Rainbow Frame

 

     This card was made using the cut out frame left over from the card in the last post. If you haven't seen it then this was white card that has been coloured with the new Mica Magic Spring set from John Next Door.

     Mica Magic doesn't just colour card, it will work on many different surfaces, including vellum. The flowers were cut in vellum using the Cornflower die set and the corresponding leaves. Both flowers and leaves were coloured with the mica, for a stronger colour work on the front and for a paler colour work on the back of the vellum.

     To mount up on a white card blank I used some bright green card that was a close match to one of the mica colours. On top of this I used some pink Craft Artist glitter card covered with a die cut layer of a sort of squashed berry colour, again similar to one of the mica colours used. The berry and glitter layer was mounted on 1mm foam while the rainbow frame was mounted on 2mm foam tape over the berry card leaving a border showing.

     Once the frame was in place I was able to add the flowers and leaves to pop out from within the frame, filling in the open areas on the berry card.

     This card has used up some offcuts and a few new bits, it's a good way to make great use of what you've already got on your work bench from previous projects.

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

C.R.A.F.T. - #623 New

Watercooler Wednesday - #332 All Things Feminine 

Try It On Tuesday - In With The New

Cut It Up - #243 Anything Goes

Creative Fingers - #222 Anything Goes

Rainbow Mica Magic

 

     If you haven't worked with mica before then give it a try, this is Mica Magic, it comes in cake form rather than powder but can be used in the same way. This mica has a binding agent in it already which makes it a little creamy in texture, but it will still dust onto a project just like a powder.

     

     This pallet is the new Spring set from John Next Door, a selection of gorgeous Spring colours.

     To begin this card I coloured an A6 piece of white card with the mica, just using my finger to paint it on in stripes. Once I'd covered the card I left it for a few minutes, then buffed it wish a soft cloth, this brings up the shine of the mica and because of the binding agent it doesn't rub off the card.

     With some of the rectangle dies I cut two frames and a panel from the rainbow card. For this card I only wanted the panel and the outer frame, I have used the inner frame for another project so nothing was wasted.

     To make the background I used a stencil on white card and the white pearl mica from the set, this gives some pattern but doesn't complicate the colours.

     The amazing thing about Mica Magic is you can stamp and emboss over it without having to use specialised ink, I used a Versamark ink pad and detail embossing powder.

     The card blank has been coloured blue around the edge, then the white patterned background was mounted on 1mm foam. The frame was mounted flush to the white background with the sentiment panel went on 2mm foam in the centre.

     I always loved working with mica powders but Mica Magic is so much easier to use as it's less messy, there is no dust floating around when you use it and you still get that great shine.

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

Dream Valley - #261 Anything New

Allsorts - #658 Anything Goes / option~New     Top 5

Sweet Stampin' - New

Stamping Sensations - Anything Stamped Goes / option~add a die

Let's Craft and Create - # 179 Anything Goes / option~New

Winter Wonderland

 

     As we're still in Winter in the northern hemisphere the new challenge twist at The Paper Funday is Winter Landscapes. A Winter birthday or getting ahead for Christmas, this card could be either, a sentiment will be added later.

     It started as an A5 piece of white card, using a torn edge piece of paper as a mask I coloured the top two thirds with pale Distress Inks, Broken China and Faded Lilac.

     Working on an A5 piece gave me the advantage of choosing which bit I liked best when it came to placing the stamp. The image was stamped in Versafine Claire Medieval Blue, it's a really dark blue that looks almost black, a good way to get a dark image that's not too harsh. 

     Using a square die I cut the image panel out, then cut a white mat layer that was coloured with the Versafine ink so it would match the image. I gave the whole panel a spritz with a pearl mica spray before adding it to the blue mat layer.

     When put on a white card blank it looked a little plain, so I used some tiny finger stamps and added little snowflakes at random all around the edges that would show. The image panel is mounted on thin foam tape to give a tiny bit of lift.

     Once mounted and dry I added some tiny clear gems to the image, two on the snowflakes and one on the glint through the trees.

     Please come and join us at The Paper Funday, it is an anything goes challenge, I have chosen to use the twist but you don't have to.

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

Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes, option Add A Die

Sparkles Christmas - A Winter's Scene

Taylormade Cards 4 U - Anything goes, option Winter Vibes

Friendship - Winter Is Here

Pearly Sparkles - #69 January Blues

Happy New Year

     Another card made with a die from John Next Door's new Art Deco collection, Kramer. The sentiment on this one makes it perfect to use in wishing you all a Happy Crafting New Year, let's hope we can return to workshops and shows soon.

     Using thick black card I cut the screen using John's latest Lantern die, I think it makes a great screen card because the feet just look right for it.

     With the Kramer die I cut two panels in the same black card and trimmed them down to fit the screen panels.

     To back these patterned panels I used a piece of thin card that had been covered with a d/s sticky sheet and then covered with guilding flakes. I've had these flakes for years, they're gorgeous but I can't 'save' everything.....it's time to use them.

    

     For the centre panel I wanted to add my sentiment but plain cream card looked wrong, so out came the Distress Ink and a blending brush. Using the die as a stencil I coloured the cream card with the same pattern as the panels but left it pale enough to see the stamping.

     I cut the cream card panel to be the same size as the others and stuck it on the screen card.

     The card looked good but not quite right, it was missing a focal point on the front. I searched through all my Mizuhiki cords to find colours that would go with the guilding flakes, stand out, but not too much. Finally settling on a mix of green, teal and copper, which can all be found in the flakes.

     The knots are simple but effective on oriental cards, adding a small touch of authenticity. 

     I hope next year sees us all return to sharing ideas and techniques in person, Happy New Year.

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

Creative Creases - #22 Use A Fun Fold

Time Out - #204 New

Modsquad - New.....include something new

Art Deco Chinese

     This is made with a die from the second release of Art Deco dies by John Next Door, Kahn. These dies have a very oriental look to them so that's the way I decided to go with this card.

     I cut the die in satin gold card and kept the pieces that popped out. Then I cut it again in gold mirri card but left a wider border around the outside, again I kept the pieces that popped out but used the framework as a mat layer on this card.

     I used a piece of oriental patterned paper to back the satin grid, mounted this on the mirri grid, then paper pieced some of the popped out bits into the gaps. The small red and black centre piece was cut and added on top to give a splash of colour.

     Another piece of the same backing paper was added to a dark red card, then the grid layer was mounted on foam to finish off.

     A simple but effective card suitable for either man or woman, a greeting could be added at a later date when required.

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

Lemon Shortbread - #161 Anything Goes

International Art & Soul - #123 Dies or Punches

Happy Little Stampers - Anything Goes With Dies

Merry Christmas

     I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a much Happier New Year. I am certainly hoping that 2022 is less challenging than this year has been.

     This simple little card was made using John Next Door's finger stamps, along with the antler set. The gift was stamped first, then masked before the flower pot was stamped, this was also masked before the next step.

     Using one antler stamp and brown ink I stamped the bare tree, then with a holly stencil and a pale green ink I made the background and the ground . Removing the masks and adding the stocking came next with a small gold embossed star on top.

     The mats and layers were die cut with a mixture of stitch dot and plain rectangles and mounted on a white card blank. A fun card that's nice and flat for posting.

      

Have a happy crafting holiday and see you all next year.

Scenic Baubles

 

     This month's challenge at Christmas Craft Creations is to 'Make A Scene'. It doesn't have to be a card, any handcrafted project is acceptable as long as you follow the theme.

     To make the mask for this card I die cut three different bauble shapes using John Next Door dies. I then taped this mask over a piece of white card and started to add colour with a blending brush.

     The trees and deer are also by John Next Door, these were stamped using a dark blue ink as black would have been too harsh.

      Before removing the mask I spritzed the scene with a little water containing some pearl mica, it gave it a subtle sparkle and by doing it when the mask was still on it's only across the scene.

      Having kept the cut out shapes from the mask I taped the together and then placed them over the dry scene. Using a text stamp of Christmas greetings I used second generation ink to add a pattern all over the card.

      The scene was mounted on a piece of dark blue card to give it a border, then onto a narrow mat layer of silver mirri card cut with a Presscut stitch dot edge. To get the right blue for the card I went around the edge of a white card with blue Distress ink, then mounted the scene layers on top of that.

      The bows were die cut from thick double sided silver pearl paper and finished off with a tiny blue gem. There is no greeting on the outside because the text says it all already.

      Please pop over and share your winter scenes with us at Christmas Craft Creations, we'd love to see what you've made.

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

Jingle Belles - It's a Wrap

A Place To Start - #12 Anything Goes/ twist~blue

Peace On Earth - #5 Anything Christmas

The Paper Players - PP570 Winter Wonderland

Sweet Stampin' - Anything Christmas

Cardz 4 Galz - #161 It's Snowtime