Combining Blue Knight Rubber Stamps sets and creating backgrounds

I decided to create backgrounds for a Blue Knight Rubber Stamp - Seasonal Woodland.  For one card, I used Distress Inks, for the other Pan Pastels.  I definitely liked creating the background with Pan Pastels better, I was able to work with them and until I got the look I liked.  I liked the  Distress Ink background but it was harder to add and move the color.

I also decided that just the Seasonal Woodland stamp wasn't enough!  So I added the Horse and Sleigh stamp.  Here are the cards I made (the Pan Pastel background is the lighter one):

 

I used the following for the cards:

• A variety of Pan Pastels or a variety of Distess Inks
• Blue Knight Rubber Stamps - Horse and Sleigh stamp set
• Blue Knight Rubber Stamps - Seasonal Woodland stamp set
• White Gel pen
• VersaFine Onyx Black Ink
• VersaMark
• Stampendous Detail White Embossing Powder
• Gina K - Sentimental Holiday Stamp Set
• Gina K - Master Layouts 1

To make the cards, I created the sky background for one card using Pan Pastels and for the other Distress Ink.  I then stamped the Seasonal Woodland Stamp with VersaFine Onyx Black ink.  The image was then cut with the Gina K Master Layouts 1 die (and the associated black mat was cut).  The Horse and Sleigh was then added to the cards using the VersaFine Onyx Black Ink.  The grassy area was then colored.  I used a white gel pen to add a bit of fallen snow. The sentiment was stamped with VersaMark, embossing powder added and heat set.  The image was then matted with black and added to the card base to complete the cards.

Fathers Day Card with Blue Knight Rubber Stamps and Pan Pastels

I've had Pan Pastels for several years, but haven't used them all that much.  I originally got them because I has having problems getting smooth blends with ink, and thought these would work better, which they did.   But, with practice, I got better at ink blending, and I didn't use the Pan Pastels all that much.  I finally decided that it was time to use them again, and here is the card I made using the Pan Pastels:

I used the following to make the card:

• Various colors of Pan Pastels
• MFT Oval Extraordinaire Stencil Mask
• Blue Knight Rubber Stamps - Small Wild Grass and Birds
• Gina K - By The Sea 2 Stamp Set
• Gina K - Coral Reed Ink and Card Stock

 

Playing with Pan Pastels

So, the other day, I decided to play a bit with my Pan Pastels. This is the card I ended up making, which was not at all what I had originally had in mind! 

I was thinking of making a Christmas card, with a gold Pan Pastel background. I wanted a solid gold, but instead ended up with a shimmery gold.  So then I decided to cover it with green.  But I still wanted a gold element, so I tried stenciling some stars with gold Pan Pastels.  That didn't work either.  I ended up just blending the gold into the green.  Finally, I tried stamping with Versmark, and then lightly adding a brown (actually Orange Extra Dark) to the stamped image, and lightly blending it into the green,  Although it doesn't show in the photograph, I was able to add a gold shimmer, by adding some Gold Pssst Sheer Shimmer.  The image was then trimmed and matted.  Ribbon was added before adding it to the card base.

Supplies used:

• Stampin' Up Lovely as a Tree stamp set
• Versmark
• Pssst Sheer Shimmer Gold
• Pan Pastels 280.1 Orange Extra Dark, 640.3 Permanent Green Shade, 911.5 Rich Gold

Last Easter Card for 2015

Here is another Easter card made this year.  This card is 4.25 x 5.5.

For this card I used:
Memento Tuxedo Black and London Fog
Copic Markers Y06, Y15, Y17, R21, R81, G21, G24
Sheer Shimmer Spritz - Sparkle
Pan Pastels 956.5 - Pearlescent Green, 953.5 - Pearlescent Red, 951.5 - Pearlescent Yellow
Greenhouse Society - Tulips stamp
Close to My Heart - Just to Say stamp

To make the card, I randomly added the Pan Pastels to white card stock (cut to 2 x 4).  These were then sealed.  A third piece of white card stock was cut to 3.5 x 2.5. Using my MISTI, I stamped the Tulips with London Fog, and then colored them with Copic Markers.  The image was then spritzed the Sheer Shimmer.  This gave the final image a sparkly look to match the Pan Pastels.  All three images were then matted with yellow card stock and added to the card base.  The sentiment from Just to Say was added (again lined up using the MISTI).

Happy Birthday with Mama Elephant

Here are 2 birthday cards I made using the Mama Elephant Make a Wish stamp set.

Both of these cards are 5.25x4.5 and were made with the following:

• Mama Elephant Make a Wish stamp set
• Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangles
• WOW Metallic Brass Embossing Power
• Versamark
• Distress Ink Festive Berries, Salty Ocean, Mowed Lawn (used for the lighter colored card)
• Pan Pastels 430.5 Magenta, 250.5 Dairylide Yellow, 640.4 Permanent Green Shade (used on the darker card)

To make the cards:

1. For the darker card, I randomly added the Pan Pastels to the card stock, making sure to overlap the color.  The Pan Pastels were then sealed. 
2. For the lighter card, I used watercolor paper, wet it and then randomly added the distress ink. 
3. Once both were dry, I stamped the sentiment with Versamark, then added the embossing powder, and heat set. Both were then cut with Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangles.
4. A larger rectangle was used to cut the backgrounds. 
5. All pieces were then added to the card fronts. 

Christmas Cards 2014 - Card 2

This card was a quick card to make!  Its 4.25 x 5.5

For this card, I used:

• Tim Holtz Holiday Knit Stencil
• Pan Pastels 340.5 Permanent Red
• Pan Pastels 921.5 Pewter
• Recollections Merry Christmas Stamp
• Versamark
• Stampendous Detailed White Embossing Powder
• Vellum
• White Card Stock
• DCWV Solid Glitter A2 Card - Silver

To make this card, I placed the stencil over the white card stock and used the Versamark stamp pad to stamp through the stencil.  The stencil was then removed, and the card stock was covered with Red Pan Pastels, followed by the Pewter Pan Pastels to add a shimmer.  The stenciled area was then trimmed to 3.25 x 4.5.  A  1" strip of Vellum was cut, and stamped in Versamark with the Merry Christmas stamp.  The Versamark was covered with Detailed White embossing powder and heat set.  This was then added to the stenciled card and attached to the Silver Glitter card.

Christmas Cards 2014 - Card 1

Here is the first of the Christmas Cards I made this year. I made several of these cards, using different colored card stock, embossing powders, and Pan Pastels.

For these cards I used:

• Stampendous Detailed White Embossing Powder
• Stampendous Detailed Gold Embossing Powder
• Pan Pastels 930.5 Bronze
• Pan Pastels 920.5 Silver
• Stampendous Delicate Snowflakes
• Stampendous Delicate Snowflakes dies
• Versamark
• Gina K Designs Let it Snow stamp set
• Elizabeth Craft Designs Stand Up Helper Set 2
• Silver Glitter Lines 7020
• Recollections background stamp

To make these cards, I stamped the largest snowflake from the Detailed Snowflakes stamp set and the sentiment with Versamark.  I added Detailed Gold Embossing Powder and heat set.

Like the previous cards, I stamped the snowflake and sentiment with Versamark.  I then used Bronze Pan Pastels and covered the card.  Pan Pastels sticks to Versamark more than to the card base (there is a shimmer to the background that can't be seen in the photo.  I then sealed the Pan Pastels.  There is a slight difference between the card using Pan Pastels and Embossing Powder.

The Pan Pastels card has a much flatter appearance.  Here is a sample of both side by side with the Embossing Powder on the left and the Pan Pastels on the Right).

For the next version of the card, I stamped the snowflake and sentiment with Versamark, the added Detailed White embossing powder and heat set.   I used the Stand Up Helper Snowflake and the Silver Glitter lines to complete this card.

For the last version of the card, I stamped only the snowflake with Versamark, added detailed white embossing powder and heat set.  I then cut out the snowflake with the coordinating die.  For the background, I stamped the Recollections stamp with Versamark on white card stock.  I then covered the card stock with Silver Pan Pastels.  The Pan Pastels "sticks" to the Versamark and leaves a slight shimmer to the rest of the card stock.  The white embossed snowflake was added to finish the card. 

Pan Pastels

Here is my first card made with Pan Pastels.  This card is 5 x 5.75.

For this card I used:

• Dreamweaver Stencil LX 7021 Corner Flowers
• Pan Pastels 280.5 Orange, 250.5 Diarylide Yellow, 470.5 Violet, 340.5 Permanent Red, 340.8 Permanent Red Tint, 430.5 Magenta, 380.5 Red Iron Oxide
• Stampendous Hydrangea Garden Stamp Set
• Memento Rich Cocoa
• Stampendous Detailed Silver Embossing Powder
• Versamark

To make the card, I placed the stencil on white card stock.  I used the pan pastels to color the flowers in the stencil.  I then stamped the butterfly from the Hydrangea Garden stamp set in Rich Cocoa.  The butterfly body was colored with Rich Cocoa, and the wings with the Orange Pan Pastels.  Once complete, I sealed the images, and cut the images to 4 x 5.75. 

To assemble the card, I covered the edge of a scrap piece of white card stock with Versamark (to about 1 inch), and then heat embossed with Detailed Silver embossing power.   1/4" strips were then cut from the embossed edge.  The images were mounted to the center of the card base.  The strips were added to the long edges of the image.   

One Stencil, Different Techniques

I recently purchased several Heidi Swapp stencils.  I tried three different techniques with the stencils to see which looks I liked, and liked doing.

For the first one (Blue on Blue), I created a background using several different colors of Pan Pastels, then using the template I applied Versamark,  I then went over the entire image with the lightest color of Pan Pastels. This created a soft background.

For the second one (pinks and reds) I simply used the stencil and applied several different Distressed Inks with a Mini Blending tool.  This was the easiest, and I liked the result, although it was a bit flat.

The third one (white and blues), using the template, I applied Versamark, and then embossed with white embossing powder.  I then used several colors of Distressed Ink.  While I liked this one the best, it was not as easy to create, and for a background, I don't think I would use this technique.