Autumn Birthday

Hi everyone.  Today's card was made at the same time as the Stencil Monoprint card I posted a couple of days ago ...

I used brushos on mixed media paper with the Joyful Sunflower stencil to create 1) a positive print --- my card for today; then 2) flipping the wet stencil over onto a second piece of mixed media paper to create the negative (background) print for the stencil monoprint recently posted for Group of Seven.

I'm really happy with both cards. :)  I haven't done many prints with stencils recently and Group of Seven inspired me to get inky. :)  

The top card uses the print, along with a small black sentiment banner with Happy Birthday heat embossed in copper.  Simple, quick, and easy card to make, celebrating fall's colours.  

Close-up ...

Sharing at the following challenges:

1) Darnell's Sept. Challenge - Stencils

2) Beautiful Bloosoms Challenge - Sept. - Mood Board #21

3) Seize the Birthday #292 - Anything Birthday Goes

  

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Many Everyday Message - retired (Hero Arts)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Brushos: Terra Cotta, Orange, Leaf Green, Light Brown; Versamark
Accessories:  Joyful Sunflower (The Crafter's Workshop); water mister, Copper embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:

IDEAS  Sept. Challenge - Stencils

Beautiful Bloosoms Challenge - Sept. - Mood Board #21

Seize the Birthday #292

Stencil Monoprint - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  This month we are looking back at an older technique, Stencil Monoprint.  It's an easy and fun technique that creates lovely backgrounds or main panels for cards.

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

Group of Seven Cardmakers

* * * * *

My first card above uses powdered inks (Brushos - Terra Cotta, Orange, Leaf Green, Light Brown).  Using powdered inks or sprays allows me to make a positive (print) and negative (monoprint) from just one application of colour (see pictorial below).  I used one of my favourite stencils (Joyful Sunflower - The Crafter's Workshop), which was a gift from a sweet friend several years ago.  I'll share my print card at another time. 

Sending the above card to Just Us Girls #746 - Stencil Week.

* * * * *

For my second card, I used powdered inks again (Brushos - Lime Green, Leaf Green), along with the Wander & Find stencil (Carta Bella - retired).

I stamped the Pop Sunflower image onto mixed media paper, watercoloured using Distress Inks, fussy-cut, and popped it up over my Stencil Monoprint background.  That little bird is so sweet! :)

Sending this card to Seize the Birthday #292 - Anything Birthday Goes.

* * * * *

Here is a pictorial of my process of making the Stencil monoprints with powdered inks.

 

   1) Stencil on mixed media paper        2) Brushos sprinkled over stencil

 

                            3) Right card - Water misted over      4) Left card - Inky stencil flipped onto

                                 Brushos (positive print)                       second card / blotted with

                                                                                                     paper towel  (stencil monoprint)                    

 

                                  5)  Stencil removed                               6) Left to Right - 

                                       / paper left to air dry                            Stencil monoprint/ Print

                                       (finished Stencil Monoprint)             

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

• This is an easy technique that works with lots of different mediums, substrates, and stencils. 
• It can be a main panel or background - so lots of flexibility
• Use a generous amount of water so the colour spreads, especially when using powdered inks.
• Important to remove the stencil quickly after spraying with water.  This prevents the water from spreading under the stencil and loosing definition of the design.
• You can create several panels with one application of ink.  Repeat adding inked (wet) stencil onto card and blotting with paper towel until there isn't any colour left.  First stencil monoprint will be the strongest colours, each monoprint will be lighter in colour than the previous.

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Simply Sentiments (Lawn Fawn)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Early Espresso (SU!)
Ink:   Brushos: Terra Cotta, Orange, Leaf Green, Light Brown; Versamark
Accessories:   Clear acrylic block to elevate panel when adding stencil and ink (optional - but worth it), Mini Joyful Sunflower stencil (The Crafter's Workshop); Water Mister, White embossing powder (Ranger); heat tool

Card #2:

Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black Pigment: Versafine Clair Nocturne; Brushos: Lime Green, Leaf Green; Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Gathered Twigs, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)

Accessories:   Clear acrylic block to elevate panel when adding stencil and ink (optional - but worth it),

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Stencil Monoprint

Just Us Girls #746 - Stencil Week

Seize the Birthday #292 - Anything Birthday Goes

Penny Black - Messenger

For the above card I started with stamping the main image, Messenger (Penny Black) onto mixed media paper using black pigment ink.  The image was heat set before watercolouring with Distress Inks and Zig markers.  The small rectange stencil from Background Basics (Penny Black) was placed over top before sponging with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink around the inside edges.  The Double Frames (Penny Black) were cut from red card stock and patterned green card and layered over top of the image.  To finish, the sentiment (from the same stamp set) was stamped in more black ink.  The sponging and double frames give this a vintage look.

Made a second card using everything the same as above, except for reversing the order of the card used for the double frames ...  

... and one more using this beautiful image ...

I fussy-cut the bird and pinecone after watercolouring with Distress inks on mixed media paper.  The full image was stamped again onto a patterned paper leftover cut from the center of the frame in card one.  The fussy-cut cardinal and pinecone were adhered over top of the bottom image to add depth (paper piecing).  I used my zig markers to add colour to the pine branch.  The sentiment from the same stamp set was stamped in Candied Apple Distress ink to finish the card.

Sending the above card to:

1) Rudolph Days Challenge - September.  Thanks Helen!

2) Simply Clean & Simple Challenge - September

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Penny Black Products

Messenger (31-085)

Background Basics (25-021)

Double Frames (51-825)

Stamps:  Messenger (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Real Red card stock (SU!); Always Artichoke patterned paper (SU!)
Ink:   Black pigment ink (Versafine Clair Nocturne); Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Black Soot, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz); Zig watercolour markers
Accessories:   Watercolour paint brushes, Background Basics (Stencils - Penny Black); Double Frames dies (Penny Black)

Challenges:

Rudolph Days Challenge - September

Simply Clean & Simple Challenge - September

Dahlia Birthday

Hi everyone.  Today's card is a lovely bouquet of flowers (Dahlia Bunch - Pinkfresh Studio), with matching die.  I stamped in black ink onto mixed media paper and watercolour using my Zig markers.  It was fun to pull them out ... I haven't used them very much lately.

I die-cut the image and added it over a panel embossed with the Vine Canopy embossing folder (SSS).  To finish I added a simple sentiment banner using a retired stamp set from Stampin' Up!

Close-up ...

Sending this card to a few challenges:

1) Darnell's IDEAS Sept. Challenge - Anything Goes.  First time using my Zigs after a LONG break. :)

2) Seize the Birthday #291 Challenge - Anything Birthday Goes.

3) Just Us Girls #745 - Mood Board.  So happy to be playing along.  I don't get to play very often because of the short timeframe for the challenges, but this just worked out perfectly.  Thanks for the fabulous mood board challenge Ina!!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Dahlias (PinkFresh Studios); Endless Birthday Wishes - retired (SU!)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Versafine); Zigs Markers
Accessories:   Dahlias Die-cut (PinkFresh Studios); Vine Canopy Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp), watercolour brushes

Challenges:

IDEAS Sept. Challenge - Anything Goes

Seize the Birthday #291 - Anything Birthday Goes

Just Us Girls #745 - Mood Board

Christmas Ornament

Hi everyone.  I saw a card with this technique on Trina's blog (Phamtastic Design).  I had to give it a try.

The above card main panel is dry embossed with Scenic Poinsettia 3-D Embossing Folder (Spellinders).  I used an ornament die (Bird Ornament - Penny Black) to cut a piece of acetate and used that as my stencil for sponging Candied Apple Distress Ink over the embossed circle area.  I cut the hanger from the same ornament die using Silver Metallic card and added some silver cording.  To finish I cut the piece down to 4 1/4" square and used a silver metallic pen to colour over the berries in the circle.  A simple sentiment (Merry Messages - Lawn Fawn) is stamped in black at the bottom.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to a couple of challenges:

1)  Darnell's IDEAS Sept. Challenge - Embossing Folders - Darnell is closed this week, but I'm sharing a card that I made anyways. :)

2)  Peace on Earth Challenge #72 - Anything Christmas Goes

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Merry Messages (Lawn Fawn)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Silver Mettalic (SU!)
Ink:   Candied Apple Distress Ink (Tim Holtz); Black Pigment (Verafine Clair)
Accessories:   Scenic Poinsettia 3D Embossing Folder (Spellbinders); Ornament die (Penny Black), Permanent Silver Pen (Pilot)

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Sept. Challenge - Embossing Folders

Peace on Earth Challenge #72 - Anything Christmas Goes

More Vellum for Gof7

Hi everyone.  Another card for August's Group of Seven Product Focus - Embossing with Vellum.

I stamped Statement Flowers (Altenew) onto a piece of vellum from my stash which had been smooshed with Alcohol Inks.  The image was heat embossed in white and then framed (Sewing Stackers - Penny Black), popped up over top of my card base.  Popping it up lets the translucent qualities of vellum show in the card.  A simple die-cut sentiment (Heartfelt - Penny Black), cut from black card stock is added at the bottom to finish the card.  Quick and easy card, using a vellum panel from my stash! :)

Close-up ...

Sending the above card to Triple B (Birds, Butterflies & Blooms) September Challenge - Anything Triple B Goes.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Statement Flowers (Altenew)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Vellum (Oplymio Thick); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Alcohol Inks (Ranger); Versamark
Accessories:   Blending Solution, White embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Sewing Stackers frame dies (Penny Black); Heartfelt sentiment die (smile) - Penny Black

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Vellum - Product Focus

Triple B Sept. Challenge

Penny Black - Heartsong

Hi everyone.  Penny Black has recently released it's Christmas products and I'm happy to playing with with some of them. :)  Today's focus is on Heartsong (31-086).  It's a gorgeous stamp of a sweet winter bird on a branch filled with berries.

The above card starts with the image being stamped in Toffee Crunch ink onto mixed media paper.  I like the soft outline that makes it look closer to no-line watercolouring.  I watercoloured using Distress re-inkers and then added some "snow" using a white acrylic pen.  The new frame (Classy Frames 51-826) was cut from deep blue card stock and adhered to the card front.  I cut two more of just the frame from tan card stock, to give added depth to the frame.  

A simple sentiment from the same stamp set, is stamped in the same matching ink as the background card stock to finish the card.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the above Challenges:

1) Darnell's IDEAS September Challenge - Sept. (Dies).

2) NBUS Challenge #66 - first time using this frame.

 

* * * * *

The next card uses just part of the Heartsong image, inside the Posted Stamp (30-985).

The outline is stamped in Shadow Grey archival ink and the bird image is stamped in black.  I again used Distress Re-inkers to watercolour the image.  I masked off the inside of the stamp and sponged with more ink to add a bit of background colour.  More images were stamped in the Grey ink to finish off the postage stamp and it was die-cut using the matching die (Postage Cut out - 51-778).

I used the Melody embossing folder (65-006) with real red card stock to enboss a strip, tapping lightly over the top with Candied Apple Distress Ink pad to add some colour to the highlighted areas.  I used that at the bottom of my card, popping up the posted panel over top.  The sentiment (from the same stamp set) is stamped in black to finish the card.

Close-up ...

Sending the above card to following Challenges:

1) Penny Black Saturday Challenge - September.

2) Merry Little Christmas Challenge #58

  

Thanks for stopping by!

Penny Black Products

  
       Heartsong (31-086)                Classy Frames (51-826)

Posted (30-985)                   Posted Cut Out (51-778)

Melody (65-006)

Card #1:

Stamps:  Heartsong (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Island Indigo card stock (SU!); Tan card stock (Carta Bella)
Ink:   Toffee Crunch (Memento); Island Indigo (SU!); Distress Inks:  Antique Linen, Brushed Cordoroy, Gathered Twigs, Mustard Seed, Rusty Hinge (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Classy Frames (Penny Black), watercolour brushes, diluted white acrylic paint for splattering, sponge, black permanent marker

Card #2:

Stamps:  Heartsong (Penny Black); Posted (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Real Red card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Shadow Grey (Memento); Black Pigment (Versafine); Distress Inks:  Antique Linen, Brushed Cordoroy, Gathered Twigs, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Lumberjack Red (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Posted Cut Out (Penny Black), watercolour brushes, diluted white acrylic paint for splattering, sponge, black permanent marker

Challenges:

IDEAS Challenge Sept. - Dies

NBUS Challenge #66 

PBSC September

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #58