Girls Just Want to Have Fun! Stinkin' Inkers

Hello everyone! Today I am showing you the card I made for this month's challenge at Stinkin' Inkers.  The theme is "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" or "create a project for a special lady (or girl)."  This is the first time I have played with the Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Kit from April and I had SO much fun I literally had to force myself to stop and write this post.  Here is my card:

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Yellow Card Panel
Watercolor Panel
Distress Oxide Inks in Broken China and Fossilized Amber 
Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Kit from April 2017
Hero Arts Intense Black Ink
Designer Paper (from magazine)
Tim Holtz Distress Sprayer
Authentique Patterned Paper from "Remembrance D" Collection, (retired)
Clear, Detailed, Embossing Powder

Playing with this set was like making paper dolls.  I just kept getting more & more ideas about different ways I could make clothes, pose the character, patterned papers I could use and, every time I thought I was done, another crop of ideas would come rushing into my brain.  I made SO many outfits to mix and match for these ladies; they are certainly the best dressed ladies that I know!

I started the card by making the background using the Oxide inks.  If you

haven't played with these inks yet I strongly urge you at least to find someone who will let you try them out.  Or, better yet, splurge and buy yourself 2 or 3.  I only used two colors to make this background, Broken China and Fossilized Amber.  Using the small blending tool, I began with Fossilized Amber, just a few pounces and swipes, then added the Broken China in a circle around the middle. Once I was happy with the ink distribution, I used the Distress Sprayer to spritz some water on the inks and watch the magic.  Now, I consider myself a frugal crafter; truthfully, I'm fairly frugal in my "real" life, too.  I rarely buy things when they first come out, and I never buy things just because there is a fancy name attached when I can get the same item, or close to the same item, cheaper.  Well, if you are going to invest in some Oxides, you have to get the Distress Sprayer.  A run of the mill spray bottle just doesn't work as well with these inks.  At least that has been my experience.  OK, the background was done and I set it aside.  

This next step definitely took me on a ride.  I was so all over the place making

clothes that I finally had to step away, take a break, and then come back.  But it was SO MUCH FUN! I eventually settled on yellow patterned pants and an olive colored shirt for my classic beauty.  I stamped the yellow paper with Oxide Fossilized Amber and noticed the paper had a slight coating to it.  The paper was a freebie and I could see no coating on it until I applied the ink.  So, in order for the ink to set I embossed the pants with clear, detail, embossing powder.  Once that was done, I die cut the pants and set them aside.  I realized that the long sleeved shirt I wanted to use didn't have separate hands, so I stamped the shirt on white card, die cut it, and then just used the die cut for the olive green layer.  I put the green on top of the stamped shirt and I had my hands!  I lined everything up (after all, I didn't want her head to be way over there and her feet over there), using the MISTI, then I stamped her head and her feet.  I dressed her with the clothes I had chosen.  

Lastly, I stamped the sentiments directly on the card using the Intense Black ink.  Again, since I was stamping on the watercolor card where I had built my image, I used my MISTI.  Inevitably, I have to re-stamp a few times to get the black ink to really sink in to the watercolor card stock.  Then I trimmed the panel, attached it to some yellow card and attached that to the white card base.  I kept the yellow panel the same size as the card base.  Whew! I hope you stayed with me during this whole process; it really isn't as difficult as it sounds when I am writing it all out.  I hope you will find the inspiration to join us at Stinkin' Inkers this month! Thanks so much! Christi

I am entering my Classic Beauty Card in the following challenges:
Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper - M, Anything Goes w/ Patterned Paper
Naughty or Nice Challenge - #40, M, Anything Goes
Just Us Girls - #396, Die Cuts
Creates and Makes Challenge - #12, M, Anything Goes, Option: Use Yellow

Stars for the May Card Chain Challenge

I cannot believe it is already time for the May Card Chain Challenge reveal!   It is absolutely crazy how time just slips away from me.  Anyway, this month I used Stars from the Theme Options and Washi Tape from the Product/Technique Options.  Now, if you decide to play, you can use all four options, or just one; it's up to you!  If you would like to see all of the options, please take a peek at the Card Chain Challenge website.  While you are there, why not sign up for the June challenge; you have until June 7th (plus, you can check out what the upcoming colors, sketch and themes are for the whole year - just click here.) Here is the card I designed for this challenge:

What I Used to Make my Card:
Navy Blue Card Base
Alcohol Ink Panel
Metallic Mixatives in Silver
Verses Birthday Sentiment Stamp, Star Danced, BB0407-D
Silver Star Foil Washi Tape (Available Online)
Silver Paper & Silver Glitter Paper Punched Stars
White Embossing Powder, Detail, Simon Says Stamp

Before I get into how I made my card, I want to share the card I received all the way from Jo in England.  Please do check out her amazing creations by clicking here:

Isn't that card darling??

I sent my card off to Sara in MO, who shows her cards off, as well as her sister's cakes, on her Flicker page.

Now, on to the tutorial. I made the alcohol ink panel first. I always make a few 
8 1/5 x 11" sheets when I have my alcohol inks out; I find that I typically use MUCH more ink than I need to and having the extra sheets out & ready makes it easier to make more sheets and not waste so much ink. .  If you aren't familiar with alcohol inks, I have a sort of

Original on Left; Reworked on Right

"beginners guide" here.  Anyway, my goal here was to make a background that looked like nightfall for this card as well as one that looked like the ocean for another card.  As I show in this comparison photo, I originally made the night sky a bit too busy and too silvery.  So I inked up the applicator with some blue inks and blending solution and lightened the panel up. 

Originally I wanted to emboss the sentiment in silver, but when I tested it out on the alcohol ink background,  the sentiment wasn't readable. I really didn't want to put the sentiment on another piece of cardstock, so, I used detail white embossing powder from

Another Look

Simon Says Stamp. I embossed directly onto the alcohol ink panel.  I edged the long edges of the panel with the washi tape and then placed the stars I had punched out onto various places on the card.  

I can't get a good picture due to the background being so shiny.  I always have a blast when I'm making things using alcohol ink - the only thing I struggle with is actually coloring with it! I've said this before, but making one card a month is such an easy thing to do and I look forward to receiving my card all month long.  It is a very rewarding experience, so, go to the Card Chain Challenge page and sign up to play!  There is even an option to opt out of sending cards overseas if postage is an issue.  I hope you have enjoyed my card ~ Christi

I am entering my Stars card in the following challenges:
Di's Digi Stamps - Birthday
Brown Sugar - #253, Celebrations
4 Crafty Chicks - #353, Birthday
Outlaws Twisted Thursday - Anything Goes, Twist: Stars
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
The Crazy Challenge - #249, Birthday

Where did I find all these fabulous challenges?!? At

Challenges for Days!