Group of Cardmakers - Faux Cyanotype

Hi everyone, it's time for the Group of Cardmakers to try a new Technique. This month we are playing with Faux Cyanotype. 

Cyanotype is a photographic technique using photographic chemicals and sunlight to create a negative image. The images produced have a blue to green colouring with light areas where items have been placed on the paper or fabric. this can be replicated by using blended ink and either the same ink to stamp or by using white ink.

Here are two videos showing how to create a card using the technique

1. Faux Cyanotype using White Ink By Tracy Evans

2. Faux Cyanotype using the same ink as the blended background By Understand Blue - Lydia Fieldler

Both techniques mask off a border then blend a blue colour over the whole area. If you use white paint the blending will need to be much darker. The blue stamping or same ink can be a lot lighter.

For my first card I blended the background and used an old Serendipity stamp.

My second card I used the ink pad direct to paper to give me a deep blue and then stamped in white, Again I used and old Serendipity stamp. I did mask of the edges but the ink pad worked its way under the mask. I don't mind as I like the rougher edges in the darker ink.

My third card I blended a very pale blue ink and then stamped the image using the same ink. The circle was embossed using a circle die and a mask cut out of the centre of some copy paper to blend inside of the embossed area. I'm not sure who makes the bird.

My last card I again used a direct to paper technique with the ink pad but this time I didn't use a masked border. I decided to try the technique with another colour other than blue.  I actually like the rough more organic edges from the ink pad. and the colour. The leaves are a Magenta stamp.

I hope we have inspired you to try Faux Cyanotype stamping.

Card Recipe
Stamps: Serendipity, Magenta
Paper: 110 Lb White, Black, Pale Blue
Ink: Ranger Distress Inks, Hero Arts White
Accessories: Stamp Platform
Techniques: Cyanotype, ink Blending

Group of Cardmakers, Layered card scene.

Hi everyone, it's time for the Group of Cardmakers technique. This month we have layered scene as our design theme.

I need to get a start on my Christmas cards so sorry if you aren't ready for a Christmas reminder yet but I need close to 100 by the end of the year 🤣

Layered scenes can be done in a couple of ways, the idea is to add depth to your scene by adding foam tape or using folds in your card. It's amazing how much dimension you get with both.

I created a tunnel card using die cut apertures similar to the one on Caroline Paton of KISS (keep it sweet and simple) blog and some foam tape behind each layer.

I used a Hexagon die and cut the layers out of white cardstock, the reason I used white was I wanted the edges to be white from the sides. I coloured the apertures with alcohol pens and used a scrap of black card with a cling wrap print on it as my sky. The die cut snow scene was cut from an old Stamping up Die set (now retired). I added some tiny sequins to the sky as stars. I really enjoyed making the card as it was fun creating the layers. I think I'll be giving this one out in person as it's little bulky to mail.

I hope you check out the technique and perhaps try one of them.

Card Recipe
Stamps: Unity Christmas Sentiments
Paper: 110lb White, Black
Ink: Versafine Claire
Accessories: Alcohol pens, Hexagon Layering Die, Stamping Up Christmas die (retired), Sequins
Techniques: Die Cutting, Clingwrap background

Group of Cardmakers - Acrylic Painting on Coloured Cardstock

Hi everyone, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are getting ready for your New Year celebrations.

Our Group of Cardmakers technique for this month is Andy Skinners acrylic paint on coloured card. Andy used White on his card but any colour works well. 

Sorry about all the Christmas cards but when I tried this technique out it became my go to for finishing my Christmas card stash, I had so much fun I couldn't stop. I used Gesso for the white on my cards and acrylic paint and Posca Paint pens for the other colours.

My First card is the Tim Holtz Snowman

My Second card is a Penny Black stamp and BetterPress Sentiment

Penny Black stamp Acrylic Paint and Paint Pens

I also borrowed this stamp and I'm not sure which one it is.

We hope you will try this technique  with us, it's so addictive 😀

Card Recipe
Stamps: 
Paper: 110lb white, 65lb coloured card stock
Ink:  Versafine Clair
Accessories: Gesso, Posca Pens, Acrylic paint, Stamp Positioner
Techniques: Painting on Colour paper with Acrylic paint

Group of Cardmakers - Stenciling with Mica Powders

Hi everyone the Group of Cardmakers  are playing with Mica powders for this months technique.

Mica powders are not all the same so when you buy them be aware some need a binder to hold them on the paper others have a binder as a part of the powder. Check out the write up on the Group of Cardmakers blog for instructions on all the different powders, binders and how to use them.

For my first card I use a Tim Holtz poinsettia stencil and a versarark pad pressed directly onto the stencil. I removed the stencil and lightly brushed Lavinia mica powders over versa marked areas trying to kethe colours separate. Lavinia Mica's have a binder in the powder, but you can always spray with a fixative as well. The dots at the centre of the poinsettia didn't get fully inked as they were so small so I use a metallic pen and added them after. I also used the metallic pen on the edge of the base layer to give a faux layer,

My second card was done in the same way as the first, I also added some glossy accents to the berries and used the sentiment to hide an area which didn't quite pick up enough versamark ink. If you have a versa mark pen you could use it to touch up missed areas.

The sentiment is from one of the BetterPress Christmas sentiment sets, and the frame is a postage stamp frame die.

My last cad was done using sticky powder and mica. You don't see it in the picture but the sticky powder leaves a texture which makes the powder look more like glitter than mica powder.

I used an edge sentiment die in silver mirror card to complete the card.

I think my favourite is the first for the colour but I also love the texture on the snowflakes in the last.

We hope you check out this technique and pull out your mica powders if you have any.

Card Recipe
Stamps: BetterPress, SimonSays Stamp
Paper: 110lb White, Black
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Sentiment Die, Postage Stamp Die, Square Stitched Edge die
Techniques:

Group of Cardmakers- Textured Tissue Paper with Dry Dmbossing

Hi Everyone, it's time for our monthly technique over at the Group of Cardmakers.

This moth we are Dry Embossing tissue paper and braying on some colour.

I added colour to tissue paper by spritzing it with water and swiping it through ink on my craft sheet, you could also spray some colour onto the tissue paper. When it dried I crumpled it up then opened it out again and stuck it to card stock using craft glue (careful handling it while it's wet, it will tear easily). You can leave as many of the creases as you want when you flatten the tissue paper out. The creases give it a more distressed look when you bray with the paint. When the glue is dry run the sheets through some 3D embossing folders then brayer acrylic paint over the embossed area.

As the tissue paper makes the brayred surface more uneven, sometimes the paint does'n come in contact with all the embossed image. You can touch up some of the areas with acrylic paint to get the effect you want.

Loll has a video on adding colour to Tissue Paper,

For my first card I used a Poinsettia Embossing folder and bartered a metallic blue acrylic paint over the image and then went over it again with some black in to give it a more distressed grungy look.

My second card I used a berry and foliage 3D embossing folder and gold acrylic paint.

My third card I used a holly and berry embossing folder and gold acrylic paint.

I hope you find some tome to try this technique with us, it really does give a cool effect.

Card Recipe
Stamps:
Paper: Tissue paper, Card stock
Ink: Versafine clair
Accessories: Gold acryl
Techniques:

Group of Cardmakers -Inlaid Die cuts

Hi everyone the Group of Cardmakers are playing with dies again. This month we are inlaying some colour inside the die cuts. Inlay can be clouding the die cuts, using Designer Paper ore scraps of leftover backgrounds.

Videos:

Inlaid Paper Backgrounds by Cathy Zielske (7:52)

Inlaid Die-cutting with Dimension - 2-for1 Cards by Charlene Madrid (10:30)

Die-cutting Hack for Intricate Dies by Anna Helman (6:56)

For my first card I watercoloiured the inlay pieces cut from white card into a black outline, the background is a script embossing folder.

For my second card, I used one of my favourite poinsettia dies I've blended inks on the first die cut image without removing the pieces then die cut the outline a second time in gold.

My third card I rummaged through my stash and found a scrap of salted water colour background. I die cut the frame twice in white card and layered them for a little dimension, then die cut the background. the sentiment was die cut twice, once in the watercolour card and again in black, the black was off set slightly to give a shadow effect making it stand out a little more on the background.

We hop you give this fun technique a try, it's a great way to use up some scraps and have fun with your dies.

Card Recipe
Stamps: see individual cards.
Paper:
Ink:
Accessories: Embossing folder, Dies, 
Techniques: Inlaid die cuts

Group of Cardmakers - Embossing with Dies

Hi everyone, it's time for the Group of Cardmakers to try a new technique, this month we are embossing with our dies. it's a great way to change the way you use your dies.

We have a few videos for you watch and to give you inspiration.

Video:

Embossing with Dies by Scrapbook Expo (2:45).  General outline of supplies and technique.

Embossing with Metal Dies by Jo (first 3:00).  Tip:  Use 3M removable tape - does not rip card stock.

How to Use Dies to Emboss by Rebecca Keppel (12:07).  Lots of alternatives for this technique.

My first card is made using a Spellbinders Poinsettia Die, The die has an outline which it cuts separate from the poinsettia leaves when you use it in the regular way to die cut. For this card I created the impression, cut the die out of thinner card stock and used the outer stencil to blend inks on the poinsettia leaves. I didn't worry about cover ing other parts as I then die cut the shape in an old gold card. I popped out the leaves and placed it over my embossed image. Sentiment BetterPress

I used a PennyBlack postage stamp die to create the embossed outline for my cute Elf (AAL and Creates) I coloured the elf with pencils and added a little gold pen to the outline of the bell. Sentiment Simon Says Stamp.

My final card I used a misiletoe die to make the impression, and the outline of the die cut image as a stencil to blend the colours on the leaves. I used Liquid Pearls for the berries. The edge of the card was outlined using a silver pen to create a faux frame. Sentiment BetterPress

This is a fun technique, and one I will be using again to make the most of my dies.

Card Recipe
Stamps: AAL and Create, Sentiments BetterPress and Simon Says Stamp
Paper: 110Lb White
Ink:  Morning Mist card 2
Accessories: Coloured Pencils, Distress Inks, Blending Brushes
Techniques: Die cutting, Blending, Pencil Colouring

Group of Cardmakers - Northern lights Technique

Hi everyone, it's been a while since I've posted life has just gotten too busy.

I now have a new laptop, which is a little bit of a learning curve for me as I've switched from a Windows based system to an Apple MacBook Air. My poor brain is going into a tail spin as everything I do I have to look up and re learn. As we all know old habits die hard 🤣

Also we were away visiting family and friends In eastern Canada or three weeks in July and came home to a tree fallen on our garage. Luckily it only damaged the guttering.

The tree has now been removed and the gutter replaced, The hot summers we have been having over the years caused the trunk to die, I must admit I'm not sad it's gone, it was a twisted willow which was just in the wrong place.

I'm finally back to card making and now just catching up with a past technique by the Group of Cardmakers. When I made mine I wanted to try Pastels on black card, I used Pan Pastels, Pastel Pencils and some Cheap Pastel chalks just to try them out. The pastels were blended in the same way as the inks in the videos below. The Northern Lights technique works well with die cuts using the silhouette images.

As you can see I had to use my Polar bear dies for this technique.

Different suggested ways to do the technique or try your own way!

Videos:  Some of the video are quite long, but worth watching ...

1) Ink Blended Northern Lights by Lydia Fiedler (7:17)

2) Beautiful Northern Lights by Ciara T. Designs (16:19)

3) Northern Lights Demo by Marilyn G. (31:19)

4) Quick Northern Lights by Kevin Nakagawa (19:32)

Penny Black Polar Bear die, BetterPress Sentiment

Stamping Up Polar Bear and Iceberg stamp and die set, Better Press Sentiment

Stamping Up Polar Bear and Iceberg stamp and die set, Better Press Sentiment

Sizzle Santa Better Press Sentiment

Card Recipe
Stamps:
Paper: Balck Card
Ink:
Accessories: 
Techniques: Pastels, Northern Lights, Die cutting, Better Press Sentiments

Group of Seven Cardmakers - Generation Stamping

Hi everyone, it's time for the Group of Seven Cardmakers technique. This month we are using generation stamping. This is a great technique to add depth to your cards and also create different shades of colours from one ink pad. 

Here are a few videos for you to check out if you haven't tried it before.

Two Minute Tip - Second Generation Stamping by Ellen Hutson LLC (1:47)

Second Generation Stamping by Catherine Pooler (4:30)

Second Generation Stamping by Unity Stamp Company (1:21)

One thing you have to remember if you first stamp partially off the card the inked area will now be uneven and have a noticeable ink line will appear. You can see the line on the second stamped image and the rubber stamp. It is better to stamp off the first ink on scrap paper then stamp on your card.

Card 1- I used Lavinia stamps and second and third generation stamping. It can actually give your image a little movement, the bird has first, second and a very faint third generation stamping and I lightened the colouring as I went along. The background has lots of second a third generation stamping to add depth and lighter colours. To finish the card off I went around the edge with a Gold Pen to create a faux mat.

Card 2- Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous images. I stamped my first image high on the page and each time I stamped again I moved it down. You can see the Queen Anne's Lace get lighter and lighter, I also stamped the numbers a second time. I also finished the card by going around the edge with a Blue metallic pen to create a faux mat.

We hope you give this fun technique a go and don't forget to show us the cards you create 😊

Card Recipe
Stamps: Lavinia and Stampers Anonymous
Paper: 110lb White
Ink: Versafine Clair, Distress Inks
Accessories: Gold Pen, Blue Metallic Pen
Techniques: Generation Stamping

Group of Seven Cardmakers - Gilding Flakes on Acetate

Hi everyone, it's time for our Group of Seven Cardmakers technique for this April. This month we're playing with our Gilding Flakes and applying them to Acetate.

The video below shows you how to use the Gilding flakes on Acetate.

Video:  

Gilding Flakes on Acetate! by Meerkat Makes by L (9:58)

For my cards I took some craft glue and spread it out on my craft mat. I picked up the glue with piece of foam and pounced it onto my rubber stamps.  Be careful in that you need to put your stamps in water immediately after stamping on the acetate. I left one of my stamps a little too long so removing the glue took a little effort.

Card 1 -Deep Red Church and street lamp, Janes Doodles Sentiment.

I used Simon Says thin frame die to outline the image,

Card 2- AAL and Create Fibonacci background stamp,  IO Seth Apter - Solar System.  The acetate was layered over a background from my stash, it will eventually be a masculine birthday card.

Card - 3  Art Specially Hare stamp, Simon Says Stamp thin frame die, I think this is my favourite of the all the cards.

This was a fun technique but as usual there's a big clean up at the end, we hope you give it a go.

Card Recipe
Stamps:
Paper: 110 lb White, Silver, Gold Acetate
Ink: Card 1 Versafine Clair Nocturn for the Sentiment
Accessories: Craft Glue, Gilding Flakes, Dies, Acetate
Techniques: Gilding Flakes