Colorful backgrounds

Hello crafty friends

I'm back today with a really colorful project I started on this past weekend at one of my favorite spots, Memories and More.

As in my previous posts I have been on an Alcohol Ink train for the past couple of weeks.  I had some of them in my craft stock but never really knew how to really make them look lovely.  The colours I had previously purchased were fairly dull so it didn't inspire too much as I tend to be drawn to more colorful projects. I purchased some new colours and then had a quick tutorial from a dear friend and off I went and I'm having so much fun!

I changed things up a bit when I created the background for this card (thank you Maresa for the tip).  I used the "swipe" method to get this amazing background.  I followed the basic instruction of dropping the ink but I did it onto my craft mat this time, instead of directly onto the paper.  I took my cut out piece of Specialty stamping paper and dropped it onto the ink, face first, and then swirled it slightly and then swiped it across the ink.  After lifting I titled the paper a bit to get those really neat "running" effects you see near the bottom right of the photo.  The possibilities are really endless when it comes to how you can get the ink onto your paper.  I'm looking forward to trying some new ways over the next couple of weeks so stay tuned!

For the second layer of the card I took my Altenew Wild Hibiscus stamp set and stamped one of the flowers randomly around my paper using Versamark ink.  I added some Lindy's stamp gang embossing powder to my stamped images and heated it with my heat gun to set.  Once the paper had cooled I dropped some of my alcohol inks onto an acrylic block. I also dropped a dab of plain alcohol onto the same block. I then took my aqua brush and dabbed it into the alcohol and then into my chosen ink color. Once my aqua brush was filled with colour I proceeded to paint in my flowers directly onto the paper. I varied between two of the colours to fill in the flowers.

The floating flowers you see on the third layer is vellum, embossed with the same stamped images in the second layer using the technique in step 2.  Then I took my aqua brush I coloured in the flowers as in step 2 but onto the vellum this time. The embossed edge of the flower helps to contain the alcohol/ink.  Once dried, which is really quickly, I fussy cut out the flowers and then applied them over top of the existing flowers with glue dots.  I curled up the edges of the vellum a bit so that you could see more of the three dimensional effect.

My second to last step was to add the sentiment to my card. Using the sentiment from the Altenew stamp set Wild Hibiscus I stamped it onto my card using Altenew crisp ink in Dusk.  I then quickly applied my Lindy's stamp gang powder over top and applied heat to set.

I added a little touch of sequins to my card. Pretty pink posh (rose gold 4mm) to the center of the flowers and then the additional sequins are from Memories and More.

I'm hoping to film a YouTube video in the near future on my alcohol ink backgrounds but for now you can visit the awesome Tim Holtz on YouTube and he has some really great videos on using alcohol inks. You can find him here.

Thanks for dropping by and stay tuned for more alcohol ink adventures.

Neutral glow

I tend to be drawn towards bright and vibrant but for today's card I decided to keep it neutral. 

Continuing on with my venture into alcohol ink backgrounds I wanted to make a card that was suitable for many occasions. The subtle colors and simple Hello make it easily adaptable. My first thought of whom I could give this to would be a friend who maybe wasn't feeling well and needed a hug. When you're far away a simple card with a hello or thinking of you can help make your day a bit brighter. I love getting snail mail and in fact I just received a beautiful card from a friend on Friday. She's the one who got me started on my alcohol ink journey and who has taught me so much! Thank you Maresa!

The instructions for the background can be found here: 

http://chellebdesign.blogspot.ca/2016/05/did-someone-say-alcohol.html

I used the mini Hero Arts stamp set called "Spring Hello" for my embossed sentiment and Ranger silver embossing powder. I also embossed a piece of white cardstock, around the edge, with the silver embossing powder to use as my layering piece behind the front layer. Easy way to get an embossed piece of paper to match your front layer.

Hope you've had a great Tuesday!

Altenew Magic

I'll be the first to admit that I am just a little bit addicted to Altenew stamps. As I mentioned in yesterday's post they are very versatile and offer a lot to your imagination. When stamped in the layered option they are gorgeous but I am always trying to think outside the box and in today's card I did. 

Instead of using all the layers I decided to just use one of them and the effect is gorgeous. I used a silver pearl translucent embossing powder to emboss with. I love using this one because it doesn't distract from the background but in certain light and angles it really pops. This is the "Beautiful Day" stamp set. I embossed the sentiment in a gold powder.

For the background I used the same technique as yesterday's post which can be found here:

http://chellebdesign.blogspot.ca/2016/05/did-someone-say-alcohol.html

Hope you've had a awesome Monday and stay tuned for another alcohol ink card I made this past weekend. 

Michelle 

 

Did someone say Alcohol??

I hope that title grabbed you because I do like to add a little excitement to my posts and while I'm not referring to the drinking kind of alcohol I am using a different type on today's card.

I am constantly absorbing new, or new to me, ideas on how to create WOW cards and for today's post this is definitely a fun new way to look at backgrounds for your cards.  In reality it's like I am creating my own paper which is so much fun!  If you know me you know I like to have fun, especially if it's when I am creating cards. The full instructions on how to create this gorgeous alcohol ink background can be found at the bottom.  Enjoy and please feel free to drop me a comment at the bottom.

The stamps you see on the forefront of the card are by Altenew and it's their Beautiful day set.  I love this set because it offers so many possibilities for stamping.  The stamps are a layered type of stamp but as you can see I only used the final layer of the stamps which is the outline.

Other supplies used:
Copper embossing powder (I prefer Rangers powders but you can use any powder you like)
Versamark embossing ink pad
Bazzil cardstock
Brads (Any colour will do as you can just emboss them with the copper embossing powder to adapt them to your colour scheme)
May Arts ribbon
Foam mounting tape


Alcohol background technique
The supply list for the background is quite small:
Alcohol (like the rubbing kind - first aid) 90% or above.
Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Inks
or
Ranger Archival Ink Re-inkers
Palette Knife
Ranger Specialty stamping paper

1. Cut your paper to the desired size
2. Generously drop the alcohol onto your paper.  No need to cover the whole paper completely just large drops here and there.  It works easier if you put the alcohol into a smaller bottle before dropping onto the page or you can also use a eye dropper type of device.
3. Drop 1 to 2 drops of the chosen colours (I use 3 colours and then a metal ink like copper) of either Archival or alcohol inks onto the paper.
4. Using your palette knife (kind of like spreading butter) spread your ink/alcohol throughout the paper.  Do not spread it too much as you want the colours to be blended but not so much that you end up with one colour.  It's also okay to leave white areas as this adds interest.
5. Put it aside to dry and that's it.  It really is that easy.

Once it is dried, which depends on how much ink you've added, you can then embellish as desired.

Wading in watercolor

Creativity is contagious, pass it on - Albert Einstein

Such a great quote and one of the many reasons why I love to share my creations.  I've learned so much from many people and feel that passing it on is another way I can pay it forward.

Today's post is all about watercoloring with the non-traditional methods.  I discovered watercoloring with Distress markers quite a while ago and have been having fun with this technique ever since.

To begin I started out with a piece of Strathmore Bristol paper cut down to 4 1/2 x 6.  I stamped the Altenew Peony Scrolls flowers and leaves with Versamark onto my paper.  I then added Rangers Queens Gold embossing powder and applied heat with my heat tool to melt the powder.  On a separate piece of paper I stamped a peony and some leaves so I could fussy cut those out for later.

I scribbled variation of pinks and purple Distress markers onto a clear acrylic block.  Using my waterbrush, which was wet, I picked up colour from the block and began coloring in the images. The more water on your brush or on the paper the more variegated effect you will have with the colours. Once the flowers and leaves were dry I added in my background colour behind the flowers.  Again I placed the colour on my acrylic block and then picked it up and applied it to the paper.

Once the background layer was dry I cut a piece of vellum and stamped on the "Thank you" sentiment with Versamark, added the Queens gold embossing powder and heated it to melt the powder.  I wrapped it around my watercolor paper and taped it at the back to secure.  I then applied the extra flower and leaves over top of the vellum for added dimension.

Lastly I mounted the watercolored paper to a piece of recollections purple cardstock using 3d foam tape and then mounted it onto a blank card. 

Thank you for popping by and if you have any questions about the products used or techniques please feel free to drop me a comment below. 

Most of the products used were purchased from my local store Memories and More in West Kelowna, BC. ( www.memorycrafts.ca )as well as from another local B.C. store called All Ways Scrapbooking ( www.allwaysscrapbooking.com ) from Salmon Arm.  I like to support local when possible. 

Playing with inks

Hello!

I'm back today with some fun cards I made last weekend. I learned a fun "new to me" technique from my super duper crafty friend Maresa.  After being in the industry for a number of years she is a wealth of crafty ideas and techniques and this one technique had my eyes glued to the paper. It's the alcohol/archival ink reinker technique and it creates these amazing backgrounds for cards.

All you do is take a piece of Specialty Stamping paper, drop on some alcohol (the medical kind and the higher the content the better), add a few drops of archival ink reinker (3 colors seems to work great) and then very slightly blend with a palette knife. Spreading the ink through the alcohol like you would do if you were spreading peanut butter on bread but with a lighter touch. Voila .. That really is it!!! It dries in no time at all.

On my second card we stamped an image with Versamark, embossed the stamped image (Altenew poppy stamps) with ranger "queens gold" embossing powder. With a damp watercolor brush we picked up colour from an acrylic block (one drop of each color onto the block) and coloured in the stamped image (poppies in this case). Once it was dry we added masking fluid over the coloured in image. Let that dry and then proceed with the same steps as the first card. Once dry, peel or remove the masking fluid with an eraser. I love love love this technique and will be sharing more projects with it in the near future. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!! Feel free to ask questions about my supplies used or if you are unsure about the technique!

Michelle 😉

Day 4 - Online Card Clases "Clear & Sheer"

Happy Sunday everyone,

Welcome back to my Day 4 take on Online Card Classes "Clear & Sheer".  Day 4 brought us many creative ideas on working with vellum and acetate.  Acetate brings such a subtle effect to any project even if it's the main focus or if it's just a small accent on your card. Vellum is much the same .. it's a surface that can be altered in many ways and can create pretty ethereal results.  I'm learning to work with both as they are quite new to me.

So for today's project I decided to make a really basic card that let the focus be on the die cut.  Sometimes simpler is better and in this case I think it works quite well.

The key for working with acetate is that if you glue something to the front of the acetate you have to follow up with gluing something to the back to cover up the glue.  You work with layers so cutting out multiples of the same thing is key in this case.  Also in order to have an area to write on, inside the card, you have to follow this same rule of thumb where you have to double up on your layers.  

Hope you've had a wonderful weekend and I'm looking forward to our wrap up session later this week.  I hear shaker cards are in our future ;-)

Supplies used:

Opus art supplies - heavy weight synthetic acetate

Sizzix (Tim Holtz alterations) - Globe die

MFT Stamps - Label maker sentiments clear stamps

MTS Die-namics - Label tape dies

Strathmore - Bristol paper (white)

Bazzil - Black cardstock

Ranger - Archival Ink in Jet Black and Multi Medium Matte adhesive

Scrapbook Adhesives - 3D foam squares

Day 3 - Online Card Classes "Clear & Sheer"

Hi All,

Welcome back to my Day 3 homework for the Online Card Classes "Clear & Sheer".

Today I decided to go with the tried and true use for Acetate which is for shaker style cards. In the past year or so shaker cards seem to be the new "Pantone color of the year", so to speak, for us paper crafters.  I mean, how cute are they!!  Sparkling things that move around on your card .. can you say "Squirrel"!! haha.  Such a great way to add visual interest to your cards.

While I did go with the basic use for acetate this assignment, I do have to say that sometimes shaker cards can be a bit of a chore to make.  The shiny bits like to stick to everything and the acetate attracts everything, including my lovely cats hair .. OY!  So while I love making them it probably takes me just as long to remove all the little static'y bits from my acetate as it does to make the card.  That might be a bit of a exaggeration but at the time it doesn't seem like it :-) I did follow the "water" technique as shown in one of the videos and that did help a bit to remove some of the static.

So here are my bright and vibrant shaker cards for Day 3.  I have to say that this class was so worth signing up for because not only is it challenging me to think outside the norm it is also giving me a bit of a boost that I needed right now to get my creative butt in gear!  So thank you to all the wonderful teachers .. I'm forever grateful!

Hope you enjoy!  Have a great weekend.

Supplies used:
Memories and More - Open stock vellum
My Minds Eye "Cambridge court" - Dotted paper
KaiserCraft "me Collection - Doodle paper
Dollar Store - Sequins
Martha Stewart crafts - Mini heart sequins
May Arts - Black ribbon with gold edge
Recollections - Card base and gold "hello" paper.
Poppy stamps - Hello die
Bazzil - Black card stock
Darice (Memories and more) - 3mm black foam sheet
Ranger - Multi Medium Matte
Dollarama - Foam adhesive tape (found in automotive aisle - super cheap option for pop up foam tape and it is super sticky)

Day 2 - Online Card Classes "Clear & Sheer"

Welcome everyone to my Day 2 post from my Online Card Classes "Clear & Sheer" adventures.

Today we saw some amazing video's around taking vellum to a new level by dry embossing it, coloring it, using it to mute a busy background and making envelopes with it.  All great ideas that I will definitely take away with me on my creative vellum journey.

My take on Day 2 was to use my Zig Emboss Writer pen to highlight the gorgeous pattern on my paper underneath the vellum.  While the vellum mutes the background the gold embossing highlights the areas you want it to.  That is what I love about using an embossing pen.  You literally draw where you want, add powder, heat the powder and voila!  Instant embossing highlights how and where you want them.

Background paper
Supplies List:Simple Stories - So Fancy patterned paper and hello flag base.Recollection - Vellum and card baseRanger - Queens Gold embossing powderMay Arts - Gold edge pink ribbonPrima - Crystal gem/gold wireZig - Emboss it writing pen (LOVE LOVE and a must have)Thanks for stopping by!

1st time participant in Online Card Classes

Hi Everyone,

Michelle here and welcome to my 1st post as I join Online Card Classes - Clear and Sheer session.

A great crafty friend (Maresa) told me about this fun class that she was taking part in and I was intrigued as to what these classes were all about so I decided to join myself.  I've always loved the way vellum and acetate looks on cards and look forward to learning more about ways that I can use them on my cards.

After watching Day 1's videos I decided to use a pre-made piece of watercolored paper that I had worked on a little while ago.  I knew I would find a great use for it and after watching Kristina's video I knew exactly what would make a great base for my card.

Inspired by her video I decided to use the negative and positive cut outs of my design on my card but in reverse order.  The positive cut outs underneath and the negative cutout on top.  I think it turned out great and I love the way the sequins and teeny little stars add a little bit of wow factor to my card.

Hope you enjoy!

Supplies:

Yarka - Watercolors 

Die-namics - Lucky stars dies

Memory box (mb clings) - Reach for the stars stamps

Ranger - Queens gold embossing powder (LOVE this stuff)

Martha Stewart - Teeny stars

Dollar store - Sequins and foam adhesive tape

Strathmore - Bristol Paper

Recollections - Card base

Thankful Thursday

Greetings, thanks for popping by.

So today I am thankful because today is actually my Friday. I'm off work for four full days! I love four day weekends!!!

Today's post is somewhat a continuation of my yesterday's project. When I stencilled my card it created a fabulous negative stencil for me to use on another piece of paper. All I had to do was take my dampened stencil and flip it over onto another piece of paper. I love to make sure I'm making good use out of all my ink. Here is the negative image I was left with. So pretty right!! I love that watercolory look.

I put that aside and let it dry. Once dried I trimmed it down so it would fit on the front of my card.  I took my Tim Holtz scribble heart and die cut the shape out of my piece of inked paper. Then I also cut out a scribble heart from a red piece of cardstock. My go to basic paper is from the Recollections line at Michaels. Great value and a great selection of colours.

Next up I cut out the letters from the same red piece of card stock with the exception of the "u", I cut that out of Tim Holtz deco paper. I used MFT die-nam ices Stitched Letters to cut these out. I cut out a small piece of the gold deco paper to fit behind the red heart. This piece I mounted directly onto the card base. Then I put foam adhesive on the back of the Watercolor piece and adhered that down to the card. I added a little bit of a Ranger multi medium matte to the back of the red scribble heart and placed that into the opening. 

For the LUV letters I also cut these out of a thin foam so I could pop them up. I glued the foam to the letter with Sookwang tape. Love it for stuff I really want to stick. Then I glued it down to the card. Next I placed the U but found something was missing so I took my distress markers and added a bit of outline around the letter. Lastly I used my Watercolor brush to blend out the marker a little bit. 

That's my project for today. Happy Friday 😉 

The Daily Marker 30 Day challenge Day 8

Hi everyone, Michelle here with Day 8 of The Daily Marker 30 day challenge. 

Where did that first week go??? Here it is Wednesday already and I've already lost a day ... But lucky enough for all that is lost can sometimes be found. Thank God for that otherwise I would be still looking for my brain 😳😉 lol.

Since that big day is coming up where most celebrate that big word LOVE I thought I would pay tribute to all the loveliness. My card today was inspired by my lovely Heidi Swapp tiny heart stencil. Simon Says stamp has this wonderful stencil in stock. Here is the link: https://www.simonsaysstamp.com/product.aspx?id=127852

This project combined 4 main elements: Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads/Blending Tools, Heidi Swapp Tiny Hearts stencil, Embossing Powder and the Close to my Heart stamp set called Sweet and Lovely. It really doesn't take too much to give you that wow factor and an idea, if you do not have a stencil, is to take a small heart punch and create your own by punching a pattern out of a heavy weight cardstock.

So I started out by cutting a heart out of a post it note. The easiest way to get a balanced heart is to fold the paper in half and then cut. I will be using both pieces of the cut out in this project.

Next I placed the heart under my stencil to create a blank space. I cut the heart out near the top of the post it so the sticky part will help it stay in place under my stencil. 

Coloring part ... My Favorite. Using a ink blending tool add colour to the top left, I started with Picked raspberry. You can either tap the colour down or use a circular motion, which I prefer. Then the next colour was Candied apple and then the final color was Seedless preserves. When switching colours make sure to overlap them so you get a blended look. 

Next give it a couple of spritz with your water mister. This help the colours to blend and gives the edges of the hearts a bit of a watercolour look. You can skip this step if you like. Once done remove the stencil and let dry.  TIP: you will have left over ink on your stencil, take the stencil and flip it over onto another piece of white paper and you will have another lovely piece of patterned paper. I am using that paper on my Day 8 project.

Next up I wanted to fill that "blank" area with an embossed heart.  This is where the post it "negative" comes in to play. Place it down overtop of the blank area and line it up with the edges of the hearts. Remember how I cut it out near the top of the post it, this is why. Now I have the sticky part on the top of the post it to keep it stuck down.  FIRST ( sorry I'm not yelling but really want you to do this part) use a powder tool overtop of the whole surface prior to putting down the sticky note. This will help to keep the embossing powder from sticking to the whole paper.

Time to add in the Emboss it by Ranger. This stuff creates a sticky surface for the embossing powder to stick to.  Dab it on, over top of the blank area of the post it, generously. You want lots of that goopy stuff down.

Remove the sticky note and then add your embossing powder. Tap off the excess into a coffee filter which makes it easier to put the excess powder back into the jar. I used a powder, which I am coveting, from a company that unfortunately is no longer in business (very sad). This powder has a mix of red, pink and purple which you could recreate yourself by mixing those colours together. Brilliant why did I JUST think of that! 

Yummy I just love that picture!! Continuing on, take your heat gun and apply heat to the powder just until it melts.  Do not over melt it because this will cause it to smoke and then possibly catch on fire .. No fires allowed!! 

Voila!! Enter the yummy looking shiny heart. This kind of reminds me of a gummy heart!! 

Now we want to add the sentiment. I thought this "lovely" stamp from the Close to my Heart Sweet and Lovely stamp collection would go perfect on top of that heart. I like to use Rangers Archival ink on almost everything as I like how it really stays and gives you a nice crisp stamp.

So that's my project for today. I am a day behind on the challenge due to me having come down with a really awful cold so I will be skipping one day this week but "I'll be back"!!! As Arnold would say. 

Cheers everyone and happy creating!!

 

The Daily Marker 30 day challenge - Week one recap (Day 7)

Hi everyone I'm back with my final recap of week one of The Daily Marker 30 day challenge.

I'll be honest, when I made the decision to recap my week in one day I thought it was brilliant! Today is recap day and I have decided that my head may have been a little foggy when I made that decision ... LOL! 7 blog posts in one day OY!! Anyways it's here, I am almost done and I must say it's really been great to look over my week as I am making my posts. Each day is completely unique from the other in many different ways and I'm thankful today that I am lucky enough to be able to join this great journey. It really is a journey for me because I am trying to challenge myself to try something different. Learning is a wonderful thing and this community is so supportive of your work no matter what level you are at. I've had some wonderful comments on Instagram about my projects and it's so nice to get that feedback! People are seeing my creations and I'm getting ❤️!!! So awesome.

Day 7  - Blossoming thoughts

Supplies: Layer 1 - Nina heavyweight cardstock (embossed with copper using Jennifer McGuire's technique), Layer 2 - Strathmore Bristol paper, Stencil - 201 stencil by Roth, Artists Loft modelling paste, Simon Says Stamp Circle Sayings, Random heart stamp, Vellum from Michaels, String from Home Sense, Tim Holtz Distress Reinkers (to color the paste).

The Daily Marker 30 day challenge - Week one recap (Day 6)

Hey everyone Michelle here with my recap of Week one of The Daily Marker 30 day challenge. 

Today I am continuing on with my use of stencils. Such an easy way to get a beautiful image down on paper or whichever surface you may be using. So many possibilities too like in the case today's project. This stencil actually came with the three layers included. 3 for the price of 1, I love that!!

Day 6 - Bird on a branch looking through a patterned window (??? Sounds good I guess ... Haha)

Supplies: As shown above, Heidi Swapp stencil Bird, Stratmore Bristol paper.

The Daily Marker 30 day challenge - Week one recap (Day 5)

Greetings crafty people. Welcome to my Day 5 recap of The Daily Marker 30 day challenge. 

As in Day 4 (part 2) I am working with modelling paste today for my project and am having fun creating these wonderful colours of paste. There are so many possibilities when it comes to this medium! I've used it on canvases, mixed media and cards. I almost used it to ice some cupcakes once but "pwepf" lucky cupcakes were saved before they were subjected to this non edible medium. Just kidding but like I said in my previous post this stuff has the consistency of a thick icing. YUM!! 

Day 5 - Stencil magic

Supplies: Gold background paper - Tim Holtz Deco sheets, White paper - Strathmore Bristol paper, Stencils by Americana, Modelling paste - Artists Loft modelling paste, Tim Holtz Distress Reinkers (to add color to paste), Heidi Swapp planner accessory saying.

The Daily Marker 30 day challenge - Week one recap (Day 4 Part 1)

Hi all today I'm on Day 4 of The Daily Marker 30 day challenge and today is crazy bird day!!

Tim Holtz Bird Crazy literally went crazy last year when they were launched and I jumped right on that crazy train!!! Hard not to with these little birds. Today is about good old coloring! I like to think outside the box when it comes to these birds and last year I created an ATC with my Bee Bird and he is little Mr. Popular on Pinterest! (87 pins and counting) Who knew that he would create his own following?? Not me! Here his pin! https://www.pinterest.com/pin/A7fBcAAQQI0CgVIxyGEAAAA/ and he is also on a previous blog post.

Here is my Christmas dude I made for on top of my Mason Jar snow globe.

Anyhoo it's easy to get sidetracked with these cute little dudes so here is my Day 4 coloring for the challenge inspired by my Bee Bird!

Supplies: Tim Holtz Bird crazy stamps, Strathmore Watercolor paper, Tim Holtz Distress Markers, Watercolor brush! 

The Daily Marker 30 day challenge - Week one recap (Day 4 Part 2)

Hi Blog World welcome to my recap of Day 4 (two projects) for The Daily Marker 30 Day challenge.

The next few days are all about Modelling paste and Stencils. Modelling paste is one medium I really have fun playing with because it's like working with icing. I love the scrumptious colours you can get by mixing the paste with different types of colouring mediums. It really is like mixing icing!!! 

Day 5 - Project trees

Supplies: 

Layer 1 Base layer (Platinum) - Nina heavyweight cardstock and platinum embossing powder (see Jennifer McGuires video here -( https://www.youtube.com/embed/mLsooRinBPo?autoplay=1&TB_iframe&width=640&height=480 ) on how to create those beautiful background papers without actually buying the metallic papers.

Layer 2 - Strathmore (yellowbook) Watercolor paper, Memory Box Garden Birch Trees stencil, Artists Loft Modelling Paste from Michaels (cheap and great alternative to the more expensive brands), Faber Castell Gelato, Tim Holtz Distress Marker in Hickory smoke & Gelly Roll shimmer pen for the markings on the trees.

The Daily Marker 30 day challenge - Week one recap (Day 3)

Hi everyone here again with my recap of The Daily Marker 30 day challenge. 

Day 3 - Blooming watercolor

Today's post is using one of my Favorite techniques I call Emboss it, Drop it, Blend it and Voila! I don't really call it that but I thought it was cute (haha) Seriously though I love how this looks on any project. All you do is stamp your Favorite image on Watercolor paper with Versamark (use a stamp that has some white space that you can color), add embossing powder and heat it up to melt the powder, draw some color into the white space ( two levels of the same color per petal/stem), take your Watercolor brush (not too much water on it) and blend. If you find that you need more dimension just wait for it to dry and add more colour where you need it. That's it! It's that easy - Really it is and it takes hardly any time to create these lovely little bouquets.

I originally started with the gold one but wanted to try one with clear embossing powder as well. It's a toss up for me which one I like better. The elegant gold or the ethereal clear???

Supplies: My go to Watercolor paper (Strathmore yellowbook), Tim Holtz Flower Garden cling stamps, Ranger Queens gold embossing powder, Clear embossing powder, Tim Holtz Distress Markers in (Purple flower- Seedless preserves, Wilted violet, Spiced marmalade, Fired brick, Carved pumpkin), (Red flower- Candied apple, Fired brick), (Teal flower - Lucky clover, Cracked pistachio, Lemon citron), (Stems - Forest moss, Peeled paint)

The Daily Marker 30 day challenge - Week 1 recap (Day 2)

Hi everyone Michelle here and welcome to my Day 2 recap of my journey through The Daily Marker 30 day challenge.

Day 2 - Circling the negative space

So Day 2 was inspired by the awesome uber talented Jennifer McGuire. Dang that lady is talented!! She created a gorgeous card using the "negative space" technique and right away I wanted to jump on board that technique train! I mean what a simple way to create some wow on your card. Here is the link to her blog post http://www.jennifermcguireink.com/2016/02/coloring-2.html 

Supplies used Card 1) Pink chevron background - Craftsmith brights paper pack from Michaels, White background circle - Recollections open stock from Michaels, Pink embossed circle - Strathmore (yellowbook) Watercolor paper, Tim Holtz Distress Markers in (Picked raspberry, Candied apple and Spun sugar), Swirly background stamp - I believe this is from Hero Arts, My Favorite Things - Scribble roses, Simon Says Stamp - Circle sayings, Clear pearl embossing powder (swirls), Ranger red embossing powder (rose), Ranger Queens gold embossing powder (sentiments and heart)

Supplies used Card 2) Red chevron background, White background circle - Recollections open stock from Michaels, Pink embossed circle - Strathmore (yellowbook) Watercolor paper, Tim Holtz Distress Markers in (Picked raspberry, Candied apple and Spun sugar), Batic background stamp by Recollections, Ranger Queens Gold embossing powder, My Favorite Things - Stitched letters die and Scribble Roses Die-namic dies and Clear stamps.