Tuesday, September 27, 2016

A Happy Birthday Rose

Yippee!!! This is my fifth post for September.


I have had this one completed for a while now, so it was high time that I posted. This project was the first time I watercolored with Distress Inks. I am now in love with the medium!

The white embossing and finishing with watercolors are a lot of fun. I first saw this via a few YouTube channels. Those channels are Jennifer McGuire Ink and The Gard Grotto. Both these ladies show their very artistic style in their videos. I am sure they would both love if you subscribed. You will not regret it.


On to my birthday card…I first stamped on watercolor paper with Versa Mark and embossed in white. After that cooled, I completed the watercoloring with Distress Inks. I used the mini Distress Inks, which are the perfect size.  After the drying I stamped the greeting with Archival ink and trimmed the main panel. I sponged ink around the edges for a finished look, added blue cardstock to the front of the card, glued the main panel with fun foam for dimension, attached that to the front of the card, and added sequins and Wink of Stella for the finished touches.


The list of supplies with links are:
Watercolor stock: Ranger
Embossing ink: Versamark and WOW White
Distress inks: Rose: Spun Sugar, Bard Door, Aged Mahogany,
Dusty Concord; Leaves: Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint,
Forest Moss; Background: Stormy Sky, Chipped Sapphire
Cardstock: Fun Stampers Journey Huckleberry Fusion
Other:
White Fun Foam for dimension
(This also helps keep the card safe during shipping.)

A Happy Birthday Rose will be entered in:
Sunny Things Crafting – Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion – Anything Goes

So glad you all dropped by! If you have any questions, please contact me.
Aletha Jane

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Happy Fall with the Colors of Autumn

My fourth one for September!!! I’ve got one more to post for this month. After that one, I need to start coloring and creating for future projects

My A2 card was fun to add all the color. I love the colors of autumn. I wish it would last a little longer, perfect temperatures and perfect colors.


My image and sentiment were a “no-brainer” for me to use Copics. I really like to color pumpkins because the colors get me in the fall mood. First step was to die cut the main panel with a rectangle die. I stamped the pumpkins and the sentiment with Copic friendly ink, and the coloring began. After the Copic coloring was complete I used distress inks and added splatters from a brown glitter marker. After everything was dry I mounted the panel, after adding some fun foam to the back for dimension, to an A2 base. Another clean and simple card is complete.


Copic markers used:
Sunflower: Y13, 15, 18, 23, 28, +YR16;
Pumpkins: YR00, 02, 12, 15, 16, 18, +
E08, 09, 59;
Stems: YG93, 97, + E13, 31;
Leaves: E08, 13, 19, 31, 37, 57, +
YR20, 24 +YG95, 97;
Grounding: W1, 2, 4.

Other supplies:
Stamps: Gina K Designs Always Autumn set and
sentiment from the Painted Autumn kit;
Distress Inks: Vintage Photo, Orange Marmalade, Gathered Twigs;
Glitter Brush: Wink of Stella Brown;
Cardstock and Envelope: Gina K Design’s Dark Sage base weight
cardstock and Dark Sage A2 envelope;


Happy Fall will be entered in the following challenges:
Stamp TV - Favorite techniques (login is required)
4 Crafty Chicks - Fall Colors
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Autumn, Thanksgiving, Halloween
a punch or die (login is required)
Inspiration Destination – Anything goes

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate contacting me. Until next time…
Aletha Jane

Friday, September 16, 2016

Wishing You a Happy Day with a Cone Flower

My third one for this week! I hope that I can keep this up! LOL

This clean and simple card is not as “stiff” as my first one. You can see my first clean and simple for September HERE. I am not saying that the artist’s illustration is stiff (I adore this artist’s, Melanie Muenchinger, illustrations!); I am saying that my layout is stiff in that first one. I feel like this one is a looser layout.



This was a wonderful project to work on. This was the first time I used my Tombow markers and I love them!  Some of the markers have some underlying colors. I used the Peacock Blue in the background. After it was dry I can see pinks, purples, and blues.

As you can see, I got a little carried away with my liquid pearls. After I colored the flower centers with burnt sienna and black, I decided that those centers needed some buttercup Liquid Pearls. That was the wrong decision! I covered those little blips with dark chocolate. Now those centers look a little more like the centers of cone flowers (imagination may be needed).

Here is the list of supplies used in this creation:

N15-Black, 126-Light Olive, 177-Dark Jane,
533-Peacock Blue, 606-Violet, 620-Lilac, 947-Burnt Sienna;
Distress Ink: Blue Print Sketch (added to the edges of the top panel);
and the sentiment from Cindy Echtinaw Designs.
(The set I used is "Say it Your Way Fancy."
The majority of Cindy's clear stamps
are designed to be used with Spellbinder's dies.)
Watercolor Paper: Ranger’s Watercolor Paper
(This is my favorite watercolor paper to date!)
Cardstock: white and blue from my stash


"Wishing You a Happy Day" will be entered in the following challenges:
Art by Miran – Anything goes
Creative Corner Challenges – No patterned paper
Addicted to Stamps and More – Anything goes
Simon Says Stamp – Clean and simple
Cards und More – No patterned paper

I really appreciate all your comments and visits! If you need any help or you have questions, just shoot me an email.

Until next time,
Aletha Jane Williams

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

A Peony Because You Are Special

How about a second one for this week?

I have been trying to get back to the clean and simple style for card making. I have plans starting in November and December to participate in a couple of arts and crafts festivals. I have not been able to go to these events because of my health. I love being in that atmosphere and I think that I am finally strong enough to try again.


This A2 card was a challenge, but I think I finally like it. I have been stocking up stamping supplies with Gina K Designs. You all need to check out her site. Her illustrators are amazing, her cardstocks are to die for, and her inks match the cardstock perfectly. She even has the A2 envelopes to match the cardstock and most of the cardstock is “base weight,” not just the 80# weight.

Let’s get on with my card. The stamp set, Stately Flowers 8, was designed by Melanie Muenchinger. I decided on the Peony for this card. Check out Melanie’s YouTube channel here. Also, head over to Gina K Designs and check out Melanie’s stamps here. I first stamped the image on X-Press It Cardstock with Momento ink. From there I proceeded to complete my Copic Coloring.


 Copic markers used for this card are:
Peony: RV91, 93, 95, 99 + Y18;
Leaves: G20, 21, 24, 29;
Background: BG000, 10, 93, B02, + blender.


Other supplies are:
Liquid Pearls: Buttercup;
Border die: Alison’s Ribbons;


The challenges that I will be entering are: 
Artistic Expressions – Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart – Always Anything Goes
Incy Winchy Designs – Color Combo (I used 3 colors)
Colouring in Scrapland – Clean & Simple

I guess that’s it for today. I hope you come back soon for a visit. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Aletha Jane

Monday, September 12, 2016

Sammi Boo Can Levitate at Lacy Sunshine



Well, as you can see, I have not blogged since April. I am trying to remedy that. I and my mother had some family issues and I was trying to keep myself available when she needed me. Now most of the decks are cleared and I am ready to color and create.

My first blog for September is a Copic and PanPastels image. Introducing "Sammi Boo Can Levitate." I love Heather Valentin’s images and this one is no exception. Unfortunately this cutie is available only as a complimentary image to be used in one of her classes. Click here to check out these amazing classes available only on Heather’s website.



 Thanks for stopping by! If you have any questions, please contact me.

Aletha J Williams

I'm Moving!

I am moving my blog to my website at AJ's Design Artz . I hope you stop by!