Stamping Up Cut Out Technique

Hi Ya! Trying to get a few posts scheduled ahead, and finishing up some birthday cards. I've been trying to do the Cut Out technique shown in Brenda's tutorial . I've seen some wonderful cards done based on Brenda's instructions, and have looked through my stamps, trying to not use the same floral images as I'm seeing others use. So far, the stamps I've selected have not really 'floated my boat' to make me feel like I've done a good look. Remembered that I had the SU Kindness set, and decided to try that. Today's card is a result:

Stamped this in a coral pink ink (think it was a Colorbox Fluid Chalk ink)  and colored parts of the flower with copics. (Hard to tell in the photo, but the colored petals are in the inner die). The outer corners are just the stamping color. I'll be sharing another look that I first stamped in Black, intending to color the inner corners. That hasn't turned out well at all, but I'll finish it, and show you later. This SU flower is probably not best suited to this particular technique, but hey, I hadda try it. The stitched rectangle is an MFT die that shows stitching on both sides of the cut. Nice die too.

- have unmounted this old red rubber sentiment stamp. It looks like it's placed perfectly straight, but then it looks crooked when it stamps. We'll just call this wonky look a 'design decision'! My family has a LOTTA birthdays during the coming weeks...and hopefully the recipient will love me enough to politely not notice the stamp is crooked!!! (None of them stamp or do crafts!)

- Darice flower embossing on some dark rich red, rather a metallic sheen, paper. Added some gold wax gilding over the embossed flowers. Can't see too much of it at the edges...

Hugs and Blessings. Stay cool if you're in an area where it's so hot. Our humidity has been a bit low, so that helps it not feel so muggy outside even though the temp is hot. Come again when you can set a spell, and we'll have some ice tea!

Cutout Technique with Penny Black Flower

Happy Saturday!!! Thanks for coming to visit..and let's start with a warm welcome to some new followers (one I missed at the time, and then noticed a new face in the line-up, so apologies for that oversight)!

Caz of Bunnys Bits n Bobs

 

Sandma of Sandma's Handmade Cards

 

Cheryl of Cheryls Creative Space

Some of these bloggers are new to Blogland - so I hope you'll have a few minutes to pop over and say Hello, and enjoy some fab inspirations. Some have been blogging for a while, but again, some good inspiration to scroll through the posts. Speaking for myself, I always am inspired by seeing what another card maker has created..(sometimes intimidated too! but in a good way :-}  ). Thanks for joining as followers here, and I hope you'll be able to visit when you have time. It's exciting to see new faces in the followers list. When you're a new blogger, it's thrilling when that spot starts to populate. Then when you do have some followers, and no new followers join for a while, it's another big high to see new friends come to visit. I guess all of us feel that way, regardless of how many followers are in that list! It's the best part of blogging, I think, to meet new friends, get to know who they are, what their lives are like, and hear their stories. Anyway, thanks to all of you who come here from time to time.

OK...recently Brenda of Friends Crafting with Friends shared a beautiful card that I just loved, and she explained to me the technique. Well, I'm kinda thick-headed sometimes, so bless her sweet heart, she did a tutorial that shows in pictures, exactly what she'd explained to me. (Hope you'll check out the link, if you didn't already see Brenda's post). I've seen other bloggers making use of Brenda's tutorial.  I've been trying to do one, but not use the same flowers I've seen other people using. Well, today's card is part of that effort:

- Still haven't quite got the look I'm going for yet, but this one is going in the mail today, as a family birthday card.  I've done a few others, still not quite right to show off this technique, but hey, I'll get there eventually! I think the problem my eye sees with this card, is that there is not enough of the flower colored..due to using the center oval die.

Hope your day is going well. Mr. is off with a neighbor guy, and I only have one thing on my house chore list for today. So I may go downstairs when I finish this post, and do some stamp cleaning & supply put-away. It's a bit cooler so far this morning, from the mid-to-high 90F's we've had this week. We're getting July weather here in June, so July might be brutal in our area.

Thanks for coming by, and have a wonderful day. Also Happy Father's Day to any fathers who might visit here. Big Hugs.

And how do you like the Summer Blog Look? (thanks to the generosity of the sweet lady who helped me with this!!! ♥)

- Penny Black clear Efforescence - stamped with Tuxedo Black, colored with copics in Y and YR shades.

- Just Right Graceful Sentiments - Rich Cocoa

- Lil Inker Stitched Oval die

- Flower petals from stash, come colored with copics.

Hello Roses

Good Afternoon & SHIF - (Shure Happy Its Friday! LOL) Hope your day has been fine so far. Ours started with a trip to the dentist for Mr. (our dentist is closed on Friday - early weekend). Thought he got something between his gum and a crown last night while eating. With his history of developing infections/abscesses plus a weekend looming, Miz Good Thinking Person said "call their emergency number, and at least somebody will schedule you early Monday". ) For once, he listened to my good advice & he was met at the office this morning; a piece of the crown had broken off & was the irritant between the tooth & gum. The bit was removed. Recommendation is to leave things alone, unless it starts to bother him. So at least we're thankful it got looked at quickly before it became a real emergency problem.

OK...on to the card:

- Bed of Roses overlay die using a previously made background. Had tried white embossing a flourish image over some patterned red card stock. Didn't work for the intended project, but think it worked interestingly as an overlay. Added a few pearls in the center, and also trimmed down the die cut so that the sentiment would fit. (this die cut nicely using the super duper metal plate, but I did a couple of passes. No extra snipping or fussing required...very happy about that).

- yellow & white polka dot snippet embossed with a C/Bug Oriental weave EF. Looks nice as some subtle texture...perhaps if photo is enlarged, you can see the detail.

- Julie Ebersole Brushstroke Hello - 2 layers from white snippets; heat embossed with a NBUS SnS Harvest Nights EP.  This particular red EP is a good match with the red overlay. The Hello sentiment will allow the card to serve several occasions depending on the inside verse.

Since this card has some SnS Ep on it, think I'll link to the SnS Anything Goes June challenge.

Just added a pretty card to the Cards by Friends tab, so if you've time, check out the card.
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Bathroom update: Shower glass folks here yesterday to measure, discuss plans. Their lead time is at least 3 1/2 weeks once they place the order with their glass manufacturer. So nothing going real fast around  here. {sigh}.

Thanks for popping in, and come again when you can. Thanks to all who joined in with the cards for Jerry. Your kindness is much appreciated. Big hugs.

Hero Arts Velveteen Florals

Good afternoon...hope it's as pretty where you are this afternoon as 'tis here in Upstate SC. Back from running a few errands, having some lunch. Just got a call from some fella who's supposed to fix the bathroom floor...he's on his way. YAY!

Recently a blog buddy (Donna of Creative Smiles) had a post with a request for cheering cards for her BIL who is battling brain cancer. He's now under Hospice care, and it would be awfully wonderful for anyone who feels they could send a little cheer for Jerry & his family just now. If you'll check on Donna's Blog, there is a contact form. If you let Donna know that you're willing to send along a card, she'll provide you with the snail addy info. I know how generous bloggers are, so if you feel able to send an uplifting card, that would be so generous. Donna has the specifics of what should be on the card...so please read her post. I thank you. Donna thanks you too!

Here's one that we just put in the mail:

Some years ago, I had seen a card done with a "Velveteen technique"; did one myself, but didn't remember per'zackly how it was done. Sunday afternoon I spotted a link to the blogger** whom I remembered having done the card, then spent most of the afternoon browsing her posts to find it.

**EDIT: Went back and searched up the link- if you read the post, see her card, Sue (Sue's Inky Fingers) has a link to a video showing how to do this technique.

{Even if you don't try this technique, enjoy browsing Sue's Inky Fingers blog..some fab inspiration there.}

Basically what you do: stamp the first layer with a good quality coverage white ink & let it dry well (used Hero Arts Unicorn white). Then you stamp other colors over the top of this white layer, and although you can't really see the effect in the  photo, it's quite pretty (yes, it looks like velveteen!)

- Hero Arts Luscious Floral Background (cling) inked and stamped with Unicorn white. Allowed to dry well.

- unmarked wooden floral (probably $1 Michael's stamp) inked and stamped with HA Tidal Pool shadow ink.

- other flowers from clear floral sets inked with HArts shadow inks (this shadow ink gives a softer look without stamping off). Used HA ombre ink in blues to ink & stamp a butterfly from Wplus9 Flora & Fauna 1. Finished off with an HLS Butterfly Birthday sentiment stamped in HA Wet Cement. Did not trim the cardfront to add a border or anything else. I liked it just as it is.

On the inside, stamped the butterfly again on one side, with a simple verse on the opposite side. I hope Jerry will enjoy this.

Thanks so much for buzzing by for an afternoon visit. Big hugs.

SU Woodland Folder for Rudolph Day May 2016

Good morning, and welcome to Rudy Day, May 2016! I've had the Stampin Up Woodland NBUS embossing folder for a while. Had been seeing some really pretty cards using it, so after sorting the embossing folders for a couple nights, decided this folder needed to be used. Guess what? It was NOT in the SU plastic storage box....it was NOT in the Trees section of the other EF plastic boxes. So much for my sorting efforts  :-(  ! Then remembered putting it away 'carefully' so I'd not misplace it, (not in the EF boxes of course!). Began hunting through some other places. It did turn up, and after this use, will go into that SU box.  I liked the folder so much I made several cards - just using different colors of inks. Here's one of the cards that I decided would work for Rudolph Day. You DO know about Rudolph Day, right? It's a challenge hosted by Maureen of Scraps of Life by Scrappymoi, starts the 25th of each month til month's end. Only rule: have a Christmas theme. Easy Peasy, yes?

 

- SU Woodland Textured Embossing folder over a top fold tan cardstock, which was left from another project (Hmm...could this be considered a snippet? Perhaps). Copic warm grays to shadow the trees and darken around the tree bark. A white pigment ink (Hero Arts Unicorn - very wet)

was used to ink the folder. My first effort, I inked the trees instead and that yielded nice look - but that will be in a later DT post. Looked at some videos, yeah, you're meant to ink the background....Many thanks to all those bloggers & Pinterest posters who inspired me with their use of this pretty EF--- way too many to mention & link.

 

- MBox birds die cut the cardinals from a white snippet, then colored with copic reds, with black Spica for the birds' masks. (you knew they'd be cardinals, didn'cha?)

 

- MBox Woodland Fawn die cut from a snippet of copper that had been created by using a butane torch to patina. (Stamping with Loll's Heated Copper Technique - great video). Got a better result with the effort this time; my first try some time ago, was not very successful. Still do not have the lovely patina you'll see in the video, but it's improving. The fawn is popped up on dimensional tape.

 

- Simon Says Stamp sentiment - tried to cut this from the copper, but the lettering was just too fiddly; cut another from a white snippet.  First embossed with a Sweet Stamps Rose Bronze EP-- the color didn't look well with the rest of the elements. Re-embossed this with a Ranger Gold Detail EP, and liked it better. Just for grunts & giggles, have been using a WOW embossing pad, and like it just as well as the old faithful Versamark. It seems a bit 'juicier' - and not just due to being freshly inked either.

 

OK...so now I'm off to link up with May's Rudy Day, and ya know what, perhaps I'll see if Parsnip will let me in the gate at the Snippets Playground for Week 230.  It's been so long since he's seen me, he may not recognize me! Why don't you come along to both these friendly challenges, and have some fun with the rest of us?

 

Thanks for popping in today, and hope it's a wonderful afternoon for you. I'm waiting on some marble folks to (hopefully!) show up to put in a new shower pan. THEN we wait for some other crafts people to show. The coordination of crafts persons is what is taking this project so bloomin' long! (But I'm trying hard to be patient. Impatience doesn't help, I've already tried that!!! LOL)

 

Hugs & Blessings.

 



April Fool's Day Boo Boo Hop

HiYa! Welcome to the First Annual April Fool's Day Boo Boo Hop, hosted by our very Own Darnell and her famous team of Hamsters.

Anyhoo...here goes with one of my boo-boo's of late. I had seen a Catherine Pooler video on Ink Layering-Shadow Stamping and decided to try it, even though I didn't have the same stamps as Catherine uses (I bet ya'll get tired of hearing about videos, don'cha? Well, I get a lot of my inspiration from videos as well as seeing fab cards on blogs. I'm not an artist but a copier, as I've said many times. I try to provide a link if I can re-find one, and hope that you'll have time to check out the video as well. Always hope the link will work ok for you if you're interested).

So here's my take on the Shadow stamping, using the Mini Misti, which did help a lot, but I need more practice at shadowing images. When I heard about Darnell's Boo Boo Hop, decided I would enter this card. You'll see why:

Wplus9 Happy Wishes clear stamp on purchased kraft card, using Hero Arts Unicorn (white) pigment ink as the first layer. This is where the mini Misti came in handy, as the image was cleaned, then inked with Hero Arts Unicorn Pastel Green, card shifted up just a smidgen, restamped. This green didn't look quite dark enough to show well, so cleaned the stamped leaves, inked with Memento New Sprout to get the look you see.

- re positioned the leaf stamps to do the bottom stamping, followed the above steps. Positioned the sentiment, repeated the steps. Noticed a smudge of ink (operator fingerprint.) so added a small flower image from another clear set, did the same inks.

Was fairly happy with the look until I realized that I have the 'shadow' just a bit off to look like I think it is supposed to look. So I really need to practice with the positioning to get a better looking 'offset shadow'. However, this was my 2nd attempt, and the first one was even worse!!! Another boo-boo was that I should have chosen a bit darker shade of green ink I think. Would love to hear what you think I should try next.

Now I'm off to join Our Darnell in the April Fool's Day  Boo-Boo hop. Why don't you check it out? Hmm?

And have a nice afternoon, and thanks for joining me! Hugs

St Patrick's Day Hat

Good afternoon, and TGIF. Hope the weather is not too awful where you may be in the world. We've had a quiet week - and I had a fun afternoon out with a local stamp friend, whom I'd not seen for a while. Followed by a nice lunch which was also very pleasant.

I've been trying to color a few St. Paddy's day images along with the Valentines. Also saw a pretty background here. Since I know that Carol does lovely quilt backgrounds & patterns, I asked if this was one of her efforts or just design paper (it was DP), and she kindly sent me links for a bargello technique. I tried - and dang, was it difficult. I used a sheet of double adhesive paper, cut various sized strips of papers, and went to work. You know how hard it is to apply a skinny strip of paper to sticky paper & get it on straight? (and I've done Seminole quilt piecing with fabric and it's much easier). Well, I finally got a background, but mine sure didn't look like it ought to. After all the work involved (not to mention some discouraging words uttered) I wasn't gonna toss it. So it became the background for this card, and in looking at the photo, I realize just how well I've covered it up too!

- Whipper Snapper Cling St. Pat's Hat image (CU039) colored with copics. Don't remember which die set this came from (and I also have to hunt through the magnet art bins to find the sheet where it needs to be  re-homed). I think it's a S/Binder die, but not sure. Another S/B die cut the green mat behind the image, and the S/B Lattice die was cut from white, snipped in half, to make the bottom mat layer. A S/B Shapeability Die, Gold Elements cut the bottom mat layer - 2 pieces to make a square base. All this adhered to the bargello pattern created paper.

- Sentiment stamped on torn vellum with DI Mowed Lawn, heat embossed with clear detail powder (and it still doesn't show up well).

- 2 Impression Obsession shamrocks from green snippet added on the torn vellum - to cover up the glue dots used to adhere.

Here's the paper piece. Doesn't look at all like I wanted, but a lotta work involved in it. Will have to revisit the tutorials, and perhaps I didn't use patterns & colors with a strong enough contrast. Or maybe I shouldn't have made the 2nd cut strips different sizes...I don't know. I tried to cross stitch a bargello pattern long years ago. Couldn't get that right either!!! LOL.

Have a great day. Thanks for dropping in. Hugs

Gelatos and Brusho-s Thinking of You

Hello and thanks for popping in for a visit. Hope today finds everyone feeling fit, staying warm, and having something pleasant happening in their lives just at the moment.

Winner 257 did not contact me in the required amount of time (1-25-2015 by 6pm), so RG was polled again. This time the winner is #61, who is Shirley R, of Card Art, Etc.).  Shirley will have until 1-27-2015, 6pm EST to contact me with her info. Sure don't like having a sweet follower miss out on the candy, but must be fair to everyone. All the other winners have provided their information.

Today's card was a play session with Gelatos and Brusho-s. It was inspired by Brenda of inkspired to stamp (Jan 15 2015 post) when seeing a NBUS card that she made, using a Jennifer McGuire technique.

 - Gelato background was inspired by Alexandra at art scrap & more (Jan 17, 2015 post). Scribbled some pastel pink, peach, orange gelatos + gold metallic on acrylic block, spritzed very well with water. Scribbled the same gelato colors across a Mixed Media 98# weight cardstock.  Brushed across the  c/s scribbles with a damp brush to spread the colors, then smooshed the paper onto the wet acrylic block. At first it muddied with disappointing results. Rescribbled the pastels on the acrylic block, leaving out the gold, didn't wet the block quite so much, smooshed again. I was better pleased with the 2nd smooshing :-D.  This piece was dried, then embossed with a S/B 3D EF Oval Accent folder (and making the sandwich was a testing procedure. Previously broke a Cuttlebug using a 3D S/B emboss folder. The sandwich for this one was the multipurpose platform, no clear B bottom plate, the 3D E/F,  clear B top plate...very gently testing as it started through the B/Shot to be sure it was not too thick.) Used a S/B Classic oval to cut the opening.

- Canson #98 Mixed Media Paper spritzed with water, sprinkled Brusho Osto Red over and let the magic happen. Spritzed the partially dried gelato & Brusho pieces with a gold Tattered Angel spray and let each finish drying before using.

- MBox Delicate Butterfly Arch die cut, MB Leafy Branch die cut. Experimented with placing the Butterfly die under the oval, using bits of scor-tape to anchor. Trimmed off some bits. Snipped Leafy Branch and placed sprigs to fill where the Butterfly die left spaces. Added some tiny pearls to the blossoms.

- MB Lydon butterfly added for trim, and Elizabeth Craft sentiment finished off this card.
Hope you like it!

Come again when you have time and have a marvelous day. Warm hugs.

First Gelli Plate Print

Good afternoon Friends and it's been a busy week for us. Lots of medical appointments (for DH), go early, sit & wait. This morning was an 8am appointment to get some results of an earlier test, and guess what? We had the schedule card, but the computer did not list DH's appointment. Sooo...he had to be worked in 3+ hours later. Rather than sit around in a germy office, we left, had breakfast, came home and then returned at the new scheduled work-in time. The results were happily received, and thanks to all who were saying prayers for DH. I know those prayers were heard.

Before I go any further, let me say a big warm Welcome to 2 new followers:

Jacee of Simply Paper and Bea L. from Fall Foods. I hope that Bea's link will work for you, as I had a bit of trouble with this link. Bea is on Google Circles and I'm not able to access her blog that way. I appreciate both of you taking the time to become followers, and sorry I was so slow in introducing you here! Please do take time to visit these fabulous artists.

Also I would like to thank all who left comments on The Creative Blog Hop post. I got some very sweet comments and did those ever make me feel so good. I had 2 bloggers that I tagged, Brenda (Friends Craftin' with Friends) and Veerle(Veerle Her Little Card Corner). Let me add my 3rd taggee, Irish Cherokee (Love the Details). At first Cherokee didn't know if he would have the time to participate, but after my post was published, I got a nice email telling me that circumstances had changed enough that he could play along in TCBH. So here's just a little bit about Irish Cherokee (in his own words). Just FYI, his wife ALSO has a blog.

I have been married for 51 years on the last day of this month. I made an alter call early in my teen years and fully entered as a born again Christian in 1971. I have been devoted to the Lord ever since. I held most jobs in the building trades over the years including licensed plumber, maintenance man in a local bakery, various jobs in stores and temp services. I spent nearly 20 years in the telephone industry. I was a truck driver, lineman and installer until the breakup of this particular telephone company. At that point I transferred to another communications company as a systems installer and later was promoted to a managers job as a technical customer support specialist (essentially a systems trainer & trouble shooter). I was forced to retire due to pending company layoffs.  My final job with a major corporation was checking for errors, fraud and the overall correctness of incoming and outgoing monies. From there is mostly a hodge podge of jobs including 2+ years with various home improvement & department stores. At this point I had enough of the corporate world and just went on full retirement. Several years ago I started coloring for my DW Jill. In the last week of December of 2013, I started my blog Love the Details.

 All 3 of these wonderful bloggers will have a more detailed post on Monday, August 25, and you can find out more about how each of them started to develop their creativity, and what their lives are like. This has been such fun, and I thank each of these busy bloggers for graciously saying yes to being tagged. Ditto to the ones in line ahead of me, who passed along the fun.
 

I've had several things in the works, and here's one of them. My first Gelli print. I've been inspired lately by Pat(Colourful Card Creations) and Elizabeth (The Silverscrapper's Craft Space). Of course there are some other blogs on which I've enjoyed seeing Gelli plate work, but these 2 names are in my most recent access memory.  I had a little play the other afternoon after we had returned home from errands on a very hot day. Here's the resulting card:

 

 

 

- Background was made using the gelli; the leaf was made with alcohol inks and the silver side of a soda can which was die cut with a maple leaf. The leaf has been floating around on my desk for a bit, and when I was adhering it to the white background, realized a tiny tip had broken off. Hence the blue butterfly - which was a Dollar Store find. (A bunch of blue & pink plastic party favor type of thing). A dark blue copic changed the intensity of the blue, and dark gray colored the insect's body. The sentiment is a sticker & think this shall be a birthday card after I add the appropriate inside verse.

 

Here's some of the process pictures.

 

Paints used on the gelli plate



2 prints pulled. The white print was #2



This is all the supplies used. Underneath the prints is the stencil that was laid on the gelli plate before pulling the 2 prints. I could have done some more prints, but stopped here.  This is my very first play with the 6x6 gelli. It was fun, and I plan to do some more experimenting with this fun technique. I need to have some quiet time, however, when I am not feeling rushed or having to concentrate on other matters.




Hope you've all had a good week, and are looking forward to the weekend. I should have a couple more posts soon, as I've got some things finished ready to share. Just needed a quiet time to sit down and write up a post! Thanks for visiting, and apologies for a long post once again. I promise the next one will be short! Hugs & Blessings. 

 

Happy Birthday Flowers

Good evening. Quick post tonight to share a card (not the one I meant to have ready tonight, but at least a post ). Quiet day round our house, not much was accomplished, except a lot of lazy.

I'd like to extend a warm welcome to 2 new followers and thanks so much for becoming followers:

 Terry of A Vintage Journey

Patti of Stationery Styles

Patti was my 250th follower - which is a lovely milestone I never expected to achieve. There will be a little surprise here for someone that Mr. RG selects from that list of followers....(RG=Random Generator). I am so thankful for each follower who chooses to spend some time looking at what is posted here.

Add caption

The background was made with a large corner Stacy stamp purchased some years ago. The focal flower is another stamp in the set. Background was stamped on design paper using Memento Gray Flannel; some randomly placed copic coloring with BV0000, BV000 on this background stamping. The dimensional flowers were colored using R20, BV0000, BV000, and darker BV shades for a little contrast. Leaves were done in YG colors. WoStella was used on some of the blossoms.

Butterflies are from a Memory Box die Kensington Branch, and the butterflies were separated as needed. Die cut using white snippet  and colored with copic BV darker colors, then overlaid with Wink of Stella. The tiny flowers and stems in the grass were from the same die cut, and flowers were colored with purple Wink of Luna.

Grass is an Impression Obsession die(snippet), and sentiment is Elizabeth Craft, colored with copics. Easy card to make and I liked the effect of stamping on the yellow patterned paper (also a snippet - albeit a larger size - from a piece of Colorbok Water Color 12x12 theme pack).

When I trimmed out the focal image, I didn't want to try to use an exacto knife in the little bits, so colored those with yellow copics so it would not stand out white against the yellow background.

I did take a couple of photos of the re-organizing project in the basement area this afternoon. Hopefully if it's quiet tomorrow, I can get the pictures off the camera and share them. The area is still a bit chaotic, but I think it's going to work better for me.

Have a great evening and come again when you can. Hugs & Blessings to each of you.

I see that the gates of the Snippets Playground Week 133 are still open, and since there are several snippety bits on this card, I'm dashing over to see Parsnip. Who - if you don't know him - is THE cutest little cuddly bear. You really ought to dig out some snippets, make a card, and come meet Little Parsnip. You'll also get to enjoy some beautiful cards & projects done by some super lovely & talented people.

Another Butterfly

Hello & welcome to my world. I'm stuck on Butterfly cards lately, it seems. Several that I've posted in the last few days have been incomplete projects that I just was not in the mood to work on & finish. Today's gelato Stampin Up Butterfly is one of those.

Colored the stamp with Gelatos & spritzed with water. Did several stamped images (?called generations?) some time back. This one was later overstamped with the same image, inked in black, sprayed some tattered angels gold on it, not crazy about how it looked at the time. After playing around with Dylusions sprays for a while, I guess I'm not quite so anal with the spatters & blobs, so had a relook at this guy. Now the card was propped up straight on the candle topper, against the back of the plastic light box I've been using. I don't know why it looks 'tilted'. Was I too close, shooting from an above angle...???What?

- gelato covered Stampin up Butterfly*  spritzed - gives a water color look. See above blah-blah.

- Cut the image into 3 rectangles, using a trimmer. Cut black mats - just eyeballing around the image to get a narrow border (yes, I have the Perfect Rulers, didn't use 'em!). Adhered the cuts to the rectangles, without really paying close attention to the image placement (see the center portion...not matching up as well as could be). This guy really makes a big card if the entire image is used. One pretty butterfly though.

- adhered to a textured sage Bazzill card base. Cut a backing from white c/s, leaving a hinge to glue the green front to, so the card opens. Hinge is inside, and will be covered with insert paper.

- Elizabeth Craft die cut sentiment from black glitter snippet, and 2 sizes of black pearls added. (looks like the center one has slid out of alignment, so that must be fixed before mailing.)

Anyhoo...that's it for the butterflies I think. Needs must get on to bunny cards. Thanks for visiting, lovely as always to have you drop in. Have a great start of the week. Hugs.

Friday Fun Day at Jo's Scrap Shack

Hello Friends. Welcome to a new follower, Kathryne, of Stampart Design by Kathryne. I'm so pleased to have you as a follower.

Also a big welcome to another Friday Fun Day at Jo's Scrap Shack, Challenge #14. Today our photo inspiration is the following:

 

Our challenge was to be inspired by something we saw on/in this picture.  I saw a lot of beachy / water type images...so here's what evolved as my inspiration from the photo.

 

closeup of the Koi

 

I had a lot of fun with this card. I used Dylusions sprays to create a watery background. I had seen a video by Joggles recently where Barbara showed a way to double & triple your Dylusions colors by diluting with water. Then make another mix using drops of White Linen opaque, mixed either in a previously diluted spray, or mixed with some of the full strength spray. I tried this using Dylusions After Midnight, which is a very intense color. I had only some cheap travel-size spray bottles (purchased at a local Walmart for $1). The spray apparatus is not the best, but it worked fine. (I've ordered some bottles from Joggles). Got a note that afternoon, they had been shipped. That's fast! OK, I digress. I did like the different colors I created, so I encourage you to try this.

Florals

Hi there. Hope you are having a wonderful day. Gina K. of Stamp TV inspired another card for me, and I'm sharing it today. Here's the link to her video: http://stamptv.ning.com/video/hello-sunshine-clean-simple-bright. I didn't have the same stamps used in the video, but went a-hunting, as I knew I had some stamps that would work well to do this technique. I started to stamp on white c/s, but then I saw a piece of c/s that I had tried to do the wax paper emboss resist technique. Well, first try, didn't go so hot! (I did try again, not finished with that effort yet!) Anyway, I thought "Hmm, bet it would be pretty to do this on that blue goof-up piece", so here I go ...inking my stamps. Generally just placing them where I liked. Yes, you can see the overstamping of the green leaves over the orange flowers (I didn't do any masking except with the leaf stamp)..but Gina says "That's ok", so I thought..."if it's good enough for Gina, heck, it's good enough for me!". Actually I was experimenting, and I rather liked the look, so I finished the piece as a card. I rounded the edges and matted on a c/s similar to that used in the video. I had been wondering how to use this bright c/s. It came in a pack of other brights. I liked the look on the light blue Bazzill textured c/s. My flower image was not quite long enough to be positioned well on the card, so I used an extra piece of the bright blue, cut a border using an MS deep edge punch. I attached the punched border to the back of the matted image, adhered the whole to the blue cardbase; called it done after I cut a sentiment with the S/Binders label trio, using #2 & #3 dies. This was a much faster card than I usually do. Once again, a big thanks to Miss Gina K for her great videos. They surely help ME out a lot!!! :-)