I warned you that there'd be more cute furniture cards. Today, I wanted to share some ideas for using patterned paper to build fun scene cards.  This super couch from Altenew required a fun scene, so I built two options.   For the green couch, I pulled some vintage-looking patterned paper with small print from my stash for the wallpaper and had a 6x6 sheet of small bricks that I cut into enough strips to get four cards.  I used Copics to color my couch in a shade of green to match the carpet, with some blue-violet accent pillows and lamp.  Once colored I fussy cut the couch and lamp for the scene.   Time to build the scene.  I ink-blended Distress Oxide in Ice Spruce across the bottom of a white panel.  I used a texture stamp with Stormy Sky and Pumice Stone Distress Ink to create a carpet effect.  I cut the patterned paper I chose for the wallpaper in half for two cards and added it to the top of the card.  Then I added the strip...

When I get stuck creatively I will turn to building backgrounds. My go-to background technique is ink blending.  Ink-blended backgrounds create a lot of versatility in my stash.  If you've been with me a while you know I draw pen and ink trees, nearly every one of my trees is done on an ink-blended background.  I also use these backgrounds for building cards and die-cutting.   Today I'm sharing some of the color combos I've experimented with recently.  All of these blends were created on sheets of 6 x 9 inch watercolor paper, created by cutting the Canson sheets in half.  I blend on any number of paper, but when I know I'm going to use heavy water I opt for a watercolor paper or mixed media paper that can take the wet medium.   Color Combo #1: Chipped Saphire Pine Needles Cracked Pistachio I ink-blended this trio and then splattered clean water over top.  I like the dark rings around the water spots so I will splatter my water and let ...

I thought we'd start the week by talking about inspiration and where to find more ideas.  Back a couple of weeks ago I talked about being inspired by Mindy Egan and her Abstract Art for Clean & Simple Cards . I really fell in love with this technique and have made several cards with this technique.  After I'd created a few abstract designs I went down the Pinterest rabbit hole.  I dropped abstract cards in the search bar and found tons of inspiration for layout ideas and color combs.   Pulling inspiration from somewhere other than your own art niche can bring to light different color combinations, new ideas for design elements, and even new techniques.  While my main focus is on creating cards, I draw inspiration from fabrics, photography, watercolor, tile, home decor, and so many other places.   For this card, I drew color and design inspiration from a  business card design  I saw on Pinterest.  To start my design I opted for...

When I started with the stencils and stamps for the abstract card from last week I couldn’t help but make a few more.  I pulled some additional stencils from the stash and my texture stamps.  I opted for Distress Oxides on this one in Uncharted Mariner, Picked Raspberry, and Villanous Potion.   Back with the largest semi-circle, then into some older Crafter’s Workshop stencils.  After applying the oxide ink I felt like a bit of black was needed to break things up and fill in the gaps, so I pulled a Kaisercraft text texture stamp and used a bit of Gina K Amalgam ink to add depth and texture.  To add the sentiment I added a layered black and white circle.   Card three of this stenciling abstract design session has a more fall vibe.  I used Distress Inks in Spiced Marmalade, Aged Mahogany, and Mustard Seed.  I pulled some older See-D’s stamps for the leaves and used some Gina K Amagalm ink to add them to the panel.  The sentiment is from Te...

Woodgrain paper might be one of the more interesting papers in my stash of goodness.  Tim Holtz knew what he was doing when he brought this to market.  I've used it for any number of Christmas card projects, and my go-to look was as a white-on-white kind of background, but then I watched  Tim Holtz's video Demo:  Distress Paint .  Magic was sparked. The idea for this card actually started with the bee I'd cut and pieced together.  The yellow wings and body were cut from a background in my stash.  I often make backgrounds for use later in projects like this.  I had visions of putting this bee on wood as if it had landed on an old fence or barn.  The idea grew from there with the decision to make a set of cards using all of the bugs in the die set. While I don't yet own any sprays I was able to create beautiful woodgrain with my Distress Inks & Distress Oxides to build my wood color.  I used a combination of blending tools and ink pads...

While I was writing yesterday's post, my memory sparked and I thought about some of the brick backgrounds I've created with ink blending.  Sometimes I build an entire card, like the butterfly below, and sometimes I just build backgrounds like the THX card.  Building backgrounds is a great way to try new techniques with no pressure.  The first brick background I created in 2018.  I masked the white butterfly with a Post-it note mask made from a butterfly die cut, then laid the brick stencil over the top.  I applied Distress Inks in Aged Mahogany and added a bit of shadow with Hickory Smoke.  I removed the bricks and added a light layer of both inks to tone down the white of the grout.  Splatters of water and splatters of Perfect Pearls in gold were added before removing the butterfly mask.  I drew on a few branches, some to represent antennas, and added the butterfly body.  From there I stamped the sentiment, matted the panel on black, and the...

Ink blending has to be one of my favorite techniques, but I don't want to blend just any ink.  I'm a Distress Ink & Oxide addict.  I have ALL the colors in both and they are by far my favorite inks.  Today I thought I’d share some ideas for masculine blends.  Don't fear the dark moody colors, they often make magic. Chipped Saphire, Forest Moss, and Crushed Olive make for a moody blend.  Great for a night forest scene.  The above panel was blended, splattered with water, and then splattered with Chipped Saphire and Crushed Olive. Aged Mahogany, Ground Espresso, and Forest Moss create a beautifully rich blend.  This panel was splattered with water and then gold Perfect Pearls.  Walnut Stain, Rusty Hinge, and Mustard Seed build a bled with a more fall or western vibe.  This panel was splattered with water and some copper Perfect Pearls. If you find yourself in a bit of a creative dry spell, I would encourage you to get out your inks and play...

Did you know that you can watercolor with your Distress Inks and reinkers?  It's true!  It's totally one of my favorite techniques.  This card was started as a way to mop up some leftover ink from a previous card.  I'm definitely in a Distress Ink phase right now.  

Hello Lovely.  Are you ready for the weekend?  I sure am.  I have plans for a little supply shopping and lots of creating.  Bring on the downtime!  Anywho, today's cards are created with my first love - ink blending.  Plus there's a bonus card. I'll be frank with you.  Ink blending is what gets my creative juices flowing and out of any kind of creative rut.  I've been in a bit of a funk and I'm trying to blend and stitch my way out of it.  Ok, onto the cards. I did some of my favorite stencil masking and created two cards.  I used Inkadinkado Masking paper, Kaisercraft Nesting Hearts dies to cut my mask.  I added my mask to a white cardstock panel and topped it with my favorite retired Micro Dots stencil from Echo Park.  My ink blend was done with Distress Oxide Inks in Cracked Pistachio, Tumbled Glass, and Salty Ocean.  After my blend was complete I removed my heart and stamped the sentiment using the retired Kindn...

Hello Lovely.  Today's card is another shopping my stash card with some inspiration from another Laura Bassen card.  Laura did a fabulous card for the release of the Simon Says Stamp Limited Edition Thank You Card Kit that was inspired by the postage stamps included in the kit.  I love the stamp set that's included in the kit, but I knew I had some similar flower stamps in another stamp set I already own.  Let's check out the card. I started this card with the black stripes, using the Echo Park Glamor Stipe stencil and Distress in Black Soot.  Once I had the strips on the bottom half of my white panel I laid out my stamps to get a feel for how to build my top portion.  I used the flowers and leaves from the Simon Says Stamp Birthday Flowers stamp set.  The larger flowers are stamped with Distress Oxide Inks in Tumbled Glass and then the details are stamped with Broken China.  The smaller flower was stamped with Broken China and the details ...