ink blending

Shello…..

Hi everyone. I am here with a card to share following the inspiration theme from As You See It, and using some layering stencils to enter the Stencil Fun challenge:

The theme for As You See It is ‘Beach Combing‘, and I knew I had plenty of shell ‘stuff’ in my stash, so I searched through the CML app and found this background die from Waffle Flower. The die is called ‘Seashell Texture‘ and comes with a layering stencil to colour the images in.

I used Neenah card stock, die cut the panel, then used Pinkfresh Studio inks in pastel or more muted colours for the shells. Some of the shells had layers with the stencils, but with the other smaller shells, I added my own bit of darker shading for a little dimension.

I searched again in the CML app for suitable sentiments – wanting a bigger and bolder look – but couldn’t find anything big enough. So – I used a Pinkfresh Studio alphabet die set ‘Kelly Alpha‘ and die cut the letters to create this word out of Concord & 9th ‘Blueberry‘ card stock.

The little hearts on each letter actually stayed in the die cut – so I left them there, and die cut each of the letters two more times and layered them together to create a make them thicker and more sturdy.

As the letters weren’t all the same height, and instead of placing them all on the same line – I went a little quirky and put the smaller three letters in the middle of the height of the larger letters.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

As You See It – Beach Bombing

Stencil Fun – use stencils, option of a see through element not taken

Thank you

Today’s card is using the current colours at Color Hues – yellow and blue. Certain neutrals are allowed:

I chose to use a Pinkfresh Studio stencil and die set called ‘Wildflower Elegance‘. There is no stamp with this set, so once you have ink blended the image and cut it out – there are no white areas.

I chose a selection of blue and yellow inks from Pinkfresh Studio, and used two tones of grey for the stems and leaves, and a light brown for the centre of the flowers. The die also adds some details to the flowers and leaves.

I also die cut two more layers to add stability to the floral arrangement.

Now for the background – this was a light blue piece of Concord & 9th card stock, onto which I glued a Pinkfresh Studio die cut to act like a trellis, called ‘Scalloped Grid cover plate‘.

The sentiment is a stand-alone die, cutting the shadow layer out of the light blue card, and using a darker blue for the words themselves. The words were layered three times -a little fiddly – but I do like the look this gives.

The sentiment was placed, and I snipped the bottom of the florals off so they would lie better behind the sentiment.

I did have to die cut the shadow layer three more times so it would sit evenly when glued down – just snipping off the top of the letters T & H as that area would be sitting on the base of the floral stems.

Looking now at the photos, I maybe should have gone with a darker yellow for the second layer on the florals – something else to remember in the future.

The final touch was to add three blue gems – also from Pinkfresh Studio.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Color Hues – blue and yellow

Ellibelle’s Garden Party – anything in or from the garden

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends – anything goes

Ellibelle’s Corner I Spy – I Spy Spring Flowers or April Showers


Take Time For Yourself

Hello everyone. I have a card to share after some crafty playtime yesterday, and utilising some of the colours which sang to me in the current challenge at AAA Colourful:

The colours I chose are green and blue, with a hint of light pink/coral.

The first step was to stamp the floral images from Pinkfresh Studio ‘Beautiful Day‘. I stamped first in a light brown ink, used the matching layering stencils to colour it in – adding extra shading at the base of the florals, and some of the leaves – re-stamped in black (having left the stamp in the original place in my Misti) then used the matching die set to cut them out.

I find it I stamp in a lighter shade, then re-stamp in the bolder or black ink after ink blending, there is a more bold outline – and no chance of smudging the black ink if used before ink blending. A tip from Pinkfresh Studio virtual classes which works for me.

The next step was to plan my background layers.

The background panel was dry embossed using a Spellbinders embossing folder – choosing something with detail – nit too much – but which wouldn’t detract from the florals.

I also wanted a background frame, so I used Pinkfresh Studio ‘Nested Hexagons: double stitched‘ applied thin 3D foam to back of the frame – inserting the middle cut-out piece – then placing the frame on top. This was placed higher on the embossed panel, to make room for a sentiment below.

Next step was to arrange the florals. I did do some trimming of the images so I could have more flexibility with placing them, then attached with a mixture of 3D foam and glue.

The pre-packaged sentiment was attached, then some Pinkfresh Studio blue gems added.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

CYHTP – embossing folder with option of flowers taken

Ellibelle’s Corner Garden Party – anything in or from the garden

Addicted To Stamps & More – make your mark

AAA Colourful – colour inspiration

Love To Craft – anything goes

Someone Is Thinking Of You

Hello. A little crafty playtime – and lots of die cutting – to create this card:

For some reason, I was obviously in a purple and pink mood today, using Concord & 9th card stock – Grape Soda & Briar Rose. It may be because Grape Soda is one of the colours they are retiring and it was on my mind.

I die cut the [post box and all it’s layers, assembling together, then die cutting the floral elements and two white envelopes, choosing to keep to the two colours instead of adding any extra.

I used a Spellbinders stencil set to create the ‘air mail’ look around the outside of a white panel, and the matching inks to the card stock.

Once this panel was placed onto the ‘air mail’ panel, I thought it looked a little plain, so I used an old (very old) Darice embossing folder of small flowers to emboss it.

The sentiment was stamped then die cut with the matching die, layered with a couple more of the die cuts for dimension.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Tic Tac Toe – middle column – die cut/punch & emboss wet or dry & layers

Just Us Girls – stencil week

A Cut Above – die cuts, option of pastels not taken

Thinking Of You Today

Hello again. I have a card to share whilst trying to keep my mind busy after saying goodbye to one of my cats yesterday.

My starting point was the list at Festive Friday and searched my CML app for ‘envelope’. This Spellbinders hot foil plate came up, and with it were layering stencils, so out came my foil machine, and off I went.

I used a brass foil and Hammermill card stock. Now – I am not a fan of this card stock. I have not had great results when foiling or ink blending, but thought I would give it another go……..in future, I will stick with my Neenah for ink blending.

It did foil perfectly. I just don’t like how the card ‘grabs’ the brush, the ink doesn’t flow smoothly enough for me. I will use it for foiling or for stamping – but not for ink blending….

Anyhoo – onwards……I ink blended Pinkfresh Studio inks in the colours you see using all the layering stencils. I added a slightly darker blend to the areas of the envelopes I felt would be a little,in shadow under another envelope.

The panel was then cut down slightly to leave a white border showing on the card base.

The sentiment is from Pinkfresh and one of their recent virtual events, heat embossed in brass, then die cut with the matching die.

I created a die cut vellum label to go behind the sentiment, also from Pinkfresh Studio.

I can see that I shall be crafting over the next few days – in between cuddles with my other cats – that’s if they let me. They aren’t particularly a cuddly bunch. The weather in the UK seems to be a little brighter this next few days so I much venture out on my push bike…….

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Festive Friday – 3 items from the list – envelopes/vellum/thinking of you sentiment

Addicted to Stamps & More – die cuts and/or stencils – I used both

Stencil Fun – stencils, option of rainbow colours

When it rains – look for rainbows

Hello there. Cardz 4 Galz has started a new challenge. Sue J is hosting, and she has chosen the theme of:

April Showers

Here is my card:

I decided to go slimline with this card to get more umbrellas on there, so I created the background panel using a Clearly Besotted stencil, Versamark ink, and silver embossing powder. I had to move the 6 x 6 inch stencil to cover all the background panel – but it worked out well.

The rainbow umbrellas were created using a Spellbinders die set, ink blending a slightly darker colour for the under-side of each umbrella, and adding the lacy layer – ink blended to be slightly darker – for a little more interest and dimension.

The sentiment is from an older Avery Elle stamp set – stamped then cut into a rectangle.

I hope you can come and join us with your creations following our theme. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends – anything goes

Addicted to Stamps & More – die cuts and/or stencils (both used)

Ellibelle’s Corner I Spy – Spring flowers or Spring showers

Thank You For Being You

Hello there. I have a card to share using a pale pink and pale blue:

My starting point for this card was to use the images from Pinkfresh Studio, products from the recent SCT event. The stamp set is called ‘Delicate Whispers‘ and comes with four of the floral images in one stamp, so I stamped twice using a brown Gina K ink instead of black for a softer outline.

Once stamped, I ink blended the light pink and light blue Pinkfresh Studio inks, then die cut with the matching die. I die cut another layer to place behind for more stability – each floral image layered twice.

I wanted to place several of the images on a card front, so I then used the Waffle Flower ‘Postage Collage Blocks’ stencil to shade each block with both of those colours.

The sentiment was stamped – from the same Pinkfresh Studio stamp set – then the panel adhered to a white card base with 3D foam.

Each of the images was glued down, and then some light blue sparkle gems from Spellbinders added here and there.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

(PIN)spirational – pale pink and pale blue

Allsorts – in the garden

A Cut Above – die cuts option of pastels

Triple B – birds and/or butterflies and/or blooms

Ellibelle’s Corner Garden Party – anything in or from the garden

CAS Hello

Hello again. I have a card to share for my next voyage into the CAS realm.

This card was created by using a Spellbinders stencil, selective masking, and ink blending.

I took the stencils and decided which part of the whole image I wanted to put down into the bottom left corner. This was done directly onto a white Neenah 110lbs card base, used some low tack tape to mask off areas I didn’t want, and used Pinkfresh Studio inks.

This did take a little planning, and initially I didn’t want the two buds on there, but when it came to ink blending the uppermost flower and the leaf and stem, I realised that there would be gaps – so I went back in with the relevant stencils and joined everything up to my liking.

The complete image takes up most of an A2 card, with a total of three flower heads and 4 buds, but as you can see I ink blended two flowers and two buds, moving the stencil down further past where it should be so they were coming off the edge.

The stamped ‘hello‘ is also from Spellbinders, and the same monthly release.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

CAS on Friday – CAS Botanical

Simply CAS – CAS – option of baskets not taken

Dragonfly Dreams – CAS

Stencil Fun – stencils – option of rainbow colours not taken

Sending Springtime Smiles

Hello. I am here to share a card using more products from the recent Crop & Create run by Scrapbook & Cards Today:

My goodness – these cards are hard to photograph to cover all aspects – I’m afraid there are a few more through the post – bear with me….

I started by stamping and ink blending the Lawn Fawn mouse images using the supplied colouring stencils, then die cutting with their matching dies….Jenn Shurkus taught this class at the event, and I stamped a few more than was needed for her cards so I could have a play.

I then turned to the Pink & Main products, which included the ‘Pull & Surprise‘ die, and created the interactive card base. I first created one with white, so I could how it all went together, then used a teal card, and added some Polkadoodles patterned paper – which you see with the sweet little birdies.

To create the grass and sky scene, I used a piece of light blue card stock and an MFT stencil for the cloud area, and just ink blended green over the bottom for the grass.

The Spellbinders sentiment was stamped onto the patterned paper – after it was put together – so I girded my loins and used an acrylic block and my trusty Versafine black onyx…….phew! It turned out perfectly….. :)


I don’t often make interactive cards, nor even fancy fold cards, but I enjoyed playing and putting this together – even though it must have taken my quite while to figure it out – even with the videos for the event…..maybe I should make more now I have it in my head how to do it……..!?

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Tic Tac Toe – top row – Spring/colouring technique/fun fold

Allsorts – Springtime

Sparkles Forum – Springtime

Fab ‘n’ Funky – Easter/Spring

Stencil Fun – stencils – option of rainbow colours not taken

The Magic Is In You

Hello everyone. I am settling down from my retirement and have made time to create this card for the current challenge at Festive Friday, choosing three items from their list:

I am currently working my way through the projects from the recent ‘Crop & Create‘ 3 day virtual event, run by Scrapbook & Cards Today. I always buy this event – so much product, so much teaching from the gurus of the card making and crafting world.

This card was created using the Gina K Designs product suite from this event – stamps, dies, and stencils. I stamped more when completing the cards she was teaching and took these two images, ink blended with Pinkfresh Studio inks in bright colours, adding some slightly darker blending around the edges of the florals and the base of the leaves with a darker tone of each colour.

Once the two images were completed and die cut, I used some bright green dotted patterned paper from Heffy Doodle for the background, die cutting the ovals from Pinkfresh Studio in that same paper, and some white card stock.

These were layered onto a white card base – the top white layer with 3D foam – then the florals attached with a mixture of glue and 3D foam.

I searched through the CML app for the word ‘magic’ (on the Festive Friday list) and found this one from Pinkfresh Studio. I die cut the shadow layer out of vellum, then the words three times from black card stock.

The first two layers were glued onto the front of the vellum, the third layer glued onto the back of the vellum. I find this is a good way to be able to add glue for attaching the sentiment, instead of trying to glue vellum and getting smears and smudges of glue.

The final touch was to attach some ombre glitter gems – also from Pinkfresh Studio – to the centre of the large flowers, and more dotted around as you can see.

So – that takes care of three of the items on the Festive Friday list – bright colours, sparkle gems, and ‘magic’ sentiment.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Festive Friday – choose three from the list – bright colours, sparkle gems, ‘magic’ sentiment

Craft Rocket – layer it up