I Brake For Bister and Barns

Hi everybody,

I finally got a chance to play with Bister.  I felt like a little kid!  Bister is watercolor powder.  Do you like making your own backgrounds?  Then you really need to experiment with these.  I'm going to give you a link to Bister at I Brake For Stamps.  The powder is in small containers and cost about $1.65, so affordable for everyone to try.  You can use coupon code SAVE10REGINA and receive 10% off your order.  You can't beat that!  Here's a link to Bister and here's a link to the online store, I Brake For Stamps.  I used two I Brake For Stamps stamps on this card.  One is called Rustic Barn and the other is Fall Leaf Background.  

First, I embossed the Fall Leaf Background stamp with clear embossing powder.  I decided to use Bister in red, yellow and a little bit of green.  You can choose how much color you want and can even add more if you want more of a certain color in a certain place on your card stock.  I used watercolor paper.  I use 140# cold press Strathmore.  I would recommend taping the watercolor paper down with washi tape or some kind of easy release tape.  The main reason for this is so that the paper doesn't buckle.  The first couple of times I tried this I didn't tape down and I had watercolor dripping down the buckled paper.  This makes it much neater I promise.  You need a fine paint brush, just an old one but not those super stiff bristle ones. This powder will last forever because you need to use so little.  I compare it to Bare Minerals makeup.  If you wear this brand, you know exactly what I mean.  That stuff lasts forever because you barely need to use any.  Same here, a little bit will go a long way after it is activated by the water.

 

Lightly dip your paint brush in the powder getting a little on the brush and tap the paint brush lightly.  This is what it will look like.

This is what it looked like after I used all 3 colors.

After you have all your colors down, lightly spritz with water.  The more you spritz, the more the colors will move around the paper,  Here's what it looks like after a few spritzes.

Then I decided I wanted a little more red in that bare area so you can go back and add more and put it where you want it.  I love that!  See where I added some red powder.

Then continue to spritz with water. The next 3 pictures will show you the progression and the final result.  You can see the embossing. 

Isn't this cool looking?  

 

I blot the little puddles with a paper towel and then use a heat gun to dry.  Look at the awesome results for such an easy technique. 

I colored this beautiful Rustic Barn with Copics listed below.  I used a little Copic blending solution on a cloth and dabbed it lightly on the grass and drive part to give it that textured look.  For some reason, whenever I see an old barn in the middle of a field, it reminds me of Fall.  I remember growing up everybody had one of those 1,000 piece puzzles that ended up being a barn in a field in the Fall.  This is a fantastic stamp to use for those masculine cards that are so hard to create.  This stamp is appropriate for any male I think and of course, females as well. 

For this card I used Gina K Designs heavy base weight Ivory card stock as well as Tomato Soup and Chocolate Brown.  I wanted to try Neenah card stock with my Copics because I keep hearing people say they like it, well, I thought I ordered the wrong kind because it was flimsy then I remembered Xpress blending cards are flimsy too.  I bought Neenah 110# Smooth White Exact Index and I love it.  I can blend very well on this paper.  It is reasonably priced too at Amazon, ream of 250 sheets around $15.00.  I used Spellbinders Labels 8 dies and then used it as a template for the layering one.  I sponged Tim Holtz Gathered Twigs distress ink around the edge of the cut out stamp and the edge of the leaves background.  That's all I used on this card.  I wanted the stars to be the background and this beautiful scenery stamp.

Copics Used:
Barn:  E11, E15, E19
Fence and Roof::  W2, W5 and tip to tip also
Stone on barn:  E42, E44
Pumpkins:  YR04, YR07
Cart:  E23, E25
Driveway:  E31, E33
Pines:  YG63, YG67
Shadow in Doorways:  C9
Tree:  G40, G43, Y35, YR21, YR24, YR27, YR18
Grass:  YG91, YG93

Next Wednesday I will post a Halloween card using Black Bister powder in the background.   Ooooh spooky!  lol 

I hope I have inspired you to want to try Bister watercolor powders.  Have fun making your Fall cards!
Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina - I Brake For Stamps Design Team Member

Masking Tape Technique Sympathy Card

Hi everybody!

I wanted to share a sympathy card I made for someone today.  It was quick and easy using the Masking Tape Technique.  I'll tell you how below. 

I love using silhouette stamps on sympathy cards so I thought this one was perfect.  It's a really good size too.  It is from I Brake For Stamps and the stamp is called Floral Silhouette.  There is also one called Floral Silhouette Border. 

This is the one I used.   If you use the Coupon Code SAVE10REGINA, you will receive a 10% discount off of your purchase. 

This is the border stamp.

Here is the card I made.

The Masking Tape Technique is very easy.  You will need painter's tape and ink pads.  I usually tape my card stock down with washi tape so that it doesn't move when I lift the tape.  You can make the length of your piece of painter's tape the width of the card or shorter and you can make them different lengths or even use different widths of painter's tapes.  You can use the same colors or different.  Take your piece of painter's tape and lay it on ink pad and pat the tape down gently so that it is covered.  If you are using Tim Holtz distress ink pads, you can still use longer lengths of tape but will carefully have to move the tape over and keep covering with ink.  After your piece of tape is covered in ink, lay it on the card and gently press across the tape.  I usually press a little harder in the middle of the tape and gently at the top and bottom because you will get a distinct line from the tape if you press too hard.  Then carefully lift the tape off and that is it.  Easy!  Then I just stamped the floral silhouette using Memento Expresso Truffle.  I didn't want harsh black but didn't want brown either so Expresso Truffle is kind of a black brown color.  I used heavy base weight card stock from Gina K Designs and the brown layering card stock is from Close To My Heart from the paper pack called, My Reflections, Balloon Ride and the color is saddle.  I used Tim Holtz Tumbled Glass and Memento Desert Sand inks.  I used a Gina K Designs sentiment from the stamp set called Nature's Greetings.  Here is a link to this stamp set, Nature's Greetings. 

I used a metal charm that says Faith.  The recipient of this card is a Godly Woman and she will like that I think.  I used twine from The Twinery and Enamel Dots from My Mind's Eye. 

I hope you will try this easy, fun and quick technique.  I would love to see your finished cards. 

Stay tuned for a blog give-a-way very soon.....  Thanks for stopping by!


Regina

Discount Reminders and More...

Hi everybody!

I'm working on a couple of cards right now so I don't have card posts unless I post something I made in the past SO I decided instead of not posting at all, I would post some things that I am thinking about, have bought, reminders, etc.

First of all, Joann's has some awesome coupons out right now, I believe they expire tonight so hurry and buy something!  I have been wanting to update my paper cutter which is a Fiskars.  I have a Tonic Guillotine which I love but I decided to take the plunge and buy the Cutterpillar Pro while I could get it from Joanne's at 60% off!  The regular price is $129.99.  I am really excited to try this one.  You will never have to replace blades again with this one.  Those Fiskars titanium blades do not last for me very long.  To get 60% off one regular priced item use code BUPC234.  Hurry, it ends tonight.  Here's a link to what I bought. Cutterpillar Pro

Secondly, Silhouette has Subscriptions 20% off until 8/31.  I have one but I think I will ugrade it.  I sent an email to ask how this would work and they said I would cancel the one I have now and buy a new one at 20% off.  I asked if I would lose my account credits if I upgrade and they said no, the credits will transfer over to new subscription.  To get a subscription new or updated use code SUBSALE20.  I just cannot have enough images, flowers, fonts, gift bags, boxes, etc.  Always something to buy!

A lot of people ask me where I buy my copics.  I buy them from Terri Olsen.  I ordered these copics and refills just this past Thursday and I got them today!  I don't know if you're like me but when I order something, I want it NOW!

 Here's a link to her online store called Stamps Alive! 
The prices are very good and ships fast.  What more can you ask for?

I Brake For Stamps has over 4,000 stamps, something for everybody.  There is a section for Overstock, 50% stamps of the week and more.    If you use Coupon Code SAVE10REGINA you will receive 10% off your purchase.  Here's a link to I Brake For Stamps

Ellen Hutson is having a 40% off sale on dies, stamps, inks, and other accessories. Use the code GOODTHINGS. This is for Overstock category only.
www.ellenhutson.com/overstock

Stay tuned because I am going to put together a blog give-a-way soon.

Thank you for stopping by and have a great weekend!


Regina

I Brake For Poppies

Hi everybody,

I am in the process of trying to decorate my boyfriend's house and didn't know what I wanted to do in the dining room.  One day I was browsing one of the local Facebook groups that sell things and saw a poppy picture.  I knew that would be the start of my decorating in that room and would decorate around that.  What does that have to do with anything you ask?  I started loving poppies then, this was around the first of the year and all of a sudden, I am seeing poppies everywhere, including the card making business, stamps and dies galore.  I Brake For Stamps has a few really pretty poppy stamps including the one I am using on today's card.  Here is a link to the I Brake For Stamps STORE.  Here is a link to the stamp I am using called, Stained Glass Poppies.

I wanted to do something different so I made a square window card with this stamp.  One of my friends lost a family member recently so I wanted to use this one as a sympathy card.  I used Gina K Designs White, Red Hot and Sweet Corn card stocks.  I colored the stamp with copics, which are listed below.  I used a Lawn Fawn die called, Thinking About You Border.  It is all one phrase but I cut it apart so it would fit on the card.  I used the Silhouette Adhesive Sheets with the die so that all I would have to do is peel off the backing and stick it to the card, no worries about it coming unglued.  I used a Cuttlebug Polka Dot embossing folder but only embossed part of the card.  I used Diamond Stickles in the center of one of the flowers.  The patterned paper on the inside is by Echo Park called Sweet Girl.

I just used a Spellbinders Classic Large Square die to cut out the opening for the window. 

Copics Used:  Poppies R20, R22, R24, R27
Stems and Leaves:  G20, G24, G28
Frame:  Y11, Y13, Y15, Y17
Center of Poppy:  E23, E25, E27 and Y15
Background:  BG000 and BG01 and also used tip to tip to blend better

I hope you liked this card and you can get this stamp for yourself at a 10% discount by using Coupon code SAVE10REGINA, off your total purchase.

Did I inspire you to make something beautiful.  Have a great day!

Regina - I Brake For Stamps Design Team Member

Oh Snap! It's 5 o'clock Somewhere

Hi everybody!

A good friend of mine has bailed me out of a couple of pretty important things.  She thinks it's nothing but it is everything to me.  I made her this thank you card, etched a glass and gave her a couple of bottles of wine that she likes to drink when she is at my house.  She told me I can (________)  (what I did) anytime because she says I outdid myself and can make her something anytime. How sweet is that?  No, I can't tell you what I did, sorry LOL! 

I used the Stamping Bella stamp called Opal the Optimist for the image.  This image comes with a sentiment that says, May Your Glass Always Be Half Full but I used the sentiment It's 5 o'clock somewhere from the Stamping Bella set called Madison has a Margarita.  These are both from the Uptown Girls collections which I think are so stinkin' cute. There is one to fit just about any occasion. 


I used Slate Gray card stock from Close To My Heart and patterned paper from Color Crush by American Crafts.  This is such a cute paper pad!  I bought a Heidi Swapp glittered paper 20 sheet pad at Michaels for $3.99.  I used the pink, silver and turquoise from this.  It isn't card stock, it's flimsy glitter paper but it's cuts great with my Fiskar cutter and in the Big Shot.  I used the My Favorite Things Die-namics die called Stitched Circle Frames.  I love these because you can use the center circle that punches out or the outside ring like I used here on the out and insides.  Very cool I think.  I colored her with copic markers and sponged around her and the ribbon banner in Papertrey Ink called Hawaiian Shores. 

I used a Lawn Fawn die called Scripty Thanks and cut out the turquoise glitter paper.  I used Silhouette Adhesive Paper with the die so that it had a sticky back when I cut it.  Guaranteed to stick!!!  I love this adhesive paper for dies now.   I used a Close To My Heart Sparkle Flourish below the Thanks sentiment.  These are great, come in a pack of different sizes, great for when you need a little more than a couple of gems. 

I hope you liked this card.  These stamps are fun and quick to color.  Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!


Regina

I Brake For Sunflowers

Hi everybody!

I am so ready for Fall!!!  When people here say it is going to be cooler, they mean 95 degrees, that's how hot it has been in Mississippi, not to mention humid.  I made a Fall card to share with you.  I love Fall colors and I think you can tell from the way I designed this card.  I used three stamps from a new release set called Bubble Wrap, Lattice, and Flowers.  Here is a link to the store,  I Brake For Stamps. 

This is what the set looks like....

How fun is this set??  I am totally into trying new backgrounds and I had to have this one because of that in addition to the Hello sentiment and sunflower which I knew I would use alot.  I love that flower with the swirls in too.  Sometimes I like to use solid image stamps rather than all line so I liked this for that reason and the other flower stamp is a nice size so that you can use it alone or stamp out several.  I'm really going to have fun with this set.  If you use the Coupon Code SAVE10REGINA, you will receive 10% off your purchase.

Isn't this so pretty?  I colored the sunflower with copics, which I will list below.  I used cardstock from Gina K Designs.  I stamped out the Lattice background stamp 3 times in Versamark and embossed with white detailed embossing powder by Stampendous.  The Hello sentiment was also stamped in Versamark and embossed with white powder.  I then sponged a few Tim Holtz distress inks over the background, wiped it off with a paper towel and the white embossing shows through so pretty.  This is kind of like having 2 backgrounds in one, the sponged one and the stamped/embossed one.  I will list the colors I used below.  I used a Cuttlebug embossing border with the polka dots called Just My Type.  I didn't want to leave that strip of cardstock behind the sunflower plain but also didn't want to emboss the whole thing so as to not take away from my pretty background so I thought this was the perfect solution. I then finished it off with a little Wink of Stella Clear glitter pen in a couple places in the center part to give a slight shimmer.

I also made a matching envelope with a Papertrey Ink Die and embossed it with the same Cuttlebug  polka dot embossing border. 

Copics used:  Y11, Y15, Y38 on the petals, YR24, YR27, YG93, YG95 and YG97 in the center part.

Tim Holtz inks used to sponge:  Mustard Seed, Crushed Olive, Spiced Marmalade, and a tiny bit of Ripe Persimmon

I love embossing, emboss resist, and making backgrounds (oh and pretty Fall colors) so I accomplished what I like to do here with this card.  My boyfriend's Mom had surgery for kidney stones so I will send her this card to cheer her up and say inside that I've been thinking about her.  Perfect!

Please check out I Brake For Stamps online store.  HERE is a link.  There are over 4,000 rubber stamps and digis as well.  There is such a fabulous variety of stamps and there is always a weekly 50% special page, Overstock stamps at great prices, half price I believe, individual stamps and sentiments as well as sheets of stamps.  You can buy mounted or unmounted.  Also, check out the Bister, watercolor powders.  HERE is a link to those.  I will be playing with these very soon.  Don't forget to use my coupon code to get 10% off your purchase (excluding clearance stamps).

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina

P.S.  Still working on my blog.  I don't know how to make it look exactly like I want it to yet.

Updating Blog

Hi everybody!

I just wanted to say hello and let you know that I am trying to clean up and update my blog.  It has looked the same since 2011 so I think it's time... the problem is, I don't really know what I'm doing so if it looks weird or ridiculous until I can figure out what I want to do, please just ignore the cosmetics of it.

If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!


Regina

More Sympathy Cards...

Hi everybody!

I have a couple of sympathy cards to share with you.  Lately, sympathy cards are just about all I have made.  It's a really sad time for so many people.  I hope my cards will provide a little comfort at least.  I do not like to use drab colors on sympathy cards.  If I know someone's favorite color, I will use that.  I made a purple one not long ago since that was her favorite color.  I don't use bright, cheery color necessarily but pretty colors. 

I made this card using Papertrey Ink card stock and Spellbinders Borderabilities dies.  I love these dies because you can use them by themselves or together.  Having the magnetic platform and metal shim was very helpful I must say and be sure to use thicker card stock for these dies.  I used layering weight and it did not do well.  I used a Gina K Designs sentiment on outside and inside.  Here's my card....

So here I used 2 different dies in the package.  The outside of the package of the Spellbinders Borderabilities says A2 Bracket Borders One.  That's the one I have but there are a few others as well.  The flower die is a Spellbinders Die D-Lites called Flower Surprise. This is the first time I've used this die and I really liked it for this card.  I added a Martha Stewart pearl in the middle.  The Papertrey Ink card stock and ink is called Berry Sorbet.  I love this coral looking color.  It isn't really this dark in person.  My editing software darkened it. It's a coral or watermelon looking color.

Here I just used the same borderabilities die twice.  I think these dies can give a nice, finished look.  You can make a quick card using these and it won't look quick.  You know what I mean I'm sure. 

I used a mint green card stock from Michaels here along with the Berry Sorbet.  You can see the real color here.  The patterned paper is also from Papertrey Ink.  It is Berry Sorbet in different patterns.  I used a die from Darice called Daisy.  Do you use double sided adhesive with your dies?  If you don't you must!  I used Silhouette Brand but Stick It is another good one.  You just put it behind your card stock which is on the die and when you take it off, you'll have adhesive on the back of the die like a sticker.  Love Love Love!!!  I used a Gina K Designs sentiment here, Spellbinders labels 8 behind the flower die to break the colors up and added some pretty Mother of Pearl gems from Want2Scrap. 

As of today, I am finished with my list of sympathy cards.  I am ready to make happy cards! 

I hope I can show you new products you haven't used or a technique, etc.  I have some of the watercolor powders from I Brake For Stamps to play with so I can't wait to show you what kind of cool backgrounds you can make with them. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!

Regina

I Brake For Freddie on Harley

Hi everybody!

This is my first post as a design team member for I Brake For Stamps.  I am very excited to be on this team.  There are over 4,000 stamps from which to choose! Most are red rubber stamps and some are digis.  Here is a link to the online store, I Brake For Stamps.

I used an image called Freddie on Harley, a super cute frog.  There are other Freddie the Frog images as well.  The link to Freddie on Harley in digital format is HERE.  The link to Freddie on Harley in rubber stamp is HERE.

This card is for someone who had a brain aneurysm and is waking up. He and his wife are into motorcycles so hopefully he will wake up and respond to this card in a positive way.

I colored the image with copic markers and I'll list the colors below. I used Gina K Designs white layering and heavy base weight card stock and red velvet card stock.   I sponged clouds using jumbo sponge dauber.  I used the Spellbinders Classic Scallop Ovals Large dies and Memento Summer Sky ink.  If you would like to see a tutorial on how to do this, just let me know.  It's really easy and looks so realistic.  I cut the road out of black matte vinyl and mustard yellow glossy vinyl.  I sponged the grass part with Tim Holtz Mowed Lawn Distress Ink.  I used a Lawn Fawn Hello die for the greeting and cut it out with Silhouette Double Sided Adhesive on the back so that it would be easy to adhere.  I used a Sakura Metallic Silver Gelly Roll Pen for the tail pipe and other metal, silver parts of the bike.  I used a chevron embossing folder by Darice.  Glossy Accents was used on the headlight, mirror and red parts of the bike to create some dimension and shine.  Last but not least, some googly eyes were added.

For the inside I used a Lawn Fawn die called Thinking About You Border die.  The words are all together in a line and I put the double sided adhesive sheet behind it and cut it and then cut the words apart so I could get it all on the card.  

Copics used to color Freddie:
Frog:  YG03, YG17, YG67, YG01 (for spots)
Wheels:  C1, C3, C5, C7, C9
Red part of bike:  R24, R27, R29

I hope this card has inspired you to create something awesome!  If you use the Coupon Code 
SAVE10REGINA, you will receive a 10% discount. 


Thank you for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina

I Brake For Stamps Design Team Announcement

Hi everybody!

I have just a quick post today with some exciting news!  I am on a new design team!  It's been awhile so I'm excited and ready to dive in and start making some fun, new cards and projects.  I am on the I Brake For Stamps Design Team.  This company sells rubber stamps (mounted and unmounted), single and by the sheet and also digis.  Please check them out because there are over 4,000 stamps to choose from!  There is something for everyone.  Here is a link to I Brake For Stamps website.  If you use the code SAVE10REGINA, you will receive a 10% discount. 

Please watch for my new projects using this company's stamps... I Brake For Stamps...

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!


Regina

Super Friend

Hi everybody!

Do you have a Super Friend?  What I mean by that is a friend that is always there for you night or day but is also there for her other friends and family as well?  A friend that is so knowledgeable that there is nothing she cannot answer or do?  A friend that excels at everything she does, whether it is making cards, other crafts, sewing, cooking.....  I could go on and on but you get the picture... I respect this person so much for her talent, enthusiasm about making cards and about life in general, her positive attitude, her love for a challenge.  Her name is Crystal Lopez.  Please check out her blog called 8upscrapin and see her awesome talent. 

I made this card using stamps by C.C. Designs called Super Hero Twila and the buildings and sentiment are from another stamp set called Bam, Pow, Pop. Here's a link to Twila and the Bam, Pow, Pop set.

 

How cute is this card??  I used the 2 stars from the Bam, Pow, Pop set and just stamped around the edges of the card stock with Versamark and embossed with clear powder.  I also embossed the buildings.  I stamped with Versafine and embossed with clear powder.  

I used a star embossing folder from Paper Studio that I bought at Hobby Lobby.  I also embossed the sentiment in clear powder and just colored over it with one of my copics to match and sponged around the edge of that and the embossed background part in Tim Holtz Tumbled Glass ink.  It bothers me to leave a white edge. 

I used Gina K Designs card stock in Ocean Mist, Wild Orchid and heavy base white.  I am not sure if she still sells the Wild Orchid.  It says Limited Edition on the label.  I love this color!  Here is a link to Gina K Designs Shop.  Just click on card stock on the left side. 

I colored her with copics and used a little of the clear Wink of Stella glitter pen.  I also cut out a small 'C' in silver glitter vinyl as I know Crystal loves sparkle and bling. :)

For the inside of the card, I embossed the orchid card stock like I did on the front to tie it together.  I used Foil Cardstock and cut out stars.  I LOVE this sentiment.  It is from Stamping Bellas from the set called Seniorita Gladys.  I thought this sentiment was PERFECT for this card.  What do you think?

 

 There is also a little boy with a cape called Super Hero Henry.  I hope you enjoyed this card.  Thanks so much for stopping by and please check out Crystal's blog too.  

Regina

More Cards.....

Hi everybody,

I wanted to share a few more cards that I have made over the last few weeks. 


Isn't she cute???  This is a stamp from Stamping Bellas.  When I saw it, I knew I had to buy it to make a card for my friend Crystal.  This suits her perfectly!  She has everything, is into everything, etc.  I colored her with copics. 

I made this card for someone that needed some cheering up so I was trying to send her some sunshine.  I used this Tim Holtz stencil and 3 colors of his distress ink.  I just sponged it over the stencil.  The hello is cut out with black vinyl.  I finished it off with a few senquins.  She said when she got it all the sequins had fallen off except one.  How embarrassing!  What do you use to adhere sequins and especially if in the mail?  I used Tombow Mono Glue.  

 

I made this card for someone whose brother passed away and she is still having a very hard time with this so I just wanted to send her a card hug.  Isn't this embossing folder awesome?  It is one of the new WeRMemory Keepers Next Level Embossing Folders.  Two come in a pack.  This one is called Woven.  I used a poppy die called Small Iceland Poppy from PoppyStamps.  There is also a Large Iceland Poppy die as well.  The word hugs is a die from Lawn Fawn and I cut it out of fun foam.  I used the double sided adhesive paper so that when I cut it out, I could just peel off the backing and stick it on my card.  I thought it would hold better this way on that embossed background and in going through the mail.  

I made this card for someone who had a bad fall and broke her elbow.  Ouch!  Luckily it was her left one and she is right handed but still... I used an embossing folder with butterflies on it because she loves butterflies and I used the Bokeh technique.   Have you tried this?  I like the result but I couldn't get my pencil eraser to put the ink on the card stock very well.  I watched a video from Splitcoaststampers to learn this technique. 

Thank you for stopping by!  I hope you liked my cards. 

Regina