Bister Birthday Cards

 

Bister (also spelled Bistre) is a granule that bursts into color with the addition of  water. My friends on the  Enjoy Michael Strong Stamps Yahoo Group introduced me to it. Heidi sent me samples of all 8 colors.
You can see Heidi's  bister cards here.
Herma has some great bister/bistre cards here, here and here.

For these cards, I sprinkled bister granules on white cardstock, then spritzed with water.

 When completely dry (I used a heat tool, but ended up letting it sit overnight) I ironed the first between 2 pieces of paper. I used a distress tool to fray the edges on the 2nd card. I inked the edges with broken china distress ink.
On the first card, I added twine, a stamped scalloped layer with a stamped polka dot "paper ribbon".
On the second card, I inked Michael Strong's smaller leaf stamp with vintage photo and broken china distress markers for a multi color look. Tied fibers on the left side of the card.

Stamps: Hero Arts, Michael Strong, Stampabilities, Stampendous

Inks: Tim Holtz Distress, Stampin' Up!
Ranger Distress Markers
Twine and Fibers from my stash

Harvest Time Challenge on EMS

This is my entry for the Harvest Time Sept.-Oct. Challenge at Enjoy Michael Strong Stamps Yahoo Group.

Michael Strong recently provided a free pumpkin digital image on his Born Doodler website. I printed it on thinner cardstock--Paper Company Value Pack. My laser printer didn't like my usual white cardstock--110 lb. Georgia Pacific paper. 

I colored the pumpkin with colored pencils and fussy cut it.

Used the Woodgrain embossing folder by Sizzix/Tim Holtz on brown paper. Then cut it to look like a tree. Leaves were made with a leaf punch.

To create the sun, I punched a circle in a post it note, using it as a mask when applying stormy sky distress ink to the top of the 4 x 5-1/4 inch layer. 

Used the punched out portion to ink just the circle-sun with scattered straw distress ink. 

I made "hills" cut cutting curves into cardstock. Then applied Stanpin' Up! old olive ink with a sponge.

I wrote the text on small rectangles of white cardstock that was distressed with scattered straw ink.

To print on the inside layer, I opened MS Word and added Mike's pumpkin image twice.

I had planned to create 2 inside pieces that would each be 4 x 8 inches and they'd be folded in half.

  I was figuring to make a 2nd card so why not print both at once. 

However, I was confused and thought "landscape" instead of "portrait". 

So I just trimmed the paper to 4 x 5-1/4 inches, which works fine.

Michael Strong 6th Anniversary Blog Hop

Happy 6th Anniversary 

to the Enjoy Michael Strong Stamps Yahoo Group!

A celebration Blog Hop has been organized by Hetty. 
I hope you enjoy the artwork along the way.
If you leave a comment on every one of the blogs in the 6th Anniversary Hop
you have a chance to win a give away.

To commemorate this 6th Anniversary we are supposed to share
our first Michael Strong stamp

and

the card or art project that we made with it.

Well, due to old age, I can't remember!

I think my first Michael Strong stamp set was the Mini Cloisonne Shapes.

(Click image for larger view.)
To celebrate, I made this pocket card 
using the mini flower and the mini fan from Mike's Mini Cloisonne Shapes.

This stamp set is so versatile! The possibilities are endless!
I used off-white cardstock (with flecks) cut to 4-1/4 x 11 inches 
and scored at 5-1/2 and 9-1/2 inches.
I folded on the scored lines, used a corner rounder punch
then added distress ink to the edges.
Stapled sides with mini staples to create the pocket.
 
My tag layers measured:
3-3/4 x 5 inches
3-3/8 x 4-5/8 inches
3 x 4 inches
You can make the tag  however you wish.
Just be sure it will slide into the pocket!
I punched a hole in the top right side of the finished tag
and used a strip of tulle for a bow.
Used tiny circle stickers for a little glitz.

Materials:
Stamps-Michael Strong Mini Cloisonne Shapes.
Also used Hero Arts, Printworks, Stampablities Stampin' Up!

Inks-wild honey, scattered straw, ripe persimmon, dried marigold
chocolate chip, old olive, mellow moss

THANKS SO MUCH for stopping by!
If you are following the hop, you have come from Jill P's Place 
Now it's time to proceed to Hetty's Craft Chaos blog
 where you will find a complete list of all the blogs in the 6th Anniversary Blog Hop!

Since we are an international group, we span various time zones.
If a blog has not been posted yet, please re-visit it later.

Thanks so much for visiting!
I hope you are inspired by all the creativity on the 6th Anniversary Blog Hop!

Altered Playing Cards

Inspired by Hetty's Altered Playing Cards, here are my altered playing cards.

I painted the cards with gesso as suggested by Claudine of Claudine's Art Corner.
Claudine introduced an Altered Playing Card Challenge
and has a Facebook Group for it.

When my gesso was dry, I painted with
Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabbers, Aqua and Raspberry. 

(If your dabber paint has become a clump, you can add water to thin, then use a paintbrush.)

Stamped Michael Strong Leaves with broken china and fussy cut them.

Cut words from velum and glued to leaves.

Used Lifestyle Crafts Goosebumps LACE embossing folder, 

cut a section then distressed with broken china.

Cut leaves flowers from printed paper scraps, gluing them as shown.

Stamped edges with a Club Scrap Textiles and Notions unmounted stamp 

using Stampin' Up! Lovely Lilac ink.

Color pencils used on Michael Strong Star stamp.

Added Clear Star Gelly roll pen for some glitz, which doesn't show in the image.

Laughter sentiment, unknown origin.

Happy Gals from ERA graphics.

Anniversary Card

Here's an anniversary card I made for our neighbors.

Stamps:

Hero Arts Four Hearts #CG426 cling rubber stamp

Stampabilities: Happy Anniversary wood stamp

 

Inks:

 Distress Scattered Straw and Versafine Onyx Black

Cuttlebug Heart Blocks embossing folder

 

Martha Stewart Daisy Edge Punch