Clean Up and Create

I made these cards while cleaning my blending brushes! Using the residual ink on the brushes I managed to make these gorgeous cards.  The images were already coloured and cut out, so it was really easy to put these together. Unbelievable, right? Check these out. 

Using residual ink from your blending brushes, gives a
soft and cloudy look to the background.  Blending through a stencil,
makes it easier to cover the whole background. 
This panel is a bit smaller than the front of the card, so that helps too. 
The image and sentiments are from a My Favourite Things stamp set.

Th feather is ink blended through a stencil, using
a mix of ink on my brushes.  I don't remember which colours. 
There was still ink on my pink brush, so I added soft shadows 
around the edge of the panel as well.  Again using a smaller panel helps. 

After stencilling a more vibrant rainbow background,
I made this softer one using the residual ink on my brushes.
The yellow ink ended up a bit green, as it mixed with the blue ink,
but it still looks cool, right?
White heat embossing on black cardstock is the perfect 
compliment to this cheerful background. 

These cards were inspired by Amy from Amy's Wares, who often uses the residual ink on her blending brushes when she is creating.  Check out her blog and videos. Thanks for the inspiration, Amy!

Happy Crafting! 

Embossing Folders - Old and New

 I love embossing folders for card making.  They are a quick and easy way to add texture to any card.  There are loads of them on the market- in lots of different styles.  Now there are even, 3D embossing folders or Texture Folders.  These have several layers or levels to the embossing instead of a single level.  It's hard to explain.  

I've invested in several embossing folders and I've been gifted a few.  I also purchased two 3D embossing folders and I love them! Here are some cards I've made using them. 

This 3D folder has balloons and some are more raised than others.  
All this needs is an image and a large sentiment and it's done! 
So easy. 

You don't even need to add an image if you don't want to! 
It helps that I embossed coloured cardstock for this background. 

The great thing about balloons, is that they work for any celebration,
not just birthdays! 

This  background was made using a 2D embossing folder 
and just plain white paper. This adds texture, while letting
the sentiment (which was a gel print die cut) shine! 

A 2D floral embossing folder on white cardstock
makes simple and elegant sympathy cards.

Embossing a strip of cardstock adds extra dimension
to your card.  You can rub pigment powder or ink
onto the embossed strip (or experiment with inking the folder itself)
to jazz it up even more. 

There's nothing much more to say about this card. 
It's just too cute! 

Whether it's a 2D folder or a 3D folder, embossing a panel or even a strip of cardstock, is a great technique for card making.  You can step up embossing folders by adding ink to the folder, or to the cardstock after embossing it.  You can use multiple folders on the same card or shift the cardstock before embossing it a second time. So, drag out your embossing folders and have some fun. 

That's that then. 

What other techniques should we look at? Let me know if the comments. 

A Great You Tube Channel

From time to time, I like to share something "Great" with you.  Something worthy of A Great Title.  

Today, I'm sharing with you, Amy's Wares.  

Photo Credit: these are thumbnails I copied from Amy's Website. 
These cards are just beautiful and I can't take credit for any of them! 

Amy is a lovely lady who makes some great cards.  She loves to use stencils (mostly from A Colorful Life Designs- ACLD) to create backgrounds, focal points and even sentiments on her cards.  She also likes to pre-stamp sentiments and store them in a big binder.  These seem to make her card making process quite quick. We all need to make a card in a hurry from time to time, so seeing how she does it helps me so much.  

I learned about Amy from a Facebook group I belong to (called Prokraftination) when Amy shared one of her 5 cards in 10 minutes videos.  It was around Christmas and I'm always looking for simple Christmas card designs so I clicked her link!  I checked out the video and I was hooked.  It also helps that Amy shares my love of Catherine Pooler Inks!  When I first saw how versatile stencils can be and the lower price point, I have been slowly growing my stencil collection.  I love using stencils to make backgrounds for cards, so a crafter who uses at least one stencil in almost every card, is a crafter I want to follow.  

The 5 cards in 10 minutes videos are nice and short and show some lovely clean and simple designs.  While I can't purchase from ACLD right now... that's a story for another day... I am making myself a long wishlist of products that I want to purchase from them.  I'm also looking at the products in my own stash and thinking about how I can use them to create simple cards.  It's so good to find another crafter who inspires you! :) 

Today you got three "Greats"- 

Amy's Wares - a great You Tube Channel- short videos that show simple techniques for quick and easy cardmaking! :) 

A Colorful Life Designs- a great small business that has a variety of innovative and versatile craft products. 

Prokraftination- a great facebook group where anyone can share their craft projects, link to their blog/ instagram/ You Tube videos and other social media accounts.  The owner of the group, Koren Wiskman, also shares special offers, giveaways and prizes with group members.  I love Koren and I have included her in a blog post before. The members of this facebook group are so encouraging too. 

Now that makes 4 'Greats'.  You are so lucky! I hope you are feeling inspired! I know I am. 

Until next time, Happy Crafting! 

Baby Cards!

 Is it just me, or is there A LOT of babies being born? Maybe it's just me! Not that I'm complaining!  I'm not... No need to complain when I have yet another reason to make a card.  :) 

Check out these fun baby cards. 

This balloon embossing folder is so versatile!
I originally bought it thinking I would use it for birthdays. 
How good does it look in this soft pink cardstock? 
It works for other celebration cards too! 

A simple watercolour wash with a sort of 'dip dye' look. 
Some simple stamping and a glitter pen.  
It doesn't get much quicker or easier than this. 
The longest part of this card was waiting for the background to dry! 

The 'baby background' on these cards is from Kazzazz. 
The pink is stamped and then ink blended around the edges with the same colour. 
For the blue one, I white heat embossed the background,
then used ink smooshing to colour it.  The embossing resists the ink.  
This technique is easy and fun- as long as you get the heat embossing right. 

Baby cards can be so much fun.  While there are some parents who prefer not to conform to the gender stereotypes, it really makes things so much easier to have a colour pallette already chosen for you!  Blue for a boy, let's do it.  Pink for a girl, sorted.  You can use a soft yellow or a mint green, if you want to make some gender neutral cards ahead of time.  These colours will work for both genders, and the pastel tone of these colours easily suit the joyous occasion of welcoming a baby to the world!

The hearts represent mum and dad holding a new little baby. 
How cute is that?!  
This card would work for just about anyone. 
This minty, aqua colour is perfect too. 

I hope you've found some inspiration for the next set of baby cards you make! 

Until we meet again!