This Weeks Card - Bleaching

Stamp Sets - Bundle of Joy, Everything Baby

Cardstock - Gable Green, Brilliant Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White

Ink - Veramark

Other - Silver embossing powder, bleach

Stamp giraffe image in versamark on pumpkin pie cardstock. Cover with embossing powder and tap off excess. Set with heat tool.

Using a cotton bud, dip in bleach and rub lightly over giraffe's spots. Colour will start to bleach out rightaway. If you want the colour lighter, bleach again.

Emboss the word baby and cut out.

On gable green card stock, layer brilliant blue and pumpkin pie over top. Adhere baby cutout with Stampin Dimensionals. Emboss boy on brilliant blue.

Notes on Bleaching - it is best to emboss the image you want to bleach so the bleach stays in the lines. A stamp with lots of lines like the giraffe is a good one to work with. Some cardstock bleaches better than others. Pumpkin Pie works brilliantly. If the image isn't light enough after a couple of goes, let dry then try again. Don't rub too hard or you will wear through the paper.

Have a go at this one today. Let me know how you go.

If you want to learn more about bleaching, book a workshop at your home and I can demonstrate some other uses.

Make Your Own Birthday/Occasion Book

I am terrible for forgetting birthdays or making a card for someone and putting it in a safe place, only to find it months later. I have come up with a solution to help me remember birthdays and something that is lots of fun to make.

The Birthday/Occasion Book is a reminder or important dates and storage for birthday cards and more. Each opening allows you to write dates you need to remember and a place to store your cards once you make them.

If you would like to make your own book I will be running a workshop in late January or early February. Cost is $30 and this includes all the materials you need.

To register your interest, post a comment on this blog, e-mail me on christine.clissold@bigpond.com or phone 0418 897 497

This Weeks Card - Watercolouring

Stamp Set - Embrace Life from Summer Mini Catalogue

Paper - Mellow Moss, Whisper White, Ruby Red

Ink - Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Wild Wasabi

Stamp the leaf design in chocolate chip on whisper white and using aqua painter and wild wasabi colour the leaves.

Stamp the flower image in chocolate chip on whisper white and using aqua painter and ruby red colour the flowers.

Layer flower images on ruby red card stock and put together on mellow moss.

This is a great set and I think is now my favourite. It is a great set for watercolouring.

Watercolouring - if you have never tried this technique, you should give it a go. It is very easy and gives a great effect. You don't need an aqua painter, a fine tipped paintbrush and water will do. Use your inkpads by pressing the top and bottom together before opening creates a pool of colour in the lid. Use the stampin write markers by scribbling colour on a piece of plastic.

Have a practice on scrap paper first. Wet brush and mix with ink. Use more water to create a lighter colour. Keep the brush wet but not dripping. Try not to wet the image too much or the paper will peel and the outlining ink will smudge. If you want a smuge proof outline use Staz On ink. If you want more colour over the top wait until it is dry then add more colour.

Aqua Painter - this is a versatile tool for watercolouring. It's less messy and more transportable than water and a brush as it has a water reservoir that controls the amount of water to the brush.

I would love to hear how you go with this method and show me your creations. If you have any problems, let me know and I can assist. Have fun!