Off the Edge - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  This month is a little different at Group of Seven Cardmaker's blog.  Instead of a technique, we are highlighting a design element - Off the Edge.

Please check out the wonderful cards made by the Group of Seven featuring this design element.

Group of Seven Cardmakers

I stamped the above beautiful image Kind Soul (WPlus 9), off the edge in black ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.  Then watercoloured the flowers and leaves using distress inks (Shabby Shutters, Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Wilted Violets).  I'm really happy with this colour combination.  These colours are complementary ... opposites on the colour wheel and so there is a wonderful contrast between the purple and orange.

Close-up ...

Edited to add:  I just saw a challenge that's fairly new via my friend Marcia's blog, Triple B (Birds, Butterflies, & Blooms).  I'm sending the above card to play along this month.  Another fabulous challenge from Darlene & Diane! :)  Thank you ladies!

Inspiration Mood Board

... and ...

The card above uses the Hollyhocks stamp (Unity), embossed in white onto hot press watercolour paper.  I sponged on Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Worn Lipstick, and Abandoned coral along the side and the took a large brush, wetting the inks and moving them around until I was happy with the background.  The sentiment, Thoughtful Messages (Simon Says Stamp), is white heat embossed.  I splattered diluted white acrylic paint to finish the card.

This is my first time using this large stamp, so I'm sending this card to NBUS Challenge #51 (my third and final entry this month). :)  Thanks Dolly!

... and one more ... 

The last card uses a die-cut as the "Off the Edge" design element.  I created a galaxy sky using Gansai Tambi watercolours on watercolour paper and then added my die-cut winter scene.

Sending the above card to Rudolph Days June Challenge.

I hope you'll join us by making a card with an "Off the Edge" design.  There's a link party on the Group of Seven Cardmaker's blog if you'd like to share your creations.

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Card #1:

Stamps:  Kind Soul (WPlus 9)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black Obsidian (Altenew); Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour brushes

Card #2:

Stamps:  Hollyhocks (Unity Stamp Company); Thoughtful Messages (Simon Says Stamp)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Hot Press Watercolour paper (Arches 140. lb.)

Ink:   Versamark; Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Worn Lipstick, Abandoned Coral (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  White embossing powder, heat tool, sponges, large paintbrush, white acrylic paint, splatter brush

Card #3:

Stamps:  Snowglobe Sayings - retired (MFT)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Cold Press Watercolour Paper (Arches 140 lb.)

Ink:   Gansai Tambi Watercolours:  Bright red mixed with white, Black, Royal blue, Light blue (Kuretake); Black (Memento)
Accessories:  Large watercolour brush, splatter brush, diluted white acrylic paint, Deer and Trees die (AliExpress)

Challenges:

Group of Seven - June - Off the Edge

NBUS Challenge #51

Rudolph Days June Challenge

Triple B June Challenge

Happy Birthday Dragonfly

Hi everyone.  My dear friend Christine (It's a Card Day's Night) is celebrating her birthday today.  Happy Birthday sweet friend!!

I wanted to make a mixed media card for Christine as that is her style.  And I made sure to include lots of blue, her favourite colour.  :)

I started by smooshing Distress Inks:  Salty Ocean and Wilted Violet.  I then stamped the Libellule Origami (or Origami Dragonfly in English) from Carabelle Studio (retired).  I stamped it in black and heat embossed with clear.  I masked the dragonfly before stamping the Different Dreams background (Unity Stamp Co.) in Versamark.  I heat embossed the background in clear as well.  After removing the dragonfly mask, I pressed more salty ocean and wilted violet inks into my mat with a spritz of water, and smooshed again to make the colours deeper.  Once dry, I watercoloured the dragonfly in the same two colours of ink.

I cut the panel down and added a white embossed sentiment (Simply Sentiments from Lawn Fawn) on a black card stock strip at the bottom.  The panel is popped up for added dimension.

Close-up ...

I'm so pleased with this card and I hope Christine likes it too!  If you have a time, please drop by Christine's blog to wish her a Happy Birthday!

I'm sending this over to the Seize the Birthday Challenge #244 ... no topping for me this time. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

If you would like to subscribe by email,

please fill out the subscription form in the upper right sidebar.

Make sure to add "subscribe" to the message.

It is also important to add SWL1subscribers@gmail.com to your contact list

so Google recognizes the address and delivers the updates.

To unsubscribe, please use the same form making sure to add

"unsubscribe" to the message.

Thank you.

Stamps:  Libellule Origami - retired (Carabelle Studio); Different Dreams (Unity Stamp Co.); Simply Sentiments (Lawn Fawn)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet; Black (Memento), White Pigment (Hero Arts Unicorn), Versamark
Accessories:   water mister, Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday Challenge #244 - Anything Birthday Goes

Christmas trees

Hi everyone.  Today I have a quick post with a CAS Christmas card.  I used a piece of smooshed Lindy magicals from my stash for the background.  Tore a piece of white card to create my snowhill, and used two trees (also from my stash) that I had made with alcohol inks on acetate; diecutting from Fir Trees (Impression Obsession).  To finish, I stamped a sentiment from Love Bug Christmas (Unity) using Peacock Feathers distress ink that matches the colour of the sky pretty well.

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card over to a few Christmas challenges.

Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes

Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog #33 - Anything Christmas Goes

Product Links

Fir Trees (Impression Obsession)

Love Bug Christmas (Unity)

Stamps:  Love Bug Christmas sentiment (Unity)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Alcohol Inks:  2 shades of green (Ranger); Magicals (Lindy's); Peacock Feather Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Water mister, Fir Tree dies (Impression Obesssion), acetate   

Challenges:

Rudolph Days - Anything Goes

Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog #33 - Anything Christmas Goes

CAS Challenges September Reminder

Hi everyone.  We are half way through the month of September.  Today I'm sharing reminder cards for both CAS challenges.  First up, CAS Mix Up September Challenge - Embossing with Dies.

Joanna is our host.

I die-cut this lovely poppy Bodacious die (Penny Black) from watercolour paper and coloured with distress inks.  I then used the same die to emboss the poppy on my card front.  This give some dimension to the card.  I used Wink of Stella to add lots of sparkle to the poppies.  I didn't realize that I used the same sentiment (also done on black banner with white embossing) as I did for my CMU launch card on the 1st. :)

This is a fun way to stretch the use of your dies.  Thanks to Jo for a great challenge!

------------------------------------------------

Colleen is our host.

Here's the reminder card for CAS Christmas challenge - Christmas trees.  I used a large Christmas Glow (Penny Black) stamp off the edge of the page to keep some white space on my card.  I inked with distress inks,spritzed with water and stamped.  Repeated until I was happy with the results.  Once dry, I added a little shading with a medium green coloured pencil.  The sentiment in red finishes this CAS design.

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I hope you'll check out the challenge blogs to see the amazing cards from our Designers, Guest Designers, and participants.  If you haven't had time to play along, there's over a week left before both challenges close on 24th at midnight PST.  Come join us!

CAS Mix Up Reminder - Handmade with Love
Stamps:  Happy Snippets (Penny Black)
Paper:  Watercolour paper (Arches 140 lb. cold press); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Picked Raspberry, Pine Needles (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools: Bodacious die (Penny Black), water brush, white embossing powder, heat tool, Clear Wink of Stella


CAS Christmas Reminder - Oh, Christmas Tree
Stamps:  Christmas Glow (Penny Black); Sentiment - Love Bug Christmas (Unity Stamps)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz); Real Red (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Green coloured pencil (Prismacolor)


Challenges:
CAS Mix Up - Embossing with Dies
CAS Christmas - Christmas Tree

Jar of Hope

Hi everyone.  This is an artsy image from Unity so I thought I'd do more "sloshing" of ink.  I used bright colours for the flowers (picked raspberry / candied apple).  The jar is coated with Crystal Glaze to give it some shine.

Close-up ...

Stamps: Jar of Hope (Unity); happy day sentiment (unknown)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Archival Shadow Gray (Ranger); Distress Inks:  Picked Raspberry, Candied Apple, Mowed Lawn, Tumbled Glass, Broken China (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)

Love Bug Christmas

Hi everyone.  Today's card is a reminder for the CAS Christmas challenge - Winter Scene, hosted by the wonderfully talented Susan!

I used another NBUS stamp ... this time from Unity.  I thought this was adorable and had to buy the set. :)

I stamped in permanent black ink, set with my heat tool (just to be safe) and then watercoloured using distress inks.  I added a light gray wash to the background when I was finished.  This seemed to be perfect for a square card, so cut it down and added a thin red card stock frame, popping up the panel on my square card base.  I stamped a sentiment from the same stamp set in red to finish.

Close-up ...

We have Lyn as our Guest Designer this month.  She has created a gorgeous Winter Scene card ... check it out on the reminder post of the challenge blog.  And you've got to see the cards from our Designers - WOW!  You WILL be inspired!  Come play along!

Stamps:  Love Bug Christmas (Unity Stamp Co.)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Real Red (Stampin' Up!); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Versafine); Distress Inks:  Tumbled ?, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Candied Apples, Salty Ocean, Black Soot (Tim Holtz), Smoky Slate (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, white gel pen

Challenges:
CAS Christmas October Challenge - Winter Scene

May Rudolph Days

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for May's Rudolph Days run by the wonderful Maureen (Scraps of Life with Scrappimo!)  While at the retreat, I was thrilled to meet Maureen in person.  Actually, all of us at the retreat were so happy to spend an afternoon with Maureen.  She is as sweet as you would expect from her blog posts!

Here's a group photo ...

l to r:  Bonnie, Susan, Christine, Darnell, Maureen - hiding in the back :),

Trina, Nancy, me

On to the card.  I just love this sweet stamp that was gifted to me by my adorable and sweet friend, Bonnie!  Thanks Bonnie!!

I stamped it in black and heat embossed in clear before using my zigs to colour.  I added some crystal glaze to the heart-shaped balloons and stamped the sentiment in a matching green, adding a silver star at the top.

I decided afterwards to stencil falling snow ... so had to be careful not to get any on the image.  It worked! :)

Here's a close-up ...

I hope you'll play along with Rudolph Days.  It's an "Anything Goes Christmas" challenge that runs from the 25th to end of month.  Come join the fun!

Stamps:  Love to my Heart (Unity Stamp); Christmas sentiments (Gina Marie Designs)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Silver foil (SU!)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Zigs (Kuretake), Distress Inks:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush, Crystal glaze (Nuvo), Falling Snow stencil (Simon Says Stamp), White embossing paste (Dreamweaver), palette knife

Challenges:
May Rudolph Days - Anything Goes Christmas

Black Ice Technique

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a new-to-me technique that Susan, Christine and I tried out on one of our crafting days.  The technique is called Black Ice.  Click HERE for a video tutorial.  We all tried it with the silver and black ink, following the video.

On my second try, I wanted to do something a little different, so used gold foil paper and Archival Sepia which is a coppery colour.  I love how this turned out.

This is my reminder card for CAS Mix Up August Challenge - Metal, hosted by our mixed media expert, Mac.

I used gold foil paper, which is a metal, and the clear embossing over the sepia ink looks like copper ... also a metal. :)  To finish the card, I used a mini dot stencil, randomly sponging with gold delicata ink, popped up my main panel, and added a gold stamped sentiment.

I've had fun with this challenge!

Here's a close-up ...

I hope you'll check out the reminder post to see some new cards from our amazing Designers, and our wonderful Guest Designer, Pat (Colourful Creations).  I know you'll be inspired.  There's still 9 days left before the challenge closes ... come join us! :)

Stamps:  Insightful Meadows (Unity); Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Gold Foil card stock (SU!); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Archival Sepia (Ranger); Gold Delicata (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  Clear embossing powder, heat tool, Mini Dot stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), sponge

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up October Challenge - Metal

CAS Watercolour July Challenge

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the CAS Watercolour July challenge.  This month's challenge is being hosted by Nancy.  This will be Nancy's last month as part of our CAS Watercolour Design Team.  I will miss you so much, my sweet friend!

I do love to splash! :)  Click HERE to see the video I've done on Splash Watercolouring Technique. 

I created the background for my card with Distress Oxide Inks (Wilted Violet, Candy Apple).  I stamped over top with a silhouette of wildflowers and added a white frame with black stamped sentiment.  Fun card to make!

Here's the close-up ...

I hope you'll join us for this fun challenge.  Please check out the challenge blog to see the inspiring cards from our wonderful Designers and our Guest Designer, Marcia (Marcia K Designs).  Then come play along.  Challenge is open until July 24th.

Stamps:  Insightful Meadows (Unity); Sentiment - Watching Bloom (Memory Box)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base and frame (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Oxides:  Wilted Violet, Candy Apple (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinder)

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour July Challenge - Splash Watercolouring

Rainbow Dreams

Hi everyone.  We're already more than half way through May, so it's time for the reminder for the CAS Watercolour challenge.

I used embossed resist for my card above.  I used a large background stamp, heat embossed in white.  Then I sponged colours of the rainbow over top in stripes using Distress inks.  I spritzed with water so the colours blended to give a watercolour look.  Pretty simple to do and I love the bright, fun colours.  I added a simple white die-cut dragonfly to finish (gift from a dear friend).

Here's a close-up...

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the reminder cards from our wonderful Guest Designer Hannelie, and our talented Designers.  Check out the entries in the gallery as well ... so many gorgeous cards and one of the prettiest galleries with all the colours!  Then come play along.

Stamps:  Dream (Unity)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  White Pigment (Hero Arts); Distress Inks:  Barn Door, Spiced Marmalade, Squeezed Lemonade, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  White embossing powder, heat tool, sponges, water mister, ? die (Elizabeth Craft Designs)

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour May Challenge - Rainbow

CAS Mix Up May Challenge

Hi everyone.  It's the start of the CAS Mix Up May Challenge.  I'm so excited about this month's challenge.  I've had some NBUS mixed media products sitting around for ages.  The challenge and video tutorials have been a great help to get me going with these fun products.

Today's card uses Distress Crayons by Tim Holtz.  I followed the video tutorial on the challenge blog by Shari Carroll.  I had a play with spreading the colour of the crayons a while ago with no luck.  Shari mentioned that you need to add quite a bit of colour, and once the colour is down, adding more on top makes it easier to spread and blend.  It worked!!  I used three colours (pink, orange and yellow ... my fav combination!).  I did spritz just a little water to get things moving easier.  My background is done on mixed media paper.  Then I placed a harlequin stencil over top and used a baby wipe to remove some of the colour.  Love the artsy background I ended up with.

Stamped my flowers in black and added a white frame with stamped sentiment.  I will definitely be using my Distress Crayons more often! :)

Here's a close-up ...

We are excited to have Jenny (My Paper Epiphany) as our Guest Designer this month.  Check out the challenge blog to see the beautiful cards from our Designers and Guest Designer, Jenny.  Then come play along.  Challenge is open until midnight (PST) May 24th.  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Stamps:  Insightful Meadows (Unity); Amazing Mackintosh Words (Chocolate Baroque)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Crayons: Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, harlequin stencil (cut with my Silhouette Cameo), baby wipe, Rectangle Nestability (Spellbinders)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up May Challenge - Gelatos or Crayons

Smile

Hi everyone.  Sharing another card made with Acetate.  This time I poured my Alcohol Inks on top and then tilted the panel so they ran.  I like the look of texture that was created.  I then stamped wildflowers on top, heat embossing them in liquid platinum.  The acetate sheets I use do take the heat gun, but I don't leave it too long or it will start to melt and curl.

I added a simple white frame around my image panel and heat embossed Smile at the bottom.  Fun, easy card.

Here's a close-up ...

I'm heading over to add this to the CAS Mix Up March Challenge - Acetate, that is being hosted by my friend Susan.  Acetate is a great product that you can do so much with!

Come join us!

Stamps:  Insightful Meadows (Unity Stamp); Smile (AliExpress)
Paper:  White card stock card base and frame (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Alcohol Inks:  Mermaid Lagoon, Botantical (Ranger)
Accessories & Tools:  Acetate sheet (Grafix .007 thickenss), Liquid platinum embossing powder (Ranger); Rectangle nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up March Challenge - Acetate