The Damsel of Distressed Cards: April 2018

Friday, April 27, 2018

Visible Image + MISTI blog hop + PRIZES!

Hello Friendly Friends! I've got a blog post today that you're not going to want to miss out on. If you love Misti, or you love Visible Image stamps read til the end because there's 100 smackers worth of prizes up for grabs. *insert gasping noise here*

When the MISTI (short for most incredible stamping tool invented) came out, I definitely shelled out all my crafty savings to buy one because they are AMAZING. I use masking frequently as a technique, when I design cards and got so frustrated whenever I'd stamp an image that wouldn't be right on. The MISTI allows me to restamp the image in the exact same place every time. Believe me when I say that whatever I paid for the tool has been more than made up for in the cost of paper I would have had to chuck otherwise. haha.

A few months after they released the full MISTI, they dreamed up the mini MISTI and I'm so happy to get my hot little hands on one. I like the full size one because it's nice for using with large background stamps, but the mini appealed to me because it doesn't take up so much of my table space and I can keep it in arm's reach. And it's sooooo cuuuuuuuute. hehe

As you may know, if you're a regular reader of my blog (if not ->> hit the subscribe and I'll be forever grateful!) I am not a huge CAS fan. Mostly because if I even look at white space crosswise it somehow winds up with ink all over it.

So rarely - if ever have I attempted the triple layer stamping technique. Since I had the handy dandy mini MISTI, I decided to give it a go. I cut 3 sheets of blank paper and stacked them atop each other, securing them in place with the magnet that comes along with the MISTI.

I placed and inked my stamps - these moths come from the Glimmer of Light stamp set from Visible Image, which is freakin' gorrrrgeous.

Check it!

I stamped on the first layer, and then removed it, stamping again on the second layer, removing, and then repeated all the way until I only had the last layer to go.

I repeated this on both sides of my card, before inking up a sentiment from the Shining Bright stamp set using VersaMark embossing ink.

Shining Bright is another one of my fave sets. Visible Image always has the most unique sentiments and I love the slightly grungy feel to all their designs.

I stamped a lightbulb and watercolored it, fading it out until the outer edges were a soft yellow.

I added in some InkaGold to give the lightbulb some real life shimmer. and then speckled my card with flicks of yellows and golds.

Once I had all my layers, I used mounting tape to give them a little lift in between.

Taaaa-daaaaaa! I never would have attempted this technique without the MISTI. If you haven't invested in one, you neeeeeed to. Like not even a want. It's a need. You will never regret it.

Oh yeah - I mentioned prizes.

Both Visible Image and MISTI are offering a $50 shopping spree!!! Winning is pretty simple, just go have some inspirational fun along the hop with these folks:

Becca Cruger <--- YOU ARE HERE

My Sweet Petunia

Leave a sweet comment on each post and two lucky commenters will win. :)
Comments must be left by Monday, April 30 11:59 p.m. CST. Winners will be announced May 1st on the Visible Image and My Sweet Petunia blog.

Happy Hopping, friends!

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Mother’s Day Loveliness

Hello Bloggy Friends!
Mother’s Day is coming on the horizon and I’m thinking about how to make my mom cry. She had a good deal of that go on in my youth - but these days I try to make her cry for much different reason . Hehe!

So when I got my hands on the Visible Image Mother Definition stamp, I just fell in love because I knew for sure I could make my momma cry.

When I was thinking about the card, the bone china with the bright blue patterns sprang right to mind and I wanted to re-create that feel.

I took the Fabonacci background stamp and inked it up with some bright blue Distress Inks on my Misti. I spritzed it with water from a small bottle, and then stamped.

As you can see, it created this perfectly imperfect background, which I mounted on dark blue cardstock to base it, and then sponged around the outside edges with some brown Distress Oxides.

It's been awhile since I used paper flowers to create a cohesive design, but in this case, I knew it was just the thing.

After I embossed the sentiment, I added different layers of flowers and gold leaves, sprinkling everything with a layer of Distress Spray Stains.

In the end, I completely adored the card and know it will make some woman very special and happy.

With Warmth,

Friday, April 13, 2018

Little Acres + Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

Happiest of Fridays! I don't know about all of you, but I needed some super-sized caffeinated beverages to get me to the end of this week. I'm so excited for the weekend because I'm heading to two concerts & the Minnesota Craft Beer Festival! Woot!

But before I hop off to have some fun, let me tell you about a different kind of hop - a super awesome blog hop that members of the Coffee Loving Cardmakers Design Team are doing in collaboration with Little Acres Creations.

They have a big birthday celebration going on over at their place and this adorable, newly released stamp set that will definitely make you melt into a puddle of awwwwwwww (at least if you have any sort of heart at all).

I fell in love with the little mouse sitting atop a big ol' coffee mug and staring into the distance. So he was the first thing I inked up.

I colored in the focal image using Spectrum Noir alcohol markers and added a little bit of highlighting with a white gel pen.

tim_holtz_distress_spray_stain_splatters_card

I splattered my card base with some Distress Spray Stain to tie in the color of my focal image.

faber_castell_metallic_texture_luxe_embossing_paste

I added some metallic texture paste stars to both the base and focal panel for a little dimension and shimmery goodness.

Lastly, I stamped a dreamy image into the bottom righthand corner and used some mounting foam to raise up my focal panel. Sigh* this card just makes me wistful and all googley eyed.

Well, that's my design and I hope you liked it! Now hop off to all the other great inspiration because there are some awesome prizes up for grabs that you don't wanna miss!

Little Acres Creations

Coffee Loving Cardmakers

Amy Tsuruta

Kerry Urbatch

Helen Gullett

Becca Cruger <--- YOU ARE HERE

Thanks for popping by! Enjoy the hop!

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Magical Unicorn Card

You. Guys.
I can now die happy. Why? Because I created my very first ever unicorn card!

I never knew how much I needed a unicorn stamp in my life until I got the Visible Image Believe in Unicorns set. The second I got this in the mail, I immediately went off to my craft room to ink it up. It's just so beautiful.

I inked up a sheet of heavy weight white card stock using the Distress Ink double dipping technique. Colors here are Wilted Violet, Mermaid Lagoon, and Cracked Pistachio.

Next, I used swathed some metallic shimmer white embossing paste through the Fibres stencil to create some shine and texture.

Just look at all that shimmer! Oooooohhhh

I embossed and fussy cut my prancing unicorn.

I put it all together and what did I got? An amazing magical unicorn who's taking center stage in a shimmery, color-filled design. I completed my look with a scrawly sentiment from the Go To Words set.

So majestic. I hope you all enjoyed this design! :)

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Typographia Motivate - Gorgeous Handmade Cards

I am always looking for inspirational cards to hand out to people. I love positive and uplifting sayings and that's why I was SOOOOOOO thrilled when STAMPlorations announced a new lineup of Typographia Motivate stamp releases.

Designed with Too Much Happy

These sayings are big, bold and beautiful and make cranking out gorgeous, awe-inspiring designs a real breeze.

Designed with Never Give Up

I love how uplifting the sayings are, and they really take center stage in all of the cards you can make. I can totally see myself stockpiling up on these and sending out TONS of happy mail.

Designed with No Mistakes

There's a whole release of these amazing designs up on the STAMPlorations blog and you're definitely going to want to go check out what the other designers have made. Leave a couple of comments along the way, because one lucky commenter will win a $25 gift certificate to the STAMPstore!
PSSSTTT... If you put a couple of these in your shopping cart, be sure to use the code STAMPGIRLBECCA at checkout for 20% off your entire order.

Monday, April 2, 2018

Autism Awareness Blog Hop

An amazing bloggy friend (here's looking at you, Tenia) asked me to participate in a blog hop to raise in honor of Autism Awareness Day - recognized internationally on April 2.

Of course I said a resounding yes. I've been blessed to have individuals with autism in my life. One of my first ever jobs was working with an autistic man, helping him succeed in his job and it was one of the most rewarding things. People with autism might find themselves facing challenges with non-verbal communication and some social interactions.

You might have heard about the spectrum within autism and that's because it's really what it is - no two people with autism will present with the same symptoms. Today is a day to celebrate individuals with autism, and I'm proud to be a part of this hop.

The color for autism awareness is blue, so I started with a watercolored blue background made with Dina Wakely Scribble Sticks.

I added to the blue with some mandalas, stamped with Distress Inks.

Next, I used a butterfly mask from STAMPlorations and painted over it with gesso.

I outlined the butterflies, created with the negative space of my mask, using a Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pen, then used Scribble Sticks and water to create a hazy blue cloud around my butterflies.