Friday, June 17, 2022
FLOWERS CAN MAKE A SWEET CONVERSATION
Friday, April 29, 2022
PICNIC UNIQUELY
There is something about gingham checks that reminds me of picnics. Maybe it's because my mom and aunts often used checked tablecloths to cover the picnic tables. Anyway, that is why I decided to call this post PICNIC UNIQUELY.
Rarely do I start making a card without having some idea or plan in mind, but today's card was one of those that just sort of evolved as I went.
Obviously, I knew I was going to use the Uniquely Artistic stamp set, but beyond that I was drawing lots of mental blanks. I hadn't used this particular flower from the stamp set yet, so I figured I better use it, but what to do with it -- that was the question.
On Monday's card I used one of the five new 2022-2024 In-colors called Starry Sky. I used it first because I'm fairly sure it is my favorite. But that left me with four new colors I had not played with yet. So, I decided to see if I could use all four of them on today's card.
I succeeded!
I started with the Tahitian Tide cardstock for my card base, and then used the remaining 3 colors, Sweet Sorbet, Orchid Oasis, and Parakeet Party, for flowers and leaves.
These colors are all very bright and cheery with a high intensity of color. The Tahitian Tide and Sweet Sorbet flowers are stamped full-strength, but I stamped-off first on the Orchid Oasis flower.
Since there are not coordinating dies for the Uniquely Artistic Stamp Set I fussy cut the flowers and leaves. The images in this stamp set are actually quite easy to fussy cut because the coordinating stamp for the background colors of the images are slightly larger than the line images. This makes cutting around the image outline very forgiving. You don't have to worry about keeping an equal width white space around the image.
The black and white gingham check is from the Pattern Party Designer Series Paper Collection which is a Hostess Gift choice. That colorful and versatile paper will soon be gone forever, so if you haven't got it yet, don't miss out!
The circle that was die cut in the Basic Black cardstock was created using the largest circle die from the new Stylish Shapes Dies. I also used another flag die from this same die set for the sentiment. I love how these dies add stitching on both the inside of the die cut and also outside the die cut.
To finish the card front, I added a double bow made with Tahitian Tide Metallic Woven Ribbon and silver embellishments from Silver & Clear Epoxy Essentials.
To decorate the inside of the card, I stamped a single flower in Orchid Oasis. As I mentioned above, the colored background images for this set are slightly larger than the line images, and this photo shows that more clearly. That is why they are so easy to fussy cut.
If you would like a tutorial with cutting dimensions and step-by-step directions, please use this link to download a copy.
The Sneak Peek Products I used on this card are the following:
- Uniquely Artistic Stamp Set - Item 158935
- Stylish Shapes Dies - Item 159183
- Tahitian Tide 8-1/2" x 11" Cardstock - Item 159261
- Tahitian Tide Classic Ink Pad - Item 159220
- Sweet Sorbet Classic Ink Pad - Item 159216
- Parakeet Party Classic Ink Pad - Item 159208
- Orchid Oasis Classic Ink Pad - Item 159214
- Tahitian Tide Metallic Woven Ribbon - Item 159197
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
ARTISTIC FAUX EMBOSSED PATINA
I have another card made for you today using the Uniquely Artistic Stamp Set. But I think the real star of today's card is the Faux Embossed Patina Technique used to create the background for the card.
Have you ever tried this technique? I taught it in my April Technique Class, and it was a hit so I thought I would share it with you!
A quick summary of the steps for this technique are as follows:
1. Ink the debossed side of an embossing folder using a hard rubber brayer and an ink color of your choice. (Soft Succulent Ink Used here)
2. Use the inked folder to emboss Basic White Cardstock. (Painted Texture EF used here)
3. Using ink colors of your choice, and working from the lightest color to the darkest, randomly add colors to the embossed cardstock using blending tool of your choice. (Petal Pink, Pool Party, Mango Melody, and Soft Suede ink used here)
4. After ensuring the ink is dry, rub the surface with an anti-static item like an embossing buddy or dryer sheet.
5. Lightly rub random areas with a Versa Mark Ink Pad. Coverage should be splotchy. Do not cover completely!
6. Heat Emboss with metallic embossing powder of your choice. (Copper used here)
After completing the Faux Embossed Patina background, I stamped the long leaf branch from the Uniquely Artistic Stamp Set with Versa Mark Ink on Very Vanilla cardstock and then heat embossed with copper embossing powder.
The sentiment was also heat embossed with copper embossing powder and die cut with a circle die from the new Stylish Shapes dies that will be available May 3, 2022. I'm going to sound like a broken record, but I LOVE these new dies!
I added some Soft Succulent Ribbon and Brushed Metallic Copper Dots to embellish the card front.
- Uniquely Artistic Stamp Set - Item 158935
- Stylish Shapes Dies - Item 159183
A list of all the current products that I used is shown below:





































