Starting my big project

Woohoo~  It is finally Saturday!  I hope everyone is having a good weekend.  It is the time that I always long for as it is my craft time!

I'm starting my crafty weekend with a Christmas card, where the sketch came from Merry Monday:

I'm using last year's Pear and Partridge paper for this card:

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!

An attempt to achieve ombre effect

It's time for a Runway Inspired Challenge!

You can find the original inspiration piece here.

It may sound extremely weird to you, but I was drawn by the bright yellow worn by the model going to backstage and the burgandy stockings worn by the front model.  So then I thought, red and yellow, let's try my Tim Holtz Distress Paints!

It is my first time using the distress paints and I'm sure it will not be the last time.  Fun fun fun!  The three colors that I used were Picked Rasberry, Musteed Seed and Spiced Marmalade.  After spreading the paints on the craft sheet, I sprayed some water on it and gently swiped a white piece of paper across the surface.  Cool.  Like my homemade background paper.

I added some embossing to the background, die cut a sentiment in white and put the pieces together.  Voila!  A fun card is made.  I have a feeling that if I use some dark colors and another font for the sentiment, it will be a great masculine card, don't you think?

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamping

This week Color My Heart's challenge asks us to use Hollyhock, Cotton Candy and Blush.  They are all girly, pinky colors.  I rarely use three shades of pink at the same time so I think it will be a good opportunity to challenge myself.

I first took out my cardstocks but I didn't have a clue how I wanted to use them, so I turned to the fun of stamping.

I first cut one a heart using Art Philosophy at 3" as a mask.  Then I pulled out a lot of floral stamps and inked them up in Hollyhock, the darkest shade.  After the first round of stamping around the heart, I turned to Cotton Candy.  By then the card is quite fully occupied except the bottom part, so I finished off with stamping in Blush.  The finishing touch is stamping the sentiment in black.  Voila!

I thought about trimming it down and mounting it on one of the three cardstocks.  Eventually I left it the way it is.  There is something special about one layered cards and I'll make this card one of those.

Did I mention this is an idea from the craft guru Jennifer McGuire?  I watched a video made by her on youtube and copied the idea for my card, except that her card has an off-centered heart and she has used a colorful palette rather than a monotone.

How many stamp sets have I used?  Here they are:
1.  Perfect Fit - Mom
2.  A Tree
3.  A Blossom
4.  4 My Friend

In my trial version I have used many more stamp sets, but I didn't like it because that I think this technique works much better with solid stamps so I had opted to use repeated images rather than multiple outline images.

Have you looked at the challenge at Heart 2 Heart?  It is all about flowers.  Check it out!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sending Warm Wishes

Sending Warm Wishes on a Tuesday!

Just sharing this quick card with you today and sending warm wishes your way!

The card sketch came from Sketch Frezy Friday:

I love the clean lines of the sketch, perfect for creating a card with a focal image.

My card is also entering the challenge at CAS on Sunday - pastel pretties and Addicted to Stamps - CAS.

Thanks for stopping by!

White-pigment-ink-phobia

I have white-pigment-ink-phobia.  There is no cure for me.

People have told me a million times that white pigment ink is a "must-have", a "go-to" for various techniques and they made beautiful artwork with it.  I tried those techniques and I tried to cure my phobia but I'm afraid I have yet overcome my fear for it.

Between finishing up the inking and completion of this card, I have probably washed my hands for 10 times.  No kidding, 10 times.  It is actually my nth attempt to get the stamping straight but after the success, I worried so much that my inky fingers would mess up the pattern so I kept on washing my hands. I'm not sure what I've done wrong with white pigment inks, but even after multiple heat setting sessions, I think the ink was still not completely dry. If you have tips about pigment ink, please share!

See the front of the card is warped as a result of heat?  I hope it will flatten out later.

Even though I have yet overcome my White-pigment-ink-phobia, I am a step closer to overcoming it.  This card does turn out quite lovely.  For me it is quite a challenge to make a Thank You card for a man but I think the recipient will like it (and the chocolate bar next to it).

This card is entering the challenges below:
1.  OWL - 3x3 card
2.  Simply Less is More - Colored cardstock, one layered card.
3.  Just Us Girls - White Ink

Thanks for stopping by!

Hexagons

Hexagons are really popular these days.  All the craft supplies have something hexagonal - stamps, paper, dies, you name it.

When they first came out I was crazy about them.  I bought quite a number of things: embossing folders, nestabilities, stamps, etc.  I keep on collecting hexagonal things but I can't remember using them.  Shh.......It is absolutly not something I'm proud of.  I am currently pushing myself to dig through my stash and use whatever that are still in the package (There is quite a big pile of those items!!)

Let me start with my nestabilities.  I'm using the hexagon die to cut out small ones and put them back together as a backgroun.  I have then tried different ways to add "Happy Birthday" and eventually settled on this version:

Yup, I feel a bit relieved, or guilt-reduced for using the dies.  They are fun to play with but I honestly wish I had cricut to do it for me.  Cranking out the same shape for two dozen times is a boring task.  Having said that, this boring part makes the recipient appreciate a hand-made card much more than those on the shelf.  I still thinkg it is worth the time.

This card is entering the challenge at CASology - Hexagon:

Black Tie Friday - CAS with Black optional:

and Great Impression - Celebration.

Thanks for stopping by!

Merry Christmas in May

While we are all celebrating Mother's Day in pink and red and purple, I can't resist to make a Christmas card using the sketch at Merry Monday:

I used a variety of products that have been sitting in my stash on this card: the Impression Obsession Cover-a Card (Music) background stamp, bracket die from Tim Holtz and deer die from Time Holtz. Wait, the pine cone stamp finally saw some ink after a year of waiting in my box.  Shhhhh........

It is quite a simple card but I like how it turns out and it was definitely fun to make.  I am so happy that my "collection" is now used!

Thanks for stopping by!