Happy 24th Birthday!

 

This card has a big secret inside! It's a Secret Message fun-fold card, that was inspired by a video my friend Bitty Penny made. She and I are both sharing videos today, each inspired by the other, so start here with mine, and then go see how some of my work inspired her!

9 Clever (and EASY!) ideas for using Backgrounds or Patterned Paper

Today I'm sharing 9 quick and easy ideas for using up those backgrounds you have on hand. And if you're a person who doesn't make backgrounds, these ideas work with patterned paper, too!

A Happy Hello

Congratulations to this week's Splitcoaststampers' Featured Stamper Chris (fargets).

I chose this card as my inspiration:


I focused on Chris':
-rainbow down one side
-script/text sentiment

I changed:
-reversed the layout (images on left)
-reversed the colours (images white with rainbow background)


I started by laying the Stamplorations butterfly stencil on a panel of white cardstock. I used blending brushes to blend soft colours of ink over it, creating lots of 'mid-tones'.

Before removing the stencil, I spritzed the panel with Avery Elle Shimmer spray. This further softened the colours and the blend, as well as adding a subtle sparkle.

I stamped the Gina K sentiment in gray ink and added a few Sparkling Clear Confetti sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.

Rainbow Heart Wreath

I made this rainbow wreath using a heart stamp from the Essentials by Ellen mini set - It's a Date.

I started by stamping a rainbow of Catherine Pooler inks on the back of the stamp, to get solid hearts.

There are 16 hearts here, but only 8 places in the Gina K Designs Wreath Builder template, so after my first 8 hearts, I moved the stamp in between 2 of the hearts and filled in the wreath with the next 8.

Then I cleaned the back of the stamp, flipped it over and repositioned it on my MISTI door to stamp the outlines with Versafine Onyx ink, a nice crisp black.

My sentiment is from Totally Random Sayings Vol 3 - after a bit of stamp surgery, to make the most of the centre portion of the wreath.

I trimmed the wreath with a circle die and then popped it up over a circle frame of Concord & 9th glitter cardstock (I reserved the centre circle for a future project - no sense leaving it covered by my wreath panel, right?).

Gina K Wreath Builder Mandala

I had some fun with Gina K Designs products yesterday. I've had the Wreath Builder and Mandala Maker stamp set for a while, but I just got my Obsidian Amalgam ink the other day, and I had to try it.

One of the most basic and important tools in a stamper's crafty stash is a good, deep, crisp, black ink that works with the colouring media that you like best. 

This Obsidian ink is so black, and so crisp! And because it's Gina's Amalgam ink, it works with alcohol markers, watercolours, coloured pencils - everything! And it looks good on its own, too - check out those sentiments!

These cards bring me back to my cardmaking beginnings - I love it when you can take one little stamp, create a pattern and make something magical. I love it so much, I did it twice! First, I stamped it with the Obsidian ink:

I started in the centre of a 4 inch square panel, and used the Wreath Builder template and one stamp from the Mandala set to create this pattern. I had a smudge on one of the edges so I trimmed the panel with a circle die, and created a black mat. I used the tiny dot stamp to add some colour.

And then, you know I just had to do it again, this time with my favourite rainbow of Catherine Pooler inks. Notice no black ink transfer - even on the Limoncello (yellow)! Loving this Obsidian ink! (seriously, it's fun just to say the word - I love how it rolls off the tongue! lol!)

3 Christmas-in-July cards using stencils and pastes

Congratulations to this week's Splitcoaststampers' Featured Stamper, Lee Ann (whippetgirl).

I chose this card as my inspiration:

I focused on Lee Ann's:
-green, white, red, black colours
-leafy background
-joy sentiment

I changed:
-die cut sentiment
-techniques
-no ribbon

I started with an idea for one card, but went through some struggles and changes in plan before ending up with 3 same-but-different cards.

I experimented with 2 types of glitter paste (Nuvo Glimmer Paste and GinaK Glitz Glitter Gel) and a double-stencil technique.

Here's a video: