January Class Cards

I just realized I hadn't posted pictures of the cards we made last weekend at our January class!  It was a fun day with a great group of ladies. I always enjoy getting together with them.

Watercolor lift

Pan pastels and stencils

Inspired by (and totally copied from!) Jeanne Bobish,
fellow FSJ coach

December Card Class

Today we did these five projects at card class.  Since I haven't been able to have a card class since August, I decided to add the blue angel and the treat bag as an extra little gift to the ladies.
    
I provide a two-page instruction sheet to my class participants - this month I had to shorten it, so it doesn't include the dimensions of the layers, colors, etc., but I've shared it in my DropBox here if you would like to download it: December Card Class Instructions
Hopefully I'll be back posting more regularly now that we're home from various trips.  I'll post pictures from our Thanksgiving visit with family in southern Oregon soon.

September Club Technique - Watercolor and Alcohol

Our September club technique uses watercolor and rubbing alcohol to add interest and texture to a background piece.  It's pretty easy - just lay down a watercolor wash and drip, splatter or dab on some rubbing alcohol.  The color around the alcohol will spread and lighten.  I added some bits of more intense color after adding the alcohol, to give it a bit more interest.  After you try the technique, make a card using your watercolor and alcohol background. And please share your creations! Here's mine.  I used an older sentiment stamp from my stash, the FSJ doily die, and FSJ Butterfly Prints and matching dies.
 
To get started, you'll need watercolor paper, watercolor paints or crayons, water, rubbing alcohol, and paint brushes.  I also like to use a bit of masking tape to hold my paper flat while I'm working, and an acrylic block to use as a palette.

Mix up some water and color on your palette so you'll have it ready for your wash.  Then spritz your paper (or brush with clear water). Paint color over the entire surface.

Next use a paint brush, Q-tip, or cotton ball to splatter or drip alcohol onto the wet color wash.  I think my starting color should have been darker so the contrast would show up better.  The alcohol will look grayish when you first add it, but will soon dry.

I dipped the tip of my small brush directly into my wet paint and just touched the damp paper here and there since I didn't think my original color was intense enough. I like the look of this step better than the final piece after it dried!!

Finally, let the background dry, or dry with a heat tool, trim and use it to create an element on your card.  Have fun!

August Club Technique - Watercolor Lift

Our August club technique is "Watercolor Lift."  This simple technique seems to be all over the internet right now! Basically, large areas of color are protected by clear embossing, and then the rest of the color is "lifted" to create a softer look.  I tend to use splotches of color, but I've seen beautiful cards done with horizontal blocks to create a smoother look.  After you try the technique, make a card using your watercolor lift background. Here's mine: Share your creations on our group Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/315796892088019/>

1. Cover watercolor paper with random patches
of color using water-based markers.

2. Spritz with water to blend edges.  Let dry
completely or use heat tool to speed drying.

3. Rub dry surface with Embossing Buddy or
dryer sheet. Stamp image with clear embossing
ink such as VersaMark.

4. Dust with clear embossing powder. Tap
off excess.

5. Heat embossing powder until it melts.

6.  Embossed areas will protect the color beneath the image.

7. Spritz with water again.

8. Soak up water with paper towels. Extra
color will lift, leaving behind the darker
color behind the embossed image.

Party Cats

Party hearty!! Actually, the look on these faces kind of reflects the way I feel about parties now that I'm...ahem...older.  These days partying means sitting in my recliner watching TV with a glass of Pinot Noir on the side table.

I really like this stamp (Feed Me AT-0160).  I got it free with my first Fun Stampers Journey order when I was trying out the products before signing up as a coach.  This cat has cattitude - and it's sometimes hard trying to come up with an appropriate card (and recipient!) to appreciate that.  But I had this background sitting on my desk staring at me, and decided to try a reflection technique.  I've seen other stampers do it, but this was my first try.  I stamped the image on an acetate sheet, then pressed card stock onto the image.  The lines didn't come out quite as clear as original stamped image, so I traced them a bit with a gray fine-tip marker, and...it worked!

The background is one I tried after watching this Gina K video about embossing over watercolor.  Hers was amazing...mine less so! But I enjoy experimenting, and the cats take center stage anyway.  Now I just have to figure out who this card is going to, and for what occasion...

Supplies I used (you can order the FSJ items from my website here if you'd like):

• Stamps:  Feed Me (AT-0160), Tag Elements (AT-0130) and a flower & leaf set from my stash - can't remember the name of it.
• Card Stock:  Whip Cream (CS-0040) and miscellaneous scraps of red and dark green
• Ink: Black Licorice (IP-0041)
• Dies:  Heart-Felt (DI-0033)
• Other:  Journey Clear Embossing Powder (IP-0097), watercolor paper, watercolors, heat gun, white gel pen, fine-tip gray marker

First Team Meeting

I met several of my sister coaches at our Fun Stampers Journey team meeting yesterday afternoon. It was also my first ATC swap - here's what I made with my very limited supplies, since my Starter Kit and first order haven't arrived yet.

This little stamp set is called Come Fly (AT-0117).  I stamped the plane in Grape Fusion (IP-0006) and mounted it on a bit of watercolored background, then on printed card stock from the Going Places paper pack (PP-0009).  There are also a few splatters of gold Silk (IP-0096) and a tiny tag cut from another piece of the Going Places paper, just because the design seemed kind of boring.