INK SWIRLS

Hello Junkies, 

I'm here with a quick post...I wanted to show you a really easy and fun technique that I discovered while playing with my Technique Junkies stamps today.  I'm not claiming this is my technique....I'm sure someone some where has done this....It just came to me while playing with my inks today.

This is the same technique for both cards, just using different colored inks....who doesn't want to find new ways to use all those colored inks we have in our stash???  

Check it out.  The stamps I used for both cards was #SD611 "To The Moon" and #S656 "Celestial Dangles". 

The technique I used for this might be called soft and swipe.  I first inked the bg stamp with a light color dye ink then before stamping it on a white card base, I swiped a darker  shade of the same color family on the lighter ink, then stamped it.  I used my MISTI, so once I'd stamped the first time, I then took the lighter ink and (didn't clean the stamp) inked it up again and stamped over the image.  It popped the color amazingly.  For an additional touch, I took my Delicata Silver Shimmery pigment ink and swiped it down (vertically) across the entire panel.  I don't think the photo shows the incredible look of this, but it's quite gorgeous in real life.  For a final touch I added some sequins for sparkle and shine.  

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Head to the TJ Pinterest page and load up with inspiration.  

Merry Christmas and Happy Crafty New Year!  

ROCK STAR SPOTLIGHT

Hello blog friends!!! 

The House That Stamps Built is taking a break from the usual projects and challenges this month to bring back their Rock Star Spotlight series. This is a fun way to get to know all the Design Team members a little better. So each Monday and Wednesday throughout December they will be featuring a different Rock Star and showing off some of their latest creations too.

Please be sure to visit The House often and leave a little love in the comments of each Rock Star Spotlight. Wendy will be awarding a $25 Repeat Impressions gift certificate to one random commenter. Every comment earns you another chance to win. So visit and comment often. The winner will be announced on The House That Stamps Built blog the first Monday of next month.

Today is my day and the spotlight is shining on me!  I've been making Christmas cards with Repeat Impressions stamps....I've got three to show you.  

This card is an attached side panel that I sponged lightly with Distress Inks.  The image is RI# 2002-J "Holiday Lamp Post" that I heat embossed with gold ep.  I used Spellbinder A2 Bracket Borders Two dies to create the decorative panel and cut another for accent in gold cs.  The sentiment is RI#413-H "Let Heaven" .  I used some gold glimmer spray for some accent in the bg as well as my gold gel pen.  The star is a Memory Box die called "Star of Wonder".  

This santa makes me smile and I love using him on my Christmas cards....there's so much joy in his face!  He's RI#302-C "Holly Santa" and the sentiment is RI#2214-H "Ho, Ho, Ho".  The background was created by inking up an embossing folder and running it through my Vagabond.  I created the snowbanks using a die cut from Mama Elephant.  

Final card...thanks for sticking with me.  This card is my attempt at CASE'ing the fabulous Laura Bassen.  Somewhere I've seen her do a card like this and it was so much fun!!!  The stamps are RI#3814-K "Ornament Frame" , first stamped on the layering panel with just black ink, leaving a bare area.  I then stamped them again on another panel and sponged those with Distress Inks of various colors and fussy cut them out.  I then used RI#8805-K "Snowflakes", sprayed them with water and before the DI were dry, I stamped them onto the ornaments.  Next I simply glued the cut ornaments to the areas I'd stamped on the clean layer. I stamped and fussy cut the tops of the ornaments from glittery paper scraps.  I used my Sharpie pen and ruler to draw in the "strings".  To make them stand out a little more, I used my Shapie pen and went around each ornament.

Now please hop on over to The House to read my responses to the fun questionnaire Wendy had me fill out. Then be sure to leave a comment there for your chance to win the gift certificate.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I wish you all a very Merry Chirstmas and the healthiest and happiest of New Years!!!