Radar Love

 Okay, maybe I meant "Radio Love."

I've been trying to follow along with Kathy Racoosin's 30-Day Colouring Challenge;

I can't say I've managed to do 5 minutes everyday, but the days when it DOES happen are feel-good days!

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of spending all day creatively.

My friend Heather Telford organized a series of technique demos by the attendees at her monthly card-making workshop. Some great tips, and many more media avenues to explore.

My husband just returned from a two-day trip to Chicago. He told me he turned his suitcase inside out, and couldn't find a love-you/miss-you card from me ☹. Normally I manage to tuck one in while he's packing. How could that have slipped my mind?! So, I'm going to put the card featured here into his briefcase, for him to find at work tomorrow.

This one's nice and simple. 

More Copic colouring of those cute vintage radio designs from Create A Smile. Speech Bubble border die set from Lil'Inker Designs, and word dies from Paper Wishes.

I'm linking this one up to the Stretch Your Dies Online Card Class, too (another good thing about this past week!).

Hope your day involves some colouring!

Happy crafting,

Caroline

Caring Hearts Card Drive--Post #2

 

Hey there, crafty peeps!

So the first cards arrived, for this year's Caring Hearts Card Drive, Canadian edition (thank you, Tamara!). Although I will be sending them on to a nursing home in our area, it was so much fun, opening the package, (addressed to me) and finding such gorgeous artwork inside! This card drive truly is a blessing, in more ways than one...

It also served as a reminder to me, to get cracking with the card-making!

Firstly, here is a LINK to the original post on the Caring Hearts Card Drive 2014.

All the details you need to know can be found there, and if you have further questions, you can leave me a message in the comments section. Please consider participating. It is a great cause.

Secondly, keep your eyes peeled for a fun Blog Hop to spread the word about the card drive. It'll be happening in early November. And there will be prizes!

Thirdly, I'll be offering a prize to the paper-crafter who sends me the MOST cards for the drive:

That's right, the awesome Simon Says Stamp November 2014 Card Kit can be yours... So be inspired and get INKY!

So here's one card my elves will be helping me mass-produce. That's right--it's okay to make more than one copy of a card. We will be making up boxes of assorted cards to deliver to the senior's residences and nursing homes, so if you want to create multiples of a great card design, please do so.

This card uses paper scraps (last year's SU chevron paper), glitter trim and washi tape (CTMH) and glittery products from Paper Wishes: the Merry Christmas sticker (originally gold, but coloured silver with a metallic Sharpie), ornament die and holographic paper. Simple to create, but with serious shine!

Happy crafting,

Caroline

Watercoloring with embossing folders

I saw this totally beautiful technique on Heather Telford's blog. She includes links to examples by other crafters as well as the original YouTube tutorial. Check them out!

Anyway, the idea is to smear ink onto the raised part of an embossing folder, spray with water or glimmer mist to make the ink very runny, then slap some paper on, close the folder and simply press...

I used up quite a bit of watercolor paper experimenting. Each panel was unique and made a beautiful card, even if I didn't QUITE follow the instructions right the first time.

First up:  What happens if you run it through your die-cutting machine/embosser. Pretty, but you don't get the full effect of the white design.

Next: version #2 using some grey Smooch Spray as the mister. Pretty but puddle-y!

Version #3: Best of this color-way.

Tried some different color combinations and different embossing folders:

And my favorite:

I used a mini-mister filled with Perfect Pearls powder and water to spray these, and they have a lovely sheen in real life. I used Distress Inks which blend well with water. Final tip: the wetter, the better.

Give this technique a try; it's addictive!

Happy crafting,

Caroline