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Shaving Cream & Watercolor techniques with tips for success


This week I'm sharing the swap cards my Flowerbug's Team made for our March card swap. The theme was to use a technique featuring ink refills. 

Each one is fabulous!

This first card was created by Paula who used the shaving cream technique.  It looks a little bit like tie dye!  

Tips on the Shaving Cream technique.  It's fun but a bit messy. 

  1. Fill a container with about an inch of shaving cream. Your container should be large enough to fit the card stock you're coloring. *tip; cheap shaving cream works just fine! 
  2. Smooth out the cream.  Add drops of your ink colors onto the cream. Take a knife and swirl the ink into the cream. Don't do this too much or you'll make 'muddy' colors.  
  3. Lay your card stock onto the swirled cream and press lightly. Use gloves if you don't want inky fingers.  
  4. Remover your card stock and wipe off the excess cream. Set aside to dry.  
  5. You can use regular card stock or glossy if you have it. 

She used Orchid Oasis, Parakeet Party & Tahitian Tide inks and regular Basic White card stock. 

She even die-cut a few corner elements for the inside of her card. These dies are from the Fabulous Frames dies seen here

Next is a pretty card made by Ginny using the Best Day stamp set seen here.  She cased a card from the Jan-June catalog.  Check out the sample on page 67.  This is a great reminder that there are wonderful ideas in our catalogs! 

She stamped the image on watercolor paper and colored it using our Water painters.  I believe her colors include Calypso Coral, Pool Party & Daffodil Delight.  

Here are a few helpful tips for successful water-coloring.

  • Wet your paper before you add color. Watercolor paper is THE BEST for smooth blending. 
  • First wet only the area you want colored; blue for example. Then dip your brush in ink you've added to a block or other slick surface.
  • I either press my ink pad onto a clear block or add ink drops to the block or a paper plate. 
  • Saturate your wet brush in the ink and paint color onto the previously wet area. 
  • Let dry before adding another color that touches it or they'll bleed together.  

More techniques coming tomorrow!  Stop back in. 

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  • Fast & Fabulous Zoo Crew cards, with a free project sheet


    There's something special about a project in Black and White. I love to add an extra color to really make it pop. These cards were made at my July card club gatherings.  

    I wanted a good size piece of the cute, printed Zoo Crew designer paper seen here on the front of the card.  But I also love the mostly Black sheets too.  So I came up with this card.  I added a thin line of Lemon Lime Twist cardstock between the two pieces of DSP (Designer Series Paper).   

    I recommend adhering the large layer of DSP to the card base first.  Then adhere the Black DSP to the Lemon Lime Twist strip and add it to the card base.  All that's left is to stamp & heat emboss your greeting (from the Playing in the Rain set). 

    Of course there's a cute die-cut stars (Wanted to Say dies) and a Baker's Twine bow to add too. 

    Here's the inside:   

    The stamped images and Balloon die-cut are all from the Zany Zoo bundle.

    Here's a free project sheet if you'd like measurements, directions and a supplies list.  Download July 23 Zoo Crew

    It's a great layout to show off both sides of your Designer Paper.  I hope you try it with your favorite papers! 

     ~~~

    July Specials: 

    Bonus Days!

    Get a $5 coupon for each $50 order you place in July.  Redeem in August!

     

    Clearance Rack update!

    See all items available here

     NEW Online Exclusives will be available

    See them all here

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    Get a free card kit & a new Beautifully Happy stamp set 

    with online orders over $65; must use a host code.

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  • Last set of ‘Create your own Background’ swap cards


    Today I'm sharing the last three cards in our July Team card swaps.  I shared the others in this post and this one.  Our theme was to create our own backgrounds; not using designer paper.  They were quite creative!  

    First up today is a cute card made by Candace.  She chose the Little Monkey bundle.  

    Can you tell what her background die-cut is?  She used the Aspen Tree dies for her Crumb Cake layer. But underneath that is a shaving cream technique!  It's fun to make and different every time. 

    Tip: to make a shaving cream background, spray the cream on a plate or container and spread it out.  Drop a few drops of ink refill onto the cream. Swirl it in with a knife or utensil.  Press your paper onto the cream.  Remove and wipe off the excess cream.  Let dry.

    You can usually get a few pieces done in the same batch of colored cream. The first few will be darker and the last will get lighter in hue.  It's really fun.  

    Next is a CUTE card made by Marla featuring the Supremely Awesome stamp set. She stamped the background and colored the images in with Blends markers. 

    Her colors include Real Red, Pebbled Path and Daffodil Delight.  The pizza slices look quite real!  

    ~~~

    Next is a pretty card made by Rita. She used the Cheerful Daisies bundle. 

    It's in Berry Burst, Old Olive and White. She stamped her background using the open daisy image; tone on tone. Then added a large daisy die-cut (sponged) and some leaves from the Bough punch. 

    It's a gatefold card. She scored it 2 3/4" from each long end. *card base is 11" X 4 1/4"

    Here are all of the fabulous 'create your own background' swaps from our July swap.  


     ~~~

    July Specials: 

    Bonus Days!

    Get a $5 coupon for each $50 order you place in July.  Redeem in August!

     

    Clearance Rack update!

    See all items available here

     NEW Online Exclusives will be available

    See them all here

    ~~~

    Get a free card kit & a new Beautifully Happy stamp set 

    with online orders over $65; must use a host code.

     *current host code: XNYX2DWG

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  • Stamp Sale; TODAY ONLY!


    Today is the day ALL stamps from the Annual Catalog are discounted 15%.

    *this excludes host sets and online exclusives/clearance rack. 

    If you have a wish list of stamps, why not get them on sale today?  

    In September our Holiday catalog will be out and you'll be focused on that (we all do it!).  So get those favorites today!

    I've made a list of my top 15 stamp sets in the Annual catalog.  You can see each one below. 

    *Remember to use my Host code. XNYX2DWG

    PLUS: If your order is over $65 you get both a free stamp set and 8 card kit from me plus a $5 bonus days coupon to use in August!   

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