Technique Time ~ Noel

Hello all! I know the holiday season has passed us but the technique I used making this card is something you can do any time of the year.  So, one last little holiday card and then I promise to move on.

What I Used to Make My Card:
White Card Base
Gold Card
Strip of Matching Design Cardstock {whatever you have on your desk!}
IndigoBlu Dinkie Noel Stamp, IND0115
Spellbinders Opulent Ovals Dies, #S5-160 {discontinued, but available}
Watercolor Markers {In this case I used Clean Color Markers in 044, Deep Green & 022 Carmine Red}
Delicata Ink in Golden Glitz

Stamp #1

Basically what I did with this stamp is color the parts I wanted colored and just over-stamped again and again for each color.  This is MUCH easier now that we have tools like the MISTI - but we did manage to make it work in the old days.  I started this image with the leaves on the stamp which I colored green.  I stamped them quite a few times - it is easy to miss little spots, but it also creates different color depths which can be beautiful.  

As you can see from my photo of Stamp #1, I did OK with the left side of the stamp but was missing some color on the right side.  I just kept coloring the leaves, huffing on the stamp {supposedly moistens the ink - I don't know if it actually does anything, but I've been doing it forever, so why stop now?} and restamping the image, never moving it off my MISTI.  

Stamp #2

The photo on the left, Stamp #2, is almost my last time stamping

Using Delicata Ink on the Sentiment

the leaves.  This  stamp also has itty bitty berries in the ivy leaves; I didn't bother taking any pictures of stamping those as it only took me two or three impressions to complete them.  Once I had my leaves and berries stamped, I wiped off the stamp using a baby wipe and covered both sides of the leaves with sticky notes.  I then used the Delicata ink on the actual sentiment.  I used the sticky notes to stop any of the gold ink getting on the leaves and/or berries.  Since I only had to stamp the sentiment once, the sticky notes held just fine.

I completed the card buy cutting out the sentiment and a layer of gold card, using the Opulent Ovals dies, and layering that over a strip of cardstock I literally had lying on my desk.  I'm pleased with the results and I have decided

Just another look

to search for some more old techniques I can bring back to life.  I have enough old magazines hanging around {I just CAN'T throw them out! They are a wealth of beauty and knowledge! Hoarding craft magazines is definitely an "issue" of mine} that I will have techniques to resurrect for ages.

Thank you so much for stopping by! I'd love it if you'd follow me and if you decide to, please be sure to leave me a comment so I can follow you back! Have a wonderful day. ~ Christi

I am entering my NOEL card in the following challenges:
A Perfect Time to Craft - M, Jan, Anything Goes
Country View Crafts - M, Jan, Anything Goes
Love to Craft - #18, M, Jan, Anything Goes
Dream Valley Challenge - #169, Christmas
A Gem of a Challenge - #209, Anything Goes Christmas
The Holly & Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes Christmas, running 1/7/18
The Merry Christmas Challenge - #49, Anything Goes Christmas
Words 2 Craft By - Christmas in my Heart

Mom's Tree

Some of you may know my mom is completely blind in her left eye and has very limited sight in her right eye.  Since she no longer decorates for the holidays, I decided to make her a tree she could essentially keep up all year long.  And, since this tree is embossed, she can literally run her fingers over it.

What I Used Making my Project:
8" x 8" Panel
Watercolor Paper
Oxide Inks in Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves, Peacock Feathers, Wilted Violet and Cracked Pistachio
Embossing Ink
Simon Says Stamp White Detail Embossing Powder
Indigo Blu Baroque Christmas Tree Stamp

Clear Embossing Powder

White Embossing Powder

I used an entire sheet of watercolor paper to make this.  The first step is to emboss your focal point using white embossing powder.  I did a test; I did one design in clear powder and one using white powder.  These pictures don't do it justice, but the white powder was bright and clear while the clear powder just sort of faded into the background.  The tree on the right was embossed with clear powder and the tree on the left with white embossing powder.  Now they do look sort of similar but, once the inks dry, that white powder POPS as you can see by the tree I made.  Of course, in the spirit of full disclosure I used a lot more of the Oxide inks on the "white" tree since I knew that one was going to be the one I was going to give Mom.  I guess the bottom line is use whichever you prefer to get the look you are trying to achieve.  

I inked and spritzed the tree a lot.  I wanted it to be vibrant enough so my Mom could see the colors if nothing else.  I was positive the ink would stain the embossing powder but it didn't.   Once I was pleased with the colors, I trimmed the piece of watercolor paper down and mounted it onto the panel.  I tried to frame it but the bulk of the panel made that difficult, so I just gave her the panel.  And she loved it, of course, but she's a bit biased. That's it! The project took me about 3 days, but I am sure it would have gone much faster if I hadn't fiddled around with the Oxide Inks so much. I really do love the white popping out of the colors. I only have a few more holiday posts that I want to get published; so I hope you haven't lost your holiday spirit! Thanks, Christi

I am entering my Mom's Tree in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Inkspirational Challenge - Just Stamping
Stamping Sensations - Winter Trees & Flowers 
Rhedd's Creative Spirit  (running til 1/31/18) Altered Art/Etc
The Rubber Buggy - #8, Christmas/Winter
Altered Eclectics - (running til 1/31/18) Altered Art/Etc
Eclectic Ellapu - (running til 1/31/18) Anything Goes Altered Art
Inspiration Destination - #140 (running til 1/2/18) Anything Goes
Sweet Stampin' - Anything NEW {first time I have used this stamp}

Thanks. . .

I hadn't been to a salon since I moved here to Colorado and my hair was getting so long and heavy it was making me insane.  I needed to get it styled very badly so I went to Google and looked up some hair salons.  Luckily, I found a GREAT one and I had such a great time, I decided to make my stylist a thank you card.

What I Used to Make My Card:
Glossy Cardstock
Kaleidacolor Ink Pad in Spectrum
IndigoBlu Stamp - Juliet, #J1
Core'dinations Dark Cardstock in Purple Grandeur
Mrs. Grossman Alphabet Stickers
Brayer

I've rediscovered my Kaleidacolor Ink Pads and I've been having a blast using them.  For this card, I inked up my brayer and brayered the ink directly on the rubber stamp and stamped it on glossy paper.  In my opinion, using these inks on glossy paper really makes the colors pop. But, you MUST be sure you use actual glossy cardstock, photo paper just doesn't work the same way or look as vibrant.  You can use them on regular cardstock, but, again, the vibrancy just isn't going to be there.  Once I stamped the image and trimmed it down I found a cardstock color that I felt complimented the colors in the image and made that my card base.

I didn't want to put my sentiment anywhere that would obscure the image and I fretted about that issue for a while.  I could make the whole card out of glossy cardstock, but I really wanted to use a colored card base, to frame the image, so that wouldn't work.  I didn't want to use another piece of cardstock for a stamped sentiment, so that was out.  I even debated using vellum but it is such a pain to adhere. . .then I remembered that I have a HUGE 12" x 12" plastic tote filled with alphabets, stickers and words. I must have every type of alphabet sticker ever made! So I dived into my stash and found this cute little alphabet. I liked that the letters were black but the sticker itself was clear. Again, I didn't want to detract from the image.  So I lined up the letters - which took me the absolute LONGEST time (and I wasted a few letters in the process) and stuck them down.  I adhered the white glossy panel to my purple card base and I was done!  And, since the alphabet stickers are a stash item (honestly, I have no idea how long I have had them) I gave myself extra points.

I tried like MAD to get this picture straight but I just could not get it to cooperate. I apologize for it being wonky!

I hope she likes the card. I'll be going back in about 6 or 8 weeks for lowlights (apparently, these lowlights help blend the grey but don't commit you to having to dye your hair when the roots begin to show - they are more subtle - we will see) and hopefully she will let me know if she likes the card. I only need 20 or so more followers to meet my goal of 100 new followers in 2015 so please consider giving me a hand and becoming a follower.  I would appreciate it SO much! Thanks for popping by! Christi

I am entering my Thanks card in the following challenges:
The Craft Barn - People
Alphabet Challenge Blog - Q for Quick & Simple
Craft Stamper - October Challenge - Take a Technique (I used Ink)
Creative Knockouts - #110, Thankful Thoughts
Through the Craft Room Door - October 6 - 12, 2015 - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - #248, Anything Goes
Glitter 'n Sparkle - #157, Anything Goes
Incy Wincy Designs Challenge - Thankful for You

Lotus Card ~ April Card Chain Challenge Card Reveal

This month for the Card Chain Challenge, I got to send my Lotus card all the way to Australia this month - How exciting!! My receiving partner was Lizzy, a talented card maker - check out her blog - not only is she crafty, but she sings!! Thank goodness no one can hear me sing. . .or is that scream?? Anyway, here is my card that I sent Lizzy: 

I chose this shot because you can really see the different blues & golds in the embossing powder ~ very cool!!

And, here is the card I received from the extremely talented Loly:

She used the correct colors, the sketch and the friendship theme

This month I messed up - I used the color palette for May's CCC, and technically, this card is for the April CCC.  :::sigh::: and by the time I realized it, the card was mailed.  Sooooo my card is not going to match anyone else's when you go to the reveal at the Society of Stampaholics (the "mother" site of the CCC).

I was SO excited because I had used the color palette instead of just going with the monthly "always theme" of friendship, so of course it was a mess up - LOL. But, I have still created a wonderful card! So let's move on!

What I Used to Make my Card:

Blue Card Base

Yellow and Light Blue Cardstock

IndigoBlu Stamp, Lotus, #IND0140PC (Brand new from Limor Webber!)

Die-Namites Spring Blossom Die, DN-1150

Spellbinders Nestabilities, Labels Forty-One, S4-468

Embossing Ink

Lindy's Stamp Gang Embossing Powder in Lapis Lazuli Blue Gold

This is a fairly straight forward card so I didn't take pictures of it's creation.  I stamped the Lotus stamp on the yellow cardstock with clear embossing fluid and then embossed the image with the Lapis Lazuli Blue Gold embossing powder.  Then I cut the image with the Spellbinder's die, I did have to cut a teeny bit off the top of the image for it to "sit" right, you can see where the top dot is cut in half.  I still like the way it turned out.

I then cut 2 "Spring Blossom" dies and adhered them to each side of the image, glued them down, and that was it!  Easy peasy!  I hope you will consider joining in on the fun at the Card Chain Challenge (or at least go look at the reveal and see everyone's beautiful cards!) ~ I love getting good mail ~ Fondly, Christi

Another look :)

I would like to enter my Lotus Card in the following challenges:
One Crazy Stamper - May Challenge - Anything Goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - #104, Anything Goes
Simply Papercraft - #3, Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday's Challenge - Anything Goes
Ruby's Rainbow - #103, Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Monday's Challenge - Anything Goes

And, Simon Says Stamp is having a Design Team Call - you have until May14, 2015 to enter! Just thought I'd pass the info along :)