Rainbow themed Birthday Cards

Today I am sharing 3 cards I made with a rainbow theme to wish a colorful and bright birthday to the recipients.

Card 1 - Distress Inks blending over Stencil

For this card I used the Birch Tree stencil by Tim Holtz and blended in Distress Inks in rainbow order. I also cut out two birds using my Silhouette Curio and placed them on the trees. The effect created can either be interpreted as a rainbow seen thru the trees or a view of the sun setting thru the trees and the night taking over.

I then adhered the front panel onto a 6x6 card base and added a Happy Birthday sentiment from the SSS Sketch Ranunculus stamp set.

Challenges

1. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Happy Birthday
2. Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge - Blend
3. Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies Challenge
4. Time Out Challenge # 80

Card 2 - Distress Ink Blending

Similar to the previous card, I blended the rainbow colors using Distress Inks on circles of different sizes I cut out and stuck them on an A2 card base in rainbow order. I then used a sequin stamp from Wplus9's Little Bits stamps to get colorful sequins all over the card.

I again used the Happy Birthday sentiment from the SSS Sketch Ranunculus stamp set to finish off the simple card.

Challenges

1. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Happy Birthday
2. Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge - Blend
3. Time Out Challenge # 80
4. Muse Challenge #211 - inspired by the colors and circles. 

Card 3 - Watercoloring using Zig Clean Color and Stencil

For this card I took a Triangle stencil and then Watercolored the different triangles in rainbow colors using my Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens. Then using an alphabet stencil and a white Uniball Signo pen I wrote the word Birthday on the painted triangles.

I then took a strip of paper and again using the Zigs created a Rainbow strip which I adhered to the base of the card. The word 'happy' I cut out using my Curio. To finish off the card I again used the sequin stamp from Wplus9's Little Bits stamps with my Zigs to get sequins on top of the card.

Challenges

1. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Happy Birthday
2. Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies Challenge
3. Happy Little Stampers Watercolor Challenge - Anything Goes with Rainbow twist
4. Time Out Challenge # 80

Hope you enjoyed today's colorful bunch of cards!

Personalized Journal

A couple of days back my cousin asked me if I've ever made Journals before and if I could make one urgently for her to gift it to her friend. I was meaning to try it out journals for a while now and I jumped at the opportunity to try my hand at it. Plus I was happy that I could count it as my first official order :P (though it was from family :D )

I asked her if she had any theme in her mind and she provided me the image of the word Hope and said the rest was up to me. I started conceptualizing the cover in my head and decided I would make it colorful with some ink smooshing and also add some feathers and Angel wings as I felt it went with the theme of Hope.

So start off I gathered all my materials and decided to go with an A5 sized journal. I took some papers from a sketchbook and decided to use them as the pages for the journal.

With the dimensions of the pages ready I used my Silhouette Curio to draw the image my cousin gave onto watercolor cardstock using the pen holder feature - to use my Sakura Micron Pen.

I had never tried ink smooshing before so I practiced on some scrap piece of paper first and then once I was satisfied I tried it on the main piece. I used Mustard Seed, Picked Raspberry, Broken China and a combination of Mustard Seed and Evergreen Bough Distress Inks as my four colors for the smooshing. I liked how dramatic it looked.

I felt the word Hope was getting lost in all the colors so I went in and colored it with a black Sharpie.

I used my Curio once again to cut out some feathers and angel wings and I positioned them on the panel to see which arrangement looks best. I wanted the wings on top of Hope and the feathers to be dangling from the arrows. I decided to use some silver twine to tie the feathers to the arrow - or at least give that impression. I also added some sequins of corresponding color to make it look like the colors are splashing out. I added a few other embellishments and the cover was ready.

For the back I wanted something colorful to be in line with the front and decided to do a splatter of  the same colors used in the front. I also used a typewriter font stamp to stamp out my cousin's friend's name at the bottom.

After the front and back were ready I went ahead and punched two holes on all the pages and tied them using some dark pink twine. I also swiped my ink pads on each of the sides of the journal so that all the pages have a colored border - again used each of the 4 colors used on the cover. With this my first Journal was ready!

Though it was a relatively simple one to start with I totally enjoyed the whole process of designing it and the execution of the thought process! Looking forward to making more such wonderful journals and projects.

I am also entering the journal in the following two Simon Says Stamp Challenges!

1. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Layer it Up

2. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Use more than One Die or Punch

Distress Oxides and some Handmade Flowers

So I got my Distress Oxides last week. Having seen countless videos on them I could not wait to get started. To start off I tried making different backgrounds with the Oxides. Loved how I could layer all the colors on top of each other without creating a muddy mess!

Here are my favorites from all my attempts. Still have loads to experiment with these.

For the the Orange and Violet background I used stencils and texture paste as well and got some very interesting results. Will be using this background for a card in another post.

The other three involved the same technique of applying oxides on a craft sheet and then spritzing them with water followed by dabbing the cardstock on the colors and developing the layers. It also involved adding more water and heating with a heat gun to create lovely patterns and layers.

For today's post I will be showing two of the backgrounds that I used. Inspired by the Simon Says Monday Challenge - Handmade Flowers - I chose to add handmade flowers to these backgrounds to create some interesting mixed media projects - the first for me!

Project 1

For this project I cut out flower shapes using my Silhouette Curio in different sizes. Created that wooden/metallic look for the flowers using Distress Inks and water and layered them together.

I also tried a decoupage technique with some paper doily on the background and also added a burlap flower strip to the center of the doily piece.I then mounted the flowers on top of this. Added corners to the background too created using the same technique as the flowers.

To finish it off I added some words on chipboard pieces and stuck them on the background. I was very pleased with my first attempt at mixed media :D I also think it would make a lovely cover for a Journal!

Project 2 

For this project I first added strips of the textured background I mentioned above to create a rough frame. After that I proceeded towards making the flowers just like the brown flowers from the previous project. Used Wilted Violet and a little bit of Spiced Marmalade Distress Oxides for these flowers. Layered the different layers and placed some pearls in the center of these flowers. Created leaves also using Distress Oxides. Then I mounted the flowers in the layout I liked in the bottom left corner. I also stuck a few of the smallest layers of the flowers around the background and also added some more pearls here and there.

Similar to the previous project, I added some words written on chipboard pieces. I colored the pieces to match the flowers finished the project by sticking it on the right side of the panel.

So these are my first attempts with Distress Oxides and also mixed media techniques. Had a lot of fun creating these :)

I am entering these in the following two challenges

1. Simon Says Monday Challenge - Handmade Flowers
2. Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Bit O' Green

Valentine's Day cards for Him & Her

I am sharing a couple of cards I made based on Love using Mudra stamps.

As you can see both are very contrasting cards - one for the guy and the other for the girl

Card for Him

My main aim for this card was to create something not using the typical colors you would find in a Valentine's Day card. So i decided to go in for a Vintage look to symbolize Love that lasts forever. For this I thought i would try to make a worn out page of a book  with the word Love popping out from different places.

So I stamped the word Love from the Love stamp set by Mudra and then used the Old Script stamp by Mudra to cover up the remaining areas around the stamped Loves. Then I blended some Antique Linen, Tea Dye and Vintage Photo Distress Inks to create that worn out distressed look. With the background ready I proceeded to stamp the word Forever from the same Love stamp set on a piece of vellum and adhered it to the lower half of the background. I also stamped a small heart in Red just to add a pop of color. I used some Bakers twine to create two borders above and below the vellum strip.

I wanted to add some wilted flowers so I cut up few flowers inked in Walnut Stain Distress Ink and stuck them on the top right corner of the background. Embellished the flowers and the vellum strip with some Gold Liquid Pearls. To finish the card I mounted the whole panel on to black card base.

Card for Her

For this card, the only thing I had in mind while starting off the card was the hearts background in Violet and Pink. Because of that this turned out to be a card on which I spent a long time - not because it was complicated but because I kept changing the look and colors and the elements that go on the card.

I stamped the outline of the heart balloons from the Love stamp set by Mudra on some watercolor cardstock and colored them with Wilted Violet Distress Marker and Pink Zig to create a watercolored effect. Once this was done I started thinking of what would complement this background and after trying several things settled on creating a border of hearts using a heart punch and placing a cardbase blended with Wilted Violet (in the front) underneath the heart border.

I added white ribbons to form a frame on top of the hearts background. I then mounted the heart background on top with the heart borders only on the bottom and the right side. For the sentiment I used the same stamp set to stamp on small piece of cardstock and created a border using the Wilted Violet Marker and mounted it on top of the heart background. I finished off the card with some shine from the Wink of Stella glitter brush and some sequins.

I am entering these cards in the following challenges.

1. Mudra Challenge # 6 Love

2. Parus Card Making Challenges - February Challenge - Love

Floral Cards - Altenew Challenge

Today I am sharing a couple of cards that I made inspired by the Altenew February Challenge

Both my cards are inspired by the lovely bougainvillea flowers. For the first card I have tried to recreate the scene in the picture and for the second just used the flowers and their beautiful pink color.

Card 1

As I wanted to recreate the scene, I went thru my stash of Altenew stamps to find the stamp closest to the flowers. I chose the bud from the Peony Bouquet stamp set. To get a more solid look I took the solid stamp from the layering options and stamped the flowers randomly with Picked Raspberry &Worn Lipstick Distress Inks and also stamped small leaves from the same set in between the flowers to give the effect of leaves peeping thru the flowers. I also stamped few big leaves with Lucky Clover & Mowed Lawn Distress Inks. I added some shine using the Wink of Stella Glitter brush and fussy cut all of it and my foreground was ready.

For the background I wanted to create a cream wall. So I used Ranger's Texture Paste along with Tim Holtz's Tiles Layering stencil to give the textured look of a wall as can be seen in the picture. I blended some Antique Linen Distress Ink once the paste had dried. I adhered the fussy cut elements on top of this wall background. For the black gate in the picture I went with a black strip for the sentiment and gold heat embossed the sentiment.

To finish the card off, I tied silver thread around several times and mounted the whole set on a card base.

Card 2

For this card I stuck to the bud from the Peony Bouquet set but this time used the outline. I cut out a small piece of white watercolor paper and white heat embossed the buds along the corners. Painted them with Picked Raspberry Distress Ink and a waterbrush for a watercolored effect. I stamped the sentiment also in the same color in the center of this piece.

I liked how Cracked Pistachio Distress ink was going with the flowers so I colored a small piece of cardstock with Pistachio Marker along the borders and mounted my flower panel at an angle on the now Pista cardstock.

For the background I stamped leaves from the Dahlia Blossoms stamp set again in Cracked Pistachio and watercolored it using the Marker of the same color. I added a few berries in between the leaves as well. I mounted the flower piece on this background again at an angle.

I wanted more of the pink so on the front panel of my card base I blended in some Picked Raspberry along the borders and mounted the background with the flower centerpiece at an angle. To finish of the card I added some Silver Pearls using Liquid Pearls around the sentiment and the four edges of the Pista Panel.

I really enjoyed making these cards as they are a little different from what I have been making earlier. Encourages me to try different media and layers to add lovely dimensions and create beautiful effects!

Wedding Gift Cards

Finding an appropriate gift for weddings is quite tedious for me. And even if I do find something nice I always feel the need of adding a personal element to the gift. Now that I am into card making I've found a nice little way for that little personal touch.

So today I am sharing 3 cards that I made keeping weddings in mind.

Card 1

This card was inspired by Altenew's January Inspiration challenge. The colors in the challenge came together to give a very auspicious feel to the card. I used the Dahlia Blossoms stamp set from Altenew to stamp out the flowers and leaves on the outer panel of white cardstock using Distress Inks & the Mini MISTI and used the layering feature available in this set - the outline with Vintage Photo and the layers with Fossilized Amber for the flowers and Peeled Paint for the leaves.

After this I cut out a rectangle from the center of the panel. I heat embossed the same leaves in the center of maroon cardstock. I then adhered the white stamped panel on the maroon cardstock using foam tape. I heat embossed the sentiment - from Magnolias for her stamp set by Altenew - on to a black strip and stuck that in the middle of the card. The whole set was then mounted on a white cardbase.

To add finishing touches I added some gold pearls using Ranger's Liquid Pearls and also added some gold to the flowers and leaves.

Challenges

• Altenew January 2017 Inspiration Challenge

• Paru's Card Making Challenges - Anything Goes - Congratulations for the 1st Anniversary! :)

Card 2

I wanted to create a very dainty wedding card - something with soft tones. I first created the stenciled background using Distress inks - Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed and Peacock Feathers. Sprayed some water on the background to soften the look.

I then stamped a couple of Magnolias from the Magnolias for her stamp set by Altenew using Picked Raspberry and lightly watercolored it with the same ink. I fussy cut the flowers and mounted the background and the flowers on a card base. I stamped the sentiment - from Mudra Stamps - in Picked Raspberry at the base of the card. I then rounded off the edges of the card.

To add a little sparkle I finished off the card with some sequins.

Challenges

• Paru's Card Making Challenge - Anything Goes

• Happy Little Stampers Jan CAS Challenge - Stencil

• Fusion Card Challenge - Congratulations for the 3rd Anniversary :) Card is inspired by only the sketch.

Card 3

I made the final card for the Mudra January Challenge - Heat Embossing. I first created a background by blending distress inks - Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon and Broken China. I sprayed water on it to create a distressed look and to get some watermarks.

For the heat embossing I used the leaf stamps from the Leafy Stamp set by Mudra. I stamped the leaves at the right bottom corner and heat embossed using Rangers White Embossing powder. I loved how the white leaves were looking against the distressed background. The sentiment is also from Mudra stamps. 

For the finishing touches I splattered some white paint all around the background and adhered some sequins for the sparkle. I also loved how the black strip of sentiment was standing out against the background so as an afterthought I added a thin strip of black cardstock on the right of the card. That finished the card for me. 

Challenges

• Mudra Craft Stamps Challenge # 5 - Heat Embossing

Cards with Alcohol Ink

Happy New Year!

Am back after a small break. A lovely vacation with my family :) So once I got back I could not wait to get started again. Just before leaving I had received a new bunch of craft items!

So for the new year I wanted to try something new. And then I came across the latest challenge at CAS Mix Up - to use liquid colors such as Alcohol Inks. I thought its a good time to experiment with them. But to use them I did not have any Glossy cardstock or Yupo Paper. So I decided to make do with what I had - some Acetate Sheets and Photo Paper.

Then I made two cards using some Alcohol Ink backgrounds I created.

Card 1 - Alcohol Inks on Acetate Sheet

I had tried out Alcohol Inks on acetate sheet before and I was quite pleased with the results. So for this card also, I created a background using two colors of Alcohol inks - Wild Plum and Stream   from the Valley Trail set. For this I first applied drops of colors on the felt applicator and pounced all over the sheet. Then I added some blending solution on the applicator and pounced all over again to get lovely patterns and blended colors. I did this till I was satisfied with the outcome.

Once the background was ready I trimmed it to my desired size. With the left over scrap piece I punched out some small hearts using a small heart punch. After that I took a strip of White cardstock and punched out a few butterflies and a heart again using a craft punch.

I stuck the background on the card base and adhered the white punched out strip on the base of the background so that the background shows through the punched parts. I then randomly stuck the hearts around the base.

To finish the card I stamped the word Beautiful from Simon Says Stamps Sketch Ranunculus set in two colors of distress inks - Picked Raspberry and Peacock Feathers - to match the background. Then I wrote the words 'Life is' in front of the stamped image using Sakura Micron Pen.

I am entering this card in the following challenges

• CAS Mix Up January Challenge - Stamping + Liquid Colors - Alcohol Inks + Craft Punch

• Simon Says Stamps Monday Challenge - Start Afresh

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - New Something

Card 2 - Alcohol Inks on Photo Paper

Photo Paper is not a great surface for Alcohol Inks. I realized this when I tried to use Photo Paper as a replacement for Glossy paper. The colors would get absorbed so soon that it doesn't leave much to do. Disappointed with this result I just randomly streaked the felt applicator which had some left over inks in it across the photo paper and it created some nice patterns. For this card to get more colors, I added more drops of the colors - all 3 from the Valley Trail set and ran it through photo paper and created a background with streaky lines of colors.

With the background ready, I cut it up into 3 rectangles and punched out butterflies and hearts from the background similar to the previous card. I punched out some extra butterflies and hearts from the scrap pieces of background. I stuck the rectangles, the butterflies and hearts on the card base using foam squares.

For the sentiment I chose 'Believe in your dreams' from the Flutter By Stamp set by Lawn Fawn. Again I stamped it with Distress Inks to match the colors of the background on a white strip and then adhered it on the card base. To finish it off I stuck a couple of hearts on the sentiment strip.  I also rounded the edges of the card.

I am entering this in the following challenges

• CAS Mix Up January Challenge - Stamping + Liquid Colors - Alcohol Inks + Craft Punch

• Simon Says Stamps Monday Challenge - Start Afresh

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - New Something

Supplies

• Ranger Alcohol Inks
• Blending Solution
• Felt and Applicator
• Butterfly and Heart Stamp Punch
• White Card stock
• Acetate Sheet and Photo Paper
• SSS Sketch Ranunculus Stamp set
• Lawn Fawn Flutter By Stamp Set