dice

 Crafting with dice

This week #altenewchallengelive with Jen Rzasa the theme is crafting dice roll.  Anotherwords Jen asked us to roll a dice then do the technique from the list of 6 ideas.

I couldn't help myself, I had to do more than one!  My first card, and tag dice rolls were #5 Geometric genius, and #6 Sentiment spotlight. The geometric shapes are the stencils from Altenew   Modern circles and Calligraphy maze stencils.  The black set rolls were #3. shimmer/shine, and #6 sentiment spotlight.  I used the same Altenew stencil Modern circles.  All the die cut words are also from Altenew. 

 The shimmer/shine on the black tag, and card are from some texture paste I have in my stash. 

For the next set of cards, and bookmarks I used the same Modern circles stencil.  

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Booooooooo

 Booooooooo

These Halloween cards are a little different for me ... I say that because of the color scheme.

dies used:  TH Sizzix Fright Night and Gothic Protraits

I had the backgrounds done and laying out on my table, along with a bunch of dies I had die cut ... so ... why not use them together.  And that is how these cards came about.  Also when I stenciled these backgrounds ... guess what ... you guessed it ... those color ink pads were out on my table, so there you have it.  You could say I was being creative or just lazy.  what do you think creative? or lazy?  Either way I like them with all their quirks of color and theme.

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