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, 

No Lines to Stay Within!

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

My quest to loosen up a little and not be so controlled in my designs continues. I recently took a class at my LSS (The Stamp Art Shoppe in Roseville, CA) where we learned to watercolor with Distress markers and Wink of Stella pens with "lifeless" stamping. Very fun, but also tricky.

I have been practicing. This card uses a beautiful stamp (perhaps a Magnolia?) by Impression Obsession. The flower was done with a Scattered Straw Distress marker and the Wink of Stella (clear) provided the liquid for the watercoloring. The background is a Bundled Sage marker used with a water brush for a soft watercolor finish.

The mat color is a dark green - it is increasingly difficult to find some natural light for photos this time of year. The sentiment is an older one from Hero Arts and I double-punched it out with a punch from Stamping Up.

This is going into the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge which is "Thinking of You".  And, in keeping with Jennifer McGuire's current campaign to "Share Handmade Kindness", this is going into the mail to someone special tomorrow.

Thanks so much for the visit outside of my comfort zone and have a great day!