Acrylic Block Technique Cards, Part 8

Recently, I shared an Acrylic Block Technique card with you, using By the Tide and silver embossing.  Today, I have a similar one, using gold embossing. 

I've used some of our new Gold Cord on this card, as well.  I chose the Decorative Dots Embossing Folder to give a vague nod to underwater bubbles.

This pretty card could work for most any occasion where a card is needed.  I've been using Marina Mist a lot lately.  It sat by quietly just waiting for me to come back.  It really is a beautiful shade of blue.

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Acrylic Block Technique Cards, Part 7

I have another tree for you today... this time with our Serene Silhouettes stamp set.  This card features a special fold technique.  It's called a Z-fold card.  

I'm nursing a very bum shoulder today and counting days until I can get it looked at.  It's getting worse and worse, so pardon me if I don't write a lot in today's post.  I think the card speaks for itself.  By changing out the text inside, you could easily use it for a variety of other occasions.

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Acrylic Block Technique Cards, Part 6

I have some beautiful gold embossing for you today, with another technique card.  I really love how this one turned out.  I think it would be great for many different occasions.  

I used shades of blues for my Acrylic Block Technique and then embossed the world map image in gold over it.  I embossed our World Map image in gold over the top layer over the card base and then attached it with dimensionals.  There's a layer of gold foil behind the main image piece, as well.  

I really like the Marina Mist/gold color story.  The pop of white just brings it all together.

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Acrylic Block Technique Cards, Part 5

You've seen 3 trees in my last posts...  

... so , today, how about just some leaves?   

I used just shades of blue for my Acrylic Block Technique this time.  I stamped my leaves (Kinda Eclectic) in Mossy Meadow.  It makes a really nice contrast against the blue background. 

I had just gotten my gold cord and new embossing folder in my last order, so I immediately put them to good use.  I like how this card turned out.  It reminds me of warm summer childhood days of lying in the grass and looking up at the sky through the leaves.  

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Acrylic Block Technique Cards, Part 4... and a Little Laugh... On Me

I have a really pretty card for you today and, perhaps, a little laugh... on me.  I went back to our Lovely as a Tree stamp set and used the solitary tree stamp.  This is a beautiful stamp and can be adapted for quite a few techniques. 

I really like how the blues and greens worked together on the Acrylic Block Technique for this one.

And now for the laugh...
 
As always, I stamped the inside of the card and the envelope to coordinate.  However, I was distracted a bit by my boys and the puppies and attached the inside of the card to the wrong side of the card.  I attached it to the top of the inside.  Not to worry.  I just stamped another piece and attached it where it belongs.  I think it works ok.  I certainly wouldn't want to throw away any of it.  I could have just cut off the front and reattached it to a new card base, but I just didn't think it was necessary.

My BFF did this with a card inside at my last card class and started to take it apart to reattach it.  I told her to just leave it (and not risk tearing it) and do what I ended up doing on this card.  See, BFF, it's ok to zone out once in a while.  I taught you well:)  Love ya, BFF!

I really like how this one turned out.  This is so much fun!  
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Acrylic Block Technique Cards, Part 3

Today, I have a 4!/2" square card for you.  It still fits into a regular sized envelope or you could make an envelope for it using our Envelope Punch Board.  I had too many ideas floating around in my head for Acrylic Block Technique cards, so I just went with the envelope I already had on hand.  This card features a tree from our Thoughts and Prayers stamp set.  This is another 'must have' stamp set.  It's just beautiful.  Here's my card: 

The background features blues and greens and the card base is Mossy Meadow.  I thought the design just begged to be a square card.  I love this tree.  I still have a large version of it with our retired Decor Elements in my dining room.  I will keep it until it's time to paint again.  It looks gorgeous in there.

I love how this card turned out.  It would be perfect for anyone enduring a long, serious illness or going through a difficult time in their life or for a sympathy card.  I left the inside of the card completely blank because, when you need to send this type of card, you need to take the time to write a personal message.  I cannot begin to tell you how much it means when you are on the receiving end of such a card.  I know many stampers who just don't like to make this type of card at all but, honestly, I cannot think of a time in one's life when such a card is needed the most and means the most.  Do it!  You'll be glad you did.  

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Acrylic Block Technique Cards, Part 2

For today's card, I got out the stamp set that has had the longest run of all our Stampin' Up! sets --- Lovely As A Tree.  It's easy to see why it's been loved by so many for so long.  It's a gorgeous set.  I especially love the pine tree stamp and that's what I used today.  I loved how this one turned out.  

I used blues and greens for my Acrylic Block Technique.  The card base and the ink on the trees on the inside of the card and the envelope are all Mossy Meadow.  The ink on the tree (and text) on the card front is our new Archival Black.  I love it!  It creates a nice, strong image, which is just what you want when you're using a black.

By adding a layer of black under the white card front, it makes it all come together and really brings out the beautiful tree image.  If you haven't tried this technique yet, what are you waiting for?  Get going and enjoy!

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Acrylic Block Technique Cards, Part 1

Today, I'm starting a little series on cards I've made using the Acrylic Block Technique.  This technique involves literally scribbling onto an acrylic block with 2 or more colors of Stampin' Write Markers, spritzing it 2 or 3 times with water, and then stamping it onto CS, to create a beautiful background.  I use Shimmery White CS for mine because it takes a little water nicely and it's just plain gorgeous with it's subtle shimmer.  

I tried using a larger block on this card.  It's our E block.  (I usually use our D block.)  I stamped the sea fan in Pear Pizzazz, after letting the background dry, and then stamped it again with VersaMark Ink and embossed it with silver EP.

I added a silver embossed sea shell to the bottom of the card.

I used a combination of blues and a bit of green for my background and then used Marina Mist and Pear Pizzazz for my card.  I think it turned out pretty nicely.  I love the blues and greens together.  The super fun thing about this technique is that it turns out differently every time.  It's like a fun surprise!

Come back for more Acrylic Block Technique cards.  

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Evolution of a Calla Lily

Have you ever made a card, stepped back and looked at it and said to yourself: "It's almost what I was after... but not quite."  If you have, then you're going to enjoy today's post.  I call today's card the 'Evolution of a Calla Lily' because that's the way it played out.  I'll show you the end result first and then back up and explain how I got there. 

Here's the end result, with which I was very happy.  The inside stayed the same.

Here's how I started... just the 2 lilies, which is how the stamp looks.  I liked it 'ok' but it wasn't as elegant as I'd hoped it would be.

I'd spent a long time on it because, as you can see, I stamped extra flowers, cut them out and added them on dimensionals.   I just couldn't bear to waste all that time and effort by throwing it away.  I kept thinking: "I can save it."

So... I cut around the top layer, stamped and cut out another lily and attached it behind the first two lilies.  Then I remade the back layers.  I did save it!  Because the third flower was so near the top of the card, I added my gold thread to the bottom of the card this time.  I like that even better.  And, yes, I did add a few 'speckles' in gold with a stamp from my Gorgeous Grunge set.  So, do you think it was worth the extra effort to redo the card?  I'm very happy with it, so I guess it was worth it to me.

By the way, my coloring on this card was done with my Aqua Painter and inks, with a teeny tiny bit of Shimmer Paint added to it.  It makes for a beautiful and elegant sheen to the lilies.

Up next, I'll be doing a series on all the cards I've made recently using the acrylic block technique.  Be sure to come back and see what I have to share with you!  

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Elegant Lilies

I love, love, love lilies and was thrilled when I discovered that we now have stamps to make our own.  Here's what I came up with for one of my cards.  I used Shimmery White CS to give an elegant contrast to the black that is matted with gold foil CS.  Add an Elegant Eggplant card base, and it's just perfect.  I added my Champagne Mist  shimmer mist spritz to the black.  In real life, it has an elegant shimmer.

The greeting is embossed in gold and the inside of the card and the envelope are stamped to coordinate with it all.  

I embossed and hand cut both of the lilies.  I wanted them to really stand out on my card.  I added a touch of Crushed Curry to the centers of the flowers.

I love how it all turned out.  I wish you could see the shimmer.

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Cherry Cobbler You've Got This

How about a card today in one of my most favorite colors --- cherry cobbler?  This one was pretty quick and easy to create and I love how it turned out.  

I added layers of Cherry Cobbler and Basic Black behind the DSP layer on the card front and then rounded the corner of each.  It adds a nice little detail in a super simple way. 

The flower is painted with ink and my Aqua Painter and then cut out and attached with dimensionals.

The inside of the card and the envelope are stamped to coordinate with it all.  

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