Elegant Writer - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  Today for Group of Seven, we are working with the Elegant Writer pen.  Christine first introduced me to this marker several years ago, but I didn't buy one for myself until last year.  I'm sorry I waited so long! :)

The pen is filled with water soluable ink.  When you add it to your card, the ink looks black, but add some water and you will have inks in gray, green, blue and pink show up.  It's really magical.  A little goes a long way. 

Please check out the details for the technique and link to video on the blog ...

Group of Seven Cardmakers

For both my cards today, I kept things CAS.  I was busy making cards ahead for upcoming commitments and packing up our house at the same time, so I kept things simple.  :)

For the card above, I used a wonderful image called Tree Poem (Stampendous), stamped in black and clear heat embossed.  I added a few lines of elegant writer here and there and then took a wet brush to spread the colours, dabbing with a paper towel which shows off the pink and blue colours.  I love the classic black and white colours with just a touch of added colour in the background.

Close-up ...

Here's what I learned when I experimented with this technique ...

• If you decide you want to buy one of the Elegant Writer pens, make sure it has a silver/gray casing.  This is the pen with the water soluable ink.  I mistakenly bought Elegant Writer pens that were in a black case ... permanent markers in black.  :)
• I found the video by Karlyn invaluable (you will find it on the Group of Seven blog).  She is an artist and also teaches art ... and she has lots of tips on how to use these amazing pens.
• I outlined images or partially outlined images and then added water to spread the ink.  If I wanted to add just a touch of colour, I would use a damp watercolour brush to pick up just a bit of colour directly from the tip of the Elegant Writer pen. 
• Once you add water and move the colour around, you must blot with a paper towel and that's when you will see more of the pink and blue colours.  
• As per Karlyn's video, I misted lightly from above to set the ink once I was finished.  Then I could leave my image as is, or add more watercolouring using inks or paints of different colours easily without any bleeding. 

* * * * *

Here's another CAS card using a black heat embossed image with the Elegant Writer pen.  Simple, but so pretty!

This time I used an image from the Create Chaos (Visible Image) stamp set.  Again, I kept it black and white with just a touch of colour from the elegant writer.

Sending this card to Simply Clean & Simple April Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Tree Poem (Stampendous); Many Everyday Message (Hero Arts)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Elegant Writer
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour brushes

Card #2:

Stamps:  Create Chaos (Visible Image); Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Elegant Writer
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour brushes)

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Elegant Writer

Simply Clean & Simple April Challenge

J-O-Y #8

Hi everyone.  I'm back with my eighth card using the Immense JOY die from Penny Black.  This is going to be the last JOY card for a while.  I scheduled this post ahead as we moved yesterday and my computer is unplugged and packed away. :)  

This is one of the images from the All the Trimmings stamp set (Penny Black).  I stamped the image in black ink, heat embossed in clear, and watercoloured with my Zigs. 

I finished the background of the card by using a black card front with in-laid JOY die in real red card stock.   I cut out around the image at the bottom so it would drape over the bottom of the "O" and give a bit of added dimension.

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card to Rudolph Days April Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  All the Trimmings (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!); Real Red card stock (SU!)

Ink:   Black (Memento); Zig markers
Accessories:   JOY die (Penny Black); Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool; watercolour brushes

Challenges:

Rudolph Days April Challenge

Penny Black - All-in-One Octagon

Hi everyone.  Today I've used the All-in-One Octagon (51-816) die with embossing from the newest release at Penny Black.  This is similar to the All-in-One Oval die.  I love the versatility.  You can also use the octagon frame separately (see this card), and you can use the card front embossed frame with octagon aperture separately too.  Or you can use it with both, as with the above card.

I used the second image from the beautiful Captivate (31-050) stamp set (also from the new release).  I stamped the image in black ink and clear heat embossed before watercolouring with my Zigs.  I loved watercolouring this image, combining orange and pink to create two-toned flowers. :)

I fussy-cut the bottom of the image so that the leaves and lower bloom go over the edge of the octagon frame.  I finished with a simple sentiment (Super Day), stamped in black and heat embossed with clear.

I'm giving this card to my Mom for Mother's Day, which is just a few weeks away in Canada. :)

Close-up ...

I'm sending this to Triple B April Challenge.

Penny Black Products

Captivate (31-050)

All-in-One Octagon (51-816)

Super Day (31-044)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Capivate; Super Day (both Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Fabriano (Strathmore 108 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Zigs (pale green, light green, orange, pink)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, All-in-One Hexagon die (Penny Black), watercolour brushes

Challenges:

Triple B - April Challenge

More Cover Die Eclipse for Gof7

Hi everyone.  Another card  for March's Group of Seven technique - Cover Die Eclipse

Group of Seven Cardmakers

I've been away from my computer, which is unusual for me.  Sorry I have missed keeping up with visiting blogs, but we are getting ready to move in the next couple of weeks.  I've been busy packing and sorting everything.  We have been in our current house for almost 29 years, so you can imagine that we have acquired a lot of STUFF! :)  Hope to be back visiting your blogs on a regular basis in a few weeks.

For today card, I used a large image (Blooming - Penny Black) which is stamped in black and heat embossed with clear.  I sponged over the background creating an ombre effect with Distress Oxide Inks (Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Aged Mahogany).  I used plain water to watercolour the flowers.  The water activates the Distress Oxide inks; then I used my paint brush to remove most of the colour, blotting with a paper towel to make sure it was dry.

I created two panels the same and die-cut one with Laurel Leaves Background Plate (Simon Says Stamp).  I cut two more panels with this cover die from white card stock and then layered all three of the die-cuts together with the stamped / sponged one on top.  I lined up the stacked dies over my second panel and then glue them together.  To finish I added a simple happy birthday (Special Sentiments - Penny Black) sentiment banner.

Close-up ...

As you can see from the close-up ... I wasn't very careful when lining up the stack of leaf die-cuts so you can see a bit of the white peeking out from the stack. :)   

I hope you'll give this technique a try.  If you do, please join us by posting your card with the linky at the bottom of THIS POST.  We'd love to see what you make!

Sending this card to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge - April.  

... and sending this to The Flower Challenge #90 - Add Layers.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Blooming (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Obsidian Black ink (Altenew - Pigment ink); Distress Oxide Inks:  Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Aged Mahogany (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Laurel Leaves Background Plate (Simon Says Stamp), sponges, Clear embossing powder (Ranger) 

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Cover Die Eclipse

PBSC - April

The Flower Challenge #90 - Add Layers

IDEAS - Dies

Hi everyone.  It's time for the next IDEAS Challenge with Darnell.  This week is "D for Dies / Die Cuts".

I used a new-to-me flower die that was a gift from a friend a LONG time ago.  I'm happy that I have finally had a chance to show it some love.   I created a simple background by smooshing Kitsch Flamingo, Ripe Persimmon, and Mustard Seed Distress Inks.  I dried my panel and then added more sponging of the same colours over top to intensify the colours.  For some reason the pink is lost in the photo.

I used this lovely daisy flowers die and kept the card CAS by using white for the flowers and adding a simple sentiment (Happy Messages - Stampendous) at the bottom in black ink.

A fun and easy card that took me less than 10 minutes to make.  Not very often that happens for me! :)

Not only am I joining Darnell with the IDEAS Challenge this week, but I'm also adding this card to NBUS Challenge #61.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Happy Messages (Stampendous)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Kitsch Flamingo, Ripe Persimmon, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   water mister, sponges, daisies die-cut (AliExpress)

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #61

Penny Black - Purring

Hi everyone.  I'm having fun playing with the newest release from Penny Black.  Today features the new stamp Purring (31-052).  Adorable stamp set with three cute cats.  I made the cards all the same background of sponged blue sky, and an oval frame from the new die, All-in-One Oval (51-815).  This not only comes with an sweet oval embossed frame, but there is also a card front with embossed and scalloped edge that is ... well, all-in-one. :)  This gives three different ways to use it.  Always great when there's versatility in our art supplies.

I stamped the image twice (once on mixed media paper to watercolour; second on regular card stock to use as my base for my card).  The image on mixed media is heat embossed in clear so it gives it a nice shine and protects the ink from running.  I watercoloured the image using my Zigs and then fussy-cut the image.  For the card stock image, I sponged the background sky with Salvaged Patina distress ink and then adhered the fussy-cut image on top (gluing at the bottom and popping up the cat's heads).  I die-cut three of the oval frames and adhered them over top of the image with more foam to give it dimension.  I stamped the sentiments from the Super Day (31-044 ) set in black, and heat embossed in clear to match the images.  These were so fun to make! :)

Close-up ...

Sending the above card to Penny Black Saturday Challenge - April.  

... and the second cat ...

Sending the above card to Double D Challenges - Cute Little Animals.

... and the third cat ...

Sending the above card to Simply Clean & Simple April Challenge.

Penny Black Products

Purring (31-052)

All-in-One Oval (51-815)

Super Day (31-044)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Purring; Super Day (both Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Fabriano 108 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Zigs, Salvaged Patina Distress Ink (Tim Holtz
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, All-in-One Oval die (Penny Black), watercolour brushes, sponge brush

Challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - April

Double D Challenges - Cute Little Animals

Simply Clean & Simple April Challenge

J-O-Y #7

Hi everyone.  I'm back with my seventh card using the Immense JOY die from Penny Black.

Today's card uses the Poinsettia stamp from Holiday Bouquet (Avery Elle - retired).  I love this stamp set and have used it many times in my cards over the years.  I stamped in black ink, clear heat embossed and watercoloured using my Zigs.

I finished the background of the card by die-cutting the JOY die three times from green card stock and layering to create dimension, then pieced the "O" with the watercoloured Poinsettias.  The image is mounted onto a white background which was dry embossed with Scenic Poinsettias (Spellbinders). 

Close-up ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Holiday Bouquet (Avery Elle)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Green Gumball card stock (SU!)

Ink:   Black (Memento); Zig markers
Accessories:   JOY die (Penny Black); Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool; watercolour brushes, Scenic Poinsettias embossing folder (Spellbinders)

IDEAS - Inks / Colour Mediums

Hi everyone.  It's Monday and time for IDEAS Challenge.  Today is "I - Inks/Colour Mediums".

I recently bought a Hero Arts Sand Ink Pad.  I thought I would use it for no-line watercolouring as it's a very light brown and would work great for that.  Little did I know that I bought one of their "Core Ink" pads, which is waterproof.  Oops!  So instead of a no-line watercoloured hydrangea, I have a pink hydrangea for you today that is outlined in brown. :)

In the end, I'm happy with how it turned out.  I used Kitsch Flamingo, Picked Raspberry, Shabby Shutters, and Peeled Paint distress inks to watercolour.  I knew from the start that I was going to create a CAS design, so it's just the flower and a simple sentiment (WPlus9 - retired), stamped in more of the Sand ink.  To finish, I used my white Posca pen to add white dots to the stamens.

Close-up ...

I'm sending the above card to NBUS Challenge #61.  First time using this ink!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Best Thoughts (SU! - retired); Beautiful Bouquet Dahlia (WPlus 9)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Sand (Hero Arts); Distress Inks:   Kitsch Flamingo, Picked Raspberry, Shabby Shutters, and Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Watercolour brushes, White acrylic pen (Posca)

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #61