Blessed Stars: Ink Blended and Dry Embossed Background

 Hello friends!  Todays project has a few techniques that while simple and easy are also eye-catching and dynamic.  Ink blending is such an easy and well known technique, but can be challenging to perfect.  Changing my cardstock to Bristol Smooth (I use Strathmore) was a game changer for me.  Secondly, lightening the pressure I applied made things so much easier.  By keeping your hand light, you're creating less friction between your blending tool and the surface of the paper, allowing for smoother movement and better payoff.  You can use any dye ink, not just Distress, as well as pigment inks.  Delicata brand pigment inks dry faster than any other pigment ink I know of and do not need to be heat set or embossed.  When using pigment inks to ink blend, you're applying a lighter layer, which also allows for faster drying.  I also suggest practice.  No skill gets perfected without practice, so allow yourself to have fun and relax when trying out a new technique. 

 Here is the link for the video tutorial on my YouTube channel if you are interested in how to re-create this card or learn the techniques and my supply list is below.  This would be a great design for a masculine card if you die cut the blessed from black cardstock and left off the sequins.
Supplies:
Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock
WRMK 3D Shatter embossing folder
Delicata Golden Glitz pigment ink
Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle die
Distress Ink: Mermaid Lagoon, Wilted Violet
Imagine Crafts Shimmer Spritz
SSS Blessed die
Fun Foam
Stick-It Sheet adhesive
PTI Simple Stars
Versamark
Ranger Sparkle Black embossing powder
Little Things Iridescent White, Star Shine
Ranger Matte Medium
Neenah 110 lb cardbase
Scor-tape

Thanks for joining me today!  I hope you learned and had fun.  Be sure to let me know how you liked it or what products or techniques you'd like to see in future videos.  See you next time!

Much Love,
Jasmine

Birthday Shaker Card for Jesus! featuring Infinity Engravings

Hello!  Today's card was built around the IE cupcake chipboard die cut.  I started off by painting the cupcake and with Christmas being right around the corner, thought of a birthday card for Jesus.  I set the cupcake aside to dry while I built the shaker element in the middle.  I die cut the circle frame using two circle dies and die cut the back piece using the larger of the two circle dies.  I ran out of acetate panels that I would normally use for the window, so I die cut the circle window out of a stamp storage pocket instead.  After running the circle frame through an embossing folder to give it some texture, I blended some gold pigment ink over the texture and applied 1/4" scor-tape to the back.  Using doubled up foam tape, I cut it half lengthwise and applied it to the perimeter on the back of the assembled window piece.  This is much easier to do after removing the release paper.  With a piece of gold foil cardstock, I used the Stacked Stars die by SSS and ran it through my die cutting machine.  Save a few of the stars from the die cut pieces.  Glue the star outline to the back circle piece and trim off any excess.  I used the Purple Velvet sequin mix from Little Things for my shaker bits and added a few to the middle of the back piece.  Carefully line up the window piece with the backing piece and adhere together to create the shaker element.  The sentiment and letters are die cuts and both dies are by Lawn Fawn.  Die cut the happy birthday from black glitter paper and the letters from gold foil paper.  The snowflake background can be done two ways.  You can use either several individual snowflake stamps or a large background stamp.  You can use either a glue pad or a heat and stick embossing powder to adhere the glitter to the images.  I used the Tsukineko Essential Glue pad and a large background stamp for my card.  With the glue pad, you want to let the glue dry for 10-20 minutes before you apply the glitter.  I used Elizabeth Craft Designs Silk Microfine Glitter, which you need to burnish into the glue to get the shine to come up.  At this point I had all my elements ready to assemble my card.  I used scor-tape on the back of the shaker element to attach it to the cardbase.  I used scor-tape on the back of the cupcake to attach it to the shaker element and glue on the back of the die cut sentiment and letter to adhere them.  After all the instructions, here is the link to my video tutorial on my YouTube channel.

Supplies:
Infinity Engraving cupcake chipboard
Dylusions White Linen acrylic paint
Folk Art 227 Bright Green acrylic paint
Martha Stewart Crafts Multi-surface Glitter paint
Lawn Fawn Claire's ABC's dies
Lawn Fawn Happy Birthday border die
Lawn Fawn Stitched Circles die
Sizzix Circle die
Simon Says Stamp Stack Stars die
DCWV Foiled Stack in gold
DCWV black glitter paper
Delicata Golden Glitz pigment ink
3M Foam tape
We R Memory Keepers Basketweave 3D embossing folder
Elizabeth Craft Designs Silk Microfine glitter in Amethyst
Tsukineko Essentials Glue pad
Avery Elle Storage pocket
Little Things Purple Velvet sequin mix
Hero Arts stamp S5069 (Snowflake)
Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock
Spectrum Noir clear sparkle pen

Thanks for sticking with me through this long post!  Check out the video if you want to see more in depth the process of making a shaker card.  They aren't difficult at all, but can take a little time.  I don't mind spending the time on people I know will love something like this; my nieces and nephews love these and always want to take them to school.  This design is perfect for any winter birthday, Christmas cards, miss you or thinking of you; all you would have to do is change the sentiment and name (of course ;).  The kiddos would love to help paint the cupcakes, too. 

Much love,
Jasmine

April 2016 Challenge with Laura's Loft

Hey there! I'm excited to share my card for the April Challenge.  The color palette fell into my favorite colors, so I couldn't wait to play.

Here is the Challenge Inspiration:


Supplies:
Neenah Solar White cardstock
WRMK 3D Geometric embossing folder
Doodlebug Black Velvet cardstock
SSS Hello die
Distress Inks in Mermaid Lagoon (Set #13), Wilted Violet (Set #15)  and Shaded Lilac (Set #4)
Avery Elle Wonky Stitches
Scor-tape 1/4"
Glitter Ritz Microfine glitter in Stardust
Altenew Shades of Purple cube set
Altenew Golden Garden stamp and die sets
Wink of Stella Clear glitter brush pen

Starting with a 4.25" by 5.5" piece of Neenah cardstock, do the ink blending.  I started with Mermaid Lagoon, followed by Wilted Violet and finished up with Shaded Lilac.  If you have trouble getting a smooth blend, overlap where the colors meet, using light pressure and small, circular motions.  Place the largest of the Wonky Stitches over the panel, secure with low-tack tape (I use a post-it note) and run through the Big Shot.  Place the panel in the embossing folder and run though the Big Shot (or whatever die cutting machine you have).
On another piece of white cardstock, stamp 3 roses from Altenew's Golden Garden stamp set using the Shades of Purple inks.  Die cut the roses.  Golden Garden is sold out in the shop, but you can use this style of card with any layering stamp set.
Using a white cardbase, apply 1/4" Scor-tape along the edge of the front of the cardbase.  Burnish along the scor-tape (with release paper still attached) to make sure it's adhered to the cardstock.  Over a full sheet of scratch paper, remove release paper from the scor-tape and add glitter over the exposed adhesive.  Pour excess glitter back in the jar.  Rub the glitter into the adhesive with your fingers and tap any excess back into the jar.  Apply adhesive to the back of the inked panel and along the edges.  Center the inked panel and adhere to the glittered cardbase.  Arrange the roses over the inked panel.  I glued the first rose flat to the surface, popped the second up with foam squares, and also used foam squares to attach the one lying across the bottom edge.  For a finishing touch I added clear Wink of Stella to the flower portion of the roses.
I love the sleek, hand drawn look of the roses and the contrast between the bright, yet cool tones and the platinum glitter.

Here's the rest of the DT's Challenge blogs!

1. Laura- http://www.lauralscott.com/llc4
2. Deana- http://www.designcreativelybling.com/2016/04/lauras-loft-challenge-llc3.html
3. Emma-   http://heartofcraft.blogspot.com/20...

The prizes for the Challenge: $20 gift card to Art Impressions and $25 gift card to Laura's Loft!

Winners will be announced May 2, 2016 and you can link your entry here.  Enter as many projects as you want!
Please feel free to ask questions and let me know what you think!

Much love,
Jasmine

Sunshine and Flutterbys

Is this a gorgeous card or what!?!  I am quite pleased with how this card turned out and couldn't wait to share it with you.  It's got ink blending, in-laid die cut, a shaker and lots of texture.  I challenged myself with this one as yellow is not a color I use, but I love the bright and sunny look of these colors together.  If you saw my last post, I used the butterfly negatives from this piece in that card.  It's such a cool thing when you can get two or three cards from one die! Lets get started on making this baby.

Supplies:
Neenah 110 lb Solar While cardstock
DCWV Foiled Gold cardstock
Doodlebug Daydream Sugarcoated White cardstock

Simon Says Stamp Butterfly Drift die
Simon Says Stamp smile die
WeRMemoryKeepers Next Gen 3D Embossing Folder "Gemstone"
Distress Inks in Squeezed Lemonade, Cracked Pistachio, and Lucky Clover
Delicata Golden Glitz Ink
WRMK Fuse Tool
Avery Elle Stamp Pockets
Design Creative Bling Sequin Mix in Jewel Box
3M Foam tape
Tombow Mono Multi liquid glue
Stick It adhesive sheets

Step 1.  Starting with a 4.25 by 5.5 piece of Neenah cardstock, I start with Squeezed Lemonade and blend the ink across the top third, followed by Cracked Pistachio over the middle third and ending with Lucky Clover on the bottom third.  I like to overlap my colors a bit where they meet; this smooths out the transition between the colors and creates a new shade.  Distress Inks are designed to stay wet a bit longer so that they are easy to blend.  It may take a few minutes for it to dry, but set it aside to air dry.  I don't heat dry it because it can warp, and that can lead to problems with the die cuts later on.  While that's drying, we can do our other die cutting. 

Step 2.  Using the butterfly die, run it through your die cutting machine with the gold foil cardstock and separate the outline.  Set aside the other peices to use for other projects.  Also run the smile die with the gold cardstock through and separate it out. 

Step 3.  Add a 3x4.5 inch strip of Stick-It adhesive to the back of the inked panel where you are going to die cut the butterflies and trim off any excess.  Place the inked panel in the embossing folder and run it through the machine.  Blend a bit of gold ink over the texture we added with the embossing folder.  You want to rub lightly so that you're only hitting the high points.  This will bring out the texture and add gorgeous shine.  Place the butterfly die towards the left edge, leaving enough of an edge to attach the shaker pouch, at least 1/2 inch.  Run it through and set aside the pieces for other projects.

Step 4.  Plug in your Fuse tool so that it has time to heat up.  That will take about 15 minutes.  Using the back side of the inked panel, lay the shaker pouch over it to measure how wide and long it needs to be.  Be sure to leave enough excess to add adhesive to so you can attach the pouch.  I made one long, narrow pouch.  Fit the gold butterfly outline into the inked panel and turn it over so that the white side is up.  When adding shaker bits to the pouch, be careful of adding too much.  You want to leave enough room for the bits to move around and catch the light.  Adding too much prevents them from moving as well as can make the finished card too thick.  Add a bit of the sequin mix to the pouch and put in place over the panel.  Add a seam along the top edge of the largest middle butterfly.  I ran my tool right along the line of the wings, tracing them.  When you're looking at the correct side of the finished card, the gold cardstock will hide the seam.  Adding the extra seam prevents all the shaker bits from sinking to the bottom, leaving the top of the shaker pouch empty.  Add a bit more of the sequin mix to the top pouch and seal the top edge.  When you're ready to attach the shaker pouch, remove the backing paper from the panel.  I leave at least 1/4 inch overhang along the seams of my pouch to add adhesive to.  Add Scor-tape along the edges and adhere to the panel.  Add liquid glue to the gold butterfly outline and fit into the panel, just like a puzzle.  I lay something heavy over the top for 5 to 10 minutes to give the flue time to dry.

Step 5.  Add foam tape to the edges of the panel and in the middle of the panel so that it's fairly level when complete.  For my card base, I use a 8.5 by 5.5 inch piece of Neenah, scored and folded at 4.25 inches so that I have a side folding card base.  I attach a 4.25 by 5.5 inch piece of Doodlebug white to the front of my card base to serve as a background for the shaker pouch.  I remove the foam backing paper on one corner and line it up to attach it to the card base.  Once that it stuck down, I remove the rest.  Attach smile die cut with liquid glue and the card is complete.

Once you get the hang of the fuse tool, shakers are really easy and so much fun.  You can literally make any shape or size you want.  So much fun!

Thanks for stopping by and hanging out with me today!  I'm happy to answer any questions and I'd love to know what you think.

Much love,
Jasmine