Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Tri-Fold Blossoms

I found some time to play the other day, and I loved what came out of that time! Don't you just love a good play time? lol

The Mixed Bunch set and it's coordinating Blossom Punch have been a go-to pair for me for a while now. I saw the idea for a diagonal tri-fold card and thought I would play with that a bit. Here's what happened:


The card is 5 1/2 by 4 - a tad smaller than a "standard" card, but it will still fit in a regular envelope. And with three panels, there is lots of room to decorate or write your message.

Stamps: Mixed Bunch, Bring on the Cake
Inks: Soft Suede, Marina Mist
Paper/Card Stock: Not Quite Navy; DSP Pattern Pack, Bashful Blue, Daffodil Delight
Punches: Blossom Punch, Scalloped Oval
Accessories: Simply Scored, Basic Rhinestones, Sponges, Dimensionals

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Embossing Plaid

I love plaids. I'm not sure what it is about them... Maybe it is that little bit of Scottish in my background? Or maybe it is the orderly pattern... lol  Whatever the reason, plaids feel warm and comfy to me. So I loved the idea of using the Stripes Embossing Folder to create plaids! You could use subtle colors for baby cards or scrapbook pages, or you could use bright, cheery colors. Low-contrast colors for a "softer" background, or high-contrast colors for a "louder" background. There are so many possibilities! I played with Cherry Cobbler and Summer Starfruit on this one. And one little tip I learned... Use your brayer to ink the folder, but be sure to ink the textured side. The smooth side will not give you a clean embossed line.


Once again, it's hard to capture the sparkle, but if you look closely perhaps you can see the glitter on the frosting.  Now if only you could sink your teeth into it...

Stamps: Create a Cupcake
Cardstock: Midnight Muse, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White
Inks: Cherry Cobbler, Summer Starfruit, White Craft
Punches: Cupcake Builder, Scalloped Oval, 1 1/4" square (for flag ends)
Accessories: Big Shot, Stripes Embossing Folder, Brayer, 2-Way Glue, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Dimensionals

Monday, July 2, 2012

Watercolor Brayer Technique

I have been playing with a new technique - the Watercolor Brayer Technique. In fact, for those of you who missed it, this technique was one of our brayer techniques for June's Technique Class.



Drop a few drops of reinker onto plastic wrap. Fold the plastic wrap over to spread the ink a bit, then open flat again. Use this to ink your brayer. Spritz water on the brayer. Less water will give you a darker, more saturated color, while more water will give you a more "washed-out" color. Depending on the inks and water saturation, you may even end up with a batik look to your finished piece. Use the brayer to ink your paper. This piece was then trimmed using the Oval Scallop Frame with the Big Shot, and finished with sponged Soft Suede around the edge.

The watercolor background created an interesting texture for the sentiment on this card. Of course, the texture on the Old Olive (using the Simply Scored) was quite fun... But then again, I LOVE my Simply Scored, so anything using it turns out to be quite fun!

Stamps: Language of Friendship, Curly Cute
Inks: Marina Mist, Old Olive, Soft Suede
Cardstock: Whisper White, Marina Mist, Old Olive
Accessories: Brayer, Oval Scallop Frame, Big Shot, Simply Scored, Bird Builder Punch, Boho Blossom Punch, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals, sponge

Thanks for stopping by!