I played around with Brusho a few weeks ago and actually filmed it, so I have a fun video for you today. I wanted to take the images in the new Waterfront set and have them be multicolored, so I did a very simple technique that gives solid images life the way only a powdered watercolor can. I showed my team the technique the weekend before Creativation and they loved it.
I don't like to do a lot of spraying on my cling stamps, because water and glue don't play well together, so I tend to stick to photopolymer stamps for this technique, but a lot of people wash their cling stamps and have no issues with them separating from the foam - so you do whatever your preference is!
So let's peek at the cards. The first one was the one I did in the video, where I ended up overstamping the mountains to show less of the watercolor paper texture - although I do like the subtle pattern that still shows through. The big hello is this set from this Altenew set. (All supplies linked below third card.
The next one I did with my team last weekend on our FB live. I added more yellow and separated the lake a little. The sentiment is from this Altenew set.
This one was done live too - I added two mountains and a little forest down front. The sentiment is from this Simon Says Stamp set.
Today is the last day of Creativation, so I'm ready to get home and focus on spring - in my yard, on my cards, everywhere.
If you're ready to check out this waterfront stamp set and some Brusho - use host code 9YXHJ4VR for some host goodies from me - and don't forget it's Sale-a-Bration, with free items for each $50 you spend.
This year, for Sale-a-Bration, they've changed it up and increased the freebie potential a LOT. As always, you can earn a free stamp set for every $50 order, but this year, there are additional items, like this awesome set of dies - that you can earn for every $100 order. I have also opened this month's host code - 9YXHJ4VR, and every person who places an order using this host code in January will receive a host goodie from me!
The starter bundle offer for SAB is great too - you can add two stamp sets (worth up to $101!) to the bundle, in addition to the free $25 & free shipping, and you can customize the entire thing. The starter bundle is no strings attached - you do not have to hold events, sell anything - nothing. Your $99 just buys you a discount for six months if you purchase it in January. All you are obligated to do is open that box of the $225 worth of spring awesomeness and play with it. :). If you like that deal, get your bundle here. For however long you are active, you'll have access to my private Facebook group with challenges, Facebook live projects every Sunday and the opportunity to attend my team retreats.
That space between an old year and a new one is a magical space, so I thought I'd make a magical card today!
I think everyone's favorite new bundle is the Magical Day bundle. Who doesn't love a dragon and little wizards? Crazy people, that's who.
One of the most fabulous things in the new Occasions catalog is BRUSHO. If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know I love this product. Of all the powdered watercolor, it is the most economical per ounce, and doesn't poof into the air - it has a heavier crystalline texture than some. I am not into breathing in my art supplies. :) When I first bought Brusho - I split it with a friend and made it even more economical. The thing about Brusho is that a tiny amount goes a really long way - so even if you split the bottles with a friend, you can use it for years. It is an artist-grade watercolor, so it is not the cheapest watercolor powder, but it's the best. Here is my playlist with powdered watercolor techniques. You can also click the Brusho keyword on the right side of my blog to see other cards with Brusho that do not have videos. I also have a video of today's card below.
Isn't he adorable?? He looks extremely friendly too, as dragons go. But wait until you see the matching paper for this suite - Myths & Magic. I put one of the sheets into my ScanNCut and cut out a whole pile of little dragons and knights and castles that I can use for quick birthday cards. This paper is fun because it's got sections on each character that are glittery.
Just FYI, if you're thinking about the ScanNCut - the way I cut those out was to scan the sheet in, and then log into the Canvas software (your SNC does not have to be connected to your computer, which is the best reason to own one), removed the little background elements from the cut file so that it would JUST cut those shapes and then sent that file back to the SNC wirelessly. To do this, when you buy your ScanNCut, you need to purchase an activation card for the Brother Online service. Then you just connect to your wifi and you can access all those files from the cloud on your machine. To me, this is essential for cutting images out of Designer Series Paper, because the partial shapes and tiny background elements have to be removed. For just stamping and cutting, you don't need the wireless option, but I highly recommend it for all other cutting. I wasn't aware that the card didn't come with the machine, so I thought I'd pass that along.
So without further ado, here's the video for this little guy, with some tips on color mixing.
Since I have been on the road I haven't had a chance to do a few Hero Kit blog hops but I am BACK!!! I'm so excited about this month's kit because it's FULL of animals.
We got to spend a lot of time with the Hero Arts crew at Creativation - their booth was right next to the one I was working in - and can I just say again what truly NICE, great people they are? I wish all of you could meet them - because they just radiate goodness and fun. It's fun to buy craft supplies any time - but it's REALLY fun when you know you are spending your crafty budget with awesome people with great character. So it was very hard to say goodbye to my friends there, but at least I can virtually hang out with them today.
And I'm not sure if you saw this since I've been MIA - but now they have a subscription option for these kits, so you don't have to worry about getting them before they sell out if you subscribe. So good for you, Hero Arts - FOMO sufferers rejoice! (I suffer from acute FOMO - Fear Of Missing Out - part of being the youngest, I suppose, so I subscribe to ALL THE THINGS.)
Before I tell you about my card - let's all have a laugh at me, shall we? Because I didn't realize until I had photographed, blogged, filmed video, edited video and voiced it over that I GLUED MY BACKGROUND ON UPSIDE DOWN.
(Pause for laughter)
So here's what we are going to assume. First - this card takes place in a universe where gravity is exerted from the SKY and raindrops get sucked up FROM the earth.
Second - in this universe, some alien in the sky is stealing our pets by sucking them up with gravity.
Then I added Brusho to that which I activated with Perfect Pearls mixed into my water.
I die cut the critters (STOP STEALING THEM, ALIENS) from marker paper and colored them with Copics - watch the video below for a cool tip on doing a bunch at once with the MISTI. I glued a piece of Whisper White cardstock to the back of the Brusho panel, and glued the critters on there. I should have videod how I did the sentiment on the clouds using the MISTI, but alas, I had already turned the camera off. I stacked them the way I wanted them - there are three clouds there - and then masked off the lower clouds, stamped the partial greeting on top, removed the top one, masked the bottom one and stamped a partial greeting on that one, removed that and stamped the bottom one. Then they were easy to line back up. All supplies linked below.
So without further ado - check out my alternate universe with upside down gravity!! For once, you can see the shimmer in the photo, so there's that!
And of COURSE I have a video! The video does not document my hilarious mistake, but you'll get the idea :). This card took 40 minutes, so I sped up the coloring and watercoloring.
Now of course my awesome friends have more adorableness for you on the hop, and you know the deal - comment on all and you might win a kit! Here's what comes in the main kit - I used the add-ons listed above for my card. This one - it's more than $70 worth of goodies for $34.99 - look at the dies! With a subscription, you get free shipping too. (PS - you're past the cutoff date for subscribing for the February Kit - I made this mistake with my first Mystery Experiences kit and wanted to save you that heartache - so you will need to buy this one and then subscribe if you want to for future kits. )
So leave some love for my buddies to be entered to win, and please try not to notice if any of them did their stuff upside down.
Most of them left half their brain in Phoenix too! At least, that's what I tell myself!
