Michael Strong Card of the Day - Friday

Here is my final card for the week.  For this card I first used a diamond stencil and some embossing paste to make some irregular diamonds on some watercolour paper.  Next I used a twinkling H2O (Meditteranean) to paint the background.  I stamped Mike's Seahorse in silver shimmer paint onto white cardstock and cut out using his Seahorse die cutter.  Then I added some black burlap and brads and distressed the edges slightly.  I placed on black cardstock and then on a Pool Party card base.  It's very shimmery in real life!

Michael Strong Card of the Day - Technique Thursday

Yesterday's technique on SplitCoastStampers was called "Embossing Folder Stamping".  It seemed quick and messy so I thought I'd give it a try.

Step 1:
Basically you just take an embossing folder and dab some ink or paint onto it in a bunch of different areas.  Here I used Distress Paints (Mustard Seed and Mowed Lawn).

Step 2:

Spray with water.  They also suggested Glimmer Mist.  Do NOT spray too much.  Just a little.  This is TOO much.  You'll see below.  Just 1 or 2 squirts is enough.

Step 3:
Put watercolour paper into the mess and press down slightly.  Leave for a few seconds.

Step 4:

Remove the paper.  Here's what happens when you spray too much!

This one is much better:

Here's the card I made from that background.  I stamped Mike's Gecko and an old Stampin Up! sentiment in "Gathered Twigs", distressed the edges, put on Daffodil Delight paper and placed on a Chocolate Chip card.  I also added a bit of burlap and some brads to get some texture in there.

Anyhow the technique is quick, fun and easy to do.  You can experiment with different folders, different colours, different mediums (paints or inks), and even different sprays (water, glimmer mist, I going to try some coloured ones just to see what it looks like) so you won't get bored easily with this technique!

Michael Strong Card of the Day - Wednesday

Here is the card for today.  It uses a new technique called "Tye Dye Circles" from the latest issue of Technique Junkie.

To make the circles I used Distress inks (Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Salty Ocean) on watercolour paper.  I stamped Mike's large Seahorse in Salty Ocean.  The swirls made out of circles are made from a stencil and some embossing paste.  I distressed the edges a little bit and added some white yarn and a sentiment from Stampin Up!  The blue paper is Pacific Point.