A Tribute to Ground Espresso...

While I was away teaching over the weekend, the new Distress color Ground Espresso was delivered to my door.  After a few test swatches, I decided to create an entire project around it because quite honestly...I'm in love.  What a wonderfully rich, warm brown color to add to the color palette!  If your saying why do I need another brown? think again, you do...and this post will prove it!

I'm using one of my favorite 6.5 x 9" wood boards from Michaels for this project.  I find I use decor projects for Halloween more than cards, so I'm going that route today.   I added paper from the new Regions Beyond paper stash to the wood surface using Multi Medium.  I did add a layer of Multi Medium over the top of the paper to seal it.

Once dry, I swiped Ground Espresso Distress Paint on the edges of the surface, then wiped away as much as needed with a wet wipe.

I added bits of the Design Tape to the surface in random locations.  I covered it with Multi Medium to secure to the torn edges.  Then I went back and added more Ground Espresso paint over the bright tape.

Botanical Sketch

Hi everyone!
Hope you had a great weekend.  Mine was super busy but full of good times!

Today I am using the Botanical Sketch stamp set.  This stamp is BIG!  As you can see, one main stamp makes up almost the entire set.  It is also a little more expensive because it comes with a 5 x 6" acrylic Grid-Block, since most people do not have a stamping block that big!

I'm going to stamp the main botanical image onto Distress Watercolor cardstock (this surface is very important for today's technique).  There is so much detail in this stamp that you might think it would not emboss very well.

But it does.
Look at the detail once the image has been stamped with embossing ink and Super Fine Detail Embossing Powder has been poured over the image. 

 

Once the embossing powder has been melted and cooled, I cut an oval in the center of the card using the Sizzix Sized Ovals (medium).

Now here is where the Distress Watercolor Cardstock comes into play.  I'm using Distress Markers and a BROAD water brush.  I always seem to pick up the Detailer size, but today I'm using the wider and longer brush.  As you can imagine, it holds more water in the bristles.  But because I wanted a very fluid look to my card.  I had to squeeze water into the chamber a few times throughout the coloring process.
I picked 4 colors to work with - Fossilized Amber, Twisted Citron, Broken China, and Picked Raspberry.

I stared with Twisted Citron (on the right), then mixed TC and Broken China (on my craft mat) for a middle color, moving on to Broken China on the left.

As I continue to move clockwise around the card face, I added Fossilized Amber and then Picked Raspberry.

A little more Fossilized Amber above the Picked Raspberry and then the colors start over again.

Until I get all the way around the circle.

I like keeping it real here so I thought I would share my test card.  It is embossed just like the real card - I just didn't take the time to cut the oval in the center.  When I'm experimenting with a technique I like a test run.  You can see here that I started on the top right with just green and blue then moved clockwise, trying to add in the pink at the bottom. As I come around toward the top I finally decide to add the yellow as a transition color between the pink and green.  That works.  So I set aside the test run and move on to the real thing.

Even though I love the way the card front looked, it need a bit more detail.  I'm using an Industrial Sticker for the center.  I didn't want silver so I colored it with Snow Cap Alcohol ink.  The Mixatives take a little longer to dry that regular Alcohol Ink so just be patient and wait for drying between the layers.  It took about three layers to really make the silver disappear.

Once completely dry I sanded it very lightly, highlighting the raised dots and bringing back some of the detail I covered up.

Now for a center.
I am using Distress Watercolor cardstock again.  This time a mix of Fossilized Amber, Picked Raspberry and water to create small uneven stripes.

Then go back and pick up left over ink.

So either way...plain stripes or distressed stripes...you choose what works for you.

Now a sentiment - I decided to stamp with Staz-on onto thin plastic.  The word FRIEND is from the same stamp set.

I added the "hello" cut from a Remnant Rub sheet.

I gathered all the pieces and layered them onto Core'dination Kraft Core cardstock and a silver Deco Sheet.  I added foam tape to the back of the watercolor front so it hovers over the Deco Sheet. 

 I also punched a couple flowers (Mixed Media Cardstock) using one of the punches (Daisy) and colored them with Distress Markers.

 

As you can see, I added a Gumdrop to the center of the flower and a few punched Laurel leaves.

One of my favorite things is the stamped plastic that hovers over the striped card below.  It gives a a lot of dimension to the card front.

 Super happy with the final result. 

(please click on photo to enlarge)

I'm off to Burbank, CA tomorrow, where I am teaching at the "Ready, Set, Create" event that is going on Friday and Saturday.  Looking for to seeing the students and other teachers.  I have a couple of friends traveling with me to work as class helpers.  So I'm looking forward to a great girls weekend full of laughs and a little mischief (probably a little Target shopping too).
Hope your weekend is great too!
now carry on,
paula

InLinkz.com

Distress DIY Ink Pad

Hi everyone!
A super quick post today to share a few ideas about Distress DIY Ink pads.  The best news of all is that they are very easy to make (in fact quite additive).  Tim created a video back when the DIY ink pads came out - you can see that here to get started.
Today I'm working with the new Blueprint Sketch, Peacock Feathers, and Twisted Citron.  Killer combination right?

NOTE: to keep the color stable and vibrant on the paper label, rub Distress Micro Glaze over the top, then lightly buff away the excess (a little goes a long way).  Also, if you use a heat tool to dry your inked label, be sure to let it cool before adding the Micro Glaze, otherwise it can melt on contact (and no one wants that).

I decided I to use the beautiful Watercolor stamp set with the new ink pad.

I stamped each butterfly onto a piece of Distress Watercolor paper (smooth side).  What I wanted to show here is that even though the DIY Ink pad was created in "stripes" of color, the way you place your stamp on the pad, will determine the look.  You can see here that the butterflies were stamped so that the darker color is at the top, on the bottom, on the right, and on the left.  The butterfly on the top left was even inked on the diagonal.  So even though I used the same ink pad, each butterfly has it's own look. 

I sprayed the butterflies with Brushed Pewter Distress Spray Stain just to give them a bit of shine.

Once dry, I cut them out.

To make a card front for the butterflies, I decided to use watercolor paper for the background (because of it's weight it makes a great impression).  I'm using Snowflake Texture Fade.  Love when a die or embossing folder can be used beyond the season it was intended for!

I stamped a sentiment for the front of the card using the super cute Crazy Talk stamp set.

Then a little Crinkle Ribbon.  I used Blueprint Distress Stain to color the ribbon leaving some white areas.  Before drying the ribbon,  I dripped Twisted Citron re-inker to get a super intense green color intertwined with the Blueprint Sketch.

Put it all the pieces together on Core'dinations cardstock.

Then add butterflies.  I secured the butterflies with two small foam dots under each wing.

This may be the first card I have ever made that I did not use Distress Ink on the edges!  First time for everything I guess.  I am super happy with the coloring on the butterflies.

Loving the ribbon too.  I wish you could really see how vibrant the color is!  I've never dripped ink from a re-inker onto Crinkle ribbon before but it was fun and very effective to get a super intense color.

I hope today's post will give you a few ideas on using a Distress DIY Ink pad (or 10).  I know I will be making more, because with over 50 colors of Distress, the sky's the limit!

now carry on,

paula

InLinkz.com