ink blending

Hello Friend Wreath

Hello there. I have been absent for a few days as I was trying to catch up with some virtual events I had over the past few weeks. All card making and crafting of course. One of the stamp, stencil and die sets I have used for this card is from the Pinkfresh Studio Create and Connect event:

I first stamped the A2 floral image with a light grey ink using my Misti, and kept the stamp on the lid. I then ink blended using the current colours from Color Throwdown, and the three inks you see in the picture.

The layering stencils – of which there are five for this image – were all used, but I did use different colours on one layer of some of the stencils. I also tried to create some dimension on the same image with the same ink – heavy handed to one side, and lighter hand to the other.

Once ink blended, I replaced the panel back into the Misti, then stamped the image again with a darker colour a browny grey – I thought black would be too stark. Lessoned learned from the Pinkfresh event – stamping again after you ink blended……it is a heart-stopping moment, and I have made mistakes in the past – but trust the Misti, and ensure your panel is in the corner each time you stamp.

The whole panel was die cut with the matching die – which cuts all the elements out in one pass through the die cutting machine.

The background is a piece of Sage card stock from Spellbinders, dry embossed using an older embossing folder from Stampin’ Up, then glued flat to the white card base.

I then used the Fancy Circles die set – also from Pinkfresh Studio – and die cut the large circle three times, die cut the centre out with another of the circles, then layered them together for a more substantial circular base for my wreath. I could have used any nesting circles, but at this point I wasn’t sure if any of the circle would be showing until I had arranged my elements.

The circle was glued to the embossed panel, and the images arranged, adhered with glue, and the smaller pieces tucked in where I thought they were needed.

The sentiment is heat foiled and added as you see, and some green gems glued around.

I do like to attend the virtual events from several companies in the United States, and even though there are added customs charges to some of them, I find the event itself, the instructors, and the way they are organised is something I will keep doing. I have ‘rationalised’ the events I attend though………..kinda……!

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Color Throwdown – burgundy, rose, sage

Lil Red Wagon – stencils

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – anything goes

CYHTP – embossing folder – option of squares and/or circles

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Beautiful Blossoms – flowers – optional mood board

Hello Friend….

Hello there. I seem to be on a roll using products I have previously bought, but never used. I think I’m a collector – buy things ‘just in case’. I do eventually use them, but it might take me a while…….

Here is a card using a layering stencil from Pinkfresh Studio I have had for a little while:

I took the opportunity to use this set of stencils with the current colours for the Color Throwdown Challenge.

I had a piece of Vicki Boutin Foundation Paper I had taken out of the pad ready for a Distress Spray class yesterday, but never used, so I thought I would have a go and see how this card stock works with ink blending.

I used all the layers of the stencil, but I did use different tones of each colour on the same stencil. I would never have thought of doing that until I attended some Taylored Expressions and Pinkfresh Studio virtual events. Now I wonder why on earth I would think you have to use just the one colour on each layer is beyond me – but there you go…..we live and learn.

I used Pinkfresh inks as I have several colour families, and just inked it up. I am a little heavy handed when it comes to ink blending, so I made sure to dry each layer before moving on to the next stencil – another lesson learned…..

Once the panel was created, I used an older Mama Elephant slimline die to cut it out with a scallop and stitched edge, then adhered it to a Neenah card base.

The sentiment was chosen as it wouldn’t cover too much of the design, and I didn’t even add gems or sequins – that design really does stand for itself.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

MAWTT – use a new craft item

Avenue 613 – anything goes – option new beginnings not taken

Color Throwdown – red, navy, pink

Just Us Girls – stencils

Lil Red Wagon – never before used Schtuff

Stencil Fun – stencil – option of birds/birdhouses/bird feeders taken (two little birds on the bottom of the stencil)

Get Well Wishes

Hello everyone. I created this card and finally managed to use the matching stencils for this background I had in my stash from a previous foiling session:

I have this foil plate and matching stencils for a while, and had foiled the panel quite a few months ago, but hadn’t got around to using it. I used the opportunity with the current colours for The Color Throwdown.

Onto the silver foiled panel, I used all the layering stencils, and the three Distress Ink pads you see in the photo. I set this aside and die cut the arch from another white panel, then used a Stampin’ Up embossing folder to create the texture on it.

I wanted it to be almost like a stained glass window.

I then adhered the ink blended panel behind the arch aperture, using 3D foam to stick them to a card base.

The sentiment is also from a previous foiling session.

The ink blending took most of the time creating this card, but the choosing of the colours to use was easier as I have just finished swatching all my Distress Inks and Distress Oxides, so I can easily flip through the swatches to choose the colours.

I also realised there are 3 colours of Distress Inks I don’t currently have – that will be amended in the next couple of days….!

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Color Throwdown – blush, dusty blue, pink

Inkspirational – more than one stencil

Crafts Galore – anything goes

Avenue 613 Create – anything goes – option of new beginnings – not taken

Stencil Fun – stencils – option of birds/birdhouses/bird feeders – not taken

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Windows of Blue

Hello again. I have created a card I would like to share with you:

I was inspired by the blue and the window/shutters of the Inspired By challenge, and used the arch window die from The Greetery. I wanted the window pane section to be separate from the arch itself, so I first die cut the arch using a Simon Says Stamp arch die set, then die cut the window panes inside that. I then die cut the panes again in a lighter blue and pieced them back in. All the card stock is from Concord & 9th.

The background was created using a Spellbinders stencil and ink blending the two Distress Inks you see in the photo, keeping the darker blue towards the bottom.

Once this was adhered to the card base, I added the window with 3D foam, die cut the flowers, and added them for a pop of colour.

The flowers and sentiment strip are both from Spellbinders.

I also added some glittery gems from Pinkfresh Studio to the centre of the smaller cluster of flowers.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Inspired By – photo Inspiration

A Perfect Time To Craft – anything goes

Daisy Chain Challenge – no designer paper

The Crafty Addicts – anything goes

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Warm Winter Wishes

Hello once again. I had some messy and inky play yesterday to create this card:

I first created the panel for the mug. I used a Simon Says Stamp snowflake stencil, and through that I put some Altenew paste onto water colour card. Whist that was drying, I took some Distress Heavy Kraft card stock, stamped and heat embossed the sentiment in white, then sprayed with Distress Oxides in two purple colours. Again – this was set aside to dry.

Once the white snowflake panel was dry, I took purple Distress Inks, and ink blended over the top. I wanted the snowflakes to catch the ink, but also to have some purple on the background for an almost grungy look, and to be able to see the pattern from the water colour card itself. I then die cut the mug shape using a Heffy Doodle die set.

The sentiment cup holder was wiped with a dry cloth to try and get the white sentiment back, then die cut. The top of the mug was also using some of the left-over pieces from the die cutting of the mug and the holder piece.

I wanted a snowflake background, so took a Simon Says Stamp embossing folder, and as I didn’t want it stark white, I ink blended the lighter purple Ditress Ink around the edges.

The background panel was glued directly onto the card base, and the mug attached with 3D foam.

I found some purple sequins and dotted them around as you see.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Allsorts – anything goes, option to make your own background taken

The Four Seasons Challenge – anything goes winter

Give A Crafter A Cookie – photo Inspiration

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Mix It Up – anything goes – option to use more than one medium taken

Elephant Safari

Happy New Year to you all.
Cardz 4 Galz has started the new year with a challenge theme chosen by Dawn W. – ‘On safari. Here is my card:

The die set of the elephants are from Altenew, and when I saw them just before Christmas – I just had to have them. Aren’t they cute?

I used a lighter grey and a darker grey for the layers, but added a little shading with Distress Inks to the larger elephant on the layers at the back – the legs and the body, just for a little more dimension.

Once the layers were glued together, and some black gel pen added for the eyes, I searched through my designer paper stash for a suitable background paper, and found this from Spellbinders with some faint little hearts.

I matted that layer with black and a gold layer, which I also die cut the sentiment and it’s shadow layer from. The sentiment is from the Spellbinders Advent Calendar.

The hardest part about this was the arrangement of the elephants, and after playing around a little I thought the three of them arranged like this – as though they were waling towards you to say hello – would work best.

I hope you can come and join us with your ‘safari’ themed projects. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Ellibelle’s Corner – I Spy – something old and/or something new (new elephant die set, new sentiment die, old paper)

Crafty Animals – anything goes with an animal

2 Crafty Critter Crazies – anything goes with a critter

Die Cut Divas – dies cuts and never before used stuff (Altenew die set, sentiment die)

Moving Along With The Times – use a new craft item (Altenew die set, sentiment die)

Christmas Bingo – the ‘O’ column – layers, rectangle free

Sage Green Snowflake

Hello everyone. The ABC Christmas Challenge has reached the last challenge for this year. Helen is hosting this month, and having arrived at the letters ‘Y’ and ‘Z’, and we want to see your Christmas makes following the themes of:

Y is for Your Choice, Z is for Zebra – black and white or stripes

I chose ‘Y is for Your Choice’. Here is my card:

The background is using Spellbinders sage green card stock, and a Simon Says Stamp embossing folder. The circle is from Pinkfresh Studio, die cut using the same sage green card stock, and layered as you see.

The snowflake is from Pinkfresh Studio, stamped with one of the darker inks I used to ink blend with, then ink blended, using green/blue tones, and using a lighter or heavier hand to create even more contrast between the layers of the stencil.

I then used the matching die to cut it out, and attached it to the layers on the card base, then added some silver gems to the centre and four of the points.

The sentiment is from Lawn Fawn, silver foiled, then die cut using the matching die set.

I hope you can come and join us with your festive/Christmas creations – following our themes.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Merry Little Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

Mix It Up – anything goes – option of stamping

Christmas Bingo – column B – free, stamped image, ink blending

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

A Perfect Time To Craft – anything goes

Aud Sentiments – embossing folder and/or winter/New Year and sentiment

Most Magical Time Of The Year – anything goes Christmas or Halloween

Merry & Bright

Hello all. I had some time to play to create using a stencil and die set I have had for a few weeks – if not months – to create this card:

The stencil and die set are from Waffle Flower, and I used the colours from the current Color Throwdown Challenge. This took a little creative thinking, but I am pleased with the result.

There are four layering stencils, and I chose an aqua blue and darker blue from Pinkfresh Studio, a light brown Distress Ink, and decided to gold heat emboss some of the elements.

This did involve using some of the stencils a couple of times for the different layers, and masking some of the smaller parts off.

I remembered to ensure the ink was dry before trying to heat emboss, and to apply the embossing ink through the stencil I used a dedicated blending brush. This is a technique learned during a previous virtual event – and it works a treat, especially for those little dots – just use the brush, the embossing ink, and pounce through the stencil……

Once gold heat embossed, I used the matching postage die, matted it with a black layer, then added it to a top folding A2 card base.

The sentiment is a hot foiled and die cut one from a previous hot foiling session.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Color Throwdown – blue, aqua, gold

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – use dies

Peace On Earth – anything goes Christmas

Mix It Up – anything goes – option of stamping not taken

Make My Monday – Christmas tree or forest tree

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

We Love to Create – anything goes mixed media (heat embossing, ink for blending, hot foiling)

Creative Artiste Mixed Media – anything goes mixed media (heat embossing, ink blending, hot foiling)

Christmas Cityscape

Hello everyone. Cardz 4 Galz has started a new challenge. Debbie is the host, and she has chosen the theme of ‘cityscape‘. Here is my card:

I started with the background by ink blending Distress Oxides onto a white panel. I kept the lighter blue on the centre portion, then the darker blue, then finally the black.

I then used the houses part of the stencil, beginning with the Shaded Lilac for the houses at the rear, more heavy handed for the centre row of houses, then black for the front houses. I also note that the background blue altered the lilac to some degree – but I am liking the effect.

I also used the stencil on top of the front row of houses and Simon Hurley Lunar Paste for the lights in the windows of the houses. I then set this aside to dry, before I went over the background with a glitter paste to create the snow flurry.

Once all was dry, I cut this panel down, glued onto a white card base, then added the foiled sentiment.

I hope you can come and join us with your ‘cityscape’ creations. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Girlz Creative Christmas – Christmas and based on a Christmas Song – ‘Silent Night’

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

My Time To Craft Christmas – Christmas and Snowflakes

Merry Little Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

Ellibelle’s Corner Eye Spy – Sparkle and Shine

Stenciled Merry Christmas

The new challenge has started at The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge. The theme is always ‘anything goes Christmas/Festive’. Here is my card:

I started by using the layering stencil from Simon Says Stamp to create the background and let the inks dry.

I then add some gold heat embossing to the centre of the flowers, and used a gold marker pen to add some extra small and larger dots around the background.