Dotted Swirls, take 2

This week I created another card using the Dare 2B Artzy Dotted Swirls stamp set.  I recently watched a video by another crafter where she water colored with Distress Oxides, and I wanted to give it a try.

I heat embossed several images on water color paper with white embossing powder. I used swirl stamps from Dotted Swirls, and a leaf and flower image from the Wishing Happiness stamp set.  I taped my paper down onto a board to prevent warping as I add water.

As I prepared to work with a color,  I smooshed the ink pad onto the side of my glass mat, and spritzed it with water. I then used a paintbrush to paint the leaf and flower images, and the background, taking care to let an area dry before painting the area next to it if I didn't want the colors to mix. (The embossing helps prevent this as well.) 

When I was done painting, I let the piece dry for a bit, and then removed the tape, and trimmed 

                                                                         the edges.                                                                                                                                                                           

I cut the word "thanks" using this die 3 times and glued the layers together for dimension, then  added Nuvo Crystal Glaze and let it dry for a shiny finish. I adhered the card panel to the same color cardstock that I cut the thanks from and assembled the card.

Thank you for visiting! I hope you will take a look at some of the fun Totally Tracy stamps from Dare 2B Artzy!

Dotted Swirls

I am happy to be guest designing for Dare 2B Artzy this month! I was asked to use a stamp set from the Totally Tracy line called Dotted Swirls. This set strikes me as a great one for mixed media projects, or as embellishments for scrapbook layouts. Since I am not a mixed media crafter, nor have I scrapbooked in several years, I wanted to find a way to use this set for cards.

I began by stamping the two dotted images with VersaMark embossing ink all over my card panel. I heat embossed it with white embossing powder.

I then blended 5 colors of Distress Oxide ink over the panel.

I wiped the ink off the embossed areas with a dry paper towel to make the white images pop, and cut the panel with the stitched rectangle die from the Leaf Background die set.

I heat embossed this sentiment from the Wishing Happiness stamp set on vellum, and attached it to my card front, along with some iridescent sequins. I popped the card panel up with white fun foam onto a black layer, and then onto my A2 card.

I enjoyed playing with this set and will have another card for you next week using some of the other swirls in the set, and another fun technique using Distress Oxide inks.

Cuckoo!

Welcome back to my last Dare 2B Artzy blog post for September.
I had so much fun creating with some great Dare 2B Artzy products and sharing my projects with you.

I love the Cuckoo Clock stamp and die set because it is so unique, and it can be used with the enclosed sentiments for a general winter time card, or with the accompanying images to make it more of a holiday card.

I made 3 different cards with this set. I just couldn't stop coloring the adorable cuckoo clock!

The first card was created with the Nesting Rectangle Fancy Frame dies, as well as the new Fun Fold die. The music notes and the sentiment on the front of the card are from the Be Yourself stamp set.

Next I made a card with the little birds "flying" around the cuckoo clock.
I cut a channel into my card front and put foam tape on the back.

I die cut the little birds and sandwiched small disks between a small card stock circle and the birds.

I colored and die cut the clock, and stamp embossed, and matted my sentiment. Then I assembled the card, slipping the backing of the little birds into the channel. The patterned paper, from the Fields in Bloom paper collection, along with the tiny birds, makes for a busy, "cuckoo" card!

I wanted to create another slider card that was a little plainer so you could better see the little birds.  This one uses solid card stock for the card front, and a straight channel for the birds to "travel" on.
Here's a better look at the mechanism that is attached to the bird die cuts.

Here is the card front with the channel cut into it.

My completed card.

One more detail I forgot to mention - I used a "snow pen" on the snow covered roofs of the clocks. It's hard to see in the pictures but it adds a bit of fun texture and dimension.

Thank you for for joining me this month! I had a great time being a guest designer for Dare 2B Artzy!

                  

Stinkin' Amazing

I'm back with my second guest designer post for Dare 2B Artzy for September!
This card features one of their newer stamp and die sets that I think is just so cute!

There are actually two stamp sets that coordinate with the same die set, which gives you so much versatility without having to break the bank. The set I used is called Stinkin' Happy, and here are the images I colored and die cut from that set. (The other skunk set is called Feeling Stinky)

Isn't he/she cute? Almost makes me want to hug a skunk!

I used some D2BA paper for the background of this card. I love that their papers are all double sided and make it easy to combine patterns, something that I shy away from on my own. This paper is from the Summertime Petals collection, and it combines some of my favorite colors - aqua and pink.
I also die cut a frame using a coordinating solid colored cardstock. I stamped two sentiments from the stamp set as well. This set has several choices to create the sentiment that is appropriate for your card.

I assembled the card, popping up the skunk and the little flower pot.

Did you know that Dare 2B Artzy has a challenge for you to enter every month? This month's challenge is Your Favorite Color. Create a project using your favorite colors and enter to win a Dare 2B Artzy stamp set and ink pad!

I hope you enjoyed this project. Please join me next week for another project showcasing more great Dare 2B Arzty products!

Dare 2B Artzy

I am so excited to be a guest designer for Dare 2B Artzy! They have so many wonderful stamps, dies, patterned paper, and more!
Today's card was made with several Dare 2B Artzy products, and it was really fun to make.
The front of the card was made with 2 die cuts using the Trellis background die. This die is so pretty and makes a great background for so many occasions. I recently learned from design team member Melody Blake, that if you turn one die cut around, the two layer to make a  beautiful new pattern.

The pitcher and the flowers were actually die cut from  sheets of Dare 2B Artzy paper using the Water Pitchers dies! Several of their recent stamp and die sets have coordinating paper for use as backgrounds, or when you don't want to stamp and color an image!
I used a Dare 2B Artzy die to cut the word "friends". I layered 4 die cuts, for dimension, and heat embossed the top layer with WOW embossing glitter in Seaglass.

The inside of the card is made with a base from Paper Cuts, in the form of a pop out card. I mounted Dare 2B Artzy papers on all sections of the card. The pitchers are stamped, colored and cut (or die cut from paper) using Refresh the Soul stamps and Water Pitcher dies.

The sentiment and flowers are also from the Refresh the Soul stamp set, and the sentiment is stamped on a shape cut with the Nesting Rectangle Fancy Frames dies.

Be sure to check out all that Dare 2B Artzy has to offer at www.dare2bartzy.com

Simply Watercolor, more day 1, begin day 2

I've realized that there is absolutely no way I will keep up with this class. The good news is, I don't have to!  The bad news is - if I fall too far behind, (which I already have), I will move on to something else and it will be difficult for me to go back and finish. But I'll try not to let that happen!

This first picture is of two lessons from Day 1. As you can see, I still need a LOT of practice! I think my biggest problem is knowing how much water to use - to paint smoothly, and to get a good blend.

This one is also from Day 1, presented by Julie Ebersole. Yep - still looks like a child's painting! Haha!

Today I started Day 2 - Simple Critters and Animals. I attempted to freehand sketch this one, as Kristina teaches, and don't think that went too badly. The painting wasn't horrible either. But it looked a lot better to me, before I attempted to outline the images in black. I definitely need to slow down and take my time a bit more.

I'm hoping to have some time to do more lessons before I leave for Junkie Fest next week, but we'll see!

Simply Watercolor - Patterns and Backgrounds - Plaid

                                                 
                                                                                                                     
I am participating in Kristina Werner's Simply Watercolor class in Online Card Classes this week. It's a simple watercolor class that doesn't use any stamps or dies. I have to admit, I'm a little intimidated by watercoloring to begin with, but I think this will be fun!
I only got around to one of the lessons so far on Day 1. The great thing about these classes is you can go at your own pace, and keep them forever!

Day 1's class was on Patterns and Backgrounds. This lesson involved using the graphite transfer technique to transfer a simple computer printed image to water color cardstock. I transferred the bold number 50 and painted a plaid pattern on it. I did not complete a card using this panel. It was a very rough first practice, and I don't know anyone about to turn 50!