Mix It Up Challenge Blog - Ink Smooshing

Welcome back to the Mix It Up Challenge!

GAH...I love ink smooshing...always have!! You, obviously, never get the same look twice; and you can do ink smooshing for so many things, not just backgrounds. I've used it for florals and have seen some really graphic florals stamped in black with just a smattering of ink smooshing, that's on my list to try!

I needed a birthday card for my boss and I always struggle with masculine cards, but I knew using ink smooshing would be a great start and this super fun birthday hat from Taylored Expressions was a fantastic focal image!

I used Distress Oxide inks for the background (salty ocean, twisted citron, mermaid lagoon, and peeled paint), splattered some Mermaid Lagoon oxide spray and watered down white gouache to the background. Set that aside to dry and worked on the birthday hat. I used the Create in Quads Birthday Layering Stencil for the hat (using the squares for alignment make it so easy), same 4 colors as well as TE Poppy Seed and Oyster. I then added the Splash stencil and inked with the same colors, die cut and added some frosted lace stickles and spread with my fingers. 😁

I mounted the base layer as well as the hat with foam dimension, added a layer of vellum in between the base layer and hat and mounted to a top folding Cookie Monster card. 

It's been awhile since I've sat down and just 'played'; I REALLY enjoyed creating, felt good!

So many of you joined us in our last challenge, hope you will join us again this time whether you create something with ink smooshing or as always, anything goes!!

Thanks for popping in; hope to see you again soon!

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps: TE Simple Strips Birthday

Inks: Distress Oxides, Versamark, TE Oyster and Poppy Seed

Papers: TE Cookie Monster, watercolor paper, vellum

Accessories: TE birthday hat die, create in quads birthday layering stencil, TE splash stencil, white gouache, Mermaid Lagoon distress spray, frosted lace stickles, TE simple strips die, white embossing powder

CHALLENGES:

Love to Scrap Challenge Blog - the gang is back!

Hi friends! I am so excited to announce the design team is B-A-C-K at Love to Scrap! It's always Anything Goes and we love seeing your creations!

This month, I'm sharing a Christmas card I created - sadly, I created it a few months ago, so let's see if I can test this 'older' memory and remember how I created it. 😁

The floral stamp in the background is Hope from Concord & 9th; I think it may be retired, but found it elsewhere. I used watercolor paper, spritzed the base image before stamping and then added the other layers full strength. 

I also stamped this Tim Holtz ledger stamp in multiple places. I added lots of sponging then tapped on some white gouache and Crankling Campfire distress spray. Finished it off with washi tape, an embossed sentiment on vellum, and lots of Doodlebug sprinkles.

The sentiment and die cut are from Honey Bee, Fa La La (retired).

Thanks for popping in; hope to see you again soon!

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps: Concord & 9th Hope, Honey Bee Fa La La, Tim Holtz Ledger

Inks: TE Inks, Distress Oxide Inks

Papers: Neenah 110 lb. white, watercolor paper

Accessories: Honey Bee Fa La La die, WOW embossing powder, washi tape, Doodlebug Sprinkles

CHALLENGES:

MIUCB - Fancy Fold

Oh guuuurrrrl, let me tell you...I am not a fancy fold kinda girl when it comes to making cards, but you know - sometimes you have to venture out. This one got a little crazy (clearly did not think it through 😰, but hey, I made it work)!!

Hope you will venture out and join us this month at Mix It Up where we are exploring fnacy folds and goodness, our design team has some great stuff for you!

I came across THIS tutorial and decided to give it a whirl! Oh...a whirl I did. 😂 I think I'll let the pictures tell the story. The top portion with the cool folds is clear acetate (hence what reminded me about hiding adhesive - HA) and the back two panels were smooshed with ink and water so they were not pretty either AND there really wasn't a place to write a message - hence, my whirly whirly whirl!!

Enjoy the photos!

The full card with all the fancy folds. ;) 

Yes, that's my nail peeking in to hold the card closed! 😂

The final card layer opened up

I was told the recipient likes palm trees, sunshine and anything water related so I went with my no fail stamp set & dies from WPlus9, Flock Yeah! All images colored with Copics.

Thanks for stopping by; I hope you will join us at Mix It Up this month!

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps: WPlus9 Flock Yeah, MFT Anything But Basic Birthday Wishes

Inks: VersaMark and VersaFine

Papers: TE Potato Chip, TE Heat Resistant Acetate, Neenah 80 lb. white and 110 lb. white, misc. designer paper

Accessories: Lawn Fawn liquid glue, WPlus9 Flock Yeah Dies, white gel pen, Trellis background dies 1 and 2, Copics, Distress Oxide Inks

CHALLENGES: 

Hello - Love You Lots

Hello - how are you doing? Still feels like crazy times; I read a note today that quoted Dr. Fauci as saying the coronavirus was his worst nightmare and it's not over yet - YIKES! It indicated since 're-opening' things, 21 states have had a spike in cases, so scary!

But I'm glad you stopped by, nothing scarey here! 😉 

This month at Love to Scrap, it's everyone's favorite - ANYTHING GOES, I hope you will take some time to join us!

I die cut and watercolored several of these Roses and Foilage from The Greetery and these were a handful I had left over from another project. Once adhered together, I added white splatters, then glue and sprinkled on some chunky glitter (idea taken from Kelly Lunceford; BTW, she makes me buy things ALL. THE. TIME. - LOL). I die cut two of the Nordic Frames to layer my florals onto. I then cut multiple hellos (TSM Stacked Hello) from Neenah 110 lb. card stock, lightly sponged the top layer with TE Cupcake ink then added some duo deco foil to the bottom half of the top hello, let it dry and adhered gold foil. The Love You Lots comes from Mama Elephant Organic Blooms.

Take some time, create, relax and then join the fun at Love to Scrap!!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Links provided within post.

CHALLENGES:

HB2U - For the Boys

Hey friends - how are you? I'm doing good, our company returns to the office June 1; here's hoping we do not have any issues, kinda scary! I would hate for the world to begin opening up and then see a spike in COVID cases.

This month at Love to Scrap, we are showcasing 'for the boys'; I am the first to admit, I am NOT good with masculine cards. Thankfully, Leslie was so sweet to bounce some ideas around with me and this card was born. Believe me, it had its challenges but I found a way to 'make it work' (said in Tim Gunn's voice - HA)!

I cut 4 squares from a piece of cardboard as my 'stencil'; then blended on various oxide distress inks and topped with this circle stencil and blended the same oxide inks in a heavier layer. While the stencil was still in place, I splattered with white ink; once dry, I stamped the images into the windows. This is a REALLY old Cornish Heritage Farm stamp set (sorry, I cannot find the set online anywhere...like I said, it's very old)! I stamped the images with VersaFine and doggoneit, if I didn't smear the one in the lower right hand corner. SO...time to figure out what to do! I die cut the square out and did the same thing on the inside, didn't add any splatters but I thought it turned out well!

The birthday sentiment (Gift Card Sentiments II) is from MFT and is stamped with the same distress oxide inks.

The sentiment on front was also stamped with VersaFine. Thanks for stopping by; hope you will join us this month, we love seeing your creations!

Hugs,

Various Links Provided Throughout Post

CHALLENGES:

Acrylic Block Stamping - MIUCB

Hi friends!! Hope you are all doing well; staying safe and healthy!

This month at the Mix It Up Challenge Blog, we have a fun one - ACRYLIC BLOCK STAMPING or as always, Anything Goes.

I wanted to try something different - not sure I LOVE it - but that's all in the learning process, #amiright?

I actually stamped the rainbows with an acrylic block colored with Zig Clean Clear Brushes and spritzed with water. The first one is basically the normal shades of the rainbow; the second one, I turned those colors 90 degrees - just for fun!

Both rainbows are spritzed with sheer sparkle (hard to see in the photos); and both are placed upon an acrylic block stamped using Distress Oxide Ink. This rainbow release from Taylored Expression is the bomb, I haven't even tried half the components, but can't wait! I love the sentiments that are meant to curve along the rainbow, perfect!!

Thanks for stopping by; I really cannot wait to see your acrylic block stamping cards - I hope to glean some ideas from YOU!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  TE Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Inks: Gina K Obsidian Black, Distress Oxide: Salty Ocean and Broken China

Papers: Tim Holtz water color, PTI Lemon Tart, Neenah 110 lb. white

Accessories: TE Over the Rainbow dies, TE Cloud Dies, sequins, acrylic blog, MFT Blueprints, fun foam, Zig Clean Color Brushes

CHALLENGES:

Reverse Confetti Butterfly Blossoms

Hi friends - hope you are doing well! Remember THIS card? I made this one at the same time in mint and teal; a pretty clean and simple (CAS) card. I colored the images with Copics and colored pencils. I used a piece of watercolor paper for the base layer and blended on Tumbled Glass, Cracked Pistachio, and a bit of Bundled Sage. The die is Watercolor Stripes from Altenew cut from Neenah 110 lb. white card stock.

I fnished the image off with lots of white dots and Nuvo drops on the flowers and card.

Thanks for stopping by; have a great day!!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  Reverse Confetti Butterfly Blossoms

Inks: Gina K Obsidian, Tumbled Glass, Cracked Pistachio, Bundled Sage

Papers: Neenah 110 lbs. white, Ranger water color card stock

Accessories: Reverse Confetti Butterfly Blossoms Confetti Cuts, Copics, Nuvo drops, Altenew Watercolor Stripes

CHALLENGES:

Pine Cones - pink!

Hi friends - how are you? Here's to a new week; I hope yours is great!

I mentioned last week how much I am loving The Greetery products. I made THIS card and during the same crafting session I made one with pink pine cones because WHY NOT? :D

The brown I used for the pink pine cones was probably a bit dark, but I still love it! Again, I used the Nordic dies in white card stock, embossing the sentiment in liquid platinum. The pink paper and ribbon was from my hoard, I mean stash. ;)

Thanks for popping in; hope you have a great day!!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  The Greetery Pine Blossom

Inks: Versamark, Distress Oxide Inks for shading of pine boughs

Papers: Neenah 110 lb. white, misc. deisgner paper

Accessories: The Greetery Pine Bough dies, Nordic Frames, liquid platinum embossing powder, white gouache, colored pencils, PTI kraft ribbon, corner chomper

CHALLENGES:

Just for You - Nordic Style

Hi friends - how are you?

I have fallen hard for many of The Greetery products! LOL This one is no exception and I love when Betsy does videos of the products, she always has such great tips and tricks! Like adding the 'color' to these kraft pine cones - looks beautiful (IMHO). I used all the Nordic dies either on white card stock, kraft, or designer paper; I turned the smallest die sideways, embossing the sentiment in liquid platinum and giving me a perfect spot to add the pine cones, pine boughs and branch.

I splattered on some white paint and went a wee bit overboard, but I still love it. I also did these pine cones in pink because why not? I'll show that card soon.

Meanwhile, thanks for popping in; hope you have a great day!!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  The Greetery Pine Blossom

Inks: Versamark, Distress Oxide Inks for shading of pine boughs

Papers: PTI Kraft (no longer in stock), Neenah 110 lb. white, misc. deisgner paper

Accessories: The Greetery Pine Bough dies, Nordic Frames, liquid platinum embossing powder, white gouache, colored pencils

CHALLENGES:

Snowy

Penny Black's Snowy has been my favorite snowman for years...and then they released a die and I'm still in love!

I enjoyed using distress oxide inks to blend a background and simply cut some snowbanks for little Snowy. The images were colored with Copics and colored pencils on watercolor paper. I stamped snowflakes in the background with Versamark then embossed greetings from Right at Home (Peace Love Joy).

I also splattered on some white paint and used a white gel pen to add decorations to the scarves, finished it off with some PPP Marshmallow Confetti Mix.

Such fun, colorful holiday cards!

Thanks for stopping by; have a GREAT week!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  RAH Peace Love Joy, Penny Black Snowy

Inks: VersaMark, Distress Oxide Inks: Black Soot, Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves, Broken China

Papers: Neenah 80 lb. white, PTI Black, Distress Watercolor Paper

Accessories: Penny Black Frosty's Snow Die, Gina K white embossing powder, PPP Marshmallow Confetti, Copics, Colored Pencils, Sharpie

CHALLENGES:

Love to Scrap - Anything Goes + DRS

Greetings friends!

Oh goodness, I had SUCH fun creating with this little giraffe from DRS Designs!! And they are offering you, our friends, a great deal! And, be sure to check out all the fun DT creations at the Love to Scrap Challenge Blog!

Sponsor: DRS Designs

Prize: 20% off online store purchase

I have to say though; I printed my friend on some paper...um, I don't know what KIND of paper (don't ask) but it wasn't the best for blending Copics at all - WHOOPS, but you know it's handmade, not the end of the world!

My daughter recently started assisting a family with 4 children from ages 11 to 1; the 1 year old has a b-day party this weekend and she wanted a card. I didn't have sequins or fillers for a 'boy' but as she said, 'he's one, he'll just enjoy the noise it makes when he shakes it'; true, true!

Thanks for stopping by; hope you will join us this month - we love seeing your projects!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE:

Stamps:  DRS Designs Jenny Giraffe, MFT Birthday Chicks (inside birthday sentiment)

Inks: Distress Oxides: Broken China and Salty Ocean

Papers: Neenah 80 and 110 lb. white, MFT designer paper (older)

Accessories: MFT blueprints, SSS Dots and Lines stencil, various sequins and drops, white gel pen

CAS Rainbow

Hi friends - super quick post for a pretty quick card!


Prior to my shoulder surgery, I took some time to just PLAY. I used the MFT Sun Rays Mix-ables stencil and some purple tape to section off each stripe and create a rainbow of sunshine! I sponged the colors darker towards the bottom and faded out towards the top. I added this fantastic sentiment from Penny Black, Faith. Once finished, I sprayed with glitter dust.

Thanks for stopping by; hope you're having a great week!!

Hugs,


WHAT'S IT TAKE:
Stamps:  Penny Black Faith

Inks: Various Distress Oxide Inks, Gina K Amalgam Black 

Papers: Neenah 110 lb.

Accessories: MFT Sun Rays Mix-ables stencil, iridescent glitter dust

Congrats!

Goodness; I feel like I'm shorter on time than ever before!! I bet you can relate eh?

I created this fun card for a dear friend that is going to be a grandmother for the first time; although I am 100% confident, she will NOT be called 'grandmother'; there are so many unique names out there now!

I die cut 3 circles out of Neenah 80 lb. card stock, and then lightly drew the pencils on to the front of the top folding card. I then stamped each image, masked them off and used a TE blender brush to add color. I stayed with a baby neutral color palette as this card was made before they knew the sex of the baby. I colored the images, added the sentiment and then mounted with foam tape. I added some fun paper to the inside, as well as some washi tape.

Thanks for stopping by; I always appreciate your visit!

Hugs,


WHAT'S IT TAKE:
Stamps:  MFT Adorable Elephants, Happy Hippos, WPlus9 Party Animal

Inks: Gina K Almagam ink, Distress Oxides: Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, and Twisted Citron

Papers: Neenah 80 and 110 lb. white, misc. designer paper

Accessories: washi tape, MFT stitched circles, Copics, sharpie, MFT Blueprints