DYE INK MARKER WATERCOLOR TECHNIQUE

Happy Friday! Today's share uses a technique I call Dye Ink Marker Watercolor Technique - as far as I know, I invented the technique, have never seen anything about this posted anywhere (let me know if I am wrong, please)! It's a variation of Acetate Smack Technique that I discussed here last week.

I used plain old 65# smooth white cardstock (GP - purchased at Walmart in office supplies dept.). I also used my Cricut with a fine point black Cricut marker (notice the marker did not bleed or run when water was added, love these markers!)

After drawing the image (from Anna Griffin's Lace Cards & Embellishment Cricut Cartridge), I colored the image in with Tombow (#533) & Memento ( Grape Jelly, Rosebud, Cantaloupe & Summer Sky) DYE INK MARKERS (not alcohol or pigment).

Now for the cool part! Lay a piece of acetate on top of heat resistant craft mat. Spray/mist the acetate with a good amount of water. Lay your colored image on the misted acetate & wiggle around a little. Blot up excess moisture with paper towel, remove acetate & dry with heat gun! Be careful drying, it will tear easily after being soaked with water!

If the colors turn out too light, add more color to CS where needed & repeat this process until you're happy with it! I had to apply more ink 3 times, but just love the effect! After image is thoroughly dried, apply Stickles glitter glue for that little extra something, then mat & attach to card!

This card is not completely finished yet, I'm waiting on some new dies to arrive, will repost the finished card sometime next week. I'm thinking this will make a FANTABULOUS Mother's Day Card!

I hope I've helped to inspire your creativity today! Smiles, Laura

ENCOURAGEMENT CARD

Hello everyone! Today's share is an encouragement card that my students made in class this week! The dark teal & aqua pieces were embossed with Anna Griffin's Summer & Fall Folders (Feathers), and then I sanded the aqua piece (textured CS) to reveal the white core. The feather and sentiment are from a free download from the cardstock pack Fancy Feathers available at http://www.paperwishes.com.

The Clematis Flower was created from an SVGCuts cut file 3D Flowers SVG Kit Part II. I used lavender & green cardstock to cut them with. To learn how to assemble these flowers, watch the video on their site, its a great tutorial!

I attached everything to 5x7" lavender card base and added turquoise bling rhinestones to the upper right corner of the card & the center of the Clematis.

I hope I've helped to inspire your creativity today! Smiles, Laura

MASCULINE CARD IDEA

Hello everyone! Today's share is a masculine card I created. I know it's a little out of season, as it looks fall-ish, but what father doesn't like beer and football on Father's Day? I actually made this for my hubby's birthday in October, and yes, I'm way ahead, but I am known to play Christmas music in July while making Christmas cards!!!

This card was really quick and easy to make. The 5x7  card base is dark brown. I embossed a 4.75" x 6.75" piece of barn red textured WHITE CORE cardstock with Anna Griffin's Summer & Fall embossing folders (Chrysanthemum), then gently sanded to reveal the white core before attaching to the card base.

Next, on a 4"x6" piece of plain white cardstock, I stamped blocks with 6 different fall colors of dye ink ( olive, clay, dark brown, light brown, cantaloupe & tangelo), then embossed with Anna's Leaves folder. After embossing, I applied Brilliance Copper ink direct-to paper (the raised areas will pick up this ink beautifully), then sponged in a little plum ink before attaching to card!

The sentiment, beer stein & football were super-easy! Thanks Anna for creating such wonderful die cuts - For The Boys! Just pop dot & attach & the card is done!

I hope I've helped to inspire your creativity today! As always, Happy Crafting! Smiles, Laura

ACETATE SMACK TECHNIQUE

using water based dye markers

Today I'm sharing a card made with a technique that I just love. Acetate smack technique produces a stunning watercolor effect on plain white cardstock and is fairly easy to accomplish using a few simple tools:

SUPPLIES

Acetate (you can use a piece that comes with your clear stamps)

White cardstock (3.75 x 5" for an A2 card)

Water based dye ink markers (the brighter/darker, the better)

Water spritzer/mister bottle

Heat resistant mat

Heat gun

Paper towel

TECHNIQUE

Lay the piece of acetate on the heat resistant mat. Choose 3 - 6 marker colors. Scribble the markers on your piece of acetate, then spray with water from your mister bottle, just until the colors start to blend a little. Gently lay your piece of cardstock on the colored, misted acetate, wiggling just a little to the left & right to blend the colors a little more. Blot up excess water with paper towel. Lift cardstock away from acetate, blotting up the excess water & ink. Place cardstock on the heat resistant mat & dry with heat gun This will take a few minutes; it is normal for the cardstock to curl a little!

THE CARD IN THE PHOTO

The marker colors I used to make the background were bright pink, bright yellow, turquoise & medium brown. After drying, I embossed the CS with Anna Griffin's Seashell Cluster Folder (Anna's Summer & Fall Embosssing Folders from HSN). 

Next I used direct to paper technique to apply Brilliance Moonlight White ink to the embossed CS, and dried with the heat gun again. Then I matted this with pink CS & attached to a white A2 card base. The final touches were adding the stamped sentiment & the flowers, which I printed with Anna's Fantastic Flip Digital Cricut Cartridge!

I hope I've helped to inspire your creativity today! As always, Happy Crafting! Smiles, Laura 

GIRAFFE NOTE CARD

Happy Friday! Today's share is a Giraffe notecard, in honor of April having her baby! The card base is A2 size in black. I created the background (4"x5 1/4") from tan CS with the Crocodile embossing folder from Anna Griffin's Folders For Him (HSN). After embossing, I sponged it with yellow, terra cotta, medium brown & dark brown inks to create a mottled leather look. I then stamped the giraffe phrase on a small scrap of tan CS, embossed, sponged and matted on black CS, as seen in picture.

The giraffe was first stamped with Terra Cotta ink on tan CS, then with light brown ink. Next, I fussy cut it out and matted on black CS & fussy cut again. With black ink, I stamped the fern image onto green CS & fussy cut these out as well.

Now for the assembly! I attached the background to the base with tape runner, then attached the ferns with tape also. I attached the giraffe with 1 small pop dot behind the head and tape on the bottom, just to give it a dimensional look. Finally, I attached the phrase with pop dots, for added dimension. I attached a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of medium terra cotta CS on the inside to create a lighter surface to write my note on, as the card is black. Of course, you could also use white or gold gel pens to write the note with on the inside, if you choose!

I hope I've helped to inspire your creativity today! Happy stamping & crafting, smiles, Laura

FOR MY FRIEND CARD

Hello! Today I'm sharing a card I made largely from scraps of cardstock! I had some 1/2" strips of Anna Griffin orange & teal CS leftover from another project, so I cut them to 5 1/2 inch lengths and attached them to a pink 5x7" card base. Then I fastened a teal ribbon bow to the top of this. Next I took some 3/4" left over strips & die cut them into the little scroll borders at the top & bottom, followed by attaching a white 4" doily atop this.

Then I cut a leftover piece of metallic gold cardstock with my Cricut ( 3 1/4" x 4 1/4" - Anna's Lace Cards & Embellishments - butterfly background) and attached with pop dots on the doily, followed by the banner sentiment "For My Friend'.

I hope you've enjoyed today's share! As always, Happy Crafting! Smiles, Laura

SPRING THINKING OF YOU CARD

Welcome everyone. Today I'm sharing a "Thinking of You" card I made using products from Anna Griffin. This a 5 x7" card when folded & I used a medium spring green color for the base. I then used a piece of DCWV coral colored white core textured CS (5"x7") and embossed it with Anna's Trellis Folders, which I purchased at HSN.com. After embossing, I trimmed with scissors around the scalloped edges, and punched holes in the little circles with a 1/4" hole punch. Then I used a sanding block on the coral embossed piece to reveal the white core. I love this sanding technique, it's a quick and easy way to create a beautiful background.

After attaching the coral background to the green card base, I added white ribbon & die cuts from Anna's "All About Her" die cut package (also from HSN.com). I left the inside blank, as I am using it as a notecard, but you could stamp a phrase & add die cuts to the inside, if you choose to.

I hope to begin posting once a week again, so check back regularly for new card ideas & tips! As always, HAPPY CRAFTING everyone! Smiles, Laura