InkaGold Mixed Media Card for Guys

When I found out the latest challenge for Seize the Birthday was Circles... well my mind started spinning. 

You see... I'd been working on an art project a couple of months ago and had cut out an excessive amount of die cut circles. Like WAY more than I wound up needing. So now I have a bag full of a gazillion circles that make me mad every time I look at them because they were SO MUCH WORK. 

Well, they came in handy because I'm guest designing for Seize the Birthday through the end of the month. 

Their Toppings theme this time around is "Circles". You can really make any kind of birthday card you want and link it up to their challenge, but they give you an optional theme every time, too.

I created a shiny background using a wet paintbrush and some InkaGold. I'm definitely going to be making more backgrounds like this because, in the end, it looked like brushed copper. So pretty! 

I ran my painted background through my embossing machine, using an embossing folder with a clock print. 

The circles were cut out on white paper, then I used my fingers to slather some green, gold and copper InkaGolds all over. Looooove the textural look of the circles. 

I stamped a sentiment and old-fashioned car from a Unity kit to complete my design. 

I'm going to play along at:

More Mixed Media Challenge - Anything Goes (option of black)

I also used the color scheme from The Color Throwdown.

So. What's circling in your brain? Give the latest challenge over at Seize the Birthday a try!

Growing in Unity Hop + Prizes

Boy (or in this case girl) - do I ever have an exciting couple of minutes planned for you. I'm so jealous because you guys (or girls in this case) get to hop through some AMAZING talented cardmakers AND you get the chance to win some awesome prizes from Unity Stamp Company.

If you're here from the hop, you're on the caboose of the talent train. 

Here's the official order:

Terri Burson from Waving My Wand

Sarah Vait from Sarah's Stamping and Stuff

Deborah Adams from A Creative Life 

Becca Cruger from Damsel of Distressed <-- YOU ARE HERE

Here in North Dakota, we saw the first snow of the season this week! Naturally that put me in a Christmasy mood (aka the pre-Christmas panic of realizing I haven't made any Christmas cards this season and I now have exactly ONE MONTH to get crack-a-lackin'). 

I bought the Unity Itty Bitty stamp set All is Calm All is Bright stamp set last Christmas season and never opened the package. So now I'm killing two guilt birds with one stone! I get to use a never-before-used-schtuff (in the words of Darnell Knauss) AND start my Christmas card spree. 

I stamped my image and then sponged over it with some Broken China Distress Oxides. Then I spritzed it with a little bit of water. 

To add a little texture and shimmer to my background, I schmeeeared some Heidi Swapp metallic white embossing paste through a stencil. 

Instead of letting it air dry, which would have produces flat circles, I used my heat tool to dry it. You can see that this causes the paste to bubble and crack, producing a yummy texture (and helping impatient crafters like me get on with their business). 

I put it all together, and got this little lovely! I even think I can get away with mailing it with no extra postage. Woot! 

Thanks for popping by! If you're new to my blog, I'd love for you to give me a follow. I love teaching new mixed media techniques and sharing my processes with you all - so you won't be bored! 

Now get to hopping and win some prizes!

Growing in Unity Day 5 + PRIZES

All good things must come to an end. It's my last day as a guest designer for Unity Stamp Co. as a Growing in Unity Gal. *cue violin* music.

I've had a blast exploring watercoloring mediums with you all week, and am SO grateful for the new bloggy friends I've made! Thank you for helping me get to 300 blog followers. YOU ROCK! Here's to 400. :) 

Today, I've got a super CAS design to share using one last watercolor-esque technique: gelatos. 

I've discussed tons of different ways to use gelatos on my blog (if you want to see more, just click on the little "gelatos" tag at the bottom of this posting) but I definitely like watercoloring with them. 

If you haven't worked with gelatos in the past, they are waxy crayons that react with water. They are perfect for smudging, too! 

I scribbled some bright green onto my craft mat...

...then picked up the pigment using a wet paintbrush. 

As you can see, it made a lovely little wash for my grass. This sweet bicycle and sentiment is from the For the Guys stamp set. 

Thank you all for tuning in this week! I hope you had as much fun as I did. Don't forget to leave a comment below for your chance to win some sweet Unity swag. I'll be doing drawings sometime tomorrow!

Creamy Color Burst Coffee Card

Hello citizens of the Blogosphere!

Today, I've got an awesome tutorial up on the Coffee Loving Papercrafters blog showcasing the many uses of Ken Oliver Color Burst crystals. 

Pop on over if you want to know how I achieved this glorious look!

This card was inspired by the goodness going on in the inspiration image from Victorine Originals: 

Check out that bottom right corner. I instantly spotted the coffee and just knew I had to play along!

Happy Monday, fellow crafters. I hope you'll pop over to CLP for some inspiration!

Coffee!! A Watercolor Card

Hullo Ladies and Gents!
I know this is post two for today (don't forget to check out my mixed media tutorial), but I'm up over on the Coffee Loving Papercrafters blog today with a watercolored beauty and would LOVE for you to stop by! 

You can find all the details on the Coffee Loving Cardmakers blog! See you there!