Cajun and Copper - They Make A Perfect Pair ... and My Last Two Fall Cards

I have a couple more Fall cards to share with you today.  They both make good use of Cajun Craze and Copper. 
The first card uses the 'Acrylic Block technique' and the second card uses watercoloring to create a beautiful background for the card's elements.  I love them both.

Even though the embossing folder that I used for my second card is called Seaside, I use it to imitate the movement of winds blowing the leaves.

I love, love, love doing watercoloring.  Sometimes, I just create a whole bunch of card-sized pieces when I'm watercoloring and save them for later use in cards.  You can use the entire piece as a background or, as in this card, die cut shapes from it to use as elements for a card.

I'm pretty sure that these two cards are the last of my Fall cards.  In my next post, I'll share a Fall artist canvas I created ... and then ... it's all Christmas.  Yay!

The Latest Scoop:
I HAVE 2 REMAINING KITS FROM OUR CHRISTMAS RETREAT. / EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO MAKE 18 CARDS! / $40.00 

December 11 -- Scraps and Prayers Class:
     5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Christmas Cards and Tags
It's going to be a party atmosphere at our last class for 2017.  I've even been working on a hand made present for you!  The class is filling up fast, so be sure to reserve your spot right away!

Tentative 2018 classes and events schedule, coming soon!

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world.

- Come back often for more creative inspiration.

- Let's create something beautiful today.

Acrylic Block Technique Meets Colorful Seasons

Before I share another card we'll be making this Saturday, I want to say how much I loved our Scraps and Prayers class.  We met last night and I just love this group of ladies.  We had so much fun creating our notepad project.  They all turned out just great and who could wrap up our evening in a more fun way than Marsha bringing brownies and strawberry ice cream to celebrate my birthday?!!!  It was so much fun.  Thanks, Marsha!

Now, on to today's card I have to share.  I've used the acrylic block technique a lot over the past several years and thought it would look really pretty as a Berry Burst background behind my branch with blossoms.  I love how this one turned out ... and ... yes, we'll be making this one at my Saturday Stampers class ... July 15 / 1:00-4:00.  I still have openings, if you'd like to join us.  Most who have signed up want kits, so there's still space at my table:)

Instead of using markers to color my acrylic block, I tapped it directly onto my Berry Burst ink pad, so I would get a really intense color for my background.  Then, I spritzed my block and stamped on the background for my card.

I cut an extra flower to use on the inside of my card, as well as one for my envelope.

I especially love how the background stamped lighter in the middle.  This was achieved by not pressing down on the middle of my block as much.  Still ..... each one is a total surprise.  They never quite come out the same.

I know it doesn't show up photo, but I spritzed my flowers with a shimmer mist before I attached them to my card, to add some gorgeous sparkle.  You could also use Wink of Stella.  After the spritz dried, I added a few little touches to the center of the flowers with my Berry Burst marker.

I added a layer of black under the top layer of my card, to make the images pop and to tie it in to my branch.  On the inside, I added a layer of Berry Burst behind the Whisper White layer.  There's color everywhere:)

July Classes:
July 15 -- Saturday Stampers     1:00-4:00 / $20.00 -- fun techniques to create 6 cards.  SPACES STILL AVAILABLE.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT JULY SPECIALS BY CLICKING ON THE IMAGES ON THE LEFT.  

August Classes:
August 14 -- Scraps and Prayers
     5:30-7:30 / $15.00 -- book box with cards project. 

THERE WILL BE NO SATURDAY STAMPERS CLASS IN AUGUST.  CHECK BACK FOR SEPTEMBER DATES AND CLASSES. 
 
BE SURE TO SIGN UP EARLY BECAUSE CLASS SIZES ARE LIMITED AND ARE FILLING UP FAST!!!

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world.

- Come back often for more creative inspiration. 

Gold Butterfly Fall Card

Not too long ago, I made a gorgeous butterfly card using gold and Island Indigo.  This was, without a doubt, one of the prettiest cards I've ever made.  I loved it.  Well, why not a Fall version of this same card?  Here it is! 

Here's the previous card I made:
http://nannastamps.blogspot.com/2015/09/acrylic-block-technique-cards-part-10.html

Well, I'd have to say that I love both color versions for this card.

Special Reminders:

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- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top to see my class schedules. 

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- Come  back often for more creative inspiration. 

In My Thoughts Card

Today, I'm sharing one of my favorite Fall card creations with you.  It starts with using the Acrylic block Technique.  If you've forgotten how this works, check back to this post:
http://nannastamps.blogspot.com/2015/08/acrylic-block-technique-cards-part-1.html

You can also type 'acrylic block technique' into the search box here on the left and it will lead you to a series of at least 10 different examples of this technique that I've shared with you.

In most of my previous Acrylic Block Technique card projects, I worked with blues and greens. 
I wanted a Fall card, so I chose Cajun Craze and Crushed Curry.  I love how this one turned out!

I used the tree from our Sheltering Tree set.  It's a beautiful stamp set.

This card could work for many, many different occasions.

Special Reminders:

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- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top to see my class schedules. 

- Look on the left for sneak peeks and registration policies. 

- Please sign up to follow my blog and/or leave a comment. 

- Come  back often for more creative inspiration. 

Five Days of Dapper Denim, Day Four

I hope you didn't think I'd been kidnapped by some form of Dapper Denim.  Actually, I got a nasty stomach bug that put me out of commission for a week.  I'm back and ready to go on with more luscious Dapper Denim.

I used the Acrylic Block Technique for the background behind my tree.  You can search my blog for other examples of this technique.

I used Marina Mist and Always Artichoke for my colors on the background.  Once it was dry, I stamped the tree and the text.  I love the touch of the rhinestones on this card.  I used the embossed design to guide the placement.

I have one more day of Dapper Denim, so come on back and see what I'll be sharing with you.

  

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top to see my class schedules. 

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My Own Special Technique... for Christmas

I have a 'wow' couple of cards for you today, using my own special technique.  They were inspired by a previous card I made, when I first came up with this technique.

Remember this card?  This is where I first came up with my new technique.   (Click here to see my previous post.)

I loved this butterfly card so much.  This is what inspired me to come up with my 2 Christmas versions.

The first Christmas version is made using the smaller ornament die.  I cut 3, scored them down the middle and then attached them (carefully), using Liquid Tombow Adhesive.

The second Christmas version is basically the same, but uses the larger ornament.

The ornament dies are absolutely gorgeous, especially when cut from our Gold Foil Sheets.

I used a larger ribbon on the larger ornament, but the backgrounds are basically the same on both cards.

I love how these turned out.  They are a bit labor intensive, but absolutely worth the extra effort.  Another nice feature about these cards is that they will fold flat for mailing.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or look on the left for sneak peeks. 

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Beloved Old Favorite Stamp Set

What is our very oldest (and beloved) stamp set?  It's Lovely As A Tree.  It's beautiful, versatile and has been super popular for a long, long time now.  I've pulled it out for today's card and I think this card was the top favorite at my October Christmas Retreat.

To create the background, I used Pear Pizzazz, Lost Lagoon and Mossy Meadow markers on an acrylic block (size D), spritzed it 3 or 4 times with water and stamped the background.  After it dried, the tree was stamped in Basic Black ink, along with the sentiment.

The tree was then dressed up for Christmas, using our 2-Way Glue Pen and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter --- gorgeous and simply elegant.  The card base is Mossy Meadow.  I added a layer of black behind the top layer of the card, to pull it all together.  If you haven't tried the Acrylic Block Technique yet, you just don't know all the fun you're missing.  Each time you stamp it, you get a unique surprise.  I have several previous posts using this technique, so you can do a 'search' to learn more about it.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or look on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

New Version of the Acrylic Block Technique and Sneak Peek at My OSW Cards

I have lots of stamping goodness for you today that I hope will inspire you to create something beautiful this weekend.  First up, I have a NEW version of the Acrylic Block Technique and then I have a sneak peek at my OSW cards, along with a bit on what it's all about.

My card today features a beautiful color story for Fall --- Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze and a bit of Soft Suede.  I won't even start in on how much I love making Fall cards or how much I love, love, love our new Vintage Leaves stamps AND coordinating framelits.  Over the moon, truly!!!

So how did I do this acrylic block technique?  It is super simple! 
Ink up the entire acrylic block by tapping it on the ink pad color you want to use.  Hold the block about an arm's length away and lightly spritz it one or two times.  Then... stamp, hold it onto the CS for just a little while and you get a beautiful background image.  It is more intense than when you use this technique with markers, because your ink is applied with a much greater intensity.  By spritzing the block, you give it more interest in how it comes out on your CS.  I did not use watercolor paper for this technique and it worked just fine.  You could use it if you wanted to play with how it changes the image a bit.  It would still be very pretty.

The little speckles are from an Awesomely Artistic stamp.  I seem to be using that stamp set about as often as my beloved Gorgeous Grunge lately.  I make all the cards for my church to send out each month and this one will be for September.  I've actually just finished October and have a few more bows to tie onto the November cards and then I'll go ahead and make the cards for December and finish up for 2015.  I've heard so many touching comments from people in our church about how much the love and appreciate the cards and that just touches my heart.  I find myself putting more and more into them each month because I know how much joy they will bring.  I want them to be my very best.

And now... let's move on to more about my OSW cards and the class where we'll be making them.  The class is my September Saturday Stampers class for September 19.  It will be from 1:00-4:00 and the fee is $20.  It involves more materials and a lot more prep time on my part and I know you'll find it worth it and then some. 
You'll be going home with all 5 of these cards, along with 2 OSW sheets AND lots of helpful templates.  So what is OSW?  It stands for One Sheet Wonder.  It's really all about how can I get the most bang for the buck from 1 sheet of CS (card stock) or DSP (Designer Series Papers).  I'll show you several versions and give you lots of ideas.  Most of the ideas and templates will be for 12 X 12" CS or DSP, but I'll also show you several ways to use an 8 1/2 X 11" piece of CS.

Sound like fun?  As they say in the beautiful state of Minnesota: "You bet!"  Below are the 2 sheets we'll be making at the class.  I have already made and cut the pieces you'll use for your cards during the class, so you'll go home with these 2 pieces uncut and ready for your own set of beautiful cards.  I really am looking forward to this class.  Sign up early to save your spot.  If you don't live in the area, follow along on your own, using my ideas to inspire you.  Be sure to leave me a comment on what you tried.  I love hearing from you.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or look on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.