In Memory Of Bill blog hop

     This card was made to help a crafter I've never met know that I am thinking of her after the loss of her brother to esophageal cancer, this vile disease also took my Dad a few years ago. Periwinkle is the colour for esophageal cancer awareness so all the cards made for this blog hop will probably be blue.

     I have used two blue Distress Oxides on a splatter stamp from Inkylicious, this splatter is the smaller of the two available. I decided to stamp this straight onto the card blank rather than mat and layer, another good reason to invest in a stamp press.
     The ink was spritzed with a little mica filled water and stamped onto the card, then left to dry. Once dry I stamped a tree, a couple of birds and a small greeting with Versafine Medieval Blue, I had to stamp the tree a couple of times to make sure it was an even coverage. Very simple but heartfelt.
   

Dad doing what he loved most - driving a steam engine.

     Our blog hop is a show of support to a fellow crafter in need, I do hope you will follow the links all the way through. Welcome to those arriving from Mynn Kitchen, your next stop will be Em Fairley.

Full Hop List

 Mynn Kitchen 

Here

 Em Fairley 

Nandini Karmarkar 

Mary Ellen Driggs 

LeAnn Skinner 

Lee Ann Barrett 

Gietje Boja-Ligthart 

Ewa Pas 
Jacqueline Mantle

The Rainbow Card Challenge Blog

Peace Is Not Just For Christmas

     I know Christmas is a long way off but in non-traditional colours this card could be used for another occasion. Christmas At Sweet Stampin' this month is all about 'Words' and you'll find some great inspiration on their blog.

     This stamp is a Woodware design from 2015, I have to say it's one of my favourites. I decided to use almost everything from stash, I have a bit (haha!) so I'm setting about making good use of it.
     I wanted to use some mica paints so I had to emboss the image as it holds the paint within it's lines perfectly. Using my stamp press I stamped in dark blue Versafine, the problem was I was using watercolour card which is very absorbent. The answer came to me while peeling potatoes.... stamp in blue, then wipe the stamp and stamp with Versamark, nice and sticky and ready for embossing powder, you've got to love a stamp press.

     Using a mix of Koi watercolour pens and the mica paints I set about colouring my image in shades of purple. There are some small words with this stamp but I chose not to use them this time, that meant the image would fit a large DL card blank.
     With a purple pearl card mat layer underneath it looked alright but something wasn't quite right, I then used a lilac Distress Ink to go around the edges of the image panel before I stuck it down, it knocks back the harsh edge that didn't seem right.
     With the addition of a few tiny sequin type stars dotted around it was complete. Don't tell anyone but the stars were to hide a small splodge I made by accident, turns out they look pretty good.
     I made a blue one as well, if I make two cards each month I will be well on the way to having a small stash ready for Christmas. he shine doesn't come out very well on the pictures but the mica paints really do catch the light.

I would like to enter these cards in the following challenges:

The 12 Months Of Christmas - Anything Chrsitmas/Winter Blues

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Shades Of Blue

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas/Cute

The Holly and Ivy - Anything Christmas

Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas

Love is....

     .....not just for Valentine's, this would make a good anniversary card too. Not Just Cards have a new challenge starting today, I'm sure you'll find some inspiration over there if you haven't already looked.
     I don't have run through pictures for this one as I got carried away and forgot all about the camera! It started with a heart shaped Media Plate, three shades of red/pink inks and a hard brayer. Starting with the palest ink at the top I inked up the heart with all three shades and then used the brayer to blend them on the plate. Stamping the plate onto white card left me with a gorgeous pinky shape, I then used a stencil on the plate and inked the middle tone ink through it, removed the stencil (actually forgot to do this once!) and stamped the image over the pinky heart.
     To get the gorgeous shine I thoroughly dried the heart shape, cleaned off the plate a little and then used the same stencil, but in a different position, with Versamark. Again removing the stencil, stamping the image onto the card but this time dusted the heart with pearl mica powder.
     The two birds stamp is from stash, I can't remember where it came from, stamped in Versafine black. Using a stamp press makes life so much easier when stamping silhouettes as you can stamp the image a couple of times to get a really solid image.
     The little sentiment is one of John Next Door's stamps, again in black and tucked away in the corner. There is a thin black mat layer to set off the black on the image panel, followed by another thin layer, this time in pearl pink.
     The photo below shows how the card looks when the light doesn't catch the mica shine, the pattern still shows but muted.

   

Materials List    Available from your local craft shop
JLGP006 Medai Plate - Heart
JND0013 Everyday Sentiments
Pigment Inks
Versafine Black
Versamark
Pearl Mica Powder
Stamp Press

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Allsorts - Add A Heart

Sweet Stampin' - All You Need Is Love

CAS On Friday - Love

Always Fun - Love/Valentines

Crafty Cardmakers - Love Is All You Need
Dream Valley - Love
Make My Monday - I Heart You