Well Done

I am flitting back and forth between poppies and alcohol inks at present; I hope you don’t mind. Jane Clempson is continuing to create inspiring alcohol ink projects over on her blog so I have a list of techniques yet to try.

This one started out the same way many of my panels have with me dropping three colours randomly over the whole surface of the yupo paper. Once the colours settled and stopped jostling each other I started dropping blending solution here, there and everywhere. It made some pretty patterns but nothing I hadn’t tried before so I switched to splattering blending fluid over the panel with an old paintbrush. The droplets were smaller and more numerous and achieved the bubbly look you see here.

I was inspired to position my sentiment front and centre after seeing this card by Jane. I die cut the sentiment from both the patterned panel and a piece of pink fun foam (both with stick-it adhesive on the back) so I could position the fun foam in the space left by the die cut and then the inked die cut back on top of the fun foam. Looks simple described in print but in reality it drove me crazy working those fiddly little words into the fiddly little spaces with a fiddly little pair of tweezers! Cute effect though, don’t you think?

Supplies:

Dies: Well Done (PB)
Alcohol Ink: Stonewashed, Raspberry, Raisin & alcohol blending solution (Ranger)
Paper: Yupo, Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock, Pink cardstock
Also: stick it adhesive, fun foam

You Rock

Posted: March 8, 2016 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Alcohol Ink | Tags: Penny Black creative dies, Ranger Alcohol Ink | 7 Comments

Oh these alcohol inks are so much fun! During an experimental session the other day I discovered I could blend over the top of a panel I did not like with blending solution which would not remove all the colour but would make it a soft blended background on which I could start a new design. The possibilities are seemingly endless.

This panel was done in two steps. I began by dropping two blues and a red on the yupo paper to create large circles. When the big circles had stopped mingling I used a Q-tip and some blending solution to add little circles over the top of it all. The finished effect reminds me of bokeh.

Although they might look black, the die cut sentiment and the mat are actually navy blue and the sentiment is embossed in clear powder to give it a glossy finish. I wouldn’t say I have settled on a favourite but I am liking these blues.

Supplies:

Dies: Well Done (PB)
Alcohol Ink: Denim, Stonewashed, Poppyfield, alcohol blending solution (Ranger)
Paper: Yupo, Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock, Neenah patriot blue 100lb cardstock

Poppy Gems 2

Posted: March 4, 2016 | Author: Heather | Filed under: gift card pocket, Poppy Gems | Tags: Dr Ph Martin Hydrus watercolor paints, Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolour pencils, Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps | 20 Comments

The Poppy Gems return today but in a more traditional colour scheme than last week’s card. I stamped with liquid watercolour paint on this panel, a technique not unlike what I often do with the distress stains. I used a paintbrush to apply the paint to the stamp then, after stamping, used water to blend the colour into the petals and leaves. In the centres and shadows on the flowers I layered colour to increase the intensity. The paints are Dr Ph Martin Hydrus watercolours which dry permanent. This feature was helpful when I decided to add a background weeks after completing the flowers. There was no chance I would make the pinks and greens bleed into the sky when I added blue with a watercolour pencil and waterbrush.

The little tag is a cut with the new die from Penny Black, ‘gift card pocket’ which comes with so much more than just the pocket die.

Thank you for dropping by today; I will be back soon with more alcohol ink adventure as well as another couple of cards made with the ‘Poppy Gems’ stamp. I hope you have a great weekend.

Supplies:

Stamps: Poppy gems, Perfect Pairing (PB)
Dies: gift card pocket (PB)
Inks: Versafine Onyx Black (Ranger)
Pencil: Albrecht Durer watercolour pencil sky blue 147(Faber-Castell)
Paints: Dr Ph Martin Hydrus Liquid Watercolours – Set 1
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, pink cardstock
Also: linen thread

Poppy gems 1

Posted: February 27, 2016 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Flourish and butterflies, gift card pocket, Poppy Gems | Tags: Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains, Speedball elegant writer | 28 Comments

Over the next week or so you are likely to see the new ‘Poppy gems’ stamp a few times. I have already stamped it in four different colour schemes and varied the mediums and styles. This one is by far the ‘busiest’ and is quite the contrast to the clean and simple stamping I have been sharing lately.

I created this earth toned panel initially with just brown and black but after doing most of the blending with water I decided to add a bit of red to the petals over the brown. I stamped with distress stain and pulled it into the petals and leaves with a paint brush. I added black with the elegant writer pen which bleeds pink and green tones when wet. I decided to add the text details after the flowers were finished keeping it loose and watery with the addition of water to both the stamp and panel. I stamped the text upside down the first time so I had to make it blurred so my error would not be less noticeable!

I die cut a few flourishes with the new ‘flourish and butterflies’ die and attached them to the base for a tone on tone detail; you can just make it out in the photo below. The sentiment is stamped on a tag from the new ‘ gift card pocket’ die.

Thanks for dropping by; I hope you are enjoying a relaxing weekend.

Supplies:

Stamps: Poppy gems, footnotes, snippets (PB)
Dies: flourish & butterflies, gift card pocket
Inks: festive berries, mustard seed, vintage photo distress stains & ink (Ranger) black elegant writer pen (Speedball)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, brown cardstock

Blue Skies

Posted: February 18, 2016 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Branch of Grace, Geometric borders, Passionate | Tags: Dr Ph Martin Hydrus watercolor paints, Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains | 7 Comments

Ottawa had a record snowfall this week so it is quite the winter wonderland outside. Today, however there is a clear blue sky, a bit like the one on the card above. This card shows a different colour scheme for the new ‘Passionate’ stamp I shared in purple tones a few days ago. I used the same technique as here and here to paint a blue sky first with Dr Ph. Martin Hydrus liquid watercolour paint. I splattered some masking fluid before painting anything so there are a few white dots here and there.

I inked with distress stains and used the misti to stamp a few times to build up the colour on the flowers. Anywhere I wanted a distinct line between colours I used paintbrush to ‘touch it up’.

Supplies:

Stamps: Passionate (PB)
Dies: keep smiling
Inks: mustard seed, spiced marmalade, rusty hinge, peeled paint, forest moss distress stains (Ranger)
Paint: Phthalo blue Dr Ph. Martin Hydrus
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, green cardstock

Another blue sky frames the blossom branches below stamped with the new ‘branch of grace stamp’. Once again I painted the blue first and let it dry before stamping. Because of the fine twiggy detail on this stamp I used a mix of stains and markers to ink the stamp, choosing to ink only part of it in places so the branch would be narrower the second time I stamped it. I blended the grey and black inks with a paintbrush to give some dimension to the wood. The new geometric border added to the Asian feel of the card.

The ‘So Special’ reveal continues on the PB blog this week as the transparent stamps are featured and you still have a chance to win a shopping spree until Feb 28th.

Supplies:

Stamps: Branch of Grace (PB)
Dies: geometric border, feel better
Inks: Black soot, Hickory smoke, Frayed burlap, barn door, festive berries distress stains and markers (Ranger)
Paint: Phthalo blue Dr Ph. Martin Hydrus
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, black cardstock

Bejeweled

Posted: February 13, 2016 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Bejeweled | Tags: CAS, Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps | 11 Comments

I am featuring another new stamp on today’s card created in the same way as yesterday’s. I painted the sky first and let it dry completely before stamping the flowers into the whiter (cloudier) side of my panel. Once again I inked the stamp with distress stains then used elderberry marker on a second stamping to add some depth to the centre of the flower. This time I chose a dark green cardstock rather than black for the co-ordinating sentiment and mat.

Don’t forget to keep visiting the PB blog for more teasers and a chance to win a shopping spree.

Supplies:

Stamps: Bejeweled (PB)
Dies: heartfelt thanks (PB)
Inks: Seedless preserves, frayed burlap, milled lavender distress stains (Ranger) Elderberry memento marker (Tsukineko)
Paint: Phthalo blue Dr Ph. Martin Hydrus
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, green cardstock

The Unfolding

Posted: February 12, 2016 | Author: Heather | Filed under: The Unfolding | Tags: CAS, Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps | 18 Comments

I have some new stamps and dies to share over the next little while, all with the promise of spring. The new release from Penny Black is called ‘So Special’ and it will soon be available in the online store. If you haven’t already seen the teasers on the Penny Black blog then pop over there and browse through the last two weeks of posts. There are prizes to be won by four lucky people so make sure you stop by and check it out.

I painted a pale blue sky on watercolour paper before using distress stains to colour this striking new magnolia stamp. To finish I die cut one of the new sentiments in black and framed the flower in black also.

Supplies:

Stamps: The Unfolding (PB)
Dies: party for you (PB)
Inks: spiced marmalade, spun sugar, worn lipstick, hickory smoke, forest moss distress stains (Ranger)
Paint: Phthalo blue Dr Ph. Martin Hydrus
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper,Neenah epic -black cardstock

Fancy Hearts

Posted: January 19, 2016 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Brusho, Fancy Heart, Triple love | Tags: Brusho, Penny Black creative dies | 5 Comments

There are a bunch of new heart die in the new ‘Love Always’ release, some solid and some with pretty patterns like this one. I cut two, then snipped out a little section so I could fit them together. The little word is snipped from the ‘triple love die’and I added ‘stick it’ adhesive to the back of the cardstock before die cutting to make it easy to attach. The background is brusho magic in pink, yellow and purple.

Keeping it short and sweet this time; I hope you have a great day.

Supplies:
Dies: Triple Love, Fancy Heart (PB)
Paint: Brusho (C0lourcraft)
Cardstock: Cold pressed Fabriano watercolour paper

A mixed media card!

Posted: January 13, 2016 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Camelia | Tags: gelli plate, Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps | 6 Comments

It seems that mixed media doesn’t appear on this blog very often but if I make a bit more progress in my art journals that might change. The card above features the first and only use of my gelli plate. I have seen lots of wonderful creating done with gelli plates but mine is currently stranded on Mount Techniques-To-Try along with other cool stuff!

I began by laying rose die cuts on my gelli plate then brayering red printing ink over plate and roses. I removed the roses before making a print of the pattern on deli paper. Out of several prints this one showed the most detail. I was going to throw away the very messy rose die cuts but a friend who was busy creating at the same time convinced me to hold onto them. Once they were dry they made delicate details which co-ordinated with the paper. I added some text to the paper, a solid strip to ground the embellishments and some gold die cuts for the focal element.

Have you gelli-printed? I intend to get back to my plate and would love to hear your favourite way to use one.

Supplies:

Stamps: Letter Background (PB)
Dies: Camelia die, Love & Joy die (PB)
Inks: Red Printing ink (Speedball), Black archival ink (Ranger)
Cardstock: Mixed media paper, deli paper, gold foil cardstock

Brusho Hearts

Posted: January 5, 2016 | Author: Heather | Filed under: All my hearts, Brusho, Love & Hugs, Love is growing, Triple love | Tags: Brusho, Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps | 13 Comments

‘Tis the season for creating Valentine cards but the fresh snow outside my window is calling me to keep creating snowy scenes! New stamps and dies however, were calling from inside my craft room so red, pink and hearts it is. The new release from Penny Black is full of love, hearts and sweet wishes and is available in the online store now.

I created a red and pink panel with brusho then die cut a bunch of different sized hearts using three different dies. Aren’t those tiny ones cute? I popped up two of the hearts on fun foam and attached the others directly onto the stamped panel.

What are you creating in the new year?

Supplies:
Stamps: Love & Hugs (PB)
Dies: Triple love, Love is growing, All my hearts (PB)
Mediums: Brusho powders, Versafine Satin red ink
Cardstock: Hotpressed Fabriano watercolour paper, Neenah chili red
Also: white fun foam