Thoughts & Prayers- Nothing is Worth More than This Day

Hi Friends!!

Woohoo! I had a chance to create another Clean and Simple (CAS) Mixed Media card using an alcohol ink technique on vellum last night. One thing I forgot to do was work in a well ventilated room- lol! I must remember that for the next time :-)

I created this card for the August CAS Mixed-Media challenge and chose to use vellum versus Yupo® paper (I have the Yupo® as well as Glossy cardstock but neither one was in the area where I actually stamp right now, so I pulled out a piece of vellum instead) and the Simon Says Wednesday "Splatter It" Challenge.

My design style normally does not lean toward CAS cards but lately I have been trying to participate in CAS challenges and force myself to think CAS.  I am having so much fun with this style and who knows? I may be converted soon- lol!!

If you have not already had a chance to visit the above challenge sites yet, I hope you will do so- wonderful inspiration from their Design Teams as well as in their galleries!

OK, I have to admit, this card was an experiment so I did try a few different things ( I refused to give up :-)) :

1). Using alcohol inks for the “smoosh” technique (***Note- epic fail on vellum but it is part of this card ) place a few drops of Ranger® Adirondack™ Alcohol Inks- Ginger, Latte and Terra Cotta onto a silicone craft mat, spritz with alcohol blending solution and lay the piece of vellum into the ink. Immediately lift up the vellum, allow the inks to merge and blend.  The problem I had with this method on vellum was that I had too much of the ink on the mat (and too similar of colors) so the colors became one brown color (I decided to wipe it off the vellum and start over...)

2). Using  Spectrum Noir™ Alcohol Markers, color with the large flat nib back and forth over the panel- GB5 Yellow at the top, OR1 Orange in the center and the DG4 at the bottom. Once the marker has dried (only a few moments), spritz a bit of alcohol blending solution over the panel and allow that to dry.

3). Trim the vellum, de-static the alcohol marker ink side with an Embossing Buddy®, stamp the tree from Thoughts & Prayers using Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink, apply Clear Embossing Powder and carefully heat set with the Heat Tool.

4). Using the Big Shot™ with the MFT Stitched Rectangle STAX, cut the frame from Basic Black cardstock and adhere the vellum panel to the frame.  Mount the entire frame onto a piece of So Saffron cardstock (I had this piece in my stash already die cut with the same rectangle die).

5). On a piece of Whisper White cardstock, stamp the sentiment from the retired Summer Afternoon stamp set with Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink at the bottom, trim the panel and mount onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock.  Adhere the entire background onto the white card base and add the vellum panel.

6). Die cut the cat from Basic Black cardstock with the Poppystamps™ Sitting Cat Die (I also had this die cut ready in my stash)- mount onto the card front with dimensional foam to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Thoughts & Prayers, Summer Afternoon (current and retired Stampin’ Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black; Alcohol Inks, Spectrum Noir™ Alcohol Markers- GB5, OR1, DG4

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Vellum

Accessories/Tools:  Big Shot™, MFT Stitched Rectangles STAX Dies, Poppystamps™ Sitting Cat Die, Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Thanks again for stopping by- hugs and I hope all of you have a fabulous weekend!