Cosmic Swirl Template

This month in my Fast and Fun class we will be making only 3 cards.  So I decided to let them play with more templates and make backgrounds that they can turn in to fabulous cards.  Check out the four cards that I made with one background design.

 I used Dylusion inks and TCW 6x6 Cosmic Swirl template to create a bright and fun backgournd.  The card above lets the background be the star.

The card above was the most fun to make. I made it from the strips that were cut off to make the first card.  I also used some swirl remnants from a Memory Box die that I used in the last card.  Added some coordinating ribbon and colored the sentiment with a coordinating COPIC marker.  

Can you tell that the background above is the reverse image of the one used in the previous two cards?  I will be showing my students how to get two prints with your templates when you use spray inks.  It took a while for me to perfect the process but I am so happy with the results.

Lastly, I used an intricate Memory Box die on the right hand side.  I then cut up a piece of the background paper to make squares that I layered on the left.  It was screaming for a popped up sentiment.  I used an old SU stamp and punches.

I really enjoy making my own background paper.  It gives me so much more room for creativity.

Denita's card class

My friend Denita holds monthly classes out of her house using CTMH products.  I recently attended one and had great fun.  Look at what I made!

I am trying to convince Denita into doing classes at the Hen House instead of for CTMH.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that she will.  :-)

Another wonderful Wednesday night

The Wednesday night women were over my house again and I loved it!  Look at the cards we made...

This first one was designed by Debbie.  Can you tell that portions of the flower are raised?  We used an exacto knife to cut around (but not completely) a few of the petals and then used a stylus with a ball tip to push from the back and add dimension.

Heather cased a card from her sister, Tiffany, using the die cut from Paper Tray.  I love the simplicity of this card.

Marie made great use out of a pinwheel stamp.  We popped up the second layer and made the grass with a Martha Stewart punch.  I love how the dots on the pinwheel coordinate with the dotted background paper.

My card was cased from a Pinterest pin and it uses a Tombo blender pen and white ink pad.  Fun technique.

Here is a gift card holder that Heather cased from her sister again.  I wish I had such a crafty sister!

Last but not least is the card designed by Denita.  We colored the flower with Distress Markers.  It also has a fun fold.

Here is the card open!  Super cute!

Color Wash Fun

The Hen House now carries a full line of the Adirondak Color Wash sprays.  These are textile sprays that are not diluted so most techniques for paper require you to water them down a bit.  I really thought the sprays would be the perfect background for the Dylusion stamps.

Here are some of the cards that I made. The mushrooms were embossed with clear ink on craft paper before I sprayed the Color Wash.  I then stamped the leaves and used a white pencil for the veins, mushroom spots and sentiment.  The white stitching on the edge was made with the Tim Holtz "picket fence" Distress marker...fun to use.  I used "tea dye" Distress marker to color the mushrooms.

For this second card, I just sprayed  a scrap of craft paper and ribbon and then stamped the black solid leaves and then the open leaves border.  I colored in the open leaves with a green Prismacolor pencil.  I used the white pencil on the sold leaves,  for the faux stitching around the ribbon, on the "thanks" (from Paper Smooches) and on the striped circles.  I used a different green on the other circles.  I was going to use this card in my August class, but there are way too many steps to qualify for "Fast and Fun".  It was fun but definitely not fast.  ;-)

This last card is the one I will be using in my August Fast and Fun class.  It incorporates a lot of the techniques of the two previous cards but in an abbreviated and hence "fast" way.