CAS Watercolour August Salt Reminder

Time for our CAS Watercolour Reminder Salt Techniques Cards.  So many Gorgeous cards by our talented DT and Guest Designer Ros (Mikey's Mom)

Here is my favorite salt card and I am pleased to have another Christmas Card for my stash.

I just ordered 4 Christmas Die Cuts from Poppy Stamps.  I had not planned it,  but I was able to use all 4 dies for my card :-)  How fun!

My alcohol ink on acrylic tissue paper background is from my stash.  I made several using Christmas colors.  Here is a link to a card of mine with all the detailed steps.  The best part...you will get a stack of beautiful backgrounds when you are done:-)

First I made a watercolor wash using Gansai Tambi watercolors on Strathmore 140# cold press paper. I used a flat paint brush and liberally added water to my paper then painted with my paints.  While paint was wet I sprinkled with Himalayan pink rock salt, then sea salt and next table salt.  Let dry (takes time) and brushed off salts.

Photo of salt samples used for poinsettia, bird and leaves!

Next I die cut my Holiday Poinsettia (4 dies),  Holiday Holly leaves (1 die-3 leaves) and Cheery Cardinals (1 die-5 cardinals).  I shaped with my bone folder and attached with Tomboy liquid glue. Then added a Nuvo Bright Gold Drop to the center of flower.

Then I die cut 2 layers of  my Merry Christmas die for extra thickness.  So fun attaching all to my tissue paper background.  I popped up my poinsettia with dimensionals.  Added the sentiment and cardinal using fine tip glue pen. Weighted down with my acrylic block until dry.  Added a pearl to the Christmas die cut.

I attached all to white CS using liquid glue and popped up on card front using fun foam.  The shine from the acrylic layer and all the textures really catch your eye!  This Christmas card is definitely going to be a favorite this year.  I hope you like it too.

Be sure and check out all the CAS Watercolour Salt cards.  You will be impressed and inspired!  You still have until midnight (PST) the 24th to play along.  Hugs..

Supplies: 

Stamps: None

Paper: SU Thick Whisper White.  Strathmore 140# Cold Press.

Inks: Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks for tissue background.  Gambai Tambi Watercolor Paints

Accessories: Poppy Stamps Dies: Holiday Poinsettia, Holiday Holly, Old Fashioned Merry Christmas and Cheery Cardinals.  Tombow liquid glue, SU fine tip glue pen, fun foam, dimensionals, Nuvo Bright Gold Drops, SU pearl.....Tissue Paper background supplies in Link.

CAS Mix Up August Alcohol Ink Reminder

Thank you everyone for your inspiring and gorgeous alcohol ink cards for our CAS Mix Up August Challenge!  I am thrilled to see so much enthusiasm for all the techniques. It has been so much fun hosting the challenge this month :-)

 Stamping + Ranger Alcohol Inks + Inlaid Die Cuts 

Reminder Card!

I went through my Tim Holtz Alcohol ink background stash and found this beautiful piece.  Perfect for a Christmas card design.  I used my new Poppystamps "Scribble Snowflake Circle" Die and older Memory Box "Merry Christmas" Die.

First I did all my die cutting on my card front and attached the pieces with scotch tape on the back side. Then attached the background piece and what a pleasant surprise.....look at the cool river, mountains and cloudy sky scene behind the wreath! Alcohol ink is always providing surprises, which makes it so creative and fun!  You can Never duplicate a piece!

I used the Drip and Smash (or Smoosh) technique.  I followed This video..Eclectic Drip and Smash. 2:42.  I did not add any metallic inks on my piece,  but it can be a gorgeous addition.

After finishing my card I realized I had not used stamping.  I just added the stamped "& Bright" and now my card follows the rules:-)

Enjoy my CAS Mix Up Reminder card and be sure and check out all the samples from the DT and our GD, Trina.  So many amazing cards to inspire you.  Happy Stamping my friends.  Hugs.

Merry Monday Christmas Challenge: 2nd Annual Summer Link Up..I chose

Supplies: 
Stamps: SU Holly Jolly Greetings (& Bright)
Inks: Tim Holtz: Watermelon, Pink Sherbet and Citrus alcohol inks.  SU Watermelon Wonder (sentiment).
Paper: SU Thick Whisper White card base.  Coated card stock from my friend Christine for card front. Yupo Paper for alcohol ink background.
Accessories: craft mat, Ranger Blending Solution, Poppystamps Scribble Snowflake Die, Memory Box Merry Christmas Die, scotch tape, SU rhinestones.

CAS Mix Up Alcohol Inks Be Very Merry!

The CAS Mix UP August Challenge is Alcohol Inks.  So many beauties already by the DT , our GD and in the Gallery!

Here is my "Alcohol Inks on Acetate" Christmas Card!

Close Up!

Alcohol Inks on Acetate with Tissue Paper Background is one of my favorite Alcohol Ink techniques.

Here is the link to my 1st card in my blog using this technique.  I am going to condense the steps in this post.

Step1: cut piece of aluminum foil approximately 8" x11" and lay on craft sheet.

Step 2: drizzle alcohol ink onto foil and spritz with Blending Solution or 90% rubbing alcohol. 

Step 3: pre-cut acrylic sheets..I used 4" x 4" and 6" x 6" squares.  Smoosh onto spritzed alcohol inks until you are happy with results.  You can spritz with solutions more if inks dry too quickly. Lay aside piece to dry with alcohol side UP.   Can add more ink to foil to make more backgrounds.  

Do not throw away foil.  Can be used for another technique that I will share in a future post that I learned from my friend Christine :-)

Step 4: When piece dries use foam brush to Paint ON Alcohol Ink Side the  Gel Medium or Modge Podge  (optional..pinch of Dazzling Diamonds or fine glitter to lightly sprinkle onto wet glue) then scrunch up a pre-cut (6x6 or 8x8) White tissue paper and open tissue leaving the scrunched wrinkles and place over wet glue. Rub with your hands for good contact.  Turn over piece onto clean paper towel and press more with hands.  Carefully add more glue on edges if necessary.  If glue smudges appear on the acrylic side remove using paper towel and 90% rubbing alcohol.

Step 5: Set aside and let glue dry.  Then trim tissue with your scissors.  Check for more glue smudges and remove with alcohol.  Then you can stamp images or sentiments, etc using Stazon ink.  Other permanent inks smear.

I actually made my background for the trees in this card at our Retreat in BC and borrowed the tree dies from Loll.  Thank you again Loll for sharing.  The dies set is on my wishlist!

I finished my card at home using CUTplorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Die for the popped up layer frame.  Then scrunched up a piece of tissue and glued to a CUTplorations ATC Tag builder Die.

I glued on my larger tree to the tissue 1st then popped up my small tree.  Added a stamped sentiment and done.  I LOVE how the trees have a shiny stained glass look:-)

I am so pleased with the CAS design and plan to make duplicates using alcohol backgrounds from my stash:-)  You can never make just one background using this technique!  You still have until the 24th to play along in our August CAS Mix Up Challenge.

Happy Alcohol Ink stamping my friends.  Hugs..

Adding to STAMPlorations Never Ending Anything Goes Challenge.

CUTplorations Summer Vacation Anything Goes Challenge

Supplies:

Stamps: SU Be Very Merry (ret)

Paper: SU Thick Whisper White and Reg. W.W.  White Tissue Paper

Inks: Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks and Pinata Gold Alcohol Ink.  Archival Black Ink.

Accessories: Impression Obsession Fir Trees Die, CUTplorations ATC Tag Builder and Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangles Dies.  Acetate Sheet, Tombow liquid glue, dimensionals.

CAS Salt Get Well

My 2nd card for this months CAS Watercolour Challenge: Salt Techniques

Watercoloring and different types of salt go so well together.  I used Himalayan Pink Salt (chunky), course Sea Salt and table salt on my card.  I loved the textured effect.

First I made a watercolor wash on my Arches Cold Press paper using Kuretake Gamsai Tambi Watercolor paints.  Wetting my paper with a flat wet paint brush then adding 1st the blue, then turquoise and then green paints.  I then sprinkled on my salts starting with the Himalayan, then sea salt and then table salt.  Set aside to dry completely.  Takes time so put in a safe place.  Brush off salt when completely dry.  Can use the edge of a plastic gift card to get off all the salt.

Next I found this Memory Box Dragonfly Stems Left Corner Die in my treasures from our May Retreat from sweet Loll.  I attached to my Dry watercolored salted background with my Fine Tip Glue Pen.

I then popped up my image using fun foam onto my die cut card front.  I felt my image needed something to bring it all together,  so doodled a black border.  I liked that effect.

I chose a sentiment from a favorite STAMPlorations set by Shirley Bee...Birds of Paradise.  Stamped and popped up with dimensions.  One more little touch..a few sequins for a bit of bling.

I was very happy with how my main image popped and the texture I achieved with the salt :-)

The evening I finished my card I found out about my dear forever girlfriend,  Anna being in a head on collision by an underage drinker.  It was a miracle no one was killed and Anna was taken by helicopter to an excellent hospital and Neuro Surgeon  for neck surgery.  She is home and starting the long healing process,  but should have a complete recovery.  Anna's Guardian Angel was certainly by her side along with "4" airbags!  Take care Anna and hope your card brings you a smile:-)  A big soft hug from Denny and I!  Anna I know would appreciate any of you adding her to your prayers.

My card is also for my dear friend Karen's (Snippets) Splitcoaststampers Technique Lovers' Challenge TLC649...Add a Pinch of Salt!

Also for STAMPlorations Anything Goes Challenge

And STAMPlorations Stamps and Anything Goes Summer Vacation

STAMPlorations CAS Summer Vacation

Supplies: 
Stamps: STAMPlorations Birds of Paradise.
Paper: Arches 140# Cold Press.  SU Thick and Regular Whisper White and Basic Black CS
Inks: Kuretake watercolor paints.  Archival Jet Black
Accessories: Memory Box Dragonfly Stems Left Corner Die (gifted by Loll), CUTplorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Die,  Staedler black pen for doodling, sequins, SU Fine tip glue pen, fun foam.

STAMPloration's Celebrating National Coloring Book Day

STAMPlorations has a new Coloring Book soon to be released.  Just in time to celebrate National Coloring Book Day:-)

My Bloomtangled Sample

I have STAMPlorations 1st coloring book, "Color Blooms".  That book is safe and sound in our camp trailer.  It is so fun and relaxing to sit and color when on vacation:-)

Shery provided a download with one 5" x 7" page of the book to print, color and then enter into her challenge.  I printed the coloring page on heavy copy paper and watercolored with my Zig markers.  I left the outer edges uncolored.  I have an idea for a finished card for Shery's next challenge.  The winner gets a copy of the new coloring book:-)

The challenge ends tomorrow night,  so just getting under the wire.  Enjoy...I sure enjoyed my relaxing few minutes of coloring.  Hugs..

CAS Mix Up Alcohol Ink Background and Flower

As many of you know, using Alcohol Inks are one of my very favorite products on CAS Mixed Media cards.

I am hosting our CAS Mix Up August Challenge with so many Gorgeous samples by our DT and GD, Trina.

Here is my 2nd card for the challenge.

Using Stamping + Alcohol Ink background + Die Cut

Sample of Alcohol Inks dropped onto Yupo Paper before adding to my card background.

This is one of my favorite Alcohol Ink Techniques.  You just drop 2, 3 or more colors of Alcohol Ink directly onto Yupo Paper.  This Alcohol Ink on Yupo video (5:49) by Loll (Stamping with Loll) shows this technique and several more.

I used Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks: Sunshine Yellow, Sunset Orange, Citrus, Watermelon, Wild Plum, Mermaid.  The green made some of the colors a little muddy (brown),  but I just used the favorite parts of my background.  If you stick with all monochromatic colors there is no mud.

I did spritz the piece I used very lightly with blending solution for the water marks.

I die cut the SU Thick Whisper White frame using my Poppystamps "Floral Stem Collage".  I then die cut my Alcohol Ink background with the same die.  I love this die. Thank you again Bonnie for the samples you sent me that "made" me order this gorgeous die!  I pieced (like a puzzle) the frame and background together and attached with fine tip glue pen. Then attached to my card base.

I added my stamped STAMPlorations sentiment and done.  A quick and easy,  but I think stunning card letting the Die Cut and Alcohol Ink background be the stars:-)

Enjoy and hope you get to join the fun at our CAS Mix Up August Alcohol Ink Challenge.  You still have until the 24th to play along.  Hugs..

I am adding to STAMPlorations Anything Goes

Supplies: 
Stamps: STAMPlorations Dee's Blooming Buds sentiment
Paper: SU Thick Whisper White. Yupo Paper
Inks: Tim Holtz Alcohol inks listed in description
Accessories: Blending Solutions, Poppystamps Floral Stem Collage, SU Fine Tip Glue Pen. popped up 2nd bloom with a dimensional adding a tiny piece of the AI background for the center.