Watercoloring with Distress Markers

No secret, I'm loving water coloring right now.  I have been extremely busy at work, traveling a bit this month.  I'm trying to get caught up with some of my Online Card Class, Water Coloring for Card Makers.  This lesson included Kristina Werner's no line water color technique.  This caused me to get out some very old Close to My Heart image stamps and try my hand at this technique.  For each image, I used a similar technique shared by Kristina Werner in her video.

I first stamped the image using Antique Linen Distress ink.  I then used a water brush and Distress Markers to color each image, drying with a heat tool between colors.  When the edges became very faint, I then would use the fine tip of the Distress Marker to provide definition to the image.  Finally, the scene was completed by washing some ink as sky and ground using my larger tip water brush.  The sentiment in this card front is stamped using black Archival Ink.

I'm no artist, let me be the first to tell you.  However, the stamped images which are exquisitely designed by CTMH really help someone like me to look a bit more polished.  However, I have to credit Kristina Werner who provided such a simple tutorial that I plucked up my courage to give it a try.  I'm now looking for more stamps in the stash to try my hand at this technique.

I'm sure to make cards out of these images.  If/when I do I'll share the finished product.  For now, I'm off to cut down some water color paper and try to finish my class lessons.

Gratitude

Today's simple card was made using the Glitz Vintage Blue paper stack.  The Gratitude stamp comes from an older Close to My Heart stamp set, Thanks a Lot.  The hexagon shape was stamped using a Studio Calico/Hero Arts hexagon cling stamp which I fussy cut out.  The swirls come from a Recollections stamp set and the Gratitude sentiment was fussy cut and raised using foam squares.  All stamping was done using my Faded Jeans Distress Ink.

Andie

Pattern Play Day 1- Thinking of You

I just had to share this card with you all.  It represents a stretching of my natural comfort zone and a final result I am so pleased with.  The lesson for this day was to plan your card out using patterned papers to create visual effects.  The example card used three circles with different patterned papers filling the negative space.  I didn't have the same dies, so this is my take on the card.  My circle die is from my old Quickutz set that creates a circle frame leaving the three empty spots and then a smaller circle to be placed inside.  I thought the pattern very busy, so I ended up using two coordinating pieces of paper with a bit bolder print.



I had an epic fail version where I tried to stamp a border onto the kraft paper.  I really didn't like the result- the border patter was too busy, the ink too dark once stamped on the kraft paper.

I think you are compelled to agree with me- this didn't work.  I found a scrap of blue paper from the Prima Madeline paper pack and slid it in place... magic.  I cut the piece down to size, edged everything in Vintage Photo Distress Ink and I think we have a winner.

The sentiment stamp comes from a Close to My Heart set.  The circle "frame" is adhered using foam tape.  I selected the orientation to create some uniformity for my matchy, matchy eye by rotating the wheat sheaf to move toward the left in the top circle and toward the right in the bottom circle.  A final piece of twine and the card is finished. 


Time passes so quickly.  Just a reminder, don't forget to comment on our post regarding a milestone for our blog.  Click the link provided and leave a comment before March 31st, 2013.  Blog candy is available to you should you win the random drawing!

Andie

Patterned Paper Class- Day 1

I'm going back through and trying to post the work I've completed through the week on my online card class, Pattern Play.  This card was made following the formula that Kristina provided.  She cautioned against the busyness that often puts one off of using different patterns together.  Basically, using a combination of a large/medium pattern with a smaller pattern and a solid or monochromatic pattern can create the kind of contrast that is appealing rather than the jarring results that can occur when you combine patterns. 

My attempt isn't a wildly different look.  However, I loved this blue print with people dancing.  It totally intimidated me, however.  As much as I liked it I couldn't envision a use that didn't cover it's lovelyness or bore you out by using only solid cardstock somehow.  So, I took a leap.  The polka dots serve here in my mind as the almost solid contributor and the stamped background on the sentiment serves as my small pattern.  The Scattered Straw Distress Ink around the edges of all pieces tie the elements making them more appealing to me.  The bow adds a focal point (to me).  I am not sure it's my best work- by happenstance I tried a similar combination in this card and it seems to have worked better.

The papers are from the Glitz 6 x 6 paper pad, Vintage Blue.  The ribbon is from the stash and the sentiment is from a Close to My Heart stamp set I've had for years.

By the way, if you haven't commented on our recent post regarding our blog milestone, please click the link provided.  Blog candy is available to you should you win the random drawing!

Andie

Quick Little Mini-Books

This is a cautionary tale which includes quite a few photos.  It seems that many of my posts in the past days have included quite a few.  I suppose this is a representation of what gift giving crafting is truly like.

Today I am sharing these wonderful matchbook mini-albums that I put together using a rather old Close to My Heart scrapbook kit.  That is not the cautionary tale, I'll get to that in a minute.


This kit is really quite simple and easy to use.  The kit provides three similar matchbook mini-albums in three different color schemes- peach/green, tan/pink, and tan/blue.

The mini-albums are intended to be assembled using the provided stamp set and four small mini-stamp pads of the major colors, pink, peach, tan and blue.  The die cuts are all provided.

Instructions clearly indicated what stamp to use where, what color to combine for each book, and which stamping techniques (sometimes using the second generation images, sometimes first generation, sometime stamping off the edge, etc.). 









You can see how the provided mini-album pages have the existing patterned paper in just the right locations to provide beautiful two page layouts.  The finished product is actually quite lovely.  I highly recommend Close to My Heart kits as they are easy to put together.

This is maybe where I should get to the cautionary tale.  It has nothing to do with Close to My Heart which provides a wonderful product that I am sure I can put to good use in the future.
 

The caution comes from my experience as a scrapbook and paper crafting hoarder collector.  I sorta feel as though maybe I should have started this post with:

Hi!  My name is Andrea (last name withheld and nickname purposely not used!).   
I am a scrapaholic.

I am truly not making fun of AA.  It's just that this is a disease that I have (hence Contagiously Crafty) and I have had it bad for years.  So bad that when I went to a LSS for what they call their Yard Sale I inocently picked out this mini-album kit for $5.  The yard sale is an opportunity for folks to sell any items used or new in the LSS where people have already come for papercrafting supplies.  The kit was labeled new and I felt that getting four stamp pads, a clear stamp set and three mini-albums with all the trimmings seemed a bargain.  Plus, I enjoyed the design.  Therefore, it was not at all funny when only moments after purchasing (while showing off my find) when Brandy pointed out that we had in fact purchased the exact same kit years (YEARS!) ago to share between us and that she remembers making at least one of the mini-albums herself.  I believe her exact words were "Don't you have that stamp set at home?!"

I, respectfully, didn't answer her rhetorical question as the dawning light of remembrance lit my face.  In my defense, I have since looked for said stamp set and cannot find it.  Neither can I find any evidence of having any of the three mini-albums (they were probably gifts to someone else ?!).  And I would NEVER.EVER.EVER admit it if I do find them.

By the way, have I mentioned that I own a Scrapbox?

Andie