Stone Fish Crosses

I sure hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! I created this card today using the faux bleach technique, where I stamped the stone fish image with versamark in and heat embossed it with clear EP. I then used three different alcohol inks to create the background. Finally, I pressed the image with a warm iron, to remove the embossing powder to leave just the white portion of the image...giving it a bleached look!

To finish off the card, I added the cross in the background created with some SEI DP. I also created a ruffled ribbon with some Teal Grosgrain ribbon from the Really Reasonable Ribbon Store! Finally, embossed the base copper panel with a Tim Holtz embossing folder and added four half backed pearls from Ava Creative colored with copics.

Thanks so much for visiting today! Have a wonderful day!

Connie

Card Details:

Images: Stone Fish - ODBD

Inks: Alcohol inks, embossing powder

Paper: Taken with Teal, Copper Paper, SEI DP, Glossy White

Accessories: Iron, Clear EP, Tim Holtz embossing folder, Ribbon from the Really Reasonable Ribbon Store, Half Backed Pearls - Zva Creative

ODBD Release day Blog Hop!!

WOW!!! Can you believe it is December 1st!!! Only 24 more days 'til Christmas...are you ready??? I sure am not! LOL!! Since it is the first of the month, that means one thing...an Our Daily Bread Designs new release and blog hop!!

If you arrived from the ODBD BLOG, then you are in the right place...if you just happened on my blog but did not start at the ODBD Blog, you really should go there and start from beginning, so you can collect all the secret words words hidden along the hop! You will need to collect the words along with the name of each Designer. Then return to the ODBD Blog and leave a comment that you have visited and commented on all the blogs. You will then be given a special email address where you need to email the collected words and the DT member connected to each word! That's all you have to do for the chance to be one of TWO lucky winners who will have their choice of one free set! Winners will be chosen by Random from the correct emails received by Dec.2, 8PM EST.

Now on to my cards for you today:

First up, I have used the Peace and Joy set...LOVE the snowflake images in this set...just sooo beautiful, and imagine how excited I was to realize that the smaller image fits wonderfully in one of the dies in Spellbinder's Create a Flake 1 set!! When I first saw this set I immediately thought of doing a suspension card with this snowflake...so very fun!! I embossed the snowflake (and the sentiment with a mixture of white embossing powder and dazzling diamonds. I then added some rhinestones to the snowflakes to add a bit more bling! I then paired this snowflake with some SEI Winter Glitter Land DP. To finish off the card, I added some white satin ribbon.

My second card uses the His Gift set. WOW...talk about an amazing poinsettia image! For this card I decided to try one of my favorite techniques...Faux Bleaching. I heat embossed the image on glossy card stock with clear EP. I then sprayed some Tim Holtz Ranger Ink Red Pepper and Bottle color wash over the image (if you do not have color washes, this technique also works with alcohol inks). Once dry, I placed my image in between two pieces of copy paper, and iron the image with my craft iron. The heat melts the clear EP and give the image a bleached look!

To finish off this card, I added some red satin ribbon, Tim Holtz metal corners, the sentiment (which is from the Peace and Joy set), and dry embossed the green background with the Holly Ribbons cuttlebug embossing folder.

I hope you have enjoyed my cards today. Now from here you need to go visit Sandee's blog! However, before you go... my secret word is "All". Be sure you are keeping a list of all the DT Names so you can write their secret word next to them and email that to the address given on the ODBD Blog at the end of the hunt! You have until 8 PM EST on Wed. Nov. 2nd to email the secret word each designer had! Remember...TWO LUCKY WINNERS will receive their choice of one FREE set!

I hope you have a wonderful day and a blessed December!!

Connie

Card 1 Details:

Images: Peace and Joy - ODBD

Inks: Versamark

Paper: Whisper White, Taken with Teal, SEI DP

Accessories: Circle Punches, Dental Floss, Create a Flake 1 Spellbinders Die, White EP and Dazzling Diamonds, White Satin Ribbon, Heat tool

Card 2 Details:

Images: His Gift - ODBD

Inks: Versamark

Paper: Glossy White, Real Red, Handsome Hunter

Accessories: Clear EP, Tim Holtz Ranger Ink Color Washes, Craft Iron, Heat Tool, Red Satin Ribbon, Tim Holtz metal corners

Butterfly Birthday!!

Happy Kitchen Sink Monday!! This is a special week in our household...my DD is turning 6 on Wednesday, so I decided to make a birthday card for her. She LOVES purple, and she LOVES butterflies, so this is what I came up with.

The sentiment and flourished background panel were created with the faux bleach technique. I stamped the images in versamark and heat embossed with clear EP. I then inked the glossy white card stock with some Tim Holtz Alcohol inks by Ranger Ink. Once the ink was dry, I ironed off the clear embossing between two pieces of copy paper. Which then gives you the bleached effect.

The butterflies were stamped in pretty in pink and pale plum, cut out and popped up on dimensionals. To finish off the card, I added some pale pink ribbon and some pink bling (what little girl does not like satin ribbon and bling!!) :)

Please head on over to see all the other creation the Crew members have created week for you!!

Maria Colosimo - Owner

Dee Jackson
Maki Jones

Angela Knopf

Julie Masse

Lynn McAuley

Lisa Somerville

Lori Tecler

Also, don't forget about the on going 10% off your purchase at the Kitchen Sink Stamps Store. All you have to do is use the promotion code of CONNIE10KSS. How fun it that! Gotta love a discount!! Thanks so much for visiting today!! Have a great week!

Connie

Card Details:

Images: 3 step Butterflies, Whole Family

Paper: Mellow Moss, Glossy White, Old World stack DP, White

Inks: Tim Holtz Ranger Alcohol Inks - Cranberry, Meadow, Eggplant; Versamark, Pale Plum, Pretty in Pink

Accessories: Pink Gems, Pale Pink Ribbon, Clear EP, Heat embossing tool, craft iron

SC224 & CTD38 - Faux Bleached Nature

Okay, I decided to try the color throw down challenge for the first time today, and also combined it with SC224 from SCS. Today's throw down challenge was ruby red, baja breeze and going gray...very fun!!

I got this inspired by nature set from SU's convention last year and really have only used it a few times, so I decided that today was the day to pull it out again. I also thought this image would be a perfect to use with one of my favorite techniques...faux bleaching. There is a great tutorial for this over on SCS, but I decided to make a little tutorial for this card today using SU reinkers instead of the Adirondack Color Wash used in that tutorial (mainly because I don't have any of those...yet, LOL!!).

First emboss your image with clear embossing powder. I had to laugh at my self when I stamped my images with my versamark...they came out a yucky tan color...looks like it is time for me to get a new one! However, that yucky color made it easier for me to take a picture for you to actually be able to see the versamark. hehehe!

Once the image is heat embossed, mix a few reinker colors with a little bit of water in a small misting bottle...the less water you use the more vibrant the color will be. Then spray the reinker/water mixture directly over your clear embossed images (blotting off any excess ink if needed).

When your image is slightly dry, sandwich it in between two pieces of copy paper and iron with your craft iron. You can see from this picture, that after a bit, the clear EP is transferred onto the top piece of copy paper.

Now you have completed the technique and are ready to put it on your card. Pretty simple, just lots of steps! :)

To finish off my card, I stamped the grass images on the baja breeze base, sponged the edges, and then layered some Urban garden DSP and going gray card stock that was both punched with the SU eyelet border punch. Next, I punched two slits on either side of my image, and added some riding hood red taffeta ribbon. Finally, I added the sentiment on the corner with my small, large and scalloped oval punches.

Card Details:

Images: Inspired by Nature, Fancy Flexible Phrases

Paper: Baja Breeze, White, Going Gray, Urban Garden DSP

Inks: Ruby Red and Baja Breeze reinkers, Baja breeze, Going Gray, a very dirty versamark :)

Accessories: Slit Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Riding Hood Red Ribbon, Sponges, Clear EP, Heat Gun, Craft Iron, Mini Misting bottles.

TLC206 - Recessed Frame with ISC Delicate Roses Sneak Peek!

I made this card for TLC206 - Recessed Frame technique. You can find some quick direction on how to do this technique here.

To create this card, I used a new set available February 9th from Innovative Stamp Creations called Delicate Roses. Let me tell you, this is one BEAUTIFUL stamp sheet! I created framed background rose images with one of them stamps from this set. For the background, I did the faux bleaching technique by embossing the rose image with clear embossing powder, and then I took some alcohol inks and dabbed them all over the image. I then placed the image between two pieces of copy paper and used a craft iron to iron off the embossing, and create the bleached look.

I then finished off the card with this wonderful sentiment punched with SU's large oval circle and designer label punch. I also sponged the edges of both the sentiment and the pink pirouette frame around the image with some bravo burgundy ink.

I have to say, I not only *heart* this new stamp sheet, but I also *heart* this fabulous recessed frame technique! It really adds major dimension to your card, however, I would save it for a card that you can hand deliver since the recessed portion of the card would most likely get squished in the mail.

Card Details:

Images: Delicate Roses - ISC

Paper: Pink Pirouette, Bravo Burgundy, Whisper White, Glossy White

Inks: Alcohol Inks, Bravo Burgundy

Accessories: Bravo Burgundy Ribbon, Designer Label Punch, Large Oval Punch, Craft Knife, Scor-Pal

CC202 - Always Thankful

I made this card for CC202 - Kiwi Kiss, Bravo Burgundy and Regal Rose. Yes...the regal rose IS there, there is just very little of it, and it is sponged with bravo burgundy! LOL!!

I decided to try my hand at faux bleaching too. To create the faux bleach look you can check out the tutorial over on SCS. For the faux bleach on my card, I used images from Innovative Stamp Creation's Minibook Series: Be Thankful. I embossed the images with clear embossing powder. I don't have any color wash like she used in her tutorial so instead I used some alcohol inks (current and lettuce). Once I added the inks I then placed a piece of copy paper over the image and ironed it with a craft iron. The look you get is a bleached look. Very fun!!!

I then sponged the edges with bravo burgundy and distressed them with a Tim Holtz distressing tool. I finished off the card with some kiwi kiss satin ribbon in two of the corners.

This faux bleaching technique was really fun, I will definitely be doing it again!!

Card Details:

Images: Be Thankful - ISC

Paper: Bravo Burgundy, Kiwi Kiss, Regal Rose, Glossy White

Inks: Alcohol Inks, versamark

Accessories: Clear EP, distressing tool, kiwi kiss ribbon sponging