Musical Simple Sympathy

This card  was made in memory of a High School friend and her daughter who were tragically killed last week.  

I wanted something personal that related to both of them.  I met my friend during marching band and her daughter was accomplished in her school's chorale.  I didn't want it too heavy with black so I used one of the school colors of purple for contrast with the white.

I hope it gives some comfort to their family.

Ingredients

Card Size - 4 1/4 in x 5 1/2 in

Cardstock - Recollections white 110lb white, 65lb purple

Stamps - Kitchen Sink Stamps 3 step rose (sentiment)

Ink - Brilliance - purple

Accessories - Allegro embossing folder, Cuttlebug single and double note dies, Dimensionals, Corner Chomper

Camera Cheese Birthday!

So I saw this wonderful video by Darlene and it is inspired me to look at what I had to make a birthday card for our uncle who has a love for photography (and cheese).

I used my Cricut Create a Critter Cartridge to make most of the cuts in either black or white.  Because none of my black cardstock is that thick, I cut two backs and two fronts in the shadow setting to give it some strength.

I chose the white because I wasn't sure what color I wanted that layer.  I chose a dark grey that looks a lot darker in person.  I did want it to look textured but didn't want to emboss it or make it too dark because I wanted the contrast with the black.  After taking a tip from Darlene I colored my flash and viewfinder by flicking the color.  The yellow really makes a splash of color on the card.

Stickles added to the yellow make it special without making it girly.

I cut a bit of packaging for the front of the lens and patterned paper for the inside. 

Also used my Cuttlebug and Nestabilities to the black circle because I felt it needed an extra layer.  The white cardstock around the lens I wanted to have a metallic sheen.

The top black layer I stamped and embossed with the sentiment.

A nice matching envelope to set it off and this is a case where the card turned out better than my imagination.  I just wish the grey looked better in the photo.  

Ingredients
Card size - approximately 6.5 in x 5.5 in
Cardstock - Recollections black and white 65lbs, Recollections paper, upcycled packaging for lens;
Stamps -
Ink - Versamark; Gina K Color Companions Black Onyx
Color - Copics; Sakura metallic silver gel pen
Accessories - Stickles

Feeling Blue Hues...

Like loads of other people I bought these adorable quote stamps when they were all the rage and to my shame I think this is the first time I have used one!  I always came up with some cute idea and then it evolved into something I made into something else that didn't accommodate the quote.  So when I saw this technique by Darlene with the watercolor pencils I decided I had to do it and just the sentiment that would be so very adorable with it.

I pared it down quite a bit but I think it is obvious the inspiration is there!  

Ingredients
Card size 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 in 
Cardstock - Recollections 110 lb cardstock, Artists Loft Watercolor paper
Stamp - Inkadinkado: Friendly Advice
Ink - Gina K Color Companions Black Onyx
Color - Derwent Inktense Watercolor pencils

Hoppy Easter.... well maybe? Still shaking my head.

Listing this one under "could do better/try again" .  To be honest I was experimenting with the coloring in of the background for a larger art project my youngest is working on.  So as long as we learning something all is good right?!

Ingredients
Card size 4 1/4 in x 5 1/2 in
Cardstock - Recollections 110lb white, 65lb green
Stamps - Clear Dollar Stamps "Hoppy Easter"
Ink - Gina K color companion: black onyx;
Color - Prismacolor pencils
Accessories - Gamsol, American Craft ribbon

Test the Technique - Glitter and Embossing Powder

Another discussion on Splitcoaststampers about how to get glitter to adhere.  I have always pointed people in the direction of Gina K's tutorial because I trust Gina.  I really do.

I decided it was time to put my money where my typing fingers are and test the technique.

I started with an extra die cut I had.

I inked it by pressing it into my Versamark pad making certain it was really covered.

Then I ensured both the tops of my detail clear embossing powder and glitter were removed. I knew I need to act fast to get the coverage I wanted.  I covered with the embossing powder and put the excess back in the jar and covered it.  

Then I went ahead and put my glitter on my paper in a thick mound.

I heated the embossing powder and put it in the glitter. It mostly covered.  So I tried to reheat it and didn't get a reaction so I reinked it with the versamark and more detail clear and dunked it again and really pressed it in the glitter.  Then I left it.

I went back and re-inked it with Versamark and covered it with the detail clear and let cool to seal the glitter.  Very little is coming off now.  I mean scrub it and maybe one little bit is coming off, so I am very very very Happy with this technique and will definitely use it again.

I did get some glitter on my Versamark pad.  I used some masking tape and lightly dabbed it over the surface to collect up the glitter on the pad. 

Hope this helps those looking to get glitter to stay on.

I may try to stamp an image and see how it works that way.  I think with clear stamps and/or a stampamajig there is no reason why someone can't get really good coverage and seal the glitter in with this method.

Watercolor Daffodils for Mothering Sunday

Now if you follow my blog at all or just want to scan down a few entries you will probably realize you have already seen this image...

I, however, have to share the story behind this card.  I shall be brief.

1. Follow the fantastic Frugalcrafter Lindsay's tutorial on how to draw and watercolor daffodils. Check.
2. Post it on blog. Check.
3. Put in box to make into Mothering Sunday card for MIL so it will be on time. Check.
4. Forget to look up when Mothering Sunday is in England.  Check.
5. Find out it is Mothering Sunday in England the day before Mothering Sunday. Check.
6. Pull out watercolored Daffodils and mount on cheerful cardstock and stamp greeting.  Check.
7. Blog about it several weeks later. Check.

So here are the small amendments.  When it was already late I went with less is more.

Ingredients

Card size - 8.5 in x 5.5 in 

Cardstock - Watercolor paper; Recollections

Stamps - Hero Arts "Celebrate Everyday" ? (doesn't have a name on the packaging that I can find

Ink - Memento (? Bamboo?)

A cardstock Gamsol Magic Comparison

Okay here are the results of my completely non scientific study.  I stamped every image with memento. And attempted to color every image the "same". By same I mean the amount of pressure put on the pencil/cardstock to lay down color. This is an important distinction as I found the Georgia Pacific didn't accept color as easily as the others. I didn't color correct or lighten the photo.

I also wanted to use a variety of colors to see if they reacted differently in similar circumstances. I used Prismacolor pencils.

I blended the same color with the same blending medium on all cardstock consecutively.  So I started with yellow and did all the yellows with Baby Oil and so on.

Top left - Georgia Pacific
Top right - Recollections 65lbs
Bottom left - Neenah Classic Crest
Bottom right - Recollections 110lbs

On each card:
Left - Gamsol (low odor artist thinners)
Right - Baby Oil

Preconceptions
I completely expected to say all the cardstock pretty much acted the same. Well it didn't.  And I am definitely not a cardstock snob. If it is cost effective and works, use it.

Opinion
I would be okay with using any of my cardstock for this technique. I did find that if I wanted more intense color that I would want to use Neenah or Recollections 110lbs.  Overall I preferred the Recollections 110lbs to work with. The color went on smoothly and easily and blended how I wanted. I was surprised there seemed to be a difference between it and the Recollections 65lbs. 

Choice and reason
1st choice - Recollections 110lbs.  I bought this strictly as a card base, so I was surprised at how well it worked and very cost effective especially with a coupon.

2nd choice - Recollections 65lbs.  This was a close call with Neenah. The Recollections 65lbs was smooth and easy enough to color. It blended particular well with the Gamsol. Fantastic for the price.

3rd choice - Neenah. Oh Neenah, Neenah, Neenah... you were my 2nd choice until the red bled into the green with Gamsol.  Now there are a few user errors on these but this was not one of them. Not worth the risk for the cost of the cardstock for me.

4th choice - Georgia Pacific. 1st if this is what you can afford it isn't awful, it just isn't my first choice (now). From the start it just didn't want to accept pencil color evenly. Then it seemed to pull with the blending solutions I didn't quite make it pill but I could have. It is usable but it could lead to a lot of frustration when experimenting with this technique. 

My advice, if you have the cardstock already experiment. If you have to purchase for this the Recollections line is a solid investment especially with a sale or coupon. Hope you found this helpful.