Monday, July 18, 2022

Have A Mermazing Birthday

 Happy Monday! Hope everyone is faring well in this summer heat. We got a respite via rain last week but now it's another heat wave this week. As my Arthurs flared from the rain and humidity, I chose to hunker down and play with my Distress inks/oxides and some embossing folders, which is why you haven't heard from me since Wednesday. It's funny, I used to do this technique a lot years ago when embossing folders were still a cool new thing. I would brayer ink onto the folder using my Ranger Big and Juicy Rainbow ink pads. This week I've used sponges, blending foam and blending brushes, and will use a brayer next. I love how old can become new again because it's all up to us and what we decide! 😊
I woke up yesterday and saw it was time to mail off a girlfriend's birthday card, but I wasn't feeling the love for any cards in my inventory. So I pulled an inked and embossed background from my playtime and made this one. 
I used a Crafters Companion 5x7" Bubbles folder and Speckled Egg, Salty Ocean and Chipped Sapphire Oxides on Distress Water Color card. I used a blending foam tool to apply the Oxides to the front inside of the folder. I love the soft look of it on the wc card. 
  
Here's the Splitcoaststampers sketch I used along with my A2-size card to show how I followed it. Instead of paper, I used inks for the 3 sectional elements. And then 3 image elements over that.
Before adding my images and sentiment, I added some Glossy Accents to a few of the bubbles, then brushed the rest of them with clear Wink of Stella. I used my new-to-me Hero Arts Stamp and Cut Mermaid set to stamp everything on Distress Specialty Stamping Paper using Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and heat-embossing with clear powder. OMG! This paper (it actually feels more like card) is fabulous for getting a clear and crisp adhesion for the ink and the powder! I'd only used it up until now for inking and stenciling, but this is my new go-to for embossed stamping. The Hero Arts stamps are also to thank, they are very well made.
The paper also took my water-based colorants wonderfully. Here's a shot to try to show the shimmer and shine.
After cutting her out with the coordinating die, I colored this fabulous mermaid with a mix of colorants. I began coloring her skin and hair with my Zig Clean Color Brush Pens, then switched to my Distress Markers to color the seaweed in her hair and her tail. I then used my Crafters Companion Glitter Markers on the tail.
See how wonderful the black raised embossing is? After cutting him out with the coordinating die, I colored the turtle with my Zigs.
And I cut the sentiment with a Spellbinders Labels 4 die and colored it with Distress Markers.
Inside, just a simple Avery Elle stamped sentiment.
And a final view of my card. LOVE how it came out!
But WAIT, there's MORE!
This is a dessert called Peaches and Cream Gelatin Dessert and I'm sharing for Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date, linked below. Since I haven't posted since Wednesday, I made sure to share today. The recipe gives you a choice of orange or peach jello and we used orange. It went fast! So refreshing in hot weather and the orange jello tasted great with the peach slices. Easy to make, too! Well, that does it for me today. I hope the rest of your day is delicious, too! XOX

MY CHALLENGE PLAYLIST:
I've used HA DC226 Stamp and Cut Mermaid set
Paper, Inks, Embossing Powder, Glitter paints, Watercolor markers
Paper, Inks, Embossing Powder, Glitter paints, Watercolor markers
In the Ocean...and I'd love to be a mermaid!
Used Hero Arts Stamp and Cut Mermaids Dies (mermaid and turtle)
Paper, Inks, Embossing Powder, Glitter paints, Watercolor markers

33 comments:

brenda said...

I remember those rainbow inks pads we well Aimeslee, now we don't see them in the Uk often.

The folder you've used in the background works so well to create the Ocean feel for the carefree Mermaid, lovely to see you at We Love Stamping challenge, thank you.

B x

Linby said...

A beautiful scene and such a pretty mermaid too. Thanks also for joining in at We Love Stamping Challenge.

Cut It Up Challenge Blog said...

Fantastic card! I love the ink-on-embossing folder technique. It works beautifully for this card and I love that you used inks instead of paper for the sketch challenge you entered.

Thanks for participating in our Summer Lovin’ challenge at Cut it Up!

Evelyn
http://mylittlecraftblog.wordpress.com

Donna Walls said...

Gorgeous card and lovely image..and the desert speaks for itself..yum! Thanks for sharing your lovely project with us at The Four Seasons Challenge.

ScrappyHorses said...

Oooh, that background is perfect for this underwater scene! The bubbles are just amazing and the shine is magical! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Cut It Up! ~Katrina

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Stunning card Aimes, love the background, the mermaid and turtle are fabulous too. Your friend is going to love this card. Isn't it funny, the cards in our stash are never good enough for some friends even though they are, if you see what I mean. I hope Arfur now he's visited, will now go somewhere far away for a few months at least.
Take care
Faith x

Rain said...

Oh that peachy dessert looks fabulous!!! I would have used orange jello too! Yum!!! Your mermaid card is just gorgeous, I love that turtle!!! I'm so in awe of you talented card makers!!! ♥♥

Melanie Hungerford said...

LOVE that background, the colors, the texture, and of course the sparkle! Great card, thanks for joining us at Four Seasons.

Diane said...

Fabulous card, love that EB folder you have used! Thank you for joining our challenges at Can You Handle The Pressure and Four Seasons (the dessert looks yummy too)!!
Diane Co-Owner CYHTP and FS {Nellies Nest}
{Can You Handle The Pressure}

Meggymay said...

A fantastic mermaid image to use on this beautiful birthday card. Thank you for linking with us at Try it on Tuesdays.
Yvonne

Scrapping4funChallenges said...

Stunning cards! I love the backgrounds!
Mmmm, now I have to go and make something to eat! Your desserts made me hungry!
Thank you for your entry at Scrapping4funChallenges.
Rachelle DT (owner)
https://scrapping4funchallenges.blogspot.com
https://rachellescreations.blogspot.com

craftytrog said...

A gorgeous card Aimeslee. Your friend will adore it.
That dessert looks amazing too!

My name is Erika. said...

I used to love using ink on embossing folders and then getting such fun dimensional backgrounds. I haven't done that for a long time. I should play with that some more. Maybe you and I could start a new trend. Smile. I am loving your mermaid card. She is perfect for this summer heatwave the whole lower 48 have right now. I've been staying inside making art too. I'm glad you shared her with us at TIOT. And your peach dessert does look yummy. I'm going to go check the recipe because I've been staying out of the kitchen so much lately it is time to get back in. Have a great Wednesday. hugs-Erika

Beth Norman-Roberts said...

That dessert looks fabulous. Thanks for the link!

Your card is super adorable. The colours on your embossing folder background are so perfect in colour and in technique results. I can see why you like that particular paper.

Your colouring really draws me in. So shiney and absolutely gorgeous! I love everything water and just love this card. Whimsy has a cutsey mermaid stamp I've been eyeing.

Have a terrific day, Aimes, and keep cool--Bethie

crafty-stamper said...

Fabulous card and background Aimeslee,I remember the rainbow ink pads too-great technique with the embossed background and love the gorgeous embossed Mermaid and turtle.Thank you for joining us at Pearly Sparkles
Carol DT x

Helen said...

Great card - love your embossed background.

Thanks for joining us at Penny's Challenge.

Helen x
DT

Creaine said...

So glad you’ve joined our challenge at Mixed Media Lovers! I just love what you’ve made. Hope to see you again next time.
Blogowner: Ine http://creaine-cards.blogspot.nl/

marlies said...

Very nice! So glad that you joined Mixed Media Lovers!
Marlies, DT

Valerija said...

Wow, your card is just amazing. Love the background and cute mermaid.
Thanks for joining our challenge at Vesela hiška.
Valerija DT

Lys said...

A gorgeous card, with these fabulous bubbles on the background. Thanks for sharing with us at Creative Artiste Mixed Media challenge!

Jane said...

I think we'd all love to be a mermaid especially when the sea looks as inviting as yours. Gorgeous colours and a beautiful card. Thanks for playing at AAA Birthday, hope to see you join in with future challenges too. Stay safe and keep crafting!

Catie Cuddles said...

Superb card. Love all the shimmer.
Thanks for joining us at Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies challenge blog.
Happy crafting!
Catherine x DT

Cardsbymaaike said...

Such a sweet card. Thank you for playing at the AAA Birthday Card Challenges

Majda said...

A beautiful scene and such a pretty mermaid too.
Thanks for joining our challenge at Vesela hiška.
Majda DT

Wendy L said...

A wonderful card, thank you for joining us at the MAWTT challenge xx

Ellibelle said...

Such a beautiful card! the bubble background is so perfect for the pretty mermaid! And the treat looks delicious! Love anything with peaches!!
Thank you so much for joining in at my Crafty Wednesday challenge this month!
Ellie
Ellibelle's Corner

Jane Savage said...

Gorgeous card, I love the background! The dessert looks yummy too!
Thank you for joining us this month at We Love 2 Create With Polkadoodles! Jane (DT) Paper, Pencils & Pretty Things! xxx

Mrs.B said...

I love that magical mermaid and she looks fabulous against your bubble background.
A late catch up as I succumbed to Covid a couple of weeks ago. Stay safe.
Thanks for sharing in our Magical challenge at Try it on Tuesday
Avril x

Koyel Saha Chatterjee said...

Love the bubbles and the marmaid.. wonderful work.. thank you so much for your participation in CRAFTS GALORE ENCORE challenge ❤️DT KOYEL

Michelle Lupton said...

Love those bubbles! Thanks so much for joining in with the Stay Crafty challenge with A Blog Named Hero :)

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

That's a fabulous embossing folder, so effective when inked up and blended. Superb for the shimmery mermaid and her underwater friend. Your friend will have surely adored it. Thanks for sharing this July @ Creative Artiste Challenge best of Luck.
Tracey (DT)

Lara Rizzotto @craft.and.shine said...

Gorgeous card, love the shine! Thank you very much for joining in with the Stay Crafty challenge with A Blog Named Hero! ❤️

FinArt said...

What a beautiful background came out. Love it. Thank you for plaing with us at Vesela hiška. Janja DT