I Hope Our Paths Cross Again!

 Today I'm sharing the set:  Night and Day, available in the Kindred Stamps May New Release.  Perfect for a soulmate couple, I can see this set used for anniversary cards, and even for times when you have to spend time apart for a spell.  In my family I've witnessed several who have had to live long distance for a bit, whether it be job, medical or college related, or even long travel, etc.  I know it's not fun, but it's not permanent either, and sending a special card of affirmation, sure can make things a little easier!

 

 

My first card, I've used a couple of Kindred die sets:  Cards Basics and Bare Trees.  I used the smaller circle in the Cards Basics die collection to mask a daybreak sun on a colored blended background.  I used Distress Oxides to color blend my sky,  then did a repeat stamping of one of the two sentiments included in the Night and Day set.  I finished the card by adding a couple of die cut trees, and a landscape as well.  Lastly, my characters, colored up with Ohuhu Alcohol Markers,  and fussy cut by me, were added, the narrating character popped up with dimension dots.  

 

My second card, I used the same circle to mask a sunset dusk sun.  I felt I needed to "ground" my characters, as my landscape was a little deeper than I intended, and the blank space was telling my eyes to add something.  Originally, I included the second sentiment, but, after it was adhered, I had a change of plans. I decided to add a little border instead, using the same die, which then popped the strip up a bit for dimension as well.  When I don't want/need lots of dimemsion, I will often cut card stock to adhere to the back of my image and adhere a thicker fussy cut image that way.  I did this with the heads only, of the 2 characters, as the body was one card stock thickness, applied on the landscape, making 2 thickness applied to the colored blended background.  The heads then, needed the same 2 thickness, so I evened it out, by cutting a circle /  head shaped piece to the backs of the heads of my people.  By doing this, the image will apply all the same level and not glue down curvy.

 

 

 

  I did have a blooper on this card.  I wanted to print the sentiment directly on the background.  It did NOT stamp clear, the stamp didn't apply all the ink, so, I added the banner sentiment strip over my bloop.  It's the risk you take after applying all the elements, after carefully ink blending a background....I tend to get impatient and skip the stamp platform part.  Instead, I usually grab my clear blocks, stamp a practice one or 2 until I'm satisfied...then hold my breath and stamp my card.  Well $#*t! (bad word here) ... who says that mistakes can't be fixed.  After dedicating precious time, you bet they can be.

  

Fun New Product for Me..... 

I have been playing with some new alcohol markers, and am really liking these  Ohuhu Alcohol Markers.  I have other sets of Ohuhu markers and LOVE them, but these are different than my others.  They have a brush tip and it looks like they are refillable.  I have never refilled a marker (even my Copics), I won't lie, I'm intimidated to...so, I keep buying inexpensive alcohol markers sets, lol.  I MIGHT take the plunge and try to refill one or two of these, as needed.  I LOVE the price as compared to other popular brands...I truly think they just color as nice, and I'm not too emotional if I run out of ink, or need to toss a pen or 2.  I will say, though, the colors may not be as spot on (matching the caps), but, truly, I don't care.  I'm not that precise with what color I use, I just play along and if I think it looks nice, I'm good with it.  I have marker sets everywhere, and I will say, I would gladly recommend these.

So, finishing up this post, I do have an announcement to make.  These cards, unfortunately, are my last cards representing Kindred Stamps on the design team.  My time has come to an end.  I've contributed for almost 2 years, and really have enjoyed my time contributing with this very talented team of designers.  I want to take this time to thank those of you who stopped by my blog to visit, and truly thank Audra for giving me the opportunity to represent her company and showcase my work with her wildly fun stamps.  It certainly isn't the end of me in the craft world.  I'll still be posting here, I try to weekly, with my Craft Roulette entries, plus I'll get back to the labor intense cookbook I'm making.  (It may be 5 years from now, when that puppy is finished, lol.)  Of course, I hope to pop in on the Kindred Fan Facebook page too, with new creations, I adore my Kindred stamps, and find them perfect for many of my paper projects.  I'll too, be on the lookout to perhaps dabble in design again, if a good fit with another company were to cross my path, I'm open to suggestions, referrals too, and pretty loyal to the end!  I truly enjoyed my time on the team, oh how it helped me get through some very hard life, I had card design on my mind through some pretty sad times, I was able to stay busy.  So, once again, thank you Audra, and thanks to all who liked and commented on the Kindred fan page,  or stopped by here to see my designs.  I hope you all still pop by every now and then, I will be sharing some fun ideas and such in the future!  :)

In the meantime, the new release becomes available this Friday:  Kindred Stamps