Thursday, September 29, 2016

Watercolor Fall cards

I've been waiting for inspiration to make cards again.  Since it's getting to be fall weather, I'm trying to make Thanksgiving cards for family.  I found a technique that I decided to try.  Here's my inspiration from Jennifer McGuire's blog.

Since I'll be using watercolor paper, I decided to use my Mini Misti tool, since stamping on watercolor paper more difficult to get a good image.  Since my stamp was a wood mounted rubber stamp, I had to remove it from the block.  I then used Wackytac (a temporary liquid adhesive) on the rubber and let it dry.  This did keep the stamp in place until I removed it later, leaving no residue.

I used a very old two toned embossing powder by Moon Glow, called Sunrise Salmon/Gold with Versamark ink.  I then followed Jennifer's technique of applying Distress ink with my fingers.  I used a variety of colors, but didn't write them down.  I embossed with an embossing folder, sandwiched with a Tim Holtz embossing diffuser.  This is and acrylic piece, with and oval removed from the center.  This allows a flat area for the sentiment.  I also traced inside the oval with a gold pen.
 

The next 2 cards were done using the same technique, but using white embossing powder.  The second card was debossed by mistake (folder upside down) and the third was embossed properly.  I then tapped some ink onto the raised areas.

I'm going to study these for a while before making more cards with this technique.  As Jennifer says in her video, the ink does wear off your fingers.


Sunday, September 18, 2016

Friends in nature

In case anyone wonders, I'm still doing fine.  I just haven't had a desire to make cards.  I've evolved many times in my life.  I'll be passionate about something for a while, then lose interest and find other things to fill my life.  I'm enjoying my little dog, Tex, and spending time in my yard.  Desert weather has cooled for fall and I've been trying to revive flowers and shrubs.  I discovered one of the many wonders of nature recently.
The praying mantis was just resting quietly on an oleander leaf, just below the flower.  This is one of our friends in nature.  They aren't often noticed while they sit quietly on a leaf eating other insects.  We must pause our busy lives so we can be aware of lovely occupants of our yards.