Monthly Archives: July 2015
More Day 5 Adding Texture Online Card Class Background Check
Here are some more sample backgrounds created from today’s class videos.
Online Card Class Day 5 -Background Check
Three more videos on how to add texture to make interesting backgrounds. Yesterday, I think I went through a whole package of Tim Holtz Watercolor Paper and didn’t end up with more than four backgrounds that will find their way onto a real card. The rest will be garbaged (computer doesn’t like it but I want to make garbage a verb, so I am…so there). That is frustrating as it adds to my “per card” cost of my hobby which had been sitting somewhere around a modest $432.00 per card prior to this latest expense :-). But I digress, today was better. All were keepers, but of course, I put a nasty crease in my favourite one, trying to straighten it for the photo. I may be able to salvage it when I turn it in to a card.
Online Card Class Day 4-Background Check
In the class today the instructors were using diffusers and coverplates, both commercially available ones and homemade ones. They also used Press and Seal to make a fairly tedious technique considerably less tedious. I decided to try using a cover plate die along with Press and Seal to create one background and a Tim Holtz diffuser along with an embossing folder to create a second background. I love the background with the diffuser. The other one was prettier in my head than on the end result. I have a plan B that I will attempt if I have enough time.
There is a Mouse in the House!
Sandra decided to enter the Monday House Mouse Challenge. The challenge asks you to use a House Mouse Stamp and a Friend theme on your project. Sandra’s entry follows.
Supplies: House Mouse Designs Happy Hopper Rabbits Jumping on Brass Bed, Bazzill Basics Paper Buttons, Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, Copic markers, Michaels ribbon, Tim Holtz Blqack Soot Distress Ink, Graphic 45 Raining Cats and Dogs patterned paper
Paper Smooches Sketch Challenge
I just love the new Paper Smooches die called Flatware 2. So why do we call the utensils that we eat with flatware? Well, one source says that flatware originally pertained to those dishes that were flat like plates and saucers and eventually evolved to refer to forks and spoons. Knives were referred to as cutlery. Another source said that the term flatware refers to the process of rolling out steel and cutting out as many knives and forks and spoons out of a sheet of steel as possible.
Here is the sketch crafters are to use in the challenge, followed by my entry into the challange:
Online Card Classes Day 3-Background Check
On Day 3 of this class we are to put the “rubber on the road” so to speak. The task is to take the backgrounds we have been creating and actually make cards out of them. The interesting part for me, is figuring out how to let the background be somewhat the star of the show, while still having the other elements and the sentiment be evident as well.
Videos in the class featured cutouts and windows so I have tried to incorporate this as well.
Online Card Class- Day 2 Background Check
Today in this class, Laura Bassen is proving to me that she is not only the blending Queen, but also the plaid Queen. I have found it is pretty difficult to put together perfectly all the elements needed to make a nice plaid. Laura said she starts with trip into Pinterest for inspiration. I now know this is a good idea. If you start with a colour palette that someone else has already determined goes together to make a nice plaid, there is less chance of the finished background not turning out. It is not foolproof, as there are so many other things that can and probably will go wrong, starting with trying to stamp in a straight line with a thin stamp that dances around like a worm on a fish hook. Then, of course, there is the stamp is not long enough to stamp horizontally in one stamp, followed by the residual ink from the previous colour is lurking undetected on the stamp and ending with the appearance of a mysterious inky fingerprint in the middle of the background, that can all work together to ruin the project.
Anyway, I managed to put together a few backgrounds that might find their way on to a card.
Papertrey Ink-Make it Monday Challenge
Today was supposed to be ironing day. I have had the excuse that it was too hot in the house to iron, but not today. Just when I was going to shut off the computer and go turn on the iron, I saw the Monday Challenge from Papertrey Ink in my inbox. The challenge is to use a Texture Kissing technique on a project. Well, that sounded really quite difficult, and I was sure it would keep me from starting the ironing for at least a couple of hours, so I was up for that.
It did take a few tries to get an inked image that was a keeper. I also made it more difficult by making the decision to stamp in an odd bluish violet colour. I have a small warehouse of paper, and I had to search through it all, to find a small patterned background paper that complemented that ink colour. That was good, because now I have even less time to iron, and a new mission to find a 6 X 6 paper pad in bluish violet with small patterns.
In the end, I was quite happy with the finished result.
Supplies: Papertrey Ink Pack Your Bags stamp set, Papertrey Ink Ombre Builders stamp set, Simon Says Stamp and Hero Arts ink, Papermania patterned paper, Recollections card base, Craft Medley sequins, Wink of Stella glitter pen and Scor tape.
Online Card Classes- Background Check
Today begins the newest class over at Online Card Classes. Background Check is taught by Jennifer McGuire, Kristina Werner, Laura Bassen and some guest artists. I love these classes because you can go in and watch a technique at any time of the day or night, forever, and the videos themselves are very high quality.
Laura Bassen is the Blending Queen for sure. She really knows how to get smooth blending with no harsh lines. Her inks blend like “buddar” as she would say.
Here is the first card I created using Laura’s blending technique.
Supplies: Neenah 80 lb cardstock, Simon Says Stamp Island Blue ink, Hero Arts Lemon Yellow and Tide Pool inks, Simon Says Stamp Ice Cream Dream Stamp Set, copic markers, Recollections clear embossing powder, American Crafts Summer 6 X 6 pad, Recollections card base, fun foam, Scor tape
My Favorite Things-Sketch Challenge
Do you want to know my current dilemma? Didn’t think so, but I am going to tell you anyway. In Canada (and other cousin countries) we like to throw in extra letters when spelling. So for instance, we would spell favorite like this…f..a..v..o..u..r..i..t..e and color like this c..o..l..o..u..r. I know, no big deal. The dilemma comes in when I go to do a blog post like today’s post. I definitely want to spell the stamp company like they intended My F..a..v..o..r..i..t..e..Things, but what do I do in the rest of the post………………do I write it in Canadian or do I keep spelling in the U.S. English. What a dilemma!
No matter, This card uses one of my f..a..v..o..u..r..i..t..e stamp sets from My F..a..v..o.r..i..t..e Things and is c..o..l..o..u..r..e..d or c..o..l..o..r..e..d by one of my f..a..v..o..u..r..i..t..e or f..a..v..o..r..i t..e friends. Enjoy!
Supplies: My Favorite Things Penguins in Paradise, Dienamics Sun Ray die, Doodlebug and Studio Calico patterned paper, Recollections and X-pressit cardstock, Glossy Accents, Copic markers and Memento Tuxedo Black ink.
![Zographus regalis cuprea [Cameroon]](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52783978513_e3da275118_s.jpg "Zographus regalis cuprea [Cameroon]")
DebSelby
Maverick Muses 