Clearly Besotted Teasers | Hello Cupcake

Hello there and welcome to the start of the Clearly Besotted Teasers for August! The new stamps and dies release on the 1st August at 8pm BST and from now until then, the Design Team will be sharing teasers with you. For my card today, I am using the new Hello Cupcake set along with the new Say Something set. Yes, the hippos are back! :)

 

I started off by stamping the hippos from the Hello Cupcake Stamp Set on to white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. I coloured them using Copic Markers (the colours I used are listed below the supplies section) and then fussy cut them out with scissors (but there are dies available). These were then set aside while I worked on the background.

 

 

I took an A2 white card base and using the MFT Radiating Rays Stencil, I blended ink rays on to the card. I used Shaded Lilac, Picked Raspberry and Peacock Feathers Distress Oxide Inks with ink daubers. I then took a panel of white cardstock and cut this using a cloud border die from CraftStash. I took one of the sentiments from the new Say Something Stamp Set (a fabulous sentiment set) and stamped this on to the bottom of the panel. This was then adhered to the card base with foam tape.

 

 

The hippos were added with more foam tape. I then added dots of glitter to the cupcakes with Copic Spica pens for some added sparkle. I also added chunky confetti glitter to the background for even more sparkle and shine.

SUPPLIES:

Here are the links to what I have used on the card. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. Products marked with an asterisk (*) were kindly sent to me to use.
 

COPIC MARKERS: Hippos - W7, W5, W3, W1. Cupcakes - E55, E53, E51, E50. Purple frosting - BV11, BV01, BV00, BV000, Spica Lilac 13. Pink Frosting - R85, R83, R81, Spica Pink 02. Aqua frosting - BG13, BG23, BG11, BG10, Spica Turquoise 08.

I just love these little guys! So cute! For more inspiration using the new release, please head over to my teamies Stephanie, Keren and Lisa. Thanks so much for stopping by to see me today, I really do appreciate it. Have a great day, see you tomorrow!

VIDEO | Alcohol Inks 4 Ways

Hello there, today I am sharing a look at using alcohol inks in four different ways, combining backgrounds with the new Spellbinders May 2018 Small Die Of The Month Kit. As you may be aware, I have really been enjoying using alcohol inks. Although I have shared lots of cards using them, I have had requests to use them more in videos, so what better way than sharing four different ways to use them. These are not ground-breaking by any means, but I hope you will enjoy!

 

 

In case you haven't worked with alcohol inks before, there are some precautions that you may want to take. You do need to use these in a well-ventilated area. In my case, I have the window open that is next to my desk. You may also want to protect your workspace. I cover my desk with an old sheet. This does not look pretty but believe me, when you have spent hours cleaning up spots of alcohol ink from all over your desk, it is worth it! ;)

 

 

I also wear gloves when using alcohol inks. This is definitely not necessary (unless your skin reacts to them) but I do find that when cleaning my hands with alcohol, it dries them up quite a lot so I try and avoid that where I can. I also use a craft sheet as my surface. This is not advisable as it does damage it. It will stain it and you cannot get those stains off. I have an old craft sheet that I used for at least 5 years before using it with alcohol inks and now I just use that sheet for alcohol inks only, so it doesn't bother me too much but a glass mat is probably more advisable.

 

ALCOHOL INK WITH FOIL

So let's get into the yummy backgrounds! My first one uses alcohol inks with foil. Often with alcohol inks, a lot of people avoid getting the build up of alcohol inks where it goes sticky. This time, we can use that to our advantage and add foil.

 

The foil sticks to any of those sticky areas without having to add additional adhesive. This way, I feel that it gives the background a more organic look as the foil is added to places at random. For this card, I used Aquamarine, Stonewashed, Sailboat Blue, Eggplant and Indigo alcohol inks on Yupo paper. I added on some droplets of Alcohol ink Blending Solution and then applied Silver Deco Foil. I used a mini brayer to make sure that the foil stuck to the alcohol ink and then lifted off.

 

 

I set the piece aside to dry for a little while and then used a soft brush to brush away any of the excess foil. I really like the look of the silver with the blues. The background was cut down added to an A2 white card base with tape runner. I then cut the celebrate die from the Spellbinders Small Die Of The Month Kit from white cardstock, added foam tape behind and added this to the card.

 

ALCOHOL INK WITH MIXATIVES

My next card uses alcohol inks with mixatives. I applied Cool Peri, Pink Sherbet, Raspberry, Purple Twilight and Amethyst alcohol inks to Yupo paper. I then applied a good amount of Alcohol Ink Blending Solution to this, to mix and blend the colours together.

 

I then took small drops of the Silver Mixative and added these to the panel. I dropped on Alcohol Ink Blending Solution and using a spritzing tool, pushed the colour around. This disperses the mixative and helps it combine with the colours of alcohol ink. I thought this background looked a little like marble (if marble was pink and purple!).

 

 

The panel was cut down and added to a white A2 card base with tape runner. I then cut a panel of white cardstock using the thank you die from the Spellbinders Small Die Of The Month Kit. This was added to the card with foam tape.

 

ALCOHOL INK WITH STENCILS

My next way of using alcohol inks, is with stencils. It is a great way to create more interest and add patterns to alcohol ink backgrounds. For this background, I applied a good coating of Alcohol Ink Blending Solution to the Yupo paper first (this helps to blend the colours and move them easier). I then applied Aqua, Pool and Mermaid alcohol inks and moved them around with a spritzing tool. The piece was then set aside to dry for about 10 minutes.

 

Once dry, I placed the CraftStash Flourish stencil on top. I added some Alcohol ink Blending Solution to an ink blending tool (with foam on the bottom) and smooshed this on to the stencil. This erases some of the alcohol ink and lightens some up. This will work better with some stencils/patterns than others and also some colours of alcohol ink. I really like the effect though.

 

 

The panel was cut down and added to a small white 4-Bar notecard (3.5" x 4 7/8"). I die cut the smile die from the Spellbinders Small Die Of the Month Kit on to a panel of white cardstock and added this to the card with foam tape.

 

INK SMOOSHING WITH ALCOHOL INKS

My final way of using alcohol inks is to use the ink smooshing method. I tend to use this when I want a more soft, blended look. I think it is perfect for ombre looks like sunsets or maybe an ocean.

 

For this piece, I applied Lemonade, Honeycomb, Peach Bellini, Valencia and Watermelon alcohol inks to my craft sheet. I then applied Alcohol Ink Blending Solution. The paper was dipped or smooshed into the ink and then lifted up.

 

 

When the piece dried, the colours blended even more and created a nice sunset look. The panel was cut down and added to a white 4" x 4" card base. I die cut the hello die from the Spellbinders Small Die Of The Month Kit from white cardstock and added this panel to the card with foam tape.

 

VIDEO:

Here is the video showing how I made all of the backgrounds:

 

 

SUPPLIES:

Here are the links to what I have used on the cards and in the video. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. Products marked with an asterisk (*) were kindly sent to me to use.
 

 

I really like how these cards came out. I think the alcohol ink backgrounds work really well with the white panels on top. I apologise for the long post but I hope you like the cards! Thank you so much for visiting me today, I hope you have a fabulous day!

VIDEO | Mixed Media Background with Distress Resist Spray

Hello there, today I have a card to share using various different media to create an interesting background. I used Distress Resist Spray and as you will see, it didn't quite turn out as I expected!

I started off my card by die cutting a panel of watercolour paper using the rectangle die from the Crafti Potential A2 Stitched Rectangles - Fleur de Lis die set. I then decided to create my own stencil. I die cut a piece of Yupo paper using the Petal Trellis Die from The Christina Collection available at CraftStash, which they kindly sent me to play with. I love creating stencils from Yupo as they are hard-wearing and can be cleaned with water without damaging them.

I placed the panel and the stencil inside a cardboard box and sprayed the piece with Distress Resist Spray. This stuff will stick to anything (you cannot wash it off) so spraying inside a cardboard box is ideal. After spraying, I cleaned the nozzle with a baby wipe (which Tim Holtz advises to do) and placed my stencil in a tub of water to clean. You need to add the stencil to water straight away, otherwise you will not get the spray off!

Taking some Tonic Aqua Flow Pens, I added colour to the panel as well as some Nuvo Embellishment Mousse. I had hoped the Resist Spray would resist the water based Aqua Flow Pens but it didn't. It actually seeped in to it to create darker areas. Oh well! I do like how the background come out none the less. I then dried it with a heat tool (the Distress Resist Spray is heat stable). The panel was added to a white A2 card base with foam sheet and double sided tape.

I took a butterfly from The Christina Collection Layered Butterflies Die Set, which was also kindly sent to me from CraftStash, and die cut this from vellum and from white cardstock. I layered these together with Multi Medium Matte glue and then added it on to the card, again with MMM. The sentiment, from the Clearly Besotted Tiny Type set was stamped with black ink on to white cardstock and cut in to a strip. This was added to the card with thin foam tape. To finish off, I added a few Iridescent Jewels.

VIDEO:

 Here is a look at how I made the card:

SUPPLIES:

Here are the links to what I have used on the card and in the video. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. Products marked with an asterisk (*) were kindly sent to me to use.

 

Have you tried the Distress Resist Spray? Have you had better results than me? I am really looking forward to trying it again with some other Distress products. Thank you so much for popping by to see me today. I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a great day and a fabulous weekend!

VIDEO | Easy Emboss Resist with Distress Oxide Inks

Hello there, today I have a card to share using one of the new background stamps from CraftStash. They are all A6 in size so cover an A6 card perfectly (for those of you not living in the UK, A6 is our standard size card). I, however, usually make American A2 cards (finished card front 4.25" x 5.5") so I wanted to see if I can still make the stamp work in that format. Obviously, you can just cut the panel down but I wanted to see if I could still use it covering an entire card front.
 

I started off by stamping the Floral Sketch stamp on to a piece of Tim Holtz watercolour cardstock. I stamped the image with Versamark Ink, using the Mini MISTI to get a good impression. I applied white embossing powder and heat set. I tried to place the stamp in to the centre of the watercolour piece so that there would be an even strip of non-stamped image to either side.

I then took Distress Oxide Inks and blended these over the piece. I used Worn Lipstick,. Picked Raspberry and Wilted Violet. For some added shine, I spritzed over Sparkle Shimmer Spritz and set aside to dry. Once dry, I added the panel flat on to a white A2 card base.
 

I die cut the Simon Says Stamp Painted Happy Birthday three times from black cardstock and layered these up adding them to the card. I like to layer up die cut words, especially when I have kept the rest of the card flat.

VIDEO:

Here is a look at how I made the card:
 

SUPPLIES:

Here are the links to what I have used on the card and in the video. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. Products marked with an asterisk (*) were kindly sent to me to use.
 

I think having the two non-stamped strips at the sides of the card frames the stamping quite nicely. I love how well the Distress Oxides work for emboss resist too. Thank you so much for visiting me today. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!