Technique Tuesday - Embossing with inked shadow

I started this card to be a tone-on-tone technique, then had a thought to add some embossing.  First, I stamped the flowers with coral ink on soft peach card stock.  It was pretty, but definitely needed more, so I took out my gold embossing powder.  I heat set the inked image so no powder would stick to it.  Then, I inked up the flowers with VersaMark, and added gold embossing powder.  I embossed the image over the stamped image, just a little off so that the stamped image would appear as shadows. The gold embossing really stands out. and this simple technique looks quite intricate.  I finished the card by sponging with coral ink over the embossed flowers, concentrating the color near the image. I finished it off with a stamped sentiment.  I ran a gold leafing pen along the edges of the stamped panel before layering.
Stamps are Penny Black, ink is Vivid Ink.  Both available online, gold leafing pen available at Joann Fabrics and Michaels.
This technique works best with solid style images, and works especially well with flowers, foliage, weeds, etc.  How about snowflakes?!  Think I'll try a winter one when I get home...check back later to see it.  Give it a try, and let me see what you come up with!

I've been in Buffalo, and will be heading home today, exhausted, but one very blessed nana.  Glad I have my notebook computer, so I can keep in touch and get my Tech Tuesdays out to you.  I worked on this one while I was home on Saturday, before heading back to Buffalo.  It's back to work for me on Thursday.  I'll miss the girls and Dan, but will be taking weekend trips back and forth, with the holidays and all.

Blessings and peace,
lynda

Christmas card for challenges

One more post tonight for a card I just finished for some challenges:
Basic Grey - WINGS http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/2010/11/challenge-33-wings.html
and
Penny Black at Allsorts - It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/
and
Our Creative Corner - 3D project - http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com/
and
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ 
Which is a sketch:

 

And, here's the card:

Penny Black stamps from 30-058 Jolly Friends, and 30-012 Bubbly.

Basic Grey papers from Wassail collection on background triangle pieces and border strips.

Colored with Tombow markers and Dove blender pen, glittered.  Martha Stewart snowflake border punch for snowflakes, then cut out of border.  EK Success border punch along striped border.

Distress inks for distressing edges.

That's it for tonight.  Getting up early tomorrow to start Christmas decorating!

Blessings,

lynda

Card for Basic Grey Wings Challenge

Just a quick post of a card for the current Basic Grey challenge, which is WINGS.  Here's a link to the challenge http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/2010/11/challenge-33-wings.html .  And here's my card (the background paper with the bird cages and birds is from the Basic Grey Porcelain collection):

I just love this paper, and the colors! 
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, end are enjoying the leftover turkey dishes!!
Peace and blessings,
lynda

Technique Tuesday - Using Crystals and Gemstones on Cards and Pages

Hello from Buffalo, where, believe it or not, it's about 55 degrees!!!!  Yep, it's almost Thanksgiving, and we're having early October weather.  Rainy, but mild.  It was a wet walk to the corner for Keeley's bus this morning, but we made a game of dodging the raindrops. 
I'm enjoying my time with daughter and family, especially the wee tiniest one, and, of course, her big sister.  Mom is doing better each day, and Kennedy is growing, and becoming extremely spoiled by her nana and papa!!  I'm having a really hard time letting her be and not holding her all day!!  Keeley is at school now, and Faith went to doc's get her stitches out (good thing I brought hubby along, cuz' I don't like driving on the skyline in Buffalo)!  I have the wee one to myself, and am taking a little time to do my Technique Tuesday while she is sleeping.  I'll be back to holding her sooooooon!!

One more week of "borrowing" techniques (even though they are techniques I use), while I'm in Buffalo helping daughter with her new bundle and her 5 year old big sister.  I love crystals and gemstones, and use them on almost everything.  Here's a video by Nancy Taylor from the Hero Arts blog, which shows some ideas on using these little embellishments on you cards and scrapbook pages...here' the link http://heroarts.com/learning/technique.cfm?techID=183 .

Here are some of my cards and pages using these techniques:

 There you have some of my cards and pages that use crystals and/or gemstones/pearls.  As far as Nancy's techniques for lifting and attaching the gemstones, I love the idea of using the craft knife.  I usually use my tweezers, but I am going to give the knife a try.  Also, I have some crystals with no sticky back.  For those, I use the glue pen, put down a tiny puddle of it, then lift the crystal onto it.  Works like a charm!
That's it for this week.  I hope to be back on schedule after next week, once mom and baby and family are settled into routine and stronger.
Blessings & peace,
lynda

Technique Tuesday - Perfect bow for cards and scrapbook pages

As many of you know, hubby and I have been in Buffalo, becoming nana and papa for the second time.  Our daughter, Faith, had her second little girl on Monday.  Kennedy Grace was born at 10:03 AM Monday, weighing 7 lbs, 3 oz, 20 inches long.  She is a precious little angel, and the perfect little sister to Keeley Ryan, and beautiful addition to our family.

Tearing myself away to come home tonight was very difficult, indeed, but I have to go back to work tomorrow.  I will be going back to Buffalo next week, for the entire week, so that I can help my daughter, since my son-in-law has to return to work on Monday.  Faith had to have a C-section, so will be unable to get Keeley to the bus stop and do many of the things a new baby and 5 year old demands.  It will be a wonderful Thanksgiving.....one which we truly have much to be grateful for!!

 Since I was otherwise detained these past few days, I am cheating this week for Technique Tuesday.
 I borrowed it from a blog called Stamping 411.  It features a really pretty flat rhinestone centered bow, which is ideal for cards and scrapbook pages.  I really like the look of this bow, and plan to use this on my future projects.  Here is the link to the post with full directions and pictures: http://stamping411.blogspot.com/2010/05/how-to-make-rhinestone-brad-bow.html .

And this is the beautiful bow:

And, of course, what kind of Nana would I be if I didn't have some pictures to share with you...so, here are pics of my new, beautiful granddaughter, Kennedy Grace:

 The above were taken right after she was born.  The next one was taken today, just before we left to come home.  Notice the bow already~! 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  I'm working on a technique for next Tuesday from a request from one of my blog readers.  If you have any requests, I will be happy to try to show the technique here.

Blessings from one extremely blessed and happy grandma (and tired)!
lynda

Technique Tuesday - My Christmas Card

Yep, I finished my Christmas cards!!!  I know, I can't believe it myself.  I wanted to get them done before # 2 grand baby arrives, so I got to work early.  It helped to get together with friends to work on them.  Makes all the repetition of making the same card over and over a little more fun.  I even got the envelopes addressed and ready to go.  I left them open so I can add a little note.  So, that's one less thing to have to do when I get back from Buffalo, where I'll be spending several days with my daughter and her family, helping Faith with the new baby.  In case you haven't heard, it's a girl, and she is coming on Monday!  Can't wait to meet this precious little one!

Anyways, here is my Christmas card:

And the inside:

The stamps are Penny Black.  The ribbon is from Michael's, and the inks are Ranger's Distress Inks. 
Here are the techniques I used:
I inked the poinsettia with three colors of distress inks, starting with antique linen, inking the entire stamp.  Then I added old paper around the outsides of the petals and a little inside, by using the corners of the pad.  Finally, I used the ink blending tool to add a little vintage photo to the centers and around the edges.  I also added some shabby shutters ot the stems and leaves.
Then I spritzed the stamp with a fine mist spritzer with water and stamped onto ivory card stock.
The phrase stamp is all one stamp - I masked and inked the first part, removed the mask, and stamped it on the front.  Then, I masked that part, inked the rest, and stamped it inside.
The edges of the inside and outside of the card were done with the ink blending tool and distress inks.  To achieve a soft, blended look, simply start off the paper, and using circular motion, blend from off the paper onto it, using less and less pressure as you get toward the center of the card.
A couple of copper brads added a little dimension.
That's it!
For me, it was VERY difficult to not keep going and adding more to the card.  But I decided to keep it clean and simple, something which is not easy for me.  I think the simplicity, however, adds to the powerful message I wanted to highlight.
Each year, I choose a theme for the year, which I introduce with my Christmas decor and cards.  My theme this year was "peace," which I introduced with my cards and Christmas decor last Christmas.  My 2011 theme is "hope," and my card reflects that theme, as will my decorations. 
I try to develop the theme throughout the year, by reading about it, living it, and promoting it during the year. 
We already have a jump start on next year's theme, I think, with the new life that is soon to be part of our family! 
I'll keep you posted!

Blessings and peace,
lynda

Technique Tuesday - Background Resist Embossing

I really love the Tim Holtz distress inks.  The ink blending tool has opened up so many ways to use these inks, and have made it easy to achieve professional results with minimal practice.  I have used these inks and tools in many of my technique articles, as they lend themselves to various uses.  Today, I am using the inks/tools in a much different way than previously.

I call this the background resist embossing technique.  It is basically a clear embossed image over a stamped background, creating a resist. Then, distress ink is applied, revealing the image in a dramatic way.  Instead of applying ink from the outside and working in, as in many techniques, the ink is applied to the center of the image and gradually fades out.  Here are the cards, along with directions (a link to Gina Krupsky's blog and YouTube presentation follows):

Here's how it's done:

• Stamp background with distress ink - a word or music background is especially good for this technique.  Be sure the image is dry before the next step.  
• Clear emboss image over the stamped background.  I use an anti-static bag on the card so the embossing powder only sticks to the stamped image.  Be sure image is completely cool before next step.
• Ink the ink blending tool with same color of distress ink as you stamped the background in.  Start applying ink heavily from the center of the stamped image, and working out.  Use circular motions with the tool.  Re-ink and re-apply until desired intesity is achieved.  The image will pop out.  It should be dark in the center, and fade out gradually.
• Use a paper towel or tissue to wipe any ink from the embossed image.
• Finish card as desired.

I found this technique, by Gina Krupsky, on the Gina K Designs blog.  Here's a link to the YouTube video:  http://stamptv.ning.com/video/emerging-leaves?xg_source=msg_mes_network .

Tim Holtz (Ranger) distress inks and the ink blending tool can be purchased at Michaels and AC Moore, and various internet retailers.

Enjoy!

lynda