Splattered and Dusty Gecko

I used the "Splattered Ombre Watercolours" technique from the June/July 2014 issue of Technique Junkies but used Dusty Concord distress stain instead of watercolours.  The Gecko was stamped in Dusty Concord also.  The sentiment was embossed in white so you can easily read it.  Not many embellishments because I really like how this technique looks alone.

Stamps: Michael Strong (Gecko), Stampendous (Hang in There)

Splattered Seahorse

Another "Splatttered Ombre Watercolours" technique from the June/July 2014 Technique Junkies.

I used "Peacock Feathers" Distress stain instead of watercolours and stamped both the seahorse and seaweed in "Burmuda Bay" ink.  I lightly sponged the edges with "Burmuda Bay" and mounted on white and then "Burmuda Bay" cardstock.

Stamps: Michael Strong (Cloisonné Sea Turtle/Seaweed, Cloisonné Seahorse)

Hot Pink Gecko

I tried the "Splattered Ombre" technique from the June/July 2014 issue of Technique Junkies but I used "Picked Raspberry" Distress Stain instead of paint because I wanted the result to be very bright (which it is!)  I wanted to shake up my little gecko a bit -- he's too used to browns and greens.

Stamps: Michael Strong (Cloisonné Gecko), Stampin Up! (Voila)

Antique Bookplate - Hailey Hummingbird

I used Antique Linen to smear all over the card and coloured it in with my Copics (RV09, RV21, Y08,YG09, YG13, E15,E29).  I added in 3 tiny brads on the bottom.

Stamps: Whipper Snapper Designs (Hailey Hummingbird), Heather's Stamping Haven (HSH 301 O {the script stamp})

Gradient Sponging - Gecko

Colours:

For the sponging:

Top layer: Crumb Cake lightly sponged
2nd layer: Crumb Cake darkly sponged
3rd layer: Crumb Cake lightly sponged and Soft Suede very lightly sponged
4th layer: Soft Suede lightly sponged
Bottom layer: Soft Suede darkly sponged

Gecko, 3 circles and sentiment: Early Espresso

Paper: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso and Very Vanilla

Stamp sets: Michael Strong (Cloisonné Gecko), Stampin Up! (Simple Shapes, Voila)

Antique Bookplate - Daisy Cluster

I'm really loving this technique from the Oct/Nov 2011 issue of Technique Junkies!  I used Antique Linen to smear on the background and then coloured with my Stampin Up! watercolours (Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Garden Green).

Stamps: Stampendous (Daisy Cluster), Heather's Stamping Haven (HSH 301 O {the script stamp})

Gradient Sponging

From the June/July 2014 issue of Technique Junkies.  I just used varying shades of Pool Party rather than different colours.

 

Stamp: Stampin Up! (Sail Away)

Antique Bookplate

Here is a card using a technique called "Antique Bookplate" from the Oct/Nov 2011 issue of Technique Junkies.  I used Stampin Up! watercolours to colour in the flower.

Stamps: Stampendous (Sunflower Ladybug)

Burnished Watercolours

My sister needed a thank you card for a golf person so I used the "Burnished Watercolours" technique from the Aug/Sept 2007 issue of Technique Junkies.  The colours are "Lucky Limeade" and "Garden Green".  I covered the background with vellum for a slightly faded look.  That way the "Thank You" die cut stood out more.

Stamp set: Stampin Up! (Good Sport)

Crinkled Watercolours

Here's another card using the "Crinkled Watercolours" technique from the June/July issue of Technique Junkies.  For this one I used Dylusions Sprays (PostBox Red, Squeezed Orange, Lemon Zest) instead of watercolours.  (I felt the watercolour part was only a suggestion...)

Stamp sets: Sweet 'n Sassy (Landscape Silhouettes), Technique Tuesday (Classic Ali Edwards)

Crinkled Watercolours

Here is a technique from the latest issue of Technique Junkies called "Crinkled Watercolours".

I used Marina Mist and Pacific Point for the watercolours and stamped Mike's large Seahorse on top.  I mounted on white then Pacific Point paper, added some silver brads and silver string and a starfish charm I found at Michaels.

Michael Strong Card of the Day - Friday

My card for today uses the May/June sketch Hetty gave to us.  I also used the kissing technique I showed yesterday to create the background for the card.  This time I stamped my solid stamp in Marina Mist and stamped Mike's small flower in Pacific Point.  The Pony was stamped on top in black.  I also sprayed some shimmer spray on top just to give it a nice shine.  The paper is Pacific Point. 

The finished card is 5.25x5.25.

Michael Strong Card of the Day - Technique Thursday

The technique for today is an old one but something I haven't done in a while.  It's quick and easy and uses something everyone has -- stamps!  The kissing technique.

Basically you just ink up a solid stamp with one colour of ink (Wild Wasabi):

Then you stamp on it with another stamp in a different colour (Garden Green):

 

The result:

 Do that all over your stamp and then huff on the stamp (to re-moisten the ink) and stamp on paper to get something like this:

 Here is the card I made:

 

The tiny flower is from Mikes's Busy-bee stamp set and I also used Mike's Gecko.  The vine down below is a die cut that I accidently glued onto the bottom of the card rather than the side (like I wanted) but I actually think it looks better there so that must have been fate or destiny playing a part there...or maybe just me rationalizing the whole situation.  The paper for both the card and the vine is Garden Green.

The finished card is 5.25x5.25.

Michael Strong Card of the Day - Wednesday

This card started with the tag.  To create the background of the tag I had smeared some distress paints (Salty Ocean, Chipped Sapphire) with some white acrylic paint on some paper.  Then I stamped a script stamp in black on top.  I had cut out a flower from Mike's Busy-bee stamp set and stamped that all over in black along with a dot circle stamp.  Then I punched out the tag from my new Stampin Up tag punch.   I added an old Stampin Up! sentiment and some ribbon and the tag was done!  I couldn't see me just giving a tag to someone so I made a card out of it. 

First I smeared some transparent embossing paste over some white cardstock using a swirly stencil.  Then I added a Night of Navy doily, a Bashful Blue butterfly and a daisy made from white and Night of Navy.  I mounted the white background on Bashful Blue and added to a Night of Navy base.  Then I added some pearls to the butterfly and a few sprinkled around the tag and the card was complete!

Michael Strong Card of the Day - Tuesday

For this card I used a diamond stencil and applied some embossing paste to watercolour paper to make the raised diamonds.  When that was dry I painted some twinkling H20's (Mallard, Rainforest) on top.  I distressed the edges and mounted on black then Garden Green paper.  The leaf die cut is in Garden Green.  Mike's small flower stamped in black on Tangerine Tango paper was cut out with his die cut and added on top of some black canvas ribbon.  A few black enamel dots were also added. 

Michael Strong Card of the Day - Monday

I finally made a card with my new Pony stamp!  First I stamped Mike's Cloisonne Pony in Versamark on white cardstock and embossed with clear embossing powder.  Then I sprayed some Lindy's two toned spray (Milk Chocolate Brown) and some Dylusions spray (Melted Chocolate) on top.  Once that was dry I used a star stencil and sponged on some Chocolate Chip ink.  The embossing resisted all the inks so the pony could shine through!  I mounted on white cardstock and then put on some Chocolate Chip paper.  I had some silver brads with stars on them so added those and a sentiment. 

The finished card is 5.25x5.25 and quite shimmery thanks to the Lindy's spray.