SSS SKETCHED FLOWERS: THREE CARDS, ONE STAMP

Three Papers, Three Mediums, Three Cards...One Stamp

Perhaps it's the smell of raindrops in the air and the snow beginning to melt which makes me anticipate spring, summer, warmth and my gardens! I have been obsessed with Simon Says Stamp's Sketched Flowers these past few weeks. I wanted to dig into my stash and find a stamp set that was versatile enough to use all year round. Besides the easy-to-color design, I love how the Sketched Flowers are larger than A2 (4 1/4"x 5 1/2") size and can be placed 'off the page'. 

Card Number One

For the first card, I cut Strathmore's 100# Bristol Smooth Cardstock into 4 1/4"x 5 1/2". I used the largest floral stamp in the set and placed the paper and stamp into my regular-size Misti stamping tool. I made note of where I placed the paper so that I could stamp all three card fronts identically. I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink to stamp the image.

Image stamped with Memento Ink

TIP: To clean my stamp in between inks, I use the Lawn Fawn Stamp Shammy! Just like the shammy that Dad used so no water spots showed, this shammy just needs water to wipe your stamp clean! Just rinse it and lay flat to dry when you are done for the day. Every few days, I let my shammy soak in soapy water overnight to get deep inkiness out.

To color this card front, I used Copic Sketch Markers. They blend so well on the Bristol cardstock! And the Memento Ink does not bleed when used with Copic Markers. To finish it off, I used a black gel pel in the centers and added some sequins from Neat & Tangled's Festive Fall Mix. 

Image colored with Copic Markers

Card Number Two

The second card front I cut Neenah 100# Desert Storm Cardstock into 4 1/4"x 5 1/2". After I placed it into my Misti, I used the EK Success Powder Tool to remove static from the surface of the cardstock. This helps prevent stray embossing powder from sticking where I don't wish it to.

The image was then stamped with Versamark ink and a fine white detail embossing powder was used and heat set.

Image stamped with Versamark
and white heat embossed

This card front was then colored with Prismacolor Colored Pencils. Black Soot Distress Ink was squished (nice technical term!) onto the craft mat, water added and then splattered onto the cardstock. 

image colored with colored pencils

Card Number Three

This card front I used Simon Says Stamp's Barely Beige Dye Ink (you could use Antique Linen or Hickory Smoke Distress Ink as well) to stamp the same image onto a 4 1/4"x 5 1/2" piece of Canson XL 140# Watercolor paper. I chose to use the smooth side. 

I stamped the image several times to get a good impression. The watercolor paper has a deeper texture and you might want to make sure you have a clear image for the next coloring medium.

a very faint outline of the image

This third image was then colored using the 'no line' watercolor technique. Since I had loaned my Zig Clean Clear Brush watercolor markers to my bestie, Cindy, I used Tim Holtz's Distress Inks in the mini cubes for my watercolors. 

TIP: Cut a piece of cardstock to fit inside a package from an empty stamp or die set. Slide it in and seal. This makes the perfect palette to squish (there's that word again) your ink onto.

Use a regular paint brush or watercolor brush to pick up the ink and use as watercolors! Use the stamped image as a guide. When I was finished, I used the darkest color and splattered paint onto the card front.

mini ink cubes used as watercolors

Finishing Touches

On card fronts Two and Three, I sprayed Sheer Shimmer Spritz. This fine mist gives the sparkle of glitter paper!! (I tried to photo it. You just HAVE to try this stuff especially if you are like me. I DO NOT LIKE glitter everywhere but I like the look!) 

adding Sheer Shimmer Spritz

Just can't get the full effect!

I mounted the two white card fronts to Neenah Desert Storm card bases and the dark card front to a 110# white cardstock card base. All three had the same sentiment stamped on the outside with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink. The insides were stamped with a single flower from the stamp set in Barely Beige ink and then "smile" was added in black.

These colors are my favorite! They look very much like Autumn which gives me yet another idea! How about the same stamp set colored for all four seasons?!

I hope you stretch the use of your favorite stamp set and try using different papers or mediums to color with! I LOVE seeing your work!! It inspires others to try something new too! You can find me here on my blog, on Lori Ellen Designs Facebook Page, on Pinterest and you'll find these cards in my Etsy shop...

Lori Ellen Designs Etsy Shop

Artistically and Lovingly Yours,

loriellendesigns@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/LoriEllenDesigns

www.etsy.com/shop/LoriEllenDesigns

www.pinterest.com/loriellendesigns/

Below I have a list of some of the items I used in making this card. I added some of my favorite tools also. Clicking on the picture will take you to more information.

I AM NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY SHOPS so I am not selling items. Feel free to comment or contact me with any questions!

SSS Sketched Flowers

Lawn Fawn Stamp Shammy

Neenah Desert Storm Cardstock

EK Success Powder Tool

DIAGONAL CARD ~ WELCOME BABY

Diagonal Card ~ Welcome Baby

I was asked to create a diagonal card.  Not really sure what one was, I turned to Pinterest! Sometimes it's just that simple!

And it is! Here is the pattern for the Diagonal Card. It is an 8 1/2"x 11" piece of cardstock, scored and folded into quarters. This creates four (4) equal rectangles of standard card size, 4 1/4"x 5 1/2" (A2). 

Placing one corner on the cutting edge of your trimmer and pairing it with the opposite corner, cut diagonally, from corner to corner. It should look something like this:

You should have two cards. Two for the price of one! Now to decorate. The flaps are not as difficult as it would lead you to believe. 

Cardstock folded into quarters then cut diagonally.

I paired paper from the 6"x 6" Authentique Beginnings collection with yellow cardstock embossed with the Cuttlebug Ben-day Dots embossing folder for my card front.

To leave a 1/16" border around the edge, cut a 

4 1/8"x 5 3/8" piece of pattern paper. Place it diagonally into your trimmer and cut from corner to corner creating two (2) triangles. (TIP: If there is a distinct pattern to the design, make sure you are choosing the correct corner cuts and that the paper is facing up. I learned the hard way after cutting up several pieces of paper into triangles!)

Trim the inside of the triangle as well by just taking off a scant 1/16" on the long side.

Trim 1/16" off the longest side of the triangle.

A belly band will be placed around the middle of this card to hold it closed so the corners of the papers must be securely attached. I run my ATG tape right as close to the edge of the paper as I can get and right off the tip of the triangle. The tape that hangs over can be pushed back onto itself but I found this was too bulky and the corner was raised from the extra tape. (TIP: Once your paper is in place, gently rub with your finger or a gum eraser, like Magic Rub eraser, along the edge and the excess tape will come right off!)

Excess tape from ATG gun or tape runner

I colored two images from Lily of the Valley's Digi Shop on Etsy.com. Lisa's digital images are just adorable and fun to color! I used Copic Markers and several other alcohol markers to color in these little guys. They were cut out with stitched dies and placed onto a 3/4" strip of vellum for a belly band. 

Toy Giraffe and Toy Rabbit digital stamps

Adding some dimension to the image, I colored a piece of Hug Snug Seam Binding the same color as the bow with my Copic R22 marker and made a bow. This was attached to the image on both cards. Black gel pen was added to the eyes and nose and Wink of Stella was used to glitter up the gift.

Since there was no sentiment on the outside, I felt it necessary to decorate the inside more than usual. The sentiments were stamped with Abandoned Coral Distress Oxide ink and heat embossed with Clear Embossing Powder by Ranger. 

I lost my Mojo this weekend and have ideas floating around but can't seem to put them into anything tangible. Pinterest is an excellent place to get inspired, as well as Instagram and Youtube. Give those artists and crafters you turn to for inspiration a little extra LOVE this month! It's National Craft Month and I'm positive they would love to hear from you! 

I would love to see your Diagonal cards or the digis you chose to color! Post them on my Facebook Page to share your inspiration with others! 

Lori Ellen Designs Facebook Page
(LIKE it to get notified of postings and updates!)

Artistically and Lovingly Yours,

Lori Ellen Designs

loriellendesigns@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/LoriEllenDesigns

www.etsy.com/LoriEllenDesigns

www.pinterest.com/loriellendesigns/boards

Below I have a list of some of the items I used in making this card. I added some of my favorite tools also. Clicking on the picture will take you to more information.

I AM NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY SHOPS so I am not selling items. Feel free to comment or contact me with any questions!

Authentique Beginnings Bundle Pad 6x6

Magic Rub Gum eraser

Distress Oxide ink

FAUX MONOPRINTS

Faux Monoprints: Cindy's Challenge

Monoprint - a form of printing where the image can only be made once, usually onto paper from a smooth surface such as glass or metal

I took the monoprint idea a different direction this time. I didn't have colored pigment inks therefore, I figured out a way to use Distress Oxides. I wondered, is there a way to use dye inks? Sort of faux monoprints?

I cut Simon Says Stamp 40# Vellum into 
5 1/2"x 8 1/2" and scored at 4 1/4" to create a side-folding card.
(TIP: When scoring vellum, use a rounded stylus or bone folder and gently score several times to carefully break fibers and mold the vellum into a crease. This will prevent the vellum from cracking or ripping when folded.)

Place the vellum card into the corner of your Misti. (I used my stamp positioner because it kept my papers in the same place with every stamp or ink change.)

Use a DYE INK to stamp an image onto the front of your vellum card.

Memento dye ink used to
stamp butterflies onto vellum

Now, holding the vellum still in your Misti, place two pieces of 4 1/4"x 5 1/2" white cardstock on top of the vellum card. Be very careful to hold in place and do not shift or the image will smear. Vellum is non-porous and the ink will not absorb into it and it takes longer for it to dry.

Two pieces of cardstock placed onto the vellum.

Do not remove the stamps, ink them, and stamp in the same place onto the cardstock. Apply light pressure for 5-10 seconds so the ink has time to absorb into the cardstock.

Same stamped images on white cardstock

Clean and remove your stamps. Very carefully remove the two pieces of cardstock. Because the ink was still wet on the vellum, the cardstock placed on it absorbed the ink and created a monoprint. 

Top left: Top piece of cardstock,
 Top right: monoprint, Bottom: vellum card

I chose layered stamps for this process. Single layered stamps would work just as well. Continue with other stamps, rotating your vellum and paper as needed. (TIP: Stamp off the edge when doing a background. It gives it a more organic, natural look.)

Continue with the background,
 being careful not to shift the
cardstock that is on the vellum.

Stamped vellum

This did take some time to create the next few backgrounds but for the effort of one print, I actually got three!

Once your backgrounds are finished, make your cards. I made a notecard of white cardstock and snugged it inside the vellum card. The print showed up more clearly and this provided a space to write or stamp a sentiment. I attached the two by tieing a string around the fold. 

I kept the design very simple on the next three cards since the background is what I wanted to showcase. Sometimes a bold black sentiment is all that is needed.

From the left to the right: Top cardstock, monoprint, and then the vellum.

Vellum print

Monoprint

Top cardstock

This was my monoprint experience. It truly became a Challenge! I found information on this technique by watching Jennifer McGuire's Youtube Video: Vellum Monoprint. I hope this has inspired you to try new approaches to things. Don't be afraid to experiment with the items that you have in your stash. 

I would love to see your creation!

Artistically & Lovingly Yours,

Lori Ellen Designs

loriellendesigns@gmail.com

https://loriellendesigns.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/LoriEllenDesigns

www.etsy.com/shop/LoriEllenDesigns

https://www.pinterest.com/loriellendesigns/boards/

MONOPRINTS: CINDY'S CHALLENGE #2

Monoprints - Sunday Play Day: Cindy's Challenge #2

Monoprint: a form of printing where the image can only be made once, usually onto paper from a smooth surface such as glass or metal

Sunday Play Day is a day I set aside every week to just 'create'! Sometimes that means just sitting at my desk and staring at my scribbled sketches and letting ideas flow, or not, as the case was yesterday. I considered throwing in the towel several times over the course of the day and even still this morning! 

Cindy sent me a link to Julie Warner's YouTube video at SplitcoastStampers. (HERE) She used pigment inks to create monoprints and then made them into cards! They were beautiful! 

My first detour was the fact I only owned two pigment inks, white and black. I have Distress Oxide Inks which are pigment ink but also have dye ink mixed within. 

Distress Oxide Monoprints

I just couldn't seem to get a smooth coverage of ink from the felt Oxide pads to my work surface. Which made it nearly impossible to get any texture designs off the smooth surface. 

Distress Oxide ink pad smooshed onto craft mat.

I found several computer mousepads that were rather dense. This would allow for imprinting into the foam to take place. Having added ink, in an area to cover a 4 1/4"x 5 1/2" piece of cardstock, I used different tools to create patterns. 

A leaf stamp from Altenew's A Beautiful Day stamp set, a solid, five petal flower stamp, the Cuttlebug Gingham embossing folder, bubble wrap, and a fork were some of the tools I was most successful with! 

Cardmaking

A silhouette stamp of some oats from the Meadow stamp set by Inkadinkadoo was placed upon the yellow/tan monoprint. The panel was cut to 4"x 5 1/4" and the edges were distressed with the Tim Holtz Distress Tool. 

An image of a rooster from Unity Stamp Co's New Day Rooster Stamp Set was added to the red gingham monoprint. A circle die was used to cut around the image.

The image of the rooster was raised by foam tape and placed upon a nest of thin twine. Both were placed onto the silhouette of oats. This panel was then added to a top-folding 4 1/4"x 5 1/2" 110# Kraft cardstock base.

To finish it off, a sentiment was stamped on the same gingham monoprint. It was cut with a circle die, distressed and added to the inside of the card!

Now, this was a CHALLENGE! but wait until you see what I did for the next blog...

I hope I have inspired you to try making monoprints and using them in your card making adventures! As always, I would love to see your work! Post your creation here in the comments or on my Facebook Page!

Lori Ellen Designs Facebook Page

Make Cindy's Challenge part of your Creative Week! March is National Craft Month so keep an eye out for discounts, sales, and coupons at your local craft store. Watch for STEALS & DEALS on my Facebook page! I will also post as I come across blog hops, Card Challenges with prizes and giveaways!

Thank you, Cindy! I really enjoyed the challenge! And I look forward to the next!

Artistically and Lovingly Yours,

Below I have a list of some of the items I used in making this card. I added some of my favorite tools also. Clicking on the picture will take you to more information.

I AM NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY SHOPS so I am not selling items. Feel free to comment or contact me with any questions!

A Beautiful Day Stamp Set

Gingham Embossing Folder

Meadow by Inkadinkadoo

Unity Stamp Co. New Day Rooster Stamp Set