Background Bits & Polished Stone Technique

Well today was different! I finally got time to craft! Been a long while!

But then I got so carried away I forgot to take any photos and it is way too dark now to photo without more shadow than light!

So in the meantime...here are some a much more me-colour-combination of some cards we made earlier in the year... but that I forgot to share at the time...

So Sahara Sand meets Pool Party, Dapper Denim & Tranquil Tide... using the Polished Stone Technique on Gloss card... and the hostess exclusive stamp set, Background Bits for those gorgeous flower silhouettes...

Want to get your hands on the exclusive hostess sets without spending £150 at one go... then join my Craft Spa Rewards Club... just click here to contact me for more information

Quick cards...simple cards... but so effective... and I have to admit that they have been high in the favourite class cards this year ... 

Dragonfly Dreams - the Stained Glass one...

Following on from Sunday's post... another super CAS (clean & simple) little partial die cut card...

But this time I added colours using the Stained Glass Technique for the dragonfly wings...

Die cut a detailed cardstock and a solid Vellum dragonfly... scribble your marker pens on the vellum one as you desire...

 And then cover with the detailed one... 

Simple but stunning effect... especially when you hold up to a light source.... 

And the dragonfly is finished off with a stamped body part...

And here is a photo of the simple little dragonfly partial die cut duo....

Aqua Winking...and Birthday Blooms

Remember this card... well seeing as it was SO popular both here in the flesh and on Pinterest... I decided to re-make all the cards in the set for my class using the Aqua-painter and the Gold Wink of Stella....

And as I demonstrated the technique at class...a  new expression came to mind...  aqua-winking... lot easier to say than the following....

1. Scribble your Gold Wink of Stella on a clear block (or piece of plastic or ceramic plate or something smooth and slippy...)

2. Pick up your Gold from the block using your Aqua Painter and aqua-wink (watercolour) as required ... note just add a drop of water if you want the colour to be even more subtle!!

3. Go over with your Clear Wink of Stella if you want even more shine...

4. Use Staz On cleaner to clean your clear block when you have finished (as the gold stains!!)

Don't forget to paper tole the flowers too... makes a huge difference to these cards... though unfortunately somewhat too subtle to see on the photos!! So you will have to trust me...

SU! Supplies
Stamps - Birthday Blooms
Inks - Gold Wink of Stella, Always Artichoke, Mint Macaron, Pool Party, Archival/Staz On Black, Versamark & White embossing powder, Gold embossing powder
Tools - Aquapainters, Curvy Corner Trio Punch, Heat Gun
Papers - Birthday Blooms
Embellishments - Gold Bow Clips, Striped Mossy Meadow Cotton Ribbon
Card - Always Artichoke, Pool Party, Hello Honey, Shimmery White, Watercolor Paper, Thin Whisper White

Go here for the lowdown on which white card was used on which card... I am definitely still loving the Shimmery White card best for watercolouring and aqua-winking...

Oh Timeless Textures - How I Love Thee!!

Another quick little trio... card style and layout you have seen before here and here ... different colourway (Mint Macaron & Lost Lagoon) but boy do these come to life using Timeless Textures...

First up... Kissing...

The Numbers stamps were inked up in Mint Macaron... then the Timeless Textures flourish stamp inked up in Lost Lagoon... the numbers stamps were then placed onto the inked flourish to kiss and pick off the darker ink... and then stamped onto White card... and voila! Just a Large Numbers die cut to finish off... Gorgeous!! Especially when thoroughly Winked!

 

Second up... Just stamped numbers...

Die cut Mint Macaron numbers stamped all over with stamps inked up in Lost Lagoon ( oops these numbers are actually stamped with the Number of Years leaves and buds! Good job I have just spotted that in the close up!) And again thoroughly Winked...

And lastly... and my complete favourite! 

Stamped die cut Mint Macaron numbers using the Timeless Textures flourish, jute effect and blobs stamps in Lost Lagoon and just primary and secondary stamping of the Timeless Textures flourishes - and a few blobs -  around the edges in Mint Macaron and Lost Lagoon... and the Numbers then Winked to finish of course...

So so simple...but so so effective!

And here are the three of them back together...

I know you will be seeing a lot of this Timeless Textures stamp set from now on... I think it is truly fabulous!! One not to miss!!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Acrylic Block Background Stamping & Sleigh Ride

Just realised I haven't shared this card... a stunner in the flesh...and simple enough to make...

Take one acrylic block ( you know the ones that you mount your stamps onto) ...

Dab Mint Macaron ink pad on bottom third...

Dab Night of Navy inkpad on top two-thirds...

Lightly spritz with water and stamp...

Add die cut word, die cut glimmer trees and a couple of stamped greetings...

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Silent Night & Baby Wipe Swoosh

Staying on Baby Wipe Swoosh theme... Just to prove that every sky is different!

But before I start - don't forget to check out this week's new Weekly Deals (25% off)... I will be ordering next on Friday night 20 November...  

So just in case you missed the rest of this week's excitement... here are the details for the Stamps on Sale with 20% off (until this Friday 20 November) ... and here is the Autumn Winter Catalogue Retiring List... 

So I swooshed my white panel lightly with the baby wipe and Night of Navy ink... 

I used the cut-out houses from another make as a stencil on this one... Daubing Night of Navy ink through the cut-out parts - apart from the smoke on the left hand side house - marker was required for that one! Too fine...

And then I started to stamp the Silent Night wording from the co-ordinating Jingle All the Way stamp set... and thought...what a shame I don't have any All is Calm, All is Bright... and then I remembered that I do! So out came the Wonderland stamp set... job done!

Another quick & simple card for mass production - care of my favourite Sleigh Ride edgelits... 

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Baby Wipe Marbling Technique for Technique Tuesday

Now this card was such serious fun! 

After my Baby Wipe Swooshing on yesterdays Sleigh Ride card... I had another thought whilst the baby wipes were out...

And so  - for Technique Tuesday - can I now introduce you to the Baby Wipe Marbling Technique... 

The photos definitely do not do justice to the marbling effect and texture on this card...seriously amazing... almost looking like suede on some... though every make is different!

So first the image was heat embossed onto a Whisper White card panel... I used white embossing powder- though clear would work too... I also used the thinner coated Whisper White card as the coating just gives you a bit more "swooshability"... (probably not a real word...but a good one!)

Lost Lagoon ink was picked up with my baby wipe and swooshed over the whole panel...

Then the baby wipe was scrumpled, more Lost Lagoon ink picked up and the ink dabbed onto the panel...

Keep the baby wipe scrumpled, pick up Night of Navy ink and again dab away... building up the colour until you have the effect you want...

Then do a bit of Night of Navy baby wipe gentle swooshing around the edges...

Then pick up more Lost Lagoon ink and swoosh away solidly at the bottom to form that solid horizon and panel...

And finally, pick up a piece of kitchen towel and clean off the embossed image... and then it all really pops!

Leave to dry... and then stamp your greeting in Night of Navy ink...

Try it... you may become addicted... we all were...

And here is another version with the greeting pre-embossed in white too...

Love both versions.... Which do you prefer??

And still loving this Hostess set, Six Sayings - available in clear and wood mount...

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

20% off stamps... and Sleigh Ride & Baby Wipe Swoosh Technique

This card was another firm favourite amongst the class - especially with the Winter Wonderland embellishments being at 15% this week on Weekly Deals...

But before I tell you more about the card... STOP PRESS!

20% OFF SELECT STAMPS FROM TILL 20TH NOVEMBER... link here - please note that the prices on the first screen are the catalogue price ie before the 20% discount... there are some GREAT BUYS on here...

BUT also... AUTUMN WINTER CATALOGUE RETIRING LIST PUBLISHED... go here for my 2nd blog post today with all the details...

And here are a couple of photos of the flyer... discounted prices shown...

Want a quick visual of the discounted stamps in action... check out the Stampin Up! Pinterest board...

Right back to the card... Simple & stunning in the flesh ... and so much fun creating the background...

A bit of Baby Wipe Swoosh technique...

Grab a Baby Wipe and an ink pad...

Press the top of the closed ink pad so that ink transfers onto the inside of the lid...

Open up the ink pad and dab your baby wipe onto the lid to pick up the ink...

Swoosh your baby wipe across your piece of card... 

Swoosh & build up colour & texture until you are happy...

But wait... I wasn't finished with the baby wipes quite yet! Another instalment on its way...

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

CAS Marbled Embellished Ornaments

Following yesterday's post... here is another CAS marbled bauble - aka Embellished Ornament... Without the greenery - and in a different colourway... Mint Macaron, Lost Lagoon & Night of Navy...

And here is the little trio of cards now shared on this blog using this technique/colourway...

 

And just so you can see 2 of them better... here you go... 

Note that the Dove is just coloured with markers - no marbling required... (also Sahara Sand instead of Night of Navy)

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog