Stretch Your Stamps 2: Day 2

Hey there! I'm just stopping in real quick to share another card I made during the Online Card Class: Stretch Your Stamps 2. This is another background stamped card. I did the same technique that Shari Carroll showed. I love this technique! Go on, run over and check out the class. I know you want to! 

This is only my second class I have ever taken and I keep wondering why it took me so long to sign up for one. I do really love it! The best part is it gives me an excuse to lock myself in my office for days at a time. Aaaahhhh.

Ok. On to it! Here is my card:

Simple. Very Simple. Stamped background and die cut panel. I actually stamped three of these backgrounds and used the other two for totally different cards which I will show you here:

This is a totally different take, but if you look close you can see the original stamped background. You may have to squint ; )

I have never done art journaling before but I feel like this is pretty close? Anyone out there do art journaling? Does this pass?? I layered this baby UP! After the original stamping of the background I then used a stencil as a stamp. Smoosh your stencil in some ink and spritz with water. It worked like a charm!

Then I stamped some medallions onto it and then some flowers that I embossed with Ultimate Liquid Gold. I then felt like I needed some more gold so I took my Versamark PEN and drew some thicker lines within the petals and embossed it again. I then watercolored over the flowers to add some more colour and drama... Then my sentiment and some new (to me) Studio Calico sequins.


Here's a second card I did with the last stamped background. I did similar things but I ended up using my stencil to draw in. If you look close you can see the little sketch lines I used to create my swirls.

I still embossed and water-coloured the flower and stamped my chevron stamp up the side. I like this one but not as much as the first one.

Ok. That's it. What started out as 'real quick' has turned into 'too long'!! I'm being summoned so I need to run.

Anyway. Thank you SO SO SO very much for stopping by. I know you do and check in on me and maybe you leave a comment and maybe you don't, but I still feel you here and I love it! Thanks for checking up on me and say hello if you have a moment.

Hope you get to craft sometime today!

xoxo

k

Online Card Classes: Stretch Your Stamps 2--DAY ONE

Hey all! I'm excited to start out this week because I got a slot in the new Online Card Class: Stretch Your Stamps 2. And you know what? After one day, I already feel the impact! This class is great! If you want to get down and dirty with your stamps, you should totally take it.

Last night I stayed up late and made 6 cards! Here are three using one technique with one stamp. That's how you stretch it, alright!

I started with the emboss resist technique using water-colour. I really wanted some nice bright action. So I didn't do a lot of "watering" down with the colour. This is one piece of water colour paper cut to A2 size the background stamp is by Hero Arts.

Out of this one piece I die cut a little notecard (top-Lawn Fawn), a Thanks sentiment (Studio Calico) and the negative space of the Thanks sentiment (bottom)

With all of this, I made three cards! Here is the first. Using the stitched notecard die cut. I just popped up a sentiment and it was done. Easy.

 I love the vibrancy of this background!

Second card I busted out my shaker die cuts. It's my first time using them!

I still need practice and this one is a little plain, but it shakes, so you know...
I love all the shaker contents. That's the best part ; )

And last card I put down some washi tape first under the die cut panel. I then die cut the THANKS sentiment 4 times out of black. Then stacked them up and added some glossy accents.

This was difficult. It's by far the THINNEST die cut I have ever worked with. It was really late too so I had some difficulties with my glossy accents (shot in my eye!) and then this skinny little thing wouldn't stick together. Studio Calico, I LOVE this font, but seriously? It's waaaaay too skinny! I was frustrated, to say the least. But I got some sleep, and love what it looks like so I guess I forgive it all. Even my eye lid gluing shut ; )

Ok. That's all for today! I have some cards to share with you for day two. And if perchance you are in the mood for some learning and stamping and fun, you should come join!

Thanks for stopping by.

xoxo

k

Sketchbook Saturday #121

Hey all! Just stopping in to share a quick card for the challenge over at Iwona's blog.  It's Sketchbook Saturday people! Just one day short of Saturday! I think I missed a few here and there, you know how it goes, but I'm here now!

Here is the sketch:

What. What. What!? More embossing, you say!? Yes, I do say... Here is my card:

And yup, its a double whammy... embossing AND masking! GASP! 

Here is a close up:

I double embossed my card front and then made masks to stamp my flowers. I chose the Rosie Posie (I and II) sets from Papertrey Ink with some Hero Arts and CSS inks. I just got a slew of them and its so fun having new colours to try!

 This card was made for a neighbour who needs to send it to her son. Hope they like it. That always worries me. You want people to like it, right!? Here's hoping!

Thanks for stopping in today.
Love to you and yours
k

Lovely Friend

 Hey There! Stopping in to share a lovely hello for a lovely friend! As I said before, I have been double embossing EVERYTHING lately! Here's just another little thing I couldn't help but run through my Cuttlebug. If you haven't had a chance to try it, head over to Online Card Classes and sign up for Clean and Simple 3. It will change your life. I Promise...

This card was made with two challenges in mind.
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday and the current Curtain Call Pretty & Pink.

Here is my card:

And a little close up. You might not be able to tell but there are embossed diagonal lines on that card base too. The texture is so wonderful. And how much do you love this pink!? I used a blend of Memento Luxe Inks and Clear and Simple Stamps ink. Stamps and paper are from Papertrey Ink. (And anyone else have a doozie of a time getting these roses to line up? I always have to do it multiple times and still.... so crooked!)

I have quite a few friends moving this summer. That's the life of an expat, unfortunately. It's always sad but I am glad I have some cards I can send to say a final goodbye. Just incase I can't really express myself in person (which is usually the case). Cards are good like that. Nice and permanent.

Anyway. Thanks for stopping by today! Hope you are all well.

have a lovely weekend.

k

PTI Make It Monday 163: Envelope Wraps

Hey all! It's been awhile since I have participated in a Papertrey Ink challenge. It's fun to be here! I joined in with the envelope wraps that Danielle Flanders showcased.  I have a few cards to send and thought it would be a great way to doll them up right!

Here is my envelope:

I used the double embossing technique that Julie Ebersol taught in the last Online Card Classes series: Clean and Simple 3. 

I LOVE This technique. In fact, I love it so much I practically double embossed my entire craft room! 

And wouldn't you know it, all the Papertrey Ink die cuts and embossing plates work perfectly for this. The idea actually started with the card I made first and then when I saw the Make It Monday challenge I knew it would be perfect to add an envelope wrap to it:

I used a Mat Stack 3 die cut with an embossing folder and then did a masking technique (also taught in Clean and Simple 3) with Botanical Silhouettes (anniversary set) to make my poppies frame and added a sentiment from Friends 'til the End. I repeated that for the envelope wrap choosing to wrap it around the right side and add a "Happy Mail" sentiment (from Happy Hexagons) along the top. I used a line stamp to create a place to write the address. Maybe a bit too many lines, in hind sight. Who has a 9 line address!??

Here's a close up of a card that's going into the mail for a sweet friend who will be moving soon. Oh how I will miss her...

That's all for today. thanks for stopping by!

k