Fun Bird

This is a card I found great inspiration for on www.SplitCoastStampers. Here is the original. The designer is luvmyboys&stampin (I know .... not her real name .... but that's not listed!).

You can tell that I changed the colors (slightly) and didn't use the Color Spritzer Tool. Otherwise, I really (REALLY) liked the design and the way everything went together. What a wonderful creative genius I found!!!!! As I am sure you know, when you find something truly awesome, you really shouldn't change much! :-)



May you have a wonderful 4th of July weekend!

~Tricia

Watercolor Splash

I love this technique! I found it in several places online, one of my favorites being www.splitcoaststampers.com. (I know you find that amazing!)

The key is to use cardstock with sparkles in it - which would be Shimmery White. I tried it with glossy, and it just looks flat and doesn't dry well (or very quickly).

Here's my version, using Fifth Avenue Floral:



To make this amazing project happen, the secret is water. On your Shimmery White cardstock, stamp an outline image with VersaMark (or white craft ink) and emboss with white embossing powder. Give it a couple seconds to dry, and then squirt 3-4 times with water. If you don't have puddles on the paper, add more water. Don't be shy - this really works!

Now, with your Aqua Painters, pick up a little bit of ink (a drop in the lid of the ink pad works well). Instead of trying to paint with the Aqua Painter, squeeze the ink off as you touch the paper. I know, more water! As the brush touches the paper, the ink spreads through the open image. COOL!!!!!

Different colors of ink dry with different color combinations ..... that you may not be expecting. On this project, I used Lovely Lilac and Almost Amethyst. You can also see Tempting Turquoise, which I did NOT use. Weird, huh?! Also, you may not need to pick up more ink on your brush - it depends upon how much is already there. Have some fun and experiment.

As a spiffy side note, I did two flowers that I was sure I had messed up. Since they were wet, I just put 'em aside to dry and then thought I would throw 'em away later. Didn't need to - they were awesome!!!!! Be patient and wait for the finished product to exist - you will loooove it!

You can use your heat tool to speed drying - sort of. You don't want to burn the embossing powder into the paper - bad things will happen. But it does help to dry the paper a tad.

Have fun, and may you enjoy an inky evening!

~Tricia

Reverse Silhouette

When I saw This Card on Julie Buhler's blog, I just had to do it. Clearly, it's not my fault! Then, when she said to try it using Upsy Daisy, I felt it my duty to play along. So here's my Reversed Silhouette Daisy. Do enjoy!



The colors I used were Basic Black and the soon-to-be-gone Tangerine Tango and Riding Hood Red.

Such a fun and truly WOW-ing technique. Go get inky and try one yourself!

Have a beautiful day!
~Tricia

Cracked Glass

I think the Cracked Glass technique is quite striking, but I don't use it too often. That's the joy of Fancy-Schmancy camps. I can play with stuff I usually put off and leave in the To-Do pile. Then it gets me psyched to do it more!

This card is one we did at camp. To make it happen, you have to have Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE), which Stampin' Up! calls Glassy Glaze. Stamp your image, put VersaMark ink all over, add the Glassy Glaze, and then go emboss. Repeat until you have three (or 4) layers of glaze. You'll know you're done because the glaze will all the sudden be really really really smooth (and glassy!). Then pop it in the freezer for about 10 minutes. No kidding. The actual freezer. Once it's frozen, take your image out and crack it. No rules here, just crack it 'til you like it.

If it's still sort of gooey, stick it back in the freezer. It's gotta crack. Once you have all the cracks you want, sponge a little ink over the top (we used Creamy Caramel) and wiggle it into the cracks. Just brings 'em out a little more.



Have a great time with this project! Here's what I used: Friends 24-7, Chocolate Chip Corduroy Buttons, Key Tag Punch (retiring), Bella Rose Designer Series Paper (retiring), Kiwi Kiss, Creamy Caramel, and Chocolate Chip ink and paper.

Happy inking!
~Tricia

Nice 'n Easy

Aloha and greetings to all! I love making quick and easy cards that look really spiffy. Enter Fresh Cut Notes. Ya get a package of 15 cards and envelopes for $8.95 that have been pre-flowered. Well, I don't know what else to call it. The petals have already been cut - all you have to do is punch 'em out. And, if you're into having a little tiny catalog spoiler, the new catalog will have some other AMAZING cards that are similar. That's all I can say for now!!!!!!! I LOVE being a demo and already having the new catalog in my hands. July first, here we come!!!!!!!

Anyway, back to the card. I was hanging out at (the very amazing and horridly addictive) www.splitcoaststampers.com and saw a card that someone sent through her Big Shot. WOW! I never thought of sending the Fresh Cut Notes through - what a great idea! It's hard to see the dots in this picture, but they're really there!



Do ya see 'em yet? What's that? You don't yet HAVE your OWN Big Shot?!?!?!?!?! Well, how 'bout if I help you out?! Until the 30th of June, I am offering all my customers a brand-spankin'-new Big Shot without paying tax or shipping. Such a deal! You can't get it from my online site 'cuz it's not a Stampin' Up! deal ..... it's a Tricia's Deal. Send me a note and let me know you would like one and I will make it happen. Happy day!

For the rest of the card, I used the retiring In Color Pink Pirouette. I even dyed the white taffeta ribbon to match. Feel free not to notice that I missed one end. So I am not actually perfect! The felt flowers are Flower Fusion Too (also retiring), and I am having SUCH a great time using my Square Rhinestone Brads. I like 'em more than the circles, but I don't have as many in my stash. Time to shop more.......

Have a wonderfully inky day!

~Tricia

Giraffe Lattice

Holy cow, it's been a billion years since I have shown you a card. Let's fix that, shall we?!

I looooove the Wild About You stamp set and am soooooo sorry that it's on the Last Chance List. But, the new catty has some darn amazing things in it. My list of "needs" is only about a mile long (so far!).



Here's a close-up of the brad stack. I punched a circle of Pretty in Pink to go behind the Filigree Brad ..... it was easier to attach the whole thing to the card without having to find a spot to punch. Just add Mini Glue Dots to the back and all is well with the world!



The Designer Series Paper (DSP) is Raspberry Tart (love it!), and the colors I used are Kiwi Kiss, Regal Rose, and Pretty in Pink. I also used Filigree and Rhinestone brads, just in case you weren't paying attention!

The DSP is cut into lattice via a tutorial that Dawn Griffith wrote (HERE) Know that the angle you use while cutting is really important. More angle = better looking lattice!

Also, if you forget to use the rule of twos, it's OK to just keep on cutting 'til you're done (that will make sense after you watch the tutorial). You will end up with even spacing and not a wide spot in between. All is well!!!

Hope you're having a wonderful evening - now go get inky!!!

~Tricia