FWF - Sweet, Kind, Nice, Wonderful

Boy has this week flown, I've literally been all over the place this week both physically and mentally and didn't get much crafting done apart from attending our Terrific Tuesdays Craft Group's first day back for the year and making a Baby Card for a last minute order yesterday. Following a morning of shopping and because I am on dinner duty tonight I wanted to get a quick card made and catch up with all my Unity Friends for their Friday Friends With Flair so I have another CAS Card for you this week using the Inlaid Embossing Technique.

A QUICK HOW TO - IN LAID EMBOSSING

For my Inlaid Embossed Card I started with 3 Die Cut Hearts, a  Piece of White Cardstock (as my backing piece) and the "Entangled" embossing Folder.   You can use any punched or die cut shape, paper scraps or even stamped and coloured images to create your inlaid piece with your chosen embossing folder.

I simply positioned and stuck down my die cut hearts where I wanted them onto my white cardstock piece, and then ran this through the big shot machine using my Entangled Embossing Folder.

My 3 Die Cut Heats cut from floral paper positioned on the backing piece

Placing my piece in the embossing folder ready to emboss with the Big Shot

  

That completes the inlaid part.

To complete my card today, once embossed I took some red ink on a sponge dauber and highlighted the embossed pattern on my hearts, this covers up any white showing from the  papers core that I used for my hearts that  has been exposed by the embossing process.  I then simply mounted this white piece to my red cardstock base and added my stamped sentiments.

The circular words for my sentiment - 'You' and 'Are' are from my Unity November 2011 SMAK Kit whilst the 'Sweet, Kind, Nice, Wonderful' is from the January KOTM which I just received in the post yesterday.

There has been some exciting new stamp releases over on the Unity Site lately including some just being released today, so be sure to take a look and for more Unity Inspiration be sure to visit their blog and view the other FWF Creations this week.

I also created this card with the following challenges in mind.

365 Cards - Day 346 Spread the Word Challenge
Paper Sundays - #106 Clean and Simple
Cards for Men - Seeing Red

Crayons, Colour and Challenges

I love making my own backgrounds so today I got out my white crayon and used a resist technique to create a quick and fun background to use for a card I made combining a couple of different challenges.

This card combines Day 335's Super Sketchy Sunday, Sketch over at 365 Cards and the current colour combination Challenge #177 at Colour Throwdown of Melon Mambo, Black and White.

I used lots of my Stampin' Up Items for this one.   Its been a while but for my background I used one of their Wheels, along with their square punch, heart punch, and scallop trim punch.  The inks and cardstock are also Stampin' Up.  The sentiment is however from Unity Stamp Company.

I love how it all came together and I love playing with my stamps and this fun technique.

A QUICK HOW TO - CRAYON RESIST BACKGROUND WITH STAMPING

Firstly stamp a design on a piece of cardstock, this can be gloss or normal cardstock.  For my stamped design I used a Stampin' Up Wheel.

Once your design is stamped and dry, take a white crayon and randomly draw/trace over parts of the design.  I couldn't show this step as white crayon doesn't show easily on a white background.

Once you are happy with your crayon design take a sponge and ink pad and sponge colour over the entire piece.

You will see that where you have used the crayon the colour does not cover.  This is the crayon resisting the ink.  It works perfectly with alcohol inks also.

Once you have covered entire piece take a soft dry cloth and rub over your design like you are polishing to remove the excess crayon and reveal your design further.

The above photos show the resist done one a piece of gloss card on the left and normal white cardstock on the right.

Your background is now ready to use as desired.  

This ATC was created using the Crayon Resist Technique with Alcohol Inks, 

for my background, I added further colour over the top using my Tria Markers and some Kindy Glitz.

So why not try this fun method for yourself.  Try stamping in different colours and then coloring over the top, use different stamps, use alcohol inks or forget the stamps and simply draw on the surface of your cardstock with your crayon and sponge with different colours to see what happens. 

FWF - Watercolor Wash Take 2

If you saw yesterdays post I shared with you a quick 'How To' on how to make your own watercolor wash backgrounds using a plastic protector sleeve, your felt tip markers and water.  In that post I created my background using colours of similar tonings eg.  all Yelllow/Oranges and then stamped over the top of these designs with a darker colour in the same tones to achieve a unique background for the thank you cards I made.

Today I am using this same technique however I have used different contrasting colours. (Pink and Green which is my favorite colour combo).

The overall result I achieved today is a much softer look compared to yesterday cards, this has a lot to do with my choice of colours and embellishment.  I embossed my background with my Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder from Stampin' Up! and teamed this with a fabulous sentiment from the Unity December KOTM and some sewing themed die cuts from K & Co (Amy Butler Lotus Tea Box Die Cut Cardstock Emphemera).

The blue is not part of the card but the background I laid the card on to take this picture.  Given pink is often hard to photograph in good light, let alone the miserable weather we are experiencing here at the moment, this gave a much better result than the white background of my white photo box.

Aswell as showing you another take on the Water Colour Wash Technique, I have created today's card to join in the fun over on the Unity Blog for their Friday Friends with Flair Link Up.  Be sure to pop over and check out all the other wonderful Unity Goodness there and don't forget if you leave a comment on my blog or any of the other blogs participating in this link up you have a chance to win some Unity Goodness for yourself.

Thanks for stopping by.

FWF - Christmas Thoughts

I hope all my friends in the States had a wonderful Thanksgiving and no doubt you have all started to think of Christmas.  With only four weeks to go I have finally started to give serious thought to Christmas and late last night and this morning finally found some time to make a couple of Christmas Cards to link up with the Unity Friday Friends with Flair.   I am also pleased to report that with only four weeks to Christmas, yesterday my husband and I got the majority of our Christmas Shopping done.

Technique:  Direct to Rubber with SU Markers

Stamps: A Beautiful Sight by Unity Stamp Company

Paper/Cardstock:  SU Real Red and Hunter Green Cardstock, Echo Park Merry Christmas Paper

Other:  Kaisercraft Ribbon, SU Antique Brad, Rhinestone and Flower and Leaves from Stash

Technique:  Direct to Rubber with SU Markers, Sponging, Coloring In with Tria Markers, Crayon Resist, and Paper Piecing

Stamps:  Christmas Bough by Unity Stamp Company

Paper/Cardstock:  SU Hunter Green and Riding Hood Red Cardstock, Echo Park Merry Christmas Paper

Other: Buttons, Paper Cord, from  Stash

The stamp I used for my second card is available today over on the Unity Blog for just $5  to the first 25 Customers so if you like it you will have to be quick not to miss out. 

My wish for everyday and especially at Christmas is exactly the words contained in the first cards sentiment.  PEACE LOVE & JOY!

Thanks for popping by.
  

FWF Friday ........is Ir-resist-able!

Yes it's Friday, which means its time to share some projects I have created using my Unity Stamps.  Don't forget to check out all the other Unity Projects linked up to Friday Friends With Flair over on the Unity Blog.  You will really find some wonderful inspiration if you do.  FWF is also a great chance to grab a fabulous Unity Stamp Set for just $5.

This week both cards I am sharing are highlighting some resist techniques aswell as using some of my embossing folders.  I do love playing with crayons and embossing powder.

The first card is using the Embossing Folder Crayon Resist Technique with Alcohol Ink.  

It uses various Unity KOTM Stamps.

This card uses the emboss resist technique, the Butterflies were stamped and heat embossed in White and then Blue Ink was sponged over the top using my Label Spellbinder Die as a stencil.  I then cut out the shape with this die and ran through one of my embossing folders face down so the debossed side was on the side of my image. 

This image is from the October KOTM.

This anniversary card is for me to give my hubby as we celebrate 17 years of marriage tommorrow.

Last year we were so caught up with other things happening in our life, that we almost both forgot.  It was only when my dad mentioned it that we remembered.......luckily he mentioned it early that morning......lol.  I know for a fact that niether of us will forget this year.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend what ever you are up to! 

What's in My Garden and Colourful Birds ATC's.

I have been participating in some wonderful ATC Swaps of late, these latest cards are now on their way to the Swap Host in New Zealand.

The themes were 'What's in My Garden" and Colourful Birds.

For both sets I have used my rubber stamps and coloured with my Tria Markers. 

For the What's in My Garden Series I used masking and sponging techniques taking some inspiration from what is happening in my garden of late aswell.

Of late in my garden have been lots and lots of beautiful butterflies

particularly ones with lots of rich tones of brown. 

The butterfly is the Stampin' Up! All A Flutter Image and the background is the En Francais Stamp.

The most recent addition to our garden has been a beautiful hyrangea.  As my mother's alzhiemers progresses we find her reminiscing more and more and the hyrdrangea was all throughout her mothers garden, it holds fond memories for us all.

The Hydrangea Image is a Stamp from the Because I Care Hostess Set by Stampin' Up! and the Background is the En Francais Stamp.

Each morning we awaken to the garden full of joyful song from all the birds preparing for their busy days ahead. 

This little fellow reminded me of the Blue Splendid Fairy Wrens that I just love. 

The bird is part of a Crafty Individuals Stamp and the Background is the same as my others in this set.

For the Colourful Birds Set of ATC's I used the Crayon Resist Technique with Alcohol Inks  The whimsical type bird stamps I used for this series are all from one set, I have misplaced their packaging but I think it is a set from Inkadinkado.  Again I have taken inspiration from the birds I have seen in and around our garden.

For this bird it is all about the tail..........he so reminded me of the Wrens and Willywag Tails we have frequent our garden.  I chose the colours of the wrens in our garden to use for this fine fellow.

The racous of the Lorikeets and King Parrots feeding can be heard constantly

 in our garden when the Bottlebrushes and Grevillas are in flower.

Quite often we have caught a glimspe of a shadow of an Owl in the Moonlight.

 His colours remain somewhat of a mystery but you don't miss his big bright eyes.

Our lovely host in New Zealand is also hosting a Magnificient Elephants Swap and a Beautiful Butterflies Swap so I am looking forward to hopefully joining in the fun of these ones as well in the coming months.  This all depends on well I get on top of my Christmas Card Orders I have from a few regular customers and my own list of cards to send.

Family - Every Moment Counts

Good Morning I have just a quick post today with another Scrap Layout I did for this month's Technique Challenge over at the Scrap Lounge.  The technique this month is Doodling/Paper Stitching. 

For this layout I decided to break out an Elina's Doodle and Stitch Template I have but had never used and create a piece of patterned paper using this design.  I then used this paper to mat my photo and for a few other feature pieces on this layout.  I also faux stitched and dotted my Title Tag - Family Every Moment Counts.

Papers:  Kaiser Craft Bubblegum Hills Collection, Buttons:  American Crafts

(The above items mentioned items were kindly supplied by this months Scrap Lounge Sponsor - Chocollo Cards and Crafts)

Title Stamp:  Family every moment counts - Unity June KOTM, Title Tag from Time to Create

Die Cut Flowers:  Spellbinders Carnation Shapeabilities, Leaves:  XL 2 Step Bird Punch by Stampin' Up!

Ink:  Black Versafine and SU Stampin Write Basic Black Marker

This is one of the rare photos of Rod and I together (as I hate my photo being taken).  It was a professional photo we had taken after we first moved here to Casino back in 2000.  The sad news of a close friend being ill and not expected to see Christmas, inspired this layout as a reminder to Cherish Every Moment we have with those we love.

The smaller quote on this layout reads:  'When we see with our hearts, every moment is the most wonderful gift in the world'. 

Summer Card Camp Week 3

My husband Rod has been home this week with one of the dreaded viruses going around, and I have found myself feeling a little flat and unmotivated this week too, so I only have one card to share so far for Week 3 of Summer Card Camp. 

This week  introduced us to a new colour combination of tones of brown with red and white as well as a new technique - Fingerinking.  Here is a card I have created using this fun (messy too) technique and this weeks colours which was inspired by the card shared with us by Jennifer McGuire on the Technique Video.

Stamps:  Stampin' Up! Just Believe and Tiny Tags

Cardstock/Paper:  Stampin' Up Watercolor Paper, Soft Suede, Choc Chip, Kraft and Gloss White

Other:  SU Markers, Mini Mister, Versamark Ink, Clear Embossing Powder, White Signo Pen, White Paper Cord, Jewellery Tag Punch.

Here is a recap of this weeks Colours.

Hopefully I will feel up to crafting in the next few days particularly with the ScrapLounge Cybercrop coming up this weekend and I will be back to share some more cards using this combination soon.

Until then happy stamping!

A smashing good tag time!

One technique I love playing with is the Acrylic Smash Technique, it gets a bit messy but that's half the beauty of it.  The current My Unity Place Challenge MUPC05 is to Make a Tag, so given I received some Itty Bitty Stamps in the post today I just had to break them out and play.

I got out my Acrylic Paints (five colours to be exact), a piece of A4 Acetate which I cut in half and then I dripped and dropped paint on to one half of the acetate, took the other half and put it on top and squished and smooched until I had covered the entire piece and was happy with the colours/patterns.  I then seperated the two pieces and with paint side up let them dry.

I got out my Black Staz On Ink and inked up the 3 butterflies image from the Dream Big Itty Bitty Stamp by Unity & Webster's Pages.  and stamped on the reverse side (non painted side).  I then mounted this to my spellbinder cut label shape (paint side down), cut around it and then stamped the sentiment Dream Big.  Edged the edges with my Gold Krylon Pen and punched a hole and tied on coordinating gold ribbon.

I love the random colour effect and you can also get different effects by layering different coloured cardstock behind the acetate piece as well.  I love this butterfly image too and am thinking I may smash some more and make some colourful bookmarks as a gift for a friend.

Here is a couple of Acrylic Smash cards I have shared with you before for more examples of how versatile this fun technique is.

I am also sharing this creation at Make it Monday - #42 which is a Blog I recently found that encourages you to Create, Share and Inspire.

Entangled, Rolled Edges and Something Fishy

Remember earlier this month I told you that this months featured technique at the ScrapLounge is Paper Rolling.  Well here is a card I created using rolled back edges to frame the main image.

It is using stamps from some of the four Dark Room Door Seaside Collection Stamp Sets I own and my new Entangled Embossing Folder which I thought went beautifully as it looks just like coral.  For the main image I stamped my fish, created a mask, sponged the background, stamped the seaweed and bubbles and then coloured in my fish.  I then added some shimmer to the water and the scales of the fish using some kindy glitz and foils.   My embossed cardstock was highlighted by rubbing it with a Versamark Ink Pad and using my Pastels (Popping Pastels Technique) to add a bit of colour and dimension.   Finishing with my star fish and sentiment.   

Fringed Flowers Five Ways.

This month the featured technique on the ScrapLounge is Paper Rolling.  Here is one project I did featuring this technique.

It is a paper flower arrangement of Fringed Flowers made in a variety of ways.  They are quite simple to make and once you have the hang of it you can used a variety of papers, patterns and sizes to create a unique arrangement everytime to suit your mood, colour scheme etc.

You simply take a 12 x 12 piece of double sided paper and cut into strips. Then cut a fringe along this strip by placing cuts at equal intervals.   Once you have done this simply take a bamboo skewer and roll it up.  Fix the end so that the roll stays in place and then pull down the fringe to create petals.  This creates a flower like the small black and red polka dot flowers in the picture.

You may like to layer the fringed strips, starting with the smaller width roll this onto the skewer and then take the longer fringed piece and roll this around the first strip keeping the base of both strips in line.  Flatten down the petals for a layered look, or change it up a bit by placing the smaller width inside the wider width and roll onto the skewer together so you get an alternating petal length throughout the flower.  This is like the red and cream patterned with cream and red polka dot flower.  You may also like to punch a small circle and add this to your flower to create a centre for your flower.

Two more variations are to use a smaller width fringed piece for the centre and instead of pulling it down to form petals leave it standing up to imitate a stamen (see the Checked Red Flower at the front of the Arrangment in the picture above) or to attach an extra contrasting strip of paper to the fringed strip prior to rolling which is the approx width of the uncut part of the fringed piece and start by rolling this onto the skewer first.  This creates a contrasting flat flower centre for you (this is not shown in the picture).




This picture is a close up of some of the layered fringed flowers



For this arrangment I used the Double Sided Designer Series Papers from Stampin' Up - Love Letter.  The vase is an empty tinned tomatoes can which has been cleaned and covered with Designer Series Paper and embellished with Ribbon.

Butterfly Kisses and Birthday Wishes

There are definitely some great challenges over at the ScrapLounge this month and lots of ideas for using the featured technique which I will share with you over the coming days, but to kick it off I wanted to start with the Sketch Challenge.  This months wonderful sketch is by CT Team Member Jody.    Here is the card I made using the sketch.

I have both my mum's and my mother in-laws birthdays this month, so this was the perfect time to use this sketch as inspiration for a Birthday Card.  I haved used the Cracked Glass Technique on the main butterfly image panel and also embossed the sentiment with UTEE.  The two turquoise flowers are handmade.

Card Recipe:

Ink, Stamps and Cardbase - Stampin' Up!

Patterned Paper and Textured Cardstock - Echo Park

Other:  Pink Flower Stem and UTEE.

This sketch has so many possibilities for cards and scrap pages so why not join in the fun and enter the Challenge.  You have the entire month of April to do so and there are some great prizes up for grabs from this months sponsor 'Meant to Be' Scrapbooking  & Papercraft.

Party Time Tuesdays Cut it Up and Monochromatic Challenge

The March Madness Sponsor Twodays Techniques has another great technique to share with you all this week as part of the Cut It Up and Monochromatic Challenge over at Party Time Tuesdays.



I hadn't seen this technique before and I think it makes a great background to a cute image such as this adorable Bunny from Stitchybear Digital Stamps, who is this weeks sponsor.  This adorable image is called Bunny Flop.  I chose to seperate his head and pop up his body so he looks even more flopped, like he has just had his fill of Chocolate Easter Eggs.

As you can easily see Yellow was my chosen colour for the monochromatic colour scheme to meet the criteria of this week's theme.  The polka dot paper used for the cut it up panel is also from Stitchybear Digital Stamps, I love the textured appearance of this digital paper. 

The base card, ribbon, buttons, flower, label punch and sentiment stamp are all Stampin' Up.  The scallop trim border punch, Ric Rac and Polka Dot Embossing Folder are all from my stash.

So if you are looking for a new technique to add a little extra to your cards or want a fun challenge to participate in this week, why not head over to Party Time Tuesdays for your chance to win some great prizes.