Hot Foil Press

Well Hallelujah, finally something I own including the dies for todays homework. I can't believe how lucky that turned out. 

I wanted a hot foil press last Christmas which Santa brought me but I had a move plus unpacking a boat load of landscaping that had to be done, summer visitors and there just wasn't much time to play so this is actually the second time I've used it. A welcome challenge for sure.

Day 9's assignment was to use hot foil press and your copics which you can color after hot foil impression. Basically the foil resists the inks much like heat embossing. 

So still running behind I'm hoping to get some more free time tomorrow to get a couple of cards done. 

 

Blended Backgrounds

I admit it I am running behind by at least 3 classes. Yesterday I had to strike while the sun was shinning and plant 375 bulbs (a mix of tulips and hyacinth) and today I had to devote to cleaning. So fun time just had to wait. 

But alas here I am with class 7 I think. In this class homework involved inking up a stamped and embossed image while leaving one area uninked. Now I am not going to lie it took me I think 5 or 6 card panels before I was successful in getting this card panel completed. After card 3 I inked up the background but completely forgot to mask off the diecut. That was kind of the whole idea to ink up all but a portion of the card where you overlayed your die leaving it lighter as you inked closer to the masked area. My failed attempts were mostly from failing to have the right embossing powder and failing to heat emboss the entire image therefore when I inked up the card I rubbed off the embossing powder, talk about your frustrations.

As you can see I prevailed in the end. 

Stepped up Stencils

 For today's homework we were shown how to rethink using your stencils and I loved the project we were shown which did an ombre look down the stencil and using a piece of paper they were able to also provide a 2 tone look. Super excited I was ready to give this a try. 

However, you know when you are so inspired by a card that someone made you want to make it and as you raid your supplies you quickly realize that the products they used you do not own anything that would work. This usually requires a shopping spree for me but since I have now ordered from 3 different stores I think I really need to use what I have which sadly when it comes to Holiday stencils I am sorely lacking.

There was a part of me that knew I could use my Shilouette to make one or if you use the negative space from your dies that can be another makeshift stencil, but I really wanted to make something now. 

The nice thing about this whole Covid shutdown is learning on how to still meet up with your friends and since I was zooming with my bff she helped me pick out a stencil she thought looked like a candy cane so I went with it. 

I did my best to do an ombre effect and sadly ripped my stencil in the process so you'll see some coloring outside the lines that is. 

And my take on the ombre look minus the two tone colors

Embossed Cards x2

 Todays homework assignment was a lot of fun. I don't think I have been this excited to used my embossing folders before. This was day 5 and they did demonstrate using a gel block which I do not own and probably won't buy so for the first card I simply inked my deep embossing folder from Gemini. I think it actually worked fairly well and I was so excited by the folder that I actually tried foil, it worked but it wasn't enough foil on this particular image so into the trash it went. 

I used by Papertry Ink dies and stamps for the foilage, SSS for the sentiment and added so stickles for a bit of sparkle. Definitely a different kind of Christmas card. 

For the next card I pretty much followed the demonstration and grabbed some foil card to emboss and gotta say I love it. So hard to catch the glimmer in a picture. But I really loved how this turned out. 

This reminds me of some old KI Memories Holiday paper that I just loved. So I've completed my homework for day 5 and now onto day 6. 

Wow, another card done

I am amazed I was actually able to accomplish yet another card. This is the most I've done in a year.

Today's homework was for class 3. Infinity shaker cards which I've never heard of before, let alone made one. 

Basically you take the packaging film that most stamps come in, trim it down so it's about a half inch larger than your card panel, then slice it open along 1 of the seams then you wrap your panel with it and afix it to the back side of the panel using double stick tape,  leaving one end open to fill the card before you fill it.

I won't lie it is a pretty easy and fast way to make a shaker card, but for me I felt it looked very similar if you'd wrapped your couch in plastic. It just seems like I'd wrapped my card in plastic. I think I would prefer a frame around the project but I'm sure there's a fan base for these and honestly I can see why. I really enjoyed learning and trying something different.

Holy Crap it's a Card!

 Yes that's right ladies and gentlemen, I made a card. How long has it been, 3 moves, 2 fires and a new house. I've finally settled in and am on the crusty edge of creating again. 

Motivated by a Holiday card class, I signed up and have since watched my first video which was Monday..and I'm just getting a card done. I can't tell you how alien this is seeming to be, finding supplies figuring out stuff..it's almost all new but luckily not that new. 

Any hoo this is Day 2's homework assignment. It was a lesson on mass producing card. Intriguing idea of using a stamp background image then ink in the color. For this card I used a HoHo sentiment from MFTS and used their red ink to tone down my white card panel. I am learning you can use colored card stock to safe yourself some time but you know what I don't have a lot of colored cardstock so am limited. I also did as the class demonstrated and dipped the edge in embossing powder after using versamark to give a white outline to the card panel. 

Once I had my stamped and colored card stock panel I used pattern paper also from MFTS because I didn't have much in the way of a stencil as the class illustrated, especially holiday themed. I then mounted everything on to a card base and did a triple mat of the Joy from Hero Arts and added in some sequins. 

Whew can't believe this took two days to complete. I am so behind. 

Long over due

Since my last post we were asked to move because the house we were renting decided to sell, endured not 1 but 2 fires in our area. 1 of which required us to evacuate the home we were building with extreme prayers and the other sadly burned down 2 neighboring towns. 

We are finally getting closer to the end and moving in dates are looking hopeful.

But this is how the home is looking now

Inside still has a long way to go.