Thursday, March 05, 2026

Spring Flowers

Hi everyone.  Today's card was inspired by a few challenges.  I started out by stamping the image, using just two of the stencils provided (flower backgrounds) to sponge the purple and yellow flowers, along with the leaves.  I added some stenciled tiny circles for the background and stamped the sentiment from a long retired stamp set.

Close-up ...
Sending the card to the following challenges:
Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 1 - Inks - used distress inks to stencil
Stencil Fun March Challenge - Optional: Vines / Vinery ... I used the AG Stenciling option


Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Dahlia Bunch Stamp Set (Pinkfresh Studio); Cosmos - retired (Technique Tuesday)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Wilted Violet, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Shabby Shutters, Spiced Marmalade (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Dahlia Bunch Stencils (Pinkfresh Studio), sponges, Mini Tiny Circles Stencil (TCW)

Challenges:


Saturday, February 28, 2026

Faux Cyanotypes - Group of Cardmakers

Hi everyone.  This month at Group of Cardmakers, we are trying out a new-to-us technique called Faux Cyanotypes.  It is a photography artform that has been adapted for card making.  We are sharing two different ways to do this technique and we have a video of each.  This is done with just one colour of blue ink (Cyan is an Ancient Greek word for Blue).

Please check out the details for this month's Faux Cyanotypes Technique and link to videos on the blog, along with more card samples from Christine, Pat, & Susan.
The cards in this post are all CAS, meaning there is lots of white space, with litte to no embellishments.  If you have a question, please use the form on the sidebar to contact me.  I will list the stamps and products used for the cards at the bottom of this post. 

There are two ways to do this technique.  The closest look of the photography artform uses a saturated blue (Blueprint Sketch ink) background (DOX or DI both work, but I personally prefer the DI background that gives a brighter shade of blue) with white ink stamping (following first video on Group of Cardmakers).  The other video, using the same colour of blue (Blueprint Sketch used for all the blue cards in this post), you lightly sponge the background and then add a solid image stamped with the same ink (several stamping may be required to get a solid image).

For the cards above, I have used the same stamp and framing, done with the two techniques.  They look similar, but different. The left one is with a direct to paper inked background of blue, stamped image in white pigment ink on top.  The right one is made with just the blue ink, sponged lightly for the background, with the image stamped several times to get a deep colour.

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I wanted to see what this technique looked like in different colours ... so the third card is done with Rustic Wilderness distress ink, sponged softly for the background, with stamping done in the same colour, with several layers.  
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These two cards are done with the same image ... again using the two different techniques, both cards made with DOX inks this time.

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Lastly, I HAD to try this technique using pink ink (Picked Raspberry DI).  I LOVE it! :)  I had a LOT of fun playing with this technique.  I hope you'll give it a try.

Sending Card #1 to:

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Cards 1, 2, & 3:
Stamps:  Nature's Gift (Penny Black)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Blueprint Sketch Distress Oxide Ink / Blueprint Sketch DI / Rustic Wilderness DI (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Rectangle Stitched Frames (AliExpress)

Card #4 & 5:
Stamps:  Sail Away (very old SU!)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Blueprint Sketch Distress Ink; Blue Sketch Distress Marker (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Thin Frames Rectangle dies (Simon Says stamp), sponge brush, diluted Acrylic White Paint, Splatter Brush

Card #6:
Stamps:  Wild Flora (Inkylicious)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Picked Raspberry Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Arched window die (Lil' Inkers - closed)

Challenges:

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Birthday Smiles and Hugs

Hi everyone.  Today I've made a CAS card for a few challenges.  This card uses a new-to-me die from Temu (Peony Layered die).  I cut all the pieces from white card stock and sponged with distress inks (mustard seed, kitsch flamingo, picked raspberry).  Love this combination! :)  The die didn't come with leaves, to I used another die (Simon Says Stamp Abundant Leaves), sponged in mowed lawn distress ink.

I cut a panel from the middle size of the Semi-Circle Stackers die set (Penny Black), popped up on my card base and added the leaves and then layered Peony (also popped up) on top.  The sentiment is stamped with Archival Shadow Grey ink to finish.

It took me a little while to figure out all the pieces of this beautiful flower die, but I'm so happy with how it turned out. :)

Close-up ...
Sending this card to the challenge below:
Seize the Birthday #320 - CAS with Dies
Die Cut Divas - Feb. Challenge - Red and/or Pinks Challenge




Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Banner Sentiments (Penny Black
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Kitsch Flamingo, Picked Raspberry, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); Archival Shadow Grey (Ranger) 
Accessories:   Peony Layered Flower dies (Temu), Abundant Leaves die (Simon Says Stamp), Semi-Circle Stackers dies (Penny Black), sponges

Challenges:

Saturday, February 14, 2026

Thinking of You

Hi everyone.  Happy Valentine's Day to all who celebrate!  The last few weeks I haven't been on-line much.  I'm back to making cards and spending time in my studio.  I hope to catch up soon on visiting others.

Today I'm sharing a card I made using one of my favourite PinkFresh Stamps and die, Amazing Things.  I just love the beautiful image that has so much movement to it.  

I stamped in Brushed Corduroy distress ink (a few times), and heat embossed in clear before watercolouring with more Distress Inks (mowed lawn, rustic wilderness, spiced marmalate, candied apple).

I added a bit of grounding for the flower with more brushed corduroy ink and also one of the sentiments from the same stamp set, popped up for dimension.  Before assembling, I used the matching die to emboss an outline around the flower.  I love this technique, which just adds a bit more emphasis on the image. :)

Close-up ...
I'm sending this card to the folowing challenges:
We Love Stamping February Challenge - Anything Goes Stamping

  


Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Amazing Things (PinkFresh Studio)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Spiced Marmalade, Candied Apple) Tim Holtz
Accessories:   Amazing Things matching die (for embossing image), w/c paint brushes, rolled glue dots

Challenges: