Violin Card

Picked up this pretty Crafters’ Companion Violin Solo stamp set from Tuesday Morning awhile ago with someone special in mind. My very best friend, who I’ve known since kindergarten, played violin all though grammar school. Music has filled her whole life since, through guitar playing, singing groups, and community theater.

So, given her birthday and Valentine’s Day are near, I started this card. I pulled out 3 of my new Magical pigment powders from this Lindy’s Stamp Gang set. I started by spraying watercolor paper with water and sprinkling on the powder, spritzing again if globs formed. I kept at it till I was happy with the colors. 

I then stamped the violin on watercolor paper using Antique Linen Distress ink. Using the first paper as a color guide, I painted the violin and flowers with my Schmincke watercolors, drying in between layers. I then took out a few Prismacolor pencils and added some more depth of color and evening out of tones. I used a black Sharpie in spots, and called it done.

I then grabbed a Stampendous Ledger Script stamp and added brown script marks to the first colored paper using brown Versafine ink. I then used black ink to add notes from the stamp kit. I die cut that paper with a Heffy Doodle oval die and inked the edges. I also die cut a smaller oval using black paper. I created a wash on the leftover piece of watercolor paper and sprinkled a little of the powders on it. I then stamped the sentiment of the kit on that and cut it down. I backed the sentiment with black paper.

I fussy cut the violin out and die cut a coordinating piece of patterned paper out of Stamperia’s Time is an Illusion paper. Using a Kraft card base, I pulled the card together, embellishing with black thread and enamel dots.

Hope she enjoys the card and the memories. Till next time, happy crafting!

Hand Painted Card

Hello, fellow crafters! I was browsing through an old Daphne’s Diary magazine and cutting out pages of interest, when I was drawn to a particular page. I had an urge (gotta follow those when they strike) to try my hand at replicating the watercolored leaves. So, I pulled out my Schmincke watercolors, a small piece of watercolor paper and tried painting free hand the leaves. When I was satisfied I had a good first layer down, I changed over to a smaller brush and sat down to add more detail and to clean up lines. This is where I stopped water coloring:

I then pulled out some Prismacolor pencils and tightened up a bit the edges and colors. I also used a white gel pen to add lines, shading a bit around them. Here’s where that effort ended up:

I then looked for how I could make it into a card and decided to create my own background first doing a watercolor wash on the same type of paper using a few of the colors from the painting. I then pulled out 3 different Stampin up green inks and the Infinite Birthday Wishes stamp from Unity Stamp Co. I then stamped the image using all 3 colors for interest. 

Using Brutus Monroe’s Espresso Coffee powder, I embossed a sentiment, from the Include Yourself in Beauty kit from Unity, onto vellum. I then cut down and backed both, a little offset, with shiny glitter paper from DCWV. I then cut down special textured brown paper from a prior Whit Kit for backing of both pieces.

I mounted everything on a brown card base, added fussy ribbon and brown Crystal dots.

Pretty pleased with how this birthday card turned out. Hope you like it. Till next time, happy crafting!

Sentiment Says it All

Hello! Well, I am starting back crafting at a slower pace. Turns out I didn’t need carpel tunnel surgery, so I got an injection instead and decided to rest my aching hands and wrists by taking a break. I have compression at the elbows, so I’ll also have to watch that (numbness in pinkie fingers).

So, this card says it all for me for a variety of reasons. Clearly, 2021 started off not so great... but let’s still hope for new beginnings with a change of leadership. Also, speaks to my crafting efforts. Hopefully, starting fresh here with rested limbs. And, met a very old friend online, a friendship which ended painfully decades ago, now restarting anew. Finally, with Covid vaccinations on the rise, unfortunately, we will continue to experience high levels of loss, a very painful ending to a horrific pandemic with a glimmer of light ahead.

So... here’s to new beginnings... cheers! To start off this card, I stamped the image from Your Life is Your Story using Antique Linen Distress ink onto watercolor paper. I then used the Nuvo watercolor pencils from this months January 2021 Whit Kit and a few pens and pencils to add color to the image. I spritzed the card with watercolors and Brea Reese Yellow Glitter ink. Finally, I stamped the sentiment with Simon Says Stamp black ink.

I die cut the paper using a Memory Box die, added twine, K&C paper and shiny paper dots to complete this simple card. Thanks for stopping by, and happy crafting!

Unity’s Last SMAK kit, New Year New Chapter

Created another tag using the 12/20 SMAK, New Year New Chapter. This heart stamp is so big, I can’t even get it on a giant tag. I used an 8 1/2” x 4 1/8” manila tag. 

I started by using a brayer and red acrylic paint to unevenly coat the tag. Then I used a stencil and an alcohol wipe to clear off some of the color. I then reused the stencil to add white marks. I used another stencil to add black marks. I then black embossed the heart image and used the alcohol wipe, white stenciling and a layer of white acrylic paint to lighten the inside of the heart image. I also used Posca pens to accentuate the image.

Wanting to play more, and given some recent news, I decided to add white paint drips and then replaced the white with black paint drips from the top and the bottom, signaling a few tears. Because of arm pain and a herniated disk in my neck, I had a nerve conduction test last week. I’ve also been diagnosed with severe carpel tunnel in both wrists. Clearly, not a major issue, thank goodness, but given my strong need to craft, I was very bummed. Seeing a doctor this week, but it’s clear I will need the procedures to fix both wrists and I’m sure recovery will take a bit. Good news is, hopefully, my hand will stop going numb while painting!

So, going back to the tag today after resting from the blog hop, I decided to add dots from a stencil using modeling paste and just random dots all over with the Posca pen. Wanted to brighten the whole piece. I had originally adhered a black stamped on white card stock sentiment. I decided to change that up by embossing with red and pink powders the sentiment on black card stock.

To complete the tag, I added ribbons and twine. I’m much happier the darker tag was lightened with white. There is so much that can be done with this kit. Unfortunately, I will have to pace myself going forward until I’ve recovered from surgery. I don’t want to incur any more muscle damage.

Word of warning to fellow crafters: read your body and take heed of signals. I know my IT career is probably a big reason for my problems, but crafting too is an issue. Ever since I broke my wrist 2 years ago, I’ve been in pain. I first thought it was arthritis in my fingers, then the break, then my shoulder, then my neck. In reality, it’s all of those plus carpel tunnel. Don’t give up identifying issues. And address them as soon as you can! 

Thanks for stopping by and till next time, happy crafting.

Friends of Unity January Blog Hop

Welcome back to another blog hop of the Friends of Unity group. We are starting off 2021 (it’s finally here, thank goodness!), with a Black and White theme, always a challenge. As a reminder, to be eligible to win Unity stamps, you must leave a comment on each blog in the hop! 

As a matter of fact, I’d like to announce my winner from last month! Congratulations,

Becca Yahrling!

Please PM me with your address and I’ll get out your kit!

So this month, I have 2 ideas to share! First, I used the Array of Fall kit and December 2020’s Uniquely Unity kit, Take a Break, to construct the first card. I white embossed the flower array onto black card stock. I then re-stamped it using grey archival ink on watercolor paper and watercolored several flowers. I fussy cut those out and mounted them using foam tape on the embossed flowers. I black embossed the sentiment on white card stock. I backed that with black paper, cut holes on the corner and threaded striped twine through the holes, attaching in the back. To finish, I just added back crystals and white pearls.

I made a large tag for the second idea. I used the December 2020 SMAK kit, New Year, New Chapter... so sad it’s going away. The heart in this kit is beautiful and massive. I took a black tag and used a roller haphazardly to add a glossy white acrylic paint to it. I then grabbed some stencils and first using an alcohol wipe removed the paint behind the stencil. I then used the stencils again and the black paint to add darker impressions. Finally, I black embossed the large heart. I proceeded to play with Posca pens adding outlines and lightening areas. Finally, I white embossed hearts from the kit all over. I black embossed the sentiment on the bottom and just stamped the one on the top, outlining both afterwards. I darkened the tag edges, added crystal hearts, ribbons and twine, and metal pieces. I’m not as confidant about this one, but I think the ideas have merit. 

Thank you for stopping by and remember to comment before you leave! You should have come from:

Dawn’s

But, next stop is:

Amber’s

If you want to start from the beginning, head to:

Crystal’s

Enjoy!