Wrinkle Free Distress Oxides Challenge Response

 This is for the tenth and final technique from the Beyond The Blue DT challenge. 

The technique was to use distress oxides to create a background, but not in the traditional way.  The oxides are stamped onto another surface before placing the white paper against that surface to transfer the ink in layers.  The resultant background has a somewhat random mixture of the colors spread throughout, making for a very artistic design.

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Here is my finished card:

I used some black soot and pickled raspberry distress oxide inks to create a space-like background, and completed the card with a cutout moon and robot.  The background just works so well for creating these space cards!  I absolutely love the technique, and I have used it many times.  It is so versatile and easy to use, and the designs always turn out fantastic.

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Until next time!

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Abstract Folded Landscapes Challenge Response

This is for the third technique from the Beyond The Blue DT challenge. 

The technique was to use acrylic paints on my big Gelli plate.  It uses two (or more!) different colors, one on the top of the Gelli plate and one on the bottom, and then you spritz some rubbing alcohol and actually fold the Gelli plate to create the interesting design in the middle.  The resulting design will depend on where you press down on the Gelli plate, with your fingers creating "mountains" on the horizon created by the technique.

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Here is my finished card:

I used some aqua blue for the bottom and a combination of pink and yellow for the top.  The result is an image of a sunset over the ocean that I absolutely love.  Complete with a quote that says "Heaven seems a little closer at the Beach" (which couldn't be more true, right???) and layered on kraft paper, this card came out to be a very pretty design.  Plus, the technique was so much fun.  I will definitely be making more cards like this in the future, and I also plan on using the technique to make a full 8x10 art piece for my craft room.

I will say that you don't need to use the Open paints.  It can be done on a budget with acrylic paints bought at Michaels or other craft or art stores.  However, if you use those acrylic paints, like I did, it works better if you use a thin layer of Matte Gel Medium on the Gelli plate before applying the paint.  This helps keep the paint layer thinner so the technique works as it should.  It's great to know that sometimes there are ways like this to use what you already have in order to avoid buying new supplies.

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Until next time!

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Gel Plate Impressionism Challenge Response

This is for the second technique from the Beyond The Blue DT challenge.  

The technique was to use Distress oxides on my Gelli plate to create a background and then use rubbing alcohol and an image stamp to overlay on top.  I found it works best with a lined image instead of a solid image, because the technique blurs the lines of the stamp slightly.  It also requires a steady hand for the image stamp to center it onto the background design.  This technique is also interesting because it uses both my Misti (love!!!) and an acrylic block for the image stamp, hence the steady hand.

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Here is my finished card:

I love how the light bulb stamp worked on the yellow and orange background created by the technique.  It is almost like the light bulb is actually lighting up the card behind it.

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Until next time!

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Gelli Plate and Dye Reinkers Technique

I joined the Beyond The Blue DT to share some older techniques with a new twist. I'm excited to show off the results of the first technique in the challenge.  

The technique was to use dye reinkers on my Gelli plate. I went a different route and used Distress Oxides by Ranger. The Distress Oxides are a dye and pigment ink combined, and I love how the colors work together. It took quite a bit of the oxide reinkers to do this technique and I combined it with Versamark reinker. 

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Here is my finished card:

I combined bees from Honey Bee Stamps, the jar of jelly beans came from Lawn Fawn, and the stencil is from A Colorful Life Designs. To finish off the card I added glossy accents to the wings on the bee.

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Until next time!

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Warm Winter Wishes

Recently I was asked to make a custom Christmas card order with navy blue and this super cute snowman stamp set. I love everything about this card and I can't wait to do it again. 

Wine Cards

Last night I was inspired to create wine cards. I've been putting it for awhile and I was in a humorous mood. The background is made with watercolor and I stamped on top after it dried.

Picture Heavy Post

Sorry I haven't been posting on here. I've mostly been focusing on my Facebook page and my Instagram account lately. I won't post everything on here, but this was from yesterday. I was inspired by a technique by Laurel Beard and had to pull my supplies out to make a bunch of cards. Once they were posted I also got a message asking to make a birthday card in the yellow spray, so I went to work. I'm waiting on a stamp to arrive for a custom Christmas card order featuring navy blue cardstock, so it's going to be a bit different from what I usually do.