Acrylic Block Stamping - Group of Cardmakers

Hi everyone.  This month at Group of Cardmakers, we are playing with an older technique (Acrylic Block Stamping), with a twist.

Please check out the details for this month's technique and link to videos on the blog, along with more card samples from Christine, Pat, & Susan.

Group of Cardmakers - Acrylic Block Stamping

For the card above, I used Lindy's Stamp Gang Magicals (powdered inks) with my smallest block to create a CAS card.  I sprinkled Magical powdered inks onto my acrylic block, spritzed with water, flipped it over onto my mixed media paper card front.  Once dry, I doodled the border using a .05 black fine point marker.  Next time I will use something a little thicker. :)  I stamped one of the images from the Floral Silhouette stamp set (Penny Black) in Black pigment ink, and stamped the sentiment (Banner Sentiments - Penny Black).  I cut my focal panel down and popped it up over top of my card base.

Close-up ...

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For the next card, I used a medium-sized block and distress inks (mowed lawn, broken china) to create a soft coloured background, pressing the ink pads onto my acrylic block, spritzing with water, flipping over and stamping onto my mixed media card front.  I doodled a border using a 1.0 black fine point marker.  I then stamped one of the birds from Free as a Bird Stamp set (Jane Doodles) and sentiment in black pigment ink.  I stamped the bird image separately onto mixed media paper and watercoloured withmore distress inks.  I fussy-cut and adhered over top of my stamped image.  The panel was trimmed and popped it up on foam for added dimension.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

SCS - CAS9042 - Things that Walk 

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Two more quick cards using this technique, both using Lindy's Magicals for the backgrounds.  You are not limited by the size of your acrylic blocks.  You can cut out your acrylic block backgrounds to whatever size fits your image to use as a stand-alone panel ... or place behind a frame.  This is a quick way of creating watercolour backgrounds with easy clean-up.

The card above is from a large block stamping.  I cut it out and stamped my silhouette image (Meadow - Inkadinkado - available at Amazon) and a simple sentiment (Special Sentiments - Penny Black).  Popped the panel up on my card front and it was done.

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The card above is from another block stamping, adding it behind my frame (Double Stitched Square Frame - AliExpress).  Simple silhouette die-cut (Little Leaves - Stampin' Up!), shaped with a stylus, was added over top of the background.  I left off the sentiment for now and will add once I decide what to use this card for. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Floral Silhouette (Penny Black); Banner Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Lindy's Magicals; Obsidian black ink (Altenew)  
Accessories:  Small Acrylic Block, water mister, Fine black marker (.05)

Card #2:

Stamps:  Free as a Bird (Jane's Doodles)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Broken China (Tim Holtz); Obsidian black ink (Altenew)  
Accessories:  Medium Acrylic Block, water mister, watercolour brushes, Fine black marker (1.0)

Card #3:

Stamps:  Meadow (Inkadinkado); Special Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Magicals (Lindy's Stamp Gang); Obsidian Pigment (black - Altenew)
Accessories:  Large Acrylic block, water mister

Card #4:

Stamps:  n/a

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black cardstock (SU!)
Ink:  Magicals - Powders (Lindy's Stamp Gang)
Accessories:  Small acrylic block, water mister, Little Leaves die (SU!); Double Stitched Square Frame (AliExpress), stylus and foam pad for shaping leaves

Challenges:

Group of Cardmakers - Acrylic Block Stamping

SCS - CAS9042 - Things that Walk 

Happy Daffodils

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for the Mother of a friend of mine.  He asked that I make a special card for his Mom on Mother's day.  She loves daffodils, and her son gave me a wonderful sentiment to go inside as well. :)

I started by partially stenciling the background.  I used a soft green, which compliments the pretty daffodils.  These flowers are watercoloured with distress inks and then I added a simple sentiment on the front with more inside.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - April - Optional:  Use Pastel Colours

Just Us Girls #820 - Stencil Week

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Dazzling Daffodils (Penny Black); Special Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Versafine Black Onyx; Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Squeezed Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Honeycomb Stencil (Penny Black); sponge, watercolour paint brushes

Challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - April - Optional:  Use Pastel Colours

Just Us Girls #820 - Stencil Week

Remembering Mom ...

Hi everyone.  Today's post is dedicated to my caring, compassionate, sweet Mom who passed away six days ago, just a few days shy of her 97th birthday.  She was an amazing person, loved by all who knew her.  She lived a very long life, dedicating it to her family (husband, three children, six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren).  She was always willing to lend a hand to those in need.  After retirement, Mom volunteered for over 15 years at Meals on Wheels and Grocery Shopping for Seniors, at a time when she herself, was a senior.  

Mom spent a lot of time in her garden.  It was her passion to grow flowers and she passed along her love of gardening to me.  Nowadays, most of the flowers I tend are on my cards.  Today is a tribute to her, with a pretty floral card, that I know she would have loved.

Below I'm sharing a few photos of my Mom; a portait taken when she was twenty, a photo of the two of us at a family dinner, and a birthday photo taken 10 years ago.

She was beautiful inside and out.  I will miss her dearly.

Mom ...

1949

Mom & Me - 2009

Mom's 87th Birthday - 2016

You brought light to so many.  Rest now, my sweet Mom ...

Love you always,

IDEAS July - Stencils

Hi everyone.  I want to thank everyone for their well wishes, thoughts & prayers.  The surgery went well and I'm home recovering.  I appreciate all the support!

Today's card is for the IDEAS Challenge with Darnell.  There are five Monday's this month, so this week is "S for Stencils".

I used a stencil (Interlaced Circles - Color Factory) for the background which is from my NBUS box. :)  I sponged the stencil with Scattered Straw, creating an ombre effect.  I torn along the top of my stenciled panel at an angel; then added it to my card base.  

I die-cut Dignified (Penny Black) leafy branch, watercoloured with Peeled Paint Distress Re-inker, and then cut it up to place behind my Hellebore image (Stampendous), which is also from my NBUS box. :)  The image is stamped in Watering Can Archival ink and watercoloured with Distress Re-inkers.  I stamped a sentiment to finish the card.

Close-up ...

Sending this to the following challenges:

IDEAS Challenge - July - Stencils

NBUS #64

Stencil Fun July Challenge

Just Us Girls Challenge #737 - Stencil Week

  

 

Edited to add:  Adding to the JUGS #737 challenge - thanks for the heads up Lisa!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:   Hellebore (Stampendous); Many Everyday Day Messages (Hero Arts)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Watering Can Archival Ink (Ranger); Distress Re-inkers:  Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters, Aged Mahogany, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Interlaced Circle Stencil (Color Factory); Dignified die (Penny Black), sponge brush, watercolour brushes

Challenges:

IDEAS July Challenge - Stencils

NBUS Challenge #64

Stencil Fun July Challenge

JUGS #737 - Stencil Week

Kaleidoscope - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  Today we are starting a new technique at Group of Seven.  I saw a beautiful card made by my friend Jenny (My Paper Epiphany - third card in post) using this technique and I'm so excited we tried it out for Group of Seven. :)  Thanks Jenny!!

Jenny's inspiration card

For the card at the top of the post, I stamped a large image in Versamark onto mixed media paper; then heat embossed with Liquid Platnium (Ranger).  I used Distress Re-inkers to watercolour the image, making sure the whole card front was covered with colour.  I believe it would be OK to leave bits of white, but not large patches of white.  Once dry, I cut the panel up into 1/2" wide pieces, rearranged them in a random order; then taped them to my card front.  These bright colours are so HAPPY!! :)

Please check out the details for the technique and link to video on the blog ...

Group of Seven Cardmakers

Here's what I learned when I experimented with this technique ...

• Tried this with a variety of stamped images and was happy with each one.  A great technique if you are looking for an arsty type of card.
• The technique is to colour the images loosely, which I did for the Christmas cards below, but keep mostly inside the lines for my two Floral cards.  Both ways worked.
• Also tried this with stencils and it worked great.  Best to make sure your background is coloured before sponging over the stencil.  I simply smooshed a light colour of ink.
• Try cutting up your panel in random-sized strips for a different look
• Great way to use some images from your stash that you've been hanging on to for a long time, but not used because they aren't "quite right".  This technique makes everything look good. :)

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Close-up ...

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I had this image in my "need to finish" pile for a long time.  It's called Roses Be Happy (Stampendous - retired).  It was already watercoloured, but I used my zigs to add more colour as I find vibrant colours look awesome with this technique.  Then I cut it up into strips, rearranging them randomly and cut it into a smaller panel.  LOVE how it turned out.

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I decided that I should try this using sponging through a stencil. :)  I smooshed the background, then sponged over the Layering Poinsettia stencil by Tim Holtz with more Distress Inks.  

The stencil was removed before I sponged around the outside edge of the poinsettias and holly.  We have done this technique before and we called it Stencil Bleed (click to see our Group of Seven post). 

I cut the panel in half and outlined one with a silver metallic pen.  The other panel was left as is.  It's amazing how different they look. :)  Thanks for the suggestion to try it both ways Christine!

 

Sending the above card to the following challenges:

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #57

Peace on Earth #68

 

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I have done a similar technique in the past, cutting up pieces with random widths and spacing them apart a little (below ... 1) foiled piece; 2) stenciling over coloured card stock).  Here's a few alternative ways to try this technique ... 

Past cards

(click on photos for more info)

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Dahlia Collage (Stampendous); Birthday Blowout (Poppy Stamps)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Re-inkers: Mowed Lawn, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Kitsch Flamingo, Picked Raspberry, Salvaged Patina (Tim Holtz)
Accessories: Liquid Platinum embossing powder, White embossing powder (both from Ranger), heat tool, watercolour brushes

Card #2:

Stamps:  Roses Be Happy - retired (Stampendous); Happy Snippets (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Zigs (Kuretake)
Accessories:  Gold embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool; watercolouring brushes

Card #3 & 4:

Stamps:  Merry Christimas (SU! - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Salvaged Patina, Candied Apple, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed 
Accessories:  Water mister, Layering Poinsettia stencil (Tim Holtz); detail sponges, Silver metallic pen (Pilot)

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Kaleidoscope

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #57

Peace on Earth Challenge #68

IDEAS June - Embossing Folders

Hi everyone.  It's time for the next IDEAS Challenge with Darnell.  This week is "E for Embossing Folders".

I used a new-to-me embossing folder, Gracious Floral (Memory Box).  I sponged colour over the image on the debossed side and then used a direct to stamp with Versafine Clair black ink to swipe across and cover the background.  Unfortunately, when the ink was added to the background, it showed cracks from the embossing.  So I fussy-cut the embossed image and placed it over a black embossed background (Weathered - Taylor Expressions - retired) with a distressed edge to match the distressed look of the image.  The two pieces were placed onto a black card base and a simple sentiment banner in white added over top (Simply Sentiments - Lawn Fawn).

Close-up ...

I'm sending the above card to a few challenges:

IDEAS - Week 3 - Embossing Folder

NBUS #63 (never-before-used-schtuff) - this was the first time I used the embossing folder

Can you Handle the Pressure? - The main image is embossed as well as the background

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Simply Sentiments (Lawn Fawn

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Wilted Violet, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); Versafine Clair nocturne ink
Accessories:   Gracious Floral embossing Folder (Memory Box), small sponges, Weathered embossing folder (Taylor Expressions) 

Challenges:

IDEAS Challenge June - Embossing Folders

NBUS Challenge #63

Can You Handle the Pressure?

Penny Black - Sophistication

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing another of the new Penny Black release.  This time I've used a cling stamp called Sophistication (40-929).

I started with the Honeycomb Stencil (Penny Black), sponging along one side of my card front in Salvaged Patina distress ink.  Removed the stencil and then stamped Sophistication in Smoky Slate ink (SU!) and heat embossed in clear.  

I watercoloured the image in Distress Inks (Ripe Persimmon, Crackling Campfire, and Peeled Paint).  I then stamped the sentiment (Family Sentiment - Penny Black) in more of the slate ink to finish the card.

Close-up ...

Sending the above card to two challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - May

Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes 

    

Thanks for stopping by!

Penny Black Products

   Sophistication (40-929)               Honeycomb Stencil              Family Sentiment (30-555)

Stamps:  Sophistication; Family Sentiment (both Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Salvaged Patina, Ripe Persimmon, Cracking Campfire, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz); Smoky Slate (SU!) 
Accessories:   Honeycomb Stencil (Penny Black), sponge, Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour brushes

Challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - May

Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes