GOOD EVENING FRIENDS! It’s been a beautiful day here in Maryland – temperatures in the 60s, a slight breeze, and lots of sunshine. The windows are wide open and the cats have been sunning themselves all day during their numerous naps. I stopped at a nursery earlier today and looked longingly at the spring flowers, but decided to hold off. I suspect that it’s still too soon to plant the flower boxes in front of the house, but the pansies were really tempting.
I’ve been working on organizing my craft supplies. When you live in a small house built before the invention of closets, organization is a serious challenge. I stopped at Dick Blick this afternoon and purchased a couple of Artbin containers for my Distress Inks, so for the moment they are suitably contained. But I put organization aside for awhile because I really wanted to get in some crafting time today. I’m a participant in the Altenew Educator Certification Program, but I’ve fallen behind for any number of reasons. So this afternoon, I turned off the phone, cleared off a spot on the dining room table, and got to work on a card to complete the Easy Ink Blending Techniques Class.
To create my card, I started with a panel of Neenah 80# cardstock and using my Misti, I stamped the floral image from the You Make Me Happy stamp set in a pale ink. I did this so that I would know where the embossed image would ultimately be placed. I also stamped the floral image a second time on masking paper and fussy cut the image. I placed the mask over the stamped image.
Using Purple Tape, I masked off the edges of the cardstock so that I could create an central focal point. Using the grid on my craft mat, I was able to make sure that the margins on each side were equal and the lines were straight.
Next I started ink blending the background, starting with the lighter colors first. In the bottom left corner, I blended Twisted Citron first and then added Tumbled Glass from the opposite corner. I deepened each corner with Mowed Lawn and Salty Ocean.
I removed all the masking for the initial reveal. I placed the panel back into my Misti and restamped the image with Versamark. I covered the ink with gold embossing powder and heat set the image. Then I stamped the sentiment from the Wish Big stamp set with Versafine in Onyx Black. I quickly covered the ink with clear embossing powder and heat set the sentiment.
Prior to assembling my card, I cut the panel with the a die from the Postal Stamp Rectangles set by Elizabeth Craft Designs. I glued a piece of craft foam to the back of the panel to dimension before adhering it to a panel of design paper and the card base. As a finishing touch, I scattered some sequins in a slightly studied and somewhat random manner. I’m still working on the random thing!
Hope you got some inspiration. Thanks for stopping by and I’ll see you again soon!
Disclosure: Below are the supplies I’ve used for today’s project. All items were personally purchased except those marked with an asterisk (*) which were provided by a store or design team. I never share a product I do not like. All opinions are my own. Read more.
Where available I use compensated affiliate links, meaning that at no cost to you I receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I use this money to support my blog. If you like my projects, please consider supporting me by clicking through these links when you shop. Thanks so much! Read more.
Supplies
Paper: Neenah Solar White 80# & 110#
Stamps: You Make Me Happy by Altenew; Wish Big by Altenew
Inks: Versamark by Tsukineko; Distress Inks in Mowed Lawn, Twisted Citron, Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean
Dies: Postage Stamp Rectangles by Elizabeth Craft Designs
Embellishments: Super Fine Embossing Power in Gold by Ranger; Fine Detail Embossing Powder in Clear by Nuvo; Sequins in Not So Heavy Metal by 28 Lilac Lane.
Great card Nancy!!! Love the idea of blending and then heat embossing. by the way… the “a slight breeze” was a 30 knot wind here in Annapolis!😆🌬
All these rowhouses make a great windbreak!
Congrats on your first submission! Thank you for adding the process photos, it really helps to see how the card was made. Love the placement of the sentiment stamp 🙂
I am so glad that you entered your beautiful work in the AECP assignment Gallery. Awesome details and design! Super work!
Just love this one!