Sponge Brayers & Seasides

Stamp set: Wetlands

Cardstock: Whisper White, Pacific Point & Sahara Sand

Ink: Marina Mist, Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise, Sahara Sand, Memento Black & Craft White

Extras: Linen Thread

Tools: Sponge Brayers

This was the card design I made for a technique class  using the Sponge Brayers. I must admit I wasn't too sure about the Sponge Brayers at first... but once I tried them I didn't mind the results I was getting. Then showed everyone in the class how they worked best for me and they were all very happy with the results they ended up with too. The other comments I heard during the class were; "They're easier to use than the rubber brayer" and "They're more forgiving than the rubber brayer" and " I think I'll have to order some of those"! 

So of course I had included a few more projects in later classes using the Sponge Brayers. This was to not only show the possibilities of the Sponge Brayer, it was also to help everyone get some more practice, because the more you practice the better you get.

I've noticed that when people order a product they also like seeing it used and demonstrated in classes to get more ideas on how to use it at home.

Because I ran two classes I had two demonstration cards plus my practice and sample cards, you can see from the photos below that they all turn out slightly different.

                                          

                                       

After all the ink colours have sponge brayered onto the white cardstock, you can stamp the images in black.

Either use a White Craft ink pad, or a White Chalk Pen to add some white wash and background waves.

The White Gel Pen is great for adding a bit of white to the backs of the seagulls.

What else but the Wink of Stella to add some sparkling highlights to create a shimmery shiny sea.

Swirly Bird & Swirly Scribbles

When I first got this stamp set I made a bunch of cards to show them off quickly for the new Catalogue, so some are pretty much cased from some lovely cards I had seen on Pinterest, and some were just a basic demonstration of  how versatile this Bundle really is.

This card is hiding a secret... more to come on what's inside soon : )

Stamp Set: Swirly Bird & Endless Birthday Wishes

Cardstock: Peekaboo Peach, Crumb Cake, Basic Black & Very Vanilla

Ink: Peekaboo Peach, Flirty Flamingo, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive & Black

Extras: Linen Thread

Stamp Set: Swirly Bird & Birthday Blooms

Cardstock: Peekaboo Peach, Daffodil Delight & Whisper White

Ink: Peekaboo Peach, Daffodil Delight, Cucumber Crush & Emerald Envy

This next card was very much inspired by Amanda Mertz on Pinterest  

Stamp Set: Swirly Bird & Flourishing Phrase

Cardstock: Sweet Sugarplum, Crumb Cake & Whisper White

Ink: Sweet Sugarplum, Peekaboo Peach, Flirty Flamingo, Watermelon Wonder, Emerald Envy & Crumb Cake

Tools: Swirly Scribbles Thinlits & Brick Wall Embossing Folder

Extras: Ruched Ribbon,

This next card was cased from Ilina Crouse on Pinterest 

Stamp Set: Swirly Bird & Endless Birthday Wishes

Cardstock: Ivory, Crumb Cake & Very Vanilla

Ink: Rose Red, Real Red, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive & Black

Tools: Swirly Scribbles Thinlits 

Extras: Linen Thread

Stamp Set: Swirly Bird & Flourishing Phrase

Cardstock: Crumb Cake & Whisper White

Ink: Crumb Cake, Peekaboo Peach , Pool Party, Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point, Cucumber Crush & Emerald Envy 

Tools: Swirly Scribbles Thinlits & Paper Piercing tool

Stamp Set: Swirly Bird & Thoughtful Banners

Cardstock: Emerald Envy, Dapper Denim & Whisper White

Ink: Emerald Envy, Dapper Denim & Marina Mist

Tools: Tree Builder Punch

Extras:  Emerald Envy Bakers Twine

Technique: Masking & Sponging

 Stamp Set: Swirly Bird & Flourishing Phrases

Cardstock: Flirty Flamingo & Whisper White

Ink: Sweet Sugarplum, Flirty Flamingo, Peekaboo Peach, Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Wistira Wonder & Rich Razzleberry

Tools: Tree Builder Punch & Softly Falling Embossing Folder

Extras:  Sweet Sugarplum Rouched Ribbon

Technique: Masking & Sponging

Partial pop-up kites (Dimensional on the top & fast fuse on the bottom). 

The clouds are masks made from the Tree Builder Punch, with a little bit of Wisteria Wonder on the bottom.

Thought I'd add a pop-up kite on the inside of the card.

 Stamp Set: Swirly Bird & Hardwood

Cardstock: Sahara Sand & Whisper White

Ink:  White Craft, Marina Mist, Pool Party, Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point & Sahara Sand

Tools: Tree Builder Punch

Extras: Whisper White Bakers Twine

Technique: Masking & Sponging

 Stamp Set: Swirly Bird & Edless Birthday Wishes

Cardstock: Dapper Denim, Real Red & Whisper White

Ink:  Dapper Denim, Marina Mist, Real Red, Sahara Sand & White Craft

Tools:Swirly Scribbles Thinlits, Tree Builder Punch & Circle Punches

Extras:  Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine

Technique: Masking & Sponging

The card on the left has had the sails stamped and cut out separately, while the card on the right has had all the pieces of the boat stamped and cut out all together. 

This is a fun stamp set and I loved making these cards, but unfortunately I happened to lose the left sail stamp of the boat -Ahhhh!!!! : (  right before I needed it for an event Shari and I held. So annoyed with myself for that... Anyway I was lucky a fellow demonstrator could lend me one for the event  (Thanks Jacinta ). And no... I still haven't found my missing sail. Hopefully it will miraculously  just appear in front of me one day... 

Tent Fold Variation Card -with Lovely as a Tree & Birthday Blooms

Template & measurements for this card at the bottom of the page.

The inspiration for this card came from a pin I seen on Pinterest, it looked interesting so I checked it out and gave it a go. For anyone else who would like to check it out click on the Link... 

This was the card I made for a class.

I had a day class and a night class, the day class done Mint Macaron and the night class done Delightful Dijon. 

Stamps: Birthday Blooms

Cardstock: Mint Macaron & Whisper White

Ink: Mint Macaron, Basic Gray, Rose Red & Pink Pirouette 

Tools: Circle Punches & Trimmer

Extras: Lace Ribbon & Clear Wink of Stella 

The flower is watercoloured with a little bit of Wink of Stella added to the centre (not that you can see it).

Wink of Stella is also added heavily all around the edges of the Whisper White cardstock. 

 Stamp set:Birthday Blooms

Cardstock: Delightful Dijon & Whisper White

Ink: Delightful Dijon, Basic Gray, Cajan Craze & Old Olive 

Tools: Circle Punches & Trimmer

Extras: Lace Ribbon & Gold Wink of Stella 

Stamp sets: Lovely as a Tree & Hardwood

Cardstock: Tip Top Taupe, Basic Black & Whisper White

Ink: Tip Top Taupe, Memento Black, Crushed Curry, Marina Mist, Always Artichoke,Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede & Mossy Meadow

Extras: Linen Thread

Torn post-it note creates the perfect mask for background mountains.

I started the with Crushed Curry for  the sky on the horizon. Remember to tap off the excess ink from the sponge when creating soft, smooth skies . 

The Crushed Curry doesn't need to go all the way up to the top, it only needs to be on the horizon.

Next colour Marina Mist. Remember to tap off the excess ink from the sponge before applying to the cardstock. 

Starting at the top, gently add the Marina Mist using a soft circular motion. 

I used the opposite side of the torn post-it note to mask the sky so I could work on the mountains.

Mountains that are farther away in the distance are usually the darkest.

Always Artichoke, for the distant mountains. 

No need to tap off any ink here, apply heavily to achieve a deeper colour.

Rearrange the mask to continue mountain layers.

Old Olive;  Ink heavily & sweep upward to avoid catching the mask.

I think I stamped trees here and forgot to take a photo.

Remove the mask and fill in the rest with Pear Pizzazz.

I stamped the trees again, then stamped them onto a post-it note to make a mask for the foreground. Washi tape is great to hold things in place if you forget to stamp over the sticky portion of the post-it note : / 

Use some Old Olive ink to add dept behind the stamped tree ground.

Remove the mask.

I stamped the leaves & acorn onto this smaller piece of card stock & made a mask to cover it while sponging the background. ( Yes...it was very fiddly to cut that mask out ) 

Colour the image using; Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz, Always Artichoke, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake & Tip Top Taupe. I used the Water Pen to fill in some of the background the mask covered.

Thought I might add distant mountains at the bottom (but of course I thought of it after I attached it to the other layers of cardstock, hence extra mask).

Stick it all together and add some Linen Thread.

It didn't quite turn out as I had planned, but I needed to practice this card and make some samples for the class I was teaching it to. 

This next card was the other practice card I done while borrowing this stamp set & thinlits from another lovely Demonstrator/friend Katie.

Stamp set: Flourishing Phrases

Cardstock: Peekaboo Peach & Whisper White

Ink: Peekaboo Peach, Tangerine Tango, & Versa Mark

Tools: Flourish Thinlts & Heat tool

Extras: Water Pen & White Embossing Powder 

I embossed the flourishes with White powder then used the Water Pen to add some Peekaboo Peach & Tangerine Tango to the flowers & leaves.