PDO Technique Thursday

Howdy friends!  Today I've got a card AND a technique to share with you.  I am using the Beary Best Friend digital stamp set from Polka Dot Orchard.  You can find it HERE in the Polka Dot Orchard store.

The tecnique I'd like to focus on today is paper piecing.  You may not think about paper piecing with digital stamps but you totally can!  Let's take a peek at my finished card and then we'll dive on in.

And here we go!

I started by printing out the digital stamp on to all of the different papers I wanted to use in my card.

Next I cut out all of the parts and pieces I needed.

Then I used Copic markers to add a bit of depth and dimension to the pieces.  

I set the pieces aside to work on my base layer.  I'm excited to make my first slimline card!  I printed the same digital stamp onto the base white layer.  I created my own mask using copy paper and got to work creating my ink blended background.  I used Bundled Sage, Stormy Sky and Antique Linen Distress Oxide inks.

Once the blending was complete I removed the mask.  To add a bit more interest to the blended background, I splattered it with water and dabbed it up after 10 seconds or so.  I did also add some Copic marker detail to the bear.

Here is what it looked like after I used liquid glue to add the bits and pieces.  I also used foam tape for even more dimension on the fox's scarf and the cuffs and band of the bear's sweater.  Stay tuned for a side view.

I layered my finished panel onto a navy card base.  I also used one of the sentiments from the same stamp set.  I printed it onto white, layered it onto navy, layered again onto white and added foam tape to the back.  All finished!

And a side view to see the added dimension.

I really appreciate you stopping by and I hope you give paper piecing with digital stamps a try!

~Kristina

Supplies used:

Tombow Mono Multi Liquid glue Shop at: SBC | EH	Therm O Web Foam Tape Shop at: SBC | EH	Copic Marker R22 Shop at: EH	Bundled Sage - Distress Oxide Shop at: SBC | EH
Antique Linen - Distress Oxide Shop at: SBC | EH	Stormy Sky - Distress Oxide Shop at: SBC | EH	Copic Marker YG63 Shop at: EH	Copic Marker R20 Shop at: EH
Copic Marker B95 Shop at: EH	Copic Marker W00 Shop at: EH	Copic Marker W0 Shop at: EH	Copic Marker W1 Shop at: EH
Copic Marker W3 Shop at: EH	Copic Marker W5 Shop at: EH	Copic Marker YR21 Shop at: EH	Copic Marker YR23 Shop at: EH
Copic Marker E13 Shop at: EH	Copic Marker E17 Shop at: EH	Copic Marker E18 Shop at: EH

Color Throwdown 576

Hey crafty friends!  I found a little time to play in my craft room this weekend and was able to complete a card for the Color Throwdown Challenge 576.  I also meant to enter it in the Freshly Made Sketches challenge but I missed the cut off for today. 

Anywho, you can find the Color Throwdown Challenge HERE.

And here's my card!

Stamp set is from Concord and 9th.  Inks used are from Stampin Up.  Edge dies is from My Favorite Things stamps.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Kristina

PDO Birthday Gnome

I hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday season!  It's been great to spend time with family and friends but I think I'm ready to go back to a more normal schedule.  Today I've got a card for you that I created using the Polka Dot Orchard Caroling Gnomes stamp set.  I'm going to show you how to use an image that seems only good for holidays and use it for non-holiday.  I love when I can stretch my stamps!

Let's take a quick look at my finished card and then dive on in to the details.

I love gnomes and I thought this cutie from Caroling Gnomes would be perfect to create a masculine birthday card.  You see, this gnome is singing.  He could be singing happy birthday, Auld Lang Syne, Christmas carols or just about anything!  That's why I don't feel like he's limited to just the Christmas season.

I started by printing the gnome out onto Bristol Smooth cardstock.  I knew I was going to do a little stenciling and watercoloring and this is a great surfact for both of those things.  I also needed a mask for my gnome before I could do the stenciling.  I printed him out onto regular copy paper and spread a thin coat of Tombow Mono Multi liquid glue.  Once it dries, it becomes a temporary adhesive.  Absolutely perfect for a mask.

I put the mask in place and taped the plaid stencil on top.  The stencil I used is from Echo Park and is no longer available but I did link up to another similar stencil below.  I then used a blending brush and gray ink over the stencil.  I concentrated the color around the gnome and then let it fade the further I went out.

Before:

After:

Next it was time to color up the gnome.  I used a combination of Distress Inks, Distress Markers, Tombow and Marvy water-based markers to add the color to my scene.  Sometimes I added the ink directly to the paper and blended it out with a water brush.  Other times I smooshed the ink onto a block and then picked it up with the water brush.  It just depending on the depth of color I needed.

Here he is all colored up:

Now down to the card making.  I cut the gnome panel down with a Stitched Indented Rectangle die from Elizabeth Craft Designs.  I set the panel asided and started work on the card base.  I used a  piece of black cardstock to create a top fold A2 sized base.  I cut a piece of patterned paper from the Echo Park Little Lumberjack paper pad down to 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  I glued this to the black card base.  I added foam tape to the back of the gnome panel and adhered to the card base.

The Happy Birthday sentiment comes from the Polka Dot Orchard Floral Flourish Background 3 set.

This set has several great sentiments and really cool backgrounds!  I plan to make some foiled background when I find the time...

I printed the sentiment onto white cardstock.  I cut it down to 2 1/2" x 1".  I glued it to a piece of black cardstock just slightly larger and then glued it on top of the gnome panel.  I let part of the left edge hang off over the panel. 

For the final touch I added some black pearls in assorted sizes.  That's it.  One masculine birthday card in the books for the new year!

Close up detail

I really appreciate you stopping by and hope that you will check out all of the great digital stamps available in the Polka Dot Orchard store HERE.

Toodles!
~Kristina

Supplies used:

Tombow Mono Multi Liquid glue Shop at: SBC | EH	Tonic Studios-Retractable Craft Pick Shop at: SBC | EH	Therm O Web Foam Tape Shop at: SBC | EH	Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper Shop at: EH
Stitched Indented Rectangles - Elizabeth Craft Shop at: SBC	Barn Door Distress Ink Shop at: SBC | EH	Black Pearls - Kaisercraft Shop at: EH	Trinity blending brushes Shop at: EH
Little Lumberjack - Echo Park Shop at: SBC	Worn Lipstick Distress Marker Shop at: SBC | EH	Tattered Rose Distress Marker Shop at: SBC | EH	Fossilized Amber Distress Marker Shop at: EH
Black Soot Distress Marker Shop at: SBC | EH	Hickory Smoke Distress Marker Shop at: EH	Dark Jade 177 - Tombow Shop at: EH	Plaid Stencil - LDRS Creative Shop at: SBC

PDO Mixed Media Monday

Oh my goodness!  I can't believe how quickly December is passing.  I've got lots of wrapping to do and I haven't made a single card to send.  I *might* be a bit behind.  However, I've got some crafty goodness to share with you.  Today's theme for Polka Dot Orchard is a mixed media project.  It is definitely not my strong suit but I'm giving it a go!

I'm using two different PDO stamp sets, Home for the Holidays and Swinging by with Holiday Cheer.

Home for the Holidays

Swinging by with Holiday Cheer

I printed the truck from Home for the Holidays onto a Copic friendly cardstock.  I had an idea to create my winter sky background using Distress Inks and blending tools.  Now I need a a mask for my truck.  This is a pretty easy fix.  I printed the truck out again on regular copy paper and cut it out.  I applied a thin coat of Tombow Mono Multi liquid glue to the back and spread it out with my finger.  I let it dry for a few minutes and now I've got a mask!  I put it over the truck on the card and started blending with Distress inks.  I started with Chipped Sapphire, then moved to Seedless Preserves, Victorian Velvet and finally Antique Linen.

The background blend isn't perfect but no worries!  I love the reveal when you take off the mask.  It looks so crsip and clean!

And now for some coloring magic with Copic markers and some background splatters.

Truck: N5, R59, R37

Tree: N5, G85, G82

Tires: N7, N5

Hubcaps: C3, C1

Truck Shadow: W1

Windows: RV0000, RV000

Now you're probably wondering where the multi media aspect comes in.  Let's take a look at my finished card first.

For the tree in the truck I added dabs of white embossing paste.. While it was still wet I added glitter.  For the truck windows I added glossy accents.  I set this aside to dry and went to work on the sentiment. 

I took a label shaped chipboard and smooshed on clear embossing ink.  Then I sprinkled it with Wow Midas Touch embossing glitter.  Learn from me, emboss from the backside if you don't want a glitter explosion.  LOL!  I added another coat of embossing ink and the Midas Touch glitter.  I heated it again until it was all melted.  I added some purple ribbon through the holes and tied a knot on one side.  Then I wrapped it around the back of the panel and tied it through the other hole.  I added foam tape to the back of the tag and attached it to the card.  Next I printed the Merry Christmas sentiment out and cut it into an oval to match the tag.  I added foam tape to the back and added it to the tag.  I then added the whole panel to a gray card base.

There ya go!  One of my first attempts to create a multi media card.  How'd I do?  Here's a few more pictures of the finished card.

And a side view to try and capture the embossing paste texture.

Toodles!

~Kristina

PDO Collaboration Wednesday

Happy Wednesday my friends!  Today I am back with a fellow crafter who was up for a collaboration challenge!  Her name is Kirsty Lowden and you can find her blog HERE.  I found Kirsty on Instagram and asked her if she'd be willing to play along.  She graciously accepted.

I let her pick the Polka Dot Orchard stamp set, a color palette and a sketch.  For the stamp set she picked Wander Often.

For the color palette she chose The Color Throwdown 563.

And for the sketch she chose Freshly Made Sketches 404.

I'll show you my finished card and then I'll get to all of the details.

I started by printing the fish out onto vellum paper and cutting it down to a smaller size.

I flipped it over to work on the back side.  I find this to be the best method when I want to color on vellum with Copic markers.  Here is what it looked like on the BACK when I was finished coloring.

And here's what it looks like from the FRONT.

The Copic colors I used are V17, RV19, 17,14 and RV09.

I looked through my paper stash and couldn't find anything with just the right colors so I made my own plaid background.  I love to make plaid backgrounds with Copic markers and it doesn't take that much time to do.  Grab a piece of cardstock, a ruler and your Copics.  I used the same Copic colors as above but added in YG17.  

Isn't it pretty??  I have all of the basic pieces so let's get to building a card!

I cut the plaid piece down to 5 1/2" x 5 1/2".  I glued it onto a 5 1/2" sqaure card base made out of 110lb Neenah Solar White.  I cut the vellum piece down to a 4" square.  I used a liquid glue behind some of the darker coloring to add it to a 4 1/4" square piece of white cardstock.  I then glued the white layer down to a piece of purple metallic cardstock.  I applied foam tape to the back of the whole panel and adhered it to the plaid paper.

I printed the "Celebrate you" sentiment from the same stamp set onto white cardstock.  I cut it out with an oval die.  I cut another piece of white cardstock using a scalloped oval die slightly larger than the sentiment oval.  I colored the scalloped oval with the YG17 Copic to help tie in the green from the plaid piece.  I put foam tape on the back and added it to the card.

For the finishing touch I added purple, pink and green sequins.

This is the first time I have worked with the Wander Often stamp set and I love it!  I have had a blast working with Kirsty and want to remind you to go check out her take on this.  You can find her blog HERE.

Have a fabulous day!

~Kristina