I made this card for the “Merry Making” class that I’m taking at OnlineCardClasses.com.   I wanted to do something fun and unusual for my second card and so I used non-traditional colors for this card.  I picked my color palette from a new Paper pad that I just got in the mail this week from CreateAndCraft.com called Peppermint Forest.  Using gray, pink and blue makes this card festive and totally unexpected for a Christmas card.

The background was made from blending three distress oxide inks onto some smooth white cardstock, cutting a star background from white cardstock and then layering the white background over the blended ink background creating a pretty peek-a-boo of pink, blue and gray.

Next, I applied the the worn lipstick distress ink directly onto some card stock to create a cardstock that would match the background.  I stamped a sentiment from the Close to My Heart Yuletide Joy stamps using Versa Mark ink and embossed it using some white embossing powder.  I then took a star cut out and blended the Broken China distress oxide ink oxide ink onto it to make it match the blue in the background.  I stamped the star from the Yuletide Joy stamp set onto the blue star and embossed it using white embossing powder.  I popped up the sentiment and the star using some foam tape.

For the card base, I used the Recollections 110 lb white cardstock.  To add some constrast between the white card base and the card panel, I decided to cover the card base with a piece of patterned paper from the Peppermint Forest Paper Pad.

I added the star background panel to the card base.  This created a very pretty frame around the card with this hexagon patterned paper.

The final touch was to add some sparkle with a clear Wink of Stella brush to the large star and also to some of the small stars in the background.

Supplies Used:

• Close to My Heart Yuletide Joy Stamp Set (S1610)
• Star Background Die
• Distress Oxide Inks (Worn Lipstick, Broken China, Iced Spruce)
• Craftworks Cards Peppermint Forest Patterned Paper Pad
• Recollections 110 lb White Cardstock
• White Embossing Powder
• Versa Mark Ink
• Wink of Stella Clear Pen

I’m taking the “Merry Making” class over at OnlineCardClasses.com.  The first day was all about backgrounds.  The inspiration for this card was a technique to make a Bokeh background.  I used distress inks in blues with a touch of dark gray around the edge  (Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Faded Jeans, Hickory Smoke).  Using a brush and plain water, I drew circles and then used paper towel to remove some of the ink.  I did one layer and then let it dry before adding more circles in another layer.

Next, using a stamp set from Simon Says stamp, I stamped the Happy Holidays sentiment using Versa Mark ink and then embossed using silver embossing powder.

For the card base, I used the Recollections 110 lb white cardstock.  Using Versa Mark ink around the edge of the card base, I added Silver embossing powder to add more silver to the card to match the sentiment.

I cut out some snowflakes using a set of snowflake dies from the embossed panel and also from some white cardstock.  I glued the embossed snowflakes into 2 or 3 layers of white cardstock which gave them more dimension.

I used some silver and white twine and silver cord and tied a bow around the card panel.  Last step was to glue on the snowflakes.  I think the background makes this card very unique and beautiful.  So glad I learned this technique from the class.

Supplies Used:

• Simon Says Stamp Gifts of Love Stamp Set
• Snow Flake Dies
• Tim Holtz Watercolor Paper
• Distress Inks (Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Faded Jeans, Hickory Smoke)
• Recollections 110 lb White Cardstock
• Recollections Celebrate It (Silver & White) Twine
• Silver Metallic Cord
• Stampin Up Silver Embossing Powder
• Versa Mark Ink

I have been playing around with a new technique using Washi Tape and Acetate sheets.  I’ve been having a lot of fun creating embellishments and I decided to use a few of my Washi feathers to make a card.

If you would like to see more about how I made these washi feathers click here –> Video showing how to create Washi Embellishments.

For the card, I used a stitched rectangle die to cut out a piece of foil striped water color paper.  I painted the rectangle with Kuretaki Gansai Tambi watercolors to create a background for my card using yellows and pinks.

Next, I cut out a piece of ivory cardstock using a Postage edged rectangle.  I then stamped a sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp Thankful Heart stamp set using Versa Mark ink and then embossed with some gold embossing powder.

The last step was putting together all the layers.  First I added the striped watercolor rectangle to the card base.  Then, I popped up the postage rectangle using some foam tape.  The final touch was to add my Washi Feathers.

I just love how these feathers turned out.  I had a lot of fun playing and made a bunch of washi embellishments to use on more projects.

I hope that you try out this technique to make your own Washi acetate embellishments.  

Supplies Used:

• Simon Says Stamp Thankful Heart Stamp Set
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangles
• Nested Postage Rectangle Dies
• Feather Dies
• Kuretaki Gansai Tambi Watercolors
• Acetate Sheet
• Washi Tape
• DCWV Paint & Create Foiled Watercolor Paper
• Gold Embossing Powder
• Versa Mark Ink

Another card for Day 3 and 4 of the Rainbow Maker Class at OnlineCardClasses.com.  This card combines the rainbow die cutting with rainbow stamping.

Supplies Used:

• Concord & 9th Hugs & Cuddles Stamp Set
• Simon Says Stamp Birthday Flowers
• Narrow Rectangle Nested Dies
• Close to My Heart Pigment Inks
• Versa Magic Dew Drops (Aloe Vera, Sea Breeze, Spring Pansy, Pixie Dust, Galaxy Gold)
• Nuvo Crystal Drops
• Teal Glitter Card Stock
• Versa Mark Ink
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Glossy Accents

Another card for Day 5 of the Rainbow Maker Class at OnlineCardClasses.com.  I couldn’t wait to try the BoBunny Glitter Paste.  I had a blue and a white.  I was so happy that I purchased the white glitter paste because I was able to mix Distress ink with the glitter paste to make glitter paste in all the colors of the rainbow.

I made the mistake of using a piece of cardstock for this technique.  The glitter paper was very wet and the card stock warped which pushed the stencil up.  So, the piece was a little messed up because the paste went under the stencil in some places.  However, I decided to try to use it anyway for a background as I could cover up the bad spots.

I cut out a cupcake using a Cup Cake builder die with some green, pink and orange satin board.

I stamped out a sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp Happy & Smile stamp set with some Versa Mark ink.  I then embossed the sentiment with some Stampin’ Up black embossing powder.

I cut out several square using the Tattered Lace small ruffled squares set.  I put together the cupcake and then popped it up with some foam tape to the smallest square.

The finishing touches for this card were to cover the cup cake icing and the cherry with some Glossy Accents and then to use Nuvo Crystal drops to create sprinkles on top in many colors.

Supplies Used:

• Simon Says Stamp Happy & Smile Stamp Set
• Cup Cake Builder Die Set
• Tattered Lace Small Ruffled Squares Die Set
• BoBunny Glitter Paste
• Distress Inks (Cracked Pistachio, Seedless Preserves, Picked Raspberry, Wild Honey)
• Nuvo Crystal Drops
• Create and Craft Satin Board
• Sliver Glitter Paper
• Versa Mark Ink
• Stampin’ Up Silver Embossing Powder
• Glossy Accents

On Day 5 of the Rainbow Maker Class at OnlineCardClasses.com, the lessons were about stencils and pastes.   The technique that I tried out for this card was applying texture paste on top of a ink blended rainbow background.

On an 8 1/2″ x 11″ piece of white cardstock, I used a makeup brush to blend on some distress inks.  There are more inks shown in the picture below but I ended up just cutting this up into smaller pieces and making 4 different cards.

I used distress inks in 9 out of this world colors (Seedless Preserves, Salty Lagoon, Peacock Feathers, Cracked Pistachio, Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door, Picked Raspberry, Abandoned Coral) and blended them onto a piece of 8 1/2″ by 11″ white cardstock using a make-up brush.   The piece I used for this card ended up without any of the spiced marmalade, barn door, or picked raspberry.

I love working with distress inks and using the makeup brush instead of the blending tool or sponge gives the background a soft look.

Next, I took a star studded stencil and set that on top of the rainbow background.  Then, using some silver embossing paste, I applied it on top of the stencil.  This technique left silver stars all over my background.  I love using stencils and texture paste … my favorite part is when you lift off the stencil to reveal the design.  Super fun!!!

I stamped out some images from the Monster Birthday stamp set with Versa Fine black ink.  I then colored the monsters using copic markers.

I cut out a circle using the stitched circles die and then added a sentiment from the Monsters stamp set using some Versa Mark ink.  I embossed the sentiment with some Silver embossing powder from Stampin’ Up.  Next, I added the black circle to the card base, added the monsters above the sentiment.

I cut out some stars using some silver card stock and a star die set and then sprinkled stars all over the background.

Finishing touch was to add some Nuvo crystal drops in white and black to create googly eyes for my monsters.

Supplies Used:

• Monster Birthday Stamp Set
• Star Collection Dies
• Stitched Circle Dies
• Distress Inks (Seedless Preserves, Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers, Cracked Pistachio, Fossilized Amber)
• Nuvo Crystal Drops (Black and White)
• Silver Foil Card Stock
• BS-MALL(TM) Makeup Brushes Premium Makeup Brush Set Synthetic Kabuki Cosmetics Foundation Blending
• Versa Mark Ink
• Versa Fine Black Ink
• Stampin’ Up Silver Embossing Powder
• Copic Markers

It’s Day 4 of the Rainbow Maker Class at OnlineCardClasses.com.  The lessons today were all about watercolor rainbows.  The technique that I tried out for this card was ink smooshing on watercolor paper using a piece of acetate.  I’ve done some smooshing techniques before just using my craft mat and smooshing paper into ink but this was my first time smooshing with acetate.

I used distress inks in 5 luscious colors (Picked Raspberry, Abandoned Coral, Wild Honey, Peacock Feathers, Cracked Pistachio).  I started with the Picked Raspberry and I was planning to go around the page in a rainbow pattern, but I accidentally added yellow next to the pink (***SIGH*** … I guess I wasn’t paying close enough attention and picked up the wrong ink).  But I think you can always try to work around any mistakes, so I decided to add the Abandoned Coral on the other side of the pink.

I love working with watercolor and it’s so awesome when you see the results.  No two are ever the same.  You always get something different every time.

The middle of this watercolor piece got a little muddy but since this is a background, it’s easy enough to cover up areas and showcase the parts of the watercolor that you like.

Because I decided to cover up the middle of my background piece, I cut out a scalloped circle using some white cardstock.  I also stamped and cut out two of the dogs from the Terrific Terriors stamp set.  I colored the dogs with copic markers in grays and browns.  I stamped the sentiment “I ruff You” from Lawn Fawn’s Dog Park stamp set onto the scalloped circle and then added the two dogs.

I used some foam tape to pop up the watercolor background onto a 5 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ card base.  I also popped up the scalloped circle and the two dogs with some foam tape.  The finishing touch for this card was to add some Nuvo Crystal Drops in black to the eyes and noses of the dogs.

The Terrific Terrier stamps are sooooo stinkin’ cute and just makes me smile every time I see them.  But then maybe I’m biased, because they look like my beautiful girls (Bella & LilyBelle).

LilyBelle at the Dog Park in Mandeville, LA

Bella at the Dog Park in Mandeville, LA

Supplies Used:

• Lawn Fawn Dog Park Stamp Set
• Newton’s Nook Terrific Terriers
• Gina K Designs Scallop Circle Dies
• Distress Inks (Peacock Feathers, Picked Raspberry, Cracked Pistachio, Wild Honey, Abandoned Coral)
• Nuvo Crystal Drops (Black)
• Acetate
• Tim Holtz Mini Spritzer
• Tim Holtz Sprayer