Opposite colors

Opposite colors

This week Altenew  Tuesday challenge with Jen Rzasa is opposite colors for #altenewchallengelive.  I decided on purple and yellow for this one, it is a silhouette card in honor of a long passed visit to Disneyworld.  

Check out this silhouette card actually made back in the late 1980's at Disneyworld!  I happened on this when I was cleaning out a drawer, and yes our boys were so young...maybe 9 and 3 years old.

These dies are from a TH Sizzix vault gothic protraits die set.

Now I couldn't resist making a Halloween card with another TH Sizzix vault Fright night die set.

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More Luna Moths

 More Luna Moths

I am enjoying making Luna Moth cards.  For some reason I'm drawn to bug rubber stamps.  I started by stamping this big Luna moth in the center of a full sheet of cardstock, then stamp the moth along the sides of the cardstock.  Next I cut the stamped sheet of cardstock into four panels measuring 3 3/4" x 5".   I got out some of my blending brushes, and just blended whatever color was left on them onto card panels.  Adhered the stamped cards to 4" x 5 1/4" black card panels. Adhered those panels to colored A2 size card bases.

stamps used:  Unity stamp co. Sacred Flight Luna Moth stamp set

For my next set of cards I stamped the Luna moths with different color inks onto a full sheet of white cardstock. 

Repeated the above instructions except this time I didn't do any ink blending of color on the panels.

The other difference is for this second set of four cards I did a couple vertical, and the last two horizontal.

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Luna Moth

 Luna Moth

This is a big Luna Moth that will fit across an A2 (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") card as you can see in pic.  For this purple (yes, purple but in the pic it looks blue) Luna moth I stamped it, blended colors in the image, then fussy cut it out.  There is no die for this moth at this time, but maybe Unity will have one in the future...otherwise I'm ok with fussy cutting it out.  I layered a 4" x 5 1/4" of the Moonborn Flight paper onto a base card.  I didn't have paper to match the color ink I used, so I just blended the same ink onto the base of the card before I adhered the pattern paper.  Next I adhered the fussy cut Luna moth over the pattern paper, added word with mounting tape...added some inexpensive self sticking gems that I got at our local Dollar Tree store.  

stamps/supplies used:  Unity stamp co. Sacred Flight Luna Moth stamp set, Moonborn Flight paper pack

Now for my second card I stamped the Luna moth directly onto a white panel.  Again blended some rose pink ink for the wings plus yellow and brown inks onto the body of the moth.  Then I cut the panel down to 3 3/4" x 5".  I purposely cut off one of the wings of the Luna moth with the idea to make a bookmark with it later.

Next I ripped a piece of the pattern paper and adhered it over the moth.  Stamped word, and punched it out with an old oval paper punch, then mounted it on the panel.  Added some more of those inexpensive gems.  Adhered stamped panel to a black panel then the base card.  Check out the bookmark!  Can you figure out how I did it?  That's right it's the left over piece that was left after I cut down the Luna moth piece.  

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Dracula and Wolf Man

 Dracula and Wolf Man

I'm still getting inspiration from Movie posters for Jen Rzasa Tuesday #altenewchallengelive from Altenew stamp company. 

First up is Dracula a famous vampire character introduced in Bram Stroker's 1897 novel of the same name.  I'm in a tag mood so my Dracula is a big rectangle style tag.  Started by blending a few green inks on a white card ... white embossed the Dracula in the center.  The other two were stamped with a green ink.  I know this poster colors were green and black ... but ... I just had to add a bit of red.  I mean it's Dracula a creature of the night who wants to suck your blood.

Next inspiration is The Wolf Man the image of a cursed soul doomed to become a werewolf at the rising of a full moon. Wolf Man another creature of the night.  This is longer but still rectangle style tag. I blended colors on this tag, but I only used blending brushes that were in front of me.  Another words only the ink on the brush ... I didn't get out any ink pads just used up ink on the brushes.

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Bird sympathy

 Bird sympathy

stamp/dies/embossing folder used:  Altenew stamp co. birds, embossing folder.  MFP saying

My local card swapping group decided to do sympathy for one of our monthly themes.  The above picture is the first card I did but for my group I simplified the card a little.

stamps/dies/stencils used: Altenew stamp co. bird dies, stencil.  MFP saying

In this picture you can see I switched out the embossing folder for a stencil.  Other than that I used the same ink which is from my favorite company, Catherine Pooler stamp co.  I do like their foam ink pad and all the fun colors...that is not to say other companies don't have very good ink pads, it's just for me it's CP inks lately.  Back to my cards ... I die cut the birds and adhered them to a circle die that I blended some ink on.  Stamped the saying with black ink, and puts a few self sticking gems to finish off the cards.

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***not affiliated with any of the above companies just a happy customer*** 

More on Halloween

 More on Halloween

Can't help myself so here are more Halloween cards.

stencils/dies used:  Waffle Flower big moon layering stencil set, TH word dies/stencil

On the Fright card I did the big moon layering stencil first.  The #1 stencil lays down the background color, #2 does layer of moon, #3 adds the last layer for the moon.  The wicked card I blended greens and blue inks.  After blending colors I did the big moon stencil.  Next added bats with Tim Holt stencil, last added the wicked word die.

stamps/dies used:  Stampers Anonymous, TH word die & stencils

Again I blended lots of color with green, blue, and yellow inks. The fright card has two of TH stencils.  Trick or treat uses stamps, and bat stencil.

Did color blending with a couple of blue inks this time.  Added bats, and rib cage with stencils.  I even splashed on some water to make the water spots.  Last mounted boo word.  

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Tags on Halloween

 Tags on Halloween

stamps/dies used:  Stampers Anonymous, TH dies

When I to change it up I make tags.  For these tags I blended lots of darker color inks for that dreary look.  Stamped over all the dark color with black ink or  Catherine Pooler Rose gold or Platinum ink pads.  They are pigment inks so they take a little longer to dry.  When I made these tags I was at a crop, and didn't have my heat tool ... so I had to set them aside to dry on their own for a few hours.

stamps/stencils used:  Stampers Anonymous, TH word die, TH stencil

No color blending on the above two tags ...just stenciled with TH pumpkins layering stencils.  Then stamped and fussy cut out the ghosts, because they do not have dies.  Gotta love "ghost hug" saying.

Do you like to make tags?

In my last post I asked a question about the purple paper behind the trees on the card.  The answer is purple vellum.  I found some of it in my stash of papers.  You never know what you find till you start moving things around.

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Thanks cards

 Thanks cards

A couple of Thanks cards just to have in my stash so I have them when needed.

stamps/supplies:  Stampin' Up

Here are a couple of cards of Thanks.  Both cards use butterfly dies which my friend gave me.  I added some color on some of the butterflies with ink pad, and blending brush.  Stamped the Thanks on both cards at the bottom of card panel with black ink.  Card panel on left was ripped then glued to a piece of DSP (designer series paper aka pattern paper) then layered onto black layer.  Added the butterflies and self sticking gems.  Card panel on left has some flowers stamped off the edge for some interest.  The flowers were colored in with blending brush.  Then butterfly on this card is doubled up.

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Another accordion fun fold card

 Another accordion fun fold card

There are lots of variations on an accordion fold, and this one is simple but very effective.

stamps/papers/dies used:  Unity stamp co.

I also am using Unity coffee-doodle-doo stamp set again.  I do like this frazzled looking coffee bird, but for me she will always be a tea-totaler to me.

You can see more accordion fun folds here, and here.  To see even more just type accordion fold in search box, and more of my posts will pop up.

I colored her by getting out my blending brushes, and just brushing on some color.  Not even staying in the lines, so to speak.  After that I added more color with my prisma color pencils.

measurements:

base card:  4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

layer on base card:  4" x 5 1/4" pattern paper

accordion fold card:  3 1/4" x 11"  scored at 4" and 8"

layer for front of accordion fold card:  3 1/4" x 4 1/8"

stamped layer:  die cut

layer for inside accordion fold card:  

pattern paper - 3 3/4" x 3"

To assemble the card:

Adhere the bigger section of the accordion fold to base card.  Fold the accordion card flat, and adhere 3 1/4" x 4 1/8" card on the shortest fold.  Next adhere the pattern paper, and stamped card.  Add some self-sticking gems to finish it.  Just keep in mind you can make the accordion fold card a little bigger, or smaller to change up the card.  

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***not affiliated with company just happy customer***

 

Winter blessings

 Winter blessings

Happy New Year's Eve!

stamps/supplies used:  Unity stamp co. Woodland Layers stamp/stencil set, MFP&stamps snow gifts

Basic instructions:

1. Blended colors for the background.

2. used mountain/trees stencil.

3. Stamped snowman, large tree and saying.  Colored in the snowman with some color pencils. 

4.  Inside stamped saying and trees.

Each card will look a bit different with the blending of the colors.

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Peony stencil

 Peony Stencil

stencil used:  Hero Arts Artisitic Peony stencil & what's up. SU Happy birthday saying

This is what I call a full line art stencil.  It fits the front of an A2 card.  Basically, I blended different colors through the stencil.  On the card in the center, I blended color through the stencil...cut it out with a deckle die, and layered onto a die cut black card.  Next, I again blended colors through the stencil, then fussy cut out the biggest peony from the stencil.  Mounted the cut out peony onto card.

More cards with the same stencil, and stamped various sayings on the panel with black ink.  Tied ribbon around panel, and layered all onto A2 card.

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Video - Butterflies

 Butterflies

Butterflies are beautiful flying creatures.

stamps used:  Unity stamp co. Spark

For my change can be...card I blended three colors on a white card for a simple background.  

stamps used: Unity stamp co. Moments of Bliss, Time to Refresh

For my second card I did a grid technique.  Another name for this technique is Retiform.  You can check out video here in this post or at my you tube channel for more on grid techniques.

I will be adding these two cards to Unity FB challenge here.

Thank you for stopping by.  Come back again soon. Comments welcome.

***not affiliated with above company just a happy customer***

Kokopelli

Kokopelli

Years ago I carved lots of different images.  This kokopelli and sun are just a couple of the many stamps I carved.

                                                            stamps used:  My carvings

For this card I blended some colors to make it look like a sunset. To fancy up this card, I die cut it out with a postage stamp style die. 

 Kokopelli represents story, growth, joy, and more to the people native.   

                                                        January 15, 2023 sunset - my photo

I took this photo around 5 p.m. the other night.  

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Meadow Reflection

 Meadow Reflection

stamps used:  Altenew stamp co. Meadow Reflection stamp/die set

This is an easy card.  Basically, all I did was color blend a background with two colors.  Both cards use the rectangle scallop die set by Unity stamp company.  Stamped one of the big images from Altenew Meadow Reflection stamp set with a black ink.  Any black ink would work for this card.  Added a few self sticking gems for dimension on the card.

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***not affiliated with any of above companies just satisfied customer***

Perfect Love faux layers

 Perfect Love

stamps used for card #1:  Blue Knight Perfect Love stamp set

For this card I did what I call Faux Layer technique with springtime colors.  Simple but effective.  See more of my Faux Layers here, here, here, and here but if you type Faux Layers in the search box on my side bar you will find more.  I started doing this technique back in 2012 so there are a lot to see.

card #1 basic instructions:

1.  mask off section on card with post it notes or any masking paper.

2.  blend colors between the masked off post it notes.  for the above card I did the colors in three sections.  when done blending colors the first time, go over it again to smooth out the colors.

3.  remove the post it note masks.  stamp image with black ink on the card leaving some of the image over the blended colors.

4.  stamp and emboss saying with white embossing powder onto black card and layer onto stamped layer.

5.  layer all layers onto base card that has edges colored with same ink used in the faux layer.

card #2

card #2 basic instructions:

1. mask off stripes with post it notes.

2.  blend on color.  first stripe is lime green, second coral and so on till you have as many stripes as you like.

tip:  just a matter of moving the post it notes after each color is blended.

3.  remove post it notes and stamp images with black ink over the stripes.

4.  add ribbon and adhere layers to lime green card base.

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Beach Birds

 Beach Birds

This month, June, I am happy to be guest blogging on Fridays for Blue Knight rubber stamp company.  

stamp used:  Blue Knight Beach Bird stamp

This is a big and beautiful image that almost covers the front of an A2 card.  I stamp Beach Bird with black ink and colored her with color pencils.  Layered the stamped card onto a black layer then onto a light blue card base.

The second card using Beach Bird I stamped it with dark brown ink.  Blended color around the stamped card with two brown distress ink and hickory smoke ink.  This makes for a vintage effect.  The finished stamped card is layered onto a dark brown layer then onto a cream card base card.

Visit Blue Knight blog to see more inspiration and also at

Fans of Blue Knight Rubber Stamps (Facebook group) is HERE

and

Blue Knight Rubber Stamps YouTube Channel is HERE

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corner foliage

 Corner Foliage

stamps used:  Blue Knight stamps

This card is a simple design but there is more going on than you would think.

basic instructions:

1.  with blending tool blend colors onto a white card panel.

2.  add clouds with cloud template from same Blue Knight company.

3.  stamp foliage and happy birthday (from the same stamp set) with black ink.  

4.  over stamp the circle (from same stamp set) image with yellow ink over the saying (from the same stamp set). 

5.  add ribbon, adhere to black panel and then to note card.

tip: spray with Perfect Pearls mist. sparkly in person.

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Bird sketch #6

 Bird sketch #6

stamps used:  Altenew stamp co.

For this sketch I dug into my container of die cuts .... yes, I have a container of different stamped out dies.  They come in handy when I need a quick card or like in this case ... a sketch card.  Besides having a container of already cut out stamped dies, I also have a small pile of background cards.  If I remember correctly in this background I blended a couple of colors, then adhered some different size double sided tape, so I could press on some gold foil.  Also dug into my stash of self-sticking gems for more sparkle.  Adding this card to Pixel Maven's retreat blog challenge for February.

Thanks for stopping by and please do come back again soon.

***not affiliated with any of the above companies just a satisfied customer***

Beaver moon

 Beaver Moon

stamp used:  Unity stamp co. beaver cuddlebug

November was the Beaver moon which was named after the beavers, of course, who built their dams at that time of year.  It is fun doing this moon swap with some local friends, although we don't meet in person but send our cards to each other.  We can only hope things in our world improve and then we will be able to meet up in person.  Time will tell.  Back to my beaver card ... I have been doing a postcard each month and on this one I stamped on kraft, then ink blended the background.  The cute beaver, only one in my stash, was colored with Prisma color pencils.  The fun thing about this swap is everyone is doing their own thing ... one person is doing tags for all of her moon swap ... others are doing cards ... some are A2 size cards but a few are 5 x 7.  It's fun to get this swap every month.

***I'm a bit behind in showing my moon swap cards. I will be playing catch up with them***

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Get Well - Thinking of you

Stamps used:  MFP butterfly and sayings

Impression Obession Damask Floral

Me & Carrie Lou Queen's Ann flower

I like to make cards and send bunches to family or friends.  These cards are a part of a group that are going to a family member who asked for some cards, and I'm happy to oblige.  I am a die heart stamper!  

For the butterfly cards I got out some old ink pads, that I haven't used for years!  AND they are still juicy and ink up well!  They are called Encore ink pads ... not even sure if they are still made but if they are and you see them ... pick up a few ... they are great metallic colors.

For the two big flowers they were stamped with black ink over a masked blended oval.  To create the blended oval I cut out a piece of masking paper, then laid it on white card.  Blend in the colors in the open section, then remove the masking paper to reveal the blended oval.  Next, I stamped the flower over the blended oval with black ink.

You can see the other cards in the group here in this post.   

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