Monthly Archives: November 2013

Nov20

Break Out That Sanding Block!

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Break Out That Sanding Block!

Have you ever tried dry embossing?

Dry embossing is achieved by placing a piece of paper upside down on an stencil, and then rubbing a stylus or bone folder along the edges of the stencil to create a raised section of paper.

dry embossed card

For this card, after I dry embossed the pattern onto Coredinations card stock, I sanded off the top surface of black to reveal the purple underneath. I then traced the stencil onto the back of coordinating patterned papers, and added them to the sanded image. A bit of enamel pearls around the outside, and mounted onto another piece of marbleized cardstock, and this card was done.

What’s your favorite technique? Where did you learn it?

Don’t forget if you want to get a card from me in the mail, make sure you’re on my mailing list!

Nov19

Keeping It Simple

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Keeping It Simple

Today’s card started off with another alcohol ink background. Since it seemed like a masculine background, I looked for paper scraps that would work with the background, and stumbled across these fun little cards from a Simple Stories 6×6 pad. Adding a sticker that’s been in my stash for ages was the perfect finishing touch.

Boy and alcohol ink background

Today’s tip: while you have your supplies out to create a background, make more than one. By making batches of backgrounds or bases, you’ve always got a great starting point for when you’re actually ready to make a card or two or ten.

Have you been making any cards this month? What’s your favorite technique to use when making a card?

Nov18

Playing With Alcohol Inks

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Playing With Alcohol Inks

When was the last time you played with alcohol inks? I bet it’s been a while, hasn’t it?

Alcohol inks come in dropper bottles, and you apply them to surfaces with a small foam sponge or pad. It’s important that you use a sealed surface in order to get good coverage and intermixing. These are one of Tim Holtz’s favorite supplies, and he’s used it on everything from transparencies to dominos to metal to glossy coated cardstock.

alcohol ink background

I started with mirror cardstock (a type of metallic coated cardstock with a high gloss) and three colors of alcohol ink on one sponge, and then dabbed the sponge across the background. When Ink stopped transferring, I add more drops to the sponge, and kept going. This is one of those backgrounds that are simply stunning in person, but don’t necessarily translate well in photos.

A patterned paper in coordinating colors, and then a stamp in a related theme finishes off the card nicely.

Thought for today: there are lots of ways to start a card. You can start with a sketch, and build it based on the pieces of the sketch. You can start with a favorite image, and work from there. You can have a theme or sentiment in mind, and choose supplies based on that. Or, you can start with technique, as I did here, and then make the rest of your design choices based on how your technique turned out.

There is no right or wrong way to create a card. There’s just done. I like done, how about you?

Don’t forget, if you want to get a card from me, make sure you’re on my email list!

Nov17

Pocket Page Supplies on a Card!

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Pocket Page Supplies on a Card!

One of the most fun classes at this past October’s True Scrap Was Layle Koncar’s Pocket Pages class. She used them in so many fun ways, you’ll be inspired for days. And you’ll get all those pocket page cards you HAD to have out of your stash. As soon as it’s available to purchase individually, I’ll link you up so you can check it out. I can’t recommend it strongly enough.

As you may be able to guess, this card was totally inspired by a pocket page card.

simple pocket page card

Don’t you just love the peek-a-boo possibilities of pocket cards with die cut shapes in them? A simple backing of a patterned paper behind it, and a little trimming, and you’ve got a card. You can stamp any kind of sentiment. I went with a heart theme here, although I think originally I was thinking something a little more patriotic/Americana.

What’s your favorite scrapbook supply? Can you think of a way to use it in a way it wasn’t originally intended? Let’s stretch that stash!

Don’t forget, if you want to get a card from me, you need to be on my mailing list. I’d love to send you a card!

Nov16

Watercolor Fun

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Watercolor Fun

Does watercolor intimidate you? It always used to intimidate me. But then I read a book by Dave Brethauer called Card Design: Rubberstamping with Colored Pencils and Watercolors. One of the best books out there for inspiring confidence in your skills as a crafter.

One of the most important things I learned from the book? With water color, you’re not applying color to the page directly. You’re using water to move it around. Realizing that watercolor application is fluid just flipped the switch and helped me relax and just go with the flow as far as water colors were concerned.

Watercolor garden

This started with the Shimmering Pearls paints I used earlier this week, but then I realized I only had one blue, and no green. So I pulled out the Crayola watercolor palette I rescued from my kids, and started adding color and water to the sky and grass and stems. A simple nature themed stamp, and the card was done.

Do you have any techniques that you really want to try, but are afraid to? Are you worried you’ll ruin a scrapbook page by experimenting? That’s a huge reason to make cards. Cards are smaller, more manageable canvases, that allow you to practice techniques without worrying that you’ll ruin something. Next time you think to yourself that you want to try a new technique, practice on a card. Then you’ll feel a lot more confident when you use that technique on a page.