Another Fun Class

Hello stampers and paper crafters,

At my class last week, I took us back to stamping images for our cards - just taking a little break from the die cuts except for the little bird, and also used embossing powder.  It was really fun to stamp and cut out, and actually be involved with making the images for our cards.  I'm not giving up die cuts by any means, but stamping was a creative boost that I needed.  Here are the three cards that we made.

This card is actually four layered panels on the card base - starting with the top panel it is a white panel, striped paned, white panel again, and polka dot panel.  I think it would make a great masculine card.  The die cut bird was mounted over the stamped leaf branch.

For this card I downloaded a music background from Pinterest.  You can find it on my Pinterest board:  Ann Lancaster - Clip Art.  I stamped the Dahlia two times on pale salmon card stock and embossed with white embossing powder.  They were colored with Copic Chrome Orange #YR04 and shaded with a bit of Light Suntan #E13.  I cut out the center petals of the second image and mounted it over the whole dahlia piece.  The leaves were also stamped and cut out - stamped with Distress Pine Needles and sponged with Distress Evergreen Bough.  The music panel was embossed with a wood grain embossing folder and edged with Evergreen Bough.

On this card I used handmade paper for the background panel.  On the brown rectangle panel I used Scrapbook Adhesives E-Z Runner White, placing three strips of the tape and covering with glitter.  It holds the glitter wonderfully and you don't even have to press the glitter down - just sprinkle on and shake off.  To make the jewels match the olive green layered panel, I used a circle hand punch, attached the punch outs in place, and then attached the jewels over them.  This is a great way to make jewels match your color scheme.

Well, I hope you picked up a few handy tips for your card making.  Have a great time creating!

Blessings,
Annie

Glaze Background Technique

Hello again!

Today I have a technique to tell you about that is new to me.  I've done this technique before using alcohol inks and distress inks  and also Luna Lights.  But this time I used Golden Glaze, an artist medium.  I normally use it on pages when I'm making an altered book.  The product I used is a slow-drying, water-based acrylic with a satin finish; colors - Violet Earth, Sea Foam Green, and Fresco Cream.

On a piece of grey card stock, I randomly poured about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of each color.  Using a Tsukineko Squeegee (a credit card is a substitute), I smoothed the colors over the card stock, lightly blending as I covered the whole panel.  You may need to add a bit more of one color or another, to your liking.  Keep in mind to not over blend or your colors will become muddied.  Lay aside to dry or if the piece is not too damp, you can dry with your heat gun.  Next, I lightly sponged Memories White Dye ink over the entire panel.

Once dry, I embossed it with Tim Holtz wood grain embossing folder.  The leaves were made using Impression Obsession Leaves die set.  Give it a try and let me know if you liked the technique!

Blessings,
Annie

Bokeh Technique - 3 Ways

I've totally fallen in love with the Bokeh Technique.  It's popping up everywhere so I had to join the fun.  First of all, a definition.  Bokeh  BOH-kay — also sometimes pronounced as BOH-kə.  The term comes from the Japanese word boke, which means "blur" or "haze."

These backgrounds can be done with dye, pigment, and distress inks, and also watercolor.  I've made 3 cards doing the Bokeh background in 3 different ways.  Now let's get started!

Make a Template

Punch 4 different size circles from any kind of transparency sheet.  Approximately 1 3/4" circle, 1 1/4", 1", and ½".

Leaf  Card - Bokeh Background with Distress Inks

1.  With sponges layer and blend ink over the white panel with Distress Inks:  Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmelade, and Pine Needles.
2.   With the white ink, start with the largest circle on your template and work down in size, going from lighter to darker shade of white, using a sponge dauber to randomly pounce/rub the ink in the circle.  Lay it aside for a bit.  
2.  From the larger white panel, die cut the biggest leaf die from the package of Large Leaves #2 (Cheerylynn Designs).
3.  Attach the leaf panel over the Bokeh background, layer onto green panel, & mount on card base at the upper left.
4.  Embellish with 3 Dew Drops vertically on the lower right side of the mounted panels.
5.  Stamp sentiment at bottom right and on the inside.

Bokeh Background – Pink & White

1.  Emboss small cream panel with QuicKutz Retro Diamonds embossing folder.
2.  Start the Bokeh background applying white pigment or dye ink using the circles template.
3.  Nest, make a few circles using Memories Baby Pink dye ink and then a few more circles using Memories Blush dye ink (or whatever you have that is similar).
4.   Layer Bokeh panel onto the light pink panel, and then onto the card base.
5.  Glue on the Bluebells die cut (Spellbinders Die D-Lites Blue Bells and Lily of the Valley).
6.  Finish with a pink bow.








Birds Card - this one is a very simple style of Bokeh.

1.  Make Bokeh background using only white pigment or dye ink.
2.  Wrap twine around background panel and tie double knot.
3.  Trim branch die cut (Memory Box Grand Oak Tree)  to fit and glue on.4.  Glue 2 red birds (CheeryLynn Designs Birds of Earth and Sky) onto the branch and 1 red bird to inside of card.
5.  Stamp and punch sentiment; layer the 3 label punches and glue at twine knot.
6.  Attach panel to card base using dimensional tape.

Well that's it!  Hope you find these instructions helpful.  Let me know if you have a question.

Blessings,
Annie