​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 

The first thing I saw with this inspiration photo was the background and who doesn't love creating backgrounds more than me?!?  The second thing I saw were the pinkish flowers (roses?) and I immediately thought of a cling and die set by Stampendous that I own!  (It appears to be discontinued (CRS5084 Cling Roses & Dies), but Stampendous has many wonderful rose and floral cling stamp and die sets.)

I stamped (StazOn Stone Gray) and painted (Kuretaki Gamsai Tambai Paint Set) the roses first and then I tackled the background!  Note:  I'm suddenly really liking using gray ink over the harsher black inks!  The sentiment (Mama Elephant Organic Blooms) was inked with Versafine Onyx Black and you can see the intensity difference.

Here's the panel I created before I stamped it with wood grain stamps by Concord & 9th Petals and Pallets.
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I used the smoosh technique and a craft mat.  I probably have 3-4 layers of inking.  After each layer, I heat set along with spritzing with Tim Holtz's Distress Sprayer.  Looks like a hot mess, doesn't it?

After cutting out the strips, I re-arranged them to create more visual interest.  Also for a bit more rustic elements, I sprinkled Stampendous Bronze Encrusted Jewels from my kit in the upper right corner.  Using a Prima distress tool, I went to town roughing up the card panel's edges.  All that was left was to assemble the card.  This is going to my sister inlaw for her birthday.  Hope she likes it!

At first, I thought I would go all out vintage with this photo inspiration, but as I was working through creating the card, I went with a more shabby cottage chic vibe.  The cupcake is an old Hero Arts image that is rather cartoon like, so I just used it as a template instead.  For the cupcake top, the background paper is from my stash.  The bottom of the cupcake was scored and lightly brushed with a Delicata Silver Ink Pad.

Supplies:
Stamps:  Hero Arts, Catherine Pooler
Papers:  A Muse Studio, Fun Stampers Journey, Catherine Pooler, Doodlebug glitter paper
Dies:  Catherine Pooler, A Muse Studio, Fun Stampers Journey, Stampington
Accessories:  Rose buds (Prima), pearls (A Muse Studio), glitter (Stampendous), Delicata Silver inkpad, VersaMark Inkpad


Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

LYN

While on a recent trip to Florida, I took a wine glass painting class with my mother inlaw.  I already had the paints at home (are you surprised?) and just wanted a live instructor to teach me the basics.  Our instructor turned out to be wonderful and I learned a lot.  Now I just need practice, practice, practice!  Good thing I bought the Wal-Mart box of 12 wine glasses for just under $10!!!!

There's a wonderful art community in New Smyrna Beach called The Hub on Canal and it is full of amazing artists, classes and happenings and I look forward to getting more involved as a snowbird.  The next class I'm taking is mosaic basics where we will create a framed mirror with cool pieces of broken glass and dimensional bits...so coastal!

Since I haven't posted in awhile, I thought you'd enjoy seeing what I'm up to (well, since yesterday at least).  Once my term is completed at The Stamp Nation in December, I plan to go back to regular e-newsletters, as I really miss writing them! 

If you're interested in wine glass painting, I'm always fond of saying, "Thank God for Pinterest!"  Such a resource!

This is my first glass I painted in Florida.  We learned a cool technique of loading the brush with two different colors to create a variegated result.  P.S.  It isn't quite as easy as it looks to paint on a curved and slippery surface!

This is my Mother Inlaw's glass and for someone who never did this sort of craft, I think she did a great job!  The trick to her design is taking a printout of an image and taping it to the inside of the glass!  I helped her add the lady bug for a bit of color pop.

Finally, here's my cute little sea turtle!  I had a pattern of a sea turtle taped to the inside of the glass to get the basic outline and the rest I added.

The paints I used were Martha Stewart Multi Surface Acrylic Paint.  There's other brands out there and just make sure you read the label that it can be used on glass.  Anything that has the word enamel in it, will work on glass.  Folk Art by Plaid makes an enamel paint that works well.  You do have to bake your finished glass to set the paint.  Also, paint below the area of where a lip line!

I'm taking a bunch of supplies to Florida soon and hope to have all kinds of inspiration to craft!  I haven't watercolor painted since the summer!!!  Whatever happened to my "What's Next?" projects???  Well, I guess wine glass painting can be crossed off the list now!

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

LYN

I love the mood board for Challenge #79!  I had all kinds of fun designing a card especially because I had all the various supplies on hand!  That's the beauty of being a paper crafter for as many years as I have, 'cuz I pretty much already have products to make a challenge work!

Here's my version of this challenge:

My card began with the Sizzix gear diecut and a technique by Andy Skinner about rusting.  From there, it was a matter of diecutting pumpkins, vines, and banners.  Coloring and aging with various mediums (mostly Distress inks) and layering completed the elements.  Glue Dots were visible where the vines intersected which resulted in the hemp bow and faux tag.

My style for this challenge is definitely #3, Shabby Chic and Vintage.

After the summer off, The Card Concept has resumed!  Yay!  I've missed these challenges and this one is right up my vintage alley!  

​The style category of my card is #3 - Shabby Chic and Vintage.

For some reason, this card took me forever to finalize.  I had the basic design in mind all along but it just wouldn't come together.  Walking away several times worked.  It all started with the Stampendous Herringbone Metal Stencil and a technique called monoprinting.  I simply sprayed the stencil with Distress Spray and laid in over the cardstock panel!  Once dry, I used another technique called dry embossing with the same stencil and my Sizzix.  If you look closely, you can see the impression of the herringbone!  For that technique, you need a rubber mat along with the diecutting platform and plates.  The embossed piece was diecut with the stitched die.  I think it looks just like the purse in the above photo!

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Rose Bouquet Stamps & Die Set (Stampendous), Bloomin' Bouquet (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Ink:  Broken China, Fossilized Amber, Worn Lipstick, Vintage Photo,  (Ranger Distress Oxide), Picket Fence Distress Stain (Ranger)
Paper:  Oatmeal Cookie (Fun Stampers Journey), Premium White (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Accessories:  Spot On Sentiment Dies and Perfect Reason Dies Catherine Pooler Designs), Hope Label Die (Concord & 9th),  M-Bossabilities Woodgrain (Spellbinders), Distress Tool (Prima), Pearls (A Muse Studio), Tiny Staples (Ranger)


Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

LYN

More design fun with Concord & 9th products!!!  Sometimes I just have to bust out of the ordinary card fold and go with a little bit of folding fun.  This card is a normal A2 fold with the exception that the front panel is scored at 2-1/2" and folded back toward the fold.  Sometimes the folded panel is affixed but for this card it is not and is left to open in a Z-fold.

​The colors were inspired by the photo inspiration from the Challenge #248 - Summer post.

The Concord & 9th Flower Turnabout Stamp Set is so versatile and I can see it getting tons of use.  Find a Masterclass video using this stamp set HERE over on The Stamp Nation!  By watching the video, C&9th offers a special purchase discount code!  If you're not a member of The Stamp Nation yet, you might want to re-think the benefits of joining!!!  There's always something to learn and having a paper crafting community every time you log in is so exciting.

The card began with the Flower Turnabout stamping technique and evolved from there.  I didn't have a Z-fold in mind until the very end of the card design, which is my favorite part...the process!  I love all the "what if" thoughts I have while designing.  Catherine Pooler's crosshatch stamp was my "what if" as I randomly stamped the folded panel with It's a Boy ink.  Tip:  Affix the it's your day scallop circle first and then affix the inside scallop circle so everything lines up when the card is closed.

Products Used:

Stamps:  Flower Turnabout Stamp Set, Petals & Pallets (Concord & 9th), Birds of a Feather (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Ink:  Something Borrowed, Fiesta Blue, Aquatini, It's a Boy, Black Jack, Melon Ice, Midnight (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Paper:  Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Accessories:  Petals & Pallets Die Set, Orange You Sweet (Concord & 9th), SOA Spiro Doily (Catherine Pooler Designs), Diecut Circles (Ellison), Pearls (A Muse Studio)

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

LYN

Concord & 9th is the Masterclass presenter during July over at The Stamp Nation.  The informative video tutorials are full of new stamping and diecutting techniques using their products.

It is always fun to get to play with products the design team receives and to make samples.  My card today is based on the Summer theme challenge inspiration photo posted on July 5th.  In the photo was an adorable Popsicle that looked like a watermelon.

I just had to re-create a card using their Sweet & Cool die set!  Here's my finished card:

The popsicle is die cut on watercolor paper.  Color was achieved using a wet-on-wet technique.  With a brush, I layed down water on the top section of the popsicle.  I smooshed Catherine Pooler's Tutti Fruitti onto a kraft sheet and proceeded to pick up color with a wet brush and drop onto the wet popsicle area.  I let that dry a little and went back in with more Tutti Fruitti to deepen the color.  Next, I wet the lower area and dropped in Catherine Pooler's Melon Ice in the same manner as the top area.  Once dry, I stamped the seeds from the C&9th Orange You Sweet stamp set with CP's Black Jack.  To match the inspiration photo, I even dry embossed vertical lines using a FSJ embossing folder!

Since I wanted to match the Melon Ice for a background panel, I simply swiped the inkpad along the edge!  No worries about having the right cardstock.  The white panel was diecut using Journey Rectangles.

Of course I had a package of popsicle sticks in my stash and snipped off a section with my wire cutters!  It is held in place with Beacon 3-in-one glue.  Sweet was stamped next with Midnight.

Finally, Hello was stamped using the Misti to insure I would get a solidly filled in sentiment using CP's new Black Jack.  The panels were affixed and the popsicle was mounted with foam mounting tape that was exactly the thickness of the popsicle stick.  CP&9th heart diecut was mounted to the popsicle for added whimsy.

Products Used:
Stamps:  Orange You Sweet Stamp Set (Concord & 9th)
Ink:  Tutti Fruitti, Melon Ice, Black Jack, Midnight (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Paper:  Premium White Cardstock (Catherine Pooler Designs), Glitter Paper (Doodlebug Designs)
Accessories: Journey Rectangles (Fun Stampers Journey), Diagonal Embossing Folder (Fun Stampers Journey), Pearls (A Muse Studio),  Popsicle Stick (my stash)


Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

LYN

I'm on a reverse easel card kick and love how this design displays.  I know we all love displaying cards we receive for various occasions, but they inevitably tip over for the slightest reason.  Easel cards are a wonderful option for displaying cards that won't tip over.

Here's a card I made this week that just seems right to orient in the reverse easel style.

It has lots of dimension, layers, a summery feel, and seems like
something fun to display for awhile.

​For a complete tutorial on constructing a Reverse Easel Card in a Horizontal Orientation, click ​HERE.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  June Stamp of Approval (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Ink:  Grass Skirt, It's a Boy, Tiara (Catherine Pooler Designs), Gilden Glitz (Tsukineko), Brown (Memento)
Paper:  Oatmeal (Fun Stampers Journey)
Accessories:  Butterfly Dies (A Muse), Pearls (A Muse), Twine (May Arts), Oval Punch (McGill), butterfly dies (A Muse Studio), pearls (A Muse Studio)

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo,

LYN

Who doesn't love roses?

Card design began with the stenciledStampendous/Dreamweaver  Flower Lace Stencil background, and the Rose Bouquet stamps.  Diecut word (Catherine Pooler Designs).  Glitter (Stampendous).  Papers (Fun Stampers Journey).

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

LYN