Clean and Simple 3 Class Homework

Hello everyone!! Just a quick post to show off the last card I created for the Clean and Simple 3 class. I used Jennifer McGuire's technique of stamping a background in white. Jen then stamped over the background with a a different stamp but I wanted to try something different. Instead of stamping over the white, I masked over it with post it tape and used inks to get an ombre effect. I saw this on a Julie Ebersole video and have wanted to try this for a while.

The sentiment was stamped and embossed first, before I did anything. I didn't want the background to interfere with that.

The mist spray I splattered and the added sequin are really a cover up for some fingerprints I got on the card. A girl has to do what a girl has to do to make it right!! Hee Hee!! I also added some Wink of Stella glitter over the stripes but it is hard to tell on this photo.

Things I learned:
Not all white pigment ink is the same. I used MFT's white on this card. Jennifer used Hero Art's, which I did not have at the time. (I have since gotten my hands on some!!) On some parts of the card, the ink was a bit saturated and I had a hard time with it drying, even with my heat gun. I also need to get some ultra fine white (and black) embossing powder for sentiments. The stuff I have just doesn't work all that well.

Well that is all for today. Thank you for stopping by!!!

Nora

Supplies:

Stamps-Hero Arts and Paper Trey Ink

Wow Embossing Powder

White ink by Colorbox for MFT

Distress ink

Doodlebug sequins

Wink of Stella glitter

Simple Class Homework-Day 9-Textural Effects

Happy Hump Day!!

Blog, create cards, blog, create cards-that is the dilemma for me these days. Also, having a concussion and still feeling the effects of it has kept me off of the computer for the most part. I did want to share some of the cards I made using techniques from the Clean and Simple 3 Class I just completed. What a fun class!! I would definitely recommend taking one of these classes if you ever get the chance.

For the first card, I used Debbie Hughe's embossing technique to create my card. Her beautiful butterfly card inspired me to make a card using a butterfly stamp. This stamp is from Stampin Up!'s "Wonderful Wings" set-one of the oldest stamp sets I own. I rarely use wooden stamps anymore but this stamp set is still one of my favorites!

Here is the card I created:

Unlike Debbie, I chose to emboss in black rather then in white for this card. I think that the black suited this butterfly rather then the white. I then colored in the butterflies with Copic markers.

I generally like the way they came out BUT they did pick up some of the black embossing powder and sent it through the coloring to mottle it a little. It made the butterflies a bit dark. I then used a Wink of Stella pen to go over all the butterflies to make them shine. It is a little hard to see in the photos I took, though.

I then sprinkled green and orange mist on the card. Debbie showed how she does "controlled" sprinkles but I threw that out the window and just went for it. I am in that mode these days of just going full out.

The embossing paste technique was the last step. I used a stencil I cut out of white card stock using my Silhouette digital cutter. After the embossing paste dried, I covered it all with a little Wink of Stella.

The second card I created I decided to leave the embossing paste off but started off trying the "controlled" misting. Once you see the card, you will see I did NOT control my spraying in any shape or form!!!

I decided to used white embossing powder for this card and pulled out some Radiant Pearls paint-something I have had in my stash FOR YEARS to paint the butterflies.

Can I tell you how disappointed I am that they don't make these anymore? They are so fun to work with and I only have about 7 colors. It is hard to tell from the photo but the butterflies are shiny from the paint-no glitter pen needed. 

I have to admit, that I liked this card better then the first…until I screwed it up with the darn greeting. I messed up the stamping-one reason I rarely make one layer cards. I tried to "fix it" by stamping over it in black and then using my glitter pen over the black. I wish I had just used a gray or black ink for the greeting in the first place instead of getting fancy with a color. 

I also went around the outside with Hero Art's gold ink. I thought that it was a nice touch. I added sequins too because I thought it needed a "bit" more. Sometimes knowing where to stop is so difficult!!

Things I learned from this class:
1. Masking takes a bit of time. For this card, I had to make four separate masks using masking paper. Each of the butterflies needed a mask, as well as the sentiment.

2. Also, I need to get a palate knife for the embossing paste. I used a plastic knife for it on the first card and you can see the ridges from where I went over the paste with that knife. I also was kind of sloppy but since I have only ever used this technique once before, I know that I just need to practice.

3. Black embossing powder is not color fast. I think this is the greatest lesson!!

4. When you make a mistake on a one layer card, you have to figure out how to "fudge it" to make it better or throw it away. Sometimes you don't want to throw all that work away so you make do.

Well, that is all. I thank you for looking at my cards. I have had a blast at looking at all yours. Have a great day!!

Nora

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge-Glitter It!

I hate to post two in one day but I needed to do this to enter the Simon Says Stamp glitter challenge for tomorrow.

I created this card using the Stampin Up! "Stipple Butterfly" stamp. This was a case from a Debby Hughes card from the Clean and Simple 3 Class that ended last week. (My last butterfly card was inspired by the same card, as were the two that I will be posting for my homework tomorrow.) This is one of the OLDEST stamps I own. I never use wood stamps anymore but I never got rid of this because I LOVE butterflies. Every card I made this weekend I was thinking of my late mother. Her birthday was yesterday and I think I just had it on my mind. 

I had fun pulling out old supplies, using my "new" embossing paste, and spritzing mist spray every which way. 

I colored the butterfly in with Copic markers. I used a photo off the internet as a "model" for the coloring. Blue butterflies are my favorite!!

I then stamped a thank you from Simon Says Stamp "Thanks" set from September. I LOVE this stamp set!!

I masked the butterfly and sentiment off using the paper mask but as you can see, it wasn't 100% successful. I used a Wink of Stella glitter pen on some of the embossing paste, as well as the butterfly. It is so hard to see in the photo, though.

That is all for now. Thanks for stopping by.

Nora

Supplies:

Stampin Up! Stipple Butterfly

InLinkz.com

Paper Trey Ink March Blog Hop

Happy Tuesday!! Just a quick post to share a card I created for the Paper Trey Ink March Blog Hop.

The challenge was to use some sort of "high gloss" technique on your card.

I am going to admit that this card was inspired by a Debbie Hughes card that she created for a class I took that ended last week. I chose to emboss a butterfly stamp with black embossing ink, color it in, and go over it with a glitter pen. It is hard to see in the photo, I know.

I didn't use the springy colors but chose to use Copic markers to color in the monarch butterfly. I used a photo on the internet to match the marker colors I used for my coloring. I really love how it came out.

My next step was to stamp the greeting using Paper Trey Ink's "Think Big Favorites #24 Stamp" in gray ink. I then masked both the butterfly and the sentiment and literally flung orange and gold paint at the card.

My last step was to use gold ink around the outside edges. This card was extremely simple to make but took me a huge amount of time to create. I am very slow at coloring and tend to "over think" it.

I do not usually use non PTI stuff on these blog hops but I really wanted to use this butterfly. It shouted Spring to me and I needed that during this unusually cold March!

Thank you for looking!! Have a great night!!

Nora

Supplies:

Wonderful Wings Stamp Set-Stampin Up!

InLinkz.com

Day 5 and 6 Clean and Simple 3 Card Class-Backgrounds Into Foreground Homework

Hello!! I am back with just one more card for my Clean and Simple Class 3 Card homework.

This was to use some of the techniques taught to make the background the foreground. I used Laura Bassen's masked plaid background to make my card. For me, this was partially an epic fail. Here is the card:

First, the plaid is not as straight as I wanted it to be. I also used Ranger Distress Inks and they were BRIGHT!! Oh, and this is the SECOND background I made. I dropped an ink pad on my original background just as I was about half way done. Whoops!

The second failure is the way the inlaid die cutting was on this card. I was not going to use this technique at all but when I originally stamped the Hooray word balloon, the black did not stamp evenly. In order to save the card, I had to die cut it out. I obviously did not die cut it straight because the word balloon is off and that BUGS ME.

The third and final failure was how the spritzing came out of my white Color Shine by Heidi Swapp. It looks less white and more like the card got splashed with water by mistake. Sigh. This dang thing took me a long time to make for all these errors!!

Things I learned with this technique:
I loved making the plaid but think I will use less saturated ink pads next time. I will also not make a flat card but use die cuts and pop them off the card. This will help me so that if I make a mistake, it won't be directly on a background that took me as long as this one did.

Well, that is all for tonight. Have a great night. I cannot wait for tomorrow's class!!

Nora

Day 3 and 4 of Clean and Simple Class 3-"Optical Illusion" Homework

Hello again!! I am back with one more card.

Day 3 and 4 of the Clean and Simple Class were all about using optical illusion techniques. I used Jennifer McGuire's technique of masking and shading to create the card below.

This technique was a lot of fun. I had to get out my embossing stuff, as I always seem to have to do with every class I take and this time it wasn't as painful. I love that chicken wire stamp, don't you? It is a REALLY OLD Stampin Up! background I pulled out. I then shaded it with some yellow and orange ink. Behind the orange duck, I used a mask and then stamped a sun burst using a Neat and Tangled stamp. I put yellow ink on the stamp, dotted it with orange and then took the ink blender and shaded on the stamp and THEN stamped the sun. It didn't come out exactly as I liked but this was an experiment that I would try again.

Things I learned from this technique:
I really needed to use masking paper on this rather then the printer paper I used for the mask. (I bought some last night.) I think it would have helped in my shading. I also think the sunburst would have stamped better as the right side didn't get as much color as the left and I made sure the ink was the same on both sides.

I also found a white embossing powder I liked. I used WOW! with Versamark Ink. It really did a great job on the detail of the fencing.

Thanks for stopping by!! I will be back with one more card!!

Nora

Homework Day 1 & 2 of Clean and Simple 3 Class

Hey everyone!! I have a few quick posts to make tonight. They will be quick because I am not supposed to be on the computer for any length of time and have been on longer then I should have been today. I suffer from a concussion from hitting my head in the bathroom last Sunday night (don't ask) and have had a little trouble this week with it all. Haven't had much screen time because I am not supposed to be using the computer, watch TV or even use my phone and exercise is out. Cannot say it has been the most fun week. However, before my MD's diagnosis on Thursday (yes, I did wait 4 days to finally go to the doctor), I did get to view some of this weeks Clean and Simple 3 Class that I had  signed up for before all this happened. The doctor gave me the OK to be able to craft-something I am grateful for because I am BORED!!

The first day of class was all about faux effects. For my first card, I used Debby Hughes technique of inlaid die cuts. Here is the card I created.

I inlaid the piece of patterned paper and the thanks. I then stamped all the little dots and added a few sequins and a bit of Stickles.

This is a fun technique and I even used it again but that is getting ahead of myself.

Things I learned from making this card:
Measure twice, cut once. I originally had a different piece of patterned paper I wanted to use for the middle. I did not cut it right so I had to go with plan B. Also, the die cut left kind of a "ghost" around it in some areas. I might have to replace one of my cutting plates?

The thing I had a difficult time with was actually sticking to a one layer card. I know I added the sequins but I thought it just needed them!!

That is all for this moment. Will be posting 3 other posts tonight so stay tuned. Oh, and I will NOT be posting supply links tonight. Again, trying to keep my screen time to as minimum as possible.

Nora