Video Tutorial - Emboss Resist and Double Embossing Techniques

Hi everyone!  I hope you are all having a wonderful start to your week.  I have a super simple card to share with you today and I did a video tutorial on how I created this card using two techniques: emboss resist and what I call "double embossing."  Here is a link to my video:

And here are some pictures:

The background stamp is the Flora Background stamp from Simon Says Stamp.  I embossed that with white embossing powder, then sponged Distress Oxide Worn Lipstick ink over the image for the emboss resist technique.  The sentiment is from Neat and Tangled's So Lucky stamp set.  I first embossed it with white embossing powder (except for the black, that one I first embossed clear), then embossed it with Taffeta Pink Wow embossing powder.  I added some sequins, and there you have a super simple, but fun and sparkly card.  What do you think?

Well, I hope you enjoyed this simple technique for today.  Thanks so much as always for stopping by.  Have a fabulous day!

Video Tutorial - Creating a Galaxy Background with Watercolor and Lawn Fawn Stamps

Hi everyone!  Thanks so much for stopping by.  Today I have a two part video tutorial on how I created a galaxy background with this brand new adorable Upon a Star stamp set from Lawn Fawn.  In Part One, I demonstrate how I created the background with water coloring and distress inks.  In Part Two, I show how I created the grass and how I colored the critters. 
Part One:



Part Two:

And here are some pictures:

And here's the one I created on camera (it's so neat that each time you do this technique, it turns out differently!):

To create the background, I water colored using Salty Ocean,  Peacock Feathers, Seedless Preserves, Chipped Sapphire, and Black Soot distress inks.  I also spashed some white acrylic paint and some gold and silver paint from Gansai Tambi Starry Colors paint palette.  For the grass, I sponged on Mowed Lawn and Pine Needles distress inks and spritzed some water.  I then put some Black Soot ink on to create a shadow using a sponge dauber.  I used Lawn Fawn dies to cut out my rectangle and my grass.  I colored my fox and my bunny using my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers.  For the fox, I used Deep Red and Brown.  For the Bunny, I used Gray, Light Gray, and Almond Pink.  I then used the coordinating dies to cut them out.  I stamped some of the constellations on the background and embossed them with white embossing powder.  I also white embossed the sentiment (also from the stamp set).  Finally, I added some sequins.  What do you think?


Well, that's it from me today.  Thanks so much as always for stopping by and I'll catch you in the next video!

Video Tutorial - Coloring a Mermaid with Zig Markers

Hi everyone!  In today's video, I show how I colored the mermaid seen in yesterday's card/video tutorial for the underwater background.  Here's the video:



I used the following Zig markers: Brown and Dark Brown for her hair, Yellow and Brown for the Star Fish, Turquoise Green and Purple for her tail, Turquoise Green for her top, and Flesh Color and Blush for her skin (and Almond Pink for her cheeks).  And here's the full card, as posted yesterday:

Thanks so much for watching and I'll catch you in the next video! :)

Creating an Underwater Scene with My Favorite Things and Distress Inks

Hi everyone!  I'm a bit behind this week in my videos/blog postings.  I've gotten another sinus infection, ugh, so that's put me a bit behind.  I'm excited to share today's video and card with you though, I'm really happy with how this one came out.  In my video today, I teach you how to create a gorgeous underwater scene using distress inks.  I used the adorable Mermazing stamp set from My Favorite Things (I love this set!)  Here's my video on how to create the background:





And here are some photographs:

I created the background using Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, and Walnut Stain Distress Inks and some water for the sand. I created the waves by using Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves, and Peacock Feathers Distress inks and some water.  I then used some white acrylic paint to splatter some white splotches over the panel.  I then cut out "waves" using the MFT Ocean Waves dies out of the distressed wave panel.  I then inked the tops of each wave with Staz On white ink to add some definition.  I colored all the images with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers.  I used Brown and Dark Brown for the mermaid's  hair, Purple and Turquoise Green for her tail, Turquoise Green for her top, Yellow and Brown for the starfish, and Flesh Color and Blush for her skin.  I coated all the images with my Wink of Stella Clear glitter pen.  I also added some sequins from my stash.  What do you think?

Well, that's it from me today.  Thanks so much as always for stopping by.  Have a wonderful day and I'll catch you in the  next video!

Video Tutorial: Watercolor Tips using Zig markers and Mama Elephant's Organic Blooms Stamp Set

Hi everyone!  I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!  I have a brand new video tutorial and card to share with you today.  In this video, I show you some more tips on how to use your Zig markers to create unique color pallets.  I'm using the new, gorgeous stamp set called Organic Blooms by Mama Elephant.  Here's my video tutorial:



And here are some pictures:

To color the peachy colored flowers, I used Pink, Yellow, and Wine Red.  For the pink flower, I used Light Pink, Pink, and Wine Red.  For the leaves, I used light green and for the blue flowers, I used blue.  For the shadow around the image, I used Light Blue.  I used some gold foil paper from Stampin' Up!  The pink paper was created using the Flora background stamp from Simon Says Stamp and the emboss resist technique.  I'll be doing another video on this technique, but just briefly, I inked the image with Versamark ink, heat embossed it with white embossing powder, then applied Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide ink.  I added some flicks of gold paint from the Gansai Tambi Starry Colors pigment ink set.  I also added some sequins from Lucy's Cards and Studio Katia.  I also coated the flowers with my Wink of Stella clear glitter pen. What do you think?


Well, that's it from eme today.  Thanks so much as always for stopping by and I'll catch you in the next video!

Video Tutorial: Tips for Using your Zig Markers when coloring a floral scene using Simon Says Stamps products

Hi everyone!  I hope you are all having a fabulous week.  I have a new video tutorial and card to share today using this gorgeous stamp set from Simon Says Stamp called More Spring Flowers.  I love this stamp set, it was so much fun to color these flowers in.  In my video tutorial for today, I show you some tips on how I use my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers to create multiple colors when coloring flowers.  I also show you how you can use one marker color to get gorgeous shaded results using that marker and a water brush.  Finally, I also show you how I created the distress inked background.  Here's the video tutorial:




And here's some pictures:

I inked all the flowers in Versamark ink and then heat embossed them in white embossing powder.  For the background, I used Picked Raspberry and Mowed Lawn distress inks to create the blended background, then I spritzed the background with some water for a distressed look.  To color my flowers, I used the following Zig marker colors: Pink, Light Pink, Blue Gray, Yellow, Orange, Olive Green, Light Green.  The sentiment is from the Hero Arts You are Loved stamp set.  Twenty-five percent of all proceeds from this stamp set go to the Jennifer McGuire Ink Kindness Campaign, which is such a worthwhile cause.  I stamped the sentiment in Versamark ink and heat embossed it with white embossing powder.  I added all of the elements with foam tape.  I then added some Nuvo Crystal Drops in Morning Dew and Carnation Pink.  I coated all the flowers with Wink of Stella clear glitter.  What do you think?


Well, that's it from me today.  Thank you so much as always for stopping by.  Have a wonderful day!

Video Tutorial: How to Create a Layer Scene Card with Mama Elephant Stamps and Distress Inks

Hi everyone and Happy Monday!  I hope your week is off to a wonderful start!  I'm super excited to share my card with you today.  I just recently got some stamps from the brand new Mama Elephant stamp release and I just had to play with this new set called Summer Days.  This set was SO much fun to play with.  I couldn't stop coloring the little critters (and as you'll see in my video, I have a ton that I already colored for future cards :) ).  Here's a link to my video tutorial:  


And here are some pictures of my card.

I colored all the images with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers (any time I use Zigs or do any ink blending, I use Bristol Smooth cardstock, so all white cardstock in this card is Bristol Smooth).  I used Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, and Walnut Stain distress inks for the sand dunes.  I used Broken China and Faded Jeans Distress Oxide inks for the ocean.  I used Salty Ocean distress ink for the sky and Mustard Scene for the sun (which I made using my Radiating Rays stencil from My Favorite Things).  I used stitched hillside border dies from Lawn Fawn for the sand dunes and Ocean Waves die-namics dies from My Favorite Things for the waves.  I used the Cloud 9 die-namics dies from My Favorite Things for the clouds.  I coated just about everything with my Wink of Stella Glitter Pen so it all has a really pretty shine.  The sentiment is from another Mama Elephant stamp set called Organic Blooms.


I hope you enjoyed my video tutorial and my card for today.  I had so much fun putting this scene together.  Thanks so much as always for stopping by and I'll see you tomorrow with another card and video! :)

Video: 12 Cards, One Kit - Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Kit May, 2017

Hi everyone and happy Wednesday!  I have a very picture heavy post for you today.  I had so much fun working with the mermaid images and coordinating dies from this month's My Monthly Hero Kit from Hero Arts.  These kits are always amazing in my opinion and definitely the best bang for your buck.  This kit has got to be my favorite ever! :)  I had so much fun coloring all the mermaids and creating all the fun backgrounds.  As you can see from my card samples, I created several backgrounds using the Jennifer McGuire inspired magic stencil technique using the wavy stencil that came in the kit.  I then created different cards using these backgrounds.  I also created a video for you today showing you how I did some stencil work with the Hero Arts inks that came in the kit.  I also show you all the cards I made on the video as well.  Unfortunately, for some weird reason, YouTube split my video into two parts so here they are:

And now for the pictures. 

For these cards, I just had to create some shaker cards.  The kit came with lots of acetate and some gorgeous sequins so I immediately went to work to create some shaker cards. I used the Reef Border and Frame Fancy Dies and used the window of the die for my shaker.  For two of the shaker cards, I created my background using Distress Oxide inks in Faded Jeans, Cracked Pistachio, and Wilted Violet and then used the magic stencil technique.  I colored all images for all cards using my Zig Clean Color Real Brush Watercolor Markers and a water brush.  I also coated all of my images with my Wink of Stella glitter pen.  I also cut everything out using the coordinating dies that came in the kit.   The sequins I used came from the kit.  For the sentiments (For these and all cards) I either used sentiments that came with the stamp set in the kit, or the add on sentiment set Mermazing Messages.

For my next set of cards, I used the Reef Border and Frame Fancy Dies and then placed some specialty paper that came in the kit.  These papers are so gorgeous, it was actually really hard to cut into them, but so worth it, I love how these came out. 

For my next set of cards, I used the Hero Arts Shell Confetti Fancy Die to create my backgrounds.  For two of the cards, I created my backgrounds first using the magic stencil technique and my distress oxide inks.  I also saved all the "confetti" that came out and you'll see some of the shapes sprinkled on some of my cards.  You could also use these little bits to put in shaker cards.  The third card I kept white on white and just added a strip of a background I created with the magic stencil technique. 

Here are two more, one using another magic stencil technique, the other was the sample I crated for the card I did on video.

Finally, here is the card that I showed how to create on camera in my video.  To do the stenciling, I simply taped the stencil down on top of my Bristol Smooth cardstock panel with some post it note tape, and then used an ink blending tool and the three Hero Arts inks that came in the kit.  I then removed the stencil and continued to create the card.  I think this one is actually one of my favorites, I'm really happy with how it turned out :) 


Here's my video (again I'm so sorry, for some reason YouTube split it into two parts so I'll link Part One and Part Two for you):
Part One:



Part Two:


Well, that's it from me today.  If you made it this far, thanks so much for staying with me :)  I just had so much fun with this kit and I was excited to share these fun cards with you.  Thanks so much as always for stopping by and I'll see you tomorrow with another post and video :)

Video Tutorial: No Line Watercolor Technique using Kindred Stamps and Zig Markers

Hi everyone!  I have a second video and two more card samples to share with you today.  I decided after devouring YouTube videos (specifically Kristina Werner who is fabulous!) to try my hand at no line water coloring. I loved the technique and the outcome so much that I decided to make a video tutorial on it just in case some of you might find it helpful.  First, I'll link to the video, then show you pictures of the cards. I apologize ,the video isn't the greatest.  There are a couple times I'm off camera and the zoom makes things a bit fuzzy at times, but I hope it is still helpful.  Please know, I do not in any way claim to be an expert at water coloring and I certainly am not an artist.  I taught myself this technique and I'm simply showing you guys the way I do it in the hopes that it might help or inspire some of you. 





Now for some close up pictures of the cards themselves.  Here's a picture of both cards together:

I will be coming back in a day or two with a video on how to create the backgrounds to these cards.  Today's video tutorial focuses only on the no line watercolor technique. 


Here's Rapunzel:

And here's Ariel:

I will list here for you all the supplies I used to do the no line watercolor technique.  I'll post the rest of the supplies when I post the tutorial on creating the backgrounds.  For the no-line coloring for Rapunzel, I used Antique Linen Distress Ink, a water brush, and the following Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers: Yellow, Light Violet, Purple, Flesh Color, Blush, Almond Pink.  For Ariel, I used the following Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers: Wine Red, Light Violet, Marine Green, Flesh Color, Blush, and Almond Pink.  For Flounder, I used Yellow and Light Blue.  For Sebastian, I used Red.  I used a Black Gelly Roll Fine pen (I got mine at Michael's) to draw in the eyes and smile.  What do you think?