Star & Watercolor Background

One of my favorite card making techniques is using Distress Inks as watercolors. That's exactly what I did to create the sky-themed background for today's card.

To create the background, I pressed the ink pads directly to a craft sheet. Distress Inks react with water; therefore, I added a few sprays to the inks before dipping watercolor cardstock into the ink. The first layer of ink was too light for my liking. I dried the layer and dipped it into the ink a second time. 

The new stamp set, Enjoy Calligraphy, from Sweet Stamp Shop quickly became one of my favorites. The script is beautiful. I used the small stars stamp repeatedly to cover the background before adding it to the card front. A little vellum scrap and a die cut completed the look. 

So dreamy... Excuse me while I create about 400 more. I just love these products. 

SUPPLIES :: Paper Cut Cardstock, Watercolor Paper, Iridescent Vellum / Sweet Stamp Shop Enjoy Calligraphy Stamp Set / VersaFine Black Ink / Spellbinders Die / Faded Jeans, Weathered Wood, Dusty Concord, & Tattered Rose Distress Inks

TOOLS :: Evolution Die Cutting Tool / Acrylic Block / Tonic 12" Guillotine / MyStik Permanent Adhesive / Mini Mister / Inkssentials Non-Stick Craft Sheet

Card Making Monday : Thank You Florals

Hello and Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend. Mine was spent stalking crafty friends as they enjoy CHA and show all the new products I just can't wait to get my hands on! Before moving onto the next best thing, I dug up a stamp set, embossing folder, and die that were added to my collection this past year and created this pretty card...

Only a portion of the card base was placed into the embossing folder. This may be my new favorite technique! After cutting the die, I stamped the floral wreath using Marvy Markers and Sweet Stamp Shop's Monogram It set. A layer of vellum and a stamped banner complete the card. 

Thanks for visiting the blog today! Have a great week!

SUPPLIES :: Paper Cut Cardstock & Vellum, Marvy Markers, Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, Sweet Stamp Shop Monogram It

TOOLS :: Spellbinders Die, Lifestyle Crafts Sketchbook Embossing Folder & Evolution Tool

Sketch It Saturday :: Let It Snow

Happy Saturday! It's time to show off a new sketch from Unscripted Sketches. We've put together some great inspiration for you, so grab your supplies and create something using this sketch as a starting point! 

I was excited about the possibilities that this sketch holds and will probably make a few card variations after today. I can't wait to see what you all come up with. Make sure you head to Unscripted Sketches to link up your project before next Saturday! Here's the card I created for today's challenge:

How beautiful is the background for this card? It's the new Snowflake Background Set from Hero Arts & Sizzix. You first stamp the background stamp from Hero Arts onto cardstock. Next, place the cardstock into the matching embossing folder from Sizzix, creating a crisp image on top of the embossed design. I'm loving these sets! 

I stamped a snowflake a few times onto the white oval with a light blue chalk ink that appears on the grey side. Both ovals were cut using a Spellbinders die. I added the silver ribbon between the two layers and adhered the white oval with foam risers. An elegant pearl completes the card. 

It's December 1st, and it's time for the snow to start falling here in Wisconsin. Sadly, they're predicting another warm winter. I'll keep on crafting with snowflakes in mind. Have a wonderful weekend!

 CARD SUPPLIES
Cardstock: Paper Cut (Pewter, Bamboo Bark, White), We R Memory Keepers (Winter)
Dies: Spellbinders (Classic Oval Small, Lacey Ovals)
Inks: StazOn (Jet Black), Encore (Silver), Versamagic (Aspen Mist)
Embossing Folder/Stamp: Sizzix/Hero Arts (Snowflake Background Set)
Stamps: Just Rite (Large Fancy Holiday Sentiments)
Bling: Melissa Francis (Cream Pearl)