Three inking techniques

Good morning.

Before I start my post today I would like to ask you to do something for me.

I spend a lot of time writing these posts and I wonder if anyone reads them. 

If you have visited my blog today could you please leave me a comment, even if it is just "Hi Julie"

Depending on the number of comments I receive to this post 

I will decide whether I will continue posting on my blog.

So please, if you visit my blog and enjoy reading what I post please leave me a short comment.

Now on to today's post.

I recently bought some new Distress Inks and realised I didn't use my inks often enough,

so today I am sharing three techniques using Distress/Oxide Inks.

I have mainly Distress Inks with a few Distress Oxides thrown in.

I made three cards

Each of the cards are a different size.

Card No. 1

This is a slimline card measuring 8" x 4" and fits into a standard DL envelope

I have cut 300gsm white cardstock to 8" x 8" and folded it in half. 

I used Cracked Pistachio Distress Oxide and Mowed Lawn Distress ink, 

 with a Hero Arts Blending brush, to apply colour through A Little Birdie leaf stencil.

I trimmed a piece of textured yellow cardstock to 3 3/4" x 7 3/4" and attached that to my card front.

Next I trimmed my inked panel to 3 1/2" x 7 1/2" and added that on top of the yellow cardstock.

To decorate the card I used some of the flowers I created in this video

I die cut the sentiment from white cardstock and the shadow from the yellow cardstock,

inked the edges and attached it to the front of the card about 2/3rds of the way up.

I printed the rest of the greeting, trimmed it to size, layered it onto a piece of the yellow cardstock and attached it so it was slanted and slightly over lapping the b of "birthday"

I also used the same stencil and some Squeezed Lemonade Distress Ink 

on the inside of the card.

Card No. 2

This card is 5 1/4" square

I started with a piece of smooth white cardstock 5" square and blended Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade and Ripe Persimmon Distress inks, starting with the lightest colour and 

working my way down to the darkest. I used a domed foam blending tool for this.

Next I used my Tim Holtz stamping platform and Woodware Mini Scented Bloom stamp

 to stamp all over the background using Versafine Onyx Black ink.

I added clear embossing powder and as the Distress Inks were still wet 

the embossing powder clung to the whole background. 

I had not planned on doing this but I have to say I am pretty happy with the results.

I gave it 3 or 4 coats of the clear embossing powder to get a nice high gloss.

I trimmed a piece of black cardstock to 5" square and 

the stamped panel to 4 3/4" square and layered them onto the card front.

I did not want to completely cover the pretty background so I stamped a 

couple of the same flowers and three leaves from a Paper Artsy stamp

onto some Hero Arts velum. I stamped with Versafine Onyx Black Ink

and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.

I fussy cut the flowers out and used Art Glitter glue to attach the velum, 

applying the glue behind the embossing.

The sentiment came from a little pot of sentiments I keep on my desk. 

They are leftovers from kits, paper packs or excess stamping/heat embossing.

I matted the sentiment onto some black cardstock and added it to the bottom right of the card.

Card No. 3

Our final card for today is 4 1/4" x 6"

I am going to use my inks as watercolours for this card.

I stamped Woodware - Scented Blooms with Versafine Onyx Black ink onto a white cardstock panel and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder.

I used my water brush to apply the colour but you could use a normal brush if you don't have one.

I used two colours on each area.

For the leaves I used Cracked Pistachio Distress Oxide and Mowed Lawn Distress Ink

For the yellow flower I used Squeezed Lemonade and Mustard Seed

The orange flower is Spiced Marmalade and Ripe Persimmon

And the red flower is Candied Apple and Festive Berries.

You can see how I applied the ink and shading in the video below

I cut some Gold Mirri Card to 4' x 5 3/4" and trimmed my flower panel to 3 3/4" x 5 1/2" 

and layered them onto the front of the card base

The sentiment is from the same place as the previous one and is gold heat embossed.

I matted it onto a piece of the gold mirri card and attached it to the card front 

with a piece of scrap cardboard behind it.

A final touch to this card was to add some gold fine glitter to the centres of the flowers.

So there we have my three cards for today.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about them and I hope you will leave me a comment.

Here is the process vide.

Have fun watching it

Thank you for spending part of your day here with me today

Till next time

Stay safe

Hugs

Julie

DT layout for Off the Rails Scrapbooking

Good morning

My layout today was created for the Moodboard over at Off the Rails Scrapbooking

This is the Moodboard

This is my layout

I have used Kaisercraft's Now Boarding and After Five patterned papers.

They are very old and I don't think they are still available.

I have trimmed the mustard coloured cardstock for the background to 11 1/2" square.

I trimmed the bottom of the mustard cardstock on an angle from the bottom left corner up about 1" on the right hand edge and backed that with a piece of Now Boarding - Terminal patterned paper.

The mustard background was attached to black cardstock.

I used TCW Chevron Tiles stencil and Ripe Persimmon Distress Ink, applied with my domed blending tool, to create a pattern on the mustard cardstock.

I also ran around the edge of each of the squares on the stencil with a fine black pen to outline each shape.

Now Boarding - Cabin Crew was trimmed to 6 1/2" x 8"

After Five - Corsage was trimmed to 3" x 10 1/2" A fishtail was cut in each end

Now Boarding - Boarding Pass was cut to 2 1/4" x 9 1/2" A fishtail was cut in each end

All of these were then matted onto black cardstock that was cut a 1/4" larger, 

giving a 1/8" boarder all around.

The photos were also matted on black in the same manner.

These were attached to the layout. The largest piece of patterned paper and the photos were 

attached with cardboard behind them.

To embellish the page I used a tab from the collectables pack and several items that I had stamped, heat embossed and fussy cut using a Kaisercraft stamp set. 

I can't remember the name of the stamp set but I could look it up if anyone would like to know its name.

The title was printed on Now Boarding - Boarding Pass and attached between the two photos.

Here is my process video

I hope you enjoy watching it.

Thank you for spending part of your day here with me today

Till next time

Stay safe

Hugs

Julie

Mystical Scrapbooks March Challenge

Hi there.

Today I am sharing the layout I created for the March challenge over at Mystical Scrapbooks.

The theme over there this month is mood boards and there are two of them to choose from

 or maybe even create a layout for both of them.

This is the moodboard this layout was created for.

This is my layout

The background for this layout started life completely different to how it links now.

I gave my white cardstock a coat of white Gesso.

Originally I used Distress Inks and plastic packaging to colour where the red is now. 

I used Barn Door but when it dried it was more pink than bright red.

Not happy with the colour I used a sponge to dab red acrylic paint over the top of the ink.

I then splattered white acrylic paint over the red.

The flower frame is a cut file from Page Evans

I stamped a text stamp with StayzOn Jet Black ink all over the cut file.

I used Distress Ink Mustard Seed and a wet brush to colour the cut file and then

Carved Pumpkin and a fine brush to add a little detail to the centre of the flowers.

I punched a few circles from white cardstock, stamped them with the same stamp and ink

to fill the holes in the centre of the flowers.

I used Art Glitter glue to attach the cut file to the page 

so it sat over the painted section of the background.

I am using a 6" x 4" photo, I filed around the edge of the photo with 

an emery board before matting it onto some orange cardstock.

I also added some cardboard to the back of the mat.

This assembly was then attached to the layout.

I used Heartfelt Creations Daisy Patch Flowers to stamp and heat emboss three layers of the flower.

I used Mustard Seed and Barn Door Distress Inks to colour the flower.

I also stamped and heat embossed Picket Fence - Flowers for the Picking.

I used my flower shaping tools to shape all of the flowers.

All of the flowers were attached to the layout with liquid glue.

I trimmed my white background down to 11 1/2" square and matted it 

onto a 12" piece of black cardstock to give it a nice dark border

The title was die cut from black cardstock using my 

Kaisercraft DD700 Alphabet Upper Case dies

and attached using my t-ruler and liquid glue.

I used my fountain pen to draw a double scribbly border around the page and the flower centres

I have a process video you might like to watch

Thank you for spending part of your day here with me today.

Till next time

Stay safe

Hugs

Julie

Making flowers using dies

Good morning

Today I am sharing a video showing how I create five flowers using an assortment of dies.

The shaping techniques I use on these flowers can be used on any fussy or die cut flowers.

You will find links to most of the products I use to make these flowers in the video description box.

These are my flowers

Hope you enjoy watching my video.

Thank you for sharing part of your day here with me today

Till next time

Stay safe

Hugs

Julie

Ink Blended Cards

Good morning.

I have been wanting to do some ink blending for some time so today is the day. 

I am by no means an expert at this technique, 

as a matter of fact I have probably only done it once or twice at the most.

The theme for the month over at Mystical Scrapbooking is Techniques

so I thought I would do a blog post on ink blending.

I also created a video and I will put that at the end of this post if you would like to check it out.

I made three cards

The first card I created has a heat embossed image as the focal point

I stamped Woodware - Bold Blooms - Ginny with Versamark Embossing Ink onto the front of my card panel after I had wiped it over with my Embossing Buddy

I then used White embossing powder and set it with my heat gun.

This creates a resist for the Distress Inks I will blend on top.

I attached a strip of Mint Tape (Removable Masking type tape) to the areas of the card so the blended ink did not go onto the back of the card base.

I have used my domed blending tool to apply Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon and Festive Berries

 to the front of the card covering about 1/3 of the card front with each colour

 and using the lighter colour to blend over the area where the colours meet.

Once the card front was covered I used a tissue to wipe over the image

to remove any ink that may have been on the embossing.

The sentiment is from 13@rts His & Hers Remastered Sticker Collection.

Card No. 2 is similar in appearance

For this card I blended the Distress Ink onto a White Cardstock panel that measures 3 3/4" x 5 1/2"

The colours I used are Scattered Straw, Peeled Paint and Broken China.

I used a die and my Big Shot to cut the floral bouquet from white cardstock and attached it to the 

inked panel using liquid glue.

Because the Inks are reactivated by liquid I was careful to not get any glue on the inked panel.

I added a piece of scrap chipboard to the back of the panel before attaching it to my card base.

The sentiment came from the same 13 @rts sticker sheet.

The ink blending on the third card is a little different.

I stamped and heat embossed Woodware - Whimsical Flower - Daisy May 

onto a white cardstock panel that measures 3 5/8" x 5 3/8"

I used black embossing powder for this stamp.

I then used my finger daubers to colour the image with Distress Inks.

The colours I used are Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed and Ripe Persimmon

I did manage to go over the lines a couple of times 

but I used my Mono Sand Eraser to rub the ink away where it bothered me.

To give the black sections in the centre of the flower a little sparkle I added 

dots of Viva Black Pearl Pen

I cut a panel of black cardstock 3 7/8" x 5 5/8",

matted my image panel onto that

and then attached the black panel to the front of the card base.

The sentiment, once again, came from the 13 @rts sticker sheet.

So three very simple cards today but I have to say I really enjoyed making them.

They are quick and easy but quite striking I think.

Have you tried ink blending? Let me know how you found it.

Here is my video

 Thank you for spending part of your day here with me today

Till next time

Stay safe

Hugs

Julie

Cards using Prima's Nature Garden 6" paper pad

Good morning

Today I am sharing a couple of cards I made using Prima's Nature Garden paper collection.

This is a very old collection and I don't think it is still available.

My aim with these cards is to use items from my stash

Both of the cards are 4" x 5 7/8" and cut from 240 gsm smooth white cardstock

Let's start with the first card

I have used two sheets of the same patterned paper for this card.

I have cut a piece 3 7/8" x 5 3/4" for the background,

a piece 2" x 4" and a piece 1" x 3" to make the fishtail pennants.

I also cut white cardstock to mat the pennants.

These measure 2 1/8" x 4 1/8" and 1 1/8" x 3 1/8"

I have inked around the edges of all of the patterned paper and cardstock 

with a Versa Color Cocoa ink cube.

The background patterned paper is attached to the card-base using double sided tape.

A layer of craft foam was attached to the back of the pennants 

before they were attached to the card front. The thinner pennant overlaps the wider one.

A strip of white lace was attached under the thinner pennant at the same time 

it was attached to the card front. I used Art Glitter glue to do this.

I used my Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die to create the flower on this card.

Here is the showing how I created this flower.

A piece of cheese cloth and a black & white Baker's Twine bow 

were added under the flower. It was attached using hot glue.

The sentiment is chipboard that has had a coat of white gesso.

I then coloured it with the Cocoa ink, this did not stand out enough 

so after I had attached it to the card I swiped over it with my black ink cube.

For the inside I cut a piece of the same patterned paper 3 7/8" x 5 3/4", inked the edges with Cocoa ink and used double sided tape to attach it to the inside right panel of the card.

I stamped happy birthday using Scrapbook.com's Happy birthday to You stamp

with Versafine's Onyx Black Ink onto white cardstock. 

I then used my heat tool and Clear Embossing powder to heat emboss the sentiment

I trimmed the cardstock down, inked the edges and attached it in the centre of the patterned paper.

I had a flower that was left over from a previous project, it was cut using Cheery Lin's Chrysanthemum Strip die and white cardstock. I attached the flower

 and added a little Nuvo Vintage Drops in Peachy Keen to the centre just to finish it off

The second card

All of the papers and cardstock on this card have had their edges inked with a black Versa Color ink cube.

I chose two patterned papers from the pad for this card.

I cut one 3 3/4" x 5 5/8" and the other 2" x 5 5/8"

A piece of white cardstock was cut to 2 1/4" x 5 5/8" to mat the smaller piece of patterned paper.

I added some scrap chipboard to the back of this panel.

After I had attached the large piece of patterned paper to the front of the card base I used some Art Glitter glue to attach half a paper doily so the edge of it lined up with the right hand edge of the card front.

The patterned paper panel was then attached so that it slightly overlapped the edge of the paper doily

A strip of lace was attached to the centre of the panel using double sided tape.

To embellish the front of the card I stamped all of the flowers and leaves in 

Heartfelt Creations - Botanical Rose stamp set onto smooth white cardstock

 using StayzOn Jet Black ink

To colour the flowers I used Distress Inks in Victorian Velvet and Bundled Sage and 

Distress Oxide inks in Speckled Egg and Tattered Rose

I smudged my inks onto an acrylic block and then used my water brush to 

add the colour to the stamped images.

I then fussy cut them using my spring assisted scissors

I added Nuvo Jewel Drops in Sea Breeze to the centre of each flower

I had an oval chipboard frame from Imaginarium Chipboard.

I gave it a coat of gesso and them coloured it with the 

Victorian Velvet Distress ink and my water brush

These were all attached to the card front using hot glue

The sentiment is from Uniquely Creative's Ocean Breeze Mini Cut a Part sheet.

For the inside I cut two strips of the same patterned paper I used

 as the background panel on the card front to 1" x 5 5/8", 

I attache one strip to each side of the back inside panel.

You will find my process video below

Thank you for spending part of your day here with me today

Till next time

Stay safe

Hugs

Julie

January Challenge at Mystical Scrapbooks

Good morning and Happy New Year to you.

My post today is to share my Design Team layout for January's challenge at Mystical Scrapbooks

The theme for the month is Techniques and the highlighted product is ribbon & twine.

The ribbons and twine will be on sale for the month so don't forget to check them out.

The challenge that I have set is to use the "Smooshing" technique on your layout and to incorporate a ribbon or twine bow.

Here is my layout

There are eight photos and they are each 3" square.

I have used Distress and Distress Oxide inks for my smooching.

The paper I have used for my background is Bee Arty - Love & Grace - Adele

The inks I have used are 

Distress Oxides Speckled Egg & Salty Ocean

Distress Inks Broken China, Picked Raspberry, Spun Sugar, Victorian Velvet, 

Mustard Seed and Scattered Straw 

If you are unsure of how to do the "Smooshing" technique check out my process video below.

It is very simple and lots of fun.

I also added random stamping on my background using Versafine Onyx Black ink

and Uniquely Creative's Wavy Words Mini Stamp

I have used Bee Arty Love & Grace - Portia patterned paper and white cardstock

to die cut an assortment of flowers.

The dies I used are

Uniquely Creatives Little Leaves

Couture Creations CO724161

Cheery Lyn B311 Chrysanthimum Strip

and one other die that I do not know the name of.

I inked the edges of the flower layers, shaped them with my flower shaping tools 

and assembled them using my Art Glitter Glue.

I filed around each of the photos with an emery board before attaching them to my background.

Next the flower embellishments were attached

A Bakers Twine bow sits amongst the left hand floral cluster

The title was cut from black cardstock using Kaisercraft's DD700 Alphabet Upper Case Die,

attached to the right hand side of the layout and given a coat of Glossy Accents

To finish the layout off I added a scribbly boarder of slightly 

watered down black acrylic paint in my 

Fineliner bottle.

Here is my process video so you can see how I created this layout, including the "smooshing" on the background

Thank you for spending part of your day here with me today

Till next time

Stay safe

Hugs

Julie