Polished Prints

I found a background going through one of my scrap drawers. Here is a tip I realized tonight; if you aren't using a technique immediately write the name on the back! LOL! I don't remember the name of this technique so if you recognize it feel free to drop me a note. It looks like a brayered polished stone. ETA: This technique from Technique Junkies is called Brayered Rainbow from the April/May 2007 newsletter!

The stamp in the center is embossed directly onto the background. I poured through all my embellishments but just couldn't find anything other than these (very) old photo corners I bought when I was first getting into scrapbooking (around 1999). Everything else seemed to distract or made it feel off balance to me. Sometimes less IS more, I'm hoping it works with this!


This stamp set is Reverse Prints, now retired. I wanted a bold stamp to draw the eye inward because the background had so much going on with the color, metallic shimmer and French Script b/g.

Stamps: Reverse Prints, French Script; Ink: ENCORE silver, Caribbean Sea Kaleidacolor, VersaMark, StazOn Black; Paper: Soft Sky, Basic Black, Glossy; Accessories: brayer, black EP, photo corners, heat gun.

Butterflies

I indulged in some "rubbah adultry" (channeling Jan Tink) not too long ago, but just recently screwed up the courage to cut into the rubber. I purchased a sheet from Innovative Stamp Creations (ISC). Isn't that butterfly gorgeous?!!

When I was playing with the Polished Acetate technique (TJ) several weeks ago I made quite a few and have left them out on my desk. I finally got around to using one of them.

Ever have one of those cards that you feel like you just can't "solve"? I guess this was mine. I had the acetate stamped and layered on my c/s just couldn't figure out the sentiment. Well, I even had the hardware (which started out as pewter.) I just couldn't seem to get the energy to figure out how to put it together. I wanted black hardware and remembered that Faith often will use Sharpies to color her hardware. I started that, but just didn't like it. So I decided to alter it with EP. I heated it with my heat gun and dipped in black EP and reheated until I got it melted like I wanted, then did the other end. This works soooo much better when you use heat to adhere the EP than something like ink or VersaMark (which will allow the EP to slip off!)


Notice the different color brads. I used Tempting Turquoise CRAFT ink to color then embossed with clear EP. You have to treat these brads very gingerly because as I noted above, the EP will slide off.

The sentiment is very small, but reads, "the only way to have a friend is to be one". I will be giving this to a lady in Troy's school that helped me today with directions today to the ENT.

Speaking of ENT, I am back on the antibiotics (for another 20 days!) *sigh* Hopefully, the antibiotics (and the other two medications he prescribed) will get my sinuses healthy!

STAMPS: Friendship (ISC), Cheesecloth (SU); Ink: StazOn Black, CRAFT Basic Black (sentiment) & Tempting Turquoise (brads), various alcohol inks; Paper: Tempting Turquoise, basic black; Accessories: HPH, Black EP, brads, Ticket Corner punch, acetate.

Every Girl Needs Glitter

As I sat looking at my first card I realized that there was nothing glittery. (Doesn't every little girl need some glitter?) I was inspired (from a demo at the Scrapbooking Convention) to modify some silver brads by dipping them in Rose Red CRAFT ink, then dipped them in Hologram Highlights and heated from the bottom. I like this better!

What do you think?

Pink Birthday

I sent off DH today, dropped Troy off at a friend's house and headed for the CKU Scrapbook convention! Yes, I was a bad girl and jumped into some retail therapy to distract myself from the thought of ten weeks of single parenting! LOL! Its my excuse and I'm sticking to it! :D

We have a birthday party to attend tomorrow for Troy's "best girl" Erin. She is turning four. Now what do I have to make a card for a four year old girl???? She is definitely All Girl! I knew I needed to use pink so I searched (and searched!) Mostly for designer paper and found some retired pink sheets. I decided to use Beate's week-end sketch challenge #42, so that made things easier. I also thought I'd add some "Faith Dots". I sooooo don't do these very well! LOL! Guess I need more practice! I used some Stampin' Dimensionals to pop up the sentiment.

I hope she enjoys it. If nothing else I know her mother will!

Stamps: It's Your Birthday; Ink: Basic Black; Paper: Positively Pink (Retired), Whisper White, Designer Paper (various); Accessories: PUNCHES: 1 3/8" & Scallop, Signo White Gel Pen, Positively Pink Marker (Retired), Stampin' Dimensionals.

Walnut Birthday

I decided to mix the Technostamper's Challenge #11 with the TJ Walnut Ink Resist technique to make a birthday card for DH. Although his birthday isn't for another week, he leaves for 10 weeks on Saturday so we are celebrating tomorrow.

I meant to stamp the bottom "happy birthday" right side up, but oops! LOL! I sure hope this is masculine enough for him! *eyeroll* This is for the guy that thinks purple isn't masculine. I don't think I could have used any more masculine colors than this! Tip: I stamped and embossed the leaves then punched them out. So much easier to do it this way then try to center the leaf after your card stock is punched.

Stamps: Weathered B/G, It's Your Birthday, With Gratitude; Ink: CRAFT Very Vanilla, VersaMark, Walnut Ink; Paper: Really Rust, Basic Black, Very Vanilla; Accessories: Spiral punch, 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" square punches, Vanilla EP.

Back to Work

I am finally really starting to feel better, well until the doctor called with the results of my CT scan, which shows I have Sinus Disease, (aka: sinus infection). No wonder I felt so bad! I must admit I feel better knowing that it wasn't just a cold that had me so wiped out. I am getting the itch back to start creating, this is what I made today.

The new TJ newsletter came a week or so ago and I bought some Createx paint yesterday to try the Createx Creation technique. I have a few more backgrounds made, but haven't had time to finish cards with them yet. This version of the technique uses the brayer.

I used Morning Soft stamp and colored with Twinkling H2O's. Honestly, I had hoped that the H2O's would be more vibrant, but it is what it is. Although Rich Regals are my favorite color family I rarely use Taken With Teal because it is such a strong color, but with this background I thought they would work well together. I got to use my new styled silver Hodgepodge Hardware; yea!

Stamps: Morning Soft, Small Script; Ink: StazOn Black; Paper: Taken with Teal, Basic Black, Glossy; Accessories: Createx paint, Twinkling H2O's, HPH, large oval punch, ticket corner punch.