Four Ways Friday #25 - VersaMark Ink!

For today's Four Ways Friday I decided to focus on using VersaMark ink (both the stamp pad and the marker).

This first card uses the VersaMark marker!  I used the marker to hand write the words "Happy Birthday" onto Basic Black card stock and then heat embossed with white embossing powder.  The marker has 2 tips - a brush tip and a marker tip and this writing was done with the marker tip.  I made a chalkboard with the Basic Black card stock by mounting it onto a piece of Crumb Cake card stock and then adding a ledge of Brushed Silver card stock for the paper-pieced eraser :)  The girl was made using the All In The Family stamp set.  I colored the stamps directly with a marker in order to create a head back (I drew in some extra hair and made sure to not stamp the face) and the back of the dress (I didn't stamped the buttons on the dress).  I love being able to use the VersaMarker for writing whatever greeting or doodles you like!

VersaMark ink is also great for creating a watermark look.  It can be an economical way to create all different colors since whatever color card stock you stamp VersaMark on, it will dry to be a shade darker than the color of the card stock it is stamped on.  Here, I just stamped the whale from Fox & Friends using VersaMark onto a piece of Pacific Point card stock.  The letters were made using the Serif Essentials and Timeless Type dies in the Big Shot.  I also ran the letters for "boy" through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice embossing folder and sponged with Chocolate Chip ink.  So cute and so easy!

I did an emboss resist technique for this card.  I started with a piece of Whisper White card stock and stamped the large image from Notably Ornate onto the card stock using VersaMark ink.  Then I heat embossed with white embossing powder.  Next, I ran the Vintage wheel over the card stock and embossed image in Baja Breeze ink.  Then, the sponging began!  Perfect Plum, Concord Crush, Pink Pirouette, and Baja Breeze - until I liked the look :)  Then I stamped the bird from Notably Ornate with VersaMark and heat embossed with silver embossing powder.  Finally, I sprayed this panel with a mix of champagne shimmer paint and alcohol in a spray mister.  The greeting border is from Notably Ornate and the greeting from Whimsical Words (retired) - the greeting was stamped in VersaMark and heat embossed with silver embossing powder.  I also rolled the Vintage wheel on the piece of Marina Mist card stock and then punched it using the Eyelet Border punch.  The En Francais background stamp was inked with VersaMark and stamped onto both the Concord Crush and the Perfect Plum card stock (difficult to see in the photo).

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the poppin' pastels technique!  I covered a coaster with Very Vanilla card stock and then stamped it using VersaMark with the En Francais background stamp.  I then took out my pastels and pounced both Pretty In Pink and Perfect Plum pastels onto the VersaMark image using sponge daubers.  I did them same with the Medallion background stamp on a piece of Very Vanilla card stock.  Did I mention I love this technique?! :)  I ran the coaster through the Big Shot with the Scallops #2 die.  I punched the Medallion stamped image with the large scallop circle punch - it's a great size!  Then, I used Tombo mono multi glue to add champagne glass glitter around the edges of both scalloped circles.  Silver waffle paper was scrunched and adhered to the smaller scalloped circle using Sticky Strip.  I then used VersaMark to stamp the greeting from the gorgeous Peaceful Season hostess set and heat embossed with gold embossing powder.  I added some pieces of chantilly lace and then adhered the smaller scallop to the larger scallop using dimensionals.  Finally, I used my crop-a-dile to add an eyelet and ran lace ribbon through so that I can hang this beautiful ornament!

Thanks for stopping by for this week's Four Ways Friday!  Have a wonderful weekend!!!!

Decorative Label Punch & Baroque Motifs Thanks

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Play With Your Scraps!

This piece of punched Crumb Cake card stock was unearthed from the pile on the craft table the other day and it definitely spoke to me!  I decided the extra-large Decorative Label punch makes a great window for greetings!  I stamped the greeting from the Afterthoughts hostess set, with Versamark ink, onto Bravo Burgundy card stock and heat embossed with gold embossing powder.  The Crumb Cake window was sprayed with a mix of alcohol and champagne shimmer mist paint (a great alternative for smooch spritz - it is incredibly economical and can make tons!).  I used dimensionals to pop up the window and then added some Bravo Burgundy 5/8" ribbon.  The flower was made by punching brushed gold card stock and Bravo Burgundy card stock with the Boho Blossoms punch.  I layered 3 of the gold flowers and glued them together and then added the burgundy flower with a dimensional and topped it with a pearl jewel.  Stamping the flourish image from the Baroque Motifs stamp set providing the perfect background for this unique window!  I hope you like it!  What scraps do you have lying around????

Sense Of Time...Crazy Background!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Get A Little Crazy With Your Stamping Supplies!

Getting a little crazy with your stamping supplies is FUN....and, you may even like the outcome!  This background is a great example.  I began with a piece of Cherry Cobbler card stock and decided to open my Concord Crush ink pad and do some direct to paper while dragging and curving the ink pad.  Then came the Sense of Time stamp set - the gears and the clock (there is a stamped clock under the Very Vanilla clock).  Then came the crumple, crumple, mush, mush of the card stock and all of the crinkle lines were calling out to me..."Please!  Put some Champagne Shimmer Mist paint on us!"  So, I obliged - a bit on a sponge and then rubbed across the card stock lightly to catch the peaks of the crumbled creases.  Then came the stamped clock and greeting onto Very Vanilla card stock...and, of course, some sponging.  Finally, that gorgeous antique brads...yes, I'm going to have to order more since I'm using them like crazy!!!!!  The color combination came from the new color coach - I never would have put these colors together (Baja Breeze, So Saffron and Cherry Cobbler) and I really like how they look together!  I hope you like it!  Now go into your craft space and get crazy with your stamping supplies...or, you can shop HERE now for those amazing antique brads :)

Glass Glitter and Antique Brads!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Today Is The Perfect Day To Use A Supply That You Love!

I have to admit that when I received this glass glitter and these amazing antique brads, my first instinct was to stash them away and save...okay, maybe a better word is "hoard"...them!  I realize, however, that when I do that, the stashed items often never see the light of day!  So today seemed like a perfect day to use a few supplies that I am crazy about!  I stamped a piece of Crumb Cake card stock with a few of the images from Friends 24-7 in Crumb Cake ink (can you see the faint flower image in the background?).  I then had to spritz with some Chocolate Chip ink...yes, I'm crazy about my spritzer tool too...even if it does require a little muscle :)  The tag was made by running a piece of Sahara Sand card stock through the Big Shot with one of the Lots of Tags sizzlits.  I stamped a bit with the Crumb Cake ink and then added a bit of Early Espresso ribbon with a thin piece of Sticky Strip.  Finally - the finishing touches - Glass Glitter added with Tombo Mono Multi Glue and that amazing Antique Brad!  A bit of hemp twine and a strip of scalloped Early Espresso card stock complete the look!  I hope you like it!  Now go use a supply that you love!!!!! :)

Greetings, Earthling with Fox & Friends...Forever!

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Friends Find You :)

I haven't "chosen" my friends.  Friends have found me over the years - sometimes out of difficult circumstances; sometimes through kind or funny words; sometimes just because we were in the same place at the same time and said "hello."  I truly believe that the people we are meant to meet will find us - we just need to be sure we are open to seeing them when they arrive!

Today's card was inspired by a Crate and Barrel catalog I received that had an insert for their line for children called The Land of Nod.  You can see part of the insert in the foreground of the photo - I loved the green streaked with pink :)  This motley crew seemed like the perfect set of friends :)  I started with a piece of Pear Pizzazz card stock and then used my Melon Mambo ink pad, direct to paper, to create the streaks.  The "friends" were all stamped with Versamark and embossed with black embossing powder.  The greetings are from the Friends 24-7 stamp set - stamped in Early Espresso.  I made the 24-7 tag by punching out the greeting with my 3/4" circle punch and then putting a small eyelet through with my crop-a-dile.  A bit of white crochet thread finishes the look.  I hope you like it! :)