Kinda Eclectic Textures

To be perfectly honest - this didn't turn out quite as I'd envisaged!  But that's the nature of crafting -  I'm not unhappy with the result, even if it wasn't the one I was expecting!

Using Emboss Resist and layers of ink to create a monochromatic card

I was experimenting with inky layers and the emboss resist technique.

Starting with a piece of Shimmery White cardstock (because it's able to withstand the abuse I was planning to throw at it!), my first step was to stamp the textured ribbon image with Versamark and clear heat emboss it.

Next I sponged the entire piece with Pool Party ink and stamped the splodges with Pool Party ink.

I then very thoroughly wiped the surface with my Embossing Buddy before stamping the butterfly with Versamark and clear heat embossing it.

Next, I inked the leaves with Versamark and then immediately with Emerald Envy and stamped the image.  I quickly added clear embossing powder and heat set it.

I used a clean sponge dauber to add more Versamark to the leaves and sprinkled on the clear embossing powder.  Once I'd tapped off the excess powder, I used a small, clean paint brush to clean away any excess powder from around the leaves before heat setting.

After another wipe with the Embossing Buddy, I stamped the ribbon image again with Versamark and heat set it.

I did some more sponging with Pool Party ink and then Bermuda Bay, concentrating on the edges and pulling it in towards the centre.  Then I stamped the edges with Emerald Envy ink and sponged the edges with Emerald Envy ink, blending it out but covering less area than the previous inks.

I made the card with an A5 piece of Emerald Envy cardstock and added a layer of Pool Party before the decorative layer.

It wasn't my intention to add any more layers or labels but, being honest again, when I stamped the greeting straight onto the card front it had no impact.  So I stamped the greeting (from Watercolour Wishes) onto a label cut with one of the Lots of Labels dies (I adjusted the size to fit the greeting) and sponged the edges with Bermuda Bay and then a touch of Emerald Envy.  Since I now had an extra layer, I made the most of it by popping the label up on Stampin' Dimensionals.

I used Pool Party and Emerald Envy ink to stamp the inside of the card.

Thank you for visiting.
'Til next time!
Stephanie

Product List - To visit my online store, click on a product image below (Australian Residents only)

Kinda Eclectic Clear-Mount Stamp Set

[135350]

Timeless Textures Clear-Mount Stamp Set

[140517]

Lots Of Labels Framelits Dies

[138281]

Emerald Envy A4 Cardstock

[141420]

Pool Party A4 Card Stock

[124391]

Whisper White A4 Card Stock

[106549]

Shimmery White A4 Card Stock

[121717]

Sponge Daubers

[133773]

Stamping Sponges

[101610]

Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad

[126982]

Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad

[131171]

Emerald Envy Classic Stampin' Pad

[141396]

Versamark Pad

[102283]

Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder

[109130]

Heat Tool

[129056]

Touches of Texture Flap Card

This card is entered into the Crazy Crafters Project Highlights this week.  Click here to take a look at all the amazing cards and vote for your favourites! 



On Wednesday I shared this card and promised to share another card today that is similar ... but different.  Well, here it is.

The front flap is raised with the tassel

I stamped the flower with Smoky Slate ink onto Smoky Slate card, which gives a softer, more subtle effect.  I used the same three Stampin' Up Watercolour Pencils (Basic Gray, Basic Black and Whisper White) but in a  looser more sketchy way.

At the beginning of the process.  I had deepened the colour of the stem and defined the leaves a bit.

To raise the flap on the card, I added some layers of Very Vanilla cardstock and Cupcakes & Carousels paper cut with oval Stitched Framelits.  I cut two from the patterned paper and sandwiched the tassel between them with pieces of Foam Adhesive.

Since I added a tiny pearl to the centre of the sequin on the bow, I also added some tiny pearls to the centre of the flower to tie things together a bit.

At the last moment, I decided that I wasn't happy with the marriage of the Smoky Slate floral piece with the warmer tones of the Cupcakes & Carousels paper and embellishments! So I picked up the Daffodil Delight pencil and added a few strokes to the flower and a light smudging to the background to warm it up a bit.  I'm still kicking myself but I do think it helped.

You may be asking yourself - so what's under the flap? This is ....

A little bit more stamping under the flap

A piece of Very Vanilla cardstock simply stamped with Basic Black ink and lightly coloured with a Basic Gray Watercolour Pencil.  The sequins in the corners match the one on the front of the card.

Some matching flowers appear inside the card, this time stamped in Basic Gray ink for a softer look.

Thank you for visiting today.  Do take a look at all the great cards in the Project Highlights!
'Til next time!
Stephanie


Product List - To visit my online store, click on a product image below (Australian Residents only)

Touches Of Texture Clear-Mount Stamp Set

[143251]

Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies

[145372]

Watercolor Pencils

[141709]

Cupcakes & Carousels Designer Series Paper Stack

[142744]

Urban Underground Specialty Designer Series Paper

[142783]

Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad

[140931]

Card Stock A4 Smoky Slate

[131291]

Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock

[106550]

Basic Gray A4 Card Stock

[121689]

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

Cupcakes & Carousels Embellishment Kit

[142767]

Pearl Basic Jewels Embellishments

[119247]

Touches of Grey Texture

Last year (how time flies!) I stumbled across a wonderful tutorial posted by Melanie Muenchinger, about creating a sketchbook look with stamps which set me off on a very enjoyable exploration of the monochrome, starting here.

This week, with Stampin' Up Watercolor Pencils in hand, I decided to revisit the monochrome using the Basic Gray, Basic Black and Whisper White pencils without any water.

I found the bow, ready made, on my desk.  It must have been there for a while as the ribbon is now retired!

The flowers on the background piece are clear heat embossed and then very lightly coloured with the Basic Gray pencil.

The focal flower is stamped with Basic Black ink and then coloured with all three pencils.  Although the pencils are soft, the overall look is crisp because of the contrast of the black ink against the Smoky Slate card.

The top panel is raised up Stampin' Dimensionals.

While my head was in this space - I also stamped a flower using Smoky Slate ink which produced a very different effect that I'll share with you on Friday.

Thank you for visiting.
'Til next time!
Stephanie

Product List - To visit my online store, click on a product image below (Australian Residents only)

Touches Of Texture Clear-Mount Stamp Set

[143251]

Watercolor Pencils

[141709]

Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad

[140931]

Versamark Pad

[102283]

Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder

[109130]

Heat Tool

[129056]

Card Stock A4 Smoky Slate

[131291]

Basic Black A4 Card Stock

[121688]

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

Nailed The Move

The moment that I've been dreading arrived last weekend ... my son left the nest to share a house with some friends.  From the moment of his birth, my brain has known and accepted the inevitability of this day and is quietly celebrating for him, acknowledging the growth and development it will provide but my heart just can't get with the program!

I made this house-warming card for the trio of young men.

The inspiration for the layout came from an old sketch for a challenge run by the talented Dawn Olchefske: DOstampersstars Thursday Challenge DSC#082.

The square panel is elevated on Stampin' Dimensionals

He and his friends have already embarked on a steep learning curve and have been measuring, dismantling and reassembling things.  

I chose some papers from the Serene Scenery paper that were masculine and also reminded me a little of textures that one might find around the house.

I chose the Nailed It Bundle partly because of its masculine appeal and also partly to celebrate the development of their home-maintenance skills!

The ruler, nuts & bolts and shaft of the screwdriver are all cut from Silver Foil Sheet.  The entire hammer and the handle of the screwdriver are stamped with Basic Black ink onto Whisper White card and coloured with Stampin' Write Markers. 

I chose to hand-cut the hammer and screwdriver handle because, for this particular project, I didn't want a white edge around the images. 

The greeting is from the Tasty Trucks stamp set - free during Sale-A-Bration with any order of $90.  Sale-A-Bration runs only until the end of this month - so make sure you take advantage before it's too late!  

The nuts and bolts continue inside the card but this time they're stamped.

Inside the card, I used Basic Gray ink to stamp the nuts and bolts and then coloured them with a Smoky Slate marker.  I stamped the spanner onto Silver Foil Sheet with Jet Black Stazon ink and cut it out with the matching die before gluing it into position.

Thank you for visiting.
'Til next time!
Stephanie

Product List - To visit my online store, click on one of the product images below (Australian Residents only)

Nailed It Clear-Mount Bundle

[144735]

Tasty Trucks Photopolymer Stamp Set

[143300]

Serene Scenery Designer Series Paper Stack

[141642]

Early Espresso A4 Card Stock

[121686]

Crumb Cake A4 Card Stock

[121685]

Whisper White A4 Card Stock

[106549]

Silver Foil Sheets

[132178]

Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad

[140931]

Jet Black Stazon Ink Pad

[101406]

Basic Gray Archival Stampin’ Pad

[140932]

Many Marvelous Markers

[131264]

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]