Monday, April 27, 2015

Wetlands meets "reflection technique"

Happy Monday, Everyone!

Here is another card we will be making at my next Stampers' Techniques club.  I was really glad to see that this stamp set, Wetlands, is NOT on the retiring list of stamps that are going away, as I really, really love this set, and reach for it often when I am making a masculine card.  I have committed to making one masculine card in every class that I do, as we all need cards for the men in our lives, even though they might not be the most fun to make.  I have also been wanting to teach the reflection technique, so this was the perfect set to do it with.

You'll start by cutting a Whisper White die cut with the Labels framelits (which are retiring, by the way -- so if you want them, get them now!).  Next, stamp your top Canadian goose image as close to the top of your die cut as you can using Memento Black ink.  Then, use the slick side of your stamp-a-ma-jig imaging sheet, and stamp the goose again in the black ink.  Turn your imaging sheet over, so the inked area is facing your card stock -- line up the reflection image with the original goose you stamped -- making sure the legs and body match up.  Lay your imaging sheet down and rub it firmly to transfer the inked image to your die cut piece.  When you lift the imaging sheet off, you will have the reflected image on your die cut.  It will not be as crisp of an image as the original stamped one, and that is ok because a reflected image is more fuzzy in real life.  Now, to get that sponged look, I started by masking the body of the goose so that I didn't get blue sky ink on him.  I then sponged the sky with Pool Party ink.  Next, I used a sticky note and sponged the grasses and soil line with Old Olive and Soft Suede ink.  I wanted the part above the water to be more vibrant than below the water line, so I sponged accordingly.  I then used a Blender pen to add some Crumb Cake ink to the goose body, and also blended the sky/water line a little to create that blurred border.  I used a Pool Party marker and a chalk marker to add some streaks to make the water look more realistic.  After assembling the card, I added crystal effects to the water area -- scribbling it over the entire water area to further add to the "water look".

I really love how this card came out.  Makes me want to try this idea again.  One note about this technique: I think a die based black ink, like the Tuxedo Memento black, works best for this rather than stayzon ink, as the stayzon won't transfer from your imaging sheet to the card stock very well, I've found.

Other things used in this card:  Pool Party card stock base, Basic Black card stock, Neutrals candy dots, burlap ribbon, the zig zag embossing folder, Teeny Tiny wishes stamp set, word window punch, and the retiring modern label punch.

Hoping this inspires you to try the reflection technique for yourself!




Saturday, April 25, 2015

Stained glass butterflies -- Butterfly thinlit dies

Yep! I just can't stop playing with the butterfly thinlets -- which, incidentally, are on sale for 15% off through April 30th!  AND if you purchase one of the bundles including the Butterfly Basics stamp set as well as framelits, you can choose one of three Sale-a-bration items for FREE -- the Irresistably Yours specialty DSP, the Best Year Ever DSP, or a ribbon/button pack.

This is a card we will be making at my next techniques stampers club.  I am in love with this stained glass technique, and just wanted to try another twist to this idea.  In a previous post, I showed how to emboss an image on vellum and color the opposite side with markers to create an amazing stained glass look.  On this card, I have die cut the medium butterfly out of black card stock, carefully glued it to a scrap of vellum, and then colored the back side using just a sponge dauber and inks.  Start with your lightest color of ink first, and add as much color to the vellum as possible.  Then get your darker color and add that to the outside edges of the wings, taking care not to get too much on the lighter color or your butterfly won't have that two tone look.

Another new treasure I used on these cards, was the striped scalloped thinnest die.  I've had this die on my wish list for a long time, and just recently got around to purchasing it.  I wanted the butterflies to 'pop' on this card, so I did a tone on tone look -- using Very Vanilla for the card base as well as my scalloped overlay.  Soft and elegant.

For the first card here, I used Tempting Turquoise and Rich Razzleberry inks on the butterfly, and on the second one -- Crushed Curry and Tangelo Twist inks.  My idea was a version of a monark butterfly with the latter.  Of course, I'm not striving for realism here -- just beauty! :)






Letterpres Winter and the Snowflake thinlets die

Happy Saturday, Everyone!

Recently two items were added to the Clearance Rack that I HAD to purchase -- the Letterpress Winter stamp set and the coordinating snowflake card thinlits die. I had wanted these when they came out in last year's holiday catalog, but just couldn't justify the cost.  Well,.... now they are on clearance for a killer deal and so I snatched them up.  As you know, with the clearance rack, things sell out, so jump on there and grab them if you love them as much as I do.

This die makes the cutest fun fold Christmas card.  I used the All Is Calm specialty DSP which is also on the clearance rack, with a Lost Lagoon card base.  To make this card larger than the die is intended for, read this blog post.

Also used in these cards: silver foil paper, Island Indigo card stock, Lost Lagoon ink, Island Indigo ink, and basic rhinestones.

The retirement list is also here, with many beautiful treasures up to 50% off!  -- check out the framelit sets and punches especially that are on sale.  Many awesome deals to be had.