Wednesday, January 27, 2016

OCC Watercolor Intermediate Day 2

So day two is learning more about using the brushes and controlling your strokes and the paint.

I'm struggling with this one! BIG TIME!!!!


Those blue blobs are supposed to be cornflowers.  HAHAHAHAHAHA I'm no gardener but I'm pretty sure no flower exists in nature that is that scary. 

Oh well, I'll keep trying. In the mean time, add some paint splatters to it and call it artistic expression. 

Happy Crafting
Theresa

OCC Watercolor Intermediate Day 1 Part 2

So I didn't get all the homework for day one posted yesterday.
The second exercise was on learning how to control the paint and practice your brush strokes.

Here's my card for the actual lesson:


By no means perfect, but I think it turned out ok for a first attempt. I love the color combo, so I decided to keep playing and take the diamond pattern to an extreme and use it as opportunity to work more on combining colors and again controlling my paint and getting more comfortable with a flat brush, which I've never used before.  This is the result: 




I like it too but wish I'd made a different choice on the stamps I used for the accents.
But there is always the next card to improve on it.

Happy Crafting
Theresa

Monday, January 25, 2016

Online Card Classes Watercolor for Cardmakers Intermediate Techniques Day 1

Today's the first day of the OCC Watercolor for Cardmakers Intermediate Techniques class taught by Dawn Woleslage from Wplus9.

Today's lesson and homework was on learning how to control the watercolor and using your brush to it fullest.

I got part of the homework done, although I cheated and stamped my repeated images to paint rather than draw/trace them as Dawn said to.

I'm using cheap tube watercolor paints that I purchased in a large multi-media kit from Hobby Lobby on clearance.  Since this is my first foray into watercoloring that didn't use markers or inks, I bought what was cheap.  If I find I enjoy it and want to do more, I can always get better paints later down the road.

All that said to show you the card I made for today's homework.


I repeatedly stamped the little oval frame (sorry I don't have any idea of the mfg.) with Versa Fine Onyx Black Ink and heat embossed with WOW clear powder. 

I then added clean water with my brush to the ovals, doing one at a time, then dropped in two colors of paint in each one.  Once it was all dry I used a sentiment and little heart stamps from a Casual Fridays stamp set. 

I really like how it turned out, except for the stamping mistake in the lower left orange oval. Those hearts should have been in the top right "corner," but oh well, such is crafting.  

Stop back throughout the week and see what else I make for the class. 
Next week I'll be posting my cards from the Stenciling class on StampNation and LOAD is starting and the 30 day color challenge by TheDailyMarker.com.  It's going to be a crazy busy crafty February. 


Happy Crafting
Theresa


Friday, January 22, 2016

Winter Wonderland Blog Hop

Welcome to the 


Today's hop is filled with winter (not holiday) themed projects.

Today's hop sponsored by 


Catherine is giving away a class of the winner's choice from her great offerings 
at Creativity Grows Here. 

To enter the drawing just leave a comment on each of the blogs in today's hop.

Winner will be announced on ScrapsByGracie.blogspot.com on Saturday, 1/30/16. 

Now on with today's projects...






I made napkin cards for my project today. 
I used one napkin to create 4 winter themed birthday cards.
I separated the backing from the printed front piece of the napkin. 

I ran a 4 pieces of white A2 size cardstock through my Xyron 5" Sticker Maker.
I then laid those on the sections of the napkin I wanted to be on my card and trimmed the rest of the napkin away.  I stamped my sentiments.  I then used Versa Mark all over the napkin pieces and sprinkled on Stampin' Up Iridescent Ice embossing powder and heat set it.  
Attached them to a card base and viola cards done!


Up next is Connie ~ conniecancrop.blogspot.com

Happy Crafting!
Theresa

Today's line-up:
Card A Day Challenge DT ~ cardadaychallenge.blogspot.com





Friday, January 8, 2016

A Year of Card Techniques January Blog Hop

Welcome to


This is the first in a year long series of monthly blog hops 
focusing on techniques for card makers.
Each month we'll feature a different technique or fold or product.
We've assembled a team of card makers who range from new to advanced 
so you'll get a great variety of cards and ideas.

This month we will be focusing on emboss resist techniques and WOW have we got
some cool cards for you today.  We really love feedback so please leave a comment on each of the blogs in today's hop.  Each comment on the 12 hops throughout the year will be entered into a prize drawing for a $25 gift certificate at the end of the year and for January anyone who hops and comments will be eligible to win an embossing package of 3 Wow brand embossing powders, clear, white and a surprise color and a Versa Mark Embossing Ink pad.  Comments for January's giveaway must be posted by January 30th.  Winner will be posted February 1st. 

Before I get started with my cards, I thought I'd give you a little intro to emboss resist and heat embossing in general.  You'll need the following supplies to create embossed images: 
  1. A good heat gun/tool (you can get one at most craft stores and in the major outlets you can use a coupon on them).
  2. An embossing ink, I prefer Versa Mark or Ranger but there are several brands on the market OR you can use any colored pigment based ink as they take longer to dry thus giving you time to sprinkle on the embossing powder.
  3. Embossing powder(s), now here is where people differ, some think they need every color of the rainbow.  I, on the other hand, think that a good quality clear (I prefer WOW brand), a white (I prefer Ranger Detail or Stampin' Up), a glittery (I prefer Stampin' Up Iridescent Ice), a gold and a silver (Ranger) are all you need.  If you use pigment inks, you can use clear embossing powder on top to create the look of colored embossing powders and there are hundreds of uses for pigment ink, while the colored embossing powders won't get that kind of use. 
  4. A powder tool/bag or a used dryer sheet.  When using embossing powders you need to prep the cardstock prior to stamping so that oils and static are neutralized before you add your ink and embossing powders so that the powder doesn't stick to anything but the ink you've just applied.
  5. A fine detail DRY paint brush. This will help you to brush away any stray embossing powder that happens to stick to areas you don't want it to BEFORE you use your heat tool to melt the powder. Once you've melted it, it isn't moving! 
  6. Something to create your images with: stamps, stencils, the eraser of a pencil, anything you can apply ink with or through. 
Embossing powder lasts a long time and the excess can be funneled back into the jar or container and reused.  Work over a piece of copy paper or a coffee filter to make clean up and returning the extra powder back to the jar easy.  

One last tip, let your heat tool get good and hot, usually letting it heat up at least 20-30 seconds before bringing it to your project.  The faster the powder melts the better.  You don't want to overheat the powder.  This will leave you with a mottled bubbly mess instead of the smooth glossy look you are going for. 


Now on with the projects.

I used Ranger Distress Ink, WOW clear embossing powder and Versa Mark Ink on all the cards.
The first couple of cards I have for you today are just simple emboss resist cards.

For this first card, I used Picked Raspberry, Festive Berries and Mustard Seed Distress inks.
I added a little Heidi Swapp Glimmer Spray too. 


For this second card, I stamped the birds in Versa Fine Onyx Black ink and 
added the WOW clear embossing powder.  I then colored them with Copic markers. 
I then added Peacock Feathers, Mustard Seed and Twisted Citron. 



Now for the rest of these cards I played with layering emboss resist, so all of the following cards are embossed twice.  The first time on the plain white cardstock, then colored with the inks, then stamped again and more color added.  You've got to try this! It was so much fun. 

For this card, I stamped the words then embossed with clear powder. I then colored it using several pink shades of Ranger Distress Inks.  I stamped on the circle background stamp and embossed with the clear powder again.  I then added Ranger Walnut Stain Distress Ink to add the depth and shading. 


For this next one, I stamped the script background stamp first then embossed with clear.  I then colored the piece and stamped the flowers.  I then used the smokey gray on top to add depth to the card. 





For this next one, I stamped the flowers first, then colored then stamped the background script stamp then added a smokey gray on top. 



What a difference it makes depending on which order you stamp! 
The two cards above are the same stamps and inks but stamped and embossed in a different order. Two completely different looks, same supplies.


On this last card, I used White Embossing powder for second of the embossings. 
I stamped and embossed the script stamp first then added color then stamped and embossed the circle stamp, using the white embossing powder. 




I don't know about you, but I love how they turned out! 
I know some of my pals are going to love receiving these. 

Don't have Ranger Distress Inks? Don't fret.  You can use any dye ink or try using glimmer mists or spray stains instead of ink over the embossing.  Experiment and have fun.

Tell me which one(s) you like the best, I'd love to know.

Get out your embossing powder and have fun! 

Kim's up next, you won't want to miss what she and Katy have for you.

Happy Crafting
Theresa


Don't forget to comment on all the blogs in the hop each month to be entered into the drawing.

Here's today's line-up in case you get lost along the way
                              Theresa  YOU ARE HERE!