Tag: Die cutting

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WWC296 – Michelle\’s Challenge: Anything Feminine Goes

Karen Brown7 Comments

 

Hello, hello and welcome!  This week we are creating feminine cards at The Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and we would love to see your creation in our gallery.  Michelle is our hostess this week.  

I\’ve had my eye on the Altenew Hibiscus Garden 3D die set for sometime and finally bought it.  I wanted to use seasonal jewel tones  so I die cut my pieces from Altenew\’s Enchanting Washes Cardstock.  I like the gorgeous colors and the fact that it is thick like cardstock.  For the leaves I ink blendeded  4 colors of green on watercolor paper.  My background is a light watercolor wash where I then softened the edges with a towel so it fades out.  I dried the panel and then  added purple and black paint spatters.  Next I mixed gesso with Iridescent Shimmer Spray and added more splatters.  I assembled and paired with a Bold Envelope and my birthday card is now ready to mail.

I am also playing along with:

Festive Friday FF0071 I included die cuts, patterned paper (hibiscus), flowers and sentiment.  

UPDATE:  I was excited to see my card was selected as a \”Festive Fave\”!

Crafty Hazel Nuts Patterned Paper Challenge  I used Altenew Enchanting Washes Patterned Cardstock for the two hibiscus.

Karen



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WWC281 – Heidi\’s Challenge: All About Occasions

Karen Brown7 Comments

Hello and welcome!  This is my design team card for Watercooler Wednesday\’s All About Occasions Challenge and Heidi is our hostess.


I\’ve created a birthday card using a faux watercoloring technique.  I used bright summer colors and added a bold birthday sentiment die-cut using navy cardstock. 

Supplies Used:
Altenew Inked Lotus stamp and die bundle
Altenew Golden Peach Embossing Powder
Distress Inks:  Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, Pickled Raspberry, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn
Simon Says Stamp Happy Birthday die cut
Picket Fences Blending Brushes
Watercolor Paper
Navy Cardstock (for sentiment die cut)
Cream A2 card base

I am also playing along at:
The Flower Challenge: Summer or Fall I love summer and used bright, happy colors that I associate with summer.


Inspired By \”Pretty Blossoms\”  I was inspired by the floral theme and the colors in the bouquet.

I am so pleased you stopped by and hope to see your card in our challenge gallery.

Karen
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Altenew Academy "With A Twist"

Karen Brown5 Comments

I just completed Altenew Academy\’s Class \”With A Twist\” and I created a bunch of cards.  The class was all about trying the unexpected.  I am sharing my favorite card from the series and it was from Class #6 \”Die Cutting With a Twist\”.  Our instructor, Therese Calvird, showed us how to do faux embossing with die cuts.  I had never done this technique before but it does result in a dramatic and showy card.

My Process:

  • I stamped two A2 Bristol panels full of leaves and blooms from Altenew\’s Smile More stamp and die bundle.
  • I colored them with Zig markers and used a damp brush to blend the colors.
  • I die cut everything.
  • I wanted to use a big scripty sentiment so I heat embossed Enjoy on an A2 card front made of Bristol cardstock and Your Birthday on a scrap of black cardstock.
  • I played around with the layout and when I was happy, I glued the die-cuts down with liquid adhesive.  I was sure to leave all the edge images over the edge and then I took sharp scissors and trimmed  the die-cuts flush to the edge.

Pro Tips:
  • Stamp and color a lot of images.  For this card I stamped and colored two complete A2 panels worth of  blooms and leaves.  You don\’t want the card to look skimpy and there is quite a bit of waste after your trim around your card.  
  • I made my own card base out of Bristol cardstock so the cardbase and die-cuts would blend well. 
  • I stamped one panel with Ranger Archival Jet Black ink and one with Versamark Onyx black and found I got a better result with the Onyx Black. The Archival required multiple stamping and after drying for one day, one bloom still smeared a bit.
I am also playing along with:
Allsorts \”Flowers All Over\”  I \”faux embossed\”  flowers all over my cardbase.

The Flower Challenge \”Summer or Winter\”  The answer for me is summer!  I love summer…the sun, warm weather clothes, bright colors, long days….  These daisies are very summery to me.  

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

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Altenew Academy – Cards For the Guys

Karen Brown3 Comments
Hello and welcome.  Today, my blog post is about making masculine cards and I\’ve chosen to do a color blocking background.  Fun, bright and eye-catching.  
Altenew Academy Cards for the Guys using Color Blocking with Altenew Mega Alphabet T die and Large Thanks Sentiment die.
I started by cutting four 2×2 squares from brightly colored card stock.  My inspiration came from Jennifer Rzasa and her class on Pop Art Color Blocking.  Once the squares were cut, I taped them together, trimmed the edges for a nice even line and then backed with craft foam for dimension.  

Next, I die cut the \”T\” from bright blue card stock and the \”thanks\” from lavender cardstock.  I die-cut each three times and then carefully glued them together for nice dimension.   I initially was going to back them with foam but didn\’t like the white shadow which I thought distracted from all the bright bold colors.  

I made a 4 1/4\” x 4 1/4\” card base and then attached the color blocked panel.  I weighted it for a few minutes with an acrylic block
Supplies Used:
Altenew Mega Alphabet T die
Altenew Large Thanks sentiment die
6 shades of brightly colored card stock
tape
liquid glue
craft foam
white cardstock for base.

I am also playing along with: Try It On Tuesday \”Cut It Out!\” Challenge  This card is all about cutting as every element was either cut with a paper trimmer or die cut.  

I really like how the card turned out and think I will do some more color blocking in the near future.

I am so pleased that you stopped by!
Karen
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Altenew Academy All About Layering 2

Karen Brown1 Comment
Hello, thank you for stopping by.  Today\’s blog post is showcasing my class project for Altenew Academy\’s All About Layering 2 class.  I am using Altenew\’s Bride to Be stamp and die bundle.  The cute little starflowers were my favorite.
I had not used layering stamps prior to starting Altenew Academy so I continued stamping loads of images which resulted in a nice full card.  Our instructor used an acrylic block as opposed to a stamp positioner so I followed her lead and free stamped all my images.  This was great practice for me.  
I love paint splatters on other people\’s cards but am not usually happy with the result on my cards, so I decided to practice that technique as well.  Because of this, I went very light with the ink splatters.  I think next time I will try a few more.  Lastly, I heat embossed the sentiment for a rich shiny accent.  

I think the end result is a bright, fun and cheerful card. 

I am also playing along with:  The Happy Little Stampers \”Anything Goes with Dies\”

Karen


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WWC270 – Tristan\’s Challenge: Anything Goes with a Feminine Twist

Karen Brown11 Comments
Hello and welcome.  This week is all about \”feminine\” cards at The Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and Tristan is our hostess.  It seems there is more uncertainty and stress in 2020 so I made a \”Hang in There\” card to send out during this time of quarantine.
My Monthly Hero May 2019 kit
I had some leftover die cut circles that I thought would be fun to use as small spotlight backgrounds.  I used botanicals from the Hero Arts May 2019 kit and the wreath from WPlus9 New Home.  I stamped, Copic Colored and die cut the images and then mounted on the stitched circles.  I die cut (The Greetery Crimped Frame die) a piece of vivid egg shell blue cardstock and glued onto an A2 card.  
I think this is a cheery and encouraging card that I\’ve already put in the mail to a family member.

I am playing along with the following challenges:

As You Like It – Non-Birthday Occasion During this quarantine I\’ve been making encouragement cards for friends that live alone or seem to be struggling.  The cards have been well received so I have really enjoyed creating and mailing them. 

CAS on Friday – #179 Use Your Favorite Flower Stamp This Hero Arts Kit stamp and die set is one of my all time favorites.  The flowers are so versatile and fun.  

Stamping Sensations \”Say It With Flowers\”

Krafty Chicks #505 \”Anything Goes\”
Little Red Wagon #548 \”Flowers\”

I am so pleased that you stopped by!
Karen
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WWC269 – Anything Goes Challenge

Karen Brown8 Comments
Hello and welcome!  Since there are five weeks in April, this week\’s challenge is \”Anything Goes\” at Watercooler Wednesday.
 This is the birthday card I made for my photography loving sister-in-law.  I think this darling girl looks just like Debbie and I colored her complexion and hair color to further customize the card.
I ink blended the background, and then stamped, Copic colored and die cut the image.  The sentiment was heat embossed and die cut.  
Stamps and Dies:
Picket Fence Studios \”Karen Girl\”
Jillibean Sentiment

I am entering this card in:
Rainbow Card Challenge: Totally Tiffany

I am so pleased that you stopped by!
Karen
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WWC263 – Tristan\’s Challenge: Anything Goes With a Masculine Twist

Karen Brown7 Comments
Hello!  I am so pleased you stopped by.  Today we are making Masculine cards at The Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and Tristan is our hostess.
In my family, boys/men enjoy humorous animal cards so that was my starting point.  I stamped, Copic colored and die cut the animals and greenery.  Next I die cut the sentiment and then assembled the scene with foam tape.  I thought the monkey swinging from the sentiment was fun.

Supplies:
Photoplay We Bought a Zoo stamps and dies
Mama Elephant Wild Meadow stamps and dies
Copic Markers
Lawn Fawn Celebrate Sentiment
Neenah cardstock
Coordinations Color Core \”Whitewash\” cardstock for the background

Seize the Birthday \”A Touch of Green\” Challenge I used a soft green textured background and lovely green foliage to showcase these party animals. 


As You See It \”Preferences\” Challenge  My favorite type of card to send is Birthday cards.  I have a monthly calendar with friends and family\’s birthdays so I never miss a birthday.  

Inspirational: Designer\’s Choice \”Animal\” My card features a playful trio of animals.


Alphabet Challenge – Something for Youngsters  I think animals are always a popular option for the youngsters in our life.

UPDATE: 
 I was so pleased to see this card was selected \”top 3\” at The Alphabet Challenge!

My card was also The Top Pick at As You See It.

Thank you for visiting my blog.
Karen
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WWC261 – Kath\’s Challenge: Anything Goes With a Feminine Twist

Karen Brown12 Comments
Hello and welcome!  This week is our always popular \”feminine\” challenge at Watercooler Wednesday.  Kath is our hostess.
Altenew Espresso Crisp die ink
I made this card for my sister\’s birthday.  I heat embossed,  watercolored then die-cut this beautiful floral image from Altenew.  I used watercolor paper for the painted panel and the card base as I liked the continuity of texture across the card.  I am not sure you can tell in the photograph, but I really like the textured look in person.   I also went with a brown sentiment for a more natural look.

Supplies:
Altenew Weekend Doodles stamp and die
Altenew Espresso Crisp die ink
Watercolor paper
White Embossing Powder
Kuretake watercolors

I am pleased with the card and look forward to popping it in the mail to my sister.

I am entering this card in:
Paper Players \”Turn Up the Heat\” Challenge

Make My Monday \”In The Pink\” Challenge

The Flower Challenge – Anything Goes

AAA Birthday Challenge – Flowers

I am so pleased you stopped by!
Karen
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WWC257 – Heidi\’s Challenge: Anything Goes With a Feminine Twist

Karen Brown19 Comments
 Hello and welcome! This week we are making feminine cards at the Watercooler Challenge and Heidi is our hostess. 
xoxo hugs and kisses from Hero Arts Year Round Sentiments.
I had a lot of fun making this valentine for my daughter.  I started with a piece of wet watercolor paper and then I applied pink, purple, red and a hint of yellow Kuretake watercolors to the panel.  I swirled, blended and then heat dried the paint and then repeated the process so I wound up with layer upon layer.  Because I added several layers, the watercolor appears much more vibrant than most watercolors I have done in the past.  After the panel was nice and dry I die cut a bunch of hearts in three sizes.  I stamped the sentiment, played with the layout and came up with this random pattern that I liked.  I adhered the hearts with foam tape so there is lots of dimension to the card.  

Supplies:
Kuretake Watercolors
Brutus Monroe Aqua Pigment Paper
Sentiment:  Hero Arts Year Round Sentiments
Gemini \”Loving Tags\” dies
Kuretake watercolors

I am entering this card in the following:

Inspired By Challenge: XOXOXO 

The Paper Players: PP476 

Make My Monday: I Heart You 

The Rainbow Card Challenge #14 – Fiercely Fuschia

UPDATE:  I am so pleased that this card was chosen as \”A Cut Above\” by The Paper Players Challenge!!!

I am so pleased that you stopped by!
Karen