Ingenious Inkling

Inked & Embossed Aluminum Foil

The April Challenge Theme at the Crafter's Companion Blog is ... Flowers.  I'm going to show you how I created a fun inky background using Aluminum Foil from my kitchen ... I never know where I'll find my next art project inspiration.

I started with a scrap of white cardstock.  Make sure it's about 1/4 to 1/2" smaller than the surface of your embossing folder, since you won't be able to trim after you emboss (she says because she learned the hard way).  Next, I wrapped it in a piece of aluminum foil.

This is what the front looked like when I was done.  Don't worry about any creases or imperfections ... they'll be covered by the ink & embossing.

I inked-up a piece of felt with several reinkers (see supply list below) and started tamping on the foil covered paper.

Here's a shot of my foam applicator ... I just apply dots randomly.

This is what the foil looked like when it was completely covered in ink.

Next I ran the foil through my cuttlebug with the embossing folder.  I applied a little blender solution to a dry baby wipe and wiped along the lines of the folder to randomly remove some of the ink to get a bit more variation in color.

I attached the panel to the front of my card base using strong two-sided tape.

The great think about using your Spectrum Noir inks to create your background is that I was able to use coordinating Spectrum Noir Markers to color several flowers from Sheena's Flower Power Set.  

After coloring, I gave them a spray of Spray & Sparkle Iridescent Glitter Varnish for an all-over sparkle  I also stamped and colored the leaves from the set and then detail cut every thing.  I layered the flowers and leaves with dimensional blue dots and added a few adhesive pearls to the center.  This angle lets you see a little of the sparkle on the blooms.

 

Here's the front of the card again at an angle, so you can see the variation in ink intensity on the embossed foil.

And one more shot of that pretty bloom.

Here are links to the supplies I used for this project: Darice Embossing Folder - Wire Fence; BP6, PP5 & Blender Re-inkers; Sheena's A Little Bit Sketchy - Flower Power; Sheena's A Little Bit Sketchy - Through the Rain; Spray & Sparkle Iridescent Glitter Varnish; Alcohol Ink Blending Felt; and Spectrum Noir Markers.

And the markers I used to color the flowers & leaves:

Let me know if you give this technique a try.

Boot Scootin' Boogie

Tonight I made a 50th Anniversary Card for a couple who still likes to put on their boots and dance.

The boots & numbers are stickers, combined with some Vintage Cosmo Circket Halfway Cafe (which I hang on to specifically for cowboy-themed cards just like this).   I added a wrap of baling twine from our recycling station in the garage for a little rustic touch ... and I'm joining the string, twine or fibers challenge at the Love to Create Challenge Blog.

I decorated the inside with some musical hearts and a little piece of Heart-filled Washi Tape to hold the twine in place.  I'm also joining the Crafty Calendar Challenge where for February they're celebrating Love & Marriage.

Neapolitan Hello

Tonight I'm playing with paper ... Dear Lizzy Neapolitan papers to be exact.  I discovered a new Challenge ... the Muse Challenge ...

where this week's challenge is to make a card inspired by this fabulous design by Marion Vagg (after making my card, I read that she created hers with washi tape ... makes me want to go try that technique for another).

I loved the vertical patterned designs with bits of white and the contrasting letters, so that's what I incorporated in my design.  I wanted wider bands of color, so I changed my card orientation to a vertical design.

I tried several colors for my Savvy Die Cut sentiment, finally settling on white for the best contrast.  I decided to add a wrap of Hero Arts Craft Twine for a final design element. 

Washi Wonderful

Tonight I'm playing with lots of washi tape ... 7 different rolls if you're counting ... for this week's Use Washi Tape Challenge at Simon Says Stamp.

I'm also joining the Make Your Own Background Paper Challenge at the Moxie Fab World.  I used a large piece of Cardstock lining up all of the blue & red washi tapes from my collection ... and then trimmed the paper to fit my card front.  I added a wrap of Pure Poppy Ribbon and a brand spankin' new Hero Arts Glow Girl Stamp (stamped in Red & colored with Blue) to finish the design.

I'm also celebrating Something Old (several of those Washi tapes & that ribbon have been in my stash for quite some time) and Something New from my stash (new stamps ... and a few new Washi tapes including the peppermint one I found in a Christmas clearance bin) with 7 Kids College Fund.

Butterfly Effect

The challenge at the Red Carpet Studio is the Butterfly Effect ... to include a butterfly in your design.  I included lots of butterflies in my design ... both stamped (from the new Crafter's Companion Set 62 from Stamp-It Australia).

I stamped the butterflies twice on designer paper and added a sentiment from the same set.  I finished with some butterflies punched from black textured cardstock for dimension, which is perfect for the Die Cuts & Punches Challenge at Make My Monday.

 

Silhouette Women ATCs

One of the Challenges at the Hero Arts blog for January is to create some ATCs.  While I admire those with ATC skills, it's something I haven't done much, so I thought I'd give it a try.

I recently won the Speach Bubble Challenge at Two Peas in a Bucket, so I used my winnings to buy some Pool colored Hero Arts Digital papers.  Since that was one of the colors in the Hero Arts color challenge, I used the texty paper to digitally create my ATC background.  

I also added some digital buttons from Hero Arts Flutterbies extras (I adjusted the color slightly to turn the orange to peach).  I love how the digital buttons give the look of dimension, but keep the design flat.

Once my base was done, I imported it into a Word Document where I could print multiple copies of my ATC base on a single sheet of white cardstock.

I cut out the background & for the first one and then stamped the Silhouette Women in India Ink and added a sentiment from Live & Laugh on Wet Cement cardstock for my third color.  I added a few pearls to accent the design.

For the second one I used the single Silhouette from the same set ... since she looked a bit lonely without her friends, I added a sentiment from All The Time to finish the design.

CityScape Thank You

I love all of the challenges right now to use something new ... something I need to do more of this year ... use my supplies & mail my cards.

This card is for the New Year, New You Challenge at a Blog Named Hero.  I used my new CityScape Die from Savvy Stamps & Thank You stamp from the new Hero Arts Thanks a Bunch set (love that bold font).

I took several times to get a clean cut on all of those tiny windows, but what finally worked was to flip the die cut over with the cut side facing and add several sheets of scrap cardstock between my black cardstock & the top plate.  The die then cut through all of the cardstock leaving a clean cut on the bottom piece.

I made this card for the Clean & Simple Thank You Card Challenge at CAS-ual Fridays ... and for the New Something Challenge at Simon Says Stamp. 

At the "Less is More" Blog they're celebrating Black & White with a hint of color.  I used a piece of yellow designer paper behind my CityScape to give the windows the glow ov evening light.  Hero Arts is also asking us to try something new in their January Challenge.

Peace & Sweet Dreams

I love when an inspiration challenge causes me to pull together elements I otherwise never would have considered ... such was the case with this week's Sweet Dreams Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger.

I wanted to capture the unique color combination and the patterns.  I started by *grounding* my image with the color and pattern of the rug.  I used the Modern Wallpaper embossing folder on maroon Core'dinations cardstock with a light nail file sanding to bring out the pattern.

Next I wanted an airy golden pattern similar to the bedspread, so I stamped the Sweet Threads Spirals in Sunshine Yellow Pigment ink on white cardstock.  Next I added papers from Carta Bella's Winter Fun and Basic Grey's Nordic Holiday Collection to complete the patterns and colors from the room.  

I finished with a tag and circular sentiment from Hero Arts Believe set, which reminded me of the stacked pillows on the bed.  The sketch is this week's Try Stampin' on Tuesday.  I finished with a row of blue pearls that reminded me of the nails along the bottom of the bench at the end of the bed.

I'm also joining Ellen Hutson LLC Hero Arts Clear Take 'n Make using the Believe stamp set.

I'm also joining the Anything Goes Challenge at the BasicGrey Challenge blog (incorporating paper and two stamps sets) ... and Merry Christmas at Simon Says Stamps.

Floral Wreath Sympathy

Since I don't have a local stamping store any more, I'm celebrating the new Hero Arts release virtually with Ellen Hutson.  I created this card for Ellen Hutson LLC Hero Arts Clear Take 'n Make using the clear set Special Note of Thanks.  Unfortunately, my sympathy card stash is depleted, so I needed to make some new ones.

The Sketch is from a Sketch Blog that I find particularly inspring ... although the text is in Russian, so I have to rely on Google translate.   I'm also joining in the What's Your Favourite? Challenge at Simon Says Stamp ... I stamped the image in my favorite ink (India Ink) and embossed with my favorite clear embossing powder (Faith's Transcendence) and colored with my favorite tool ... Prismacolor Colored Pencils.  I stamped additional flowers and attached them with glue dots for dimension.

Here's a picture of the card with the Clear Stamp Set.

12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist

I had fun making a tag inspired by Ellen Hutson's Whimsical Tag design ... I loved the candy-colored trees, so I went with some paint chips to create my tree trio.

They seemed a little naked, so I decided to *bling-up* the season a bit.  I liked her pennant flag element too, so I used some stickers from SRM Stickers for the pennant and the sentiment.  I finished with a fun epoxy flower on top of my tree instead of the usual star.

I'm also joining in the Christmas Tree Challenge at Papercraft Star ... and the Christmas Challenge at Do You Stack Up (DYSU).

Here's Ellen's super-fun tag.