Bring on the Sunshine!!!

Hello there inky friends!  Today I'm sharing a fun inky card I created using some awesome Richard Garay Designs products.  I wanted to use the fun stamp set that is on sale this month called "Good Girls"...in particular, the lady with the umbrella.  I thought the image was inspiring and encouraging and wanted to highlight the umbrella as the sunshine that comes after the storm.  Sooo...I colored up the image with Copics and fussy cut the image to set it aside.  

Next, I started working on the background by using some Powdered Sugar Sugar Stock and the RG Call Gel Press mini plates (I used the thought bubble that resembles a cloud).  I applied media mixer and Sour Crush ink onto the Gel plate and then brayered it on to create a nice blend of color.  I pressed the plate onto the paper and lifted it to release the ink.  I did this several times overlapping the pressed images with color to create a nice layer of blue/white color.  

After that, I splattered some Dazzling Pat (as well as Dazzling Pat mixed with Sour Mist Sugar Drops) to the paint and it created a nice water splattered effect- similar to the effects of Distress Inks with water...but...It has shimmer!

Next, I used a piece of mesh from some veggies I got from the grocery store and applied the Gel plate over that (brayered with the Media Mixer and Sour Crush Sugar Drops) and lifte it to reveal a fun textured look. 

 You can see where the mesh created a scale-like effect in the corner.

After finishing up the pressed panel, I cut the panel out to my liking and used machine stitching around the edges to help contain the design as well as finish it off.  After that, I started assembling the card (placing foam squares on the "girl").  I decided to add the bug car to the edge to coordinate more with the sentiment. 

 To finish the card off, I splattered some watered down white acrylic ink onto the panel and tucked the sentiment under the bug.  I mounted this panel onto a Powdered Sugar layer and then mounted the panel onto a Sour Pineapple card base. 

So fun!  There are just a few more days to take advantage of the June special so make sure to hop over to the shop and pick up your sets HERE before they are gone.  Remember, If your order is $50 or more, you'll receive the fun Music On Digi set for FREE!  

Sneaky Peek Week Day 5: Splish Splash!

Hello there inky friends!  I'm back with another sneaky peek!  Today, The Cat's Pajamas is sneakin' a peek at the new AHHHDORABLE set "Splish Splash".  It has the most adorable little sketchy images with the theme of friendship and love.  A free cut file is also available for this set HERE.  

I wanted the sentiment to drive my design so I created a rainy scene in the background (Copics, Gelly Roll Pen, Microfine Iridescent glitter).  After creating the background, I stamped the main image with the kiddos and then colored it with Copics.  i made sure to color the umbrella to represent the "Sunshine".  

I added some polka-dots to her raincoat and mounted my image right onto the background. The sentiment that started it all...finished it off.  To pull the sunshine back into the card, I mounted the stamped panel onto a bright yellow card base.  Happy, happy, happy!

a fun little background to help MAKE the card.  

Thanks for hopping over and checking out my card.  Please head over to The Cat's Pajamas for additional inspiration on this set!  Make sure to leave some love along the way as you just might be the winner of the TCP prize today!  Make sure to check out the Facebook page too!

April Showers bring...

Hello there Joy Clair Friends!  I'm excited to share a little April Showers with you!  April is my birthday month (I'm a FOOL!) and I really enjoyed playing with this "rainy days" stamp set.  It's always important for me to look on the bright side of things, so when I saw this set, it immediately reminded me of that saying!  Yep, there's always a little sunshine on the other side of a storm!  Look up, and enjoy the raindrops hitting your forehead! 

Stamping the posies with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto white cardstock was the first step in creating this fun and playful background. I also used a bit of light pink to stamp the bubble rings. After stamping, I used my watercolor pencils to add a bit of color to a few of the posies and then started creating a rain splatter effect with my paint brush and some blue watercolor. After that was done it was time to create the dimension...Take a look at those raindrops!  

I just HAD to take some Glossy Accents and apply a "sprinkling" of raindrops in varying sizes on the paper. I also glossed over some of the smaller watercolred droplets. I tried to concentrate the watercolor splatter to the bottom edge of the card to accentuate the "heavy" nature of rain.  

Just look at those yummy raindrops!  MMMMMM...

After the background was done, I moved on to stamping the umbrella and boots. I wanted this image to be the primary focus but I did not want it to jump out a scream "I'm HERE!" Sooo...I kept the color consistent with the background. Watercoloring the umbrella with the blue helped to focus attention to the rain, I think. After watercoloring, I moved on to slicking and sparkling up the umbrella. 

Assembling the card happened quite quickly.  A simple layout so that the focus is totally on the "rain". Perhaps I can add some sunshine on the inside???    

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you're inspired by this creation and remember...There's always some sunshine after the rain.  :)