"Shell" - fie

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

I couldn't help myself! I had such fun creating this card with some great Impression Obsession products.

I hope you can see the lovely textural photo-quality sky that is provided by the "Clouds Cover-A-Card" cling stamp. It's very cool. IO has a big variety of these "Cover-A-Card" stamps. Their size, square shape and terrific designs make them so versatile.

I also used the "Instant Photo Frame" dies (which include the frame, the cute photo corners and the "smile" die!) on some glittery DCWV paper and the "Ocean Border" dies. Mr Crab is cut with the "Crab" Die from a scrap of paper I inked with Alcohol Inks .

This guy is headed to the Impression Obsession's current challenge, "All that Glitters".

Summer's on the way - wishing you sand between your toes! Thanks for the visit,

Glitter and Alcohol Do Mix!

HI, Bloggin' Buddies!

Well, I've been bitten by the alcohol ink bug! Once I started, I couldn't stop. Isn't it funny how what was old can be new again? I almost got rid of my alcohol inks because I didn't think I'd ever use them again.  Now I wish I'd saved my white "GO-Go" boots and and stirrup stretch pants from the 1960's!

I inked three pages of 5" x 7" Yupo paper and I managed to get 11 cards made from them! I'll be sharing some of rest of them soon.

Todays card was inspired by the current challenge, "All that Glitters!", at the Impression Obsession Blog. and the "Simon Says: Sparkle and Shine" Challenge on the Wednesday Challenge Blog.

I've said before what a big fan I am of Impression Obsession. I've been using their products since the late 1990's and, while their designs keep pace with current trends, there are so many that are timeless.

This card uses a piece of my alcohol inked paper and a glittery (sorry - after several attempts, I just wasn't able to capture all the glittery goodness in my photo) copper card stock from DCWV.  The die is the "Good Wishes Word Block" and is perfect for layering over fun backgrounds. I don't know the origin of the flower - I found it in my stash, probably stamped years ago at some crop. It is colored with Copics and dusted with Wink of Stella.

Please some and play along, and I urge you to. Challenges, especially sparkly ones, are good for the dull soul - ha!

Thanks for the visit and have a great week!

Sparkle on!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

I have made some progress on my Halloween cards but I don't want to post them until they reach their recipients. Maybe late next week.

I have a wonderful young friend who shares my love of mermaids. She is super-creative and has an Etsy shop where she sells her sparkly and Disney-inspired creations. This is the special card I made for her.

The mermaid is an older Unity stamp by Suzi Blu called "Elena Seaside". I love her unique style. I used Zig clear color markers to watercolor her and added sparkle with Wink of Stella and Stickels.

The sentiment ("Shine from Within") is one I finding myself reaching for more and more (the world needs all the sparkle possible!) by Reverse Confetti (I used it recently here).

The background is Distress Ink watercolored onto a panel I heat-embossed with the "Shells" background stamp by Impression Obsession layered on top of some DCWV glitter paper.

Thanks for the visit and have a weekend full of sparkle and joy,

Clear and Sheer

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

I just completed the "Online Card Class" called "Clear and Sheer". The class shares how to make cards using clear and sheer products, such as vellum (scary stuff!) and acetate. It is taught by some grand ladies of card making - Kristina Werner, Jennifer McGuire, and Debby Hughes.

I was able to find a set of Hero Arts acetate cards (the last one!) at my LSS, the Stamp Art Shoppe. I've been wanting to give this technique a try, so since I was awake at 1:30 AM, I decided I may as well stop thinking about it and get up and give it a try. Crazy, eh?

For this card I used a Sizzix embossing folder on the card. I colored the raised stars with Copic pens. Then I die-cut four stars from white and silver cardstock (Lifestyle Craft die set). Two stars sandwich the acetate (using Score Tape) to create a solid panel on the front and the back.

The front sentiment is cut from glitter paper (DCWV) with a Spellbinders script die. I applied it to cardstock and ran it through the Xyron Machine and it adhered well. There were the typical little "glue buggers" that one gets with the Xyron, but I was able to remove them from the acetate with an alcohol swab (but carefully, as it will also remove the Copic coloring!).

My inside sentiment, "America the beautiful" is from an old Cornish Heritage Farms set by Kim Hughes (now of Paper Smooches fame). 

I lined the envelope with some coordinating paper using the Hero Arts Envelope Template and stamped some stamped on stars with an old PTI set.

This was a learning process and I will make some minor changes the next time. It is a fun technique with lots of possibilities. I urge you to consider the class - it is full of great ideas.

At least I'm ready for the Fourth of July! And I bet there is a nap in my future later today.

Thanks for the visit - hope you are having a star-studded week,