First Ever Shaker Card

     Lately I've  been trying as many new techniques as possible, this one gave me the most trouble when I thought it would be simple. Shaker boxes, Ugh!

     I started out with a plan and picked out all my stamps, inks and stencils, then straight to work. The end result is better than I thought but getting there was a nightmare, LOL! I had to replace the Acetate 3 times because of problems I was having with the sequins getting stuck in the background images. Finally I got  some micro beads and that did the trick.

 

    This is the end result. I just fell in love with these cute little guys and had to find a way to use them all.

Products Used:

Imaginisce Snag'em Stamps Blowfish, Crab, Dolphin and Octopus

Simon Says Wave Stencil #SSST121357

Deep Red (Water droplets background stamp)

Ranger/Dylusions # DYR37798 Ocean Backgrounds

Ranger/Dylusions Spray Inks (London Blue and Calypso Teal)

Ranger #12 DYR47308 mixed media tags

Ranger distress ink

ColorBox  Frost White pigment ink

Gelly Roll  glitter pens

Hero Arts gems

Beader's Paradise Micro Beads

Penny Black #30-358 Happy Snippets

Grumbacher Miskit

Martha Stewart punch

     First I started with the mixed media tag. I sprayed it with water, then  two different colors of ink, sopping up the excess ink with a roll of paper towels. I cut it down to 5x7 because I knew I would need a larger area for the stamped images and the background pieces.  I placed the wave stencil over the background and sprayed with water, let it sit for a few seconds then rolled the paper towels over it to pull some of the ink out. I did this twice to cover the entire background. With my water droplets stamp and the frost white ink pad I stamped bubbles onto the background, and a few fish from my ocean backgrounds. I set that aside.

     Using the Oceans backgrounds set I stamped coral and seaweed on another tag and colored them with my Dylusions inks. I have water brushes filled with every color ink. Then I fussy cut them out and added them to my background.

    I then stamped the Blowfish and others on 110lb card stock and used a paint brush to apply Miskit to the eyes, flowers, fins and spots on each of the images, and let it dry for 5 min; when the Miskit was dry I used Ranger distress inks and blender tool to color the images. I rubbed the Miskit off and used the Gelly Roll pens to color in the flowers, Fins and spots. I fussy cut them out and edged each with a black marker to make them pop.

    Two layers of dimensional adhesive, the acetate and some 110lb card stock around the edges, I used a Martha Stewart punch for the top and used Vintage Photo distress ink over the edges. I stamped the sentiment and added the gems. My fish tank shaker box card is finally done. It was a lot of work but well worth it. Not bad for a first try, I think.

I will be entering this card in these challenges:

    

Addicted to Stamps Challenge "Not a Square"

Simon Says Monday Challenge "Stamp It"

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "Stamp It"

Virginia's View "Spray, Mist, Splatter"

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a Wonderfully Crafty Day!!

Karen

Hello Friend Mermaid card

I've had this beautiful Stampendous Mermaid stamp for a while and I couldn't  resist using her for Simon Says challenge Go Fish.

 

 

Products used:

Spellbinders Majestic Labels Twenty Five

Spellbinders S4-237 Floral Flourishes

Stampendous Mermaid

Penny Black 30-172 April Showers

Imaginisce Sea Shells

Yasutomo shimmer paints

Ranger Distress ink, watercolor paper, Archival ink

Deep Red bubbles background M1N4B5

Colorbox pigment White

Spectrum Noir clear Glitter pen

Misti

I started with my Spellbinders die and cut the outside frame from some beautiful aqua blue card from my stash. Then I cut the center panel from watercolor paper. I placed it in my Misti making sure to mark where it edges were for later. I stamped the Mermaid and painted her with the shimmer paints then stamped again on the Misti.

Then using masking paper I covered her and Inked my background with my distress inks and randomly stamped the bubbles all around her. Using dimensional tape I popped up the outside frame and then adhered the Mermaid flat onto the center of the white card. I took another piece of watercolor paper and using my distress inks I painted it green with two shades of green and a large paint brush, then I cut the floral flourishes for sea weed. I stamped the sea shells, painted them and fussy cut them out, then arranged them using dimensional tape and glue. I used my Glitter pen on the sea weed and stamped my sentiment using archival ink.

Here's a close up of the shimmer of her tail and the glitter on the sea weed.

I will be entering this card in these challenges:

                                                                          Simon Says Monday Challenge "Go Fish"

                                                                          All Sorts"Use at least 2 Dies"

                                                                           Love to Scrap " Anything Goes"

Have a wonderfully crafty day!

Karen

 

No line Water coloring

Today I practiced no line water coloring and I was very surprised with the result. I have done this many times without much success, but today I guess I was just in the right place, because I didn't do to bad. I stamped it using Ranger distress ink "Antique Linen". I added water to each petal individually and then the color and let it work it's magic. It's still not perfect but I'm very happy with the result. I will continue to work on this technique till I am satisfied that I can do no better.



Products used:

Stamp-N-Up Lg. Lilly stamp

Ranger distress ink

Watercolor paper

PB #30-105 gratitude

I will be entering this card in: Less is More "Exotic"

                                                Allsorts  "Fabulous Florals"

Have a wonderfully crafty day!

Karen

Just around the corner

September is just around the corner and I have so many cards to make I'm getting dizzy. Two of my Grandchildren have birthdays in September. Evelyn who is turning 7  and Mark who is turning 5, I can't believe how fast they're growing up. It feels like yesterday they were babies. I also have several birthdays for friends and there little ones and my Niece is getting married. So I've been very busy.

My first card is for my Beautiful Niece and her very handsome Hubby to be:



 Products used: Spellbinders die set  5x7 Elegant Labels 4

Altenew Peony Bouquet set

Ranger Queens Gold Embossing powder

Versa Mark

Paper Pizzazz Gold

White Card stock 110 lb.

Craft foam

Misti

I started by cutting out the frame with my Spellbinders die, I love this die and I have use t quite often when making cards. I also cut out the outside frame out of craft foam. I then carefully removed the backing of the foam, so it wouldn't stretch, and adhered it to my frame. I like to do this because it gives it better stability and it's easier than cutting foam tape strips for the small areas. I cut a piece of Gold paper to cover the whole front of the card, after sticking the gold paper down I added the frame to the front making sure to get it centered. I then glued the center piece to the front of the card and placed the whole card in my Misti. I centered my sentiment and stamped it. I'm not sure what company the sentiment is, I took it off the wood and didn't label it. Sorry, 

Then I stamped and embossed the peonies and fussy cut them out. I arranged then on the front of the card and adhered them using dimensional tape and my tape runner. My Nieces Wedding colors are White and Gold. 

I will be submitting this card to: Simon Says Wednesday Challenge"Make for the Border"

                                                    All sorts Challenge "Fabulous Florals"

  

My next card is a Birthday card I made for my wonderful husband Dale:





We love to go to the Ocean any chance we get our favorite place is Virginia Beach VA, so I went with that for his card.

Products used:

Inkadinkado  #97521 Coastal/ Maritime

Ranger inks

Wood Anchor

Twine

First I stamped the lighthouse and then colored in the beach, the fence, the vegetation and the lighthouse stripes, then fussy cut it out. I tore a sheet of white scrap to shape the beach and used my Ranger ink and a blending tool to give it the look of sand. I then took another piece of torn paper to make the waves, moving it up and down and back and forth using a blending tool and 2 different inks to get the wave effect. Then I punch out some circle punches, of different sizes, and glued them to a piece of paper along the edge: and using my blending tool I did the same as with the waves to create the clouds, on a piece of white card cut to 61/2 x41/2 . When I was done with the background I attached the sand and wave piece to a 5x7 card  and then using some dimensional tape added the Lighthouse. I drew the birds and the light coming from the lighthouse on then attached it to my card. I used the twine to frame the scene and added the anchor, which I used my Ranger markers to color black,  I also stamped the Happy Birthday and framed and popped it up, to finish the card.  

I will be submitting this card to:Little Red Wagon Surfs Up"

                                                   Seize the Birthday "Anything Goes"











Good Morning!

I've been busy these last few days. I got several more new stamps in the mail. It always amazes me that when the mail comes and I have several packages, for days in a row, my husband never says a word. He is so good to me he says, if it makes you happy, I'm ok with it. Just don't break the bank.

I'm a very lucky girl. I digress, these are the stamps I received in just the last 2 days.

Of course I went straight to my craft room and got to work. My first card reminds me of when my boys were little and how much they loved to blow bubbles, ah....those were great times.





Products used:

PB slapstick/cling # 40-229 bubble boy

PB T for transparent #30-358 happy snippets

Ranger distress ink

Ranger watercolor paper

Ranger Archival Ink black

Gellyroll glitter pen and

Spectrum Noir clear glitter pen

Misti

I stamped the bubble boy in archival ink on my Misti  and then using my distress ink and a watercolor brush I colored him in, then back in the Misti to freshen the outlines. I used my distress inks to create the background, and the Gellyroll pen to add a little depth to the grass. I used the Spectrum Noir glitter pen on the bubbles, then stamped "life is great play" and mounted on yellow then onto a blue card.

I will be entering this card in: PB "Anything Goes With a Stamp"

                                                Simon Says Monday Challenge" Summer Fun"

Card #2 Happy Birthday

Products used:

Altenew Mini One of A Kind

Hampton Arts #SC0586 celebrate life

Ranger distress ink markers

Ranger watercolor paper

Ranger archival ink

Ribbon from my stash

Spellbinders dies #S4-425 Elegant Ovals and #S4-324 Ribbon banners

Misti

I fell in love with this little stamp as soon as I saw it. I began by inking my stamp and stamping it around the entire paper including the center. I wasn't sure where I was going with it at this time but I loved the way it looked. Then I took my water brush and lightly brushed over the stamped image and blended the colors, and used a blending tool to add color to the edges. I decided to use this background for the sketch from MOJO Monday, and the Inspiration challenge at Altenew.

So I stamped another flower and cut it out with my spellbinders die. I then cut out the next size die in the same set for the background, and the banner for Happy Birthday.

I wrapped the ribbon around the center of the background and then using a blender I added the same color to the background frame as around the edges of the card. I adhered it to the center of the card and using some dimensional tape I popped up the framed flower up in the center.  I stamped Happy Birthday on my banner and blende the edges, then attached it to the bottom of the framed flower.

I will be entering this card in:

                                               Altenew 2016 Inspiration Challenge "Flamingo Inspiration"

                                               Mojo Monday "MOJO461"

                                               Seize The Birthday "anything Goes" 

                                             

Have a wonderfully crafty day !

Karen

Bonjour mon ami!

Hello friends!

It's been a very busy couple of days, my Granddaughters called and asked for a sleepover and of course I said yes. We love it when they come over and spend time with us. We shopped, baked cookies, played cards, Evelyn had a bottle war with Grandpa and then came into my craft room to work on a tree she wants to add to her art journal. She really enjoys playing with me in the craft room. After she finished her tree she made a card for Mommy and a card for Daddy. It was lots of fun!

Well onto my cards.  I got some new stamps from Altenew and went to work playing with them to get a feel for what  I wanted to do. When I was done I was very happy with the results.

 Products used:

Altenew Golden Garden stamps

Ranger Distress ink (Mustard Seed, Peeled Paint, Abandoned Coral)

Ranger Watercolor Paper

Ranger Archival Ink Black

Recollections alphabet stamp sets #296432 card 1 #119928 card 2

Just Rite Cling  Script Background stamp # CL-02157

I stamped the Image in black and then using my Ranger distress markers I colored the second stamp with Abandoned Coral and Peeled paint. At this time I didn't know what I was going to do with them I was just playing. Then I decided they would look nice with a Script background so I masked the flowers and stamped the background, just down the middle of the first card, then the whole background on the second. I used my Ranger blending tools to add Abandoned Coral and Mustard seed to the edges and over the flowers. I just loved the way the first one turned out so I did the same on the second card but this time I left the center untouched.  I added French Sentiments, and I was done.

I will be entering these cards in : Less is More one layer cards "Something French"

What a great day of Stamping Fun!!

Searching my stash

I spent the last week trying to better organize my stamps so I could find them by company. Unfortunately, last year, I took all my wood block stamps of the blocks. In doing so I have several, not several  a lot,  that I don't know which company they belong to. I also removed many stamp sets from they're original packaging when I opened them, so again I don't know what company they are from. So when looking for stamps to create a card for the IO challenge "Squared" I had only one choice, Christmas. I really love the traditional colors of Christmas, Red, Green, Gold and Silver, so I went to work. This is the result:





Products used:

IO stamp #F2268 Winter Wonderland (tree)

IO stamp #B5462 Christmas Joy

VersaMark

Ranger embossing powder Queens Gold

Queen and Comp. Sunflower Yellow Pearls

K&Comp. Christmas Cheer Gold Words paper

Paper wishes  Red Holly paper

Darcie 110lb. white card stock

Spellbinders curved rectangles #S5-006

I stamped and embossed the tree and on my white card stock and the cut it out with my spellbinders die. I wanted to mat it in gold so I traced the die on another piece of white card stock and fussy cut it out. I ran the edges over my VersaMark pad and then using the Queens Gold, embossed the edge. I matted my 51/2 x 51/2 card  with a 5/14 x51/4 piece of Christmas Cheer paper, then I matted the Embossed Christmas tree onto the embossed piece of white card stock. I cut a piece of  the red holly paper 1/4' bigger than the matted Christmas tree. Using dimensional tape I popped up the tree on the red paper and then adhered to the left side of the card. I stamped and embossed the Christmas Joy  sentiment on a piece of scrap paper and matted it in red and green cutting it to make a banner. I added the Pearls and banner. Simple but Elegant. 

I will be entering this card in: IO challenge "Squared" 

  

Watercolor cards using distress ink

I love to watercolor using my Ranger distress inks.  When I use watercolor paints or pencils I'm very rarely happy with what I've done. I can't quite get the shading right or I've used to much water and the colors run. I guess I just have to keep trying and I know I'll get the hang of it, eventually. However I love using my distress markers and inks to watercolor, I almost feel like a pro. The two cards I made today are both made using this technique and I do love the way they turned out. I also have to say that I love using my Misti, (for those of you who don't know what it is, you can check it out at SimonSaysStamp.com) it makes stamping a breeze.  

Card # 1



Products used:

PB #40-428 Scented Beauty

HA #CL401 Tapestry Background

IO #CL114 Sympathy Sentiments

Ranger distress markers and inkpads ( Spun Sugar & Forest Moss)

Ranger Archival ink (Black)

Ranger watercolor paper

Inkadinkado Masking Paper

American Crafts twine

Spectrum Noir clear glitter pen

Clarity brushes

My Sweet Petunia, Inc. Misty

I cut my paper to 41/4 x51/2 and placed it in the corner of the Misti securing it with magnets. Then I positioned my stamp and closed the lid, sticking the stamp to it. I opened the Misti and used my distress markers to color the stamp, and closed the Misti. I did this twice. I removed my paper, leaving the stamp in passion in the Misty. Using a paintbrush and a small amount of water, (I used the back of my hand to remove the excess water from my brush) I drew the ink out to the edges of each petal one at a time until done, repeating with the second flower and the leaves. When I finished, I placed my paper back into my Misti and inked the stamp once more very lightly and stamped the image again to add a subtle edge. Then I cleaned and removed the stamp and repositioned my paper to the center of the Misti. Using the masking paper I stamped the roses again and the fussy cut the mask out and placed over my finished image. I used removable adhesive on the back of my paper to keep it in place, since I was going to stamp over the whole thing. I positioned my background stamp over my paper and closed the Misti so it would stick. Then I inked it using the black Archival ink. I stamped it and there were some missing spots so I inked the stamp again and stamped it again, success. I love my Misti. I cut my paper to 41/4 x 53/8 then using my Clarity brushes and some Spun Sugar inked the edges, and wrapped the twine around the left side crossing it and knotting it. I stamped the Sentiment on some white card stock using black Archival ink and matted it on black card stock and adhered it to the top right of the panel. Then I adhered the panel to a black card.

Card#2

Products used:

PB #40-312 Sunny Pair

PB #30-358 Happy Snippets

Spellbinders #S5-218 A2 Devine Eloquence

Ranger Distress Ink ( Rusty Hinge, Squeezed Lemonade, Peeled Paint, Ground Espresso, Vintage Photo and Bundled Sage)

Ranger watercolor paper 

My Sweet Petunia, Inc. Misti

I did everything the same for this card up till the background stamp. Instead of using a background stamp I used some Squeezed Lemonade and water to go around the flowers leaving some white at the top and bottom. Then I cut it out using my spellbinders die. I used  Bundled Sage around the whole frame. I stamped my sentiment, "a little bit of sunshine for you" and used dimensional tape to adhere it to a white card. I didn't like that it was so white so I added just a touch of Squeezed Lemonade around the edges of the card.

As I mentioned at the top of the page my Favorite Technique is water coloring with Distress Inks.  

I will be entering these cards in:



Little Red Wagon "Sympathy"

Penny Black "Your Favorite Technique"

Penny Black "Anything Goes"