Polymer dragon

Along with my cardmaking, I also dabble a bit with polymer clay. This is my first attempt at a Christi Friesen type dragon. http://www.cforiginals.net/ Probably because of the heat and humidity, I found the clay softened a lot and became more pliable than I would have liked. He ended up more alligator looking than I originally intended, but still usable. It has made me aware to really watch the positioning of the eyes when sculpting the clay.

Supplies used- Premo polymer clay,assorted glass beads, tigers eye beads, freshwater pearls, acrylic paint, Flecto varnish

Rosemary

More metallic texture

This journal was made for my brother's fiance. It also uses the metallic heating and air conditioning tape. The die cut was done on my KNK. The tape was textured with Ten Seconds Studio's tools and antiqued with acrylic paint. It was a little hard to photograph, without getting too much reflection, and has a much shinier appearance in real life.

Supplies used - notebook, metallic tape, acrylic paint, KNK, card stock, Ten Seconds Studio's metal tools

Rosemary

Metallic textures

I created this card a couple of months ago for Suzanne at Oxford Impressions and it uses one of the images from the Country Girl plate. I thought I would share it here as it uses an easily found item to create a metallic textured look that is easy to do and light weight enough to be used on a card that could be mailed. The letters were cut out of card stock on my KNK and adhered to a card stock base. ( Any die cut letters or shapes could be used.) These were then covered with a strip of shiny heating/air conditioning tape that you can get at Home Depot, or other home improvement store or sometimes at your local dollar store. I brayered the tape with a soft rubber brayer and outlined the letters with a paper stump. (This is an adaptation of a technique that Tim Holtz used on one of his DVD's, and of techniques from Ten Seconds Studio.) I textured several pieces of the tape with Ten Seconds Studio's metal tools and applied them to the base. Acrylic paint was used to give the tape an antique appearance. The image is stamped on glossy card stock and coloured with markers (applied with a paint brush), chalk and distress ink. Screw brads compliment the metal frame. This technique is a great way to get wonderful metal effects without the extra weight of actual metal.

Supplies used- stamp Oxford Impressions, metal tape, Ten Seconds Studio metal tools, KNK, waterbased markers, chalk, distress ink, glossy card stock and regular card stock, metal screw brads.

Rosemary

Smoosh background cards

A while ago, I had been playing with the Memories Mists as backgrounds, as shown in Elaine Barr's blog here The backgrounds involve 2 pieces of glossy card stock, sprayed heavily with the Memories mist, smooshed together, then pulled apart. This gives some really interesting effects as shown in Elaine's blog. I took it one step further and while the pieces were still really wet, touched certain spots together and it gave me an encaustic wax effect.

These made such interesting backgrounds that I was reluctant to cover them up, so they sat unused. Today, I wondered what they would be like as backgrounds for very nostalgic images, instead of the strong graphic images you would expect to use with them.

This card uses an image from Paperbag Studios as the focus.

This young boy is from Oxford Impressions.

This stamp is also from Oxford Impressions.

I hope you enjoyed the cards and will give the technique a try. It is loads of fun, but be warned- wear old clothes as it can be a little messy.

Supplies used- Memories Mists in assorted colours, Stamps from Oxford Impressions and Paperbag Studios, glossy card stock, various coloured cs , vellum, chalks and markers for colouring stamped images.

Rosemary

Another tortoiseshell card

Another card using the Faux Tortoiseshell technique. This one is a little different as I added some gold Adirondack paint dabber as well as the Tintz. I really like the effect and love this image from Suzanne's new Family Man plate.

Supplies used- Stamp by Oxford Impressions, Walnut Ink Tintz, Adirondack gold paint dabber, clear embossing powder, various dye markers, Memories black ink, Palette burnt umber ink, various papers, distress inks, brads.

Rosemary

Faux Tortoiseshell Frames

I had been experimenting with making a pawprint frame with my KNK, following the instructions shared on Sandy's Blog http://www.sandymccauley.blogspot.com/ and by Ducky from the KNK yahoo group http://www.tricksntips.com/ and wanted a way to make my test cut usable. Using some of the Walnut Ink Tintz and clear embossing powder, I found a way to make it look like Faux Tortoiseshell. I dabbed on the rust and walnut colours randomly, some lighter, some darker. I applied versamark over the entire thing, and embossed with clear embossing powder. This made the colours really pop and gave it the faux tortoiseshell effect.

Supplies used- KNK Element, white cs, Walnut Ink Tintz, clear embossing powder, stamp by Lost Coast Designs, Copic markers, Burnt Umber Pallette ink, various distress inks, cutter file by me

Rosemary

Mesh Card

As a craft supplies collector, I also have 2 electronic die cut machines- a Craft Robo and a KNK Element. Since acquiring the KNK, my CR doesn't see much action. This card is from a file shared on UKScrappers by AndiDee. It is a complex file but cuts very well. I converted it to use in the KNK cutter. Various types of ink were used to highlight the individual animals.

Supplies used- KNK , file from AndiDee at UKScrappers, various inks and paint.

Rosemary