Iris Folding

Iris Folding is one of the things I learned Saturday at our get together. This is a technique I have looked at but never tried. This is really relaxing and fun. Change the colors and get a different look. Thanks Dawn T.

Do you print and save things for later?

Well that's what I do. I have 10 binders full of techniques and photos of cards I admired. Of course its because someday when I have the time.........The last couple of days I have been sorting through 2 of the binders. I have a pile of I tried and liked it. A pile of things I really wanted to try and the pile that went out and was burned this morning. I've had the day off and took the time to try out a few of those saved ideas. Guess what I found. 2 more alcohol ink techniques. This one is really easy. On your craft mat take your Krylon gold leaf pen and make a few puddles.



Now add a couple drops of 3 colors and some Blending solution.



Mix just a little with a tooth pick.



Lay your glossy card stock face down into the inks and smoosh and twist in a circle. Lift up your card stock and this is what you get. Gorgeous.



Now you can stamp on it with your Archival ink.

Flower Pot cards

Saturday I was telling those ladies that were at our get together about these flowers that a friend, B-Jo, from another group had made with dryer sheets. As soon as I saw them I knew what I was going to do with them. Here is my card. They are really cute and work well for this card.



When I got home I starting searching on line for the flower directions I saw the other day for the punch I had just bought and came across this flower.



Can you believe this is the punch that made this.



I enjoyed myself this afternoon punching and putting them together. Here is my card.


They take just a few minutes to make and look great. I'm sure several of you out there will be getting this card for Christmas.

A little nature

Here are a couple of photos of a Sandhill Crane family that live in the cow pasture. Baby was born last month.

My last purchase

I bought these 2 stamps at the last get together at the Stamping Studio in Spring Hill. Today I sat down and tried different ways to color the image. My last try was with my Copics. They are the winner with Gamsol and Pencils coming in a close second. My new Martha Stewart Punch was a perfect match.

An acetate technique

As promised I'm back with a fun technique. You'll need a piece of acetate, tissue paper, reinkers and clear glue. Before I get started though I want to show you the card I made with one of those very cool carnations.

I'm going to try my Nestabilities scalloped circle die for the smallest circle. You would probably need less layers. I'll let you know if it works. Now onto the technique I'm going to show you today. Start out by stamping on the front of your acetate with a permanent ink. I used the Ranger archival jet black ink. Let this dry before moving on.



When dry turn your acetate over and using a clear glue make little puddles around the piece.



Now add drops of ink next to each puddle of glue.



Put on a rubber glove if you have a problem with inky fingers. Dab the inks & glue with your finger spreading the ink and glue all around the back side of your acetate.





Scrunch up your tissue paper. Flatten it out and smoosh on top of the ink glue mixture. Press all around to adhere the tissue to the acetate. My sample turned out way too dark so I have redone it without the brown colored ink so I suggest not using any dark colors.

Let this dry. Trim it up and add it to your card. I have backed mine with 2 different colors to show you the difference. First is white and the second is olive green. I decided on the white for my card. It looked so much brighter.



Here is my finished card and another one that I have made using Inkadinkado Stamps.

What a great day.

I have enjoyed my day off. I've continued to redo cards and I tried a few new techniques. One which I will take pictures and show you on Wednesday. I have a swap for July which calls for a paint chip. So went through my stash and found one card with a paint chip on it made way over a year ago. Here is how it looked.

Very plain so I moved my little lady up (Hero Arts), removed the green pearls, added black ones and a few more around the paint chip. Then I used a black glitter pen to add hilights to her hair. A white pen to add dots and hilights to the background paper. Embossed a dragon
(I Brake for Stamps) with gold on black glossy. Cut him out with a Spellbinder die and edged it in gold. Popped him up and then did some gold embossing on the inside(also from I Brake for Stamps).





I also watched a video from a ladies site I read from England. She had the little flower today that has been everywhere lately made with several layers of the SU scalloped punch. Hers had a little twist from the others and I really like it and think this is the best one. I've made 3 and will be adding them to a card soon. They look like real carnations. I did 2 variations. I will have to show you at one of our get togethers how to make them.

Card remakes

Have you ever looked at a card months after making it and decide to change it somehow? That's what I've been doing the last few days. I also am determined to decorate the inside of every card in my stash. Here are the fronts and the insides of a few.

My stamping Studio

I thought today I would show you where I stamp. I have been cleaning and rearranging. Took a desk out of the 3rd bedroom we don't use and got rid of the long table I was using. Took up a lot of room. My studio is where the kitchen table should be. Works for me. on the other wall is my sewing machine and you can see just the corner of my stove. I think I shall get to work now.