Playing with Oxide Inks #2, Happy Birthday!

I know I have been missing a bit from Blogland - I had foot surgery done and have to wear this walking boot. For the first week I was literally on my couch taking advantage of the nice pain killers. I am feeling better and will be back to full steam ahead shortly! 

I had seen some cool stuff made out of the oxide inks on black cardstock so I decided to give it a whirl.  Perfect timing as I had to make the Man a Birthday Card.  This is what I came up with:

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Black Card
Mini Ink Blending Tool
Distress Oxide Inks: Wilted Violet, Worn Lipstick, Cracked Pistachio, Broken China, Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade & Faded Jeans
Tim Holtz Mini Stencil, #10, Flourish
Tim Holtz Mini Stencil, #4, Blossom
Quietfire Designs - Happy Birthday Plain & Simple, #5899
Sizzix/Tim Holtz, Labels, #660060
Piece of Blue/Gray Card from Stash

I would have liked the colors to be more vibrant, but the muted colors are very pretty as well.  On this card, at first, I didn't use any spritzes of water - nothing

but the inks themselves.  I had been building on the color and building on the color when I remembered a technique where you could use stencils, and I had just gotten those 2 new mini sets, so I stopped my mad inking, went to Pinterest (I am totally, without a doubt, addicted to Pinterest) and found the technique I wanted. This one uses a baby wipe to remove some color through the stencil, which I did, then I used the ink directly through the stencil with the mini ink applicator.  On the left side of the card I used the flourish stencil; on the right, the blossom stencil.  I couldn't tell you which inks went where.  That, I think, is my favorite property (so far) about these Oxide inks - you literally cannot make a mistake and if you don't like your pattern, colors, etc. just keep inking until you do!  I've been inking paper after paper, incorporating Ken Oliver's Liquid Metals at times.  It reminds me of the old way of making Polished Stone with alcohol inks and Krylon leafing pens (way back in the day prior to Tim Holtz). I have lots more to show you, but let me get back to this card.  I put the black card panel under my drying tile and left it there overnight. 

Another Look

The next day, I stamped the sentiment on a piece of scrap card, using the Oxide Ink in Faded Jeans, and die cut it with the Labels die cuts.  I am absolutely thrilled with how the card came out; I'm really happy with all the new tricks you can do with these inks.  I've been making backgrounds like crazy but I had to have some minor surgery on my foot, and that is keeping me out of the craft room as I need to keep it elevated.  But, I promise, the wait is worth it! Thank you so much for your continued loyalty and perhaps I've inspired you to check out some new techniques! Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Man's Birthday Card in the following challenges:
Tuesday Throwdown - #347, For the Men
Everybody Art  Challenge - #405, Happy Birthday
Cards in Envy - You're the Man
Just For Fun (M) - For the Guys

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