Hot Mess = Success ~ Glue Alcohol Inks Scraper Thingie technique!

 

Hi friends!

Today's card is for the Hot Mess = Success card challenge

where we make a big mess card!

It's no secret - I don't like messes

and today's card was the. messiest. one. yet!

But it was WILDLY fun and would I do it again?

Absolutely!

I'll have a video up soon on my channel because you REALLY 

need to see this in action to get the full effect :)

*stay tuned!*

Here's how it all got started ....

and you can also see what Barb, Carol, Darlene, Jeanette & Terry made

as we are the 6 Hot Messes :)

K .. First, here's my card 

and then a VERY HEAVY PICTURE post if you want to see 

some of the hows and whats and whys!

I used the new Avery Elle Look For Rainbows stamp ~

I adore images with umbrellas!  

Just love love LOVE them!

      To create this card, I first stamped/die cut/ colored the images.

I set them aside to work on the messiest background.

And when I saw this gave me ANXIETY, it did.

Juuuuuuuust watch :)

I used a technique I may have invented during Winter Camp

where we were to use glue on our projects.

I saw the entire plate of glue and felt bad - I really did!

I didn't want to throw it out and I said to myself

"Self?  What would happen if .... I added alcohol inks to this glue!"

And I answered (myself) "Let's do it!"

Mmmmhmmm, yep.

But let's continue!

I decided "no time like the present!  Add the alcohol!" (as in inks ...)

It was amazing!

I loved it and recreated it again for this card.

I've never seen it, never heard of anyone doing it, therefore, 

I'm calling it my glue alcohol inks scraper thingie technique!

Step 1:  Have these handy - and a trash can.  They're your BFFs!

(this roll was brand new when I started)

Step 2:  Grab any type of base (I have a paper plate) and pour just

enough glue to cover the bottom and a smidege more.

Step 3:  Add some water to dilute it.  This is important!

The glue is WAY to thick to allow the alcohol inks to work w/o H20!

It should be the consistency of grandma's gravy.

And ... chose your alcohol ink colors.

I've used Pool, Amethyst, Turquoise and Sailboat Blue from Ranger.

Step 4: My bad - you'll need gloves!

Or your hands will look like Easter eggs :)

And start adding drops of ink, spacing them out to let them go to work.

Step 5:  Take an A2 size card panel and press it into the glue/inks.

Don't press it too hard and jiggle it ever-so-slighty in the mixture.

Step 6:  Ta-da!  This is ooey gooey but loads of fun!

It looks scary messy (it is, not gonna fib!) but WORTH IT.

The glue and inks give it an amazing design!

Except, I was trying to hold this mess, hold my phone, take pictures ..

it was a whole mess!

Step 7: Take a scraper thingie (I used a large bone folder which does 

not work as a bone folder for me so it became a squeegie!

An old plastic card does the same but if you can go across in 

one sweep rather than several, much betta!

  

Step 8:  Slide the bone folder/scraper thingie across the panel

from top to bottom removing all the glue/ink mixture QUICKLY

before it has the chance to set.  That's another reason why 

diluting it with water works wonders (nice alliteration!) ~

it usually comes off in one swipe!

Set the panel aside to dry - takes maybe 20 minutes.

Don't touch it when wet - it's very unforgiving 

and you'll leave your prints of the crime for all to see!

Once it's dry, it's ready to use!

I used a rounded corner stitched die from MFT Stamps

and let the 'busy-ness' of the background be the star.

I added the sweet mouse and rain puddle from the stamp set

and one of the sentiments and done!

*Tip 1:  Remember step 1!  When you 'squeegie' the panel, 

glue oozes e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e!

I went through nearly an entire paper towel roll and glue gets sticky fast.

Just spray and wipe and you're good!

*Tip 2:  The plate of glue is best when fresh.

It's hard to get a GOOD background when it's already been dunked.

Just add a few more droplets of alcohol and make a couple more!

I ended up with 6 before I called it quits and none are alike!

     

        Tip 3:  You may wonder isn't this the same as Yupo paper?

Nope.

Have you seen the cost of Yupo paper!

Have mercy!

It's wonderful ... I love it, I have it here, I bought it and I use it!

But it's 'spensive!

This is a WONDERFUL alternative and glue costs like 60 cents at WM

not to mention cardstock is pretty inexpensive there, too.

This can resemble the shaving cream technique which is equally fun

but since I've already done that a million and one times,

I wanted to just get messy, have fun, be distracted and PLAY!

So ... that's the glue alcohol inks scraper thingie technique!

This month's Hot Mess = A Success!

One last look at my card again:

Thanks so much for stopping by!

HIPPO Valetine's Day!

 Hi friends!

I have a new YouTube video up on my itty bitty channel!

In the video, and with this card, 

I'm sharing how I created an ombre blue Valentine's Day card

that will be for my husband.  

He's so sweet and says often watches my channel when he's at work

 just to hear me :)

Guess I won't be doing any crafty HAULS

of all the things he's buys me and doesn't know of new goodies! 

HA!

These cute hippos are from Clearly Besotted

and were exclusive to orders spending $60 or more.

Lucky for me, I did not!  

I got mine brand new from someone selling it in the forums - yay me!

I've also used the Lawn Fawn lawn cuts and distress oxides.

I would love for you to check out the video

as I'm trying to grow my audience 

and have some fun things coming up!

Thanks for stopping by!

CCEE2106 ~ Love is in the air!

 

Hi friends!

Today I have a quick card - an under 5 minute'r!

He's tired of the snow and winter 

and he's off looking for love :) 

 It's time for a new challenge at the CCEE Stampers.

Manal is our hostess and is asking for projects featuring love.

This little gnome from Simon Says Stamp 

was so popular last year.

                    This card was actually created with little snippets 

that I have left over.

As I went through my scrap basket, most of it was tossed

but a few little pieces were turned into quick cards ...

like this one!

Be sure to stop in at the CCEE Stampers blog

and link up your cards!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamp What?! - Friendship warms the heart

 Hi friends!

Today's card is for my Stamp What?! card series where,

 once a month, my son chooses an "Old Dusties" wooden stamp set 

from the yonder years!  

You can read here how this all started

 and this is my second year, still going strong!

My friends Barb and Jeanette are joining me again this year

on this creative journey, although they are choose their own stamps 

each month while mine are always whatever I'm given by my son :)

February's stamp:  Friendship warms the Heart

 circa 1994

           Me:  This is awesome for February!  How did you chose this?

Him:  Because it has a heart ..........

Perfect!

TBH, I think this might actually be the 2nd time I've even used it!

I purchased this sweet rag doll set for a swap 100 years ago

and then it sats and sats!

Here is my card!

I chose a patterned paper as a background that kinda sorta

looked like a quilt.

I colored it with copic markers and added the buttons 

to mimic the ones on the rag doll and her heart.

How did I update this?

 The dies I used weren't around back then

and the patterend paper is from just a few years ago.

Barb and Jeanette have joined me this again this year

and you can see their cards on their blogs.

I often have people tell me they love the idea - thank you!

And I also encourage you to give it a try!

This series came about when mine sat neglected

and it was as simple as taking a leap, picking one

 (or have it picked for you as a surprise!) and go go GO! 

Thanks for stopping by!

entered to: Word Art Wednesday - AG

3M ~ XOXO for all!

 

Hi friends!

*note: my card is updated from the one I had previously here

Today's card is for the 3M card group challenge

and this month I'm the hostess.

With Valentine's Day coming up in a few days,

I wanted to send an image to reflect LOVE 

as love comes in many forms ...

Family members, spouses, sweethearts, friends!

For this month's image, I chose Candace XOXO by Stamp Anniething.

I colored her with copic markers 

and added her to a card base with fun patterned papers.

You can see Barb's card here and Jeanette's card here.

I wasn't able to get a great photo of my card so I'll have to redo it :/

Today I'll be heading to the hospital bright and early.

One of those moments in life that God has reminded me 

that He's in control and has plans that we can't always know for us :)

If you could spare a prayer, I'd be so grateful <3

Thanks so much for stopping by!

You can do anything!

 

Hi friends!

Time for a fresh start to a new week!

Today's card is one that I made just because,

the product of a rainy day and a desire to watercolor.

My mind has been adrift ~ quite a challenge for cardmaking

since we need 3 things (as least) ...

Supplies, time to create and mojo!

Well, at least I have the first one going for me - LOL!

I've used Courageous You from Altenew

and was channeling pink for the beautiful florals.

This was a set I purchased - wow - a year ago ..

and I'm just now inking it up.

For the colors, I used the watercolor brush markers 

and just dabbled and had fun doing so ~ which is good ... I hope!

I love the vibrancy of the pinks here

although I'm not a fan of the color pink - it's pretty on flowers :)

Tonight will be CRAM time

 as I have to get 7 cards created by tomorrow!  

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!

Wish me luck :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Free hugs!

 

Hi friends!

We made it to Friday!

Woot!

Here in the US, it's Superbowl Sunday 

annnnnnnnnnnnnd I won't be watching, LOL!

(I'm still working on a huge project - no goofin' off for me!)

Today at SCS we're sharing hugs -

virtual hugs!

Since we are still not connecting in person as much as we'd like

and many of us are still homebound and missing our peeps,

we're sending virtual hugs (the safe kind!)

Today's card has the adorable bear from Just Saying by Hello Bluebird

and it has so many different sentiments in the set.

I used HUGS and stamped it onto his little sign :)

Thanks so much for stopping by!

CCEE2105 ~ Thank a mailman day!

 

Hi friends!

There's a new challenge and new hostess this month at the 

CCEE Stampers blog and it's Manal, our newest designer.

Her challenge this week:  

It's been really cold, however, the warmth of gifts from loved ones has succeeded in making us happy.

We wouldn't have been able to send or receive anything if there were no mailmen out there who deliver happiness to our doorsteps.

Let's thank them for all the efforts they make!

Create a project that features a mailman/ postman, letter box, letters, mail truck or envelopes.

How fun!

I'm truly grateful for our mail carriers and happy that the mail 

delivery time for package arrivals has considerably shortened!

My card today is using Gerda Steiner Designs Puppy Mail.

This is one of two cards I made - this one is the BRIGHT one.

I loved the sentiment so much, I bought the whole stamp set!

Be sure to check out what the other designers have made this week

and head over to the blog if you'd like to link up your card!

Thanks for stopping by!

One Plus Twelve - February

 

Hi friends!

Today, I've got the blues ...

as in blue inks, blue paint, blue cardstock!

February is usually all about the reds,

but my card today is a wintery, shimmery pop of blue.

This is my February card for my One Plus Twelve card challenge ~

where each year I pick just one stamp, use it twelve times!

The idea was a creative way to stretch my stamps

and not just use them 'one and done.'

2021's stamp is Altenew's Build-A-Flower Magnolia,

my very VERY favorite flower :)

My card had a little outfit change.

I started with the card base and stamped the magnolia onto vellum:

I was most unimpressed!

I knew immediately it was a mistake and thought this card was done :(

Once you glue vellum done, it rips the paper taking it off.

I quickly stamped out another magnolia onto vellum (again)

and also one on white cardstock - neenah solar white.

I used my markers to color the white cardstock 

and placed the new vellum on top of it - to give it a subtle look.

The sentiment is from anothe Altenew sentiment stamp set

and could not be more true for me.

These words were just calling my heart!

This is my 3rd year doing this fun challenge ~

and my friends Barb and Jeanette are joining me, too.

I love all the tags I've gotten so far of people telling me they 

are joining in ~ it's a thrilling experience to choose 'the one'

and find so many different and creative ways to use the same stamp!

I found a new to me stamp company last month

and, if I'm still doing this challenge, 

 I may have already found my stamp for next year ...

11 months early!

Thanks for stopping by!

Miss you *beary* much ...

 

Hi friends!

I saw a poem the other day that resonated with me ~

and I read it just at the time I needed it the most :)

"A bear teaches us that if the heart is true, 

it doesn't matter much if an ear drops off." 

~Helen Exley

So very true!

My friend's dad recently passed away and I was so sad for her

as that's a heartbreak I'm familiar with.

But rather than create sympathy cards, she had a card drive 

and asked for cards with a bear somewhere on it for him.

What a sweet idea to remember the fond memories and

 celebrate his love of bears <3

My card is using Lawn Fawn's Smooth Sailing and Life is Good.

To create this, I used heavy #120 Accent Opaque cardstock

and made a 'porthole' for the sky and waves.

I cut/colored all the pieces and layered them to my card

to create an ocean/beachy vibe.

I'm sure she will receive cards from all over the globe

and I wanted this one to say "Miami!"

And that's my card :)

Thanks for stopping by!

I'll enter this to:  Lawn Fawnatics challenge 94 ~ What's the weather (sunny here!!)

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Hello!

 

hello!

Wishing you all a happy February!

It's the first week of a fresh new month

with all things pink and red and filled with love!

My card is very simple  because it's the CAS card this week

at Splitcoaststampers!

I haven't done much crafting and have just come up for air

so I'm starting small.

I'm using my Paper Smooches ~ Just A Note stamp and die set

I'll be doing a video on this soon because it was an 

AWESOME SCORE!

I am so so SO sad this company closed :(

I didn't use them as often as I should have and 

when I saw Kim's message about closing, 

I started scooping up the ones I didn't have before ... ya know ... eBay!

Thanks for stopping by!