LOST AND FOUND - MORE "unfinished stuff" from my old stash - freebie

I've been plugging away in my craft room, a little at a time and using more "stuff" discovered in my "unfinished projects" box. I love using my old stamps and papers from long ago. Do you?  Today, I am using previously cut out triangles of papers in the backgrounds of these cards.

I especially enjoy this Fred She Said stamp because it works for people from our past or present - still present in our lives, and/or having moved away until we next talk. I love hearing the stories about my friends' relatives and family stories. Those kinds of memories come alive when retold, and give us inspiration to live in a way that inspires others, too. On this occasion, the card was sent to a friend's husband who has been chronically ill, and fighting a terminal illness, for decades. His strength and influence have encouraged me. In the card, I shared that he and I are "aged to a perfection" only the two of us can appreciate (giggle).

Aged to Perfection - Fred She Said Old Trucks

Using the backgrounds from my unfinished box, with a little help from Fred She Said Old Trucks, I utilized an ancient (dare I say "vintage") technique. Some call it "Cracked Glass" and others call it "Cracked Ice". 

Using Sepia tones to further the vintage look, I die cut the images, inked them up, coated with several layers of clear EP, and put them in the freezer for about 30 minutes. Then the images were "cracked" before the EP could thaw:

I liberally smooshed Black Soot DI on top of the images, so the ink could get into the crevices. The rest comes off easily with paper towel. These cracked really well -- kinda like me! (giggle)

I tried to capture more detail in the photograph by removing the overhead light on my desk:

Products: Stamps: Fred She Said Old Trucks, Freebie Digital Sentiment below Dies: Surprise Creations Pierced Decorative Ovals, Sue Wilson Double Pierced Ovals, Sue Wilson Pierced Flags, Inks: Distress Oxides Vintage Photo & Brushed Corduroy, Distress inks Black Soot, Old Paper, VersaMark, Clear EP, other: Charcoal colored Vellum, FREEZER TECHNIQUE

FREEBIE SENTIMENT

My gift to you - Arrangements of the same sentiment for use on the inside or outside of your projects. Please do not sell these Sentiments. Use on any of your projects, including projects involving any design teams you might be on.

Click on the image to bring it to full size. Because of the changes Google Made with Blogger (June 2020), your image will appear to be solid black. Don’t panic. Right click and do a SAVE AS PNG. Once it is saved on your hard drive, you can open it and it will have a transparent background. I create PNGs instead of JPGs so they can be placed anywhere on a scene or project, and so backgrounds can be made using them. Please let me know if you have any problems. I hope they serve you well!

Enjoy!

Playing in the following challenges please:

1. Perfect Time to Craft (June 1) #6 AG 7/1
2. Classic Design Challenge #5 AG with masculine 6/15
3. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #231 AG 6/16
4. The Alphabet Challenge (May 31) E is for Embossing 6/13 (one of the background triangles is dry embossed with dots - the main image has several coats of Clear Embossing Powder - wet embossing - was placed in the freezer, then cracked and distressed as mentioned above)
5. Aloha Friday #11 Masculine 7/3

Stamping Hugs,

Cracked Glass Pet Puns by MHK Designs for 2 Crafty Critter Crazies!

Hello, Critter Loving Friends!
Hoping you are doing well and enjoying Life.

A new 2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge begins today!

MKH Designs is sponsoring October's challenge, which ends October 31.

A random winner is selected, and a guest designer for the upcoming month is chosen.

My three cards feature this fun "Pet Puns" Digital Set which contains 3 images and 6 sentiments!

All three cards use the fish bowl and fishy sentiments. The prize will be the "Pet Puns" Digital Set.

There are some interesting ideas for using the set on the MHKDesigns blog here.

MHKDesigns "Pet Puns"

ENJOYING MY STASH

My first card utilizes the digital image printed in blue, colored with Copic Markers, and distressed with Tumbled Glass ink. The dry embossed tag also features two washi tape designs, hand-made papers, hand-stamped background, dry embossing, cheesecloth and glittery die cuts. Products listed below.

Years ago, I enjoyed making paper on a small scale, and still have many of my pieces. (HINT: "years ago" means 15 years ago (giggle).

Then I met Lis Robson of Paper Creator. Now here is a real talent! She makes handmade papers IN BULK in all kinds of colors, textures and a variety of "additives" like seeds, confetti, flower petals and more. 

My tag card uses a fibrous white piece from Lis, and a pale tangerine piece from my own stash. Lis had pressed her paper prior to it drying, whereas I used an embossing folder. I should have photographed them prior to adhering, right? Sheesh!

CRACKED GLASS (aka CRACKED ICE) TECHNIQUE

This video shows how to use digital stamps with the cracked glass technique, and reveals how to use it in one specific portion of your digital stamp image, or over the entire digi stamp image, as I have done.

Here is the YouTube link for my email followers:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDgJaWn6XaU

For the Cracked Glass (aka Cracked Ice) technique, I printed the sentiment and colored image, die cut them, used distress inks around the stencils, and then smooshed with VersaMark ink and dredged with SNS Clear Detail Embossing Powder, heating repeatedly for a glossy smooth coat. After plunging them in the freezer for 25 minutes, the pieces were "cracked", then smeared with Walnut Distress ink. That did not achieve the vintage flavor I hoped for, so I applied some Tonic Acorn Brown Hybrid ink with a Q-tip and lightly heated the pieces to meld the brown ink into the melted embossing powder.



The stamped panels resemble vintage glass when the light shines on them:



I loved using some of this sequined trim from my Mom's stash. This was purchased back in the early 1970's for some of her Krewe of Venus designs for the Swashbuckling Gasparilla parade and events in the Tampa Bay Area each year. Too bad the black sequins don't show up in the photography.




Lastly, I have a simple and sweet card using the same sketch as the Cracked Glass creation above:



Colored with Copic Markers and Blue Print and Tumbled Glass Distress Inks, the frame has 3/4" Double Stick Tear-ific Tape on the back to adhere the pretty Blue Lightning Ultrafine Glitter.

On A Personal Note:

Just had to share this amazing video of a giant manta asking for help from a diver.

Linda's Peaceful Place always has several uplifting goodies on her blog:

Don't forget! Any project featuring a creature is eligible at the 

2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge!

___________________________________________________________

Products Used:

MHK Designs - "Pet Puns" set colored with Copic Markers.

White-Blue Card: Blue Lightning Ultrafine Glitter (around frame), Spellbinders Decorative Labels 46, Labels 46, Labels 4, Lace, Satin Ribbon, Blueprint and Tumbled Glass Distress Inks.

White-Teal-Aqua Cracked-Glass Card: Spellbinders Labels 4, Vintage Trim from my Mom's stash, Peacock and Walnut Distress Ink, Tonic Acorn Brown Hybrid ink, SNS Clear Detail Embossing Powder, SNS VersaMark.

Tag Card:

• Dies: Spellbinders Diamondessence Circles, Dee's Distinctively Flourish, PoppyStamps Mainstreet Tags
• Embellishment Mousse: Orange Blush, Pacific Teal, Aquamarine
• Embossing Folders: We R Memory Keepers Dotted #1, Embossialiscious Regency Swirls
• Embossing Powders: Cerulean Star, Mediterranean Blue Star
• Glitter: Ocean
• Cardstock: Aqua, Neenah White, 2 handmade papers
• Inks: Distress, VersaMark
• Turquoise Punchinella, assorted brads

___________________________________________________________

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

1. Crafty Friends Challenge #67 Ribbon and Lace (my last white-blue card has both) 10/8
2. Love to Craft Challenges #15 Anything Goes 11/1
3. MHKDesigns by Mynn October 1 Anything Goes with MHK Design 11/1
4. A Bit More Time to Craft #53 Anything Goes 11/1
5. Crafts Galore Encore Oct Anything Goes 11/1 (tab)
6. Crafty Animals (Oct #7) Anything Goes with Animals 10/30 (sep post)
7. Crafty Girls Creations #40 Anything Goes 11/1 (sep post)
8. Creatalicious Challenges #124 "Anything Goes with Make your Own Background" (my TAG CARD has my hand made paper, hand stamped and heat embossed paper, dry embossing and punchinella) (sep post) 10/14
9. Create and Inspire #66 Anything Goes 11/10
10. Creative Ladybirds Creations #30 Anything Goes 11/1

Stamping Hugs,

Winter Blues {Sweet Stamps}

Hi, Blogging Friends! 

Today I'm showing the 2nd card as Sweet Stamps' January Guest Designer! I hope you will stop by and see their many pretty stamp designs, stencils, dies, and art supplies. 

The Sweet Stamps Blog challenge this week is WINTER BLUES. Please visit the Sweet Stamps Blog to see the beautiful inspiration the Sweeties have designed for you! 

The following Sweet Stamps products were used:

• Sweet Stamps Floral Wrap Rubber Stamp 4004
• Sweet Stamps Sending Happy Thoughts Rubber Stamp 9115
• Sweet Stamps Fuschia
• Sweet Cuts Fancy Leaf die cut
• Sweet Stamps Danube Blue Memento Ink
• Sweet Stamps Spun Sugar Distress Ink

Back in the Olden Days (some 20 years ago),

we frequently used a technique called CRACKED ICE.
(anyone ELSE recall that term?)

"Cracked Ice" is now known as "Cracked Glass". 

It was called Cracked Ice because the freezer was used as a tool to create the finish. When "cracked" it also was reminiscent of the "old fashioned" ice cubes that cracked when manually removed from the freezer.

My card has fewer cracks to let the pretty Fuschia image be seen. It is distressed with the same color ink the image was stamped in (Danube Blue Memento).

Love the delicate yet playful font in the Sending Happy Thoughts 9115 sentiment:

Have you noticed that the stamped Floral Wrap 4004 image is on the left at the top, but on the right on the bottom? (giggle)

Tip: How to reverse a rubber stamp image:

Also "back in the olden days", we used to ink a rubber stamp, stamp it onto a flat piece of rubber, and then stamp that flat rubber image onto paper in order to reverse the image. It never came out perfectly. 

Sooooo... this is how I did it:

Today's card uses Sweet Stamps Floral Wrap Rubber Stamp 4004. It is stamped with Danube Blue Memento Ink. The stamped image was scanned and saved to my hard drive. The image was manipulated by flipping it vertically to show it on the right side, instead of the left, and then printed. Because it was printed on X-Press It Copic paper, I was then able to color it just like any other image using Copic Markers.

One Last Look at those Cold Wintry Blues the rest of the country is contending with:

The Sweeties are looking forward to seeing your creations at their challenge, too!

Products Used:
Sweet Stamps Fuschia
Sweet Stamps Floral Wrap 4004
Sweet Stamps Sending Happy Thoughts 9115
Sweet Cuts Fancy Leaf die cut
Sweet Stamps Danube Blue Memento Ink
Sweet Stamps Spun Sugar Distress Ink

Scrapy Land Spellbinders Majestic Squares S4-383
Scrapy Land Spellbinders Scallop Squares Classic
Scrapy Land Copic Sketch Markers

Sparkle N Sprinkle Clear Detail embossing powder
Spellbinders Grand Labels One
Spellbinders Grand Decorative Labels One
Spellbinders Luscious Labels One
EKSuccess corner punch
Ink: Danube Blue Memento, VersaMark, Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue, Spun Sugar Distress
Copic Markers

Challenges this card is submitted to:

1. Die Cut Divas (Jan 1) - Anything Goes with Die Cuts - P1 M (please see list of die cuts above)
2. Artistic Inspirations #122 - Anything Goes with A Twist of New (new stamps, new Danube Blue Ink, New Reverse Technique)  1/18
3. Crafting from the Heart #42 - Anything Goes - 1/18

Stamping Hugs,

Overheated? Low on Gas?

Blog Candy Offer Deadline March 31 - three Sparkle N Sprinkle Sets - please click here and scroll down for details.

Happy Saturday! Today's card share is very simple. I needed a masculine 'get well' card in a hurry. (for complete directions to make this card, please click here.)

Both stamps are part of this adorable Sparkle N Sprinkle set:

I actually made this in one day - no small feat for fumble fingers here.  

If you enjoy breaking things, or need a little therapy, the technique can be very satisfying. 

The "Cracked Glass/Ice" technique is perfect for this Get Well card - contributes to that "run down" feeling. The "cracks" seem to radiate from poor old Henry.


This fun technique also covers up mistakes made while coloring. :-)  

To the left is a close up of the cracked ice.

A shiny close up is shown below.

Video and written tutorials can be found in the SNS Tips and Techniques section. Samples of other styles of cards using this technique are available, too, at the bottom of the page.

There is also a hint of color on the little white flowers die cut. The stitching adds a bit more texture to this card.

One of my favorite new challenges: Use It Tuesday, encourages us to use our old stash. This week it is Diecuts, Punches, Cutouts. The two Abstract Shapes dies have never been used, and the two Flourish Accent dies have never been used. Both designer papers by DCWV and  SU are old, and have never been used.

The Spellbinders Abstract Shapes is so old, that the item number is S4-001 - SB's first nesting set. I had purchased it when buying the Wizard machine some (six?) years ago? AND... I have never used it until this card (hanging head in shame). 

Products Used:

Sparkle N Sprinkle - Henry (lg) 0122-251M
Sparkle N Sprinkle - Overheated? 0433-251E
     (or adorable set #251 Cars) 00-251P4
Sparkle N Sprinkle - Super Thick Clear embossing powder EP230
Inks: Tuxedo Black Memento, Cloudy Blue dye base, Tea Dye dye base, VersaMark
Cardstock: DCWV and Stampin' Up!
Spellbinders:
  Flourish Accent Shapeabilities S4-198
  Shapes - Abstract Nestabilities - S4-001
  Grand Scallop Circles LF-124
  Standard Circles - Nestabilities - S4-116

This card is entered in the following awesome challenges:

Anything Goes Challenges - #88 "Seeing Double" (2 stamped images, inside 2 identical die cuts from nestabilities, and 2 flourishes from the same die cut set, 2 layers in red panel, 2 layers behind Henry the car, 2 types of stitches).
Use It Tuesday - #52 Diecuts, Punches... (4 Spellbinders dies)
Crafty Boots - "Old, New, Borrowed OR Blue" (everything on the card is old, white die cut is "borrowed", dies, images, papers all have never been used so they are new even tho they are old, blue cardstock)
Make It Monday - #131 Always Anything Goes 
Make My Monday - Heat Embossing (clear EP in cracked ice)

Warm Hugs Always,