Technique Thursday #24-2016

Today's Technique Challenge:

Vellum Cards

Click HERE for a playlist of videos by Jennifer McGuire which all 

feature different vellum techniques.

Couldn’t quite find the 20-lb vellum, so went with something a bit lighter (and used paper as my “cover spots” to keep it balanced) and found some in my stash. Yes. The blues… This time with stamped hydrangeas in some beautiful colors and put it all together.  ~Lisa

Supplies:

Vellum and Paper: my stash

Ink: Versacolor in White (to soften the colors of the embossing powder)

Embossing Powder: ZING! (Water, Teal, and Lilac)

Stamps: Stampin’ Up! (Because I Care)

I love working with vellum, although it's a little new and foreign to me.  But what a beautiful card it makes!  I used 40 lb. Vellum as my card base and cut it down to A2 size.  I stamped a pretty flower, from Gonna K Designs Better With You Stamp TV kit, onto Neenah white cardstock with Memento black ink.  I used Prisma colored pencils to create bright, cheerful colors on the flower and pedals.  I placed one of Gina Ks sentiment stamps beneath the flower. I love how that word "With" extends and flows so nicely!  Once I was done coloring I trimmed the card down to 2.5 x 4.75, placed it picture-side-down onto my scorer,  and created an embossed border around my flower by scoring lines on all 4 sides.  I trimmed a piece of patterned paper to 5.5 x 3.75, glued it on the Vellum card base,  and placed the flower slightly offset over the patterned paper.  I placed a piece of 4.50 x 3.25 inside the Vellum cardstock for writing a note, making sure it couldn't be seen through the front.  ~Colleen

Coloring vellum is so much fun and you can use lots of things to do it.

For the cards above I used Ranger Alcohol Inks. 

The white is all embossing on the front side of the vellum. 

For the cards below I used Copic Markers. ~ Theresa

Happy Crafting

Theresa & the CADC DT & Guests

Card Sketch Wednesday #24-2016

Today's Sketch Challenge:

It’s me… and the blues again. I can never get enough birthday cards in my stash. 

The dots in the sketch made me think of balloons! 

So… I ombre-ed them up on a light grey background to blend it all in. ~Lisa

Supplies:

Paper: my stash… scraps…

Cardstock: Reflections(Michaels Stores); the rest from bits in my stash

Ink: Memento Dew Drop

Embellishments: Stickles

I used the Honey Bee stamp set from Honey Bee Stamps (I LOVE this set) and placed the Octagons on the card in similar fashion to the sketch, using WPLUS9 Old Gold ink.  I put Hayride ink color onto an acrylic block and, using a waterbrush, painted color in the center of the Octagons.  I wasn't being too careful because I wanted a messy, watercolor look that gradually lightened in shade.  Then I took my Waterbrush and splattered some paint onto the entire surface.   Next I stamped the honey jar, lid and flowers with Memento black ink on a separate piece of Neenah white cardstock and used my Copics to color them (I used a Background Stripe Technique on the lid, pretty cool!), then stamped my sentiment onto the jar, and fussy cut them out.   I placed them where I wanted on the card but, before securing them down, I lined up and stamped the cute bee and little loopy line,  and THEN I secured the jar, lid and flowers (on foam tabs) so it looks like the bee flew out of the honey jar!  I finished by coloring my bee and adding sparkle and glossy accents on top of him.  I trimmed the card just enough to let a little of the black card base peek out, and added sparkle to it.  ~Colleen

Happy Crafting

Theresa & the CADC DT & Guests

Color Challenge Tuesday #24-2016

Today's Color Challenge:

I resorted to one of my FAVORITE Anna Griffin cuts, as these gorgeous butterflies are so versatile! I chalked it up (and yes… it looked really blotchy), then blended it with a dried baby wipe. They color needed to set, so I sprayed some Tattered Angels Mist all over, added a cream backing, and… VOILA!  ~Lisa

Supplies:

Cardstock: Reflections (Michaels Stores)

Chalks:

Spray Mist: Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist (Pearl)

DieCut: Anna Griffin

Starting with a 4.25 x 5.5 card base, I stamped most of the stripes from the Simon Says Stamp Jumbo Stripes set using Hero Arts neon inks.  I overlapped the stamps in order to create a rainbow of bright, sunny colors!  Mixing two colors together creates a third color, which is a good technique to use if you don't have many ink colors.  Next, I stamped a vine image from the Stamp of Approval Beautiful World May release (Catherine Pooler) with Versamark Ink and then clear embossed it, giving the card a shiny, clear design that doesn't compete with the colorful stripes and make the card too busy.  Using the smaller sized MFT's Peekaboo Wonky dies, I created a window in the upper third of the card (this die set has outside stitching that frames the window beautifully) and placed the entire piece over white cardstock, and lightly traced the window with a pencil. Then I stamped my image inside the penciled line on the white cardstock, and finally erased the line. Tracing the window assured me that my sentiment would be centered! Once I stamped my sentiment I was ready to attach the rainbow piece on top  and the secure everything onto 110 lb card base (good to use with lots of layers). I added just a few embellishments and the You die cut and added with Glossy Accents to give them a nice shine. ~Colleen

Used tiny stamps from lots of sets to create this one.

A little Ranger Distress Ink blending and emboss resist. ~Theresa

Happy Crafting

Theresa & the CADC DT & Guests

Mistletoe Monday #24-2016

Today's Mistletoe Monday Challenge:

Use gold or silver as the only ink/embossing powder for the design.

Use a dark colored card base (black/navy/etc).

Using my darkest blue that wasn’t “blackish”, I dry-embossed (using my Cuttlebug) a wintery scene. Embossing ink and powder were adhered in silver, then heated up the gun and WHOOSH! I watched the melting effects create a silvery nighttime snow. 

(Please don’t mind if it’s a beat stormy-looking…)  ~Lisa

Supplies:

Cardstock: Reflections (Michaels Stores)

Embossing Ink: Inkssentials

Embossing Powder: ZING! (Silver)

Embossing Folder: Cricut-Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

Starting with a 3.5 x 5 black card base, I stamped the sentiment and floral piece, from the Gina K Designs Stamp TV kit Better With You, with Versamark Ink and then heat embossed with Hero Arts silver embossing powder.  I lined the stamped piece with an embossed silver cardstock from Create & Craft and then attached all to a black card base.  I chose simple embellishments in the right hand corner to balance everything out.  The beauty of silver against black doesn't need much! ~Colleen

I used Gold and Silver Delicata Ink to stamp the ornaments and to create the

sheet underneath. 

I used Silver Delicata Ink with clear embossing powder to create this background.

This is one of my most favorite cards I've made. I just love how it turned out.  ~Theresa

Happy Crafting

Theresa & the CADC DT & Guests

Clean and Simple Sunday #24-2016

Today's Clean & Simple Challenge:

Anything Goes with a Colored Card Base

Today we welcome Lisa & Colleen as our guest designers of the week.

Lisa is the author and creator at http://lisaslittlerascals.blogspot.com/

Since I love the blues… I had to find one of my blues that coordinated with other colors. So, I picked some fun summer-type colors and cut them in successive rectangles, added a sentiment (who doesn’t need a birthday card for their stash?), and added ribbon to flow one layer to another, and there we have it! Super clean. Super simple and bright enough for a summer day.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Reflections (Michaels Stores)

Ribbon: Reflections (Michaels Stores)

Die cut: Cricut Design Space

Adhesive: 3M Gold ATG Tape; DAP Kwik Seal Clear Silicon Caulking (for the popped-up sentiment) ~Lisa

Colleen is our next Guest Designer this week.

I am a retired wife, mother of two adult children, and grand mother of one beautiful 2 year old named Layla Anne who is the light of my life!  I live in Illinois in a Chicago suburb called North Aurora, by the Fox River.   I've lived in Illinois my entire life, but this is my most favorite place to live because I feel like we're on vacation all the time. I love bike riding with my husband, playing with my beautiful little grand daughter (a gift from God), I love the peace of being by water (a glass or three of wine always helps, always), I play piano and sing, and find crafting to be a therapeutic hobby that challenges my brain!  I started out scrapbooking years ago with Creative Memories, making "milestone" albums for my family (graduation, baby, anniversary). Albums make great gifts, people love them!  Istill do that, but about 2 years ago a friend got me interested in card making, and I've fallen in love with it.  Although some people buy my cards, mostly I mail them to people, from friends to nursing home residents, because they love feeling special and this world needs more love!   I also give sets of cards as gifts, and people just love getting those, too!  I usually start my holiday cards and gifts in the summer because I make so many.  My goals are to become Copic Certified and teach locally, start a blog, improve my photography, and learn more about mixed media (another gift idea, yes!!).  Also, I hope to continue selling my cards because that helps me BUY MORE CRAFTY STUFF!!!!! 

Happy Crafting

Theresa & the CADC DT  & Guests

Inspiration Saturday #23-2016

Today's Inspiration Challenge:

I loved the photo inspiration and couldn’t decide on one card, so I made two.

The first – This is a one-layer card. I used the Alley Way Trees Company stamp set. I repeatedly inked and stamped the tree – well, I pretended it was a branch and alternated from the left and right. I thenn added some birds, from the same set. I added colour with Prismacolor coloured pencils. The sentiment is from CTMH Life is Tweet stamp set.

The second – I used the CTMH Life is Tweet stamp set – stamping the branch with Stampin’ Up’s Early Espresso and the bird with Stampin’ Up’s Tempting Turquoise. I stamped the sentiment in the on the left to balance the branch and bird on the right. I matted the card with Early Espresso cardstock. ~Sue

  

I purchased this cut file with the thought that I would use it as a stencil for distress inks, but when I saw the photo inspiration I thought this would be perfect.  I took the Clear N' Sheer Online Card Class and was inspired by one of the video tutorials to try glitter to simulate the glass panel (I'm generally not a fan of glitter, so I decided to start with something easy like this).  I attached double-sided tape to a piece of white card stock and placed the black cut out atop that.  In the open spaces, now sticky from the tape, I poured on light blue filling in most areas.  I shook off the excess and rubbed across the top of make sure the glitter was well secured.  Then I used a darker blue and sprinkled that in the open spaces, to give the appearance of light and dark areas...I don't think I quite accomplished that because the dark blue over-powered the light in many areas.  I altered the birds in the cut file to make cardinals out of two.  I cut the birds in scraps of blue, gray, red and yellow to resemble the birds in the photo.  I also cut leaves in three different shades of green from scraps on hand.  To make the leaves I created an oval and just manipulated it to form a leaf.   Inside, I created the sentiment using the Papyrus font in black.  ~ Kim from Katydid Cards

The inspiration  today was a picture  of  birds.  My favorite  birds are hummingbirds and there are 4 feeders outside right now.  I just got a new stamp from Pink and Main.  I stamped  the  image  with  Memento  Tuxedo  Black  and embossed  with  clear  embossing  powder.  I colored the images with my Spectrum  Noir  markers and made an easel card base of green cs.  I added the yellow enamel  doodads from Bella Blvd. ~ Gracie  

Happy Crafting
Theresa & the CADC DT and Guests

Anything Goes - C.A.S.E A Card Friday #23-2016

Today's C.A.S.E A Card Challenge:

I found some patterned paper that I thought would work for this CASE card. It’s from the 6x6 paper pack Hey Girl from Basic Grey. The colours and small repeated patterned were similar to the CASE card.  I also used a darker gray background and lighter grey for the tag, cut with Stampin’ Up’s Ornate Tag Topper. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Lots of Love stamp set. I matted the sentiment with a red scallop to make it pop. I wrapped jute twine twice around the card and also used it to make the bow for the tag. ~ Sue 

Love card sketches and CASE challenges because you can make cards quickly!  For this challenge,  I used a Bo Bunny Madeleine  Collection  paper pad so everything  would coordinate  except the tag.  I die cut the sentiment ,  added some twine, a few black rhinestones  and mounted the card front  on a gray card base. ~ Gracie  

    

Every holiday my Brother and Sister-in-Law are hosts to anyone who wishes to come for dinner...it's always a wonderful day and the dinners are scrumptious!  So I made this card knowing I would need a thank you for yet another holiday dinner, thinking Thanksgiving in this case.  Now it'll make sense why I'm making an Autumn card in June.  Now to the card.  I used a Samantha Walker cut file purchased in the Silhouette store to make this card.  I paired Stampin' Up's Crumb Cake and Cajun Craze card stocks which work so well together for a fall card.  The cut file has partial cut lines for each leaf on the panel, so you pull the edges up to allow the Crumb Cake to peek through.  I wrapped the panel three times with Linen Thread (SU) before attaching it to the card base with pop dots.  I tied on the tag, embellished with a larger leaf, with the same linen thread.  I sponged the edges of the card and tag with Cajun Craze and stamped the greeting using the Falling Leaves stamp set by Stampin' Up (ret'd).  Inside, I created a sentiment using Time New Roman font, color matched to the Cajun Craze on Very Vanilla card stock, double matted on Crumb Cake and Cajun Craze.  

~ Kim from Katydid Cards


Happy Crafting
Theresa & the CADC DT and Guests

Technique Thursday #23-2016

Today's Technique Challenge:

Saran Wrap Technique

Click HERE for a video tutorial.

This card was fun to create. I had never tried the saran wrap technique before. I found it to be quite easy to do and made several card bases, none are the same even when I used the same colours. I used distress inks (mustard seed, spiced marmalade and picked raspberry).I found that I needed to stamp off both the spiced marmalade and picked raspberry as they tended to be so much darker than the effect I was going for. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Big Scripty Greetings stamp set. The flower is die cut using WPlus9 Flower Doodles die. It felt incomplete, so I added some inlaid orange to the flower and a few sequins. The card base is matted on black to add a bit of pop to the card.  ~Sue

Today's  challenge  comes from a YouTube video on the Saran Wrap technique.  It's  really fun, quick and easy.  You don't  have to  emboss your image if you use Stazon ink.  I used Tim Holtz Distress Inks Peeled Paint, just a touch of Salty Ocean, and Picked  Raspberry on white cs.  I mounted the image on moss green cs then a crumb cake card base.  ~ Gracie 

  

I've never tried the Saran Wrap technique, so I decided I would be a bit brave and try using it for a detailed image rather than a background.  Humm...while I wouldn't call it an epic fail, I wouldn't call it a success either but wanted to share the results with you as a learning experience...for all of us.  I started with a card base purchased in the Silhouette Store and changed it up a bit.  I used Blush Blossom, Glorious Green, Basic Black and Whisper White card stocks to cut the various pieces.  I used the Bordering on Romance digital image from when Stampin' Up had their My Digital Studio (still breaks my heart that they discontinued it) as well as the thanks and so much sentiments.  I used various Distress Inks to match the card stock.  I dipped my Saran Wrap into the ink and, with just the tip over the end of my finger, started dabbing until I was "happy" with the results.  I covered the flowers with some Wink of Stella.  There were definitely some marks where they didn't below as this technique did not lend it self well to detailed areas (what was I thinking?), so I also used some Sakura White Gelly Roll pen to cover the worst of it.  Then I used the Saran Wrap to lightly go over everything in a pale yellow.  ~ Kim from Katydid Cards


Happy Crafting
Theresa & the CADC DT and Guests

Card Sketch Wednesday #23-2016

Today's Card Sketch Challenge:

1 martini, 2 martini, ...  The image came frome a swap.  I colored it with my Spectrum  Noir  markers, edged it and the sentiment  with Picked Raspberry  ink, mounted it on light blue paper, added some pearls to look like bubbles, a strip of ribbon, and black and green c for the card base.  I have never had a martini in my life! ~ Gracie  

  

For my card, I flipped the panel from horizontal to vertical and moved the circle to the top, adding some additional elements.  I used Night of Navy, Tangelo Twist, Crushed Curry and Whisper White card stocks and Birthday Bash DSP from Stampin' Up.  I used the Balloon Celebration stamp set and stamped the outline in Night of Navy and the shading in Crushed Curry.  I highlighted the Crushed Curry with a Gold Jelly Roll Pen and wrapped the bottom with Gold Thread.  I attached it with a pop dot after winding another length of gold thread under the balloon.  I also popped the Whisper White and the Night of Navy circles.  I used the corner rounder on one side of the card.  I created the greeting and sentiment using the AR Berkley font color matched to the Night of Navy.  
~ Kim from Katydid Cards

I turned the sketch 90 degrees. There has been a lot of superhero talk with many superhero movies in the theatres. When I saw the circle of the sketch, I thought of Captain America’s shield, which was made with die cuts. I also switched the dark/light panels so that the dark panel was on the larger side. I found some patterned paper that matched the blue and white of the shield. The sentiment words are from My Favorite Things You’re Super stamp set. ~ Sue

Happy Crafting
Theresa & the CADC DT and Guests