Card - Birthday - Orange and Blue

A bright and cheery card for a university student just finished their first year.

I started with the flower sticker.  I then found the extra alcohol ink photo paper background I the other day. Orange and blue works.

The birthday greeting was left over from that project as well.  Trimmed large and ripped the bottom edge.

I found a sheet of  Tangerine Tango card stock and folded it in half.

Added a half sheet insert and a same sized envelope.

It's a bit late but it is now on its way.

Cards - Birthday

April birthday cards.

I started with the kraft paper which had gotten wet and created this jagged horizontal line.  Maybe trees or mountains.

I stamped the tree from Stampin Up in Chocolate Chip ink.  I added some ground cover in colored pencil.

Added birds in the sky with a black marker.  Some clouds with colored pencil.

Stamped the greeting with brown as well with a Stampin Up image.

I mounted the paper to a Crumb Cake card base A2 in portrait orientation.

I cut a piece of Whisper White card stock to about 3.75" square. I drew a flower on the right hand side with a fine Sharpie marker.  Added the stitching line all the way around the edge with the marker.

I colored the flower with colored pencils and adhered it to the card front.

I added a strip of orange cotton fabric and tape the ends to the inside.

I added a half sheet insert to cover the ends of the orange accent and a white envelope.

I dropped some dye ink onto a piece of plastic - Prussian Blue and SapMoss Green with a bit of magenta as well.

I spritzed it with water to spread the color and have them blend.

I then laid a 4x6" sheet of photo paper onto to capture the pattern on the plastic and set it aside to dry.

I prepared a light blue card base in the A2 size.

Once the ink layer was dry I trimmed it to 4.00x5.25" and adhered it to the card front.  I printed a greeting in Marina Mist on Whisper White.  Cut to about 1" tall and mounted it over the ink layer with 3D foam tape.

Card Exchange - October 2021

I made a couple of large cards for my October card exchange.  Since they are late and it Christmas time I chose to make them with a Christmas theme.  Love making Christmas cards at any time.

I chose turquoise alcohol ink background paper in 4x6 and cut ornaments with the Sizzix Bigz Die - Ornaments #4. One of each design.

I cut the hangers from copper metallic paper and glued them on top.

I added copper metallic thread.

I embossed a layer of white with a Cuttlebug folder from the Winter Bundle.  I wrapped the thread to the back and adhered the snowflake layer to the front of the Tempting Turquoise card.

The ornament was adhered with 3D foam tape.

I added a Stampin Up Modern Label greeting which was offset with a punchie from the same paper as the ornament.

On this one I added the copper star and mounted the turquoise one in the left hand corner.

These are large A7 5x7 cards.

These are on their way to my card exchange partners.

Thank You - Large Card

I created the card to put next to the treats at Mom and Dad's apartment.

The small cards will be addressed to individuals that Mom & Dad choose.

This is a general card to communicate with the other neighbours.

I have chosen nuts, chocolates and candies to share with these wonderful people.

I started with a Taken with Teal card base in the A7 (5x7) size.

I adhered a piece of alcohol ink paper in 4x6 size to the card front.

I then printed the words on vellum with the ink jet printer and embossed the words with silver powder.

I trimmed the vellum to allow the background to show.  Adhered the vellum with tiny white brads in the four corners.

Exchange Cards - Alchohol Ink background with black accents

I made this cards for my card exchange buddies.

I started with 4x6 photo paper.

I applied drops liquid acrylic color to my glass plate surface and spritzed with water.

I pressed the paper into the color and pull back.

These were allowed to dry completely.

I just love making these backgrounds.  They needed focal points so I moved to black paint.

I then used black liquid acrylic to make marks on the colored surface.  The circles were made with a plastic lid dipped in the black. The spots were dropped with a eye dropper. 






Again, these were left to dry completely.

Once dry I adhered them to heavy card stock in the A7 size.

I hope they enjoy the cards.

Exchange Cards - March - Blue and Copper

I managed to get my March exchange cards made today. 

I used a 4x6 piece of alcohol ink background that I made for this set of cards.

I cut the piece in half and layered it onto a piece of copper metallic card stock leaving a larger border on the bottom.

I then added a layer of black adding a bit more to the bottom again.  Then layered onto a turquoise card base.

I added a Stampin Up Artisan Label punchie greeting in black to the bottom right hand corner.  It is adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.


Identical supplies for the second one but laid out in the landscape or wide orientation.

This are in the mail today!

Exchange Cards - Bright and Bold

I managed to get my February Exchange cards made.

This is alcohol ink backgrounds.  I added some black ink markings to this one with Nick Bantock ink in Lamp Black. It took a long while to dry so I need to dilute it a bit before doing my marks.  I used a bottle lid to make the circle.

This one was cut to just under 4" square.  I then layered it onto a piece of warm lavendar card stock to coordinate with the warm tones in the top left hand corner.

Then layered onto Tangerine card base.  I added some stitching with a black marker. 

The greeting was color printed and punched with the Stampin Up Artisan punch. 


Left:  A bold piece of alcohol ink paper.  I hand drew the daisy with silver marker then retraced with black as I did not feel the silver stood out enough.  I added stitching around the edge with the same black marker.

It was adhered to a medium blue card base.

I added a silver daisy punchie, a small back sequin and all held in place with a pewter tiny brad.

These are in the mail.  With the plumbing issues here over the last month it has been quite distracting. 

Mosaic Monday - Recent Photos

I do have my Christmas wreath on the front door.  I updated it this year with a vintage glass ornament. It is deep red with gold dots and has a matte finish.

I used a clear wreath hanger since I don't have a gold one which would work best.

I am still working on the decorations on the inside.













I recently finished another Maeve Binchy book called the The Copper Beech which is the tree in the Shancarrig school yard.  The book follows several young people who have carved their initials in the bark of the tree.  Eddie becomes a pen pal to someone in Scotland. They share many interests and letters go back and forth between them.  They eventually share telephone calls but only after he discovers that he has been writing to the "girl".  She eventually comes to visit Ireland and decides to stay!

I broke down and bought the lastest Kate Morton book - The Clockmaker's Daughter.  It is as epic as her previous books.                                                                 It involves a long abandoned mansion, families in recent history as well as many years ago and some delightful mysteries involving a blue gem.                                                                    It is written in the from the Clockmaker's Daughter point of view who lived in the house.  I resisted just reading day and night but I have to admit the last half was consumed with little eating and a few bathroom breaks.                                         The colorful tile was a purchase at the art show in early December.  It is art by Val Enders. 

It is decorated with a process called Alcohol Ink Painting.  It is 3x6 inches.  The color is vibrant and gorgeous!  It seems that it may have a clear coat over the paint to protect it.  

It has a hanger on the back which allows it to be hung and enjoyed.

I bought this little metal yellow bicycle last week.  It was filthy but after a soak in soapy water and some tender care with an old toothbrush it was bright and shiny.

I am working on scenarios to place into for my photography.  I think a white picket fence would be great or a nice tree like the front of the Binchy book cover.

I am sharing with Mosaic Monday #7 hosted by Angie at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf.

Christmas Card Challenge - April - White Snowflake

The Christmas Card Challenge prompt for June was White & Snowflake.

I chose a white felt snowflake ornament for this card.  I cut a couple of my pieces of alcohol ink backgrounds into 2.5 inch circles to fill the snowflake center of the ornament. I added a length of Kelly Green seam binding which coordinated very well with the alcohol ink paper to the hanger.  I trimmed the ends with scissors.

I selected a turquoise card and decided it needed a bit of something before I put the ornament onto it.  I used a wavy template and followed it with a push pin making holes in the card front.  It sort of suggests falling snow. 

I added 3 large white snowflake confetti.  A couple on the ornament and one off which are held in place with light blue tiny brads.

Perky Poppies - Happy Birthday

I made a card for my aunt who is celebrating a birthday this week.

I started with the Memory Box Perky Poppies die and cut them from heavy white card stock.  You can leave a space at the bottom for a greeting which I did.

I selected a piece of my decorative paper in greens and purples to which I adhered the flowers.

I stamped the greeting onto a scrap piece of the same paper and trimmed it to leave a border and adhered it with 3D foam tape.   I used SU Marina Mist ink.

I then added a white layer leaving a small border then adhered that to a purple card.

Baby Boy - Shower Gift - Yellow Duckie

I made this card for my nephew and his wife who had another baby boy recently.  This is #2.

I created a watercolor background with Tim Holtz Distress Stain - Faded Jeans, a bit of turquoise liquid acrylic ink and a couple of scribbles of Not Quite Navy watercolor crayon.  The color was applied to a acrylic sheet and spritzed with water.  I laid my 4x6 card stock into it and pulled it away.  It curled but when left to dry it flattened again.  Once dry, it was cut to 4.00 x 5.25 inches and adhered to the navy card front.

I found a clipart image of a yellow duckie which I printed and then cut with a smooth oval from the Spellbinder Nestabilities set.  I then cut a scalloped oval a medium blue card stock with the corresponding oval.  This was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

I printed a greeting in navy and yellow and fussy cut the banner with scissors.  It was adhered with 3D foam tape.

Books are my go to gift for babies.  I hope that books will always part of our culture.  I think parents reading to babies is valuable time spent.

You will notice a theme of yellow ducklings in this gift.

This is a great book with a nice plasticized cover so it can handle sticky fingers and it is easily wiped clean.

The illustration in the book is wonderful and the colors are lovely.

I chose the same duckling graphic for the frame for his room.  It contains the details of the day he was born.

It is a yellow good quality metal frame with a brilliant blue mat and a coordinating yellow mat.

I designed the information layer to fit in the 4.75 x 6 inch opening in the mat.  It was printed on white card stock and adhered behind the mat.

I hope it holds a place in his room for years to come.  I did similar item for his dad when he was born years ago.  It makes a nice keepsake.

Black Printing on Backgrounds - Cards

My sister was visiting me for a couple of days over the long weekend.  We tried out printing black images onto alcohol ink backgrounds we had created. 

The alcohol ink background was 4x6 so by aligning the graphic knowing that I needed to trim .75 inches off,  I printed it on the inkjet printer. 

Once trimmed, I adhered it to the purple/blue card front.  This water lily graphic is from CLker.

I added a layered Stampin Up Modern label greeting in coordinating colors adhered with 3D foam tape.

It allows for a reasonably quick card.

For this technique to work well you need backgrounds that are on the subtle side rather than bright and colorful. 

Sometimes in the process of making backgrounds I end up with lighter ones as I am cleaning up.  Of course one can make them lighter if you intend on using this technique. 

This card has a dandelion clip art again from Clker.
Printed, trimmed to 4.00 x 5.25 and adhered to the front of a warm teal green card.

I adhered a Stampin Up Decorative Label greeting with 3D foam tape.

These are off to my Card Exchange buddies.

Decorative Paper - Card Set 4

This is another alcohol ink background in yellow and turquoise on 4x6 inch photo paper.  I trimmed it and adhered it to the card front of a yellow card.  I cut a blue card stock layer with the Memory Box Grand Happy Birthday thin die.  I added deep yellow washi tape in chevron pattern across the bottom.  I adhered that to the alcohol ink background.  I added a small piece of yellow chevron washi tape in the upper right hand corner.

This background paper was made with liquid acrylic ink in blues and yellows.  It was very diluted with water and applied to photo paper with a large paint brush.  I just love the watery feel.  I added a white double edge punched border with the Martha Stewart daisy border punch.  I added a narrow piece of turquoise card stock down it's centre.  I added a medium and small silk white flower over the scallop accent held in place with a large turquoise brad.

This decorative paper is paste paper was made with acrylic paint and home paste.  The paste was applied and then the paper was folded in half and pulled apart.  Then marks were made with a tool. I cut the paper with the Stampin Up Top Note and the vellum greeting was cut with the same die.  I adhered the top note to the front of the navy card.  I adhered the clear embossed greeting with a tiny star brad.  I added a lime green butterfly punchie made with Martha Stewart punch in the top right hand corner.

Decorative Paper - Card Set 2

This decorative paper was done with liquid acrylic paint applied to a piece of acrylic board. I then picked it up with a 4x6 photo paper.  This features a warm yellow with deep blue and where they merged a deep green.  I trimmed the decorative paper to leave a small border.  I adhered it to the front of a dark green card.  The greeting was color printed in navy on vellum and clear embossed.  It was trimmed and placed in the bottom third of the card and held in place with tiny navy brads.  I added green sequins onto the brads then added a few more held in place with Bling Zots.





This card features letterpress decorative paper in pink and navy.  I added a piece of navy crisp ribbon across the bottom third of the card.  I added a white and blue silk flowers and a white sequin all held in place with a tiny navy brad.  This accent was placed on the right hand side and is offset with a scallop oval greeting in the top left corner.

This paper was created with watercolor onto heavy bond paper.  It features teal and purple colors in a very diluted colors.  I cut the paper to leave a small border. I ripped the top and bottom edges of the vellum greeting.  I placed the heart to the left then put adhesive under it and added it to the card front. I cut the wedding couple with the Cricut and the Stretch Your Imagination cartridge.  It was cut at 4 inches with the silhouette option.  I cut it from brushed white card stock.  I used quick dry adhesive applied with a very narrow tip to get the glue only where I wanted. it.

Some More Cards from Decorative Paper

Some more cards from Decorative Paper I have made recently.  This is an alcohol ink background in reds, oranges and purples. 
I cut the greeting with Stampin Up Little Letters framelits from white card stock layer.  I then cut tropical flowers with the SU Flower Fair framelit set.  They remind me of hibiscus flowers.  I used the larger die to create the 2 holes in the white layer then cut the resulting positive shape with a smaller framelit.  I used a deep red marker with a fine nib to create a dot shadow around the hole.  Once the colored layer was adhered to the magenta purple card front, I adhered the white layer to the colored one.  I then adhered the 2nd white flowers in the center of the holes cut.

Another alcohol ink background. I sure love these vibrant colors.  I stamped the white layer with a SU Itty Bitty Background stamp in deep blue.  I cut the greeting with the Memory Box Grand Happy Birthday die from the decorative paper. I aligned the bottoms edges leaving a small border.  I cut the butterfly with the Sizzix Winged Beauties Thinlits set from the same paper. 

I cut the Acrylic Paint Decorative Paper with the Cricut and the Just Because Cards cartridge.  It was cut at 6".  It was adhered to the card front.  I tucked a color printed oval greeting in the lower crescent.  I layered several silk flowers starting with a large white with yellow ends, then a white medium then a blue purple one which repeats the colors in the DP.  I added some green silk leaves and held all these layers in place with a tiny white brad. 

This decorative paper was created with spritzing re-inker ink with a small mister spray bottle.  I selected two warm orange silk flowers, then a green handmade paper flower then then a white silk smaller flower all held in place with a blue mini brad.  I added a strip of coordinating strip of card stock across the bottom third of the card.  I then added a bright greeting coordinating with the colors in the DP.  I added a color printed oval greeting cut with the CM oval cutter.

This is the same decorative paper as the previous card. I cut it with the Sizzix Tim Holtz Vintage Cabinet Card die.  This layer was adhered to a golden yellow card.  I layered a large silk flower, then 3 from the Sizzix Flower Layers and Leaves die in warm green and golden yellow. I selected a golden yellow mini brad and placed a white sequin then the card stock flowers then the silk then onto the card front.  I designed the greeting, color printed in black on vellum then clear embossed it.

This is a layer of Acrylic Paint decorative paper in blues and purples.  I cut a flower from vellum to match the greeting.  The white felt flower was cut with the SU Blossom Party original die as well as the purple slim petal one.  I added a tiny iridescent sequin onto a tiny white sequin then layered the flowers.  This was adhered to the card front once the decorative paper had been glued to the card front of a purple card.  I designed the greetings and printed them on vellum. I adhered the vellum greeting to the card front with vellum adhesive.  It was printed in black and clear embossed.  They look great!

These cards are a line of cards I've designed with unique  decorative paper I design regularly.  I've named the line Unique Cards. These are for sale in a gallery.  Check the tab at the top of the blog.

Cards with my Decorative Paper

I'm working on creating cards with the stack of decorative paper I have made in the last little while.
On this card I used one of my alcohol ink backgrounds from this session.  I cut the decorative paper with the Memory Box Grand Happy Birthday die then mounted it on a piece of white card stock which was trimmed to leave a small border. This layer was then adhered to a pink card.  I added 3 deep pink sequins in the top right hand corner held in place with bling Zots.

This card has some of my bubble paper which tends to be softer in color. The paper was made in this session. I printed the greeting in a coordinating color then I die cut some leaves from it with Spellbinder Foliage thin dies.  They are individual dies so I could add a couple single leaves and place them as I wanted.   The white layer is trimmed to leave a small border of the decorative paper which was trimmed to leave a small border of the green card.

This teal card features a piece of decorative paper as a background to the white frame.  The frame was cut with the largest die from the My Favorite Things - DieNamics Stitched Frames set.  I used white card stock for the frame and the butterfly which was cut with the Sizzix Winged Beauties framelit set.  I added a bit of stamped stippling below the frame in case it is used with out a greeting. A greeting could be added if one chose.  On this card I used one of my alcohol ink backgrounds from this session.

I chose to make a more masculine looking card from decorative paper made with acrylic paint in various shades green and brown applied with a sponge over material to create texture such as a mesh bag.  I chose an ivory greeting layer into which I cut the word with the Stampin Up Little Letters framelits.  I cut this layer to highlight a generous frame of the decorative paper. This was then adhered to a brown card. 

This decorative paper is acrylic paint with paste paper technique.  I cut it down to leave a border of the blue card. I punched all 4 corner with a decorative corner punch. I cut a flower with the Cricut at and the Straight from the Nest cartridge from white card stock. I cut it at 4 inches.  I adhered the flower on the card front in such a way to leave some room on the right hand bottom for a greeting if a person chooses.

I started with a turquoise card onto which I stamped a Stampin Up Itty Bitty background with Island Indigo.  I cut the decorative paper with the SU Top Note die.  I tied a piece of white seam binding around the bottom half and knotted in the front.  I then created a focal element with silk green leaves, then a purple card stock flower cut with the SU Flower Fair framelits.  I curled the ends forward.  I added a large white silk flower, a medium silk flower then a white iridescence sequin which are all held in place with a tiny turquoise brad.

 These are a result of discussions on the weekend with my sister.  Here are her cards.

Card - Friendship

I made this card for a challenge on one of my on-line groups.  The challenge is was to make a friendship card.
I printed the birthday greeting on the white card before I cut the Friend letters with the Stampin Up Little Letters thin-lits. I cut the white layer to 3.75 x 5.00". I paired it with one of my alcohol ink backgrounds from this session. The background was cut at 5.25 x 4.00" and glued it to the card front.  I added a strip of Washi Tape across the centre of the card. Over that, I added some silk flowers in bright pink and deep purple held in place with a black brad. This layer was then adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape which creates great shadows in the Friend word.

How To: Alcohol Ink Background Printing

Here's another day where I am stretching myself to try new techniques I've not done before.  I wanted a vibrant colored background for one particular card I have in mind.
  
Here, I used Ranger Tim Holtz Alcohol inks in Sailboat Blue, Sunshine Yellow and Citrus Green. You need a non porous surface to create your background on before you print it.  I used a clear acrylic plate which I have had forever. Finally came in handy.  I wet the acrylic with alcohol then put ink drops on and tried to move it around with a straw. That makes it dry faster. I did reapply alcohol to the plate and pressed my paper again if I was not happy with the print.  This tended to spread the ink already on the paper somewhat, which generally is what I wanted.  I used 4x6 glossy photo paper which I picked up at the second hand store for a song.

I made 16 sheets with 3 different color combinations.  The others were Purple Twilight, Watermelon, and Sunset Orange - this combo was way too warm and red.  They did not turn out as great as these. The other combo is: Stream Blue, Wild Plum, and Butterscotch Yellow.  Keep an eye out here as I use these sheets in the next few of weeks.  I think some will end up in card club.

Nifty Notes - New Images

I made some more Nifty Notes for a co-worker who is leaving.  She going to a job where blank note cards will come in handy.  She thought the tea pot was particularly cool.  I agree.

This cards are produced by overlaying a white clip art in white onto a decorative paper which I created. These images are from Clker. Some I've changed and added features.  The background images range from alcohol ink, watercolor and stenciled. Because these are wide on the card I was able to use different images that I used in the past.

Here's a couple links to the ones I made a while ago. Images with Words and just images.

My Art - Alchohol Ink Backgrounds

I tried my hand at alcohol ink backgrounds last night. I've made some with my sister on several occasions so jumped in and I tried it solo. I am working on a couple of Christmas projects and needed some cool backgrounds. I used liquid acrylic paint with rubbing alchohol. I applied the liquids to glossy coated cardstock with a felt on wood block tool. It was a lot of fun and I have quite a few color options to choose from.