CMSS - Inspired by Juliana Michaels... not one but three cards!

 Yeap, I loved the presentation by Juliana Michaels and made not one card, but three!   Her technique was using stamping foam and an embossing folder.   This is a favourite technique, but one I don't use all that much.  

As I am doing mostly Christmas Holdiay cards this summit - I chose an Altenew folder.  Classic Pinecones Slim 3D folder.  I heated my foam and pressed it into the folder.   Chose the "sticky up" side (although hard to determine with a 3D folder)  

First card I inked the foam with some Vintage Photo Oxide ink.   I used some 240gms Fabriano Start Mixed Media paper.  It says it is white... but it is really an off white colour.  It's A4 size so my card bases become 4 1/8" x 5 3/8" - just a smidgeon less than a US A2 size card.  

Love the colour I got with the Vintage Photo ink.  I trimmed the stamped panel leaving a tiny white border.  Matted the panel with some brown card - the same colour as my pinecones.   I used an Elizabeth Craft Designs die set - Christmas Accents.  It's an older die set, with two sizes of pinecones and two sizes of the poinsettia flowers and leaves.   I used two tones of brown for the cones, and some red paper.  I made my own green paper by using Distress ink in Pinecone direct to the paper.  A little fellow centre finished my poinsettias.   I made these cards yesterday and fortuitously my order from Krafters Cart arrived - with the Concord & 9th - Big on Christmas stamps and die set.  I stamped the big FA LA LA and used the die to cut it... and added the sub-sentiment directly on the card. 

Card two- I used Weathered Wood Distress Oxide to stamp the foam, trimmed and added to a dark green mat.  

This time I chose an older stamp and die set from Hero Arts- Holly Jolly.  We have been tidying up the storage space under the stairs - where I store some of my stamps... ones I haven't used in forever!  Saw this set and thought it would be perfect against the background.  I used more of my own green paper to stamp on and die cut the holly leave.  Added some Altenew enamel dots for the berries.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set.  

For my third card, I reheated the foam and used the other side of the folder.  Used the Weathered Wood Distress Oxide ink and definitely got a totally different look. 

I trimmed a larger border around the panel and used a Gold Sharpie to add a faux mat.  I stamped another of the stamps from Concord & 9th set - gold embossed directly onto the panel.  Added some die cut stars (from the same die set) with a little gold gem in the centre. 

The stash of Christmas cards is growing quickly with the inspiration from the Card Makers Success Summit.. and I still have nearly 40 more presentations to watch.  

One embossing folder, a stamping foam circle and two cards!

 Over the weekend I was watching some You Tube videos and watched Simon Hurley's video showing what he had demonstrated at Creativation 2023.   I was watching him use the circle stamping foam and remembered that I had bought this one ... after a bit of a hunt in my room I found the pack - still unopened.   I decided to try a technique using an embossing folder with the foam... I chose Altenew's Silk Art kit embossing folder.   I decided that I would experiment by using both sides of the folder.  Both cards used inks from Altenew's Martian Terrain Ink set. 

Once I had pressed the foam into the folder, I did an ombre look using all 4 of the inks.   I used Altenew Mix and Match Frames to cut it out and back it with some red card.   The Hugs die (Versatile Greetings) was cut from white and I used one of the inks directly to the card to make the shadow.  Added some little clear gems. 

Using the other side of the folder to press into the foam.  This time I used three inks and working from the lightest in the middle working out to the darkest.   The sentiment again was die cut from Versatile Greetings - this time coloured die cut and white shadow.  And the embellishments are red gems.

It's was so cool to see the two different looks achieved depending on what side of the folder you used.  I'm entering the first one in to Darrnell's NBUS (Never been used before schtuff) as it was the first time using the circular foam. 

I got to have a few hours playing over the weekend.  Doing some DT work and some time just playing.  

And on the laundry front... by Wednesday I had the washing machine installed and the tub sorted so two loads done that afternoon!  So quiet and quick too.  Plus the spin cycle is fast so the clothes are much drier coming out.  

Inspired by Simon Hurley - another floral circle card

 I was checking my subscriptions on You Tube and came across a neat technique from Simon Hurley - using stamping foam and an embossing folder..  You can check it out Here 

He used his round foam but I only have the original sized rectangle foam.  I loved a card he made using the circle - colouring and stamping then embossing the entire folder and using the circle as a spotlight feature.    It inspired me to try something similar.  Simon used the debossed side - where as I used the embossed side. 

I took my Altenew 3D folder - Decorative Florals, headed the foam and press to get the impression. I had used a Spellbinders circle die to cut the circle and after I added inks with blending brushes. spritzed with water and stamped onto it. Once it was dry I added the circle back into the EF and ran it through to emboss it.  Took some metallic paste and ran my finger over the raised areas.  I used the EF to emboss a white panel and slotted the circle into place.  I layered the panel on some pinky purple paper and onto my white card.   White embossed the sentiment from Sentiment Strips #3 and added it.

I'm entering this into The Flower Challenge - Circle/Circles -

                                                 

Thanks for stopping by. 

WWC 316- Cathy's Challenge: All About Occasions.

Hello there, it’s time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Cathy is our hostess this week with an All About Occasions challenge.

 

 I've made a Friendship card today.  I had some stamped backgrounds made with a stencil and Simon Hurley stamping foam.   I took this one stamped in greens and blue.

I trimmed and layered the panel and cut a scalloped rectangle (from a Gina K Master Layout) and added onto the white base.   I added a Hero Arts sentiment die cut from black card covered with clear packing tape.  I added the stamped sentiment from the Hello There Stamp'n'Cut set. 

Come and join in the fun at  Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and check out the project from the other designers.  Then take our challenge and link up your project to the challenge post.    We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday 31 May at 5 pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday 1st of June at 12.00 noon NZ time ) to link up your project.

Purple florals - and using Stamping Foam.

 I've been working from home for the last 4 days as we are back in lockdown 3 for 7 days.  I have set up my tablet and old TV monitor on my craft table - which I have to say is very distracting!!!!  I use my break times to do some crafting... 10 mins in the morning and afternoons and 20 mins or so at lunch time.  So over the past few days I have been trying out a new tool!  I brought some Simon Hurley stamping foam from my local online store (Krafters Cart) and after watching Jennifer McGuire and Simon's videos I made a few backgrounds... using stamps and embossing folders.  I made a few backgrounds and today I finished my first card.

My background was made using a Hero Arts background stamp.  I followed the instructions on heating the foam and pushed it into stamp.  I used some Altenew ink to rub over the foam and stamped it onto some white card.  I trimmed around the edge and added it to my purple embossed base card.  I stamped Altenew Gift for You onto some scrap card and used my Jasart pencils to colour it in.  I fussy cut it and added the little sentiment stripe that I had in my "magic mug" a la Laurel Beard.  A few pearls finished of the card.   I must admit to loving this one... Purple is my favourite colour.  

Now I just have to make sure that I don't get too distracted with all my crafty goodness around for the rest of the week.   I will be strong!