rockin' with a couple of cards

Here are a couple of cards that I made recently but hadn't had time to upload.


This first card was made using Memento dye inks. I was wanting to show off the colors and the way that they're a bit translucent and overlap. The stamps are by Heidi Grace Designs, and the embellishments are Robin's Nest dew drops.


For this card I used the regular and scalloped circle and regular and scalloped paisley Nestabilities dies by Spellbinders. I also used the large JustRite monogram stamp as well as the Hero Arts owl image and sentiment all inked with Memento dye inks. I used my Stardust pen to add the extra touches of glitter here and there.

Now, I wanted to mention that I tried something new when I made these cards. With the exception of the monogram stamp, all of the images on these two cards were stamped using clear stamps. I like them, but I've been accustomed to using rubber and sometimes the clear can be a little less forgiving about the amount of pressure that I put on them. I decided to give rock-a-blocks a try. They're made by Crafter's Companion and have been around in the UK for a while. What I like about these mounting "blocks" is that they help regulate the amount of pressure that's applied to the stamp. They also stamp the image using a rocking motion rather than direct downward pressure. I may write in more detail about this later. Suffice it to say, my images made using clear stamps do look good on a more consistent basis now. I'll take the help where I can get it, plus these blocks do fit in with my credo of making things easier and more foolproof. :-)

dream

I just wanted to post a quick card that I put together earlier. I'd been thinking about why I enjoy stamping with Memento dye inks so much. I put some of my thoughts to the test.


This card was made using images by Heidi Grace Designs. I stamped multiple times in various colors of Memento inks. What I like about these inks are the colors, the very fast drying time, easy clean up, and the fact that the inks have a transparent look about them. That is, stamping one color over another doesn't cover up the first color--they actually blend together a bit. I don't feel that this card is a particularly good example of that, but it's one of the characteristics about these inks that keeps me reaching for them over and over again. I'll try to capture that better next time. :-)

two more cards using new Cuttlebug folders

For this card I used the new Leafy Branch A2 Cuttlebug embossing folder to emboss a piece of glossy cardstock that I'd spritzed with Stampinback's Perfect Resist and then colored with a Kaleidoscope inkpad. Stampinback is a company based in the Netherlands. They also produce a metallic myst as well as stamps. I purchased the Perfect Resist from I Brake For Stamps. I can recommend that site. Great service! The sentiment is by Heidi Grace Designs.


For this card I creatively Cuttled using my Forest Branches Cuttlebug folder. The stamped images are by Inkadinkado and stamped using Memento dye inks. The flowers are Primas.

Partial Cuttling with new folders

I pulled out another "old" technique to use with one of the new Cuttlebug A2 embossing folders. This time I used partial Cuttling and the Floral Screen folder.


For this card I stamped the cardstock using Heidi Grace Designs clear stamps and Memento ink, then embossed it and added the score lines using my Scor-It. I embellished with Robin's Nest dew drops.


This card is actually debossed, not on purpose, but because it's one of the new releases that debosses if you use it with the logo facing you. Not a biggie in this case because you can just flip the folder over and use it to emboss. It's just that you have to REMEMBER to do it. Yep, even if you've marked the front of the folder to remind yourself that it will deboss. You can guess how I know that, eh? LOL!

The birds were made using a Martha Stewart punch. The sentiment is by Verve and stamped using Memento ink. I finished by adding a couple of bronze glitter dots.