City Crafter Challenge #280: Fall Has Arrived

I am so pleased to be able to write this post to you.  I am the guest designer at the City Crafter Challenge blog for their challenge which starts today.  Their challenge for week 280 (this week!) is Fall Has Arrived.  For this challenge you can create a project or pick an element from the photo inspiration.

I don't know if you can tell, but I was inspired by the word Fall (since it isn't fall in Arizona until late October, I use any excuse to think of fall early!) and the pop of bright red in those apples.  For most parts of the Northern hemisphere, fall has just started and, yes!, leaves are falling.  But, it's also harvest time so that also a great idea to start with.  This photo could also inspire hills or other borders.  Just have fun.

I am so enjoying two things right now - shaker cards and my Brushos.  I immediately turned to both for inspiration.  Here's the details:

• The background (which is actually in the foreground) was made by sprinkling Brilliant Red, Orange and Yellow Brushos watercolor crystals onto Strathmore watercolor paper.  I then used a spray bottle to mist water over the paper.  It created these splashes of color all on it's own.  I did leave the paper flat and used a heat tool to dry so I didn't (purposefully) get too much watercolor effect.  This technique leaves startling bursts of color.
• I die cut the background with my Momenta Cut 'N Emboss Leaf die to cut out the openings for my shaker card.  I also cut leaves from glitter paper to put on the card front behind the window/foreground.
• I used Jennifer McQuire's shaker card method to assemble my card, filling the openings with variegated seed beads.  I made a starter card for this with prills for the shaking that was a bit of a "fail".  Maybe I'll share that card with you to talk about what not to do.  I also used Jennifer's trick of die cutting a piece of white foam to raise my frame for the shaker card.  I cut the opening back only a small bit so that the beads can't hide too much in the edges.  It works beautifully and makes a very sturdy shaker card that can totally go through the mail.
• The sentiment came from a Raisin Boat Thankful stamp set I won a couple of months ago during a challenge.  I stamped in brown Archival Ink and hand cut the flag, edging in Distress Inks.  A little more ink around the edges of my card and it is a fabulous finish.

Since I'm guesting at City Crafter Challenge, I will personally challenge you to join the fun.  The challenge ends September 28th, so hurry and join the fun!

Watercolor for Card Makers - Online Card Class

I decided to join the folks at Online Card Classes in a recent offering of Watercolor for Card Makers.  It's not to late to join the fun.  Check them out at the link.  This first specimen is a good technique shared by Jennifer Mcguire.  By embossing the image, it creates a lovely edge within which to confine the watercolor.    I applied Distress Markers to the page and then used a brush and some water to move the color around in the image.

This is a color study looking at the different colors and how they move on the watercolor paper.  I used Canson cold press watercolor paper  and am not  very happy how this paper works.  There is a fair amout of pilling.

I used some drawing gum to mask the heart shape and color the pink on the outside of the heart.  Then I removed the drawing gum by gently rubbing the gum off the paper and colored the center with blue.  Definitely going to put this drawing gum to use.

This is my favorite technique for today.  I applied the Distress Marker to the stamp, stamped the image and then used a brush with water to move the color around.  These turned out very nice and I want to give this a go again for sure.

I'll probably use these for cards in the future.  I'll try to post them if I do.  Have a great night and I'll see you tomorrow for a very special post.

Sending a Very Happy Birthday

Popping in to say a quick hello and share this fun shaker card I made for my nephew's birthday.  He was 9 this year - that funny age where he is too small to cherish a card from Auntie and too big to like something juvenile.  So, I made this card to have fun.  Here's the details:

• The hat was cut using my Cricut cart Straight From the Nest out of watercolor paper.  There are layered pieces (the red at the top and the green fringe at the bottom).  I used my Brushos to create the watercolor look to the hat.
• The shaker window was cut using my SSS Stitched Rectangles die.  I love the simple, yet crisp look this die gives.  The shaker window was created following the same process that of Jennifer McGuire's video.  The shaker is filled with blue sequins, clear acetate stars and red and blue bling pieces. 
• The sentiment inside and out are from Penny Black's Sweet Wishes stamp set using black Archival Ink.

A couple of the attendees were like - "Oooh, sweet card".  That was enough for me.  I got the boy a Stomp Rocket.  Now that solicited a "cool!" from the birthday boy.  I'm a happy Auntie.  If you haven't given the shaker card a go, I suggest trying.  They are fun and cool new (to me) technique.

I'm linking up with the following challenges :

Our Beautiful World chall6:  #115 Assorted.  It is rare that one of my cards fits the word prompt, but this is such a time.  The word is Assorted and my shaker card does contain an assortment of shiny bits.

Simon Says Stamp's Monday Challenge : Love This Technique.  I am certainly enamored with the shaker card right now.

Word Art Wednesday's Challenge #201 Anything Goes.  The entries in this challenge are so varied that I am always inspired when I click through.

Come join the fun!

A Set of Notecards with Vintage Flowers

I'm out of town today and scheduled this post last weekend after completing the post on my Altenew Vintage Flowers stamping session using my MISTI tool.  I'll suggest Jennifer Mcguire's video as it is what I used.  All sentiments were stamped with black Archival Ink using my SSS Handwritten Borders stamps.  I'll try to point out color combinations.  The purple is a Brilliance Pearlescent Purple pigment ink in the background and VersaMagic Purple Hydrangea pigment ink in the foreground.

Notice the difference in these red flowers.  The background ink is SSS Smoke hybrid ink.  The red is Colorbox Magenta pigment ink.  The first card was made with the "outline" layer in Colorbox Frosted White pigment ink.    This next card used another layer of the Magenta pigment ink.  I really like the outline effect of the white pigment ink, don't you?

The yellow is Close to My Heart's Buttercup dye ink and the orange is CTMH's Sunset dye ink.  This is an example of a color combination I was determined to hate and found that I really like the definition provided by these inks.

The background is a Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue pigment ink and the foreground is VersaMagic Aegean Blue pigment ink.  When I first stamped the background, I thought "Ugh!" due to the splotchy nature of the stamp. However, the look is very appealing lending texture to the flower.

The last one is SSS Smoke hybrid ink and CTMH Moonstruck dye ink.  This is another of my favorite combinations.  I like these so well that I intend to make a few more sets as presents.  Look for more pictures and color combinations coming before the holidays!

I'm linking up to the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge Simon Says Die Crazy.  I almost didn't purchase the matching die for the Altenew stamp set.  I'm so happy I did now.

Simon Says Stamp's Monday Challenge Love This Technique.  I couldn't resist joining this challenge.  I really do love this technique.  The layering stamps really add dimension to the card.

Word Art Wednesday's Challenge #201 Anything Goes.  They lays have such inspiring entries.

Come join the fun!

A Very Friendly Birthday Card

Brandy sent me a photo of this lovely creation she made for her niece's birthday.  It is so bright and colorful, I'm just in love with this card.  Here's some details about the card:

• This shaker card was made using a technique similar to the one shared by Jennifer McGuire's video.  The opening is a simple rectangle, but the foam sheet behind, use of glittery sequins inside, etc. are all similar.
• The balloons and streamers were stamped using various inks and Mama Elephant's Party Kit stamp and die set.  Brandy used some black string as the balloon ties and I think it adds just the right texture and depth to the card.  
• I'm not exactly sure where the candles came from, but I enjoy the colorful addition.  They were adhered with the sentiment frame to the card base before creating the shaker part of the card.  I believe the presents were a part of the same sticker set or technique.
• The chummy pals on the front of the card were stamped using black Archival Ink and the PaperSmooches stamp set Chubby Chum Pals.  The colored images were also cut using the coordinating dies.  

Tell me how charming and adorable this card is!  Each small element has been created with such love and attention.  As usual, Brandy stuns and I'm so blessed she lets me share her creations here with you.  Let's all give Brandy a round of applause.  She reads your comments and is encouraged (like me) by your kind words!