Willow, Juniper, and Citrus

I decided to pull out my alcohol inks last night and lined them up in a semi-circle around me. My daughter walked by and said "Got ink?" Which I thought was pretty funny.





I laid them out so I could decide on which colors I wanted to mix together. The willow and juniper was such a beautiful combination I decided to pull them out and lay them down first and the citrus lightened up the combination.

The shape is from the nestabilities label 8 template. I used it for each shape except the sentiment. That is the QuicKutz die.

Everyting was embossed with either a white embossing powder or the Zing Chestnut powder. I added a few highlights with the uni-ball signo white gel pen.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Antique Flower Background
• Ranger Alcohol Inks - Willow, Citrus, Juniper
• Hero Arts - Cling - Thinking of You
• Hero Arts - Everay Sayings
• Zing - Chestnut Embossing Powder
• Signo - Uni-ball White Gel Pen

Thanks for stopping by and hope you are having a great day!

Suzz

Foiled Again Batman!

Another Foil card... This one I am going to modify before I use it for class... The sentiment in the middle did not turn out the way I would like.

I am going to replace that with flowers embossed in a light purple to match.

Loved the effect of the foil, black and butterfly. So I shared anyway. :)

The embossing is one of the new Cuttlebug embossing folder. Very elegant and pretty.

The Butterfly is stamped on foil and colored using alcohol inks...

Thanks for stopping by..

Suzz

I Heart Hero Arts Blog Hop

Ashley M over at the Flckr Hero Arts Group initiated this blog hop for today. Here is the link to all the other people participating: http://www.flickr.com/groups/heroarts/discuss/72157621682950519/.

The idea was to discuss how we got started using Hero Arts products and what we are thankful for.

The Hero Arts products were introduced to me by my good friend Lisa. She is the one who started me on the path of creating cards and has been a good crafting buddy ever since!

I am thankful to Hero Arts for starting the blog, the flickr group and the continuously providing challenges all on top of the great stamps!

Here is my thank you card!

This was made using alcohol inks on the grass, dress, flowers, background and bird. :)

I started with a monochromatic them because that is the challenge this week on the HA blog but gave up because I wanted to have the sky blue.

I was trying to make the little girl blowing bubbles but I don't think you can see them that clearly in this picture.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Asian Dolls
• Hero Arts - Sparkle Clear -Hello Tree
• Hero Arts - Clear Design - Woodland Critters
• Hero Arts - Woodgrain
• Hero Arts - Holly Bird
• Ranger Alcohol Inks & Blending Solution: Raspberry, Stonewashed
• Memento - Rose Bud, Rich Cocoa
• StazOn - Royal Purple

Thanks for visiting..

Suzz

Cornish Heritage Farms & Thinking Inking Challenges

This week at two peas in a bucket Jennifer McGuire's class is on alcohol inks http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/cg_display.asp?cmd=display&seed_id=30045. I love alcohol inks and I also am playing in the Cornish Heritage Farms Summer Design Challenge http://forums.cornishheritagefarms.com/viewtopic.php?t=2740&sid=4bc95e215c931fd1489727d74ff52d0a and this weeks challenge is resist. I combined the two to come up with this:

Recipe:

1. Stamp images on glossy cardstock using versamark watermark ink.
2. Emboss images with clear embossing powder.
3. Apply layer of orange alcohol ink across bottom 1/3 or cardstock by dripping 3 drips of orange alcohol ink on felt on applicator and addint 3 drops of blending solution. Smear on cardstock using a stroke along the bottom.
4. Replace felt and repeat for light green in the middle and pink on top. Careful not to blend the colors too much.
5. Use clean felt with blending solution to remove excess color on embossed areas. This will mute the tones of the alcohol inks to the soft pastel shades.
6. Versamark entire surface and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.
7. Attach flowers, gems, twine.
8. Punch dragonflies with vellum and orange cardstock.

Products:

• Cornish Heritage Farms - KH-5011FUM SAilhouette Blooms I
• Cornish Heritage Farms - SL-3148WUM Dotted Diamonds
• Ranger Alcohol Inks - Raspberry, Citrus, Sunshine Orange
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Lace Trim - Vintage
• Floradoodles - Paper Flowers
• Prima Flower
• Twine
• Crystal Stickers - Gems

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

Summer Design Challenge

Cornish Heritage Farms is hosting a summer design challenge with different challenges each week. Andi tipped me off to this challenge and I really like my CHF stamps but unfortunately don't have enough of them. :)

I was playing with them and created this which doesn't qualify for the challenge as this week is coloring. I don' thave any outline stamps for CHF. I will have to see if I can dig one up before the end of the week so I can play along.

Love my alcohol inks! The embossing powder is some of that new Zing from American Crafts they have so many fun colors.

The butterflies and dragonflies are Marvy Uchida punches.

All the stamps are Cornish Heritage Farms.

Thanks for stopping by..

Suzz

Alcohol Ink Dots

I am working on an Alcohol Ink class for my LSS. This is one of the ideas I had that I thought would be fun. Create polka dots with my Alcohol inks. I was so excited when I found out that the colors from the Adirondack Bright Ink pads were going to be released from Ranger. I used them in this card. I really love bright colors and this card has a lot of umph!

I just realized this was my second polka dot card... Must mean there is a third one that I need to create.

Products:

• Hero Arts Designblock - Birthday
• Hero Arts Clear Design - Birthday Expressions
• Ranger Alcohol Inks - Brights Red, Yellow, Orange (So glad he released the brights colors!)
• Versafine - Habenero
• Versamark
• Ranger - Embossing Powder - Wild Plum
  

Thanks for stopping by.. We are going to have warm weather today! Gorgeous spring day for us and although my spring flowers aren't out yet, my neighbors are and they are beautiful!

Suzz

Kwerner Challenge #44

Here is Kristina's latest color challenge: http://www.kwernerdesign.com/blog/?p=887

She posted her colors after I had just finished my pink and brown card. So I created another card using a lighter pink.

The background is made using the new alcohol inks from Ranger - Pink Sherbert and embossed with the houndstooth and white embossing powder.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Houndstooth
• Hero Arts - Petite Birthday
• B Line Designs - Cherry Blossoms
• Ranger Stickles
• Ranger Alcohol Ink - Pink Sherbert
• Ranger Alcohol Blending Solution
• White Embossing Powder
• Versafine - Vintage Sepia
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• EK Success - Border Punch

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

KWerner Challenge # 42

Kristina's Color Challenge http://www.kwernerdesign.com/blog/?p=701 this week reminds me of butterscotch..


I looked at the colors and thought of my alcohol inks. Butterscotch, Rust and Lettuce. I have used these colors together before and liked the effect. So I pulled them out to create a beautiful background color. (Side note: There are new colors out in the acohol inks from Ranger and they are on my list to get!)



Since I have done a card with similar colors I wanted to do something different for the flowers. I use a light yellow embossing powder and was really pleased with the effect.

Products:

• Ranger Alcohol Inks - Butterscotch, Lettuce, Rust
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Light Yellow Embossing Powder
• Magenta - 09150M
• Verses - Kiss of the Sun
• Martha Stewart Ribbon
• K&Company & Kaisers Gemstones

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

-

Pocket Cards

The Hero Arts Challenge http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2009/01/12/motivating-you-with-pockets/ is pockets. I wanted to make a clear pocket.... I had cut out these cute little hearts for the Kwerner color challenge last week and they were not used so I decided to pull them out.

The area with the pink background is the pocket. I put cranberry alcohol ink on the acetate to make a pocket that adds some color and texture but allows you to see the cute heart link inside.

The interesting part was after I made the three little hearts I linked them together using craft metal and I cut up a flat magnet and attached it to the back. So after I give the card they can pull out the linked hearts and hang it up on the refrigerator!

Recipe bits and pieces:

Hearts:

• Cut out using my sizzix die cuts.
• Stamped letters using versamark and heat embossed with light pink embossing powder.
• Letters are Making Memories Stickers. Stick on cardstock, sponge with red ink and cut out and pop dot.
• Using hole punch punch holes in top and bottom of each heart.
• Take craft wire and cut two 1" pieces. Using a rounded needled nose pliers bend around the end to get S hook.
• Hook the pieces together and tie ribbons on top and bottom. (I would swap top ribbon to a sturdy ribbon. Mine flops when I put it on the refrigerator)

Pocket:

• Acetate cut out and inked with red alcohol ink and blending solution.
• Attach pocket and use lace trim to cover adhesive.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Sandras Letter Background
• Hero Arts - DesignBlock - Wavy Leaf Design
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Light Pink Embossing Powder
• Acetate
• Ranger Alcohol Ink - Cranberry and Blending Solution
• EK Success Adornments
• Red Craft Wire (Unknown)
• Sizzix Hearts Die Cut
• Magnet - (This was given out at a parade as advertisement. It worked great.. Thin, lightweight and easy to cut and glue dot onto the cardstock)

That's it... I hope you enjoyed it. Now I will put this away for valentine's day...

Suzz

Joy to You

This is my final entry in the colors challenge for HA weekly challenge. The colors were Magenta, Paprika, Brown, Green, Taupe. I liked this set of colors as I thought they were more earthy tones.




Recipe:

1. Take a glossy piece of cardstock. Drip 3 drops of Lettuce Alcohol Ink on the felt applicator and add 3 drops of blending solution. Drag the felt applicator across the 8 1/2 x 11" glossy cardstock in a straight line. Repeat all the way across the sheet of cardstock. Change the felt and do the same with the caramel color. The green stripes will have a darker area where you have overlapped. start your caramel rows in the lightest part of the green.


2. I used a new stamp from Hero Arts which has a chicken wire look to it. I wanted to try a new technique I read about where you take the color off by using the blending solution on stamps. I did that but didn't think I got enough of an image. So I reversed it and applied rust mixed with blending solution on the rubber stamp and stamped it on the script piece of background on the card. It was interesting but a very muted effect. After my background dried I stamped the french script using my StazOn brown ink.


3. The sentiment was stamped on the alcohol ink background using StazOn Green ink.


4. Stamp the tree on white cardstock. Sponge the edges with a tan ink. Sponge orange and brown around the edges.
5. Cut and mount all the pieces.
   

Products:

• Hero Arts - Slanted Tree
• Hero Arts - Old French Writing
• Hero Arts - Three Holiday Messages
• Hero Arts - Screen Shadow
• Hero Arts - Shadow Ink - Soft Sand
• Ranger Alcohol Inks & Blending Solutions - Lettuce, Caramel, Rust
• StazOn Solvent Ink - Timber Brown, Olive Green
• Blue Moon - Lost & Found Charms
• EK Success - Adornments - Red
• Martha Stewart Border Punch - Doily Lace
• Adirondack - Sunshine Orange
• Memento - Rich Cocoa
• Ranger Distress Ink - Aged Mahogany
• Gems - Unknown

Thanks for stopping by...

Suzz

My Son's Confirmation...

My son is having his confirmation on Saturday. We are very excited for him.

I knew I was in trouble from a card making perspective...

A boy, tween, and religious card... All 3 are challenging for me... I don't have any stamps for a confirmation.

To top it all off he said to me... No big deal you just put a cross on there. Well... That is exactly what I did... I tried to give it texture and color to give it more interest.

Recipe:

1. I decided what measurement I wanted my cross to be. It measures 4"w x 6"h and 1" in the width of the cross. I cut the rectangle from glossy cardstock first and then worked my way in. :) I then cut 2 more crosses increasing the width of the cross it self by 1/4" each time but keeping the height and width at 4" x 6".
2. I used stonewashed and lettuce for my alcohol inks on the cross. I start by putting 3 drops of lettuce on the felt on the applicator and add 3 drops of blending solution. I than smear that across the entire glossy cardstock. I then put new felt on and did three drops of stonewashed and 3 drops of the blending solution. I dabbed this on in various spots on the glossy cardstock cross. I then came back with dripping blending solution, lettuce and stonewashed on the cross directly. I then put a fresh piece of felt on my applicator and applied 3 drops of blending solution on the felt. I then dabbed that in spots where the drips I had applied didnt' blend. This will mute the edges between the drippings directly on the cardstock.
3. I let the cross dry and then I embossed it using the Cuttlebug Embossing Folder.
4. I mounted the glossy cardstock cross on the two other colored crosses.
5. The background was created by cutting a piece of white cardstock 4 1/2" x 6 1/2".
6. I used a sponge dauber by Tsukineko and dabbed it into the Adirondack Bright Citrus and used this to smear in circles off the edge of the background onto the card. I continued this until the entire background was vary shades of green. I then used another sponge dauber to apply a light blue in the same fashion. I also did this on the sentiment I had printed on the computer.
7. I cut an olive green and light blue rectangles to mount the sentiment on and mounted them.
8. I then cut out the corners of the background papers using my smallest circle punch.
9. Attach all parts of the card to a light blue card base.

Products:

• Ranger Alcohol Inks - stonewashed, lettuce, alcohol blending solution
• StazOn - Olive Green
• Stampabilities - Vine Background
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Mosaic
• Adirondack Brights Citrus
• Memories - Sky

Thanks for stopping by...

Butterscotch and Lettuce...

Probably not something you would want to eat... :) But I think the alcohol inks together make a beautiful combination.


I mixed the colors together and decided to create 2 cards from the one background. The other card is off for submission.


I made my family vote on which card was submitted and which ended up on the blog.


It was a close call as the other card has buttons and my older daughter doesn't like them very much on cards.. But this card ended up here.

Recipe:

1. Pull a piece of glossy cardstock. Put 3 drops of lettuce alcohol ink on the felt on the applicator. Add 3 drips of blending solution. Smear the entire glossy cardstock using circular motions with green ink. Drip Blending solution directly on the inked cardstock in various places. Drip lettuce in various spots on the surface. Drip Butterscotch in various places on the cardstock. Bring back the blending solution and drip between colors to start the blend and the blurriness. At the end I put blending solution on a new piece of felt on my applicator and dab all over where I think the edges of my drips are too strong in color or don't blend well. It softens the background.
2. Stamp the flowers using StazOn Ink (Timber Brown, Olive Green). Stagger the flowers to give different layers of wildflowers.
3. Using the Signo Uni-Ball White Gel Pen outline the flowers and add details to make the flowers pop even more.
4. The only other unusual thing on here was I used my brown StazOn ink to change the color of the ribbon. I had a orange sheer organza ribbon that was too orange for the colors I was trying to blend. I laid it down on scrap paper and smeared the ink pad on the length of ribbon needed to create a bow. This gave it a slightly iridescent look as it changes from orange to brown depending on the angle.

Products:

• Fred B Mullet - 205 - Clover Group
• Penny Black - 3360k Curlicue Penny Black
• Penny Black - 2666k Blush
• Penny Black 3367H Lace Flower Trio
• Hero Arts - Clear Design Anytime Messages
• StazOn Solvent Ink - Timber Brown, Olive Green
• RiboonFX - Hobby Lobby Orange Organza
• Fiskars - Threading Water Punch
• Brads - Unknown
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Square Scallop
• Marvy Uchida Oval Punch
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Birds & Swirls
• Kaisers Pearls
  

Toodles... Have a favorite Second Cousin who would always say that. :)

Silvery Peace...

I had so much fun last time when I embossed my aluminum foil... I decided to make another project using the foil with the Cuttlebug Embossing Folders. When I made my last card using this technique, I had another idea using the snowflake embossing folder. Here is that card. I still have one more idea percolating in my brain using this technique... So you might see one more project looking very similar to this. :)

Recipe:

1. Tape down aluminum foil to cardstock. I used a gold cardstock. I like how if the edges get frayed you still get a metallic look coming through. (Or if you want to distress it you would get a contrasting metallic look) Hint: My edges keep coming up. I should have taped all the way to the edge.
2. Emboss using the cuttlebug embossing folder with the foil face up.
3. Put 3 drips of the Alcohol Ink (stream) on the felt on the applicator. Add 3 drips of alcohol blending solution. Dab this on the embossed foil all over.
4. Replace the felt piece on your applicator. Drip 3 drops of the lettuce color and 3 drops of alcohol blending solution on the felt. Dab this all over the embossed foil.
5. I edged the card with my Silver Krylon Paint Pen.

Products:

• Hero Arts - Clear Designs Warmest Winter Wishes
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Snowflakes
• Aluminum Foil
• Ranger Alcohol Inks - Stream, Lettuce
• Ranger Alcohol Blending Solution
• EK Success - Tonal Adornments
• Tag Holder - Unknown