Faux Mother of Pearl

I really wanted to play along with the CAS Challenge at Happy Little Stampers this month.  It took me a while to get there but I finally made not one, but two cards.  The challenge this month is to create a project with the Faux Mother of Pearl technique.  The technique involves using bunched up plastic wrap to apply Liquid Pearls to your paper and then sponge color over the top.  I didn't have Liquid Pearls but I thought I would try some Radiant Pearls.  As you can see below my first attempt was a complete failure.  The purple and green were muddy and completely eradicated the Radiant Pearls.  I tried again with a heavier application of the Radiant Pearls and 2 shades of pink.  The result was pretty but not the desired outcome.  I caved, I went and bought some Liquid Pearls.  I held my breath as I started sponging and like magic a beautiful result.  See, we really DO need all of those supplies we have (grin).

The first card is for my Niece who is participating in her first Communion.  I die cut the filigree portion of the cross from a portion of the Faux Mother of Pearl Panel.  I die cut the full cross cut-out from 3 sheets of heavy cardstock and dry embossed the top layer.  They were glued up to add a little depth.  A computer generated sentiment inside and out completes the card.

Since the supplies were still out on my table, I decided to make an Easter card as well.  I went very CAS with this one too.  The Easter sentiment was heat embossed on the Faux Mother of Pearl panel.  I die cut the cross cut-out from another panel of white and then dry embossed the border along the bottom.  Layered it all up and the card was complete.  I hope you enjoy a lovely Easter!

Happy Stamping,
Dana

Just For You

Hi all, today I'm playing along with a new challenge - CAS Mix Up Card Challenge.  What a fun concept to combine a Clean and Simple card with Mixed Media!  This month the challenge is to include watercoloring, stamping and your choice of another mixed media selection.  I chose to use heat embossing.

I started by wetting a panel of watercolor paper and added ink from the lid of my stamp pads and let it pool and move on the paper.  I loved the bold result of the watercoloring but knew I would need a bold element to stand up to the strong color and pattern.  I selected a bold sentiment and heat embossed it in black.  I added a few turns of black twine as a simple embellishment, to add interest but not be too fussy.  A couple of borders in black and teal finish up the card.

Happy Stamping,

Dana

Feels Like Spring

Today I'm sharing 2 cards.  The first is based on a sketch at Retro Rubber Challenge.  I pulled out a sweet little flower image that I picked up some time back and is dated 2001.  I stamped it 3 times, colored and cut in ovals and added a few brushes of Wink of Stella.  They were layered over a diamond die cut as a nod to the sketch.  The Happy Easter sentiment is an old unmarked wood mount stamp and has been in my stash for more than ten years.  It was heat embossed in white on the main green panel.  A couple of borders and the card is complete.

The second card I'm sharing is based on the sketch at Retro Sketches, the colors from Color Throwdown and the theme at Less is More.  I stamped the sentiment in orange on a white card base.  a few panels of cardstock were added in orange, green and yellow.  I heat embossed the floral image in black and colored the image with markers adding a rhinestone to the butterfly.  It was added to the card with dimensions.

CITRUS

Happy Stamping,
Dana

2 More for NBUS

Today I have a couple more cards to share at Darnell Knauss' NBUS challenge on her blog at djkardkreations.  How fun is it to get those products in use and not collecting dust.  There is so much wonderful inspiration both by Darnell and all of the fabulous submissions.  Of course, Darnell brings her fabulous sense of humor to the mix as well.  Swing by and take a peek.

This card uses a printed vellum and coordinating stamp set that I got about a year ago from Stampin' Up.  They have been on my desk many times but not actually transformed into a card.  I also used a new sentiment set by Hero Arts.  I sponged some blue on the back of the vellum and watercolored a few random flower heads on the front.  I layered it on a white panel before attaching to a Blackberry Bliss card base.  I stamped, water colored and fussy cut the flower and mounted it to a strip of white card stock with the sentiment and finally mounted it to the card with dimensionals.

I know what you are thinking "how could this be the first time I am using Stampin' Up's Lovely as a Tree"?  It is a classic, but I was a little late in the game as I just purchased it about 6 months ago.  I kept telling myself that I had other tree images, but these images are scaled just right for card making and needed to be part of my collection. I sponged the sky and grassy hill added a new sentiment from Spellbinder.  A quick trim and mounted it on a white card base.  I like the contrast of the sponging against the white and that it is simply layered and not fussy.

Happy Stamping,
Dana

Finally, a Lizard!

I'm playing a bit of catch-up as we enjoyed a lovely long 5 day weekend out of town.  I'm so excited to share this card today as I have been inspired to use a number of supplies that have gone without any love.  Darnell Knauss is hosting another NBUS challenge on her blog at djkardkreations. What a great motivator to use rather than collect those must have craft supplies.

1. Stamp Set: The images come from a stamp set that was given to me more than 10 years ago by a co-worker who purchased the set but never used it.  I never found the right opportunity to use it, it's just not my style.
2. Distress Inks: I've been playing around a bit with different inks and coloring mediums lately.  I had a couple of brown distress pads but didn't do much with them.  Last week I picked up a few packages of distress cubes and put them to work here.  I sponged some yellow, green, red and orange distress inks on a white panel then stamped and embossed the lizard in clear.  I then sponged black distress ink over the entire panel.  I did get a bit of "overspray" of embossing powder around the image which I thought added a nice touch here.
3. Embossing Folder: I bought this folder a couple of months ago and thought it was about time it took a trip through the Big Shot.
4. Green Card Stock: This card stock was also purchased a couple of months ago and I just now put it to use.

Happy Stamping,
Dana

Floral Easter Card

I stumbled on a challenge with an inspiration photo and I fell in love with the colors and knew I wanted to play along.  Unfortunately, time has not been my friend so I will be submitting this card with very little time to spare.  The challenge is on Jessica Frost-Ballas' website, All the Sparkle.  She is celebrating 2K Instagram followers - WOW!

I used a brayer to layer on a couple of shades of pink on the main card panel.  I splattered with a bit of water.  I wanted a random splatter, I'm not so good at random as I tend to like order and straight lines.  So I guess I wanted orderly random splatters (HA!)  I ended up with a big splotchy mess at the top of the panel.  Sooo, I trimmed it down and added a couple of borders.  A bit of glimmer mist was added.  The flower and leaves in the floral spray were stamped in the dark blue and embossed.  I then used markers to color the image in light blue and green.  The fern-like leaf was also clear embossed for a little interest and shine.  A sentiment and the layers were added.  Done deal :)

A close up so you can see the glimmer

All the Sparkle

Happy Stamping,
Dana

Pink Poppies

Today I'm joining in on the challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.  This week they are featuring Memory Box Products in an anything goes challenge.  I have a couple of Memory Box items that I've used on today's card.  I first sponged a light green grid pattern on the main panel with a Memory Box stencil.  The poppies are a Memory box die which I cut in green and pink.  I used water color pencils and a white pen for highlights then layered the pink flower heads on the green stems.  Pretty short and sweet today.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Anything Goes
Memory Box Products

Happy Stamping,
Dana