Sorry About Absence

Just a quick note regarding my lack of posting. I have had back problems for the past week & a half. Needless to say I haven't been crafting. It is starting to come around so hopefully I will have something in the next few days.

Clear Raspberry

When i saw the beveled window panes in the mini I wasn't too sure about them. But I saw what other people had done and of course then I absolutely needed them. Way too cool. This is my first creation. I am pleased with the result. What do you think?

Ink: Baja Breeze, Not quite Navy, Early espresso, white craft ink
Stamps: Clearly for You, Afterthoughts
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
Accessories: Square Lattice & tulip frame  embossing folders, dazzling diamonds glitter, beveled window pane, White Brads, Cherry Cobbler & old olive Chalk


Rubber Inkspirations Tips:

• To only emboss a portion of your card, only place the portion you want embossed in the folder. Remember, do your stamping first.
• Use a larger piece of card, stamp your image & adhere beveled window pane. Wait for it to dry & trim excess with a hobby blade. Perfect fit every time.
• Use a piece of scrap cardstock for a squeegee to spread the crystal effects evenly.

Reinker Spread

I decided to play with some reinkers and white shimmer card stock. This is an unusual color combo for me. Baja breeze & rich razzleberry. The debossed and brayered background echo the main focal piece. Do you think it is too much?

Ink: Versamark, baja breeze
Stamps:Fine Flourish
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Rich Razzleberry, White, shimmery white
Accessories: Baja Reinker, Razzelberry reinker, Baja Seam binding Ribbon, Brayer, White embossing powder, Vintage Wallpaper folder
Scallop Trim border punch, dimensionals.


Rubber Inkspiration Tips:

• Stamp & emboss image on Shimmery white cardstock. Spritz with water & add lightest color first with Aqua painter.
• Lighten areas of color by removing ink or adding water.

Paper Players Color Challenge # 38

I loved the colors for this challenge so I thought I would give it a try. I don't often use light pinks but this was fun. The bird was first stamped in versamark, then Early espresso. I used clear embossing powder to emboss.. The Flower was made with die cuts from the Birds & Blooms Sizzlet. I thought the focal point needed to be grounded so I colored the small border with Early Espresso Marker. This card was fund to create. I will wait until I gift it to add a sentiment

Ink: Early Espresso, Blushing Bride
Stamps: Notably Ornate, En Francais
Cardstock: Blushing Bride, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Baja Breeze seam binding ribbon, Baja Breeze marker, blushing bride marker, Birds & Blooms sizzle, pearl accent

Rubber Inkspiration Tips:

• Stamp off once when using darkink on lighter cardstock for a softer look.
• Use a large rounded stylus or something similar, to rub flowers in a circular motion to break up paper fibers and curl the flowers up.
• Ink flower petals before distressing.
• Use small tip of marker to add color here & there for and "antiqued" look rather than coloring in solid.

Spring Basket

Fun quick card today using the Flower for all Seasons Stamp Set. This could be one of your free selections with a $60 order. I got the border frame idea from Dawn Olchefske   I made the frame piece 3 1/8" square. The white focal piece is 1 7/8" square. I colored with a blender pen and various colors of ink to get the water color look.

Stamps: Flower for all seasons, Something to Celebrate (hostess)
Ink: Black Stays on, Soft suede, early espresso, daffodil delight, peach parfait, cherry cobbler, pear pizazz, Old Olive.
Paper, Kraft, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White
Accessories: Punches:Word window, Modern Label, Dotted scallop ribbon, Color Spritzer Tool (107066)

Rubber Inkspiration Tips:

• Test spray pattern on scrap paper first so you get an idea of the the amount of ink.
• Hold the color spritzer tool far away from project to get a fine spray.
• Pop the frame up with dimensionals to give some added depth to your card.

3x3 Ice Cream Palor

I had fun making these little 3x3 note holders. They make a perfect little gift for someone. These went together very quick using the free DSP & quick accents pack from the sale-a-bration catalog. You could choose this free with a $60 purchase before March 31.


Stamps: Punch Bunch (Free SAB)
Ink: Pacific Point, Melon Mambo, Peach Parfait
Paper: Whisper White, Ice Cream Parlor DSP (free SAB)
Accessories: Organza Ribbon, Ice cream parlor quick accents, 1 3/8 circle punch, Sponges


Rubber Inkspiration Tips:

• Select quick accents & stamp image to coordinate. 
• Pop up the stamped image for added dimension. 
• Quickly sponge edges of punch out.

Blender Pen Watercolor

I made this cute 3 x 3 card holder in a snap with the scallop envelope die from Stampin' Up! I tried a new to me technique for this set. I stamped with my free sale-a-bration sets in various collors, then went over them with a blender pen. This is a quick easy way to get the watercolor look. I even did it with the sentiments to give a fun whimsical look. Hard to see in the picture but the butterflys have dazzling diamond wings.

Stamps: So Happy for You, Sweet Summer
Ink: Concord Crush, Cherry Cobbler, Pear Pizazz, Peach Parfait
Paper, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White
Accessories: White organza ribbon, dazzling diamonds, scallop label die, blender pen

Rubber Inkspirations Tips:

• Use blender pen to smudge, soften, the color by pulling the color inside the image. Blend one color at a time. 
• Clean blender pen tip by scribbling on scrap paper before moving to a new color.
• Stamp flower heads first to get your spacing correct.

Fun Folds in Burgundy

I  Like to try fun fold cards . Adds some spice to life. For this card the base is soft suede with the fold on the right side of the card. I cut off a portion of the front face & added the embossed Bravo burgundy piece. It is kind of a variation on a gate fold card. The primary stamp set featured is Style Beautiful. I knew when I first saw this in the catalog I would have to have it.

 Stamps: Style Beautiful, Clearly for You, Very Vintage Wheel
Ink: Bravo Burgundy, Soft Suede, River Rock, Versamark
Paper: Bravo Burgundy, Soft Suede, River Rock
Accessories:Victoria Crochet Trim (118481), Scallop Rectangle Clearlit 118872, Large & Small Scallop punches, Clear Embossing powder.

Rubber Inkspiration Tips:

Emboss only a portion of the add on flap. For example, I cut about 1 1/5 inches from the soft suede piece so the burgundy piece should be 2 3/4 wide by 5 1/2 long. Emboss 1 3/4 inches of this piece, & score up to the edge of the embossing. The portion not embossed is attached to your card. This way there is a slight overlap on the front of your card.

Additional Shots of the card open.

Rockin' Petal Pizzazz

I was playing around with the rock-n-roll technique to see how various colors went together. This card uses a number of combinations. I used crystal effects on the flower centers & added glitter to the popped up flower. This is a bright happy card and it makes me smile. Here in Alberta, we still have a ton of snow on the ground and a little more each day. I understand we have been 20 degrees below normal for the week or so and it is supposed to be that way for awhile.

Stamps: Petal Pizzazz
Ink:peach parfait, tangerine tango, cajun craze, cherry cobbler, daffodil delight, pear pizazz, old olive, always artichoke
Accessories: crystal effects (101055), fine super nova glitter (orange) (114287)
Paper: Peach Parfait, cherry cobbler, whisper white, very vanilla

Rubber Inkspirations Tips:

• Pop up one full flower to add dimension.
• Let you image "over hang" the frame to add some interest.

PPA83 Challenge

I thought I would try my hand at the color challenge at Pals Paper Arts. I saw a card similar to this on a blog  but I can't remember who. It is a spin on the retiform technique. Thuis is my first try at this technique.

Stamps: Because I Care,Bliss, Very Vintage wheel
Ink: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze
Paper:Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze
Accessories: Antique brads (117273), Baja Breeze Seam Binding Ribbon (122331)

Rubber Inkspirations Tips:

• Use sticky Sticky notes so they stay put while you ink the edges, mine were not very sticky & kept slipping.
• Try to sponge grid edges evenly, so they have the same color value.
• Using piercing tool to make hole for the brad.