Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful Faux Watercolor

 Welcome to the weekend! Are you looking forward to getting your crafty on?!

Today I have a mixed media card using embossing enamels and inks that results in fun and color!

To make this card, you will need a few items from the G&P shop:
Enamel Powder Adhesive Fluid
Embossing Enamel Powders: Girls Night Out, Micro Gold, Vintage Silver
Art Stencil Fancy Flowers AS46003
Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Picked Raspberry, Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves, Shabby Shutters, Spiced Marmalade, Squeezed Lemonade

favorite stencil
spray bottle with water
stamps: Stampin' Up! Four Feathers and dies
sentiment stamp: 7Gypsies by Hampton Arts
watercolor paper
scraps of white cardstock and vellum cardstock
Tim Holtz Tiny Stapler

Let's get started!

If your stencil has a backside, flip it so the backside is facing up. (This is really important if you have numbers or letters that need to go a certain way.)

Dab the Distress Inks directly onto the stencil. I find it's better to start with the light colors, moving up to the darker ones. No rush here.

When you like the distribution of color, spritz with water, flip over onto the watercolor paper. Use a couple of napkins or a papertowel to press and dab the stencil. This prevents the water from pooling into open areas of your stencil.

This technique has varying results depending upon the amount of water you use. Do you want muted or defined?

I am so in love with feathers on cards!

Stamp your sentiment on the vellum and use the top photo for placement of the rest of the elements.

That's it!

What will you make this weekend?

Inky hugs,

Angi

Double Shot Coffee Cards

Hi, Everyone! Today I have a fun pair of cards using Globecraft & Piccolo's Accents and Embossing Enamels.

Most days I design singular projects, but sometimes I find a layout or design I really like and I make a set of cards that coordinate, but aren't exact duplicates...like these cards!

To make these cards, you'll need a few items from the G&P shop:

Enamel Powder Adhesive Fluid

Embossing Enamels: Enchanted Aubergine, Girls Night Out, Ultra Thick Clear, Micro Black

Glastique, Gloss

Piccolo A165 Flower Tops Accents

Piccolo A166 Flower Flourishes Accents

other supplies:

patterned papers: Amy Tangerine - Sketchbook

stamps: Stampin' Up! Perfect Blend, Gorgeous Grunge

cardstock: Stampin' Up! Melon Mambo, Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White

rhinestones

foam tape

I kept the basic design the same on both cards. I varied the patterned papers, cardstock colors, embossing enamels and accent placement.

The coffee cup on each card is embossed in Micro Black. I stamped the cup three times - once fully for the base, partially for each lid and partially for each wrap (on scraps of patterned paper). After fussy cutting, I adhered the wrap directly to the cup base and the lids were adhered using foam tape.

I had to include close ups of the accents...see how clean the edges are?! I love the natural color, but you can use markers, paint, 3D Gels, glitter glue...whatever you want to use to match them to your projects! (Sometimes there are tiny bits on the edges, but you can use an emery board/fine sand paper to smooth them away.)

The flourishes on the second card are 2 of the flourishes, one flipped over, glued close together. (These flourishes also make GORGEOUS hearts!)

Inky hugs,

Angi

Summer Sympathy Card

 T.G.I.F! (Thank Goodness It's Friday!)

Seriously. I am thinking this with more enthusiasm than you can imagine! As you are sitting in front of your computer, in the comfort of your home reading this post, I am camping in North Carolina. Yep. You read that right! Outside with the bugs and the critters, humidity and heat...and by the time you read this I will be on day 4.

Can I get a little sympathy?

How about a card? *wink*

Here's what you'll need from the G&P shop:
Enamel Powder Micro Gold
Enamel Powder Micro Black
Enamel Powder Adhesive Fluid
Steampunk Airship Accents (A100)

Other Supplies:
Stampin' Up! stamps:
background: Hardwood
flower silhouette: Serene Silhouettes
sentiment: Close As a Memory
Ink: Crumb Cake

crochet thread, natural

Stamp your background. Ink up your stamp with the Enamel Powder Adhesive and sprinkle on the Micro Gold. Heat. This is a beautiful, warm gold and the fine powder melts quickly.

Ink up your sentiment with the Enamel Powder Adhesive and sprinkle on the Micro Black. Heat. Love the texture and shine the enamel powder adds to a project!

Adhere the layers, tie on the crochet thread and add the Steampunk Airship Accent. The Accent just adds that little something that takes a card from nice to oooh!

Have a great weekend!

Inky hugs,

Angi

White Christmas in July x2

Welcome to the weekend!

I've seen a lot of "Christmas in July" projects lately and that got me thinking about designing CAS (Clean and Simple), but elegant cards. I love the white on white, but can't seem to get the hang of it...lol

I love how simple these cards are! Once you get the technique down, you can make a set of these in no time!

Here's what you'll need from the G&P shop:

Enamel Powder Adhesive Fluid

Enamel Powder Ruby Red Slippers

Other supplies (linked items will take you to our sister store: Sweet Stamps):

Memento Ink Tuxedo Black

snowflake stamp (such as THIS one)

foam tape/squares/circles

white cardstock

The first card is your standard ink up your stamp with the Enamel Powder Adhesive Fluid, sprinkle on the powder and heat. 

I found the easiest way to make sure my squares were centered was to adhere the bottom squares first, beginning with the center square. Then place 5 foam squares on the back of the embossed squares and adhere.

Another reason to love Ruby Red Slippers! It's the perfect Christmas Enamel Powder - look at the gold and all of the flecks of colors...simple gorgeous!

After I finished the first set of cards, I decided to make a 'negative' and try another technique. This one takes a little time and preparation, but it's so worth the WOW!  (Click here for the basic tutorial on how to stamp into the embossing enamel.)

A few tips: Dab the adhesive fluid on cardstock in an area large enough to cover your stamp and more. I did 2 layers of the enamel, then stamped. Be sure to press firmly and give it a minute to cool before pulling off the stamp. Don't forget to ink up the stamp with the Adhesive Fluid and then the Tuxedo Black before melting the powder, so you'll be ready to stamp!

That's it! If you have any questions or comments, be sure to post them below!

Inky hugs,
Angi

Patriotic Celebrate Card

Happy Birthday, USA!

For those of us in the USA (and Americans abroad), this weekend is a time to celebrate the Independence of the United States of America. With a few Globecraft & Piccolo Enamel Powders, we can make a quick patriotic card that shines!

Here's what you'll need from the G&P shop:

Enamel Powder Deep Blue Sky

Enamel Powder Pure Platinum

Enamel Powder Micro Black

Enamel Powder Adhesive Fluid

Glastique Gloss

Other supplies:

white cardstock

red cardstock

heart punch (or one of these G&P heart accents!)

Stampin' Up! sentiment (Feeling Sentimental)

Tim Holtz Tissue Tape (Marketplace)

foam tape

Isn't that shine of the Enamel and the Glastique gorgeous?!

1. Cut a strip of white cardstock 4.25"x1.5".  Ink it up with the Enamel Powder Adhesive. Sprinkle on Deep Blue Sky and heat. Let cool. Repeat.

2. Cut a panel of white cardstock 4.5"x4.25".  Using the dabber top, tap the Enamel Powder Adhesive along one of the short sides. Sprinkle on Pure Platinum and heat. Let cool. Repeat.

3. Dab the Enamel Powder Adhesive on the sentiment stamp. Stamp on the Pure Platinum panel. Sprinkle on Micro Black. Heat. Let cool.

4. Tear off a strip of tissue tape and adhere under sentiment.

5. Punch out heart (or use G&P heart Accent).  Apply Glastique. Let dry.

6. Adhere blue strip to card base. Adhere platinum panel using foam tape.

7. Adhere heart using Glastique.

That's it! Be sure to stop by this weekend for more Globecraft & Piccolo inspiration!

Inky hugs,

Angi

just a note ....

Good Morning all. Teresa here with a quick and easy card design. 

My friend MaryAnn is so good about written mail --- me --- not so much. But I really appreciate a handwritten note. And I ALWAYS notice the details of the card artwork. 

This is a simple design, and it is very easy to accomplish. 

Lets Shop 

 - Package of Rectangle Bezels (there are four in the pack and my card used three) 

- Cherchio Key Charms 

- Glastique

- Starry Sky Enamel Powder

- Enamel Adhesive 

- Wheat Cream 3D Enamel Gel

Card Blank 

Assorted Papers to fit your theme 

Glue (I used tacky glue) 

Scissors

Emery Board

First - Coat the Cherchio key with the enamel gel and let it dry. I only did one side since I was planning to glue this down. 

While that dries, prep the remainder of the items.

I trimmed the rings off the bezels, leaving me with these great rectangles.

Coat two of the rectangles with Glastique.

NOTE - the glastique does not cause the paper to ripple and distort like some glues can.

Adhere the paper to your rectangle. Wait for that to dry.

For the third rectangle, emboss it with two layers of the STARRY SKY enamel powder. Again - just one side will be fine, since we will glue these down.

Once the papers have dried, trim them closely to the rectangle shape.

Then using the emery board, slightly distress the edges.

Now - decide a pleasing arrangement and glue your rectangles down -- I love the 3d "pop" that slight raised gives -- yet it is still flat enough to fit the envelope and won't add extra postage.

Now add embellishing as desired. I chose some coordinating strips of paper.

Finally - add the key to the embossed rectangle.

Ready to send a quick note to a friend.

Please - come back to see all of the inspiration in the blog. I took time to go back through the archives one evening and discovered that there is a ton of inspiration and advice in them.

Have a great weekend.

Mom's Birthday Card

I made this card for my Mom’s birthday – she turned 81 yesterday.  My Mom is sight impaired due to untreated glaucoma and I am always looking for ways she can use her other senses when I make her something. So, this card has a bunch of things she can feel as well as see.  Sadly, this also my last post with the Design Team for Globecraft & Piccolo.  I have had a marvelous time and I wish them continued success!  Thanks to my awesome teammates and to Stacey & Sandy for making the experience so incredibly fun!

What I Used to Make this Card:

F100 French Oval Single Frame

LA107 Large Stemmed Rose Accents

3D Gel in Rose Pearl & Leafy Green

Embossing Enamel in Cranberry Wine

Embossing Fluid

Crafter's Pick Glue

DCWV Chalk Art Stack – card base 5 ¼ x 5 ¼

Silhouette Cameo letter cutouts

Ranger Embossing Powder in Rich Red

White Cardstock

Mom loves roses 

I confess I had covered the rose long before I made the card.  I knew the 3D gels would be beautiful on the chipboard and I made a few of them.  I tried to trace around the rose as carefully as I could (I can’t find my metal tip. I suspect one of the cats has taken it.  Actually, I am positive one of the cats took it) but I actually ended up covering the rose sort of like when you grout tile.  Because I didn’t need it to be absolutely perfect, I just filled in spots with more 3D gel after it dried.  Since the gel is amazing, you can’t even tell and I was open to some more texture anyway.  So, cover your rose and let it dry overnight if you can.

One of the roses

Then I discovered how brilliantly the rose fit into the French Oval Frame.  Now, the cardstock is also very bright, not neon bright, but bright. 

Close up of the French

I had no Embossing Enamel that matched, so I took some red embossing powder and covered the frame with that first.  Then I pounced my Embossing Fluid around the frame and covered that with Cranberry Ice Embossing Enamel – I love the way it came out!

I cut my card base out of the DCWV Chalk Art Stack – that paper is thick!! I made a square card since I had so much to put on it and I wanted Mom to be able to touch the cardstock; it has a texture to it so it can be used like a chalkboard (you can even wipe the chalk off). So cool! 

It's STUNNING in real life!!

To keep the theme going, I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut out Happy Birthday (I also discovered a neat trick – when your letters are still on the cutting mat, before you remove them, use a bit of washi tape that is long enough to grab all the letters, then gently use your tool to remove them.  Now, when you go to place them, they are all straight!)

Next I just traced the inner circle of the French Frame and cut it outside the trace line so there would be a little bit of paper to use to attach the it to the frame. Positioned my rose in the center of the white cardstock, and then glued the whole shebang to the front of the card.  Lastly, I put the Happy Birthday on the inside of the card since I didn’t have enough room on the outside. 

So there you have it!! Mom and I met yesterday to celebrate our birthdays over lunch & she LOVED the card (of course)! Sorry no other view of the card! I hope you have enjoyed my birthday card – I still have one more birthday to celebrate, so keep your eyes peeled! Thank you & have a lovely day! Christi

Butterfly Delights and Faux Leather

I love butterflies...and leather...and sparkle! Today's project is a lovely mingle of the three.

Here's what you'll need from the shop:

Enamel Powder Micro White

Enamel Powder Deep Blue Sky

Enamel Powder Ultra Thick Clear

Enamel Powder Aged White

Butterfly Accents (A148)

Enamel Powder Adhesive Fluid

Easy Grip Reversable Tweezers

Micro Glue Dots

Memento Tuxedo Black

Other Supplies:

Stampin' Up! cardstock: Whisper White, Pool Party

doily type stamp (Stampin' Up!)

Studio G sentiment stamp

Remember to use the Enamel Powder Adhesive Fluid to ink up your stamps and accents before adding the Enamel Powder(s).

Begin by stamping the doily stamp onto the Pool Party panel off center. Use the Micro White Enamel Powder. Let cool.

Here's where you'll be glad you read through the post before making this card! ;)

Open your jar of Aged White. Get out your tweezers.

Now...ink up the large butterfly and emboss using the Deep Blue Sky. While the blue is still warm, pinch a little of the Aged White using the tweezers and drop onto the blue wings. Heat again to melt. Let cool.

Love the blue with the speckles. So pretty!

Now for the 'faux leather' butterflies. Absolutely love the plain accents covered in the Ultra Thick Clear! This butterfly has 3 uneven coats. Ink up with the Enamel Adhesive, dip the medium butterfly into a pile of the Ultra Thick Clear. Melt.

Do it again! Be amazed as the plain brown transforms into a bit of faux leather right before your eyes! 

Adhere the Pool Party panel using foam and then the butterflies using the Micro Glue Dots. Stamp your sentiment in the Tuxedo Black.

Done. Gorgeous!

Inky hugs,
Angi

Patriotic Blooms Thank You Card

Happy Monday, G&P friends!

Did you enjoy Sandy's card last week? My computer crashed and Sandy filled in for me with her fabulous card - Thanks, Sandy!

This week I have a card for you, too. Red, white and blue are not just a great Patriotic color combo (in the USA), but a wonderful color combo for any time, especially when you pair it with G&P Accents and Embossing Powders!

Here's what you'll need from the G&P shop:

Stacey's Stacking Flowers (LA106)
Embossing Powder Micro White
Embossing Powder Pure Platinum
Enamel Powder Adhesive Fluid
Bling on a Roll Silver
Glastique Gloss

Other Supplies:
Stampin' Up! Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Night of Navy, Soft Suede
Stampin' Up! Classic Ink: Pacific Point, Real Red, Whisper White
Brown Twine
Versamark Watermark Ink
Stampin' Up! Stamps: Banner Blast, Hardwood, sentiment stamp
Foam Adhesive

Start by inking up the flowers. I found the easiest way to color the flowers is to place the flowers facedown directly onto the ink pad and gently press. Repeat until depth of color desired is achieved. Let dry.

Cut card stock to size for each flower set and trim. Using the Versamark and stamps, stamp each banner. Using the Embossing Powder Adhesive Fluid emboss the edges of the banners with the Pure Platinum.

Stamp the background panel with the Hardwood stamp and Adhesive Fluid and then emboss with the Micro White.

Stamp the sentiment on a scrap of white card stock.

Using the photos as reference, adhere the background panel. Adhere the flower layers together using the Glastique and again to adhere the flowers to the banners. Use the foam under the 2 smaller banners. Finish layering the elements and then tie on the twine.

Finish the card with a few pieces of the Bling on a Roll in Silver.

That's it - beautiful thank you card for any occasion!

Be sure to stop by again tomorrow for another fabulous creation...

Inky hugs,
Angi

A Thank You Card

I am finally feeling better and my creative muse is returning. I wish I knew where my muse goes when it disappears. I’m thinking one of my cats got to it and it took off for parts unknown.  I don’t know, and it’s not talking.  Anyway, I have some thank you cards overdue, so today is a break from the birthday card rush.  Here is my card:

No matter HOW many times I tried, I couldn't get the THANK YOU to show up in the pics!

And here is what I used to make it:

LA106 Stacey’s Stacking Flowers 

Cranberry Wine and Girls Night Out Embossing Enamel

Embossing Fluid

Pink Cardstock Base

Decorative Paper (mine came from Somerset Studio)

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You Stamp from Catslife Press

Crafters Pick Glue

It’s a simple card – I wanted the “Thank You” and the flowers to be the focus. 

The Flowers

I used 3 of Stacey’s Flowers, sized so they could be stacked.  I embossed the largest and the smallest with Cranberry Wine Embossing Enamel (I am in LOVE with this color! It has little teeny mirror-like bits in it!) and the middle one with Girls Night Out.  I stacked them and glued them together.  I then took a piece of the decorative paper and embossed the sentiment, using the Cranberry Wine Embossing Enamel as well. 

The Thank You

Cut another square out of the decorative paper, adhered the sentiment to that just to give it a little “pop”.  The hardest part of this card for me was trying to figure out where I wanted to place my flowers.  Once that was sorted, I glued them on and I am good to go!

Please, take a look at the Blog at Globecraft & Piccolo – my wonderful teammates post cool stuff every day! 

And another view

Thanks SO much for stopping by! ~ Christi

Father's Day comes after Mother's Day

The wonderful thing about making cards is there is always a reason to make one! There are only five weeks until Father's Day and I have a card to share with you that uses embossing enamels, Piccolos and some fun stamps!

Here's today's Globecraft & Piccolo supply list:
Enamel Powder Adhesive Fluid
Embossing Enamel Vintage Copper
Embossing Enamel Real Rust
Embossing Enamel Aged White
Embossing Enamel Ultra Thick Clear
Piccolo Vintage Lock & Keys Charms (CA124) large key
Piccolo Vintage Lock & Keys Necklace (CA125) small key

Other supplies:
Jar stamp (Little Yellow Bicycle)
Alphabet stamps (Inkadinkadoo)
sentiment stamp (Stampin' Up!)
Grid stamp (Hero Arts)
jump ring
crochet thread
small heart punch
Vintage Photo Distress Ink

Use the Enamel Powder Adhesive to ink up any of the stamps before using the embossing enamel. I used Vintage Copper on the background. Do you see the green 'patina' in the Vintage Copper? I use an old towel to wipe the cardstock after the Vintage Copper to get any extra powder or mica off.

I wanted this card to have a bit of an old homey feel, so I used Real Rust on the heart. Distressed the edges of the heart, the jar label and the white panel using Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

The keys are embossed with the Vintage Copper, too. I only used one layer and dabbed a little Vintage Photo Distress Ink into the unembossed areas.

The cracking was a happy accident! I coated the cardstock stamped image using the Ultra Thick Clear and while I was working on something else, the fussy cut piece fell onto the floor. When I picked it up, I accidentally folded the corner and it cracked! I liked the look, so I bent the cardstock gently and 'broke' the embossed glass jar.

Easy, peasy! I hope that you have found a little inspiration of your own. Would love to see what you do - share with us on Facebook!

Inky hugs,
Angi

Another Birthday Card

Here is another quick card I made for the upcoming birthday rush.  I haven’t been feeling well and I apologize for not being up on my comments and such.  Anyway, here is my card:

What I used to make the card:

Embossing Fluid

Cranberry Wine, Royal Sterling, Deep Blue Sky, Girls Night Out and

Micro Black Embossing Enamel

White Cardstock

White Card Base

Scrap piece of Metallic Purple Paper

Happy Birthday stamp from SU! Greetings 4 You set

Silhouette Cut File: Balloon

Balloons!!

All embossed!

I cut the balloons using a cut file I had in my Silhouette Library (I think it was a free image) and then embossed each one with the different colors of Embossing Enamel.  Next I used the Micro Black powder on the sentiment, trimmed the sentiment and layered it on the purple paper. 

I glued everything down and I was done!

Everything is so sparkly! Wish I had some black twine to use as the string. . .

Another card down, lots more to go!

Thank you for stopping by! Christi

Hello Darling Embossed Card

Happy Monday!

It's almost time for the Great Lakes Mega Meet in Novi, Michigan (May 8-10)! Will you be attending? Globecraft & Piccolo will be there and will have a DIFFERENT make and take each day! (Click Here to see the samples.) Be sure to stop by the booth to play with our Embossing Enamels, 3D Gels, Piccolos and Globes!

Today I have a card to share with a few fun techniques for you to try. Click the picture and take a closer look at the awesome flower!

Here's what you'll need:

Globecraft & Piccolo Supplies:
Enamel Powder Adhesive Fluid (this should be a given! I do love G&P Enamels!)
Embossing Enamel Platinum
Embossing Enamel Poodle Skirt
Embossing Enamel Ultra Thick Clear
scrap piece of G&P bookboard (this can be any leftover piece)
3D Enamel Gel Coral Pearl
Glastique Glossy
Vintage Corner Flourishes (A157)

Other:
Background stamp (Stampin' Up!)
Flower (Prima)
Sentiment Stamp (Studio G)
Archival Ink Jet Black (Ranger - or any permanent black ink)
Melon Mambo Classic Ink (Stampin' Up!)
Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Ranger)
Rayon Seam Binding, white

Let's get started!
Dab the Adhesive Fluid over the flower petals. Coat with the Ultra Thick Clear Embossing Enamel. I found using a paintbrush works well to get adhesive into all the little nooks and crannies. Repeat until the petals are coated.

Love this.

What a difference! The coated flower looks like vintage plastic. What an easy way to get a different look from your flowers...

Take the Coral Pearl 3D Enamel Gel and scoop a bit out onto a craft mat. Add about the same amount of water (less if you want more color) and mix on the mat. Add the ribbon, smooshing (yes, that's a technical term!) it around until it's saturated. Place on a napkin. You can dry the ribbon with a heat tool (held far away) or a hair dryer. Be careful not to get too close & melt the ribbon!

Here's the ribbon wet:

The ribbon color lightens up when dry. Using the 3D Enamel Gels gives the limp seam binding some body and allows it to keep it's shape without making it difficult to work with.

The background was the usual dab on some adhesive, melt the powder.

Have you been keeping your scrap bits - the small and the large? (hint, hint...there may be some future ideas for those tiny pieces of craftiness!)

Edge the scrap piece with the adhesive and sprinkle on some Platinum and a little pinch of Poodle Skirt.

Finish up the card by layering the pieces and then using the Glasstique on top of the Accent pieces.

Whew! Did you try coating your flowers? I wonder what else needs a little updating in the studio... Thanks for stopping by today! See you here tomorrow for more inspiration!

Inky hugs,

Angi