Beautifully Imperfect From Spellbinders

When I saw the new Beautifully Imperfect Collection from Spellbinders I wanted it all! The collection includes fantastic dies, embossing folders, rub-ons, papers and press plates and I got most of it except for the press plates for now. Another new purchase waiting to be played with in my craft room was the Lindy's Magical Shaker Set from Katie Pertiet called Laurel Garden, and I combined those on the cards I am sharing today. 

I had this idea to die cut and create a stencil with the Deckled Edge Script die from Spellbinders and sprinkle some of the new Lindy's Magicals onto it and get two for one backgrounds. My favorite of the new Beautifully Imperfect dies is the Tangled Threads die set. I am not a fan of taking thread and winding it up and attaching some how to a card. These dies make that look so easy and fun to do. The sentiments on all the cards I am sharing today came from the Beautifully Imperfect Rub-ons and I cut them out with a deckle scissors. 

This is  the card I created with a piece of embossed watercolor paper under the stencil from above. The amazing new 3D embossing folder is called Crackle Paint and is also part of the Beautifully Imperfect Collection. I added more Tangled Threads and a rub-on sentiment. 

This set wasn't as bright as the first but too good to throw away, so I combined the two pieces for more texture, and again added some Tangled Threads and a rub-on sentiment. 

Come back tomorrow for some more cards with this amazing collection.

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

More Black Salad Spun Backgrounds From My Latest Video

Wouldn't this peaceful card be perfect for a sympathy or even a Christmas card? It is one of many cards I share in my newest video where the backgrounds were created with a salad spinner, Lindy's Magicals Watercolor Powders, Ken Oliver's Liquid Metals and water. The trees is a die from Tim Holtz and Sizzix and "peace" is from Tonic Studios. 

The rocket is blasting off through space on this fun card perfect for kids. The rocket ship and astronaut were created with dies from Karen Burniston.

Here are the last two of the many I shared in the new video all created with black watercolor paper, Lindy's Magicals, Liquid Metals and water spun in a salad spinner. The first card features a die called Dream With Me by Picket Fence and a sentiment die from Karen Burniston. The second card features stars from Sizzix and the perfect sentiment from Simon Says Stamp.

I hope my cards and new video inspire you to try this technique and some of the products shown. I sure had fun and will have more videos in this Salad Spinner Series coming soon.

Salad Spinner Series - Black Backgrounds With Sparkle and Shine

Oh my gosh - I am having so much fun with making cards with my salad spinner! I tried using Lindy's Magicals Watercolor Powders and Ken Oliver's Liquid Metals on black watercolor paper and was thrilled with the results as I share in my newest video here. Just look at the shine and sparkle in the background of this card: 

If you like making galaxy backgrounds, or struggle with them like I do, this technique is for you! Lindy's Magicals create a subtle start of sparkle and then the Liquid Metals from Ken Oliver add the brighter shine. IRL they are even more gorgeous! I added a die cut duck scene from Gina Marie Designs and a birthday wish with a sentiment strip from Simon Says Stamp and "birthday" die from Sizzix.

This is the card I show how to make in the new video here. It is so easy to simply sprinkle on the Lindy's Magicals watercolor powders, add some Liquid Metals and spin it in the salad spinner after spritzing it with water. Each time you do it, the result is different but all are pretty! I die cut "You Shine" from Simon Says Stamp right out of the colored background, raised it on black fun foam and put it back in the die cut hole for the eclipse look. The stars are dies from Crealies. 

Here is another fun way to use these awesome backgrounds- create a shaker with the sparkly colorful black behind it. The stitched frame is from Kat Scrappiness and the sentiment is a Karen Burniston die. 

To see how fun it is to spin sparkly colors onto black watercolor paper backgrounds, watch the new video here. Or if you want to use white watercolor paper, watch the first in this series here. 

Watercolor Powder Comparison- Lindy's Magicals and Color Burst

All week long here on my blog I am sharing the cards I made with all my watercolor powders for the Watercolor Comparison video with LOTs of sample cards (and a card from start to finish with Brushos and a touch of sparkle from embossing powder.) Please click on the link to watch the video- I appreciate your support there.

One of my favorites of the watercolor powders I own is the Magicals from Lindy's Stamp Gang because they have a beautiful sparkle built right into them. I used fall colors of reds, oranges and yellows of the Magicals to create this background, then embossed the dried piece with a Sizzix embossing folder called Bohemian Lace. Then I simply added the beautiful "Thinking of You" from Quietfire Designs for a CAS lovely card.

I was in the mood for fall colors so for this card I used Ken Oliver's Color Burst in reds and oranges with some silver embossing powder, then die cut the gorgeous Maple Vine Frame from Tutti Designs. I layered it on a dark brown cardbase and added a colorful Thankful (die from Penny Black.)

I am entering the second card in the Anything Goes challenge at Scrapy Land.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today and also from clicking on over to check out the new video, leave a comment, give it a thumbs up and subscribe to my channel if you have not already done so. And thanks for helping me #share the joy of creativity!

Hello Fall Card

I recently purchased this lovely Northwoods leaf scene stamp at a used stamp sale for $1.00! Quite a bargain, right? I decided to create a colorful sunset scene with fall colors from Lindy's Magicals on watercolor paper. Then I stamped the leaf scene with my MISTI several times and also stamped the loon on white paper and cut him out. I added the "hello" sentiment cut with a Little B die. 

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenge at Scrapy Land and the Autumnal Creatures challenge at Craft Stamper Magazine.

Blessed Autumn Card

I am blessed in many ways and one of my biggest blessings is the joy I get from designing and sharing card making ideas with friends, in classes and on my blog. I created the background of this card with autumn colors of Lindy's Magicals which are watercolor powders with sparkle in them. I die cut the autumn frame out of red mirror card using a new die from Tutti Designs. After layering that on a green card base, I added the "Blessed" sentiment cut with a die from Penny Black. 

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenge at Scrapy Land.

Masculine Thanks Card with Die-Versions Dies

Happy Monday everyone! It's my turn to post a card on Die-Version's blog and mine, and I am sharing this  masculine thank you card featuring some favorite Die-Version’s dies. I created the background by sprinkling three colors of Lindy’s Magicals powders from the Autumn set onto watercolor paper and spritzing it with water to release the lovely colors. I die cut Die-Versions Rope Background and applied Nuvo Black Ash Mousse for realistic rope like color. I attached that when dry to the card front. Then I die cut and attached Die-Versions Sweet Petites Father and Son silhouette and “Thanks”.

**Remember you can get a 15% discount on any of Die-Version’s great dies by simply using my discount code karen15 when you check out at the Die-Versions website.**

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenge at Scrapy Land.

Best Wishes with Lindy's Magicals and Tonic's Butterfly Header Die

This colorful card is the last in my series of cards featuring Tonic Studio's Garden Terrace header dies and their Miniature Moments sentiment dies. My assignment for Scrap and Stamp Arts was to show different ways to use the same dies. Let's face it- die cuts can be expensive, so when you make the investment, it is good to know different ways to use the dies. This time I started with a beautiful background created with Lindy's Magicals watercolor powders from their Fall Collection. I chose Cat-tail Copper, Tibetan Poppy Teal and Autumn Maple Crimson and sprinkled them on a piece of watercolor paper. I spritzed with water to release the gorgeous colors and then let it dry. I die cut the butterfly header from Tonic's Garden Terrace Header set and deliberately left all the pieces in the butterflies at the top. I held them in place with small pieces of regular tape. I die cut the same die in the bottom of the card front letting the white of the card base show through the die cut holes. These dies all have a separate edge that can be used with the die (as on the top) or not used (as on the bottom) for two distinct looks. I added the Miniature Moments "Best Wishes" sentiment in the center of this colorful CAS card. Links to the Tonic header and sentiment dies I have used in this series of 5 cards can be found by scrolling down on my blog to the other cards I created in this series.

Magicals Sympathy Card

I am sharing another card I made with Lindy's Magicals and new dies today. I sprinkled on several colors of Lindy's Magicals (which are powders that activate with water and have a sparkly sheen to them) onto watercolor paper and spritzed with water. After the piece was dry I cut it down and attached to a white A2 card base. I left the white of the card base showing on the left and top. I just got the new Windy Wheat die from Die-Namites and the With Sympathy from Dee's Distinctively is new too. I punched a couple birds to complete the CAS card.

I am entering this card in the Flora and Fauna challenge at Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge and the Create a Scene challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge.

Amazing Cool New Products and Dies and a Nuvo Glitter Drop Tip

July is a less busy month for me with no classes to teach or cut for and no article deadlines to worry about, so I have been playing with some NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff) that has been sitting out in my craft room. I just got some new colors of Lindy's Stamp Gang Magicals which are watercolor powders similar to others I have, but have a very pretty sparkle to them built in. I sprinkled teal, silver and dark green (which looks like black) onto watercolor paper and spritzed with water for this fun background. After it was dry, I attached it to an A2 card base and added a fantastic new die cut from Impression Obsession. I punched a butterfly out of a scrap of the Magicals background. 

I added a Nuvo glitter drop to the butterfly that I prepared in advance. I discovered a new way to use Nuvo's Glitter and Crystal Drops- you can squeeze either directly onto small glue dots and let dry, then pick up and place on your card with no worries of touching or messing it up while it dries. I knew you could make them in advance on release paper and attach with a wet glue, but this idea (shared by Paula on Create and Craft for Tonic Studios) is even more brilliant! 

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenges at Cut It Up and Scrapy Land.

Getting Inky with NBUS

In between cutting for all my upcoming classes, I stole a day to play with some of my Never Before Used Schtuff. I have been wanting to try Lindy's Stamp Gang Magicals which are another watercolor powder, but they are sparkly when activated. I won a gift certificate at Simon Says Stamp and I chose a pastel set to play with. I spritzed a square piece of watercolor paper with a little water, and then sprinkled on a little of each color, then spritzed again with water. IRL there is a sparkle mixed in with the fun rainbow of colors. I die cut a Bellina Butterfly Ribbon from Poppystamps and the large Happy Birthday by Elizabeth Crafts to complete the CAS card.

I am entering this card in the Get Inky challenge at Craft Stamper Magazine and the "large sentiments" challenge at Live Love Cards.

**Remember there are a few more days yet to bid on my projects here in this blogpost to raise money to fight breast cancer! And even if you don't win the projects with the highest bid (with 100% of the winning bid going to the Susan G, Komen Foundation), your name will be entered in a drawing for a Tonic Studios goodie package valued at over $60! Click on the link to get all the details. And thanks for helping us Stamp Out Cancer!**