I mentioned earlier that I have a stack of cards to photograph. I finally got it done and I am ready to share them. This is the last of my "water park" inspiration cards. LOL! I think I am FINALLY ready to move on and make some Fall cards. We've had a few "coolish" days that have me thinking Autumn thoughts and the kids are headed to school on Wednesday. I'm glad we've had a fun summer without any regrets! This particular color scheme and blocking was inspired by a pair of swim trunks. I really liked the colors and the proportions...I thought it would make a nice card. I absolutely love this little octopus image from the Seaside stamp set from Reverse Confetti. The sentiment is so cute as well! This particular design will be added to the stack that will be headed to my daughter's school for the Hope squad.To begin, I figured out the measurements of the different pieces of cardstock and adhered them to an A2 white card base. I also die cut a white circle using a nestabilities die and dry embossed it with an old Cuttlebug embossing folder. I just love the bubbly effect it gives the card. The sentiment is heat embossed in white onto a strip of vellum and adhered to the card using some adhesive behind the turquoise octopus. Each octopus is stamped and die cut using the coordinating Seaside Confetti Cuts. I also wanted to add some extra detail with some white Nuvo Drops. Unfortunately, they picked up the color of ink that they were stamped on so they have a tone on tone effect, rather than white, but I still like the result.
I added the die cut pieces to the card using foam squares and then added a few more Turquoise Nuvo Drops for some extra detail! I also added some Sparkling Clear sequins to finish it off. Super easy and fun! Thanks for fluttering by!
I picked up a few new stencils for myself for my birthday and I had some time to play around with them last week. I intended to only make one card, which is the first one I will be showcasing, but I wanted to do some comparisons with the result by using Distress Oxide ink as well.This is the first example that I watercolored. I knew going in that it would be a loose, organic watercolor rather than crisp and tight like the stencil. I know that I would need to use some spray adhesive on the stencil to keep it clean looking, but that isn't the feel I wanted to create. I used THESE watercolors. They have beautiful colors and are very creamy. I used to only use the liquid watercolors, but I really like using these ones as well.To begin, I taped the Bold Floral Stencil over a piece of 140 lb. cold pressed watercolor paper and begin filling in the negative space with green paint. I was mostly focusing on the areas with leaves. I came back in with a beautiful blue color for an earthy feel. I really like the color combination. I did add some gold here and there for contrast.
I removed the stencil and went back in with a wet brush and smoothed and defined some of the lines a little better. This was very fun for me because it felt more natural, rather than following a "Pattern" so to speak. The I really didn't have a plan for the watercolor panel once I was done, so I added a quick and simple die cut and heat embossed sentiment to a strip of Kraft cardstock. I used the Scripted stamp set and coordinating dies. I used the same technique as I did for THIS card if you're interested in reading more about it.Once I was done with that card, I wanted to compare and contrast by using the same stencil but using Distress Oxide inks instead. As you can see, the results are much softer and have a completely different feel, even though I used the same stencil and colors.I tried to very carefully only sponge the flower areas blue and the leaf areas green, but you can see where there was some overlap.This die cut sentiment is from a set I bought a few years ago and I don't remember the manufacturer to link it. I stacked it in the same way I did on the previous card, but decided to add some Glossy Accents as well for some shine. The "dearest friend" sentiment is from the "Scripted" set as well. I've linked it in the previous card. Thanks for fluttering by!
I just couldn't resist making something for this week's Color Throwdown Challenge. I also couldn't help but making an ice-cream card as well using the new Summer Swirls stamp set from Altenew that I got a few weeks ago. It was the perfect set for these sweet, summery colors!
To begin, I sponged some distress inks onto a piece of Bristol paper for a smooth blend. I wanted to recreate the look of three scoops of ice-cream to mimic the look of the cone on top of the ice-cream truck. Once that was done, I spritzed it with some water and some shimmer spray. I really like how it looks sugary and sweet! I set it aside to dry so that I could work on the rest of the card elements.I colored the truck and the ice cream cone on top using Copic Markers and a little Wink Of Stella for some added shine. The windows on the truck have some Nuvo Crystal Glaze to make them look realistic. I normally would use Glossy Accents, but I was wanting to try the glaze to see how it compares. Here is my result; the crystal glaze is much thinner in consistency than Glossy accents. It says to test before use, which I ignored the first time I used it and regretted it. It feels different so it is important to "test first". Ha Ha!I diecut the colored images using the Summer Swirls Die Set.I adhered the focal panel to an A2 card base and then stamped the "you" sentiment using Palette Black ink. I thne added the die cut pieces using foam squares. The black sentiment strip was added using foam squares as well. I heat embossed it using white powder for a nice pop.
I sponged the same colors onto one of the ice cream cone images for the inside.
I added some Raspberry Pink Nuvo Drops here and there as well as a trio of Sparkling Clear Sequins. Thanks for fluttering by!
P.S. I have a STACK of cards that need to be photographed as well as a few fun teacher projects I have been working on. I also got a STACK of new stamps to play with as well.
I've been busy as a little bee collecting all kinds of wonderful Back-to-School gifts for my boys' teachers this year. The dollar section at Target had a fabulous selection of rainbow teacher school supplies that I picked up! I knew that I HAD to make some fabulous rainbow cards to match everything! This card was originally made for The Challenge, but with sadness, last week was the last challenge! Sniff, sniff! I had so much fun participating and being part of a team again! I wish Lesley all the best as she juggles her creative life and taking care of her adorable, sweet new baby! If anyone understands needing to minimize, it is me! Today is overcast and a little rain here and there so I thought I would share something bright and tropical! I got these amazing palm frond die cuts at Hobby Lobby a week or so ago and they have just been waiting for me to use them. I thought they paired nicely with the Some like it hot stamp set. I don't have any other tropical flora and fauna sets so I was excited to add these to my stash. To begin, I die cut a large oval window from a sheet of Stamper's Select White Cardrstock and then used the woodgrain impression plate to create the texture for the rest of the panel. After that was done, I sponged some Broken China distress oxide ink onto an A2 card base using the oval opening from the woodgrain piece as a reference for size. I spritzed it with some water and Shimmer Spray Sprtiz for some shine. 
I decided to put the oval piece that was cut from the focal panel to good use and create a sentiment for the inside. I used the "Happiness In Bloom" set again but this time with a different sentiment and mixed black ink and gold embossing. I like how it turned out. Thanks for fluttering by!
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