Category Archives: techniques

Nov23

Bringing Multiple Inspiration Ideas Together

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Bringing Multiple Inspiration Ideas Together

Today’s card started with one idea, added another, and then finished with a third. It was rather a struggle putting it together, not because the techniques were hard, but because I kept running into mental roadblocks and making mistakes.

Inspiration from multiple sources

The background was done first, inspired by this pin on pinterest:

sea urchins pin

That part was finished fairly quickly. And then I ran into my first mental roadblock. I needed a focal image for the card. For some reason I felt I needed a round floral image, but didn’t have anything that really worked for me. So the background sat there for awhile while I worked on other cards.

And then I re-watched Bev Grey’s True Stamp class, and one of the things she used was technique tiles. I have some of those! So I dug those out, and happily colored one that was the right size to fit on the card. And then decided I’d use a rub-on on the colored tile. That didn’t work. Either because the ink was still slightly damp, or because the ink acted as a sealer, for some reason the rub-on wouldn’t adhere. So I flipped the tile over, and applied the rub-on to the reverse side of the tile, which didn’t have as smooth a surface as the front. Then I applied the color over the rub-on, because frequently rub-ons resist ink. Then I started wiping the excess color off the rub-on, and the rub-on started peeling right off the tile. Sigh. The mistakes just kept piling up.

After peeling off the rub-on, I was left with an interesting ghost image of the rub-on, but that wasn’t what I wanted, so I flipped the tile back over to the front. And then it occurred to me that I could use a partial image on the tile. A brief search through the stamp drawers led to my favorite butterfly stamp. I stamped it with versamark ink, and then applied white embossing powder to it. Which adhered to the ENTIRE front of the tile, because the ink STILL wasn’t dry.

Argh!!

Yes, it was one of those days.

I brushed the embossing powder off, and heat set the ink with my heat gun, and then stamped the butterfly in versamark, again, and added the embossing powder. This time it was mostly okay, so I heat set the embossing powder, and added the tile to the card.

Not one to leave well enough alone, and wanting to actually use some of the rub-ons on the card, I added a sentiment and a few doodles, and finally pronounced it done.

So what do you think? And what do you do when things go wrong? Feel free to vent in the comments!

Nov22

Zentangling a Card

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Zentangling a Card

Have you ever tried Zentangle? It’s a combination of drawing and doodling, and a bit of meditation as well. At least it can be. How about a card using some zentangling as decoration?

zentangled card

This card started with the zentangle border. A bit of handmade paper, a few Stampin’ Up rub-ons, a bit of baker’s twine, and a card is done. I think it looks pretty cool myself, but I may be biased. 😉

If you want to try some Zentangle yourself, check out One Zentangle a Day by Beckah Krahula. (affiliate link) I haven’t taken a class on it yet, but used this book to learn a bit about it. The book is broken down into daily patterns to practice, as well as a bit of discussion about techniques that can help your zentangle drawing even more elaborate and realistic. It’s simple enough that my eight-year-old son can follow along, and detailed enough to keep me occupied.

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

Nov21

Faux Quilting

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Faux Quilting

There are so many hobbies out there that are appealing. Quilting is one of those that requires skill and practice in order to excel. I love the way quilts look. The combination of colors and patterns and texture makes me want to sit down with my sewing machine and start creating my own quilts. However, my own skill set lies with paper.

So let’s make a faux quilt card!

faux quilt card

 

Now, if I were really serious about making this look quilt-like, all those dashes would be actual stitching. But I’m one of those weird people who worry about damaging their sewing machine, and so stick to using a pen to create a stitching look.

This was made with the hexagon stamp set from Stampin’ Up, and the Creative Memories hexagon punch. Stampin’ Up has a punch designed to go with this set, I just already had the CM one, and didn’t feel the need to invest in one almost the same as what I already had.

Which brings me to my point for the day. To get the most out of your stash, repeat yourself. Use a stamp over and over. Use the scraps from one project on a different project. Use up all the paint on a palette on multiple projects, rather than letting it dry out. Just because you’ve used one item on a specific project doesn’t mean it won’t work on an entirely different creation as well.

Make what you have work. Over and over and over again. You’ll be surprised at just how creative you can be when you push yourself.

 

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?