METALLIC OMBRE LETTERS BIRTHDAY CARD

I was watching this video by Kristina Werner and just loved the idea of metallic paints on black watercolor paper and decided to adapt that for a birthday card.   I used ALTENEW METALLIC WATERCOLORS on STONEHENGE AQUA BLACK COLDPRESS paper, the  ALTENEW BOLD CAPS dies for this project and the the balloon stamp from the Ink Road stamps.

I first did a wash of color onto the black watercolor paper, overlapping the colors a bit to blend.  While that was drying I did a wash of light purple, using the KARIN DECO PRO METALLIC markers and put that aside to dry.  I die cut the letters out of the black watercolor paper, making sure I lined up the letters so that the ombre effect would be the same on all the letters.  I stamped the balloon stamp and embossed in a fine gold embossing powder and then painted it trying to mimic Kristina's use of gold and color together.  When that was dry I fussy cut the image.  I then die cut the light purple panel using TRINITY STAMPS SLIMLINE DIE.  I adhered the balloon stamp directly to the paper and applied foam ounting tape to the letters and using a T-square, I mounted the letters onto the paper.  The panel was then attached to a black card base cut (finished size is 8.5 x 4.75).

ONLINE CARD CLASSES DAY 6

Going backwards, this is day 6 but I wanted to actually finish 3 of the cards before posting.

Karin Pro markers for the watercolors,  mixed golds for the background and Kremer pigments in star gold for the splatter.  Matted on gold foil paper on 5 x 7 110lb Neenah solar white card stock.  Altenew alpha dies, Tailored Expressions and Simon Says stamps for the sentiments.

I really had fun painting the back grounds ( I chose my favorite colors so differed from Kristina's).

ONLINE CARD CLASSES DAY 8

I am very slow in posting so here it is for day 8 of the on line card classes.  I used the MFT You Got Cake die, which made  my shaker much bigger than Cathy's.  It also changed the sizing on the 2nd card.  I used distress markers and then flecked with gold paint from Kremer Pigments.  I used Lawn Fawn gold speckled paper on both cards.

DISTRESS OXIDE WATERCOLORING

How strange to be posting again.  I have gotten so lazy (and it is just so easy to post to Instagram and not bother with all the writing) that it has been almost 3 whole years since I made a post.  Granted a lot else has happened to interrupt the flow but I am ready to jump in again.  About 2 weeks ago I saw this post on the SIMON SAYS BLOG and was totally inspired to try it myself.  Nina-Marie painted her stamp with distress oxides and they were so bright and cheerful that I wanted to use them for the card I was making for a special friend.  I used the STAMPENDOUS SPRING GARDEN background stamp as I felt it was similar in feel and had lots of potential for bright colors. I used about 12 of the Distress Oxides in bright colors and they were amazingly easy to paint with, just smush on a craft mat and paint.  I stamped the sentiment in Catherine Pooler Bellini ink and clear embossed on heavy duty vellum.  I didn't mind covering some of the image as the daffodils under the sentiment didn't stamp perfectly (I am not the best stamper). I trimmed a little from the edges of the card and mounted it on a piece of Neenah Solar white 110lb stock at 5.5" sq.  I added Nuvo drops in different colors to the centers of some of the flowers and was done.  

Hope you like this bit of springtime.

ONLINE CARD CLASSES: MERRY MAKING DAY 1

Hi Everyone,
So excited for another Online Card Class and for day one I decided to try Jennifer McGuire's technique of embossing over embossing but without using the snow effect cause it didn't seem to work with me card (trust me, I tried and had to lop off the bottom of the card!).  

I used Ranger's Queen's Gold  embossing powder for the base layer I then stamped MFT's Garden Flourish with versamark and embossed with WOW vintage peacock.  It worked just the way Jennifer said and melted slightly into the gold.  Unfortunately, it was too subtle and a little to elegant to add the white snow embossing so I cut off the mess I made while trying that and made a square card.  I used Avery Elle's Seasons Greetings die and embossed with the same gold.  I cut 3 more layers and adhered them together.  The die comes with holly leaves and berries but I used red glitter stickles for the holly berries which don't show up well at all in the photo.  A little WOS on the leaves and that was it. 
Card stock base is MFT Elf Green.

PATTERNED PAPER AND FLORALS

Well I can't believe that it has been months since I have posted anything.  Really, the height of laziness.  Instagram continues to be my go to social media especially since I seem to only use my cell phone for photography.  I started this card for one of my daughters birthday but since we are up in Mammoth and I am so busy with outside sports and activities, it has taken me forever to finish.  I really wanted to enter it into the Simon Says Wednesday challenge, Patterned paper but, gosh darn, I didn't get it photographed in time and since I don't have my light box, finding a good spot to get the lighting just right was difficult (really, really difficult.  I took maybe 40 pics and I am still not happy.) 

 I used some old patterned paper from my Mammoth stash for the background and used the new TheTon geometric lattice coverplate die with another small patterned paper to layer over.  With Copic markers I colored the flowers from Simon Says More Spring Flowers.  The colors will be posted below, but you can see from those that the photo colors are not accurate.  I stamped MFT's Essential Sentiments on black and heat embossed with white.  I popped up the large flower with double layer of foam tape.  A dollop of pink(I know it doesn't look like it) of Nuvo crystal on the green flower and white pen highlights and the card was finally finished.  

COPIC SKETCH MARKERS USED:
RV10, RV55, RV66,RV69
BG10, BG13, B05
YG00,YG01,YG21,YG23,YG41,FYG1
G40,G43,G46

30 DAY COLORING CHALLENGE DAY 4: A LITTLE BIT OF COLORED PENCILS

I was hoping to post every day (hmmm) but tomorrow is a travel day up to Mammoth (about 5 hrs door to door) and it is at altitude (our house is at 7900') so probably won't be able to color or post tomorrow.  I worked on these two Mo Manning images (mostly Polychromos) and the little girl with the Corgi is done unless I put in a background (always makes me nervous) but the cute little Frenchie is just started.  I did the wings in metallic pencils and then blended with a blender pencil.  Will probably add a bit of Wink of Stella to the wings and might try to finish him tomorrow night when I get my supplies unpacked and if I don't collapse!  Can't wait to see the snow again since Mammoth has more since we were up in February.