Make A Wish (One-Layer Card)

Masking is a great technique to create visual levels and segments for "one-layer" cards.  Today's card illustrates this in three different ways.  

To begin, a 2 ¼” square of Judi Kins Eclipse Tape was centered on a 3 ½” square piece of white cardstock to mask the center.  This repositionable tape is wonderful for masking.  My favorite style is the 6-inch wide roll which allows you to cut different sizes and lengths.  TIP/HINT:  While this technique can be done directly on the front of the card, working with the smaller piece separately can be easier to handle and helps keep the card base from getting any smudges during the inking process.

The exposed perimeter was sponged with Aspen Mist VersaMagic and then stamped with the circles from Penny Black's Wow with the same ink.  The second masking technique was used in this step.  The circles were stamped on Eclipse Tape and trimmed.  This allowed each impression to be masked before the next set was stamped.  This kept the stamped images from interconnecting and made them appear to be overlapping or nestled together. 

The mask from the center was removed and smaller strips of Eclipse Tape were used to section off three equally sized and spaced rectangles.  This step is the opposite of the first method whereas the shapes are now exposed rather than protected.  The rectangles were sponged with Morocco, Lilac Posies and Teal Zeal Memento inks.

After the masking tapes were removed, the sentiment and candles from Penny Black's Sweet Wishes were stamped with Onyx Black VersaFine.

A Delicata Golden Glitz ink pad was run along the edges of the design.  For added glimmer, the centers of the candles and the gold edging were traced with a sparkle gel pen.

The finished piece was mounted to a 3 ½” square card with dimensional foam. 

You can view other "one-layer" inspiration today from the Penny Black designers "here".  So many colorful ideas! 

Thank you for visiting,

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Sweet Wishes 30-104, Wow 40-112

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Storm 01-001 (white)

3M Scotch: Dimensional Foam Tape

Judi Kins: Eclipse Tape

Sakura: Sparkle Gelly Roll Pen

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Aspen Mist VersaMagic, Morocco Memento, Lilac Posies Memento, Teal Zeal Memento, Delicata Golden Glitz Ink, Sponge Daubers

Coloring With Brushstixs (Tutorial & Video)

Hello Everyone!

Today I have a detailed tutorial with a video for this tag project featuring two of Penny Black’s new transparent sets (Flowers Sweet and Wishes) along with Tsukineko’s Brushstixs. 

These mixed media brushes were released at CHA and come in a wide array of styles.  The foam tips are fabulous for all sorts of projects and applications.  Plus, they are washable.

Below are detailed instructions for the tag as well as a video included in Step 3 that shows how the Brushstixs were used for coloring.  Enjoy…..

Step 1:  Die cut an oval from white cardstock.  Leave the metal die over the cardstock and apply Sea Breeze VersaMagic ink with a jumbo sponge dauber. 

Step 2: Remove the metal die and dust the cardstock with an anti-static pouch.  Stamp the flower and sentiment with Onyx Black VersaFine and heat emboss with clear powder.  Set aside.

Step 3:  On a separate piece of white cardstock, stamp the flower with Onyx Black VersaFine ink and heat emboss with clear powder.  Color with Brushstixs and Thatched Straw, Mango Madness and Red Magic VersaMagic inks.  For a visual reference using the Brushstixs, please view the video.

Note: The leaves on the main tag were also colored with Brushstixs, Aloe Vera VersaMagic and Tea Leaves VersaMagic.

Step 4: Trim the flower and spray with Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spritz.

Step 5:  Align and attach the flower element to the prepared tag with dimensional foam.

Step 6:  Add a decorative ribbon.

Have a great weekend....

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Flowers Sweet 30-096, Wishes 30-103

Tsukineko: Brushstix, Onyx Black VersaFine, Sea Breeze VersaMagic, Thatched Straw VersaMagic, Mango Madness VersaMagic, Red Magic VersaMagic, Aloe Vera VersaMagic, Tea Leaves VersaMagic, Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spritz, Jumbo Sponge Dauber, Clear Embossing Powder

Spellbinders: Classic Ovals Large (S4-110)

American Crafts: Elements Premium Ribbon – Aqua #4 

Love Is In The Air (Spot Coloring Technique)

This week the Penny Black Blog is featuring cards that contain spot coloring.  This is a fun technique for creating bold statements of color.

Two different types of spot coloring were used on Penny Black’s “In the Air”.

(1)  The sentiment was inked with red and black VersaFine ink pads before stamping for a two-tone effect. 

(2)  To add another corresponding punch of color, the extra elevated balloon was accented with red micro-fine glitter.

Tip/Hint:  Red Stickles were applied to the elevated balloon and while wet, red micro-fine glitter was sprinkled on top.  When dry, a light brush was used to dust away any excess or loose glitter.

Thank you for visiting!

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: In the Air 40-093

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Storm 01-001

Art Institute Glitter: Ruby Red Microfine Opaque

Ranger: X-Mas Red Stickles

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Crimson Red VersaFine, Clear Embossing Powder

"Chalk Pouncing" Technique

Soft pastel chalks make great backgrounds for your favorite sentiments.

This technique can be achieved in TWO steps!

Step 1:  Ink the desired image with VersaMark Watermark ink and stamp on white cardstock.

Step 2:  Using small bits from a cotton ball, apply chalk colors in a pouncing fashion.  The ink will “grab” the chalk and the image will come to life.

Hint:  If you find that you need to remove chalk from a non-stamped area, a clean white eraser is the perfect tool.

The card design was finished by stamping the sentiment in black ink and adding a sparkly sheer ribbon.

Have a great weekend,

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps:  Hillflowers 3938K, Gratitude 3855E

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Blue Lagoon 09-003

Tsukineko: VersaMark Watermark Ink, Onyx Black VersaFine

Offray: Ribbon

Other: Chalk, Cotton Ball  

Faux Leather Technique

This week the Penny Black designers are sharing techniques and I am hosting their blog today with this “faux leather” design. 

The “leather” is a piece of tan craft foam that was heated until it was very soft and pliable.  Directly after heating, a pre-inked Forest Friends in Jet Black StazOn was stamped on the surface.  Firm pressure for several seconds creates not only the impression, but also an embossed, etched effect in the foam.

After the impression was made, a combination of Vintage Sepia and Gingerbread VersaMagic inks were applied with daubers around the deer.

For a stylized design, the “leather” was wrapped around a heavy piece of cardstock and the edges were secured by using a hot glue gun.  After completion, the entire piece was attached to the front of the card with Tombow Power Adhesive Tabs.

A tan tent card burnished with Vintage Sepia ink was sprayed with Gold Sheer Shimmer Spritz.  The thin decorative band is white cardstock stamped with Winter Sky in black ink and heat embossed with clear powder.  The green tone is a pouncing of Spanish Moss ink.

The decorative band was attached with pewter brads to a piece of dark brown cardstock stamped with Retro Pattern in Vintage Sepia ink. 

The “happy birthday” sentiment stamped on white cardstock with black ink and heat embossed with clear powder was aged and distressed with Spanish Moss and Vintage Sepia inks.  A black glaze pen was used to simulate brads and a small piece of dimensional foam under the center of the banner adds dimension.

This is also a fun technique to use with white fun foam and snowflake stamps!

Thank you for sharing your time with me.

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Forest Friends 40-077, Retro Pattern 40-086, Winter Sky 4204L, Sentiments 30-025

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Sticks & Stones 02-002 & 02-003

Making Memories: Pewter Brads

Tombow: Power Adhesive Tabs
Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Vintage Sepia VersaFine, Spanish Moss VersaFine, Gingerbread VersaMagic, Gold Sheer Shimmer Spritz, Sponge Daubers