Four Ways Friday #13 - Folk Flowers Decor Stencil

This week's Four Ways Friday is all about stencils!  You might also think it's all about glitter since the cards, the craft room, and this crafter are all covered in it! :)

This first card uses the Folk Flower stencil in a very traditional way.  I placed the stencil over a Very Vanilla card base and used my sponge daubers to add Pear Pizzazz ink and then Blushing Bride ink.  I love how the colors blend when you use a sponge dauber instead of a regular sponge.  The greeting is from Short & Sweet - I colored the stamp with my markers to create the two-tone effect.  The small and medium oval punches were used to mount the greeting.  Finally, a small button with some twine for a bit of interest!

This second card uses the same stencil in another traditional way.  I placed the stencil over a piece of Whisper White card stock and then used my Basic Gray marker to follow around the outline of the stencil.  For all of these techniques it is probably best to use some drafting or masking tape to keep your stencil from moving.  I used the spritzer tool to add some Basic Gray ink to the background and used my 2-way glue pen to add the dazzling diamonds.  The main panel edges were sponged with Basic Gray ink and the bottom right-hand corner was torn and a piece of Basic Gray card stock placed underneath and torn as well.  The greeting is from the Whimsical Words stamp set (retired) and is popped up on a divided curly label punch.  The brushed silver card stock hearts finish the look!

I seem to be all about butterflies and glitter these days!  For this background, I placed a piece of Bashful Blue card stock in a cardboard box (the new Color Catcher would work great for this project as well) and placed the stencil on top of the card stock.  I then sprayed the stencil with a mixture of water, Rose Red and Elegant Eggplant ink (I had the ink leftover from another project).  I then sprayed over it again with a mixture of shimmer paint and alcohol.  I removed the stencil and let the card stock dry (ok, I admit it...I helped it dry with my heat tool :)  I mounted the background on an Early Espresso card base.  The butterfly was made using my Beautiful Butterflies die in the Big Shot.  I then used my Baroque wheel with Rich Razzleberry ink to give the butterfly a design.  Then came the 2-way glue pen with some super nova glitter (yes, it is all over me, the craft room, everything!).  A small piece of the new 1/8" taffeta ribbon in Early Espresso creates the body of the butterfly.  I punched an oval using the extra large oval punch and then stamped the greeting from Define Your Life onto Very Vanilla card stock (I once again used my markers to color the greeting to create the 2-tone effect).  I popped the greeting up on dimensionals.

I wish you could see this fourth and final card in person!  It is so hard to photograph this effect - it has a ton of texture!!!!  This card was an experiment.  I first took a piece of watercolor paper and wet it with a brush.  Then I painted it with a mixture of water and Rose Red reinker.  Then I added some Elegant Eggplant reinker to the same water and painted again.  I did this a number of times until I was happy with the color.  Then I took my stencil and placed it over the watercolor paper (after the paper had dried).  I then experimented!  I used Flexible Modeling Paste (you can purchase this at the art store) and a sponge to sponge the paste onto the stencil.  You have to wash your stencil well after this technique!  I let the paste dry and then went over the paper again with the water and ink mixture to color the paste.  I then sprayed the entire piece with shimmer paint mixed with alcohol.  In person this really looks a lot like mulberry paper or handmade paper!  The final piece I want to comment on is the ribbon.  I sprayed the white organza ribbon with the ink wash that I used on the card.  I then used my heat tool to help dry the ribbon and the greatest thing happened!  If you heat your organza ribbon, the ribbon will begin to shrink and curl - it's a wonderful effect!  I can't wait to do it again!  Just don't hold the heat tool still for too long over the ribbon - you don't want to burn your ribbon!  Enjoy!!!!

Movers & Shapers Scraps

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Creating Is Good For The Soul

I have spent most of the day on the couch, watching my cat's every move - trying to make sure she is okay and recovering comfortably.  I finally got a bit of a reprieve and was able to head into the craft room for a few minutes to make a quick card.  As always, I found that creating was good for my soul.  Whether it's a few minutes or a whole day, a little creativity is a wonderful way to nourish your soul and calm your worries!  What can you create today?

This card was made with some scraps from my movers & shapers die.  I often use the die to cut out curly labels since they are a touch bigger than the curly label punch and, therefore, create a great layer.  However, I also save the "scraps" - I knew they would come in handy :)  I stamped the image from Pocket Silhouettes using my Concord Crush and Pear Pizzazz markers onto Very Vanilla card stock and then popped the "scrap" on top of it.  Behind that I used a scrap from yesterday's card - a crumpled piece of Sahara Sand card stock that was inked with some Sahara Sand using the direct to paper technique.  The greeting from Upsy Daisy was stamped using my Concord Crush and Pear Pizzazz markers and adhered to a piece of Concord Crush card stock.  Finally, a small clip with some Old Olive satin ribbon was added.  I hope you like it!  If you are loving the new In Colors as much as I am and need to have them, feel free to shop HERE now! :)

Collage Birthday - Friends 24-7

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  We All React In Our Own Ways

It has been a challenging 24 hours for me.  What I do know is that we each react to difficult situations in our own ways.  I tend to get emotional - I hold back the tears and finally they break through and the world feels like it is caving in on me.  I know others who go inside - shut down - or just need to get away.  We all have our own ways - our own coping mechanisms.  I believe we need to respect that in one another and I know that can be challenging.  Just remember, we are each trying to get through the emotional situation in the way that seems to work best for us and those ways might just be different.  I feel very grateful that I have someone to reach out to when I am feeling so small - I begin to breathe easier just at the sound of my mother's voice.  At times like these I know that all she wants is for her baby to be okay and it is in that love that I find comfort.  Thank you mom!  Thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers for our beautiful kitty cat.  She has been recovering from her surgery and we will know more as the tests begin to come back.  For now I wish her a recovery filled with comfort and healing.

Today's card began with a gesso background.  I didn't let the paint dry, instead, while it was still wet, I rolled my Vintage wheel through the wet paint (and then washed the wheel with a toothbrush to clean up the gesso)!  After it dried I began sponging and rubbing different ink colors onto the gesso.  I then rolled the wheel again with Night of Navy ink.  A spritz of alcohol with shimmer paint was also applied (this needs to be done from a bit of a distance or the alcohol will make the ink too wet).  The scallop oval die cut was run through the polka dot embossing folder and then cut to fit the card.  The bird was colored with Old Olive, Not Quite Navy and Chocolate Chip markers and then stamped onto Very Vanilla and cut out with my hobby knife.  I added some dazzling diamonds to the bird (he looks quite sparkly in person!).  A combination of the Lovely Letter and Rough Type alphabets were used for the word "Happy" and "Birthday" was taken from a stamp in the Sincere Salutations stamp set.  For the "H" in "happy," I colored the letter with 3 different markers for a variegated look (Elegant Eggplant, Not Quite Navy and Old Olive).  I used my 1" square punch and 3/4" circle punch to punch the letters and then sponged the edges with Soft Suede.  I rubbed my Sahara Sand ink pad (direct to paper) over a crumpled piece of Sahara Sand card stock and tore the edges.  It fit nicely beneath the bird.  Finally, I added a bit of Basic Gray satin ribbon and two buttons.  I hope you like it!

Fox & Friends Mini Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Your Thoughts And Prayers Make A Difference

It's not often that I reach out and ask for a favor.  Today is one day that I will.  I would like to ask you to make a difference in my life today by keeping Willow, our beautiful cat, in your thoughts and prayers.  She is going into the vet for exploratory surgery and I would so appreciate your positive thoughts that her recovery is quick and that her illness is manageable.  I appreciate your thoughts and prayers - they will definitely make a difference during this challenging day!  Thank you.

Today's card was quick and easy - perfect when my heart and mind are so full.  I stamped the turtle from Fox & Friends in Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango, and Old Olive onto part of a die cut Whisper White circle.  I had to add a bit of glitz with some aqua glitter!  Of course, I needed to trim the ends of the circle when I adhered it to the card base.  The greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes was colored with Tangerine Tango and Old Olive markers and punched out with the Word Window punch.  I added a 1 1/4" Pacific Point circle, an Old Olive button and some linen thread and I was done!  The finished card is 3"x3".  I hope you like it!

Punch Background With Gesso

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Appreciate The Freedom That Creativity Brings!

As I reflect on this holiday weekend - a weekend where we celebrate our independence and our freedom, I realize how much freedom creativity brings.  Freedom from the day-to-day grind.  Freedom from our worries.  Freedom from time.  Creativity is an incredibly significant gift that life brings us.  To show your appreciation, don't squander the gift.  Express your appreciation by expressing your creativity!  After all, only you can bring to life the art that lives inside of you!

Hmmm, so I don't even know where to begin to try and describe the process and many, many steps that I took to make this card - particularly the background.  I'll do my best!  It began with a piece of Whisper White card stock and some butterflies punched out using my butterfly punch.  I adhered the butterflies to the background and then the craziness began.  Let's just say there is white gesso, gesso dyed with Tempting Turquoise ink, dry foam brushing of Certainly Celery and Pretty In Pink ink and  some sponging of colors like Garden Green, Rose Red and I'm sure something else :)  Ooh, and I can't forget a bit of Frost White shimmer paint on top.  And, even though you can't see it, I actually used my Friendly Words jumbo wheel on the background with Certainly Celery ink.  I used the spritzer tool too to add some Rich Razzleberry, Tempting Turquoise and Pretty In Pink ink.  Then, believe it or not, I went and took a 90 minute nap :)  Then I came back to the card and started layering and making the focal images.  I used my Beautiful Butterflies die for the large butterfly - in Bashful Blue.  Then rolled it with Tempting Turquoise ink and the Friendly Words wheel.  Sponged the edges with Rich Razzleberry and added a dash of dazzling diamonds.  Some half pearls down the middle finished the butterfly.  I used Confetti card stock for the greeting from Friends 24-7 stamped in Rich Razzleberry and outlined in cosmos fine glitter.  Finally a few buttons, some linen thread, and a strip of dotted Rich Razzleberry ribbon.  Phew!  I think I need another nap! :)  I hope you like it!  If you don't have dazzling diamonds, frost white shimmer paint, or the Beautiful Butterflies die, it might be time for you to shop HERE now! :)