Isn't SCS the most incredible resource? I love their tutorials for techniques SO much. I used Beate's tutorial for gel (water) cards to make this sparkly gel card. Man, is that woman talented!!!
This gel (water) card is bigger than usual 5x7 inches (kids like big 'n' bold, no?) And I wanted to have lots of texture, so I combined 2 cuttlebug techniques: (1) inking the negative & (2) hot cuttlebug embossing. (The swirly frame with the scallop sqare punched out of it) Basically, it's regular cuttlebugging but with ink on the folder, then you just add heat embossing (with clear embossing powder.) Usually people use chalk ink (or you could use craft ink) but I used a homemade tinted Versamark pad.
To make a tinted Versamark pad:
1. Take an old (stained?) Versamark pad
2. In turns, add ink colour(s) of your choice and versamark refill.
3. Work in circles to add it (as you would with craft refills)
Tinted Versamark is fun for stamping to get a sheer look and makes embossing schtuff so easy. It also makes great distressing pads.
This cute Mara mermaid is the image for the girl option (I'll be making a version with Silly Sealife for boys too...) Mara is from eat cake graphics--The fishy & the seahorse are also from eat cake graphics.
Everything is stamped in Stazon and coloured with Stampin Up's watercolour pencil crayons. I really love the effect you can get with these pencils by layering colours and stippling. I like to colour in little circles for smoothness & I found that these images didn't need water--the pigment is rich enough as is.
The gel part of the card is made with a ziplock baggie (3x4 inches) that I got at the dollar store. I just squirted a little clear hair gel & some icicles Stickles in there & smooshed it all around. I like the clear gel best because you can see the glitteriness & the image underneath, but you could use blue gel too.
The wave piece at the bottom is:
1. Cut with Creative Memories cutting mat and wavy ruler thingy.
2. Embossed with the sentiment "You make me Smile" from Stampin Up!'s Simple Sayings II set (Using the tinted turquoise Versamark pad)
3. Wrinkled to distress
4. Washed with an aquapainter and the left over ink from the cuttlebug folder.
5. The brads are 'painted' with a mix of Crystal Effects & Tempting Turquoise craft ink.
The fishys are:
1. Stamped onto Vanilla cardstock (in Stazon)
2. Coloured with watercolour pencil crayons & cut out.
3. Given dimension using Dimensionals (cut in half to fit.)
Registered: August 22, 2006 Location: Brunswick, OH (Cleveland) Posts: 857
Tue, May 13, 2008 @ 1:46 PM
W O W ! ! !
------------------------------ my greatest blessing, Natalie Rose Cunningham born 8/18/07 I need IDEAS for Clean & Simple cards to mail out for my church each week, about 15 a week---please email me your ideas...Thank you so much!
Registered: March 11, 2008 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 39766
Tue, May 13, 2008 @ 10:26 PM
Amazing! Lot of work, but well worth it. I feel like I'm *under the sea*! TFS :0)
------------------------------ Cathy B aka: Mutnik ....or is it Nutmeg?! I get so confused!
Smile.......people will wonder what you are up to! :0) Proud Fan Club Member 2010 DT forRubbernecker Stamps My Gallery