​I'm in a total mixed media card making phase this week that I've explained in greater detail in the E-News #217 of February 11, 2018.  This 'phase' falls nicely in the What's Next? category!  It all started when I linked a couple of articles in the E-News.  My light bulb moment flashed at the idea of turning journal pages into a card (which wasn't the point of the video link).  Wait until you see what got me all excited!  Secondly, turning background scraps into simple shapes is what this post is all about and there's a link to the post in tomorrow's E-News as well.  I was more than pleasantly surprised by how much fun I'm having!

​​To begin, go into your stash and find a bunch of background papers that you've already created.  Don't be too concerned about what you're looking for at this point.  For this demo, I've chosen from this pile of scraps to work with:

​​Decide what card panel to use.  Think about piecing different scraps together if you don't have a large enough section.  Since I already made a blue mixed media card (also in E-News #217) I chose this piece for my card panel:
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​The stamped images are now finished and the focal sentiment added.  Here you can really pick out each stamped layer.  All that's left are the triangle trees!

If you watch Martice Smith's video, she cuts her shapes first and then adds stamping.  I added stamping first over scrap sections of papers and then cut out my shapes as I felt that was easier than stamping onto little paper pieces.  She added a lot more doodling but her backgrounds were white whereas mine aren't and I didn't need to add much other than outline the trees and heart in pen.

Finally, the little punched heart and splatters of acrylic paint are added to complete the card!

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Stampendous, Amuse Studio, Catherine Pooler Designs, Dina Wakely
Ink:  Catherine Pooler Designs, Tsukineko
Papers:  Hammermill Color Copy, Digital




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Hope you enjoyed today's mixed media card.  I can't wait to see how you are inspired to dig into your stash and play!

xoxo

LYN 

This week's Card Concept challenge is based on the above photo.  I loved the distress of the chair the most.  I also love where an inspiration photo takes me to the finished card design!

​I found a scrap piece of background paper leftover from my Stampendous/Dreamweaver design team days and decided that could work for a worn out looking background.  Embossing folder (Cuttlebug).  Diecut leaves and sentiment (Fun Stampers Journey).  ​Flowers and lace (my stash).  Burgundy paper and pearls (A Muse).

Love these challenges!!!!

xoxo
​
LYN

 My card was created with a Stampendous/Dreamweaver stencil #DWLL3037 and I'm over the moon happy with the result!  I was inspired by Jill Foster's Penny Black card that I absolutely fell in love with.  I would call this a wet-on-wet watercolor technique.

I used Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Cardstock and traced the butterfly in the upper right corner with a pencil.  I wet the wings with clean water and then picked up blue paint from my Koi Water Color Field Box Set and painted in the wings.  I ended up closing the bridges of the stencil with color.  As the first layer dried, I added a second darker blue layer.  The body and antennae were painted with black watercolor and if color bled, it didn't matter.

At this point, it was time to add the loose outline and drippage!  I started with the tan color but then decided I wanted to pull the blues down.  I painted darker blue along the wing's edge and then added more water to the brush to fluidly and loosely pull down the color.  I added the tan color next and again, painted darker near the wings and used water to pull it down down nice and loose.

An A Muse Studio Happy Thoughts sentiment set was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black as well as A Muse sequins and twinkles were added for interest.

You really have to play with this technique and stick with it until it's done!  There is no way to pre-judge this process and you just have to let loose yourself!  I had a few moments of doubt myself.  Now that I've painted one card, I can't wait to keep going with this technique!  Maybe I'll even try a larger piece to frame!

Thanks for stopping by!

LYN

Today was gray, dull, dark, rainy and depressing here in Upstate New York!  When I saw this Penny Black snowman card made by Birgit Egbloom awhile ago, I absolutely fell in love with her exclusive use of grey and promptly ordered the snowman stamp and berry bevy branches!
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Here's her card that I fell in love with:

Here's my version:

We made this card at the Camden Club last Wednesday.  I'll be bringing Snowy to our Paper Arts Club meeting on the 18th!  My little snowman is painted with Zig Brush Pens, but any old water color medium will work.  We'll be using a mask for the snow hill and the snowman also.  Sentiment is by Stampendous and was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black.

This is a great card to replicate for your Christmas card list.  He's adorable painted in any color.  Try all pink, all blue, all purple or any color you can think of!

My dark and depressing day is just a little brighter looking at this happy, cheerful and sweet little card!

Thanks for stopping by!

LYN

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I was asked to create a gratitude card recently and decided to give a really cool Penny Black Hidden Lane #40-416 stamp a try.  I played with this stamp once before with disastrous results.  Because I'm currently heavy in my water coloring phase, I gave this image another go.

Here's the result:

The water color panel was first spritzed with a mix of water and instant coffee and allowed to dry.  Next, I used my Misti to perfectly align the stamp over the watercolor paper.  The image was colored with Distress cubes, which were easier to use while adding color onto areas of the image, and then spritzed with water.  

​I kept the colors fairly simple applying color from light to dark:

Pine Tree:  Peeled Paint, Mowed Lawn
Grass Area:  Peeled Paint
Fence:  Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain
Foliage Tree:  Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade, Fired Brick, Seedless Preserves
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Today I've been invited back to play along with my teamies at Stampendous!  Here's a multi-dimensional card that is pictured in the July 2015 catalog in the Dreamweaver Stencil section.  

I loved the process of creating this card!  It began by creating background papers first and cutting up sections for the card panel and stenciled maple leaves.

Be sure to click the link for detailed 'how to' instructions on the Stampendous Blog!

Halloween Hauntings is my Dreamweaver Thursday card today!  I've used two stencils and created a shaker window.  The creepy spider is actually pasted onto acetate with glossy black paste and black crushed glass glitter was sprinkled onto the wet paste.  It looks like a tarantula, doesn't it???

Dreamweaver stash drawer to the rescue for my spider background paper!  The spider web stencil was pasted with Metallic Silver paste and set aside to dry.

I cut a piece of acetate 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 and pasted the spider in position near the center of the web.  While wet, I sprinkled black crushed glass glitter into the paste and set it aside to dry.  This was exactly the textural look I was going for in creating a creepy spider.

To create the shaker window, the layers from top to bottom were as follows:  The black frame, acetate, craft foam cut in a frame to match the size of the black frame, fragments and finally, the spider web panel.

Meanwhile, I created a Core'dinations frame with Spellbinder Celebra'tions rectangles and distressed the inside edge with a distressing tool.  The reverse side of the paper was used for the sentiment that was stamped in Versamark ink and detail black embossing powder.  I have some really cool quilling tools and used the smallest one to create the scrolled ends.  I created a little bendy curve to the sentiment when affixed to each side of the frame with foam mounting squares.  The bat was stamped with Versamark ink and detail black embossing powder and then fussy cut and mounted above the center of the sentiment strip.  Creepy eyes were created with a Uniball white pen.

​I absolutely love this time of year here in Upstate New York!  I live in the country and, though the terrain is pretty flat, I love watching the trees change colors, the crisp night air, getting out my fleece, and maybe even turning the fireplace on!  It's really all about the colors, the mums and the pumpkins!

​Here's today's pumpkin card:

​My card was first inspired by Fran Seiford's coffee spritz video.  I was so enamored by this simple recipe, I brought it to my Paper Arts Club this past Wednesday and everyone loved it, especially the lovely aroma of coffee as they spritzed their papers.  Mind you, I have done the entire vintage/aging paper thing with walnut crystals and baking the paper.  Honestly, Fran's method is absolutely better and takes no time at all!!!!

Once the coffee spritz was completely dry on Stampendous Mixed Media White Paper, I pasted it with the Dreamweaver LL515 Pumpkins in Metallic Gold.  After removing the tape and stencil, I sprinkled Dreamweaver FX mica powders randomly over the pasted image.  Using a Milwaukee heat tool, I heated the surface of the pasted image until it bubbled and then quickly moved to another area of the image.  This technique is called Molten Magic and it is quite magical.  I allowed it to cool and then used a Swiffer cloth to wipe away any stray mica powders.

Layering the card elements came next.  I went into my Dreamweaver stash drawer and found the perfect fall background paper to layer behind the pumpkins.  TIP:  Creating seasonal backgrounds in quantity comes in handy at times like this!  The next two layers of card stock (A Muse) coordinated beautifully with the pumpkins.  I did happen to have a Spellbinders Celebra'tions Pierced Rectangles die templates by Richard Garay that worked great for my two stitched layers and my two diecut layers.  Ribbon (May Arts) was added around one of the layers 'cuz I just love what ribbon can do to a card!!

All that was left was to add a sentiment!  I didn't want to interfere with the pumpkins, so a small punched tag (McGill) and sentiment seemed to work in the upper right corner.  I partially stenciled the Dreamweaver Four Seasons Stencil word FALL with Stampendous/Dreamweaver Copper Metallic Paste and a Palette Knife onto my stash background paper. 

Hope you enjoyed my card today!  I'd love your comment before hopping to the next designer's blog.  Thanks for stopping by!  I wanna go bake an apple pie now!

Stampendous Stamps

Laura Drahozal

Lyn Bernatovich

Pam Hornschu

Louise Healy

Pam Bray

Lea Fritts



Disclaimer:  I'm so happy to be a Stampendous Design Team Member and to help promote their wonderful products.  They generously supply us with many free goodies like the Dreamweaver Stencils, May Arts Ribbon and Spellbinders die template I'm using today.

Can you believe this is one of those 'naked' frames from a craft store?  I followed every step of Andy Skinner's Easy Rust Techniques Part 2 video and am seriously happy with the results!  The frame measures 9-1/2 x 7-3/4 inches.  I had to trim down the tree insert just a hair in order for it to fit properly.  Now it's your turn to try creating rust!!!

The frame was first prepped by sanding it and then painting it with gesso.  Media Paynes Grey mixed with Media Tinting Base were painted next. This photo shows half of the frame stamped with the Media Carbon Black and the Industrial stamp.   Once that layer was totally dry, the other half shows the added color of the Quinocidone Gold.  Quite the difference, huh?  But, you're getting that rusty feeling, right?

This photo shows the frame after it has been painted with the Media Ultra Matte Varnish, a crucial final step toward the goal of creating rust!

P.S.  My husband is a car guy and we watch 'a lot' of car shows.  A favorite style of mine is the old natural rusty-bucket that is left in its original condition and then clear coated to preserve the rust!  Crazy huh?  But I love it!  My husband is not on board with my 'artistic' preferences.

Hope you enjoyed my project today!  I'd love your comment before hopping to the next designer's blog.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stampendous Blog

Lyn Bernatovich

Pam Bray

Kristine Reynolds

Lea Fritts

Amy Hurley-Purdie

Wendy Price

Disclaimer:  I'm so happy to be a Stampendous Design Team Member and to help promote their wonderful products.  They generously supply us with many free goodies like the Andy Skinner stamps and DecoArt acrylics I'm using today.

Welcome to another day of feeling distressed!  Making a project look old and worn using Stampendous Cling Rubber Stamps designed by DecoArt‘s Executive Creative Consultant, Andy Skinner is going to be all kinds of fun!  My inspiration came from Andy Skinner's 3-part video series on creating rust:  Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3!  See all the prize details on the Stampendous Blog.

Here's my project today:

Speaking of parts, this is a two-part project, so be sure to stop by on Friday to see the rest of it!  I was inspired by Andy's rust techniques and used two of them today.  I also used his Alcohol and Acrylic Layering technique for the trees.  They almost look like they're cut from wood, don't they?  My result was slightly different than his, but I loved playing with drips of alcohol into a color wash of acrylic paint!  Finally, I used his Shabby Patina Effect that inspired my background.

Since it is Dreamweaver Thursday, you'll see my patina background used the Quatrefoil stencil, but any Dreamweaver stencil would work just fine.  The watercolor paper was dry embossed first and then the shabby patina painted layers were added.

The trees were a portion of the Dreamweaver Tree Line cutting die.  They are mounted on a piece of chipboard that was rusted using Andy's Part 2 technique.  You'll see more of this technique in tomorrow's project.

The trees were affixed to the patina background and Stampendous Spoonful of Rust and Spoonful of Gold were sprinkled on one corner and heated from underneath until it melted.  Then the other corner was completed in the same manner.