I was going to post this Monday and say it was "Magical Monday" but my internet connection was so poor last night I couldn't do it. AUGH!!!! technology... And that's why I love my art! It's low tech.
This card is for the color challenge at Splitcoast Stampers this week - Bermuda Bay, Cherry Cobbler and Blueberry Bushel. This really was challenging for me and I had a tough time thinking of an image to use. Then I came across this Laurel Burch stamp.
I have loved her artwork since the 80s and when I discovered that some of it was being released in stamps I was so excited! If you are not familiar with her, her art is very graphic, colorful and whimsical. Unfortunately she passed away in 2007, but has left beautiful art as her legacy.
When coloring this I tried to stay somewhat true to her style. I used ZIG Kuretake brush markers in order to get depth of shading. The most difficult part of the card for me was the layout. I wanted it to be somewhat organic. I used a swirl embossing folder on Vanilla card stock and the distressed that with sand paper and some Distress Oxide Antique Linen ink. The mermaid panel was too pristine so instead of die cutting out the panel I ripped the edges - always a hard thing to do!
The dessert option this week is to add some shimmer or sparkle so after tearing I touched the edges with both Antique Linen and shimmer paint. It is all mounted to a shimmery piece of card stock that my mother-in-law gave me. I have no idea what it is, but it's pretty! I cut the word Dream from the same card stock.
Stamp: Stampendous Laurel Burch Mermaid
Die: Penny Black
ZIG Kuretake Brush Pens: Persian Blue, Turquoise Green, Wine Red, Olive Green, Beige, Flesh Color, Dark Brown
Ink: Distress Oxide Antique Linen, Stampin' Up! Frost White Shimmer Paint
Embossing Folder: Stampin' Up!Swirls and Curls
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Happy Tuesday! This week's challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches is both a sketch and color challenge. The colors made me think of Christmas - maybe because I'm starting to get nervous about having all my cards made!
Here is the challenge:
I created the patterned panel by using a new stamp I just purchased call a "turnabout" stamp. It's from Concord and 9th. You put you paper in a stamping platform that will hold a 6 inch square. You stamp the first color, turn the paper 90 degrees, stamp the second color, then turn and stamp until you have done this four times. The pattern fills itself in. You can switch up colors as I did or do a monochromatic background.
I used the three challenge colors plus a grey. (I thought about heat embossing in silver for the fourth color but decided I wanted to practice first before I went a bit crazy!)
To finish off the card I dies cut some sprigs and used silver thread to "tie" them on.
Stamps: Concord & 9th Deck the Halls Turnabout
Dies: Stampin' Up! Pretty Pines
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Well, I couldn't make just one Double Slide Surprise card! Especially after my husband saw the card I made for Anushka. He shares the same birthday and of course was expecting something pretty special for his card.
My husband is a scuba diver (I am not) and loves the ocean. I am not particularly strong at swimming. That said, on our last trip to Maui we decided to take a snorkeling trip. It happened to be right before Hurricane Lane was coming by the islands and the sea was pretty rough. That, coupled with my lack of swimming ability, made for a rather tense snorkeling excursion for me. But my husband was great - he stayed by my side and actually held my hand the whole time I was in the water. Best snorkeling buddy ever!
So I went all out with his card using a dive theme. The background was created with Distress Oxide inks using wave a stencil for the sandy bottom. In order to cut all the pieces I did two rows of the background scene.
I then colored A LOT of fish pieces. Way more than I needed but it allowed me to play with placement and now I have extras.
I cut the center piece and the two side pieces roughly lining up the sandy bottom. You can see by this photo that I originally had the diver front and center but changed it to the submarine. I wanted to keep the diver as a "surprise."
I loved making Double Slider Surprise cards! There are so many possibilities with this format. But I will warn you - they are not quick to make. You need some thought and planning with them - so make them for someone special and take your time!!!
Dies: Lawn Fawn Double Slider Surprise
Stamps and Dies: All Lawn Fawn - Duh-Nuh, You Are Sublime, Fintastic Friends
Copics:
Distress Oxides: Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Faded Jeans, Stormy Sky, Tea Dye, Antique Linen
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Happy Tuesday! It's a sketch challenge this week at CAS Colours & Sketches so I could use any colors I wanted! Well, I really wanted to use some new leaf dies that I have and I knew how I wanted to approach it from a technique perspective. Using the card sketch allowed me to concentrate on the technique instead of the layout.
Here is the challenge:
I used my Distress Oxide inks and what I call a "splat" technique. I swipe the ink pad on a plastic mat and spray with water, then I dip my paper into the mess. I do this with several colors, most of the time using my heat gun to dry between layers.
For these leaves I used mostly autumn colors and some green. When the paper was nice and dry, I die cut the leaves. This technique gives a nice randomness to the leaf colors - just like in nature!
After cutting I sponged the leaf edges with both brown and brick to make them more "autumn." And I added a few dew drops.
My one struggle with this card was the antiquing around the edge of the card itself. This is a CAS challenge and I did not want to get it too distressed, but a stark white card just didn't fit. So I VERY lightly and narrowly tipped the edges with the same brown and brick.
Dies used: Cottage Cutz Fall Leaves
Inks: Distress Oxides Fired Brick, Spiced Marmalade, Wild Honey, Fossilized Amber, Peeled paint, Gathered Twigs
Paper: Strathmore Mixed Media, Early Espresso, Copper foil
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This week I'm the Color Challenge hostess at Splitcoast Stampers. I chose Petal Pink, Calypso Coral and Pear Pizzazz. Not exactly fall colors, but I love the combination.
I have wanted to make a fairy garden for the longest time but have been too busy. And I'm not even sure they are a "thing" anymore but I still think they are so fun and special. In any case, this fairy house stamp just really appeals to me and this is my first time coloring it. I used a combination of Stampin' Blends and Copic markers
For the cobblestone background I used a giraffe print stencil and some Stampin' Up! Champagne Shimmer Paint. It really sparkles! It sparkles so much that in the top photo there is a color shift and it looks like two different colors. It is really just the light hitting one side more than the other.
Please consider joining us at the challenge this week!
Stamps/Die: Stamping Bella Fairy Garden Fairy House and Garden Girl Sentiments
Ink: (where Stampin' Blends are used Iused both light and dark, the Copic color listed after is an additional marker used for added depth that coordinates with the Blends color) Calypso Coral & R00; Petal Pink & YR0000; Soft Suede & E43; Crumb Cake & W00, W1; G40, G43, G46 (for the Pear Pizzazz)
Paint: Stampin' Up! Champagne Glimmer paint
Accessories: Stampin' up! Flowers, MFT Giraffe print stencil
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