Ocean scene

This week's CHF challenge was to create a scene. I decided to try a technique I learned at Stamping Around Connecticut from Donna-Marie Cecere's layered card class. (You can see the card we made in her class at the bottom of this post.)

So, I started by placing all of my stamps on one big acrylic block. Then I stamped the whole scene on a piece of white cardstock and then stamped it again on a piece of acetate. I used the Clear Card Sheets from CHF.

I colored the seaweed, bubbles and shells on the back of the acetate with my copics and then put it aside to dry.

The background on the white cardstock was created by swiping it with a baby wipe that I dotted with Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue and Cool Carribean reinkers. Once it dried, I colored the seaweed, bubbles and shell in with a white gel pen. This way the coloring from the acetate would show up. Here's an angled shot to show you what I mean.

Lastly, I stamped all the little sea creatures on PTI white cardstock and colored in with my copics.

Then the layering began. I cut out all the creatures and glued them directly to the colored background. I also cut the waves at the top out and adhered the whole background to another white sheet of cardstock. Then I put 2 layers of foam mounting tape all along the outside of the scene. This is what I adhered the clear sheet of acetate to. It is really important that the images line up exactly or else you get a weird 3-d movie effect.

Finally, I glued the black frame on top to hide the mounting tape. The last step was to adhere the dolphin on top with dimensionals. I decided to cover him in crystal effects so he would look wet. I also put some stickles on the waves to give a foamy look.

I was super happy with the way this came out. I am also using this as my challenge card for the Anything Goes card challenge in the SSUS group. I hope my partner likes it too. :)

Stamps: Ocean Friends, from Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink: Stazon Jet Black, Memento Tuxedo Black, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue and Cool Carribean reinkers
Card stock: Whisper White, Cool Carribean, Basic Black, PTI White, CHF Clear Card Sheets
Accessories: Tan Flock, Foam Mounting Tape, Icicle Stickles, Crystal Effects
Tools: Paper Snips, Exacto Knife

Christmas in July

Okay, week 3's challenge at CHF was to use the resist technique. I haven't done this in years, so it was fun to pull out some sponges & embossing powder and give it a try.

I stamped the modern star with VersaMark on glossy card stock. Then I embossed it with clear embossing powder. After letting it dry for a little while, I sponged More Mustard ink at the center of the star and then sponged So Saffron ink around the outside. I was able to do some blending of the two colors since the ink doesn't dry right away on the glossy card stock. I really love the way it came out.

I also used the Weave backgrounder on the brocade blue panel before embossing my sentiment (which is from a retired Stampin' Up! set).

Clean & simple. I like it!

Stamps: Modern Star & Weave Backgrounder, from Cornish Heritage Farms and Star Studded Season from Stampin' Up!
Ink: VersaMark, Brocade Blue, More Mustard, So Saffron
Card stock: Whisper White, Glossy White, Brocade Blue, Night of Navy
Accessories: White detail embossing powder, Dimensionals
Tools: Long Oval and Long Scalloped Oval Nestabilities from Spellbinders, Sponges

That's better!

This week's CHF challenge was to create our design by paper piecing. I don't do this technique very often, so it was very fun to give it a try. I really didn't like the way the last card came out, so I decided to have a do-over. I swapped out the little squirrel for a bird, but otherwise, the layout is the same. I really am much happier with this card. It was fun to pull together.

Stamps: Spring Trees, Mocha Chica & Take Time to Enjoy Your Day, from Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink: Palette Noir Black Ink
Card stock: Papertrey Ink White, Basic Black, Various Patterned Papers

Coloring, coloring

I really waited for the last minute on this one. This is my first entry into the Summer Stamp Star Design Challenge Contest at Cornish Heritage Farms. This week's challenge was called Color It! We were to use our favorite coloring medium to color a card with CHF stamps. In case you haven't noticed, my stamping muse has taken a vacation. I really tried, but this was the best I could do today. Next week's card will be better, I promise!

Anyway, most of the images for this set are from Spring Trees, but the cupcake and sentiment are from Tag You're It. I think this squirrel looks really cute holding that cupcake. I colored everything with my copic markers. The cupcake is iced with Star Dust stickles and the butterfly has a little crystal effects on the wings.

That's pretty much it!

Stamps: Spring Trees, Tag You're It! & Weave Backgrounder, from Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Lavendar Lace
Card stock: Papertrey Ink White, Basic Black
Accessories: Crystal Effects, Start Dust Stickles
Tools: Copic Markers