Happy 70th Birthday Gord!!

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing Gord's birthday card I made for him.  He turns 70 today!! :)  His stereo is his hobby.  He spends many hours a day listening to music, so the embossed musical notes (Melody - Penny Black) for the background of the card is perfect. :)  He also loves to relax and spends most of his time listening to music in a red leather recliner.  This is a self-portrait. :)  This is his happy place.

Tonight we are celebrating him with his favourite dinner (that I cook) ... shrimp linguine.  There's also a very special cake from Chez Christophe called Gianduja Cherise - hazelnut mousse and cherry confit.  Doesn't that sound delicious??!!  Gord's all-time favourite flavour --- cherry ... favourite nut - hazelnut.  You gotta love it! :)

For the card ...

I used a new-to-me image from Penny Black, called Unwind, along with it's matching die.  I stamped in black ink and watercoloured with Distress Inks.  I had so much fun making this card.  I've been away from card making for a long time and I'm just getting my feet wet making a few this week.  Even though all my supplies aren't fully unpacked, I have found enough for a couple of cards and hope to be making and sharing more cards soon.

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  NBUS Challenge #73 - the stamp, die and embossing folders are NBUS!

2)  Seize the Birthday #302 - Milestone ... how perfect is that??!!

3)  Just Us Girls #769 - Die Week - No Flowers

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Unwind (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black Pigment Ink (Lawn Fawn); Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Lumberjack Plaid, Aged Mahogany, Black Soot (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Melody embossing folder (Penny Black), Watercolour brushes, Unwind Cut Out (Penny Black), Red Chalk, White Paint Pen (Posca), 

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #73 

Seize the Birthday #302 - Milestone

Just Us Girls #769 - Die Week - No Flowers

Embossing Paste - Product Focus - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  This month at Group of Seven we are focussing on a product - Embossing Pastes.  We are exploring the different kinds of pastes, ways to use them, and ways to alter them in order to stretch the use of this amazing product (adding colour and/or texture).

Please check out the details for the technique and link to video on the blog ...

Group of Seven Cardmakers

My card uses Dreamweaver Embossing Paste coloured with Brushos Powder (Lime Green).  I added a bit of the powder to my paste on my work surface and used a palette knife to work in the colour until there were no longer streaks.  The powder is very concentrated, so I only used a small amount.  I placed a stencil (Wander & Find - retired) over top of my mixed media card front, secured with tape and used my palette knife to add over top of the stencil, covering just the middle as I had planned to add a card front over top with a circle aperture.  Once I was happy with the coverage, I removed the stencil and immediately washed it along with my palette knife.  I let the paste dry and then added my card front with circle aperture, showing off the stenciling underneath.  And I add a small image of watercoloured and fussy-cut flower over top, tucking the stem into the opening.  A simple sentiment was added to finish the card.

The embossing paste creates a lovely design as well as adding texture and colour.  It really gives the card something special to build on.

Sending this card to the IDEAS Challenge - A for Anything Goes.  I used embossing paste as my Anything Goes. :)

... and sending to Penny Black Saturday Challenge - March.  The flower image is Penny Black.

* * * * *

Here's what I learned when I experimented with this technique ...

• You can use a lot of different colouring mediums to colour your pastes.  That way you can save money by buying white paste and colouring yourself.  Make sure to use a colouring medium that is water soluable (re-inkers, watercolours, acrylic paints, watercolour powders, etc.
• Make sure to mix up enough paste (or even extra) so that it easily covers the area you want.  It's hard to make more afterwards and match the same colour tone.

* * * * *

Violeta & Jessie settling in for a nap after a long walk. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Flower Collection (Penny Black); Sentiment - Scenic Sampler (Stampendous - Closed)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Obsidian (Black - Altenew); Brushos (Lime Green); Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Ripe Persimmon, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:   Wander & Find stencil (retired), White Embossing Paste (Dreamweaver), palette knife, Circle die (Spellbinders), 

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Embossing Pastes

IDEAS Challenge - Anything Goes

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - March

Floating Frames - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  Today's technique has been around for a while.  I love the effect of having the images raised so it looks like they are floating above the background.  So pretty!!

Please check out the details for the Floating Frames technique and link to video on the blog ...

Group of Seven Cardmakers

I started by stamping two mixed media card fronts with multiples of the larger image from Alternew's Nature's Magic stamp set.  I watercoloured the images with Distress Inks (see card info below for colours).  I used the matching die to cut them out and then placed them over a white card front, trying to arrange so there weren't large gaps of space.

Once I was happy with the placement, I used a piece of Press 'n Seal over top, pressing it smoothly over the images and background.  I flipped the card over the cut off the excess hanging over the edges.  Tip:  I found the P'nS didn't hold it all together very securely, so next time I'll add a few pieces of removable tape to make it easier to cut.

I then removed the back card stock and placed the Press 'n Seal with the images in my die-cutting machine with an oval die in the center.  I cut out the oval and kept the oval along with the background to make two cards from the one card front.  I added small pop dots all over the images and then added them to my card fronts.  Tip:  Next time I will leave the card fronts attached and try die-cutting them all together.  It's tricky to line the die-cut images with pop dots over a card front and have it lined up perfectly.

I added the card fronts to my card bases.  I stamped sentiments in black ink to finish.

Close-up ...

Here's the oval that is cut from the center.  It makes a beautiful CAS card. :)

Here's what I learned when I experimented with this technique ...

• It a bit fiddly, so be prepared; but, so worth it in the end.  These cards are special.
• Add some removable tape to secure the images to your card front before cutting off the excess.  Press 'N Seal didn't keep everything secure for me and I found it difficult to cut a straight line.
• Try die-cutting the images, Press 'N Seal, and the card front together.  If you remove the card front to die-cut, it's tricky to line it up again.

* * * * *

Sharing a photo from a couple of weeks ago of my sweet little girl.  She is looking warm and toasty out in the snow with a loaner jacket from her buddy, Violeta.  Jessie just got clipped short at the groomers and was shivering while out on her walk with Alejandro, so he borrowed a jacket from Violeta.  Jessie loved it!! :)

Thanks for stopping by!  Still working on our house move and my Studio is far from being unpacked.  I'll be a little while yet before I get a chance to get inky. :)

Stamps:  Nature's Magic (Altenew); Good Wishes (Penny Black), Happy Snippets (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Versafine); Distress Re-inkers:  Picked Raspberry, Carved Pumpkin, Shabby Shutters (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Watercolour paint brushes, Nature's Magic die-cuts (Altenew), Press 'n Seal (Glad), Oval die (Spellbinder), pop dots 

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Floating Frames

Inspiring Iris

Hi everyone.  Before I get to today's card, I will be signing off for a few of weeks as we move to our new home.  I'll be back before you know it! :)

Today's card is a CAS design using a lovely stamp set from SU (Inspiring Iris).  I've had this stamp in my NBUS (never-before-used-schtuff) box for a LONG time! :)

I started by masking a rectangle using Background Basics stencil (Penny Black) and a sponge brush with Salvaged Patina Distress Ink to create an ombre background.  Then I stamped the outline image of the irises.  There is a matching stamp for the flower heads, but I couldn't get it to line up, so I watercoloured with more Distress Inks (Milled Lavender, Wilted Violet, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn).

To finish, I stamped the sentiment (Super Day - Penny Black), in black ink.

Close-up ...

I'm sending the above card to the following challenges:

1) NBUS Challenge #71

2) CAS on Friday - Challenge #301 - Flowers

3) We Love Stamping February Challenge - CAS

  

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Inspiring Iris (SU!); Super Day (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Salvage Patina, Milled Lavender, Wilted Violet, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Background Basics stencils (Penny Black), sponges, watercolour paint brush

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #71 

CAS on Friday - Challenge #301 - Flowers

We Love Stamping February Challenge - CAS