Day 2 of being a GIU guest....and I was waffling between showcasing either a clean and simple card, or one not so much... well... while I was trying to decide...
I got an order from one of my longtime customers in my chocolate biz. It's one of my biggest customers, if not my biggest, they are a major tourist attraction on the Oregon Coast, and they keep my staff busy all summer during the vacation/beach season. I saw that as a sign to showcase my "Sunshine & Happiness" card...after all, when the beach calls...you run to it!
I fiddled around with my sand here, and decided alcohol markers were making my eyes happier than ink blending. Any tips and tricks on ink blending, please send my way. I suspect it's the card stock I use, or maybe my brushes...I seem to be a little heavy handed in spots...but...it's sand, it's possible you will see something similar later this week....another reason I'm showing this today instead of my clean and simple card... (I didn't actually case my own card for my last GIU day...remember, that card is the result of my weekly challenge, so it's what resulted from the criteria, lol...you must come by on Friday, you will understand when you see it!!!
Sand with alcohol markers...
My details for this card:
Stamps Used: Sunshine & Happiness
***Dies Used: Scallops & Rectangles
***NOTE: this appears to be out of stock, but has a notification button attached to it. I use this die set ALL.THE.TIME. I love it, so I thought I'd add the link for future reference. :)
Leave comments! (Bonus if you leave tips for ink blending! What is the best card stock to use?) I have a good selection of Tim Holtz Distress Oxides...just need to work on the spotch!) I will be pulling the comments from all my social media accounts to get my 2 (random) winners of a $20 gift credit! My Instagram is fairly new...this old girl is late to the party, but, I'm getting the social media thing down. Thank goodness, my day life/business was established way before things like Facebook and Instagram! I'm learning as I go....40 years into that! hahaha
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What a beautiful card! I love the beach. I think it looks great. I use copics and always used regular cardstock and my blending wasn’t great. I have learned the paper matters! I use X-press It paper and copics blend beautifully. I also prefer Catherine Pooler Designs Cardstock. (I think it's the X-press it paper but In a warmer white which I prefer.)
ReplyDeleteI think I need to use X-press more. I use Neenah, but, when I ink blend with my Distress Oxides/little brushes, I end up with splotches!!! My alcohol pens really matter...I LOVE my Copics, but have gotten on a kick of buying cost efficient alcohol pen sets through Amazon, "just to try". lol. I find I don't care if they run out fast, and am more willing to go wild with them!!! hahaha! I'm intimidated to refill a Copic, I know, sounds silly..and am afraid to be mobile with them from my craft studio. The cheapies, I tend to leave here, there and everywhere. Some are pretty quality, some not so much. It's a hit and miss there! :) I don't want to mix my Copics with any cheaper brand either. I REALLY need to organize my room!!!!! Really bad! Now, off to find X-press, and maybe get a Catherine Pooler order going! :) Thanks Pam!
DeleteLovely card! I like the vibrant colors!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gaye! I was coloring in very dim lighting with bad eyes, so I never know what things will turn out like! lol! I've been coloring and fussy cutting remote!
DeleteWhat a great card... it makes me wish I were at the beach!
ReplyDeleteIt's been too long since I've been...my daughter used to play beach volleyball tournaments before she played college. We'd go every year to Seaside, OR...I miss those days!
DeleteA perfect day at the beach - gorgeous scene.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I miss the sand on my feet! I'll need to plan a perfect get away in the future! I hope it's like this! :)
DeleteGreat coloring for sand and sky. Looks authentic to me! Aren't we a funny people? I could be sitting on a beach in 20 minutes, but don't go. You are land-locked and dream of being there! My ink blending is so-so. I'll be following to see what tips you get!
ReplyDeleteI think my splotches (not noticeable on this card, but on my Friday card...it may be unintentionally heavy handed in a few spots...it looked authentic enough for me to not redo...you will see if you pop by, lol) I definitely want to get that effortless ink blending (or whatever it's called making the backgrounds with the DO inks) with the distress oxides/and fun brushes figured out. I bought a silicone mat to tap the excess on first, then I don't waste the ink...that helps, it just seemed last Friday night, it was splotchy splotchy splotchy!
DeleteLove the beach scene and colors! Great cards!
ReplyDeleteBest tip I can offer is to always tap off some of the ink on scratch paper before you start blending on the card. Also bigger brushes for larger areas help to get a smoother coverage.
Great card, I can't give advice on blending, mine don't always turn out well
ReplyDelete