Thursday, March 15, 2012

Button Buddies

I love Button Buddies, it is such a versatile set that can be used for birthdays, welcome of baby, Christmas, thank you and so much more . . .
The vase with flowers looks great when you add the SU flower buttons
As does these gorgeous flowers - with a little twine and a torn edge for texture
This idea was cased from Ailsa, a fellow demonstrator who does the most gorgeous work
We also played with bubbles together...perfect plum begged for the pigs once again.
This gorgeous idea with the snail was cased from the SU Demonstrator ideas site.  I love this card.

A wonderful group of ladies from Brisbane visit every few months for a day of craft.  This time the ladies brought along their children - of all ages... This is what they created wth the Button Buddies set.
A selection of cards from a workshop I held recently.
I love the different looks, and hope these ideas inspire you to include buttons in your card and scrapbook creations.




Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Backgrounds - Bubbles

Now this is a HUGE amount of fun LOL, and the kids (of any age) will join you.  I cannot tell you how much I enjoy making this card, and my gorgeous son loves it too.

Bubbles are coloured with Perfect Plum and the pigs are stamped in Choc Chip and Perfect Plum.
Materials :- 
Whisper White card stock, re-inkers to colour the bubbles, Ink pad colours for stamping, container, bubble bath or dish washing liquid, small container and straw.
Method:-
Step 1 drop re-inker colour into a small container containing bubble bath/detergent.
Step 2 blow through your straw into the container of bubble bath/detergent to create bubbles
Step 3 pick up bubbles with your card being careful not to touch the rim of the container
Step 4 continue this with other ink colours if you want the background to hold more than one colour bubble
Step 5 allow project to dry - either air dry or dry with heat gun.
Step 7 Stamp image onto card or powder emboss image onto card.
Step 8 Cut card to size and assemble project


Get your kids/grandkids involved and have a bubbly good time.

Backgrounds - Faux Mother of Pearls

This background is nothing short of stunning.  The SU Shimmer paints rock in this technique.

I will replace this photo so that you can see how lovely the pearl effect is.  Those that attended the workshop will know how lovely it looks - most participants replicated this background for their card/wall hanging.

Materials :- 
Whisper white card stock, ink pads for the chosen colours,sponge, shimmer paint in a colour of your choice, piece of cling wrap, plastic plate or plastic craft/ acetate sheet, stamp of your choice and a damp rag/tissue 
Method:-
Step 1 scrunch up your cling wrap and add a little shimmer paint to it
Step 2 dab this onto your plastic plate/sheet until you dab off the excess
Step 3 randomly dab onto card stock picking up extra paint of your plastic plate/sheet as you go
Step 4 allow shimmer paint on card stock to dry
Step 5 using your sponge pick up colour from your ink pad
Step 5 sponge and blend one or two colours over card noting that ink will not colour the card where the shimmer paint is.
Step 6 using a slightly damp cloth or tissue gently wipe away ink from shimmer paint to reveal the "pearl" look
Step 7 using a rag or tissue or alike gently polish card
Step 8 stamp or emboss image onto your background
Step 9 cut card to size and finish project.
The stamp set I used is a hostess set from the 2012 summer mini "Up in the Air"  just gorgeous isn't it.  


The photo certainly does not do the technique justice, but it is stunning.  Have a play and create a beautiful effect.

 

Backgrounds - Fossil Stone

Fossil stone technique is now one of my favourite techniques, and it is soooooo easy.


I used choc chip and old olive ink, and I just love 124976/122762 Field Flowers stamped with early expresso

To create this effective background I chose earthy colours for the background to imitate stone and used the lovely SU set Field Flowers.
Materials :- 
Whisper white card stock, ink pads for the chosen background colours and to stamp your stamp set.  A4 display sleeve or zip lock bag or alike and brayer (if you wish, your hands work just as well) to create your background. 
Method:-
Step 1 Cut the bottom and side of A4 sleeve so that it opens
Step 2 Open sleeve and smudge ink pads ONE colour each side
Step 3 Close sleeve and rub colours together with your fingers - bubbles are great
Step 4 When you have the desired pattern, open the sleeve and inster your card stock (2 sheets back to back)
Step 5 Close the sleeve and brayer or hand press over the card stock
Step 6 Open sleeve and remove card stock
Step 7 Allow card stock to dry
Step 8 Stamp image on card using ink or emboss in a colour of your choice
Step 9 Cut card to size and assemble project.

If you want a you tube video here is the link Fossil Stone

I hope you enjoy this simple but effective technique as much as I do.

Backgrounds - Faux Silk

Stamping on tissue paper gives a soft silky look to your project.







IMAGE TO COME






Materials :- 
Whisper white  or pale coloured card stock, ink pad (a grey, black or a brown for outline images), SU Markers if you are going to colour your stamped image, tissue paper and glue. 
Method:-
Step 1 stamp image onto tissue paper
Step 2 colour image if your stamp is a line stamp - note some bleeding may occur
Step 3 wait for ink to dry
Step 4 scrunch up tissue paper
Step 5 spread glue over the entire piece of card stock
Step 6 gently smooth out tissue paper over cardstock, leaving in some wrinkles
Step 7 allow glue to dry
Step 8 trim away excess tissue paper OR cut card to size
Step 9 assemble project

This effect looks particularly good using leaves, small flowers or alike.  The technique gives added dimension to the card, so I hope you enjoy using this as a softer technique for making your cards.