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Lisa Stein

paper crafter, crochet addict, book reader, golden retriever lover, vegan

Clean and Simple Challenge

Today we’ve got a new challenge up at A Blog Named Hero. It’s all about Clean and Simple cards, which are my absolute favorite.
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Since we have collaborated with the magnificent Wplus9 Design Studio, I have used a lot of their products today. I took a piece of their white cardstock, and some washi tape to mask off a window in the center of the card. Then I used a watercolor brush and their new Lake House spray mist to color the open area. It’s a gorgeous color, and I’m not typically a fan of blues.

I flicked some of the same spray mist onto the cardstock after that for a little bit more depth of color. Once that was dry I stamped the sentiment in black ink and then clear embossed the heart for a bit of dimension and to tie the sentiment into the focal point.

Super simple card, but I really like how it turned out.

I hope you’ll join us in the challenge. Simon Says Stamp is giving away a $25 gift certificate to the winner, which I would highly recommend you spend on Wplus9 products. 🙂

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25dollarvoucher

 

 


 

 

One Layer Challenge, That I Failed

Over at A Blog Named Hero we have a new challenge, and it was to make a one layer card. I came so very close to meeting that challenge. Yes, I failed. Ha! I just couldn’t come up with any other way to get a greeting on this card, and I loved the background so much that I couldn’t change it to make it one layer.

altenew one layer

Using the Altenew Vintage Flowers stamp set, this card practically makes itself. Honestly. Those stamps are just wonderful, and they make making cards incredibly easy.

I stamped some of the solid flower images in Hero Arts Bubble Gum ink, and the others in Hero Arts Red Royal ink. Then I took the top layer detail image and stamped using the opposite color. I love how the bubble gum ink still shows up over the red royal. A happy surprise. Here’s a closer look at that.

altenew one layer close up

I used the coordinating die set to cut out a mask, and lightly adhered it down over the flowers to stamp the leaves. After that I sponged Distress Antique Linen and Vintage Photo over the entire card to give it a vintage look.

I gold embossed a sentiment on some vellum cardstock and then adhered that to the card front.

A very simple card to make, but I do love how it turned out. Exactly as I imagined it would, which doesn’t happen often at my craft table.

I hope you’ll join us in the challenge. Our lovely sponsor, Simon Says Stamp is offering a $25 gift card to the winner.

25dollarvoucher

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Altenew + Embossing = So Much Fun

We have a new challenge up over at A Blog Named Hero, and it’s one of my favorites: embossing. I still love embossing. It’s like magic to me, mesmerizes me every time I do it, and I use this technique a lot. 🙂

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For this card, I started with some white cardstock, and used a Distress Paint Dauber on it, to give the background some color and texture. I absolutely love the way that came out. Be prepared to see more of that around here.

Waited for that paint to dry, and then took one of the smaller flower images from the Altenew Vintage Flowers stamp set and some versamark ink, and just went to town, stamping away. No rhyme or reason, or pattern, which is very difficult for me to do.

I used my favorite Hero Arts white embossing powder, and heat embossed the images. Then I put the card together with the help of some glitter paper and a great alphabet stamp set from Hero Arts.

altenew embossing closeup

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last step was to add some Diamond Stickles to the inside of each flower center.

I hope you like this card, and decide to join us over at our challenge. As always, our fantastic sponsor, Simon Says Stamp will be providing a $25 gift certificate to the winner. We love them.

lisa

 

 


Winner of the Wood Blocks

Using trusty random.org I’ve chosen a winner of the Hero Arts wood blocks.

It is comment #1. Melissa, you’re the winner.

I have emailed you, so check your inbox.

Thanks for joining in the fun.

 

 

Unexpected and Hypnotic

Today we’ve got our second challenge of the month over at A Blog Named Hero. It’s called Unexpected, and I feel like my little project certainly lives up to that name.
I took this awesome stamp from Create a Smile stamps, and some of those new wood blocks from Hero Arts, and made magnets! I thought this stamp was particularly neat for a “quadriptych“, or a four part piece of art. I plan to send these to my sister, she has lots of uses for magnets, and I know she’ll appreciate the graphic nature of this stamp. If you’re reading this, Pam, check your mailbox!
I painted the wood blocks first with some Distress paints in seedless preserves and picket fence. Just wanted to get some color on there before embossing. Now, here’s a hot tip for you: if you don’t get a perfect image, and you can’t find your versamark pen, use a memento marker. Embossing powder will stick to that ink as well. Ask me how I know. 🙂
I used Ranger Liquid Platinum embossing powder, which is a lovely silvery gold. It looks quite gold in these pictures, but depending upon lighting and other colors on your project, it could also look silver.
After I embossed the image I trimmed some of the Silhouette adhesive magnet sheets, and applied that to the back of my wood blocks. Works like a charm, as the magnet is strong enough to hold up the weight of the wood blocks. Great way to make some fun custom magnets.
Here are a few other magnets I’ve made with the wood blocks:
For a fun little surprise, I’m going to giveaway a set of blocks. You’re not required to make magnets out of them, there are so many neat things you can do, and I’d love to see your creativity.
To enter, just leave a comment on this blog post. I will pick a winner on the 31st and post the winner here and on a separate blog post. I will ship worldwide. This is sponsored by me, so don’t get mad at anyone else if you don’t win.
Don’t forget, if you enter the challenge, you could win a $25 gift voucher to our sponsor, Simon Says Stamp! 

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