Hey Friends! It’s EK, and I have been playing around with cardmaking, molding paste, and stencils lately. I find that one of the best collection of stencils for this technique is the line from Ilse and Charlene with their vivid detail and clean lines.
Step One: Onto heavy cardstock, push heavy molding paste through the Spring Flower Mandala stencil. Peel back the stencil and let dry. Make sure to wash the stencil before any of the molding paste dries.
Step Two: Spray liquid ink onto the cardstock. I used a collection of Lindy’s Starburst Sprays. Let ink dry.
Step Three: Polish the ink off the molding paste. Splatter the ink once more onto the paper so it pools in a few places. Let dry.
Step Four: Push more molding paste through one of the stencils from the Pattern Stencil Pack stencils over the ink in several spots. As the paste dries it will absorb the color underneath.
Step Five: Hand stamp the texture stamp from the Make A Wish stamp set with black ink onto the cardstock.
Step Six: Die cut the cardstock using the Stitched Rounded Rectangle die set. Using 10mm Clear Double Sided Adhesive, adhere the die cut cardstock to an A2 card frame.
Step Seven: Stamp two feathers from the Make a Wish stamp set onto some 90lb Soft Finish Cardstock with black ink.
Step Eight: Fussy cut out the feathers.
Step Nine: Using alcohol markers, color the feathers. I used copics in both Violet tones and Blue Violet.
Step Ten: Adhere the feathers to the card frame using 6mm Clear Double Sided Adhesive.
Step Eleven: Die cut a sentiment from the Words 2- Think of You die set. Adhere the sentiment to the card frame.
I just love the way the metallic spray inks reflect around the molding paste of the Mandala stencil.
Let us know in the comments below if you ever play with molding paste and card making? If not, how do you play with your Ilse and Charlene stencils? Make sure to let us know. Until then, happy crafting.
Hey Friends! It’s EK, and today I am popping in and sharing a few cards I created using hand stamped printed paper I created using Ilse and Charlene’s Stamps and Stencils. I love how you can created exactly the ‘printed’ paper you need using simply papers and monochromatic color scheme.
Step One: Using a diagonal line, hand stamp a fauna stamp from the Spring Fling stamp set onto Watercolor paper using colored ink. I used Rustic Wilderness Distress Oxide.
Step Two: Finish stamping the fauna in a diagonal pattern, alternating the direction of the stamp with each line.
Step Three: Spray the images with water, and set with a heat gun.
Step Four: Blend a lighter shade of ink through the Dot Dot Dot stencil and blend extra ink around the edges of the watercolor paper. I used Shabby Shutter Distress Oxide.
Step Five: Repeat step one using three of the flower stamps from the Spring Fling stamp set in a new shade of ink. I used Speckled Egg Distress Oxide.
Step Six: Repeat step two, finishing the diagonal stamping.
Step Seven: Repeat step three, spraying the ink with water. This one did not bleed as much as the others.
Step Eight: Repeat step four, blending ink through the Waves stencil and around the edges. I used Speckled Egg Distress Oxide for the background as well as the stamping.
Step Nine: Repeat step one using the Poppy Dream stamp set. I used Barn Doors Distress Oxide.
Step Ten: Repeat step two, and finish the stamping. Can you tell which row I messed up on?
Step Eleven: Repeat step three, spraying the ink with water.
Step Twelve: Repeat step four, blending a lighter ink through the Make Your Mark stencil. I used Abandon Coral Distress Oxide.
Step Thirteen: Repeat step one using a different stamp from the Poppy Dream stamp set. I used Crackling Fire Distress Oxide.
Step Fourteen: Repeat step two, and finish the stamping.
Step Fifteen: Repeat step three, spraying the ink with water. I really love how this one bleed.
Step Sixteen: Repeat step four, blending a lighter ink through the Make Your Mark stencil. I used Dried Marigold Distress Oxide.
Step Seventeen: Repeat step one using the Journaling Elements stamp set. I used Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide.
Step Eighteen: Repeat step two, and finish the stamping. On this printed paper, I added a second row using one of the sentiments from the stamp set.
Step Nineteen: On this printed paper, I added a second row using one of the sentiments from the stamp set.
Step Twenty: Repeat step three, spraying the ink with water.
Step Twenty One: Repeat step four, blending a lighter ink through the hearts on the Make Your Mark stencil. I used Spun Sugar Distress Oxide for an almost water mark look.
Step Twenty Two: Repeat step one using the Journaling Elements stamp set and the oversized sentiment ‘perfect’. I used Dusty Concord Distress Oxide. I added a second row of stamping using Milled Lavender and the paint brush strip stamp.
Step Twenty Three: For this printed paper, I added a third layer of stamping using the dash stamp set in Seedless Preservers Distress Oxide.
Step Twenty Four: Repeat step three, spraying the ink with water.
Step Twenty Five: Repeat step four, blending a lighter ink through the dash marks on the Make Your Mark stencil. I used Milled Lavender Distress Oxide again, loving how it blended into the stamped image of that same color.
Step Twenty Six: Die cut all six of the ‘printed’ papers using the Stitched Rounded Rectangle die set.
Step Twenty Seven: Using 10mm Clear Double Sided Adhesive, adhere the ‘printed’ papers onto A2 card frames.
Step Twenty Eight: Die cut black and white sentiments for the hand stamp ‘printed’ papers. I used a collection of planner die sets to create my sentiment die cuts. They are from the Planner Essentials 1, Planner Essentials 2, Planner Essentials 4, Planner Essentials 7, Planner Labels, and Retro Label Sayings stamp set. Adhere the sentiments to each of the cards.
Card One
Card Two
Card Three
Card Four
Card Five
Card Six
Do you ever created your own printed paper? Let us know in the comments below. Until then, happy crafting.
Hey friends! It’s EK, and today I am popping in with a super easy, super quick birthday card using both my gel press plate and Suzanne Cannon’s A Way With Words dies. I just love how simple this card was to make, but yet how impactful the look of it is!
Step One: Die cut the A Way With Words Big Balloon out of Watercolor paper.
Step Two: Ink up a gel plate with ink and blend with a brayer. I used Crackling Fire, Ripe Persimmon, and Wild Honey Distress Oxides. Press the die cut balloon onto the gel plate.
Step Three: Die cut the A Way With Words Happy Birthday 3 die set out of Watercolor Paper.
Step Four: Ink up the gel plate and blend with a brayer. I used Scattered Straw and Mustard Seed Distress Oxides.
Step Five: Splatter an A2 card frame with liquid ink. I used Fossilized Amber Distress Oxide Spray and Rusty Hinge Distress Ink Spray.
Step Six: Splattered the Big Balloon inked die cut with liquid ink. I used Fossilized Amber Distress Oxide Spray. Let dry. Ink the round edges with a black ink pad.
Step Seven: Using some 6mm Clear Double Sided Adhesive, adhere the Big Balloon onto the A2 card frame. Let the straight edges hang off the edge of the card frame.
Step Eight: Using a craft knife or scissors, trim the excess balloon off the card frame.
Step Nine: Using a liquid adhesive, adhere the birthday sentiment onto the balloon.
Step Ten: Using a black pen, add shadows and details to the die cut sentiment.
I just love how easy this card is to create. Make sure you pop over to the store and pick it up while it is still in stock and on sale!
Let us know in the comments below if you ever use a gel plate to add splashes of color to your die cuts. Until then, happy crafting.
Hey Friends! It’s EK, and I have been playing around with my gel press a lot lately seeing what new tricks and tips I can come up with using it.
It is fascinating all the different looks and styles you can create using the little slab of gel. Today I am using my press to create a grunge tag using several of Ilse and Charlene’s stamps and stencils.
Step One: Using one of the floral stamps from the First Sights of Spring stamp set, ink it up with a waterproof ink, and stamp it onto the gel press.
Step Two: Stamp a few more floral images from the First Sights of Spring around the focal image.
Step Three: Using alcohol markers, color in the images on the gel press, but be careful not to touch the stamped lines.
Step Four: Add a thin layer of white paint over the stamped and colored images.
Step Five: Press a manila tag into the wet paint, and pull the image up. Let dry.
Step Six: In the negative space on the tag, blend Salvaged patina Distress Oxide through the Spring Flower Mandala stencil.
Step Seven: Blend Wild Honey Distress Ink through the Story Telling stencil. Blend a little Frayed Burlap Distress Ink around the edge of the whole tag.
Step Eight: Hand stamp some extra texture onto the edges of the tag using the Words and Layers stamp set.
Step Nine: Splatter the tag with Salvaged Patina Distress Oxide Spray.
Step Ten: Using a stamping platform, add a sentiment from the Words & Layers stamp set.
Step Eleven: Add an assortment of textures and layered ribbons to the tag.
I just love how raw Ilse and Charlene’s stamp looks pulled from the gel press. The technique is so fun and organic looking.
Let us know in the comments below if you ever play around with your stamps on a gel press, or if you are interested in try out this technique. Until then, happy crafting!
Hey Everyone! It’s EK, and today I am bringing your a little project featuring two different stamp sets from Susanne Cannon’s A Way with Words collection. One of my hands down favorite dies from this collection is the Love Joy & Peace Christmas Ornament. Despite being a holiday die set, that ornament is so very versatile. I thought I would play around with it today and make a very spring card!
Step One: Die cut the ornament from the Love Joy & Peace Christmas Ornament die set from some craft glitter paper.
Step Two: Rub some purple ink onto a slick surface, spray with water, and smooch with Watercolor Paper. I used Distress Oxides in Milled Lavenders and Seedless Preserves. Dry the paper.
Step Three: Die cut twice the flowers and floral outline from the Wreath & Elements die set. Try to place the outline dies on the darker parts, and the flower base on the lightest.
Step Four: Repeat step two, but rub green inks instead. I used Distress Oxide Pine Needles and Bundled Sage.
Step Five: Due cut the floral stems two times from the green smooched watercolor paper.
Step Six: Repeat step two once more to create the base of the card. I used Distress Oxides in Dusty Concord and Stormy Sky, and managed to get two prints from it. Adhere one of the prints onto an A2 card frame.
Step Seven: Using a liquid adhesive, adhere the ornament onto the background. I used Kids Choice Glue.
Step Eight: Adhere three of the flowers into the ornament letting them over lap.
Step Nine: From the bonus background print, die cut a sentiment from the Love Joy & Peace Christmas Ornament die set. I used the word love.
Step Ten: Adhere the sentiment and final flower onto the card frame.
Step Eleven: Add a few drops of Craft Drops in White around the sentiment. Let dry.
I hope you enjoyed seeing how I created a soft pastel floral spring card using my holiday Love Joy & Peace Christmas Ornament die set. Let us know in the comments below if you use your holiday die sets in the off season. Until then, happy crafting.
Hey Friends! It’s EK and today I am playing around with Ilse and Charlene’s Lady and Gentleman stamp set to create a card, colored only in neutral browns. I just love how an all brown tone project looks, appearing very rustic, and yet somehow really colorful.
Step One: Using both watercolor paper and waterproof ink, stamp both the Lady and Gentleman stamp set and the First Sights of Spring stamp set images onto your paper. My paper is cut larger than my card frame, so I know the edges will still need to be trimmed before turning this into a card.
Step Two: Color the people in the image and different brown tones. I used watercolor pencils, but any watercolor medium would work. Here I have colored in the people like I would if I was using colored pencils.
Step Three: Using clear water, activate the watercolor pencils. Let dry.
Step Four: Finish coloring the rest of the image using your watercolor medium of choice.
Step Five: Again activate the pencil using clean water. Let dry again.
Step Six: Fill in the empty space using one of the Pattern Stencil Pack stencils. I picked the circles stencils and blended Tea Dye Distress Oxide through the stencil.
Step Seven: Trim the watercolor paper to fit an A2 card frame and adhere it to the frame using 10mm Clear Double Sided Adhesive. Add craft drops to the project to add more visual interest. I used Metallic Gold Craft Drops to keep the neutral color palette.
Step Eight: Add a sentiment to the project from the Retro Label Sayings stamp set stamped in Frayed Burlap Distress Oxide.
What do you think of a project colored in only one color tone? Do you ever only ever use one value when creating a project? Let us know in the comments below. Until then, happy crafting.
Hey everyone! It’s EK and today I am popping in to share a little card I made using Joset’s Elephant and Hats die set. I thought it might be fun today to see if I could push the elephant into a slightly more whimsical position, and let him join in on the unicorn craze!
Step One: Using 90lb Soft Finish Cardstock, die cut both the Unicorn hat from the Hats die set and all the Elephant die set pieces including the legs a second time.
Step Two: Using alcohol markers, color the die cut pieces. I used copics.
Step Three: Using a liquid adhesive, assemble the elephant, tucking the second set of arms under his chin. I used Kids Choice Glue.
Step Four: On an A2 card frame, blend some blue ink. I used Distress Ink in Tumbled Glass. Splatter the card frame with some liquid shimmer.
Step Five: Using 10mm Clear Double Sided Adhesive, adhere the elephant to the card frame. Using liquid adhesive, adhere the water spray.
Step Six: Using the Safari Sayings stamp set, add a sentiment using dark blue ink.
Step Seven: Finally, adhere the copic colored hearts to the card, letting three of them surround the water spray, and one accenting the sentiment.
I just love how the Elephant turned out. I know he was intended to be on all fours, but I love the look of him standing with the extra set of legs.
Let us know in the comments below which of Joset’s animal die cuts is your favorite. Until then, happy crafting!
Hey everyone! It’s EK, and lately I’ve been trying to see how far you can push pretty die cuts. Today, I have pulled the Once Upon A Time die and airbrushed it with my copics, seeing if they technique can still keep the dreamy fairy tale look.
Step One: Die cut the Once Upon A Time die out of 90lb Soft Finish Cardstock. Using temporary tack tape, place the the die cut onto a trimmed 4.25×5.5 inch piece of 90lb Soft Finish Cardstock.
Step Two: Using the copic air brush system, spray different shades of violet and lavender over the die cut sentiment.
Continue spraying the cardstock until the entire piece is covered.
Step Three: Carefully pull up the die cut piece and rub the temporary tack away. Save the die cut, because you could make an additional project with it.
Step Four: To add additional flair to the card, pull out the Flourished Frame stencil and arrange it on the cardstock, using tape to block where you do not want the ink to go. Spray a dark grey ink into the stencil.
Step Five: Add a final bit of flair, add a few Transparent Crystal Craft Drops.
I love the almost graffiti look of this card, and truly feel it still it has that dreamy story book feel to it. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
Hey Friends! It’s EK and today I am playing around with Joset’s die cut building scene Once Upon A Time die set and some watercolors. I have over the years successfully created with copic markers and die cut built pieces. I have played around with colored pencils, distress inks, and distress oxides with success. Well, today I am breaking out my watercolor palette and seeing if I can be successful once again.
Step One: Die cut the Once Upon A Time die set out of Watercolor paper.
Step Two: Using ECD’s Watercolor Palette, watercolor the die cut pieces.
Step Three: Using liquid adhesive, build the die cut pieces into their images. I used Kids Choice Glue.
Step Four: Using a piece of watercolor paper, create a watercolor background scene that is simple but shows both sky and grass. Let dry. Using 10mm Clear Double Sided Tape adhere the background to an A2 card frame.
Step Five: Adhere the mushroom and clouds to the background.
Step Six: Layer the rest of the die cut pieces into the scene.
Step Seven: Add a sentiment from the Once Upon A Time sentiment stamp set in pale blue ink.
Step Eight: To add more texture to the project, add Transparent Craft Drops onto the butterfly, reeds and flower center.
Step Nine: The card needed even more texture to ground everything, so using watercolor pencils, flick in grass blades in two shades of green.
Step Ten: Activate the grass with a watercolor brush to blend out the flicks.
What do you think? Was this experiment with die cut buildables and watercolor successful?
Would you be will to try this technique? Let us know in the comments below. Until then, happy crafting.
