Showing posts with label dragonfly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dragonfly. Show all posts

Monday, June 1, 2015

Monday Card of the Day

 Happy Monday!
This week I'm card captain at the Enjoy Michael Strong Stamps Yahoo Group.
Today's card features Mike's Cloisonne Dragonfly.
I have added a bokeh technique to some watercolor backgrounds I made in April.
You can find more info on my watercolor backgrounds here and here.
I will give more details about my version of the bokeh technique on Thursday.
Mike's dragonfly and Tim Holtz's sentiment were stamped in versafine black onyx ink.
A piece of tulle was stapled on top. Then cotton thread was wrapped on that layer
before it was adhered to a green card.
Thanks for visiting! I hope you will "stay tuned" to this week's cards!

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Card Captain Day 4

Happy Technique Thursday! to my Enjoy Michael Strong Stamps Friends!
 These my little "techniques" today:
* making my own "tag reinforcement"
 * using an aqua painter to color stamped images 
* making my own "hill stencil".

 Here you see a close up of my "tag reinforcement".
I cut my own tag 7 x 3-1/2 inches from white cardstock.
Trimmed the top corners as shown and used a 1/4 inch punch for the center hole.
I added a home made "reinforcement" by punching a 1/4 inch circle
into a separate piece of cardstock. 
Then I punched a 5/8 inch circle around that.
Glued my reinforcement onto my tag.

To make a "hill" stencil simply cut a curvy line on cardstock scraps-Super simple.
Using this, I sponged mowed lawn ink to create my hills.

Coloring with Aqua Painter...
For the Vase, I stamped it on a separate piece of paper using Versafine black onyx ink.

When it was thoroughly dry, I used an aqua painter and distress inks to color it.
Just dab your inkpad to a craft sheet or similar surface.
Dip your aqua painter brush into the ink to pick up color.
Have scrap paper handy to test out the color's intensity.
Use a paper towel or old rag to pinch the brush and remove color
before going on to the next color.
I fussy cut the vase and attached it with foam tape.
I used the aqua painter to color the  the dragonfly and the cat.
To finish off my tag, I added assorted fibers from my stash!
Thanks, Lynette for sharing your fibers with me!

STAMPS-Michael Strong, Stampers Anonymous

INKS
Distress-mowed lawn, scattered straw, tumbled glass,
rusty hinge, seedless preserves, spiced marmalade, tea dye

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Card Captain-Day 4-May 2, 2013

Happy Thursday! My project for today is an altered book layout. Maybe not so much a tutorial but an encouragement...when you alter a book, there are no rules! It's really fun and relaxing. You can do whatever you want. And if you make a mistake, you can rip out the page and start again in another part of the book.

My stamping friend, Lynette, and used Dylusions spray ink outside in her backyard. The colors are bright and vibrant, but we had trouble with the spay mechanism on 3 of the 4 bottles. We both wanted the fine mist look. We tried stencils and masks. After spraying over the stencil, we closed the book to transfer the ink from the top of the stencil to the other side of the book.





Stamped Michael Strong's dragonfly, butterfly, bird and egg on cardstock with various ink pads. Added additional color with colored pencils. Stamped various sentiments on cardstock. Used wavy scissors and the end of Labels Ten Nestabilities die to trim. Added Distress inks to edges with foam applicator. Trimmed purple paper with scissors to create "grass". Used dimentional foam adhesive to secure the egg in the "grass". Used  a small amount Perfect Paper Adhesive to adhere part of the the trimmed dragonfly, bird and butterfly and the edge of the tag. Used several strands of variegated sewing thread for the end of the tag.

I am not a fan of the ink sprays. I find that the spray gets all over the place. I worry that I'll ruin my clothing or something in my home! I prefer to sponge distress inks on the altered books. However, you may be intererested in the sprays. There are many tutorials online. Here is one from Dyan Reaveley
(Sorry for the incorrect link. It should be good now)
First she sprays water on her surface, either paper or her journal/altered book. I think that helps to blend the color. However, I was looking for a misted look. I would love to hear your comments on any of the info presented here.

Materials:
An old book-nice to start with a book with sturdy/thick pages (instead of very delicate ones)
Dylusions Spray Ink: Fresh Lime, London Blue, Vibrant Turquoise
Inkpads: Tim Holtz Distress peacock feathers, scattered straw, Stampin' Up! marvelous magenta, Colorbox Chalk (a shade of purple from Lynette's house-possibly blackberry or lavender)
Various brands of colored pencils from Lynette's and my stash
Stamps:  
Hero Arts Treasure the Moments
Michael Strong's Cloisonne Dragonfly, Cloisonne Cameo, Mini Cloisonne Wings, Mini Cloisonne Shapes
TPc studios Playful Expressions & Secret Garden Collage

Cuttlebug Measure by Measure 7" embossing border
Perfect Paper Adhesive
Dimensional foam adhesive square

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Card Captain-Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Some of you know that I love interactive cards. Today's card of the day for the Enjoy Michael Strong Stamps Yahoo Group is a Criss Cross No Waste card using Little Houses and Mini Cloisonne Wings (the butterfly and dragonfly) . I used Lynn's tutorial for the no waste version of the criss cross card.

Basically you start with cardstock that is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 inches. Score at 4-1/4"then fold in half. A triangular portion of what will be the front it cut.  I embossed that cut piece (see it on the right) with one of my favorite Cuttlebug embossing folders called Victoria. That piece is turned and added back under the other diagonal flap and secured with a high tack adhesive strip. I like Scrapbook Adhesive's Craft & Photo Tape 81'.  


Below you see the criss cross part and the insert separately:

Below you see a closer view of the insert:
My insert  measures 4-1/2" wide by 4" high. The white overlay is 4" wide by 3-1/2" high.  I stamped off twice to get lighter versions of the Distress pickled raspberry (butterfly) and Distress seedless preserves (dragonfly). The "Thinking of you" stamp is from Hero Arts and stamped with Marvy black ink.

Materials:
Green and White cardstock
Stamps: Michael Strong's Little Houses and Mini Cloisonne Wings (the butterfly and dragonfly), Hero Arts (sentiment)
Distress inks: Tim Holtz barn door (house), pickled raspberry (butterfly), seedless grapes (dragonfly); Marvy Matchables #1 Black
Distress Marker- peeled paint for the dashes on insert
Stampin' Up' Tab punch
Tim Holtz Mini stapler
Adhesive: foam adhesive squares and Scrapbook Adhesives Craft & Photo Tape