My Time to Craft Challenge Blog Inspirational Post
Inspirational Post #547
Good day, fellow crafters. Today I am sharing my most recent submission to the My Time To Craft Challenge blog as part of the Inspirational DT for challenge # 547. Our theme this time around is "Thank you" cards. I hope you will decide to check us out and consider sharing your work as well.
This card was created using the Gina K Spring Floral stamp set as well as a inks from both Gina K and Distress Oxides from Ranger. I first stamped out the image onto a piece of watercolor paper with a water friendly ink and then using the smoosh method and my chosen inks, I water colored the image. I then allowed this to dry completely.
This is one of my favorite methods of coloring floral images, I find it very relaxing.
Once it was all dry I stamped the sentiment with a sentiment from the same Gina K stamp set in a dark black. Following that I used some Kat Scrapiness flat-backed gems to give some extra dimension.
Lastly, the background panel and a black mat were cut to their final dimensions and adhered together with some liquid glue. That composite was then adhered to a white A2 card base. With that, I called the card complete.
Inspirational Post #546
Good day, fellow crafters. Today I am sharing my inspirational post as part of the My Time To Craft DT. This is challenge # 546 for us and we have had a blast creating. We hope that you will join us for our future challenges.
Our theme this time is "Stencils only" which means everything on top of your base needs to be made via a stencil with optional stenciled lettering. Maybe make your own ink/paint stencil patterned papers. Stencil-traced cardstock shapes. Use textured paste applied on a stencil. Dab/smoosh ink on a stencil, and lots of other fun ways.
To create this card, I first began with a piece of white cardstock to which I ink-blended with Picked Raspberry Distress Oxide until I got the desired hue. Once the ink dried I secured this awesome swirled stencil from collection over my background panel with some mint tape.
I next mixed some Opaque texture paste with some of Gina K’s Plum Punch liquid re-inker until I got the hue you see on the card, either 3 or 4 drops should do it based on their size. Using a small pallet knife and then a plastic scraper, I applied and smoothed out the paste. I carefully removed and then cleaned the stencil and all of my tools.
Once the paste was dry I used an exclusive sentiment die from the Gina K Intri-cut called “Let’s Get Started”, to cut out my sentiment from white cardstock. I adhered this into place with liquid glue.
The last step was to trim down the background panel, create a black mat, and then adhere everything to a white A2 card base. With that, I called the card complete.
Inspirational Post #542
Good day, fellow crafters. Today I am sharing with you my inspirational post as part of the DT for the My Time To Craft Challenge Blog. Our challenge this time, # 542, is creating with texture. How will you get inspired? Corrugated cardboard? Glitter? Embossing? Paint? Buttons? Fabric? etc. Whatever is your source of inspiration, please make time to craft! We would love it if you joined us.
Inspirational Post #541
Good day, fellow crafters. Today I am sharing my inspirational post for our challenge # 541, themed "Something Tree-related". We really would love it you would participate, just think about how you get inspired about nature? acorns? pinecones? fruit? nuts? autumn color leaves? crow sitting on a tree branch? Any kind of tree and Any season is fair game. Maple, Oak, Magnolia, Peach, Apple, Palm, Pine, and lots more choices are at your disposal. As part of the design team, aim to spark your creativity with unique and innovative card designs and we hope this design encourages you to create something special.
Inspirational Post #540
Good day, fellow crafters. As the back-to-school season approaches in many parts of the U.S., it's the perfect time to channel the excitement and energy of new beginnings into our crafting projects. This post serves as the inspiration for this cycle's "My Time to Craft" challenge blog # 540, where we, as part of the design team, aim to spark your creativity with unique and innovative card designs. For this challenge, we've crafted a card that resembles a classic black and white speckled composition notebook—a nod to the school days that inspire so many of us. We hope this design encourages you to create something special and embrace the spirit of learning and creativity that this season brings.
Inspirational Post #539
Good day, fellow crafters. Today I am presenting my latest inspirational post as part of the My Time to Craft Challenge Blog DT. This challenge, # 539, is to create a card that visual represents summer time fun to you. How will you get inspired? Picnic? Amusement Park? Water Park? Swimming? We would love to see what you come up with.
Inspirational Post #538
Good day, fellow crafters. Today I am presenting my latest inspirational post as part of the My Time to Craft Challenge Blog DT. This challenge, # 538, is to create a CAS card with minimal layers, lots of empty space, and very few embellishments. How will you get inspired? Simple white on white with a small splash of color? A small image in 1 corner with a short phrase beside it and empty space above? We would love to see what you come up with so be sure to join us.
Inspirational Post #537
Good day, fellow crafters. Today I present my latest inspirational post as a DT member of the My Time To Craft Challenge Blog. Our theme for this challenge, # 537, is "Summer Florals". How will you get inspired this summer? A stroll through a blooming garden? Or maybe a vibrant farmer's market bursting with color? Are you planning a picnic in a flower-filled park? Whatever your source of inspiration is, we encourage you to share your love for summer florals with us. Remember Crafting is Happiness!
To create this card, I first began with a piece of cardstock that I had created sometime ago from left-over smooshed ink. I have a zero waste policy in my studio, so whenever I use the smooshed ink technique for water coloring I always mist the left over ink from my glass board and then press white cardstock into it to clean it up. This results in truly stunning background panels and prevents waste at the same time.
The focal image was created by using a foil plate from Globleland that I found online, which I used in my Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil system. The foil was from Spellbinders in Copper. Once the foiling was completed I cut out the tree and adhered it to the panel with liquid glue. I then used the Art Journal Messages stamp set from Hero Arts to stamp out my sentiment.
To complete the card I trimmed down a piece of copper colored metallic cardstock to 4.25” x 5.5” to cover my white card base, and then adhered to the card base with liquid glue. Finally, I trimmed down the background panel to provide a revel and adhered it to the mat with more liquid glue. With that, I called the card complete.
stamp set and my Gemini to cut out the focal image. I then made sure to color the edges because I am not a fan of the white border. I then set this aside once again to dry.
When dry, I chose to adhere the focal image to this vibrant shade of yellow cardstock. I used Bearly Arts liquid glue because of quick set up time. I next used an overlapping circles embossing folder from Spellbinders along with a diffuser to get just a subtle impression along the edges. This background panel was then adhered to an A2 card base with more liquid glue.
The final step was to add the sentiment, again from the Infinit Bloom set, with black ink. With that I called the card complete.
Inspirational Post #536
Good day, fellow crafters. Today I present my latest inspirational post as a DT member of the My Time To Craft Challenge Blog. Our theme for this challenge, # 536, is "Winter". How will you get inspired? Cozy scene by the fireplace? or an outside snowball fight? Is someone wrapped up for cold snowy weather? Whatever your source of inspiration is, we encourage you to participate with us. Remember Crafting is Happiness!
This card was created by beginning with the night sky. Using some shades of blue Distress Oxide and an ink blending brush, I blended the ink over white cardstock until I got the late in the day sky hue that I wanted.
Next, utilizing the tree die from the My Monthly Hero kit from October 2023 and some gray ink, I added in the background trees. Once I had both of these completed I used a shimmer spray over the panel to give the effect that it was snowing.
The following thing to do was then to create my foreground. Once again using the MMH October 2023 kit I used the same die as before and my Gemini die-cutting machine to cut out the trees and snow. I then used a brown ink to ink blend the trees.
For the snow I first used my anti-static pad, then covered the area in VersaMark watermark ink. I then applied a white iridescent puffy embossing powder from WoW! and heat set it.
The last foreground element to create was the little fox hiding behind the tree. This was also from the MMH kit.
Inspirational Post #535
Good day, fellow crafters. Today I present my latest inspirational post as a DT member of the My Time To Craft Challenge Blog. Our theme for this challenge, # 535, is "Camping". I am so glad I found this really cute stamp set from Spellbinders called Campfire Critters which were colored with Copic markers. The background panel was colored with Distress Oxides.
I hope you are inspired to enter this challenge and I can’t wait to see your creative take on this week’s theme. Be sure to tag me on your entry and/or comment below so I know to watch out for you. Remember Crafting is Happiness!
Inspirational Post #534
Good day, fellow crafters. Today I present my latest inspirational post as a DT member of the My Time To Craft Challenge Blog. Our theme for this challenge, #534, is "Super Cute". , which I feel appley describes my focal image. I had a lot of fun with this one. Be sure to see the second image for a close-up of the rain. We hope that you will join us.
I hope you are inspired to enter this challenge and I can’t wait to see your creative take on this week’s theme. Be sure to tag me on your entry and/or comment below so I know to watch out for you. Remember Crafting is Happiness!
This card was created by creating the night sky. I knew I was going to want to have nice bright full Moon, so using a circle stencil and some Distress Oxide in Mustard Seed, I ink-blended a circle. I next add just a touch of darker color in the center of the circle with just a little more pressure. Next I cut a piece of masking to fit over the Moon using the same circle stencil and covered up the Moon.
The next step was to use Distress Oxide in Chipped Sapphire to blend in the night sky until I was happy with the coloration. I then used more of the Mustard Seed to give a glow around the Moon. For the stars I used my misting spray and a very quick spritz to allow the ink to move and give the final look. Lastly, I removed the masking from the Moon and trimmed to final size.
For my grass mid ground, I used the torn edge technique to tear down a piece of green card stock, which provided a more realistic looking horizon line. After trimming to final size, I then adhered it to the background panel with liquid glue. Using a green Copic marker and a flicking motion I added blades of grass to finish it off.
For my foreground image I turned to Spellbinders and a set called Campfire Critters. I stamped each of the elements onto a white cardstock with black in and then they were colored with Copic markers. Once the ink was dry, they were fussy cut out and then adhered to the midground panel with more liquid glue.
The last step were to add the sentiment and assemble. The sentiment was was also from the Spellbinders set. This was done by stamping the sentiment in watermark ink, adding white heat embossing powder, and then heat setting it. I then adhered the the background panel to a black cover mat and then the composite was adhered to a white card base. With that, I called the card complete.
This card was created using a couple of my favorite sets. Starting with the focal image, which is a stamp set from My Favorite Things called Rain or Shine (BB-58), I used black ink on white card stock to stamp the image of the little girl and the puddle of water. These I then colored with Copic markers and allowed to dry. Next, I used a pair of scissors to fussy cut out the colored images and then set them aside.
The next step was to create the background panel. I did this by first using an ink blending brush and Distress Oxide in the color Weathered Wood, to get a bluish gray and dreary kind of color. I then allowed the panel to dry.
For the next step I turned to a stencil set from Altenew called Thunderstorm to create the falling rain drops. At first I was just going to use a gray ink and blend it in over the stencil. But then as I thought about that adorable smile on the little girls face I decided that she wouldn’t see the rain like that so I changed my direction.
For the rain I still used the stencil but instead of ink I turned to Glitter Glitz gel from Gina K. With a small pallet knife I spread a thin layer over the stencil and then carefully removed it. I then allowed the gel to dry thourghly. I felt that not only did this option fit more with my design idea but it adds a lot of texture and dimension to the card as well. You can really see what I mean in the close up on the left.
The next step was to create the sentiment, which also came from the MFT stamp set. This was down with VersaMark watermark ink, white WoW! embossing powder on black card stock and then heat set with a heat tool. I then used my Gemini and a label die to cut it to size.
Lastly, I trimmed down my background panel to its final dimensions along with a black mat, using my go to rectangular die set from Hero Arts. These were then adhered together with Barely Arts liquid glue and then the composite was adhered to a white card base. The focal image and the sentiment were then adhered to the background panel with more liquid glue. With that, I called this card complete.
Inspirational Post #533
Good day, fellow crafters. Today I present my latest inspirational post as a DT member of the My Time To Craft Challenge Blog. Our theme for this challenge, #533, is "Mother’s Day". Celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May. The modern American version of Mother's Day was first created by Anna Jarvis in the early 20th century. Jarvis campaigned to recognize Mother's Day as an official holiday after the death of her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, who had been a peace activist during the American Civil War. Ann Jarvis had organized "Mother's Day Work Clubs" to address public health issues and later "Mother's Friendship Day" to promote reconciliation between former Union and Confederate soldiers.
Anna Jarvis intended Mother's Day to be a day to honor the sacrifices mothers made for their children. She successfully lobbied for the holiday, and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating Mother's Day, held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honor mothers. However, as the holiday became increasingly commercialized, Anna Jarvis became disillusioned and spent much of her later life trying to remove it from the calendar.
Despite Jarvis' concerns, Mother's Day has grown in popularity and continues to be celebrated around the world, often with gifts, cards, flowers, and special meals. It is a day for personal reflection and celebration of maternal figures, making it a perfect occasion to send a heartfelt, handcrafted greeting card to express appreciation and love.
For every challenge we, as the design team, attempt to bring you themes and ideas that will test your abilities and, ideally, ignite your enthusiasm to explore fresh ways of thinking. However, what I like most about being part of the team is seeing how we each showcase our take on the theme and sometimes just what the card means to the creator.
I hope you are inspired to enter this challenge and I can’t wait to see your creative take on this week’s theme. Be sure to tag me on your entry and/or comment below so I know to watch out for you. Remember Crafting is Happiness!
Inspirational Post #532
Good day, fellow crafters. Today I present my latest inspirational post as a DT member of the My Time To Craft Challenge Blog. Our theme for this challenge, #532, is "Everything Dies" and rest assured we are only referring to your paper crafting dies. If however you want to make a sympathy card do feel free but make them with your cutting dies only.
For every challenge we, as the design team, attempt to bring you themes and ideas that will test your abilities and, ideally, ignite your enthusiasm to explore fresh ways of thinking. However, what I like most about being part of the team is seeing how we each showcase our take on the theme and sometimes just what the card means to the creator.
I hope you are inspired to enter this challenge and I can’t wait to see your creative take on this week’s theme. Be sure to tag me on your entry and/or comment below so I know to watch out for you. Remember Crafting is Happiness!
In designing this card I decided that since it is graduation season here in the US that I would create a card based on that theme. I first went through my paper collection where I found this awesome cap and diploma paper to use as the background panel. Next, Using my Hero Arts rectangular nesting die and my Gemini, I trimmed the paper down to its final dimensions. Then with a larger die from the same set I did the same with a metallic gold cardstock for a mat. This was a cover size mat for an A2 card base.
The next step was to create the focal image. For this I used a graduation set that I picked up from Globleand. This is a really good set of dies, having many poses and mix of genders for each. I wanted a traditional cameo silhouette so used black cardstock and then for the mat behind the silhouette I used the Spellbinders Flutted Classics Oval die set and white cardstock.
The last stage was to assemble the card. Using Bearly Arts liquid glue, I adhered the gold cover mat to the card base, followed up by the background panel, and then
finally the cameo focal image. With that, I called the card complete.
Note: To support the creation of more content like this, I've included affiliate links for some of the featured supplies. Utilizing these links won't incur any additional costs for you, but it does provide a small benefit to me, allowing me to continue sharing my work with you.
Inspirational Post #530
Good day, fellow crafters. Today I present my latest inspirational post as a DT member of the My Time To Craft Challenge Blog. Our theme for challenge # 530 is "Mixed Color Florals" and I decided to once again turn to Creative Expressions gilding flakes for my design. This card was made using the Summer Meadow flakes, which are gorgeous.
For every challenge we, as the design team, attempt to bring you themes and ideas that will test your abilities and, ideally, ignite your enthusiasm to explore fresh ways of thinking. However, what I like most about being part of the team is seeing how we each showcase our take on the theme and sometimes just what the card means to the creator.
I hope you are inspired to enter this challenge and I can’t wait to see your creative take on this week’s theme. Be sure to tag me on your entry and/or comment below so I know to watch out for you. Remember Crafting is Happiness!
To create this card, I first began with a piece of white cardstock and trimmed it down to size, followed by a kraft color mat 1/8” larger on all sides.
Next, I created the sentiment by using WoW! Copper embossing powder, VersaMark ink, a heat tool, and a sentiment stamp from the Gina K Designs Happy Bouquet stamp set. Once cooled, I adhered the background panel and the mat together and then adhered the composite to an A2 white card base.
The focal image was a Dollar Tree find that I had been looking for a good excuse to put into play. I love the look and feel of the leaves and petals of the flowers. With that, I called the card complete.
Once I had all of my elements I adhered them together on the background panel with some Barely Arts liquid glue. I then utilized my go to rectangular die set from Hero Arts to trim down my background panel to its final dimensions along with a black mat. These were then adhered together with more liquid glue and then the composite was adhered to a white card base.
The finishing touch was to add the sentiment, again from the MMH kit, using some black ink. With that, I called this card complete.
To create this card I first began by adhering some white cardstock to a sheet of double-sided adhesive. I then flipped the panel over and removed the adhesive backing. Next using Creative Expressions Summer Meadows gilding flakes I liberally applied them over all of the adhesive. It is very important that once you have it covered you burnish it to make sure all of the flakes adhere and no spot is left uncovered. I did this with my fingers over a paper towel so that I could collect anything that came off to reuse. DO NOT do this step over a silicone work surface as you will never be able to get it off in a usable state and your worksurface will be very hard to clean.
The next step was to use the Hero Arts Hearts and Blossoms cover die and my Gemini die-cutting machine to cut my image. I was already creating a different card with the entire cover plate so I decided to trim the image down to just the bloosoms.
Once that step was complete I trimmed a black mat down to match the dimensions of an A2 card base and then
adhered the cut-out to the mat with some Bearly Arts liquid glue. I then adhered the composite to the card base.
To finish off the card I used a sentiment die and shadow die from my Altenew collection, which after cutting and assemblying, I adhered to the card with liquid glue. With that, I called the card complete.
Note: To support the creation of more content like this, I've included affiliate links for some of the featured supplies. Utilizing these links won't incur any additional costs for you, but it does provide a small benefit to me, allowing me to continue sharing my work with you.
Inspirational Post # 529
Good day, fellow crafters. Today I present my latest inspirational post as a DT member of the My Time To Craft Challenge Blog. Our theme for challenge #529 is "Fantasy" and when I think of fantasy the first thing that comes to my mind are fairies. This led me to create this beautiful piece.
For every challenge we, as the design team, attempt to bring you themes and ideas that will test your abilities and, ideally, ignite your enthusiasm to explore fresh ways of thinking. However, what I like most about being part of the team is seeing how we each showcase our take on the theme and sometimes just what the card means to the creator.
I hope you are inspired to enter this challenge and I can’t wait to see your creative take on this week’s theme. Be sure to tag me on your entry and/or comment below so I know to watch out for you. Remember Crafting is Happiness!
To create these card I used various feminine colored cardstock from my collection as background panels. I then used a rectangular rounded corner die to cut each panel to its final dimensions as well as a corresponding black mat. I then cut, folded and rounded the corner of a white card base.
After setting those aside I took white cardstock and utilizing the Altenew Dynamic Duo Painted Floral Swag set, stamped out a lot flowers and leaves. I do mean a lot as I only showing the variations of colors not the final quantity created in the picture. Once that was completed I used the ink smoosh technique and my water brush to water color the flowers and leaves. These were then allowed to dry.
I next fussy cut out all of my pieces and adhered them to the background panels with Bearly Arts liquid glue. I then followed that up by trimming up the over hanging pieces and then finally adhered the background panels and mats to the card base. With that, I called the card complete.
To create this card, I began with a white Hammermill cardstock, ink blending brushes, and Distress Oxides in the colors of Prize Ribbon, Wilted Violet, and Picked Raspberry. The combination of these three colors and the addition of some white splatter make a beautiful setting sun effect which gives the next stage of creating the foreground silhouette more realistic.
The foreground was created using a combination of stamps. The first was from Simon Says Stamps called Wild Flowers (sss201998), which is a background silhouette stamp. I first aligned the paper in my Misti stamping tool, then aligned the stamp and inked it with VersaFine Claire Nocturne ink. I next stamped my images several times for a clean image transfer, reinking between stamp applications.
The fairy was from an unnamed Globleland set. It had several for me to choose from but I liked the idea of a nature fairy adding her magic to put the flowers to sleep for the night just like in the Disney Tinkerbell movies. I stamped her with the same ink and method as the foreground.
The last step was to use my Hero Arts rectangular nesting die set, to first cut the background panel down to its final dimensions and then I followed that up with a larger die and some more black cardstock to cut out a mat. I then used double-sided tape to adhere the background panel to the mat and then repeated the process to adhere the composite to a white card base. With that, I called the card complete.
Note: To support the creation of more content like this, I've included affiliate links for some of the featured supplies. Utilizing these links won't incur any additional costs for you, but it does provide a small benefit to me, allowing me to continue sharing my work with you.
Inspirational Post # 528
To create this card, I first began with a piece of 6” x 6” white cardstock, black ink, and the Composition Notebook stamp from Hero Arts. I positioned the cardstock in my Misti stamping tool, then aligned the stamp. I then inked and stamped the image. I repeated the stamping several times to be sure I got full coverage.
While the ink dried, I used some more white cardstock and black ink to stamp the sentiment, which came from the Hero Arts Composition Notebook messages stamp set. I then used a label die from the same set to cut out the sentiment, followed by adhering it to the background panel.
Lastly, I trimmed the background panel to A2 size and adhered it to a white A2 card base. With that, I called the card complete.
Sometimes, it's not just about the memories a card creates but the ones it brings to life. Like the classic composition notebook from many of our childhoods, these designs can evoke cherished moments and inspire nostalgia. As you craft, let these memories guide your creativity and keep your spirit of play alive.
To create this card, I first began with a piece of white cardstock, a cloud stencil from My Favorite Things, and the left over blue ink on my blue ink blending brush. Waste not want not! I wanted to create a very soft sky so I used a very light hand for that step. Next I used a sun stencil from Erin Lee Creative and left-over yellow ink from my yellow ink blending brush to give just a hint of a summer sun shining through.
The focal images were created from a really cute stamp set from Globleland, colored with colored pencil and some markers and then fussy cut out and set aside.
The next step was to create the sand. This was done by actually using a Sand embossing powder on white card stock. When it is heat set it looks and feels just like real sand. I then took a pair of scissors and gave it wobbly edge to break up the horizon line.
Lastly, all of the pieces were adhered together with liquid glue onto the sky background panel. This in turn was adhered to a white A2 card base. The sentiment, from the same stamp set, was then stamped with black ink. With that, I called this card complete.
This card’s focal image was created on a piece of white cardstock using a stamp from Woodware Craft (a subsidiary of Creative Expressions) called Sunflower Rays and black ink.
The next step was to add the color. If you know me and my work then you know what method I chose to do this….that’s right watercolor. Using the smooshed ink method, a little water, and the colors Clover (Lawn Fawn), Grrr!, Guppy, Slippery When Wet, Sike!, Fake Plant, and Lator Gator from Simon Hurley, I colored in the image. I then set it aside to dry.
Once dry, I trimmed the panel down to fit an A2 card base (4.25” x 5.5”). I then used the sentiment stamp that came with the stamp set, VersaMark watermark ink, and a copper embossing powder to create the sentiment.
Lastly, I adhered the panel to the cardbase with some Bearly Arts liquid glue. With this, I called the card complete. Sometimes the simpler the card the more it says.
Remember crafting is happiness!!
This card’s focal image was created using a piece of watercolor paper, the Pink Fresh Studio Infinite Blooms stamp set, my Misti stamping tool, and a black ink. I first aligned the watercolor paper in the Misti, carefully aligned the stamp, inked the stamp, and then with even pressure stamped the image. As per my usual method, I stamped the image a couple of times to ensure a crisp transfer. The watercolor paper was then removed and set aside to allow the ink to dry.
The next step was to use apply the color, and since I prefer the soft look of watercolor, I once again utilized the smooshed ink method to create my own pallet. The colors chosen were all from Altenew’s Crisp Ink line and the colors were Coral Berry, Cotton Candy, Sea Breeze, Moss, and Olive. With each color in turn I smooshed a bit of ink from the ink pad onto my glass mat and spritzed with water. Then using a water brush I picked up the pigment and carefully applied it to the image. The watercolor paper was then allowed to dry before moving to the next step.
Once dry, I utilized the corresponding die from the same
Good day, fellow crafters. Today I present my latest inspirational post as a DT member of the My Time To Craft Challenge Blog. Our theme for challenge #528 is to "Create your own backgrounds" and I did my best to deliver.
For every challenge we, as the design team, attempt to bring you themes and ideas that will test your abilities and, ideally, ignite your enthusiasm to explore fresh ways of thinking. However, what I like most about being part of the team is seeing how we each showcase our take on the theme and sometimes just what the card means to the creator.
I hope you are inspired to enter this challenge and I can’t wait to see your creative take on this week’s theme. Be sure to tag me on your entry and/or comment below so I know to watch out for you. Remember Crafting is Happiness!
To create the background panel for this card, I began with a piece of white cardstock, bubble wrap, and Distress Oxides in the colors Abandoned Coral, Uncharted Mariner, and Seedless Preserve. For each of the color layers, I dabbed the ink directly onto the bubble wrap and then misted the bubble wrap with water before applying the color to the cardstock. I then set the background panel aside to dry completely.
The next step was to create the party hat. To do this I chose to use a blue, a green, a black, and a pale yellow cardstock that I cut to shape using the Simon Says Stamp Party Hat die set, featured left. This die has three parts, the shadow (black), the tassel on top (pale yellow), and the outside of the hat (blue and green). I am making the distinction because the die that cut out the first two parts is self-explanatory however, to achieve the look of the various stripped hat you need to pay attention to which pieces are where on the die so that you can put them together properly. Once I had all of the pieces in the correct
orientation I adhered them together with Barely Art liquid glue and then set them aside to dry. I then used the same blue and green cardstock along with a more intense yellow to create streamers from the Simon Says Stamp Curly Streamers die set.
The next step was to create the sentiment. For this, I used the Catherin Pooler Party Word die set, featured right, with more of the same green and black cardstock. I adhered the letters to the shadow with liquid glue and set them aside to dry.
The last step was to use my Hero Arts rectangular nesting die set, to first cut the background panel down to its final dimensions and then I followed that up with a slightly larger die and some more black cardstock to cut out a mat. I then used double-sided tape to adhere the background panel to the mat and then repeated the process to adhere the composite to a pink card base. I then adhered the streamers with liquid glue to the background panel allowing for some overhang to provide visual interest. Finally, I adhered the sentiment to the card with more liquid glue. With that, I called the card complete.
Note: To support the creation of more content like this, I've included affiliate links for some of the featured supplies. Utilizing these links won't incur any additional costs for you, but it does provide a small benefit to me, allowing me to continue sharing my work with you.
Inspirational Post # 526
Good day, fellow crafters. I am thrilled to introduce my inspirational submission for the My Time To Craft Challenge Blog, challenge #526, “Hobbies” theme. The design challenge is to show off your hobbies, for me, outside of crafting there is nothing more that I like to do than to scuba dive. As a certified master diver I have dived in many places around the world and while the locations may change the peace I feel under the water never does. I have included a couple of pics of me from a dive at the Atlanta Aquarium where got to swim with a whale shark in the gallery below.
For every challenge we, as the design team, attempt to bring you themes and ideas that will test your abilities and, ideally, ignite your enthusiasm to explore fresh ways of thinking. However, what I like most about being part of the team is seeing how we each showcase our take on the theme and sometimes just what the card means to the creator.
I hope you are inspired to enter this challenge and I can’t wait to see your creative take on this week’s theme.
To create the background panel for this card I first began with a piece of homemade marbled cardstock. The technique to create this is really easy and produces some cool effects. You can use many different types of products to create it, like nail polish, or alcohol inks but I used a cheap acrylic paint from my collection. In the commercial world, they call this process hydro-dipping and generally use a pre-printed image that once put into the water the backing dissolves and leaves the image, then they slowly dip the item to be covered into the water which transfers the image. I carefully floated the colors I wanted on top of the water and then carefully dipped a white cardstock sheet into it. I then set it aside to dry.
After the panel was dry I used an unnamed die set from Globleland, featured left, to cut out my scene from black cardstock using my Gemini die-cutting machine. I then used Barely Art liquid glue to adhere it to the background. A word of caution, I usually use some of my acrylic blocks to weigh down my liquid glue adhere pieces and that works fine when the background panel is freshly made. If however you have had a panel that has been dry for a long time it is possible to get some cracking of the paint if you bend the cardstock very much.
I next aligned my background panel in my Misti stamping tool then used the Hero Arts Just Floating By stamp set, featured right, and some black ink to stamp my sentiment. While I would have liked to have a heat embossed sentiment on this card, the extra heat from the heat tool would not have interacted well with the paint. The last detail I added to the card was some mother-of-pearl flat-backed pearls to represent air bubbles.
The last step was to use my Hero Arts rectangular nesting die set, to first cut the background panel down to its final dimensions and then I followed that up with a slightly larger die and some blueish-purple cardstock to cut out a mat. I then used double-sided tape to adhere the background panel to the mat and then repeated the process to adhere the composite to a white card base. With that, I called the card complete.
Note: To support the creation of more content like this, I've included affiliate links for some of the featured supplies. Utilizing these links won't incur any additional costs for you, but it does provide a small benefit to me, allowing me to continue sharing my work with you.